CHAPTER XIX.

A MEDITATION UPON THESE WORDS: TANTUM DIC

VERBUM ET SANABITUR ANIMA MEA; BUT ONLY SAY THE WORD, AND MY SOUL SHALL LIVE.

AND art Thou ignorant, O my Lord, who Thou

art? What a one and how great? Thou art God Omnipotent, Thou Lord of all; Thou art the Creator of heaven and earth, and whatsoever is contained in the vast compass thereof. Thou hast raised me up, as all other things else, of nothing; Thou hast clothed me with this body, and hast given me in my first creation a right and righteous soul; Thou hast restored this soul, fallen from the state of innocency; Thou hast illuminated it by grace and washed it in the sacred font of Baptism. O my Lord, Thou art He that rulest and governest me; Thou wouldest for my sake become man, die for me, suffer for me the very death of the Cross; so much could love and charity prevail with Thee : Lord, Thy grace is sufficient. And wilt Thou turn then into my house, to refresh my faint soul; to cure me, being weak, and heal me, being sick. Will not the only word suffice, wherewith Thou hast cleansed the lepers, dispossessed the devils, raised the dead? It will suffice, O my Lord; the

centurion said unto Thee, "I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof." Dic verbum et sanabitur servus meus: so say I unto thee, Dic verbum et sanabitur anima mea; "Say the word, and my soul shall be healed."

CHAPTER XX.

A MEDITATION UPON THESE WORDS: VENIAM ET CURABO EUM; I WILL COME AND CURE HIM. F it please Thee so, neither wilt Thou have it otherwise; behold Thy servant, be it unto me according to Thy word. Come down, Lord Jesu, or ever my soul dieth. Now a way lieth open unto thee, O my soul, I will shew thee great joy; rejoice and be glad, for thy Creator cometh unto thee; thy Saviour cometh unto thee, who hath fought with thine enemies, sustained wounds, spent His life for thee: behold how He desireth to enlarge thee with the most ample gift of His most blessed Divinity. Where wilt thou lay up these things, O my soul? How great is He to whom the thrones and dominions serve; on whom the holy host of heaven doth attend!

O my soul, admire the wonderful piety and

b Matthew viii. 8.

ineffable dignity with which He hasteth to visit thee, and maketh speed to come unto thee! but arise, run forth to meet Him, hasten this meeting, rejoice and congratulate for the coming of such a guest cry with a devout heart, "Lord, what is man, that Thou art so mindful of him!"

THE SOLILOQUY ON THESE WORDS: FROM
WHENCE COMETH IT?

Lord, how much dost Thou submit Thyself, while Thou dost not disdain to enter into the vile cottage of my soul! It was sufficient for Thy love, to be born for me in a stable. That Thou descendest from heaven to rest in the womb of the Blessed Virgin, was not such a marvel, for it was the womb of a most pure creature. O holy Elisabeth, who being visited and saluted by the mother of thy Lord, considering the dignity of this Majesty, didst say, "Whence cometh this unto me, that the mother of my Lord cometh to me?" Therefore what shall I say, to whom the Lord Himself cometh, by infinite parts far above the Virgin Mary? He cometh unto me, not only to visit me, but also to unite me to Him, and enrich me with heavenly gifts. O my soul, I greatly rejoice that thou hast delivered to Jesus of thine own will,

Psalm viii. 4.

the government and possession of thyself; but understand that by this act thou art bound to proclaim open war to all sins, the capital enemies of the Lord, to whom thou art delivered; neither canst thou any more, without manifest offence of rebellion, give an entrance of sin into thine house, now dedicated unto Christ. O my soul, enter into consideration, see with what bond of re-loving Jesus, who hath loved thee first, thou art bound. O God, how unlike are Thy doings to the actions of the princes of this world.

King Hezekiah, that he might declare his favour unto the ambassadors of the king of Babel, shewed them all his riches and treasures, not giving them any part thereof. Thou dost, O our most gracious Lord, not only shew us Thy treasures, but freely bestowest them upon us. I see not, O my soul, how thou art able to recompense so great goodwill, only yield thyself wholly to the love of thy Redeemer for it cannot be that thou shouldest serve two masters. It cannot be that the ark of God and the idol of Dagon should stand in one temple. If thou prostrate thyself to the love of creatures, thou shalt undergo a hard servitude; but if thou follow Christ, thou shalt find rest and quiet. O my soul, we were created to serve and

d2 Kings xx. 13.

e

• 1 Samuel v. 4.

G

worship God: what higher part of His worship, than to come and be partakers of His Deity! O my soul, be prepared!

CHAPTER XXI.

A MEDITATION UPON THAT WHICH ST. PAUL

TEACHETH IN 1 CORINTHIANS XI. 28.

'ONSIDER that the Apostle, in the preparation

CONSI

to the most Holy Communion, requireth three things; the first is, that the communicant examine his own conscience, which is signified in these words, "Let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of this Bread, and drink of this Cup." If he find his conscience defiled with sin, let him make an humble and penitent confession of the same.

Secondly, the Apostle would that the Holy Eucharist be received worthily, otherwise the danger is great, for he who with a corrupt mind and evil intention approacheth unto the Lord's Table, eateth and drinketh his own judgment.

Thirdly, St. Paul would that a difference be made between these Holy Elements, consecrated to a most Divine use, and the profane repasts of the body only.

For the first of these, let a man prove or ex