some the savour of life unto life, and these are the worthy receivers; the same may be unto others the savour of death unto death, and these are the unworthy.

What is, therefore, more needful than to remove all dangerous impediments, which may hinder the fruit and efficacy of so high a Mystery, as to purge us of the leaven of sin and malice, of all sensual desires, faithless cogitations, impenitent affections, and all other evils whatsoever, which may withdraw the heart of man from God, and hinder the good of this sovereign medicine of our souls?

The sun to them which are in health is pleasant and wholesome, but unto those who are pained in the head it falleth out to be far otherwise. A potion received in due season doth help the patient. The showers and dews of heaven make the tree well planted to prosper and fructify; but that tree which has some worm at the root, and doth wither upward, doth more and more decay for all this moisture. The soul rooted in faith and charity is a good plant, which this heavenly dew doth nourish; a corrupt conscience is that worm which maketh the withered tree to fade away, so long until the master of the vineyard say, "Cut down the unprofitable tree, why cumbereth it the ground?" Now therefore, that the faithful Christian may be

as the tree planted by the water's side, which shall bring forth his fruit in due season, let him in the name of God remove all dangerous impediments, as envy, evil concupiscence, infidelity, and the like: that he eat not of this Bread and drink not of this Cup of the Lord unworthily.

THE TENTH MEDITATION.

1. Consider that the old Israelites did not receive manna, so long as there remained in their houses the leaven of Egypt: so, so long as sinful desires remain in our hearts, we receive not as we ought to receive our heavenly manna.

2. Consider, that to come unworthily to the Holy Eucharist, as without faith, without devotion, without repentance, without reverence, is very dangerous.

3. Consider, how respectful we should be in coming to this Holy Mystery, how careful, how religious. 4. Solomon saith, "When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is set before theeh."

5. Abraham, when he was making his offering to God', the fowls came to hinder Abraham's offering, as wandering thoughts would do ours: Abraham arose, and drove them away.

h Proverbs xxiii. 1.

i Genesis xv. II.

6. Ahimelech asked David if his men were cleansed, before they were permitted to eat of the shew-bread*.

7. God said to Moses, "Put off thy shoes, for the place where thou standest is holy ground'."

THE FRUIT.

The fruit of this meditation is, to prepare ourselves in the best and most reverent manner we can, that we eat not Panem Domini contra Dominum, the Bread of the Lord against the Lord, as St. Austin speaketh; to remove all dangerous impediments, to be sorry for our sins past, and resolve upon amendment for the time to come.

THE SOLILOQUY.

Seest thou not, my soul, that it is thy part to come with all devotion and attention of mind to this Holy Sacrament? Remember, that when God was to talk with Moses upon the mount, how He commanded that neither man nor beast should approach the mountain", lest Moses by the sight of any creature should be disturbed: yea, that he should have fitter opportunity of attention without distraction, the whole hill was covered with m Exod. xix. 13.

1 Sam. xxi. 4.

1 Exod. iii. 5.

F

a great and dark cloud, the multitude were commanded to sanctify themselves, yea, to wash their very clothes.

No otherwise, my soul, do thou, that no evil affection come with thee unto the Holy Altar, which may draw thee from devotion: here God doth expect thee. Consider with thyself, that He can never be truly desired, and loved of thee, unless in coming to this sacred Table thou clean forget all earthly things. Hear what the kingly Prophet saith; "My daughter, hearken and consider, incline thine ear, forget also thine own people, and thy father's house: so shall the King have pleasure in thy beauty, for He is thy Lord God, and worship thou Him"." But, O Lord, what shall I do to attain this devotion? for my mind doth remain so corrupt, since that general fall of our first father, Adam, that oftentimes against my will it wandereth vagrant where it should not. What shall I do? when my infernal enemy endeavoureth by many earthly occasions to draw me away from this heavenly Table, and to come (which is no less fearful) unworthily unto the same? Thou seest, O merciful Jesus, in what state I stand, that is to say, how weak I am by nature; help, I beseech Thee, my weakness with

n Psalm xlv. 10, 11.

Thy holy grace, that all defects removed, I may approach unto Thy heavenly Table with heart. and soul prepared.

CHAPTER XV.

OF PREPARING OURSELVES BEFORE WE COME TO THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT.

IF in our earthly affairs we oftentimes forget heavenly, good reason it is that in our heavenly we should much rather forget all earthly and prepare ourselves for this so solemn a Sacrifice, which doth consecrate man unto God.

Christ sent two of His Disciples before to make ready the upper room, where He would keep His Maundy with His Apostles; our faith and repentance, as two messengers, must prepare beforehand the upper rooms of our souls.

When God appeared unto His servant Moses in the bush, He willed him to put off his shoes, because the place was holy; "The place where thou standest," saith He, "is holy ground.”

The Israelites keeping their Passover, put leaven out of their houses. Christ washeth His Disciples' feet before He did eat with them, or they with Him. Say St. Peter what he will, we have need