Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Haustu interiori in a Spiritual Mystical way, we do in this Ordinance cleave to Christs. Cross, suck his precious Blood, and as it were fasten our Tongues within his healing Wounds. Whilst the Bread and Wine are Physically and Carnally united to us, we are Mystically and Hyperphysically united to Christ, becoming Members of his Body, of his Flesh, and of his Bones; Spiritually dwelling in him and he in us, The same holy Spirit, which is upon him in Heaven, falling down upon us on Earth; and the Faith which is in us here below, ascending up to clasp and embrace him. In sinu Christi recumbimus, in cor Christi introspicimus, saith Luther; We lie in his bosom, and look into his heart. In our Pardon sealed we taste the sweetness of his atoning Blood, and in the effusion of the holy Spirit we drink at the fountainhead of Grace sprung up in his Humane Nature. We have here the whole Covenant or Charter of Grace sealed to us, and may believe not only ex promisso but ex pignore: Over and above the Promise we have a pawn or pledge of the Truth thereof. We saw not the inspired ⟨p. 378⟩Prophets and Apostles penning down the Promises, but Ecce Signum, lo here is a visible sign and seal set thereunto; and sense leads in Faith to claim and possess them for its own: Hence our Saviour calls the Cup, the New Testament in his Blood, Luk. 22.20. The Cup (saith Luther) contains the Wine, the Wine exhibits the Blood of Christ, the Blood of Christ natifies the New Govenant, and the New Covenant promises remission of Sins, and with it a vast treasure of Blessings. Again, we have here the rich anointings of the holy Spirit. Among the Oriental Nations, and in particular among the Jews, there was Unctio convivalis, a Festival Unction, which they used as a token of welcome to pour on the head of their Guests: Thus there came unto Christ a Woman having an Alabaster box of very precious Ointment, and poured it on his head as he sate at meat, Mat. 26.7. Whilst we are at the Lords-Table, we are anointed with fresh Oil; the holy Spirit is poured out in richer measures of Grace and Comfort, than it was at first. As a Spirit of Grace and Supplication it melts the Heart into godly sorrows at the sight of a Crucified Christ: Sin being indeed the Jew and Judas, the betrayer and murderer of the Son of God; the Nails in his Cross, and Spear in his Side;