THE
FEMALL
GLORY
:
OR
,
The
life
of
the
Virgin
MARY
.
HIstory
offers
to
our
view
,
Myriads
of
holy
Virgins
in
Beauty
,
and
vertue
equally
attractive
,
whose
due
praise
the
Catholike
Church
doth
at
this
day
solemnely
sing
,
but
with
a
more
elevated
voyce
(
as
duty
on
our
part
,
and
merit
on
hers
commands
)
the
laud
of
that
most
excellent
Princesse
,
the
Virgin
Mother
of
God
.
There
be
who
affirme
that
what
ever
the
Creator
saw
beautifull
in
heaven
,
or
earth
,
he
bestowed
in
the
limming
of
this
rare
Piece
,
not
that
she
might
be
stiled
the
most
faire
amongst
the
daughters
of
women
,
but
by
a
heavenly
prerogative
,
the
alone
Faire
,
the
alone
Lovely
.
Looke
how
many
parts
,
Her
externall
Beauty
.
so
many
arts
you
might
discerne
of
the
Celestiall
Limmer
.
And
this
is
no
way
repugnant
to
reason
it selfe
;
Galatinus
.
for
if
Christ
was
faire
above
the
sonnes
of
men
,
should
not
she
be
so
above
their
Daughters
,
since
from
her
alone
he
received
his
flesh
?
Gregory
Nazianzen
proclaimes
that
she
surpass'd
all
women
in
lovelinesse
.
Andraeas
sayes
that
she
was
a
Statue
carved
by
Gods
own
hand
.
Others
of
those
first
,
and
purer
times
not
without
admiration
,
observe
that
God
was
almost
fifty
Ages
in
the
meditation
of
the
structure
of
this
stately
Pallace
.
And
truely
our
beliefe
may
easily
digest
this
,
that
his
omnipotency
would
make
her
fit
to
be
the
Mother
of
his
Son
,
Empresse
of
this
lower
world
,
and
the
blessed
Conduit
through
which
should
passe
the
mystery
of
mans
Redemption
.
Yet
finde
I
a
ridiculous
description
of
her
in
Epiphanius
a
Priest
of
Constantinople
,
who
affirmes
that
her
Face
was
of
the
colour
of
Wheate
,
her
visage
long
,
and
her
nose
sutable
,
her
haire
yellow
,
and
her
eye-browes
blacke
.
But
what
authority
he
hath
for
this
,
neither
I
,
nor
I
thinke
he
himselfe
can
well
tell
;
for
surely
simple
Antiquity
was
not
either
curious
,
or
skilfull
to
deliver
it
by
tradition
,
or
picture
to
posterity
.
I
verily
beleeve
he
had
it
from
his
owne
dreames
,
or
rather
fancy
.
Mopsa
is
as
much
beholding
to
our
incomparable
,
and
inimitable
Sydney
for
a
delineation
,
as
is
my
divine
subject
to
this
curious
Impertinent
.
Whether
,
her
beauty
chiefly
consisted
in
colour
,
in
Symmetry
of
parts
,
or
both
I
know
not
:
sure
I
am
the
streame
of
other
more
judicious
,
pious
Authors
carries
me
not
into
an
opinion
,
but
a
strong
beleefe
of
her
heavenly
forme
.
Cardinall
Cajetan
,
and
Galatinus
,
(
with
what
truth
I
cannot
say
)
certainely
with
more
probability
then
he
,
maintaine
that
her
excellent
temperature
,
her
conformity
of
members
,
her
firme
and
constant
Complexion
free'd
her
from
all
contagion
and
diseases
.
And
Dyonisius
goes
further
,
affirming
that
she
was
no
other
then
a
walking
Spring
.
Such
variety
of
sweet
odours
her
very
pores
breath'd
out
on
all
that
came
neare
her
;
as
we
reade
of
Alexanders
living
body
,
and
the
Aegyptian
Carkasses
which
by
a
thin
spare
dyet
observed
in
life
,
even
after
death
sent
forth
a
most
sweet
perfume
.
Sylvanus
Razzius
recounts
a
pleasing
story
of
a
certaine
Clerke
,
who
by
many
prayers
implor'd
,
and
obtain'd
the
blessing
of
her
sight
,
but
with
this
condition
,
that
he
should
see
her
but
with
one
eye
,
and
that
one
he
should
lose
.
He
willingly
embrac't
it
,
but
when
she
appear'd
drest
in
all
her
Beames
,
not
being
able
with
one
eye
to
take
a
full
view
of
her
,
he
opened
the
other
also
,
chusing
rather
to
forfeit
his
sight
for
ever
,
then
to
loose
one
minute
of
the
inconceiveable
content
he
enjoyed
in
the
sight
of
so
glorious
a
spectacle
.
Were
this
true
,
it
would
make
a
brave
example
of
a
devout
soule
ravisht
with
the
view
of
a
divine
object
.
If
the
Inne
was
so
splendent
,
Her
internall
Beauty
.
so
sumptuous
,
what
may
we
thinke
of
the
amiable
guest
,
that
lodg'd
in
it
,
her
minde
,
beset
with
thoughts
cleare
,
and
radiant
as
her
owne
eyes
?
He
that
dares
attempt
the
expression
of
these
her
internall
gifts
is
ignorant
of
her
sublimity
;
he
who
dares
not
,
knows
not
her
humanity
,
her
sweetnesse
.
As
no
stile
can
ascend
so
high
as
her
exalted
worth
,
so
on
the
other
side
none
can
descend
so
low
as
her
Humility
.
Encourag'd
therfore
by
her
meeknesse
,
not
my
owne
sufficiencie
,
I
shall
endeavour
to
limme
her
soule
in
little
(
since
in
great
neither
my
time
,
nor
ability
will
let
me
)
which
will
appeare
an
enterprise
as
hardy
,
and
vaine
as
his
who
should
strive
to
limmit
the
light
,
or
circumscribe
the
Ayre
.
Know
then
,
modest
Reader
(
and
receive
this
knowledge
with
the
same
extasie
,
and
zeale
I
write
it
)
that
her
internall
luster
was
farre
greater
then
her
externall
,
like
in
this
unto
the
Tents
of
Kedar
,
as
soone
cover'd
with
dust
,
and
almost
burned
up
with
the
heat
of
the
Sunne
,
as
soone
beaten
,
and
shaken
with
tempestuous
weather
,
but
in
the
meane
time
inwardly
all
glittering
with
glory
,
and
magnificence
.
O
ye
Angels
,
to
you
it
is
onely
given
,
not
to
sinne
,
but
on
her
is
conferr'd
what
you
cannot
merit
,
to
beare
,
and
the
reparation
of
mans
ruine
.
The
Apostles
,
those
holy
Tapours
of
the
primitive
Church
sometimes
burnt
dimme
,
and
were
obscur'd
with
the
fogge
of
sinne
,
but
her
brightnesse
nothing
vitious
could
lessen
,
much
lesse
utterly
extinguish
.
She
was
,
indeed
,
vertues
prime
,
and
great
example
,
and
all
the
accomplisht
women
of
the
Ages
past
,
present
,
or
to
come
have
grace
,
and
happinesse
to
the
full
in
being
called
her
imperfect
Coppies
.
Here
my
Invention
treads
a
Maze
,
and
my
heart
is
divided
betweene
an
earnest
desire
to
praise
her
to
the
height
,
and
a
holy
feare
lest
in
that
praise
I
should
trench
on
Gods
own
peculiar
.
Attributes
.
That
she
was
no
way
inferiour
to
her
Sonne
,
according
to
the
flesh
,
I
dare
not
with
some
avouch
,
who
magnifie
her
in
a
phrase
that
violates
her
modesty
,
and
makes
her
blush
at
her
owne
exaltation
.
Her
lowlinesse
was
such
that
it
was
nearer
the
rejecting
of
all
commendations
then
entertaining
a
comparison
betweene
her selfe
,
and
him
to
whom
she
had
professed
her selfe
an
hand-maid
.
And
no
lesse
is
her
shame
,
or
rather
,
indeed
,
her
trembling
when
pennes
prophanely
prodigall
ascribe
that
honour
to
her
which
is
onely
proper
,
and
due
to
that
Deity
from
which
she
received
her
grace
,
and
being
.
I
will
not
,
with
Lipsius
ascribe
as
much
to
her
Milke
,
as
to
her
Sonnes
Bloud
.
Neither
dare
I
side
with
those
who
averre
that
she
is
halfe
of
that
sacrifice
that
ransom'd
us
,
and
Gods
partner
here
.
Nor
is
my
penne
so
impiously
valiant
as
to
justifie
that
God
made
himselfe
the
patterne
,
and
communicated
to
her
by
Grace
whatsoever
hee
had
by
Nature
.
Nor
am
I
of
his
bold
opinion
who
sayes
,
If
man
had
never
sinned
,
yet
Christ
should
have
taken
flesh
to
honour
her
.
These
men
would
have
her
in
all
things
equall
to
Christ
himselfe
.
Neither
her
modesty
,
nor
mine
will
admit
of
this
blasphemous
flatterie
.
I
willingly
allow
her
to
be
the
vessell
,
but
not
the
fountaine
of
Grace
.
I
am
much
taken
with
his
Tenent
who
holds
that
God
made
all
things
for
the
use
of
Man
,
because
he
would
amply
furnish
him
with
matter
enough
to
busie
his
head
,
lest
he
should
bee
so
audacious
as
to
enquire
into
his
secrets
,
&
encroach
upon
his
prerogatives
.
We
need
not
(
thanks
to
his
infinite
goodnesse
)
bee
so
dangerously
venturous
,
since
he
affords
us
a
large
scope
,
and
ground
enough
safely
to
extol
this
his
Favourite
,
second
to
none
that
ever
bore
flesh
,
either
in
her
owne
desert
,
or
his
esteeme
.
To
begin
with
her
birth
;
Her
Birth
.
it
was
miraculous
,
as
it
alwayes
falls
out
where
Nature
failes
,
That
Ioacimus
and
Anna
were
her
parents
is
an
undoubted
truth
receiv'd
by
the
Church
,
as
wee
find
both
in
Baronius
and
Bishop
Montacute
in
his
Booke
called
Apparatus
,
&c.
and
God
supplies
,
as
he
did
here
in
Anna
the
blessed
mother
of
this
more
blessed
maid
.
And
here
by
the
way
I
must
insert
an
observation
derived
from
Gods
sacred
Word
,
that
for
the
most
part
the
children
of
sterility
are
fruitfull
in
sanctity
,
and
all
good
works
.
Samson
was
the
sonne
of
barrennesse
,
and
kept
the
people
in
obedience
.
So
was
Isaac
,
and
gave
precepts
to
the
seed
of
Abraham
.
So
was
Samuel
,
and
foretold
the
misery
of
servitude
to
the
Iewish
Synagogue
.
So
was
Ioseph
,
and
with
his
counsell
govern'd
all
Aegypt
.
So
was
our
hallow'd
subject
,
who
brought
forth
the
Sonne
of
glory
.
The
slaves
of
the
Tyrians
rebelling
against
their
Masters
,
and
having
subdu'd
them
by
a
generall
consent
,
decreed
,
that
hee
amongst
them
who
the
next
morning
could
first
discover
the
Sunne
rising
should
be
their
King
.
One
of
them
of
a
more
gentle
disposition
then
the
rest
,
having
hidden
his
Master
(
by
name
Strato
)
from
the
others
fury
,
secretly
askt
his
advise
in
this
so
important
affaire
,
who
bade
him
look
into
the
West
;
for
there
he
should
sooner
discern
the
approach
of
the
Sunne
then
they
who
sought
him
in
the
East
.
This
wise
counsell
he
obey'd
,
and
while
the
rest
fixed
all
their
eyes
on
the
East
,
he
from
the
highest
part
of
the
City
,
by
his
Rayes
in
the
West
,
first
discover'd
his
ascension
in
the
East
.
So
in
Anna
(
the
happy
mother
of
this
wonder
of
women
)
being
then
in
the
occident
,
or
set
of
life
the
prophetick
world
foresaw
the
brightnesse
of
the
dazeling
light
she
then
teem'd
with
.
At
length
the
worlds
greedy
expectation
was
satisfied
;
and
this
Cynthia
,
this
chast
Starre
was
delivered
of
a
Plannet
farre
greater
,
and
brighter
then
her selfe
;
of
whose
all
gladding
shine
the
first
man
participated
,
and
the
last
shal
.
I
may
as
properly
as
dolefully
call
them
Plannets
,
since
they
never
rested
,
but
were
in
perpetuall
motion
while
in
this
lower
orbe
they
ran
their
fatall
courses
,
in
which
they
were
often
clowded
,
never
quite
eclipsed
.
The
day
of
the
Nativity
of
this
most
perfect
of
Saints
,
I
finde
thus
described
by
Nicolaus
Vernulaeus
a
late
Writer
,
and
a
professor
of
eloquence
.
The
description
I
onely
insert
for
the
elegancy
;
for
I
must
condemn
it
as
guilty
of
Levity
and
Vanity
,
and
no
way
sutable
to
the
Majesty
,
Gravity
,
and
Modesty
of
this
our
sacred
subject
.
The
Sunne
,
saith
he
,
this
day
burnisht
his
face
,
the
better
to
illustrate
the
world
,
and
to
appeare
gracious
in
her
sight
,
who
carried
in
her
breast
a
fire
purer
,
and
clearer
than
his
owne
Rayes
.
The
earth
put
on
her
freshest
greene
,
and
the
flowers
spread
their
dainty
leaves
,
and
made
a
sweet
exchange
of
odours
with
her
,
yet
hung
their
heads
to
see
themselves
both
in
colour
,
and
sent
so
farre
surpass'd
.
The
trees
advanc'd
their
curled
heads
,
and
compos'd
their
lookes
within
the
Christall
streames
,
who
seemed
to
dance
after
their
owne
mumur
.
Amongst
the
Beasts
their
King
layd
by
his
fiercenesse
,
and
not
one
of
his
subiects
was
found
savage
,
or
polluted
that
day
.
Then
was
the
Proverbe
cross'd
;
for
the
Worme
being
trod
on
,
would
not
turne
againe
,
lest
she
should
prove
unlike
her
meekest
Mistresse
.
In
the
very
bowels
of
the
earth
,
the
minerals
and
the
stones
more
pretious
,
assumed
their
quicker
sparkes
,
as
Emblems
of
her
splendour
.
The
Ocean
had
not
a
wrinckle
in
his
face
,
thousands
of
Halcions
hover'd
o're
his
head
,
and
his
Tritons
blew
so
lowd
,
that
their
notes
sounded
the
very
bottome
of
the
Deep
.
Within
his
vast
Dominions
was
no
discord
that
day
;
for
the
greater
of
the
fish
forsooke
their
prey
,
and
the
smaller
swumme
in
that
security
,
that
the
Sprat
at
bearded
the
Dolphin
,
and
playd
with
the
nose
of
the
overgrown
Whale
.
The
birds
sung
their
choisest
aires
;
the
fowles
flew
nearer
the
earth
to
salute
her
,
and
their
Towring
Lord
the
Eagle
brought
his
young
ones
to
try
their
eyes
at
this
new
borne
Light
.
The
ayre
it selfe
was
like
her
,
gentle
,
and
being
invisible
,
came
to
steale
a
kisse
from
her
cherry
lips
,
soft
and
smooth
as
were
his
owne
.
The
windes
(
conceiving
their
silence
would
best
please
)
kept
themselves
within
their
dens
;
onely
Zephirus
was
let
loose
to
fanne
the
Pinke
,
and
Violet
,
and
play
the
wanton
with
the
Rose
.
Thus
farre
Vernulaeus
.
Of
all
things
created
man
alone
,
to
whom
,
being
sicke
,
she
was
to
bring
a
soveraine
Antidote
was
found
least
joyfull
,
least
gratefull
.
Yet
were
there
some
,
no
doubt
,
of
Gratitudes
children
,
who
lay
prostrate
before
her
,
and
did
homage
to
their
sweetest
Lady
,
who
might
better
be
called
the
Mother
of
the
living
,
then
Eve
;
since
she
,
like
a
Murdresse
,
gave
her
children
death
ere
birth
;
and
defaced
those
Images
whereon
God
had
set
his
owne
stampe
.
She
was
no
wiser
than
a
poor
Fly
,
who
,
enamour'd
of
the
beauty
of
the
flame
,
longs
to
try
if
it
be
as
sweet
as
faire
,
and
is
consumed
with
her
owne
folly
.
Had
our
blessed
one
supplied
her
roome
in
Paradice
,
the
forbidden
fruit
had
,
perchance
,
beene
yet
untasted
,
and
man
uncursed
;
for
she
was
altogether
void
of
curiosity
,
proper
to
that
weaker
sexe
,
and
the
very
bane
of
it
.
Our
dearest
Princesse
therefore
was
deservedly
a
Queene
ere
borne
,
receiv'd
a
Crowne
sooner
than
sight
,
and
found
her
Throne
seated
upon
the
threshold
of
life
.
And
what
Crowne
was
she
presented
with
?
Not
one
to
compose
which
the
East
,
and
the
West
joyned
their
treasures
,
but
a
Crowne
in
the
making
where
of
every
vertue
,
and
all
the
Graces
had
a
hand
.
Nor
did
any
vaine
mortall
place
it
on
her
sacred
Temples
,
but
God
himselfe
,
who
thought
nothing
too
deare
,
nor
omitted
any
ornament
that
might
embellish
this
goodly
edifice
wherein
himselfe
meant
to
reside
.
Having
thus
adorn'd
and
honour'd
her
,
he
plac'd
her
in
this
lower
world
for
the
good
and
admiration
of
all
,
for
the
conversation
of
a
few
.
Though
borne
on
earth
she
lived
here
like
a
Native
of
Heaven
.
As
we
may
guesse
at
the
neatnesse
of
a
house
by
the
entry
into
it
:
Her
infancy
.
so
we
may
judge
of
her
lifes
remainder
by
the
very
beginning
.
Sabellicus
affirmes
that
[
](A12816-e7310-b)*
*
Sabellicus
sets
downe
how
shee
dispos'd
of
every
particular
hour
.
she
no
sooner
saw
the
light
,
but
she
ador'd
the
Creator
of
it
,
and
lifted
up
her
heart
and
eyes
to
the
great
Infuser
of
all
her
incomparable
excellencies
.
She
lov'd
God
ere
she
had
seene
man
.
The
defect
of
her
tongue
could
not
hinder
the
operation
of
her
soule
,
in
which
ere
she
could
speake
,
she
acknowledg'd
his
unspeakeable
goodnesse
.
In
her
Religion
preceded
the
use
of
reason
,
and
she
apprehended
Gods
mercies
long
ere
she
was
capable
of
his
nature
,
and
wisedome
.
Ere
she
could
utter
holy
words
,
she
made
holy
signs
,
by
which
she
made
knowne
the
sanctity
of
her
heart
.
The
first
word
she
learn'd
to
lispe
was
Iehovah
.
She
sent
forth
many
a
sigh
for
sinne
,
not
having
committed
any
,
and
bewailed
that
of
which
she
was
utterly
ignorant
.
The
rowling
of
the
cradle
put
her
in
minde
that
she
was
newly
enter'd
into
the
tempest
of
this
life
,
the
infinite
dangers
whereof
to
escape
she
made
Vertue
her
Pilot.
We
will
not
here
with
some
Writers
of
her
Life
,
dispute
whether
or
no
she
had
the
same
ordinary
Education
with
other
children
;
nor
with
them
affirme
that
she
entred
the
Temple
at
three
yeares
old
,
and
lived
close
by
the
Altar
,
and
was
fed
miraculously
by
an
Angell
;
as
also
that
it
was
there
revealed
to
her
that
she
should
be
deliver'd
of
the
Messias
.
I
will
not
make
one
steppe
out
of
Gods
own
path
,
from
which
I
never
yet
saw
the
greatest
wit
to
swerve
,
but
it
was
in
danger
of
sticking
fast
.
Yet
hath
a
pious
charity
often
swallowed
more
than
all
this
.
If
from
the
hand
of
an
Angell
she
there
received
food
naturall
,
or
supernaturall
,
sure
I
am
the
wonder
is
not
so
great
as
that
of
the
Incarnation
,
where
the
wombe
included
the
Word
.
And
why
should
we
with
difficulty
beleeve
that
this
white
spotlesse
soule
was
illuminated
with
Revelations
by
the
divine
object
of
her
chaste
vowes
?
who
undoubtedly
deserved
to
be
rapt
up
if
it
were
possible
,
a
story
higher
than
was
Saint
Paul
.
It
is
likely
enough
,
saith
Mantuan
,
God
would
have
the
Temple
of
his
Spirit
to
dwell
in
the
Temple
of
his
service
.
The
same
Author
affirmes
that
she
there
liv'd
a
pretty
Nun
,
and
Spunne
,
and
wove
the
sacred
Vestments
till
her
eleventh
or
twelfth
yeare
,
when
her
prudency
,
and
shame
,
and
the
care
of
her
Reputation
,
forbade
her
to
accompany
even
the
very
Priests
themselves
,
men
whom
God
had
selected
out
of
the
Masse
of
the
vulgar
to
teach
his
Will
,
to
instruct
his
people
,
and
to
sing
his
praise
.
These
curiosities
,
and
bold
conjectures
let
us
rather
beleeve
then
contest
with
the
broachers
;
for
it
is
wisedome
to
grant
what
we
cannot
confute
.
Let
us
then
imagine
that
this
holy
Recluse
confined
her
body
to
this
sacred
solitude
,
and
a
spare
diet
,
and
warily
kept
her
soule
from
the
surfets
to
which
carnall
delights
invite
all
things
humane
.
And
it
is
consonant
both
to
reason
and
truth
,
that
her
exercise
there
,
was
pious
like
the
place
.
They
who
goe
about
to
take
away
her
writing
,
and
reading
tongue
are
impiously
ridiculous
,
since
in
evidently
appeares
that
she
was
well
read
in
the
Scriptures
by
her
divine
Hymne
uttered
in
Zacharies
house
.
[
](A12816-e7380-b)*
*
Ancient
and
eminent
Authors
affirme
her
to
have
beene
learned
in
the
Hebrew
tongue
,
all
which
you
shall
finde
quoted
in
Cedrenus
.
On
her
reading
attended
Meditation
,
on
her
Meditation
Prayer
,
or
her
Prayer
Action
,
as
the
louely
fruit
of
the
precedent
.
Thus
busied
,
the
day
left
her
,
the
night
found
her
.
Her
sleeping
cogitations
we
may
suppose
were
sutable
to
her
waking
,
and
her
very
dreames
divine
.
She
had
not
a
thought
that
was
her
owne
,
all
belong'd
to
God
.
She
was
slow
to
speake
,
saith
Sabellicus
,
but
ready
to
obey
all
holy
advice
.
Her
tongue
was
not
so
swift
as
her
Wit
,
which
made
it
follow
for
direction
in
all
the
requisites
of
speech
.
In
a
word
,
she
might
well
usurpe
that
of
the
Church
,
When
I
was
a
little
one
,
I
was
pleasing
to
the
most
high
.
When
upon
mature
deliberation
she
left
the
Temple
,
she
still
liv'd
as
if
she
had
beene
in
it
.
Though
in
body
she
was
sociable
,
she
fetter'd
her
soule
from
wandring
abroad
,
her
true
conversation
being
in
heaven
.
This
flourishing
Vine
planted
her selfe
amongst
the
Olives
.
She
was
more
choice
of
her
company
then
of
her
food
,
or
rayment
,
both
which
,
God
knows
,
were
course
enough
.
She
knew
temperancy
to
be
Gods
,
and
Natures
Favorite
,
in
that
it
conduceth
to
the
service
of
the
former
,
and
the
preservation
of
the
later
.
She
therefore
made
this
heavenly
vertue
judge
of
her
.
Appetite
,
lest
it
should
long
after
excesse
,
the
mother
of
all
uncleannesse
.
Her
soule
gave
laws
to
her
body
,
which
it
could
not
infringe
without
the
injunction
of
a
strict
pennance
.
She
devour'd
Gluttony
it selfe
,
and
made
the
flesh
subject
to
the
command
of
the
spirit
.
Her
fare
,
saith
Cedrenus
,
required
no
vessell
,
nor
need
she
to
wash
her
hands
after
her
greatest
meale
.
Her
dyet
defide
the
fire
,
as
of
no
use
.
From
the
Earths
face
,
the
Cows
dugge
,
and
the
Fountains
brimme
,
she
readily
fetched
her
sustinance
.
She
was
as
ignorant
of
the
Persian
luxury
,
as
the
superstition
.
To
this
her
cloathing
was
correspondent
,
for
which
her
backe
was
beholding
to
her
fingers
.
Her
hands
were
the
purveyours
to
her
other
members
.
She
had
one
eye
fixed
on
heaven
,
and
the
other
cast
upon
the
earth
,
being
intentive
on
the
Glories
of
the
one
,
and
the
Necessities
of
the
other
,
and
at
once
acted
Martha
,
and
Magdalene
.
It
is
very
credible
that
she
sowed
,
and
spunne
,
and
maintain'd
life
with
labour
.
Hee
who
gives
life
to
all
things
,
suffer'd
his
then
adopted
,
and
since
naturall
mother
,
to
gaine
her
living
with
sweat
,
and
care
,
that
her
example
might
give
pride
the
checke
,
and
teach
Majesty
Humility
.
In
her
he
made
manifest
that
mortall
felicity
is
not
the
parent
of
the
immortall
.
She
was
not
solicitous
for
the
feather
,
the
looking-glasse
,
or
any
outward
bravery
,
being
onely
carefull
to
cover
her
shame
,
and
at
once
to
expell
two
deadly
enemies
to
her
foule
,
and
body
,
pride
,
and
cold
.
Her
outward
simplicitie
was
in
all
things
answerable
to
her
inward
.
Well
,
Her
betrothing
.
now
she
began
to
write
woman
,
and
her
fifteenth
yeare
approached
,
and
hand
in
hand
with
the
increase
of
time
went
the
acquisition
of
all
Graces
.
Her
least
perfection
would
render
another
most
accomplisht
.
In
her
all
vertues
were
at
strife
,
all
overcame
.
Nothing
was
here
meane
,
she
being
no
other
then
an
union
of
superlatives
.
Charity
,
obedience
,
pietie
,
virginity
,
all
were
in
her
at
height
.
Nothing
in
her
was
wanting
but
the
Deity
it selfe
.
Yet
was
not
her
vaine-glory
such
,
that
she
desired
with
Dina
to
visit
the
daughters
of
other
Regions
,
and
to
enlarge
the
renowne
of
these
her
Excellencies
,
being
onely
studious
in
the
government
of
her
owne
little
,
inward
common-wealth
.
Her
fixed
resolution
was
not
onely
to
confine
her
person
,
but
her
fame
,
which
(
had
it
penetrated
forreigne
Countries
)
Kings
would
have
come
suppliants
to
her
cottage
,
and
on
their
knees
have
petition'd
for
her
love
.
But
the
bonds
of
her
Matrimony
were
already
askt
in
heaven
,
and
no
impediment
found
why
she
might
not
wedde
God
himselfe
.
Yet
at
the
earnest
solicitation
of
the
reverend
Priests
,
saith
Mantuan
,
was
she
content
to
be
betroth'd
to
Ioseph
;
not
that
he
should
do
the
office
of
an
husband
,
but
serve
as
a
barre
to
the
importunity
of
other
Sutours
,
that
so
she
might
the
more
freely
enjoy
the
inconceiveable
pleasure
she
tooke
in
her
vowed
virginity
.
Lu.
1
The
Salutation
.
28.
And
the
Angel
came
in
vnto
her
,
and
said
,
Haile
thou
that
art
Highly
fauoured
the
LORD
is
with
thee
,
Blessed
art
thou
Among
women
.
But
now
the
time
is
come
when
she
must
be
(
to
the
astonishment
of
the
world
)
a
Mother
,
The
saltuation
.
and
yet
remaine
a
Virgin
.
The
marriage
betweene
God
,
and
Nature
is
concluded
on
in
heaven
,
and
Gabriel
the
Ambassador
concerning
mans
Redemption
prepares
himself
for
his
journey
decreed
from
all
eternity
.
He
receives
instructions
from
the
hands
of
Gods
owne
transcendent
Mercy
;
and
therefore
,
no
doubt
,
but
they
are
gentle
,
and
pleasing
.
Clad
in
white
,
(
as
an
Emblem
of
his
innocencie
)
he
sets
forth
without
any
other
guard
then
his
owne
right
Arme
able
to
destroy
Legions
.
The
Chaldaeans
carried
in
their
Ensignes
a
towring
Flame
,
the
Babilonians
a
Dove
,
the
Scythians
Lightning
,
the
Persians
a
Bow
,
and
Arrows
,
the
Romans
an
Eagle
.
And
this
extraordinarie
Ambassadour
of
peace
,
(
being
to
descend
from
the
higher
to
the
lower
world
,
from
the
Creatour
to
the
creature
,
an
Angell
to
men
)
beares
along
with
him
in
his
very
name
the
signe
of
his
Power
,
and
Fortitude
that
sends
him
.
The
gates
,
saith
Vernulaeus
,
of
the
celestiall
pallace
stand
wide
open
,
and
the
sacred
Trinity
gladly
beholds
the
departure
of
this
divine
Messenger
.
