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

What if Gods promise barely considered, proceed from his Antecedent and simple will of benevolence towards the Creature, but the stability and certainty of his promise in the event depend on a second resolution of his consequent will, which presupposeth the good use of mine own liberty? may not I then abuse my free will and so frustrate unto my self the benefit of Gods promise? Is not my will mutable, though Gods be not? may not I sink and fall though the place on which I stand be firm? may not I let go my hold though the thing which I handle be it self fast? what if all this while I have been in a Dream, mistaking mine own private fancies and mispersuasions for the dictates of Gods Spirit? mistaking Satan (who useth to transform himself) for an Angel of light? God hath promised, it is true, but hath he promised unto me? did he ever say unto me, Simon, Simon, or Saul, ¹Saul Or Samuel, Samuel? Or if he did,² must he needs perform his promise to me,³ who am not able to fulfil my conditions unto him? Thus, as unto men floating upon the Sea, or unto distempered brains, the land and house though immovable seem to reel, and totter, or as unto weak eyes, every thing seems ⟨p. 159⟩double: so the promises of God however built^a on a sure foundation, his Counsel, and Fore-knowledge, yet unto men prepossessed with their own private distempers do they seem unstable and frail, unto a weak eye of faith Gods Covenant to be (if I may so speak)^b double, to have a tongue, and a tongue, a promise, and a promise, that is, a various and uncertain promise. And for this cause (notwithstanding^c diffident and distrustful men do indeed deserve what they suspect, and are worthy to suffer what they unworthily do fear) doth God yet in compassion towards our frailty condescend to confirm his promises by an Oath, to engage the truth of his own essence for performance, to seal the Patent which he hath given with his own blood, and to exhibit that seal unto us so often as with faith we approach unto the Communion of these holy mysteries. And who can sufficiently admire the riches of this mercy which makes the very weaknesses and imperfections of his Church occasions of redoubling his promises unto it?