THE HOLY Eucharist OR THE MYSTERY OF THE LORDS SUPPER Briefly Explained By THOMAS WATSON Minister of the Gospel The second Impression newly Enlarged Dedit nobis Christus carnem suam in cibum sanguinem in potum animam in pretium aquam lateris in lavacrum Bernard 1 Cor. 10. 21. Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's-Table and the Table of Devils LONDON Printed by A. Maxwel for Thomas Parkhurst at the Golden Bible on London-Bridge next the Gate To the Honourable Vertuous and my ever Honoured Friend Mrs. DOROTHY WOLSTENHOLM Madam BEsides the Cognizance I have had of you when it was my happiness to live among some of your Noble Relations your friendly deportment and the favourable Aspect which you have been pleased to cast upon me hath very much rendred me your Debtor And I knew not what other way to express my self grateful than by presenting yoâ—… with some of that Treasure which through the help of the Spirit I have digged out of the Sacred Mines of Scripture The Tractate which I here dedicate to you is small but the Subject treated on is of eminent and singular worth Pearls may lie in a little room and a soveraign Electuary may be given upon a Knive's point The Supper of the Lord is a matter of weighty importance as having in it the very pith and quintessence of the Gospel Madam Admire distinguishing Grace which hath made you Noble not only in blood but in spiritual Endowments How deeply are you obliged to God who hath given you an insight into the Mystery of Life which will abide with you when the Flower of Beauty shall fade and the Feathers of Honour must lie in the dust Madam let Jesus Christ be ever in your thoughts you are never out of his Let that dear Saviour lie as a bundle of Myrrh between your Breasts delight much in the Galleries where the King of Glory is held Let those hours be counted golden when you are at Free grace's Table and Christ sups with you and you with him I have no more at present to add only desire your Candid Interpretation kind reception of these few impolished lines So entreating the Lord to enrich you with all spiritual and eternal Blessings I take leave and rest Madam Yours to serve you Thomas Watson TO THE Reader Christian Reader VVHEN I Contemplate the Holiness and Solemnity of the blessed Sacrament I cannot but have some awe upon my Spirit and think my self bound to hold this Mystery in the highest Veneration The Elements of Bread and Wine are in themselves common but under these Symbolical Representations lie hid Divine Excellencies Behold here the best of dainties God is in this Cheer Here is the Apple of the Tree of Life Here is The House of Wine where the Banner of Free grace is gloriously displayed In the Sacrament we see Christ broken before us and his broken body is the only comfort for a broken Heart While we sit at this Tabâ—â— Christ's precious Spikenard of merit and grace sends forth its smell The Sacrament is both an healing and a sealing Ordinance Here our Saviour leads his people up the Mount of Transfiguration gives them a Glimpse of Paradise How welcome should this Jubilee of the Soul be wherein Christ appears in the oriency of his beauty and draws the golden 〈◊〉 of his love to the center of a Believer's Heart Oh what Flames of Devotion should burn in our Breasts How agil and nimble should we be mounting up as on Wings of Cherubims when we are to meet the Prince of Glory who brings the Olive-branch of Peace in his mouth and whose kisses leave a print of Heaven upon the Soul The scope of this ensuing Discourse is to raise an high value and appretiation of the Sacrament to Excite Holy Ardours of Soul in such as intend to partake of it Think not That it is enough to be outwardly devout at Gods Table drawing near to him with the lip when the Heart is far from him What is this but with Ephraim to compass God with Lyes They who put off God with bare shews he will put them off with bare signs They who give God only the skin of Duty shall carry away only the shell of Comfort Spirituality is the life of Worship If we come to the Sacrament in due order* we shall see him whom our souls love The Lord will give us a fore-crop here and reserve the after-crop of Glory for the Kingdom of Heaven That this may be effected shall be the earnest prayer of him who is Yours in the Work of the Gospel Thomas Watson THE MYSTERY of the Lords Supper MATT. 26. 26 27 28. And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to his Disciples and said Take eat this is my body And he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the Remission of sins IN these words we have the Institution of the Lords Supper The Greeks call the Sacrament 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Mystery There is in it a Mystery of Wonder and a mystery of Mercy The celebration of the Lords Supper saith St. Chrysostom is the Commemoration of the greatest Blessing that ever the World enjoyed A Sacrament is a Visible Sermon And herein the Sacrament excels the Word Preached The Word is a Trumpet to proclaim Christ the Sacrament is a Glass to represent him Quest. But why was the Sacrament of the Lords Supper appointed is not the Word sufficient to bring us to Heaven Answ. The Word is for the Ingrafting The Sacrament for the Confirming of Faith The Word brings us to Christ The Sacrament builds us up in him The Word is the Font where we are baptized with the Holy Ghost The Sacrament is the Table where we are fed and cherished The Lord condescends to our wâ—…akness Were we made up all of Spirit there were no need of Bread and Wine but we are compounded creatures therefore God to help our Faith doth not only give us an audible Word but a visible Sign I may here allude to that of our Saviour Joh. 4. 48. Except ye see signs ye will not believe Christ sets his Body and Blood before us in the Elements here are Signs else we will not believe Things taken in by the Eye do more work upon us than things taken in by the Ear. A Solemn Spectacle of Mortality doth more affect us than an Oration So when we see Christ broken in the Bread and as it were Crucified before us this doth more affect our Hearts than the bare Preaching of the Cross. So I come to the Text As they were eating Jesus took bread c. Where I shall open these five particulars in reference to the Sacrament 1. The Author 2. The Time 3. The Manner 4. The
