then these which is not to be forgot 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a word for benevolence and charity The Sacrament it self was wont by the Ancients to be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Collection a Gathering because there used ever at such gathering of the people to receive to be a gathering for the poor withall Let not this slip call it a Cup of blessing from thence let the poor receive a blessing from you that you may from God Calix 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Gods benevolence and charity to you of yours to his poor members for him The first of these belongs only unto us which have the ministeriall power of consecration We blesse the Apostle speaks it in our persons but the other belongs to you as well as us to blesse God for it to pray for his blessing upon it but then you must remember that your blessing is not operativè but only optativè a wish not a work that belongs to God as I said before but this to us so the words cui benedicimus may be said of all and that is all needs be said of it The first signe the Cup of blessing I passe to the second the Bread which we break Thâ—se signes are The bâ—ead one as Joseph said of Pharoabs dreams one in nature yet two in number they make both but one part of the Sacrament one thing is in effect signified by both yet one was not thought sufficient for usby our Saviour either to shew his death which is the end of the Sacrament or to seal to our faith which is the use of it and by two signes as by twowitnesses will be an end of strife We may yeeld three reasons for it why these and why both these are exhibited by our Saviour First in both these consists the chief maintenance of our life they are the principall supporters of it Bread alone will not serve Man liâ—eth not by bread only nor yet wine alone there is no living alone by the Cup though some make a shift to stay by it long enough yet they cannot live by it man is made of flesh and bloud and needs both to feed him Bread and Wine and in our spirituall food Christ would have no want he takes them both they are the best the cleanest food of our life and so fittest to represent the food of the soul Secondly There are no such things to shew the death of Christ by as these mark how the Bread is thrashed and ground and sifted and baked before it can be fit good And the wine stript and trodden and pâ—essed pressum antequam expressum before it is made fit to drink So was Christs body The Plowers plowed upon his back the souldiers thrashed him the Jews fifted him the teeth of the Lyons to Ignatius the teeth of death to him ground him small enough the grave was the Oven to bake him So was his bloud the Crosse was the presse The Prophet might well ask him why are his Garments red So many thorns and nails such a wound in his side were windows enough to let out all his bloud The Bread and the Wine very aptly intimate all this and this is even all the end of the Sacrament Thirdly The naturall body of Christ is not only signified by the Sacrament but also his mysticall which is his Church which is one made up of many beleevers and is not the Bread one made of many grains and the Cup one made of many grapes no such Symbolls of Vnion as these are So are the faithfull kneaded and knit together so incorporated into one and therefore saith Saint Austine Christ commends unto us his body and bloud in those things quae ex multis redigunt in unum that so the Sacrament might be signum unitatis a very Communion as it shall appear after and to be this is another end of the Sacrament The signes then are both fit other reasons might be given but these are the chief but yet a reason would be given why the Apostle calls not this signe the Bread of blessing as well as he did the other the Cup of blessing it is to be observed besides that in the 11 to the Corinthians Verse 24. where the Apostle fals upon this matter again there he mentions blessing only of the Bread and not of the Cup at all belike he thought once naming it in both was enough for both and that his saying of it once was enough to send us to his quod accepi à Dâ—mina to the first institution of it and there we finde them both blessed a like Matth. 26. 26 27. and it is worth the marking that the word which the Apostle useth for the blessing of the Cup is the same that the Evangelist useth there for the blessing of the Bread 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in both and the word which the Apostle useth in the other for the blessing of the Bread is the same that the Evangelist useth for the blessing of the Cup it is Eucharistia in both to shew that the words are both of one sence and that the signes were both alike blessed But besides he speaks not here of the blessing of the Bread because he was to mention a necessary Ceremony belonging to the signe being indeed a part of it which may not be left out and that is the breaking of the Bread and that alone made the words of the Text full The Bread which we break and of this minde is Pareus Breaking of the Bread is a most significant Ceremony annexed to the signe it doth best shew the Lords death of any not that any such thing was done to Christs body a bone of him could not be broken I will not say with Saint Chrysostome he suffereth that to be done in the Sacrament which he could not suffer to be done him upon the Crosse we may not think that he doth suffer any thing there neither doth that Father think so but it is broken to shew his many sufferings of what nature of what number soever they were breaking is a Metaphor to expresse them and the Prophet Isaiah hath it of his passion He was broken for our iniquities Isai 53. and the Apostle speaks it fully Hoc est Corpus meum quod pro vobis frangitur This Ceremony our Saviour himself used at the institution He brake the Bread to shew indeed that he was not only broken in his passion but he was willingly broken that he did break himself for indeed the nails and the thorns and the spear could not have broken him not so much as his skin no more then the souldiers could break his legs had not he been willing to have it done to be broken had not he been principall agent in it as well as sole Patient of it and broke himself As he used it then from his institution we use it still The Bread which we break and indeed the rather to shew that we our selves were chief act ours in his breaking
