But the form, how the Holy Ghost makes the Body of Christ, being absent from us in place, to be present with us by our union, S. Paul terms a† great mystery, such as our understanding cannot worthily comprehend. The Sacramental Bread and Wine therefore are not bare signifying signs, but such as wherewith Christ doth indeed exhibit and give to every worthy Receiver *not only his divine virtue and efficacy, but also his very Body and Blood, as verily as he gave to his Disciples the Holy Ghost, by the sign of his sacred breath, or health to the diseased, by the Word of his mouth, or touch of his hand or garment. And the apprehension by faith is more forcible than the exquisitest comprehension of Sense or Reason. To conclude this point, this holy Sacrament is that blessed Bread, which being eaten, opened the eyes of thea Emavites that they knew ⟨p. 324⟩Christ. This is that Lordly Cup, by which bwe are all made to drink into one Spirit. This is that Rock flowing with choney, that reviveth the fainting spirits of every true Jonathan, that tastes it with the mouth of Faith. This is thatd barley loaf, which tumbling from above, strikes down the tents of the Midianites of infernal darkness. Elijah's Angelicale Cake and Water preserved him forty days in Horeb: andf Manna (Angels food) fed the Israelites forty years in the wilderness: but this is thatg true Bread of life, and heavenly Manna, which if we shall duly eat, will nourish our souls for ever unto lifeh eternal. How should then our Souls make unto Christ that request from a spiritual desire, which the Capernaites did from a carnal motion?i Lord, evermore give us this bread?
But the form, how the Holy Ghost makes the Body of Christ, being absent from us in place, to be present with us by our union, S. Paul terms a† great mystery, such as our understanding cannot worthily comprehend. The Sacramental Bread and Wine therefore are not bare signifying signs, but such as wherewith Christ doth indeed exhibite and give to every worthy Receiver *not only his divine virtue and efficacy, but also his very Body and Blood, as verily as he gave to his Disciples the Holy Ghost, by the sign of his sacred breath, or health to the diseased, by the Word of his mouth, or touch of his hand or garment. And the apprehension by faith is more forcible than the exquisitest comprehension of Sense or Reason. To conclude this point, this holy Sacrament is that blessed Bread, which being eaten, opened the eyes of thea Emauites that they knew ⟨p. 324⟩Christ. This is that Lordly Cup, by which bwe are all made to drink into one Spirit. This is that Rock flowing with choney, that reviveth the fainting spirits of every true Jonathan, that tasts it with the mouth of Faith. This is thatd barley loaf, which tumbling from above, strikes down the tents of the Midianites of infernal darkness. Elias's Angelicale Cake and Water preserved him forty days in Horeb: andf Manna (Angels food) fed the Israelites forty years in the wilderness: but this is thatg true Bread of life, and heavenly Manna, which if we shall duely eat, will nourish our souls for ever unto lifeh eternal. How should then our Souls make unto Christ th•t request from a spiritual desire, which the Capernaites did from a carnal motion?
- †Eph. 5. 32
- *Ego tunc nos demum participare Christi bonis agnosco postquam Christum ipsum obtinemus. Obtinetur non tantum quum pro nobis factum fuisse victimam credimus: sed dum in nobis habitat, dum ejus sumus membra, ex carne ejus, dumb in unem denique & vitam & substantiam (ut ita loquar) cum ipso coalescimus. Calv. ibid.Ego tunc nos demum participare Christi bonis agnosco postquam Christum ipsum obtinemus. Obtinetur non tantum quum pro nobis factum fuisse victimam credimus: sed dum in nobis habitat, dum ejus sumus membra, ex carne ejus, dum in unem denique & vitam & substantiam (ut ita loquar) cum ipso coalescimus. Calv. ibid.
- aLuke 24. 30, 31.
- b1 Cor. 12. 13.
- c1 Sam. 14. 27.
- dJudg. 7. 13,
- e1 King. 19 6, 7, 8.
- fPsal. 78. 24, 25. Exod. 16. 35.
- gJoh. 6. 32, 35, 49, 50.
- hJoh. 6. 51, 58.
- iJoh. 6. 34.
