Secondly, we see here with how great reverence we ought to approach Gods Temple, to receive these deep mysteries of Salvation, which it pleased Christ in his own person to institute, and with his own presence to exhibit unto the Church: was a beast slain for touching the Mount, and shall not a man of beastly and vile affections,1 be punished for touching that table where the Lord is present? was Moses to put off his shoes at that bush which represented Gods power, and must not we shake off our earthly and corrupt desires at those mysteries which represent his mercy? were Nadab and Abihu destroyed before the Lord for offering strange fire at his ⟨p. 22⟩Altar, and shall we plead immunity if we present strange souls, and a false faith at his Table? was Adam thrust out of Paradise for his sin in eating of the tree of knowledge; and shall we escape if we sin in eating of the bread of life? even unto the institutions of mortal men, though often in their substance needless, in their observance difficult, and in their end not much beneficial, so long as they keep within the compass of indifferent things, there is required not only our obedience, but our reverence. The word of God, though delivered unto us in earthen vessels, by men of like, weak, and frail affections with our selves, yet because of that native preciousness which resides in it, and of that derived glory which it brings from the spirit that revealed it, is so far to be honoured, as that the vessels that bring it, are to be had in high estimation, even for their works sake: But the Sacraments are not either of humane authority, as are positive laws, nor of; divine inspiration unto holy men, as were the Scriptures, but they are by so much the more the immediate effects of divine power, by how much they are instituted without the least concurrence of any other instrument; being reached out first unto the Church of God by that immaculate and precious hand, which was it self presently stretched forth on the Cross to embrace the weary and heavy laden. ⟨p. 23⟩Let us not then venture to receive so sacred things with unwashen hands, as matters of mere custom, fashion, or formality. But let us look unto that high authority that ordained them, on that holy mouth that blessed them, on that arm of mercy that exhibits them;
Secondly, we see here with how great reverence we ought to approach Gods Temple, to receive these deep mysteries of Salvation, which it pleas'd Christ in his owne person to institute, and with his owne presence to exhibit unto the Church: was a beast slaine for touching the Mount, and shall not a man of beastly and vile affections,1 bee punished for touching that table where the Lord is present? was Moses to put off his shooes at that bush which represented Gods power, and must not we shake off our earthly and corrupt desires at those mysteries which represent his mercy? were Nadab and Abihu destroyd before the Lord for offring strange fire at his ⟨p. 22⟩Altar, and shall we plead immunity if we present strange soules, and a false faith at his Table? was Adam thrust out of Paradise for his sinne in eating of the tree of knowledge; and shall we escape if we sinne in eating of the bread of life? even unto the institutions of mortall men, though often in their substance needlesse, in their observance difficult, and in their end not much beneficiall, so long as they keep within the compasse of indifferent things, there is requir'd not only our obedience, but our reverence. The word of God, though delivered unto us in earthen vessells, by men of like, weak, and fraile affections with our selves, yet because of that native pretiousnesse which resides in it, and of that derived glory which it brings from the spirit that reveald it, is so farre to be honor'd, as that the vessells that bring it, are to be had in high estimation, even for their works sake: But the Sacraments are not either of humane authority, as are positive lawes, nor of; divine inspiration unto holy men, as were the Scriptures, but they are by so much the more the immediate effects of divine power, by how much they are instituted without the least concurrence of any other instrument; being reach'd out first unto the Church of God by that immaculate and pretious hand, which was it selfe presently stretcht forth on the Crosse to embrace the weary and heavy laden. ⟨p. 23⟩Let us not then venture to receive so sacred things with unwashen hands, as matters of meere custome, fashion, or formality. But let us look unto that high authority that ordayn'd them, on that holy mouth that blessed them, on that arme of mercy that exhibits them;
- 1Heb. 12, 20.
