OF MEDITATION.

        After Reading it followeth that we do meditate upon the place that we have read. Concerning which point it is to be known, that this meditation is sometimes upon things that may be figured with the imagination as are all the points of the life and passion of our Savior Christ. And some times again this meditation is upon things that do rather appertain to the understanding, than to the imagination: as when we think upon the benefits of almighty God, or upon his goodness, and mercy, or upon any other of his perfections. This manner of meditation is called INTELLECTUAL: and the other IMAGINARY: and we use both the one manner and the other in these exercises, according as the matter of the things doth require.

            And therefore when the mystery whereupon we intend to meditate is of the life and passion of our Savior Christ, or of any other thing that may be figured with the imagination: as of the last day of Judgement, or of hell, or of Paradise, we must then figure and represent every one of these matters in our imagination, in such wise as it is, or in such wise as it passed, and make accompt, that even there in the very same place where we are, all the same passeth in our presence. And this manner of meditating serveth to this end, that by means of such a representation of these things, the consideration and feeling of them may be the more lively in us. Some there be, that imagine that every one of these things whereupon they meditate passeth within their own heart: for sithence our heart is able to contain within it the form of cities, and kingdoms, it is no great matter for it to contain also within it the representation and form of these mysteries. And this manner of meditating is commonly a great help also to keep in the mind more closely recollected, by causing it to attend to her work, after the manner of bees, which work their honey-combs within their own hives. Either of these two ways we may use in this kind of imaginary meditation. For in case we go with our cogitation to Jerusalem, to meditate the things that passed there each thing in his own proper place, it is a thing that doth commonly weaken and hurt the head.

            And for this very cause likewise a man must not fix his imagination overmuch upon the things whereupon he meditateth. For besides that it wearieth the head, a man may also fall into some deceit by reason of this vehement apprehension, in persuading himself that he seeth the things really in very deed, which he imagineth with such vehemency, and force.