Book IV. of J t s u s C H R I s T. 319

tered by its Brightnefs. When that which is perfect fhall come, then will all Ufe for Sacraments be Taper* feded, and for ever ceafe. For thefe are Remedies and Expedients, accommodated to a State of Frailty and Imperfe(5lion, fuch as the BlelTed above have no occafion for. They are in endlefs and unfpotted Pcr- fet^tion, and ever rejoicinp; in the Beams of thy glo- rious Prefence. They fee thee as thou arc, and are transformed into the Excellencies i Jo^-iii- they fee. They taile the Word made Flefh, not in the Symbols of his Humane Nature, but in the Native Charms of his Divine ; as he was the Word of God from all Eternity, and fhall continue fo to be forever.
When thefe Ideas fo full of Wonder employ my^ Thoughts , I feel a generous Difdain, not only of worldly Comforts, bur am provoked to difeftecm even thofe fpiritual and better Confolations, which thy Grace at prefent difFufes through my Soul. And all befides feems poor and defpicable, fo long as I am de- barred the fight of my Love and Lord. Thouknowed the Secrets of my Heart, and wilt bear TelHmony to the Sincerity of thofe Profellions I make, when I de- clare, that nothing lefs than God, whom I moft ear- nedly long for ever to contemplate, can fatisfie and fill the impatient Defires of my enlarged Soul. But this, I know, is a Blefling, not to be obtained by Mor- tal Man, and therefore I will fet my feif with Pati- ence to wait the time appointed for it. Thus did thy Saints of old, who now partake of the Joys and King- dom of their Lord. Their Faith was vigorous, and their Perfeverance unfliaken, their Thirltings eager, but their Patience exemplary and humble, till that Coming of their Lord, which they thought long, at laft reieafed, and exalted them. My Hope , my Faith are ncv/ the fame, which Theirs were then ; and, I truit, my Joy and Crown, fhall, by thy Grace and Mercy, be one Day the fame too. 'lill that Day
come.
3j^^ gPf tfte gjmttation Bookiv-
come, I will tread in their Steps^ and fupport my felf by the contemplation of their bright Examples. Thy Holy Scriptures fliall be my Comfort : In them, as in a Glafs, I will view and adorn my Soul : And above all, thy Bleffed Body and Blood fiiall be my Spiritual Suftenance. Here will I feek for Strength againfl: In- firmities, here apply Balm to my Wounds and Phy- iick to my Difeafes, and hither fly for Refuge in all my Fears, and Dangers, and Temptations.
Two things are plainly neceffary to theprefervati- onof Life, without which no Mifery could be foinfup- portable, as that of living here. The Difmal Con- finement of this Prifon of Flefli can only be endured by the Help of Food and Light. Thy Mercy hath not left us defticute of this Provifion ; but kindly given thy holy Body for my Refreftiment and Suftenance, Pfalm cxix. ^^^ ^^y holy Word for a Lanthorn unto my Feet^ and a Light unto my Paths. To thefe I owe, not my Comfort alone, but even my Life it felf. For the Word of God is the Light of the Soul, and the Sacrament of his Death is the Bread of Life. Thefe are the two Tables of the Chriftian, refembiing thofe of the Jewifh Church heretofore ,• where the Divine Treafures are expofed and preferved. The One, like that of the Shew-Bread , furniflied moft richly Hchr, ix. ^I'^h the Symbols of thy precious Body ,• The Other, like the Repofitory of the Law, containing Holy Dodrines, perfcribing true and laving Faith, and leading us within the Veil to. the moft holy Place.
All Honour, and Praife, and Thankfgiving be to the Bleffed Jefus, Light of eternal uncreated Light, for the Table of his Heavenly Dodrine, fpread and adorned by the Miniftry of his infpircd Servants, the Prophets, Apoftles, and other holy Writers, taught by Himielf, that they might teach Us. All Glory and 1 hanks be to the great Creator and merciful Re- deemer
BooklV. ofjfisus Christ, 311'
deemer of Mankind, for his cxcenfive tender Love, in preparing a plenteous Feaft for all the World : Not like that Pafchal Lamb of old, a Type and Sh-'dow only, but the very Subftance of that Shadow, tlicAc- complifhment of that Type ; even Cbrifi our VnJJo^e? facrificed for us, and exhibited to us. This Bread fu- llains, this Cup cheers and rejoices the Hearts of the Faithful. It fills them with the overflowing Delights of Paradife, is a Pledge and Antepaft of Heaven, and, allowing for the difference of Conditions, ad- mits us intoPartnerfhip with Angels themfelves. The Joy of both is the fame, tho' both cannot receive it in equal Proportions.
How high and honourable is that Fundion, to which God hath permitted , nay enjoined, to Minifter in thefe holy Things ,• to handle and deliver this bleffed Bread, and give each Servant his Portion of Life by and with it ; to implore with wonderful Efficacy the Divine Blefling, and exalt natural and common Things to Purpofes and Effeds infinitely exceeding all the Pow- ers of Nature } How clean fhould thofe Hands, how pure thofe Lips, how chafi: and holy that Body be, which fo frequently, fo familiarly converfe with, and are united to the Author and Perfection of all Purity ? Sure nothing of corrupt Communication, nothing in- decent, nothing idle or trifling, nothing but what may tend to edifying, ought to come out of that Mouth, which fo often bleffes, and confecrates, and takes into it, the Sacrament of his dying Redeemer. How fhould thofe Eyes be turned away from Vanity, how immo- vably fixed upon Heavenly Objeds, which fee their Lord's myftical Body, and invite his peculiar Prefence, fo frequently brought upon the Altar, by virtue of their being lifted up to the Throne of Grace, in Be- nedictions and Prayers of his own inftituting ?
To Men of this Profeffion under the Law, no doubt that Precept was in a more efpecial manner intended.
:^ gPf tap gimttaf ton Book IV.
Be ye holy^ for I the Lord your God am Holy* Levit. XIX. j^^f f^j.g ^fjg Sandity and exemplary Lives of Pfiefis under the Gofpel ought as much to excel thofe of the Sons of Aaron^ as Our Miniftration ex- ceeds theirs in Glory. And therefore^ grant thy Grace, O blefTed God, to all who are admitted to this holy Office ,- and Thou_,who alone workeft great Marvels, exert thy Almighty Power,in enabling eve- ry fuch Perfon to ferve at thine Altar, with clean Hands, and a pure Heart, with a becoming Zeal,and moving Devotion j fuch as may not only fuit their own Chara(9:er,but be a Pattern and powerful Incite- ment to the Piety of others. And if we cannot, (as indeed we are ftill but Men, and in many things of- fend all ) if we cannot ftand before thee in pure un- blemifhed Innocence, or come not up to all thofe emi- nent Degrees of Perfedlion, which we might and ought t Yet let at leaftour deep and godlySorrow expiate our Offences ^ and our Refolutions of entire Reformation, and more confpicuous Piety and Devotion for the time to come. Our unfeigned Humility, and Charity un- confined, and Labours indefatigable , make fuch Re- paration, as thou wilt pleafe to accept, for the Mif- carriages occaficned by the Fraud and Malice of the Devil, or by our own Carnal Will and Frailnefs.
Chap. XII.
Of Preparation to the CommunioH,
Chrifi^ T Love Holinefs, and I give what I love;
X A pure Heart is the thing I delight !n,and
.. this is the Place of my Reft. Furnifli me
Lukt xxu. jj^y largeft Room, and I will come and
€a^