Selected quad for the lemma: body_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
body_n	head_n	member_n	mystical_a	10,566	5	10.6497	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A12509	Christs Last Supper or the doctrine of the Sacrament of Christs Supper, set forth in fiue sermons Wherein is taught the great necessitie of a godly preparation, before men come to the Sacrament. Wherein it doth consist: with the condemnation threatned against the vnvvorthy receiuer of the same. By Samuel Smith, minister of Gods word at Prittlewell, in Essex.; Christs Last Supper.	Smith, Samuel, 1588-1665.	1620 (1620)	STC 22837; ESTC S106152	104,748	388

of ●ryall tribulation Sicknesse and ●ther aduersitie to consider ●hat howsoeuer by sicknesse per●ecution imprisonment c they ●ay bee kept from partaking of ●is holy banquet they cannot ●e kept from partaking of Christ ●y faith and howsoeuer they ●ay be seperated from the con●regation and societie of the faithful yet they haue stil a secret and sweete fellowship societie with Christ their head who will accept of the will for the deede and answer the desires of their Soules when they cannot come vnto his ordinance with a gracious supply of his owne spirit Now as we haue heard what it is to eate Christ viz. to beleeue in Christ and that it is a priuiledg that belongs only vnto the faithfull so to doe So now we are to obserue our spirituall vnion which by this meanes wee shall haue with Christ The Godly haue communion with Christ in this Sacrament For this word Eate and Drinke serues to set out vnto vs our Spirituall vnion and communion that we haue with Christ being made now bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh That as verily as wee see and feele our bodyes to bee nourished and fed by the outward elements So euen so vndoubtedly are our soules likewise nourished strengthened by the body and bloud of Iesus Christ applyed by Faith So as the true beleeuer becomes now assured that Christ Iesus with all the merits of his death and passion becomes to be his righteousnesse and obedience and doth ●ruly belong vnto him seeing Christ is his Euen as truly as Bread and Wine is turned into his substance and becomes his so Christ and his benefites becomes ●is likewise Christ in this Sacrament doth giue the true beleeuer a sure possession of himselfe So that the Instruction Doct. 5 that doth arise hence to the ●ndlesse comfort of euery true ●eleeuer is That Christ Iesus in this Sa●rament of his Supper doth giue vnto the true beleeuer a sure possession of himselfe And heereby wee come to bee ingrafted into Christ and to haue a spiritual being in him So that as the spirituall eateing of Christ consisteth in faith by the which the true beleeuer doth truly partake of Christ so doth it in a consequent and effect of faith which is our spirituall vnion and coniunction we haue with Christ And this the Apostle calleth a Great mistery Speaking of Christ and his Church Ephe. 5.32 for what vnion can be greater or stronger then that which is betweene the thing nourshing and the thing nourished The cup of blessing saith Paul which we blesse is it not the communion of the bloud of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 And the bread which we breake is it not the communion of the body of Christ And the Bread and wine are not onely pleadges of what shall bee bestowed vpon ●s but effectuall meanes to con●erre exhibite the things promised vnto vs. Yet what can be ●earer vnto vs then our Meate ●nd Drinke Wee can haue no ●reater interest into any thing ●hen in our foode for that is part ●f our selues and turnes into our ●ery substance and there is no ●●e member of the body but ●ceiues life and strength from ● what then can more liuely ex●resse this vnion and coniuncti●n that wee haue with Christ then ●read and Wine in this Sacra●ent doth ● am not ignorant how the spi● of God in the Scripture doth ●der diuers similitudes labour ● set out this our vnion and coniunction with Christ as by the Similitude of a Marriage the strongest coniunction tha● can be betwixt any By a building whereof Christ is the foundation By a tree whereof Chri● is the Roote wee the branches Nay more which is strange the● is scarce two things in nature come to bee made one But th● spirit of God in some one plac● or other doth borrowe a comparison from the same to expres● our vnion and communion tha● wee haue with Christ But amongst al other things none ca● more liuely set out the same vnt● vs then this Sacrament doth where Christ doth in a most liuely manner communicate himselfe vnto the true beleeuer 〈◊〉 the which he comes to be tran●formed and trans-changed int● into the Godly Nature 2. Pet. 1.4 making vs one with himselfe Obiect But Christ is in heauen and we are vpon earth how then can ●t bee that wee are vnited vnto him Answ I answere that though Christ ●e in heauen and we on earth ●o distance of place can hinder his vnion inasmuch as it is spi●ituall and so hath Christ promi●ed to be present with hi● church ●nto the end of the world Ioh. 14. spiri●ally We may see this