The Grove of Beatitudes, Recapitulation – Psalm 143
A SHORT RECAPITULATION OF THE VIII. BEATITUDES, By way of MEDITATION.
O Bleſſed Saviour, thou haſt left for us a Ladder of eight ſteps, to aſcend to Heaven. If by thy aſſiſting grace I aſcend but to the firſt ſtep, mine is the Kingdom of Heaven; and being arrived at the higheſt ſtep, by ſuffering perſecution for righteouſneſs ſake, I can aſceud no higher, I end where I began, for to ſuffer perſecution, is to be poor in ſpirit, ready, rather to loſe all, then deny thee, ready to be deprived of tranſitory things, then loſe the eternal.
I. Thy Nakedneſs tells me thou wert poor in Spirit, and deſire; coveting nothing but me, and my Salvation: What then would I have on earth but thee?
II. By thy Head inclined I underſtand thou wert Meek, and humble, humbled even unto the death of the Croſs. So may I, aſſiſted by thy powerful grace, bear all afflictions with patience, and be angry with none but ſuch as ſeek to deprive me of thee, my God, and all things.
III. On thine Eyes diſtilling tears, I read, Bleſſed are they that mourn. May I never mourn but for my ſins, nor grieve but for the loſs of thee.
IV. On thy ſacred Mouth, crying out, I thirſt, I read, thou didſt hunger and thirſt. after righteouſneſs, that I might be juſtified by thy Death and Paſſion. Grant (ſweet Jeſu) I may ever hunger and thirſt after this.
V. By thy wounded Side I find thou wert merciful, giving all thy precious blood for my redemption. May I be merciful to thee in thine, that I may finally find mercy.
VI. Let thy pierced Heart, moſt pure and exempt from all fin, teach me to prepare a pure and clean heart for thee.
VII. By thy ſacred Hands nailed, I underſtand, thou wert the grand Peace-maker Vouchſafe to infuſe into my ſoul true and perfect Charity, that I may have peace withall for thee, and during this life make my peace with thee.
VIII. Laſtly, By thy Feet, pierced with nails, I read, they are bleſſed that ſuffer perſecution, which thou didſt, even unto the death of the Croſs. Grant me grace to ſuffer for thee, to bear afflictions patiently, that, with thee, I may reign. eternally. Amen.
O good Jeſu, to reign with thee is to ſuffer with thee. On the Croſs thou art ſurrounded with the eight Beatitudes. Here I muſt ſeek them exemplified in thy ſelf, on Mount Calvary, to find them perfected on Mount-Sion, the heavenly Jeruſalem.
I. I behold the Cornel-tree, where, without leaves to ſhrowd it, the bloſſom lies naked, and expos'd to the bluſtring winds; And on the Tree of the Croſs, as naked I behold my Saviour, poor in Spirit, poor in Will and Deſire: as naked dying, as born, for us.
Uncloath thy ſelf then, O my ſoul, and be as naked in thine affections to the leafy vanities and riches of this life, which is but a ſo journing for poor mortality.
II. I ſee the arch'd Indian-Fig-tree, greedy to poſſeſs the Land with a thouſand ſhoots, which deſcend to take deep root in the earth. And on the Tree of the Croſs, I behold our Lord meekly bowing down his Head, humbled even to the death of the Croſs, to take poſſeſſion of the Land of the Living, for me an exile, by as many ſhoots, as ſighs, prayers, tears, and drops of blood, as he ſhed for me a loſt ſinner.
O my ſoul, where are thy humble ſhoots that ſhould deſcend, that they may aſcend to the Land of promiſe? where are thy ſubmiſſive thoughts that ſhould lowly bend to the earth, by acknowledgment of thy unworthineſs and ingratitude, to ſo good and merciful a Lord? Thou art now in poſſeſſion of a barren Land, thy body; where thou canſt not, nor muſt not, take deep root. Heaven is thy Land, this thy place of baniſhment. Thither let thy thoughts aſcend to be deeply rooted, by an eternal poſſeſſion.
