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CONSIDER that a fift cause of the Inst. of the B. Sacrament was, to leaue a continuall occasion of the exercise of all vertues. Our Faith is exercised, while we beleeue, that a whole God and man lyes hidd, and is contayned really, and truly,
though inuisiby, vnder a smale hoste. Our Hope, while seeing him dayly and hourely bestowe himselfe, we cannot despaire of obtayning any thing lesse then himselfe. Our Charitie, while we looke into his open side which is a fornace of inflamed loue. Religion, adoreing him with soueraigne worshipe or Latria; Our obedience and humi∣litie, while captiuating our vnder standing in obedience to faith, we constantly beleeue (maugre the suggestion of our senses and our naturall reason) that God lyes truly hidd vnder these slender and meane acci∣dens of bread and wine.
[Affection.] Yes, my soule, here we may euery day comfortably, and meritoriously exercise our faith, where sight, taste, tou∣che fayle, Faith with eagles eyes lookes home, and assures, it is our hiddem Lord that is eleuated before vs. It is my Lord, the verie Lord that made me, and dyed for me. Yes he himselfe tels it me, saying: This is my body. And I imbrace his word & adorc him. And whom I adore present by a good∣nesse which hath nothing like to it, how should I not wholy conside. How should I but hope in him whome I haue for a pledge in hand, that he will himselfe be my re∣ward
for euer. And how should I not loue him, who so graciously stayes with me here below; & reserues himselfe for me aboue I doe ther-for confesse thee present; con∣fide in thee; loue & worshippe thee, ô Lord and stoope downe to this admirable my∣sterie of Loue, with all the humilitie and obedience my hart is able to conceiue.
CONSIDER that the sixt cause of this Sacred Institution was to leaue a meanes to remoue the greatest mischeife that can befall a poore creature, which is the obliuion of his Creatour. They forgot God who saued them, saith the Psalmist, their harts departed from him who made them; And what became of it but corup∣tion and abomination, corrupti sunt & abo∣minabiles facti sunt. For by obliuion of God we loose diuine grace; waxe vgly and de∣formed by the infection of sinne; and be∣come slaues to the Diuell.
[Affection.] Ah, my soule, how should
we euer be sovnhappie as to forgett, him, in whom we liue, moue, and haue beeing? who while we yet were not, raysed vs to what we are. Who while we abused that beeing, and strayed from him, had for vs thoughtes of peace and not of affliction thoughtes of reconcilement and saluation Can a Mother, saith that Louer of Men, forgett the child of her body and though she should yet would I neuer forgett you. Ah how should we forgett him, Isay, who least he might haue bene forgotten by vs, continues still with vs; leauing vs noe lesse memoriall of himselfe, then himselfe. O be thou euer blessed, and magnified, my dearest Lord, And be they euer accursed who forgett thee, who art the fountaine of liuing waters flo¦wing into life euerlasting.