Page:Imitation-of-christ-1901.djvu/248

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How the Holy Communion

whilst little or no fruit of amendment is carried home; particularly when they go from place to place with levity, without true penitence of heart.

But here, in this Holy Sacrament, Thou art wholly present, my God, the Man Christ Jesus; here, to all worthy and devout receivers, is granted an abundant fruit of eternal salvation.

There is here to attract men nothing that savours of levity, or of curiosity, or sense; nothing but firm faith, devout hope, and sincere charity.

9. 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 with Thine elect, to whom Thou offerest Thyself to be received in this sacrament.

For this verily exceedeth all understanding. This specially draweth the hearts of the devout, and inflameth their affections.

For even Thy true faithful ones, who dispose their whole life to amendment, from this most precious sacrament oftentimes gain much of the grace of devotion, and love of virtue.

10. 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 have experience of!

In this sacrament spiritual grace is conferred, and the strength which was lost is restored in the soul, and the beauty which by sin had been disfigured again returneth.

This grace is sometimes so great, that out of the fulness of devotion here given, not the mind only, but