Our Ladie hath a new sonne

OVR LADY HATH A NEVV SONNE.

THere was a mariage made in Cana of Galile, Iohn. 2. and the Mother of Ieſus was there, & Ieſus alſo was called and his Diſciples to the mariage, where eyther in reſpect of the miracle wrought in turning water into wine, or by eſpeciall inſpiration, an inuiſible conuerſion of a married man into a vowed Maiden, Saint Iohn began to follow Chriſt, forſaking his Spouſe, and deuote himſelfe wholly to his loue and ſeruice.

He was then priuately taught by the Holy Ghoſt, that which was afterward publiquely preached by Saint Paul, 1. Cor. 7. he that is without a wife is carefull for the thinges which pertaine to our Lord: but he which is with a wife is carefull for the thinges which pertaine to the world, how hee may pleaſe his wife, and he is deuided.

Yet that we ſhould vnderſtand howe lawfull and Honourable a ſtate mariage is, not onely Chriſt, but his Mother alſo, and his Diſciples were preſent, that ſuch as comming after condemned it as a thing deuiſed by the deuil, ſhuld by this act of his be more eaſilie ſuppreſſed.

They eate, they drinke, they are merrie and ſpend their time pleaſantly & no man wondereth: Math. 9. for neither can the Children of the Spouſe, ſo long as hee is with thē mourne, nor as yet the day is come wherein his abſence ſhall cauſe them to faſt, neuertheleſſe they haue ſome want of wine.

But how hapneth it ſweet Lord that where thou wert, there was want? Can hee which Prou. 8. findeth thee, findeth life, and yet want ſuch thinges as are neceſſarie for the maintenance of his life? or canſt thou bee preſent and ſuffer that there ſhould he want? In Math. 15. deſartes thou canſt finde enough to ſatiſfie thouſandes, here are but few at this mariage, and yet there is great want.

True it is that the wine failed, but the gueſts fainted not: there was want but they felt it not: becauſe that Chriſt was preſent to ſupply their want. If they would haue drunke water, there could not haue bin any want, for there was Cantic. 4 a Well ſtanding by them full of waters of life: but they deſired wine Ephe. 5 in which is luſt, & therefore although that Chriſt were preſent they had what to want: yea therefore they wanted wine, becauſe that hee was preſent.

But ſince that at the ſolemnizing of mariages, nothing is more intended than mirth, Pſa. 103. & mirth is moſt procured by wine, no wō der if here be complaint of want, ſince that they haue no wine.

O Iohn! what did you when you inuited Chriſt vnto your mariage and his mother? you promiſed them a feaſt, & were not able to giue them to drinke. Thirſt afflicteth him more than hunger, & his Mother telleth him there is no wine. Iohn. 4. So hee ſate panting on the ſide of the Well, ſaying: VVoman giue me to drinke. Iohn. 19. So he hung fainting on the wood of the Croſſe crying out I thirſt, and what neede ſoeuer now hee ſhoulde haue had there is no wine.

But (O moſt louing LORD) who is able to feaſte thee without thee? If thou make not the Feaſte thy ſelfe to which thou wert bidden, thou ſhalt haue but ſimple entertainment: But pardon this boldneſſe of thy Diſciple, whoſe hart his loue to thee and to thy Mother did ſo occupie that hee minded not his mariage, and hauing himſelfe wheron to feede and quench his thirſt, hee attended not to ſatiſfie others appetites. Hee had drunke wine with milke, for hee was as yet a little one: hee had harkned vnto thy voice, and followed thyne aduice. Cantic. 5 Eate my friendes and drinke and bee ouercome my deareſt beloued: Yet did hee ſo follow thy counſell in this, that hee forgat not thine admonition giuen at an other time, Iſai. 29. be drunk but not with wine, be moooued and not with drunkennes, for behold thy Mother ſayth, they haue no wine. Iohn. 2.

O Mary! what neede is there of any wine? are not thy breaſtes better than wine? If wine be deſired for the excellencie of the colour, and beautie thereof, Canti. 4. thy breaſtes are fayrer than anie wine. If wine be wiſhed for the pleſant odour it hath Cant. 1. the ſent of thy breaſtes is more fragrant than the moſt precious & costly Oyntments. If wine be thirſted after for anye ſtrength it giueth to them which drinke it, Cant. 1. thy breaſtes are better thā any wine: which gaue ſtrength not to man onely, but vnto God himſelfe, and who ſo knowing whome thy breaſtes haue nouriſhed, ſhould ſeeke to fill themſelues with wine, they are vnworthy to bee beholding vnto him, which longed ſo much to enioy the pleaſure of them, that being a moſt mighty King, hee became in manner a begger, and hauing giuen to euery thing their beeing, Phil. 2. made himſelfe almoſt nothing, feeling neyther want of wine, nor of any thing elſe, when hee founde himſelfe ſucking at them, yet findeſt thou a want becauſe there is no wine.

O Mary! why doeſt thou deſire that there ſhould bee more wine? Knoweſt thou not that when that vine is ripe and readie to be gathered, which ſaide of it ſelfe. Ioan. 15. I am the true vine, thy ſorrowes wil expres them, of which alſo thine exceeding great woe wil threaten an end, Luke, 2. & a ſword of griefe ſhall pierce thy ſoule, and commeſt thou to thy ſon to complaine that there is want of wine? What haſt (Mother of pitty) what haſt of thy ſon his death? he is only the vine of which wee muſt hope for wine, after which wee ſhall neuer thirſt againe: wherefore in demaunding a full ſupplie of wine, what askeſt thou els but thy ſonne his death?

Was it agreed vppon betwixt thee and Iohn, that if thy Sonne would die thou ſhouldeſt adopt Iohn to thy ſonne, and therefore commeſt in ſuch haſte to thyne owne ſonne, ſaying, they haue no wine?

Surelye thou gaueſt heere a pledge of more Motherlie loue to Iohn than to thine own ſonne, and Iohn. 19. at thy ſonne his death wee ſee that Iohn became thy Sonne, what reaſon els had thy ſonne to giue thee ſo ſhorte an anſwere, as to ſay: Iohn. 2. VVoman what haue I to doe with thee? Why did hee not call thee Mother, but that thy ſpeech did bewray thy deſire to chaunge thy ſonne?

If thy Mother (moſt ſweete Lord) had any ſuch vnnaturall meaning toward thee, that loue aboue nature which made thee intend an act ſo much vnworthy thy perſon, made her alſo forget her ſelfe: Loth I dare boldly ſay ſhe was to part with thee, but her exceſſiue charitie preferred a cō mon profit, before her priuate comfort, and Luk. 2. ſhee remembred when ſhee loſt the laſt, in three dayes ſhe found thee againe, and in hope of like good hap ſhee is the more willing to parte with thee, and becauſe thy ſelfe haſt ſo appointed it.

If none had loued Iohn but Mary, ſome cauſe might haue bin demanded of that loue, but ſince that hee was the Diſciple whoſe name was to be Iohn. 21. whom Ieſus loued, what wonder ſweet Lord if thy Mother loued him? it is a motiue good and ſufficient, able to abide any triall.

Againe if likenes cauſeth loue, great reaſon had ſhee to make account of Iohn: Shee loued thee who wert Iohn. 1. a God, a Man, Math. 1. her Son. What ſhall we ſay of Iohn? If we ſay he was a man, wee ſay that which wee ſay of many: If we ſay he was a God, we ſhall ſay that which we ſay of few but vpon thine owne warrant: who after thou haddeſt asked of thine Apoſtles what mē did ſay of thee, did deſt then demaund of them Mat. 16. but what ſay yee of mee? as who would ſay they were no men but Gods? but if we ſay of Iohn that he is Maries ſon, we ſhall ſay that of him, which we cannot ſay of any els but thee, and in this reſpect thy Mother thought ſhee might iuſtly loue him aboue all creatures next vnto thee: wherefore ſeeing him abaſhed for the want of wine at his mariage, and knowing thee to bee as willing to doe what ſhee would haue thee doe, being her ſon, as able to performe what ſhee could wiſh, becauſe thou wert alſo God, ſhee ſaid vnto thee, they haue no wine.

