the author of purity and sanctity pass through it? My breast is a sink of wicked cogitations and desires, how shall I harbour in it Him that is charity itself? O sovereign king, how well does it befit Thee to be the Father of mercy, seeing Thou wilt dwell in a house of so great miseries? Renew it first, O Lord, cleanse and adorn it, that it may be for Thee a worthy abiding-place. O infinite God, " inclina coelos tuos, et descende " bow down Thy heavens and descend." [1] And seeing Thou wilt descend and humble Thyself to dwell within me, what is it for the heavens to humble themselves and descend? Let the celestial virtues come into my soul; let lively faith, assured hope, and much-enkindled charity come; let humility, obedience, and devotion come, and convert into heaven that which must be the habitation of the king of heaven Himself! Amen.
3. The like colloquies I should make to the three Persons of the Godhead, beseeching them that they would make me a new man, renewed in spirit to receive this new celestial Adam, who is willing to harbour Himself in my soul; and especially I will say to the Holy Spirit,
Colloquy. — O most holy Spirit, that didst purify and adorn the soul of the most sacred Virgin, that it might be a worthy habitation for her Son, purify me also, and adorn me with Thy grace, seeing the selfsame God that entered into her is to enter into me! Amen.
POINT III.
Thirdly, I must consider the ends that Christ our Lord purposes in this coming, beseeching Him as soon as He enters to put them in execution, and that my unworthiness may be no means of hindering it.
1. This may be considered by running through some of the offices that this our Lord did in the world, which He
- ↑ Ps. cxliii. 5.