III. I view the Myrrhe-tree weeping drop after drop, but when prick'd and wounded, it more abundantly diſtills. Thus came I weeping and mourning into a vale of tears, like a taper by the wind ſoon extinguiſh'd; like a ſpark in the Sea, as ſoon ſwallowed up; like a froth, ſuddenly vaniſhing; and a vapour, ſcatter'd in the air. Have I not then cauſe to weep, to prevent a future mourning, and acquire a happineſs and conſolation, which is promiſed to Mourners?
Then I caſt mine eyes on Chriſt crucified, and weeping on the Croſs, why? for my ſins. Why like a Myrrhe-wee wounded over all his body, diſtilling blood? To give light to my glimmering taper, fire to my ſpark, ſubſtance to my frothy ſoul, and purer air to my dusky vapour.
Thirdly, I will ſummon my heart, and expoſtulate with my ſoul, why ſhe would be uſher'd by her eyes to the aſpect of vainer objects, yet never made uſe of them to bewail her ſins with tears? And if the Myrrhe tree ſtab'd or launc'd with a knife diſſolves it ſelf into tears, why doth ſhe not procure by her ſighs and prayers, that my heart, woulded with true compunction, may be liquified into tears of grief?
IV. I ſeem to behold the Clove-tree hungring (as it were) and thirſting after the ſtrengthning moiſture of the earth, which it continually attract; Then I ſeem to hear my Saviour cry out, I thirſt, to expreſs his ardent deſire of our Salvation. And then, O my ſoul, (ſay I) canſt thou hear thy Lord crying out, I thirſt, and yet preſent him with no other potion then a cup full of abſinth (thy ſins) which are more bitter to him then Vinegar and Gall; of which he taſting would not drink.
O my ſoul, taſte and ſee how ſweet our Lord is, who, to revive and refreſh thee (which wert like dry and barren earth) ſhowred down his precious blood, from his wounded body, veins, and heart, till it was totally exhauſted.
O what an exceſſive thirſt did this cauſe in thy Saviour! what a Conſummatum eſt was this? what bounty, when hereſerv'd not to himſelf ſo much as one drop of blood?
O my ſoul, if he gave thee all that was moſt precious, doubt not to ſay with his royal Prophet, What ſhall I give unto our Lord for all he hath given me? what leſs then an entire heart and ſoul, with all her powers, to love, honour, and ſerve him?
V. Next I imagine I ſee the fruit of Adams Apple-tree cut in two, which preſents us with a croſs, which bare the Saviour our of the World, in whom I behold as many croſſes, as ſtripes, and ſcourges, enterlac'd in his tender fleſh.
It was the fruit of the forbidden Tree, wherein (being eaten) were included as many croſſes as miſeries, now incident to wretched man; As hunger, thirſt, cold, heat, infirmities, &c. which render him miſerable, and conſequently to be pitied.
O my ſoul, commiſerate at leaſt thine own ſelf, encompaſſed with ſo many frailties, caſualties, and anxieties of mind. Turn which way thou wilt, thou canſt not be long exempted from one calamity or other
Wherefore, ſeeing to be Miſericors (that is to ſay, merciful) is to have an agrieved and pitiful heart, as it were, always bearing a croſs, let thine he dolor, ſorrow and compunction for thy ſins.
VI. Imagine you behold the green Fig, pick'd, and pierc'd by a little Gnat or Fly, whence diſtills a drop, as it were, of hony. And then ſay, O my green, hard, and immature Heart, where is that compunction that is requiſite for thee? O that thou wert thus pierc'd and wounded with grief for thy fins; that ſweet delight, like a honey-drop, might iſſue forth: for while it reſides within thee, thou canſt never come to maturity; for where ſin predominates, Grace muſt needs be an Exile.
Then reflect your Eye on our Saviour's Heart wounded with a Spear, and ſay, Lord, Were not thy larger wounds in thy Hands and Feet ſufficient pledges, and teſtimonies of thy exceſſive Love? Why then, after thy death, wouldſt thou receive ſo deep a wound in thy Heart?