O Mary! where diddeſt thou firſt become ſo cunning a beggar? thou diddeſt earneſtly deſire that there ſhould be more wine, and why diddeſt thou not demaund it? If thy loue were ſuch vnto thy Coſen as he did deſerue, or thy compaſſion for the want ſo great as it ſeemed, why didſt thou not demaund ſome wine? If thy confidence in thy ſon were ſuch as it might haue beene, or if thy ſonne his obedience to thee were ſuch as Luk. 2. it is ſaid to haue bin, why diddeſt thou not commaund ſome wine?

O paterne of humilitie! O example of rare vertue! thou wert contented rather to expect ſomwhat what that thy ſonne would, then to giue the aduenture to bee denayed, what he ſhould not think meet at that time to be graunted, and therefore wouldeſt goe no farther than to ſhewe their want, and ſaidſt: They haue no wine.

Iohn. 2. And Ieſus ſaith vnto her, woman what haue I to doe with thee?

O moſt ſweete Lord what anſwere is this? ſhe is thy Mother, & ſayeſt thou vnto her, what haue I to doe with thee? Was it thy cuſtome Mark. 10. by whome wee are commanded to honour our Parents, to giue thy Mother ſuch ſharpe anſwers? wee haue not heard of much communication betwixt thee and her, and yet that little which hath bin, hath bin very bitter.

When thou wert loſt in the Temple, ſhe asked thee after that ſhe found thee: Luke. 2. Sonne why haſt thou ſo done vnto vs, thy father and I ſorrowing did ſeeke thee, & thou gaueſt her this anuſwere: why ſought yee me?

Math. 12. Againe beeing told that thy mother and brethren were without ſeeking thee, thou didſt aske, who was thy Mother & thy brethren, adding moreouer, that who ſo ſhould doe the will of thy Father which is in Heauen, hee was thy brother, thy ſiſter, and thy mother.

But what encouragement was this to thoſe which heard thee, to doe the will of thy Father, when they ſee the little reckoning thou madeſt of her which was thy mother, and of thy bretheren that they were vnworthy eyther to come into thee, or that thou ſhouldeſt goe forth to them?

At thy death alſo diddeſt thou not after a ſort denay thy Mother when thou ſaidſt vnto her & her company, Luke. 23. VVeepe not on me, but weepe on your ſelues, and on your Children: If thou diddeſt take her to be thy Mother, how could ſhe weepe on her Children, and not weepe on thee?

Surely O Lord theſe ſpeeches were very ſtraunge, conſidering what a dutifull ſonne thou wert ſaid to be, but aboue all, this anſwere. VVoman what haue I to do with thee? ſeemeth intollerable. Heauen & earth doe witnes that ſhe is thy mother, and askeſt thou of her, Woman what haue I to doe with thee? wherfore ſhould the Holy Ghoſt come downe vpon her, & the power of the moſt high ouerſhadow her, if that holy one which ſhould be borne of her, ſhould not be called the Son of God, and doeſt thou aske of her, what haue I to doe with thee? Math. 13 All the earth doth witnes thou wert the Carpenters ſonne, and askeſt thou of her, what haue I to doe with thee?

Diddeſt thou not thy ſelfe ſolicite her Luke. 1. by thine Angell Gabriell to be her ſonne, and ſhe humblie entertained thy meſſenger, granting thee thy ſute, wherevpon thou haddeſt all that thy heart could deſire, & askeſt thou nowe of her, what haue I to doe with thee?

She bare thee nine monthes in her wombe, ſhe brought thee into this world, ſhee carefully nurſed thee with great ſorrowe and heauines, Math. 2. ſhe fled into Egipt to ſaue thy life, and now for a requitall dooſt thou aske her, VVoman what haue I to doe with thee?

What buſineſſe haddeſt thou moſt louing Lord, that thou couldeſt finde nothing to do with thy Mother? wert thou belike ſo earneſt in thy Fathers affaires, that thou forgatteſt thy Mother? ſurely thy minde was very much occupied, or els thou wouldeſt at the leaſt haue remembred that ſhe was thy mother, & not haue ſpoken vnto her as to a ſtraunger, VVoman what haue I to doe with thee?

O Marie! thou knoweſt not nowe, what thy ſonne meaneth, but thou ſhalt know afterwarde, marke well that word woman, & when thou heareſt it next attend what followeth.

He hath nowe partly reſigned thee vp to Iohn in ſaying woman. but not vvholy, for he hath not as yet added, Behold thy ſonne: Hee foreſaw what ſorow thou vvouldeſt ſuffer at his Paſsion, and therfore reſerued this comfort vntill then, as a freſh reuiuing of thy dying ſpirits, Behold thy ſonne. The time was not yet to commit thee to his cuſtodie, becauſe himſelfe was yet with thee, and therefore as yet he ſaid not hehold thy ſonne: but the time will come, when hee ſhall be taken away from thee, & then at this watch word, woman, behold thy ſonne.

When therefore our Sauiour his houre was come, and that hee was to returne vnto his Father, our bleſſed Lady her time was alſo come that ſhe ſhould bee deliuered of her ſecond ſonne, where neyther ſhe was priuiledged, aboue any other to bee deliuered without paine, nor Saint Iohn exempted from the ordinarie cuſtome of Children, which no ſooner beginne to looke into the worlde, then they bewaile their owne miſerie, both of them being in thoſe exceeding great panges, that no man could iuſtlye iudge, whether the mother was more likely to die in her trauaile, before her ſonne was perfectly brought into the world, or the ſon yeelde vpp his Ghoſt in his Mothers wombe before hee ſhoulde bee borne.

The beginning of this grieuous trauaile was our Sauiours apprehenſion, when praying in the garden Math. 26 Iudas betraied him with a kiſſe, at what time Saint Iohn aſtoniſhed (beeing newlie awaked) fled with the other Diſciples, Mark. 14 leauing behinde him his ſindon in the handes of the ſouldiers. But returning vnto himſelf, with what pittifull ſighes & dolefull grones, bewailed hee hys flight.

Theeues, theeues, he cried out amaine, and the farther hee went the more he found, he eſchewed the Souldiers and fell into the hands of their capitaines, he ſhunned Charibdis, and became in danger of Silla, whilſt ſeeking to faue his bodie harmeles by flying from Iudas, hee put his Soule in hazard by forſaking his Maſter.

Ah vngratefull wretch that I am (ſaith hee) with what face or countenance ſhall I beholde my ſweet Lord againe? which waie ſhall I goe? whether ſhall I run? whether ſhall I end my ſhamefull flight? more torment coulde I not haue ſuffered, if I had beene taken with my Maſter, and a great deale leſſe ſhame I had ſuſtained.

I remember my vocation Mat. 4. from the buſineſſe of the world, to bee a diligent follower of my Lord I call to minde Mat. 17.26. thoſe priuiledges, vvhich aboue the reſt vvith Peter and Iames I did enioy, and alſo how aboue theſe, hee loued me ſo dearly that no longer ſince then this night at ſupper Iohn. 13. I reſted in his boſome, and vvas bold to aske that vvhich no other dared, and he vouchſafed mee an anſvvere.

Had my ſindon bin taken from me by the Souldiers of Iudas for ſuch like cauſe Gen. 39. as Ioſeph his garment vvas by the Egiptian harlot, mine action had bin Honorable: or if I had left it mounting aloft, as 4. Reg. 2. Elias left his cloak, my flight had bin glorious: but I left it to runne from the fountaine of puritie, and to forſake my Lord the King of heauen: for which being now attainted of ſinne, for mine expected endles ioyes, I am in perrill of vnexpected endleſſe griefe, and in place of a rewarde for fidelity, I am become ſubiect to perpetuall infamie.

