by through Christ that we leese not the same any more but let vs lay sure hold on our Lord Sauiour and as Simeon Luc. 2.28 tooke him vp in his armes so let vs take him vp also not in our armes without but inwardly in our heartes and then may we boldly come before and praise his holy name One sometime that could not tell how to escape losse of life from a certaine king because the king was provoked against him tooke vp the kings son who was enwrapte with the loue which he bare to his sonne that he cleane forgate the hatred hee bare to his enemie so we must pray Christ Iesus to bee our advocate to his Father beeing assured that God is well pleased in him and we must take CHRIST as it were in our armes and then God looking on vs forgetteth our sinnes For by this means it will come to passe that wee shall haue iust cause to reioyce at all times yea even then when God is saide to iudge the worlde with righteousnesse For though wee bee not righteous in our selues yet Christes righteousnes is imputed for ours And as Parents loue their children though they bee never so deformed so God louing his Sonne lookes on vs and loues vs. This is called Rom. 13 14 Gal. 3 27 a putting on of Christ And as Iacob hauing putte on Esaues apparell wan the blessing so wee putting on Christs garments of righteousnes shall obtaine the blessing and fauour of God for evermore Lastly vnto this our spirituall mariage and coniunction it shall not be vnconuenient to annexe three necessarie obseruations rules or conclusions as followeth First this coniunction heere spoken of must be substantiall or essentiall and not only energeticall that is to say Virtuall namely whole man with whole Christ yea and by meanes of him even with the whole Trinitie and Godhead See these places 2 Epist Pet 1 cap 4 ver Ioh 17 22 23 Ioh 14 23. 1 Ioh 4 ca 12 13 15 16. v. Secōdly it must be reall true therfore not imaginatorie or accidentall namely as the braunches with the vine as the stones of the wall with the whole building as the members of mans body with the head and as the coupling of man and wife 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in one flesh according to Gods ordinance be they never so far a sunder in respect of place Ephes 5 cap 29 30. Thirdly which must ever diligentlie be marked It must quoad modum that is in respect of the māner be a spiritual and no corporall or carnall cōiunction This is over hard to bee comprehended of flesh and bloud nay it surpriseth cleane mans sense his witte and reason in-somuch that St. Paule himselfe calleth it Ephes 5 32. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great secret which we cannot attaine vnto but by a sure and liuely Ephes 3 cap 3 9 v faith yea which is more the verie Angels themselues 1. Pet 2 cap 12 vers doe desire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 introspicere that is to behold or more neerely to the Greeke word to see and prie into this mystery of the salvation of mankind purchased and wrought by Christ wherof this spirituall vnion with him is the very sūme interest earnest of the holie Ghost givē to his elect children for their most ful assurance which they doe enclose lay vp in their harts by faith What shal one say then to these bussardly Papists that bee they convinced by the scriptures never so plainely yea though the Apostle St. Paule so wonderfully endewed with the Spirit doth not omitte to say and confesse that it is a great mysterie moreover that the holy Angels too thēselues do even long to know this secret yet for all this they are neverthelesse caried and ledd away still with a carnall or fleshly vnderstanding of this so spiritual deepe a mysterie avouching that they doe eate orally the transubstantiated bodie of Christ made by the cunning slipper-devise and incantation I should haue saide consecratiō of the maskinglike attired massing-Priest Hitherto we haue handled the three first special endes of the Lords Supper the two latter whereof tended to our mysticall incorporation or inauguratiō with Christ as also vnto a spirituall repast food wherby we gather strength and growe vp continually from faith Rom. 1.7 to faith vntill we bee made a perfect man in him It resteth now that we should declare the two other ends but that present occasiō vrgeth vs to interlace certain reasōs against the orall fleshely eating of Christes body in the Sacrament with the absurdities that doe rise therevpon Q. You said before in the third speciall ende that this Supper is a Sacramēt of our spirituall nourishment do you then make a difference of eating seeing you adde spirituall A. It is right meete so to distinguish least wee shoulde bee caried away with the sweepe of grosse errour as to to many are For māducatio or eating is sometime sacramentall sometime spiritual onely