Marie Magdalens funeral teares

MARY MAGDALENS Funerall Teares .

EMONGST other mourneful accidents of the passion of Christ , that loue presenteth it selfe to my memory , with which the blessed Mary Magdelen louing our Lord more then her life , followed him in his iourney to his death , attending vppon him when his Disciples fledde , and being more willing to die with him , then they to liue without him . But not finding the fauour to accompany him in death , and loathing after him to remaine in life , the fire of her true affection enflamed her heart , and her enflamed hart resolued into vncessant teares , so that burning and bathing betwéen loue and griefe , shee led a life euer dying , and felt a death neuer ending . And when hee by whome shée liued was dead , and shée for whom he died enforcedly left aliue , shée praised the dead more then the liuing , and hauing lost that light of her life , shee desired to dwell in darkenesse , and in the shadow of death , choosing Christs Tombe for her best home , and his corse for her chiefe comfort . For Mary ( as the Euangelist saith ) Stoode Iohn 20. without at the Tombe weeping .

But alas how vnfortunate is this woman , to whome neyther life will afforde a desired farewell , nor death alow any wished welcome . Shée hath abandoned the liuing and chosen the company of the dead , and now it seemeth that euen the dead haue forsaken her , sith the corse shee séeketh is taken away from her . And this was the cause that loue induced her to stand , and sorrow enforced her to wéepe . Her eie was watchful to séek , whom her heart most longed to enioy , and her foote in a readinesse to runne , if her eie shoulde chaunce to espy him . And therefore shée standeth to be still stirring , prest to watch euery way , and prepared to goe whether any hope should call her . But shée wept because shée had such occasion of standing , and that which moued her to watch was the motiue of her teares . For as shée watched to finde whom shée had lost , so shée wept for hauing lost whom shée loued , her poore eies being troubled at once with two contrary offices , both to be clear in sight the better to séeke him , and yet cloudy with tears for missing the sight of him .

Yet was not this the entrance but the increase of her griefe , not the beginning but the renewing of her mone . For first shée mourned for the departing of his soule out of his body , and now shée lamented the taking of his body out of the graue , being punished with two wreckes of her onely welfare , both full of misery , but the last without all comfort . The first originall of her sorrow grew because shée could not enioy him aliue : yet this sorrow had some solace , for that shée hoped to haue enioyed him dead .

But when shée considered that his life was already lost , and now not so much as his body could be found , shee was wholly daunted with dismay , sith this vnhappinesse admitted no helpe . Shee doubted least the loue of her master ( the onely portion that her Fortune had left her ) would soon languish in her cold brest , if it neither had his wordes to kindle it , nor his presence to cherishe it , nor so much as his dead ashes to rake it vp . Shee had prepared her spices and prouided her ointments , to pay him the last Tribute of Ioan. 19. eternall dueties . And though Ioseph and Nichodemus had already bestowed a hundred pounds of Mirthe and Aloes , which was in quantity sufficient , in quality of the best , and as well applied as art and deuotion could deuise : yet such was her loue , that shée would haue thought any quantity too little , except hers had béene added , the best in quality too meane except hers were with it , and no diligence in applying it inough , except her seruice were in it . Not that shée was sharpe in censuring that which others had done , but because loue made her so desirous to doe all her selfe , that though all had béene done that shée could deuise , and as wel as shee could wishe , yet vnlesse shee were an Actor it would not suffice , sith loue is as eager to bee vttered in effects , as it is zealous in true affection . Shee came therefore now meaning to enbalme his corps , as shee had before annointed his feet , and to preserue the reliques of his body , as the only remnant of all her blisse . And as in the spring of her felicitie shee had washed his feete with her teares , be wailing vnto him the death of her own soule : so nowe shee came in the depth of her misery , to shedde them a freshe for the death of his body . But when she saw the graue open , and the body taken out , the labour of embalming was preuented , but the cause of her wéeping increased , and he that was wanting to her obsequies , was not wanting to her teares , and though shée founde not whom to annoint , yet found she whom to lament .

And not without cause did Mary complaine , finding her first anguishe doubled with a second griefe , and being surcharged with two most violent sorrowes in one afflicted heart . For hauing setled her whole affection vppon Christ , and summoned all her desires and wishes into the loue of his goodnes , as nothing could equall his worthes : so was ther not in the whole world , either a greater benefit for her to enioy then himselfe , or any greater domage possible then his losse .

The murdering in his one death , the life of all lifes , left a general death in all liuing creatures , and his disease not onely disrobed our nature of her most roiall ornaments , but impouerished the world of all highest perfections . What meruaile therefore though her vehement loue to so louely a Lord , being after the wrecke of his life , now also depriued of his dead body , feele as bitter pangues for his losse , as before it tasted ioyes in his presence , and open as large an issue to teares of sorrowe , as euer heretofore to tears of contentment . And though teares were rather oile then water to her flame , apter to nourish then diminish her grief : yet being now plunged in the depth of paine , shee yéelded her selfe captiue to all discomfort , carrying an ouèrthrowen mind in a more enfeebled body , and still busie in deuising , but euer doubtfull in defining what shée might best doe . For what could a seely woman doe but weepe , that floating in a Sea of cares , founde neither eare to heare her , nor tongue to direct her , nor hand to helpe her , nor heart to pitty her in her desolate case ? True it is that Peter and Iohn came with her to the tombe , and to make triall of her report were both within it : but as they were speedy in comming , and diligent in searching , so were they as quick to depart , and fearefull of farther seeking . And alas , what gained shee by their comming , but two witnesses of her losse , two dismaiers of her hope , and two paterns of a new despaire ? Loue moued them to come , but their loue was soone conquered , with such a feare , that it suffered them not to stay . But Mary hoping in dispaire , and perseuering in hope , stood without feare , because shée now thought nothing left that ought to be feared . For shée had lost her maister to whom shée was so entirely deuoted , that hee was the totall of her loues , the height of her hopes , and the vttermost of her feares , and therefore beside him , shée could neither loue other creature , hope for other comfort , nor feare other losse . The worst shee could feare was the death of her body , and that shée rather desired then feared , sith shée had already lost the life of her soule , without which any other life would be a death , and with which any other death would haue ben a delight . But now shée thought it better to die then to liue , because shée might happely dying finde , whome not dying shee looked not to enioy , and not enioying shée had little will to liue . For nowe shée loued nothing in her life , but her loue to Christ , & if any thing did make her willing to liue , it was onelye the vnwillingnesse that his Image should die with her , whose likenesse loue had limmed in her heart , and treasured vp in her swéetest memories . And had shée not feared to break the Table , and to breake open the closet , to which shée had entrussed this last relique of her lost happinesse , the violence of griefe would haue melted her heart into inward bleeding teares , and blotted her remembraunce with a fatall obliuion . And yet neuerthelesse , shée is no we in so imperfect a sort aliue , that it is proued true in her that Loue is as strong as Death . For what could death haue done more in Mary then Loue did . Her wittes were astonied , and all her senses so amased , that in the end finding shée did not know , séeing shée could not discern , hearing shée perceiued not , and more then all this , shée was not there where shée was , for shée was wholly where her Maister was , more where shée loued then where shée liued , and lesse in her self then in his body , which notwithstanding , where it was shee could not imagine . For she sought , and as yet found it not , and therefore stood at the Tombe weeping for it , being now altogether giuen to mourning & driuen to misery .

But O Mary , by whose counsaile , vppon what hope , or with what hart , couldest thou stand alone , when the Disciples were departed ? Thou wert there once before they came , thou returnest againe at their comming , and yet now thou staiest when they are gone . Alas that thy Lord is not in the Tombe , thy own eies haue often séen , the Disciples hands haue felt , the empty Sindon doth auouch , and cannot al this winne thée to beléeue it ? No no , thou wouldest rather condemne thy owne eies of error , and both their eies and handes of deceite , yea rather suspect all testimonies for untrue , then not looke whom thou hast lost , euen there , where by no diligence he coulde be found . When thou thinkest of other places , and canst not imagine any so likely as this , thou séekest againe in this , and though neuer so often sought , it must still bee a haunt for hope , for when things dearely affected are lost , loues nature is , neuer to be weary of searching euen the oftenest searched corners , being more willing to thinke that all the senses are mistaken , then to yéelde that hope should quaile . Yet now sith it is so euident , that he is taken away , what should moue thee to remaine here where the perill is apparent , and no profite likely ? Can the witof one ( and shée a woman ) wholly possessed with passion , haue more light to discerne daunger , then two wittes of two men , and both principall fauorites of the parent of all wisedom ? Or if ( notwithstanding the danger ) there had béene iust cause to encounter it , were not two together , being both to Christ sworne companions , each to other affied friends , and to all his ennemies professed foes , more likely to haue preuailed , then one feminine heart , timorous by kinde , and already amased with this dreadfull accident ?

But alas why doe I vrge her with reason , whole reason is altered into loue , and that iudgeth it folly to follow such reason , as should any way impair her loue . Her thoughts were arrested by euery thredde of Christs Sindon , and shée was captiue in so many prisons , as the Tombe had memories of her lost maister , Loue being her Iailor in them all , and nothing able to raunsome her , but the recouery of her Lord . What maruaile then though the Apostles examples drew her not away , whome so violent a loue enforced to remaine , which prescribing lawes both to witte and wil , is guided by no other lawe but it selfe ? Shee could not thinke of any fear , nor stand in feare of any force . Loue armed her against all hazardes , and being already wounded with the greatest griefe , shée had not leisure to remember any lesser euill . Yea shée had forgotten all things , and her selfe among al things , onely mindefull of him , whom shée loued aboue all thinges . And yet her loue by reason of her losse , drownev both her mind and memory so déepe in sorrow , and so busied her wittes in the conceite of his absence , that al remembraunce of his former promises , was diuerted with the throng of present discomforts , and shée séemed to haue forgotten also him besides whome shée remembred nothing . For doubtlesse had she remembred him as she should , shée should not haue now thought the Tombe a fitte place to séeke him , neither would shée mourne for him as dead , and remoued by others force , but ioy in him as reuiued , and risen by his owne power . For hee had often foretold both the manner of his death , and the day of his resurrection . But alas let her heauinesse excuse her , and the vnwontednes of the miracle plead her pardon , sith dread and amazement hath dulled her senses , distempered her thoughts , discouraged her hopes , awaked her passions , and left her no other liberty but onely to wéepe .

Shée wept therefore , being onely able to wéepe . And , As shee was weeping , shee stouped down and looked Iohn 20. into the Monument , and she saw two Angels in white , sitting one at the head , and an other at the feete , where the body of Iesus had beene layd . They said vnto her , Woman why wepest thou ?

O Mary , thy good hap excéedeth thy hope , and where thy last sorrow was bred , thy first succour springeth . Thou diddest séeke but one , and thou hast found two . A dead body was thy errand , and thou hast light vppon two aliue . Thy wéeping was for a man , and thy téars haue obtained Angels . Suppresse now thy sadnes , and refresh thy heart with this good Fortune . These angels inuite thée to a parlée , they séem to take pitty of thy case , and it may be they haue some happy tidinges to tell thée . Thou hast hitherto sought in vaine , as one either vnséene , or vnknown , or at the least vnregarded , sith the party thou séekest , neither tendereth thy teares , nor aunswereth thy cries , nor relenteth with thy lamentings . Either he doth not heare , or hée will not helpe , he hath peraduenture left to loue thée , and is loath to yéelde thée reliefe , & therefore take such comfort as thou findest , sith thou art not so lucky , as to finde that which thou couldest wish . Remember what they are , where they sitte , from whence they come , and to whom they speake . They are Angels of peace , neither sent with out cause , nor séen but of fauour . They sit in the Tombe , to shew that they are no straungers to thy losse . They come from Heauen , from whence all happy newes descend . They spake to thy selfe , as though they had some speciall Embassage to deliuer vnto thée . Aske them therfore of thy maister , for they are likeliest to returne thée a desired aunswere . Thou knewest him too well , to thinke that hell hath deuoured him , thou hast long sought , and hast not found him in earth , and what place so fit for him as to be in heauen . Aske therefore of those Angels that came newly from thence , and it may be , their report will highly please thée ? Or if thou art resolued to continue thy séeking , who can better helpe thée then they that are as swift as thy thought , as faithfull as thy owne heart , and as louing to thy Lord as thou thy selfe ? Take therefore thy good hap , least it be taken away from thée , and content thée with Angels sith thy maister hath giuen thée ouer .

But alas what meaneth this change , & how happeneth this strange alteration ? The time hath béene that fewer teares would haue wrought greater effecte , shorter séeking haue sooner found , and lesse paine haue procured more pitty . The time hath ven that thy annointing his féete , was accepted and praised , thy washing them with teares highly commended , and thy wyping them with thy haire , most curteously construed . How then doth it now fall out , that hauing brought thy swéete oiles , to annoint his whole body , hauing shed as many teares , as would haue washed more then his féet , and hauing not only thy haire but thy heart ready to serue him , he is not moued with all these duties , so much as once to affoorde thée his sight . Is it not he that reclaimed thee from thy wandring courses , that dispossessed thee of thy damned inhabitants , and from the wildes of sinne , recouered thee into the folde and family of his flocke ? was not thy house his home , his loue thy life , thy selfe his Disciple ? did not hee defend thée against the Pharisee , pleade for thée against Iudas , and excuse thée to thy sister ? In summe , was not hee thy patron and protector in all thy necessities .