Now the happineſſe I had inioyed in looſing myſelfe to finde my Lord, is too too well declared by the heauines I ſuſtaine in looſing him to ſaue my ſelfe.

O Iudas! haddeſt thou deliuered him to mee, much more had I giuen thee for him than any man els whoſoeuer, and although none were ſo ſacrilegious as the Iewes to buy that holye thing, which thou diddeſt ſet to ſale, yet had I redeemed it, hadſt thou brought it vnto me, & thou a greater gainer by the bargaine, rather would I haue ſatiſfied thy couetous deſire, and concealed thy malicious endeuour, then thou ſhouldeſt haue attempted this trecherous miſchiefe, or entred into ſo bloody an action.

But thou fearedſt to haue been ſtaied for a thiefe, if to any of vnderſtanding thou haddeſt offered that Iewell to be ſold, and therefore thoughteſt them meeteſt to poſſeſſe the Gemme, which hauing as corrupt minds as thy ſelfe, were as ready to be thy receiuers as thou to be their thiefe, which thou diddeſt manifeſtly declare, as wel in the price, as in the place, in the time, as in the manner of betraing: In Mat. 26. the price becauſe thou ſoldeſt a Iewell not to be valued for a trifle: Mar. 14 In the place, becauſe thou tookeſt him abroad, out of Cittie or towne: Iohn. 18. In the time becauſe thon diddeſt betray him by night in the darke: Mar. 14 In the manner, becauſe thou badſt thy marchants lead him away warily.

Did thy conſcience giue thee, that thou couldeſt not take too little for that, in which thou knoweſt thou haddeſt no part? Diddeſt thou feare that in the open Cittie thy villanie ſhuld haue beene deſcried? Didſt thou ſo euilly in thine owne conceipt, that thou wroughteſt in darkenes? & was thy crafty malice ſo great, that warye leading away was iudged neceſſary for the concluſion of thy wicked bargaine.

But nowe alas my Maſter appeareth not. I vvhether ſhall I goe? vvandring alone Mark. 14 attired onely with teares, I ſhall bee as ſorrowfull, as certaine a ſigne vnto his Mother, that the high Prieſts haue ſeaſed on him, for ſhee knoweth as well, that hee woulde bee no where of his owne appointment without me, as alſo that my ſweeteſt beeing is in his boſome.

Some comfort may ſhee take to ſaue her life, whilſt miſſing me ſhee may thinke her ſonne is not cleane abandoned, and I cannot but be acceſſary to her death, if I ſhould depriue her of it: returne therefore to her I will not, becauſe I may not hurt her, to goe backe to him it booteth not, becauſe I cannot help him, to liue without them it is impoſſible: If die then I muſt, the clubs of the ſouldiers will make a ſpeedier diſpatch than can the ſwords of ſorrow: and although I ſhould bee ſlaine by preſſing into his preſence, yet with his looke will hee reuine mee againe, and becauſe liuing he loued me ſo dearely, too too ingratefull I were to forſake him now dying.

Thus reſoluing rather to dye than to liue, whoſe life euer after was likely to prooue a death, hee followed his Maſter to Annas his houſe, from thence to Caiphas, & ſo from place to place, where when hee beheld with what crueltie his Lorde was entertained, his ſorrowes grewe ſo great that they cannot be expreſſed, ſeeing a Lambe amongſt Wolues ready to bee deuoured, an innocent among murderers, threatned to be killed, the Son of God among the diuels impes, adiudged to a ſhamefull death, hauing nowe an opportunitie as well to deſtroy the heyre, although they had no hope the inheritance ſhould bee theirs, Math. 21. as alſo to reuenge thēſelues vpon God who was clothed with mans nature, and as it were, Iohn. 1. yeelded vp vnto their willes: for although they ſtaggered, doubting whether he ſhould die or no, as appeared by the meſſage Mat. 27 done to Pilate from his wife, becauſe they knewe thereby the ſaluation of the world ſhould be wrought, yet was their mallice ſo extreame great againſt God, that they cared not what loſſe they ſhoulde ſuſtaine afterward of men, ſo that thereby they might put GOD to a moſt cruell, and a painefull death.

He Iohn. 19. ſee him come in attired like a King, but vſed like a vaſſall; hee ſee him weare a crowne vpon his heade, but to his paine; hee ſee him haue a purple garment on his backe, but wherein to bee laughed at; Mat. 27. he ſee him haue a Scepter in his hande, but for his head to beare a ſtroke therewith; hee ſee him honoured with bowing of their knees, but all in ſcoffing wiſe, for by and by they vſe him as before, and that which moſt afflicted Iohn Iohn. 19. no ſatiſfaction woulde bee taken, where no offence was giuen, but a moſt ſhamefull death.

O cruell minded men! (ſaith hee) is it ſo little yee haue done, that yee will neuer ceaſe? and whereas now ye ſeeme by death to giue an end to all his paine, it is too much againſt your wills, your intention was murder, and yee thinke it no murder, vnleſſe yee doo ſome act, which of it ſelfe is murder. He liueth yet, but as one dying, and becauſe he could ſuſtaine no more and liue, vnmercifull pitty moued you to end his tormentes by a more cruell torture: Die ye ſaw he would, and die yee ſhall, yee all conclude, but with more paine, if too much paine before did not preuent all future paine.

Ye ſcorne that, which all the Court of heauen doth reuerence yee take diſdalne where Angells take delight, Mark. 14. yee hide that face, which all the heauenly ſpirits deſire to ſee: Mat. 27. ye ſtrike that head, where is the Fountaine of all wiſedome: Iohn. 19. yee bruſe thoſe cheekes, which neuer any worthely did kiſſe: Math. 27 yee defile that ſauour, which is the beauty both of heauen and earth: yee gaue him a reede in his hand, whom all your ſtormie blaſtes could neuer moue: yee crowne him with thornes vvho crowneth all vvith glorie: yee cloath him in mockery, and ſtrippe your ſelues of all humanitie: ye binde him ſtraight with cordes, who giueth to all their liberty, not diſcerning a king from a vaſſall; a ſonne from a ſeruant; a freeman from a ſlaue; God himſelfe from a pure and impure creature, and (which I tremble to thinke on) yee call for his blood vpon you and on your Children. Math. 27.

Yee haue had already more than ye can wel avouch the ſhedding thereof, and yet yee are not ſatiſfied: Could euer any Tyger be more fierce, or Lyon greedier of his pray? O men! no men, but farre exceeding what euill could euer be deuiſed.

But beare with them a little, (O Iohn) they vnderſtand perchance with what crueltie they haue erred, they weigh the debt into which they haue wilfullie runne by their wickednes, they feare the ſlauerye to which by their follie they haue made themſelues ſubiect, and knowing that their error cannot otherwiſe bee diſcerned, their debt no way elſe diſcharged, their libertie and their Childrens by no other meanes procured, but by the lightning of his moſt precious blood vpon them and theirs, they call and cry out: Math. 27. His blood be on vs and on our children.

Expect a while, if peraduenture vpon the taking of ſo precious a receit, they will all cry out; In very deede this man was iuſt, and returne knocking their breſts ſorrowing for their offence committed againſt him, and make him ſome ſatisfaction for what they haue done before vnto him.

Heard they not the high Prieſt ſay: Iohn. 11. It is expedient that one ſhould die, that all the people periſh not, and nowe they perceiue there is no other way but death, they wiſh they may bee waſhed with his blood, and thereby reconciled againe vnto him and be ſaued, and for this cauſe they all cry out His blood bee on vs and on our children.

A grieuous leproſie hath ouergrowne their ſoules, that they can no longer bee accepted for Citizens of Heauen. The water of Iordan cannot purge it, and although they haue often ſtriken the Rocke yeeldeth he no water to cleanſe it, vntill his ſide bee pierced, and therefore are they forced and conſtrained to vſe a bath of Innocents blood, which forceth them to cry out: His blood bee on vs and on our children. Iohn. 6.

