Book IV

An Exhortation unto the Holy Communion.

The voice of Christ.

COME unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden and I will refresh you.

The bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.

Take, eat, this ♦is
my body that is given for you: do this in remembrance of me.

He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

The words which I speak unto you are spirit and life.

Chapter I

With how great reverence Christ ought to be received.

The voice of the disciple.

THESE are thy words, O Christ, the everlasting truth.

Because therefore they are thine, and true, they are all thankfully and faithfully to be received by me.

They are thine, and thou hast spoken them; and they are mine also, because thou hast spoken them for my salvation.

I willingly receive them from thy mouth, that they may be the deeper imprinted in my heart.

These gracious words, so full of sweetness and love, encourage me; but mine own offences drive me back from receiving so great mysteries.

2. Thou commandest me to come confidently unto thee, if I will have part with thee; to receive the food of immortality, if I desire to obtain everlasting glory.

Thou sayest, Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.

O sweet and friendly words in the ear of sinners, that thou, my Lord God, shouldst invite the poor and needy to the participation of thy most holy body?

*But who am I, Lord, that I should presume to approach unto thee?

*Behold, the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, and thou sayest come ye all unto me!

3. What meaneth this so gracious condescension, this so friendly invitation?

How shall I dare to come, that know no good in myself?

How shall I bring thee into my house, that have so often offended thy most gracious countenance?

*The angels and archangels revere thee, and the saints and just men fear thee, and thou sayest, come ye all unto me.

Unless thou, O Lord, didst say it, who would believe it to be true?

And unless thou didst command it, who would dare to come unto thee?

*Behold, Noah, a just man, laboured an hundred years in making of the ark, that he might be saved with a few; and how can I in one hour prepare myself to receive, with reverence the maker of the world?

4. Moses, thy great servant, and thy special friend, made an ark of incorruptible wood, which
also he covered with most pure gold, to put the tables of the law therein; and I a corruptible creature, how shall I dare lightly to receive the maker of the law, and the giver of life?

Solomon, the wisest of the kings of Israel, bestowed seven years in building a magnificent temple to the praise of thy name.

He celebrated the feast of the dedication thereof eight days together; he offered a thousand peace-offerings, and he solemnly set the ark on the place prepared for it, with the sound of trumpets and joy.

*And I the most miserable and poorest of men, how shall I bring thee into my house, that can scarce spend one half hour devoutly? Yea would I could once spend near half an hour in a due manner!

5. O my God, how much did they do out of an endeavour to please thee! And, alas, how little is that which I do! How little time do I spend to prepare myself to receive!

I am very seldom wholly recollected, very seldom free from all distraction;

And yet surely no unbecoming thought ought to appear in the presence of the Deity, nor any creature find any place in me, for I am not to harbour an angel, but the Lord of angels.

6. And yet there is great difference between the ark of the covenant, and thy most pure body! Between those legal sacrifices, figures of future
things, and the completion of all antient sacrifices.

Why therefore am I not more inflamed at thy venerable presence?

7. The devout King David danced before the ark of God with all his might, calling to mind the benefits bestowed upon his fore-fathers.

He often sung to the harp, being inspired with the grace of the Holy Ghost.

He taught the people of Israel to praise God with their whole heart, and with joint voices every day to bless and praise him.

If so great devotion was then shewn, and there was such celebrating of the divine praise before the ark of the testament; what reverence is now to be performed in receiving the most precious body and blood of Christ?

8. O God, the invisible creator of the world, how wonderfully dost thou deal with us!

How sweetly and graciously dost thou dispose of all things for thine elect, to whom thou offerest thyself to be received in this sacrament!

This exceedeth all understanding! This strongly draweth the hearts of the devout, and inflameth their affections.

9. O the admirable and hidden grace of this sacrament, which only the faithful ones of Christ know: but the unbelieving, and such as are slaves unto sin, cannot experience;

In this sacrament spiritual grace is given, and strength which was lost restored in the soul, and the beauty disfigured by sin returns again.

This grace is sometimes so great, that not only the mind, but the weak body also, feeleth great increase of strength.