O good Iesu what hath thus estranged thée from her ? Thou hast heretofore so pittied her teares , that séeing them thou couldest not refraine thine . In one of her greatest agonies for loue of her , that so much loued thée , thou diddest recall her dead brother to life , turning her complaint into vnexpected contentment . And we knowe that thou doest not vse to alter course without cause , nor to chastice without desert . Thou art the first that inuitest , and the last that forsakest , neuer leauing but first left , and euer offering , til thou art refused . How then hath shée forfaited thy fauour ? Or with what trespasse hath shée earned thy ill will ? That shée neuer left to loue thée , her heart will depose , her hand will subscribe , her tongue will protest , her teares wil testify , and her séeking doth assure . And alas is her particular case so farre from all example , that thou shouldest rather alter thy nature , then shée better her Fortune , and be to her as thou art to no other ? For our parts since thy last shew of liking towardes her , we haue found no other faulte in her , but that shée was the eareliest vp to séeke thée , readiest to annoint thée , and when shée saw that thou wert remoued , shée forthwith did wéepe for thée , and presently went for helpe to finde thée . And whereas those two that shée brought , being lesse careful of thée , then fearefull of themselues , when they had séene what shée had sayd , sodainely shrunke away , behold shée stil staieth , shée still séeketh , shée still wéepeth . If this be a fault , we cannot deny but this shée doth and to this shée perswadeth , yea this she neither meaneth to amend , nor requesteth thée to forgiue : if therfore thou reckōnest this as punishable , punished shée must be , sith no excuse hath effect wher the fact pleadeth guilty . But if this import not any offence but a true affection , and be rather a good desire then an euil desert , why art thou so hard a Iudge to so soft a creature , requiting her loue with thy losse , and suspending her hopes in this vnhappinesse ? Are not those thy wordes ? I loue those that loue mee , and who watcheth earely for me shall finde mee . Why then doth not this woman finde thée , that was vp so early to watch for thée ? Why doest thou not with like repay her , that bestoweth vppon thée her whole loue , sith thy word is her warrant , and thy promise her due debt ? Art thou lesse moued with these tears that shée sheddeth for thée her onely Maister , then thou wert with those that shée shed before thée for her deceased brother ? Or doth her loue to thy seruaunt more please thée then her loue to thy selfe ? Our loue to others must not be to them but to thée in them . For he loueth thée so much the lesse , that loueth anything with thée , that he loueth not for thée . If therefore shée then deserued wel for louing thée in an other , shée deserueth better now for louing thée in thy selfe , and if in déede thou louest those that loue thée , make thy worde good to her , that is so far in loue with thée . Of thy selfe thou hast sayd , that thou art The way , the truth and the life , If then thou art a way easie to find & neuer erring , how doth shée misse thée ? If a life giuing life and neuer ending , why is shée ready to die for thée ? If a true promising truth & neuer failing , howe is shée bereaued of thée ? For if what thy tongue did speake , thy truth will auerre , shée will neuer aske more to make her most happy . Remember that thou saidst to thy sister , that Mary had chosen the best part which should not be taken from her . That shée choose the best part is out of question , sith shée made choise of nothing but onelye of thée . But how can it be verified , that this part shall not be taken from her , sith thou that art this part art already taken away ? If shée could haue kept thée , shée would not haue lost thée , and had it béene in her power , as it was in her will , shée would neuer haue parted from thée : and might shée nowe bée restored to thy presence , shée would try all Fortunes rather then forgoe thée . Sith therefore shée seketh nothing but what shée choose , and the losse of her choise is the onely cause of her comber , either vouchsafe thou to kéepe this best part that shée choose in her , or I sée not how it can be true , that it shall not bée taken from her . But thy meaning happely was , that though it be taken from her eies , yet it should neuer bee taken from her heart , and it may be thy inward presence supplieth thine outward absence : yet I can hardlye thinke , but that if Mary had thée within her , shée could féele it , and if shée felt it , shée would neuer séeke thée . Thou art too hoate a fire to be in her bosome , and not to burne her , and thy light is too great , to leaue her minde in this darkenesse if it shined in her . In true louers euery part is an eie , and euery thought a looke , and therefore so swéet an obiect among so many eies , and in so great a light , could neuer lie so hidden but loue would espie it . No no if Mary had thée , her innocent heart neuer taght to dissemble , could not make complaint , the out side of a concealed comforte , neither would shée turne her thoughtes to pasture in a dead mans tombe , if at home shée might bid them to so heauenly a banquet . Her loue would not haue a thought to spare , nor a minute to spend , in any other action then in enioying of thée , whome shée knew too wel , to abridge the least part in her from so high a happinesse . For her thirst of thy presence was so excéeding , and the Sea of thy ioies so well able to afforde her a full draught , that though euery parcell in her should take in a whole tide of thy delightes , shée would thinke them too few to quiet her desires . Yea doubtlesse if shée had thée within her , shée would not enuye the Fortune of the richest Empresse , yea shée would more reioyce to be thy tombe in earth then a throne in heauen , and disdain to be a Saint if shée were worthy to be but thy shrine .

But peraduenture it is now with her mind , as it was with the Apostles eies , and as they séeing thee walk vppon the sea , tooke thée for a Ghost , so shée séeing thee in her heart , déemeth thée but a fansie , being yet better acquainted with thy bodily shape , then with thy spirituall power .

But O Mary it séemeth too strange that hee whome thou séekest , and for whome thou wéepest should thus giue thée ouer , to these painefull fittes , if in thée he did not sée a cause for which he will not be séene of thée . Still thy plaint and stint thy wéeping , for I doubt there is some trespasse in thy teares , and some sinne in thy sorrow : doest thou not remember his wordes to thée and to other women , when he said : Daughters of Hierusalem weepe not vppon me , but weepe vppon your selues and vpon your children . What meanest thou then to continue this course ? Doth he forbid thy teares , and wilt not thou forbeare them ? Is it no fault to infringe his will , or is not that his will , that his wordes doe import ? The fault must be mended , ere the penaunce be released , and therefore either cease to wéepe or neuer hope to finde . But I know this Logicke little pleaseth thée , and I might as soon win thée to forbeare liuing , as to leaue weping .

Thou wilt say that though he forbad thée to wéepe for him , yet he lefte thée free , to wéepe for thy selfe , and sith thy loue hath made thée one with him , thou wepest but for thy self when thou wéepest for him . But I aunswer thée againe , that because he is one with thée , and thy wéeping for him hath bin forbidden thée , thou canst not wéepe for thy selfe , but his wordes will condemn thee . For if thou and he are one , for which soeuer thou weepest it is all one , and therefore sith for him thou maiest not weepe , forbeare all weeping least it should offend .

Yea but ( saiest thou ) to barre mee from weeping , is to abridge me of liberty , and restraint of liberty is a penalty , and euery penalty supposeth some offence : but an offence it is not to weep for my selfe , for he would neuer commaund it , if it were not lawfull to doe it . The fault therefore must be , in being one with him , that maketh the weeping for my selfe , a weeping also for him . And if this be a fault , I will neuer amend it , and let them that thinke it so , doe penaunce for it , for my part , sith I haue lost my mirth , I will make much of my sorrow , and sith I haue no ioy but in teares , I may lawfully shedde them . Neither thinke I his former word , a warrant against his latter deede . And what neede had he to weepe vppon the Crosse , but for our example , which if it were good for him to giue , it can not be euill for mee to follow . No no it is not my weeping that causeth my losse , sith a worlde of eies , & a sea of tears , could not worthely bewaile the misse of such a maister .

Yet since , neither thy seeking findeth , nor thy weeping preuaileth satisfy thy selfe with the sight of Angels . Demaunding the cause of their comming , and the reason of thy Lords remoue , and sith they first offer the occasion of parley , be not thou too dainty of thy discourse . It may be they can calm thy stormes , and quiet thy vnrest , and therefore conceale not from them thy sore , leaste thou loose the benefite of their emplaister . But nothing can moue Mary to admit comfort , or entertaine any company , for to one alone and for euer she hath vowed her selfe , and except it be to him , shee will neither lend her eare long to others , nor borrow others helpe , least by seeking to alay her smart , shee should lessen her loue . But drawing into her minde all pensiue conceites , shee museth and pineth in a consuming languor , taking comfort in nothing but in being comfortlesse .

Alas saith shee , small is the light that a starre can yeeld when the Sun is downe , and a sorry exchange to goe gather crummes after the losse of a heuenly repast . My eyes are not vsed to see by the glims of a sparke : and in seking the sunne it is either needeles or booteles to borrowe the light of a candle , sith eyther it must bewray it selfe with the selfe light , or no other light can euer discouer it . If they come to disburden me of my heauinesse , their comming wil be burdensom vnto me , and they wil load me more while they labour my reliefe . They cannot perswade me , that my Maister is not lost , for my owne eyes will disproue them . They can lesse tell me where he may be found , for they would not be so simple , to be so long from him : or if they ran forbeare him , surely they doe not know him , whom none can truly know and liue long without him . All their demurres would be tedious , and discourses irkesome . Impaire my loue they might , but appay it they could not , to which he that first accepted the debt , is the onely paiment . They eyther want power , will or leaue to tell me my desire , or at the first word they would haue don it , sith Angels are not vsed to idle spéeches , and to me al talke is idle , that doth not tell me of my master . They know not where he is , and therefore they are come to the place where he last was , making the tombe their heauen , and the remembrance of his presence the foode of their felicity . Whatsoeuer they could tell me , if they told me not of him , and whatsoeuer they should tell me of him , if they told me not where he were , both their telling and my hearing were but a wasting of time . I neither came to sée them , nor desire to heare them . I came not to sée Angels , but him that made both me and Angels , and to whom I owe more then both to men and Angels .

And to thée I appeal O most louing Lord , whether my afflicted heart doe not truely defray the tribute of an vndeuided loue . To thée I appeale whether I haue ioyned any partner with thee in the small possession of my poore selfe . And I would to God I were as priuy where thy body is , as thou art , who is onely Lord and owner of my soule .

But alas swéet Iesu , where thou wert thou art not , where thou art I know not : wretched is the case that I am in , and yet how to better it I cannot imagin . Alas O my onely desire , why hast thou left me wauering in these vncertainties , and in how wilde a maze wander my doubtfull and perplexed thoughts ? If I stay here where he is not I shall neuer finde him . If I would goe farther to séeke , I knowe not whether . To leaue the tombe is a death , and to stand helpeles by it an vncurable disease , so that all my comfort is now concluded in this , that I am left frée to choose whether I will stay without helpe , or goe without hope , that is in effect , with what torment I will end my life . And yet euen this were too happy a choise for so vnhappy a creature . If I might be chooser of my owne death , O how quickely should that choise be made , and how willingly would I runne to that execution ? I would be nailed to the same crosse , with the same nailes , and in the same place : my heart should be wounded with his speare , my head with his thornes , my body with his whips : Finally I would taste al his tormentes , and tread all his embrued and bloudy steppes .

But O ambitious thoughts , why gaze you vpon so high a felicity ? why think you of so glorious a death , that are priuy to so infamous a life ? death alas I deserue , yea not one but infinite deaths . But so swéet a death , seasoned with so many comforts , the very instruments whereof were able to raise the deadest corps , & depure the most defiled soule , were too small a scourge for my great offences . And therefore I am left to feele so many deaths , as I liue hours , and to passe as many pangues , as I haue thoughts of my losse , which are as many as there are minutes , and as violent as if they were all in euery one . But sith I can neither die as he died , nor liue where he lieth dead , I will liue out my liuing death by his graue , and die on my dying life by his swéete tombe . Better is it after losse of his body to looke to his sepulchre , then after losse of the one , to leaue the other to be destroyed . No no , though I haue béene robbed of the Saint , I wil at the least haue care of the shrine , which though it be spoiled of the most soueraigne hoast , yet shall it be the Altar where I will daily sacrifie my heart , and offer vp my teares .

Here will I euer leade , yea here to I meane to end my wretched life , that I may at the least bee buried by the tombe of my Lord , and take my iron sléepe neere this couche of stone , which his presence hath made the place of swéetest repose .

It may be also that this empte Sindon lying héere to no vse , and this tombe being open without any in it , may giue occasion to some mercifull heart , that shall first light vpon my vnburied body , to wrap me in this shroud , and to interre me in this tombe .

O too fortunate lott , for so vnfortunate a woman to craue : no no , I doe not craue it . For alas I dare not , yet if such a sinfull ouersight shoulde be committed , I doe now beforehand forgiue that sinner , and were it no more presumption to wish it aliue then to suffer it dead , if I knew the party that shuld first passe by me , I woulde woe him with my teares , and hire him with my praiers , to blesse me with this felicity . And though I dare not wish anie to do it , yet this without offence I may say to all , that I loue this Syndon aboue all clothes in the world , and this tomb I estéeme more , then any princes monument : yea , and I thinke that corse highly fauoured , that shall succéede my Lord in it , and for my part as I mean , that the ground where I stand shall be my death-bed , so am I not of Iacobs minde to haue my bodie buried farre from the place where it dieth , but euen in the next and readiest graue , and that as soone as my breath faileth , sith delaies are bootlesse , where death hath wonne possession .