Ah! If Death were ſtronger than Love in thee, when by him thou wert vanquiſht, he ſeizing by Heart, Love again, even after Death, was more powerful by opening that ſacred rift, whence iſſued the Sacraments, and where the Gate of Heaven is as it were opened to ſuch as truly repent.
VII. Sometimes I reflect mine Eye on the Wood-Bind, which, whereſoever it grows, is alwayes binding, and uniting branch with branch, or winding round about a Tree; to teach me, that Peace, Unity, Union, and Concord, are the ſpecial Objects at which I muſt aim, both in reſpect of God and my Neighbour. Love muſt be like a pair of Wood-Bind ſhoots, iſſuing from the ſame ſtock which lay hold of two neighbouring boughs or branches. If by Love I unite my Heart and Soul to God, by Love I muſt likewiſe be united with my Neighbour. And, in like manner, if I have made my Peace with God, I muſt do the like with my Neighbour offended. For as I forgive, ſo I deſire to be forgiven: And conſequently, as I have Peace with my Neighbour, ſo I deſire God would be pacified: So ſhall I have inward Peace accompanied with outward Charity and Love; like a Honey-Suckle odoriferous, that breath snothing but ſweetneſs.
Then I reflect on the Wood-Bind, Chriſt Jeſus on the Croſs, the grand Peace-maker, ſtretching forth his Arms, and pacifying his Father juſtly incens'd againſt Sinners. O what an amorous far-ſpreading Wood-Bind was our Lord! Stretching from end to end ſtrongly, by faſtning the Hands of Juſtice, and diſpoſing all things ſweetly; like a Honey-Suckle, breathing nothing but ſweetneſs of Peace, even for his greateſt Enemies, crying out, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do: And to the penitent Thief, This day thou ſhalt be with me in Paradiſe. As if he had ſaid, I have made thy Peace, and prepared for thee a place of Repoſe. Thy remove ſhall be from a turbulent world and ſtormy Sea, to a quiet and ſecure Haven.
O my Soul, Canſt thou yet be ſo unſetled in thy Reſolves! So wavering and inconſtant in good purpoſes! Chriſt is thy Wood-Bind to faſten thee; and hath as many bands to tie thee, as pains he endured, and drops of Blood which he powred out for thy Redemption. Conſider ſeriouſly, how infinitely thou art oblig'd. How innumerable the ties of his tranſcendent Love; like ſo many Tendrels, or Wood-Bind wreathes, circling and claſping round about thee, to attract and draw thee unto Himſelf; who, exalted from the Earth, promiſed he would draw all things: But how? In the bands of Adam, and links of Charity.
VIII. When I walk into the garden, (where every Plant invites the Eye to behold, and the Heart to conſider) I oftner caſt a glance on the Vine, which, when I view prun'd and deſpoyl'd of her branches, this (think I) would move an ignorant Man to Compaſſion, to ſee a flouriſhing Vine ſo cut and mangled, and faſt nayl'd to a wall, that knows not that this kind of Cruelty, is Courteſie and favour; for thereby it becomes more fruitful. The like happeneth to Chriſtians perſecuted, who in the ſight of the unwiſe ſeem to be wretched and dye, and their departure deſtruction, yet they a little chaſtiſed ſhall be greatly rewarded; for God prunes and proves them, and finds them worthy for himſelf, ſaith the Wiſeman.
Then let the true Vine, Chriſt Jeſus, occurr, prun'd, and deſpoyl'd, humbled unto death, for which God gave him a Name above all names, who invites us to ſuffer with him that we may reign with him, in a Kingdom acquired by them who ſuffer perſecution for righteouſneſs ſake: In a Kingdom which is conquered, as it were by force, and ſhatch'd by violence.