They haue heard him alſo ſay himſelfe, that there is no way but death for ſuch as eate not of his fleſhe, and drinke not of his blood, and although at that time hauing a moſt carnall and brutiſh conceit, they abhorred ſo vnuſuall a feeding, yet beeing now brought to this exigent, that they know in crueltie they haue exceeded the nature of men, and thinke the ſore cannot bee ſalued but by his precious blood, albeit ſuch potions ſeeme vnto them contrary to the ſame nature, they wil apply their ſences vnto them, and maſter their former conceits, and therefore all cry out, His blood bee on vs, and on our Children.

Remembreſt thou not Mat. 11 how that many blinde receaued their ſight, by his laying his hands vpon them? Luke. 7. call to minde howe for a moſt great debt Mary Magdalen, her bond was cancelled, when ſhe only touched his holie feet.

Forgetteſt thou how many by his word onely hee ſet at libertie, Math. 8. which were poſſeſſed by diuells? and blameſt thou them whoſe blindnes is ſo grieuous, that it can not otherwiſe bee cured; whoſe debt is ſo great, that it cannot otherwiſe bee diſcharged; whoſe thraldome is ſo villanous, that they cannot otherwiſe bee freed, if with vehemency they call and cry out, His blood be vppon vs, & on our Children.

But alas, theſe ſurmiſes doe rather increaſe griefe, then eaſe it, what is it to me (ſaith Iohn) if they remaine ſtill blinde? What concerneth it mee if their debts bee not paide? What toucheth it me if they ſtill continue in bondage? What profits it mee that all the world doe the better if I fare the worſe?

Cannot their eyes be opened, vnles mine bee put out? Cannot their debts be paide, vnleſſe I bee impoueriſhed? Cannot they be at libertie, vnles I liue in miſerie? Cannot the ſunne ſhine clearelie to them, vnles it bee eclipſed to me? Cannot they bee enriched, vnles I be robbed? Cannot they ioy in freedome, vnles I grieue in thraldome? or is there no other waye to worke this their weale, my woe, but by procuring hys bloud vpon thē & on their Childrē? If one offence pardoned by the committing of an other? is an euill enterpriſe remitted by a cruell proſecuting of the ſame? is it a ſatiſfaction for the ſhedding of blood to cry for more? No, no: murder it is which they intend, and for naught els then to glut themſelues therewith, they all cry out, Mat. 27. His blood be on vs and on our Children.

The Iewes ſometime the glory of the world, are now become opprobrious to all people, that whereas heretofore all ſuch as vſed crueltie, were rightly likened vnto beaſtes, no tyrranie hereafter ſhall be adiudged comparable to this of the Iewes a meaſure to ſerue for all tyrants becauſe it was without meaſure, that ſomuch the greater the tyrranie ſhould be thought, by how much it hath proportion to the crueltie of the Iewes.

But thou (O moſt louing Lord) where or when couldeſt thou deſerue ſo ſharpe a torture: I knowe right well Pſa. 68. thou payeſt that which thou diddeſt neuer owe. One drop of blood had bin enough for to haue ſaued a thouſand worlds, and thou haſt made no ſpare thereof: Why ſhouldeſt thou then die, ſince nought therby is done, but what alreadie is done? The price is giuen, the vttermoſt farthing paid; Thy Mother alſo and the reſt of thy frends are ſold to ſorow & griefe, as though thou hadſt not wherewithal to pay this debt thy ſelfe & of thy ſelf. If die thou wilt, becauſ thou muſt, yet chooſe ſome other death, no other death (ſweete Lord) can ſounde well in their eares, but this of all the reſt, will be as grieuous vnto thē, as painefull vnto thee: deferr at leaſt the time, els now thy friendes, beſide thy ſelfe become a fable to all nations.

What ſcandall will thoſe take which did beleeue in thee? Who will account of them, which once did followe thee? What hope is left for thē, which put their truſt in thee? Iohn. 8. thou madeſt a promiſe to ſet thy people free, and howe art thou thy ſelf become a thrale? Iohn. 18. Thou ſaidſt thou wert a King, and how then art thou Iudged by theſe men to death? Mar. 16 Thou dooſt profeſſe thy ſelfe the ſonne of God, but why then will men ſay doeſt thou not ſaue thy ſelfe?

Thoſe which haue ſeene thy life, may well beleeue what thou haſte ſaid, and who thou art, but thoſe which ſee the manner of thy death, will eaſily be diſmaied: In that thou liuedſt as thou didſt, all had thee in admiration: In that thou dieſt as thou doſt, they turne it to deriſion: How ſhall thy life be deemed void of forgerie, ſince that thou ſuffereſt now ſo great an ignominy? How can that raiſing from the dead bee cleare frō all ſuſpition, when as thy ſelfe aliue doeſt ſuffer by compulſion? How diddeſt thou free ſo manie from infirmities, and art thy ſelfe oppreſſed with calamities?

It ſeemeth that thy forces wer as Iud. 16 Sampſon fained his to be before that thou wert bound: thou alone without any other help Mark. 1. draueſt out of the Temple, multitudes of people (a thing to think impoſſible, as well for that the number was ſo great, as that they ſate there for their game) what power of men, what ſtrength of armes, Iohn. 18 ouerthrew the ſouldiers, which cōming to apprehend thee in the garden fell backward to the grounde? but after once they bound thee, they drew thee like a ſheepe vnto the ſlaughter, and nothing apeareth in thee ſingular, which is not in all others, but that thou liueſt and ſuffereſt that which no man els could do, aſwell for the violence of the torture, as alſo the vilenes of thy tormenters, who as they wer patrōs of all impuritie, ſo haue they now made themſelues patterns of all impiety. But how couldeſt thou (O Iohn) remaine to ſee ſo vnworthie a ſpectacle? How could thine innocent ſoule not fly this heinous fact? how could thy maidenly heart behold ſuch flowing ſtreames of blood? howe could thy louing minde forbeare the murderers of thy maſter? who is it will not iudge thee to conſent to all this treaſon; which ſeeth thee preſent and ſilent at all this euill vſing? and although thou diddeſt not keepe their garments, while they did this Execution, yet diddeſt thou keepe their counſell, while they wrecked on him their malicious intention.

Thou denaydſt him not in open ſpeech three times, Mark. 16 as Peter did, but innumerable ſtripes, the bloody crowne of thornes, the vnworthy ſcoffes and mocks, the inſpeakable euill intreatinges, which thou diddeſt ſee & heare did euery one demaunde of thee whether thou wert not alſo with Ieſus of Nazareth and one of his Diſciples, and eyther feare did make thee quaile, or ſhame to holde thy peace, that it did ſeeme at leaſt a ſecret nay of that thou wert.

What thinkeſt thou woulde Thomas doe? who hearing that his Lord would goe to Hieruſalem and knowing hee was there, ſought for by his enemies offered frankely and with great courage: Iohn. 11. Let vs goe alſo and die with him. And now thou ſtandeſt by, and ſeeſt him thus tormented, and nether makeſt offer to abide ſome ſmall paine for him, nor yet are forwarde in ſuffering any thinge with him.

Knoweſt thou not that all thinges amongſt louers ought to bee common? Conſidereſt thou not that friends doe ioy together, and mourne not one without the other, becauſe as one ioyeth for the ioy of another, ſo doth he feele what ſmarteth in the other? and not one who loueth offereth not his life to ſaue his loue? for as they enterchange their hearts, ſo make they reckoning of theyr harmes.

All men doe ſeeke to ſaue their liues, but where they are, the louers life is where he loueth moſt, and there he liues and no where els: Wherefore (O Iohn) either nowe confeſſe thou louedſt not, where it was thought thou diddeſt, or that thou madeſt but little reckoning of thy life.