But alas I dare not say any more : let my bodie take such fortune as befalleth it : my soule at the least shall dwel in this swéet Paradise , and from this britle case of flesh and bloud , passe presently into the glorious tombe of God and man . It is nowe enwrapped in a masse of corruption , it shall then enioy a place of high perfection : where it is nowe it is more by force then by choise , and like a repining prisoner in a loathed gayle . But there in little roume it should finde perfect rest , and in the prison of death , the libertie of a ioyfull life .

O swéet tomb of my swéetest Lord , while I liue I will stay by thee : when I die , I will cleaue vnto thée : neither aliue nor dead , will I euer be drawne from thée . Thou art the altar of mercie , the temple of trueth , the sanctuary of safetie , the graue of death , and the cradle of eternall life . O heauen of my eclipsed sunne , receiue into thee this sillie starre , that hath nowe also lost all wished light . O Whale that hast swallowed my onely Ionas , swallowe also me more worthy to be thy pray , sith I , and not he , was the cause of this bloudie tempest . O Cesterne of my innocent Ioseph , take me into thy drie bottome , sith I , and not he , gaue iust cause of offence to my enraged brethren . But alas , in what cloud hast thou hidden the light of our way ? Upon what shoare hast thou cast vp the preacher of all trueth ? or to what Ismaelite hast thou yéelded the purueyour of our life ?

O vnhappie me , why did I not before thinke of that which I now aske ? why did I leaue him when I heard him , thus to lament him nowe , that I haue lost him ? If I had watched with perseuerance , either none would haue taken him , or they shoulde haue taken me with him .

But through too much precisenesse in keeping the lawe , I haue lost the lawmaker , and by being too scrupulous in obseruing his ceremonies , I am proued irreligious in loosing himselfe , sith I should rather haue remained with the trueth then forsaken it , to solemnize the figure . The Sabboth could not haue bin prophaned in standing by his corse , by which the prophanest thinges are sanctified , & whose couch doth not defile the cleane , but clenseth the most defiled .

But when it was time to stay , I departed : When it was too late to helpe , I returned : and nowe I repent my folly , when it cannot be amended . But let my heart dissolue into sighes , mine eyes melt in teares , and my desolate soule languish in dislikes : yea let all that I am and haue , indure the deserued punishment , that if hee were incensed with my fault , he may be appeased with my penance , and returne vpon the amendement that fled from the offence .

Thus when hir timorous conscienec had indited hir of so great an omission , & hir toong enforced the euidence with these bitter accusations , Loue , that was now the onely vmpier in all hir causes , condemned hir eyes to a freshe showre of teares , hir brest to a new storme of sighes , and hir soule , to be perpetuall prisoner to restlesse sorrowes .

But O Mary , thou deceiuest thy selfe in thy owne desires , and it well appeareth , that excesse of griefe , hath bred in thee a defect of due prouidence .

And wouldest thou indeed haue thy wishes , come to passe , and thy wordes fulfilled ? Tell me then , I pray thee if thy heart were dissolued , where wouldest thou harbor thy Lord ? what wouldest thou offer him ? how wouldst thou loue him ?

Thy eyes haue lost him , thy hands cannot féele him , thy féet cannot follow him , and if he be at all in thée , it is thy heart that hath him , and wouldest thou now haue that dissolued , from thence also to exile him ? And if thy eyes were melted , thy soule in languor , and thy senses decayed , how wouldest thou see him , if he did appeare ? howe shouldest thou heare him , if he did speake ? howe couldest thou knowe him , though hée were there present ?

Thou thinkest happily that hee loueth thée so wel , that if thy heart were spent for his loue , he would either lend his owne heart vnto thee , or create a newe heart in thee , better then that which thy sorrow tooke from thée . It may bee , thou imaginest , that if thy soule woulde giue place , his soule wanting nowe a body , would enter into thine , with supplie of all thy senses , and release of thy sorrowes .

O Mary thou didst not marke what thy maister was woont to say , when he told thee , that the third day he shuld rise againe . For if thou hadst heard him , or at the least vnderstoode him , thou wouldest not thinke , but that hée now vseth both his heart and soule in the life of his owne body . And therefore repaire to the angels , and enquire more of them , least thy Lord be displeased , that comming from him thou wilt not entertaine them .

But Marie whose deuotions were all fixed vpon a nobler Saint , and that had so straightly bound hir thoughtes to his onely affection , that shee rather desired to vnknow whom she knew alreadie , then to burthen her mind with the knowledge of newe acquaintance , could not make her wil , long since possessed with the highest loue , stoupe to the acceptance of meaner friendships , And for this though she did not scornefully reiect , yet did she with humilitie refuse the Angels company , thinking it no discourtesie to take her selfe from them , for to giue her selfe more wholly to her Lord , to whome both shee and they were wholly deuoted , and ought most loue and greatest dutie . Sorrow also being nowe the onely interpreter of all that sense , deliuered to her vnderstanding , made hir conster their demand in a more doubtfull then true meaning .

If ( saith she ) they come to ease my affliction , they coulde not be ignorant of the cause : and if they were not ignorant of it , they woulde neuer aske it : why then did they say , Woman why weepest thou ?

If their question did import a prohibition , the necessitie of the occasion doth countermand their counsaile , and fitter it were they shoulde wéepe with me , then I in not wéeping obey them .

If the Sunne were ashamed to shew his brightnesse , when the father of all lightes was darkened with such disgrace : If the heauens discolouring their beauties , suted themselues to their makers fortune ; If the whole frame of nature were almost dissolued to sée the authour of nature so vnnaturally abused : why may not Angelles , that best knewe the indignitie of the case , make vp a part in this lamentable consort : And especially nowe , that by the losse of his bodie , the cause of wéeping is increased , and yetthe number of mourners lessened : sith the Apostles are fled , all his friends afraid , and poore I left alone to supplie the teares of all creatures ?

O who will giue water to my head , & a fountaine of teares vnto my eyes that I may weepe day and night , and neuer cease weeping ? O my only Lord thy griefe was the greatest that euer was in man , and my griefe as great as euer happened to woman : for my loue hath carued me no small portion of thine , thy losse hath redoubled the torment of mine owne , and all creatures séeme to haue made ouer to me theirs , leauing mee as the vice-gereut of all their sorrows . Sorrow with me at the least thou O Tombe , and thawe into teares you hardest stones . The time is now come , that you are licensed to cry , and bound to recompence the silence of your Lordes Disciples , of whome hée himselfe said to the Pharisies , that if they held their peace , the verie stones should crie for them . Nowe therefore sith feare hath locked vp their lips , & sadnesse made them mute , let the stones crie out against the murderers of my Lord , and bewray the robbers of his sacred body .

And I feare that were it well knowen , who hath taken him away , there is no stone so stony , but should haue cause to lament .

It was doubtlesse the spite of some malicious Pharisée or bloudy Scribe , that not contented with those torments , that he suffred in life ( of which euery one to any other would haue bin a tirannicall death ) hath now stollen away his dead body , to practise vppon it some sauage cruelty , and to glutte their pittilesse eies , and brutish heart with the vnnaturall vsage of his helples corps . O yée rockes and stones if euer you must cry out , now it is highe time , sith the light , the life , and the Lord of the world , is thus darkened , massacred , and outragiously missused .

Doth not this tongue , whose truth is infallible , and whose word omnipotent , commaunding both windes and seas , and neuer disobeyed of the moste insensible creatures , promise to arme the world , & to make the whole earth to fight against the sencelesse persons , Sap. 5. in defence of the iust ? And who more iust then the lord of iustice ? who more sencelesse then his barbarous murderers , whose insatiable thirst of his innocent bloud , could not be staunched , with their cruell butchering him at his death , vnles they procéeded farther in this hellish impiety to his dead body ? Why then doe not all creatures addresse themselues to reuenge so iust a quarrell , vppon so sencelesse wretches , left of all reason , forsaken of humanity , & bereaued of all féeling both of God and man ?

O Mary , why doest thou thus torment thy selfe with these tragical surmises ? Doest thou thinke that the Angels would sit still , if their Maister were not well ? Did they serue him after his fasting , and would they despise him after his dicease ? Did they comfort him before he was apprehended , & would none defend him when he was dead ? If in the garden hée might haue had twelue Legions of them , is his power so quite dead with his body , that he could not now commaund them ? Was there an Angell found to helpe Daniel to his dinner , to saue Tobye from the fish , yea and to defend Balaans poore beast from his Maisters rage , and is the Lord of Angelles of so little reckonning , that if his body stoode in néede , neuer an Angell would defende it ? Thou séest two here present to honour his Tombe , and how much more carefull would they be to doe homage to his person ? Beléeue not Mary that they would smile , if thou haddest such occasion to wéepe . They would not so gloriously shine in white , if a blacke & mourning wéede did better become them , or were a fitter liuery for theyr Maister to giue , or them to weare . Yeelde not more to thy vncertain fear , 〈◊〉 deceiued loue , then to their assured ●●●wledge , and neuer erring charity . 〈◊〉 a materiall eye sée more then a ●●●uenly spirite , or the glimmering of 〈◊〉 twi-light giue better aym then the beames of their eternal Sun ? Would they , thinkest thou , wait vpon the winding sheete , while the corse were abused , or be here for thy comfort , if their Lord did néede their seruice ? No no , he was neither any théeues bootye , nor Pharisées praye , neyther are the Angels so careles of him , as thy suspition presumeth . And if their presence and demeanour can not alter thy conceite , looke vppon the clothes and they will teach thée thine errour , and cleare thée of thy doubt .

Would any théefe thinkest thou haue béen so religious , as to haue stollen the body and left the clothes ? yea would he haue béene so venturous , as to haue staied the vnshrowding of the corse , the well ordering of the shéets , and folding vp the napkins ? Thou knowest that mirrhe maketh linnen cleaue as fast , as pitch or glue : and was a théefe at so much leisure , as to dissolue the mirrhe and vncloath the dead ? what did the watch while the seales were broken , the Tombe opened , the body vnfolded , al other things ordered as now thou seest ? And if all this cannot yet perswad thee , beleeue at the least thy own experience ? when thy maister was stripped at the crosse , thou knowest that his onely garmont being congealed to his goary backe , came not off without many partes of his skinne , and doubtlesse would haue torne off many more , if it had béen annointed with mirrhe : Looke then into the shéete , whether there remaine any parcell of skinne , or any one haire of his head : and sith there is none to bée found , beléeue some better issue of thy maisters absence , then thy feare suggesteth . A guilty conscience doubteth want of time , and therfore dispatcheth hastely . It is in hazard to be discouered , and therefore practiseth in darkenes and secresie . It euer worketh in extreame feare , and therefore hath no leisure to place things orderly . But to vnwrappe so mangled a body , out of mirrhed clothes , without tearing of any skinne , or leauing on any mirrhe , is a thing either to man impossible , or not possible to be done with such spéed , without light or help , and with so good order . Assure thy selfe therefore , that if either of malice , or by fraud , the corse had béen remoued , the linnen & mirrhe should neuer haue béene left , and neither could the Angels looke so chearfully , nor the cloths lie so orderly , but to import som happier accident , then thou conceiuest .

But to frée thée more from feare , consider those wordes of the Angelles , Woman why weepest thou ? For what doe they signify but as much in effecte as if they had said : Where Angels reioyce it agréeth not that a woman shold wéepe , and where heauenly eies are witnesses of ioy , no mortall eye should controll them with testimonies of sorrow ? With more then a manly corage thou diddest before thy comming , arme thy féete to runne among swords , thy armes to remoue huge loads , thy body to endure al tirants rage , and thy soul to be sundred with violent tortures : and art thou now so much a Woman that thou canst not command thy eies to forbeare teares ? If thou wert a true Disciple , so many proofes would perswade thée , but now thy incredulous humor , maketh thée vnworthy of that stile , and we can affoorde thée no better title then a Woman , and therefore O Woman and too much a Woman , why weepest thou ?

If there were here any corse , wée might thinke that sorrow for the dead enforced thy teares , but now that thou findest it a place of the liuing , why dost thou here stand weeping for the dead ?

Is our presence so discomfortable , that thou shouldest wéep to behold vs ? or is it the course of thy kindnesse with teares to entertaine vs ? If they bée tears of loue to testify thy good will , as thy loue is acknowledged , so let these signes be suppressed . If they be teares of anger to denounce thy displeasure , they should not here haue béene shedde where all anger was buried but none deserued . If they be teares of sorrow and dueties to the dead , they are bestowed in vaine where the dead is reuiued . If they be teares of ioy , stilled from the flowers of thy good Fortune , fewer of these would suffice , and fitter were other tokens to expresse thy contentment . And therefore O Woman why doest thou weepe ? Would our eies be so dry , if such eie streams were behoouefull ? Yea would not the heauens rain tears if thy suppossals were truths ? Did not Angels alwaies in their visible semblaunces , represent their lords inuisible pleasure , shadowing in their shapes the drift of his intentions ? When God was incensed they brandished swords : When hée was appeased , they sheathed them in scabbards : When hée would defend , they resembled souldiers , when hée would terrify they took terrible forms , and when he would comfort , they carried mirth in their eies , swéetenes in their countenaunce , mildenes in their wordes , fauour , grace and comlinesse in their whole presence . Why then dost thou wéepe , séeing vs to reioyce ? Dost thou imagin vs to degenerate from our nature , or to forget any duety , whose state is neither subiect to change , nor capable of the least offence ? Art thou more feruent in thy loue , or more priuy to the counsaile of our eternall God , then we that are daily attendants at his throne of glory ? O Woman déeme not amisse against so apparaunt euidence , and at our request exchange thy sorrow for our ioy .