and are like Wine that hath lost the spi rits Christs blood hath an elevatinâ—… povver it puts vivacity into us mâ—… king us quick and vegete in our mo tion Isa. 40. 31. They shall mouâ—… up with wings as Eagles 3. Christ's blood is a cleansiâ—… blood Heb. 9. 14. How much morâ—… shall the blood of Christ purge your Coâ—… sciences As the Merit of Christ'â—… blood doth pacifie God so the Veâ—… tue of it doth purifie us It is Balnâ—… um coeleste the King of Heaveâ—… Bath It is Lavacrum animae a Lavâ—… to vvash in It vvashethâ—… crimson sinner milk whiteâ—… 1 Joh. 1. 7. The blood 〈◊〉 Jesus cleanseth us from aâ—… our sin The Word of Goâ—… is a Looking-glass to shew us oâ—… spots the blood of Christ is a fouâ—… tain to vvash them avvay Zac. 12. 1â—… But this blood vvill not vvash if iâ—… be mingled vvith any thing Wateâ—… vvill not vvash clean except it bâ—… mingled with Sope or Camphire â—…ut if we go to mingle any thing with Christ's Blood either the Merits of â—…oints or Prayers of Angels it will â—…ot wash Let Christ's Blood be pure â—…nd unmixed and there is no spot but â—…t will wash away It purged out â—…oahs Drunkenness Lots Incest Inâ—…eed there is one spot so black that Christ's Blood doth not wash away â—…nd that is the Sin against the Holy Ghost not but that there is Vertue â—…nough in Christ's Blood to wash it aâ—…ay but he who hath sinned that â—…n will not be washed he contemns Christ's Blood and tramples it under â—…oot Heb. 10. 29. 4. Christ's Blood is a softning â—…lood There is nothing so hard â—…ut may be softned if it lie a steep 〈◊〉 this blood it will soften a stone â—…ater will soften the Earth but it â—…ill not soften a stone but Christ's â—…lood mollifies a Stone it softâ—…s an Heart of stone It turns a Flint into a Spring The Heaâ—… which before was like a piece hewâ—… out of a Rock being steeped Christ's blood becomes soft aâ—… the waters of Repentance flow froâ—… it How was the Jaylor's Heart diâ—… solved and made tender when thâ—… blood of sprinkling was upon it Aâ—… 16. 30. Sirs What must I do to saved His heart was now like meâ—… ing Wax God might set what Sâ—… and Impression he would upon it 5. Christ's blood is a coolinâ—… blood 1. It cools the Heat of Siâ—… The Heart naturally is full of disteâ—… pered Heat it must needs be hoâ—… being set on fire of Hell It burns iâ—… Lust and Passion Christ's blood aâ—… layes this Heat it quencheth the Iâ—… flammations of Sin 2. It cools thâ—… Heat of Conscience In time of deâ—… sertion Conscience burns with thâ—… heat of God's Displeasure noâ—… Christ's blood being sprinkled upoâ—… the Conscience cools and pacifies it And in this sense Christ is compared to a River of water Isa. 32. 2. When the Heart burns and is in an agony Christ's blood is like water to the fire it hath a cooling refrigerating Vertue in it 6. Christ's blood is a comforting blood it is good against fainting Fits Christ's blood is better than Wine Though Wine chears the Heart of a Man that is well yet it will not chear his Heart when he hath a fit of the Stone or when the Pangs of Death are upon him But Christ's blood will chear the Heart at such a time It is best in affliction it cures the trembling at the Heart A Conscience sprinkled with Christ's blood can like the Nightingale sing with a Thorn at its Breast The blood of Christ can make a Prison become a Palace It turned the Martyrs Flames into Beds of Roses Christ's blood gives comfort at the hour of Death As an Holy Man once said on his Death-bed when they brought him a Julip No Julip like the Blood of Christ 7. Christ's blood is an Heaven procuring blood Israel passed through the red Sea to Canaan So through the red sea of Christ's blood we enter into the Heavenly Canaan Heb. 10. 19. Having boldness therefore to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus Our sins did shut Heaven Christ's blood is the key which opens the gate of Paradise for us Hence it is Theodoret calls the Cross 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Tree of Salvation Because that blood which trickled down the Cross distills Salvation Well then may we prize the blood of Christ and vvith St. Paul determine to know nothing but Christ crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. Kings Crovvns are only Crosses but the Cross of Christ is the only Crovvn 3. Doth Christ offer his Body and blood to us in the Supper Then with what solemn preparation should we come to so sacred an Ordinance It is not enough to do what God hath appointed but as he hath appointed 1 Sam. 7. 3. Prepare your hearts unto the Lord. The Musitian first puts his Instrument in Tune before he plays The Heart must first be prepared and put in Tune before it goes to meet with God in this solemn Ordinance of the Sacrament Take heed of rashness and irreverence If we come not preparedly we do not drink but spill Christ's blood 1 Cor. 11. 27. Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord That is saith Theophylact he shall be judged a shedder of Christ's Blood We read of a wine-Wine-cup of fury in Gods hand Jer. 25. 15. He that comes unpreparedly to the Lords-Supper turns the Cup in the Sacrament into a Cup of fury Oh with what reverence and devotion should we address our selves to these holy Mysteries The Saints are called prepared Vessels Rom. 9. 23. If ever these Vessels should be prepared it is when they are to hold the precious Body and Blood of Christ. The sinner that is damned is first prepared Men do not go to Hell without some kind of preparation Rom. 9. 22. Vessels fitted for destruction If those Vessels are prepared which are filled with wrath much more are those to be prepared who are to receive Christ in the Sacrament Let us dress our selves by a Scripture-glasse before we come to the Lords Table And with the Lamb's Wife make our selves ready Quest. How should we be rightly qualified and prepared for the Lords Supper Answ. If we would come with prepared hearts we must come 1. With Self-examining-hearts 1 Cor. 11. 28. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread It is not enough that others think we are fit to come but we must examine our selves The Greek word to Examine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Metaphor taken from the Goldsmith who doth curiously try his Metals So before we come to the Lords Table we are to make a curious and critical trial of our selves by the Word Self-examination being a reflexive Act is difficult 'T is hard for a man to look inward
wounded hath a double Emphasis either it may signifie that he was pierced through as with a dart or that he was profaned He was used as some common vile thing and Christ might thank us for it He was wounded for our transgressions So that if the question were put to us as was once to Christ Prophesie who is it that smote thee Luk. 22. 64. We might soon answer It was our sins that smote him Our pride made Christ wear a Crown of Thorns as Zipporah said to Moses Exod. 4. 25. A bloody husband art thou to me so may Christ say to his Church A bloody Spouse thou hast been to me thou hast cost me my heart-blood Quest. But how could Christ suffer being God the Godhead is impassible Resp. Christ suffered only in the Humane nature not the Divine Damascen expresseth it by this Simile If one pour water on Iron that is red hot the fire suffers by the water and is extinguished but the Iron doth not suffer So the Humane Nature of Christ might suffer Death but the Divine Nature is not capable of any passion VVhen Christ was in the Humane Nature suffering he was in the Divine Nature triumphing As we wonder at the rising of the Sun of Righteousness in his Incarnation so we may wonder at the going down of this Sun in his Passion Quest. But if Christ suffered only in his Humane Nature how could his suffering satisfie for sin Answ. By reason of the Hypostatical Union the Humane Nature being united to the Divine the Humane Nature did suffer the Divine did satisfie Christs Godhead did give both Majesty and Efficacy to his sufferings Christ was Sacrifice Priest and Altar He was Sacrisice as he was Man Priest as he was God and Man Altar as he was God It is the Property of the Altar to sanctifie the thing offered on it Mat. 23. 19. So the Altar of Christs Divine Nature sanctified the Sacrifice of his Death and made it Meritorious Now concerning Christ's suffering upon the Cross observe two things 1. The Bitterness of it to him He was broken The very thoughts of his Suffering put him into an Agony Luk. 22. 44. Being in an agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was as great drops of blood falling to the ground He was as full of sorrow as his heart could hold Mat. 26. 38. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Christ's Crucifixion was 1. A lingring death It was more for Christ to suffer one hour than for us to have suffered for ever but his death was lengthened out he hung three hours upon the Cross. He dyed many deaths before he could dye one 2. It was a painful Death His Hands and Feet were nailed which parts being full of sinnews and therefore very tender his pain must needs be most acute and sharp and to have the invenoned Arrow of Gods wrath shot to his heart this was the direful Catastrophe and caused that Vociferation and out-cry upon the Cross My God my God why hast thou farsaken me The Justice of God was now inflamed and heightned to its full 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. 38. God spared not his Son Nothing must be abated of the debt Christ felt the pains of Hell though not locally yet equivalently In the Sacrament we see this Tragedy acted before us 3. It was a shameful Death Christ was in medio positus he hung between two Thieves Mat. 27. 38. As if he had been the principal Malefactor Well might the Lamp of Heaven withdraw its light and mask it self with darkness as blushing to behold the Sun of Righteousness in an Eclipse It is hard to say which was greater the blood of the Cross or the shame of the Cross 4. It was a cursed Death Deut. 21. 23. This kind of death was so execrable that Constantine made a Law That no Christian should dye upon the Cross. The Lord Jesus underwent this Gal. 3. 13. Being made a Curse for us He who was God blessed for ever Rom. 9. 5. was under a Curse 2. Consider the Sweetness of it to us Christs Brusing is our Healing Isa. 53. 