First; Pious Reader, call to mind, and consider with your self this miserable and mortal Nature; which how void and destitute it is of all things, and how empty of Divine Grace, and laden with iniquities, you cannot be ignorant. Thou who in thy self art a wretched and ⟨p. 420⟩destroyed man, comest to the Banquet, where thou art commanded to take the Sacramental Bread and Cup in the name of him that was slain for thee, and then thou art bid, Eat; for otherwise to what purpose should you hold the Bread in your hands when it is broken, and reached forth unto you, unless it be 1received inwardly for digestion. Eat, saith he, and drink ye all of it; for this is my Body, and this is my Blood, that was shed for you. What was his design in expressing himself thus, but to make us understand, that his Death would be like a great Supper to his whole Church, in which, sinners, that in themselves were wretched and miserable, and empty and hunger-bitten, might be refreshed with an everlasting Feast of fat things, according as the Lord had long since promised by the Prophet 2Isaiah. For as this mortal Life cannot continue without daily nourishment; so neither hope of Eternal Life, nor any other Grace can endure, unless it be supported by Faith in the Lamb of God, and thereby receive spiritual nourishment. 3And therefore unless ye eat, saith he, the flesh of the Son of Man, &c. Whence it is evident, that there is no Justification for miserable sinners, but that which consists in Christ only, who was slain for us. Yea there is no Justification in him neither but by Faith, which receives inwardly, and digests this Bread that came down from Heaven; ⟨p. 421⟩according as we are taught in the Gospel. He that believes in me hath Life eternal; that believing, ye may have life through his name. Unless ye believe that 4I am he, &c. Thy Faith hath made thee whole. Wherefore, there can be no surer demonstration that Faith only justifies, than is held forth in these very words of the Sacrament, whereby the flesh and blood of Christ is represented in that holy Banquet under the similitude of Bread and Wine.
First; Pious Reader, call to mind, and consider with your self this miserable and mortal Nature; which how void and destitute it is of all things, and how empty of Divine Grace, and laden with iniquities, you cannot be ignorant. Thou who in thy self art a wretched and ⟨p. 420⟩destroyed man, comest to the Banquet, where thou art commanded to take the Sacramental Bread and Cup in the name of him that was slain for thee, and then thou art bid, Eat; for otherwise to what purpose should you hold the Bread in your hands when it is broken, and reached forth unto you, unless it be 1received inwardly for digestion. Eat, saith he, and drink ye all of it; for this is my Body, and this is my Blood, that was shed for you. What was his design in expressing himself thus, but to make us understand, that his Death would be like a great Supper to his whole Church, in which, sinners, that in themselves were wretched and miserable, and empty and hunger-bitten, might be refreshed with an everlasting Feast of fat things, according as the Lord had long since promised by the Prophet 2Isaiah. For as this mortal Life cannot continue without daily nourishment; so neither hope of Eternal Life, nor any other Grace can endure, unless it be supported by Faith in the Lamb of God, and thereby receive spiritual nourishment. 3And therefore unless ye eat, saith he, the flesh of the Son of Man, &c. Whence it is evident, that there is no Iustification for miserable sinners, but that which consists in Christ only, who was slain for us. Yea there is no Iustification in him neither but by Faith, which receives inwardly, and digests this Bread that came down from Heaven; ⟨p. 421⟩according as we are taught in the Gospel. He that believes in me hath Life eternal; that believing, ye may have life through his name. Unless ye believe that 4I am he, &c. Thy Faith hath made thee whole. Wherefore, there can be no surer demonstration that Faith only justifies, than is held forth in these very words of the Sacrament, whereby the flesh and blood of Christ is represented in that holy Banquet under the similitude of Bread and Wine.
- 1The glorious resemblance between the Bread of the Sacrament, and the Lords Passion.
- 2Isa. 25.
- 3John 6.Iohn 6.
- 4John 6. John 2. 38. Luke 8.Iohn 6. Iohn 2. 38. Luke 8.
