THE ANGELIC SALUTATION
CONSIDER first, that after the Blessed Virgin had been prepared by the purity of her conception and by the purity of her life; by the purity of her soul and of her body; of her heart and of her mind, and of all her actions and intentions, to conceive in her sacred womb the Son of God, whom she had long before conceived in her soul: the time appointed by her Lord being now come,the Archangel Gabriel was sent to her from heaven, upon the most solemn embassage that ever was: viz., to treat with this most humble maid, concerning the great work of the In carnation of the Eternal Word, by his taking flesh of her, in order to the redemption of man kind from Satan, sin, and hell; and reconciliation with God; and in order to the establishment of a new law, a new and everlasting covenant; a kingdom of heaven upon earth by grace, in favour of all that should embrace this grace, and an eternal kingdom for them hereafter in glory. But give ear now, my soul, to the Angel's address, and mark every word of it. The Angel being come in said to her, " Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women,"
