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

Secondly, in that this Sacrament is the instrumental cause of confirming our faith from this possibility, yea, facility of obtaining, we must conclude the necessity of using so great a benefit, wherein we procure the strengthening of our graces, the calming of our consciences, and the experience of Gods favour; ⟨p. 160⟩in the natural body there being a continual activity and conflict between the heat and the moisture of the body, and by that means a wasting depassion, and decay of nature, it is kept in a perpetual necessity of succouring it self by food: so in the spiritual man there being in this present estate an unreconcilable enmity between the spirit, and the flesh, there is in either part a propension towards such outward food, whereby each in its distresses may be relieved. The flesh pursues all such objects as may content and cherish the desires thereof, which the Apostle calleth the provisions of lust. The Spirit of the contrary side strengthens it self by those divine helps which the wisdom of God had appointed to confer grace, and to settle the heart in a firm persuasion of its own peace. And amongst these instruments this holy Sacrament is one of the principal, which is indeed nothing else but a visible oath, wherein Christ giveth us a taste of his benefits and engageth his own sacred body for the accomplishing of them, which supporteth our tottering faith and reduceth the soul unto a more settled tranquility.

Secondly, in that this Sacrament is the instrumentall cause of confirming our faith from this possibility, yea, facility of obtaining, we must conclude the necessity of using so great a benefit, wherein wee procure the strengthning of our graces, the calmeing of our consciences, and the experience of Gods favour; ⟨p. 160⟩in the naturall body there being a continuall activity and conflict betweene the heate and the moisture of the body, and by that meanes a wasting depassion, and decay of nature, it is kept in a perpetuall necessity of succouring it selfe by food: so in the spirituall man there being in this present estate an unreconcileable enmity betweene the spirit, and the flesh, there is in either part a propension towards such outward food, whereby each in its distresses may be releeved. The flesh pursues all such objects as may content and cherish the desires thereof, which the Apostle calleth the provisions of lust. The Spirit of the contrary side strengthens it selfe by those divine helps which the wisedome of God had appointed to conferre grace, and to settle the heart in a firme perswasion of its owne peace. And amongst these instruments this holy Sacrament is one of the principall, which is indeed nothing else but a visible oath, wherein Christ giveth us a tast of his benefits and engageth his owne sacred body for the accomplishing of them, which supporteth our tottering faith and reduceth the soule unto a more setled tranquility.