O my Soul, thou likewiſe art a Vine, and muſt be prun'd: Nay more, if thy Hand offend thee; if like a Vine-branch, it ſpread too far, by coveting earthly things, it muſt be cut off. If thine Eye offend thee, by preſenting thee with objects of vain delight, it muſt be pulled out, and caſt from thee. That is, what ever Creature, or whatever delight, as dear unto thee as thy Hand or Eye, muſt be deſerted and caſt off, if they with-draw thee from the Service of God, or go about to betray thee to everlaſting deſtruction.
O my Soul, there is but one thing neceſſary, the grand concernment, Salvation, which relates to Jeſus, that is, a Saviour. O that thou couldſt tru'y ſay, Now I begin to be the Diſciple of Chriſt, deſiring nothing viſible to the Eye that I may find Chriſt Jeſus. Seek him then in theſe enſuing Ejaculatories.
Ʋpon Chriſt's Nakedneſs.
O Good Jeſu, I read in thy nakedneſs, that thou wert poor in Spirit, poor in. Will, and deſire of having any thing in this world: So poor in Spirit, that, as thou cam'ſt naked into the World, ſo as naked thou wouldſt depart hence. So poor in this World, that living and dying thou hadſt not whereon to reſt thy Head. What is then in Heaven for me, or what do I deſire on Earth but thee? O the God of my Heart, my portion, my God for ever!
On his Head inclining. Againſt Pride and Impatience.
O Good Jeſu, I behold thy Head meekly bowing down, while the ungrateful Jews blaſpheme and revile thee. All which thou enduredſt with infinite Patience and Meekneſs, to poſſeſs the Land for us Sinners; who, tranſported by Pride and Impatience, are toſt by the waves of violent perturbations. Ah! who can behold thee on the Croſs humbly inclining thy dying Head? Who can be impatient, that beholds thee ſo meekly ſuffering? O my Soul, that thou mayſt poſſeſs thy ſelf, and the Land of the Living, learn of thy Saviour to be humble, meek, and patient.
On Chriſt's Eyes. Againſt Exceſſive Mirth.
O Good Jeſu, I behold thy ſacred Eyes diſtilling bloody tears, and I hear thee ſay, Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted. If thou (O Lord) wert comforted by mourning, becauſe by thy tears thou wert to redeem me a Sinner: Great cauſe have I to mourn with thee, ſince my ſins were the cauſe of thy weeping and ſorrow. Great cauſe have I to weep and bewail my ſins, that I may be comforted, yea, and rejoyce, ſeeing by thy dolorous Paſſions, I obtain a full redemption to my Soul.
On his Mouth. Againſt Fear and Puſillanimity.
O Good Jeſu, I behold thy ſacred Mouth, and hear thee ſay, I Thirſt: Whereby I learn that thou didſt hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs, that my poor ſinful Soul might be juſtified. What then ſhould my hunger and thirſt be, but a deſire to ſuffer with thee, that I may reign with thee? Why then ſhould I fear? Why ſhould I be ſo much dejected? Thou art my Captain, I muſt follow thee: Thou art the Way, I muſt not leave thee: Thou art Life, and therefore I cannot live without thee. O my God and all things! As the Hart thirſteth after the fountain of waters, ſo doth my Soul unto thee.
On his Side. Againſt Unmercifulneſs.
O Good Jeſu, I behold Blood and Water iſſuing from thy wounded Side, and ſeem to hear thee ſay, Bleſſed are the merciful, for they ſhall find mercy. Thou (O Lord) wert ſo merciful, ſo bountiful, that thou gaveſt the laſt dropps of thy precious Blood, which ſtreamed from thy wounded Heart for my redemption. O hard Heart of mine! Should I behold thee in the poor, and not commiſerate thee; or behold thee in the naked, and not cloth thee; or in the ſick, and not viſit thee; or in the hungry, and not feed thee! Thou gaveſt all, even to the laſt drop of Blood, to redeem me a vile Sinner. O that I could give, and ſurrender all I am and have to thee, my God and Saviour! O that I could love thee with an entire Heart, and with all the powers of my Soul!
On his Heart. Againſt Impure Thoughts.