10. Our coldness and negligence is much to be bewailed, that we are not drawn with greater affection to receive Christ, in whom all the hope and merit of those that are to be saved consists.

For he is our sanctification and redemption: he is the comforter of us travellers, and the everlasting fruition of saints.

O the blindness and hardness of man’s heart, that doth not more deeply weigh so unspeakable a gift!

11. If the most holy sacrament was celebrated in one place only, and consecrated by one only person in the world, with how great desire would men be affected to that place, and to such a priest, that they might enjoy these divine mysteries!

But now there are many priests, and Christ is offered in many places; that so the grace and love of God to men may appear greater, the more this sacred communion is spread through the world.

Thanks be unto thee gracious Jesus, the everlasting shepherd, who hast vouchsafed to refresh us poor exiles with thy precious body and blood,
and to invite us to the receiving of these mysteries with the words of thine own mouth, saying, Come unto me all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.

Chapter II

That the great goodness and love of God is exhibited to man in this sacrament.

The voice of the disciple.

*IN
confidence of thy goodness and mercy, I come, O Lord, a sick man unto my Saviour, hungry and thirsty to the fountain of life, needy to the king of heaven, a servant unto my Lord, a creature to my Creator, disconsolate to thee my merciful comforter.

But whence is this to me, that thou vouchsafest to come unto me? Who am I, that thou shouldst give thyself unto me?

How dare a sinner appear before thee? And how is it that thou dost vouchsafe to come unto a sinner?

Thou knowest thy servant, and seest that he hath no good thing in him, for which thou shouldst bestow this favour upon him.

I confess my unworthiness; I acknowledge thy goodness; I praise thy mercy, and give thee thanks for thy transcendent love.

For thou dost this for thine own sake, not for any merits of mine: that thy goodness may be better known unto me, thy love more abundantly shewn, and thy gracious condescension the more eminently displayed.

Since therefore it is thy pleasure, and thou hast commanded that it should be so, this thy favour is also pleasing to me, and may my sins be no hindrance.

2. O most sweet and benign Jesu, how great reverence and thanks ♦are
due unto thee for the receiving of thy sacred body, whose preciousness no man is able to express!

But what shall I think, now I am to approach unto my Lord, whom I am not able duly to honour, and yet I desire to receive him with devotion?

What can I think better and more profitable, than to humble myself wholly before thee, and to exalt thine infinite goodness over me?

I praise thee, my God, and will exalt thee for ever. I despise and submit myself unto thee, in a deep sense of my own unworthiness.

3. Behold thou art the holy of holies, and I the vilest of sinners!

Behold thou inclinest unto me, who am not worthy so much as to look up unto thee.

Behold thou comest unto me, it is thy will to be with me, thou invitest me to thy banquet.

Thou wilt give me the food of heaven, and bread of angels to eat, which is no other indeed than thyself, the living bread, that descended from heaven and giveth life unto the world.

4. From whence doth this love proceed! What a gracious condescension appeareth herein! How great thanks and praises are due unto thee for these benefits!

O how good and profitable was thy counsel, when thou ordainedst it! How sweet and pleasant the banquet when thou gavest thyself to be our food!

How wonderful is thy operation, O Lord, how mighty is thy power, how unspeakable is thy truth!

For thou saidst the word, and all things were made; and this was done which thou commandedst.

5. A thing of great admiration, that thou my Lord God, shouldst be exhibited unto us by the elements of bread and wine.

Thou who art the Lord of all things, and standest in need of none, hast pleased to dwell in us by means of this thy sacrament.

*Preserve my heart and body undefiled, that, with a chearful and pure conscience, I may celebrate thy mysteries, and receive them to my everlasting health: which thou hast ordained and instituted for thy honour and for a perpetual memorial.

6. Rejoice O my soul, and give thanks unto God for so excellent a gift, so singular a comfort left unto me in this vale of tears.

For as often as thou receivest, so often art thou made partaker of all the merits of Christ.

For the love of Christ is never diminished, and the greatness of his propitiation is never exhausted.

