Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

In the last Place I come to the Ordinance of the Lord Supper: The outward Elements of this Sacrament our Lord Christ took (as Learned Men conceive) from a custom observed among the Jews at the Passover, at the end of the Celebration whereof, the Father of the Family was wont to take a Cake of Bread, and after the blessing thereof to break and distribute it to the Communicants; and also after that a Cup of Wine in like sort, unto which some refer that Cup of Salvation, Psal. 116.13. ⟨p. 376⟩The Bread and Wine among the Jews were but a Customary Rite, but Christ consecrated them into a Sacrament; saying of the Bread, This is my Body; and of the Wine, This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood, which could not before be said of them. In the Paschal Rite, it was only said of the Bread, This is [Greek or Hebrew], the bread of affliction; and of the Cup, This is [Greek or Hebrew] the Cup of the Hymn: But now, This is my Body, and this is my Blood. In this great Ordinance the Body and Blood of Christ are evidently figured out, and set forth before our eyes, as if he were Crucified among us. The seventh General Council at Constantinople, who knocked down all other Images, saith of this Sacrament, That it is Vera Christi Imago, the only true Crucifix or Image of Christ. And which is much more than an Image, the very Body and Blood of Christ are here truly and really, though Spiritually present to our Faith, being exhibited ut epulum faederale, as a Covenant-feast, or Love-banquet, cheering the heart of God and Man. The same Body and Blood, which in the Sacrifice on the Cross were a sweet savour unto God, and satisfied his Justice, are set forth in the Sacrament as meat and drink for our Faith, feeding us to Life Eternal. Here is Epitome Evangelti, a compend of the Gospel, the whole Covenant and Contrivance of Salvation is sealed in a bit of Bread and drop of Wine: Here the Believer meets with many rich Experiments, he feeds and lives upon a Crucified ⟨p. 377⟩Christ, eating his Flesh and drinking his Blood; and what a Feast is this! 'tis much that our Bodies may live upon the Body and Blood of Creatures; but Oh incomparable Grace! Our Souls may live on the Body and Blood of God. One drop whereof, saith Luther, is more worth than Heaven and Earth. Cruci haeremus, sanguinem sugimus, & intra ipsa Redemptoris nostri vulnera figimus linguam, saith St. Cyprian.