Book IV. of J E s U S C H R I S T. 289

the reception of fo pure^ fo glorious a Ma jcfty. I wiif therefore moft humbly confefs my own Vilenefs, and Thy unfpeakble Goodnefs ; I will moft thankfully praife, and admire, and adore thy marvellous Love, and exceeding abundant Grace. For this is purely thy own Ad. Nothing on my part could deferve^ nothing could move thee to it. The more unworthy lam^ the more confpicuous is thy Goodnefs, the more amazing thy Mercy and Condefcenfion. Since therefore thoii art pleafcd to ftoop fo lo\^-, be it unto me according to thy Word. Since thou haft thought fit to command my Approach^ I will moft gladly teflify my ready Obedience ; and only beg, that my own finfulnefe may not render me odious in thy fight, nor fruftrate thefe ineftimable Mercies to me.
O fweeteft, kindeft Saviour! What humble Reve- rence, what devout Thankfulnefs can be grea t enough ? What Praife can be fufficiently expreflive of that Love, which admits fo poor, fo miferable a Wretch, to the Participation of thofe Divine Myfteries , the Digni- ty whereof no Tongue of Men or Angels can wor- thily fet forth ? But when I thus addrefs to my Lord, . and am allowed fuch intimate Familiarities with him, what fort of Reflexions ought to fill my Breaft ? To approach thee with all the profound Refpec5i: due upon fuch Occafions, is impoffible. I will therefore fupply my want of Ability by the earneftnefs of my Zeal ; and moft humbly befeech thee to accept thofe hearty Defires of the ineftimable Benefit, by which my Soul and all its Faculties thirft and pant moft impatiently after thee and thy Righteoufnefs. When Thou arc the Subjed of my Meditations, the Matter is too vaft for regular Thought ; the Idea's too dazzling biighc for a finite Underftanding; and I quickly feel my (elf loft in Wonder and Aftoniftiment. I will therefore turn my Eyes inward, and entertain my felf with the lefs pleafing indeed^ but no left profitable, Piofpcrt
of
Z90 0f tl^t imitation Book IV,
of my own Unworthinefs ; Laying my Soul low be- fore thee, and from the fenfe, how little, how meer a nothing, how much worfe than nothing I am, will take the meafure of thy Greatnefs, and form Idea's of thy infinite Goodnefs. I praife thee, O my God, from the bottom of my Heart ,♦ and extol thy Name for evermore. I defpife and detell my felf ^ and with the deepeft Humility put my Soul into thy Hands, that thy Favour and Gi*ace may exalt me, and make this defpicable Wretch fcn^^ething, who without thy Mercy is lefs than nothing.
Oh the wide Extremes ! Oh the unmeafurable Di- ftance I between God, the Effence and Perfedion of Holinefs, and Man, the very, Abftrad of Filth and Sin. Yet does this God extend Compaflion, and look down with Pity, on thofe who are not worthy fo much as to lift up their Eyes to Him. Yet does he come to Us, delight to be with Us, promife to dwell with Us ; call, and intreat , and importune Us, to fit and eat delicioufly with him. Invites the Naked PA/.Ixxviii. ^^^ Hungry, the Beggars and Vaga- bonds to his own Table, feeds them with Angels Foody Feafts them with the Bread of Heaven, John vi even that iMng Bread 7vhicb came down
from Hea-veny on purpofe to give Life unto the World,
Oh I whence could all this mighty Love proceed ? what account can be given of fuch wonderful Conde- fcenfion, fuch tender Regards to loft unworthy Crea- tures ? What Thanks, what Pr?iie, what humble A- doration do thofe fo highly obliged, fo particularly favoured Creatures owe in return for them ^ How Wife, how Saving was thy Defign in the firit Inftitu- tion of this Holy Supper ? How rich, how delight- ful a Banquet haft thou prepared for thy Guefts , by ordering, thy own Body and Blood for the myfti- cal Entertainment of the Faithful ? Hov/ altonifliing
are