TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, AND WORSHIPFUL, OF THE four principal houses of Couerte in London, professing the study of the Common Laws of our Realm, Richard Hopkins wishethe due consideration of the holy Mysteries of the Christian Religion.
The holy scriptures affirm in divers places, that the nearer we approach towards the coming of the Antichrist, and the end of the world, the more perilous will the times be for all Christians. And the peril hereof ariseth chiefly of the great envy and malice of Satan, who fearing the end of the world, knowing that then his tyrannous kingdom therein will have an end also therewith, extendeth the uttermost of his rage against all faithful Christians, and assaulteth them daily more and more with divers wily temptations, and terrible persecutions, to procure them thereby to follow his most wicked rebellious example: that is, to break God’s holy commandments, to contemn His divine ordinances, to neglect His service, and honor, and by pride and rebellion to lose the image of God, and embrace the image of Satan, and so to be utterly unapt to attain unto those everlasting heavenly mansions of felicity, and glory, for which man was created.
Wherefore to the intent that all Christians might be more circumspect, and strengthened, to resist faithfully against all Satan’s wily deceitful temptations in this our dangerous age, approaching so near towards the coming of Antichrist, and the end of the world, (as by many conjectural signs it seemeth) a holy Angel hath forewarned us hereof very precisely in the revelations of St. John, thundering out these words with a great voice: Woe be to the land, and sea, because the Devil is descended unto you, having a great rage, for that he knoweth he hath but a short time. And this great rage of his is the more to be feared in this our corrupt age, for that we read also in Saint John’s revelations, that the Devil shall be let loose towards the end of the world for a final time. In other ages and times of our holy Christian forefathers the devils exceeding great malice and mighty power hath been much restrained, and bound, through the great virtue of the Cross, and Passion of our Savior Jesus Christ, communicated then very plentifully unto the Christian people generally by their devout frequenting of the holy Sacraments of the Catholic Church, (which be holy vessels of grace) whereby our Christian forefathers have been greatly strengthened to resist faithfully against the most horrible temptations of Schism, Heresy, Infidelity, and Atheism, and to live generally very holy and austere Christian lives in the fear and service of almighty God, and in due reverent obedience to the Catholic Church. But now whereas in this our ungracious age such a number of horrible Sects, and Heresies, and such a general corruption with pride, disobedience, lying, detraction, gluttony, incontinence, infidelity, Atheism, and all kind of dissolute wickedness do abound and reign more and more in all parts of Christendom, woe be therefore to the Land, and sea (as the holy Angel hath forewarned us) because the Devil is now descended, and let loose towards the end of the world for a final time, having a great rage, for that he Knoweth he hath but a short time to continue his tyrannous kingdom in this world.
And the very cause of this so extraordinary letting loose of the devil now more and more towards the coming of Antichrist in the end of the world, Saint Paul seemeth to explain in this sense: that for so much as the wicked will not receive the true doctrine of the Catholic Church with charity, humility, obedience, and thankfulness, to the end they may be saved, therefore Almighty God letteth loose the devil now among them, by permitting him to sow in their proud inconstant willful minds many erroneous opinions, and Heresies, that they may believe in lying.
And certainly, if we will advisedly consider the wily proceedings of the devil in sowing so manifold Sects and Heresies in this ungracious age, and the final end whereunto he directeth them, we may evidently perceive, that it is to cause all Christians now towards the coming of Antichrist to be first dissolute in their lives, and after doubtful in their faith, and then tocontemn all the holy Sacraments, and other Mysteries of the Christian Religion, and afterwards having by degrees removed away out of their Churches all holy memories of our Savior Christ, and of his blessed Mother, Apostles, Martyrs, and other of his glorious Saints, and also out of their minds all fear of God, and of his dreadful judgements, then they be easily induced by him shortly after to become hard hearted, and unsensible to conceive any spiritual things, and also at the last to become Atheists, without any conscience, Religion, or belief that there is a God. And so Antichrist finding his way so open and ready prepared for him, may then come freely when he will, and cause himself to be received as a Messiah, and adored as God, finding the Christian people generally without any devotion and zeal to the service and honor of our Savior Jesus Christ, and without any belief that there is a God.
Now among all the wily deceitful devises of Satan for overthrowing of the Christian Religion, and so to prepare the way for Antichrist’s coming, there is none (in my simple judgement) of greater force, and consequence, than his so earnest endeavor to procure all Christians utterly to contemn and forget all the holy Mysteries of the Christian faith. Which if he could possibly compass (as he laboreth very earnestly therein by divers crafty means in this our corrupt age) then undoubtedly all the whole Christian Religion, and even our Savior Christ himself, and his blessed Mother, and all his holy Apostles, and Martyrs, and other of his glorious Saints would consequently in a short time after be generally contemned, neglected, and forgotten throughout all Christian countries.