to bee ●eare by the members of Christs ●ysticall body howsoeuer they ●e scattered and dispersed tho●wout the whol earth and haue ●uer seene each other yet are ●otwithstanding knit together ● the bond of one spirit into an ●ly Communion Note and haue in ●em a fellow feeling of the miseries one of another Then why should wee doubt but that the head and members of this mysticall body are also one by the same spirite though Christ be in heauen and wee vpon earth There needes not any corporall presence for the effecting of this vnion his spirite is sufficient while we abide heere which is giuen to all that truely beleeue Now from this ground of a Christian mans vnion with Chris● there proceedes many comforts Comforts arising from our vnion with Christ First then seeing we are vnite● vnto Christ and made one wit● him heere-hence ariseth a not●ble comfort That the Lord Iesus Christ 1 Comfort who sanctified o● Nature that hee might assum● it hee will also sanctifie vs i● asmuch as hee hath vnited vs vnto himselfe It is not so leaft vnto vs to doe as that the Lord Iesus Christ will bee a meere patient but hee hath taken it into his owne hand to perfourme Moses may marry an AEthiopian but hee cannot change her colour but the Lord Iesus Christ shall make to himselfe a glorious Church Eph. 5.27 not hauing spot nor wrinkle And from him shal we haue such a garment as shall couer all our nakednesse from Gods sight Euen Christ our righteousnesse who being vnited vnto vs and we vnto him shal couer vs therwith For shall the woman in the Gospell but touch Christs garment be cured and ●hal we be incorporated into his body Mat. 9.20 and made one with him and not haue the running sores of our corruptions stayd and more and more solued in vs by the worke of Gods Spirite that is in vs. 2 Comfort Secondly we haue by our vnion with Christ a communion of estates for being vnited vnto him he must needes be touched with compassion of our infirmities This is clearely to be seene in a naturall body as the Apostle witnesseth 1. Cor. 12.16 If one member suffer all suffer with it The foote cannot be payned but the head is affected with it one finger cannot

ake but al the body suffers payn Euen so it fares in this mysticall body He that toucheth you touch the apple of mine eye Zach. 2.8 There being a most sweete and secret sympathy betwixt Christ and his members so as to persecute them is to persecute him Act. 9.4 Mat. 25.40 he still partaking with them in their weale or woe a sweete comfort Thirdly we haue by vertue of this vnion and coniunction with Christ 3 Comfort a most certaine assurance of the resurrection of these our bodies to life eternal for so saith the Apostle Rom. 8.11 If the spirite of him that raysed vp Iesus from the dead dwel in you he that raysed vp Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies by his Spirite that dwelleth in you And this is likewise confirmed by that of our Sauiour where he sayth Ioh. 6.33.54.58 Whosoeuer eateth my flesh and drinketh my ●loud hath eternall life and I will ●ayse him vp at the last day What ●hough these bodies of ours for ● time doe tast corruption they ●hall not perish in corruption Trees and plants of the earth in ●he winter season appeare like dead trees without leaues or fruite but in the Spring time they budde blossome and bring forth And the reason is because of that vnion and coniunction which they haue with the roote where lies the Sappe all the Winter season Euen so by vertue of our vnion and coniunction we haue with Christ these decayd bodies of ours shall one day rise againe and that to life eternall where we shall euer enioy the Lord. And last of all this our vnion with Christ 4 Comfort vvhat doeth it but assure vs of the grace of perseuerance that we shall holde out firme and constant vnto the ende so as the gates of hell shall neuer preuaile against vs. And the reason is cleare Mat 16.16 Rom. 11.18 VVee beare not the Roote the Roote beareth vs. VVee are fast knit vnto him that is the Lorde of Life Wee are built vpon a sure foundation Ephes 2.20 Christ himselfe beeing the chiefe Corner stone And Because I am not changed therefore yee are not consumed Oh yee Sons of Iacob And surely in time of temptation this is a sure stay vnto Gods people to consider the manifold priuiledges that follow such as are vnited vnto Christ Now the vse in a word Vse Seeing the godly are thus knit vnto Christ and haue such an vnion and coniunction with him it shews as the happy and blessed estate of all those that are thus vnited vnto Christ in regarde of their manifold priuiledges they enioy by him So the miserable estate and condition of such as are left in their olde sinnes as wild Oliues not plucked vp and planted into the stocke Christ Their nature is not change Christ partakes not with them in their sufferings but the same is inflicted as a iudgment of God vpon them Little comfort can such haue in their life whose hope and glory is but vaine and dyeth with them if not before them Lesse comfort in death inasmuch as Iudgement doeth follow Heb. 9.27 and they are