6. By his stripes we are healed Calvin calls the Crucifixion of Christ Cardo salutis the Hinge on which our Salvation turns And Luther calls it Fons salutis a Gospel-spring opened to refresh Sinners Indeed the Suffering of Christ is a Death-bed Cordial 'T is an Antidote to expell all our fear Doth Sin trouble Christ hath overcome it for us Besides the two Thieves crucified with Christ there were two other invisible Thieves crucified with him Sin and the Devil 4. The fourth Particular in the Institution is Christ's administring the Cup And he took the Cup The taking of the Cup shewed the Redundancy of Merit in Christ and the copiousness of our Redemption Christ was not sparing he gave not only the Bread but the Cup. We may say as the Psalmist With the Lord is plenteous Redemption Psal. 130. 7. If Christ gave the Cup how dare the Papists with-hold it They clip and mutilate the Ordinance They blot out Scripture and may fear that doom Rev. 22. 19. If any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life Quest What is meant by Christs taking the Cup Answ. The Cup is figurative It is a Metonymy of the Subject the Cup is put for the Wine in it By this Christ signified the shedding of his Blood upon the Cross when his Blood was poured out now the Vine was cut and did bleed now was the Lilly of the Vallies dyed of a purple Colour This was to Christ a Cup of astonishment But to us it is a Cup of salvation When Christ drank this Cup of Blood we may truly say he drank an health to the World It was precious Blood 1 Pet. 1. 19. In this Blood we see Sin fully punished and fully pardoned Well may the Spouse give Christ of her Spiced Wine and the Juice of her Pomgranate Cant. 8. 2. When Christ hath given her a draught of his warm Blood Spiced with his Love and perfumed with the Divine Nature 4. The fourth thing is The Guests invited to this Supper or the Persons to whom Christ distributed the Elements He gave to the Disciples and said Take Eat The Sacrament is Chilarens bread If a man makes a Feast he calls his Friends Christ calls his Disciples if he had any piece better than other he carves it to them Luk. 22. 19. This is my body which is given for you That is for you quatenus Believers Christ gave his Body and Blood to the Disciples chiefly under this Notion as they were Believers As Christ poured out his Prayers so his Blood only for Believers see how near to Christ's Heart all Believers lie Christ's Body was broken on the Cross and his
Blood shed for them Rom. 11 7 The Election hath obtained it Christ passed by others and dyed intentionally for them Impenitent Sinners have no Benefit by Christ's Death unless a short Reprieve Christ is given to the wicked in wrath He is a Rock of Offence 1 Pet. 2 8. Christs Blood is like Chymical Drops of Oyl which recover some Patients but kill other Judas sucked Death from the Tree of Life God can turn Stones into Bread and a Sinner can turn Bread into Stones The Bread of Life into the Sâ—…ne of Stumbling 5. The fifth thing observable in the Text is the benefit of this Supper in these Words For the remission of sins This is a mercy of the first Magnitude the Summum genus the crowning blessing Psalm 103. 3 4. Who forgiveth thy iniquities who crowneth thee with loving-kindness Whosoever hath this Charter granted is enrolled in the book of Life Psal. 32. 1. Blâ—…ssed is he whose transgression is forgiven Under this Word remission of sin by a Synecdoche are comprehended all Heavenly Benedictions Justification Adoption Glory in respect of which benefits we may with Chrysostom call the Lords Supper The Feast of the Cross. This Doctrine of the Sacrament confutes the opinion of Transubstantiation When Christ saith This is my body The Papists affirm that the Bread after the Consecration is turned into the Substance of Christ's Body We hold that Christ's Body is in the Sacrament spiritually but the Papists say that it is there carnally which opinion is both Absurd and Impious 1. Absurd For it is contrary 1. To Scripture The Scripture asserts that Christs Body is locally and numerically in Heaven Act. 3. 21. Whom the Heavens must receive until the times of Restitution of all things If Christ's Body be circumscribed in Heaven then it cannot be materially in the Eucharist 2. It is contrary to reason How is it imaginable that a thing should be changed into another Species yet continue the same That the Bread in the Sacrament should be transmuted and turned into Flesh yet remain Bread still When Moses Rod was turned into a Serpent it could not be at the same time both a Rod and a Serpent That the Bread in the Saâ—…rament should be changed into the body of Christ and yet remain Bread is a perfect contradiction If the Papists say The Bread is vanished This is fitter to be put into their Legend than our Creed for the colour form and rellish of the Bread still remains 2. This Opinion of Transubstantiation is impious as appears in two things 1. It is a Profaning Christ's body for if the Bread in the Sacrament be the real body of Christ then it may be eaten not only by the wicked but by Reptils and Vermin which were to disparage and cast contempt upon Christ and his Ordinance 2. It runs men inevitably upon sin for through this mistake that the bread is Christs very body there follows the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Divine Worship given to the bread which is Idolatry as also the offering up of the bread or Host in the Mass which is a blasphemy against Christs Priestly Office as if his Sacrifice on the Cross were imperfect Therefore I conclude with Peter Martyr That this Doctrine of Transubstantiation is to be abhorred and exploded being minted only in mens phancies but not sprung up in the field of the Holy Scriptures 