L. VIVES.
ALL (a) in summe. The Chruch. (b) Our hearts.] Therevpon are we commanded in diuine ser∣uice to lift vp our hearts, at the preparation to communion. Herein being admonished to put off all worldly thought, and meditate wholly vpon god, lifting all the powers of our soule to speculate of his loue, for so is the mind quit from guilts and lets, and made a fit temple for God. (b) His onely sonne.] Some read, we and the priest please him with his onely sonne, read which you like. (c) The guifts.] What we giue to God, is his owne, not ours, nor can we please him better, then referre what hee hath giuen vs vnto him againe, as the fount whence they slowed. What shall I render ouer to the Lord (saith the Psalmist) for all his benefites towards •…•…ee? I will take the cup of saluation, and call vpon the name of the Lord. This is the onely relation of grace, if thou hast grace. (d) Re-elect.] Tully deriues religion of relegendo, reading againe, and calles it the knowledge of GOD, as Trismegistus doth. Lactantiuis had rather deriue it of religando, binding, beecause the religious are bound to God in bonds of Piety: Augustine of religendo, re-electing. I thinke because it was fittest for his present allusion. (e) True per∣fection.] Plato saith that a happy man by speculation of the diuine pulchritude shal bring forth true vertues, not any formes onely. In conuiuio. (f). Thou shalt loue.] O what a few lawes might serue mans life! how small a thing might serue to rule (not a true Christian, but) a true man! (indeed hee is no true man that knoweth not and worshippeth not Christ.) What needeth all these Digests, Codes, glosses, counselles, and cauteles? In how few words doth our great Mai∣ster shew euery man his due course. Loue thee that which is aboue aswell as thou canst, and that which is next thee like thy selfe, which doing thou keepest all the laws, and hast them persit, which others attaine with such toyle & scarcely keepe with so many iuitations and ter∣rors. Thou shalt then bee greater then Plato or Pythagoras with all their trauells and num∣bers: then Aristotle with all his quirkes and sillogismes: what can bee sweeter then loue? thou •…•…rt taught neither to feare, fly, nor shrinke. (g) Thy.] God to many, yet the most properly to his seruants: and yet euer common. (h) Lord.] And therefore to be reuerenced. (i) God.] And onely God. (k) Withal thine heart.] Loue God with all thine heart (saith Augustine de doctri Christian.) that is, referre all thy thoughts: with all thy soule, that is, referre all thy life: with all thy mind that is, referre all thine vnderstanding, vnto him of whome thou hadst them all. He leaues no part of vs to be giuen to another, but wil haue the fruition ofall himselfe. Origen explaines the hart, viz the thought, worke, and memory: the soule, to bee ready to lose it for Gods sake.