Vol. 2

CHAPTER I. 285made, and that Jesus begins to difFuse grace and joyinto souls? How does sometimes even one wordof a holy person fill those with light and grace whohear it ! The invisible infant of Mary works onthat of Elisabeth ;but by the tongue of the former,and the ear of the latter. This is a representationof what Jesus Christ, who resides invisibly in hischurch and ministers, works in souls by the ministrationof the word heard with faith." 42. And she spake out with a loud voice, andsaid,Blessed art thou among women, and blessed isthe fruit of thy womb."The incarnation of the Word, and the maternityof the Virgin, are honoured and published first byElisabeth. Who can forbear lifting up their voicein transports of joy, admiration, and gratitude, whenthey feel the sweet and powerful operation of gracein their heart? It is in and by the church, (thatvirgin blessed among women,) that grace works andmakes itself perceptible. There is no fruit blessedbut that of her womb, no blessing but in her bosom." 43. And whence is this to me, that the motherof my Lord should come to me?"And whence comes this happiness, that the Lordhimself should come into us by the incarnation,faith, and by grace !" 44. For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutationsounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in mywomb for joy."God did all things by his word in the first creation; he does all things by it in the second : and itis by the word that Christ did every thing whileon earth; and that the church works in his nameby