sometime both spiritual sacramentall Q VVhat is sacramentalleating A. It is the externall sēsible eating drinking of the bread wine without faith Q. VVhat is spirituall eating A. It is that which is done onely by faith and it answereth ex opposito vnto that first which is nothing else but a signe symball heereof Q. Then these two are not alwaies ioyned togither A. No. For as the externall ceremoniall eating may be without the spiritual so the spiritual also may be without the externall As saith St. Austen de Ciuit lib. 21. cap. 23. Q. VVhat is the Sacramentall spirituall eating togither A. It is the very right vse of the Supper which is required in the institution of Christ Q. How is carnall eating convinced by the word A. Christ himselfe doth overthrow it by two arguments Iohn 6. ca. 62.63 v. The one drawen from the signe the other from the vse viz. 1. A signo or from the signe Doth this offend what then saith he if yee should see the Sonne of man ascend vp where he was before Signifying therby as Athanasius rightly thinketh that his ascension carnall eating of his flesh can in no wise stād togither 2. Ah vsu that is from the vse It is the Spirit saith he that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the wordes that I speake vnto you are Spirit and life That is as the naturall and proper sense of the Text inferreth earnall eating is vnprofitable but the spirituall doth giue life and quickneth Now the Papistes doe checke these words of Christ and cavill stoutly or rather stubburnely spitefully with vs that it is the orall fleshly chamming and grinding of Christ betwixte their teeth that profiteth But it is in vaine to reason the cause which these drawe-latches and cornerlurkers For as the Proverbe goes an Ape will be an Ape still putt him into a coate of velvet or what you will so is a Papist no changling in opinion but will liue and die
hand over which hee gaue thankes which he brake and gaue to his disciples But against this such like dotages of theirs Christ himselfe forewarneth his disciples that they should not suffer themselues to bee deluded therewith Math. 24. cap 23.24.25 verses viz. Then if any shall say vnto you Lo here is Christ or there beleeue it not For there shal arise false Christs false prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders so that if it were possible they shoulde deceiue the very elect Behold I haue told you before See 26 27 28 verses of the same Chap. 2. Secondly he ascended visibly from the earth into heauen where he remaineth til the time that al things be restored which God hath spoken by the mouth of al his holy Prophets since the world beganne Act 3.21 3. Thirdly such is our eating of him as his dweliing is in vs but he dwelleth in vs by faith Eph. 3. cap. 17. As That Christ may dwell in your harts by faith 4. Fourthly al the Saints both of the old and new Testament haue one the same vnion with Christ which is spiritual 5. Fiftly Christ onlie is able to offer himselfe vnto the Father for vs needeth not the helpe of any man Blush then yee frapling massing-Priestes to offer him vp so often by making it a common art amongst you and remember what a grievous accompt ye are to render for thus crucifying againe vnto your selues the Sonne of God and making a mocke of him Heb. 6. cap. 6. v. Which place though it be directly spoken against such as doe malitiouslie and finally spurne at the truth of the good word of God after they haue tasted thereof and beene once lightned and made partakers of the holy Ghost yet apply it to your selues who though yee doe not quite forsake the word notwithstanding yee doe alter the word by glossing and corrupting the perfect sense and meaning thereof as your Rhemish Testament can witnesse it here to your faces and elsewhere except yerepent to your endlesse derision and shame Wel as you alter the word so yee add diminish too the one by bringing in an hundred knacks of knauerie as Purgatorie hole praier for the dead praying vnto Saints I wil not speake of your paradoxes scil Children dying without baptisme are al condemned ad paenam damni as ye cal it but not ad paenā sensus of your Limbus Patrum before Christs comming of your innumerable Masses dirges Trentals Popes Pardōs Canons Decretal Epistles which you make to be authentical with the worde of God These be your owne additions wee cannot tel what to doe with them and therfore take them home to you sweepe your chymnies with them Doe ye aske me wherein ye do diminish I neede neither goe farre a field for this seeing yee diminish from the very institution it selfe of Christ by taking away the cuppe from the Laitie yee diminish it when yee doe so impudentlie impaire the credit and autoritie by captiving it to your owne hellish censures and most ouglie practises But remember if ye be not