it was for us for our sakes he was content to be broken we did sit our sins all of us had an hand in breaking him and in sign of that it is stiâ—l The Bread which we break But the chief cause of our breaking of it is that which Saint Chrysostome gives patitur frangi ut omnes impleat every one could not take a little if Christ did not suffer himself to be made so little and to shew he gave his body to be crucified for all he appoints his signe to be broken for all This Ceremony and no other he appointed for this signe we may not so well away with that of the Papists which use round Wafers and give to every one one no breaking at all nor yet so properly allow of that of ours in some places cutting and mangling of the Bread and not any signe of breaking Christ was known at first in the miracle of five Loaves and there was breaking of Bread after the Resurrection he was made known unto the Disciples by breaking of bread The Apostles practice in the Primitive Church was breaking of Bread and in the Sacrament he makes it his Ceremony He brake the bread all Authority all Antiquity makes especially for this Ceremony and being it self of such use it behoves us to make much of it too and so much to be spoken of it and of the first part of the Sacrament The outward signe We be come now to the second part of the Sacrament Res caelestis 1 part The inward Grace The inward and spirituall grace which answers to the signes in number yet is in nature but one Vnus Christus in quo omnis gratia saith Bernard yet Christ gave both His body to be crucified and his bloud to be shed his body to be meat indeed his bloud to be drink indeed and in the Sacrament he instituted signes of both The Cup which we blesse the Bread which we break they are both as yet to be considered severally till we come to the Communion to their coming into one the joyning of them both together As yet we take the Text in parts the second part is now to be taken notice of and in that according to the order of the Apostle 1 The Bloud of Christ Some take it Metaphorically for the soul 1 The bloud of Christ so in the Law Sanguis est anima Christ indeed gave himself and he did consist of soul and body both he had not took upon hiâ— our nature else if he had not had a perfect humane soul neither had he redeemed any soul at all if he had not had a soul himself Tolle animam Christi Praesta quid Deus redemit saith Tertullian to Marcion And in his soul he suffered more then in his body the fears the sorrows the wounds of it are past any mans expression witnesse his heavy complaining Anima mea tristis est his strong crying Pater si possibile est his bloudy sweating his fear his whole Agony none but he could ever feel such wounds the guilt of a world of sin the sence of the wrath of God none but his soul could carry such sorrows Something it is meet should be to remember them as well as those of his body the soul cannot be resembled by any thing the bloud carries the neerest resemblance Sanguis est anima or at least in loco animae we may allow of that If not that then take it literally his naturall bloud the very substance of it that which he gave so liberally to be shed upon the Crosse the Bloud of the Paschall Lamb the bloud of all the Jewish sacrifices were but Commonstratives of that that is not now to be had not to be shown again Christ suffered once for all his offering of himself was but once substantially to be made and made by himself his flesh and bloud are now glorified with his Godhead and become impatible Care sanguis usurpà runt regnum Dei in Christo saith Tertullian only we remember that and the Wine in the Cup is the nearest resemblance of it not Commonstrative as the Type but Commemorative of the Truth of his Bloud That We may adde to it the Bloud of Christ Metonimically the merit of his Bloud that which he effected by shedding of his Bloud the remission of sins our reconcilement and peace with God our Righteousnesse Sanctification Redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. All these through his Bloud through Faith in his Bloud His Bloud which speaketh better things then the Bloud of Abel this cryed for vengeance his was Sanguis clamans too but it spake Father forgive them it cryed for mercy and reconcilement The benefit is specially intended by the Bloud the purging of sin and purchasing of peace this is chiefly to be remembred and we do this when we say the Bloud of Christ For it is not the substance of his Bloud that cleanseth it comes not to all it comes not at all but the merit of it by the efficacy and vertue of it this was the end of our shewing it and this is the summe of what may be said of the first The Bloud of Christ The next is the Body of Christ we consider that also two wayes 2 The Body and both of them are intensive in my Text First Substantiam Corporis Secondly Efficaciam meritum both are to be remembred in this part First The Body the substance of it The same Body which was crucified Corpus quod pro vobis traditum est are the words of the institution The Syrian interpreter renders it Pagra which saith Beza is properly Corpus mortuum it is to shew his death and it cannot be shewed plainer then by such a word which signifies his dead Body That we must shew the Bread which is broken is his signe Corporis quod frangitur which is broken for you 1 Cor. 11. 24. And when we shew that we shew his wâ—unds and stripes his beating and brusing and bearing all that he did suffer on his body the Commemoration is to be of his passion Secondly we remember the merit of his passion that for which he gave his Body to be crucified the purchase for which he paid such a price the remission of sins they were all laid upon his Body Davids sin upon Davids son Dominus transtulit peccata tua are the words of Nathan to him not abstulit but transtulit from thee upon him and not only his but ours he bare our sins faith Isaiah 53. He bare them on his Body on the Tree 1 Pet. 2. 24. we were sold to sin to death our body to the grave our soul to hell To corruption to torment he gave himself for us both body and soul ut redimeret saith Saint Paul Tit. 2. 14. Remission Redemption are the main effects of his passion we cannot remember his death but we must remember the desert and merit of it So I have done with the parts severally the outward signe the inward grace
Rem terrenam Câ—lestem we come now to the Communion or their coming into one to make up the Sacrament though the one part be on earth the other in heaven and look how high the heaven is from the earth yet they may meet they must meet else there will be no Sacrament at all Nulla virtus Sacramento saith Cyprian they must be in Common or there will be no Communion and then the Text will not be true which saith The Cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the Bloud of Christ The Bread which we break is it not the Communiâ—n of the Body of Christ Communion is ever cum unione when two or more meet in one 2 The Coâ—â—â—en there is a Communion It is divers wayes either by nature which is Physicall as when soul and body are united into one person there is Communion between them by reason of thaâ— union Secondly by miracle which is Metaphysicall as when two Natures God and man were united into one Christ There is also Communion between them by virtue of that Union neither of these is this heer for it is no substantiall no Hypostaticall Vâ—ion and yet the Fathers have used both these to illustrate this Communâ—on Thirdly by locall coberence as when many stones are in one heap Fourthly by actuall inexistence as where accidences as colours c. are in one ubject none of these yet for the body and bloud of Christ may not be thought to be Locally Actually any where but in Heaven The Heavens must contain him till his second and last coming There is yet another way Fiftly Intellectually Sacramentally which consists in meer relation which is the nature of Communion Sacramentall Union is that Communion we speak off and it consists in a