But O glorious Angels , why doe yée moue her to ioy , if you know why shée wéepeth ? Alas shée wéepeth for the losse of him without whom all ioy is to her but matter of new griefe . While hée liued , euery place where shée found him , was to her a Paradise : euery season wherin he was enioyned , a perpetuall spring : euery exercise wherein he was serued a speciall felicity : the ground whereon hée went séemed to yéelde her swéeter footing : the aire wherein hée breathed , becam to her spirite of life , being once sanctified in his sacred brest . In summe , his presence brought with it a heauen of delightes , and his departure séemed to leaue an Eclipse in all things . And yet euen the places that he had once honored with the accesse of his person , were to her so many swéete pilgrimages , which in his absence shée vsed , as chappels and altars , to offer vp her prayers , féeling in them long after , the vertue of his former presence . And therefore to féed her with coniectures of his well-being , is but to strengthen her feare of his euill , and the alledging of likelyhoodes , by those that knowe the certainty , importeth the case to bée lamentable , that they are vnwilling it should bée known . Your obscure glancing at the truth , is no sufficient acquittance of her griefe , neither can shée out of these disioyned ghesses , spell the wordes that must be the conclusion of her complaint . Tell her then directly what is becom of her lord , if you mean to deliuer her out of these dumpes , sith what else soeuer you say of him , doth but draw more humors to her sore , and rather anger it , then any way asswage it .

Yet hearken O Mary , and consider their spéeches . Thinke what answer thou wilt giue them , sith they presse thee with so strong perswassons . But I doubt that thy wittes are smothered with too thicke a miste , to admit these unknowen beams , of their pale light . Thou art so wholly inherited by the bloudy tragedy of thy slaughtred Lord , and his death and dead body haue gotten so absolute a conquest ouer all thy powers , that neither thy sence can discerne , nor thy minde conceiue , any other obiect then his murdered corse .

Thy eies séeme to tel thee that euery thing inuiteth thee to weepe , carrying such outward shew , as though all that thou seest were attired in sorrow to solemnize with generall consent the funerall of thy Maister . Thy ears perswade thée , that all sounds and voices are tuned to mourning notes , and that the Eccho of thy own wailings , is the cry of the very stons & trées , as though ( the cause of thy teares being so vnusuall ) God to the rocks and woods , had inspired a féeling of thine and their common losse . And therefore it soundeth to thée as a straunge question , to aske thee why thou wéepest , sith al that thou seest and hearest , séemeth to e●duce thée , yea to enforce thée to weepe .

If thou seest anie thing that beareth a cullour of myrth , it is vnto thee like the riche spoiles of a vanquished kingdome , in the eye of the captiue Prince , which put him in minde what he had , not what he hath , and are but vpbraidinges of his losse , and whetstones of sharper sorrow Whatsoeuer thou hearest , that moueth delight , it representeth the misse of thy maisters spéeches , which as they were the onely harmonie that thy eares affected , so they being now stopped with a deathfull silence , all other words and times of comfort are to thee but an Israelites musicke vpon Babilon bancks , memories of a lost felicitie , and proofes of a present vnhappinesse . And though loue increased the conceite of thy losse which endéereth the meanest thinges , and doubleth the estimate of thinges that are pretious : yet thy faith teaching thee , the infinite dignitie of thy maister , and thy vnderstanding being no dull scholler , to learne so wel liked a lesson , it fell out to be the bitterest part of thy miserie , that thou diddest so wel know howe infinite the losse was that made thée miserable .

This is the cause that those verie angels in whome all thinges make remonstrance of triumph and solace , are vnto thée occasions of new griefe . For their gratious and louely countenances , remember thee , that thou hast lost the beutie of the world , and the highest marke of true loues ambition . Their swéete lookes and amiable features tel thée , that the heauen of thy eyes which was the reuerend Maiestie of thy maisters face , once shined with farre more pleasing graces , but is now disfigured with the dreadful formes of death . In summe they were to thée , like the glistering sparkes of a broken Diamond , and like pictures of dead and decaied beauties , signes , not salues of thy calamitie , memorials , not medicines of thy misfortune .

Thy eies were to wel acquainted with the trueth , to accept a supplie of shadowes , and as comelinesse , comfort , and glorie were neuer in anie other so truely at home , and so perfitly in their prime , as in the person and speeches of thy Lord : so cannot thy thoughtes but be like strangers in anie forraigne delightes . For in them all thou séest no more , but some scattered crummes , and hungrymorsels of thy late plentifull banquets , and findest a dimme reflexion of thy former light , which like a flash of lightning , in a close and stormy night , serueth thee , but to sée thy present infelicitie , and the better to know the horror of the insuing darkenesse .

Thou thinkest therefore thy selfe blamelesse , both in wéeping for thy losse , and in refusing other comforte Yet in common courtesie affoord these Angels an answere , sith their charitie in visiting thee , deserueth much more , and thou ( if not too vngratefull ) canst allow them no lesse .

Alas ( saith she ) what néedeth myanswere , where the miserie it selfe speaketh , and the losse is manifest . My eies haue answered them with teares , my brest with sighes , and my heart with trouble , what néed I also punish my toonge , or wound my soule with a newe rehearsall of so dolefull a mischance . They haue taken away , O vnfortunate worde . They haue taken away my Lord .

O afflicted woman , why thinkest thou this word so vnfortunate ? It may be the Angels haue taken him more solemnly to entombe him , and sith earth hath done her last homage , happily the Quires of heauen are also descended to defray vnto him , their funerall duties .

It may be that the Centurian and the rest , that did acknowledge him on the crosse to be the sonne of God , haue béene touched with remorse , and goared with the pricke of conscience , and being desirous to satisfie for their heinous offence , haue nowe taken him , more honourably to interre him , and by their seruice , to his bodie sought forgiuenesse , and sued the pardon of their guiltie soules .

Peraduenture some secret Disciples , haue wrought this erploit , and maugre the watch taken him from hence , with due honour to preserue him in some fitter place : and therefore being yet vncertaine who hath him , there is no such cause to lament , sith the greater probabilities , march on the better side , why doest thou call sorrowe before it commeth , without which calling , it commeth on thee too fast ? yea why doest thou create sorrow where it is not , sith thou hast true sorrowes inough , though imagined sorrowes helpe not ? It is follie to suppose the worst where the best may be hoped for , and euerie mishappe bringeth griefe enough with it , though wée with our friendes doe not goe first to méete it . Quiet then thy selfe , till time trie out the trueth , and it may be thy feare will proue greater then thy misfortune .

But I know thy loue is litle helped with this lesson : for the more it loueth the more it feareth : and the more desirous to enioy , the more doubtfull it is to loose . It neyther hath measure in hopes , nor meane in feares : hoping the best vpon the least surmises , and fearing the worst vppon the weakest grounds . And yet both fearing and hoping at one time , neither feare withholdeth hope from the highest attempts , nor hope can strengthen feare against the smallest suspitions : but maugre all feares , loues hopes will worke to the highest pitch , and maugre al hopes , loues feares will stoupe to the lowest downcome . To bidde thée therefore hope , is not to forbid thée to feare , and though it may be for the best , that thy Lord is taken from thée , yet , sith it may also be for the worst , that wil neuer content thée .

Thou thinkest hope doth inough to kéepe thy heart from breaking , & feare little enough to force thée to wéeping , sith it is as likely that he hath béen taken away vpon hatred by his enimies , as vpon loue by his friendes .

For hitherto ( saiest thou ) his friends haue all failed him , and his foes preuailed against him , & as they that would not defend him aliue , are lesse likely to regard him dead , so they that thought one life too litle to take from him , are not vnlikely after deathe to wreake new rage vpon him .

And though this doubt were not , yet whosoeuer hath taken him , hath wronged me , in not acquainting me with it : for to take away mine , without my consent , can neither be offered without iniurie , nor suffered without sorrow . And as for Jesus he was my Jesus , my Lord , and my maister . Hée was mine because he was giuen vnto me , and borne for me : he was the author of my being , and so my father , hée was the worker of my wel doing , and therefore my Sauiour , hee was the price of my ransome , and thereby my redeemer : Hee was my Lord to command me , my maister to instruct mée , my pastor to féede mée . He was mine because his loue was mine , and when he gaue me his loue , hee gaue me himselfe , sith loue is no gift except the giuer be giuen with it , yea it is no loue , ●●lesse it be as liberall of that it is , as of that it hath . Finally , if the meat bee m●●● that I eate , the life mine wherewith I liue , or he mine , all , whose life labours and death were mine , then dare I boldly say that Iesus is mine , sith on his bodie I feede , by his loue I liue , and to my good without any neede of his owne , hath hee liued , laboured , and died . And therefore though his Disciples , though the Centurion , yea though the Angels haue taken him , they haue done me wrong , in defeating mee of my right , ( sith I neuer meane to resigne my interest .

But what if he hath taken a way himself , wilt thou also lay vniustice to his charge ? Thogh he be thine , yet thine to command , not to obey , thy Lord to dispose of thee , and not to be by thée disposed : and therefore as it is no reason , that the seruant should be maister of his maisters secretes , so might hee , and peraduenture so hath he , remoued without acquainting thee whether reuiuing himselfe with the same power , with which he raised thy dead brother , and fulfilling the wordes , that he often vttered of his resurrection .

It may be thou wilt say , that a gift once giuen , cannot bee reuoked , and therefore though it were before in his choise , not to giue himselfe vnto thée , yet the deede of gift being once made , he cannot be taken from thee , neyther can the doner dispose of his gift without the possessors priuitie . And sith this is a rule in the lawe of nature , thou maiest imagine it a breach of equitie , and an impeachment of thy right to conuey himselfe away without thy consent .

But to this I will aunswere thée with thine owne ground . For if he be thine by being giuen thée once , thou art his by as many gifts , as daies , and therefore hee being absolute owner of thée , is likewise full owner of whatsoeuer is thine , and consequently because he is thine , hee is also his owne , and so nothing liable vnto thée , for taking himselfe from thée .

Yea but he is my Lord ( saiest thou ) and in this respect , bound to kéepe me , at the least bound not to kill me : and sith killing is nothing but a seuering of life from the body , he being the chiefe life both of my soule and body , cannot possibly go from me , but he must with a double death kill me . And therefore he being my Lord , and bound to protect his seruant , it is against all lawes that I should be thus forsaken .

But O cruel tongue , why pleadest thou thus against him , whose case I feare me is so pitifull , that it might rather moue all tongues to plead for him , being peraduenture in their hands , whose vnmercifull hearts , make themselues merrie with his miserie , and build the triumphes of their impious victorie , vpon the dolefull ruines of his disgraced glorie . And now ( O griefe ) because I know not where he is , I cannot imagine how to helpe , for they haue taken him away , and I knowe not where they haue put him .

Alas Mary why dost thou consume thy selfe with these cares ? His father knoweth and hée will helpe him . The Angels know and they wil gard him . His own soule knoweth and that will asist him . And what néede then is there that thou séely woman shouldst know it , that canst no way profite him ? But I féele in what vain thy pulse beateth , and by thy desire I discouer thy disease . Though both heauen and earth did know it , and the whole world had notice of it , yet except thou also wert made priuy vnto it , thy woes would be as great , & thy teares as many . That others sée thy Sunne , doth not lighten thy darkenesse , neither can others eating satisfie thy hunger . The more there be that know of him , the greater is thy sorrow , that among so many thou art not thought worthy to be one . And the more there bée that may help him , the more it gréeueth thée that thy poore helpe is not accepted among them . Though thy knowledge needeth not , thy loue doth desire it , and though it auaile not , thy desire will séeke it . If all know it thou wouldest know it with all : if no other , thou wouldest know it alone , and from whom soeuer it be concealed , it must be no secret to thée . Though the knowledge would discomfort thée , yet know it thou wilt , yea though it would kill thée , thou couldest not forbeare it .

Thy Lord to thy loue is like drink to the thirsty , which if they cannot haue , they die for drouht , and béeing long without it , they pine away with longing . And as men in extremity of thirst are still dreaming of fountaines , brookes , and springs , being neuer able to haue other thought , or to vtter other word but of drink and moisture : so louers in the vehemency of their passion , can neither thinke nor speake but of that they loue , and if that be once missing , euery part is both an eie to watch , and an eare to listen , what hope or newes may be had of it . If it be good they die till they hear it , though bad yet they cannot liue without it . Of the good they hope that it is the verye best , and of the euill they feare it to be the worst , and yet though neuer so good they pine til it be told , and be it neuer so euil , they are importunate to know it . And when they once know it , they can neither beare the ioy , nor brook the sorrow , but as well the one as the other is inough to kill them .

And this O Mary I ghesse to be the cause why the Angels would not tell thee thy Lords estate . For if it had béen to thy liking , thou wouldest haue died for ioy , if otherwise thou wouldst haue suncke downe for sorrow . And therefore they leaue this newes for him to deliuer , whose word if it giue thée a wound , is also a salue to cure it , though neuer so deadly .

