A27016:905
A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…
A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Francis Tyton, 1662
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
An unbeliever knoweth not what transactions there are between the Lord and a holy soul in this Ordinance, where the appearances are so small. A bit of bread and a sup of wine are indeed small matters: But so is not this Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. What a comfort is it that the offended Majesty will accept a sacrifice at our hands, and enter a treaty of Peace with the offenders? Yea that he will provide the sacrifice himself, and the preciousest in the whole world: that he will signify this his acceptance of the sacrifice, and how he is pleased in his well-beloved Son! and that he accepteth his Sons Intercession in the Heavens, and his Ministers intercession, and his Churches prayers on earth through Christ! Seeing Christ […] be glorified with his Father, and not continue visible among […] what could we desire more from him, then the three fold Re•••sentative which he hath left behind him, to supply the room •• his Bodily presence! Even the Representation of himself by […], by his Ministers, and by the Holy Ghost, which is […] substitute within for the efficacy of all. O what unspeakable ⟨p. 292⟩mysteries and treasures of mercy are here-presented to us in a Sacrament! Here we have Communion with a Reconciled God, and are brought into his presence by the great Reconciler. Here we have Communion with our blessed Redeemer, as Crucified, and Glorified, and offered to us, as our quickening, preserving, strengthening Head: Here we have Communion with the Holy Ghost, applying to our souls the benefits of Redemption, drawing us to the Son, and communicating light, and life, and strength from him unto us: increasing and actuating his graces in us. Here we have Communion with the Body of Christ, his sanctified people, the heirs of life: When the Minister of Christ by his Commission Representeth a Crucified Christ to our eyes, by the Bread and Wine appointed to this use, we see Christ Crucified as it were before us; and our Faith layeth hold on him, and we perceive the Truth of the Remedy; and build our souls upon this Rock. When the same Minister by Christs Commission, doth offer us his Body, and Blood, and Benefits, it is as firm and valid to us, as if the mouth of Christ himself had offered them:
An unbeliever knoweth not what transactions there are between the Lord and a holy soul in this Ordinance, where the appearances are so small. A bit of bread and a sup of wine are indeed small matters: But so is not this Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. What a comfort is it that the offended Majesty will accept a sacrifice at our hands, and enter a treaty of Peace with the offendours? Yea that he will provide the sacrifice himself, and the preciousest in the whole world: that he will signifie this his acceptance of the sacrifice, and how he is pleased in his well-beloved Son! and that he accepteth his Sons Intercession in the Heavens, and his Ministers intercession, and his Churches prayers on earth through Christ! Seeing Christ be glorified with his Father, and not continue visible among what could we desire more from him, then the three fold Resentative which he hath left behind him, to supply the room his Bodily presence! Even the Representation of himself by , by his Ministers, and by the Holy Ghost, which is substitute within for the efficacy of all. O what unspeakable