Meditations on the holy sacrament of the Lords last Supper Written many years sinceMeditations on the holy sacrament of the Lords last Supper Written many yeares since

For as he which bestows money on his poor friend, and after, for that money sells him Land far beyond the value of the money which he gave, may be thus far said rather to multiply and change his gifts, than to receive a price for them: so God bestowing eternal life on man upon the condition of believing,^b the ability whereunto he himself hath first bestowed, and between which life and faith there is an infinite disproportion ⟨p. 90⟩of worth, may be said rather to heap his gifts, than to bargain and compact for them, rather to double his free bounty, than to reward mans impotent merit; unless we take it improperly for the performance of a voluntary debt,^c wherein it hath pleased God in mercy, as it were, to oblige and engage himself upon condition of our faith.

For as hee which bestowes money on his poore friend, and after, for that money sells him Land farre beyond the value of the money which hee gave, may be thus farre said rather to multiply and change his gifts, than to receive a price for them: so God bestowing eternall life on man upon the condition of beleeving,^b the ability whereunto hee himselfe hath first bestowed, and betweene which life and faith there is an infinite disproportion ⟨p. 90⟩of worth, may be said rather to heap his gifts, than to bargaine and compact for them, rather to double his free bounty, than to reward mans impotent merit; unlesse wee take it improperly for the performance of a voluntary debt,^c wherein it hath pleased God in mercie, as it were, to oblige and ingage himselfe upon condition of our faith.

1. bGratias ago tibi Domine quia quod quaeris à me, prius ipse donasti. Cyprian de Baptim. Christi. Remunerans in nobis quicquid ipse praestitit et honorans quod ipse perfecit. Cyprian. l. 3. epist. 25.