Book IV. of J E s u s C H R I s T. 333

incorporate me with thy felf. Let me not, I befeech thee, be fent empty away : Let me not return hun- gry and thirfty from fo fplendid an Entertainment ; but work in me mightily, and deal bountifully with thy Servant, as thou ufeil to do unto thofe that love thy Name. I hope to find a wondrous Alteration, and cannot think it ftrange, if I feel my benummed Heart all fublimated,when I come to that Fire which ever burns without confuming^ Or, if I find an er;tire Separation of all my worldly and grofs AfFedions, when heated throughly with that Love,whofe Excel- lence it is, to purifie the Heart by the Adivicy, and to enlighten blind Underftandings by the brightnels, of its Flame.
CHAP. XVII.
Afi A^ of Praife.
Difciple.l T Ook down, O Lord, with Favour and JLv good Acceptance upon thy poor un- worthy, but iincere Servant, now proftratlng himfelf before thine Altar, with a moft devout Zeal, and all the paffionate and tender Refentment, of which my Heart is capable : Wifliing ftill , that thefe good Af- fections were greater and worthy of thee, and that I might meet and embrace myLord, with all that Per- fedion of Holinefs and eager Joy, by which thy beft and deared: Saints recommended their Prayers and Praifes, and fo eminently (ignalized themfelves in tl:^ Celebration of this BleiTed Sacrament : O God ! my Love and Life, my only and eternal Blifs, Were but my Power proportioned to my Will, None of thofe excellent Patterns ever exprefs'd more awful Reve- rence, moreardentDevotion, more eager Love, more
334 €»f tl^egimttation Bookiv,
humble Gratitude, than I at this time am difpofed, and moil earneftly wifh, to exprefs.
I know, O Lord, how far I am from being worthy to receive at thy Hand fuch plentiful Effufions of Grace, fuch diftinguifhing Marks of thy Kindnefs, as enabled Them to be fo pious and exemplary in all their Addreffes to thee. But yet my Heart, and all its Af- fections, fuch as they are, I dedicate to thy Service. The utmoft a devout Mind can conceive or defire, I offer in thy Prefence with all poffible Refped, with Sincerity as unfeigned , as if my Zeal were much more bright and fierce. I do it without the leaftRe- ferve ,• All I have and am, is entirely thine ,• moll freely confecrated to thy Ufe, my God and Lord, my Almighty Creator, and moft merciful Redeemer. Take then a full Poffeffion of One, upon fo many AccDunts thy own. Enter, and dwell, and reign in me, abfolute, and for ever. Behold, I open my Arms wide to embrace my Lord, and Spoufe. I defire at this time to receive thee into my Heart, with the fame Reverence and Humility, the fame refpe(5i:ful Gratitude and Love, the fame Faith, and Hope, and chafte Defire, with which thy Holy Mother received thee into her Virgin-Womb • when fhe returned that pious Anfwer to the Angel , who brought the glad Tidings of thy myfterious Incarnation, Be- "^^'^^ ^- hoU the Hand?naid of the Lord^ he it unto me
according to thy Word.
And," as thy Servant John Baptifty that greateft a- mongthcm that are born of Women, thy Luke I. Meffenger fent to prepare thy Way before
fence, and confefs'd it, by leaping in his Mother's Womb for joy,- As He, afcribing nothing to himfelf, did afterwards declare himfelf the Bride- " ^^ ^"' groom s Friend ji whofe Joy ivas full in hearing
thBridegrooms Voice j fo do I defire to offer my felf with- out