voide yet of al feeling what is denounced against al such wicked heynous practitioners Revel 22 cap. 18 19 verses Deut. 4.2 Deut. 12 32 Prov. 30 6. Ioshua 1 7 8 c. I wil passe ouer to speake how the papistes doe diminish from the office of Christ the one and onlie mediatour betweene God and man 1 Tim. 2.5 by imperfecting stil of that which hee by one oblation sacrifice of himselfe vpon the crosse hath made for euer perfect Heb 7. cap. 25. VVherefore he is able perfectly to saue them that come vnto God by him seeing he euer liueth to make intercession for them Againe that Christs one only sacrifice is sufficient without this toyish elevating him in their Host looke these places as Ioh. 10 15 Heb. 2 17 18 Heb. 4 14 15 Heb. 5 cap. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 verses Heb. 9 cap. 11 12 23 24 25 26 27 28 verses Heb. 10.10 14 Ephes 5 2 Item Mark. 10 45 Psal 110 4 c. And Heb. 8 cap. 4 verse Jt is most evidently taught which I woulde haue thoroughly and thoroughly to be marked that if Christ were on the earth he were not then a Priest seeing saith he there are Priests that according to the law offer giftes who serue vnto the patterne of heauenlie things as Moses was warned by God whē he was about to finish the Tabernacle See said hee that thou make all things according to the patterne shewed thee in the moūt Further 2 Cor. 5 cap 16 ver VVherfore henceforth know we no man after the flesh yea though wee had knowne Christ after the flesh yet nowe henceforth know we him no more First then by these two places wee finde that if Christ were on the earth now in his humane nature he could be no Priest Secondlie that we may not hencefoorth knowe him any more after the flesh much lesse as Papistes so grosly minded would to eate him fleshly But the Papists being so slipper as any eele doe whip in and out by the backe dore saying that Christes body is vpon the earth per modum invisibilem that is after an invisible manner but this delusion is not worth the smoke of a ladle because Christs body is not anie where invisible seeing it is wholy against the nature of a bodie For once take away the proper adiunct and take the Subiect after I hasten to the other reasons 6 Sixtly The blessings promised in the Supper are spiritual 7 Seventhly and lastly The Analogie of the signe with the thing signified doth manifestly refell transubstantiatiō because it were not a Sacrament at all did it not consist of these two thinges the signe and the thing signified Wherfore most notable is that saying of Macarius the Moonke Bread wine saith hee are a correspondent type of his flesh and they who receaue the bread vvhich is shewed eate the flesh of Christ spiritually Hither to of the reasons I wil returne to the two other special endes of the Supper yet remaining behinde namely the 4. and the 5. The fourth Ende It is that that standeth vs insteeed as a pledge of the new Testamēt that is of the promise of forgiuenes of sinnes And so are the verie wordes of the institutiō Math. 26. ca. 28. ver For this is my blood of the new Testament that is shedd for many for the remission of sinnes So do the wordes implie Luc. 22. cap. 20. vers This Cuppe is the newe Testament in my blood which is shedd for you That is This Cup is a pledge seale of the promise of remission of sinnes purchased for you by the shedding of my bloode Places for remission of sinnes 1. Iohn 3. cap. 5. And yee know that he appeared that hee might take away our sinnes and in him is no sinne 1. Iohn 4.10 Herein is loue not that we loved God but that he loued vs and sent his sonne to
the Abstract Iudge whether this bee not workemanlie knockt and beaten out by their sophistrizing hammer 4 Fourthly and lastly the vbiquitarians trifle most passing idlely in behatching a threefold māner of the body of Christ that is 1 A naturall manner 2 A glorious manner 3 A maiesticall manner The first two waies they denie marveylous crookedly that Christ is euerie where in body but come ye once to the thirde which is his manner of Maiesty then haue say they along with you to Westminster seeing in this sort both there and euery where els throughout the world we shal neuer misse him Examination First here is in this distributiō a notable Catachresis or abuse of the voice manner which is placed heere most improperly for an adiunct Secondly the parts do not cohere agree with the Distribute for the naturall manner is not an Adiunct of the body of Christ but it is the forme it selfe And as for that their manner of Maiesty some men are over hastie to tearme it figmentum perquisitè excogitatum but I had rather speake English and call it a plaine cogge and foisted legerdemaine Thirdly the Partes do not oppositlie disagree betwixt themselues because the glorie of the natural body is an adiunct and it