Because therefore they are thine, and true, they are all thankfully and faithfully to be received by me. They are thine, and thou hast spoken them; and they are mine also, because thou hast spoken them for my salvation. I willingly receive them from thy mouth, that they may be the deeper imprinted in my heart. These gracious words, so full of sweetness and love, encourage me; but mine own offences drive me back from receiving so great mysteries. 2. Thou commandest me to come confidently unto thee, if I will have part with thee; to receive the food of immortality, if I desire to obtain everlasting glory. Thou sayest, Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. O sweet and friendly words in the ear of sinners, that thou, my Lord God, shouldst invite the poor and needy to the participation of thy most holy body? *But who am I, Lord, that I should presume to approach unto thee? *Behold, the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, and thou sayest come ye all unto me! 3. What meaneth this so gracious condescension, this so friendly invitation? How shall I dare to come, that know no good in myself? How shall I bring thee into my house, that have so often offended thy most gracious countenance? *The angels and archangels revere thee, and the saints and just men fear thee, and thou sayest, come ye all unto me. Unless thou, O Lord, didst say it, who would believe it to be true? And unless thou didst command it, who would dare to come unto thee? *Behold, Noah, a just man, laboured an hundred years in making of the ark, that he might be saved with a few; and how can I in one hour prepare myself to receive, with reverence the maker of the world? 4. Moses, thy great servant, and thy special friend, made an ark of incorruptible wood, which also he covered with most pure gold, to put the tables of the law therein; and I a corruptible creature, how shall I dare lightly to receive the maker of the law, and the giver of life? Solomon, the wisest of the kings of Israel, bestowed seven years in building a magnificent temple to the praise of thy name. He celebrated the feast of the dedication thereof eight days together; he offered a thousand peace-offerings, and he solemnly set the ark on the place prepared for it, with the sound of trumpets and joy. *And I the most miserable and poorest of men, how shall I bring thee into my house, that can scarce spend one half hour devoutly? Yea would I could once spend near half an hour in a due manner! 5. O my God, how much did they do out of an endeavour to please thee! And, alas, how little is that which I do! How little time do I spend to prepare myself to receive! I am very seldom wholly recollected, very seldom free from all distraction; And yet surely no unbecoming thought ought to appear in the presence of the Deity, nor any creature find any place in me, for I am not to harbour an angel, but the Lord of angels.