OF THE MATTER OF CONSIDERATION.

        Having now spoken both of the profit, and necessity of consideration, and our hearts being now well affected herewith towards this virtue: let us begin to treat of the matter of consideration, which consisteth of certain godly, and devout considerations, which are of greatest force, to induce us to the love and fear of God, to the abhorring of sin, and contempt of the world. For which purpose, there be no considerations better, nor of greater force and efficacy, than those that are taken out of the principal articles, and mysteries of our faith: as the bitter passion and death of our Savior: the remembrance of the terrible day of judgement: of the horrible torments of hell: of the glory of heaven: of the benefits of almighty God: of our sins: and of our life, and death: For every one of these points being well weighed, and considered, be able to provoke our hearts very much to all the effects above mentioned. These very points St. Bonaventure hath treated in a book, that he entitled, FASCICULARIUS, and hath divided them into the seven days of the week. And thus he did, that a man might have every day new food for his soul, and new provocations unto virtue, and so avoid the tediousness, that he should otherwise have in thinking always upon one same matter. And for this cause it seemed good unto me, to follow the same division, which this renowned, and blessed holy father hath made, who of all others hath treated most largely of these matters. And if there by any, that shall not well like of this division, but will follow some other, he is at free liberty so to do, and hath also examples to follow therein. For it importeth not much, what order and division he follow in the same. And surely, that is the best order to be used in these matters, that each man findeth to be best for himself, and wherein he taketh most profit and commodity.

            Moreover, I thought it expedient, considering that the food and sustenance of our soul is the word of God, and the consideration of heavenly matters, (for therewith is our soul sustained in the spiritual life, which consisteth in the love, and fear of God,) that like as we give ordinarily to our body his refection twice every day, to preserve it from fainting in this life: even so we should also give to our soul her ordinary refection twice every day, that she fail not in her life. Howbeit this is not a thing of bounded duty, nor of precept: but only of wholesome council: especially considering, that the Saints have used this exercise more often times. For we read, that the prophet Daniel withdrew himself to this exercise, three times in the day. And the prophet David also used to praise God seven times in the day. After whose virtuous example, our holy mother the Catholic Church, hath instituted the seven Canonical hours of daily service. And for this cause have we here assigned two kinds of meditations: The one for the morning, which treateth of the most bitter passion of our redeemer: and the other for the evening, or night, which treateth of the other points and matters here before mentioned.

            But if any man shall have such want of time, or of devotion, that he can not withdraw himself unto this exercise twice in the day: let him yet find the means to withdraw himself thereunto at the least once in the day. And that he may not lose the fruit of all these meditations following, he may exercise himself one week in the one sort: and another week in the other sort. And in so doing he may taste, and take profit of all these godly instructions, which we have here set forth unto him.