then to giue vp their account vnto God Poore soules if such onely bee happy and blessed who haue the Lord for their God and are thus knit vnto him oh where shal the vngodly and sinner appeare that are solyable vnto al miseries crosses and curses in this life hereafter to bee separated for euer from his glorious presence But of this before And thus much for the first circumstance what it is to Eate and what to Drinke The second fol●oweth and that is what we eate ●nd what we drinke Of this Bread Of this Cup. It is Bread then that we eate 2 Circumstance what it is that we Eate and Drinke ●nd it is Wine that wee drinke ●wo of the most excellent creatures ●hat God ordained for the vse 〈◊〉 comfort of mans life the one ● strengthen mans heart The o●er to glad mans heart For vse ●nd comfort what would wee ●aue more and therefore of all ●her creatures the fittest for ●ch an holy vse Teaching vs ●us much Doct. 6 That the true beleeuer that ●rtakes of Christ Christ euery way a sufficient Sauiour vnto the elect as euery true ●●leeuer doth in this Sacrament shall find him euery way a sufficient Sauiour whatsoeuer our wants are wee shall here finde a Supply made vnto them all for the weake here is Bread to strengthen them For the sorrowfull here is Wine to comfort them And thus doth the Lord by his prophet Esay make a free and a large profer of his heauenly graces vnto his Church yea such good things as shall make a Supply vnto all our wants H●e euery one that thirsteth Esay 55.1 come ye vnto the waters And ye that haue no siluer come buy and eate come I say buy Wine and Milke without money c. Whereby Wine and Milke c. are to bee vnderstood the graces of Gods spirit yea such good things as wil fit euery man● turne according to their seuerall necessities Some haue Sorrowfull hearts for such he hath wine to comfort them Some are Babes for such hee hath Milke to nourish them Others are feeble ●nd weake for such hee hath Bread to strengthen them ●thers are grown Christians and ●espect their pleasure and vnto ●hem hee hath Let your Soule de●ght in fatnesse So that Christ is all ● all vnto all Col. 1.19 for so saith the A●ostle It pleased the Father that in ●m should all fulnesse dwell And ●his fulnesse wee all receiue grace ●r grace Mat. 1.21 Hee is Iesus a Sauiour ●●d shall saue his people from their ●nes Hee is the way the truth 1. Cor. 10.3.4 ●●d the life and there is saluation ● none other Say wee then ●th the Apostle Lord whether ●ll we goe thou hast the words of ●rnall life It shall little auaile to goe to Saints or Angels or the Virgin Mary to procure a pardon from the Pope indulgence c. in asmuch as for al our wants of what nature soeuer here we may haue supply The reasons followes Reason 1 For first the Lord Iesus Christ he hath satisfied the law fully in the rigor thereof by his death hath remoued the curse euen that iudgement that was due for sinne As also by his obedience merited our peace and procured the blessing So that now we may safely reason with the Apostle If when we were enemies wee were reconciled vnto God by the death o● his Sonne Rom. 5.10 how much more being reconciled we shall be saued by his life The reason is cleare Reason 2 Secondly God the Father i● he that was offended with mankinde for his disobedience and he it is that threatneth the curse an● ●●flicteth the punishment now ●ath not he appoynted his own ●onne to bee our peace-maker ●● worke-mans reconciliation ●nd to make Attonment for vs ●ow then can he but be

vs If our bowels and intrals should be in danger to rot within vs Note for receiuing this Sacrament vnworthily would it no● make vs looke about vs And what shall we no way regard● what the Lorde hath heer● threatened that Hee that eatet● and drinketh vnworthily eateth an● drinketh his owne damnation Th● were a pittifull folly The Lor● open our eyes at the last to see our misery heerein and giue vs hearts truely to be humbled for our sinne Hitherto of the persons and their punishment we come now to the last circumstance and that is the ground and cause of the punishment Not discerning the Lords body In these wordes the Apostle comes to lay downe the cause of the aforesaide punishment why men doe by their vnworthy receiuing eate and drinke iudgement vnto themselues That is hale downe some iudgment or other vpon themselues temporal here or eternall hereafter the reason is Because they discerne not the Lords body The meaning is they put no difference betweene these Sacramental elements and other common Bread and Wine They doe not consider that the Bread and Wine now sanctified and set apart for such an holy vse differs from common Bread and Wine as signifying and representing vnto vs the body and bloud of Christ and are as signes and seales to confirme vnto vs all those precious promises that God hath made vnto vs in his Sonne Quest Heere then it will bee first asked what it is to Discerne the Lords body Answ I answere the originall word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heere vsed signifieth to seuer something and to set it apart from the common vse