Mysticall and Mutuall relation between the signes and the things signed Sacramentum est rei Sacrae signum is Saint Austins definition and allowed and approved by all when the signe comes to signifie the sacred thing it comes to be a Sacrament and this coming is the Communion We look to two things 1. The cause of it 2. The effects First Divine institution is the cause The Rain-bow it is generally 1 The cause agreed upon was before the floud yet was not any signe of the promise of God of not destroying the world with a deluge till after the floud it was in nube to be seen there but not signum in nube till God first appointed it his signe to Noâ—h The Wine in the Cup the Bread on the Table were in use before blessed in their creation for temporall food but not in any use to a spirituall life till blessed again at their institution they were not signes of any sacred things till God appointed them his signes to his Apostles and as words which come to the ears are signa rerum of those things which the minde means to expresse if aptly appointed and do conveigh the very things to the understanding of the Auditor if he be quick you would wonder at it to see how soon at a word speaking a thing of never so great distance can come to his knowledge so these earthly things which are signa rei sacrae which come unto the eyes and the other senses being aptly appointed by the first institutor do conveigh unto the faith of the worthy receiver the very things themselves and though they were before at never so much distance they come to be present to our faith as other things expressed by words are to our reason and sence To make signes of such belongs only unto him which can give the things and his body and bloud none can give but himself none can make a signe to be a means to conveigh it to be apledge to confirm it but he the Elements are empty and non significant Accedat verbum ad Elementum saith Austin his word his work that comes and it becomes a Sacrament the signe is made effectually to signifie the sacred thing and that making a signe is the cause of the Relation of the Communion first Secondly being so made by the virtue of the Divine Institution 2 The effects the effects of Sacramentall Communion follow The signes themselves have a Communication of the Proprieties of the things signes Communicatio Idiomatum is the chief effect As by the Hypostaticall Union of the two natures in Christ the humane nature is invested into the Divine the manhood being assumed is allowed to carry away the properties of the Godhead in the person of Christ And thence comes it that the Son of God is called the Son of man and the Lord of life was crucified and slain The Mother of God the Bloud of God are usuall speeches with the Fathers so in this Sacramentall Union by virtue of that Communion in the words of institution the Bread is called the Body of Christ the Wine his Bloud When we give the Bread we say The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ c. the Cup we say The Bloud of our Lord Jesus Christ The Bread though it be res terrena is called Panis vitae the food of Angles the Bread which came down from Heaven The food of the soul Panem Dominum S Cyprian calls it and not only Panem Domini and all this per Metonymiam signi because of the Communion it hath with the things signed with the Body of Christ Neither is this Communion only nominall but also reall the very substance of Christs Body and Bloud is by it communicated to worthy receivers they are verily and indeed taken and received of the faithfull saith our Church Not in the signes essentially but by the signes effectually for we must hold us to this that the Union is not Physicall nor Metaphysicall not Essentiall nor Locall but Intellectuall and Sacramentall and yet reall and not only nominall Ask what the Bread and Wine is I answer the Body and Bloud of Christ Ask me how or which way I answer Sacramentally because they are the Communion of the Body and Bloud of Christ and not that properly neither for a substance cannot be a Relation but by a Metonymy of the effect because they make us partakers of the Body and Bloud of Christ they are called the Communion of his Body and Bloud And being Communis substantiae they are also Communio efficaciae they make us partakers of the merit of Christs Body and Bloud those things ever bring their worth and dignity with them remission of sins redemption sanctification salvation all graces come along with Christ in quo est omnis gratia Habent omnia qui habent deum habentem omnia St August And as there is Communion with them so there is communition from them we may not amisse take the word Communio a Communiendo that is to be reckoned among the benefits we receive so our Church reckons it the strengthening of our souls Vis semper fortior in Vnione nothing can prevail against earth when heaven
is joyned to it if God be with us who can be against us and he is with us heer by Sacramentall Union he comes into the Communion Thus have we made the signes and the things signed to meet and but to meer for we may go no further my Text calls it but a Communion and I take it to be a full exposition of our Saviours words at the Institution This speaking of the Bread is my Body saith he A Communion of his Body saith the Text This the Wine is my Bloud A Communion of his Bloud saith the Apostle If a Communion of it then not it as the Papists will have it Sacramentally we allow it to be it signum rei not it substantially but onely a Communion of it Had it been it grossely carnally The Apostle should have said not the Cup but the Bloud not the Bread but the Body For the Bread and the Wine both according to their Doctrines are gone only accidences remains then he had committed no small Tautology The Bread which is my Body is the Communion of the Body of Christ The Wine in the Cup which is the Bloud it self is a Communion of the Bloud of Christ Indeed they do not well away with the Communion it crosseth them too much therefore they almost crosse it out It may appear by other particulaâ—s Their private Masse shuts it out quite Their publique Masse justles it out not a little They have no Communion of the Cup at all The Laity are not allowed it and if there be no Cup there is no Communion there neither is there any Eucharist if not it I do only observe that by the way for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from whence comes the name of Eucharist is no where used at the Institution but at the Cup and if no Cup no giving of thanks for it of the Peoples part none which have part of none So Communion and Eucharist they shuffle out and worse then this Christum denuo crucifigunt while they separate his Bloud from his Body without any Communion without any coming together again But this is no place for controversies be we sure to keep it right as we do call it right and from this very Text we call it a Communion And that we may keep it right there must be on our parts a coming on to the Communion where the dead body is there the Eagles will be gathered together and no where is the dead Body of our Saviour more plainly represented Gâ—t we up upon the Wing of pure Devotion of holy Meditation sore we aloft like