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

To examine this point, though by way of digression, something farther will not be altogether impertinent, because it serves to magnify the power of Christs Passion. The evils which we speak of are the violations of the nature and person of a man: and that evil may be considered two ways, either physically▪ as it oppresseth and burdeneth Nature, working some violence on the primitive integrity thereof, and by consequence imprinting an affection of sorrow in the mind, and so it may be ⟨p. 134⟩called pain; or else morally and legally, with respect unto the motive cause in the Patient, Sin; or to the original efficient cause in the Agent, Justice; and so it may be called punishment. Punishment being some evil inflicted on a subject for transgressing some Law commanded him by his Law-maker, there is there unto requisite something on the part of the Commander, something on the part of the Subject, and something on the part of the Evil inflicted. In the Commander there must be first a will unto which the actions of the Subject must conform, and that signified in the nature of a Law. Secondly, there must be a Justice which will. And thirdly, a Power which can punish the transgressors of that Law. In the Subject there must be first Reason and Free-will (I mean originally) for a Law proceeding from Justice presupposeth a power of obedience, to command impossibilities is both absurd and tyrannous, befitting Pharaoh and not God. Secondly there must be a Debt and Obligation whereby he is bound unto the fulfilling of that Law. And lastly, the Conditions of this Obligation being broken there must be a Forfeiture, Guilt and Demerit following the violation of that Law. Lastly, in the Evil it self inflicted there is required first something absolute, namely a destructive Power, some way or other oppressing and disquieting Nature (for as sin is a violation offered from man to the ⟨p. 135⟩Law, so punishment must be a violation retorted from the Law to man.) Secondly, there must be something Relative, which may respect first the author of the evil, whose Justice being by mans sin provoked, is by his own power, and according to the sentence of his own Law to be executed.

To examine this point, though by way of digression, something farther will not bee altogether impertinent, because it serves to magnifie the power of Christs Passion. The evils which wee speake of are the violations of the nature and person of a man: and that evill may bee considered two waies, either physically as it oppresseth and burdeneth Nature, working some violence on the primitive integrity thereof, and by consequence imprinting an affection of sorrow in the minde, and so it may bee