Monthly preparations for the Holy Communion by R.B

I see a troop of Virgins following him, their weeping Eyes, their blubbering lips, their sighs and throbbings speak them mourners. I see my Lord looks towards them, and kindly chides their loving sorrow, Why weep ye, Oh ye Daughters of Jerusalem? weep not for me. My Lord! what need was there for that question? Should not they weep when thou must bleed? Would not their eyes have been flints if that then they should not drop tears for thee, when as thou wert about to pour out thy life and blood for them? Ah! could they ⟨p. 75⟩choose, or do less than weep to see thine innocent self among a herd of Tigers! what should a Lamb do there? they saw thee in their ravenous jaws about to tear thy heart, to suck out all thy blood, and leave thee dead. Have I not sat and read, and read and wept viewing over the story; and could they forbear that with their watery eyes saw this scene then acted? But whither, O whither, O ye blinded Jews, are ye dragging this my Lord? My spirit begins to faint, I now can look no longer, my heart now begins to swell with grief, it must now break, or I must vent it at mine eyes in streams! Look! see the Hammer and Nails, the Hammer lift up to strike. Bloody man! thou durst not sure; surely thou dost not know whose hands and feet thou art now piercing; it is the Prince and Saviour of the World Foolish heart! see how thou art mistaken; look, see it's done, the nails are driven to the head! see how the crimson tears run trickling down his hands and feet, and see how hardened hearts be laughing at it! Oh silly foolish blinded men! what laugh you at? This very Christ whom ⟨p. 76⟩now you mock, shall be your Judge; this very man Jesus whom you have thus abused shall come attended with thousands of Angels, with the sound of Trumpets, and shall sit upon your life and death. Him whom you now have nailed to a Cross, hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour. What then will you do when that great and terrible day of the Lord shall come? How will you look him in the face whom you have spit on? How will you dare to speak a word for your selves to him whom you have nailed to a tree and crucified? His wounds in hands, side and feet shall all bear witness against you, and his innocent blood that you have spilt shall cry aloud about the throne for vengeance against you; your flouts shall then be turned into tears, and your taunts into lamentations.

I see a troop of Virgins following him, their weeping Eyes, their blubbering lips, their sighs and throbbings speak them mourners. I see my Lord looks towards them, and kindly chides their loving sorrow, Why weep ye, Oh ye Daughters of Jerusalem? weep not for me. My Lord! what need was there for that question? Should not they weep when thou must bleed? Would not their eyes have been flints if that then they should not drop tears for thee, when as thou wert about to pour out thy life and blood for them? Ah! could they