any action of thine is able to make this preparation, although thou shouldest 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, not 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, continue in prayer, sigh, and knock, and give not over, until thou art meet to receive some 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 in virtue.

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

CHAPTER XI.

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 can look toward me, nor any creature move or regard me, but thou alone mayest speak unto me, and I unto 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 commucating, 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; 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 show thy sweetness toward thy children, vouchsafest to feed them with the bread which descendeth from heaven! Verily, there is no other nation so great, that hath God so nigh unto them, as thou our God art 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 God, and to unite it close unto him.

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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 XII.

Of the fervent Desires of some devout Persons to receive the Lord's Supper.

THE VOICE OF THE DISCIPLE.

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

When I remember some devout persons, who came unto thy sacrament, O Lord, with the greatest devotion and 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, sweet and gra

cious 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 with the spirit of fervour. For though I burn not with so great desires as those that are so singularly devoted to thee; yet, by thy grace, I desire to have this great, inflamed desire; praying and craving that I may partake with all such thy fervent lovers, and be numbered among them.

CHAPTER XIII.

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 devotion; and yet not to 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 deferreth 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 remove 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.

3. 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. This man obtaineth a high degree of divine union, in receiving the holy eucharist. Because he respecteth not his own comfort, but, above all comfort, the honour and glory of God.

CHAPTER XIV.

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 now 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 a remedy, I crave of thee comfort and I speak to him that knoweth all things, to whom all my inward parts are open, and who

succour.