And to write here freely my mind as I think, it would seem very marvelous unto me, (if I were not fully persuaded that the devil is now more and more let loose (as Saint John in his revelations hath forewarned us he should be for a short time towards the end of the world) how the devil could prevail so farforth among Christians, as to induce a whole new late Sect of Heretics that be called Puritans (professing in gay words to be more pure, more sincere, and better professors of Christ’s gospel, than any other Christians either be, or have been in any age since the Apostle’s time) to write of late so unchristianly by common consent even in English printed books, against observing in the Church the most ancient yearly solemn holy Feasts of Christmass, Easter, and Pentecost, and against all special meditations at any one solemn time of the year more than at others, either of Christ’s nativity, or Resurrection, or of the Coming of the Holy Ghost, or of the hour of our death: because (say they) these meditations should be used continually every day in the year, and ought not to be appointed by the governors of the Church to be used at any one special time more than at others. Whereby every godly Christian reader may easily perceive, how the devil being now let loose laboreth very busily by these counterfeit pure gospellers under a wily deceitful colure of advancing continual meditation and memory of the holy Mysteries of the Christian Religion every day in the year, to have no manner of meditation or memory of them among Christians any day at all: that so by their subtle wicked doctrine a ready open way may be prepared in all Christian men’s Churches, and minds, for Antichrist’s coming.
But O the wonderful providence and care of our Savior Christ to preserve a continual knowledge, memory, and reverence, of his holy Mysteries among all faithful Christians in his Catholic Church, as hath very manifestly appeared in all ages since Christ’s Ascension until this our corrupt age. And surely it is a matter worthy of great and devout admiration for any good Christian to consider, how the Apostles, and the ancient holy Catholic Bishops their successors being by our Savior Christ’s own promise assuredly inspired, assisted, and directed by the Holy Ghost from time to time in government of the Catholic Church in all truth, have with such divine wisdom disposed the whole year into so many several holy Festival days, as that thereby have been represented, and preached unto all Christian people in all Christian Churches throughout Christendom a continual solemn instruction, memory, and reverence of the holy Mysteries of the Christian Religion. In so much as the common Christian people by those holy Festival days alone (albeit they wanted not also divers other holy instructions therein in Confessions, and Sermons), were in all ages sufficiently instructed in the holy Mysteries of their Christian belief: I mean, they were thereby made to understand so much of them, as (having withal a due religious respect to preserve a continual humble reverence in them to the dignity of such high holy Mysteries) was fully convenient for their weak capacities, and for the comforting and strengthening of their faith, and as they were bound of necessity to know.
As for example, by the ancient institution of the holy feasts of Advent: of our savior Christ’s Nativity, and Circumcision: of his Adoration by the three Kings: and of the holy solemnity of Lent, at which time the Catholic Church teacheth all Christian people to imitate so near as they can our Savior’s fasting of forty days in the desert, and representeth then also with sorrowful mourning penance, and compassion, all the whole order and history of our Savior Christ’s most bitter Passion, and death, for the redemption of all mankind: And afterwards the Church solemnizeth with great Joy the holy Feasts of our Savior’s Resurrection from death to life: of his Ascension into heaven: and of the Coming of the Holy Ghost. And then follow also the holy Feasts of the blessed Trinity, and of the most holy Sacrament, commonly called Corpus Christi day: And the holy Feasts of the blessed Mother of our Savior: And of Saint John the Baptist his precursor: And then the holy Feasts of Saint Peter, Saint Paul, and of other of our Savior’s holy Apostles, and most famous Martyrs, and Confessors: And also the holy Feasts of Saint Michael the Archangel, and of all the glorious Saints in heaven: And with all a solemn day of devout memory, and general prayers, and almsdeeds, for all faithful Christian Souls departed out of this transitory life, and as yet remaining in the fire of Purgatory, to make satisfaction there for all pains due and prescribed for their sins in the merciful just balance of the divine Majesty. All which holy Festival days being so divinely and orderly disposed into so many several parts of the year, and adorned with the holy reverent Ceremonies appointed to be used in all Christian Churches throughout all Christendom, with great solemnity and reverence upon those Holy days, have yearly from time to time in every age since the Ascension of our Savior Christ into heaven very lively and continually preached, represented, and explained unto the common simple Christian people all the holy Mysteries of the Christian Religion, which they had professed at their Baptism, and were taught in the Apostles Creed to believe. And the reverent solemnity in every year of these holy Festival days induced them unto a continual memory, admiration, love, and reverence of those holy Mysteries, and greatly strengthened their faith in them, and caused them to have a wonderful fervent piety, devotion, and zeal towards the honor and service of Almighty God, whereby they lived very virtuous lives like the children of light, (as the holy scripture termeth them,) and died generally as holy faithful Christians in the obedience, love, and favor of his divine Majesty.