Thinke when he is gone how many die in him, how fareth now his Mother and the reſt of hys companye? Can they bee well when he is ill? Can they be whole when he is wounded? Can they be ſound when he is bruſed? Can they finde eaſe when hee feeles paine? How thinkeſt thou could they conteine themſelues from that poore weak reuenge, which they would take vpon the ſouldiers? the men woulde ſoone forgette that they were neuer trained vp to fight, the women would not thinke themſelues the weaker ſexe, loue baniſheth away all feare, and ſweete life maketh all ſortes refuſe no ſower which may maintaine the ſame. Their loue is ſubiect to his enemies, and their life is in the hands of cruell murtherers, and holdeſt thou both tongue and hands as though thou kneweſt him not, or at the leaſt regardeſt him not?

How can this thy moſt beloued diſciple (ſweet Lord) be excuſed, who ſeemeth ſo much more then the reſt to bee in fault, by howe much he was fauored aboue the reſt? for although he knewe that thou diddeſt ſuffer becauſe thou wouldeſt, yet had it beene his part to haue defended thee in what he coulde, ſeeing that thou wert his Lord, his loue, his life.

But herein alſo ſhewed he his exceſſiue loue, which was ſo much the ſtronger, by how much it preuailed againſt loue, and now hee hath found by loue a ſecrete, that a greater loue may bee, then for a man to giue his life for his loue.

When thou ſhewedſt to thy diſciples that thou muſt goe to Hieruſalem & ſuffer many things of the Elders, Mat. 16. Scribes and chiefe Prieſts, and be killed, & the third day ariſe; Peter tooke thee vnto him, and rebuking thee ſaid: Lord be it far from thee, this ſhall not be vnto thee, wherefore he deſerued to heare, go after me Sathan, thou art a ſcandall vnto me, becauſe thou ſauoureſt not the thinges which are of God, but the things which are of mē. & Iohn remembring theſe words thought hee could not without offending thee, either wiſhe, or worke thy ſafetie, and therefore choſe to leeſe thee, rather than thy fauour, and to breath without his life, then bereaue himſelfe of thy loue.

He knew right wel more than twelue Legions of Angels ready at thy call, Math. 26. both where and when thou wouldeſt haue vſed them, it booted not to ſtriue againſt the ſtreame, he was too weake, it was in vaine to offer himſelf to death, his time was not yet come, although that preſent death had bin but one for all, and now eſcaping this he dyed many deaths by liuing one loathſome life.

Had his heart beene as hard as ſtone, it had been riuen in a thouſand peeces, but beeing ſoft it did relent at euery ſtroake, that ſtill he ſeemed dying, and yet hee liued ſtill, ſuffering the more becauſe hee could, and died not rather as hee deſired, for nothing coulde haue bin a greater eaſe to him, thā that which ſhould haue beene an end of all his griefe.

And whilſt he waded more & more into a ſea of ſorrow, he ſee a heauie Croſſe laide on his Maſters ſhoulders, Iohn. 19. and the ſouldiers ſome drawing, ſome driuing him vnto the Mount Caluarie to bee crucified among the theeues.

Here might ye ſee infinite multitudes of people flocking to this ſpectacle, the like whereof could neuer be ſeene againe: Among the reſt he eſpied the bleſſed Virgin but ſorrowfull Mother, whome after he had ſaluted in as dutifull maner as he might, what ſighes, what ſorrows, what complaints were made by one to the other? the mother for her only & dearely beloued ſonne, the Diſciple for his intirely louing Maſter, both of them for their only comfort, their harts ioy, their ſouls delight. Neyther of them were able to containe themſelues from teares, eſpecially our bleſſed Lady who had a warrant from her ſonne, to eaſe her hart ſomewhat that way, when hee bad the women which followed him to weepe vppon themſelues and on their children. Luke. 23.

They paſſe on together, with now and then halfe a worde, ſorrow deuiding it a ſunder, but being both of one minde, and grieuing for the ſelfe ſame loſſe, the ſignes they made were eaſily vnderſtood. How often did they wiſh that heauy croſſe vppon ſome other ſhoulders, and then contrould themſelues, they ſee him faint and woulde moſt faine hee ſhoulde haue had ſome eaſe, they knewe againe that by that meanes hee ſhoulde bee ſooner gone, and therefore knewe not what to wiſh, yet at the length ſeeing no hope of life, and waying the crueltie of the Iewes, they reioyſed not a little to ſee an other take the croſſe, Mat. 27. wiſhing earneſtly their paines might haue procured that reſt.

And nowe that this grieuous labour groweth to an ende, and much ſorrow beginneth euen in thinges inſenſible, howe much more was our bleſſed Ladie afflicted, ſeeing her ſonne ſo cruellie handled, and with ſorrowfull ſighes began to bewaile her ſelfe, ſomtime to him, other times to S. Iohn, & ſometimes to the Iewes, who ſeeing her exceſſiue griefe coulde not but take compaſſion vpon her.

Who will giue water vnto my head (ſaith ſhe) and a Fountaine of teares vnto mine eyes, to bewaile both day & night the murther, not of any other then mine owne and onlie ſonne? My daies of ioy are turned into griefe, and my ſong notes into ſighes of ſorrow.

Bewaile me ye hils and mountaines, lament me yee flouds and Fountaines, ſince that of a Mother of peace & ioy, I am become the Daughter of teares and ſorrow: Mourne yee beaſts of the earth: weepe yee foules of the ayre, & euery thing which liueth grieue, ſince that life it ſelfe, by whom ye all haue life, leaueth to liue any longer among you.

O who of you all (once his choſen people, now his chiefeſt enemies) can accuſe him of the leaſt ſin, that ye cauſe him to die with great ſhame? his pittifull cries do ſo pierce the heauens, as they are aſhamed of this your cruell fact, and ſeeke to couer it with a wofull darkenes, and ye alone of all creatures are ſo hard harted, as ye diſcouer nothing to be in you but a wilfull deafenes. Had not hee himſelfe come vnto you, and done thoſe thinges which neuer any did, and done them to teſtefie that hee was Gods ſonne, yee might haue had ſome excuſe for this ſinne, but hauing done ſo many good deedes among you, as yee all haue iuſt cauſe to loue him, for which of them all doo you kill him? Iohn. 18 it is not lawfull for you (yee ſay) to kill any man, and is it lawfull for you to put Gods ſonne and mine to death? yee gaue not the ſentence of death againſt him, but why then were all other iudgments vtterly condemned by you? did yee not bewray howe much yee deſired that he ſhuld die this death, when as vpon euery light motiō or opportunity offered to ſpeake, no other eccho rebounded in all the Pallace, Mat. 27 then, Let him be crucified without any remorce, either for his daylie good deſertes, or the Iudge his own decree? Too cruell were yee all, but much more friendly cruell was Pilate, than were ye, becauſe he vſed that cruelty to procure his liberty, hoping that after this my ſon had abiddē al maner of abuſes, euen vntil the ſouldiers were tired with euill vſing him, his affliction wold haue mooued ye to ſome compaſſion, & therefore he brought forth vnto you ſo lamētable a ſpectacle, Iohn. 19. as no hart but yours would not but melt with griefe to behold him, & yee continued ſtill your former notes crying out vntill yee were hoarſe with crying crucifie him, Iohn. 19. crucifie him, what ſaid ye? & why ſo? becauſe ye wil haue no other king but Caeſar. Alas he neuer labored to make himſelfe a king, (although no man had more right to be your king than he) Iohn. 6. but rather fled whē it was vrged vpon him, Mat. 17 and was willing to pay all duties as a ſubiect, euen from the time that hee was eight daies old. O how well haue ye tried (well? alas not well) that he ſeeketh not that which is his own (our ſelues only excepted) when as wrangling with him for his cloake, Iohn. 9 he deliuored alſo vnto you his coate, and bore all your whippes vpon his bare back. True it is that Pilate gaue the ſentence of death, not becauſe hee iudged him worthy of death, for after diuers examinations hee openlie proteſted that Luk. 23 he found no cauſe of death in him, but becauſe he feared that ye would falſly, and ſlanderouſly informe Caeſar againſt him, if he ſhould haue ſhewed but the leaſt fauor in this cauſe, & ye vſing this his feare for the finiſhing of this blody tragedie, vrged him too often, that if Iohn. 19. hee did acquite hee was not Caeſars friend, although the tryalls of iuſtice betweene a Prince and his ſubiects, ſhould no other wiſe bee eſteemed of them as quarrels. O heauenly father, Caeſar is more regarded than thy ſonne, and more are men afraide not to be ouer officious to Caeſar than to be too much offenſiue to thee and thy ſonne, and therefore is thy ſonne at this time called from the earth.