Therefore thou oughtest always to weigh with attentive consideration, this great mystery of thy salvation.

*So great, new, and joyful it ought to seem unto thee, when thou comest to these holy mysteries; as if the same day Christ first descending into the womb of the virgin, was become man; or hanging on the cross, did suffer and die for the salvation of mankind.

Chapter III

That it is profitable to communicate often.

The voice of the disciple.

*BEHOLD,
O Lord, I come unto thee, that I may be comforted by thy gift, and delighted in thy holy banquet, which thou, O God, hast prepared in thy goodness for the poor.

Behold in thee is all I can or ought to desire; thou art my salvation, and my redemption,
my hope and my strength, my honour and my glory!

*Make joyful, therefore, this day, the soul of thy servant, for I have lifted it up unto thee, O Lord Jesus.

*I desire to receive thee now with devotion and reverence. I long to bring thee into my house; that with Zaccheus I may be blessed by thee, and numbered among the children of Abraham.

My soul thirsteth to receive thy body and blood, my heart desireth to be united with thee.

*2. Give me thyself, and it sufficeth; for, besides thee, no comfort is available.

I cannot be without thee, nor live without thy visitation;

And therefore I must often come unto thee, and receive thee for the welfare of my soul, lest haply I faint in the way, if I be deprived of thy heavenly food.

For so most merciful Jesu, thou once didst say, preaching to the people, and curing sundry diseases, I will not send them home fasting, lest they faint in the way.

Deal thou therefore in like manner now with me, who hast vouchsafed to leave thyself in the sacrament for the comfort of the faithful.

For thou art the sweet refection of the soul; and he that eateth thee worthily, shall be partaker of everlasting glory.

3. O the wonderful condescension of thy mercy towards us, that thou, O Lord God, the Creator and giver of life to all spirits, dost vouchsafe to come unto a poor soul, and with thy whole deity to replenish her hunger!

O happy mind and blessed soul, that receives thee, her Lord God, with devout affection, and in receiving of thee is filled with spiritual joy!

O how great a Lord doth she entertain! How beloved a guest doth she harbour! How pleasant a companion doth she receive! How faithful a friend doth she take in! How lovely and glorious a spouse doth she embrace!

She embraceth him, who is to be loved above all that is beloved, and above all things that may be desired.

*Let heaven and earth, and all the hosts of them, be silent in thy presence; for what praise and beauty soever they have, it is received from thy bounty, and cannot equal the beauty of thy name, of whose wisdom there is no number.

Chapter IV

That many gifts are bestowed upon them that communicate devoutly.

The voice of the disciple.

*MY
Lord God, prevent thy servant with the blessings of thy sweetness, that I may
approach worthily and devoutly to thy glorious sacrament.

*Stir up my heart unto thee, and deliver me from a heavy numbness of mind.

*Visit me with thy salvation, that I may taste in spirit thy sweetness, which plentifully lieth hid in this sacrament as in a fountain.

Enlighten also my eyes to behold so great a mystery, and strengthen me to believe it with steady faith.

For it is thy work, and not man’s power; thy sacred institution, not man’s invention.

For no man is of himself able to comprehend these things, which surpass the understanding even of angels.

What therefore shall I, unworthy sinner, dust and ashes, be able to comprehend of so high and sacred a mystery?

2. O Lord, in the simplicity of my heart, at thy commandment I come unto thee, with hope and reverence, and believe thou art present in this sacrament.

Thy will is, that I receive thee, and that by love I unite myself unto thee.

*Wherefore I implore thy mercy, and crave thy special grace, that I may wholly melt and overflow with love unto thee, and hereafter never seek any comfort out of thee.

For this sacrament is the remedy of all spiritual weakness: hereby my vices are cured, my passions bridled, temptations overcome, grace infused,
virtue begun increased, faith confirmed, hope strengthened, and love inflamed.

3. For thou dost bestow many benefits in the sacrament upon thy beloved ones that communicate devoutly. O my God the protector of my soul, the repairer of human frailty, and the giver of inward comfort.

Thou impartest unto them much comfort against sundry tribulations.

