The Grove of Beatitudes, Beatitude 5
The Fifth BEATITUDE. Bleſſed are the merciful, for they ſhall obtain mercy.
EMBLEME V. Adam's Apple-Tree.
Dum detrahis, exigis, auge:
Man merciful, t' augment his ſtore,
So cloaths and feeds the naked-poor.
For, giving leſs, he more receaves:
Such Trees are known by fruit and leaves.
THere hath ſuch a particular notice been taken of this Tree, in the ſeveral Countries where it grows, that it is accordingly called by ſeveral names, which yet we ſhall not give an account of, in regard it is not ſo much the denomination, as the Vertues and Qualities, that make it contribute to our deſign. And therefore we ſhall, with Gerard; call it, Adam's Apple-tre.
The merciful man (which in the Latine Tongue is called Miſericors) is he who hath a ſorrowful and compaſſionate heart for anothers miſery, a heart inclining him to relieve and ſuccour ſuch as ſtand in need of his aſſiſtance, in their extream wants. Such a merciful man may be deſign'd by this Tree, whoſe Roots being as it were but ſmall threads, or fibres, do ſhoot forth leaves that are five or ſix foot in length, and near three in breadth. Inſomuch that they ſerve for Table-cloaths, and Napkins; and, being dry'd, they may ſerve for Mattreſſes and Quilts, very convenient and ſoft to lye upon.
Behold here the Emblem of a merciful Man, who parts with his leafy ſubſtance, to cloath the naked, to relieve the poor, to ſupply the wants of the needy, to ſuccour the neceſſitous. This is the man, who, by his charitable endeavours, conceals the miſcarriages and imperfections of his Neighbour. For mercy, when it is the iſſue of Charity, hath the ſame prerogative with the Parent, which is (as St. Peter ſaith) To cover a multitude of ſins.
Moreover, this Tree (which groweth above the reach of an Elephant) would continue a low ſhrub, and the Leaves would bend downwards to the ground, if they were not cut off from time to time; by which means, the Tree grows up higher, and the Leaves become larger.
What can more pertinently denote the Merciful man, who, by a voluntary defalcation of the things of this World, is rais'd ſo much the nearer Heaven; I and the more freely he parts with the tranſitory goods of this life, the greater treaſure does he lay up for that hereafter? By theſe advantages, doth he ſtill aſcend higher and higher, while others keeping all to themſelves, do, like ſhrubs, lye groveling on the Earth, in their covetous deſires.
There is this further Remark made upon this Tree; that it needs be planted but once, though it bears but one year. For it continually ſhooteth forth new ſtalks as the old decay; and in ſome Countries they are ſoon ripe, after they ſpring, and the Inhabitants will have ripe fruit, from ſome of the Plants at all times.
The caſe is the ſame with the Merciful man; who, as ſoon as he hath done one act of Charity, is ready to do another, and ſo ſucceſſively, as if he were oblig'd to exhauſt himſelf, to ſupply others; and this from time to time, till his own be come to its period, and that he leaves the young ſhoots of his poſterity to ſucceed him in his good works.
Hereto we may add this further obſervation, that beſides this Tree, there is only one other, that hath a ſtrange property, to wit, that, which way ſoever their fruit be cut, when it is come to maturity, the meat thereof, which is white as ſnow, repreſents in the midſt of it, the figure of a Croſs, eſpecially if it be cut in thin ſlices; as commonly we do Cow-cumbers. Thence is it, that the Spaniards and Portugueze think it a crime to put a knife into it, and are extreamly ſcandaliz'd, to ſee it broken otherwiſe then with the teeth.
Hath not this ſome reſemblance to the heart of a Merciful man, who hath a certain fellow-feeling of the miſeries and calamities of the poor whom he views with affliction of mind. Which way ſoever, he caſts his eye of pity, and beholds the diſtreſſed, he compaſſionates them, as if the like croſs of adverſity were fix'd in his heart. If he behold his Saviour on the Croſs, his heart is wounded with pity as if the paſſion were figured in it.
Again, if he view his Neighbour oppreſſed with wrongs or miſeries, he is ſo ſenſible thereof, as if that very croſs of affliction were engraven in his heart. In a word, he ſees no man poor, whom he pities not; no man miſerable, whom he does not compaſſionate; ſtill (like the fruit of this Tree cut) bearing in his heart a croſs, by which he ſuffers with him.
