That the Body and Blood of Christ and the Holy Scriptures1 are most necessary to a faithful soul
O most sweet Lord Jesus, how great is the blessedness of the devout3 soul that feedeth with Thee in Thy banquet, where there is set before it no other food than Thyself its only Beloved, more to be desired than all the desires of the heart? And to me it would verily be sweet to pour forth4 my tears in Thy presence from the very bottom of my heart, and with the pious5 Magdalene to water Thy feet with my tears. But where is this devotion? Where the abundant flowing of holy tears? Surely in Thy presence and in the presence of the holy Angels my whole heart ought to burn and to weep for joy; for I have Thee in the Sacrament verily present, although hidden under other form.
2. For in Thine own Divine brightness, mine eyes could not endure to behold6 Thee, neither could the whole world stand before the splendour of the glory of Thy Majesty7. In this therefore Thou hast consideration unto my weakness, that Thou hidest Thyself under the Sacrament. I verily possess and adore Him whom the Angels adore in heaven; I yet for a while by faith, but they by sight and without a veil. It is good for me to be content with the light of true faith, and to walk therein until the day of eternal brightness dawn, and the shadows of figures flee away.1 But when that which is perfect is come, the using of Sacraments shall cease, because the Blessed in heavenly glory have no need of Sacramental remedy. For they rejoice unceasingly in the presence of God, beholding8 His glory face to face, and being changed from glory to glory2 of the infinite God, they taste the Word of God made flesh, as He was in the beginning and remaineth for everlasting9.
3. When I think on these wondrous10 things, even spiritual comfort whatsoever11 it be becometh sore weariness to me; for so long as I see not openly my Lord in His own Glory, I count for nothing all which I behold and hear in the world. Thou, O God, art my witness that nothing is able to comfort me, no creature is able to give me rest, save Thou, O my God, whom I desire to contemplate12 everlastingly13. But this is not possible, so long as I remain in this mortal state. Therefore ought I to set myself unto great patience, and submit myself unto Thee in every desire. For even Thy Saints, O Lord, who now rejoice with Thee in the kingdom of heaven, waited for the coming of Thy glory whilst they lived here, in faith and great glory. What they believed, that believe I; what they hoped, I hope; whither they have attained14 to, thither15 through Thy grace hope I to come. I will walk meanwhile in faith, strengthened by the examples of the Saints. I will have also holy books for comfort and for a mirror of life, and above them all Thy most holy Body and Blood shall be for me a special remedy and refuge.
4. For two things do I feel to be exceedingly necessary to me in this life, without which this miserable16 life would be intolerable to me; being detained in the prison of this body, I confess that I need two things, even food and light. Thou hast therefore given to me who am so weak, Thy sacred Body and Blood, for the refreshing17 of my soul and body, and hast set Thy Word for a lantern to my feet.3 Without these two I could not properly live; for the Word of God is the light of my soul, and Thy Sacrament the bread of life. These may also be called the two tables, placed on this side and on that, in the treasury18 of Thy holy Church. One table is that of the Sacred Altar, bearing the holy bread, that is the precious Body and Blood of Christ; the other is the table of the Divine Law, containing holy doctrine19, teaching the true faith, and leading steadfastly20 onwards even to that which is within the veil, where the Holy of Holies is.
5. Thanks be unto Thee, O Lord Jesus, Light of Light everlasting, for that table of holy doctrine which Thou has furnished unto us by Thy servants the Prophets and Apostles and other teachers. Thanks be to Thee, O Creator and Redeemer of men, who to make known Thy love to the whole world has prepared a great supper, in which Thou hast set forth for good not the typical lamb, but Thine own most Holy Body and Blood; making all Thy faithful ones joyful21 with this holy banquet and giving them to drink the cup of salvation22, wherein are all the delights of Paradise, and the holy Angels do feed with us, and with yet happier sweetness.
6. Oh how great and honourable23 is the office of the priests, to whom it is given to consecrate24 the Sacrament of the Lord of majesty with holy words, to bless it with the lips, to hold it in their hands, to receive it with their own mouth, and to administer it to others! Oh how clean ought those hands to be, how pure the mouth, how holy the body, how unspotted the heart of the priest, to whom so often the Author of purity entereth in! From the mouth of the priest ought naught25 to proceed but what is holy, what is honest and profitable, because he so often receiveth the Sacrament of Christ.
7. His eyes ought to be single and pure, seeing they are wont26 to look upon the Body of Christ; the hands should be pure and lifted towards heaven, which are wont to hold within them the Creator of heaven and earth. To priests is it specially27 said in the Law, Be ye holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.4
8. Assist us with Thy grace, O Almighty28 God, that we who have taken upon us the priestly office, may be able to converse29 worthily30 and devoutly31 with Thee in all purity and good conscience. And if we are not able to have our conversation in such innocency32 of life as we ought, yet grant unto us worthily to lament33 the sins which we have committed, and in the spirit of humility34 and full purpose of a good will, to serve Thee more earnestly for the future.
2 2 Corinthians iii. 18.
4 Leviticus xix. 2.
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1
scriptures
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| 经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典 | |
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disciple
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| n.信徒，门徒，追随者 | |
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devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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9
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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10
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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everlastingly
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| 永久地，持久地 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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consecrate
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| v.使圣化，奉…为神圣；尊崇；奉献 | |
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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28
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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worthily
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| 重要地，可敬地，正当地 | |
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devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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32
innocency
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| 无罪，洁白 | |
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lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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cant
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| n.斜穿，黑话，猛扔 | |
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psalm
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| n.赞美诗，圣诗 | |
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