The
Angels
clap
their
wings
,
and
make
the
heavenly
roofe
ring
with
Haleluiahs
.
The
Saints
attend
,
and
send
their
vows
after
him
,
that
his
presence
may
be
without
terrour
,
and
his
sweet
delivery
win
consent
in
the
heart
of
their
glorious
Empresse
.
The
vaste
space
betweene
the
Poles
is
filled
with
troopes
of
holy
spirits
,
who
give
a
convoy
to
this
their
fellow-servant
graced
above
the
rest
,
in
having
so
important
an
affaire
as
the
worlds
salvation
committed
to
his
charge
.
The
Starres
put
on
new
,
and
brighter
aspects
,
as
seeming
to
foretell
what
they
foresee
not
.
The
Earth
bedeckt
with
all
imaginable
ornaments
presents
him
with
variety
of
sents
,
and
colours
even
to
her selfe
new
,
and
layes
her
prime
dainties
under
his
feet
.
Onely
her
stupid
Inhabitants
,
whom
his
Embassie
most
concern'd
,
were
altogether
unsensible
of
his
arrivall
,
and
of
the
eternall
benefit
he
brings
them
,
receiving
him
rather
like
an
Herald
then
an
Ambassadour
.
And
(
which
encreased
his
wonder
at
his
entertainment
)
his
first
approach
was
unwelcome
to
the
Saint
whose
Votary
he
was
.
He
found
her
(
as
some
thinke
)
alone
,
separated
as
well
in
body
as
minde
from
the
world
.
She
was
not
ignorant
that
piety
was
nearer
pollution
in
society
than
solitude
,
and
therefore
to
shun
infection
,
she
avoyded
company
.
She
well
knew
that
the
holy
Ghost
himselfe
had
dwelt
with
the
Prophets
and
Apostles
in
Caves
,
Dens
,
and
Dungeons
,
and
there
pen'd
the
all-saving
Writ
.
That
which
we
call
good
fellowship
,
and
sweet
conversation
her
conscience
assured
her
to
be
at
best
but
a
sociable
folly
.
In
neighbourhood
she
feared
proximity
in
vice
.
Well
,
if
alone
he
found
her
,
questionlesse
she
made
a
divine
use
of
that
privacy
,
and
meditated
how
in
a
corrupible
body
,
to
preserve
a
spirit
incorruptible
.
The
celestiall
agent
having
demanded
,
and
obtained
audience
,
spake
the
oration
he
made
not
;
for
he
was
but
Interpreter
of
the
holy
Spirit
,
in
which
office
he
justly
gloried
.
The
speech
assuredly
was
modest
,
and
sutable
to
the
sacred
cares
it
was
to
enter
.
The
beginning
of
it
,
no
doubt
,
consisted
of
a
reverent
applause
of
the
perfections
God
had
imparted
to
her
.
Haile
Mary
,
said
he
,
full
of
Grace
,
the
Lord
be
with
thee
:
blessed
art
thou
amongst
women
,
&c.
How
she
tooke
this
the
Text
following
declares
.
And
when
she
saw
him
shee
was
troubled
at
his
saying
,
and
thought
what
manner
of
salutation
that
should
be
.
No
doubt
the
Angell
no
sooner
pronounc't
,
Haile
Mary
full
of
Grace
,
but
a
blush
arose
in
her
bashfull
face
,
and
verified
his
words
.
But
this
colour
was
not
fixed
,
it
went
quickly
back
to
fortifie
her
noble
heart
against
the
feare
that
invaded
it
.
She
saw
her selfe
alone
with
one
altogether
a
stranger
to
her
,
whose
face
she
neither
knew
,
nor
his
intent
.
True
it
is
,
his
language
was
smooth
,
and
even
,
but
as
faire
words
as
these
,
have
often
proceeded
from
a
foule
heart
.
She
trembled
at
his
salutation
,
thinking
him
to
be
a
[
](A12816-e7690-b)*
*
That
the
Angell
appeared
to
her
in
the
form
or
shape
of
a
man
is
the
opinion
of
S.
Hierome
.
in
Epist.
ad
Eustoch
.
de
cust
.
Virgin
.
and
of
S.
Ambrose
,
lib.
1.
offic.
cap.
18.
And
that
which
Damascen
hath
,
lib.
2.
de
fide
orthod
.
All
the
learned
approve
of
;
to
wit
,
that
the
Angels
are
transform'd
,
and
appear
to
men
according
to
the
pleasure
of
the
Lord
,
and
reveale
his
divine
Mysteries
.
And
that
Angels
appear'd
in
the
old
Testament
in
the
shape
of
men
is
certaine
:
and
for
many
reasons
it
is
very
probable
that
Gabriel
assumed
the
form
of
a
man
when
he
came
to
the
blessed
Virgin
.
Chrysologus
serm.
140.
is
of
opinion
that
the
Angel
appeard
in
a
shape
,
and
habit
most
pleasing
and
gentle
,
and
that
the
Virgin
was
not
troubled
at
his
person
,
but
his
speech
,
in
that
it
is
said
shee
marvelled
what
sayings
those
should
be
.
man
subject
to
abhorred
Lust
,
and
therefore
feared
violence
:
but
when
she
once
knew
him
,
and
his
Embassy
,
she
then
undaunted
,
discours'd
with
him
as
an
Angell
,
whom
before
she
quak't
at
as
a
man
.
I
conjure
all
modest
soules
that
shall
peruse
this
passage
by
all
things
deare
to
them
,
to
dwell
long
upon
it
,
as
worthily
deserving
both
their
admiration
,
and
imitation
.
Though
she
received
from
him
extreme
and
heavenly
praises
,
yet
she
was
afraid
,
because
she
was
alone
.
O
Saviour
of
the
World
!
Purity
feares
an
Angell
,
shall
not
Impurity
then
suspect
a
man
though
in
the
shape
of
an
Angell
when
his
complement
,
and
discourse
are
sensuall
.
Virginity
cannot
bee
too
heedfull
,
which
makes
it
practise
the
doubt
of
things
safe
,
that
so
it
may
accustome
it selfe
to
the
feare
of
things
dangerous
.
If
heathen
women
have
by
nature
so
abhorred
pollution
,
that
they
have
chosen
death
before
it
,
how
odious
must
we
judge
it
to
the
Angellicall
innocency
of
Gods
owne
Mother
?
Well
,
what
course
tooke
she
?
She
rejected
these
his
commendations
not
with
her
tongue
,
but
her
lookes
,
which
put
on
a
dislike
of
all
he
had
said
.
She
had
heard
that
when
Castles
come
to
a
parley
,
it
is
a
signe
of
yeelding
,
and
therefore
thought
it
her
safest
way
to
involve
her selfe
within
humility
,
and
a
sober
silence
.
But
the
Angell
quickly
delivered
her
out
of
this
Agony
into
a
greater
;
out
of
this
feare
into
a
more
tormenting
care
.
Feare
not
MARY
,
saith
he
,
for
thou
hast
found
favour
with
God
;
for
loe
thou
shalt
conceive
in
thy
wombe
,
and
beare
a
Sonne
,
and
shalt
call
his
name
IESUS
.
He
shall
be
great
,
and
shall
be
called
the
Sonne
of
the
most
high
,
and
the
Lord
God
shall
give
unto
him
the
throne
of
his
father
David
.
And
he
shall
raigne
over
the
house
of
Iacob
for
ever
,
and
of
his
Kingdome
shall
be
no
end
.
To
this
her
answer
was
,
How
shall
that
be
,
since
I
know
no
man
?
It
is
true
,
it
is
true
,
most
blessed
Virgin
,
thou
knowest
no
man
;
but
let
thy
modesty
rest
secure
;
for
the
operation
of
God
,
and
not
of
man
is
here
required
.
God
should
never
be
conceived
in
thee
,
wert
thou
not
a
Virgin
,
nor
borne
of
thee
shouldest
thou
not
remaine
such
.
Thou
canst
not
be
spotted
with
the
conception
,
or
birth
of
an
issue
so
immaculate
.
This
feare
is
as
needlesse
as
that
of
defiling
thy
fairest
fingers
with
the
purest
fountaine
.
If
Obededon
having
received
the
Arke
within
his
walles
,
was
so
enriched
with
all
manner
of
Treasure
,
that
Felicity
was
voyced
to
have
descended
from
heaven
into
his
house
;
what
shall
we
judge
of
thy
supreme
blisse
,
O
glorious
Virgin
!
who
art
not
to
be
the
receptacle
of
a
wooden
Arke
,
but
of
his
only
Sonne
?
With
confidence
therefore
consent
to
thy
owne
happinesse
,
and
the
Redemption
of
all
Humanity
.
But
,
indeed
,
I
do
not
wonder
at
her
astonishment
,
when
I
consider
her
bashfulnesse
.
Mee
thinks
I
see
her
now
casting
her
eyes
up
to
heaven
,
now
fixing
them
on
the
earth
,
and
now
againe
on
the
Ambassadour
himselfe
,
resolving
to
give
up
her
soule
rather
then
her
virginity
.
Harsh
must
the
word
(
conception
)
needs
sound
to
her
who
was
a
votary
nere
to
know
man
,
whose
onely
love
was
prayer
,
whose
onely
childe
was
piety
.
But
when
the
Angell
urged
Gods
will
,
she
forthwith
yeelded
a
handmaid
to
her
Lords
desire
.
Let
us
intentively
listen
to
the
text
.
And
the
Angel
answer'd
,
and
said
unto
her
,
The
holy
Ghost
shall
come
upon
thee
,
and
the
power
of
the
highest
shall
overshadow
thee
;
therefore
also
that
holy
thing
that
shall
be
borne
of
thee
shall
be
called
the
Sonne
of
God
.
And
behold
thy
cousen
Elizabeth
,
shee
hath
also
conceived
a
sonne
in
her
old
age
,
and
this
is
the
sixt
moneth
with
her
who
was
called
barren
.
For
with
God
nothing
shall
bee
impossible
.
And
Mary
said
,
Behold
the
handmaid
of
the
Lord
,
bee
it
to
mee
according
to
thy
word
.
See
here
united
an
incomparable
humility
,
and
an
obedience
even
unto
death
.
For
the
consenting
to
be
the
mother
of
God
was
not
easie
to
her
,
in
that
a
meek
,
and
humble
spirit
with
greater
difficultie
ascends
the
highest
steppe
of
Honours
Throne
,
then
a
proud
descends
thence
to
the
bottome
,
it
being
a
thing
in
nature
farre
harder
to
climbe
then
to
come
downe
.
If
any
man
shall
yet
rest
unsatisfied
,
and
shall
make
a
further
enquirie
after
this
difficulty
,
he
may
please
to
consider
that
her
humility
ballanc't
her
Sonnes
exalted
,
and
her
owne
dejected
estate
;
and
as
well
meditated
the
care
,
the
diligency
,
the
reverence
,
and
obsequiousnes
,
as
the
dignity
,
and
excellency
of
her
whom
God
would
vouchsafe
the
most
glorious
title
of
Mother
.
She
wisely
weighed
that
the
Angels
were
not
worthy
to
wait
on
him
,
and
therefore
the
service
of
her
whole
life
must
as
farre
exceed
,
as
the
name
of
Gods
Mother
did
excell
that
of
Servant
,
or
Angell
.
If
Saint
Peter
,
yet
in
the
dawn
of
Grace
,
could
so
clearly
discerne
his
Masters
greatnesse
,
as
that
he
cryed
out
,
Depart
from
me
a
sinner
,
as
deeming
himselfe
unworthy
of
his
presence
:
If
the
Centurion
for
the
same
respect
thought
his
house
too
base
to
receive
him
,
what
should
she
thinke
who
was
not
to
take
him
into
her
ship
,
or
her
lodging
,
but
into
her
wombe
,
where
he
was
to
remaine
not
a
visitant
,
but
a
dweller
?
Full
well
also
she
understood
that
her
consent
was
not
onely
required
to
be
the
parent
of
the
Almighty
,
but
the
Spouse
also
of
his
holy
Spirit
,
to
whose
inspirations
she
ought
a
greater
obedience
then
others
,
having
received
from
the
same
spirit
a
greater
measure
of
grace
,
and
honour
.
She
clearly
foresaw
that
she
was
not
onely
chosen
to
conceive
the
Son
of
God
,
Many
ancient
Writers
bold
that
she
had
the
gift
of
prophecie
.
to
bring
forth
,
to
nurse
,
and
governe
him
,
but
also
perforce
to
yeeld
him
up
(
such
being
the
divine
pleasure
)
to
a
three
and
thirty
yeares
persecution
,
and
lastly
to
the
cursed
death
of
the
crosse
,
the
salvation
of
others
depending
on
his
destruction
.
And
that
she
did
foresee
all
this
,
plainly
appeares
by
the
speech
of
the
Angell
to
her
,
who
(
after
he
had
foretold
the
conception
,
and
birth
of
Christ
)
added
,
And
he
shall
be
called
Iesus
,
that
is
,
a
Saviour
.
An
awfull
reverence
,
and
an
inconceiveable
joy
divided
,
without
doubt
,
her
all-holy
heart
when
she
contemplated
her
future
being
a
mother
to
the
Messias
.
Can
a
man
imagine
any
thing
more
difficult
,
more
bitter
for
humane
nature
to
overcome
?
Yet
did
her
active
vertue
vanquish
all
these
impediments
,
and
with
an
humble
,
ravisht
soule
she
expected
the
entrance
of
him
into
her
sacred
wombe
,
whom
already
she
had
surely
seated
in
her
heart
.
Here
before
we
proceed
to
her
conception
,
we
must
observe
two
things
not
amply
,
and
fully
enough
express'd
,
very
remarkable
in
the
Angelicall
salutation
;
First
,
the
dignity
of
the
Ambassadour
,
next
the
worth
of
her
to
whom
his
Embassy
was
directed
,
together
with
her
many
vertues
equally
eminent
in
this
divine
Dialogue
.
Concerning
the
first
;
he
was
not
a
man
,
but
an
Angell
;
neither
an
Angell
of
an
inferiour
order
,
but
of
the
supreme
Hierarchy
,
which
choise
and
pure
spirits
having
received
infinite
ornaments
and
graces
from
their
Lord
and
Master
,
retained
still
his
favour
,
Hom.
34
in
lect.
Evang.
and
ever
stood
before
him
.
S.
Gregory
stiles
him
a
principall
Angell
,
treating
of
principall
things
.
Some
have
not
feared
to
call
him
the
supreme
Angell
,
Serm
,
de
Virginis
assump.
as
Damascen
,
and
others
.
Truth
will
answer
for
him
,
that
amongst
all
the
celestiall
spirits
,
none
are
so
predicated
in
holy
Writ
as
he
,
and
Michael
,
to
whom
the
Declaration
,
and
Exposition
of
so
high
Mysteries
so
often
were
committed
,
as
in
Daniel
,
Zachary
,
and
Mary
is
specified
.
Some
will
have
his
name
to
signifie
God
,
and
man
,
and
that
this
Etymology
containes
a
miraculous
mystery
.
Amongst
these
is
Proculus
Arch-Bishop
of
Constantinople
.
In
1
cap.
Luc.
Geber
,
saith
he
,
signifies
man
;
El
God
,
alluding
to
his
Embassy
,
which
treated
of
his
approaching
birth
,
who
was
both
God
and
man
.
In
parvis-serm
.
Saint
Bernard
judgeth
the
servant
of
Abraham
to
have
beene
a
type
of
Gabriel
;
Gen.
24.
for
he
was
sent
by
his
Master
not
to
seek
any
Virgin
that
came
next
to
hand
but
such
a
one
as
the
Lord
God
had
prepared
for
the
Sonne
of
his
Lord.
Hom.
de
incomprehensibili
Dei
natura
.
This
Gabriel
,
saith
Saint
Chrysostome
,
the
Painters
present
to
us
winged
;
not
that
God
created
him
so
,
but
to
denote
the
sublimmity
,
and
agillity
of
the
celestiall
Nature
,
as
also
to
admonish
us
that
with
gratefull
hearts
wee
acknowledge
him
to
have
for
our
cause
descended
from
his
highest
habitation
.
And
sweetly
Chrysologus
;
An
Angell
treated
with
Mary
concerning
our
salvation
,
because
an
Angell
had
dealt
with
Eue
touching
our
damnation
.
Serm.
142.
This
blessed
Spirit
,
and
Saint
Iohn
the
Evangelist
,
Damianus
compares
to
two
Lyons
which
carefully
guard
this
our
sacred
subject
.
Serm.
1.
de
nat.
Virgin
.
I
will
not
here
seeke
to
satisfie
the
over-curious
,
and
needlesse
doubts
of
Luther
,
and
others
,
whether
she
knew
Gabriel
to
be
an
Angell
,
or
no
,
nor
whether
or
no
he
entred
her
chamber
the
doore
being
shut
,
nor
whether
he
appear'd
to
her
in
a
gentle
familiar
shape
,
or
in
his
full
splendour
,
as
when
he
so
much
amaz'd
Zachary
,
and
strucke
him
dumbe
.
These
questions
serve
rather
to
busie
curiosite
,
then
enflame
zeale
.
Neither
hath
all
that
tender
sexe
(
to
whose
good
I
dedicate
this
discourse
)
received
an
education
that
renders
them
capeable
Iudges
of
such
disputes
.
And
I
freely
acknowledge
that
in
this
Treatise
I
have
not
so
much
as
used
any
one
word
not
frequent
,
and
familiar
,
because
I
would
make
the
sense
cleare
to
the
Femal
Readers
.
Withall
I
professe
my
scope
is
not
to
sharpen
their
wits
,
but
to
beautifie
their
lives
,
and
to
kindle
in
their
faire
bosomes
an
holy
ambition
to
aspire
to
the
perfections
of
that
devout
life
,
which
this
our
incomparable
Lady
led
,
and
ended
with
the
applause
of
men
,
and
Angels
.
Laying
aside
therefore
these
superfluous
arguments
,
I
will
proceed
(
as
my
method
commands
me
)
to
deliver
her
inestimable
worth
,
and
sober
demeanour
towards
the
Angell
,
which
no
eloquence
can
so
well
expresse
as
a
silent
,
and
reverent
admiration
.
Much
I
need
not
say
of
her
of
whom
I
never
can
speake
enough
,
especially
having
already
produc'd
so
many
ancient
,
and
learned
extollers
of
her
excellencies
,
to
which
my
vote
would
adde
no
more
then
a
dimme
lampe
to
the
glorious
eye
of
heaven
,
or
an
obscure
gloworme
to
a
starry
night
.
Yet
since
at
the
Altar
of
this
meek
one
(
sweet
and
chast
as
the
Incense
there
daily
burned
)
a
single
graine
sent
from
a
simple
heart
is
acceptable
,
I
will
not
feare
to
pay
her
a
due
oblation
,
though
it
come
as
short
of
her
value
,
as
I
of
her
goodnesse
.
May
it
please
thee
then
,
pious
Reader
,
gratefully
,
with
me
to
acknowledge
that
this
is
she
who
gave
flesh
to
him
by
whom
all
flesh
is
sav'd
.
This
was
the
Dove
that
first
brought
to
us
the
Olive
of
our
peace
.
This
is
the
Rainbow
,
or
first
signe
of
our
reconciliation
to
the
divine
Majesty
.
And
(
to
shut
up
all
in
a
little
)
this
was
the
Tabernacle
,
and
Throne
of
the
Almighty
,
whence
(
his
Majesty
obscured
)
his
love
shined
forth
to
all
humanity
.
But
in
that
a
plaine
delivery
of
her
vertues
adorne
her
more
then
can
all
the
flowers
of
Rhetoricke
;
I
will
(
though
in
an
inelligant
phrase
)
set
such
downe
as
shall
appeare
most
eminent
in
this
unparalell'd
colloquy
,
wherein
were
handled
the
profound
mysteries
of
the
sacred
Trinity
,
as
of
the
Fathers
omnipotency
,
the
holy
Ghosts
efficacy
,
the
Sonnes
excellency
,
and
in
him
the
proprietie
of
both
natures
.
Her
Prudency
shall
take
the
first
place
,
Her
prudency
.
not
as
the
greatest
,
but
as
the
most
diffusive
,
because
cleane
through
this
Dialogue
it
blends
with
all
the
rest
.
First
,
she
awfully
,
and
advisedly
gives
him
full
audience
,
and
at
once
both
observes
the
laws
of
patience
,
and
the
custome
of
good
manners
in
quietly
attending
the
period
of
his
salutation
.
Many
of
her
Sexe
would
have
so
cut
him
off
at
every
word
,
that
hee
should
never
have
peec't
his
speech
together
againe
.
Being
more
mistresses
of
their
tongues
then
their
eares
;
The
common
sort
when
the
Moone
was
eclipsed
thought
her
to
be
enchanted
,
and
with
basons
and
other
things
made
a
hideous
noyse
to
barre
her
from
hearing
the
charmers
voyce
.
they
would
never
have
given
him
hearing
till
they
had
beene
weary
of
talking
.
One
of
these
,
Iuvenal
makes
mention
of
in
his
6.
Satyre
,
who
made
a
dinable
to
free
the
Moon
from
the
power
of
the
enchanter
This
vertue
of
an
opportune
silence
few
women
obtain
,
if
they
do
,
it
comes
to
them
the
last
of
all
other
.
Their
tongues
are
clocks
which
,
once
wound
up
,
few
of
them
go
lesse
then
sixteene
houres
.
But
this
wisest
of
Saints
in
a
seasonable
silence
,
and
caution
of
speech
,
was
alike
admirable
:
Insomuch
that
through
the
whole
Bible
we
finde
not
that
she
spake
above
five
times
.
Her
opportune
silence
and
caution
of
speech
.
Twice
to
the
Angell
Gabriel
,
as
How
shall
this
be
?
and
againe
,
Behold
the
Hand-maid
of
the
Lord
.
Next
in
the
encounter
betweene
her
,
and
her
cousen
Elizabeth
.
A
fourth
time
to
her
beloved
Sonne
after
long
absence
,
Why
have
you
dealt
so
with
us
.
Lastly
,
when
she
becomes
a
petitioner
for
the
poore
,
Because
they
have
no
wine
.
Here
in
this
place
she
intentively
hearkens
to
the
Angell
,
whom
she
heares
twice
ere
she
replyes
once
.
She
made
two
pawses
usher
her
answer
,
which
she
fram'd
with
such
care
,
and
sobriety
,
as
if
Modesty
had
seal'd
up
her
bosome
,
and
lippes
,
and
that
without
her
speciall
warrant
they
were
not
to
be
opened
.
And
though
her
thoughts
were
perplex'd
and
troubled
,
yet
she
apparrell'd
them
in
such
a
cleare
,
smooth
calme
of
language
,
that
it
would
have
gentiliz'd
Barbarisme
it selfe
.
When
her
Chastitie
is
call'd
in
question
(
which
she
esteemes
above
health
,
liberty
,
or
life
it selfe
)
she
positively
denies
nothing
in
that
strange
,
and
to
her
impossible
assertion
of
the
Angell
,
but
answers
with
an
humble
enquirie
,
How
shall
that
be
?
Well
might
she
make
this
demand
,
since
she
knew
by
humane
power
it
could
not
be
effected
,
and
the
Angell
had
not
yet
revealed
,
that
such
was
the
divine
will
.
Though
never
soule
endured
a
greater
conflict
then
hers
,
and
that
Feare
had
stretched
the
strings
of
her
heart
to
their
utmost
extension
,
yet
chose
she
rather
that
they
should
breake
in
sunder
,
than
she
into
Intemperancy
.
Some
women
(
though
chast
,
yet
curst
,
and
hasty
)
having
once
heard
their
chastity
brought
in
question
,
would
have
omitted
all
interrogations
,
and
have
given
the
Angell
a
Sermon
for
his
salutation
,
and
have
reviled
his
name
,
if
not
offered
violence
to
his
person
.
But
in
this
sweetest
of
creatures
,
mildnesse
and
modesty
kissed
each
other
;
so
that
nothing
could
flow
from
her
that
was
not
pleasing
and
gentle
.
Yet
could
not
her
amazed
lookes
conceale
her
feare
,
which
afflicts
farre
more
than
griefe
;
for
we
grieve
onely
for
what
is
past
,
but
we
feare
all
that
can
happen
.
The
mercifull
Angell
reading
in
her
forehead
the
perplexity
of
her
minde
,
resolved
presently
to
ridde
her
of
the
tormenting
doubt
she
was
in
,
and
to
banish
Feare
out
of
that
Face
reserved
only
for
Beauty
,
and
the
Graces
to
dwell
in
.
He
therefore
hides
this
great
secret
no
longer
from
her
,
but
expounds
to
her
the
manner
and
meanes
of
her
conception
,
which
no
sooner
entred
her
eares
,
then
consent
her
heart
;
and
with
a
prostrate
soule
she
made
her
will
conform
it selfe
to
Gods
;
Behold
,
saith
she
,
the
handmaid
of
the
Lord
,
&c.
In
this
consent
of
hers
we
may
discover
almost
as
many
perfections
as
words
.
Some
draw
hence
an
observation
,
that
the
salvation
of
mankinde
depended
upon
her
consent
,
and
consequently
the
damnation
upon
her
refusall
.
My
meditation
dares
not
climbe
so
high
,
not
being
able
to
conceive
how
possibly
the
searcher
of
hearts
should
receive
a
repulse
from
his
chosen
one
,
nor
how
his
omnipotency
can
be
confined
to
one
onely
meanes
in
the
Redemption
of
mankinde
.
It
shall
suffice
me
to
derive
hence
three
of
the
greatest
Christian
Vertues
,
her
Faith
,
her
Obedience
,
her
Humility
.
Faith
is
the
hand
whereby
we
lay
hold
on
Christ
,
Her
Faith
.
and
his
Merits
,
without
which
,
saith
S.
Austin
,
all
morall
vertues
whatsoever
are
no
better
than
gorgious
sins
.
The
dignity
and
necessity
of
this
supernaturall
gift
cannot
but
evidently
appeare
to
the
meanest
understanding
,
in
that
no
man
is
ignorant
that
without
Christ
we
cannot
be
sav'd
,
and
without
Faith
we
cannot
apprehend
Christ
,
nor
apply
his
deserts
,
and
passion
to
our
polluted
soules
.
In
this
which
excells
all
other
perfections
did
this
happy
Mother
of
our
Emanuell
surpasse
all
other
creatures
,
as
here
in
briefe
,
and
hereafter
more
at
large
I
shall
demonstrate
.
S.
Austin
both
in
knowledge
and
authority
infinitely
exceeds
me
,
Lib
de
sanct.
Virg.
cap.
3.
and
therfore
I
desire
you
would
heare
him
for
me
.
Strengthened
by
a
singular
Faith
,
saith
he
,
she
made
Gods
Sonne
hers
,
more
happy
truely
in
conceiving
Christ
in
her
minde
,
then
his
flesh
in
her
wombe
.
Endued
with
this
faith
she
fear'd
,
and
reverenc'd
him
whom
she
bore
,
whom
as
soone
as
shee
brought
forth
she
ador'd
,
and
was
the
first
beholder
of
the
glory
of
his
resurrection
.
Would
I
muster
up
my
forces
I
could
produce
many
other
Champions
of
the
same
worth
and
antiquity
,
that
with
an
indefatigable
zeale
,
doe
vindicate
the
faith
of
this
blessed
Virgin
against
some
of
these
latter
ages
,
who
accuse
her
as
defective
in
that
wherin
she
was
most
accomplisht
.
Their
objections
have
beene
long
since
answer'd
by
Saint
Austin
,
Saint
Ambrose
,
and
divers
others
of
those
Primitive
times
.
Saint
Austin
distinguisheth
thus
betweene
Zacharies
demand
and
hers
.
Lib.
16.
de
civit
.
cap.
24.
Zachary
when
he
sayes
,
Whence
shall
I
know
this
?
or
,
By
what
meanes
shall
I
know
this
,
I
,
and
my
wife
being
so
aged
?
he
spoke
this
out
of
despaire
,
not
by
the
way
of
inquisition
.
But
Mary
when
she
askes
;
How
shall
that
be
,
since
I
know
no
man
?
shee
utter'd
this
enquiring
,
not
despairing
.
Wherefore
to
Zachary
it
is
said
,
thou
shalt
be
dumbe
because
thou
believest
not
;
but
to
her
the
cause
is
expounded
,
because
while
she
doth
question
,
she
doubteth
not
of
the
promise
.
And
to
the
same
purpose
,
and
almost
in
the
same
words
speakes
Saint
Ambrose
,
whose
testimony
I
omit
,
lest
I
should
prove
tedious
,
and
obscure
to
the
tender
sexe
,
to
whose
profit
this
weake
Essay
of
mine
is
chiefly
intended
.
Yet
my
zeale
to
her
whose
true
admirer
I
am
,
compels
me
briefly
to
deface
all
those
aspertions
,
which
the
adversaries
to
her
,
and
piety
have
layd
upon
her
.