But alas afflicted soule , why doth it so déepely grieue thée , that thou knowest not where he is ? Thou canst not better him if he be well , thou canst as little succour him if he be ill : and sith thou fearest that he is rather ill then well , why wouldest thou knowe it , so to end thy hopes in mishappe , and thy great feares in farre greater sorrows . Alas to aske thée why , is in a manner to aske one halfe starued why he is hungry . For as thy Lord is the foode of thy thoughts , the relief of thy wishes , the onely repast of all thy desires : so is thy loue a continuall hunger , and his absence vnto thée an extream famine . And therefore no maruail though thou art so gréedy to heare , yea to deuour any be it neuer so bitter notice of him , sith thy hunger is most violent , and nothing but he able to content it . And albeit the hearing of his harmes , should work the same in thy minde , that vnwholesome meat , worketh in a sicke stomacke : yet if it once concerne him that thou louest , thy hungry loue could not temper it selfe from it , though after with many wringing gripes , it did a long and vnplesaunt penance .

But why doth thy sorrow quest so much vppon the place where hée is ? were it not inough for thée to knowe who had him , but that thou must also know in what place he is bestowed ? A worse place then a graue no man will offer , and many farre better titles wil allowe : and therefore thou maist boldly thinke , that where so euer he be , he is in a place fitter for him then where he was .

Thy sister Martha confessed him to be the Sonne of God , and with her confession agreed thy beleef . And what place more conuenient for the Sonne , then to be with his Father , the businesse for which he hath béene so long from him , being now fully finished ?

If he be the Messias as thou diddest once beléeue , it was said of him , That he should ascend on high and leade our captiuity captiue . And what is this height ▪ but heauen , what our captiuity but death ? Death therefore is become his captiue , and it is like that with the spoiles thereof , he is ascended in triumphe to eternall life .

But if thou canst not lift thy mind to so fauourable a beléefe , yet maist thou very well suppose that he is in Paradise . For if he came to repaire Adams ruines , and to be the common parent of our redemption , as Adam was of our originall infection : reason seemeth to require , that hauing endured al his life the penalty of Adams exile , he should after death reenter possession of that inheritance which Adam lost : that the same place that was the nest , where sinne was first hatched , may be now the child-bed of grace and mercy . And if sorrow at the crosse did not make thée as deafe , as at the tomb it maketh thée forgetfull , thou diddest in confirmation hereof heare him selfe say to one of the théeues , that the same day he shuld be with him in Paradise . And if it bee reason that no shadow should be more priuiledged then the body , no figure in more account then the figured truth , why shouldest thou beléeue , that Elias and Enoch haue bin in Paradise these many ages , and that he whom they but as tipes resembled , should be excluded from thence ? He excelled them in life , he surpassed them in miracles , he was farre beyond them in dignity : Why then should not his place be farre aboue , or at the least equall with theirs , sith their prerogatiues were so farre inferiour vnto his ?

And yet if the basenesse and misery of his passion , haue laid him so low in thy conceite , that thou thinkest Paradise too high a place to be likely to haue him : the very lowest roome that anye reason can assigne him , can not bée meaner then the bosome of Abraham : and sith God in his life did so often acknowledge him for his Sonne , it seemeth the slendrest preheminence , that he can giue him aboue other men , that being his holy one , hee should not in his body see corruption , but be frée among the dead , reposing both in body and soule , where other Saints are in soule onely . Let not therefore the place where he is trouble thée , sith it cannot be worse then his graue , and infinite coniectures make probability , that it cannot but be better .

But suppose that he were yet remaining in earth , and taken by others out of his tombe , what would it auail thée to know where he were ? If he bée with such as loue and honor him , they will be as wary to kéepe him , as they are loth he should be lost : and therfore will either often change , or neuer confesse the place , knowing secresie to be the surest locke to defende so great a treasure . If those haue taken him , that malice and maligne him , thou maist wel iudge him past thy recouery , when he is once in the possession of so cruell owners .

Thou wouldest happely make sale of thy liuing , and séek him by ransome . But it is not likely they woulde sell him to be honoured that bought him to be murdered .

If price would not serue , thou wouldest fall to praier . But how can praier soften such flint hearts ? and if they scorned so many tears offered for his life , as little will they regard thy intreaty for his corse .

If neither price nor praier would preuaile , thou wouldest attempt it by force . But alas séely souldier thy arms are too weak to manage weapons , and the issue of thy assault , would be the losse of thy selfe .

If no other way would helpe , thou wouldest purloine him by stealth , and thinke thy selfe happy in contriuing such a theft . O Mary thou art deceiued , for malice will haue many lockes , and to steale him from a théefe , that could steale him from the watch , requireth more cunning in the art , then thy want of practise can affoorde thée .

Yet if these be the causes that thou enquirest of the place , thou she west the force of thy rare affection , and deseruest the Laurell of a perfect louer .

But to féele more of their sweetnes , I will pound these spices , and dwell a while in the peruse of thy resolute feruour .

And first , can thy loue enrich thée when thy goods are gone , or dead corse repay the value of thy ransome ? Because he had neither bed to be borne in , nor graue to be buried in : wilt thou therefore rather be poore with him , then rich without him .

Againe , if thou hadst to sue to some cruell Scribe or Pharisée , that is to a heart boyling in rancor , with a heart burning in loue , for a thing of him aboue all things detested , of thée aboue all thinges desired : as his enemie to whome thou suelt , and his friend for whom thou intreatest : canst thou think it possible , for this sute to speed ? Could thy loue repaire thée from his rage , or suche a tyraunt stoupe to a womans teares ?

Thirdly , if thy Lord might be recouered by violence , art thou so armed in complete loue , that thou thinkest it sufficient harnesse ? or doth thy loue indue thee with such a ludithes spirite , or lend thée such Sampsons lockes , that thou canst breake open huge gates , or foyle whole armies ? Is thy loue so sure a shield , that no blowe can breake it , or so sharpe a dint , that no force can withstand it ? Can it thus alter sexe , change nature , and excéed all Arte ?

But of all other courses wouldest thou aduenture a theft to obtaine thy desire . A good déede must be well done , and a worke of mercie without breath of iustice . It were a sinne to steale a prophane treasure , but to steale an annointed prophet can be no lesse then a sacriledge . And what greater staine to thy Lord , to his doctrine , and to thy selfe , then to sée thée his Disciple , publikely executed for an open theft ?

O Mary vnlesse thy loue haue better warrant then common sence , I can hardly sée how such designementes can be approued .

Approoued ( saith shee ) I would to God the execution were as easie as the proofe , and I should not so long bewaile my vnfortunate losse .

To others it séemeth ill to prefer loue before riches , but to loue it séemeth worse to preferre any thing before it selfe . Cloath him with plates of siluer , that shiuereth for cold , or fill his purse with treasure , that pineth for hunger , and sée whether the plates will warm him , or the treasure féed him . No no , he will giue all his plates for a wollen garment , and all his mony for a meals meate . Euerie supply fitteth not with euery néed , and the loue of so swéete a Lord hath no correspondence in worldly wealth . Without him I were poore , though Empresse of the worlde . With him I were riche , though I had nothing else . They that haue moste are accounted richest , and they thought to haue moste , that haue all they desire : and therfore as in him alone is the vttermost of my desires , so hee alone is the summe of all my substance . It were too happie an exchaunge , to haue God for goodes , and too rich a pouerty , to inioy the only treasure of the world . If I were so fortunate a begger , I woulde disdaine Solomons wealth , and my loue being so highly enriched , my life shoulde neuer complaine of want .

And if all I am worth would not reach to his ransome , what should hinder me to saek him by intreaty ? Thogh I were to sue to the greatest tyrant , yet the equitie of my sute is more then halfe a grant . If many droppes soften the hardest stones , why shoulde not many teares supple the moste stonie heartes ? what anger so fiery that may not be quenched with eye water , sith a weeping suppliant , rebateth the edge of more then a Lions fury ?

My sute it selfe woulde sue for me , and so dolefull a corse woulde quicken pitie in the moste iron heartes . But suppose that by touching a ranckled sore , my touch should anger it , and my petition at the first incense him that heard it : he would percase reuile mée in wordes , and then his owne iniurie would recoyle with remorse , and be vnto me a patron to procéed in my request . And if he should accompanie his wordes with blowes , and his blowes with wounds , it may be my stripes would smart in his guilty minde , and his conscience bléede in my bléeding wounds , and my innocent bloud so entender his adamant heart , that his owne inward feelings would plead my cause , and peraduenture obtayne my sute .

But if through extremity of spite , he should happen to kill me , his offence might easely redound to my felicity . For he would be as carefull to hide whom he had vniustly murdered , as him whom he had felonously stollen , and so it is like , that he would hide me in the same place wher he had layd my Lord , and as he hated vs both for one cause , him for challenging , and me for acknowledging that he was the Messias : so would he vse vs both after one manner . And thus what comfort my body wanted , my soule should enioy , in séeing a part of my selfe partner of my Maisters miserye : with whome to be miserable , I reckon a higher fortune , then without him to be most happy .

And if no other means would serue to recouer him but force : I sée no reason why it might not very well become me ? None will bar me from defending my life , which the least worme in the right of nature hath leaue to preserue . And sith he is to me so deare a life that without him , all life is death , nature authoriseth my féeble forces to imploy their vttermost in so necessary an attempt ▪ Necessity addeth ability , & loue doubleth necessity , and it often happeneth that nature armed with loue , and pressed with néede , excéedeth it selfe in might and surmounteth all hope in successe . And as the equity of the cause , doth breath courage into the defendors , making them the more willing to fight , & the lesse vnwilling to die : so guilty consciences are euer timerous , still starting with sodaine frights , and afrayd of their own suspitions , ready to yéeld before the assault , vppon distrust of their cause , and dispaire of their defence . Sith therefore to rescue an innocent , to recouer a right , and to redresse so déep a wrong , is so iust a quarrell , nature will enhable me , loue encourage me , grace confirme me , and the iudge of all iustice fight in my behalfe .

And if it séeme vnfitting to my sexe in talke , much more in practise to deal with martiall affaires : yet when such a cause happeneth , as neuer had patterne , such effects must follow as are without example . There was neuer any body of a God but one , neuer such a body stollen but now , neuer such a stealth vnreuenged but this . Sith therefore the Angels neglect it , & men forget it , O Iudith lend me thy prowesse for I am bound to regard it .

But suppose that my force were vnable to winne him by an open enterprise , what scruple should kéepe me from seeking him by secret means : yea and by plain stealth It wil be thought a sinne , and condemned for a theft . O swéete sinne why was not I the first that did commit thée ? Why did I suffer any other sinner to preuent me ? for stealing from God his honour I was called a sinner , and vnder that title was spred my infamy . But for stealing God from a false owner , I was not worthy to be called a sinner , because it had béene too high a glory . If this be so great a sinne , and so heinous a theft , let others make choise of what titles they will : but for my part , I would refuse to be an Angel , I would not wishe to be a Saint , I would neuer be estéemed either iust or true , and I shoulde be best contented if I might both liue and die such a sinner , and be condemned for such a theft . When I heard my Lord make so comfortable a promise to the théefe vppon the crosse , that he should that day be with him in Paradise , I had halfe an enuy at that théefes good Fortune , and wished my selfe in the théefes place , so I might haue enioyed the fruite of his promise . But if I could be so happy a théefe , as to commit this theft , if that wish had takeu effect , I would now vnwishe it againe , and scorne to be any other théef then my self , sith my booty could make me happier , then any other théefes felicity . And what though my felony should be called in question , in what respect should I néede to feare ? They would say that I loued him too well . But that were soone disproued , sith where the worthinesse is infinite , no loue can be inough . They would obiect that I stole an others goods : and as for that many sure titles of my interest would aucree him to be mine , and his dead corse would rather speak then witnesses should faile to depose so certaine a truth . And if I had not a speciall right vnto him , what shuld moue me to venture my life for him ? No no , if I were so happy a felone , I shoulde fear no temporal araignment . I should rather feare that the Angels woulde cite me to my aunswere , for preuenting them in the theft , sith not the highest Seraphin in heauen , but would déeme it a higher stile , then his owne , to be the théefe that had committed so glorious a robbery .

But alas thus stand I deuising what I would do , if I knew any thing of him , and in the meane time I neither know who hath him , nor where they haue bestowed him , and stil I am forced to dwell in this aunswere , that They haue taken away my Lord , and I know not wher they haue put him .

While Marie thus lost her selfe in a Laberinth of doubtes , watering her wordes with teares , and warming them with sighes , séeing the Angels with a kind of reuerence rise , as though they had done honour to one behinde her : She turned backe , and she saw Iesus standing , but that it was Iesus she knewe not .

O Marie is it possible that thou hast forgotten Iesus ? faith hath written him in thy vnderstanding , loue in thy will , both feare and hope in thy memorie : and how can all these registers be so cancelled that so plainly séeing , thou shouldest not know the contentes . For him onely thou tyrest thy féete , thou bendest thy knées , thou wringest thy handes . For him thy heart throbbeth , thy brest sigheth , thy tongue complaineth . For him thy eye wéepeth , thy thought sorroweth , thy wholebody fainteth , and thy soule languisheth . In summe , there is no part in thée , but is busie about him , &c notwithstanding all this , hast thou nowe forgotten him ? His countenance auourheth it , his voyce assureth it , hys woundes witnesse it , thy owne eyes beholde it , and doest thou not yet beléeue that this is Iesus ? Are thy sharp séeing eies become so weake sighted , that they are dazeled with the sunne , and blinded with the light ?