For who is there, that approaching humbly unto the fountain of sweetness, doth not carry away from thence at least some little sweetness?

Or who, standing by a great fire, receiveth not some heat thereby?

Thou art a fountain always full and overflowing, a fire ever burning and never decaying.

4. Wherefore, if I cannot draw out of the full fountain itself, nor drink my fill; I will, notwithstanding, set my lips to the mouth of this heavenly conduit, that I may draw from thence at least some drop to refresh my thirst; and not be wholly dried up.

And though I be not altogether heavenly; nor so inflamed as the cherubim and seraphim; I will endeavour after some spark of divine fire, by humbly receiving of this enlivening sacrament.

And whatsoever is wanting in me, O merciful Jesu, most holy Saviour, do thou bountifully and graciously supply, who hast vouchsafed to call all
unto thee, Come unto me, all ye that travail and are ♦heavy laden, and I will refresh you.

5. I indeed labour in the sweat of my brow, I am vexed with grief of heart, I am burthened with sin, I am troubled with temptations, I am entangled and oppressed with many evil passions; and there is none to help me, none to deliver and save me, but thou O Lord, my Saviour, to whom I commit myself, and all that is mine, that thou mayst keep me, and bring me to life everlasting.

Chapter V

Of the examining our conscience, and purpose of amendment.

The voice of the Beloved.

ABOVE all things, the minister of God ought to come to celebrate and receive this sacrament with great humility of heart, and lowly reverence, and a pious intending the honour of God.

Examine diligently thy conscience; so that there be nothing that may breed in thee remorse of conscience, and hinder thy free access.

And, if thou hast time, confess unto God in the secret of thy heart, all the miseries of thy disordered passions.

2. Lament and grieve, that thou art yet so worldly, so unmortified as to thy passions;

So unwatchful over thy outward senses, so often entangled with vain imaginations;

So negligent and cold in prayer, so undevout in celebrating, so dry in receiving;

So quickly distracted, so seldom wholly recollected;

So suddenly moved to anger, so apt to take displeasure against another;

So prone to judge, so severe to reprehend;

*So often purposing much good, and yet performing little.

3. These and other thy defects being confessed, with full resignation, and with thy whole will, offer up thyself a perpetual sacrifice to the honour of my name, on the altar of thy heart, faithfully committing thy body and soul unto me;

That so thou mayst come worthily to celebrate this sacrifice, and to receive profitably the sacrament of my body.

4. For a man hath no other oblation than to offer himself unto God in the holy communion.

And whensoever he shall come to Me for pardon and grace, as I live, saith the Lord, who willeth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, I will not remember his sins any more, but they shall all be forgiven him.

Chapter VI

Of the oblation of Christ on the cross, and resignation of ourselves.

The voice of the Beloved.

*AS
I willingly offered up myself unto God my Father for thy sins, my hands being stretched forth on the cross, so that nothing remained in Me that was not wholly turned into a sacrifice, for the appeasing the Divine Majesty;

So oughtest thou also to offer up thyself willingly unto me every day, as a pure and holy oblation, with all thy might and affection, in as hearty a manner as thou canst.

What do I require of thee more than that thou entirely resign thyself unto me?

Whatsoever thou givest besides thyself is of no account in my sight; for I seek not thy gifts but thyself.

2. As it would not suffice thee to have all things besides me; so neither can it please me, whatsoever thou givest, if thou offerest not thyself.

Offer up thyself unto me, and give thyself wholly to God, and thy offering shall be accepted.

Behold I offered up myself wholly unto my
Father for thee, that I might be wholly thine, and thou remain mine.

But if thou dost not offer thyself up freely unto my will, thy oblation is not entire, neither will the union between us be perfect.

Therefore a free offering up of thyself into the hands of God, ought to go before all thy actions, if thou wilt obtain freedom and grace.

For this cause so few become inwardly free, because they cannot wholly deny themselves.

My saying is unalterable, unless a man forsake all, he cannot be my disciple.

Therefore, if thou desirest to be my disciple, offer up thyself unto me with thy whole affections.