And
I
am
wholly
transform'd
into
wonder
as
oft
as
I
consider
how
malice
,
and
her
spawne
can
bee
so
frontlesse
as
grossely
to
deprave
the
meaning
of
the
Text
onely
to
detract
from
her
,
and
should
be
so
audacious
as
to
contradict
the
holy
Ghost
himselfe
,
who
by
the
mouth
of
Elizabeth
pronounceth
her
blessed
,
because
she
beleeved
.
True
it
is
,
their
expositions
give
a
light
to
the
Scriptures
,
but
it
is
such
a
one
as
we
receive
from
lightning
,
which
brings
with
it
rather
terrour
then
comfort
.
Here
her
obedience
calls
upon
me
to
cut
off
,
Her
obedience
.
I
cannot
say
,
this
digression
,
but
vindication
of
her
honour
.
Though
she
deserved
soverainty
,
and
command
,
yet
delighted
she
in
nothing
more
then
in
this
submissive
vertue
proper
onely
to
a
Subject
,
and
was
a
diligent
practitioner
of
it
through
her
whole
life
in
imitation
of
him
who
was
obedient
even
to
an
ignominious
death
.
Her
faith
,
and
obedience
were
of
equall
speed
;
for
she
no
sooner
heard
the
Angell
relate
that
the
Almighty
had
ordained
she
should
beare
the
worlds
Redeemer
,
but
she
beleev'd
,
and
consented
that
it
should
be
so
.
She
had
learnt
in
her
infancy
,
that
obedience
with
God
is
better
then
sacrifice
,
and
therefore
she
was
as
swift
as
thought
in
agreeing
to
the
divine
ordinance
,
that
so
posteritie
might
distinguish
betweene
her
obedience
,
and
that
of
others
whose
Wils
,
and
Vnderstandings
have
a
combat
before
they
can
bee
brought
to
a
consent
.
But
this
was
onely
a
lovely
branch
of
that
beautifull
tree
,
her
humility
,
on
which
a
perpetual
Autumne
attended
;
for
it
continually
bore
fruit
.
Of
this
Vertue
I
must
treat
more
at
large
then
of
the
rest
,
Her
humility
.
because
it
is
extensive
cleane
through
all
the
actions
of
her
life
.
Of
this
there
are
many
sorts
,
whose
severall
countenances
,
and
shapes
we
will
here
draw
to
the
life
,
lest
the
Reader
be
impos'd
upon
,
and
verily
beleeve
he
enioyes
the
true
one
,
when
,
indeed
,
he
is
onely
possessour
of
the
adulterate
.
We
will
begin
with
the
Naturall
Humility
,
Natural
humility
which
is
to
be
found
in
many
,
who
being
basely
borne
,
and
bred
,
and
poorely
spirited
,
aspire
not
to
greatnesse
,
but
rest
fully
contented
with
that
sordid
calling
Fortune
hath
allotted
them
.
This
Humility
is
none
of
those
that
vertue
doth
warrant
.
There
is
another
kinde
which
we
may
call
sensuall
,
Sensuall
humility
and
this
makes
men
refuse
honours
,
not
that
they
do
not
desire
them
,
but
for
the
trouble
,
care
,
and
danger
that
attend●●
them
.
This
Humility
is
base
,
and
degenerate
.
There
is
a
third
proud
one
of
the
Hypocrite
,
Hypocriticall
humility
who
though
he
be
ambitious
of
dignities
,
and
seeks
them
by
all
cunning
,
and
undermining
wayes
,
yet
(
to
be
reputed
humble
)
he
seemes
to
flie
them
.
This
Humility
is
false
,
and
fained
.
A
fourth
there
is
philosophicall
,
Philosophicall
humility
and
morall
,
and
this
consists
in
the
knowledge
of
a
mans
selfe
,
and
his
miserable
condition
,
so
that
by
a
naturall
light
he
can
see
to
humble
himselfe
,
and
be
serviceable
to
all
men
,
yet
no
further
then
the
dignitie
of
his
estate
allows
,
and
humane
reason
requires
.
So
that
in
this
mans
opinion
it
should
not
be
humility
,
but
basenesse
in
a
Gentleman
to
pardon
an
injury
done
him
,
or
to
place
himselfe
in
an
Hospitall
as
a
servant
to
attend
the
sicke
,
and
needy
.
This
Humility
will
not
endure
the
Christian
Test
.
Mosaicall
,
or
Iudaicall
Humility
.
A
fifth
Mosaicall
,
or
Iudaicall
,
offers
it selfe
to
our
consideration
;
and
this
hath
a
neare
resemblance
of
the
true
one
;
for
by
the
perusall
of
the
written
Law
we
come
to
know
our selves
more
perfectly
then
all
the
Philosophers
of
the
world
can
teach
us
.
To
this
purpose
Saint
Paul
saith
;
From
the
Law
comes
the
knowledge
of
sinne
:
and
in
another
place
,
I
had
not
knowne
concupiscence
to
bee
a
sinne
had
not
the
Law
said
;
Thou
shalt
not
covet
.
In
this
Mirrour
we
discerne
our
originall
corruption
,
and
all
our
disordinate
passions
,
and
affections
,
together
with
our
ignorance
,
and
frailty
.
By
this
Touchstone
we
finde
all
our
moral
philosophical
vertues
to
be
but
counterfeit
.
But
this
carries
with
it
a
very
detrimentall
discommoditie
;
for
it
leads
us
beyond
hope
of
salvation
,
and
there
leaves
us
.
For
when
a
man
shall
consider
that
an
unattainable
perfection
,
and
an
exact
observance
of
the
Law
is
required
at
his
hands
(
wherein
he
is
commanded
to
honour
God
with
all
his
soul
,
and
with
all
his
might
,
and
to
love
his
neighbour
as
himselfe
)
and
yet
withall
shall
discover
in
himselfe
an
utter
disabilitie
to
execute
these
holy
commands
,
a
frozen
direction
wil
so
benumme
all
his
thoughts
that
not
one
of
them
will
be
of
force
to
uphold
it selfe
from
sinking
into
the
bottomlesse
pit
of
despaire
.
But
with
the
true
Christian
Humilitie
it
is
otherwise
which
(
having
first
made
a
submissive
acknowledgement
of
its
owne
ingratitude
,
The
true
Christian
Humility
.
pride
,
avarice
,
injustice
,
impietie
,
and
infinite
other
imperfections
)
by
a
strong
apprehension
layes
hold
on
the
mercie
of
God
in
Christ
.
And
this
goodnesse
of
God
towards
us
makes
our
sinnes
more
odious
even
in
our
own
eies
;
no
otherwise
then
the
tender
kindnesse
of
his
Father
made
the
prodigall
childe
more
clearly
see
his
owne
errour
,
and
disobedience
.
For
this
makes
that
speech
of
God
to
the
Iewes
,
When
you
come
into
the
Land
of
promise
,
then
you
shall
know
your
sinnes
?
as
if
he
should
have
said
,
How
often
have
you
distrusted
me
,
and
not
onely
murmur'd
against
me
,
but
abandon'd
me
,
and
ador'd
Idols
,
making
them
your
guides
,
and
attributing
to
them
the
benefits
you
have
received
from
me
?
so
the
regenerated
Christian
being
once
entred
into
the
spirituall
Kingdome
of
Christ
,
sees
more
clearely
his
sinnes
,
then
he
did
before
his
calling
,
as
having
received
a
greater
Light
.
The
excellency
of
this
vertue
in
a
Christian
is
beyond
humane
expression
.
Not
amisse
a
learned
Father
of
the
Church
stiles
this
the
Treasurer
of
all
other
vertues
.
Hieron
.
in
Epist.
ad
Celant
.
The
antient
Christians
commonly
usurpe
Humility
for
vertue
it selfe
.
Christ
cals
it
poorenesse
of
Spirit
,
and
discoursing
of
mans
Beatitude
,
sets
it
in
the
Front
.
This
and
Pride
are
at
endlesse
oddes
;
for
this
is
sociable
,
and
loves
company
,
wheras
pride
affects
solitude
,
and
is
for
the
most
part
alone
.
In
the
Empire
of
Pride
,
two
cannot
stand
quietly
together
,
whereas
in
the
dominions
of
Humility
,
an
infinite
number
may
be
placed
without
either
combat
,
or
strife
.
Pride
is
never
void
of
feare
,
and
doubt
,
whereas
this
stands
secure
with
Ionas
in
the
bottome
of
the
Sea
.
Pride
is
ever
ambitious
of
the
first
seate
,
this
of
the
lowest
,
and
therefore
is
as
much
extoll'd
by
all
men
,
as
the
other
cride
downe
.
Pride
assumes
all
to
it selfe
,
and
is
full
of
selfe-love
.
This
refuseth
even
its
owne
due
,
and
undervalues
it selfe
,
as
knowing
that
it
can
justly
call
nothing
its
owne
,
but
sinne
.
Pride
stormes
at
an
injury
receiv'd
;
this
embraceth
all
occasions
that
may
exercise
its
patience
.
Pride
(
like
all
things
puft
up
,
and
light
)
is
wavering
,
and
blown
here
and
there
by
every
gust
of
Fortune
;
this
in
stability
is
a
rock
,
not
in
hardnesse
,
being
soft
,
and
white
as
the
Downe
of
Swans
.
Yet
though
this
Vertue
be
of
all
other
the
most
innocent
,
and
submissive
,
it
is
withall
the
most
powerfull
;
for
,
as
nature
,
so
God
abhors
vacuity
,
and
therefore
(
finding
the
humble
utterly
empty
of
affection
,
presumption
,
and
what
else
is
derogatory
to
his
honour
)
hee
fils
him
with
his
grace
and
spirit
.
What
should
I
say
more
?
Humility
is
fearelesse
in
danger
,
free
in
bondage
,
rich
in
poverty
,
quiet
in
persecution
,
noble
,
and
gloriorious
in
ignominy
,
lofty
in
lownesse
,
joyfull
in
anguish
,
and
happy
in
the
midst
of
misery
.
This
made
Moses
speechlesse
,
Abraham
to
acknowledge
himselfe
dust
and
ashes
,
Iohn
the
Baptist
to
esteeme
himselfe
a
meer
Voyce
,
and
Saint
Paul
to
account
himselfe
the
greatest
of
all
sinners
.
This
Iewell
was
so
faire
in
Christs
eye
,
that
to
purchase
it
,
he
underwent
not
only
poverty
,
misery
,
and
all
indignities
,
but
even
execration
,
and
malediction
.
What
would
we
judge
of
a
great
Prince
,
who
,
in
stead
of
enlarging
his
Territories
,
should
abase
himselfe
so
farre
as
to
become
a
poore
subject
?
Why
this
did
Christ
,
who
(
being
of
all
things
the
greatest
,
and
best
from
all
eternity
)
by
humility
became
of
all
the
lowest
,
and
descended
even
to
the
profession
of
service
to
the
meanest
of
his
creatures
.
It
is
also
an
evident
marke
of
his
humility
,
that
he
chose
to
be
borne
of
simple
and
obscure
Parents
,
whereas
he
might
,
if
he
would
,
have
allyed
himselfe
to
the
greatest
Princes
.
This
gave
occasion
to
the
Iewes
to
mocke
him
,
saying
,
Is
not
Ioseph
his
Father
,
and
Mary
his
Mother
?
True
it
is
that
he
was
of
the
House
of
David
,
but
when
he
was
borne
,
it
was
in
its
declination
,
and
of
no
repute
.
As
the
Moone
fourteene
dayes
together
,
to
our
sight
,
encreaseth
,
and
fourteene
againe
diminisheth
,
till
at
length
it
be
seene
no
more
:
so
in
the
fourteene
generations
from
Abraham
to
David
,
the
House
of
David
received
advancement
in
honour
,
and
splendour
,
and
was
in
his
time
at
the
full
height
;
but
in
the
fourteene
following
generations
it
was
in
the
wane
,
and
in
the
dayes
of
Christ
neere
utter
extinction
.
And
whereas
he
might
have
inserted
Sarah
,
Rebecca
,
and
many
other
Saints
in
his
Genealogy
,
he
placed
Tamar
,
Raab
,
Ruth
,
Bersabe
,
and
others
of
an
incestuous
race
,
to
shew
the
world
,
that
,
though
he
hated
sinne
,
he
abhorred
not
sinners
.
What
man
is
there
who
,
having
a
lascivious
wife
detected
of
whoredome
will
take
her
againe
?
Yet
Christ
,
having
espoused
the
adulterate
soule
of
man
,
receives
her
into
grace
and
favour
after
she
hath
committed
millions
of
adulteries
.
To
this
effect
saith
the
Prophet
,
Though
thou
hast
committed
fornication
with
many
Lovers
,
yet
returne
,
and
I
will
receive
thee
.
Who
is
there
that
being
injur'd
will
not
onely
forgive
the
Offendor
,
but
seeke
his
friendship
,
I
,
and
lay
downe
his
life
for
him
?
All
this
did
Christ
,
who
(
being
grievously
and
hainously
abused
by
man
)
not
onely
demanded
his
pardon
,
as
if
he
himselfe
had
beene
faulty
,
but
made
an
oblation
of
his
owne
heart-bloud
to
quench
the
wrath
of
God
justly
conceived
against
him
.
Another
admirable
act
of
his
humility
was
,
that
(
God
having
given
him
all
power
in
heaven
and
earth
,
in
so
much
that
he
could
at
his
pleasure
have
destroyed
Iudas
,
whose
treason
he
foreknew
)
all
the
revenge
he
tooke
,
was
to
wash
his
feet
,
and
to
call
him
Friend
when
he
came
to
apprehend
him
.
To
these
I
may
adde
his
living
in
obscurity
from
his
twelfth
to
his
thirtieth
yeere
,
in
all
which
time
we
reade
not
any
thing
of
him
.
I
will
conclude
with
all
the
crosses
and
calamities
he
endur'd
,
of
which
in
his
life
he
never
reaped
any
fruit
,
and
at
his
death
had
his
Innocency
onely
predicated
by
one
,
and
that
one
a
Thiefe
.
In
a
word
,
during
his
abode
here
below
(
whether
you
consider
his
Doctrine
,
Actions
,
or
Passion
)
he
was
not
so
much
delighted
with
the
exercise
of
any
vertue
,
as
of
this
gentle
,
meek
one
,
that
so
he
might
imprint
it
as
his
owne
sacred
stampe
,
or
marke
in
those
mindes
which
he
would
have
known
to
be
his
.
And
,
above
the
rest
,
into
the
chast
bosome
of
his
dearest
Mother
did
he
send
this
divine
gift
,
before
his
birth
by
infusion
,
Her
humility
.
and
afterwards
engrafted
it
there
by
example
.
And
this
we
may
well
perceive
by
her
so
closely
following
the
patterne
that
she
precedes
all
but
himselfe
in
this
milde
,
offencelesse
vertue
.
In
this
rare
quality
as
she
had
an
unequall'd
Master
,
so
she
prov'd
a
matchlesse
Schollar
.
He
who
is
ignorant
of
the
excellency
she
hath
attain'd
to
in
this
one
perfection
,
I
dare
pronounce
him
withall
ignorant
of
Gods
holy
Writ
,
and
incapeable
of
all
goodnesse
derived
thence
.
Yet
some
sacrilegious
theeves
there
are
,
who
robbe
this
beautifull
Temple
of
its
prime
ornament
,
this
sweetest
Garland
of
its
fairest
Flower
.
They
maintaine
(
me
thinks
the
earth
should
shake
it selfe
,
and
them
when
they
utter
it
)
that
she
was
humbled
,
not
humble
.
These
I
may
more
properly
averre
to
be
learning
,
not
learned
.
They
may
with
as
much
justice
deprive
the
Rose
of
her
blush
,
the
Lilly
of
her
white
,
the
Violet
of
her
purple
,
and
the
Christall
of
its
clearnesse
,
as
her
of
this
pretious
ornament
,
which
she
obtein'd
by
a
studious
pious
imitation
,
and
preserv'd
with
a
holy
care
.
But
my
wonder
is
the
lesse
when
I
contemplate
the
continuall
Antipathy
betweene
Impudency
,
and
Innocencie
.
Whosoever
shall
settle
his
meditation
on
her
discourse
with
the
Angell
,
her
pilgrimage
to
her
cousens
house
,
and
her
divine
Hymne
there
(
though
he
have
sworn
himselfe
the
slave
of
prejudice
)
he
will
breake
his
chaine
,
and
reassume
so
much
freedome
as
to
declare
her
truly
humble
.
Sure
I
am
if
they
would
have
her
halfe
a
degree
humbler
,
they
make
her
wholly
abject
.
To
my
thinking
these
sixe
words
alone
(
Behold
the
handmaid
of
the
Lord
)
are
able
to
convince
of
errour
six
thousand
such
shallow
Authors
.
To
those
who
are
plac'd
in
an
extreame
height
,
all
things
below
seeme
farre
smaller
then
indeed
,
they
are
,
but
to
themselues
they
appeare
the
same
;
but
here
it
fals
out
otherwise
,
where
the
introducer
of
one
pregnant
blessing
that
contein'd
all
other
into
the
world
(
and
therefore
worthily
placed
above
it
)
thinks
all
things
under
her
farre
greater
then
her selfe
,
and
above
her
in
value
.
Certainly
all
the
ancient
Fathers
with
one
consent
affirme
that
she
deserv'd
to
be
Empresse
of
all
others
,
who
humbled
her selfe
below
them
all
.
For
my
owne
part
,
I
am
so
transported
with
the
meditation
of
her
meeknesse
that
me
thinks
I
heare
her
thus
expressing
the
humility
of
her
sanctified
heart
to
the
heavenly
Nuntio
.
Is
this
a
delightfull
dreame
,
or
a
pleasing
vision
that
thus
ravisheth
my
soule
?
What
a
lovely
prospect
is
this
?
What
do
mine
eyes
behold
?
Cedars
stooping
to
shrubs
?
Mountains
to
vallies
?
The
Ocean
courting
a
Riveret
?
I
discover
more
then
all
this
.
I
see
Heaven
descending
to
Earth
,
the
supreame
Majesty
to
humane
misery
,
a
blessed
Angell
to
a
wretched
mortall
.
True
it
is
I
am
the
structure
of
Gods
owne
hands
,
but
an
edifice
not
cleare
,
not
faire
enough
for
the
habitation
of
his
onely
Sonne
.
Alas
,
alas
!
I
am
a
vessel
too
uncleane
to
enclose
a
Deity
.
Is
this
flesh
of
mine
pure
enough
to
clothe
purity
it selfe
?
I
am
not
worthy
to
be
reputed
his
childe
,
much
lesse
his
parent
.
Oh
lend
me
thy
harmonious
voyce
,
thy
heavenly
Rhetoricke
,
thou
celestiall
Oratour
,
that
I
may
render
him
thanks
,
and
praise
;
though
not
equall
,
yet
nearer
to
the
grace
I
have
received
.
I
deny
not
but
wee
see
his
Name
written
in
every
thing
here
below
,
but
in
obscure
Characters
,
like
the
discovery
of
the
Sunne
in
a
puddle
.
Thou
art
nearer
him
in
essence
,
in
presence
,
in
goodnes
,
in
knowledge
,
and
canst
finde
out
words
more
suteable
to
his
worth
.
Wherefore
I
earnestly
beseech
thee
in
thy
best
phrase
to
present
the
unfained
gratitude
of
his
most
humble
Hand-maid
,
who
esteems
her selfe
unworthy
to
touch
,
much
more
to
conceive
him
.
Neither
shalt
thou
thy selfe
depart
without
most
humble
thanks
for
the
eternall
honour
thou
hast
done
me
by
this
visit
.
It
is
probable
enough
she
said
much
to
this
purpose
,
this
forme
of
speech
being
agreeable
to
her
disposition
,
and
demeanour
.
To
conclude
this
point
,
six
cleare
demonstrations
of
her
Humility
eminent
above
the
rest
,
the
holy
Writ
offers
to
our
serious
,
and
reverend
consideration
.
The
first
in
this
submissive
conference
with
the
Angel
.
The
second
in
the
house
of
Zachary
,
where
the
more
her
vertue
is
predicated
by
her
cousen
,
the
more
she
humbles
her selfe
.
The
third
in
her
delivery
,
where
she
meekly
submitted
her
selfe
to
all
wants
,
and
inconveniences
.
The
fourth
in
her
Purification
,
when
she
observ'd
the
custome
of
other
uncleane
sinfull
women
,
and
rankt
her selfe
with
them
.
The
fifth
in
betrothing
her selfe
to
a
Carpenter
,
and
in
paying
as
great
an
obedience
to
him
as
ever
woman
did
to
husband
,
and
in
joyning
with
him
in
labour
to
get
a
poore
living
,
to
maintaine
themselues
,
and
their
Sonne
.
The
sixth
in
having
a
care
of
the
poore
,
and
in
associating
them
at
all
times
.
But
of
all
these
I
shall
treate
more
at
large
in
the
course
of
this
divine
story
,
whose
order
now
brings
me
to
the
mysticall
conception
of
her
blessed
Sonne
,
our
onely
Lord
,
and
Saviour
Iesus
Christ
.
The
heavenly
Ambassadour
having
executed
his
great
Masters
command
,
Her
conception
.
departs
,
leaves
God
,
and
Man
in
the
wombe
,
and
the
Sonne
of
Righteousnesse
is
now
risen
in
the
virginall
orbe
.
For
this
is
the
[
](A12816-e8940-b)*
*
This
point
is
much
controverted
,
and
I
leave
it
to
the
discreete
Reader
what
to
beleeve
.
Lib.
18.
Moral
.
ca.
27.
tenent
of
the
true
,
and
ancient
Catholicke
Church
,
that
she
conceiv'd
immediately
after
the
Angels
speech
,
whom
I
had
rather
follow
,
then
accompany
many
of
these
later
times
who
oppose
it
.
I
will
onely
produce
a
few
testimonies
,
and
that
of
Gregory
the
great
shall
be
the
Leader
.
The
Angell
,
saith
he
,
declaring
,
and
the
Spirit
approaching
,
instantly
the
Word
is
in
the
wombe
,
and
presently
in
the
wombe
the
Word
is
made
flesh
,
the
incommutable
essence
coeternall
to
him
with
the
Father
,
De
Symbol
.
ad
Catechum
.
and
the
holy
Ghost
still
remaining
.
Him
secondeth
Saint
Austin
,
of
all
the
Fathers
the
most
subtle
and
sollid
.
These
ensuing
are
his
owne
words
.
When
the
Angell
saluted
the
Virgin
,
then
did
the
holy
Ghost
make
her
fruitfull
,
then
did
that
woman
conceive
a
man
without
a
man
,
then
was
shee
replenisht
with
grace
,
then
shee
receiv'd
the
Lord
,
that
hee
might
be
in
her
who
made
her
.
And
in
another
place
he
writeth
thus
.
Serm.
2.
infesto
Annun
.
Domin
.
Make
no
delay
,
O
Virgin
,
say
but
the
word
speedily
to
the
Messenger
,
and
receive
thy
Sonne
,
give
thy
Faith
,
and
feele
the
vertue
of
it
.
Behold
,
saith
she
,
the
Handmaid
of
the
Lord
,
be
it
to
me
according
to
thy
word
.
Here
was
no
delay
at
all
the
divine
Agent
returneth
,
and
Christ
enters
the
Virginall
wombe
.
The
mother
of
God
is
suddenly
made
fruitfull
,
and
is
predicated
happy
throughout
all
ages
.
She
presently
conceived
the
Divinity
of
the
Word
without
the
fellowship
of
a
man
.
In
this
celebration
of
the
Nuptials
betweene
God
and
nature
,
while
my
affection
advanceth
one
steppe
,
my
reverence
retires
another
.
Here
Reason
is
transformed
into
Admiration
,
Eloquence
into
silence
.
Some
are
rather
solicitous
to
search
into
the
profundity
of
the
Mystery
,
than
humbly
to
acknowledge
it
,
and
by
Reason
seeke
to
pry
into
that
which
excludes
all
reason
.
What
was
before
time
it selfe
,
This
conception
was
predestinated
before
Time
,
from
all
eternity
.
is
believed
,
not
comprehended
by
man
;
for
that
transcends
the
understanding
of
man
which
was
before
his
nature
.
No
eyes
but
those
of
Faith
,
can
penetrate
this
Wonder
.
All
things
in
God
are
above
reason
,
nothing
above
Faith
.
Here
a
Virgin
conceives
without
the
losse
of
Chastity
,
a
Maide
remaines
an
immaculate
Mother
.
Eternity
is
here
encompass'd
by
time
,
glory
masked
in
misery
.
A
thing
finite
containes
Infinity
,
a
mortall
encloseth
eternity
.
Here
the
Sonne
is
as
antient
as
his
Father
,
elder
than
his
Mother
,
and
is
made
of
her
whom
he
made
.
Here
is
a
concurrence
,
or
a
congregation
of
Miracles
.
It
is
a
miracle
that
in
the
forming
of
such
,
and
so
great
an
issue
the
aide
of
man
should
be
utterly
excluded
,
and
that
as
he
was
man
,
he
was
onely
made
of
the
pure
bloud
of
the
Virgin
.
It
is
a
miracle
that
the
ordinary
number
of
dayes
required
in
the
forming
of
a
humane
body
is
not
here
observ'd
,
but
in
a
very
moment
without
succession
of
time
a
body
is
fram'd
,
and
〈◊〉
mated
.
But
a
greater
miracle
〈◊〉
all
these
is
that
at
the
same
instant
wherein
the
soule
is
joyned
to
the
body
,
the
Divinity
and
Humanity
are
united
in
one
person
,
and
the
eternall
Word
is
inseperably
linkt
with
the
flesh
;
so
that
the
Son
of
God
and
man
is
the
same
in
the
Virgins
wombe
.
As
for
the
manner
of
her
conception
,
I
doe
not
more
mervaile
at
the
supernaturall
strangenesse
of
it
,
then
I
doe
at
the
daring
inquisition
,
and
sensuall
expression
of
some
,
who
relate
it
in
words
as
grosse
as
their
owne
understandings
.
I
only
wish
I
could
free
the
most
learned
,
and
ingenious
Erasmus
from
the
just
imputation
of
a
lascivious
folly
in
the
Essaying
to
unfold
this
sacred
Mystery
.
He
compares
God
to
a
Woer
,
the
Angell
to
a
sollicitour
,
〈◊〉
Mary
to
the
beloved
,
and
proceeds
further
than
either
the
divine
Will
,
Eras
.
in
Annotat
.
Lei
in
Appendice
ad
Antapologiam
Sutoris
.
or
humane
modesty
permit
.
He
treates
of
this
venerable
,
this
stupendious
encounter
betweene
the
Divinity
and
Humanity
in
the
same
amorous
phrase
with
which
the
Poets
describe
the
wanton
meeting
of
Dido
and
Aeneas
in
the
Cave
.
I
will
not
rip
up
the
particulars
in
which
he
is
faulty
this
way
,
lest
I
runne
into
the
same
errour
which
in
him
I
reprehend
,
and
imprint
a
blush
on
the
cheekes
of
my
bashfull
Readers
.
This
conception
was
as
spotlesse
,
and
as
cleare
from
all
pollution
as
is
a
sweet
Odour
when
it
enters
the
sense
.
Serm.
11.
in
natal
.
Domini
.
Here
,
saith
Saint
Austin
,
the
Word
is
the
Husband
,
the
Eare
the
Wife
,
in
this
glorious
splendour
is
the
Sonne
of
God
conceiv'd
,
in
this
purity
generated
.
Of
the
same
cleare
,
Lib.
1.
de
operib
.
spiritus
sancti
.
cap.
9.
and
cleane
sense
is
Rupertus
on
this
very
passage
.
When
the
truely
believing
Maide
,
saith
he
,
opening
at
once
her
minde
and
mouth
said
,
Behold
the
Handmaid
of
the
Lord
,
be
it
to
me
according
to
thy
Word
;
in
the
very
instant
(
to
make
good
the
words
of
the
Angell
)
the
holy
Ghost
came
upon
her
,
and
enter'd
through
the
open
dores
of
her
Faith
.
What
part
did
he
enter
?
first
the
Chappell
of
her
chaste
bosome
,
then
the
Temple
of
her
holy
and
incorrupt
wombe
:
Her
bosome
,
that
she
might
be
made
a
Prophet
esse
,
her
wombe
,
that
shee
might
become
a
mother
.
Now
for
the
time
of
this
conception
,
whether
or
no
it
were
precisely
on
the
25.
day
of
March
,
I
will
not
strive
to
chaine
any
mans
beleefe
to
a
resolution
herein
,
though
I
finde
many
old
and
great
Doctors
of
the
Church
to
have
held
it
for
a
truth
.
Many
questions
here
arise
which
I
have
neither
time
,
nor
desire
to
discusse
.
I
will
onely
looke
into
the
deportment
of
this
incomparable
creature
after
that
she
knew
she
was
become
the
receptacle
of
a
Deity
.
The
meere
apprehension
of
such
an
unheard
of
honour
in
other
women
,
would
have
begotten
pride
,
arrogancy
,
and
disdaine
,
not
onely
of
all
their
sexe
,
but
of
mankinde
it selfe
.
They
would
have
repin'd
at
their
breathing
of
common
ayre
,
and
(
scorning
the
earth
they
trod
on
)
have
nourisht
an
ambition
to
walke
on
the
battlements
of
heaven
.
