Book IV. of J B s u s C H R I s T. z()t

are the Operations of thy Grace and Power ! How incomprehenfible the Methods of fulfilling thy mod true Promife ! Thou fpakeft the Word in the begin- ning, and all things were created ; and by the fame Almighty Word, thou commandeit Bread and Wine, and they nourifti Souls to Life Eternal.
This is indeed a Subjed, contrived, not for the Exercife of our Reafonj but of our Faith. We are not able to account for the mighty Efficacy of Ele- ments, in their own Nature Contemptible and Weak, We knew not how that God, whom the whole Hea- vens cannot contain, fliould dwell in the Hearts of Men j but this we know, that thou haft promifed, by and with this Sacrament, to enter into, and abide ia^ all worthy Receivers; and thy Truth is fufficient to filence and vanquifli all thofe imaginary Difficulties, which Cavilling and Curious Men form to themlelves about it. Come then, and enter, and live, and Reign in me for ever ; cleanfe and adorn with thy Grace the Place of thy peculiar Refidence ,• Preferve my Heart and Body free from all Impurity, and remove far away whatever may be ofFenfive to thy holy Eyes; let this VelTel of mine be conftantly poffeffed in San- dification and Honour ; that, with a peaceful and fpotlefs Confcience, I may frequently approach, and eagerly receive thefe adorable Myfteries, which thou haft appointed, for the Comfort and Salvation of thofe whom the King of Heaven delights to Honour; and for devout and lively Commemorations of thy own moft bitter, but moft meritorious and precious Death.
And Thou, my Soul, rejoice and be exceeding glad for fo noble a Favour, fo heavenly a Refrefliment, fo rich a Confolation, to fupport and fweeten thy Paf- fage through this Vale of Tears and Mifery. For, Every time thou attendeft thefe holy Myfteries, thou dofi ffirittially eat the Flejh of Chrift^ and drink Ins Blood:,
thou
29X €)f tl)e gimttation Bookiv-
thou doeft ad as it were over again the Work of thy Redemption^ and with great efFed: partake of thy Saviour's Merit and Sufferings. For this Love conti- nues always the fame, and the excellence and worth of his Propitiation is an inexhauftible Spring of Mer- cy. Come therefore hither with new exalted Zeal, enlarge thy Heart and its Defires, and doubt not, but thou (halt at every approach, return with frefli and plentiful acceflions of Grace. Let not the frequency abate thy Devotion ; for this Favour fhould always feem great, this Feaft always honourable, and the Delights of it always new. And by the Force of Pious Meditation , the Myitery will afFed thy won- dring Mind at every Repetition, as if the Son of God were jufl that Moment born from the Womb of his Immaculate Mother j as if thy Suffering Redeemer were in that inftant labouring under all his Agonies, and thy own Eyes beheld him hanging, and bleeding, and dying on the Crofs.
Chap. IIL
The Benefit of Communicating often,
P;/a/)/^.]DEhold, I come to thee,0 Lord, defirous Xj to partake of thy Promife, to be en- riched with thy Gifts, and feaiied with that Hea- venly Banquet, which thy Compafiion hath prepared for hungry and drooping Souis. I know, O Lord, in , Thee is all I need, all I can defire ; my Health and Safety, my Hope and Strength, my Honour and Glo- ry, ^icken therefore nnd Cherifli the Soul of thy Ser- njuttty for unto Thee, O blelTed Jefus, do I lift up my Soul. It is my earned longirr^ to receive thee with a becoming Reverence and Devotion ^ the height of
my