Chapter VII

That we ought to offer up ourselves, and all that is ours unto God, and to pray for all.

The voice of the disciple.

THINE, O Lord, are all things that are in heaven, and in earth.

I desire to offer up myself unto thee, as a free oblation, and to remain always thine.

O Lord, in the simplicity of my heart I offer myself unto thee this day, for a sacrifice of perpetual praise, to be thy servant for ever.

2. I offer unto thee, O Lord, all my sins and offences, which I have committed before thee
and thy holy angels, from the day wherein I first could sin, to this hour, upon thy merciful altar.

Consume and burn them all with the fire of thy love, and wash out all the stains of my sins.

O cleanse my conscience from all offences, and restore to me again thy grace, which I lost by sin, fully forgiving me all my offences, and receiving me mercifully to the kiss of peace!

3. What can I do for my sins, but humbly confess and bewail them, and incessantly intreat thy favour?

I beseech thee, hear me graciously, when I stand before thee, O my God!

All my sins are very displeasing unto me. I will never commit them any more; but I bewail and will bewail them as long as I live, and am purposed to repent, and according to the utmost of my power to please thee.

Forgive me, O God, forgive me my sins for thy holy name’s sake.

Save my soul, which thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood.

Behold, I commit myself to thy mercy, I resign myself over into thy hands.

Do with me according to thy goodness, not according to my wickedness and iniquity.

4. I offer up also unto thee all that is good in me, although it be very little and imperfect, that thou mayst amend and sanctify it:

That thou mayst make it grateful and acceptable
unto thee, and always perfect it more and more.

And bring me also, who am a slothful and unprofitable creature, to a good and blessed end.

5. I offer up also unto thee all the pious desires of devout persons, the necessities of my parents, friends, brethren, sisters; and of all those that are dear unto me, and that have done good either to myself or others:

And that have desired me to pray for them and theirs; that they all may receive the help of thy grace and comfort, protection from dangers, deliverance from pain; and being freed from all evils, may joyfully give worthy thanks unto thee.

6. I offer up also unto thee my prayers, especially for them who have in any thing wronged, grieved, or slandered me, or have done me any damage or displeasure:

And for all those also, whom I have at any time troubled, grieved or scandalized by words or deeds, wittingly or unawares; that it may please thee to forgive us all our sins and offences, one against another.

Take, O Lord, from our hearts all jealousy, indignation, wrath, and contention, and whatsoever may lessen brotherly love.

Have mercy, O Lord, have mercy on those that crave thy mercy: give grace unto them that stand in need thereof; and grant that we
may be counted worthy to enjoy thy grace, and so attain life everlasting. Amen.

Chapter IX

That the body of Christ, and the holy scripture, are most necessary unto a faithful soul.

The voice of the disciple.

OLORD Jesus, how great sweetness hath an holy soul that feasteth with thee in thy banquet, where there is set no other food to be eaten but thyself, her only beloved, and the most to be desired above all desires of her heart!

And verily it would be a sweet thing unto me to pour out tears from the very bottom of my heart in thy presence: and with holy Magdalene to wash thy feet with my tears.

But where is this devotion? Where is this plentiful shedding of holy tears?

Surely in the sight of thee and thy holy angels my whole heart should be inflamed, and even weep for joy.

2. For to behold thee in thine own divine brightness, mine eyes would not be able to endure it.

Neither could the whole world stand in the brightness of the glory of thy majesty.

I really enjoy and adore him whom the angels adore in heaven.

But I, as yet, by faith; they by sight, ♦and without a veil.

I ought to be content with the light of true faith, and to walk therein until the day of everlasting brightness break forth, and the shadows of figures pass away.

But when that which is perfect shall come, the use of the sacraments shall cease.

For the blessed in heavenly glory need not any sacramental remedy, but rejoice without end in the presence of God.

Beholding his glory face to face, and being transformed from glory to glory into the image of the incomprehensible Deity, they taste the word of God made flesh, as he was from the beginning, and as he remaineth for ever.

3. Thou art my witness, O God, that nothing can comfort me, no creature can give me rest, but thou my God, whom I desire to behold everlastingly.

