6 To seal unto us the assurance of everlasting life. 1Oh what more wished or loved then life? Or what do all men more, either fear, or abhor, then death? Yet is this first death nothing if it be compared with the second death; neither is this life any thing worth in comparison of the life to come. If therefore thou desirest to be assured of eternal life, prepare thy self to be a worthy receiver of this blessed Sacrament. For our Saviour assureth us, That if any man eat of this bread, 2he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the ⟨p. 713⟩world. He therefore who duly eateth of this holy Sacrament, may truly say, not only, Credo vitam aeternam, I believe the life everlasting: but also, Edo vitam aeternam, I eat life everlasting. And indeed this is the true tree of life ▪ which GOD hath planted in the middest of the Paradise of the Church. And whereof he hath promised to give every one that overcometh, to eat. 3And this tree of life by infinite degrees excelleth the tree of life, that grew in the Paradise of Eden; for that had his root, in the earth, this from heaven; that gave but life to the body, this to the soul, that did but preserve the life of the living, this restoreth life to the dead. ⟨p. 714⟩The leaves of this tree healeth the Nation of believers,4 and it yields every month a new manner of fruit, which nourisheth them to life everlasting. Oh, blessed are they who often eat of this Sacrament! at lest, once every month, taste anew of this renewing fruit, which Christ hath prepared for us at his Table to heal our infirmities, and to confirm our belief of life everlasting▪
6 To seale vnto vs the assurance of euerlasting life. 1Oh what more wished or loued then life? Or what doe all men more, either feare, or abhorre, then death? Yet is this first death nothing if it be compared with the second death; neither is this life any thing worth in comparison of the life to come. If therefore thou desirest to be assured of eternall life, prepare thy selfe to be a worthy receiuer of this blessed Sacrament. For our Sauiour assureth vs, That if any man eate of this bread, 2he shall liue for euer: and the bread that I will giue, is my flesh, which I will giue for the life of the ⟨p. 713⟩world. Hee therefore who duely eateth of this holy Sacrament, may truely say, not onely, Credo vitam aeternam, I beleeue the life euerlasting: but also, Edo vitam aeternam, I eate life euerlasting. And indeed this is the true tree of life ▪ which GOD hath planted in the middest of the Paradise of the Church. And whereof hee hath promised to giue euery one that ouercommeth, to eate. 3And this tree of life by infinite degrees excelleth the tree of life, that grew in the Paradise of Eden; for that had his roote, in the earth, this from heauen; that gaue but life to the body, this to the soule, that did but preserue the life of the liuing, this restoreth life to the dead. ⟨p. 714⟩The leaues of this tree healeth the Nation of beleeuers,4 and it yeelds euery moneth a new manner of fruit, which nourisheth them to life euerlasting. Oh, blessed are they who often eate of this Sacrament! at lest, once euery moneth, taste anew of this renewing fruit, which Christ hath prepared for vs at his Table to heale our infirmities, and to confirme our beleefe of life euerlasting▪
- 1Omnium terribilium terribilissimum mors. Arist.
- 2Joh. 6.51.Ioh. 6.51.
- 3Apoc. 2.7.
- 4Apoc. 22.6.