and accompt and to esteeme of it more highly and honourably then we doe of other things and accordingly to vse it And so the same worde is vsed else-where Haue compassion on some sinners Iude. 22. and put a difference That is put a difference between such as truly repent and such as be impenitent So againe 1. Cor. 4.7 Who maketh thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to differ So then What it is to discerne the Lords body to discerne of the Lordes body in this place is to distinguish that bread that is vsed in this Sacrament as a most precious and blessed signe and seale of the body of Christ from all other Creatures and therefore to vse it with all reuerence and due respect as a thing set apart of God by his owne appoyntment and institution to be a signe and seale of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ and of all those benefites which wee haue and receiue by him and therfore that wee come not vnto it as wee come vnto our common meate and drinke but as to a holy mystery and signe of a blessed benefite Doct. 6 And now in that the Apostle makes this the grounde of that curse or punishment that wicked men doe draw downe vppon their owne heads euen their own condemnation They discerne not the Lords body It is the property of an vnworthy receiuer to put no difference betweene bread and wine in this Sacrament and common bread and wine that is put no difference between those elements thus sanctified and set a part for such an holy vse from their ordinary foode We learne That It is the propertie of an vnworthy receiuer and of such a one as doth eate and drinke vnto his owne Damnation to put no difference between Bread and Wine in this Sacrament and common bread and common wine but eate and deuoure the Bread and Wine neuer looking after or regarding to feede on Christ who is therein exhibited to euery true beleeuer Now what is this else but to contemne Christ and his merits and the vndeserued loue of God the father himself who hath prepared such a bountifull feast for vs when we will not see nor regard that foode by the which we should liue for euer So that againe here commeth to be considered the grieuousnes of that sinne of vnworthy receiuing the Apostle cals it a not discerning of the Lords body and here by doth not lessen the fault but rather teacheth vs that this light esteeme and slight regard that most men haue of this so holy and sacred an ordinaunce howsoeuer men make light account of it and the grace that is therein offered Yet it is such a Sinne as grieuously offendes the Maiestie of God and pulleth downe vpon men his fearefull wrath If the King should passe by vs and wee knowe him not how coulde wee doe him that reuerence wee ought inasmuch as wee could nor discerne him nor know his person Euen thus fareth it with men in this Sacrament albeeit the Lorde bee nigh vnto his seruants that come in a holy manner there-vnto in Faith Repentance and true Obedience And that such feede vpon Christ to their endles comfort Yet it is not so with the wicked the reason is they Discerne not the Lords body They cannot see nor perceiue any difference at all betwixt this bread and their ordinary foode they want the eye of faith to discerne Christ who is spiritually discerned And hence is it that they in stead of reaping comfort and benefit by this his ordinance doe rather dishonour God contemne Christ and his merits and draw downe vppon their owne heads swifte damnation Vse 1 Now then if all those that bee not able to Discerne of the Lords body Receiue vnworthily and eate and drinke their owne damnation this shewes in what a lamentable and fearefull estate many thousands in the world be at this day For aske them what they receiue in this Sacrament they make you a maruellous silly and ignorant answer They receiue their Maker A bit of bread and a little wine and the like By which ignorant and prophane speeches of theirs they shew that they discerne not the Lords body But eate and drinke vnto their owne perdition Vse 2 Secondly let this serue for our instruction that as we desire to receiue this Sacrament worthily and so as wee may finde true peace comfort vnto out soules let vs labour to be rightly instructed in the doctrine of it that so wee may bee able to Discerne the Lords body And to apprehend what rich treasures are offered vnto euery true beleeue● herein euen Christ with all his merits and not a peece of Bread as many fondly imagine And that these elements being set a part by God himselfe and sanctified vnto vs by the worde and prayer are now become vnto vs signes and seales of the body and bloud of Christ and of those benefits that come vnto vs by his passion and so bee able to put a difference betweene them and common bread and common wine First because they are set apart by God to a speciall vse not so much to feede the body as to Nourish and refresh the soule Secondly because being now sanctified they serue to be Sacraments signes and seales of heauenly things and spirituall mysteries euen of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ and all those