But
this
Maide
above
imagination
excellent
,
the
more
she
was
grac'd
and
dignified
,
the
more
she
was
humbled
.
When
all
men
admir'd
,
and
even
ador'd
her
,
and
judg'd
her
worthy
to
be
presently
assumed
into
heaven
,
she
was
ready
to
creepe
into
the
center
of
the
earth
,
and
there
to
hide
her
,
thinking
that
every
one
pointed
at
her
,
as
undeserving
that
supreme
dignity
confer'd
on
her
by
God
himselfe
.
And
whereas
others
would
have
studied
nothing
but
rich
Tissues
,
and
embroyderies
to
weare
,
and
the
most
costly
Persian
Carpets
to
tread
on
,
she
meditated
simplicity
in
apparell
,
and
a
good
paire
of
shooes
to
beare
her
afoot
journey
over
the
steepe
and
flinty
mountaines
,
intending
to
bestow
a
Visit
on
her
cousin
Elizabeth
.
Lu.
1.
The
Visitation
.
39.
And
Mary
arose
in
those
dayes
,
and
went
into
the
Hill
Country
&
40.
And
entred
into
the
house
of
Zacharias
,
and
saluted
Elizabeth
.
41.
And
it
came
to
passe
,
that
when
Elizabeth
heard
the
salutation
of
Mary
,
the
babe
leaped
in
her
wombe
.
Many
of
her
kinde
,
Her
visitation
.
and
in
her
high
estate
,
and
condition
would
hardly
have
acknowledg'd
,
or
receiv'd
their
kindred
,
much
lesse
have
trotted
over
hils
,
and
dales
,
to
make
a
tender
of
their
duties
to
them
.
Here
is
a
rare
spectacle
,
Humility
climing
,
a
thing
as
contrary
to
the
nature
of
it
,
as
it
is
to
things
ponderous
of
themselues
to
flie
.
This
soveraigne
of
her
sexe
having
the
celestiall
Monarch
included
in
the
narrow
compasse
of
her
wombe
,
made
haste
to
passe
those
steep
,
stony
,
and
rugged
hils
,
the
willingnesse
of
her
minde
enabling
the
feeblenes
of
her
body
.
And
,
to
say
the
truth
,
whether
should
she
(
whose
worth
exalted
her
above
all
things
else
)
go
but
to
places
as
eminent
in
scituation
as
she
in
sweetnesse
of
disposition
?
Whither
should
this
Eagle
flie
,
but
to
the
summity
of
the
world
?
Sure
I
am
she
could
not
sore
above
he
pitch
of
her
owne
value
.
Shee
or
sooke
the
sweet
embellisht
valies
,
where
with
ease
she
might
have
walked
,
and
betooke
her selfe
to
the
craggy
mountaines
,
which
not
without
infinite
labour
,
and
●aine
she
could
ascend
.
By
these
●ough
,
and
uneven
wayes
,
have
the
holy
Martyrs
themselues
mounted
the
promontory
of
vertue
,
and
have
found
the
end
of
their
journey
as
sweet
as
their
travell
bitter
.
O
vertue
the
minds
that
travell
to
thy
Indies
how
rich
they
returne
!
They
come
backe
laden
with
those
pretious
ornaments
that
beautifie
this
life
,
and
those
Panchayan
odours
that
sweeten
the
deprivation
of
it
,
and
perfume
posterity
.
True
it
is
that
thy
seas
an
rough
,
&
to
him
that
lancheth
into
the
deepe
,
appeare
at
first
terrible
,
but
if
with
confidence
&
constancy
he
plow●
them
up
,
and
with
a
fixed
patience
endures
the
frownes
of
an
angry
skie
,
he
shall
at
length
discover
a
calm●
smooth
as
thy
owne
forehead
,
on
which
Fortune
,
Time
,
and
vice
could
never
yet
imprint
one
wrinckle
.
Vnder
thy
sacred
safe
conduct
hath
many
a
superstitiously
devout
distressed
femal
pilgrim
(
after
the
endurance
of
heat
and
cold
without
,
of
hunger
,
and
thirs●
within
,
and
other
miserable
accident
innumerable
)
arrived
with
comfort
at
the
supposed
shrine
of
this
our
blessed
Saint
,
who
here
(
having
no
other
guard
than
thy
potent
selfe
)
exposeth
her
dainty
feet
to
the
knowne
cruelty
of
flints
hard
,
and
sharpe
alike
,
and
her
sacred
person
to
labour
,
and
infinite
hazards
incident
to
the
poore
Traveller
.
She
who
meriteth
to
sit
under
a
cloth
of
state
,
beset
with
the
earths
most
precious
stones
,
and
a
presence
throng'd
with
Empresses
,
as
happy
waiters
graced
in
this
attendance
doth
here
commit
her self
into
the
hands
of
solitude
,
and
danger
.
Thus
did
the
Spouse
of
the
holy
Spirit
overcome
the
narrow
,
and
difficult
paths
of
these
steepe
mountaines
,
Charity
leading
her
by
one
hand
,
and
Humility
by
the
other
.
And
if
we
diligently
peruse
Gods
sacred
Word
,
we
shall
there
finde
the
Mountaines
honour'd
with
many
notable
acts
.
Where
did
that
parent
of
an
innumerable
issue
,
Abraham
,
prepare
the
immolation
of
his
only
sonne
?
On
a
mountaine
.
Where
did
Moses
receive
the
Tables
of
the
divine
Law
?
On
a
mountaine
.
Where
did
Christ
,
(
his
Humanity
concealed
)
transfigure
his
face
into
a
countenance
of
eternall
glory
?
On
a
mountaine
.
Where
did
he
shed
his
purest
bloud
,
and
lay
downe
his
dearest
life
as
an
expiation
for
our
hainous
and
manifold
sinnes
?
On
a
mountaine
.
But
why
these
famous
Acts
were
performed
on
mountains
rather
then
in
vallies
,
Reason
hath
not
a
sight
strong
,
and
quicke
enough
to
discover
.
But
this
is
evident
,
that
God
hath
not
plac'd
Heaven
it selfe
on
the
one
side
of
us
,
or
under
our
feet
,
but
over
our
heads
,
that
we
might
erect
our
looks
,
and
fixe
them
on
his
eternall
habitation
,
and
aspire
to
enter
the
celestiall
Canaan
;
indeed
our
true
countrey
,
out
of
which
while
we
live
,
we
leade
but
a
dying
,
and
a
slavish
life
,
and
are
no
other
then
unfortunate
exiles
.
And
surely
the
very
sight
of
sublime
places
breeds
in
us
high
thoughts
.
We
commonly
looke
downe
on
things
despicable
,
the
eyes
of
admiration
are
bent
upward
.
The
cause
why
she
tooke
this
journey
,
I
shall
endeavour
to
relate
so
briefly
,
that
I
will
strive
to
avoid
even
long
syllables
.
Yet
do
so
many
pious
doctrines
,
and
uses
,
flow
from
these
two
Christalline
springs
,
that
they
alone
are
sufficient
to
compose
an
entire
booke
of
a
vast
volume
.
The
Angell
that
he
might
beget
,
and
strengthen
a
beleefe
in
Mary
of
what
he
had
said
confirms
this
miracle
with
another
,
and
tels
her
that
her
Cousen
Elizabeth
also
in
her
old
declining
age
had
conceiv'd
a
sonne
,
and
that
this
was
now
the
sixth
moneth
of
her
being
quicke
.
These
glad
tydings
,
no
doubt
,
delighted
much
our
blessed
Ladies
minde
,
where
they
could
not
stay
without
rendring
a
faire
encrease
of
fruit
,
first
in
meditation
,
then
in
action
.
Questionlesse
,
she
no
sooner
heard
them
but
her
soul
was
delivered
of
a
twinne
of
vows
;
the
first
was
,
to
praise
God
,
that
he
out
of
his
best
pleasure
,
and
infinite
goodnesse
had
vouchsafed
to
crowne
her
cousens
fruitfull
vertue
with
the
blessing
of
a
childe
,
she
being
now
in
yeares
,
when
despaire
had
chased
all
such
hopes
out
of
her
breast
,
and
barrennesse
(
as
the
world
conceiv'd
)
had
seal'd
up
her
wombe
.
The
other
was
,
all
impediments
set
apart
,
to
give
her
cousin
a
visit
in
her
owne
Country
,
and
habitation
.
Having
performed
the
first
,
her
thankesgiving
for
her
,
she
undertakes
the
latter
,
her
journey
to
her
.
Nor
was
she
long
about
it
,
but
with
all
speed
possible
set
forward
,
lest
she
might
seeme
not
readily
to
obey
the
incitation
of
the
holy
Ghost
,
or
be
wanting
to
her
cousin
in
any
good
office
shee
could
doe
her
.
Neither
could
the
consideration
of
her
owne
Majesty
,
In
concione
de
visitat
.
Mori●e
.
of
the
teeming
estate
she
was
in
,
of
the
disasters
to
which
Travellers
are
subject
,
of
the
unevennesse
of
the
way
,
or
of
the
[
](A12816-e9380-b)*
*
From
Nazareth
to
Ierusalem
,
where
that
Elizabeth
dwelt
,
not
many
moderne
Divines
but
S.
Austin
,
and
Beda
affirme
.
length
(
which
Melancthon
affirms
to
have
beene
twenty
Dutch
miles
)
deter
her
from
undergoing
this
tedious
pilgrimage
.
And
as
she
readily
undertakes
it
,
so
she
makes
haste
in
it
.
She
well
understood
that
delayes
in
spirituall
affaires
were
as
dangerous
as
relapses
in
bodily
diseases
.
Behold
here
a
prodigall
Charity
that
hath
no
respect
of
it selfe
,
Her
Charity
.
being
onely
intentive
on
the
good
of
another
.
It
was
charity
that
withdrew
her
from
her
beloved
privacry
into
the
publike
view
,
which
till
then
she
had
ever
shun'd
.
It
was
Charity
that
added
wings
to
her
feet
,
and
armed
her
heart
against
all
sinister
accidents
that
could
happen
.
It
was
Charity
that
emboldened
her
to
goe
to
her
cousin
without
any
invitation
,
not
being
expected
by
her
,
or
,
happily
,
by
face
knowne
to
her
,
and
with
confidence
of
welcome
to
enter
her
house
.
It
was
charity
that
caus'd
her
to
tender
service
there
where
it
was
due
to
her selfe
.
It
was
charity
that
cheer'd
her
up
,
and
sent
her
on
this
congratulating
Embassy
.
Lastly
,
it
was
Charity
that
invited
sanctity
it selfe
enclosed
in
this
happy
Maide
to
hasten
to
the
sanctification
of
the
childe
in
the
wombe
of
Elizabeth
.
Having
patiently
passed
the
troubles
and
annoyances
of
her
voyage
,
she
with
joy
at
length
arrives
at
her
cousins
habitation
,
into
which
she
no
sooner
puts
her
head
,
but
the
reverend
Prophetesse
(
having
no
other
revealer
,
nor
prompter
than
the
holy
Spirit
)
immediately
knoweth
the
Mother
of
her
Lord
to
be
there
present
,
and
knowing
doth
acknowledge
it
,
and
acknowledging
doth
magnifie
her
perfections
,
&
professeth
her
house
blessed
in
being
graced
with
her
vouchsafing
to
be
in
it
.
She
at
first
sight
discernes
in
her
so
many
,
and
so
great
concealed
vertues
and
mysteries
,
that
a
man
would
judge
she
had
beene
present
at
the
enterview
of
her
,
and
the
Angell
.
Nor
did
she
conceale
these
her
excellencies
,
but
did
describe
them
with
such
skill
and
zeale
,
that
Fame
was
even
proud
to
repeat
them
.
Could
the
domesticall
servants
thinke
you
(
having
heard
their
Mistresse
predicate
her
divine
qualities
,
and
transcendent
condition
)
containe
themselves
from
divulging
a
joy
which
a
narrow
humane
bosome
is
not
capacious
enough
to
receive
?
Could
they
abstaine
from
justly
boasting
that
a
beauteous
blessed
Maide
resided
then
in
their
house
,
which
together
with
their
soules
were
by
her
glorious
presence
enlightened
?
But
I
can
no
longer
with-hold
my
pen
from
setting
downe
the
journey
it selfe
,
and
their
mutuall
salutations
in
the
same
words
wherein
the
Text
commends
them
to
us
.
And
Mary
arose
in
those
dayes
,
and
went
into
the
hill-Country
with
haste
to
a
City
of
Iuda
,
and
enter'd
into
the
house
of
Zacharias
,
and
saluted
Elizabeth
.
And
it
came
to
passe
as
Elizabeth
heard
the
salutation
of
Mary
,
the
Babe
sprang
in
her
belly
,
and
Elizabeth
was
filled
with
the
holy
Ghost
:
and
she
cryed
with
a
loud
voyce
,
and
said
.
Blessed
art
thou
amongst
women
,
because
the
fruit
of
thy
wombe
is
blessed
.
And
whence
commeth
this
to
passe
that
the
Mother
of
my
Lord
should
come
to
me
?
For
loe
as
soone
as
the
voyce
of
thy
salutation
sounded
in
mine
eares
,
the
Babe
sprang
in
my
belly
for
ioy
.
And
blessed
is
shee
that
believ'd
;
for
those
things
shall
be
performed
which
were
told
her
from
the
Lord
.
Then
Mary
said
;
My
soule
magnifieth
the
Lord
,
and
my
spirit
reioyceth
in
God
my
Saviour
;
for
he
hath
regarded
the
lowlinesse
of
his
handmaid
;
for
behold
from
henceforth
all
generations
shall
call
me
blessed
.
Because
he
that
is
mighty
hath
magnified
me
,
and
holy
is
his
name
.
And
his
mercy
is
from
generation
to
generation
on
them
that
feare
him
.
Hee
hath
shewed
strength
with
his
arme
,
he
hath
scattered
the
proud
in
the
imagination
of
their
hearts
.
He
hath
put
downe
the
mighty
from
their
seates
,
and
hath
exalted
the
humble
and
meeke
.
He
hath
filled
the
hungry
with
good
things
,
the
rich
he
hath
sent
empty
away
.
He
hath
upholden
Israell
his
servant
,
being
mindefull
of
his
mercy
.
As
he
hath
spoken
to
our
fathers
,
to
wit
,
Abraham
,
and
his
seed
for
ever
.
In
this
salutation
of
Elizabeth
,
the
springing
of
the
Babe
in
her
wombe
at
the
sound
of
our
sweetest
Ladies
voyce
requires
not
only
our
observation
but
astonishment
.
He
that
was
greater
than
all
the
Prophets
as
yet
not
borne
,
and
enclosed
in
the
narrow
compasse
of
the
Wombe
no
sooner
heard
the
charming
voyce
of
this
heauenly
Nightingale
,
but
he
leaped
for
joy
,
essaying
then
,
and
there
to
exercise
the
office
of
the
Fore-runner
of
his
Master
.
S.
Bernard
saies
,
that
if
an
Infant
was
so
over-joyd
at
the
sound
of
her
voyce
,
what
will
the
joy
of
the
Celestiall
inhabitants
be
,
when
they
shall
see
and
heare
her
?
Serm.
1.
de
assump.
Mariae
.
The
asseveration
of
some
,
that
this
was
not
an
effect
of
the
Virgins
vertue
,
but
of
the
Word
incarnate
,
may
be
admitted
for
good
,
if
we
onely
have
an
eye
to
her
Vertue
,
and
exclude
the
aide
,
and
power
of
the
divine
Grace
.
But
all
Wisedomes
Children
are
by
Truth
,
her selfe
informed
that
many
things
are
lawfully
attributed
to
secondary
Causes
,
the
primary
and
efficient
cause
not
rejected
.
And
this
way
we
may
impute
to
Mary
,
what
worke
soever
God
with
her
co-operating
hath
wrought
either
in
the
house
of
Zachary
,
or
else
where
for
the
benefit
,
and
instruction
of
us
poore
mortals
.
Neither
will
any
sound
,
and
sollid
judgement
attribute
any
thing
to
the
conspicuous
merits
of
the
Virgine
Mary
,
or
any
other
Saint
,
without
the
concurrence
and
predication
of
the
divine
Grace
,
who
by
those
Saints
that
serve
,
and
feare
him
,
distributes
his
gifts
,
and
favours
to
Mankinde
.
Ioh.
14.
That
sentence
of
Christ
is
no
way
obscure
;
He
that
beleeves
in
me
,
shall
do
the
works
that
I
do
,
and
greater
.
By
many
examples
the
Scriptures
do
confirme
the
comming
of
Saints
to
any
mans
dwelling
to
conferre
upon
him
both
Grace
and
Happinesse
.
Three
Angels
came
to
Abraham
,
Gen.
18.
whom
he
entertain'd
taking
them
for
pilgrims
,
when
the
Patriarch
forthwith
became
fortunate
in
the
obteining
of
that
for
which
so
long
he
had
offer'd
up
vows
to
God
,
namely
a
sonne
;
his
wife
and
he
,
being
by
the
course
of
nature
,
past
the
generation
of
children
.
Gen.
19.
Againe
,
two
Angels
came
to
Lot
,
and
lodg'd
in
his
house
at
Sodome
,
and
sav'd
their
host
,
and
his
two
daughters
from
being
reduc't
to
cinders
with
their
City
.
Gen.
30.
Iacob
visited
wicked
Laban
,
to
whom
God
granted
a
singular
blessing
for
that
idolater
,
in
so
much
that
he
himselfe
confessed
it
,
saying
,
I
have
learned
by
experience
that
God
hath
blessed
me
for
thy
sake
.
Elizeus
to
expresse
the
kindnesse
he
received
at
the
hands
of
his
hostesse
,
4.
Kin.
4.
the
Shunamite
,
restored
her
dead
sonne
to
life
.
The
Apostles
themselues
brought
peace
,
and
felicity
to
all
hospitable
men
whose
dwellings
they
enter'd
.
And
shall
the
arrivall
of
Gods
owne
mother
at
the
house
of
Zachary
prove
onely
vaine
,
and
fruitlesse
in
bringing
no
divine
consolation
to
her
kindred
?
Yes
surely
,
Elizabeth
tasted
the
fruit
of
her
all-gladding
presence
;
for
she
could
not
conceale
the
pleasure
conceived
in
her
heart
,
but
utter'd
it
in
the
best
words
she
could
.
Iohn
himselfe
also
rellisht
it
,
and
by
his
motion
gave
what
signes
he
could
of
the
content
,
and
worship
he
receiv'd
,
and
payd
.
Neither
could
it
otherwise
be
but
the
Mansion
of
Zachary
and
the
adjacent
countrey
were
both
delighted
,
and
sanctified
by
the
three
moneths
residence
of
her
,
who
bore
not
about
,
but
in
her
,
the
Author
,
and
consummatour
of
all
piety
.
Their
joy
,
questionlesse
,
was
beyond
imagination
great
,
in
that
they
had
never
before
seene
Gods
gifts
,
and
graces
passing
through
so
pure
an
organ
of
his
Spirit
.
But
the
aged
Prophetesse
her selfe
,
doubtlesse
was
in
a
holy
delitious
Trance
at
the
very
first
steppe
she
made
over
her
threshold
,
and
thought
her
house
,
but
halfe
blest
till
the
other
foot
was
in
.
Their
mutuall
salutation
surely
was
low
,
and
submissive
,
which
I
cannot
better
expresse
then
by
the
supposition
of
the
encounter
of
two
shades
softly
creeping
ore
the
face
of
the
earth
.
The
Evangelist
delivereth
onely
the
Compendium
of
their
conference
,
which
could
not
be
but
as
long
as
serious
.
They
treated
surely
of
deepe
miraculous
Mysteries
,
as
of
the
incarnation
of
the
Word
,
of
the
persecution
of
her
,
and
Gods
onely
Sonne
,
as
also
of
his
passion
,
and
the
salvation
of
Mankinde
.
And
here
it
will
neither
be
a
thing
impious
nor
impertinent
(
binding
our selues
strictly
to
the
substance
of
their
short
discourse
)
to
ayme
at
the
amplification
thereof
,
by
which
happily
it
may
come
to
passe
that
the
supposition
of
what
they
might
say
may
turne
to
a
Truth
of
what
they
said
indeed
.
This
then
,
or
like
to
this
was
,
or
might
be
the
speech
of
the
holy
Matron
to
the
more
holy
Virgin
.
What
looks
shall
I
put
on
?
What
words
shall
I
assume
,
what
entertainment
shall
I
finde
out
,
O
Princely
Virgin
!
to
give
thee
a
welcome
answerable
to
thy
merits
who
art
Superiour
,
to
the
Saints
in
Heaven
,
and
the
prime
glory
of
thy
Sex
on
Earth
?
I
am
wholly
transformed
into
shame
when
I
consider
every
way
thy
Excellency
,
and
my
unworthinesse
.
Alas
!
what
is
there
in
miserable
me
that
should
invite
the
mother
of
my
Lord
to
afford
me
a
visit
,
who
am
the
meanest
of
his
Creatures
?
What
equality
is
here
?
Thou
who
art
full
of
Grace
,
comest
to
mee
void
of
it
:
Thou
who
art
famous
for
thy
Fertilitie
to
me
who
have
beene
〈◊〉
long
time
infamous
for
my
Barrennesse
.
Thy
Charity
and
Humility
made
thee
forget
thy
sublime
and
my
low
estate
,
and
conducted
thee
to
my
poore
Cottage
no
way
fit
to
receive
thee
.
Most
of
thy
Sexe
having
attained
to
thy
supreame
condition
(
who
did'st
conceive
and
nourish
the
Creatour
and
Redeemer
of
the
world
with
that
thy
clearest
bloud
of
which
he
was
made
)
would
have
advanced
their
heads
above
Mortality
,
and
disdaining
all
inferiour
Conversation
would
have
demanded
as
their
due
,
to
be
assumed
into
the
imperiall
Heaven
.
But
in
thee
,
one
heat
hath
expelled
another
,
the
flames
of
thy
zeale
have
utterly
consumed
those
of
thy
Pride
(
if
any
thou
ever
had'st
)
and
thou
art
so
farre
from
vaunting
,
that
thou
by
all
meanes
seekest
to
conceale
that
daintie
Fruit
of
which
all
Posterity
shall
taste
,
and
never
be
satisfied
,
and
for
which
all
Generations
shall
call
thee
blessed
.
But
from
others
thou
mayst
hide
it
,
from
me
thou
canst
not
,
to
whom
the
Spirit
hath
reveal'd
it
,
and
the
springing
of
the
Childe
in
my
wombe
hath
testified
it
;
and
if
the
Children
of
Israel
should
be
so
dull
,
and
unhappy
,
as
not
to
apprehend
it
,
God
would
give
the
stones
an
articulate
voyce
to
proclaime
it
.
The
Lord
of
mee
,
and
all
things
else
,
hath
firmely
seated
himselfe
in
thee
,
and
chosen
thee
for
his
mother
,
to
the
end
that
the
seed
of
Abraham
may
breake
the
head
of
the
Serpent
,
and
the
Sonne
of
David
bring
reliefe
to
his
forlorne
and
distressed
Church
,
streightly
beseiged
by
the
Prince
of
Darknesse
,
and
his
infernall
Troopes
.
True
it
is
,
I
am
above
thee
in
yeares
,
but
in
desert
infinitely
below
thee
,
and
therfore
ought
to
have
prevented
this
thy
painfull
journey
by
comming
first
to
thee
to
congratulate
thy
happinesse
,
and
not
onely
in
the
behalfe
of
my selfe
,
my
kindred
,
and
Nation
,
but
in
the
name
of
Gods
selected
people
to
tender
thee
most
humble
though
not
condigne
thanks
for
so
readily
assenting
to
beare
,
bring
forth
,
and
educate
their
Soveraigne
Lord
and
Redeemer
.
But
thou
having
gotten
the
start
of
me
in
goodnesse
,
art
come
to
me
ere
I
could
set
forward
towards
thee
,
and
now
thou
art
here
,
I
repine
at
nothing
more
than
at
my
disability
to
serve
thee
.
Thou
who
meritest
to
have
the
earth
,
the
water
,
and
the
ayre
ransack't
to
please
thy
pallat
,
shall
have
nothing
here
but
the
simple
viands
of
Nature
prepared
by
as
simple
an
Art
.
But
trust
me
,
what
ever
is
here
is
truely
thine
owne
,
and
my selfe
to
boot
.
My
willing
heart
to
waite
on
thee
,
and
obey
all
thy
Commands
,
shall
supply
all
other
defects
.
Such
is
my
desire
to
attend
,
and
please
thee
that
doe
but
signifie
thy
pleasure
by
the
least
becke
or
nod
,
and
thou
shalt
see
how
nimbly
I
will
bestirre
these
aged
limmes
,
and
place
before
thine
eyes
a
plaine
and
evident
conversion
of
Impotency
into
Ability
.
I
shall
not
thinke
any
paines
my
weakenesse
can
endure
too
great
,
nor
any
cost
my
purse
can
compasse
too
deare
for
thee
.
Wherfore
I
earnestly
beseech
thee
to
blesse
me
,
and
my
house
with
thy
long
abode
,
and
let
not
our
course
and
slender
fare
make
thee
hasten
my
death
in
thy
sudden
returne
.
O
my
brightest
Starre
!
envy
me
not
thy
comfortable
shine
,
but
let
me
Live
in
it
till
I
exchange
it
for
a
brighter
in
Heaven
.
The
dayes
of
my
Pilgrimage
are
even
now
at
an
end
;
O
leave
me
not
then
,
who
art
the
Staffe
and
Solace
of
mine
Age
!
but
stay
the
arrivall
of
my
last
minute
,
and
with
thy
fairest
hands
close
up
these
my
dimme
eyes
.
So
shall
I
bid
farewell
to
this
world
with
content
,
and
enter
the
other
with
glory
.
Thou
my
sweetest
Princesse
who
hast
verified
the
Prophecy
of
Esay
,
and
being
an
unspotted
Virgin
,
dost
conceive
and
bring
forth
to
the
world
our
Emanuell
;
grant
this
my
first
,
and
most
humble
request
.
O
thou
daughter
of
Abraham
!
who
hast
surpassed
thy
Fathers
Faith
in
beleeving
things
which
seeme
more
impossible
to
humane
Reason
:
if
in
this
rude
speech
of
mine
I
have
over-talked
my selfe
,
or
underspoken
thee
,
impute
it
to
my
declining
and
doting
yeares
,
and
grant
me
thy
Pardon
.
Thus
I
end
,
but
not
without
adding
to
those
I
have
already
given
thee
,
a
Myriade
of
Welcomes
,
and
a
million
of
Aves
more
.
The
vertuous
Maid
undoubtedly
was
not
here
mute
,
but
devided
her
speech
betweene
God
and
her
Cousin
.
She
directed
(
with
I
know
not
whether
greater
Piety
,
or
Prudency
)
her
praise
to
the
former
ere
she
would
vouchsafe
to
make
a
reply
to
the
latter
.
An
answer
without
all
peradventure
her
humanity
afforded
her
,
and
to
this
purpose
for
ought
we
know
,
might
it
be
.
Dearest
Cousin
,
your
own
wisedome
will
plead
my
excuse
,
in
that
I
rendred
him
laud
to
whom
it
belongs
,
ere
I
accepted
of
it
my selfe
to
whom
it
is
not
due
.
You
magnifie
me
,
and
I
my
Creator
.
Your
sacred
issue
moved
with
delight
at
the
sound
of
my
harsh
voyce
,
and
my
spirit
rejoyceth
in
the
Mercy
of
my
sweetest
Saviour
.
You
give
me
attributes
more
proper
to
my
Maker
than
to
me
,
not
unlike
those
Heathen
who
take
off
the
heads
from
the
Images
of
their
Gods
,
and
fasten
them
to
the
shoulders
of
their
Princes
Statues
.
Your
commendations
fit
your selfe
better
than
me
,
and
resemble
those
resplendent
rayes
which
returne
into
the
radiant
body
that
sent
them
forth
.
In
a
word
,
you
have
subscribed
my
Name
to
your
owne
Character
.
The
humbling
and
undervaluing
of
your self
is
a
strong
argument
of
your
vertue
;
for
〈◊〉
in
a
field
of
Corne
we
see
the
empty
eares
to
hold
up
their
heads
,
the
fuller
to
hang
them
downe
.
I
am
in
my
Spring
,
you
in
your
Autumne
;
I
produce
the
Blossome
,
but
you
beare
the
fruit
.
What
the
most
penetrating
Eye
can
discerne
in
me
,
the
most
partiall
Tongue
will
call
a
superficiall
ornament
,
but
the
dimmest
sight
may
soone
discover
that
in
you
,
which
the
most
detracting
Penne
must
be
forced
to
style
essentiall
worth
.
Thus
dignified
,
give
me
leave
to
tell
you
,
sweetest
Cousin
,
that
you
offer
me
an
affront
together
with
your
service
.
A
seemely
sight
it
were
surely
to
behold
decrepit
age
waiting
on
active
youth
,
wisedome
on
vanity
;
a
venerable
Matron
on
a
simple
Girle
.
The
scope
of
my
journey
is
to
attend
you
,
to
lend
you
my
strength
,
now
your
owne
failes
you
,
and
to
serve
you
through
all
the
offices
of
your
Hand-maid
.
