Meditations upon the Festival of St Philip and James

Summary

How full is the H. Church of Lights and Torches to guid us to Heaven! How full of Goodness is our God to afford us such Helps thither! Lo, Two Great Saints together this Day commemorated, singly Assisting, and Joyntly Encouraging us, to the Lov of God and Virtu ; to the Profession of Holiness ; to the Confession of a Tru Faith ; and to the Practice of the most Religious Life.

The Soul of Man can be Satiated with Nothing but God. This Philip well experienced, when he said, Shew us the Father and it sufficeth.

Happiness and Satisfaction consist not in Greatness, for that is Subject to Enemies : Nor in Riches, for those are Subject to losse : Nor in Strength, for that is Subject to Casualty : nor in Beauty, for that is subject to Age : nor in Philosophy since that Ascendeth no higher then Nature : nor yet in Wit or Earthly Wisdom, since all Wisdom without Grace is but Foolishness with God. So that as nothing can satisfy the Soul but God, nothing Consequently can make us Happy but God. Whom to know is Life Eternal. Wel therfore might S. Philip here, say, (tho perhaps he knew not how Comprehensiv his Saying was) Lord shew us the Father, and it sufficeth. For as Nothing but Infinity can fill an Infinit Capacity, so Nothing but Honor Riches and Power, Greatness Pleasure Beauty and Delight, Endless in Variety Duration and Value, adoring that Infinity and all together inherited in the Divinest Company ; can satisfie the Immortal Soul of Man. Which as in a Way Supernatural they are Purchased for Sinners, by the Eternal Son ; so by a Way Celestial they are seen by the Spirit, and Enjoyed in the Father.

Whether our S Philip had such a Gross Apprehension of the Father, as to think he could bee seen with Corporal Eys ; or so Sublime, that he desired to see Him with the Ey of His Understanding I will not dispute ; tho it is probable, that being a Disciple and a Learner, his Apprehension was gross, till the Divine Wisdom Cleared it : but this is Certain, His Desire was so Great, that Nothing but Immensity and the Eternal Good could satisfie it.