(O vngratefull creatures) not becauſe they iudged the earth vnworthie to beare him, but becauſe in their corrupted conceits they thought him vnworthie to liue any longer vpon the earth, and hangeth in the ayre faſt nayled to a Croſſe. O happie Croſſe! O Holy nailes! O ſweete inſtrumentes of a ſorrowfull death! worthie for this ſo neare touche of ſo ſacred a body, to bee had herafter in perpetual reuerence, ye were not painefull vnto him, but they which cauſed you to enter his hands and feete: but neither deſerue ye any blame, if yee deſierd to ſticke ſo cloſe vnto him.

O my ſweete ſonne, bee not hard to me, who haſte beene ſo bountifull to all, but graunt mee this my laſt requeſt: Take thy Mother vnto thee on the Croſſe, that dying with thee I may alſo liue with thee after death, for nothing can be more ſweet vnto me than hauing embraced thee, to die with thee, and nothing more loathſome, than to liue without thee after that thou art dead.

O true ſonne of God, thou wert a father vnto me, thou wert a mother to mee, thou wert my ſonne, thou wert my ſpouſe, thou wert my ſoul, now am I become an orphant, without Father or Mother, a ſpouſe without a mate, a Mother without a ſonne, a body without ſence, and ſoule, and in concluſiō when thou art gone, all that I haue and all that I am is gone. Tell mee my moſt louing ſon, tell me who wert mine only ioy. Why ſuffereſt thou mee to languiſh and pine awaye with griefe? Why haſt thou ſeperated thy ſelfe ſo far from me? ſhall thy ſorrowfull mother when ſhee moſt needeth receiue leaſt cōfort of thee? & where ſhe leaſt ſuſpected, ſhall ſhe there bee moſt neglected? O how long doſt thou hāg with thine armes abroad, & none will come to be embraced? How louingly doſt thou ſtretch them out to an incredulous and contradictious people, and none do take any compaſſion vppon thee? How largely doeſt thou beſtowe thy moſt deare and precious blood vpon this prodigall Natiō, and none there are which treade it not vnder their feete? O had I bin thy Croſſe, no other nayles ſhould haue faſtned thee vnto me, then a motherly affection, & no other witneſſes ſhuld haue bin called of our ſweet embracings, then thy Father and his Angels. Leſſe paine (I am well aſſured) it ſhould haue bin vnto thee, but knowing that neyther this nor any thing els can be done without thy priuity, I cānot ſay how much more pleaſing at this time it wold haue bin vnto thee, but howſoeuer it is or might be, not ſeeing any likelyhood of thy longer life, I cānot but grieue as mothers vſe to grieue at the death of their firſt begottē. But he being no les carefull of her now at his death, then hee was obedient vnto her in his life, mooued with theſe inward ſpeeches, and wofull lamentations, looking downe vpon her, ſaid vnto her: Iohn. 19. VVoman behold thy ſonne. O moſte mercifull Lorde, what doubtfull wordes are theſe? VVoman behold thy ſonne? thou knoweſt right well that ſhee hath ſorrowed ſo much for thee, that all her ſences faile her: her vnderſtanding alſo is quite dulled: ſhee ſtandeth ſtill like one without her life, looking vpp to thee and no where els, and ſayeſt thou vnto her, VVoman behold thy ſonne?

O moſt ſweete Lord, whome doth ſhee behold when ſhee beholdeth thee? on whome dooth ſhee looke when ſhe looketh on thee? where is her eye when it is fixed on thee? & yet as though ſhe had not regarded thee, but minded ſomwhat els beſide thee, thou ſayeſt vnto her: VVoman behold thy ſonne?

What ioy would it bee to her to behold thee, if ſhee could help thee? but being that ſhe cannot, why to increaſe her griefe doeſt thou ſay vnto her, VVoman behold thy ſonne? and the more ſorrow conceaueth ſhe by theſe thy wordes, that thou ſayeſt vnto hir (VVoman) as though ſhee could, and did not diſcharge the part of a Mother, as thou hadſt done the dutie of a Sonne.

But if nowe at thy departure from her, thou art to deliuer her vp a Mother to another, & therefore ſaieſt vnto her, VVoman behold thy ſonne? conſider her caſe, conſider thine owne, ſorrowe hath taken away her ſence from her, and too much paine thy life from thee, both which concurring, what wonder if ſhe ſtand amazed, not knowing what thou meaneſt, for although ſhee might aime at thine intention, yet vvas her attention ſo great, to euerie laſt word which ſhe herd of thee, being now almoſt breathles, that nothing els ſeemed to ſounde in her eares, and therfore ſhe could not but behold thee ſtill.

Beſide this, if it had beene ſo, that thou hadſt quickned her wits, that ſhe had vnderſtood thy meaning, that by vertue of thy word, Saint Iohn ſhould become her ſonne: yet ſince that this worde (ſonne) hath ſuch relation to Iohn, that it hath a more proper to thee: No woonder ſweet Lord, if ſhe ſtill ſtand beholding thee, ſince that without naming which, thou ſayeſt vnto her, woman behold thy ſonne.

Our bleſſed Lady beeing now wounded to the death, hearing her ſonne with a hoarſe & fainting voice vtter theſe wordes, was not able to make him any anſwere, but beeing in a more grieuous trauaile than euer was any woman, ſhee cryed for help ſhee knewe not whence. Mat. 27. God had denayed it her, for hee had forſaken his ſon, the Angels neclected her, Luk. 22 for they knewe their Lord to be in this agonie, & would not defende him, Mat. 27 hys friendes ſtood looking on aloofe of, her paines grew vpon her, & her panges increaſed double and treble about her, there was not any of her deareſt could comfort her.

But her ſonne ſeeing her thus perplexed, knowing that he was the cauſe of al hir griefe although void of all comfort alſo himſelfe, haſtned what he could to cōfort her, by giuing her to vnderſtand, that hee came into this world, to this end and no other, that by this way he ſhould redeeme the world, and ſince that it pleaſed his father it ſhuld be ſo, he would not it ſhoulde diſpleaſe his Mother, alſo that by this Paſsion hee was to enter into his glory, neuertheleſſe that hee would not leaue her, although for a time he muſt be abſent from her: During which ſeaſon in his place, ſhee ſhould take her coſen, & account him as her ſonne, who ſhould be a moſt faithfull comforter vnto her, loue her, ſerue her, haue care of her, and obey her as his Mother; Looking therefore vppon Iohn, who ſtoode cloſe by him with a ſad countenance, & a ſorrowfull hart, ſhedding manie a hote teare, he ſaid vnto him, Behold thy Mother. Iohn. 19.

Sweet Lord, right well maiſt thou put her out of doubt by theſe wordes what before thou diddeſt meane ey the other, but thou dareſt not put her out of her dumpes, becauſe ſhe is now aſſured, that thou wilt depart frō her; but ſince that ſhee her ſelfe cannot nowe haue her choice, which ſhoulde haue beene no other then thy ſelfe. Shee is cotented with her chance, and not altogether ſomuch diſmaied, or otherwiſe ſhe ſhould haue beene, if her lot had not lighted where ſhee not lightly loued, and yeeldeth vp her will to bee wholie thine, although to thine owne paine aſwell as hers, thou leaueſt to be hers: But who can thinke what griefe will poſſeſſe this thy other beloued Diſciple to heare him ſelfe poſted ouer to another, whom, although he loued entirelie well, hee loued becauſe ſhe was thy mother, and now that this dignitie is eyther quite taken from her, or at the leaſt ſuſpended, hee knoweth not for how long; as appeareth by that thou haſt giuen her a mother to an other, howe can hee bee but full of ſorrow?