But there is such a showre of teares betwéene thée and him , and thy eyes are so dimmed with wéeping for him , that though thou seest the shape of a man , yet thou canst not discerne him . Thy eares also are still so possessed with the dolefull Eccho of his last spéeches , which want of breath , made him vtter in a dying voyce , that the force & loudnesse of his liuing wordes , maketh thee imagine it the voice of a stranger : and therefore as hée séemeth vnto thée so like a stranger , hee asketh this question of thée , O woman why weepest thou , whom seekest thou ?

O desire of heart , and onely ioy of her soule , why demandest thou why shée wéepeth , or for whome she séeketh ? But a whilesince she saw thée hir only hope hanging on a trée , with thy head full of thornes , thy eies full of teares , thy eares full of blasphemies , thy mouth full of gall , thy whole person mangled and disfigured , and doest thou aske her why shee wéepeth ? Scarse thrée daies passed , she beheld thy arms and legs , racked with violent pulles , thy hands and féete boared with nails , thy side wounded with a speare , thy whole body torne with stripes and goared in bloud , and doest thou hir only griefe aske hir why shée wéepeth ? She beheld thee vppon the crosse with many teares , & most lamentable cries , yeelding vp her ghost , that is thy own ghost , & alas askest thou why she weepeth ? And now to make vp hir misere , hauing but one hope aliue , which was , that for a small reliefe of her other afflictions , she might haue annointed thy body , that hope is also dead , since thy body is remoued , and shee nowe standeth hopelesse of all helpe , and demandest thou why shée wéepeth , and for whome shee séeketh ? Full well thou knowest , that thée onely shee desireth , thée onely she loueth , all things besides thée she contemneth , and canst thou find in thy heart to aske hir whom she séeketh ? To what end , O sweet Lord , doest thou thus suspend hir longinges , prolong hir desires , and martir hir with these tedious delaies ? Thou onely art the fortresse of hir faint faith , the anker of her wauering hope , the very center of her vehement loue : to thée she trusteth , vpon thée she relieth , and of her selfe she wholly dispaireth . She is so earnest in seeking thée , that shée can neither seeke nor thinke any other thing : and all her wittes are so busied in musing vppon thée , that they draw all attention from her senses , wherewith they should discerne thée . Being therfore so attentiue to that she thinketh , what maruell though shee marke not whome shée séeth , and sith thou hast so perfect notice of her thought , and she so litle power to discouer thée by sense , why demandest thou for whome shée séeketh , or why shee wéepeth ? Doest thou looke that she should answer , for thée I séeke , or for thée I wéep ? vnlesse thou wilt vnbend her thoughtes , that her eyes may fully sée thée , or while thou wilt be concealed , doest thou expect that she should be able to know thee ?

But O Mary , not without cause doth he aske thée this question . Thou wouldest haue him aliue , and yet thou wéepest because thou doest not finde him dead . Thou art sorie that hee is not here , and for this verie cause thou shouldst rather be glad . For if he were dead , it is moste likely hee should bee héere , but not being héere , it is a signe that hée is aliue . Hee reioyceth to be out of his graue , and thou wéepest because hee is not in it . Hee will not lie any where , and thou sorrowest for not knowing where he lieth . Alas why bewaylest thou his glorie , as an iniurie : the reuiuing of his bodie as the robberie of his corse ? Hee being aliue , for what dead man mournest thou , and he being present , whose absence doest thou lament ? But shee taking him to be a Gardiner , said vnto him , O Lord if thou hast carried him from hence , tell me where thou hast laid him , and I will take him away .

O woonderfull effectes of Maries loue , if loue be a languor howe liueth she by it ? If loue be her life , how dieth shée in it ? if it bereued her of sence , how did she sée the Angels ? if it quickned her sense , why knewe shee not Jesus ? doest thou séeke for one , whome when thou hast found thou knowest not , or if thou doest know him when thou findest him , why doest thou séeke when thou hast him ?

Behold Jesus is come , and the partie whom thou seekest , is he that talketh with thee . O Mary call vp thy wittes , and open thine eyes . Hath thy Lord liued so long , laboured so much , dyed with such paine , and shedde such showres of bloud to come to no higher preferment then to bee a Gardiner ? And hast thou bestowed suche cost , so much sorrow , and so many feares , for no better man then a silly Gardiner ? Alas is this soarie Garden the best inheritance , that thy loue can affoord him , or a Gardiners office the highest dignitie that thou wilt allow him ? It had bin better he had liued to béen Lord of thy castle , then with his death so dearly to haue bought so small a purchase .

But thy mistaking hath in it a farther mistery . Thou thinkst not amisse though thy sight bee deceiued . For as our first father , in the state of grace & innocency , was placed in the garden of pleasure , & the first office allotted him , was to be a Gardener : so the first man that euer was in glorie , appeareth first in a Garden , and presenteth himselfe in a gardeners likenes , that the beginnings of glory , might resemble the entrance of innocencie and grace . And as a Gardener was the foyle of mankind , the parent of sinne , and author of death : so is this Gardiner , the raysor of our ruines , the ransome of our offences , and the restorer of life . In a Garden Adam was deceiued , and taken captiue by the diuell . In a Garden Christ was betraied and taken prisoner by the Jewes . In a Garden Adam was condemned to earn his bread with the sweate of his browes . And after a frée gift of the bread of Angels in the last supper in a Garden Christ , did earne it vs with a bloudy sweat of his whole body . By disobedient eating the fruite of a trée , our right to that Garden was by Adam forfeited , and by the obedient death of Christ vpon a trée , a farre better right is nowe recouered . When Adam had sinned in the garden of plesure , hee was there apparelled in dead beastes skinnes , that his garment might betoken his graue , and his liuerie of death agrée with his condemnation to die . And nowe to defray the debt of that sin , in this garden Christ lay clad in the dead mans shrowd , and buried in his Tombe , that as our harmes began so they might ende , and such places and meanes as were the premises to our miserie , might be also the conclusions of our misfortune . For this did Christ in the canticles , inuite vs to a heauenly banquet , after hee was come into this garden , and had reaped his myrrh , and his spices , to forewarne vs of the ioy , that after this haruest should presently insue , namely when hauing sowed in this garden , a body , the mortalitie whereof was signified by those spices , he now reaped the same , neither capeable of death , nor subiect to corruption . For this also was Mary permitted to mistake , that we might be informed of the mystery , and see how aptly the course of our redemption did answere the processe of our condemnation .

But though he be the gardiner that hath planted the Trée of grace , and restored vs to the vse and eating of the fruites of life . Though it be he that soweth his gifts in our souls , quickning in vs the seedes of vertue , & rooting out of vs the wéedes of sinne : Yet is he neuerthelesse the same Jesus he was , & the borowed presence of a meane laborer , neither altreth his person , nor diminisheth his right to his diuine titles .

Why then canst thou not as well sée what in trueth he is , as what in shew he séemeth , but because thou seest more then thou diddest beléeue , & findest more then thy faith serued thee to seeke : and for this though thy loue was worthy to sée him , yet thy faith was vnworthy to know him . Thou diddest seeke for him as dead , and therfore dost not know him , seing him aliue , and because thou beléeuest not of him , as hée is , thou doest onely sée him as he séemeth to be .

I cannot say thou art faultlesse , sith thou art so lame in thy beliefe : but thy fault deserueth fauor , because thy charity is so great , and therefore O mercifull Iesu , giue me leaue to excuse whom thou art minded to forgiue .

Shée thought to haue found thée , as shée left thée , & shée sought thee as shée did last sée thée , being so ouercom with sorrow for thy death , that shée had neither roome nor respite in her mind , for any hope of thy life , and being so déeply interred in the griefe of thy buriall , that shée could not raise her thoughtes to any conceite of thy resurrection .

For in the graue where Ioseph buried thy body , Mary together with it entombed her soule , and so straightly combined it with thy corse , that shee could with more ease sunder her soule from her owne bodie that liueth by it , then from thy dead bodie , with which her loue did bury it : for it is more thine and in thée , then her owne or in herselfe : and therefore , in séeking thy bodie , she séeketh her owne soule , as with the losse of the one , shee also lost the other . What maruaile then though sence faile , when the soule is lost , sith the lanterne must néeds be dark when the light is out ?

Restore vnto her therefore her soul that lieth imprisoned in thy body , and shée will soone , both recouer her sense , and discouer her errour . For alas it is no errour , that procéedeth of any will to erre , and it riseth as much of vehemency of affection , as of default in faith . Regard not the error of a woman but the loue of a disciple , which supplieth in it self what in faith it wanteth .

O Lord ( saith she ) If thou hast carried him hence , tell me where thou hast laid him , & I will take him away .

O how learned is her ignoraunce , and how skilful her errour ? Shée charged not the Angels with thy remoning , nor séemed to mistrust them for carrying thée away , as though her loue had taught her that their helpe was néedelesse where the thing remoued was remouer of it selfe . Shée did not request them to enfourme her where thou wert laide , as if shée had reserued that question for thy selfe to answere . But now shée iudgeth thée so likely to be the author of her losse , that halfe supposing thée guilty , shée sueth a recouery , and desireth thée to tell her wher the body is , as almost fully perswaded that thou art as priuy to the place , as well acquainted with the action . So that if shée be not altogether right , shée is not very much wrong , & shée erreth with such aime , that shée litle misseth the truth . Tell her therefore O Lord what thou hast done with thy selfe , sith it is fittest for thy owne spéech to vtter , that which was onely possible for thy owne power to performe .

But O Mary since thou art so desirous to know wher thy Iesus is , why doest thou not name him , when thou askest for him ? Thou saidst to the Angels that they had taken away thy Lord , and now the second time , thou askest for this him . Are thy thoughtes so visible , as at thy onely presence to be séene , or so generall , that they possesse all when they are once in thee ? when thou speakest of him , what him doest thou meane , or how can a stranger vnderstand thée when thou falkest of thy Lord ? Hath the worlde no other Lords but thine ? or is the demanding by no other name but ( him ) a sufficient notice for whom thou demandest .

But such is the nature of thy loue , thou iudgest that no other should be intitled a Lord , sith the whole worlde is too litle for thy Lordes possession , and that those few creatures that are , cannot chuse but knowe him , sith all the creatures of the world are to fewe to serue him . And as his worthies can appay all loues , and his only loue content all heartes , so thou deemest hym to be so well worthy to bee owner of all thoughtes , that no thought in thy conceite , can be well bestowed vppon anie other .

Yet thy speeches seeme more suddaine then sound , and more peremptorie , then well pondered . Why doest thou say so resolutely without anie further circumstance , that if this gardiner haue taken him , thou wilt take him from him . If he had him by right in taking him away thou shouldest do him wrong . If thou supposest hee wrongfully took him , thou laiest theft to his charge , and howsoeuer it be thou either condemnest thyselfe for an vsurper , or him for a theese And is this an effect of thy zelous loue , first to abase him from a God to a Gardiner , and now to degrade him from a Gardiner to a theese ?

Thou shouldest also haue considered whether he tooke him vpon loue or malice . If it were for loue , thou maiest assure thy selfe that he wil be as wary to keepe , as hee was ventrous to get him , and therefore thy pollicie was weake in saying ; thou wouldest take him away , before thou knewest where he was , sith none is so simple to bewray their treasure to a known théefe . If he tooke him of malice , thy offer to recouer him ; is an open defiance , sith malice is as obstinate in defending , as violent in offering wrong , and he that woulde be cruell against thy maisters dead body , is likely to be more furious against his liuing disciple .

But thy loue had no leysure to cast so many doubts . Thy teares were interpreters of thy words , and thy innocent meaning was written in thy dolefull countenance . Thy eyes were rather pleaders for pity ▪ then Heralds of wrath , and thy whole person presented such a paterne of thy extreame anguish , that no man from thy presence could take in anie other impression . And therefore what thy wordes wanted , thy action supplied , and what his eare might mistake , his eye did vnderstand .

It may be also that hee wrought in thy heart , that was concealed from thy sight , and happily his voyce , and demeanor did import such compassion of thy case , that hee seemed as willing to affoord , as thou desirous to haue his helpe . And so presuming by his behauiour , that thy sute should not suffer repulse , the tenour of thy request doth but argue thy hope of a grant .

But what is the reason , that in all thy speeches , which since the misse of thy maister , thou hast vttered ( where they haue put him ) is alwaies apart ? So thou saydst to the Apostles , the same to the Angels , and nowe thou doest repeat it to this supposeo gardiner : verie sweete must this word be in thy hart , that is so often in thy mouth , and it would neuer be so readie in thy tongue , if it were not verie freshe in thy memorie .

But what maruell though it fast so swéete , that was first seasoned in thy maisters mouth , which as it was the treasurie of trueth , the fountaine of life , and the onely quire of the moste perfect harmonie , so whatsoeuer it deliuered , thy eare deuoured , and thy heart locked vp . And nowe that thou wantest himselfe , thou hast no other comfort , but his wordes , which thou déemest so much the more effectuall to perswade , in that they tooke their force from so heauenly a speaker . His sweetnesse therefore it is , that maketh this word so sweet and for loue of him thou repeatest it so often , because hee in the like case said of thy brother , where haue you put him . O how much doest thou affect his person that findest so sweete a feeling in his phrase ? Howe much desirest thou to see his countenance , that with so great desire pronouncest his wordes ? And howe willingly wouldest thou kisse his sacred feet , that so willingly vtterest his shortest speeches ?