Eagles Sursum Corda if we come not there may be Communion for others none for us for only those that receive are of the Communion those that cate of the things of the Altar are partakers of the Altar if yee cat not you are not of the Communion of the Body of Christ If you drink not you are not of the Communion of the Bloud But yet look how you come for if you come unworthily you will not be of that Communion neither we may not so tye the things signed to the signes the Body and Bloud to the Bread and Wine as if whosoever receives the one must also receive the other Saint Cyprian resolves it well Tantum utilitatis quisque reportat quantum Vasculo fidei Colligit others which come without faith Lambunt Petram sed nec inde mel sugunt nec oleum They go away without joy because they came without faith Like Mary Magdalen they see the Lord Corporall the clean Linnen lye wherein our Saviour was wrapped but finde him not and say without any comfort They have taken away the Lord. Panem Domini they finde but not Panem Dominum neither do I know how they should he is present only to the eye of faith not of sence Non ventris sed mentis cibus est The hand the mouth the teeth the stomack of Faith Credere est edere Come with this then and we come right we shall no doubt be of the Communion And as you come with Faith so you must come with Love giving and forgiving are the tenour of it both are done to you heer by Christ he gives you his Body and Bloud and they are given for the remission of sins both must be done by you unto your brethren Then there will be a full Communion on all sides of Christ with us by mercy and trueth of us with Christ by Faith and Love of the outward signes and the inward graces of both with the worthy receivers of the receivers with themselves for so from this Sacramentall Communion will spring our spirituall with Christ our head and from thence our Mysticall with hâ—s Body the Members till at last we come to a perfect Union with the Communion of the Saints which are compleate in Heaven which with our Saviour still drink of the fruit of this Vine new in the Kingdom Whither he bring us all for his Infinit merits and mercies Amen THE FOURTH SERMON 1 COR. 10. 17. For we that are many are one Bread and one Body because we are all partakers of one Bread WE be come now to the second part of the Text the second Communion that which is spirituall between the things and the receivers Vnus Christus in quo est omnis gratia he is the thing signed between him and us and it is properly called Communio Communio Capitis Capitis Communio Calicis was well premised because it is the ground and foundation of the other Communions for thence issues this our Communion with Christ They that eat of the Sacrifices are partakers of the Altar Verse 18. By eating we enter into it and upon that we pitch it in the last words of the Text We that are many are one Bread because we are all partakers of one Bread Alimentum fit Alitum saith the Phylosopher so it is in our spirituall food Except we eat the Body of Christ he dwelleth not in us but if we eat him if we digest him both which are to be done by faith as hath been shewed before Participatione ea a Respectu Communicationis Idlomatum dictum corporaliter nobis inerit Christus saith Cyrill his very flesh is made ours as we are in him by a certain Physicall Identity in the Hypostaticall Vnion our humane nature and his Divine made one so he shall be in us though neither by transubstantiation nor by consubstantiation not by naturall nor corporall contract but by spirituall and reall Union his person and ours made one Sacramentally he is in his signe Spiritually in the receiver The receivers are all those which do worthily partake of one Bread their Union with Christ was the end of that Iâ—stitution of Christ that Sacramentall Communion was to be a mean to â—ffect and a seal to confirme our spirituall ideo institutum ut Corpus in terris capiti quod est in Coelis coadunetur saith Saint Austen Panis Daminus to the right
of one Bread There are foure sorts of unions both Scriptures and Fathers use to Illustrate First Eternall between the Father and the Sonne Secondly Hypostaticall between the divine nature and humane Thirdly Conjugall and Matrimoâ—iall between husband and wife Fourthly Allegoricall as between the Vine and branch between Head and Members between Bread and the receivers each would afford matter for a Sermon I must insist only on that last That which we eate turns in carnem sanguinem alimentum fit alitum if so be it be digested first else it doth not Cibus Iadigestus famem satiat animalem non naturalem It comes not into union with the body by which it might grow stronger but is forceably cast out though it stay the stomack for a time So it is in our spirituall food they which know not how to digest it by faith have their appetite staid not their groweth and strength augmented but if it be digested it comes into one it becomes one with us Thus are Christ and we made one We have the Symboll the Sacrament the Seal of it of which we all eate and wherefore do we eate but ut uniamur What is more ours then that we have eaten A neerer Symboll could not possibly be thought on of our incorporation and making one with him and yet St Bernard saith more Et manducat nos mâ—mducatur à nobis quo arctiùs illi astringamur In one and the same action he feeds on us we feed on him his joy fills us our faith feeds him his body his bloud his suffâ—rings his righteousnesse are meat and drink to us our faith our repentance our obedience our salvation are meat and drink to him and those are one though the comparison be without compaâ—isâ—n yet our Saviour himself prayes it may be so John 17. St Bernard proves it is so between Christ and us we one with him abiding by faith and love he one with us aâ—iding by peace and truth yet not in that manner one as they are the dâ—fferâ—nce of our nature and substance still remains which are one in the Father and the Sonne only the diversity of our a Non câ—hrrent aâ—essennarum sed coâ—tinentia voluntarâ—m Lern. wills reconciled makes us one one with the Father and the Sonne and so one ut Deus homo unus spiritus certa absoluta veritate dicantur si sibi glutino amoriâ— inbâ—reant So sure are we one so reall is our spirituall Union with Christ our Head if we eat the Bread if we digest it we are sure of it in reason that we eat is the same with us in Religion it is so too and eat it we do we all are partakers of one Bread That this union is we are sure of the Scripture every where beareth witnesse of it we could not be branches he the Vine not members he the head not pretious stones built upon him he the foundation the cheif corner stone we need not eat his flâ—sh nor drink his bloud the Cup which we blesse need not be the Communion of his Bloud the Bread which we break the Communion of his Body no Communion at all indeed but for this union 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 might well be spared but for this ut uniamur it is the signe of it the seal of it the ground of it the cause of it ut corpus in terris capiti in caelis to make them one to make this union between Christ and us Christus erat faciens utrumque