6. And yet there is great difference between the ark of the covenant, and thy most pure body! Between those legal sacrifices, figures of future things, and the completion of all antient sacrifices. Why therefore am I not more inflamed at thy venerable presence? 7. The devout King _David_ danced before the ark of God with all his might, calling to mind the benefits bestowed upon his fore-fathers. He often sung to the harp, being inspired with the grace of the Holy Ghost. He taught the people of Israel to praise God with their whole heart, and with joint voices every day to bless and praise him. If so great devotion was then shewn, and there was such celebrating of the divine praise before the ark of the testament; what reverence is now to be performed in receiving the most precious body and blood of Christ? 8. O God, the invisible creator of the world, how wonderfully dost thou deal with us! How sweetly and graciously dost thou dispose of all things for thine elect, to whom thou offerest thyself to be received in this sacrament! This exceedeth all understanding! This strongly draweth the hearts of the devout, and inflameth their affections. 9. O the admirable and hidden grace of this sacrament, which only the faithful ones of Christ know: but the unbelieving, and such as are slaves unto sin, cannot experience; In this sacrament spiritual grace is given, and strength which was lost restored in the soul, and the beauty disfigured by sin returns again. This grace is sometimes so great, that not only the mind, but the weak body also, feeleth great increase of strength. 10. Our coldness and negligence is much to be bewailed, that we are not drawn with greater affection to receive Christ, in whom all the hope and merit of those that are to be saved consists. For he is our sanctification and redemption: he is the comforter of us travellers, and the everlasting fruition of saints. O the blindness and hardness of man’s heart, that doth not more deeply weigh so unspeakable a gift! 11. If the most holy sacrament was celebrated in one place only, and consecrated by one only person in the world, with how great desire would men be affected to that place, and to such a priest, that they might enjoy these divine mysteries! But now there are many priests, and Christ is offered in many places; that so the grace and love of God to men may appear greater, the more this sacred communion is spread through the world. Thanks be unto thee gracious Jesus, the everlasting shepherd, who hast vouchsafed to refresh us poor exiles with thy precious body and blood, and to invite us to the receiving of these mysteries with the words of thine own mouth, saying, Come unto me all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. CHAPTER II. _That the great goodness and love of God is exhibited to man in this sacrament._ _The voice of the disciple._