But what meanest thou to make so absolute a promise , and so boldly to say I will take him away ? Ioseph was afraid , and durst not take downe his body from the crosse but by night , yea and then also not without Pilats warrant . But thou neyther staiest till night , nor regardest Pilat , but stoutly promisest , that thou thy selfe wilt take him away . What if hee be in the Pallace of the high Priest , and some suche mayd as made Saint Peter denie his maister to beginne to question with thée , wilt thou then stand to these words I wil take him away ? Is thy courage so high aboue thy kinde , strength so far beyond thy sexe , and thy loue so much without measure , that thou neither remembrest that al women are weak , nor that thou thy selfe art but a woman ? Thou exemptest no place , thou preferrest no person , thou speakest without feare , thou promisest without condition , thou makest no exception : as though nothing were impossible that thy loue suggesteth . But as the darknesse could not fright thée from setting foorth before day , nor the watch feare thee from comming to the Tombe : as thou diddest resolue to breake open the seales , though with danger of thy life , and to remoue the stone from the graues mouth , though thy force could not serue thée : so what maruell though thy loue being nowe more incensed with the fresh wound of thy losse , it resolue vpon any , though neuer so hard aduentures ? Loue is not ruled with reason , but with loue . It neither regardeth what can be , nor what shall be done , but onely what it selfe desireth to doe . No difficultie can stay it , no impossibilitie appale it . Loue is title iust enough , and armour strong enough for all assaultes , and it self a reward of all labours . It asketh no recompence , it respecteth no commodity . Loues fruits are loues effects , and the gaynes , the paynes . It considereth behoofe , more then benefite , and what in dutie it shoulde , not what in deede it can .

But how can nature be so mastered with affection , that thou canst take such delight and carrye such loue to a dead corse ? The mother how tenderly soeuer shee loued her childe aliue . yet shée can not choose but loath him dead . The most louing spouse can not endure the presence of her deceas●d husband , and whose embracements were delightsom in life , are euer most hatefull after death . Yea this is the nature of all , but principally of women , that the very conceite , much more the sight of the departed , striketh into them so fearful and vgly impressions , and stirreth in them so great a horrour , that notwithstanding the most vehement loue , they thinke long till the house be ridde of their very dearest friends , when they are once attired in deaths vnlouely liueries . How then canst thou endure to take vp his corse in thy handes , and to carry it thou knowest not thy selfe how far , being especially so torne and mangled , and consequently the more likely in so long time to be tainted .

Thy sister was vnwilling that the graue of her owne brother should be opened , and yet he was shrowded in shéetes , embalmed with spices , and died an ordinary death , without anye wound , bruse or other harme , that might hasten his corruption . But this corse hath neither shroud nor spice , sith these are all to be séene in the Tombe , and there is not a part in his body but had some helpe to further it to decay , and art not thou afraide to see him , yea to touch him , yea to embrace and carry him naked in thy armes ?

If thou haddest remembred Gods promise , that His Saintes shoulde not see corruption : If thou haddest beléeued , that his Godhead remaining with his body , could haue preserued it from perishing , thy faith had ben more worthye of praise , but thy loue lesse worthy of admiration , sith the more corruptible thou diddest conceiue him , the more combers thou diddest determine to ouercome , & the greater was thy loue in being able to conquer them . But thou wouldest haue thought thy ointments rather harms then helpes , if thou hadst béene setled in that beléef , and for so heauenly a corse embalmed with God , all earthly spices woulde haue séemed a disgrace . If likewise thou haddest firmely trusted vppon his resurrection , I should lesse maruail at thy constant designement , sith all hazards in taking him should haue beene with vsury repaid , if lying in thy lap , thou mightest haue séene him reuiued , and his disfigured and dead body beautified in thy armes with a diuine maiesty . If thou hadst hoped so good Fortune to thy watery eies , that they might haue beene first cleared with the beames of his desired light , or that his eies might haue blessed thee with the first fruites of their glorious lookes : If thou hadst imagined any likelihood to haue made happy thy dying hart , with taking in the first gaspes of his liuing breath , or to haue heard the first words of his pleasing voice : Finally if thou hadst thought to haue séen his iniuries turned to honours , the markes of his misery to ornaments of glory , and the depth of thy heauinesse to such a height of felicity , what so euer thou hadst don to obtaine him , had béen but a mite for a million , and too slender a price for so soueraigne a peniworth .

But hauing no such hopes to vphold thee , and so many motiues to plunge thée in dispaire , how could thy loue be so mighty , as neither to féele a womans feare of so deformed a corse , nor to thinke the weight of the burthen too heauy for thy féeble armes , nor to bee amated with a world of daungers that this attempt did carry with it ?

But affection can not feare whom it affecteth , loue féeleth no load of him it loueth , neither can true friendshippe be frighted from rescuing so affied a friend .

What meanest thou then O comfort of her life , to leaue so constant a well , willer so long vncomforted , and to punish her so much , that so well deserueth pardon ? Dally no longer with so known a loue , which so many trials auouch most true . And sith shée is nothing but what it pleaseth thée , let her taste the benefite of being onely thine . Shée did not follow the tide of thy better Fortune , to shift saile when the streame did alter course . Shée began not to loue thee in thy life , to leaue thée after death : Neither was shée such a guest at thy table , that meant to be a straunger in thy necessity . Shée lefte thee not in thy lowest ebbe , shee reuolted not from thy last extremity : In thy life shee serued thee with her goods : In thy death shee departed not from thy crosse : after death shee came to dwell with thee at thy graue . Why then dost not thou say with Noemi : Blessed bee shee of our Lord , because what courtesie shee afforded to the quicke , shee hath also continued towardes the dead . A thing so much the more to be esteemed , in that it is most rare .

Doe not sweet Lord any longer delay her . Behold shee hath attended thee these three daies , and shee hath not what to eate , nor wherewith to foster her famished soule , vnlesse thou by discouering thy selfe , doest minister vnto her the bread of thy body , & feede her with the foode , that hath in it all taste of sweetnesse . If therefore thou wilt not haue her to faint in the way , refresh , her with that which her hunger requireth . For surely shee cannot long enioy the life of her body , vnlesse shee may haue notice of thee , that art the life of her soule .

But feare not Mary for thy teares will obtaine . They are too mighty oratours , to let any suite fall , & though they pleaded at the most rigorous bar , yet haue they so perswading a silence , and so conquering a complaint , that by yeelding they ouercome , and by intreating they commaund . They tie the tongues of all accusers , and soften the rigour of the seuerest Iudge . Yea they win the inuincible , and bind the omnipotent . When they seeme most pittiful , they haue greatest power , and being most for saken they are most victorious . Repentant eies are the Cellers of Angels , and penitent teares their sweetest wines , which the sauor of life perfumeth , the taste of grace swéetneth , and the purest colours of returning innocency highly beautifieth . This dew of deuotion neuer falleth , but the sunne of iustice draweth it vp , and vpōwhat face soeuer it droppeth , it maketh it amiable in Gods eie . For this water hath thy heart beene long a limbecke , sometimes distilling it out of the weedes of thy owne offences with the fire of true contrition . Sometimes out of the flowers of spirituall comforts , with the flames of contemplation , and now out of the bitter hearbs of thy Maisters miseries , with the heate of a tender compassion . This water hath better graced thy lookes , then thy former alluring glaunces . It hath setled worthier beauties in thy face , then all thy artificiall paintings . Yea this onely water hath quenched Gods anger , qualified his iustice , recouered his mercy , merited his loue , purchased his pardon , & brought forth the spring of all thy fauors . Thy tears were the proctors for thy brothers life , the inuiters of those Angels for thy comfort , and the suiters that shall be rewarded with the first sight of thy reuiued Sauiour . Rewarded they shal be , but not refrained : altered in their cause , but their course continued Heauen would weepe at the losse of so pretious a water , and earth lament the absence of so fruitefull ●owers . No no , the Angels must still bathe themselues in the pure streams of thy eies , and thy face shall still bee set with this liquid pearle that as out of thy teares , were stroken the first sparkes of thy Lordes loue , so thy teares may be the oyle , to nourishe and feede his flame . Till death damme vp the springs , they shall neuer cease running : and then shal thy soule be ferried in them to the harbour of life , that as by them it was first passed from sinne to grace , so in them it may be wasted from grace to glorie . In the meane time , réere vp thy fallen hopes , and gather confidence both of thy spéedie comforte , and thy Lordes well being .

Iesus saith vnto her , Maria , She turning , said vnto him : Rabboni .

O louing maister , thou didst onely deferre her consolation , to increase it , that the delight of thy presence , might be so much the more welcome , in that through thy long absence it was with so little hope , so much desired . Thou wert content shee shoulde lay out for thée so manie sighs , tears , and plaints , and diddest purposely adiorne the date of her paiment , to requite the length of these delaies with a larger loane of ioy . It may be she knewe not her former happinesse , till shee was weaned from it : nor had a right estimate in valuing the treasures , with which thy presence did enriche hir , vntill her extreame pouertie taught her their vnestimable rate . But now thou she west by a swéete experience , that though she paied thée with the dearest water of her eyes , with her best breath , and tenderest loue , yet small was the price that shee bestowed in respect of the worth that shee receiued . She sought the dead , and imprisoned in a stonie gayle : and now she findeth thée both aliue and at full libertie . Shée sought the shrined in a shrowd , more like a leaper then thy selfe , left as the modell of the vitermost miserie , and the onely paterne of the bitterest vnhappinesse : And now shee findeth thée inuested in the robes of glorie , the president of the highest , and both the owner and giuer of all felicitie .

And as all this while shee hath sought without finding , wéept without comforte , and called without aunswere : so no we thou satisfiest her séeking with thy comming , her tears with thy triumph , and al her cries with this one word Marie . For when she heard thee call her in thy woonted maner , and with thy vsuall voyce , her onely name issuing from thy mouth , wrought so strange an alteration in her , as if she had béene wholly new made , when she was only named . For whereas before the violence of her griefe had so benummed her , that her bodie séemed but the hearse of her dead heart , and her heart the cophin of an vnliuing soule , and hir whole presence but a representation of a double funeral of thine , and of hir owne : now with this one word her senses are restored , her minde lightened , her heart quickened , and her soule reuiued .

But what maruell though with one word hee raise the dead spirites of his poore disciple , that with a word made the world , & euen in this very worde sheweth an omnipotent power ?

Marie she was called as well in her bad as in her reformed estate , and both her good and euill , was all of Maries working . And as Marie signifieth no lesse what she was , then what she is : so is this one word by his vertue that speaketh it , a repetition of all her miseries , an Epitome of his mercies , and a memorial of all her better fortunes . And therefore it laid so generall a discouerie of her self before her eyes , that it awaked her most forgotten sorows , and mustered together the whole multitude of her ioyes , and woulde haue left the issue of their mutinie verie doubtfull , but that the presence and notice of hir highest happinesse decided the quarrell , and gaue her ioyes the victory . For as he was her only sunne , whose going downe , left nothing but a dumpishe night of fearefull fansies , wherein no starre of hope shined , and the brightest plannets were chaunged into dismall signes : so the serenitie of his countenance , and authoritie of hys worde , brought a calme and well tempered day , that chasing away all darknesse , and disperpling the cloudes of melancholie , cured the letargie , and breaketh the dead sleep of her astonied senses .

Shée therefore rauished with his voice , and impatient of delaies , taketh his talke out of his mouth , and to his first and yet onely worde , aunswered but one other calling him Rabboni that is Maister . And then sodaine ioy rowsing all other passions , shée coulde no more procéed in her own , then giue him leaue to goe fore ward with his spéech .

Loue would haue spoken , but feare enforced silence . Hope frameth the words , but doubt melteth them in the passage : and when her inward conceits striued to come out , her voice trembled , her tongue faltered , her breath failed , . In fine teares issued in liew of words , and déep sighes in stead of long sentences , the eie supplying the mouths default , and the heart pressing out the vnsillabled breath at once , which the conflict of her disagréeing passions , would not suffer to be sorted into the seuerall soundes of intelligible speeches .

For such is there estate that are sicke with a surfet of sodaine ioy , for the attaining of a thing vehementlye desired . For as desire is euer vshered by hope , and waited on by feare , so is it credulous in entertaining coniectures , but hard in grounding a firme beliefe . And though it be apt to admitte the least shadow of wished comfort , yet the hotter the desire is to haue it , the more perfect assurance it requireth for it : which so long as it wanteth the first newes or apparaunce of that which is in request , is rather an Alarum to summon vp all passions , then a retraite to quiet the desire . For as hope presumeth the best , and inuiteth ioy to gratulate the good successe : so feare suspecteth it too good to be true , & calleth vp sorrowe to bewaile the vncertainety . And while these enterchange obiections and answeres , somtimes feare falleth into despaire , and hope riseth into repining anger , and thus the skirmishe still continueth till euidence of proofe conclude the controuersie .

Mary therefore though shée sodainly aunswered vpon notice of his voice , yet because the nouelty was so strange , his person so chaunged , his presence so vnerpected , and so many miracles laid at once before her amazed eies , shée found a sedition in her thoughts , till more earnest vewing him erempted them from all doubt .

