for the good things which Thou promisest me; and for the much that Thou desirest that I should love Thee. Fulfil, O Lord, this desire which Thou hast, and which I have, granting me to love Thee as Thou desirest to be loved, uniting me to Thee with the union of perfect charity, that it may remain unto life everlasting! Amen.
(Divers other meditations, with several forms of preparing ourselves to communicate, shall be set down in the parts that follow, following the order of the evangelical history, and will easily be found by the table.)
MEDITATION XXXV.
ON THANKSGIVING AFTER COMMUNION.
After we have communicated, it is of the greatest importance to know how to enjoy the sweet presence of the Guest that we have received; for there is no better time to treat with Him than when we have Him within us. For here likewise it is truth that He said, that while He is in the little " world" of every man, He is " the light of the world," [1] and therefore it behoves us to walk whilst this light lasts, before it be hidden, and " darkness" overtake us. And as this divine sacrament is so sovereign a benefit, and so high a gift of His divine liberality, so we are to be grateful to Him for it, with the greatest gratitude that we possibly can; applying herein the counsel of the Wise man, "Defraud not thyself of the good day;" [2] "et particula boni doni non te praetereat," "and let not the part of a good gift overpass thee," but make use of the good lot that has befallen thee. For as we much esteem the least part whatsoever of this sacrament, for that whole Christ is in it,