remaineth notwithstanding the adiunct stil a true physical natural body although it be also glorified For glorificatiō hath not taken away the nature of Christ his body but the infirmitie thereof patibilitie But these Vbiquitaries are sure cardes take them at any time without a fitten and strike of their neckes They durst not say that Christes natural bodie is euerie where fie that were to grosse and therefore see what cunning can bring to passe they haue wrought it out maiesticallie Wherfore beholde their follie whiles that they thinke to shun the raine they run mee out of hād aboue head eares into the riuer For it had bin as good nay better for them to say at first dash that the natural body of Christ is euerie where so to make no more then one body of him then by such an vnartificial blinde distinction both to affirme his body to be everie where over and besides to ordaine him a triple body too that is 1. a Naturall body 2. a Glorious body 3. a maiesticall bodie I might set downe much more such stuffe of theirs but I count this sufficient to shew what they are euen in this respect the Popes own ympes and still like vnto thēselues wil bee so though the Diuel saie nay This I doe and maie speake boldly vpon regard of their wilful obstinacie and malitious harts both against our selues our doctrin Ours nay the Lords owne doctrine The Corollarie and vpshot of this whole treatise vpon the Lords Supper LEt vs most hūbly beseech the Lord our God of his abundant kindnes mercy towards vs in his Son Christ Jesus that he wold stay vs with his grace that we denying and defying from our harts al vngodlines al heresies scismes erroneous opinions false doctrines all superstitious reliques ceremonies of that whorish church of Rome in a word al Epicurisme Atheisme Papisme Bron nisme we may be groūded in the truth of his most powerful word being nourished vp continuallie in a liuelie faith with this heauēly holy banquet may persist in stedfastnes of the same truth even to our last breathing and yeelding vp the Ghost into the hands of our allouing gracious God who hath faithfullie promised that hee will not faile vs nor forsake vs Hebr. 13.5 but wil bee readie then especiallie by his holie Angels to receaue vs vp vnto himselfe into his holie mountaine and new Ierusalem the citie Hebr. 12.22 of the living God where wee shall liue in ioyes vnvtterable with the congregation it selfe of the first borne which are writtē in heauen with God the Iudge of al with the spirits of iust perfect men And with Iesus the Mediatour of the new Testament and with the bloode of sprinkeling that speaketh better things then that of Abell God grant vs al these things for our Lord and Saviour Christ Iesus sake to whō with the Father the holy Ghost be attributed al praise and glory now for ever So be it Amen A Praier for the whole State of this Church and Realme of England conteyning a true confession of our sinnes before the Lord fitte to bee saide at all times and seasons Merciful Lord and Father which refusest not to hear thy servants at what time they doe flee vnto thee in the contrition of their harts we beseech thee to expell the darkenes of our vnderstanding that being directed by thy holie Spirit we may from a true feeling of our woeful state in the name of Iesus Christ vnlocke our grieved cōsciences powre out the affections of our brokē harts by sincerely invocating on thy holy blessed name Amen O Most gracious and louing Father wee come vnto thee in the name of thy dearely beloued son Iesus Christ beseeching thee out of the humility of our soules that thou wouldest vouchsafe to looke downe vpon vs with the eie of pittie notwithstanding most vile miserable sinners as we are For we were conceaved in sin borne in iniquitie having no truth nor sound part within vs seeing from the sole of the foote vnto the crowne of the head there is nothing whole but woundes swelling soares ful of corruption we are a seede of the wicked corrupt children forsaking the Lord and provoking the holie one of Israel to anger Nowe though we are thus vncleane sunken deepe into all impieties though our righteousnes be as filthy clouts though we doe al fade like a leafe and that our iniquities like the winde haue caried vs away yet thou O Lord art mercie and truth promising to harken vnto repentant sinners that doe cal vnto thee We cal and crie vnto thee O Lord out of the true sorrowes and grievances of our hearts to remove from vs the burden horrour of our sinnes which do lie most heavie vpon our consciences stinging and pressing vs downe vnto the verie gates of Hell thou therefore ô heavenly Father which savest both man and beast thou whose mercie reacheth vnto the heavens and whose faithfulnes vnto the cloudes thou whose righteousnes is like the mightie mountaines and thy iudgments like a great deepe powre forth vpon vs most sillie wormes and vnworthie wretches as we are of the rich plentie of thy Grace let thy accustomed mercie breake forth and prevent vs in al our actions reforme our froward wils our corrupt affections our inbred depraved natures create in vs cleane harts renue right Spirits within vs that so our whole man both soules and bodies may bee conformed to thy holie will And to this ende out of the longing desires of our harts we prostrating our selues at the foote-stoole of thy mercie seate doe craue of thee ô bountiful Father to quicken vs with thy holy