But alas these golden times be past, and ended, and the devil being let lose now more and more towards the coming of Antichrist, and the end of the world, we find by pulpable experience, that since the time that such a free licentious liberty hath been permitted unto every leud babbling Minister to rail against all the holy ancient divine ordinances, used and allowed generally so many ages in all Christian Churches, and to term them in blasphemous manner Antichristian inventions, and to preach openly in pulpits, and publish in printed books whatsoever new heretical opinions the enemy of mankind suggesteth into their fantastical heads, the faith of Christians is thereby generally become so weak, and inconstant, and in very many or most persons so wholly undermined, and utterly overthrown, and their hope is so transformed into presumption, and their charity is waxen so cold, and so little piety, love, devotion, reverence, and zeal remain in them towards the service of Almighty God, and so much Pride, gluttony, incontinence, lying, detraction, disobedience, with most horrible contention, Schism, Heresy, Infidelity, Atheism, and all kind of iniquity do generally abound more and more throughout Christendom, that we have good cause to fear, least that terrible time approacheth now very near at hand, which our Savior forewarned us in the gospel, to wit: that at his coming to judge he should hardly find faith in the earth.
Wherefore we have now very great need of extraordinary spiritual help to strengthen our weak minds, to withstand so many deceitful temptations of the enemy of mankind in this so corrupt and dangerous age. And for this purpose I have translated out of the Spanish tongue divers books of a very holy and famous learned religious father, called Lewis de Granada, whose devout manner of writing hath (in my simple judgement) a singular rare grace to pierce the hard heart of a dissolute sinner, and to move and dispose his mind to the abhorring of sin, to the contempt of the world, and to the fear, love, and service of almighty God. And I understand that his books have wrought wonderful much good, not only in Spain, and Portugal, but also in Italy, France, and Germany. And I think there be few countries in Christendom but have his Spanish works translated into their tongues. And it is now about fourteen years ago, since the time that Master Doctor Harding (a man for his great virtue, learning, wisdom, Zeal, and sincerity in writing against Heresies, of very godly and famous memory) persuaded me earnestly to translate some of those Spanish books into our English tongue: affirming, that more spiritual profit would undoubtedly ensue thereby to the gaining of Christian souls in our country from Schism, and Heresy, and from all sin, and iniquity, than by books that treat of controversies in Religion: which (as experience hath now plainly tried) do nothing so well dispose the common peoples minds to the fear, love, and service of almighty God, as books treating of devotion, and how to lead a virtuous life do. The due consideration whereof hath so provoked, or rather pricked me in conscience, that I have resolved to publish (godwilling) in print all my translations, in case I shal perceive that such as be godly, wise, and learned, shall like of them. And first (as it were for an assay) I have here printed his devout Meditations of the principal holy Mysteries of the Christian Religion, which book I find greatly commended by divers godly learned men.
It may be, that some readers of this book being not greatly acquainted with the holy exercise of a spiritual life, will imagine that the Author dealeth to austerely in some of these meditations: as namely in his Meditation of sins: of the hour of death: of our dreadful account at the terrible day of Judgement: and of the most horrible pains of hell. And perhaps some politique wise men will say, that for so much as the common people in our country have been for the most part of our corrupt age altogether accustomed with hearing and reading of divers other contrary new erroneous doctrines, tending directly to a careless dissolute life, they be therefore now waxen so carnal and negligent of the salvation of their souls, that these Meditations be to full of threatening, and terror, for such nice and loose consciences. For answer to this objection, it is to be noted, that the Author being (as I am informed) not only a great learned and religious devout old father, but also of great wisdom, gravity, judgement, discretion, and of long experience, as well in preaching, and hearing of Confessions, as in divers governments in his religious order, and perceiving very evidently that far more Christion souls be lost in this our corrupt age with overmuch presumptuous confidence, and security of their salvation, than with overmuch fear of losing the same, hath therefore framed his manner of writing in these meditations chiefly against the infinite number of presumptuous and careless dissolute Christians, that presume most certainly, and assuredly to be saved, and yet do live very dissolutely all their whole life time, without all care of keeping gods Commandments, and without all fear of their account at the dreadful day of judgement, notwithstanding that our Savior Christ himself who shall be then our Judge, hath by plain and express words forewarned us in the gospel of saint Matthew, that If we will enter into the Kingdom of heaven, we must Keep his commandments: which every Christian may be able to keep, being assisted, strengthened, and holpen therein with the grace of God, which is never denied to any that prayeth duly for it: and also that we must at the day of judgement give an account of every idle word.