2. This Doctrine of the Sacrament confutes such as look upon the Lords Supper only as an empty Figure or shadow resembling Christ's Death but having no intrinsick efficacy in it Surely this glorious Ordinance is more than an Effigies or representative of Christ Why is the Lords Supper called The Communion of the body of Christ but because in the right celebration of it we have sweet communion with Christ In this Gospel-Ordinance Christ doth not only shew forth his Beauty but send forth his Vertue The Sacrament is not only a Picture drawn but a Breast drawn it gives us a Tast of Christ as well as a Sight Such as make the Sacrament only a representative of Christ do shoot short of the Mystery and come short of the Comfort Use. 2. It informs us of several things 1. It shews us the necessity of coming to the Lords Supper Hath Jesus Christ been at all this cost to make a Feast then sure there must be Guests It is not left to our choice whether we will come or no but it is a Duty purely indispensable 1 Cor. 11. 28. Let him eat of that Bread Which Words are not only permissive but authorative As if a King should say Let it be Enacted The Neglect of the Sacrament runs men into a Gospel-Premunire It was infinite goodness in Christ to broach that blessed Vessel of his body and let his sacred Blood stream out and for us wilfully to omit such an Ordinance wherein the Trophie of mercy is so richly displayed and our salvation so nearly concerned well may Christ take this as an undervaluing of him and interpret it no better than a bidding him keep his feast to himself He that observed not the Passeover that soul was to be cut off Numb 9. 13. How angry was Christ with those that stayed away from the Supper They thought to put it off with a Complement but Christ knew how to construe their excuse for a refusal Luk. 14. 24. None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my Supper The Rejecting Gospel-mercy is a sin of so deep a die that God can do no less than punish it for a Contempt Some need a Flaming Sword to keep them off from the Lord's Table and others need Christ's Whip of small Cords to drive them to it Perhaps Some will say They are above the Sacrament It were strange to hear a man say he were above his Food The Apostles were not above this Ordinance and doth any one presume to be a Peg higher than the Apostles Let all Enthusiasts consult that Scripture 〈◊〉 Cor. 11. 26. As often as ye eat this bread and drink this Cup. ye shew the Lords death till he come The Lords Death is to be remembred Sacramentally til he come to Judgment 2. See the Misery of Unbelievers though the Lord hath appointed this glorious Ordinance of his Body and Blood they reap no benefit by it They come indeed to the Sacrament either to keep up their Credit or to stop the Mouth of Conscience but they get nothing for their Souls They come empty of Grace and go away empty of Comfort Isa. 29. 8. It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty So wicked men fancy they eat of this spritual Banquet but they are in a golden Dream Alas They discern not the Lords body The Manna lay round about Israels Camp and they knew it not Exod. 16. 15. They wist not what it was
Sin and make it appear Ghastly is this It crucified our Lord It made Christ Vail his Glory and lose his Blood If a Woman did see that Sword which killed her Husband how hateful would the sight of it be to her Do we count that Sin Light which made Christ's Soul Heavy unto Death Mark 14. 34. Can that be our joy which made the Lord Jesus a man of sorrows Isa. 53. 3. Did he cry out My God why hast thou forsaken me And shall not those Sins be forsaken by us which made Christ himself forsaken O let us look upon Sin with Indignation When a Temptation comes to Sin let us say as David 2 Sam. 23. 17. Is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives So Is not this the Sin that poured out Christ's Blood Let our Hearts be enraged against Sin When the Senators of Rome shewed the people Caesar's bloody Robe they were incensed against those that slew him Sin hath rent the White Robe of Christs Flesh and dyed it of a Crimson Colour let us then seek to be avenged of our Sins Under the Law if an Oxe gored a Man that he dyed the Oxe was to be killed Exod. 21. 28. Sin hath gored and pierced our Saviour let it dye the Death What pitty is it for that to live which would not suffer Christ to live 6. Was Christ's Body broken Let us then from his suffering on the Cross learn this Lesson Not to wonder much if we meet with Troubles in the World Did Christ suffer who knew no Sin And do we think it strange to suffer who know nothing but Sin Did Christ feel the anger of God And is it much for us to feel the anger of Men Was the Head crowned with Thorns And would the Members lie among Roses Must we have our Bracelets and Diamonds when Christ had the Spear and Nails going to his heart Truly such as are guilty may well expect the lash when he who was innocent could not go free 2. The second Use is of Exhortation and it hath several Branches 1. Was Christ's precious body broken for us Let us be affected with the great goodness of Christ Who can tread upon these hot Coals and his Heart not burn Cry out with Ignatius Christ my Love is crucified If a Friend should dye for us would not our Hearts be much affected with his Kindness That the God of Heaven should dye for us how should this stupendious mercy have a melting influence upon us The body of Christ broken is enough to break the most flinty Heart At our Saviour's Passion the very Stones did cleave asunder Mat 27. 