But this is not possible while I remain in this mortal life:

Therefore I must frame myself to much patience, and submit myself to thee in all my desires.

For thy saints also, O Lord, who now rejoice with thee while they lived, expected in faith and great patience the coming of thy glory. What they believed, I believe: what they hoped
for, I also hope for: whither they are come, I trust I shall come by thy grace.

In the mean time I will go forward in faith, strengthened by their examples.

I have also thy holy book for my comfort and guide, and, above all these, thy spiritual body for a remedy and refuge.

4. I perceive two things to be especially necessary for me in this life, without which it would be insupportable, food and light.

Thou hast therefore given unto me a weak creature, thy sacred body and blood for the nourishment of my soul and body; and thou hast set thy word as a light unto my feet:

Without these two I could not well live.

For the word of God is the light of the soul, and thy sacrament the bread of life.

These also may be called the two tables, set on the one side and on the other, in the store-house of the holy church.

One is the holy altar, having the holy bread, that is the sign of the precious body of Christ.

The other is of the divine law, containing holy doctrine, teaching the true faith, and certainly leading to that within the veil, where is the holy of holies.

Thanks be unto ♦thee,
O Lord Jesus, the light of everlasting light, for the table of holy doctrine, which thou hast offered us by thy servants the prophets, and apostles, and other teachers.

5. Thanks be unto thee, O thou Creator and Redeemer of man, who to manifest thy love to the whole world, hast prepared a great supper wherein thou hast set before us to be eaten (not the typical lamb, but) thy most sacred body and blood.

Rejoicing all the faithful with thy holy banquet, and replenishing them with the cup of salvation, in which are all the delights of paradise: and the holy angels feast with us, but yet with a more happy sweetness.

Nothing but what is holy, no word but what is good and profitable ought to proceed from his mouth, who receiveth the sacrament of Christ.

7. Simple and chaste ought to be the eyes that behold the body of Christ.

8. Assist us, Almighty God, with thy grace, that we who have undertaken the office of priesthood, may serve thee worthily and devoutly, in all purity and good conscience.

And, if we cannot live in so great innocency as we ought, grant us at least duly to bewail the sins which we have committed; and in the spirit of humility, and with full purpose of heart, to serve thee hereafter more fervently.

♦Chapter IX

How he who is to communicate, ought to prepare himself.

The voice of the Beloved.

IAM the lover of purity, and the giver of all holiness.

I seek a pure heart, and there is the place of my rest.

Make ready and adorn for me the great chamber, and I will keep with thee the passover among my disciples.

2. Know thou, notwithstanding, that no merit of any action of thine is able to make this preparation, altho’ thou shouldst prepare thyself a whole year together, and think of nothing else.

Thou art of my mere grace and favour suffered to come to my table.

Like a beggar invited to dinner by a rich man, who hath nothing else to return him for his benefits, but to humble himself, and give him thanks.

Do what lieth in thee, and do it diligently; not for custom, nor for necessity; but with fear and reverence, and affection, receive thy beloved Lord God, who vouchsafeth to come unto thee.

*I am he that hath called thee; I have commanded
it to be done; I will supply what is wanting in thee; come and receive me.

3. When I bestow the grace of devotion, give thanks to thy God; for it is given thee, not for that thou art worthy, but because I have mercy on thee.

If thou hast it not, but dost feel thyself dry, continue in prayer, sigh, and knock, and give not over until thou art meet to receive some crumb or drop of saving grace.

Thou hast need of me, not I of thee.

Neither comest thou to sanctify me, but I come to sanctify and improve thee.

Thou comest that thou mayst be sanctified by me, and united unto me, that thou mayst receive new grace, and be enflamed anew to amendment.

Chapter X

That a devout soul ought to desire with her whole heart to be united unto Christ in the sacrament.

The voice of the disciple.

WHO will give me this, O Lord, to find thee alone, and open my whole heart unto thee, and enjoy thee as my soul desireth?

And that no man may look toward me, nor any creature move or regard me, but thou alone mayst speak unto me, and I to thee, as the beloved
is wont to speak to his beloved, and a friend to banquet with his friend?