And verily, if we peruse diligently the holy Scriptures, we shall find that not only Enoch in the law of Nature, and afterwards all the Prophets, but also Saint John Baptist, and our Savior Christ himself used the same manner of preaching that this religious godly father doth here. And they thought it to be the very best and readiest way for conversion of sinners from their sinful dissolute lives, to show plainly unto them the damnable state they live in, and to put them in mind of the severe justice of almighty God at the terrible day of judgement against all such as endeavor not to keep his commandments. And Saint Peter protesteth (as it appeareth in the Acts of the Apostles) that our Savior Christ commanded likewise him, and the rest of the Apostles, to preach and testify this point especially, that Christ is appointed to be the Judge both of the quick, and the dead. And therefore in another place he requireth all Christians to live in fear during the time of their conversation upon the earth. And Saint Paul maketh also the like solemn protestation of the terrible day of judgement, and what a straight account every one of us must make at that dreadful time, and exhorted the Corinthians with the knowledge and consideration thereof to persuade all men to live in the fear of God. And disputing also before the President Felix of the Christian religion, and namely of the dreadful day of Judgement, he uttered such wonderful terrible things thereof, that as the holy scripture mentioneth, he made the very President himself (though he were an infidel) even to tremble and quake for fear, with the only hearing of them. And Saint John likewise in his Revelations affirmeth, that he saw an Angel preaching the everlasting gospel unto all Nations, tribes, tongues, and people, (meaning thereby, that he preached as well to the good, as to the wicked, without any exception therein of the faithful Christians,) saying: Fear our Lord, and give honor unto him, because the hour of his judgement is come. And I am persuaded that all godly wise and grave men will easily agree in this opinion with me, that this manner of preaching of the terror of the day of Judgement, and of the most horrible pains of hell, is much more needful now in this our corrupt age in England, and Scotland, than in Italy, Spain, or other Catholic countries, since so great numbers of them are infected with so many heretical licentious doctrines, that have caused them to put quite away out of their minds all fear of God, and of his terrible judgements, and to presume most certainly and assuredly to be saved by their only faith, and so are generally become utterly careless of endeavoring to work their salvation with fear, and trembling, and do live as carnally, and dissolutely, both to the flesh, and the world, as any barbarous Pagans, and Atheists: In so much as all godly ancient wise men do greatly lament to see by experience the terrible prophesy of David to be generally verified at this day throughout our Realm: which is, that the judgements of almighty God be taken quite away from the face of the ungodly. And if these and such like godly Meditations and Considerations of the terrible threatenings and judgements of almighty God against the wicked, be not a fit remedy for their conversion from their careless dissolute lives, what other remedy then can possibly be devised for them?
Howbeit I have very great hope, that with the grace of God these godly Meditations will work much good effect for the conversion of many of them. For undoubtedly that man is very willful, and obstinate in his wickedness, that reading advisedly all these godly Meditations is not moved inwardly in his heart in some part of them to the fear, love, and service of almighty God, and to the abhorring of all sin, and amendment of his life. And such readers as shall be inwardly moved and called thereunto by almighty God, I conjure them in his holy name, and in regard of their own salvation, not to make sad the Holy Ghost, in hardening their hearts, and resisting ungratefully and willfully against his divine inspirations, when it shall please his infinite goodness, and mercy, with such singular love to knock and call at the door of their hearts, but in any wise to open it out of hand, and receive him most humbly into their hearts, with such loving hearty entertainment, submission, thankfulness, service, and honor, as duty requireth they should do unto their most high sovereign lord, and Creator, that hath such a special loving care of their salvation.