O Good Jeſu, I behold thy tender Heart pierc'd through with a cruel Spear, and ſeem to hear thee ſay, Bleſſed are the clean of Heart, for they ſhall ſee God. O that my ſinful Heart were tranſfixt with ſorrow for my ſins, by true compunction, that I may have the happineſs to behold my God, by having a clean Heart, and purified Soul by true Contrition. Jeſu, be merciful to me a Sinner, that I may have a Contrite Heart, deeply wounded and transfixt with ſorrow, as often as I behold thy wounded Side and Heart, whence flowed Blood and Water: With which, thou (O Lord) ſhalt ſprinkle me, and I ſhall be clean; thou ſhalt waſh me, and I ſhall be whiter than Snow.
On Chriſt's Hands. Againſt perturbations of Mind.
O Good Jeſu, I behold thy ſacred Hands pierced through with nails, and ſeem to hear thee ſay, Bleſſed are the Peace-makers, for they ſhall be call'd the Children of God. Thou (O Lord) wert the great Peace-maker, who didſt interpoſe thy ſelf betwixt thy Heavenly Father and us Sinners. Thou haſt made our Peace, yet ſtill I find diſquiet of Mind upon ſleight occaſions, vain fears, and worldly reſpects. Therefore I appeal to thee the great Peace-maker, and Son of God, and beſeech thee to aſſiſt me with thy powerful Grace, that I likewiſe may be a Peace-maker, not onelyonly externally amongſt ſuch as are at variance, but likewiſe inwardly, that I may pacifie my own Soul, and thereby become the peaceful Child of God, who ſeeks repoſe in a Soul free from anxious thoughts and worldly perturbations. Amen
On his Feet. Againſt Fear of Perſecution.
O Good Jeſu, I behold thy ſacred Feet pierced through with nails, and ſeem to hear thee ſay, Bleſſed are they that ſuffer Perſecution for righteouſneſs ſake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Thou (O Lord) wert perſecuted unto death, even the death of the Croſs: For which God gave thee a Name above all Names. O Bleſſed Saviour, ſince thou haſt promiſed a Kingdom to them that ſuffer with thee and for thee; I muſt not, I cannot, preſume to reign with thee, unleſs I ſuffer for thy ſake. And ſince no Man ſhall be crowned but he that lawfully fights for thy Honour, and ſuffers for thy Glory, why ſhould I be ſo backward, ſo timorous, ſo unwilling to undergo whatever Perſecution it pleaſes thee to ſend, or to permit, which I ſhould receive as a Favour from Heaven, and certain pledge of thy Love and Favour; who, being a Loving Father receiveſt no Child whom thou doſt not chaſtiſe. Under whoſe Rod of Correction, may I humbly, through thy powerful Grace ſubmit, and fully reſign my Will, to be a choſen Member of that Kingdom, which thou haſt promiſed to them that ſuffer Perſecution, for thy Names ſake. Amen, Amen.
Part of the 143. Pſalm paraphras'd, concerning true Beatitude.
O Reſcue me out of the hand
Of ſuch as thy beheſts withſtand,
Degenerate Children, they, wholly,
And utter naught but vanity.
Whoſe powerful Arms in my diſtreſs,
Were Arms ſtretch'd forth to wickedneſs:
Whoſe Youthfull Sonns, like to a Spring,
Of vigorous ſhoots, are flouriſhing;
Whoſe Daughters, dreſs'd, their Pride diſplay,
Deckt (Temple-like) in rich array;
Whoſe ſtore of Corn abundant lies,
Heapt up in their rich Granaries.
Whoſe Ewes are fruitful, flocks, that go
Mantling the Earth like drifts of ſnow.
Whoſe Oxen proſper, fat, and fair,
And in whoſe Walls no ruins are:
Nor noyſe of Thieves, or Rogues, that meet,
Or hideous out-cries in the Street.
Such ſome admire, and Happy call,
Cauſe they have bleſſings temporal;
But I him Bleſt have underſtood,
Whoſe Lord to him is God, all good.
FINIS.
End of the text · Edward Manning, The Grove of Beatitudes (1665)