How might I in respect of mine own unworthiness, cry out for fear at the sight of thy holy Sacrament, as the Philistims did,1 when they saw the Ark of God come into the assembly. Woe now unto me a sinner; But that thy Angel doth comfort me, as he did the women. Fear thou not, 2for I know that thou seekest Jesus which was crucified. It is thou indeed that my soul seeketh after. And here thou offerest thy self unto me in thy blessed Sacrament. If therefore ELIZABETH thought her self so much honoured at thy presence, 3in the womb of thy blessed mother ⟨p. 758⟩that the babe sprang in her belly for joy; how should my soul leap within me for joy, now that thou comest by thy holy Sacrament, to dwell in my heart for ever? Oh what an honour is this that not the mother of my Lord, but my Lord himself should come thus to visit me? Indeed, Lord, I confess with the faithful Centurion; that I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof:4 and that if thou didst but speak the word only, my soul should be saved. Yet seeing it hath pleased the riches of thy grace for the better strengthening of my weakness; to seal thy mercy unto me by thy visible sign, as well as by thy visible ⟨p. 759⟩word. In all thankful humility my soul speaks unto thee with the blessed Virgin. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, 5be it unto me according to thy word. Knock thou, Lord, by thy word and Sacraments at the door of my heart, and I will like the Publican with both my fists knock at my breast, as fast as I can that thou mayest enter in: and if the door will not open fast enough; break it open, O Lord, by thine Almighty power, and then enter in and dwell there for ever: that I may have cause with Zacheus to acknowledge that this day salvation is come into my house. 6And cast out of me, whatsoever shall be offensive unto thee: for ⟨p. 760⟩I resign the whole possession of my heart unto thy sacred Majesty, entreating that I may not live henceforth, but that thou mayest live in me, speak in me, work in me, and so to govern me by thy spirit that nothing may be pleasing unto me, but that which is acceptable unto thee. That finishing my course in the life of grace, I may afterwards live with thee for ever in thy kingdom of glory. Grant this, O Lord Jesus, for the merits of thy death and bloodshedding. Amen.
How might I in respect of mine owne vnworthynesse, cry out for feare at the sight of thy holy Sacrament, as the Philistimes did,1 when they saw the Arke of God come into the assembly. Woe now vnto me a sinner; But that thy Angel doth comfort me, as he did the women. Feare thou not, 2for I know that thou seekest Iesus which was crucified. It is thou indeed that my soule seeketh after. And heere thou offerest thy selfe vnto me in thy blessed Sacrament. If therefore ELIZABETH thought her selfe so much honoured at thy presence, 3in the wombe of thy blessed mother ⟨p. 758⟩that the babe sprange in her bellie for ioy; how should my soule leape within mee for ioy, now that thou commest by thy holy Sacrament, to dwell in my heart for euer? Oh what an honour is this that not the mother of my Lord, but my Lord himselfe should come thus to visit me? Indeede, Lord, I confesse with the faithfull Centurion; that I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe:4 and that if thou didst but speake the word onely, my soule should be saued. Yet seeing it hath pleased the riches of thy grace for the better strengthning of my weakenesse; to seale thy mercy vnto mee by thy visible signe, as well as by thy visible ⟨p. 759⟩word. In all thankefull humili•y my soule speakes vnto thee with the blessed Virgin. Behold the handmaide of the Lord, 5be it vnto me according to thy word. Knocke thou, Lord, by thy word and Sacraments at the doore of my heart, and I will like the Publicane with both my fists knocke at my breast, as fast as I can that thou maiest enter in: and if the dore will not open fast enough; breake it open, O Lord, by thine Almighty power, and then enter in and dwell there for euer: that I may haue cause with Zacheus to acknowledge that this day saluation is come into my house. 6And cast out of me, whatsoeuer shall be offensiue vnto thee: for ⟨p. 760⟩
- 11 Sam. 4.7.
- 2Mat. 28.5.
- 3Lu. 2.43.44.
- 4Matth. 8.8.
- 5Luk. 1.38. Apo. 3.20. Luk. 18.13.
- 6Luk. 19.9.
