for his Sonne Christ Iesus sake but presently performes it inuesteth vs againe with our Fathers inheritance which we forfeited in Adam and where we were of our owne nature but deade dogs vncleane creatures dead in sinne trespasses Now behold what loue the Father hath shewen vs He hath made vs partakerâ— ofthis heauenly vocâ—tion as to be his sonnes his heires and shall not we then in our very hearts be humbled before him acknowledge our great vnworthinesse and his excellent mercies Let vs confesse with God lie Iacob I am not worthie O Lord of the least of all thy mercies and let euery one of vs say with the CeÌ„turion I am not worthie Lord that thou shouldest entre within my roofe Let vs with the womaÌ„ of Canaan acknowledge our owne roome if the Lord should giue vs but the benefit of whelps dogs that is should suffer vs to goe vnder our maisters Table and eate of the crummes that fall from it yet were 〈◊〉 it more then any way we haue deserued how then are we bound to haue our hearts and our mouthes filled continually with the praises of our God who hath bestowed vpon vs his greatest mercies wheÌ„ we were not worthy of the least hath set vs down as Sons daughters heires at the table of his children that were not worthy as dogs and whelps to creepe vnder it haue we not cause to crie out with Dauid O Lord what is man that this maner of waâ— thou art mindâ—ful â—f him Elizabeth maruailed y t Mary came to visâ—â—e her in the humility of her hart cryed out Wâ—eÌ„câ— coÌ„meth this that the mother of my Lord shâ—ld come vnto me but we haue more cause to maruell at the maruaillous mercies of the Lord for what are we that the fairest â—mong the Children of men shold be dâ—lighted with our loue and our Lord should come to visit the base estate of his Seruants coÌ„municate himselfe his light and his life and his grace vnto vs Let no maÌ„ think that I haue multiplied these places of scripture without a cause The beginning of the diuisioÌ„ between vs the Lord flowed from the pride of our nature vnlesse we humble our selues be coÌ„tent in our mind to sit lower then dust ashes by reason of our sin it is not possible we can bee vnited with the Lord. This is the councell that in few words Michah giueth vnto vs He hath shewed thee O maÌ„ what â—s good and what â—he Lord requireth of thee surely to doe iustly and to loue mercy to humble â—hy selfe to walke wâ—th thy Gâ—d The Lord is indeede a moste high God yet he is nearest vnto them they goe soonest vp vnto him who are least in their owne eyes and tremâ—le at his words And beside this inward humiliation â—rising of the sence of our owne vnworthinesse and weakenesse let vs come with a hunger and thirst of the Lord his righteousnesse and saluation For he will satiâ—fie the hungrie but the full he sâ—â—deth away emptie onelie they that haue the spiritull appetite hunger and thirst are meete to be communicants â—t this holy table As that oyle multiplyed by Elâ—sha ceased not so long as the widdow had any vessell wherâ—in to receiue it so shall neuer that oyle of grace decay but bee multiplyed and increased vnto all that with open inlarged hearts are ready to receiue it Thou therefore who art more ready to faint for spirituall hunger then was Ionathan come hither put out y e haÌ„d offaith eate of this hony and make thee full and thou that art sicke with the Spouse in the Canticle for the loue of Iesâ—s come either and the Lord shall stay thee with the flagons of his wine Art thou almoste dead like that Aegiptian the seruant of an Amalekite whoÌ„ Dauid found in the fieldes take and eate of this bread and thy spirit shal returne againe vnto thee But alasse where is this spirituall appetite to be found amongst vs the deadnesse of our heart is lamentable we see not our wants we see not his beautie wee smell not his oyntments we taste little of his goodnesse and therefore â—e make not haste to runne after him Dauid mourned ouer the dead body of Abâ—er but alasse if we could we haue much more cause to mourn ouer our dead soules Oh that there were in vs y e holy desire which Dauid protesteth to haue beene was in him My soule faynâ—eth for the saluation of God Aâ— the heart brayeth for y â— riuers of waters thirstie ground desireth rain so my soule paâ—teth aftâ—r the liuing God blessed are they who hunger and thirste for his righteousnesse for they shal bee satisfied These onely are the guests banketters that shall eate of the delicates which here he hath prepared and whose soule shall bee delighted with his fatnesse These shall go from this Table as Moses came down from Mount Sinai and his countenance changed they shall arise with Eliah and walke on in the strength of this bread al the whole daies of their pilgrimage they shal go on in their way with Sâ—mpson eating of the hony which they