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 mercy to reign with Him. And " from the foundation of the world" He created the highest heaven, that it might be a royal city and habitation of these blessed kings. And with great tenderness He adds that word "for you;" as if He should say, " This kingdom was not prepared principally for the angels, and through want of them for you, entering in place of those who lost the seats of this kingdom, but it was prepared equally for all the just, angels and men, and for you, for your souls, and for your bodies.

"'Come,' then, to take peaceable possession of this kingdom so noble and so ancient, out of which you shall never be expelled! Enter into the joys of my Father, which shall never be taken from you! ' Sit down to reign' with me on my throne, as I 'am also' set down with my ' eternal Father' on His throne!"

Colloquy. — O most loving Father, I give Thee thanks for this so sovereign kingdom which Thou hast prepared for Thy elect, to show in them the infinite riches of Thy grace and charity! Grant me, O Lord, that I may in such manner prepare my soul that Thou mayest reign therein by Thy grace, and afterwards carry it to possess this eternal kingdom of Thy glory! Amen.

iv. " For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat." — Then the Judge declares the reason of His sentence, and the merits for which He gives them His kingdom, saying, " I was hungry, and you gave me to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked, and you covered me; sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me," to set me at liberty. And the just, astonished that for so little works He should give them a kingdom so great, and that He should so much esteem these works of mercy, as if they had been done to