Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/347

 mirable is  thy  name  in  the whole earth! But what  is man  that  thou  art  mindful of him,  or  the  son  of  man that thou  visitest  him,  and makest him  so  great? Is not every  man  living  dust and ashes,  and  vanity  itself? And is  it  such  an  one  that thou deignest  to  regard,  to come  to  him,  and  make  thy abode with  him? What return shall  I make  to  the  Lord for all  that  he  has  given  me? Thou art  rich,  O Lord,  to  all men, and  art  powerful  over all things,  and  all  things  are thine; but I am  poor  and needy, and  thou  hast  no  need of my  goods. And if  I give thee my  whole  substance,  nay, and my  very  self  besides,  what requital would  it  be  for  the greatness of  thy  blessings?

. Offer  to  God  the sacrifice of  praise,  and  pay thy vows  to  the  Most  High. To offer  or  receive  my  Body and Blood  is  a sacrifice  pleasing to  the  Father  and  to  myself. This, do  therefore,  frequently, yet  reverently,  for the commemoration  of  me. For it  was  my  will  that  these holy mysteries  should  be  in my  Church,  that  thou mightst celebrate with  perpetual  remembrance my  love  and  the benefit of  thy  redemption. I know that  thou  canst  make me no  other  return; but  canst thou not  give  me  the  requital of a thankful  heart,  and  the recollection of  so  great  a favour? Certainly thou  canst; and by  nothing  more  suitably than by  the  holy  and  frequent use of  this  mystery,  which,  if thou  neglect,  see  that  thou  too be not  reckoned  among  the thankless and  unworthy,  and be shut out  from  my  supper.

. How  great  is  the multitude of  thy  sweetness,  O Lord,  which  thou  hast  openly shewn to  them  that  fear  thee! To display  thy  sweetness  to thy  children,  thou  fillest  the hungry with  good  things,  with sweetest bread  from  heaven! How sweet  to  my  mouth  are thy words,  by  which  thou  so lovingly  invitest  me  to  thee! But alas! who am I,  O great King above  all  kings,  that  I should  eat  bread  from  thy  table all  the  days  of  my  life?

. This  is  what  I would  have  thee  very  seriously consider,  lest,  if  perhaps thou  esteem  too  lightly the blessing  I have  conferred upon my  faithful,  thou  become at  length  lukewarm, and thy  soul  begin  to  loathe this as  though  it  were  the poorest food; and  so  I too begin to  vomit  thee  out  of my  mouth. Oh, how  happy art thou,  dear  Christian,  if thou  wilt  but  know  what thou possessest,  placed  as thou  art  in  a place  of  so  rich pasture, and  permitted  to  enjoy the  inestimable  blessing of so  noble  a banquet! But