in unum Christs whole work was to do this to make us one our nature one in the Hypostaticall union our persons one in the spirituall nec prâ—judicat rerum pluralitas huic unitati for we that are many are one bread and one body one bread partaking all of one bread one body united all to one head one signe one thing we all though never so many partake of it All the beleevers bad one heart and one minde Acts 4. All of them are joyned into one head That this is that was the first I have been the longer because it is a matter of so much importance and not so easily conceived all our hope of that union Quae glorificat which the blessed Angels and Saints enjoy consists in this our spirituall union quae justificat which is with Christ by faith illa praemium haec meritum est saith Bernard all curâ—m rit is to be joyned with Christ There is yet another work to be done to make this appear else non apparentis non existentis eadem est ratio as good not be at all And yet appear we cannot make it to the eye of sence Caput in 2 Cognosci coelis corpus in terris est it is much too weak to be able to ken so farre neither indeed is it necessary that the hand or foot should see the heal if they feel it if they finde the use and benefit of it that will be appearance enough to them and that is to be had of him Two wayes it will appear 1. By that which the head is to the body 2 Wayes 2. By that the body is to the head There are foure things required to our head all four to be known 4 Wayes of him That it be 1. Verum 2. Perfectum 3. Vnicum 4. Peâ—petuum Christ is all these unto the body 1. Verum of the same nature with the body not like Nabuchadnezzars 1 Verâ—â— Image whose head was of Gold the breasts of Silver the thighes of Brassâ— the feet of Iron and Clay And that he might be of the same nature you know he took upon him our nature and therefore God saith the Apostle hath made him head of the Church Ephes 1. and that he is of the same nature appears First by his suffering for us he had not what to offer till he had Corpus aptatum Heb. 10. he had not been the Saviour of the body if he had not had that Tolle caruem Christi praesta quid Deus redemit saith Tertullian to Marcion He redeemed not the Angels quia non assumpsit he took not upon him their nature Secondly By his suffâ—riâ—g with us therefore saith the Apostle it behoved him to be in all things like his brethren that he might be a mercifull high Priâ—st And again that by the things which he suffered when he was tâ—mpted he might succour them that are tempted for he is not an high Priest which may not be touched with our infirmities when he cryed out upon the way Saul Saul why peâ—secutest thou me he was neerly touched he could not be an head if he had not this a sence of the bodies griâ—vances Secondly Again to make him a true head he must be united to the body An head sâ—vered from the body is not the head as good no head at all a wrong head set on a right head cut off are much a like the Joynts and Ligaments and Nerves are all for that end
divels verse 20 21. Neither indeed can there be any communion between Christ and Belial now they might possibly except Though they did eat of things sacrificed to Idols yet they did not beleeve they had any communion with divels or that they were in so doing made partakers of the table of divels The Apostle answers that reply by a double argument The one taken from Israel after the flesh which did still observe the ceremonies of the Law and the legall sacrifices are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the Altar verse 18. and if of the Altar then of the Idol which is over the Altar and though the Idol be nothing yet of the Divell to whom the Gentiles sacrifice in the Idol verse 19. The other argument taken from the Christians which are after the spirit which have an Altar too Heb. 13. 10. though only mysticall and far superiour to theirs because more spirituall of which they which are partakers all worthy receivers have a communion with the things signified upon the Altar The Corinthians themselves were not ignorant of that the Apostle speaketh unto them as men that understood it was so verse 15. he carries it not out upon his own authority buâ— with their knowledge and assent The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the bloud of Christ The bread which we breake is it not the Communion of the body of Christ and if there be communion in these there is communion in those if with God and Christ in his Altars then with the Idoll and the Devill in his Altars This is the coherence and the inference of the Text. This being already affirmed by the Apostle and acknowledged by the Corinthians for his interrogation is it not is Emphatica affirmatio the whole argument is grounded upon an Hypothesis which must not be denied we maâ—e no more work to prove it but waite upon the Holy Ghosts further illustration of it as he shall enable me and your patience permit There is one word for the most part praedominant in every Text in this the word Communion is it it is the chief veine in the body of it and runs through every line and part and it is very fit for the season Communion now especially to be spoken of when there is so much need of Communion when faction and division have made the thoughts of our hearts otherwise too great there to have some thoughts of communion That you may know what it is the better you may consider three Communions in the Text they make each of 3 Communions them a severall part The first is Sacramentall between the signs and the things signed 1 Calicis The Cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the bloud of Christ The second is the Spirituall between the things signed and the 2 Capitis receivers We are all partakers of one bread which though last in the Text is the second to be inserted because by the Apostle it is made the cause of The third Communion which is mysticall between the receivers 3 Corporis and themselves one with another for we that are many are one bread and one body or to read the words more agreeable to the originall and therein I have the judgement of Beza Because there is but one bread we that are many are one body The first of these is peculiar to the season the Sacrament at the solemnity of the Sacrament and the ground of the other two For first there is Communio Calicis and from thence springs the second our Communion with Christ which is Capitis and the third our communion one with another which is Coâ—poris Saint Austine affirms them all Sacramentum Pietatis vinculum charitatis signum unitatis in Johan Tract 27. I call them all Communions because they are all cum unione and where there is union there needs must be communion Though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the originall be sayd only of the first which is Sacramentall and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the other which is mysticall yet they are made to differ but as the effect and the cause the ancient translations know no difference between them these last ought to have as full and as firm communion as the first the end of that being to effect these the Sacramentall Communion for our spirituall which is with Christ our