Sweete thovghtes of Iesvs and Marie, or, Meditations for all the feasts of ovr B. Saviovr and his B. Mother togeither with Meditations for all the Sundayes of the yeare and our Sauiovrs Passion : for the vse of the daughters of Sion : diuided into tvvo partes / by Thomas Carre ...

THE XVII. MEDITATION.

I. POINT.

[CONSIDER:] that though to giue all one hath, be an argument of great loue: yet to giue ones selfe, is farr greater; but incomparably the greatest of all, to giue what we haue, and what we are in such a manner, and for such an end, for we receiue him not now as a father and com∣panion, a brother, a price; but as our foode, by which, being worthily receiued, we are made one with him; not that wee chāge this diuine foode, into our nature, but we are rather changed and transformed into it, euen as fire changes the nature of wood into it selfe.

[Affection.] Ah whose hart is not stirred to deuotion, and euen burnt vp with loue, when he seriously considers, with what ex∣cesse of loue and charitie, with what soli∣citude, as it were, that Lord of Maiestie, that powerfull King of glorie, striues to gaine our hartes to his loue, hartes which are but earth and ashes, full of frailtie, viciousnesse and indignitie, and farr vn∣worthie

to be chosen to be the habitacles and temples of the adorable Trinitié.

II. POINT.

CONSIDER: how God could neither haue depressed himselfe lower, or raised vs higher, then that the bread of Angells should become the poore pilgri∣mes food; then that the Creatour should be the creatures meate; then that he who fills heauen and earth with the glorie of his diuine Maiestie, should be receiued and handled and eaten, by our miserie: the highest heauens are not able to comprize his Magnitude, and yet he will please to inhabite the narrow spaces of our howses of clay.

[Affection.] Is it possible then (may we not only saie with Salomon) that God doth dwell with, or amongst men; but more, is it possible that God hauing taken a humane nature vpon him and become man, should also become mans food, and dwell not only with man, but euen in him, there to cure our diseases, languors and infirmities: not with an infinitie of other meanes which his wisedome could inuēt,

but euen by the presence 'and application of his owne pretious body and blood?

III. POINT.

CONSIDER that Christ comes vnto vs, accompayned with a thousand blessings; for he brings into the soule that worthily receaues him, what euer vertue he practised in his life: all the fruite of his Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension, the beatitude of his most Blessed bodie; the efficacie of his most pretious blood; and the merits of his most excellent soule; and in a word, all that euer can be desired, or imagined.

[Affection.] What is there then, ô man, which thou standest not possessed of? what is it thou wantest, if thou be not wanting to thy selfe, in either, not worthily pre∣paring thy selfe to receiue so great a guest; or hauing receiued him, in not worthily entertaining him? That man is euidently conuinced to be too greedie whom the possession of a God, cannot satisfie.