heavenly manna may rest there amidst the tables of the law, and the rod of Aaron. I mean you to understand, that nothing should alarm you more, you who live in the dangers of the age and who love them, than all the communions of which you have partaken without preparation. I mean you to understand, that the bread of life becomes a poison to the majority of believers; that the altars witness almost more crimes than the theatre; that Jesus Christ is more insulted in his sanctuary than in the assemblies of sinners; and that the solemnities are no longer but mysteries of mourning for him, and days set apart to dishonour him. I mean you, in a word to understand that, in order to approach it worthily, a respectful faith is required which enables us to discern; a prudent faith, which leads us to examine ourselves; a lively faith, which causes us to love; a noble faith which induces us to sacrifice ourselves: without these, it is rendering one's self guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord; it is eating and drinking their own condemnation.
Ah, Lord! how little have I hitherto known the innocence and the extreme purity which thou requirest of those who come to eat of this heavenly food! The Centurion, that man of so fervent, so humble, and so enlightened a faith; that man so rich in good works, who loved thy people, who raised up edifices to thy name, and appropriated them to public prayers, and to the interpretation of thy Scriptures; that man does not think himself worthy even to receive thee in his house. Even the purest of virgins, when informed by the angel that thou wert to descend into her womb, is terrified at it; she contemplates her own nothingness; and, if the power of speech still remains to her, it is to ask, How can this be? And who am I, Lord, to dare to seat myself at thy table with so little precaution; — I, who come to appear empty before thee; who have nothing to offer to thee but the refuse of a heart so long engrossed by the world; who bring to thine altars only feeble aspirations after holiness and unsubdued attachments to the world, but unavailing lights, but sentiments which evaporate in vain wishes?
Ah, Lord! the fruits of a holy communion are so abundant, so sensible; the soul quits it so overflowed with thy blessings and thy grace, that, when I had no other proof of the unworthiness of my communions than their inefficacy, I ought to tremble and be humbled. When thy body is eaten worthily, we abide in thee, and thou abidest in us; that is to say, that thy precious blood, which still flows in our veins, leaves us thy inclinations, thy traits, thy resemblance, and that we are another thee; noble and heavenly inclinatious should alone be seen in us, and sentiments worthy of the blood we have received: and, nevertheless, I still find my affections drawn to the earth. When thy body is eaten worthily, thou tellest us that we live for thee, and eternally: and I have still continued to cherish worldly pursuits and schemes of ambition. What then must I do, Lord? Must I retire from thy table? What! this fruit of life should be forbidden me? What! the bread of
