THE SPIRITUAL SOLILOQUY.

O my soul, thou art happy which hast prepared for thee so wonderful and so high a repast, as there can be found none either in heaven or earth higher; for in it is contained that which the Apostle in the 1st and 3rd to the Hebrews calleth the brightness of the glory of God; but hidden, that He might heap on thee the more benefits; thou knowest Moses descending from the Mount Sinai, on which he had talked with God, the children of Israel could not talk with him for the brightness of his face wherefore, as the Scripture saith, "He put a covering before his face," that all might speak with him. In like sort our heavenly Moses hath done, who, not content with thy deliverance from the hard servitude of Egypt and spiritual Pharaoh, but that thou shouldest not be terrified with the great brightness of His glory, after an ineffable manner doth come unto thee, and commune with thee.

Jacob said, "Surely God is in this place, and I was not aware of it"."

O wonderful love, how far hast thou gone with my Lord! Just cause hast thou, O my soul, to rejoice, and in rejoicing to admire the goodness of

Exodus xxxiv. 33.

b Genesis xxviii. 16.

thy blessed Saviour; cease to measure the greatness of this work by the weakness of thine own understanding; say rather with the Prophet, Memoriam fecit mirabilium suorum, "The merciful Lord hath made a memorial of His wonders, He hath given meat to them that fear Him."

When the Son of God clothed Himself with our flesh, it was a work very admirable, for therein He assumed human nature mortal and passible; but when the faithful receive the Holy Eucharist, man doth participate a Divine nature immortal and heavenly. Hence it was said of God by the Psalmist, Tu es magnus, faciens mirabilia, "Lord, Thou art great, doing wonderful things "." When Abraham weaned Isaac, he made a feast; Christ, to wean His disciples from the love of this world, made them this heavenly feast.

d

e Psalm cxi. 4, 5.

d Psalm lxxxvi. 10.

• Genesis xxi. 8.

CHAPTER V.

THE MANIFOLD EFFECTS AND FRUITS OF THIS

HOLY SACRAMENT IN GENERAL.

WE may remember that which indeed we can

not forget, that as man consisteth of soul and body, so doth he also lead a twofold life; the one corporeal, ready to fall into a thousand dangers and casualties; the other spiritual, subject to as many, or more. The life of the body consisteth of the union of the soul with the body. The life of the soul consisteth of another union, which is to be united to Christ. Both these as they have their defect, so have they also their remedies and sustentations; for the life natural, God hath ordained natural sustenance; for the life supernatural, supernatural nourishment.

But that which at all times is most to be lamented, is that whereas the spiritual life is far more excellent than the temporal, the temporal notwithstanding is more regarded and preferred. For what thing doth not a sick body do to recover his health? He neglecteth all charges and griefs, he esteemeth nothing of the bitterness of medicines, he contemneth the sharpness of pains, the

most experienced physicians, the best preservatives are then sought for, and all for bodily health, which endureth but for a little time. And are we so careful for the health of our souls? Would to God we were! Then would we repair with more devotion than commonly we do unto this most holy Sacrament, where our spiritual life is preserved and strengthened.

Three things there are, saith one, very necessary for the life of man :-the mother, which brings him forth; the meat, which sustaineth him; and the physician, which cures him when he is sick.

The same three things are necessary for the life spiritual. The mother, is Baptism; the meat which sustaineth, is the Holy Eucharist; the physician to cure, is repentance.

Now then, as the body without meat cannot endure labour and live, no more can the soul, without this spiritual repast, sustain the labours of this pilgrimage, the assaults of her enemies, and live. The air being corrupted when we go forth of doors, we fortify ourselves with some preservatives. This world is corrupted, our preservative against temptations is this Holy Eucharist. Men entering a way possessed with the enemy, arm themselves with weapons, get them good com

pany seeing we have in all the way of our life many enemies, visible and invisible, shall we not arm ourselves, and take unto us Christ our Captain? "Put ye on," saith St. Paul, "the Lord Jesus!"

CHAPTER VI.

OF THE MOST PRINCIPAL EFFECTS OF THIS

THE

SACRAMENT IN PARTICULAR.

'HE first and principal effect of the most Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is, as we may so speak, that it deifieth first, that is, it maketh man Divine, or like unto God Himself; herein the state of grace, and hereafter in the state of glory; and for this cause it is instituted in the form of nourishments. For as nourishments and the body nourished become one; so do Christ and the faithful receivers. Other meats receive life of the body, this giveth life to the soul.

The second effect is, that with Christ are given unto us all His merits and rewards which He hath purchased; here the hive is given us with the honey.

The third effect of this Sacrament is that hereby a continual and constant remembrance of Christ

f Romans xiii. 14.