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

That which doth quicken is ever of a more excellent nature then that which is quickened, now the soul being a spirit, and therefore within the compass of highest created perfection, cannot possibly be quickened by any but him who is above all perfection, which the Heathen themselves have acknowledged to be God. For S. Paul hath observed it out of them, that in him we live, and move, and have our being. Now unto life necessary it is ⟨p. 226⟩that there be a union unto the principal or original of life, which to the soul is God. In regard of the essence of God nothing can be separated from him he being immense, and filling all things: but yet in regard of his voluntary communication, and dispensing of himself unto the creature, the manner of his special presence doth much vary, unto this special union of the creature unto God (in virtue whereof the creature is quickened) and doth in some sort live the Life of God. There is necessarily presupposed some sinew or ligament, which may be therefore called the medium, and instrument of life. This knot in the estate of mans Creation was the obedience of the Law, or the covenant of works, which while man did maintain firm, and unshaken, he had an evident Communion with God in all those vital influences which his mercy was pleased to shed down upon him: but once untying this knot, and cutting asunder that bond, there did immediately ensue a separation between GOD, and man, and by an infallible consequence death likewise. But God being rich in mercy, and not willing to plunge his creature into eternal misery, found a new means to communicate himself unto him, by appointing a more easy Covenant, which ⟨p. 227⟩should be the second knot of our union unto him, only to believe in Christ incarnate, who had done that for us which we our selves had formerly undone. And this new Covenant is the covenant of faith by which the just do live.

That which doth quicken is ever of a more excellent nature then that which is quickned, now the soule being a spirit, and therefore within the compasse of highest created perfection, cannot possibly be quickned by any but him who is above all perfection, which the Heathen themselves have acknowledged to be God. For S. Paul hath observed it out of them, that in him we live, and move, and have our being. Now unto life necessary it is ⟨p. 226⟩