And then though wordes woulde haue broken out , and her hart sent into his , the dueties that shée ought him , yet euery thought striuing to be first vttered , and to haue the first roome in his gracious hearing , shée was forced as an indifferent arbitrer among them , to seal them vp al vnder silence by suppressing spéech , and to supplye the want of words , with more significant actions . And therefore running to the haunt of her chiefest delights , and falling at his sacred feete , shée offered to bath them with teares of ioye , and to sanctifie her lippes with kissing his once grieuous , but now most glorious wounds ,

She staied not for any more words , being now made blessed with the word himselfe , thinking it a greater benefite , at once to féede al her wishes , in the homage , honour , and embracing of his féet , then in the often hearing of his lesse comfortable talke .

For as the nature of loue coueteth not onely to be vnited , but if it were possible wholly transfourmed out of it selfe into the thing it loueth : So doth it most affect that which most vniteth , and preferreth the least coniunction before any distant contentment . And therefore to sée him did not suffiss her , to heare him did not quiet her , to speak with him was not inough for her , and except shée might touch him , nothing could please her . But though she humbly fell down at his féete to kisse them , yet Christ did forbidde her saying . Do not touch me for I am not yet ascended to my Father .

O Iesu what mistery is in this ? Being dead in sinne shée touched thy mortall féete that were to die for her sake , & being now aliue in grace , may shée not touch thy glorious féete , that are no lesse for her benefite reuiued ? Shée was once admitted to annointe thy head , and is shée now vnworthy of accesse to thy féete ? Doest thou nowe commaund her from that for which thou wert wont to commend her , and by praising the déede diddest moue her often to doe it ? Sith other women shall touch thée , why hath shée a repulse , yea sith shée her selfe shall touch thée hereafter , why is shée now reiected ? what meanest thou O Lord by thus debarring her of so desired a duty , and sith among al thy disciples thou hast vouchsafed her with such a prerogatiue , as to honour her eies with thy first sight , and her eares with thy first wordes , why deniest thou the priuiledge of thy first embracing ? If the multitude of her tears haue wonne that fauour for her eies , and her longing to heare thée so great a recompence to her eares , why doest thou not admitte her handes to touch , and her mouth to kisse thy holye féete , sith the one with many plaintes and the other with their readinesse to all seruices , seeme to haue earned no lesse reward .

But notwithstanding all this thou preuentest the effect of her offer , with for bidding her to touch thee , as if thou haddest said .

O Mary know the difference betwéene a glorious and a mortall body , betwéene the condition of a momentary and of an eternall life . For sith the immortality of the body , and the glory both of body and soule , are the endowments of an heauenly inhabitant , and the rights of an other world , think not this fauour to se me here ordinary , nor leaue to touch me a common thing . It were not so great a wonder to sée the starres fall from their Sphers , and the Sunne forsake heauen , and to come within the reach of a mortall arme , as for me , that am not only a cittizen , but the soueraign of saints , and the sunne whose beames are the Angels blisse , to shew my self visible to the pilgrims of this world , and to display eternall beauties to corruptible eies . Though I be not yet ascended to my father , I shall shortly ascend , and therfore measure not thy demeanour towardes me by the place where I am , but by that which is due vnto me . And then thou wilt rather with reuerence fall down a farre off , then with such familiarity presume to touch me . Doest thou not beléeue my former promises ? hast thou not a constant proofe by my present wordes ? are not thy eies and eares sufficient testimonies , but that thou must also haue thy handes & face witnesses of my presence ? Touch me not O Mary for if I doe deceiue thy sight , or delude thy hearing , I can as easely beguile thy hand , and frustrat thy féeling . Or if I be true in any one , beléeue me in all , and embrace me first in a firme faith , and then thou shalt touch me with more worthy hands . It is now necessary to weane thée from the comfort of my externall presence , that thou maist learne to lodge mee in the secretes of thy heart , and teach thy thoughts to supply the offices of outward senses . For in this visible shape I am not here long to be séene , béeing shortly to ascend vnto my Father : but what thy eie then seeth not , thy heart shall féele , and my silent parly wil find audience in thy inward eare . Yet if thou fearest least my ascending should be so sodain , that if thou doest not now take thy leaue of my féete , with thy humble kisses and louing teares , thou shalt neuer finde the like oportunitye againe , licence from thée that néedeles suspition . I am not yet ascended to my Father , and for all such dueties there will be a more conuenient time . But now goe about that which requireth more hast , and runne to my bretheren and enforme them what I say , that I will goe before them into Galilée , there they shall sée me .

Mary therfore preferring her lords will , before her owne wish , yet sorry that her will was worthy of no better euent , departeth from him like a hungry infant puld from a full teat , or a thirsty Hart chased from a swéet fountaine . Shée iudged her selfe but an vnlucky messenger of most ioyfull tidings , being banished from her Maisters presence , to carry newes of his resurrection . Alas ( saith shée ) and cannot others be happy without my vnhappinesse , or cannot their gains come in , but through my losses ? Must the dawning of their day be that euening of mine , and my soule robbed of such a treasure , to enrich their eares ? O my heart returne thou to enioy him , why goest thou with me , that am enforced to goe from him ? In me thou art but in prison , and in him is thy onely Paradise . I haue buried thée long inough in former sorrowes , & yet now when thou wert halfe reuiued , I am constrained to carry thee from the spring of life . Alas goe séeke to better thy selfe in some more happy breast , sith I euill deseruing creature am nothing different from that I was , but in hauing taken a taste of the highest delite , that the knowledge & want of it might drowne me in the déepest misery .

Thus dutie leading , and loue withholding her , shee goeth as fast backeward in thought as forward in pace , readie eftsoones to faint for griefe , but that a fit me hope to see him againe did support her weakenesse . Shee often turned towards the tombe to breath , déeming the verie ayre that came from the place where he stood to haue taken vertue of his presence , and to haue in it a refreshing force aboue the course of nature . Sometimes shee forgetteth her self , and loue carrieth her in a golden distraction , making her to imagin that her Lord is present , and then shée séemeth to demand him questions , and to heare his answeres : she dreameth that his féete are in her folded armes , and that hee giueth her soule a full repast of his comfortes . But alas when she commeth to her selfe , and findeth it but an illusion , she is so much the more sorie , in that the onely imagination , being so delightfull , she was not worthie to enioy the thing it self . And when she passeth by those places where her maister had been . O stones ( saith shée ) howe much more happie are you then I moste wretched caitiffe , sith to you was not denied the touch of those blessed feet , whereof my euill deserts haue now made me vnworthie ? Alas what crime haue I of late committed that hath thus cancelled mee out of his good conceite , and estranged from me hys accustomed courtesie ? Had I but a lease of his loue , for tearme of his life , or did my interest in his féete expire with his decease ? In them with my teares I write my first supplication for mercy , which I pointed with sighs , foulded vp in my hayre , and humblie sealed with the impression of my lips . They were the dores of my first entrance into his fauour , by which I was gratiously entertained in his heart , and admitted to do homage vnto his head , while it was yet a mortall mirrour of immortall maiestie , an earthly seate of a heauenly wisedome , conteining in man a Gods felicitie .

But alas I must bee contented to beare a lower saile , and to take down my desires to farre meaner hopes , sith former fauors are now too high marks for me to ayme at .

O my eyes why are you so ambitious of heauenly honours ? He is now too bright a sunne for so weake a sight : your lookes are limited to meaner light , you are the eyes of a bat , and not of an Eagle : you must humble your selues to the twylight of inferior thinges , and measure your sightes by your slender substance . Gaze not too much vpon the blaze of eternitie , least you loose your selues in too much selfe delight , and being too curious in sifting his maiestie , you be in the end oppressed with his glorie . No no , sith I am reiected from his féet , how can I otherwise presume , but that my want of faith hath dislodged me out of his heart , and throwne me out of all possession of his minde and memorie . Yet why shoulde I stoupe to so base a feare ? when want of faith was agréeued with want of all goodnesse , he disdained not to accept me for one of his number : and shall I nowe thinke that hee will for my faint beléefe so rigorously abandon me ? And is the sinceritie of my loue , wherein he hath no partner , of so slender accompt , that it may not hope for some little sparke of his woonted mercy ? I will not wrong him with so vniust a suspition , sith his appearing improueth it , his wordes ouer throwe it , his countenance doth disswade it : why then shoulde I sucke so much sorrow out of so vaine a surmise .

Thus Maries trauailing phansies , making long voyages in this short iorney , and wauering betwéene the ioy of her vision , and the griefe of her deniall entertained her in the way , and held her parly with such discourses , as are incident into minds , in which , neither hope is ful maister of the field , nor fear hath receiued an vtter ouerthrow .

But as shee was in this perplexed maner , now falling , now rising in her owne vncertainties , shee findeth on the way , the other holy women , that first came with hir to the graue , whom the angels had now assured of Christs resurrection . And as they passed all forwardes towardes the Disciples : Behold Iesus met them , saying : All hayle . But they came neere , and took hold of his feete , and adored him . Then Iesus said vnto them , feare not . Go tell my brethren , that they go into Galilee , there they shall see me .

O Lord how profound are thy iudgmentes , and vnserchable thy councels ? doth her sorrow sit so neere thy heart , or thy repulse rebound with such regret by séeing her wounded loue bléede so fast at her eyes , that thy late refusall must so soone be requited with so frée a grant ? Is it thy pitie , or her change , which cannot allowe that shee should any longer fast from her earnest longing ?

But O moste milde phisition , well knowest thou that thy sharpe corrosie , with bitter smarte angred her tender wound , which being rather caused , by vn witting ignorance then wilfull error , was assoone cured as knowne . And therfore thou quickly appliest a swéete lenitie , to asswage her paine , that shee might acknowledge her forbidding rather a fatherly checke to her vnsetled faith , then an austere reiecting her for her fault . And therefore thou admittest her to kisse thy feete , the two conduits of grace , and seales of our redemption , renewing her a charter of thy vnchanged loue , and accepting of her the vowed sacrifice of her sanctified soule .

And thus gratious Lord hast thou finished her feares , assured her hopes , fulfilled her desires , satisfied her loues , stinted her teares , perfited her ioyes , and made the period of her expiring griefes , the preamble to her nowe entring , and neuer ending pleasures .

O how mercifull a father thou art , to left Orphanes , how easie a iudge to repentant sinners , and howe faithfull a friend to sincere louers ? It is vndoubtedly true , that thou neuer leauest those that loue thée , and thou louest suche as rest their affiance in thée . They shall finde thée liberall aboue desert , & bountifull beyond hope : a measurer of thy giftes , not by their merites , but by thy owne mercie .

O christian soule take Mary for thy mirrour , follow her affection that like effectes may follow thine . Learne O sinfull man of this once a sinfull woman , that sinners may finde Christ , if there sinnes be amended . Learne that whome sinne looseth , loue recouereth , whome faintnesse of faith chaseth away , firmnes of hope recalleth , & that which no other mortall force , fauour or policy can compasse , the continued teares of a constant loue , are able to obtaine . Learne of Mary for Christ to feare no encounters , out of Christ to desire no comforts , and with the loue of Christ to ouer-rule the loue of all things . Rise early in the morning of thy good motions , and let them not sléepe in sloth , when diligence may perfourme them . Run with repentaunce to thy sinfull heart which should haue béene the temple , but through thy faulte , was no better then a Tombe for Christ , sith hauing in thée no life to féele him , he semed vnto thée as if he had béene dead . Roule away the stone of thy former hardnes , remoue all the heauy loades that oppresse thée in sin , & looke into thy soule , whether thou canst there finde thy Lord . If he be not within thée , stand wéeping without , and séeke him in other creatures , sith being present in all , he may be found in any . Let faith be thy eie , hope thy guide , and loue thy light . Séeke him , and not his : for himselfe , and not for his giftes . If thy faith haue found him in a cloude , let thy hope séek to sée him . If hope haue led thee to sée him , let loue séeke further into him . To moue in thée a desire to finde , his goods are precious : and when he is found , to kéep thée in a desire to séek his treasures are infinit . Absent he must be sought to be had , being had , he must be sought to be more enioyed . Séeke him truely , and no other for him . Séeke him purely , and no other thing with him . Séeke him only and nothing beside him . And if at the first search he appeare not , thinke it not much to perseuer in tears , and to continue thy seeking . Stand vpon the earth , treading vnder thée all earthly vanities , and touching them , with no more then the soals of thy féete , that is with the lowest and least part of thy affection . To looke the better in the tombe , bow down thy necke to the yoake of humility , and stoupe from lofty and proud conceites : that with humbled and lowly lookes thou maist finde , whom swelling and haughtie thoughtes haue drawne away . A submitted soule soonest winneth his returne , and the déeper it sinketh in a selfe contempt , the higher it climeth in his highest fauours . And if thou perceiuest in the tombe of thy hart , the presence of his two first messengers , that is at the féet sorrow of the bad that is past , and at the head , desire to a better that is to come : entertaine them with sighes , and welcome them with penitent tears : yet reckoning them but as herbingers of thy Lord , cease not thy seeking till thou findest himselfe . And if hee vouchsafe thee with his glorious sight , offering himselfe to thy inward eies , presume not of thy selfe to be able to knowe him , but as his vnworthie suppliant prostrate thy petitions vnto him , that thou maiest truely discerne him , and faithfully serue him . Thus preparing thée with diligence , comming with spéede , standing with high lifted hopes , and stouping with inclined heart : if with Marie thou crauest no other solace of Jesus but Jesus himselfe , he will answere thy teares with his presence , and assure thée of his presence with his owne words , that hauing séene him thy selfe , thou maiest make him knowne to others : saying with Marie . I haue seene our Lord , and these thinges he sayd vnto me .

Laus Deo .