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 icent temple  for  the  praise of Thy  name:  and  for eight days  together  he celebrated  the  feast  of the  dedication  thereof; he offered  a  thousand victims as  peace-offerings, and brought  the  Ark  of the  Covenant  in  a  solemn manner into  the  place prepared for  it,  with sound of  trumpet  and jubilee. And I,  a  wretch and the  vilest  of  men,  how shall I  bring  Thee  into my house,  I,  who  can hardly spend  one  half-hour  devoutly,  and  would that I  had  even once spent one  half-hour  as  I ought! O my  God,  how much did  they  endeavor to do  to  please  Thee! Alas, how  little  is  it  that I do! How short  a  time do I  spend,  when  I  prepare myself  to  communicate! Seldom am  I wholly  recollected,  very seldom free  from  all  distraction. And yet,  surely, in the  life-giving  presence of Thy  deity  no  unbecoming thought  should occur, nor  anything created take  up  my  mind; for it  is  not  an  angel,  but the Lord  of  angels,  whom I am  to  entertain.

And yet  there  is  a  very great difference  between the Ark  of  the  Covenant with its  relics,  and  Thy most pure  body  with  its unspeakable virtues;  between those  sacrifices  of the  Law  which  were  figures of things  to  come,  and the true  sacrifice  of  Thy body which  is  the  accomplishing of  all  those  ancient sacrifices. Why, then, am  I  not  more inflamed, considering  Thy venerable presence? Why do I  not  prepare  myself with greater  care  to  receive Thy  sacred  gifts, seeing that  these  ancient holy patriarchs  and  prophets, yea,  kings  also  and princes, with  the  whole people, have  shown  so great  affection  of  devotion towards  Thy  divine worship? The most  devout King  David  danced before the  ark  of  God with all  his  might,  commemorating the  benefits bestowed in  times  past on the  fathers. He made musical instruments  of sundry  kinds;  he  published psalms  and  appointed them  to  be  sung with joy;  he  himself  likewise often  sung  them,