This I pray for, this I desire, that I may be wholly united unto thee, and may withdraw my heart from all created things.

That I may ♦by
often communicating, learn more and more to relish heavenly and eternal things.

Ah Lord God, when shall I be wholly united to thee, swallowed up in thee, and altogether forgetful of myself?

Thou in me, and I in thee, and so grant us both to continue in one.

2. Verily, thou art my beloved, the choicest among thousands, in whom my soul is well pleased to dwell all the days of her life.

Verily, thou art my peace-maker, in whom is great peace and true rest, without whom is labour and sorrow and infinite misery.

Verily, thou art a God that hidest thyself, ♦and
thy counsel is not with the wicked, but thy speech is with the humble and simple of heart.

O Lord, how sweet is thy Spirit, who to shew thy sweetness toward thy children, vouchsafest to feed them with the bread which descendeth from heaven, and is full of all sweetness!

Verily, there is no other nation so great that hath God so nigh unto them, as thou our God art present to all thy faithful ones.

Unto whom, for their daily comfort, and for
the raising up of their hearts to heaven, thou givest thyself to be eaten and enjoyed.

3. For what other nation is there so honoured as the Christian people?

Or what creature under heaven so beloved as a devout soul, to whom God himself cometh to feed her with his glorious flesh?

O unspeakable grace! O admirable condescension! O infinite love, singularly bestowed upon man!

But what shall I give unto the Lord in return for his grace, for so eminent an expression of love?

There is nothing more acceptable, that I am able to give, than to give my heart wholly to my God, and to unite it close unto him.

Then shall my inward parts rejoice, when my soul shall be perfectly united unto God.

Then he will say unto me, if thou wilt be with me, I will be with thee.

And I will answer him, Vouchsafe, O Lord, to remain with me, and I will gladly be with thee.

This is my whole desire, that my heart may be united unto thee.

Chapter XI

Of the fervent desire of some devout persons, to receive the body of Christ.

The voice of the disciple.

OHOW great is thy goodness, O Lord, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee!

When I remember some devout persons, who come unto thy sacrament, O Lord, with the greatest affection, I am confounded, and blush within myself, that I come so heavily and coldly to thy table.

That I remain so dry and without hearty affection, that I am not wholly inflamed in thy presence, my God, nor so earnestly drawn in affection, as many devout persons have been, who with desire both of soul and body, earnestly longed after thee, O God, the living fountain.

*Be merciful unto me, good Jesu, gracious Lord, and grant me, thy poor needy creature, to feel sometimes at least, in this holy communion, somewhat of thy tender, cordial affection!

That my faith may be more strengthened, my hope in thy goodness increased, and that my love once perfectly inflamed, after the tasting of heavenly manna, may never decay.

2. Thy mercy, O Lord, is able to give me the grace I desire, and to visit me most mercifully with the spirit of fervour when it shall please thee.

For though I burn not with so great desires as those that are so singularly devoted to thee: yet notwithstanding, by thy grace, I desire to have this inflamed desire:

Praying and craving that I may partake with
all such thy fervent lovers, and be numbered among them.

Chapter XII

That the grace of devotion is obtained by humility and renouncing ourselves.

The voice of the Beloved.

*THOU oughtest to seek the grace of devotion fervently, to ask it earnestly, to expect it patiently and with confidence, to receive it gratefully, to keep it humbly, to work with it diligently, and to commit the time and manner of this heavenly visitation to God, until it shall please him to come unto thee.

Thou oughtest chiefly to humble thyself, when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion; and yet not be too much dejected.

*God often giveth in a moment that which he hath a long time denied.

He giveth sometimes in the end, that which in the beginning of prayer he deferred to grant.

*It is sometimes a little thing that hindereth and hideth grace from us;

If it may be called little, and not rather great, that hindereth so great good.

But if thou removest this, be it great or small, thou shalt have thy desire.

2. For, as soon as ever thou hast delivered thyself to God with thy whole heart, and seekest not this or that for thine own pleasure or will, but fixest thyself wholly upon him, thou shalt find thyself united and at peace.