Spirit by whose gracious working being freede from these hellish downefals of sin wickednes of desperate sinnes of presumptuous sinnes of sinnes by omission of sinnes by commission of sins by ignorance of secrete sinnes of notorious and outragious crying sins briefly of sines against the first table and of sins against the second table we may the residue of our daies which are but few and evill be lifted vp to place our cogitations on heaven and heavenly things there to contemplate with the eye of a stedfast and liuelie faith Christ Iesus our alone and onely redeemer that through a true feeling and apprehension therof wee may with that blessed Martyr St. Steven pearce the heavens and behould our alone al-sufficient saving Mediatour standing at the right hand of God cladd with the garmēts of our slesh both preparing the way and making intercession for vs and that we likewise by vertue of our mystical incorporation and vnion with him receaving from his handes the garments of his righteousnes may be covered from the accusations terrours of our sinnes For who is it that shal stand vp lay anie thing vnto our charge It is God that iustifieth Or who is it that shal cōdemne It is Christ which is deade yea or rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request also for vs. Wee then truelie resolved through a due cōsideration of these thinges doe beseech thee our most gracious loving Father to establish these thy blessings in vs to continue vs in the truth of thy holie Gospel that as wee are according to thy great mercie freely adopted and accepted for iust in thy sight by the only obedience and merits and ful satisfaction of Christ our Saviour so againe that we might striue through thine especial favour in our daylie conversation and in the midst of a crooked and stiffnecked generation to approue our selues out of the fruites of a lively faith to be sincere followers and embracers of thee To which purpose we begge of thee ô Father to sanctifie vs with thy Spirit that we loathing from the heart our inborne filthines and mortifying our members which are on earth fornication vncleanes inordinate affection evil concupiscence and covetousnes which is Idolatrie putting away evē al these things wrath anger maliciousnes cursed speaking filthy speaking out of our mouths and in a word putting of the olde man with his workes wee may thine onelie goodnes to vs-wardes effecting it bee prepared to receive the new by putting on as the Elect of God tender mercy kindenes humblenes of minde meekenes longsuffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another Finally wee stirred vp with a fellow feeling of others wants as members of one body with the residue of thy Saints in the Communion thereof doe humbly entreate thy diuine Maiestie to bee gracious and louing vnto thy Church which liueth here in continuall exile warfare vpon the earth protect it O Lord saflie vnder thy wings against the rage of Satan and the furies of blood-thirsty men particularly for these of England Scotlād Frāce Ireland in them as the Principal member therof for thine obedient seruant our dread Soveraigne Lord Iames by thy Grace King of the foresaid Realmes Dominions defender of the true ancient catholike and Apostolike faith and in all Causes over all Persons within these his Maiesties Kingdomes next and immediatly vnder thee Supreame head gouernour grant vnto him health and prosperitie all his daies crowne him so long as he liueth vpō this earth with cōtinuall victories over his enemies giue him the spirit of wisedome knowledge and iudgement that he may carefully vprightly go in and out before thy people enrich his Royal heart with thine heauenlie blessings namely true faith godly zeale loue and feare of thy holie name euen al the daies of his life after this life once expired crowne him in thine euerlasting Kingdome with blisse and triumphant glorie We pray thee eftwise for al the Nobility Gentry and comminalty of this Realme and more especially for the Lords of the Privie Councell that as they are high in Honor great Peares of this Land so they may be great Pillers also in the Church to exalt and advance thy name Blesse in like manner all the