haue found They shall depart from this Table as the two Maries did from the Sepulchree with great ioy These shall goe home to their owne houses iustified with the Publicane reioycing because they haue found a treasure and hath felt the sweetnes of this Manna they shal shal not be able to conceale this great ioy from Israel but shall be forced to tell euerie Nathanaâ—l whome they meet We haue found the Messiah And in all time to come their soules shall cleaue to the Lord without separation more streightly theÌ„ the meÌ„ of Iudah Ierusalem cleaued vnto Dauid their King they shall say to the Lord as Elizeus said to Eliah as the Lord liueth and as thy soule liueth I will not leaue thee and with Peter whither O Lord shall I goe from thee seeing thou hast the words of eternall life The Lord worke this spiritu all disposition in vs for Iesus Christs sake to whome with the Father the holy spirit be all honour praise and glory for euer Psal. 36.7 How excellent is thy mercie O Lord therefore the children of men trust vnder the shadowe of thy wings they shall be satisfied with the fatnesse of thine house and thou shalt giue them drinke out of the riuers of thy pleasures Psal. 6â— 4 Blessed is the man whome thou choosest and causest to come to thee he shall dwell in thy courts and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thine house Let glorie be giuen to the Lord and his blessing be vpon his people FINIS Rom. 1 Es 42 16 Esa 49 22 Esay 43 6 Psal. 19 6 Esai 2 3. Iosh. 10 1â— Ro. 11 25 Gen 9 27 Mich 3 6 Hos. 9.12 Io. 12 35 Luk. 19 42 Psalme 2. Luk. 15 8 Psal.
sprinckled in our hearts from an euill conscience Here is a Sacrament more excellent theÌ„ the passeouer here is bread more holye then that Shew-bread heere are the tokens of Gods presence more glorious theÌ„ the Arke heere the Lord commeth downe and saluation vnder his winges not to sound by Angelâ— the precepts of his lawe on Sinâ—i but to seale vp by his Spirit the promises of his Gospell to the inhabitants of Sion shall we then presume to come to this holye Table without sanctification Or if wee will may we not looke assuredly for iudgement The Corinthians were stricken with death and sundrie diseases because they discerned not the Lordes bodye and which is most fearfull of all he that came to the marriage wanting his wedding Garment was hee not taken from the banquet Table and cast into the place of vtter darknes and shall wee looke to escape the like iudgement if wee fall into the like contempt of God Prepare thy selfe oh Israel to meet thy God let vs search and trye our waies let vs lift vp our hands with our hearts vnto God in the heauens If wee bee this day come to the Lord with all our heart let vs put away our strange Gods which are our sinnes from among vs let vs with Iosephs Brethren make ready our presents sith wee haue no better thing then our heart leâ— vs â—acrifice our hearts to the Lord that in the best estate that posâ—ible we can get it for the Lord our God is a greate King Cursed is he that hath a male in his Flock â—nd voweth and sacrificeth a corrupt thing to the Lord. Beware therefore wee offer not that which is lamâ— and torne to the Lordâ— a diuided heart a â—alting heart betweene two an vnpenitent heart is neither a meete Sacrifice to offer vnto the Lord nor a meete vessell wherein to receiue thâ—t holye thing which heere the Lord offers vnto thee The Apostle saieth that the breaking of this breade is the Communion of the bodye of Iesus Sith Christ is that holy thing which heere is communicated take heede how we make readye the heart wherein to receaue him Ioseph of Arimâ—thea and the rest of those goly ones who tooke downe Iesus from the Crosse wrapped his deade bodye in pure and fine linnen what shall wee then doe with the liuing bodye of Iesus shall not wee receiue it into pure fine and well prepared hearts No man sayes our Sauiour puts new Wine into old Vâ—ssels far lesse wil any man put the ordinâ—râ— food of his body into vnclean vnseasoned and vnsauerie vessels but least â— of all should men presume with vnholy hearts and handes to meddle with things saccred and hâ—auenly Here is new wine indeede let vs not put it into old vessels Heere is heauenly Manna let vs not receaue it with earthlye hearts Any man that is in Christ should become a new creature If we be these blessed ones who are called to the participation of the Lambes supper then shall it be graunted to vs to bee arayed with pure fine linnen and shining which is the righteousnesse of the Saints The Lord vouchsafe this grace vpon vs that sith hee hath made vs partakers of the heauenly vocation and caâ—led vs to the marriage of his Sonne that wee receiue not so excellent a grace in vaine but it may be vnto vs his seruants according to his word And now before wee