Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/392

182 souls, the transformation of life, the interrogatory of conscience towards : it is the help of our weakness, putting off of the flesh, following of the, participation of the Word, restoration of our nature, the flood which drowneth sin, communication of light, dissipation of darkness. The 'illumination' is a chariot up to, an absence with , a staff of faith, a perfecting of the mind, a key of the kingdom of heaven, the exchange of life, the destruction of bondage, the loosing of chains. This 'illumination',—why need I recount more?—is the best and noblest of the gifts of ; as things are called holy of holies, (and song of songs, as being most eminent and surpassing,) so also this, as being more holy than all others. But as, the Giver thereof, is called by many and different names, so also the gift; whether on account of our exceeding joyousness, (as we are wont to take pleasure in the names of things which we love exceedingly,) or whether because the variety of its benefits has occasioned a diversity of names, we call it gift, grace, baptism, anointing, enlightening, garment of immortality, washing of regeneration, seal, and every other name of honour—gift, as being given to us who had nothing to offer—grace, as being debtors—dipping, in that sin was buried with us in the water—anointing, as being sacred and royal, for such are men wont to anoint—enlightening, as being brightness itself—garment, as a covering of shame—washing, as a cleansing—seal, as keeping us, and an emblem of dominion. In this do the heavens rejoice, this do the angels magnify, for its kindred brightness: this is an image of the blessedness yonder; this we would gladly praise in hymns, but cannot as we would."