of almighty God, which appeareth very evidently in the holy Passion of our Savior Christ.
Fourthly, we ought to consider the passing great goodness, and mercy of almighty God, which shineth more evidently and brightly in the holy passion of our Savior, than in any other of his works. Wherefore thou hast deeply to consider therein four things: which are to be considered in all the whole history of the holy passion, and in every part thereof. The first is, who suffereth: The second is, what pains he suffereth: The third is, for whom he suffereth: The fourth is, for what cause he suffereth. Now if thou wilt stay thyself awhile in every one of these points, and consider first the highness, and excellency of him that suffereth, which is almighty God: and in such wise stay in this consideration, that thou art astonied at this so high, and so wonderful a thing: and afterwards comest to descend from thence unto the consideration of the baseness, and vileness of the most grievous pains, and reproachful injuries, which he was content to suffer: and that not for Angels, or Archangels, but even for men, which are most vile, and abominable creatures, and in their works like unto the devils themselves: if (as I say) in each one of these points thou make as it were a station, and do compare the one point with the other, undoubtedly thou shalt be greatly amazed, and astonied, to consider how much so great and excellent a majesty would abase himself, to redeem so vile, and so base a creature: and then mayst thou cry out with the Prophet, and say: O Lord I have heard thy words, and was afraid, I have considered they works, and was astonied.
But if after all this, thou do consider the cause of his so great abasing, and comest to understand that it was not for any manner of commodity towards himself, nor yet provoked by any desert of ours, but was only moved thereunto with the bowels of his tender mercy and love towards us, by the which he vouchsafed to visit us from on high: this point being well and duly considered, will lift up thy mind into such a great admiration and love of him, that thou wilt be astonied as Moses was in the Mount, when he saw the figure of this mystery, and began to proclaim with a loud voice the unspeakable great mercy of almighty God which was there revealed unto him. This was that great languishing and faintness of spirit, which the spouse felt in the Canticles, when she said: Stay me up with flowers, and comfort me with apples, for I languish with love. Upon which words St. Bernard saith: The amorous soul seeth here king Salomon with the crown which his mother crowned him withal: She seeth the only son of almighty God carrying a cross upon his shoulders: She seeth the Lord of majesty whipped and spitted upon: She seeth the author of life and of glory thrust through with nails, pierced with a spear, and many despiteful reproaches and contempts done unto him: And finally, she seeth him bestow his most holy life for his friends: She seeth all this, and in seeing it she is pierced through with a knife of love, and therefore she saith: stay me up with flowers, and comfort me with apples, for I languish with love.
OF PRAYER AND MEDITATION 