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. But  I see,  O Lord, that this  saying  is  hard  to many,  and  all  do  not  take  it. For, to  say  nothing  of  those who walk  in  darkness,  and believe not  the  word  of  truth, saying, How  can  this  man  give us his  flesh  to  eat? we everywhere see  many  others  easily assenting to  the  arguments by which  infrequent  communion would  seem  to  be  recommended.

. I know  how  prone to evil  are  the  imaginations of men,  by  what  light  and frivolous excuses  they  suffer themselves to  be  dragged back, and  hindered  from  my worship  and  service,  who  in other  things  too  eagerly  catch at every  opportunity  of  serving the  world,  the  flesh,  and their pleasures. Oh, how easily do  they  believe  the  devil when he  persuades  them  to pleasure,  invites  them  to  eat the forbidden  fruit,  and  lyingly  promises  them  divinity! And me,  who  offer  them  my own  flesh  for  food,  and  so lovingly  invite  and  encourage them to  eat,  and  promise  too that by  eating  they  shall  be partakers  of  the  divine  nature, and  immortal  besides, they refuse  to  believe  and obey! Me, who  am  the  very way, the  truth,  and  the  life.

But behold,  and  recognise even here  the  craft  of  Pharao, who, through  envy  of  my honour,  will  not  let  my  people go, that  they  may  sacrifice  to me  in  the  desert,  but  employs them in  the  midst  of  Egypt with works  of  clay,  bricks, and straw  (for  what  else  are those  things  of  earth,  the  silver and  gold,  the  riches,  honours, and  cares  of  this  world?) so that  they  want  leisure  to serve  me; and  yet  how  eager and unwearied  men  are  in  the toils by  which  they  only  eat the bread  of  sorrow,  when, with much  less  toil,  they  could have eaten  the  bread  that  has in itself  all  delight  and  all sweetness of  taste!

Not so  my  faithful  ones  of old,  not  so,  but  they  walked in the  simplicity  of  their heart; full of  love  and  zeal, they were  persevering  in  the communication of  the  breaking of  bread,  and  in  prayers. Thus it  was  that,  by  the  daily use of  this  Sacrament,  my  primitive Church  grew  and  increased; so  that,  for  desire of it,  they  readily  despised  all things, and  would  suffer  no threats,  torments,  or  allurements to  draw  them  away.

Call to  mind,  O Christian! but thou  especially,  O cleric! that beginning  of the  new-born Church, when  believers  had but one  heart  and  one  soul: admire their  zeal  and  love. Behold, the  greater  their  contempt for  earthly  things,  the greater was  their  regard  for