head and for our mysticall which is with one another our body Ideo institutum ut corpus in terris capiti quod est in Coelis coadunetur Aug. Ser. 28. in Erem I begin with the first Communio Calicis the Sacramentall Communion and that because it is the seale of all the rest the cement of all our 2 Calicis Communions the Union of Communion The Cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ The Bread which we break c. Now a Communioniâ—s rightly defined a relation between two or 2 Paciâ— union of two or more in one thing which is common In the sacrament are two things 1 The signes 2 The things figned These two by the 1 Outward signe vertue of Divine operation are made one and thence is the Sacrament rightly styled A Communion untill this Union come there is no Communion at all res terrena Coelestis which Iraeneus makes the parts of the Sacrament never come together they are at distance look how high the heaven is from the earth nec verit as signo nec virtus Sacramento saith Cyprian till they meet in one conjunction no truth there 2 I ward gracâ— in the signe no mercy here from the things signed till mercy and truth both meet all the vertue in the Sacrament is in the Union of the parts and when that Union is there is then a Communion Take we a view of the parts we must know them first before we can say any thing of their Union or of the Communion of them The first is res terrena the outward and visible signe which is in 1 Ouâ—waâ—d fight effect but one though in number two even as the thing signed one invisible grace or as St. Bern saith rather unus Christus in quo est omnis gratia formally the signes and the things figned are but one but materially two saith the School They are two in number so delivered by Christ at the first Institution so exhibited by the Apostle at the reinstauration and so received by our Church and all places where rightly received at the Solemnization and these two severally considered and not joyntly the Bread asunder from the Wine the better to illustrate the death and passion of our Saviour which was in the separation of his Blood which is the life from the Body but after they are received they come together again as they did this day the Resurrection Christ now dying no more The Commemoration is of Christs death butthe Communion of
prise of it his own bloud who was not only the messenger of it but the maker of it and to shew that he shewed them his hands and his side 2. I come to that now the second way of Christs being author of our peace by mediation by purchase he sayd Peace be unto you and when he had so sayd he shewed them his hands and his side O hers were Evangelizantes pacem the Angels from Heaven the Apostles on earth but procurantes pacem none but he they by ministration having received commission from him he only by mediation having his mission from the Father they may be messengers he only the maker and in that respect he and not they is called Pax nostra If you require a sign of it there is the Prophet Jonabs in such a storm which would have soon swoopt up the ship and all her passengers Take me saith he and cast me into the sea and then the sea ceased from her raging Adam was the Carrick in him all mankinde was imbarqued and that was ready to be swallowed up in the Abysse of Gods high displeasure take me saith Christ and let me passe through those angry wounds only with this difference Jonahs truly sayd it Propter me haec tempestas but of him saith Esay He was wounded for our transgressions and those wounds which he then received here he shewes unto his Disciples He shewed them his hands and his side Christ would have the wounds of his passion to be seen after his resurrection for many good reasons It is probable he hath them still to shew In a vision which Zachary saw 13. 6. there is one whether Saint or Angel is bold to ask him what are those wounds in thy hands and his answer is These are they which I received in the house of my friends Saint Austine saith of the Martyrs Omnes suas cicatrices in caelo habituros non tanquam vitia sed veritatis testimonia de Civit. lib. 22. chap. 20. Not as arguments of their frailties but as testimonies of their virtue Among the rest there are three not the least 1. To consound his enemies when they shall look upon him whom they have pierced Herod was affrighted when he heard of Christs works and said it is John Baptist whom I beheaded even so shall they be daunted when they shall see his wounds and say it is Jesus whom we crucified 2. To confirm his friends Ad sananda infidelium cordium vulnera servata clavorum lanceae vestigia saith Leo. Except I see saith Thomas the print of his nayles and put my hand into his side I will not beleeve verse 25. vidit credidit the mouthes of his wounds spake most effectually to his faith he read best in the print of those nayles the resurrection of his master The report of Christs rising was as strange to him as to Jacob of Josephs living till he saw the wagons which Joseph sent for him and Thomas the wounds which Jesus suffered for him 3. That he might carry in his body the Trophees of his victory and our peace saith Maldonate that the wound in his side might be like the bow in the Cloud the rainbow about the Throne which John saw in his vision Revel 4. 3. or like the bloud on the lentell Exod. 12. or the red thred in the window Joshna 2. 18. that God when he sees it might remember his Covenant that the godly might flie to his side as their sanctuary to the holes of that rock to the secret place of the stairs of his Crosse and hide themselves in that great and terrible day of the Lord. This was the purchase of his passion a place to hide us in there is no finding of any peace for us murtherers out of these Cities of refuge no way for us to happinesse but through these gates of the righteous in at these everlasting doors Of the wounds of his side may very truly be sayd those words of the Psalmist This is the gate of the Lord the righteous shall enter in there at Now he might well speak of peace which was made our peace and wish us to peace which was wounded for it Peace after warre is ever welcome nay it is the honor of peace that war is made for it The embleme of a souldier is a sword in one hand and fire in the other with this motto Sic quaerimus pacem and it is Christs our Captains word Veni quaerere sanare and war destroyes all Peace only saveth And now me thinks I hear those wounds in his hands and side like so many mouthes for Quot vulnera tot ora saying unto you Peace be unto you Videte quantum constitit mihi pax vestra put your fingers here and see mine hands put forth your hands here and put them into my side make not my wounds greater by your infidelity then the Jewes did with all their cruelty will you not beleeve except you see them bleed afresh in my members in my spouse the Church can you slight that for which I payd so dear prize you my bloud at so low a rate that upon such slight occasions you contemne the purchase of it will you sell me again for thirty pence and cry out so many crucifies rather then put up any little injurie Can you for a ceremony cashiere all your charity and so readily break the bond of peace for which I was content