51. The Rocks rent He that is not affected with this hath an Heart harder than the Stones If Saul was so affected with Davids Mercy in sparing his Life 1 Sam. 24. 16. How may we be affected vvith Christs kindness vvho to spare our life lost his ovvn Let us pray that as Christ vvas Crucifixus so he might be Cordi-fixus As he vvas fastened to the Cross so that he may be fastened to our Hearts 2. Is Jesus Christ spiritually exhibited to us in the Sacrament Let us then set an high value and Estimate upon him 1. Let us prize Christs body Every crumb of this bread of life is precious John 6. 55. My flesh is meat indeed It is Panis eximius supersubstantialis as Cyprian calls it The Manna was a lively Type and Emblem of Christ's Body Manna was sweet Exod. 16. 31. The taste of it was like wafers made with honey it was a delicious meat therefore it was called Angels Food for its excellency So Christ the Sacramental Manna is sweet to a Believer's Soul Cant. 2. 3. His fruit was sweet to my taste Every thing of Christ is sweet His Name is sweet his Vertues sweet This Manna sweetens the Waters of Marah Nay Christ's Flesh excells Manna 1. Manna was Food but not Physick If an Israclite had been sick Manna could not have cured him but this blessed Manna of Christ's body is not only for food but for medicine Christ hath healing under his wings Mal. 4. 2. He heals the Blind eve the hard Heart Take this mediâ—…ine next your Heart and it will heal you of all your spiritual Distempers 2. Manna was Corruptible It ceased when Israel came to Canaan But this blessed Manna of Christ's Body will never cease The Saints shall feed with infinite delight and Soul satisfaction upon Christ to all Eternity The Joyes of Heaven would cease if this Manna should cease The Manna was put in a golden Pot in the Ark to be preserved there So the blessed Manna of Christ's Body being put in the golden Pot of the Divine Nature is laid up in the Ark of Heaven for the Saints to feast upon for ever Well then may we say of Christ's blessed Body It is meat indeed The Field of Christ's Body being digged upon the Cross we find the Pearl of Salvation there 2. Let us prize Christ's Blood in the Sacrament It is drink indeed John 6. 55. Here is the Nectar and Anibrosia God himself delights to taste of This is both a Balsom and a Perfume That vve may set the higher value upon the blood of Christ I shall shevv you seven rare supernatural Vertues in it 1. It is a reconciling blood Col. 1. 21. You that were sometime alienated and enemies yet now hath he reconciled through death No sooner vvas the Message brought to King David Uriah is dead 2 Sam. 11. 21. but the anger of David vvas removed No sooner vvas the blood of Christ poured out but God's anger vvas pacified Christ's blood is the blood of atonement Nay it is not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not onely a Sacrifice but a Propitiation 1 John 2. 2. Which denoteth a bringing us into Favour with God It is one thing for a traytor to be pardoned and another thing to be brought into Favour Sin rent us off from God Christ's Blood doth soader and â—…cment us to God If we had had as much grace as the Angels it could not have wrought our Reconciliation If we had offered up Millions of Holocausts and Sacrifices if we â—…ad wept Rivers of Tears this could never have appeased an angry Deiâ—…y only Christ's blood doth ingraâ—…iate us into God's Favour and make him look upon us with a smiling Aspect When Christ dyed the Vail of the Temple was rent This was not without a Mystery to shew that â—…hrough Christ's blood the Vail of our Sins is rent which did interpose between God and us 2. Christ's blood is a quickning â—…lood John 6. 54. Whoso drinketh my blood hath eternal life It both â—…egets life and prevents death Lev. 17. 11. The life of a thing is in the â—…lood Sure enough the life of our â—…oul is in the blood of Christ. When we contract deadness of Heart
Guests 5. The Benefits 1. The Author of the Sacrament Jesus Christ. Jesus took bread To Institute Sacraments belongs of right to Christ and is a Flower of his Crown He only who can give Grace can appoint the Sacraments which are the Seals of Grace Christ being the Founder of the Sacrament gives a Glory and a Luster to it A King making a feast adds the more state and magnificence to it Jesus took bread he whose Name is above every Name God blessed for ever 2. The Time when Christ did institute the Sacrament wherein we may take notice of two Circumstances 1. It was when he had supped Luk. 22. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 After Supper Which had this Mystery in it To shew that the Sacrament is chiefly intended as a spiritual Banquet it is not to indulge the Senses but to feast the Graces It was after Supper 2. The other Circumstance of Time is That Christ did appoint the Sacrament a little before his sufferings 1 Cor. 11. 23. The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread He knew troubles were now coming upon his Disciples it would be no small perplexing to them to see their Lord and Master crucisied and shortly after they must pledg him in a bitter Cup therefore to arm them against such a time and to animate their spirits that very night in which he was betrayed he gives them his Body and Blood in the Sacrament This may give us a good Hint That in all trouble of mind especially approaches of danger it is needful to have recourse to the Lords Supper The Sacrament is both an Antidote against fear and a Restorative to faith The night in which Christ was betrayed he took Bread 3. The Manner of the Institution wherein there are four things observable 1. The Taking of bread 2. The Breaking it 3. The Blessing it 4. The Administring the Cup. 1. The Taking of the Bread Jesus took bread Quest. What is meant by this Phrase He took bread Answ. Christ's taking and separating the bread from common uses did hold forth a double Mystery 1. It signified that God in his Eternal Decree set Christ apart for the work of our Redemption He was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Separate from sinners Heb. 7. 