Cleargie and Ministerie of this Land by what names and titles soeuer they are called engraue in their breasts that Vrim and Thummim that is to say an inwarde burning zeale ioined with soundnes of doctrine and with vprightnes and integritie of life Extende thy mercifull care on all Vniversities and schooles the nurceries of good learning that they may according to thy good pleasure remaine euermore as habitations for the Prophets Prophets children so long as the Sun and Moone endureth Keepe O Lord direct in thy feare the Magistracie of this Land that they in their Places may discharge a good conscience in the Ministration of equitie iustice togither with the advancement of pietie and vertue Moreover wee doe pray thee for all those that suffer any Crosse or trouble either sicknesse of body or vexation of minde affliction persecution for thy names sake and the testimony of a good conscience that it may please thee to en arme them with patience cōstancie to perseuere vnto the end of al their trials knowing that patience bringeth forth experience experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed And more particularly we powre forth our hūble supplications and suites vnto thy Maiestie for al such as doe lie groueling and groaning vnder the burdē of their sins make thou their bed in the time of their sicknes by putting thy Spirit into their harts by comforting and relieuing thē with inward ioies that thereby their faith may be increased their hope confirmed their loue enflamed their patience perseuerance made known vnto men and Angels tried continued preserued that neither Leviathan that crooked wylie serpent withall his mischieuous assaults without neither the bruisedly afflicted conscience within neither the gaping gulfe of hel beneath neither the angrie threatning heauens for our sinnes aboue neither the allurements and earthly cogitations changes of this world on the one side neither the wicked Imps thereof on the other may strik a terror into our minds but that in the assurance of a good conscience we may being bold confident as a Lyon breake through them al and saie with the Prophet Dauid The Lord of Hostes is with vs the God of Iacob is our refuge And againe with St. Paule In all these things we are more then Conquerours through him that loved vs. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shal be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Last of al we yeeld vnto thee good Lord most humble thanks for thy mercies showred forth yea powred downe vpon vs out of the riches of thy Grace that is for our Creation in time our Election before al time our Preseruatiō Vocation Iustification Sanctification and for the good hopes sake of our Glorification in the time to come as also we thank thee so long as we shal moue breath vpō the earth for our health our wealth our food our rayment our education our instruction our peace tranquillitie and for this so long and so large a time of repentaunce giuen vnto vs by the preaching of thy truth amōgst vs which vphold thou stil O Lord wee praie thee euen for thine owne glories sake and for the vnspeakeable consolations sake gathering in togither of thy Saintes That so in the end we maie al meete iointlie in the vnitie of one faith that in the meane time we may wait for the hastning consummation of the kingdome of Christ thy deare Son our Lord and Sauiour who testifieth these things and saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Iesus 1. Tim. 2. chap. 1.2 verses I exhort therfore that first of all supplications praiers intercessions and giving of thankes bee made for all men For Kings and all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all goodnesse and honestie A very short but sweete Dialogue betweene an ancient deepe learned Father and his Sister reasoning vpon the Case with in themselues O Sister saith hee no man is righteous euery man is guilty of wicked workes words and thoughts and what then shal we doe when wee shall come before God to bee iudged For if the righteousnesse of the righteous shal not be had in remembrance if the iust shall scarse be saued where shall the wicked and sinner appeare O brother she saith again this causeth me to wish with the Prophet that mine heade were a fountaine of teares that I might bewaile my sinfull life Indeede saith the other that is somewhat for one teare in this life is better then al the weeping and gnashing of teeth which shal be after this life For God is neere in this life that is he will be entreated to forgiue vs but then he wil be far of which is he wil not yeeld to anie petition As the last howre of thy life leaues thee so the first howre of iudgment shal finde thee For where the tree falleth there it lieth Eccl. 11. chap. 3. verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS