as a pledge, in the meanwhile gives us His own body and blood. Hence the Church, grateful for the favor, cries out, " O sacred banquet, in which Christ is received, and a pledge of future glory given to us!"
II. How you would be delighted, were some emperor, who had it in his power to realize his word, to promise you a kingdom, after a certain term of years, and in the meantime were to give you his only son as a pledge! " There is no other nation so great, that hath Gods so nigh them, as our God is present to all our petitions." (Deut. iv. 7.) He is now present, to nourish us, in order that he may afterward reward us.
III. This Divine pledge does not only give us an earnest of future glory, but even now, if not prevented, it produces some of these glorious effects in our souls. It brings with it the lustre of habitual grace, than which nothing is more glorious in the sight of God. It renders the soul in some respect impassible, that is, not subject to be moved or disturbed by any worldly adversity. It gives us spiritual agility to obey the commands of God with promptness and fervor. It endows the soul with a certain degree of subtilty, and enables it to pass through every difficulty. Prepare yourself, therefore, to receive it, and bless the infinite mercy of God, " who hath given the pledge of the spirit in our hearts." (2. Cor. i. 22.)
MONDAY.
The Glory of Heaven, in itself.
I. Speaking of His ascension, Christ told His disciples, "I go to prepare a place for you" (John xiv. 2.) " Christ's ascension," writes the eloquent St. Leo, " is our promotion, so that where the glory of the Head is gone before
