Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending…

To this Mr. Blake saith [1. Metaphors are ill Materials, to make up into Syllogisms.] Repl. 1. They are such as Christ used John 6. and frequently in Reasoning; and therefore I am resolved to believe they are good Materials. 2. We must use Metaphors, or no words in some of the greatest Points in Divinity (about God) 3. We cannot easily find fitter terms here then [New B•rth, Life and Food.] And if you had rather have many words then one, change [Food into special means of continuing or increasing our New Life.] But this is a long term for a Syllogism.

To this Mr. Blake saith [1. Metaphors are ill Materials, to make up into Syllogisms.] Repl. 1. They are such as Christ used John 6. and frequently in Reasoning; and therefore I am resolved to believe they are good Materials. 2. We must use Metaphors, or no words in some of the greatest Points in Divinity (about God) 3. We cannot easily find fitter terms here then [New B•rth, Life and Food.] And if you had rather have many words then one, change [Food into special means of continuing or encreasing our New Life.] But this is a long term for a Syllogism.

[2. Saith Mr. Blake, A difference may be put between ordinary and quickening food] Repl. You should have told us your difference, & how it concerneth our case, if you would have had us taken notice of it. [3. He saith, The word gives new Food, and yet supposeth not new life, 1 Pet. 1.•.] Rep. The clean contrary is the scope of the Text you cite. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. The Word therefore as Food, doth suppose new Birth, and Life. Christ as our first life ⟨p. 128⟩is given in the Word to those that had not life before; but Christ as our Food is given after both in the Word and Sacrament.