Of Maries Re- f pentane. PafionSgnday: Ser. 36. ingon theone fidefuch mereneighbours , and trenching one vponthe other; onthe other fo contrary,and fo farreafunder, that there is nothing more diffe- ring, thanlight fromdarkneffe, nothingin that extreame diftançe. Abirdpaffes inan infantouer fields, mountaines, valleys, riuers,and feas,and flyes from ex- treame toextreame, maxmihidabitpennasfcut columba, &c. Whowillgiue met' the wingsofa Doue ? What wonderis it thenthat God fhouldpaffefrom the foule- nefleof finne, to the faireneffe ofgrace. Thehardeftthing in the world, is to vnteacha man that which he hath learned : and therefore the Philofopher did demanda double Salarie for teaching thofe fchollers that had beene read too before by forne other Philofopher. But this fhewes the force and power of GodsSpirit, for that which humaneinduftrie cannot end in many dayes, grace will end in aninftant. Your aquafortis will eat out any written character, and cleanfe thofeblotsand blursofinke, which thedafhingof the pen or any the like accident hathoccafioned , but you (ball neuer beable to write anyletter wellagaine in the Paidpaper. But your eye-water,thatof teares,is far morefor- cible and ftrong than your agaafortis , forit doth not onely cleanfe the fouleof it'sformer blots andblurs, but theremay bewritten therein anewvery faire let- ters, and handfome Characters. Ariflotle faith , Thatyour Plants are watered with the water ofthe earth, andwith the water of heauen ; butaffirmeth with all , That that ofheauen worketh themore wonderful)effects : So likewifeare thereteares of the earth , andwares of heauen; but thefe workheauenlyef- fects. The HiftorieofEliasin that contentionand Qppofitionwhich he had with the falfe Prophets,falls out verypat forthis purpofe : Hee powred water on the Sacrifice,and fildthe trenches full therewith, fire defcended downe from, hea- uen, and lickt vp the water, till there was not one drop left. The comparifon is not much amifíeofhim, Who afterthat hehad fedvponmany difhes,falsround- ly to that whichwas ferued inTaft, becaufe he findes it more fauourie and plea- fing tohis palat, thanany ofthe former. As this fire thatcame downe from hea- uen, confumed thebeafls thatwere facrificed; with them thewood,the ftones, andat laft the verywater : fo was itwith this SacrificewhichMary Magdalenof- fered to our SauiourChrift ; He fed vpon all thofe dainties Thee had fetbe- fore him, her boxe of Alablafter filledwith coftly oynement, her difheuelled hayres,her pretty mouth,herfairehands,her fweetkiffes,her model} lookes,her hidingsandherbaflifulneffe ; butmolt ofall on herteares, Lambda, hee did lickethemvp,theywere fo Iweet and fauourie tohis tafte, and left fo pleafanta rellifhbehind them. refus anfwcredandfaidveto him,Seefithou thiswoman ? PetrusChrifologus faith, That our Sauiourin this his anfwer (hewesuntovs, that he was firft ofall defi- rousto cure himwhohad leaf} feeling-of hisgriefe, not thinking that heewas ficke, becaúfehe feltno paine. Andthat thefe open and publike teares of}Ma- rie (Magdalen , fhould difcouer the fecret &hidden fores of the Pharifee, making the fame ferue as a medicine for his maladie,'and a meanes to open his eyes, whoasyet had themblinded with felfe-loue.. ridesham. mulierem? See- thou this Woman ? No Simonthou doer}not feeher; For thou doeft imagine her to bea finner, whereas indeed (he isa Saint,ManyPonessareforgissenher. That the fsnnes ofMary Magdalenwere many, the reafonsbeforealledged, the feuen diuels driuen out of her, (delivered by Saint Marke andSaint Lake) and the nameofSinnereffe in fo populousa City,arefufftcientteftimonies ofthis truth. But a ftrongerproofe thereofare thofewords vttered by ourSauior Chrift,ülfa. ny f nnes areforgiuen her. Whereinweareto confider his frankneffe and freeneffe in s83 The efficacie ofpenitential) teares. R. seg:ly.. To Chti they are more fauourie than wine. The reafonof the demand. :Chrißeuer ready to for. gluelinnets.
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