Ah Lord God, when shall I be wholly united to thee, swallowed up in thee, and altogether forgetful of myself? Thou in me, and I in thee, and so grant us both to continue in one. 2. Verily, thou art my beloved, the choicest among thousands, in whom my soul is well pleased to dwell all the days of her life. Verily, thou art my peace-maker, in whom is great peace and true rest, without whom is labour and sorrow and infinite misery. Verily, thou art a God that hidest thyself, ♦and thy counsel is not with the wicked, but thy speech is with the humble and simple of heart. ♦ duplicate word “and” removed O Lord, how sweet is thy Spirit, who to shew thy sweetness toward thy children, vouchsafest to feed them with the bread which descendeth from heaven, and is full of all sweetness! Verily, there is no other nation so great that hath God so nigh unto them, as thou our God art present to all thy faithful ones. Unto whom, for their daily comfort, and for the raising up of their hearts to heaven, thou givest thyself to be eaten and enjoyed. 3. For what other nation is there so honoured as the Christian people? Or what creature under heaven so beloved as a devout soul, to whom God himself cometh to feed her with his glorious flesh? O unspeakable grace! O admirable condescension! O infinite love, singularly bestowed upon man! But what shall I give unto the Lord in return for his grace, for so eminent an expression of love? There is nothing more acceptable, that I am able to give, than to give my heart wholly to my God, and to unite it close unto him. Then shall my inward parts rejoice, when my soul shall be perfectly united unto God. Then he will say unto me, if thou wilt be with me, I will be with thee. And I will answer him, Vouchsafe, O Lord, to remain with me, and I will gladly be with thee. This is my whole desire, that my heart may be united unto thee. CHAPTER XI. _Of the fervent desire of some devout persons, to receive the body of Christ._ _The voice of the disciple._ O HOW great is thy goodness, O Lord, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee! When I remember some devout persons, who come unto thy sacrament, O Lord, with the greatest affection, I am confounded, and blush within myself, that I come so heavily and coldly to thy table. That I remain so dry and without hearty affection, that I am not wholly inflamed in thy presence, my God, nor so earnestly drawn in affection, as many devout persons have been, who with desire both of soul and body, earnestly longed after thee, O God, the living fountain. *Be merciful unto me, good Jesu, gracious Lord, and grant me, thy poor needy creature, to feel sometimes at least, in this holy communion, somewhat of thy tender, cordial affection!