We may call to mind what our Saviour would have His disciples say, into what house soever they entered, "Peace be unto this house;" how much more may be said of that heart where this Holy Mystery is truly and worthily received, Peace be unto this heart? It is called a supper, and after supper we are wont to take rest.

THE FRUIT OF THIS MEDITATION

Is, to desire with our whole heart to have part in these effects; to hunger and thirst after righteousness; to remember that of the woman of Samaria, who when she heard Christ speak of the waters of life, said, "Give me, Lord, of this water"." So, O Lord, give us of this food, which may work in our souls these so many and so worthy effects.

THE SOLILOQUY.

Dost thou desire to know, O my soul, with what good things Christ in this Holy Mystery hasteth unto thee? How He cometh laden and enriched with so many merits and rewards? Whatsoever He brought into the world, all those He exhibiteth in this most Divine Sacrament. He that ministereth such food to him that fighteth, what doth He keep in store for him that overcometh? Surely in that n John iv. 15.

m Luke x. 5.

D

immortal life in that land of promise, He will fill thy desires with all happiness, which in this wilderness giveth thee such heavenly manna. And what doth He so much covet of thee, my soul, by this most noble food, than that He may plentifully reward Thee with unspeakable graces? Mark what He bringeth more, I assure thee, than thou canst wish or desire. 66 Behold," saith He, "I stand at the door and knock; if any hear My voice, and shall open to Me the gate, I will enter in unto him and sup with him °.”

What wilt thou do, O my soul, in so great abundance of all good things? Do what thou art able, and do it quickly. Be thou enlarged to receive such mysteries; make clean the place of thy heart; prepare the upper room of thy best, and best disposed devotion; exclude a mind beating upon vain and idle cogitations; exclude an entrance to evil desires; yield acceptable passage to the bridegroom Christ Jesus; gird up thy loins. with the girdle of truth; light the lamp of faith; go forth to meet Him, and receive Him joyfully.

o Rev. iii. 20.

CHAPTER VII.

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN MAN AND HIS SOUL.

MAN. It is true, my soul, that this heavenly food doth bring with it many great and excellent effects to the living: but tell me, what doth it profit one dead?

Soul. Nothing.

Man. Then will not this Sacrament do thee any good, if thou art one dead?

Soul. But how can I die, being immortal?

Man. It is true, thou canst not be extinguished with bodily death, like beasts without reason; but thou mayest die well enough with spiritual death, which is by a separation of God's grace from thee : for as the death of the body consisteth in the separation of the soul from the body, so thy death by thy separation from Christ.

Soul. Doth the grace of God give life to the soul?

Man. Yea, even as the soul giveth life unto the body.

Soul. But who can deprive the soul of grace, which is the life thereof?

Man. Sin; as the Prophet Ezekiel saith, (xviii. 4,)"That soul that sinneth, it shall die;" that is,

shall be deprived of grace; and what is more, of future glory.

Soul. From whence hath sin that power?

Man. From God's just decree, and the very nature of sin, which is an offence done to God, a stain that soileth man, and that which obligeth man to a punishment.

Soul. Well, seeing sin is so dangerous, I will not continue in the actions thereof any more.

Man. Surely then shalt thou be happy in the end; and we shall be blessed partakers together of Christ's inestimable benefits both in this world and in the world to come.

CHAPTER VIII.

OF THE PRINCIPAL CAUSES WHICH MAY MOVE US

A

TO COME TO THIS HOLY SACRAMENT.

CONSIDERATION of the obedience we all owe to the Author of this sacred Institution, who in the ordaining thereof had no other end but the glory of God His Father, and man's true and perfect good. Si rem grandem dixisses, "Had he bade us do some great things, should we not have done them P ?"

P 2 Kings v. 13.

A consideration had on behalf of our weakness who stand in need of so many assistant helps as we do, cannot but move us to use with all reverence, and desire with all our hearts' affection, this holy mean of receiving grace, left unto us by the Giver of grace. For we do not celebrate a remembrance only of something past, but we are partakers also of grace present; which grace, though not from ex opere operato, by that work done, yet by the Sacrament (as water from the fountain by the conduit pipes) is conveyed and derived unto us. That we offer unto God the sacrifice of laud and praise, give testimony unto men we are members of that mystical body whereof Christ is the Head, shew evidently unto the world how desirous we are to continue in that holy union with God and man; the only celebration of this most Holy Sacrament doth well declare and shew, and the sundry and manifold effects thereof do give, sufficient testimony in behalf of all faithful receivers.

THE SIXTH MEDITATION.

I. Consider, that the union of the body and soul is near, but the union of Christ and the faithful nearer; that separable, this inseparable.

2. Consider, that this most Divine Sacrament is ordained by Christ our Saviour, as a most gracious