Page:Imitation-of-christ-1901.djvu/275

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Of Spiritual Food and Light.
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coming of Thy glory. What they believed, I believe also; what they hoped for, I hope for; whither they are arrived, I trust by Thy grace I shall arrive.

In the meantime I will walk in faith, strengthened by the examples of the saints.

I have also holy books for my comfort and for the glass of my life, and above all these, Thy most holy body and blood for a singular remedy and refuge.

4. For I perceive two things to be very particularly necessary for me in this life, without which it would be insupportable unto me.

Whilst I am detained in the prison of this body, I acknowledge myself to stand in need of two things, namely, food and light.

Unto me then thus weak and helpless Thou hast given Thy sacred body, for the refreshment both of my soul and body; and Thy word Thou hast set as a light unto my feet.

Without these two I should not be able to live; for the word of God is the light of my 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 treasury and jewel-house of the holy church.

One table is that of the sacred altar, having the holy bread, that is the precious body of Christ; the other is that of the divine law, containing holy doctrine, teaching men the right faith, and steadily conducting them forward even to that within the veil, where is the holy of holies.

Thanks be unto Thee, O Lord Jesu, Thou light of everlasting light, for that table of holy doctrine