26. 2. Christ's setting the Elements apart from common Bread and Wine shewed That he is not for common Persons to feed on They are to be divinely purified who touch these holy things of God they must be outwardly separated from the World and inwardly sanctified by the Spirit Quest. Why did Christ take Bread rather than any other Element Answ. 1. Because it did prefigure Him Christ was typified by the Shew bread 1 King 7. 48. By the Bread which Melchisedeck offered unto Abraham Gen. 14. 18. And by the Cake which the Angel brought to Elias 1 Kings 19. 4. Therefore he took Bread to answer the Type 2. Christ took bread because of the Analogy Bread did neerly resemble him John 6. 48. I am that bread of life There is a threefold resemblance 1. Bread is useful Other comforts are more for delight than use Musick delights the ear colourâ—… the eye but Bread is the staff of Life So is Christ useful There is no subsisting without him John 6. 57. He that eateth me even he shall live by me 2. Bread is satisfying If a man be hungry bring him Flowrs or Pictures they do not satisfie but bread doth satiate So Jesus Christ the bread of the soul satisfies he satisfies the eye with beauty the heart with sweetness the conscience with peace 3. Bread is strengthening Psal. 104. 15. Bread which strengthens mans heart So Christ the bread of the soul transmits strength He strengthens us against temptations he gives strength for doing and suffering Work He is like the Cake the Angel brought to the Prophet 1 Kings 19. 8. He arose and did eat and went in the strength of that meat forty dayes and forty nights unto Horeb the Mount of God 2. The second thing in the Institution is Christs blessing of the bread He blessed it This was the Consecration of the Elements Christ by his Blessing sanctifyed them and made them Symbols of his Body and Blood Christ's consecrating of the Elements points out three things 1. Christ in blessing the Elements opened the nature of the Sacrament to the Apostles He did unriddle this Mystery Christ did advertise them That as sure as they did receive the Elements corporeally so sure they did receive him into their hearts spiritually 2. Christ's blessing the Elements signified his prayer for a Blessing upon the Ordinance He prayed that these Symbols of Bread and Wine might through the Blessing and Operation of the Holy Ghost sanctifie the Elect and seal up all spiritual mercies and priviledges to them 3. Christ's blessing the Elements was his giving thanks So it is in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He gave thanks 1. Christ gave thanks that God the Father had in the infinite riches of his Grace given his Son to expiate the Sins of the World And if Christ gave thanks how may we give thanks If he gave thanks who was to shed his blood how may we give thanks who are to drink it 2. Christ gave thanks that God had given these Elements of Bread and Wine not only to be signs but seals of our Redemption As the Seal serves to make over a conveyance of Land so the Sacrament as a spiritual Seal serves to make over Christ and Heaven to such as worthily receive it 3. The third thing in the Institution is the Breaking of the Bread He brake it This did shadow out Christ's Death and Passion with all the Torments of his Body and Soul Isa. 53. 10. It pleased the Lord to bruise him VVhen the Spices are bruised then they send forth a sweet savour So when Christ was bruised on the Cross he did send out a most fragant smell Christ's body crucifying was the breaking open a Box of precious oyntment which did fill Heaven and Earth with its perfume Quest. But why was Christs body broken What was the cause of his suffering Answ. Surely not for any desert of his own Dan. 9. 26. The Mesfiah shall be cut off but not for himself In the Original it is He shall be cut off and there is nothing in him There is no cause in him why he should suffer The high Priest when he went into the Tabernacle offered first for himself Heb. 9. 7. Though he had his Mitre or golden Plate and did wear holy Garments yet he was not pure and innocent he must offer sacrifice for himself as well as for the people But Jesus Christ that great High Priest though he offered a bloody Sacrifice yet not for himself Why then was his blessed body broken Answ. It was for our sins Isa. 53. 6. But he was wounded for our transgressions The Hebrew word for