Nay more, while he beholds Chriſt in a poor man (whom he pities and relieves) he bears Chriſt's ſhape in his heart, whom he likewiſe relieves.
Happy, therefore, is the merciful man, that bears ſuch a croſs, as renders him for ever bleſſed, who (no doubt) may ſay with St. Paul, God forbid I ſhould glory in any thing, but in the Croſs of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Now fix thine eye on the bleeding ſide of Chriſt, whoſe blood iſſued from a wounded heart, where was always engraven a croſs, not only the inſtrument of his paſſion; but as many croſſes as were the ſins of the World: And as many as were the acts of mercy and compaſſion which he produc'd towards ſinners; Verè pius, verè miſericors.
And ſhall he evacuate not only his veins, but likewiſe his heart? Shall he disburſe all the treaſure of his moſt precious blood, and yet wilt thou be ſo penurious and pitileſs, as not to relieve the neceſſitous with part of thy droſs?
Ah! view, and view again, that bountiful, and pitiful heart, that ſtreameth forth at his ſide, and proclaims them bleſſed, who are merciful, and promiſeth they ſhall obtain mercy.
CONSIDERATIONS ON THE V. BEATITUDE.
On the ſide of our Bleſſed Saviour bleeding.
FRom his ſacred Mouth deſcend to his pierced ſide; which may be likewiſe term'd a mouth, as were all the wounds of his body, that ſpeak and proclaim him a bounteous, and merciful Lord; who, having given all the blood of his body and veins for our Redemption, would finally ſuffer his heart to be pierc'd, that the laſt drops of his precious bloud might ſtream from thence, for a fuller ſatisfaction, or rather expreſſion of his infinite Love. Whereas the leaſt drop thereof might have redeem'd many Worlds, and reconcil'd to his Father, as many Nations as he ſhed drops of blood.
Conſider what a merciful giver was God the Father, who ſo exceedingly loved man, that he gave unto him his only begotten Son; a Son likewiſe ſo good, bounteous, and merciful, that he would annihilate and leſſen himſelf, by taking upon him the form of a Servant. And after (as the Factor did for one precious Pearl) gave all his precious blood, and life, to purchaſe and redeem thy Soul, and thereby obtain mercy for it.
Which, notwithſtanding, thou ſhalt never find, unleſs thou alſo be Merciful. To whom? To thy ſelf, and thy Neighbour. To thy ſelf, according to the words of the Son of Syrach, Take pity and compaſſion on thine own ſoul, pleaſing God.
Think, how many Souls are languiſhing in ſin; How many ſtarve for want of the food of Life, the Bleſſed Sacrament; How many groan under the heavy burden of ſin: And how mercileſs they are to themſelves, that reſcent not the dangerous eſtate of their own ſouls.
To theſe thou art merciful, when thou prayeſt for them; or by word, or example endeavoureſt to reclaim them. Thou art merciful likewiſe when thou forgiveſt injuries, or when thou doſt commiſerate and condole the defects, and imperfections of others.
Contrari-wiſe they are cruel, who unbraid and deride them, or expoſe them to the deriſion of others, by diſcovering their ſins, to whom they ſhould be as merciful and charitable, in concealing, as if they were their own, not forgetting the ſevere ſentence of S. James, Judgement without mercy be unto him that doth no mercy.
Conſider how God is ſo pleaſed with mercy ſhewed to our Neighbour, that to ſuch only as do it, he hath promiſed mercy. And withall hath commanded us to beg for pardon and remiſſion of our ſins, as we remit and fully forgive them, who trepaſs againſt us. And that ſo freely and abſolutely as not to retain the leaſt rancor or malice in our hearts.
Which to accompliſh, when any enmity or uncharitable thought is ſlily creeping into thy heart, reflect thine eye on Chriſt crucified, who (as ſaith S. Bernard) to heap mercies on mercies, gave his life, and out of his wounded ſide brought forth the price of ſatisfaction, whereby he fully pacified his Father, according to the words of David, With our Lord is mercy, and plentiful redemption.
Hereupon thou mayſt infer, that whoſoever ſeek for mercy, and ſecurity in Chriſts wounded ſide, muſt come, like Noe's Dove, to the window of the Ark, that brought an Olive-branch in his Beak, which is the type of mercy and peace; To ſignifie, they muſt be merciful and charitable to others, who expect to find mercy there.