His loue to thee was ſuch, as hee neuer loued himſelfe, or anye for himſelfe, wherefore if thou diddeſt mind to bequeath thy Mother to his cuſtodie, much better haddeſt thou ſaide vnto him beholde my Mother, then beholde thy Mother, ſince that hee knewe not howe to loue anie but thy ſelfe, or els for thy ſake.

But alas ſweet Lorde, how in ſeeking to comfort him, doeſt thou take away all comfort from him? Right well might hee call to minde nowe, yea and vnderſtand that which once thou ſaidſt, that the ſonne of man (for ſo did the ſonne of GOD delight to call him ſelfe) ſhould bee betraied to the gentils, Luke. 13. he ſhould bee mocked, whipped, and ſpet at, and that after that they ſhould whippe him, they would kil him, for al this he hath ſeene both with watrie eyes, and a wofull heart, but howe can hee thinke in his minde, that according to thy promiſe thou wilt riſe againe the third day, ſince that thou haſte thus diſpoſed of thy chiefeſt treaſure? can he thinke that thou haſt any ſuch meaning as to returne at the leaſt in any ſhort time, who haſt giuen ouer both thy mother and him, & in ſuch ſorte as an euerlaſting linke of loue ſhuld bee betweene them when thou ſaidſt to the one in reſpect of the other. VVoman behold thy ſonne, behold thy mother? Behold thy mother thou ſaieſt vnto him, what child, ſweet Lord, in his mothers wombe deſireth not to ſee their Mother? What els doe thoſe throwes portend, which to their paine all mothers but thine own, and onely as thine, doe feele in their trauaile, ſo that no doubt this thy Diſciple cannot but iudge this a moſt guide, and carefull motiue, by which hee ſhould become thy mothers ſonne.

He knew right well that once her bowels wer thy liuing Temple, and now he ſeeth that when thou dieſt, her heart will bee thy chiefeſt ſhrine, and therefore is verie well contented to beholde her as thou biddeſt him: yet pardon Lord, pardon doth he craue a while, and leaue to looke vpon thee ſtill, becauſe hee hath iuſt cauſe of feare in reſpect of thy grieuous torments, that whileſt he caſteth his eye one waie from thee to looke on her, thou wilt make an eſcape ſome other way both from her and him, and becauſe he doubteth he cannot ſee thee ſo long as he would, hee deſireth to look vpon thee ſo long as he may: and although ſhe be one, who deſerueth to bee beheld, aſwell for the ſignes ſhee maketh of exceeding great loue vnto thee, as alſo for that ſhe was ſo potent an obiect, that ſhee drew thee to looke in an extraordinarie manner vpon her, yet when thou art preſent, he thinketh his ſences haue ſuch an obiect of thee, in regard both of his owne loue and compaſſion, as alſo of thine exceeding great dignity (beeing author of whatſoeuer is worthie praiſe, or maruaile in any other) that he cannot as yet behold any other but thee.

Some comfort were theſe ſpeeches vnto them, woman behold thy ſonne, Behold thy mother: but they wiſhed they might haue proceeded from ſome other occaſion.

When he was with them him ſelfe hee was moſt tender ouer them, and now that hee is taken from them hee giueth the one of them charge ouer the other. He knewe not who loued him and his mother better than did Iohn, and therefore hee thought none ſo fitte to haue charge of her as Iohn, neither did he know who could loue Iohn better than did he and his mother, & therefore wold his mother ſhuld haue the care of him, and that this loue ſhould continue in the moſt tender manner that might bee, hee ioyned them together as mother and ſonne.

O Mary if thou wert a Virgin, as thou wert moſt pure, behold thy ſonne, if thou wert eſ pouſed to thy mare, and yet remainedſt chaſt, behold thy ſonne: If thou wert one who for thy moſt rare vertues wert ſingularly beloued of Chriſt, beholde thy ſonne, if thy loue were ſuch vnto Chriſt, that neither baſhfulnes in thruſting among the people beeing a maiden, nor feare of being trodden downe in the multitude being a weakeling, nor danger of being apprehended and euill intreated by the ſouldiers, being ſo deare and neare vnto him, could holde thee backe from accompanying him to the Croſſe, beholde thy ſonne.

Iohn. 21 Chriſt left Peter as his ſucceſſour to guide his Church beeing his ſpouſe, a ſigne of great loue, a place of high renowne & dignitie, Iohn. 19 Chriſt hath left Iohn as his ſucceſſor to haue care of Mary, who was not onely his ſpouſe, but alſo his mother, what greater honor with like contentment, could hee enioy in this world.

If Moyſes hauing charge of the Iewes, had ſuch aboundance of grace infuſed into him, that when it was deuided. Num. 11 it was ſufficient for threeſcore more and tenne, what ſhall wee imagine was giuen vnto Iohn, who was to haue charge not of the children of Iſraell Iohn. 19 but of the Mother of God?

Likewiſe when God paſſed by Moyſes, hee paſſed in that order, and with ſuch ſwiftnes, that nothing could be ſeene, but his hinder partes, and yet no doubt hys promiſe was performed Exod. 33 I will ſhew thee all God.

But Saint Iohn did ſo long behold God his face, that hee was not able to hold vp his head any longer, Iohn. 13 but laid it downe vppon his breaſt, and reſted in his boſome, what good was it likely was ſhewed then to him? nay rather what good had he not communicated vnto him.

Thence his exceeding great knowledge, whereby when others write of Chriſt as a man Iohn. 1. hee began his Goſpell, with inſearchable miſteries of his Godheade: Thence his inuinſible courage, which could neyther with any promiſed honour, nor preſent horrour be vanquiſhed: Thence his vnſpeakable charitie which was ſo hote, and burning within him, that hee felt not the ſcalding oyle: The loue which lay within his breaſt was ſo potent, that fire it ſelfe in reſpect of it was cold, or at the leaſt had no force in working comparable vnto it, for neyther did he deſire a tabernacle in mount Math. 17 Tabor with Peter, nor couet a crowne, or Mat. 20 next ſitting to Chriſt in heauen with Iames, without a firme purpoſe and a reſolute minde to disburſe what ſhould be thought conuenient for ſo great a purchaſe, which fullie and truely he paid vpon his birth day.

Other Martirs haue their Martirdome and they ſuffer in it: S. Ioh. had his at his maſters his Paſſion, but he ſuffered not in it, and therefore hee ſuffered the more, for it was death for him to liue, and to die for Chriſt his gaine.

But O moſt mercifull Lorde, why didſt thou afflict this thy beloued Diſciple in this ſorte? Thou Mat. 20 gaueſt him a promiſe, that he ſhould drinke of thy cup, and he expecting a death for thy ſake, cannot haue it: did pittie mooue thee beeing thy darling, that thou couldeſt not ſee him murdered, as thy other Apoſtles were, and whom thou louedſt moſt entirelye? and therefore wouldeſt hee ſhould drinke of no other Cuppe than thine, and ſo to haue him as thy Mother and his, a Martyr in life, in minde, in will; but not in death, that thou mighteſt haue to Crowne at once the Mother and the Sonne with the ſame Crownes of glory?

Impoſſible it was (O Mary) that thou ſhouldeſt bee like vnto thy ſon in al things, wherefore in aſmuch as it is poſſible, thy Sonne hath made one like vnto thee, where alſo thou ſhalt not leeſe the name of a mother: beholde then Saint Iohn thy ſonne, a moſt pure virgin, a moſt learned Docter, a moſt conſtant Martir.

Nowe is it performed which was ſo long before promiſed Iſai. 56. I will giue vnto mine Euenuches a worthie place in my houſe, & within my walkes, and a name better than the name of ſonnes & daughters of Iſraell. I will giue them an eternall name which ſhall neuer faile. VVoman behold thy ſonne: What name vnder Heauen is comparable vnto this name? What name ſhall endure after this name: the Sonne of Marie?