to be bound over to insupportable pains will you use me more despightfully then those â—urrish Souldiers did they neither rent my garments nor brake my bones and will you tear in peeces that seamlesse coat of charity in which I have put my Spouse as if you were wilde beasts and like fierce Tygers make wide wounds in my body which is the Church Had I never bought it for you or being bought had I never brought it to you you could not have been more strangely carelesse of it All I can say unto you is Peace be unto you these wounds in my hands and side will say more and he shewed them his hands and his side And it will make you think the better of peace whiles you live if you consider one thing more whose hands they are which deliver it unto you if there were any better thing in the world those hands would not have kept it from you that side would have afforded bloud sufficient enough to have procured it for you and you may be sure it is worth the receiving which Christ gives you you ought not to refuse that which he bought at so dear a price I would here winde up all lest while I be a factor for your peace by too much tediousnesse I forfeit mine own but that in Christs shewing his hands and his side after he said Peace be unto you is as me thinks imported something of a morall intendment Saint Luke saith they were his hands and his feet it is likely he shewed them all 1. His side how it desired
pecâ—atorum as Syrach calls it a sin which first began in heaven and tumbled the first abetters of it down to hell That Epidemicall sin which hath infected the race of all mankinde and like a most malignant disease runs thorough all his veines from that man of sin the King of all the children of Pride as Job terms the Leviathan who hath the horns of the Lamb but the mouth of the Dragon with which he speaketh proud words Unto the lowest sinner amongst the sonnes of men is this pestilence dispersed those which have seemed most to trample upon pride and made pretences of voluntary humility have done it with greater pride as Plato said of Diogenes when he â—ord upon his chair with greater Pride then ever he sate in it greater pride below often goes about to pull down lesser pride above I must not stand to tell you what the pride of our self conceit is the magnifying of our selves the despising of our Brethren our high looks and proud stomacks the heighth of our apparell the glory of our Pompe how we perch up to the highest twig of our estate till the boughs will not bear us how we look down like the sonnes of Anack upon our brethren as Grashoppers how full every vain of us is of this vice it is enough to see it and to say Woe now unto us that we have sinned The next sin is covetousnesse Amor sceleratus habendi the root of all evill as the Apostle calls because it gives nourishment and groweth to all other sins even pride it self hath grown up by it Idolatry Prophanation Sacriledge Extortion and infinite others are troupers in this band the love of Mammon hath begotten it the wages of Balaam and the booty of Gâ—bazi and the Vineyard of Nâ—both have maintained it This also is our sin and woe is unto us that we have sinned These two Pride and Coveteousnesse have their residence in the heart have usurped Gods mansion and left him no room there But The third sin is Swearing which is a cankar in the mouth an open Sepulcher in the throat a sâ—ink that doth ascend to heaven which infects the sacred name of God the true Generall of Blasphemies perjuries lyings c. It is a sin which crucifies Christ a new and tears his very wounds and body in peeces and sheds his pretious bloud again a sin which never goes without a curse a long with it which the jealous God will not let go unrevenged This also is our sin and woe is unto us that we have sinned I will but name another a capitall sin among the Armies of Lucifer it is Drunkennesse the ring leader to adulteries quarrels wounds distempers to profannesse uncharitablenesse swearing flyes into the face of God but drunkennesse defaces the image of God he is the sepulcher of the creatures of God nay he is his own sepulcher being entombed in his own bowels It is a sin which began with the new world and hath been cryed down by the Prophets Apostles Fathers Pastors of the Church and yet they have not prevailed it is a crying sin which maketh a loud noise in Gods ears and it is our sin also woe now unto us that we have sinned I have named these four because of the four woes we spake of before and indeed if you peruse but the fifth chapter of Isaiah you shall finde a severall woe threatned to each of them I must not go about to number the rest I cannot do it I must say with the Psalmist Oh how great is the summe of them and set that at the foot of the accompt I can shew you but a part of this great Army as Balack shewed Bâ—laam but let that be enough to make you curse them all and say â—â—â—â—â— unto us that we have sinned Let us not now put them off and say these are indeed the sins of the times with Saul the people have sinned Justus est accusator suâ— true repentance accuseth none but it self I have sinned saith David we have sinned we have done wickedly saith Daniel We our selves are the men me me adsum qui fici in me convertite flaminat they are our sine that have troubled Israel say it though to the shame of our faces â—ertul Let not us be ad delinquendum expandentes frontem ad deprecandum subducenter Let us say it and give God glory by our saying it as Joshnah taught Aâ—han but to our own shame and the consusion of our faces Foâ— woe now unto us that we have sinned I le give you one observation more from the Text woe now unto us the pain that is present so we are to judge so it would be iâ— that great Judge of all do not forbear us but the sin that is past the pleasure that was in it that iâ— gone that we have sinned this is ever the sting of sin The fruit that it brings forth is shame the reward it leaves behinde is death all the worth of it is woe Woe now unto us that we have sinnod What remains now but that the sence of our misery and the sight Exod. 31. 31. of our sins like Aâ—ton and Hur make us bold up our hands with Moses unto God in crying That ceremony is not out of season now it is all that remains and let us cry a great and a strong cry unto God saying O Lord we have sinned a grievous sin therefore if thou pardon our sin thy mercy shall appear and let us withall beleeve assuredly that for the strong crying of his sonne he will hear our faithfull and unfained though but weak and feeble cryes for his satisfaction which be once made he will forgive our sins and accept of our repentance To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost three Persons but one God blessed for ever be all praise and glory now and ever Amen THE THIRD SERMON 1 COR 10. 16 17. The Cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the bloud of Christ the bread which we breake is it not the Communion of the body of Christ 17. For we that are many are one bread and one body because we are partakers of one bread THese words are an argument of the Apostle and such an argument which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taken ab axiomate concesso against which there could be no disputing he appeals to themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which were able to judge of the truth of it and if to judge then to contradict it if not true 1. Two things are to be taken notice of about it 1. The Coherence 2. The Inference the cause of it and the case The first is the point of Idolatry from which he diswades his Corinthians verse 14. My beloved flee from Idolatry for Idolaters have fellowship with Divels and I would not have you which drink of the Cup of the Lord drink of the cup of divels which are partakers of the Lords table be partakers of the table of
