But when that which is perfect shall come, the use of the sacraments shall cease. For the blessed in heavenly glory need not any sacramental remedy, but rejoice without end in the presence of God. Beholding his glory face to face, and being transformed from glory to glory into the image of the incomprehensible Deity, they taste the word of God made flesh, as he was from the beginning, and as he remaineth for ever. 3. Thou art my witness, O God, that nothing can comfort me, no creature can give me rest, but thou my God, whom I desire to behold everlastingly. But this is not possible while I remain in this mortal life: Therefore I must frame myself to much patience, and submit myself to thee in all my desires. For thy saints also, O Lord, who now rejoice with thee while they lived, expected in faith and great patience the coming of thy glory. What they believed, I believe: what they hoped for, I also hope for: whither they are come, I trust I shall come by thy grace. In the mean time I will go forward in faith, strengthened by their examples. I have also thy holy book for my comfort and guide, and, above all these, thy spiritual body for a remedy and refuge. 4. I perceive two things to be especially necessary for me in this life, without which it would be insupportable, food and light. Thou hast therefore given unto me a weak creature, thy sacred body and blood for the nourishment of my soul and body; and thou hast set thy word as a light unto my feet: Without these two I could not well live. For the word of God is the light of the soul, and thy sacrament the bread of life. These also may be called the two tables, set on the one side and on the other, in the store-house of the holy church. One is the holy altar, having the holy bread, that is the sign of the precious body of Christ. The other is of the divine law, containing holy doctrine, teaching the true faith, and certainly leading to that within the veil, where is the holy of holies. Thanks be unto ♦thee, O Lord Jesus, the light of everlasting light, for the table of holy doctrine, which thou hast offered us by thy servants the prophets, and apostles, and other teachers. ♦ “tbee” replaced with “thee” 5. Thanks be unto thee, O thou Creator and Redeemer of man, who to manifest thy love to the whole world, hast prepared a great supper wherein thou hast set before us to be eaten (not the typical lamb, but) thy most sacred body and blood. Rejoicing all the faithful with thy holy banquet, and replenishing them with the cup of salvation, in which are all the delights of paradise: and the holy angels feast with us, but yet with a more happy sweetness. Nothing but what is holy, no word but what is good and profitable ought to proceed from his mouth, who receiveth the sacrament of Christ. 7. Simple and chaste ought to be the eyes that behold the body of Christ.