Doe
but
intimate
your
will
by
the
least
signe
,
and
you
shall
see
me
flye
to
performe
it
.
Your
Invention
cannot
devise
any
thing
so
impossible
,
which
my
will
(
ambitious
to
please
you
)
will
not
judge
most
easie
to
be
executed
.
Whereas
you
intreat
me
to
stay
long
with
you
,
you
transgresse
the
Lawes
of
Friendship
in
petitioning
her
whom
you
may
justly
and
boldly
command
.
A
thing
strange
to
me
it
is
,
that
you
should
thinke
me
so
stupid
and
sencelesse
,
as
that
I
should
need
an
invitation
to
be
made
truely
happy
.
Before
I
had
the
honour
to
see
you
,
I
envied
those
that
enjoyed
your
sweet
and
divine
conversation
,
and
thought
they
enricht
themselves
with
my
losse
;
wherefore
a
staffe
to
beat
me
hence
is
more
requisite
,
than
Oratory
to
keepe
mee
here
.
Ever
since
the
blessed
Angell
imparted
to
me
the
newes
of
your
being
fruitfull
,
my
desire
to
see
you
hath
beene
restlesse
,
and
next
to
God
I
have
onely
meditated
you
and
your
goodnesse
.
O
my
best
Cousin
!
whose
fervent
and
devout
prayers
obtaine
victories
,
whose
Fasts
abundance
,
joyn
with
me
in
thankesgiving
to
God
for
the
grace
which
I
shall
never
be
able
to
conceive
,
much
lesse
to
expresse
or
deserve
.
Him
with
all
my
heart
and
with
all
my
soule
I
invoke
,
that
blessings
may
fall
upon
you
before
,
and
above
your
wishes
,
and
that
you
may
yet
long
live
to
his
glory
,
and
my
Comfort
.
Had
their
three
months
demeanour
each
to
other
,
together
with
their
godly
discourse
,
and
pious
practise
of
it
,
beene
penn'd
to
posterity
(
had
all
other
Bookes
been
burnt
save
that
and
the
Bible
)
the
Femall
sexe
in
these
two
should
have
found
matter
ample
enough
to
exercise
both
their
Meditation
and
action
.
Sure
I
am
the
Romish
Church
,
Sess.
43.
Concil.
as
in
an
honourable
memoriall
of
this
their
Charitable
Encounter
,
Basileen
.
hath
ordained
the
Annuall
Celebration
of
a
solemne
Feast
.
And
the
Councell
of
Basil
(
of
what
authoritie
in
other
things
I
know
not
certainly
in
this
one
particular
very
commendable
)
hath
decreed
the
solemnization
of
this
Festivall
day
in
these
verie
words
.
The
Blessed
Virgin
being
instructed
by
the
celestiall
Messenger
,
and
conducted
by
the
Holy
Ghost
,
ascended
in
haste
the
mountanous
Countrey
,
and
entred
the
humble
house
of
Zachary
.
For
IESUS
who
was
in
her
wombe
,
made
haste
to
blesse
Iohn
as
yet
in
his
Mothers
Belly
.
And
the
most
glorious
Virgin
visiting
her
Cousen
Elizabeth
,
was
pleasing
to
her
both
in
her
loving
visitation
,
and
fruitfull
Colloquie
.
The
Consideration
of
this
Excelling
Mystery
ought
to
delight
the
mindes
of
the
Faithfull
,
wherein
these
two
glorious
Mothers
(
who
bore
about
them
the
comencement
and
accomplishment
of
our
Salvation
)
did
so
familiarly
communicate
their
joyes
,
and
wherein
the
most
excellent
Virgin
Mary
of
the
House
of
David
,
and
Elizabeth
the
most
venerable
amongst
the
Daughters
of
Aaron
discours'd
together
.
The
first
of
these
had
inclosed
in
her
wombe
the
Creatour
and
Redeemer
of
us
all
,
the
latter
his
Forerunner
.
These
Saints
being
made
Mothers
by
a
Miracle
conferr'd
together
of
the
Divine
benefits
they
had
received
.
The
meeting
of
this
worthy
paire
was
most
happie
,
and
illustrated
with
great
,
and
glorious
testimonies
of
the
divine
Grace
.
The
one
conceived
by
the
cooperation
of
the
holy
Spirit
,
the
other
by
Myracle
in
her
old
Age
,
and
both
their
issues
foretold
by
the
celestiall
Angell
.
Iohn
as
yet
imprisoned
in
his
Mothers
wombe
doth
worship
his
Lord
borne
to
him
in
Maries
Belly
;
and
Elizabeth
fill'd
with
the
Holy
Ghost
doth
congratulate
the
Conception
of
the
Sonne
of
God
,
and
the
Saviour
of
Mankinde
,
and
prophecying
declares
her
Cousen
blessed
in
beleeving
,
and
contemplating
the
mysteries
revealed
to
her
.
On
the
other
side
Mary
full
of
unutterable
joy
,
layed
up
all
these
sayings
in
her
heart
,
which
before
she
had
heard
from
the
Angel
,
and
now
from
Elizabeth
,
and
breaks
out
into
a
Song
of
Thanksgiving
to
the
Lord
.
Who
can
sufficiently
praise
so
great
Mysteries
?
Who
can
declare
those
joyes
to
the
full
?
Iohn
not
yet
borne
rejoyceth
,
Elizabeth
is
delighted
with
the
arrivall
of
the
Virgin
.
Mary
is
extreamely
pleased
in
the
Mysteries
,
the
Saviour
of
the
world
is
acknowledged
by
his
Fore-runner
,
not
onely
the
Angels
,
but
Heaven
and
Earth
resent
the
pleasure
,
and
the
whole
Trinitie
is
glorified
with
new
praises
.
Wherefore
the
greatnesse
of
these
joyes
is
to
be
extolled
with
especiall
commendations
,
and
with
singular
solemnities
to
be
celebrated
,
and
the
Lord
in
the
wombe
,
the
Virgin
that
beares
him
,
the
barren
that
conceives
,
and
the
Fore-runner
that
it
sanctified
ought
to
be
presented
with
all
imaginable
praises
and
honours
.
With
this
pious
and
gratefull
ordinance
of
the
Church
I
conclude
the
visitation
of
our
incomparable
Lady
,
and
now
proceed
to
her
Deliverie
.
We
reade
in
holy
Writ
of
three
supernaturall
Productions
,
Her
delivery
.
the
one
of
Adam
,
the
other
of
Eve
,
the
last
of
Christ
,
which
as
most
miraculous
we
are
now
to
treat
of
.
Here
in
his
Nativitie
,
as
before
in
his
Conception
,
let
us
turne
Inquisition
into
thanksgiving
,
and
with
one
spirit
and
voyce
sing
aloud
,
Ps.
118.
22.
The
stone
which
the
Builders
refused
is
the
head
of
the
corner
.
This
was
the
Lords
doing
,
and
it
is
marvellous
in
our
eyes
.
This
is
the
day
which
the
Lord
hath
made
,
let
us
rejoyce
,
and
be
glad
in
it
.
This
is
our
wedding-day
,
wherein
by
the
Sonne
we
are
joyned
to
the
Father
.
This
is
the
day
of
the
new
union
,
wherein
he
who
is
God
remaineth
the
same
that
he
was
,
yet
for
our
sakes
is
borne
,
and
made
what
he
was
not
;
wherein
he
that
was
every
where
without
a
Body
,
is
made
present
to
us
by
a
Body
,
that
what
God
hath
by
Nature
,
men
might
receive
by
Grace
.
This
is
a
great
,
a
joyfull
,
a
fortunate
,
a
desired
day
,
the
end
of
the
Law
,
the
end
of
the
Prophets
,
the
beginning
of
the
Gospell
,
nay
the
Gospell
it selfe
.
This
is
a
day
of
State
,
usher'd
by
the
Angels
,
follow'd
by
the
Apostles
.
Let
our
Mindes
remove
the
distance
of
Time
and
place
,
and
dwell
a
while
with
our
all-holy-Lord
and
blessed
Lady
,
lest
we
loose
the
pleasure
of
this
day
,
the
least
Accident
whereof
is
Mysterious
.
What
a
brave
assembly
of
Visitants
of
all
Conditions
resorted
this
day
to
this
place
,
which
then
might
rightly
be
called
the
Randevous
of
the
Saints
?
Would
you
see
those
who
are
above
men
,
but
below
him
who
is
borne
?
Behold
the
Angels
singing
his
birth
.
Do
you
desire
to
behold
the
married
?
Here
you
have
Zachary
and
Elizabeth
.
The
unmarried
?
Here
you
have
Symeon
.
Widdows
?
Here
you
have
Anna.
Priests
?
Here
againe
you
have
Zachary
.
Wise
men
?
Here
you
have
them
from
the
East
.
Ideots
?
You
have
here
the
Shepheards
.
But
here
is
to
be
noted
,
that
these
keepers
of
Beasts
heare
the
voyce
of
the
Angels
before
any
of
the
other
,
first
receive
the
Gospell
,
and
first
divulge
it
.
And
in
this
they
were
more
happie
then
Augustus
himselfe
,
who
(
though
he
had
made
a
firme
Peace
by
Sea
and
Land
,
and
had
now
the
third
time
shut
up
the
Temple
of
Ianus
)
yet
was
he
ignorant
of
the
blessed
Peace
concluded
on
betwixt
God
and
Man
.
O
how
much
sometimes
Ignorance
avails
in
Divine
matters
!
Kings
,
Potentates
,
the
Rulers
of
the
Earth
,
and
the
wise
of
this
world
are
asleepe
while
Christ
is
borne
.
These
most
simple
of
Mortals
,
and
innocent
as
the
creatures
they
tend
,
watch
all
night
,
and
therefore
are
first
made
partakers
of
these
joyfull
news
.
As
their
owne
wooll
not
yet
dipt
in
any
dye
readily
drinks
in
any
colour
they
please
of
bestow
on
it
:
So
their
minds
voyd
of
all
humane
wisedome
,
greedily
suckt
in
the
Divine
;
Faith
is
the
Compendium
of
Salvation
,
and
humane
knowledge
of
times
the
obstacle
of
Faith
.
Aristotle
having
confined
to
Heaven
,
the
Maker
,
and
Moover
of
it
,
would
never
have
beleeved
his
birth
here
below
.
Plato
would
have
derided
this
miraculous
relation
,
who
the
more
he
attributed
to
God
,
the
lesse
would
he
have
expected
his
so
humble
comming
into
the
world
.
Neither
would
the
Stoicks
who
held
God
to
be
a
fire
,
nor
Hipocrates
who
thought
him
to
be
a
warm'th
,
ever
have
look't
for
him
clad
in
flesh
and
bloud
.
Wherefore
they
are
here
elected
witnesses
of
this
strange
truth
,
whose
Science
was
of
ability
strongly
to
beleeve
,
not
wittily
to
dispute
.
O
what
proficients
in
Faith
did
these
rusticall
Swaines
prove
in
a
moment
!
What
a
profound
secret
is
imparted
to
them
?
Let
us
examine
the
verity
of
this
by
that
infallible
Touch-stone
,
the
text
.
And
there
were
in
the
same
Country
,
Shepheards
abiding
in
the
field
,
&
keeping
watch
by
night
,
because
of
their
flocke
,
and
loe
the
Angell
of
the
Lord
came
upon
them
,
and
the
glory
of
the
Lord
shone
about
them
,
and
they
were
sore
afraid
.
Then
the
Angell
said
unto
them
,
Be
not
afraid
;
for
behold
I
bring
you
tidings
of
great
joy
that
shall
be
to
all
the
people
:
That
is
,
that
unto
you
is
borne
this
day
a
Saviour
which
is
Christ
the
Lord
.
And
this
shall
be
a
signe
unto
you
;
you
shall
finde
the
Childe
swadled
and
layed
in
a
Cratch
.
And
straight
way
there
was
with
the
Angell
a
multitude
of
heavenly
Souldiers
,
praysing
God
,
and
saying
;
Glory
be
to
God
in
the
high
Heaven
;
and
Peace
on
Earth
,
and
towards
men
good
will
.
And
it
came
to
passe
that
when
the
Angels
were
gone
away
from
thence
into
Heaven
,
that
the
Shepheards
said
one
to
another
;
Let
us
goe
then
unto
Bethlem
,
and
see
this
thing
that
is
come
to
passe
,
which
the
Lord
hath
shewed
unto
us
;
so
they
came
with
haste
,
and
found
both
Mary
and
Ioseph
with
the
Babe
layd
in
the
Cratch
.
And
when
they
had
seene
it
,
they
publisht
abroad
the
thing
that
was
told
them
of
that
Childe
.
Here
three
things
especially
are
remarkable
:
First
,
their
forwardnesse
in
believing
:
Secondly
,
the
speed
they
made
to
see
what
they
had
believed
,
and
Thirdly
,
to
publish
what
they
had
seene
.
That
they
quickly
believed
,
appeares
by
the
haste
they
made
to
see
.
They
no
sooner
saw
him
,
but
they
found
him
to
be
the
King
of
Israell
indeed
,
yet
withall
to
be
a
Shepheard
.
They
instantly
discerne
this
to
be
the
Shepheard
,
who
was
to
lay
downe
his
life
for
his
flocke
.
The
Prince
of
all
Shepheards
whose
sheepe-fold
is
the
world
:
The
Shepheard
that
was
to
seperate
the
Goates
from
the
Sheepe
.
They
discover'd
this
to
be
the
immaculate
Lambe
that
was
to
take
away
the
sinnes
of
the
world
.
They
disclos'd
this
Lamb
to
be
the
greatest
Lyon
of
the
Tribe
of
Iudah
.
Whom
now
they
looke
on
in
the
Cratch
,
Saint
Iohn
shall
hereafter
behold
on
his
Throne
.
These
men
in
whom
there
was
no
guile
as
they
could
not
deceive
others
,
so
they
could
not
in
this
be
deceiv'd
.
They
needed
not
suspect
any
fallacy
,
and
therefore
might
safely
relate
this
divine
wonder
to
all
they
met
.
The
second
witnesses
of
this
Miracle
are
the
Wise
men
.
After
God
had
laid
open
the
Treasure
of
his
divine
secrets
to
Idiots
,
he
shewes
them
also
to
the
wise
.
It
seemes
the
Earth
at
this
time
was
become
the
Booke
of
Gods
greatest
Mysteries
,
and
Heaven
the
Index
.
In
this
they
finde
the
Star
of
this
King
of
the
Iewes
,
which
(
having
beene
before
the
declarer
of
his
Nativity
)
they
now
make
their
guide
in
their
journey
.
The
Starre
performing
this
duty
to
its
Creator
,
at
length
brings
them
to
Bethlem
,
where
they
view
him
in
the
Crateh
,
whose
Nativity
before
they
had
found
in
the
Heavens
.
To
him
they
doe
Homage
,
tender
adoration
,
and
pay
Tribute
,
and
opening
their
Treasures
,
make
him
an
oblation
of
Gold
,
Incense
,
and
Mirrhe
▪
Whom
before
they
had
in
vaine
sought
in
the
Heavens
,
they
now
finde
on
the
earth
,
and
in
the
most
sorded
part
of
it
,
a
Stable
,
full
of
severall
stinkes
;
where
he
(
to
whom
none
are
worthy
to
be
servants
)
had
two
dull
Beasts
for
his
Companions
.
Returne
now
you
Sonnes
of
wisedome
to
your
owne
home
,
by
much
more
learned
,
by
more
than
much
more
happy
than
when
you
set
out
.
Heaven
is
now
set
open
to
you
,
which
before
your
unbeliefe
kept
shut
against
you
.
If
you
be
Chaldaeans
or
Persians
,
or
both
,
spreade
through
those
Nations
the
fame
of
that
which
you
have
seene
.
Publish
in
all
places
this
the
greatest
mystery
of
Piety
,
which
God
is
onely
able
to
produce
,
onely
faith
can
apprehend
.
Of
all
Creatures
to
man
onely
belongs
the
gift
of
Reason
,
by
the
rule
whereof
he
measures
all
things
.
But
doe
not
you
doe
so
,
lest
you
fall
not
onely
into
an
irreparable
,
but
a
damnable
errour
.
Follow
you
the
instruction
of
Faith
,
and
where
ere
you
come
with
a
holy
Pride
,
proclaime
that
God
is
manifested
in
the
flesh
,
justified
in
the
Spirit
,
seene
by
Angels
,
reveal'd
to
Shepheards
,
found
out
and
ador'd
by
you
your selves
,
and
hereafter
to
be
assum'd
,
and
to
sit
in
glory
farre
above
those
starres
you
daily
read
.
Goe
,
and
give
out
that
there
is
nothing
greater
in
Heaven
,
than
what
you
have
found
in
a
Stable
.
Yet
ere
you
depart
,
convince
the
stiffe-necked
Iewes
of
their
lofty
,
but
grosse
errour
,
in
diligently
seeking
to
know
God
in
that
part
wherein
he
will
lye
hid
,
an●
in
taking
no
notice
of
him
i●
that
part
wherein
he
would
be
knowne
:
in
looking
for
〈◊〉
Saviour
from
[
](A12816-e10540-b)*
*
The
Iews
when
ever
it
lighteneth
,
set
open
their
windowes
:
for
they
hold
their
Saviour
shall
come
in
lightening
.
On
this
reade
Buxdorfius
.
Heaven
,
wh●
is
already
borne
on
earth
.
Yet
now
I
consider
their
obstinacy
better
,
I
wish
you
〈◊〉
spare
your
here
fruitlesse
advise
:
for
the
eares
of
thi●
wicked
generation
is
stopped
their
hearts
obdurate
,
and
they
are
as
fully
resolved
to
goe
on
in
their
wickednesse
,
as
you
in
your
journey
.
Having
proved
his
Nativity
by
these
holy
Testators
,
let
us
now
enter
ourselves
,
and
view
this
pretty
one
in
his
narrow
lodging
,
lay
our selves
prostrate
before
him
,
worship
him
,
and
recreate
our selues
with
the
lovely
object
.
And
that
our
delight
may
be
the
greater
,
let
us
first
behold
him
,
and
his
sweetest
Mother
a
part
,
and
then
both
together
.
But
let
us
here
shut
out
the
Pharisees
,
and
barre
them
the
sight
of
this
Heavenly
Infant
,
who
urge
the
Law
,
and
reject
him
the
Author
of
it
.
Let
us
exclude
the
Arrians
,
who
deny
his
coequalitie
with
the
Father
,
and
the
Sabellians
who
confound
the
Trinitie
,
of
which
he
is
distinctly
one
,
and
hold
that
there
is
in
it
one
Essence
,
and
one
person
:
and
the
Samosatenians
,
who
derogate
from
his
Nature
,
and
avouch
the
Word
(
which
truly
he
is
)
to
be
no
other
then
a
vanishing
sound
.
Nor
let
us
onely
keepe
out
these
,
but
thewhole
swarme
also
of
Atheists
,
and
Hereticks
.
Let
the
Philosophers
too
stay
without
,
who
not
so
impious
,
yet
more
ignorant
,
cannot
dive
to
the
bottome
of
this
Mystery
.
But
to
all
those
who
are
honour'd
in
the
assumption
and
profession
of
his
glorious
Name
a
free
accesse
is
granted
.
Enter
then
you
little
flock
,
you
few
whom
his
Father
hath
bestowed
on
him
,
and
se●
him
,
who
when
he
gave
the
Law
appeared
in
Fire
,
now
he
offers
Grace
involv'd
in
Hay
.
Yet
in
this
dejected
posture
,
in
this
course
manner
while
he
lay
,
he
wanted
not
a
whole
Army
of
Angelicall
spirits
that
declar'd
his
Birth
to
Men
,
and
they
who
had
before
chanted
his
praises
as
he
sate
in
Glory
,
now
sing
his
goodnesse
lying
in
the
Cratch
.
Though
he
have
a
hoomely
roofe
over
his
head
,
the
East
observes
his
approach
.
Though
the
poverty
of
his
Humanitie
obscures
his
Deity
,
the
Starres
in
Heaven
make
it
known
.
Behold
him
who
came
humble
to
the
humble
,
for
the
humble
,
and
yet
his
humility
is
above
all
sublimity
.
Reverently
and
intentively
look
on
him
who
descended
from
Heaven
to
Earth
,
who
came
to
you
,
into
you
,
who
is
borne
in
the
night
,
borne
in
the
midst
of
Winter
,
and
borne
(
after
the
wretched
humane
condition
)
naked
,
and
none
offer
him
assistance
.
Swadling
clothes
are
wanting
,
some
ragges
are
found
out
,
a
Cradle
is
missing
,
a
Manger
is
at
hand
.
Here
he
cryes
to
you
,
and
holds
up
his
pretty
hands
to
Heaven
,
which
he
cals
to
witnesse
that
he
can
humble
himselfe
no
lower
.
Can
you
view
this
humble
,
this
mercifull
spectacle
,
and
not
weepe
your selues
into
marble
?
O
speedily
put
on
sackcloth
!
besprinckle
your selues
with
Ashes
,
kneele
downe
in
the
dust
and
dung
under
the
Manger
where
your
Lord
lyes
,
knock
your selues
on
the
bosomes
,
fetch
sighs
and
grones
from
the
bottom
of
your
hearts
,
repay
him
the
teares
he
lent
you
,
and
by
your
sad
gesture
and
deportment
demonstrate
how
much
you
are
bound
to
him
who
suffered
for
you
even
in
his
Birth
.
Having
seene
the
Sonne
,
now
stedfastly
place
your
eyes
upon
the
Mother
.
Behold
the
unpolluted
Mayd
(
a
great
part
of
the
wonder
)
sitting
neare
the
Manger
,
being
voyd
of
all
lust
,
chast
in
Soule
and
Body
,
who
doth
now
confesse
that
of
which
she
is
not
capable
without
a
miracle
,
to
wit
,
that
she
is
a
Mother
,
and
with
fixed
eyes
expressing
now
joy
,
now
admiration
,
sees
her selfe
wedded
to
Heaven
.
She
beholds
her selfe
a
Mother
deliver'd
of
her
Parent
,
a
handmaid
of
her
King
,
and
Master
.
She
to
her
astonishment
finds
that
she
hath
brought
forth
an
issue
more
mighty
then
David
,
more
ancient
then
Adam
.
And
now
she
feeles
the
tender
,
and
ardent
affection
of
a
Mother
,
but
the
old
love
she
hath
borne
her
virginity
gives
it
an
allay
.
Here
the
Mother
,
the
Midwife
,
and
the
Nurse
are
one
and
the
same
,
lest
any
thing
lesse
pure
should
handle
him
then
her
who
brought
him
forth
.
And
now
she
nurseth
this
Heavenly
infant
with
her
pure
milke
,
which
flows
from
no
mortall
lust
,
but
from
the
Celestiall
Grace
.
Her
breasts
white
as
their
owne
milke
pressed
by
her
delicate
fingers
,
as
white
as
either
,
he
softly
pats
,
and
playes
with
.
Sometimes
he
repaires
to
them
for
sport
,
sometimes
for
necessity
,
and
he
who
feeds
all
things
else
draws
thence
his
nourishment
.
He
casteth
up
now
one
eye
,
now
the
other
,
and
with
a
pleasing
looke
gives
her
a
sweet
smile
,
not
unlike
to
that
which
Zephirus
imprints
on
the
cheeke
of
the
Rose
.
She
returnes
him
another
,
and
her
infinite
,
but
chaste
,
affection
she
divides
betweene
her
Sonne
,
and
her
virginity
.
And
now
her
extasie
being
a
little
over
,
she
cals
to
minde
that
she
hath
often
read
her
owne
story
fore-told
by
the
Prophets
,
That
a
Virgin
should
bring
forth
a
Sonne
.
Fly
,
O
fly
farre
hence
you
Monsters
of
women
,
who
carry
leprous
soules
in
polluted
bodies
,
and
have
not
one
vertue
to
rescue
you
from
the
Legion
of
your
vices
.
Depart
hence
you
who
are
slaves
to
Lust
,
whose
fetters
you
have
worne
so
long
,
that
they
have
made
a
deepe
impression
in
your
mindes
.
You
who
have
spent
your
time
in
the
search
after
alluring
dresses
,
and
in
wanton
dalliance
shall
have
no
entrance
here
.
You
who
have
received
with
delight
one
warme
Ma
sculine
kisse
,
shall
here
be
excluded
.
Nay
you
who
have
had
onely
one
unchaste
thought
,
shall
not
here
be
admitted
,
without
being
prepared
by
a
cleansing
hearty
Repentance
.
This
is
the
lodging
of
Purity
,
into
which
nothing
must
come
that
is
uncleane
.
But
you
whose
chaste
eyes
have
never
sent
out
lustfull
beames
,
nor
received
them
in
,
whose
Bosomes
have
beene
of
proofe
against
the
fierce
assaults
and
Batteries
of
Temptation
,
you
are
so
farre
from
being
forbidden
to
come
here
,
that
you
are
earnestly
invited
hither
.
You
who
have
lived
spirituall
Amourists
,
whose
spirits
have
triumphed
over
the
Flesh
,
on
whose
Cheeks
Solitude
,
Prayers
,
Fasts
,
and
Austerity
have
left
an
amiable
pale
:
You
who
ply
your
sacred
Arithmeticke
,
and
have
thoughts
cold
,
and
cleare
as
the
Christall
beads
you
pray
by
:
You
who
have
vow'd
virginity
mentall
,
and
corporall
,
you
shall
not
onely
have
ingresse
here
,
but
welcome
.
Approach
with
Comfort
,
and
kneele
downe
before
the
Grand
white
Immaculate
Abbesse
of
your
snowy
Nunneries
,
and
present
the
all-saving
Babe
in
her
Armes
with
due
veneration
.
Never
thinke
more
of
the
Faecunditie
of
Wedlocke
,
since
you
see
here
that
God
himselfe
is
the
fruit
of
Virginity
.
You
who
have
tyed
your selves
in
holy
bonds
,
from
which
you
wish
never
but
by
death
to
be
freed
,
who
have
chose
rather
lawfully
to
yeeld
to
the
rebellious
desires
of
the
flesh
,
than
unlawfully
to
subdue
them
:
you
who
in
fidelity
and
simplicity
of
life
have
strictly
imitated
Christ
and
his
Spouse
:
you
whose
Fertility
is
blessed
,
not
onely
in
preserving
and
propagating
the
humane
Race
,
but
in
augmenting
also
the
number
of
the
Saints
in
heaven
,
to
you
a
free
and
open
accesse
is
given
.
You
widdowed
Turtles
,
who
have
lost
your
Mates
,
and
either
have
vowed
never
to
match
againe
,
or
pray'd
to
God
that
when
you
doe
,
it
may
be
to
his
glory
;
you
also
shall
have
admittance
.
Virgins
,
Wives
,
and
Widdowes
,
ioyne
hands
,
and
encircle
this
the
most
perfect
paire
that
ever
graced
the
earth
:
Behold
to
your
astonishment
,
and
also
to
your
consolation
a
milde
and
gentle
Maide
,
in
whom
neither
Childe-birth
defaceth
Virginity
,
nor
Virginity
fruitfulnesse
.
Feed
your
eyes
with
the
sight
of
her
whose
minde
is
a
Paradice
without
a
Serpent
,
on
whose
lookes
,
words
,
and
actions
,
Modesty
is
a
diligent
attender
.
And
now
in
Peace
doe
you
depart
too
,
but
take
this
charitable
Admonition
along
with
you
,
that
(
in
emulation
of
this
your
dearest
Mistresse
)
you
lay
up
all
her
graces
and
perfections
in
your
hearts
,
and
withall
continually
meditate
her
patience
,
which
contented
it selfe
with
bad
lodging
,
and
worse
accommodation
,
the
sad
remembrance
whereof
hath
made
me
ever
since
I
read
this
passage
,
not
to
be
very
solicitous
where
,
or
how
I
lye
.
The
Purification
Lu.
2.
22.
And
when
the
dayes
of
her
Purification
,
according
to
the
Law
of
Moses
were
accomplished
they
brought
him
to
Hierusalem
,
to
present
him
to
the
Lord
:
Having
waited
on
her
in
her
Delivery
,
Her
Purification
.
we
will
now
attend
her
to
her
Purification
.
This
day
(
the
celebration
whereof
is
instituted
by
the
Church
)
is
called
Candlemasse
,
as
much
as
to
say
,
the
Day
of
Lights
,
on
which
(
while
Masse
was
singing
)
very
many
Tapours
were
burning
in
the
Church
.
The
Lustration
of
houses
was
yearely
usuall
with
the
Romans
in
the
moneth
of
February
,
from
whence
this
custome
in
the
Church
is
derived
.
In
serm.
de
Purif
.
B.
M●ar
.
Virg.
Innocentius
thus
propounds
and
solves
the
Question
.
What
is
the
reason
,
saith
he
,
that
on
this
Holy
day
we
use
so
many
Lights
in
the
Church
?
The
cause
of
this
institution
is
two-fold
.
The
first
is
,
that
a
Heathenish
custome
may
be
converted
into
a
Christian
Right
or
Ordinance
,
and
that
which
was
performed
by
superstitious
Idolaters
in
honour
of
Ceres
and
Proserpina
,
may
be
turned
into
the
praise
and
glory
of
the
Virgin
Mary
.
