praying set down in the ninth chapter of the introduction. And yet we will here do no more than point at the considerations of these words; for hereafter they will be handled more at large.
i " Come" — The first word is " Come in which I am to consider for what cause He says to them " Come," whence they are to come, and whither they are to come. He says to them " Come," to recall to their memory their first vocation, when He called them to follow Him, saying to them, " Come ye to me, all you that labour and are burdened, and I will refresh you." And, " If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me." [1] And because they hearkened to this vocation, He calls them with such another word, as if He should say, " Seeing you came after me, embracing the cross and mortification, to follow my life, come to receive the reward, following me in glory. 'Come from' Mount 'Libanus' [2] of my Church, in which ye were baptised and washed with the tears of penance, and grew up like cedars in all virtues, ' Come out of great tribulation,' in which you have lived, having ' washed your robes, and made them white' in my precious 'blood.' [3] Come from the dens of lions and the habitations of tigers, in whose company you have lived, suffering great persecutions. 'Come' out from amongst the midst of them, and come to be crowned, and to receive the reward that you have merited for the many victories you have obtained."
Colloquy. — O my soul, hear speedily the voice of Christ, with which He calleth thee to imitate His life, that thou mayest be worthy to hear this sweet voice, with which He will call thee to receive thy crown! Amen.
ii. "Ye blessed of my Father." — The second word is " Ye