For nothing will relish so well, and please thee so much, as what pleases the divine will.

Then shall he see, and be filled and wonder, and his heart shall be enlarged within him; because the hand of the Lord is with him, and he hath put himself wholly into his hands for ever.

Behold, so shall the man be blessed that seeketh God with his whole heart, and busieth not his soul in vain.

This man obtaineth a high degree of divine union, in receiving the holy eucharist.

Because he respecteth not his own devotion and comfort; but above all devotion and comfort, the honour and glory of God.

Chapter XIII

That we ought to lay open our necessities to Christ, and crave his grace.

The voice of the disciple.

*O
MOST loving Lord, whom I desire to receive with all devotion, thou knowest my infirmity, and the necessity which I endure, with how many evils I am oppressed, how
often I am grieved, tempted, troubled and defiled.

I am come unto thee for remedy, I crave of thee comfort and succour.

I speak to him that knoweth all things, to whom all my inward parts are open, and who alone can perfectly comfort and help me.

Thou knowest what good things I stand most in need of, and how poor I am in virtues.

2. Behold, I stand before thee poor and naked, calling for grace, and craving mercy.

Refresh thy hungry beggar, inflame my coldness with the fire of thy love, enlighten my blindness with the brightness of thy presence.

Turn all earthly things to me into bitterness, all things grievous into patience, all created things into contempt and oblivion.

Lift up my heart to thee in heaven, and suffer me not to wander upon earth.

Be thou only sweet unto me from henceforth for evermore.

For thou only art my meat and my drink, my love and my joy, my sweetness and all my good.

3. O that with thy presence thou wouldst wholly inflame, burn, and transform me into thyself;

That I might be made one spirit with thee by the grace of inward union, and by the meltings of ardent love!

Suffer me not to go from thee hungry and
thirsty; but deal mercifully with me, as thou hast often dealt wonderfully with thy saints.

What marvel is it, if I should be wholly inflamed by thee, and die to myself!

Since thou art a fire always burning and never decaying, love purifying the heart and enlightning the understanding!

Chapter XIV

Of fervent love, and vehement desire to receive Christ.

The voice of the disciple.

WITH great devotion and ardent love, with the affection and fervour of my whole heart I desire to receive thee, O Lord, as many saints and devout persons have desired thee, when they received thy sacrament.

O my God, my everlasting love, my whole good, my never-ending happiness, I would gladly receive thee with the most vehement desire and most worthy reverence that any of the saints ever had.

2. And although I be unworthy to have all those feelings of devotion, yet I offer unto thee the whole affection of my heart, as if I had all those inflamed desires:

Yea, and whatsoever an holy mind can conceive
and desire, all this, with the greatest reverence, I offer and present unto thee.

I desire to reserve nothing to myself, but freely and most willingly to sacrifice myself and all mine unto thee.

My Lord God, my Creator and my Redeemer: I desire to receive thee this day with such affection, reverence, praise and honour, with such gratitude and love, with such faith, hope and purity, as thy holy mother received thee, when she humbly and devoutly answered the angel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be unto me according to thy word.”

I offer and present unto thee, the joys, fervent affections, extasies, and supernatural illuminations and heavenly visions of all devout hearts, with all the virtues and praises celebrated by all creatures in heaven and earth, that by all thou mayst be worthily praised and glorified for ever.

4. Receive, my Lord God, my wishes and desires of giving thee infinite praise and immense blessing, which according to the multitude of thy unspeakable greatness, are most justly due unto thee.

These I yield thee, and desire to yield thee every day and moment; I do intreat and invite all heavenly minds, and all thy devout servants to give thanks and praises together with me.

5. Let all people, tribes and tongues, praise
thee and magnify thy holy name, with the highest joy and most fervent devotion;

And let all that reverently celebrate the sacrament, find grace and mercy at thy hands, and pray humbly for me a sinful creature.

And when they shall have obtained their desired devotion and joyful union, and depart from thy sacred table, well comforted, and marvellously refreshed, let them vouchsafe to remember my poor soul.