The
second
is
,
that
they
who
by
Grace
are
purified
,
by
this
Ceremony
may
be
admonished
to
imitate
those
prudent
Virgins
,
who
(
as
the
Evangelicall
Parable
testifieth
)
came
not
without
their
Tapours
lighted
to
the
Nuptials
of
Christ
their
Spouse
.
This
day
the
Church
used
to
pray
,
that
as
the
visible
Lights
chased
away
the
darkenesse
of
the
night
:
so
the
hearts
of
the
Faithfull
might
be
illuminated
by
the
Invisible
flames
of
the
holy
Spirit
,
&
(
being
cured
of
their
blindnesse
brought
upon
them
by
vice
)
might
with
pure
and
cleare
eyes
discerne
those
things
which
are
pleasing
to
God
,
and
necessary
to
their
salvation
;
and
having
pass'd
through
the
sad
,
darke
,
and
dismall
accidents
of
this
world
,
might
at
length
arrive
at
Heaven
,
where
they
shall
behold
,
and
enjoy
a
Light
everlasting
.
This
day
is
not
onely
made
Holy
by
the
Purification
of
the
Mother
,
but
by
the
oblation
also
and
presentation
of
the
Sonne
,
of
whom
,
as
of
the
more
worthy
,
we
must
first
discourse
.
It
was
truely
a
great
abasing
of
the
Sonne
of
God
(
for
which
by
the
Prophets
he
was
styled
a
Servant
)
who
being
not
a
debtor
to
the
Law
,
but
the
Lord
of
it
,
and
the
onely
First-borne
free
from
sinne
,
yet
endured
and
underwent
with
other
Children
,
both
the
Iewish
Circumcision
and
oblation
,
and
at
once
publikely
honour'd
his
Fathers
house
,
and
(
to
use
the
Prophets
phrase
)
fill'd
it
with
glory
.
There
offer'd
by
the
Virgin
hands
of
his
Mother
,
he
was
to
his
Father
a
most
pleasing
oblation
,
being
the
end
of
the
Law
,
and
all
the
antient
Sacrifices
.
Neither
was
the
longing
of
Simeon
and
Anna
onely
satisfied
with
his
aspect
,
but
the
ardent
wishes
also
of
many
others
,
in
whose
mindes
the
old
sparke
of
Faith
now
burst
out
into
new
and
bright
flames
,
which
did
not
onely
illuminate
their
owne
,
but
other
Bosomes
also
.
Not
a
few
,
questionlesse
,
at
Hierusalem
,
markt
this
day
with
a
white
stone
,
and
did
celebrate
it
with
joy
and
thankesgiving
,
in
that
the
Light
foretold
by
Esay
then
arose
,
and
comforted
all
those
to
whom
the
shine
and
warmth
of
it
extended
.
Israel
had
never
seene
her
Messias
,
till
then
when
she
had
free
leave
to
kisse
,
embrace
,
and
dandle
him
in
her
Armes
,
and
therefore
her
joy
must
of
necessity
be
more
than
ordinary
.
Yet
some
of
her
inhabitants
were
deafe
,
and
could
not
heare
the
Prophets
proclaime
his
comming
;
others
were
blinde
,
and
could
not
discerne
him
being
come
,
nor
were
sensible
at
all
of
the
Honour
they
received
in
the
venerable
presence
of
him
,
and
his
incomparable
Mother
.
I
now
come
to
our
sweetest
Lady
,
the
time
of
whose
Lying
in
being
expired
,
she
sets
forward
to
the
Temple
.
I
have
read
some
who
poetically
set
downe
her
going
thither
,
and
compare
her
to
Aurora
,
whom
the
Poets
describe
sitting
in
a
golden
Chariot
drawn
by
a
Pegasus
,
her
yellow
haire
spred
over
her
milky
shoulders
,
with
a
Torch
in
her
hand
enlightning
this
inferiour
world
.
For
my
owne
part
(
though
of
all
humane
studies
I
am
most
taken
with
Poesy
)
yet
both
by
Nature
and
Grace
I
abhorre
to
write
of
things
divine
in
the
stile
of
the
stage
.
But
this
Religion
and
modesty
will
license
me
to
averre
,
That
when
she
went
to
be
Purified
,
she
was
in
all
things
the
very
figure
and
resemblance
of
Sanctity
it selfe
.
No
doubt
but
she
was
accompanied
with
a
Beavy
of
Shee-Saints
,
of
which
she
was
the
Chorus
.
Neither
was
Ioseph
absent
,
who
as
before
he
had
beene
a
guardiant
of
her
,
and
her
Infant
in
her
Delivery
when
he
was
not
capable
of
the
Miracle
;
So
now
he
is
altogether
incapable
of
his
owne
Felicity
in
attending
his
fairest
Mate
,
and
dearest
Master
to
the
holy
Temple
.
And
who
doubts
but
this
blessed
one
joy'd
more
in
this
Iourney
than
Ioseph
or
any
other
.
Saint
Iohn
and
Saint
Luke
testifie
that
it
was
a
religious
custome
amongst
the
very
Heathen
from
remote
places
to
come
to
Hierusalem
,
Iohn
12.
and
in
the
Temple
thereof
to
performe
their
devotions
.
Acts
2.
8
Doe
you
thinke
this
pious
Maide
can
be
out-stripped
in
the
performance
of
a
holy
duty
by
the
Gentiles
?
Can
you
imagine
she
could
neglect
and
loose
the
occasion
of
time
and
place
offered
her
,
to
commend
to
her
Maker
in
her
best
words
the
vowes
and
prayers
of
her
prepared
heart
?
She
came
to
Hierusalem
(
for
certainly
she
dwelt
not
there
)
with
farre
greater
speed
and
joy
,
questionlesse
,
than
to
her
Cousins
house
,
this
being
a
businesse
that
much
more
concern'd
her
,
in
that
she
was
by
more
and
stronger
tyes
bound
to
serve
God
than
Elizabeth
.
Her
Humility
.
And
here
by
the
way
we
must
not
omit
her
Humility
and
Charity
.
Of
the
first
whereof
we
have
a
cleere
demonstration
in
this
,
That
what
other
women
did
out
of
feare
of
the
Law
,
she
was
perswaded
by
a
perfect
faith
,
and
an
humble
obedience
to
performe
.
For
that
her
Purification
was
necessary
,
I
beleeve
no
man
will
affirme
,
unlesse
in
this
sense
,
That
the
Rites
and
Ceremonies
imposed
on
the
purified
by
Moses
,
were
with
decency
to
be
observed
by
her
who
had
borne
him
that
came
to
fulfill
,
not
to
destroy
the
Law
.
She
could
not
be
maculated
in
conceiving
,
because
she
knew
no
man
,
nor
in
bearing
,
by
reason
it
was
without
a
man
.
Why
should
she
be
solicitous
to
redeeme
her
Sonne
,
who
was
himselfe
the
Redeemer
of
the
world
?
This
was
assuredly
an
act
produced
by
her
Humility
,
as
was
also
her
refusing
the
company
of
the
rich
,
and
her
associating
the
poore
and
needy
,
Her
charity
.
though
most
impure
,
and
abject
.
And
she
her selfe
was
so
penurious
,
that
she
had
not
wherewithall
to
buy
a
Lambe
,
whereof
to
make
oblation
.
Whereas
the
Rich
hide
and
hourd
up
their
wealth
,
she
drawes
forth
the
[
](A12816-e11060-b)*
*
This
is
the
observation
of
Dammianus
,
Dammascen
,
&
many
more
.
Treasure
brought
her
by
the
Wise
men
,
and
with
alacrity
distributes
it
amongst
those
whose
wants
required
it
:
yet
was
part
of
the
present
gold
,
which
upon
charitable
uses
surely
was
consumed
;
for
her
Frugality
and
Temperancy
were
such
,
that
in
so
short
a
time
she
could
not
possibly
have
spent
the
value
of
it
.
But
these
perfections
are
not
to
be
wondred
at
in
her
,
who
being
a
Doctresse
,
scorn'd
not
to
be
a
Disciple
,
and
strongly
to
endeavour
the
attaining
even
to
those
vertues
which
by
Nature
were
innate
,
and
by
Grace
engrafted
in
her
.
Ravisht
in
soule
with
these
her
Excellencies
,
me
thinkes
I
see
her
Majestically
pacing
on
to
the
Temple
,
and
heare
her
thus
speake
to
those
who
accompanied
and
met
her
on
the
way
.
My
deare
friends
,
Sisters
,
and
fellow
servants
,
I
have
ever
desir'd
and
endeavour'd
(
as
neare
as
Humane
frailtie
will
give
me
leave
)
to
imitate
my
sweetest
Sonne
,
whose
profound
Humility
and
perfect
obedience
can
never
sufficiently
be
extolled
.
Full
well
he
knew
Humility
to
make
the
first
step
to
eternall
life
;
Obedience
the
second
;
the
former
of
which
to
teach
all
men
he
descended
from
Heaven
,
the
latter
to
demonstrate
,
he
became
obedient
to
his
Father
,
even
to
the
suffering
of
the
cursed
death
of
the
Crosse
.
Would
you
see
me
a
Proficient
in
both
these
supernaturall
vertues
?
Behold
me
who
am
unpolluted
,
(
as
not
having
conceived
by
humane
meanes
)
going
like
one
vitious
,
and
impure
to
be
purified
.
I
who
am
free
from
the
observation
of
the
Mosaicall
Lawes
and
Ceremonies
,
have
subjected
my selfe
to
them
.
I
who
am
voyd
of
all
wilfull
sinne
,
willingly
goe
amongst
other
sinfull
and
uncleane
women
,
that
I
may
be
to
all
an
Example
of
Charity
and
Humility
,
to
none
a
president
of
ruine
.
I
thought
it
not
enough
that
my
fruitfull
Virginity
had
produced
Salvation
to
the
world
,
unlesse
by
Example
also
I
taught
how
this
Grace
(
applicable
to
all
,
applied
but
to
a
few
)
by
you
also
might
be
obtained
.
This
is
my
way
to
the
attainement
of
celestiall
glory
,
and
let
it
be
yours
to
purchase
your selves
eternall
salvation
.
Doe
thus
,
live
thus
,
that
you
may
shine
holy
Tapers
in
Gods
militant
Church
,
and
glorious
Stars
in
his
Triumphant
.
She
with
her
devout
traine
being
come
into
the
Temple
offer'd
her
gift
to
the
Priest
,
and
received
a
propheticke
Benediction
from
Symeon
.
Whether
this
old
man
were
a
Priest
,
or
a
Layman
,
I
will
not
here
dispute
;
certainly
he
was
a
man
blessed
above
all
the
Patriarchs
and
Prophets
,
in
that
he
saw
God
face
to
face
,
and
may
be
styled
the
most
profound
of
all
Divines
,
Timoth.
presb
.
●ierosol
.
in
orat
.
de
Propheta
Simeone
.
who
(
being
the
last
just
man
of
the
Law
,
the
first
of
Grace
,
a
Iew
by
Religion
,
in
Thanksgiving
a
Christian
)
comprehended
so
many
Mysteries
in
so
few
words
.
This
holy
Man
(
the
Scribes
and
Pharisees
dreaming
on
no
such
matter
)
had
long
since
seene
his
Saviour
comming
,
whom
he
no
sooner
saw
borne
into
the
Temple
by
his
mother
(
who
then
resembled
Modesty
supporting
sanctity
)
but
he
snatcht
this
prertie
Babe
out
of
her
Armes
into
his
owne
,
and
not
able
to
containe
his
joy
,
in
a
divine
Rapture
Swanne
▪
like
(
his
death
being
then
at
hand
)
sung
this
his
sweetest
Ditty
.
Lord
now
lettest
thou
thy
Servant
depart
in
Peace
:
for
mine
eyes
have
seene
thy
Salvation
,
which
thou
hast
prepared
before
the
face
of
all
Nations
;
a
Light
to
lighten
the
Gentiles
,
and
to
the
glory
of
thy
people
Israel
.
And
he
blessed
them
,
and
said
unto
Mary
his
mother
,
Behold
this
Childe
is
appointed
for
the
fall
and
rising
againe
of
many
in
Israel
,
and
for
a
signe
which
shall
be
spoken
against
,
yea
and
a
sword
shall
passe
through
thy
Soule
,
that
the
thoughts
of
many
hearts
may
be
opened
.
And
Anna
a
Prophetesse
confessed
the
same
to
all
those
who
looked
for
the
Redemption
of
Israel
.
Luke
2.
If
the
viewing
and
embracing
of
Christ
so
dilated
the
spirits
of
the
old
mans
heart
,
and
made
him
so
sensible
of
this
his
great
felicitie
,
that
he
would
expect
here
no
greater
,
but
desired
rather
a
dissolution
then
the
fruition
of
any
thing
else
on
earth
,
What
may
we
judge
her
content
to
be
,
who
conceiv'd
,
bore
,
brought
forth
,
and
brought
him
up
?
Whose
affectionate
looks
,
kisses
,
and
embraces
he
had
by
day
,
the
two
later
of
which
the
night
it selfe
could
not
barre
him
of
.
Her
greatest
detracters
surely
cannot
imagine
her
so
stupid
as
not
to
be
apprehensive
of
the
delight
,
the
Comfort
,
the
happinesse
,
the
honour
his
presence
did
impart
,
nor
so
unthankfull
as
not
to
acknowledge
,
and
to
her
power
expresse
her
gratitude
.
Certainly
her
soule
was
in
a
heavenly
Trance
when
she
contemplated
the
grace
and
felicity
she
had
in
Gods
owne
house
,
and
before
an
Assembly
of
his
elected
people
to
acknowledge
her
gratitude
for
the
inestimable
benefits
he
had
vouchsafed
her
,
but
especially
for
this
,
that
in
his
glorious
eyes
she
seem'd
worthy
(
though
in
her selfe
undeserving
)
in
her
owne
name
,
and
that
of
his
chosen
to
present
him
with
such
a
sacrifice
,
such
a
gift
as
exceedingly
surpassed
in
excellency
,
all
Hosts
,
Sacrifices
,
and
Sacraments
whatsoever
,
being
indeed
,
their
onely
scope
and
end
.
Anna
the
Mother
of
Samuel
is
praised
for
her
diligence
in
Prayer
,
the
fruit
whereof
she
reaped
in
her
dispair'd
of
Fertility
.
And
of
our
admired
Virgin
,
we
reade
that
she
carefully
frequented
the
Temple
,
of
which
(
being
wise
)
she
knew
the
institution
,
and
(
being
pious
)
the
custome
,
which
she
most
religiously
observed
.
Wherefore
this
day
of
her
Purification
,
and
at
all
times
else
,
without
all
peradventure
,
she
much
excelled
Anna
,
and
her
whole
sexe
in
the
fervency
of
her
Orisons
,
in
the
ardency
of
her
love
,
in
purity
,
and
sublimity
of
minde
,
in
holinesse
of
life
,
and
divine
contemplation
.
We
may
boldly
conclude
that
she
pour'd
out
her
prayers
here
in
greater
abundance
than
she
did
in
Zacharies
house
,
where
she
could
not
suppresse
the
flame
of
her
zeale
from
breaking
out
into
the
praise
of
God
her
Saviour
,
in
whom
she
rejoyced
.
To
this
effect
,
happily
,
here
she
pray'd
.
O
eternall
and
gracious
God!
I
am
below
other
women
in
merit
,
but
above
them
all
indebted
to
thy
supreme
Maiesty
,
for
making
me
the
Tabernacle
of
thy
onely
Sonne
,
the
Temple
of
thy
Spirit
,
and
for
this
speciall
honour
done
mee
in
the
Temple
of
thy
Service
,
the
congregation
whereof
makes
me
the
onely
point
wherein
the
lines
of
their
affection
,
and
admiration
doe
meete
.
If
women
be
respected
for
their
fertillity
,
needs
must
I
be
in
great
esteeme
with
all
men
,
who
(
by
thy
eternall
Predestination
,
and
fatherly
providence
)
have
brought
forth
thy
onely
Sonne
,
their
Redeemer
.
With
a
bowed
heart
,
and
bended
knees
I
acknowledge
that
thou
hast
faithfully
and
mercifully
fulfilled
all
those
thy
favourable
promises
made
me
by
thy
Angell
Gabriel
,
my
Cousin
Elizabeth
,
and
thy
holy
Prophets
.
Thou
who
can'st
neither
deceive
,
nor
be
deceived
,
hast
made
me
(
the
vertue
of
thy
Spirit
operating
)
a
Mother
,
my
virginall
integrity
still
preserved
.
That
long
long'd
for
Emanuel
,
(
than
whom
nothing
greater
,
or
better
could
be
given
by
thee
,
or
taken
my
me
)
I
have
at
length
produc'd
to
save
all
those
that
beleeve
in
him
.
This
magnificent
immense
,
inexhaustible
,
unvaluable
Treasure
,
this
beloved
Sonne
of
thine
in
whom
thou
art
well
pleased
;
This
Saint
of
Saints
,
by
whom
all
things
in
Heaven
and
Earth
,
are
re-establisht
,
this
Saviour
of
the
world
I
here
present
to
thee
,
as
a
gift
most
acceptable
in
thy
sight
.
He
whom
all
Nations
,
and
the
Fathers
themselves
have
so
much
thirsted
to
see
:
The
Angell
of
the
new
Testament
,
the
seed
of
Abraham
,
the
sonne
of
David
,
the
King
of
Israel
,
in
whom
all
generations
are
blessed
,
the
Lord
of
the
Temple
is
here
come
to
illustrate
his
owne
house
.
O
mercifull
Father
!
open
the
eyes
of
the
dimme
sighted
Israelites
,
that
they
may
see
the
glorious
Light
that
now
shines
on
them
,
and
not
onely
acknowledge
,
but
worship
their
Messias
,
and
imbrace
him
in
their
hearts
,
as
I
doe
in
mine
Armes
.
Neither
let
the
Rayes
of
this
new
borne
starre
reflect
onely
on
them
,
but
on
all
those
also
,
who
sit
in
darkenesse
,
and
the
shadow
of
death
,
that
to
them
it
may
restore
life
and
lustre
.
So
shall
they
acknowledge
thee
,
and
him
whom
thou
hast
sent
,
CHRIST
IESVS
,
and
be
made
spirituall
dwellings
for
thee
to
reside
in
,
there
to
receive
due
thankes
and
praise
for
ever
and
ever
.
Betweene
her
Purification
,
and
Passion
of
her
Sonne
,
she
is
not
often
mentioned
in
holy
Writ
,
but
when
she
is
,
it
is
still
to
her
praise
and
honour
:
As
when
her
care
for
the
poor
made
her
petition
Christ
for
Wine
to
revive
,
Her
charity
.
and
refresh
their
drooping
,
fainting
Spirits
;
And
when
she
said
to
him
,
Why
have
you
us'd
us
thus
?
your
Father
and
I
have
beene
to
seeke
you
.
Whence
all
women
may
learne
Humility
,
motherly
care
,
and
conjugall
Faith
.
She
who
was
without
blemish
,
as
being
Gods
owne
Mother
,
whose
chaste
bosome
no
carnall
thought
had
ever
entred
,
who
lookt
on
all
men
with
the
same
innocency
&
simplicity
with
which
she
beheld
Statues
,
deigned
to
call
a
poor
rustical
labouring
man
Husband
,
from
whose
deare
company
,
no
flight
,
Her
motherly
care
,
together
with
her
coniugal
Faith
and
obedience
.
terrour
,
travaile
,
nor
paines
could
separate
her
.
But
what
the
Scripture
omitteth
,
must
be
supplied
by
our
charitable
imagination
,
which
cannot
but
conceive
all
those
her
Actions
buried
in
silence
,
to
have
beene
of
the
same
pure
thred
with
the
rest
of
her
life
.
The
truth
of
which
we
finde
confirm'd
in
her
perseverance
in
goodnesse
,
even
to
her
sonnes
end
,
and
her
owne
.
At
his
death
wee
reade
she
was
present
,
Her
demeanour
at
her
Sonnes
death
.
and
there
stood
(
saith
the
Evangelist
)
by
the
Crosse
of
Christ
his
Mother
and
her
Sister
Mary
Cleophoe
and
Mary
Magdalen
.
When
therefore
Iesus
saw
his
Mother
,
and
his
beloved
Disciple
standing
by
,
he
said
to
his
Mother
,
Woman
,
behold
thy
Son
,
and
he
said
to
his
Disciple
,
Behold
thy
Mother
,
and
from
that
time
he
tooke
her
for
his
.
His
pardoning
of
the
Thiefe
is
not
a
greater
argument
of
his
Mercy
,
than
his
taking
care
for
his
Mother
was
of
his
Piety
.
He
gives
Temperancy
the
custody
of
Chastity
,
and
commends
these
to
each
other
who
were
resolved
to
live
and
dye
Virgins
.
Saint
Bernard
sayes
these
words
of
Christ
to
his
Mother
,
included
much
bitternesse
,
for
they
put
her
in
minde
that
she
was
to
make
a
dammageable
exchange
of
Christ
for
Iohn
,
of
the
Servant
for
his
Lord
,
of
the
Disciple
for
his
Master
,
of
the
Sonne
of
God
,
for
the
sonne
of
Zebedaeus
.
And
this
was
the
reason
(
if
we
give
beliefe
to
Mantuan
)
that
he
called
her
Woman
,
not
Mother
,
lest
the
very
sound
of
that
deare
word
should
make
her
more
sensible
of
his
approaching
losse
,
and
force
her
into
an
immoderate
griefe
.
But
sorrow
was
no
Noveltie
to
her
for
that
saying
of
Christ
,
In
this
world
,
you
shall
have
affliction
,
was
in
her
verified
,
whose
life
contained
more
miseries
then
minuts
,
which
she
patiently
underwent
,
knowing
that
the
more
distressed
she
was
here
,
the
more
blessed
she
should
be
hereafter
.
And
if
we
shall
adde
the
light
of
Reason
to
the
Evangelicall
Truth
,
we
shall
soone
perceive
that
a
fatall
sadnesse
haunted
her
from
the
birth
of
her
onely
Sonne
to
his
buriall
.
When
she
was
great
with
him
,
and
readie
to
lye
downe
,
the
inhumanity
of
the
Bethlemites
was
such
,
that
they
confined
her
,
and
the
Lord
of
all
things
to
a
Stable
,
and
would
not
supply
her
with
as
much
as
Linnen
,
a
Mantle
,
and
other
necessaries
wherewithall
she
might
defend
her selfe
,
and
her
sweet
Babe
from
the
moysture
of
the
night
,
the
sharpenesse
of
the
winter
,
and
other
intollerable
inconveniences
.
When
her
Childe
was
eight
daies
old
,
she
saw
him
loose
bloud
in
his
Circumcision
,
which
her
divining
soule
misgave
her
to
be
a
Type
of
the
deare
remainder
he
was
to
shed
.
Then
againe
her
minde
was
infinitely
vexed
for
the
butchery
of
those
guiltlesse
Children
which
were
murthered
for
the
sake
of
her
owne
innocent
Infant
;
of
the
sorrow
and
miserie
of
whose
Mothers
,
her
tender
compassionating
heart
was
a
most
competent
Iudge
.
From
this
bloudy
Massacre
to
save
her
Saviour
,
she
was
constrained
(
without
taking
leave
of
her
friends
,
or
disposing
of
what
was
hers
)
to
take
her
flight
with
him
,
&
through
danger
,
[
](A12816-e11430-b)*
*
Vernulaeus
saies
that
those
who
flye
from
danger
,
travaile
most
by
night
,
and
therefore
it
is
likely
our
blessed
Lady
did
so
.
darknesse
,
and
horrour
,
to
make
her
way
into
Aegypt
.
When
he
was
twelve
yeeres
old
,
she
lost
him
,
an
Accident
more
grievous
than
any
of
the
former
;
for
heretofore
her
study
had
been
to
preserve
what
she
had
,
now
her
care
was
to
finde
what
she
had
not
.
What
an
Agony
her
soule
suffer'd
at
the
lamentable
tydings
of
the
beheading
of
her
Sonnes
Forerunner
,
I
leave
to
the
consideration
of
all
thankefull
soules
;
for
she
could
not
without
being
stayned
with
ingratitude
,
but
mourne
for
his
absence
and
violent
departure
out
of
the
world
,
who
had
received
so
much
joy
at
her
presence
before
he
came
into
it
.
But
above
all
these
,
the
unequall'd
Treacherie
of
Iudas
,
who
deliver'd
this
Lambe
of
God
,
as
a
prey
to
these
Wolves
;
the
infidelity
of
his
other
Disciples
,
the
malignity
of
his
Iudges
,
the
cruelty
of
his
Executioners
conspir'd
to
make
her
miserable
.
Nor
is
it
unlikely
that
she
bewailed
the
ingratitude
,
the
obstinacy
and
impiety
of
her
Nation
,
who
revil'd
him
that
blessed
them
,
and
tortur'd
him
who
came
to
save
them
.
With
what
amazement
and
sadnesse
was
her
heart
surprised
think
ye
,
when
the
newes
came
of
her
Sonnes
being
apprehended
?
But
when
she
saw
him
forsaken
by
his
friends
,
bound
by
his
enemies
,
accused
before
the
high
Priests
,
derided
by
Herod
,
despis'd
by
the
people
;
scourg'd
,
and
tortur'd
by
the
command
of
Pilate
,
his
body
trembling
,
torne
,
and
pierced
,
besmear'd
with
his
owne
bloud
,
and
hung
between
two
Theeves
;
then
,
and
never
till
then
did
the
Sword
foretold
by
Simeon
,
passe
through
her
Soule
.
Luther
saies
this
Prophecy
of
Simcon
was
spoken
to
her
,
not
to
Ioseph
;
for
on
her
alone
the
whole
weight
of
sorrow
was
to
be
laid
.
True
it
is
that
many
differ
about
the
interpretation
of
this
Sword
.
To
cleare
all
doubts
,
we
must
take
notice
that
the
holy
Scriptures
mention
foure
sorts
of
Swords
.
The
first
is
a
Corporall
,
or
materiall
sword
,
and
of
this
Christ
speakes
to
Peter
,
All
that
use
the
Sword
,
shall
perish
with
the
Sword
.
The
second
is
a
spirituall
Sword
,
of
which
Saint
Paul
makes
mention
,
when
he
saies
,
Receive
the
sword
of
the
Spirit
,
which
is
the
word
of
God
.
The
third
is
a
Sword
of
Scandall
or
Ambiguity
,
with
which
the
Apostles
themselves
were
strucken
,
when
they
forsooke
their
Master
.
The
fourth
is
the
Sword
of
Griefe
or
Tribulation
.
Psal.
33.
With
this
the
Prophet
David
averres
the
Ps.
105.
Soule
of
Ioseph
to
have
beene
Gen.
37.
pierc'd
when
his
death
was
plotted
first
by
his
trecherous
Brothers
,
next
by
his
incontinent
Mistresse
.
That
this
Sword
whereof
Simeon
Prophecied
,
could
be
no
materiall
one
,
is
evident
,
in
that
we
read
not
of
any
violent
death
she
suffered
.
That
it
could
not
be
the
sword
of
the
Spirit
,
is
manifest
;
for
the
word
of
God
was
her
daily
delitious
food
at
the
same
time
when
Simeon
made
this
Prophecy
.
Origen
indeed
will
have
it
to
be
the
sword
of
Ambiguity
or
Infidelity
:
which
erroneous
opinion
of
his
,
is
refuted
by
many
great
Fathers
of
the
antient
Church
,
and
by
Franciscus
Lumbertus
,
In
exposit.
Evang.
Lucae
cap.
2.
an
accute
Protestant
Doctor
of
the
moderne
in
these
words
.
Those
,
saith
he
,
who
will
have
this
to
be
the
sword
of
Infidelity
,
are
not
to
be
hearkened
to
;
for
(
besides
that
they
can
produce
no
proofe
of
this
their
opinion
)
it
is
contradictory
to
the
Text
,
most
rash
,
and
most
untrue
.
How
can
it
be
that
the
sword
of
Infidelity
should
penetrate
the
brest
of
Gods
sacred
Mother
,
into
which
,
infidelity
never
made
the
least
impression
?
From
the
beginning
,
her
Faith
was
most
firme
and
intire
.
Let
therefore
those
Blasphemies
and
wicked
slanders
of
carnall
men
be
put
to
silence
.
I
will
attribute
nothing
to
the
blessed
Virgin
,
but
what
I
reade
in
the
holy
Writ
,
where
she
is
pronounced
blessed
,
because
shee
beleev'd
.
We
have
many
testimonies
of
her
Faith
,
but
of
her
Infidelity
not
one
word
is
extant
in
the
sacred
Scriptures
.
Yet
this
prophane
assertion
is
not
a
whit
strange
,
or
to
be
marvelled
at
in
Origen
,
who
held
that
Christ
dyed
for
the
Angels
,
and
the
Starres
,
and
whose
soule
was
,
indeed
,
no
other
than
a
Mynt
of
Heresies
.
Her
passive
Fortitude
,
and
Patience
at
the
Death
of
her
Sonne
.
Melancton
affirmes
,
that
her
sorrow
was
much
asswaged
by
her
Faith
,
Melan.
in
cap.
27.
Matth.
which
assured
her
of
his
Resurrection
.
She
knew
she
had
borne
the
Messias
,
whose
bloud
was
to
wash
away
the
sinnes
of
the
world
.
Wherefore
she
might
well
be
amaz'd
,
distrustfull
she
could
not
be
at
all
.
The
holy
Spirit
certified
her
this
was
not
a
destroying
death
,
but
a
triumphing
.
Her
Faith
,
the
oftner
it
was
tryed
in
the
furnace
of
affliction
,
the
brighter
still
it
shewed
.
She
stood
with
the
affection
of
a
Mother
,
the
passion
of
a
woman
,
but
with
the
constancy
and
fortitude
of
a
man
,
in
beholding
her
owne
bloud
spilt
,
her
owne
flesh
rent
,
and
mangled
before
her
face
.
With
an
unshaken
confidence
,
and
a
true
internall
valour
,
she
beheld
his
body
naked
,
and
scourg'd
,
his
hands
and
feet
nailed
to
the
Crosse
:
yet
sometimes
the
strings
of
her
relenting
,
mournefull
heart
were
ready
to
cracke
with
the
very
thought
of
his
cruell
tortures
and
afflictions
;
but
as
often
againe
they
were
strengthened
and
comforted
with
a
full
assurance
that
he
should
overcome
them
all
,
and
death
it selfe
.
She
stood
here
(
her
Sonne
onely
excepted
)
the
prime
patterne
of
a
sollid
Faith
,
and
constant
Patience
to
all
posteritie
,
in
that
neither
the
feare
of
Tribulation
,
of
persecution
,
of
the
wracke
,
of
the
scourge
,
or
death
it selfe
could
divide
her
from
her
Christ
.
She
committed
not
that
errour
most
incident
to
women
,
many
of
which
gentle
sexe
perish
in
the
midst
of
their
Lamentations
,
and
will
neither
admit
of
Counsell
,
nor
Comfort
.
She
did
not
teare
her
haire
,
scratch
her
face
,
batter
her
bosome
,
seeke
to
stifle
her selfe
,
or
gave
any
other
desperate
signe
of
a
ragefull
sorrow
,
nor
did
she
curse
her
enemies
,
or
make
imprecations
for
Vengeance
,
or
so
much
as
murmur
against
them
;
but
attended
the
sad
event
with
the
same
calmenesse
of
minde
with
which
this
meeke
Lambe
did
his
end
.
Her
carriage
was
beyond
the
Levell
of
Censure
,
and
in
all
things
sutable
to
the
modesty
and
gravity
of
such
a
Matron
.
She
fear'd
not
at
all
the
fury
of
the
Iewish
Souldidiers
that
environ'd
her
,
but
stood
secure
,
and
fac'd
danger
.
Though
she
was
an
eye
witnesse
of
his
passion
,
and
saw
his
Limbs
distended
,
and
wrack'd
,
yet
did
not
the
evils
she
saw
,
wound
her
so
deep
as
those
she
heard
.
The
Roman
Fencers
used
to
have
Wards
,
or
Covers
to
save
their
Eares
:
She
had
greater
need
of
such
to
barre
the
entrance
of
blasphemies
able
to
provoke
God
(
if
his
mercies
were
not
above
all
his
workes
)
utterly
to
deface
Nature
,
and
reduce
the
world
to
its
first
Chaos
.
She
heard
him
call'd
a
Drunkard
,
a
Blasphemer
,
a
breaker
of
the
Sabboth
,
a
lover
of
Publicans
and
Sinners
,
nay
a
very
Divell
,
who
was
her
and
Gods
onely
delight
.
Yet
did
not
all
these
killing
objects
,
these
impious
slanders
,
drive
her
into
the
mercilesse
gripes
of
despaire
;
for
she
was
confident
that
the
two
persons
of
the
Trinity
would
not
forsake
the
third
.
Melan.
in
loco
praedic
.
Melancton
commending
this
dismall
story
to
our
sad
and
serious
contemplation
;
adviseth
us
,
That
when
Tribulations
and
Death
it selfe
come
upon
us
,
we
should
imitate
this
holy
Virgin
,
who
mixed
a
heart
killing
sorrow
for
his
death
with
a
joyfull
assurance
of
his
Resurrection
.
Consider
,
saith
he
,
what
a
Conflict
the
Faith
of
Mary
had
.
There
was
in
her
an
extreme
griefe
linked
with
Faith
and
Hope
.
Let
us
in
our
death
thus
comfort
our
selves
,
and
harbour
the
same
thoughts
with
Mary
,
still
fixing
on
God
the
Eyes
of
our
Faith
.
And
verily
we
must
beleeve
that
no
small
measure
of
Beliefe
was
required
to
temper
and
asswage
so
great
a
[
](A12816-e11800-b)*
*
Sophronius
.
ser.
de
Assump.
Beatae
Virg.
maintains
that
she
suffered
more
than
all
the
Martyrs
,
in
that
the
passion
of
the
minde
is
greater
than
that
of
the
body
,
and
shee
in
soule
felt
most
,
because
her
love
to
him
was
above
all
others
.
sorrow
.
If
we
conceive
that
she
was
so
without
bowels
,
as
not
to
grieve
for
the
death
and
passion
of
her
dearest
,
and
onely
Sonne
:
we
must
withall
beleeve
with
the
Maniches
,
that
he
had
a
phantasticke
body
,
not
made
of
his
Mothers
flesh
.
No
doubt
,
when
(
after
man
had
left
,
and
betray'd
him
)
she
heard
him
cry
out
that
God
himselfe
had
forsaken
him
also
,
her
teares
,
her
sighes
,
her
groanes
,
her
countenance
,
her
very
posture
,
her
dolefull
voyce
,
all
united
their
forces
to
expresse
the
greatnesse
of
her
sorrow
.
Listen
and
you
shall
heare
her
thus
lament
.
O
my
dearest
Sonne
,
Her
Lamentation
is
also
expressed
by
S.
Bernard
,
Serm.
qui
incipit
,
Signum
magnum
.
that
thou
who
healest
others
,
shouldst
thy selfe
be
wounded
!
That
thou
who
freest
others
,
shouldst
thy selfe
be
bound
!
That
thou
who
art
the
Fountaine
of
Life
,
and
Creator
of
the
waters
,
shouldst
thy selfe
be
thirsty
!
That
thou
who
cloathest
all
things
,
shouldest
thy selfe
stand
naked
!
O
my
dearest
Master
,
how
hast
thou
trespassed
against
this
obdurate
Nation
!
that
it
should
so
thirst
after
thy
pretious
bloud
?
Thou
wouldest
have
cover'd
them
under
the
wings
of
thy
gratious
Providence
,
as
a
Henne
doth
her
Chickens
,
but
they
chose
rather
to
perish
,
than
to
come
thither
for
shelter
.
With
them
the
dead
are
more
sensible
of
thy
passion
,
than
the
living
,
and
their
devouring
Sepulchers
more
mercifull
then
they
themselves
.
O
my
Sonne
,
my
Sonne
,
that
I
should
see
thee
suffer
,
and
not
be
able
to
succour
thee
!
O
that
I
were
an
oblation
as
spotlesse
,
and
as
gratious
in
thy
Fathers
sight
,
as
thou
thy selfe
,
that
all
thy
afflictions
,
all
thy
torments
might
be
mine
.
Were
my
power
correspondent
to
my
will
,
I
would
rescue
thee
from
Legions
of
thy
enemies
.
But
alas
I
am
a
weake
woman
,
and
all
my
strength
lyes
in
my
tongue
,
which
will
onely
serve
mee
to
deplore
thy
losse
,
and
that
I
truely
doe
from
the
very
bottome
of
my
heart
.
Thus
,
or
to
this
purpose
,
questionlesse
she
bewail'd
him
dying
;
but
when
she
once
beheld
him
dead
(
Love
and
Beauty
being
banisht
that
face
)
and
saw
withall
their
malitious
cruelty
survive
him
,
when
she
view'd
his
very
carkasse
pierc't
,
and
water
together
with
bloud
flowing
thence
,
when
she
had
leisure
to
imbrace
his
dead
body
,
to
number
his
wounds
,
to
kisse
them
,
and
to
Essay
with
the
holy
water
of
her
eyes
to
wash
away
his
stripes
:
she
then
was
so
wholly
oppressed
with
anguish
of
soule
,
that
she
ardently
at
that
instant
desired
her
soule
,
if
possibly
,
might
transmigrate
out
of
her
living
body
,
into
his
dead
one
.
True
it
is
that
many
affirme
she
felt
not
those
torments
which
other
women
endure
in
Child-birth
,
who
are
liable
to
the
malediction
laid
upon
Eve
:
But
if
at
his
comming
into
the
world
,
she
was
not
sensible
of
any
paine
at
all
,
certainely
at
his
going
out
,
the
griefes
of
all
women
contracted
into
one
,
equals
not
hers
alone
.
And
assuredly
her
sorrow
was
much
increased
when
she
saw
Mary
Magdalen
,
and
the
other
women
so
vehemently
to
grieve
,
whom
his
death
not
so
nearly
concern'd
as
it
did
her
,
nor
were
they
so
able
as
she
to
judge
of
his
value
.
Then
questionlesse
in
this
,
or
the
like
phrase
she
renewed
,
and
redoubled
her
complaints
.
O
my
sweetest
Sonne
!
I
bewaile
mine
owne
,
and
the
wretched
condition
of
all
those
,
whose
soules
thou
hast
feasted
so
many
yeares
with
thy
mellifluous
Language
.
My
griefe
is
answerable
to
my
affection
.
If
Samuel
lamented
the
death
of
a
reprobate
King
,
if
David
wept
over
wicked
Absolon
with
this
exclamation
,
Absolon
my
Sonne
,
O
my
Sonne
Absolon
;
can
my
teares
be
too
prodigally
powr'd
upon
thee
,
who
art
Sonne
to
me
,
and
Righteousnesse
it selfe
?
Who
shall
forbid
or
hinder
me
for
crying
out
,
Iesus
my
sweet
Sonne
,
O
my
sweet
Sonne
Iesus
?
If
thou
didst
weepe
over
Ierusalem
,
as
lamenting
her
destruction
then
at
hand
,
shall
I
not
bewaile
thy
neere
approaching
end
?
Thou
didst
then
compassionate
the
future
Ruine
of
those
very
stones
,
which
now
with
a
silent
gratitude
seeme
to
condole
,
and
weepe
for
thee
.
When
thou
cam'st
to
the
Tombe
of
Lazarus
,
thou
wert
so
farre
from
reprehending
the
teares
of
others
,
that
thou
wepst
thy selfe
for
company
.
Thy
owne
example
then
warrants
the
justnesse
of
my
griefe
;
for
when
thou
wert
living
,
the
small
paine
thou
felt'st
in
the
sleeping
of
thy
foot
was
,
and
ought
to
be
more
to
mee
,
than
the
eternall
sleepe
of
Lazarus
could
be
to
thee
.
And
as
thy
teares
for
him
were
tokens
of
thy
humane
nature
,
not
signes
of
thy
diffidence
(
in
that
thou
knew'st
he
would
forthwith
arise
)
so
are
mine
for
thee
,
witnesses
of
my
wretched
estate
,
not
of
my
distrust
,
who
am
assured
of
thy
speedy
resurrection
.
Nor
doe
I
onely
grieve
my
owne
griefe
for
as
for
mans
sake
,
I
rejoyce
in
thy
Fathers
Grace
,
who
delivers
thee
to
death
,
and
in
thy
Charity
who
dost
suffer
it
:
So
likewise
in
mans
behalfe
I
am
griev'd
that
he
should
be
the
cursed
cause
of
those
thy
extreme
torments
:
for
as
not
to
joy
in
the
benefits
thy
death
hath
brought
with
it
,
would
argue
his
ingratitude
,
so
not
to
condole
for
the
tortures
that
attend
it
,
would
demonstrate
his
cruelty
.
And
here
I
faithfully
promise
thee
,
that
both
I
,
while
life
,
and
thy
Church
,
while
the
world
doth
last
,
shall
yearely
spend
this
dolefull
[
](A12816-e11970-b)*
*
S.
Bernard
cals
this
Hebdomadam
poenosam
,
the
weeke
of
pennance
;
and
the
high
Dutch
,
Die
Martyr
Wocken
,
the
Martyrs
weeke
.
time
of
thy
Tragicall
expiration
in
Prayer
,
fasting
,
severity
,
of
discipline
,
maceration
of
the
flesh
,
and
contrition
of
the
spirit
,
as
becomes
thy
mournefull
Mother
,
and
thy
gratefull
Spouse
to
doe
.
Thus
condoling
,
thus
bemoaning
hers
,
and
the
generall
losse
,
she
attended
his
herse
to
the
Sepulchre
provided
by
Ioseph
,
where
never
man
was
laid
before
;
for
it
was
not
fit
that
Incorruptibility
should
succeed
corruption
in
the
same
lodging
.
This
fragrant
Flower
was
no
sooner
set
in
the
ground
,
but
she
sent
many
a
deare
drop
after
it
to
fasten
it
at
the
root
;
for
she
knew
within
three
dayes
it
should
spring
up
againe
,
not
to
grow
in
the
earth
,
but
to
be
translated
into
Heaven
,
there
for
ever
to
flourish
,
and
perfume
the
celestiall
habitation
.
Nor
were
her
eyes
,
saith
Damascen
,
closed
with
his
Monument
,
but
watched
themselves
almost
blinde
with
a
greedy
expectation
to
see
the
temple
of
his
body
built
up
againe
,
which
three
dayes
since
was
destroyed
.
After
many
a
longing
looke
she
espied
the
Tombe
to
open
,
and
her
onely
joy
to
issue
forth
,
whom
full
well
she
knew
by
the
countenance
and
figure
of
his
Humanity
,
but
farre
better
by
the
cleere
proofes
of
his
Godhead
;
for
the
Graves
delivered
up
their
dead
,
many
of
which
appear'd
to
their
friends
in
the
holy
City
.
Some
,
and
those
of
great
authority
in
the
Church
affirme
,
that
after
his
Resurrection
,
she
of
all
others
saw
him
first
,
and
wheras
the
Scripture
seemeth
to
inferre
that
Mary
Magdalen
first
beheld
him
,
they
thus
expound
it
,
That
the
Evangelists
would
not
make
his
Mother
the
first
witnesse
of
his
Resurrection
(
though
indeed
she
was
)
knowing
that
her
testimony
by
the
Iewes
would
be
more
suspected
than
that
of
Mary
Magdalen
.
I
dare
not
positively
conclude
any
thing
herein
,
but
I
may
safely
maintaine
that
this
her
delight
for
his
Resurrection
,
counterpois'd
her
griefe
conceived
for
his
death
.
In
her
was
now
made
good
that
of
the
Psalmist
;
According
to
the
multitude
of
the
griefes
of
my
heart
thy
Comforts
have
rejoyced
my
soule
,
and
that
of
her
Sonne
,
Blessed
are
they
that
mourne
,
for
they
shall
bee
comforted
.
And
who
makes
question
but
that
she
who
with
such
unutterable
pleasure
discover'd
his
Resurrection
faithfully
,
and
closely
waited
on
him
,
till
his
Ascention
?
She
who
was
as
inseparable
to
him
as
his
shadow
,
without
doubt
,
was
on
the
Mount
[
](A12816-e12090-b)*
*
Epiphanius
contra
haeres
.
&
libel
.
Aetij
.
Olivet
,
with
other
of
the
faithfull
,
when
in
the
sight
of
them
all
he
ascended
.
She
heard
,
doubtlesse
,
his
last
words
,
received
his
last
benediction
,
and
her
sight
waited
on
him
till
the
clowds
imbrac't
him
,
which
it
in
vaine
essay'd
to
penetrate
.
What
Soule
not
in
selfe
transported
with
the
view
of
a
heavenly
object
,
can
suppose
,
much
lesse
expresse
what
her
contentment
was
when
she
saw
her
owne
flesh
flye
above
the
reach
of
Envie
,
into
the
Armes
of
Glory
?
When
she
beheld
this
high
Priest
,
(
his
Sacrifice
ended
,
and
God
fully
appeas'd
)
enter
Heaven
there
to
sit
on
the
right
hand
of
his
Father
,
and
to
be
the
uncessant
and
eternall
Mediatour
betwixt
him
and
man
?
With
bended
knees
,
erected
hands
,
and
eyes
,
she
worships
him
ascending
,
and
when
her
sight
failes
,
her
adoration
continues
.
Her
zeale
passeth
all
the
orbes
betweene
him
,
and
her
with
greater
facility
,
and
subtility
then
the
Lightning
shooteth
through
the
Ayre
.
Great
is
the
vigour
and
force
of
the
Spirit
,
when
all
things
else
set
apart
it
is
wholly
intentive
on
the
Meditation
of
its
Creatour
.
When
by
contemplation
it
is
separated
from
the
body
,
it
thinkes
onely
on
him
,
lives
onely
to
him
,
and
is
(
as
it
were
drown'd
)
in
an
inundation
of
his
love
.
When
it
hath
extinguisht
the
scorching
lawlesse
desires
of
the
flesh
,
and
kindled
the
holy
ones
of
the
Spirit
;
the
body
rebels
no
longer
,
but
becomes
obedient
to
it
in
all
things
.
When
it
hath
once
fixed
its
eyes
on
this
beloved
object
,
it
never
removeth
them
thence
.
When
it
is
once
illuminated
with
the
beames
of
the
holy
Ghost
,
it
is
presently
turn'd
into
all
Eye
,
all
Spirit
,
all
Light
,
no
otherwise
than
those
things
the
fire
once
layes
hold
on
,
are
turn'd
into
fire
it selfe
.
Of
those
who
live
in
Wedlocke
,
it
is
said
that
they
are
two
in
one
flesh
;
and
why
may
it
not
be
said
of
Christ
and
the
Soule
wedded
to
him
,
that
they
are
two
in
one
Spirit
?
And
if
ever
it
might
be
reported
of
any
,
surely
of
this
Holy
Virgin
,
who
(
though
she
was
devided
from
her
Redeemer
in
Body
)
yet
in
soule
she
was
united
to
him
.
When
her
eyes
were
growne
dimme
with
her
so
long
dwelling
on
that
part
of
Heaven
where
they
left
,
and
lost
him
,
she
cast
them
downe
on
the
earth
,
the
poverty
whereof
she
commiserated
in
that
it
was
deprived
of
this
one
Iewell
,
in
value
above
all
it
had
left
.
And
now
She
returnes
into
the
holy
City
not
disconsolate
,
and
dejected
as
other
women
are
when
they
lose
their
onely
childe
;
but
with
a
cheerfull
look
for
her
Sons
victory
,
who
had
triumphed
not
onely
over
the
Iew
,
but
death
and
hell
it selfe
.
She
made
her
will
lacky
Gods
,
and
though
she
desired
to
be
dissolved
,
and
be
with
Christ
,
yet
since
it
was
his
best
pleasure
she
should
continue
longer
here
below
,
she
readily
assented
,
resolving
by
her
example
on
earth
,
to
furnish
heaven
with
Saints
.
Dammianus
sayes
,
that
after
her
Sonnes
decease
,
she
remained
ten
daies
in
Prayer
and
Fasting
,
expecting
with
a
fervent
longing
,
the
promised
comming
of
the
Spirit
.
Saint
Luke
witnesseth
that
sixe
score
men
and
women
were
assembled
in
one
rome
,
and
joyned
in
hearty
prayer
,
of
the
which
,
Mary
the
Mother
of
IESUS
was
one
.
And
as
he
names
her
last
,
so
her
wonted
Humility
perswades
me
that
she
had
the
last
,
and
[
](A12816-e12140-b)*
*
S.
Bernhard
.
In
serm.
de
verb.
Apocalyp
.
Signum
magnum
.
lowest
place
,
and
sate
beneath
the
other
sinfull
women
of
inferiour
quality
,
in
remembrance
of
her
humble
Lord
now
exalted
.
And
it
is
more
than
probable
that
she
was
present
with
the
Apostles
,
when
the
Holy
Ghost
came
upon
them
,
and
that
she
there
received
the
first
fruits
of
the
Spirit
.
After
which
time
we
reade
no
more
of
her
in
holy
Writ
.
For
where
,
and
with
whom
,
how
strictly
,
and
how
piously
she
liv'd
after
the
Ascention
of
Christ
,
Serm.
5.
de
Assump.
Virg.
till
the
houre
of
her
death
,
saith
Idelphonius
,
is
onely
knowne
to
God
the
searcher
of
hearts
,
and
to
the
Angels
her
diligent
Visiters
.
The
reason
which
many
alledge
why
neither
the
rest
of
her
life
,
nor
death
are
penned
by
the
holy
Evangelists
is
this
,
that
the
Apostles
were
so
busied
about
the
conversion
of
the
Iewes
and
the
Gentiles
,
&
enlarging
of
the
Christian
Church
,
That
they
had
no
time
to
set
downe
the
particular
Acts
of
her
life
after
her
Sonnes
Ascention
,
nor
the
severall
Circumstances
of
her
death
,
as
where
,
when
,
and
how
she
dyed
.
Some
Authours
peremptorily
maintaine
(
upon
what
ground
I
know
not
)
that
she
liv'd
to
her
seaventieth
yeare
,
and
to
her
last
houre
dwelt
in
Ierusalem
,
neare
to
her
Sonnes
Sepulchre
.
Damascen
.
ser.
de
dormit
.
Virg.
Others
upon
no
better
warrant
averre
that
she
went
with
Iohn
into
Asia
,
and
continued
with
him
at
Ephesus
till
her
death
,
and
urge
the
authority
of
Ignatius
,
who
affirmes
that
she
wrote
to
him
in
these
words
,
I
will
come
with
Iohn
to
see
thee
,
and
thy
friends
,
&c.
Concerning
her
death
,
Some
avouch
that
the
Apostles
,
and
the
most
eminent
of
the
Primitive
Church
,
were
present
at
it
.
Serm
,
de
dormit
.
Virg.
Damascen
saith
that
Christ
was
also
there
in
person
,
and
that
he
thus
spake
to
her
:
Come
my
blessed
Mother
into
the
rest
I
have
prepar'd
for
thee
,
and
that
shee
thus
in
way
of
answer
prayed
to
him
:
Into
thy
hands
,
O
my
Sonne
,
I
commend
my
Spirit
:
Receive
that
deare
Soule
which
thou
hast
preserved
free
from
all
rebuke
.
As
I
will
not
justifie
all
these
their
Assertions
for
true
,
so
on
the
other
side
I
will
not
condemne
them
as
erroneous
,
not
being
able
to
convince
them
of
untruth
,
and
for
ought
I
know
,
they
may
have
pass'd
by
unwritten
Tradition
from
man
to
man
.
I
will
therefore
affirmatively
say
nothing
but
this
,
that
most
assuredly
her
death
was
welcome
to
her
,
in
that
she
had
so
often
both
meditated
and
practised
it
,
having
many
times
by
austerity
,
and
contemplation
,
departed
this
life
ere
she
left
it
.
If
that
of
Seneca
be
true
,
that
to
dye
well
,
is
to
dye
willingly
,
then
certainly
she
dyed
the
death
of
the
Righteous
.
She
was
not
ignorant
that
Death
to
the
just
is
no
other
than
a
delivery
from
prison
,
a
laying
downe
of
a
burthen
,
the
end
of
a
Pilgrimage
,
the
unmanacling
of
the
Soule
,
the
discharging
of
a
due
debt
to
Nature
,
the
returne
into
our
true
Country
,
the
dore
that
opens
into
a
never
fading
life
,
the
entrance
into
the
celestiall
Kingdome
,
and
the
Vsher
that
was
to
conduct
her
to
her
blessed
Saviour
,
with
whom
she
had
mentally
conversed
ever
since
he
left
the
earth
:
Since
which
time
there
be
who
avouch
that
she
never
willingly
saw
any
man
.
The
Assumption
What
honor
could
to
this
great
Queene
be
done
,
More
,
then
be
taken
up
,
to
heauen
high
,
And
,
there
,
haue
GOD
for
Father
,
Spouse
,
&
sonne
.
The
Angells
wayte
,
the
world
stand
wondring
by
▪
The
same
modesty
I
have
shew'd
in
treating
of
her
death
,
Her
assumption
.
I
shall
reserve
in
discoursing
of
her
Assumption
,
which
by
many
of
the
Fathers
,
all
of
the
Romish
Church
,
and
some
of
the
Reformed
is
held
for
an
undoubted
truth
,
though
upon
no
sounder
proofes
than
the
former
produce
concerning
her
departure
hence
.
Bullinger
directly
backs
this
opinion
.
Lib.
de
origine
erroris
,
cap.
16.
We
doe
beleeve
,
saith
he
,
that
the
wombe
of
the
God-bearing
Virgin
,
and
the
Temple
of
the
holy
Ghost
,
that
is
,
her
sacred
body
,
to
have
beene
assumed
into
heaven
.
Brentius
leaves
it
indifferent
to
us
to
beleeve
whether
or
no
she
ascended
in
Soule
,
in
body
,
or
both
.
It
might
well
be
,
saith
he
,
that
as
Enoch
was
translated
in
body
into
heaven
,
and
as
many
bodies
of
the
Saints
did
rise
with
Christ
;
Homil.
1.
in
Die
Assump.
Virgin
.
See
Athanasius
on
this
very
point
,
a
Father
of
great
repute
,
both
with
the
Latines
and
the
Greekes
in
his
serm.
in
Evang.
de
sanctissima
Deipara
.
And
Iohannes
Rivius
in
his
Booke
de
abusibus
Ecclesiae
though
hee
dares
not
maintaine
her
corporal
Assumption
,
yet
hee
will
not
deny
it
,
as
being
a
thing
probable
enough
.
So
Mary
also
might
in
body
be
assumed
into
Heaven
.
But
most
certain
it
is
that
she
obtained
everlasting
Felicity
.
And
some
ther
be
who
demand
why
God
might
not
manifest
his
power
by
her
,
privy
to
so
many
divine
secrets
and
mysteries
,
as
well
as
by
an
Angell
,
or
as
by
Elias
,
who
after
long
prayer
,
was
taken
up
in
a
Fiery
Chariot
.
Some
againe
,
(
who
hold
that
the
dead
who
arose
with
Christ
,
ascended
with
him
into
Glory
,
and
were
not
againe
reduc't
into
Ashes
)
thinke
the
Assumption
of
Mary
altogether
as
likely
.
Damascen
saith
,
the
workes
of
the
Deity
are
therefore
possible
,
because
omnipotent
,
and
that
there
are
some
things
,
which
though
they
are
wholly
omitted
in
holy
Scriptures
,
yet
upon
evident
reasons
they
are
believ'd
,
and
exemplifies
his
position
in
the
Assumption
of
the
Virgin
Mary
.
Dammianus
argues
thus
,
That
as
conceiving
without
sinne
,
shee
brought
forth
her
Sonne
without
paine
,
a
curse
laid
on
all
other
women
:
so
might
it
well
be
that
she
who
was
without
sinne
,
might
overcome
Death
,
the
reward
of
it
.
Some
goe
about
to
prove
it
by
the
Text
,
Ps.
131.
Arise
Lord
into
thy
rest
,
thou
,
and
the
Arke
of
thy
Sanctification
.
Nay
,
I
have
read
a
moderne
Oratour
,
who
thus
elegantly
describes
the
manner
of
it
:
When
,
saith
hee
,
the
Soule
of
this
Sweet
one
,
reactuated
her
body
,
she
arose
in
Triumph
from
her
Sepulcher
,
and
was
assumed
into
Heaven
.
In
her
passage
thither
,
the
orbes
bowed
and
bended
themselves
to
make
her
a
triumphant
Arch
through
which
shee
might
passe
in
greater
state
.
The
Sunne
with
his
brightest
beames
imbrac't
her
,
that
it
might
be
said
,
A
woman
was
cloath'd
with
the
Sunne
.
The
Moone
stooped
to
her
,
that
it
might
be
divulg'd
the
Moone
was
under
her
feet
.
The
brightest
of
the
Starres
interwove
themselves
to
make
her
a
radiant
Crowne
,
&c.
But
this
description
is
no
more
theologicall
,
than
the
consent
of
the
orbes
is
Philosophicall
,
and
is
no
way
correspondent
to
the
dignity
of
our
Sacred
subject
,
on
whose
triumphant
entry
into
Heaven
,
having
beene
a
faithfull
,
and
reverent
Attender
,
I
will
now
returne
to
vindicate
her
honour
here
on
Earth
,
and
make
an
Apology
to
Christians
(
with
shame
and
horrour
I
speake
it
)
for
Christs
owne
Mother
.
It
may
please
then
the
gentle
Reader
to
understand
that
two
questions
arise
amongst
the
Moderne
Divines
.
The
one
whether
or
no
she
merited
to
be
the
Mother
of
God
;
the
other
which
way
she
could
deserve
that
greatest
of
Glories
.
For
the
first
,
they
affirm
that
never
any
Creature
merited
so
great
a
blessing
as
the
incarnation
of
Gods
owne
Sonne
.
