mirable is thy name in the whole earth! But what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him, and makest him so great? Is not every man living dust and ashes, and vanity itself? And is it such an one that thou deignest to regard, to come to him, and make thy abode with him? What return shall I make to the Lord for all that he has given me? Thou art rich, O Lord, to all men, and art powerful over all things, and all things are thine; but I am poor and needy, and thou hast no need of my goods. And if I give thee my whole substance, nay, and my very self besides, what requital would it be for the greatness of thy blessings?
Christ. Offer to God the sacrifice of praise, and pay thy vows to the Most High. To offer or receive my Body and Blood is a sacrifice pleasing to the Father and to myself. This, do therefore, frequently, yet reverently, for the commemoration of me. For it was my will that these holy mysteries should be in my Church, that thou mightst celebrate with perpetual remembrance my love and the benefit of thy redemption. I know that thou canst make me no other return; but canst thou not give me the requital of a thankful heart, and the recollection of so great a favour? Certainly thou canst; and by nothing more suitably than by the holy and frequent use of this mystery, which, if thou neglect, see that thou too be not reckoned among the thankless and unworthy, and be shut out from my supper.
Man. How great is the multitude of thy sweetness, O Lord, which thou hast openly shewn to them that fear thee! To display thy sweetness to thy children, thou fillest the hungry with good things, with sweetest bread from heaven! How sweet to my mouth are thy words, by which thou so lovingly invitest me to thee! But alas! who am I, O great King above all kings, that I should eat bread from thy table all the days of my life?
§ 2. The dignity and excellence of this most august Sacrament.
Christ. This is what I would have thee very seriously consider, lest, if perhaps thou esteem too lightly the blessing I have conferred upon my faithful, thou become at length lukewarm, and thy soul begin to loathe this as though it were the poorest food; and so I too begin to vomit thee out of my mouth. Oh, how happy art thou, dear Christian, if thou wilt but know what thou possessest, placed as thou art in a place of so rich pasture, and permitted to enjoy the inestimable blessing of so noble a banquet! But
