Page images
PDF
EPUB

FOR

LENT,

Written in FRENCH by the

R. F. N. CAUSIN, S. J.

Tranflated into ENGLISH

BY SIR BASIL BROOK.

The Delight of Sin is momentary, the Tormens
eternal.

LIVERPOOL:

Printed by JOHN SADLER, M.DCC.LY.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors]

MONGST all the public joys for your Majesty's happy return, I know not better how to exprefs my own particular, than by moft humbly presenting to your Majefty my tranflation of this excellent French book, in the folitude of a prison, which was made more eafy by fome relation it had to your Majesty's service.

And I prefume the mather upon this dedication, becaufe all that good which is derived to us from France, whereof I conceive this may be a part, should receive honour and increase of value from your Majefty, that it

[blocks in formation]

may fo diffuse itself with more authority and profit a mongst those who may be capable to receive it Your Majefty, having read the original, doth well know that the principal scope of it is to teach the love of God and contempt of this world, with many other principal virtues.

And for the practice of them all, this age could not have hoped for fo rare an example to inftruct all the great ladies of Chriftendom, as it hath found in your majesty, as well by your admirable fortitude and perfect refignation to God's holy will in all your Majesty's extream afflictions, dangers and preffures at fea and land, as alfo by your Majefty's many facred retirements, in the most holy time of the year, to sprinkle your plea fures (voluntarily) with fome of that gall which was upon our Saviour's lips when he suffered his bitter paffion and death for our fins. Our great divines affirm, that the prefent fufferings of mount Calvary lead direaly to the future glories of mount Tabor,

And therefore, fince your Majefty hath patiently endured fo many unjuft and rigorous croffes in the mount Calvary of this world, we have reafon to hope that our bleffed Saviour hath prepared for your Majefty a moft glorious crown in the next, which will never have end. And this fhall ever be the inceffant, and fervent Prayer of,

MADAM,

Tour MAJESTY's poor and

Moft humbly devoted beadsman,

BASIL BROOK,

ENTERTAINMENTS

FOR

LE N T.

For the first day, upon the confideration of Afbes.

Thou art duft, and to dust thou fhalt return.

I.

Gen. 3.

T is an excellent way to begin Lent with the confi deration of duft, whereby nature gives us beginning; and by the fame death fhall put an end to all our worldly vanities. There is no better way to abate and humble the proudeft of all creatures, than to reprefent his beginning and end. The middle part of our life, like a kind of Proteus, takes upon it feveral fhapes not understood by others; but the first and laft parts of it deceive no man; for they do both begin and end in duft. It is a ftrange thing that man, knowA 3

ine

« PreviousContinue »