believeth not is condemned already The Arminians dream of Universal Redemption Christ dying intentionally for all The Brazen Serpent was made a Type of Christ now the Brazen Serpent cured not all persons only them that looked upon it So those who either through ignorance or stubbornness look not on Christ by Faith have no benefit by him 2. In case the people of Israel had not looked upon this Serpent Alone if they had set up another Brazen Serpent by this and looked upon both they had not received a cure So after God hath set up Christ to be a Saviour if any shall presume to set up another Saviour by him as the Papists who look partly to Christ and partly to their Merits they can receive no sanative vertue from him For us of the Protestant perswasion to look upon our duties equally with Christ our prayers and tears as expecting they should merit salvation this is to make two Brazen Serpents to set up two Christs and then we cannot be cured We are to use duties but to look beyond them to Christ. They are good duties but bad Christ's If we trust to our duties for salvation they will be Fiery Serpents to sting us not Brazen Serpents to heal us 3. In case the Brazen Serpent was set up upon a Pole if Israel had looked only upon their sting and not upon the Serpent they had not been cured So if we look only upon our Sins and through despair look not up to Christ vve have no healing from him To keep avvay from Christ because of our sins is a disparagement to Christ as if there were more malignity and poyson in sin then vertue in this Brazen Serpent Indeed vve must look with one eye upon sin but vvith another eye upon Christ. Look on sin vvith a penitent eye and on Christ vvith a believing eye Weep for sin that slevv Christ but hope in the Lamb slain 4. In case Israel had looked upon the Brazen Serpent yet if it had been vvith an eye of scorn or contempt as despising that remedy God had provided they had not been cured Jesus Christ is lifted up but if he be looked upon as the Jews looked upon him vvhen he hung on the Cross vvith an eye not of reverence but disdain he vvill not cure The blasphemous Socinians look upon Christ only as a meer man and his blood not satisâ—…ory or meritorious these cannot be â—…ved by him Isa. 53. 3. He is despised of Men. To these he is not a Brazen Serpent but a consuming fire 5. The Brazen Serpent resembled Christ in the issue and result of it He who looked on the Serpent had an infallible cure So he that can but look wishly on Christ by Faith is certainly savâ—…d Joh. 3. 14. Whosoever believeth on him shall not penish Our misery at first came in by the eye looking upon the apple undid us but looking on Christ aright saves us 2. I shall show the Transcendencies of Christ the Spiritual Brazen Serpent above that in the Wilderness 1. The Brazen Serpent was inanimate it could repair life not infuse life But Jesus Christ gives life to the World Joh. 6. 33. Yea a never-dying life Joh. 3. 15. Eternal life Life is sweet but this word Eternal makes it sweeter 2. The Brazen Serpent could cure only a sting in the body The Lord Jesus heals a more deadly sting in our souls Psal. 103. 3. So deep were these wounds that they could not be healed but by deeper wounds made in Christ's side He was fain to die to cure us 3. The Brazen Serpent could cure only those who were within sight of it such as were afar off and in remote parts of the Wilderness had not their sting removed But Jesus Christ cures none but them who are afar off Jer. 2. 5. They are gone far from me The East is not so far from the West as the sinner is from God but herein appears the vertue of our Spiritual Brazen Serpent he heals none but them who are afar off Such as are not only aliens but rebells that live in the Devil's Territories Christ works a cure upon them and turns them from the power of satan Act. 26. 18. 4. The Brazen Serpent cured them that looked on it but if they had wanted the organ of fight there had been no cure for them What would a poor blind Israelite have done but Christ our Brazen Serpent not only cures us when we look upon him but if we want our sight he enables us to look upon him Christ not only saves us when we believe but he gives us power to believe Ephes. 2. 8. Christ anoints us with the eye-salve of his Spirit that we may look up and looking up we are cured Use. 1. Information 1 Branch In this Mystery of the Brazen Serpent see by what improbable means God doth sometimes effect great things What was a Brazen Serpent What likelihood that this should heal one that was stung it was a meer Image a shape and this not applyed to the wound but only beheld and looked upon yet this wrought a cure Reason would with Sarah have laughed at this A bitter Tree cast into the vvaters did dulcifie and make themsweet to drink of Clay and spittle cured the blind man vve vvould rather think it should put out ones eyes that did see What is there in the Rainbovv to prevent a deluge What is Bread and Wine in the Sacrament that these Elements should be consecrated to such an high mystery as to be a symbol of Christ's Body and Blood What more strange then that a dead man should quicken the vvorld but God loves to amuse and non-plus human vvisdom and bring great things to pass by vveak contemptible means 1 Cor. 1. 27 28. This the Lord doth 1. That his Glory may shine forth the more The less appears in outvvard means the more of God is seen The less beauty and splendor is in the Load-stone the more the virtues of it are admired And the less outward Pomp is in the instrument the more Gods wisdom energy is manifested 2. God would have the World see what power is in his Institution God appointed the Brazen Serpent therefore a word of Blessing went along with it to heal Psal. 107. 20. He sent forth his word and bealed them In the blessed Sacrament we are to look above the Elements a word of Blessing goes along with God's Institution to make this Ordinance effectual for the sealing up of Christ and all his benefits to us 2. Bran. In this Mystery of the Brazen Serpent see what infinite need we stand in of Christ. What would a stung Israelite have done without a Brazen Serpent if Balm be needful for one that is wounded if an antidote be needful for one that is poysoned then Christ the Brazen serpent is needful for a soul stung with sin Yea and what need have we to look often upon Christ in the