Now this book of Meditations, and whatsoever else I have translated, and shall godwilling hereafter publish in print, I do most humbly offer unto the service of almighty God for the benefit of our country. And for so much as I am very wary and assured that this book containeth not any thing whereby I may justly incur any penalty prescribed by any laws of our Realm, I am the bolder humbly to recommend it by this my dedicatory Epistle unto your Honors, and worships: partly for that I have spent some part of my time in the study of our Common Laws in the Middle Temple among you, and am very much bound unto divers of you: But chiefly for that I know right well the great capacity and dexterity of your spirits, the gravity of your judgements, and your wisdoms, experiences, authority, and example, to be of such principal estimation, and worthy respect in our Realm, that in case ye do zealously employ your endeavors to the due reverent consideration of the holy Mysteries of the Christian Religion, (as I doubt not but very many among you do,) your holy example will generally allure a great number throughout our whole Realm from all contentious disputing, and jarring about these late new controversies in Religion, to embrace firmly and zealously the ancient Catholic belief, and to imitate the virtuous lives of our holy Christian forefathers, who had much more abundance of the grace and light of the Gospel of our Savior Christ, than we have in this our ungracious corrupt age, as very manifestly appeareth by their so manifold good Christian fruits left by them unto us, to the glory of our Savior Christ, and of his dear spouse the Catholic Church, and to the continual great admiration, confusion, envy, and despite, of Lucifer, and of all his rebellious wicked spirits, and of all Jews, Turks, Heretics, and other Infidels his adherents.
And (requesting here humbly pardon, and license, to treat in a familiar manner with the younger sort) I desire your Honors and worships continually to remember what great inclination ye have unto virtue more than others of obscure parentage, and base estate, in regard of your nobleness, and magnanimity, which ever inviteth you to imitate the noble virtuous steps of your noble Christian ancestors, and to set upon high and noble virtuous enterprises, and to do all your works nobly, and excellently, that ye take in hand. As also to consider, that a virtuous life is the greatest and most noble ornament of nobility. And that for this end chiefly almighty God bestoweth upon noble personages here in earth, principality, rule, government, and honor, that they should give virtuous and godly example unto all others that be under their rule, and government. And by experience we find that ordinarily no bishop or other preacher is able with such facility to plant virtue among the common people, and cause them sincerely to love, honor, and embrace it, as Noblemen, gentlemen, Magistrates, and Governors are able to do, in case they themselves do give good apparent example of virtue, religion, and devotion, and be zealous also in procuring all others to do the like. And therefore I beseech you to determine with an honorable constant resolution to employ your time in the most noble exercises of virtue, and to fear, love, serve, and honor almighty God, who is your most noble, high, sovereign Lord, and Creator: and not to suffer either your study or practice of the laws, or other your worldly offices, and affairs to be so great an impediment unto your spiritual exercises, but that you may have ever one window open towards the heavenly Jerusalem, as Daniel had in his chamber in Babylon, praying there three times in the day towards the earthly Jerusalem. And in case your worldly impediments be over great, then wisdom requireth that for salvation of your souls you do cast them away from you. And imitate herein the worldly foresight of wise Merchants when they be in danger of drowning in a stormy tempest upon the sea, who use at such times for salvation of their lives to cast into the sea their rich merchandise, and all their troublesome encumbrances, thereby to cause their ship to sail more safely. And I do also humbly beseech all good Christian readers that shall like well of these spiritual exercises to remember me in their devout prayers, that I prove not like unto those foolish carpenters that made Noes ark, who made it to save others from drowning in the general flood, and yet were drowned themselves.
Thus with all due humble submission of myself, and my travails herein to your honors, and worships, I humbly crave pardon for passing here somewhat the bounds of my profession, and treating as a divine of spiritual matters, according as since my departure from the Middle Temple by some study, and reading of divers spiritual books, and continual conversation these fifteen years with many virtuous and Learned Catholic Priests in these parts I have been instructed. And I most humbly beseech almighty God that these Godly Meditations may work so good effect in all your minds, as I have often times very earnestly requested of his divine Majesty. From Paris, upon the holy festival day of Pentecost. In the year of our Lord. 1582.
An advertisement by the Translator to the Learned Reader.
Forsomuch as the Author of this book hath published at divers times several editions thereof in the Spanish tongue, and in the later editions hath from time to time very much and often corrected, altered, and augmented the same, not only in manifold words, and sentences, but also in divers chapters, otherwise than in the former editions, that were printed either in Toledo, Salamanca, Lisbon, Antwerp, or in any other place before the year of our Lord. 1567. I think it very convenient to give notice of it to the Reader: and withal that in my Translation I do follow the edition in the Spanish tongue, printed at Antwerp by Christopher Plantine, in the year of our Lord. 1572. For I perceive that the French Translation differeth in divers places from this best corrected edition of Plantins: and so do likewise all the Translations that I have seen in the Italian tongue, printed in divers years at Rome, Naples, and Venice, by Michael Tramezzino, Horatio Salviani, Jovanni Baptista Guerra, and Gabriel Jolito: until that now of late all the Authors works have been newly Translated into the Italian tongue, and printed at Venice, by Georgio Angelieri, in the year of our Lord. 1581.
OF PRAYER AND MEDITATION 