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 the resolution whereof in a very few words we must first agree, that as no created understanding could ever have invented the mystery of the Gospel, (it being the counsel of Gods own bosom,¹ and containing such manifold wisdoms as the Angels are astonished at) So, it being dictated, and revealed by Almighty God, such is the deepness, excellency, and holiness of it, that the natural man, whose faculties are vitiated by original, and contracted corruption cannot by the strength of his own naked principles be able to understand it. For notwithstanding the grammatical sense of the words, and the logical coherence,² and connection of consequences, may be discerned by the common light of ordinary reason, yet our Saviours [Greek or Hebrew], conviction, and the Apostles [Greek or Hebrew], and [Greek or Hebrew], demonstration, and manifestation of the spirit, is a thing surpassing the discovery,³ and comprehension of natural men.⁴ And therefore it is called a knowledge which passeth knowledge. ⟨p. 204⟩And this doth plainly appear upon this ground. One principal end, we know, of the Gospel is, To cast down every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of GOD, ⁵and to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. So that until such time as the light of Evangelical truth have thus far prevailed over the conscience, certain it is that the practical Judgment is not yet fully convinced of it, or acquainted with it. It is an excellent speech of the Philosopher that according as every man is himself in the Habit of his own nature,⁶ such likewise doth the end appear unto him. And therefore natural men whose inclinations, and habit of soul are altogether sensual, and worldly, never have a supernatural good appear unto them under the formal conceit of an ultimate, and most eligible end, and therefore their knowledge thereof must needs be imperfect, and defective.