IV

That all we, who have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.

AWAKE, I beseech thee, O my soul, and let the fire of a heavenly love be kindled in thy heart, and wisely consider the beauty which Thy Lord God hath bestowed upon thee, and in considering love it, and in loving do it reverence with the service of a holy conversation. For doth not He who maketh thee to abide in Him, and hath condescended to dwell in thee, clothe thee, cover thee, adorn thee with Himself? As many of you, saith the Apostle, as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.⁸²⁸²   Gal. iii. 27.

What praise, what thanksgiving wilt thou rightly bestow upon Him, who hath clothed thee with so great beauty, exalted thee to so great honour, that thou canst say with all joy of heart, The Lord hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.⁸³⁸³   Isa. lxi. 10. It is the highest joy of the angels of God to contemplate Christ, and lo, of His boundless condescension He so far inclineth unto thee, as to be pleased to clothe thee with Himself. What manner of clothing is this but that of which the Apostle boasts, saying Christ of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification?⁸⁴⁸⁴   1 Cor. i. 30. How would He more richly apparel thee than by making thee glorious with the garment of wisdom, the ornament of righteousness, the beauty of holiness?