Book IV. cf J E s u s Christ.

2(>7
Refiner of Souls^ the healtli of the whole Man, the Reftorative of Spiritual Decays, the Cure of Vice the Curb of Paflions , the Antidote againft Troubles and Temptations^ the Conveyance of greater Grace - the Increafe of imperfedt Virtue ,• the Stay of Hope • the Support of our Faith, and the mighty Incentive of our Charity.
Who can exprefs the manifold, the aftonifliing Be- nefits, which thou frequently impartell to thy beloved and Religious Servants, by communicating in this bleffed Supper ? Even thou, my God, the Cherifherof my Soul, the Repairer of my Breaches by Infirmity and Sin, and Reftorer of my inward Comfort and Peace. By this thou fuftaineft them in Sadnefs -^r^d Affliction, and enableft them to walk upon the Waves of a troublefome World ^ by this thou cheercft their Melancholy and Diftrufl, and raifefl up their finkin^^ Spirits with aflurance of thy Gracious Proteiflion and Affiftance ; by This thou renewed their Nature, and purified their AfFedions, that They, who came nt firfl: to this Table, with great lothnefs and dulnels, feel a new Warmth within, a-id by degrees are brought to frequent it with unfpeakable Relifh and Deliphr. Thefe happy and glorious EfFeds thou produced by fuch uncommon, unlikely Means, that Men m.ay find experimentally their own Infirmities ,• how little they are able to do of themfelves, and how much, when ftrengthned by thee. That they arc cold, infenfible, ftupid and dead to all Religious Duties, is from their own difpofition ,• that they are zealous in good Works, cheerful in thy Service, devout in thy Wor- fhip, is purely thy Gift. And fure none can come hither with tolerable Attention , but he muft return with fome Improvement. For who can lie at the Fountain-head, and not receive fome Tintflure from the Sweetnefs of the Spring ? Who can dand clofe to the Fire, and feel no Heat? But thou art a Fountain
U 3 ever
2.98 i^{ tlje imitation Book TV.
ever full^ever overflowing. Thou art theFire^ whofe Flames are conftantly expanding themfelves to kindle holy AfFedions in all thofe, who are careful to ap- proach^ and put themfelves in the way of their AAi- vity.
It may be^ I am not worthy to drink at the Head of this Spring, or to take my fill of its refrefhing Streams ; but yet at leafl I will apply my Mouth to feme of its diftant Pipes, and fpreading Rills, to catch a few of the Drops, as they flide by, that I be not ut- terly barren , nor die with Drought and Thirlt. I may not be able to approach this Flame fo near, that it fhould refine and brighten me to a degree equal vvitii the Purity of the Cherubim and Seraphim ; but yet I vvill not defpair of being fo far cherifiied and warmed by it, that my Zeal may be exalted accord- ing to the brightnefs of Human Virtues ; And my en- livened Kearc fhall feel fome Glowings, if it do not ilame out heavenly clear. Defeds and Infirmities, I know, I cannot be exempted from : But what is want- ing, I beg my merciful Jefus would fupply. His Kind- neis will not fail to make all equitable Allowances and his Wifdom knows where they are proper to be made. Forgiven and made up they may be, and I, unworthy as 1 am, may be accepted. But that Un- worthinefs mult not be made a Pretence for detaining me from this Sacrament. For fure the mod unwor- thy r^re comprehended, and they who fee, and la- ment, that they are fuch, can leaft of all be excluded, when he pronounces that general Invitation, Come un- to Me^ all ye that Lib our ^ and are hea'uy laden y and I "will refrcjh yea.
The ofcner I defcend into my felf, the more lam
convinced, that this Defcription exadly fuits my
State, I fulfil the Primitive Sentence up-
^^ ^^^* on fallen Man, and labour in the Sweat of my Face. The Sorrows of my Heart perplex and