It. Iohn. 8. was an honor to be accounted the ſon of Abraham, the ſon of Iſraell, and happie was hee which coulde bee numbered among them: But this name the ſonne of Mary, none was worthie of, but God himſelfe, the ſecond perſon in the Trinitie: Iohn. 19 and nowe it is giuen to Iohn by Chriſt hanging vpon the Croſſe, for his inheritance, whē looking vppon his mother, and making ſigne toward Iohn, hee ſaid vnto her, VVoman behold thy ſonne.

A name, which as it had no greater vnder heauen, ſo did it neuer periſh: for as Chriſt dying vpon the Croſſe, ſo leſt a Sonne with his mother, as he himſelf did not leaue to be her ſonne, ſo alſo ſhee dying, did ſo ioyne her ſelfe to her ſon in heauen, as ſhee left not to be a Mother alſo vnto him which was in earth, that this name might very well bee called a eternall name, for whether ſhe were in earth or in heauen, aliue or dead, her ſonne had ſo prouided it, there ſhould bee Maries ſonne.

O bleſſed Virgin! when thou diddeſt conceaue Saint Iohn Iohn. 2 thou diddeſt conceaue him in mirth: Iohn. 19. but thou wert deliuered of him, when he was deliuered vnto thee in great ſorrow & heauines. Hee was the firſt for whoſe cauſe at thy requeſt, thy Sonne did manifeſt himſelfe vnto the worlde, by ſhewing his power in working miracles, and now he is the laſt, & the only man committed vnto thee, when thy Sonne paſſeth out of the world, by ſuffering with patience, what malice could work againſt him: ſo that the meaſure of thy Son his life in this worlde, was no more than the time in which thou diddeſt breed Saint Iohn, for when the time was come that Iohn became thy Sonne, thou loſt thyne other Sonne.

Nowe that thou ſhouldeſt be a comfort vnto others, thou haſt experience what that ſaying meaneth, Gen. 3. thou ſhalt bring forth in griefe: for the eaſe thou hadſt when Chriſt was borne, is with vſurie recompenced at thy deliuerie of Iohn, whom with exceſſiue ſorrowe thou broughteſt forth thy ſonne.

Iohn. 16 A woman when ſhe is in trauaile hath ſorow, becauſe her houre is come, but when ſhe hath brought foorth the childe, now ſhee remembreth not the anguiſh for ioy that a man is borne into the world: But thou moſt bleſſed Virgin as thou wert priuiledged in this aboue all other women that thou wert deliuered of thy firſt begotten without any paine: ſo now haſt thou this ſingular aboue any other woman, that at thy ſecond trauaile, thou feeleſt as great panges after it as before it.

Shee ioyeth becauſe a man is borne into the world, and thou haſte cauſe to grieue, becauſe a man is gone out of the worlde: ſhee is glad becauſe ſhee hath a ſonne, and thou haſte cauſe to mourne, becauſe thou haſte loſt a ſonne, and ſo much is thy ſorrowe more, than theyrioy may be, as thy ſonne exceedeth all other womens ſons: for although thou wert deliuered of a ſonne, yet wert thou ſpoiled of an other, ſuch was thy trauaile, and with ſuch condition, that the birth of thy ſecond ſon, ſuppoſed the death of thy firſt begotten.

Luk. 1 When thou gaueſt conſent vnto the wordes of the Angell, God ſpake the worde, and the worde was incarnate, the ſame word vouchſafing to ſpeake vnto thee, not by the mouth of an Angell, but by himſelfe hath ſaid the word, and thou haſte not only conceaued thy ſecond ſon, but art alſo deliuered of him, VVoman behold thy ſonne: Behold thy Mother.

Thus hauing eyther of them charge of other, glad they were, that neither was willing to depart, Saint Iohn feared not hee ſhuld be forced to leaue his Maſter in following his charge, whē ſhe ſhould goe away, neither did our bleſſed Lady doubt what ſhe might doe, if Iohn ſhould parte from thence: their life was nayled on the Croſſe, that they could not ſtirre from it, & rather had they ſtay Iohn. 19 & ſee him wounded (a dolefull ſight) then not ſee him at all: wherefore neuer ſatiſfied with looking vp vppon him, they tarried vntill hee was taken downe, whome when his Mother receaued in her Armes, ſorrow and ioy fought ſo doubtfull a Combat, that it was not to bee iudged which of them was the ſtronger.

She had loſt him and now ſhe hath founde him againe, great cauſe ſhe hath to ioy, he was her hope, her help, her life.

She had loſt him and now ſhe hath founde him againe, great cauſe ſhe hath to mourne, hee is paſt hope, paſt help, and paſt out of his life.

What ioy was comparable to that he had, when ſhe might ſpeake vnto him, embrace him and kiſſe him, as ſhee was wont to doe.

But alas what griefe was like to that ſhee had, when hee did neyther anſwere by worde, or behauiour, as hee was wont to doe?

Noe ioy to that ſhee hadde, when ſhee behelde him againe, Pſal. 44. for hee was the moſte fayre, and beautefull of all the Sonnes of men.

Noe greefe to that ſhee had when ſhee behelde him againe, and found that Iſal. 53. neyther any fauour nor comelyneſſe was in him.

Shee ſee his heade ſwollen, with the Crowne of Thornes, ſhee ſee his face blacke and blew with the buffettes of their fiſtes, ſhee ſee his bodye torne from toppe to the toe with whippes, or to ſay more true, ſhe neyther ſee heade, face, nor any part of his bodie, but a maſſe only of congealed blood, which couered all his body, beeing moſt grieuouſly wounded, and in ſo many places, that they altogether ſeemed one on lie wounde, which reached from the crowne of his head, vnto the ſoles of his ſeete.

So ſate ſhe at the foote of the Croſſe, with the dead bodie in her lap, offering it all bloodie to Almightie God, Gen. 37. & demaunding of him whether that were not his ſonne his coate, ſhewing it alſo vnto the Angels, and asking of them whether that were not their Maſter his Garment: Her ſelf was not able to diſcerne perfectly, whether it were any part of her or no, it was ſo diſſigured, but that with ſorrowe ſhee had brought her ſelfe ſo out of ſauor, that euerye one which ſee her, might eaſily iudge hee was her ſonne and ſhee his mother.

Shee hath founde him againe, but becauſe whatſoeuer ſhee founde ſhee muſt forgoe except ſorrow, ſorrow got the victorie, in which ſhee did ſo much abound, as her ſonne his ſorrowe beeing at an end, there was now no ſorrowe like vnto hers, & no comfort would ſhee admit, becauſe he was not.

They ſought no water to waſh his bleſſed body, fountains there were enough of hoate and ſcalding teares, wherein they bathed him firſt, then buried him againſt their willes, wiſhing that either they themſelues were his ſepulcher, or his were theirs.

When thy dayes were come (O full of ſorow) that thou ſhuldeſt be deliuered, thou broughteſt forth thy firſt begotten Son, thou ſwadleſt him in cloutes, Luk. 2. & laidſt him downe in a maunger, becauſe there was no place for thee in the Inne, and nowe thy daies were fully come that thou ſhouldeſt bee deliuered againe thou broughteſt foorth thy ſecond ſonne, Iohn. 19. and in ſteed of ſwadling him in cloutes, and ioyfull laying him downe, and tending him, thou art conſtrained to ſwaddle thy firſt begotten Sonne againe, and with ſorrow to lay him downe in a Monument, becauſe no other place but that, woulde hee make choice of to lie in.

The Funeralles beeing ended Saint Iohn doth take poſſeſſion, he leadeth home his ſorrowfull Mother, giuing her what comfort hee could, beeing nowe almoſt ſpent with griefe, with whome hee continued yeelding vnto her that dutie which became him. Iohn. 19. For from that houre, hee tooke her for his owne.

FINIS.