For
he
sent
,
say
they
,
his
Sonne
into
the
world
,
not
urg'd
thereto
by
our
merits
,
but
out
of
his
owne
meere
Grace
and
Goodnesse
.
It
was
a
worke
of
his
Charity
,
and
condescending
,
not
of
retribution
,
or
obligation
:
and
therefore
that
he
chose
not
the
Virgin
Mary
to
be
the
Mother
of
Christ
,
as
she
was
a
Virgin
,
humble
,
obedient
,
adorn'd
with
Faith
,
Charity
,
and
other
divine
vertues
,
but
because
God
had
decreed
her
to
beare
his
onely
Sonne
,
therefore
his
best
pleasure
was
,
she
should
be
Mistresse
of
perfections
suteable
to
so
high
a
Calling
.
Wherfore
Saint
Paul
saies
,
Because
God
hath
predestinated
us
,
therefore
he
calles
,
justifies
,
and
glorifies
us
,
and
not
because
we
are
just
,
therefore
he
electeth
us
.
Againe
,
they
argue
thus
,
that
all
our
merits
depend
on
Christ
,
and
are
deriv'd
from
him
,
and
therefore
she
was
without
all
desert
before
her
Sonne
had
imparted
it
to
her
.
That
this
was
well
knowne
to
her
,
is
manifestly
proved
by
her
divine
Hymne
,
in
which
she
acknowledgeth
all
good
to
proceed
from
him
,
and
therefore
to
him
ascribeth
all
honour
and
glory
.
Others
her
Champions
,
who
couragiously
fight
,
not
onely
for
her
heavenly
,
but
earthly
triumph
,
confesse
that
she
was
not
prefer'd
to
that
supreme
dignity
by
desert
,
but
by
Congruity
,
as
they
call
it
:
that
is
,
not
that
she
was
absolutely
worthy
of
so
great
a
grace
,
but
that
since
God
had
fixed
a
decree
to
send
his
dearely
beloved
Sonne
amongst
us
,
she
of
all
others
was
the
fittest
to
conceive
and
beare
him
.
But
here
againe
they
differ
about
the
way
,
in
that
so
many
waies
they
hold
her
capable
of
this
inestimable
Diadem
.
Some
give
the
preheminency
to
her
Virginity
,
and
say
,
the
love
of
that
drew
the
Sonne
out
of
the
bosome
of
his
Father
,
into
her
hallowed
wombe
;
and
therefore
the
Text
saies
not
,
that
a
faithfull
,
an
obedient
,
or
an
humble
shall
conceive
,
but
a
Virgin
.
Others
attribute
this
supreme
favour
to
her
Faith
,
by
which
(
as
Saint
Paul
demonstrates
all
the
miraculous
workes
of
the
old
Testament
have
beene
begunne
and
perfected
:
Wherefore
her
Cousin
Elizabeth
said
to
her
,
Blessed
art
thou
,
because
thou
hast
beleeved
.
Some
ascribe
this
infinite
honour
done
her
,
to
her
Humility
,
to
which
all
other
vertues
flow
,
no
otherwise
than
the
waters
naturally
runne
to
the
lowest
places
.
This
caus'd
her
to
say
in
her
gratefull
Hymne
,
Thou
hast
regarded
the
lowlinesse
of
thy
Hand-maid
.
Others
impute
the
conferring
of
this
greatest
blessing
on
her
,
to
her
obedience
,
in
that
she
committed
all
to
the
will
of
the
highest
,
with
this
protestation
,
Behold
the
Hand-maid
of
the
Lord
,
be
it
to
mee
according
to
thy
Word
.
Others
give
her
Charity
the
uper
hand
,
which
as
Saint
Paul
testifies
,
gives
life
and
spirit
to
all
other
vertues
,
they
being
without
it
no
other
than
dead
Images
.
Lastly
,
some
there
are
who
will
not
award
the
Crowne
to
this
or
that
peculiar
vertue
residing
in
her
,
but
to
the
united
Harmony
of
them
altogether
;
for
they
say
,
it
is
not
this
string
,
or
that
,
makes
the
Musicke
,
but
the
accord
,
and
consent
of
all
.
For
my
owne
part
,
(
Divinity
not
being
the
spheare
wherein
my
studies
move
)
a
modest
inquisition
will
better
become
me
,
than
a
bold
and
peremptory
Conclusion
in
any
point
of
Controversie
.
Wherfore
I
most
humbly
submit
this
,
and
all
things
else
divine
,
by
me
handled
,
to
the
Censure
and
determination
of
the
Church
of
England
,
whose
not
Connivence
alone
,
but
approbation
I
know
I
shall
have
in
boldly
affirming
that
she
was
a
transcendent
Creature
,
not
to
be
ranked
in
respect
of
her
worth
,
with
any
of
her
sexe
,
but
to
have
a
place
assign'd
her
apart
,
and
above
them
all
;
being
not
to
be
considered
as
a
meere
woman
,
but
as
a
Type
,
or
an
Idaea
of
an
Accomplisht
piety
.
They
who
uphold
the
latter
of
the
aforesaid
opinions
,
erre
not
so
much
in
my
judgement
,
in
the
adoring
extreame
,
as
some
too
severe
maintainers
of
the
former
,
doe
in
the
neglecting
.
They
are
so
farre
from
praising
her
themselves
,
that
they
most
unjustly
deprive
her
of
the
praise
given
her
by
others
.
The
Puritans
in
generall
,
but
especially
the
obstinate
non-Conformists
of
this
Land
,
are
those
I
meane
,
who
as
in
their
Course
oratory
they
called
Queene
ELIZABETH
,
Queene
Besse
,
So
they
give
this
Holy
Virgin
no
higher
a
stile
,
than
of
[
](A12816-e12710-b)*
*
J
have
both
heard
these
irreverent
speeches
,
and
read
them
censurd
in
a
Manuscript
of
a
most
learned
Doctour
of
the
English
Church
.
And
this
is
very
credible
to
al
such
as
heare
and
peruse
their
illiterate
Sermons
,
full
of
invectives
against
the
antient
Saints
,
and
Fathers
of
the
Church
,
and
abounding
with
predications
of
their
owne
ignorant
Brethren
.
Mal
,
Gods
Maide
.
They
reject
all
Testimonies
of
her
worth
,
as
Haile
Mary
full
of
Grace
,
The
Lord
is
with
thee
,
and
,
thou
hast
found
grace
with
God
,
and
,
Hee
that
is
mighty
,
hath
magnified
mee
,
and
All
generations
shall
call
mee
Blessed
,
and
,
Blessed
is
the
wombe
that
bore
thee
,
and
Blessed
are
the
paps
that
gave
thee
sucke
,
and
whence
comes
this
that
the
Mother
of
my
Lord
should
come
to
me
?
and
,
Blessed
art
thou
amongst
women
,
and
,
Blessed
is
the
fruit
of
thy
wombe
.
They
abhorre
to
heare
her
call'd
Domina
,
Lady
,
or
Deipara
,
God-bearing
,
few
of
them
being
so
learned
,
even
in
their
owne
Faculty
,
as
to
know
that
they
who
so
stile
her
,
thinke
not
that
the
God-head
proceeds
from
her
,
but
that
she
brought
forth
Christ
,
in
whom
was
the
union
of
both
Natures
,
and
therefore
they
being
inseparable
,
she
must
by
strong
consequence
be
deliver'd
of
both
God
and
Man
.
And
why
are
they
deterr'd
from
giving
her
these
honourable
Epithites
?
Because
forsooth
they
challenge
to
themselves
a
greater
measure
of
knowledge
,
but
a
lesser
of
Piety
than
did
their
Ancestors
.
By
disclaiming
words
,
and
phrases
familiar
to
Antiquity
,
and
by
inventing
new
lesse
reverent
,
and
significant
;
they
give
all
men
to
understand
that
they
had
rather
be
reputed
good
Grammarians
,
than
Christians
,
and
had
rather
give
names
to
the
Church
,
than
accept
them
from
her
,
and
cherish
prophane
Novelties
,
rather
than
allow
of
Reverent
Antiquities
.
They
wrest
many
places
of
Scripture
to
prove
that
Christ
himselfe
slighted
and
rebuked
her
,
which
depravations
of
theirs
(
were
my
Readers
Turkes
)
I
would
draw
into
the
Light
and
lay
their
deformity
open
to
all
;
but
it
is
needlesse
(
I
trust
)
to
informe
a
Christian
,
that
he
who
hath
said
,
Honour
thy
Father
and
thy
Mother
,
would
surely
never
breake
his
owne
Commandement
,
and
by
slighting
his
Mother
,
trench
upon
a
sinne
of
all
others
most
detestable
in
his
sight
,
Ingratitude
.
Of
one
thing
I
will
assure
them
,
till
they
are
good
Marians
,
they
shall
never
be
good
Christians
;
while
they
derogate
from
the
dignity
of
the
Mother
,
they
cannot
truely
honour
the
Sonne
.
They
are
I
confesse
,
much
more
favourable
to
her
,
than
the
Iewes
,
but
by
farre
more
detracting
from
her
than
the
Turkes
,
which
Assertion
of
mine
is
strengthened
with
evident
proofes
both
out
of
the
Iewish
Thalmud
,
and
Turkish
Alchoran
.
The
Iewes
call
her
Thlua
,
as
much
as
to
say
,
Butcheresse
,
or
the
wife
of
a
Butcher
,
and
Sono
,
a
publike
sinner
,
and
Thmea
,
one
polluted
with
all
manner
of
uncleane
and
filthy
lust
.
And
all
of
their
Religion
are
enjoyned
in
solemne
Prayer
made
in
their
Sinagogues
thrice
every
day
to
curse
Christ
,
his
Mother
,
and
all
the
Christian
Sect
,
as
is
to
be
found
at
large
in
the
third
Booke
of
the
Thalmud
,
wholly
compos'd
of
ridiculous
Fables
,
grosse
Errors
,
and
horrid
Blasphemies
.
True
it
is
That
the
Turkish
Alchoran
now
acknowledgeth
Christ
to
be
God
,
and
now
againe
denies
him
,
taking
him
in
at
the
fore-dore
,
and
shutting
him
out
at
the
backe
,
yet
doe
they
hold
him
the
greatest
of
Prophets
next
their
Mahomet
.
But
his
Mother
they
magnifie
above
all
women
that
ever
breathed
this
Ayre
.
Let
us
heare
this
Oracle
speake
,
in
all
things
else
false
,
but
in
this
most
true
.
These
ensuing
are
the
very
formall
words
of
the
Alchoran
.
O
Mary
,
excellent
above
all
men
and
women
,
who
perseverest
in
the
study
of
God
onely
.
And
in
another
place
,
O
Mary
,
God
hath
chosen
thee
,
and
purified
thee
,
hee
hath
elected
thee
to
make
thee
famous
above
the
women
of
all
Ages
:
and
againe
,
Mary
by
behaving
her selfe
wisely
,
is
guilty
neither
of
Malice
,
nor
any
wickednesse
,
which
caused
us
to
breath
our
soule
into
her
.
Lastly
,
that
Many
men
have
beene
perfect
,
but
no
woman
was
ever
found
perfect
,
but
Mary
the
Mother
of
Iesus
.
But
though
truth
is
to
be
imbrac't
where
ever
we
finde
it
,
yet
it
will
appeare
more
gracefull
in
the
mouthes
of
Christians
,
whose
most
learned
,
most
eloquent
,
and
most
judicious
Doctour
,
we
will
produce
,
S.
Austin
lib.
de
nat.
&
grat
.
cap.
36.
giving
this
Testimony
of
this
our
dearest
Lady
.
Except
(
saith
he
)
the
holy
Virgin
Mary
,
(
whom
for
the
honour
I
owe
my
Lord
and
Master
,
I
will
not
name
when
sinne
is
my
subject
)
whom
to
have
had
grace
infus'd
into
her
,
wholly
to
subdue
sinne
,
wee
know
by
this
,
that
shee
was
thought
worthy
to
conceive
and
bring
forth
him
,
who
assuredly
was
without
sinne
:
This
Virgin
,
I
say
,
excepted
,
if
we
could
Recall
,
and
Assemble
together
all
the
Saints
departed
,
and
should
aske
them
,
if
they
were
without
sinne
,
they
would
unanimously
thus
answere
:
If
we
should
say
we
have
no
sinne
,
we
deceive
our selves
,
and
there
is
no
truth
in
us
.
But
because
the
Fathers
are
no
way
suspected
of
neglect
towards
her
,
we
will
spare
their
verdicts
,
and
chiefly
insert
their
Commendations
of
her
,
who
were
the
first
Reformers
of
our
Church
.
Luther
shall
be
their
Leader
,
who
saith
,
That
none
but
the
Virgin
Mary
either
was
,
or
ever
shall
be
so
holy
:
That
the
fruit
of
her
wombe
shall
be
blessed
,
since
no
other
conceives
without
pleasure
and
sinne
:
and
againe
,
In
this
is
Mary
blessed
,
That
so
great
gifts
are
given
to
her
,
as
surpasse
humane
understanding
.
For
hence
all
honour
and
beatitude
proceeds
,
that
in
the
Vniversall
humane
race
one
person
should
be
superiour
to
the
rest
to
whom
none
should
be
equall
,
because
one
and
the
same
Sonne
is
common
to
her
with
the
heavenly
Father
.
This
he
applyes
to
that
saying
of
Mary
.
Hee
that
is
mighty
hath
magnified
mee
,
&c.
The
same
Author
in
another
place
sayes
,
Mary
is
our
Mother
,
Christ
our
Brother
,
and
God
our
Father
,
and
that
all
this
is
true
,
the
Faithfull
by
effect
doe
finde
.
Calvin
cals
her
his
Mistresse
.
Wee
willingly
,
saith
he
,
take
Mary
for
our
Mistresse
,
to
whose
doctrine
and
precepts
we
are
obedient
.
[
](A12816-e13160-b)*
*
Thogh
Erasmus
was
not
a
Reformer
of
our
Church
,
yet
he
is
much
suspected
by
the
Romish
Church
,
and
most
serviceable
to
the
Protestant
in
the
setting
out
of
the
Fathers
.
Erasmus
stiles
her
his
Savioresse
.
Oecolampadius
thus
delivers
his
approbation
of
her
.
I
trust
in
God
it
shall
never
be
said
of
me
,
that
I
did
oppose
the
dignity
of
Mary
,
towards
whom
to
be
never
so
little
ill
affected
,
I
hold
to
be
a
most
certaine
signe
of
a
Reprobate
minde
.
She
who
is
above
all
,
Queene
of
all
,
whom
God
above
all
hath
honoured
,
should
not
she
be
esteemed
amongst
all
the
most
eminent
?
Bucerus
protesteth
,
That
a
godly
minde
will
not
judge
but
charitably
and
piously
of
her
,
who
brought
forth
Christ
our
Lord
:
Bullingerus
concludes
;
If
Mary
be
blessed
amongst
all
women
,
and
to
bee
pronounced
blessed
by
all
Nations
,
most
cursed
are
the
Iewes
,
who
never
cease
to
revile
and
slander
her
;
and
most
unhappy
are
those
Counterfeit
Christians
,
who
(
being
little
better
than
Iewes
)
robbe
her
of
the
praise
due
to
her
.
Needs
must
shee
be
indued
with
a
singular
most
select
,
and
perpetuall
Virginity
and
purity
,
who
is
especially
chosen
by
God
to
be
the
Temple
of
his
Sonne
,
and
the
Mother
of
the
most
holy
.
Now
if
any
of
these
contradict
themselves
by
pulling
downe
in
other
places
those
Trophies
of
her
praise
which
here
they
haue
erected
,
they
are
to
be
answered
as
the
Satyre
did
the
Man
with
whom
he
said
he
would
no
longer
converse
,
because
he
saw
hot
and
cold
breath
to
issue
from
the
same
Mouth
.
But
to
leave
them
;
All
parts
of
the
world
have
produced
Admirers
of
her
worth
.
Syria
hath
brought
forth
Ephraim
.
Antiochia
Saint
Chrysostome
.
Capadocia
Saint
Basill
,
and
Saint
Nazianzen
.
Constantinople
,
Germanus
and
Proclus
.
Dalmatia
,
Saint
Hierome
.
Germany
,
Rupertus
,
Albertus
,
and
Agrippa
.
England
,
Baeda
.
France
,
Bernhard
.
Spaine
,
Alphonsus
.
Italy
,
Aquinas
and
Bonauenture
.
Affrick
,
Saint
Cyprian
,
and
Saint
Austin
.
Greece
,
Dionysius
Areopagita
,
&c.
To
these
succeed
famous
Christian
Poets
,
antient
and
Moderne
,
who
have
written
Pannegyricks
upon
her
,
as
Baeda
.
Gregorius
Nazianzenus
.
Innocentius
Pontifex
.
Actius
Sanazarius
.
Adam
de
Sancto
victore
.
Alcimus
Avitus
.
Antonius
Muretus
.
Aurelius
Prudentius
.
Baptista
Mantuanus
.
Claudianus
.
Franciscus
Petrarcha
.
Godfridus
Viterbiensis
.
Hieronymus
Vida
.
Paulinus
.
D.
Philippus
Menzelius
.
Rudolphus
Agricola
.
Sedulius
.
Venantius
Fortunatus
.
To
these
I
adde
many
Emperours
,
Princes
,
and
Princesses
,
and
a
world
of
devout
great
ones
,
who
have
beene
her
professed
admirers
,
as
Constantine
the
great
.
Charles
the
great
.
Pulcheria
Augusta
.
Henry
the
second
,
Emperour
.
Alphonsus
the
chaste
in
Spaine
.
Edovardus
in
Hungarie
.
Bolislaus
in
Polonia
.
Venceslaus
in
Bohemia
.
All
which
are
Canonized
for
Saints
,
and
have
erected
and
dedicated
Temples
to
her
Memory
.
Neither
have
the
Princes
of
this
our
Ile
beene
defective
in
doing
her
all
possible
honour
,
and
in
Consecrating
Chappels
and
Temples
to
her
Memory
.
Fredericke
the
third
Emperour
,
made
the
Contemplation
of
her
,
almost
his
onely
food
.
Stephanus
,
King
of
Hungarie
,
called
his
kingdome
the
Marian
Family
.
In
this
glorious
Family
,
whole
kingdomes
and
Common-wealths
have
enrolled
themselves
.
My
Arithmeticke
will
not
serve
mee
to
number
all
those
who
have
Registred
their
names
in
the
Sodalitie
of
the
Rosary
of
this
our
blessed
Lady
,
the
originall
of
which
is
derived
from
the
battaile
of
Naupactun
,
gain'd
by
Iohn
of
Austria
,
and
the
Christians
,
which
victory
was
attributed
to
her
intercession
with
her
Sonne
.
The
Colonian
Sodallity
first
instituted
,
had
out
of
Lovaine
,
4000.
out
of
Brabant
,
30000.
out
of
Gueldria
,
4000.
out
of
Holland
and
Zeland
,
7000.
&c.
Many
holy
Orders
also
are
of
this
Sodality
,
as
the
Benedictines
,
the
Cistertians
,
the
Franciscans
,
the
Carthusians
,
and
many
others
.
If
all
these
Testimonies
and
Examples
of
great
worthy
and
pious
people
will
not
move
us
to
honour
her
,
we
shall
be
judg'd
both
unworthy
of
this
life
,
and
ignorant
of
that
better
to
come
.
For
shame
let
not
us
alone
deny
her
that
honour
and
praise
which
all
the
world
allowes
her
.
After
these
impartiall
witnesses
of
her
worth
,
we
will
place
those
divine
priviledges
imparted
to
her
by
the
Almighty
,
for
which
we
have
(
if
that
alone
were
sufficient
)
the
Authority
of
many
pious
,
learned
men
.
First
,
1
Priviledge
.
they
affirme
,
That
her
Chaste
eyes
sent
forth
such
divine
beames
that
(
though
her
Lovelinesse
moved
not
onely
all
mindes
to
honour
her
,
and
all
Eyes
to
gaze
on
hers
)
yet
they
never
kindled
an
unholy
fire
in
the
most
Adulterate
bosome
.
A
sacred
priviledge
peculiar
to
this
Saint
alone
;
for
it
was
the
will
of
her
omnipotent
Sonne
,
that
neither
Sathan
nor
his
Ministers
should
conspire
the
overthrow
of
that
chiefe
Temple
of
his
Spirit
,
which
his
flesh
had
inhabited
so
long
,
nor
any
impure
thought
ayme
at
the
mudding
of
this
purest
Fountaine
.
Whether
her
prophetick
Soule
foresaw
the
snares
of
the
ungodly
,
and
so
shun'd
them
,
they
say
not
,
once
for
certaine
they
averre
,
that
Temptations
aym'd
at
her
,
broke
like
Haile
against
a
Rocke
,
nor
could
all
the
Engines
of
the
world
,
the
flesh
,
and
the
Divell
hurt
her
more
,
then
can
the
vapours
arising
from
the
earth
,
reach
the
holy
inhabitants
of
Heaven
.
And
this
opinion
(
for
ought
I
know
,
I
submit
it
to
better
judgements
)
may
without
,
or
profanation
,
or
blasphemy
,
be
admitted
into
all
honest
bosomes
:
for
if
beyond
the
power
of
nature
he
preserved
Ionas
entire
in
the
Whales
Belly
,
if
he
protected
Daniel
from
the
ravenous
Lyons
,
should
not
he
secure
her
from
Corruption
whom
he
had
adorn'd
with
so
many
vertues
and
dignities
?
Next
,
2
Priviledge
.
they
hold
that
she
was
not
onely
without
blemish
,
but
her
very
lookes
sent
forth
such
heavenly
rayes
,
that
whosoever
beheld
them
,
drew
thence
a
vestall
fire
that
never
went
out
,
and
vowed
an
everlasting
Virginity
.
If
this
be
a
truth
,
it
is
a
curious
one
,
and
it
is
not
materiall
at
all
whether
or
no
it
be
beleeved
,
or
rejected
.
Thirdly
,
3
Priviledge
.
that
she
conceiv'd
and
bore
her
Sonne
,
not
onely
without
paine
(
the
common
Curse
annexed
to
Childe-bearing
)
but
with
infinite
delight
.
This
also
is
a
Curiosity
,
and
of
no
importance
whether
it
be
swallowed
or
no.
Fourthly
and
lastly
,
that
she
had
a
Frigidity
of
Soule
,
which
quencht
in
her
all
heat
of
carnall
concupiscence
.
This
last
priviledge
is
implyed
in
the
first
,
and
may
perchance
safely
be
received
.
The
truth
is
,
we
may
securely
give
her
all
humane
attributes
(
not
encroaching
on
the
divine
)
for
she
was
in
dignity
above
all
,
but
God
himselfe
.
Faith
and
Charity
,
the
fulnesse
of
the
Law
were
in
her
at
full
.
She
was
in
an
active
and
contemplative
life
,
admirable
.
The
Tongue
esteemed
the
worst
part
in
a
woman
,
was
in
her
the
best
,
which
well
might
charme
Eares
,
offend
them
it
could
not
.
Her
Soule
weigh'd
her
Conceptions
,
and
gave
them
a
rayment
of
vertues
owne
hiew
;
for
certainly
so
cleere
thoughts
were
apparell'd
in
as
faire
words
.
She
who
both
after
her
conception
,
and
at
other
times
is
commended
to
us
by
the
sacred
Scriptures
,
for
laying
up
all
holy
Sayings
in
her
heart
,
can
we
imagine
that
she
could
speake
amisse
?
Neither
could
she
commit
any
undecent
Act
,
who
liv'd
in
a
Light
to
others
inaccessible
.
They
who
maintaine
that
for
a
time
the
whole
Militant
Church
was
in
her
alone
,
have
probability
to
backe
them
;
for
I
know
not
in
whom
else
it
could
remaine
,
when
his
Apostles
,
Disciples
,
Friends
,
Kindred
,
and
all
others
forsooke
Christ
,
she
onely
excepted
,
who
would
not
leave
him
,
who
from
before
his
birth
,
had
stucke
to
her
.
I
will
conclude
with
this
Assertion
,
That
if
ever
the
Soule
of
any
mortall
enjoyed
here
on
earth
the
embraces
of
her
heavenly
Spouse
,
and
tooke
from
him
a
kisse
sweeter
than
all
the
Easterne
Odours
,
this
was
she
.
And
here
,
O
blessed
Virgin
!
J
leave
to
discourse
further
of
thee
,
Apostrophe
Authoris
.
and
direct
my
speech
to
thee
.
O
thou
eternall
glory
of
thy
sexe
!
had
the
Queene
of
Sheba
seene
thee
,
as
she
did
Salomon
,
shee
had
not
so
soone
beene
delivered
out
of
the
Trance
into
which
her
Admiration
cast
her
.
In
thee
shee
might
have
discovered
all
the
perfections
of
which
woman
kinde
is
capable
,
who
wer
't
indeed
vertually
thy
sexe
.
In
thee
Aspatia
might
have
found
her
Modesty
,
Livia
her
Prudency
,
Sulpitia
her
Majestie
and
Gravity
,
Cornelia
her
Patience
,
Lucretia
her
Chastity
,
Porcia
her
Fortitude
,
Tanaquill
her
Industry
,
Plautina
her
frugality
,
and
all
these
in
eminency
.
But
why
talke
I
of
the
Heathen
to
thee
,
who
didst
not
onely
outstrip
in
manifold
vertues
all
the
Femall
,
but
the
Masculine
Saints
themselves
?
Thou
didst
excell
Abel
in
Innocency
,
Abraham
in
Faith
,
Isaac
in
Obedience
,
David
in
Gentlenesse
,
the
Prophets
and
Apostles
in
Piety
,
and
the
Martyrs
in
Patience
.
O
thou
whom
Heaven
would
have
of
the
same
constancy
,
purity
,
and
sublimity
with
it selfe
,
thou
art
so
farre
from
having
an
equall
,
that
all
thy
sexe
cannot
afford
a
worthy
witnesse
of
thy
Excellencies
!
O
thou
Mother
of
the
true
Moses
,
who
never
put
on
the
yoke
of
Pharaoh
,
but
stood
free
in
the
middest
of
Egypt
!
Thou
rodde
of
Iesse
,
alwaies
straight
,
who
broughtst
forth
the
fruit
of
life
!
thou
wert
here
a
terrestriall
Paradice
,
whereinto
Serpent
never
entred
,
on
which
Gods
malediction
was
never
impos'd
,
and
hast
no
doubt
,
now
in
the
coelestiall
Paradice
a
conspicuous
seate
above
all
the
Angelicall
orders
,
and
next
thy
glorifi'd
Sonne
himselfe
.
For
if
Christs
promise
to
all
his
fellow
feeling
members
,
that
if
they
suffer
with
him
,
they
shall
raigne
with
him
,
if
they
dye
with
him
,
they
shall
live
with
him
;
what
eminent
place
in
Heaven
shalt
thou
have
assigned
thee
,
who
in
soule
didst
suffer
for
him
more
,
than
all
his
Martyrs
?
O
thou
bashfull
Morne
that
didst
pr●cede
and
produce
our
Sunne
!
Thou
Circumscription
(
if
J
may
so
say
)
of
the
uncircumscribed
!
Thou
roote
to
this
Herbe
of
Grace
!
Thou
Mother
of
our
Creatour
!
Thou
Nurse
to
him
by
whom
all
things
are
fed
!
Thou
Comprehender
of
the
incomprehensible
!
Thou
bearer
of
him
whose
word
sustaines
the
Globes
!
Thou
who
didst
impart
flesh
to
him
,
who
wanted
nothing
else
!
Thou
Sarah
,
thou
Mother
of
many
Nations
,
who
brought
forth
our
Isaac
,
our
Laughter
,
when
a
just
sorrow
conceiv'd
for
a
losse
esteem'd
irreparable
had
clouded
this
inferiour
world
!
O
pardon
,
gratious
Princesse
,
my
weake
endeavours
to
summe
up
thy
value
,
which
come
as
short
of
thee
,
as
my
head
does
of
Heaven
.
Nothing
that
is
not
it selfe
glorified
,
can
expresse
thy
glory
to
the
height
.
Thou
deserv'st
a
Quire
of
Queenes
here
,
and
another
of
Angels
in
Heaven
to
sing
thy
praises
.
Were
all
the
Earths
brood
,
the
droppes
,
the
sands
of
the
sea
,
and
the
starres
of
heaven
tongued
,
they
could
not
all
expresse
thee
so
well
,
as
silent
extasie
.
I
confesse
,
O
my
sweetest
Lady
!
that
now
I
have
said
all
I
can
of
thee
,
I
have
but
but
done
like
Timanthes
,
a
great
Master
of
his
Art
,
who
being
to
expresse
the
vastnesse
of
a
Cyclops
in
a
small
table
,
drew
onely
his
Thumbe
,
by
which
the
spectators
might
judge
of
his
large
proportion
.
To
give
thee
an
estimation
answerable
to
thy
merit
,
is
a
thing
impossible
:
J
must
therefore
be
content
to
doe
by
thee
,
as
the
antient
Heathen
did
by
the
Images
of
their
Gods
,
on
whose
heads
,
when
by
reason
of
their
height
,
they
could
not
place
the
Crownes
,
offer'd
to
their
Deities
,
they
humbly
layd
them
at
their
feet
.
FINIS
.