O my ſoul, ariſe, and ſhake off thoſe dull cogitations of enmity that ſurcharge thy heart, that thou mayſt nimbly fly, and be like the Dove, neſtling in the hole of the Rock, the pierc'd and patient ſide of thy Saviour. That when thou art purſued by the Enemy (like a Dove by the Hawk, that ſhrowds himſelf in the hole of a rock) here thou mayſt find ſuccour, and ſecure thy ſelf. Here is the gate of mercy and pity, which always ſtands wide-open, where at all times thou mayſt find habour in the ſecure calm of mercy.
To be merciful, is to have a grievous, and pitiful heart. Ah! how pitiful was that wounded heart of thy Saviour, which for thy ſake was pierc'd through with a Spear. Compaſſionate, and have, with him, a heart wounded with grief and pity: Commiſerate the diſtreſſed members of his myſtical Body in him, and then thou canſt not but be merciful to thy ſelf, and find mercy for thy ſelf, being one of his.
O merciful Redeemer, I behold blood and water ſtreaming from thy heart, and iſſuing out of thy wounded ſide. By that precious blood I was redeemed and made one of thine: And by the water of Baptiſm I was purified and made one of thine. To perſevere ſtill and continue one of thine ſtill, may that door of mercy (thy wounded ſide) be open unto me. May I be dead to the world, and ſin, that wounded (as with a Spear) with true love and charity, I may never by ſin, cauſe this gate of mercy to be ſhut againſt me.
Thou (O Lord) didſt vouchſafe to give freely the laſt drops of blood (which were in thy heart) for a more compleat Redemption. Grant (I beſeech thee) that I may ſpend the remnant of my days in thy holy ſervice, in works of mercy, ſpiritual and corporal; that finally I may obtain mercy, through thee my Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Amen.
O my ſoul, conſider what it is to find mercy through Jeſus Chriſt, to which thou ſo often ſayſt Amen, or So be it. It is to find mercy by the vertue and merits of his bitter Paſſion: Yet this will not ſuffice, if thou beeſt not merciful to him likewiſe in his.
So great is the vertue of Mercy (ſaith S. Leo) that without it all other vertues will not profit thee. No, though a man be faithful, chaſte, and ſober, and endued with ſingular ornaments; yet if he be not merciful, he deſerves not mercy.
And remember that thy works of mercy muſt be done through Chriſt our Lord, to be dignified by vertue of his Paſſion, and for his ſake, otherwiſe they ſhall have no reward. The right hand muſt not know what the leſt hand doth: No ſiniſter or by-intention muſt intrude. A charitable work muſt be a work of juſtice, when we render to God the glory only due to him, and to our ſelves reſerve the reward, which (promiſed) we expect. Nay more, an Alms hath the honour to be call'd Juſtice it ſelf. For our Saviour adviſeth us to beware that we do not our Juſtice before men, that we may be ſeen by them, and have the applauſe and praiſe of men.
In fine; Who would not in this manner be merciful, that knows in the old Law, no Sacrifice (Ox or Sheep) might be offered in the Temple, that had not a tail: which in a myſtical ſenſe might prefigure, that, even in the Law of Grace, no work of mercy (which is a kind of Sacrifice to God) can be acceptable, which hath not an end, that is, a right intention tending to Gods honour, and for his ſake. If we cry, out with Zachaeus, Ecce! Behold (when he gave ſo great an Alms as the moity of his Goods) it may ſeem to ſavour of oſtentation, till we add farther, with him, Domine, Behold, O Lord, I give to thee what is thine; as to Caeſar, what is his, in reſpect of his figure ſtamp'd in it. So in my Alms I behold thee, and contribute thine for thy ſake: like Zachaeus, little conſidering my poor ability, yet preſent a work (like the Widow with her Mite) great, in regard of a free and willing heart. Should I give it to be magnified by others, What could I behold therein but mine own ſhape? like a Narciſſus, enamored with himſelf, court the ſhadow, and loſe the ſubſtance. An Alms is a work of Redemption. Redeem thy ſins by Alms, works of mercy. It is an entire Expiation; Give Alms, and all ſhall be pure unto you.