Christ alive The signes being two in number are severally to be represented so in the Text as they are at the time we consider them in that Order the Apostle layes them down and content our selves with that reason which Hiereme and Anselme give for his speaking of the Cup first because he had more to speak of the bread last not to invert the Order by a figure but to divert his speech whither he first intended it Bread being a more proper Symboll of Union than Wine not so soon falling into parts not so easie a subject of separation as that is and of Union his intent was to speak The Cup that is first mentioned in the Text by a Synecdoche it is 1 The Cup. put for the Wine in the Cup That which is in the cup St. Chrysost reades it The Papists which boast so much of their keeping the literall sense of the Sacrament allow of this figure no man was ever so much est ranged from common speech as not to understand it The Wine is the figne the Cup by a figure put for it but yet it is not the Wine in any cup. The Psalmist speaks of one In the hand of the Lord there is a Cup and the Wine is mixt his enimies shall drink the drâ—gs of it And in Jeremy there is a cup of Wine of indignation those that did drink of it did spue and fall and rise no more The Apostle distingâ—â—es from that and calls it The Cup of blessing The Scripture useth commonly to expresse the blessing of God by the Metaphor of a cup the abundance of blessing by the filling and overflowing of a cup Psal 23. 5. The Navell of the Spouse was as a round Cup Canâ— 7. â— The Heathen used to crown their cups in the time of plenty and Calvin reports that the Jews seats had their cup an holy drinking in which consisted the solemnity of their action and thence seems to come the Cup of Salvation the Psalmist speaks of which they used to drink at their solemn meetings in a gratulatory remembrance of their Deliverance these are all farre inferiour unto that our Apostle speaks of which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he calls the Cup of blessing Two wayes it may be called the Cup of blessing First from Gods blessing for us 2. From our blessing of God for it 1. Gods blessing of it for us the words of Institution are He took the Cup and blessed it in which there is a double power 1. A power of Consâ—cration 2. A power of Sanctification By the first the Cup is made a Symboll separated from a civill or common use to a religigious and holy intendment By the second the Symboll is made effectuall to incorporate a right receiver into Christ whereof it is made a Symbol 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will extend to both whichis the word for both Oecumeni us takes it for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is consecrare Beza for the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is sanctificare Of the first there are infinite examples in the old Testament blessing of the Sacrifices the consecrating of them Of the second we have a pregnant one in thenew every Creature of God is good and is sanctified by the Word of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 4. 5. Both these make the Sacrament necessarily to beof Divine Institution none but God may appoint his figne none blesseit but he to make it effectuall to the receiver other Creatures are of his blessing in his first Institution they had that Gen. 1. and by his blessing of them we receive all our benefit from them but that was but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his bare word and man lives by that Every word which coneth from the mouth of God Matth. 4. 4. But in his second Institution there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the good Word of God much good must needs come from that the Creature the Cup which is blessed with it is indeed the Cup of blessing Besides the true effects of it in a worthy receiver make it appear a Cup of blessing it is the onely fap of our Spirituall life the Autidote against the deepest Consumption the water of life which whosoever drinks worthily shall never thirst any mâ—re Haustus ej us neihi Nectar erit it is the Wine of Angels the Cup of Salvation the Waters of Comfort the Spring-Head of eternall happines In many things Christ hath deserved well at our hands but in none so much as this Super omnia it reddit amabilem bone Jesu Calix redemptionis meae saith Bernard it is a Cup of spiced Wine Cant. 8. 2. Christ kept the good Wine till the last and then gives it to his friends to drink to his welbeloved to â—ake her merry Cant. 5. 1. it is a cup for the sad heart to chear it for the merry heart to confirm it to quench our spirituall thirst to cure our spirituall grief well may it receive from us these Eulogies which receive by it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so much blessing There is Isaacs blessing The Dew of Heaven in it and Calebs blessing the springs above in it and that which is above all and worth all there is Gods blessing it is the Cup of blessing from his blessing of it for us that first and that is poculum benedictum as well as benedictionis 2. From our blessing of God for it The Cup of blessing which we blesse there is the same word for it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but yet not altogether of the same sence Aliter nos Deum aliter Dens nos God blesseth with power and maketh that to be of force which he saith we blesse God withpraise Gods blessing is reall ours but verball His cum effectu ours at the best but cum affectu his is operativè his word is ever a work with all ours only optativè it is the greater only that can blesse the lesser according to that of the Apostle effectually and he is the greatest we the least but ei benedicimus cum de co bene dicimus we blesse him when we speak well of him when we confesse his praise when we speak well of him though so well as he hath deserved of us we cannot speak And hence is the Sacrament called Eucharistia which is a giving of praise and thanks which is the word of institution Matth. 26. 27. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Originall are Synonima saith Beza to give praise and thinks and to blesse And yet this is not all the blessing is intended Cui benedicimus hath reference to the Cup we blesse the Cup as well as God for the cup 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Oecumenius The consecration of it is the blessing of it the setting it a part to an holy use the praising of God for it the praying unto God for a blessing upon it all these doth the word of blessing extend unto and one thing more