enter to speake of this tryall least the tender consciences of the Godlye by reason of that which I haue spoken should be discouraged and cast downe with the sence of their owne vnworthinesse which at all times is great in their eyes but greatest when by tryal they looke most narrowlie vnto themselues We haue therefore to consider that there bee two sortes of tryals One whereby a thing perfect is tryed in such sort that it is not made better but found to bee that which it is and with this kinde of tryâ—ll man is saide to trie the Lord and his word so speakes the Lord by Malachie Proue me try me now if I will not poure you ouâ—â— blessing without measure By this tryall if a man fall too to trye the Lord hee shall finde him such as hee is true constant and faithfull to performe that which he hath spoken or if againe man will enter and trie the word of the Lord hee shall finde that the lawe of the Lord is perfect no drosse in it but like siluer fined seauen times in the fire There is againe another tryall whereby thinges imperfect are so tried that they are made better and at the length perfected and hereby God tries man for so hee speakes by the same Malachie The Lord wil fine the sonnes of Leui and purifie them as gold and siluer that they bring offerings to him in righteousnesse And with this triall also man tries himselfe searching out his iniquities that he may forsake them and this triall tendes indeed to a perfection at the last but stands rather in a finding out and forsaking of our imperfections then in any present perfection And of this tryall the Apostle meanes heere so that this precept dooth commaund vs to search out our iniquities to depart froÌ„ them but doth no way import that we should not communicate at this Table because that new tryall discouers to vs new transgressions for we come not heâ—e as men without sin but as poore and miserable sinners seeking the Sauiour of the world knowing that hee came not to call the righteous but sinners vnto repentance Thou then who after examination shalt finde the selfe a miserable and yet a penitent sinner say not with Peter Lord depart from me for I am a sinfull man but so much the rather goe to him and crie with Dauid Haue mercy on mee O God and according to the multitude of thy coÌ„passions put away mine iniquâ—tiâ—s for it is a true saying Christ came into the world to saue sinners Stay not thou therfore backe from him because â—hou art sinfull onelye trie if thou bee wearie of thy sinnes for we are sure that a sin discouered by tryall and cast out by repentance will neuer condemne vs Wash you saith the Lord make you câ—â—an take away the euilâ— of your workes from before my eies and then though your sinnâ—s were as crimson they shall be made whiâ—e as snowe though they were red likâ— Svaâ—â—â— they shall be as VVool. Omne quod ipse mimihi non imputare aecrâ—uerit Sâ—c est quasi â—on fuerit euerie sin saieth the ancient which God hath concluded not to impute vnto me is as if it had neuer beene If therefore in thy conscience thou feele thy sins an heaâ—y burden vnto thee vnder the which thou sighâ—st gronest and wherof thou earnestly desirâ—st to be releâ—ued crying with that holy Apostle O miserable man who shall deliuer me from â—his boâ—â—e of sinne
then goe thou to the Lord Iesus for surely thou art one of those whome hee is seeking heâ— came into the worlde to saue thee and the like of thee lay thy burden vppon the backe of CHRIST and hee shall beâ—re it and take thou vp his yoake which is â—asie and his buâ—den which is light So sh lt thou finde râ—st to thy soule O happy exchange when we are taken from the seâ—uitude of sin entred into the seruice of Christ wheÌ„ the burden of sin that presseâ—h vs downe is taken from our backe and the sweete yoake of Christ that lifteth vs vp is laid vpon vs for albeit it be called a burdeÌ„ yet is it such a burden as easeth vs maketh vs lighter like the wings of a Bird Qâ—â—d â—nim leuâ—â—â— eo onere quod non solum oâ—erat sed port aâ—â—mnem câ—i portandum â—mpoâ—i ur Where for our farther comfort let vs conâ—ider what manner of Guestes these were whome the greate King commaunded to bring into his banquetting house euen the poore the maymed the halt and the blinde Take hâ—ede vnto this O thou that arte disquieted in minde and wounded in spiriâ—â— with the sence of thy infirmities the Lord is gratious and ready to shew mercie Hee will not breake the bâ—used reedâ— â—â—r quâ—nch the smoaking Flax hee will not despise thee because thou art weake but bids thee come to him that hee may heale all thy infirmiâ—ieâ— Art thou then poore destitute of spirituall grace in thy feeling turne thee to Christ who being rich became poor for thy sake that thou in him mights be made rich Art thou weak dâ—seasâ—d remember they who aâ—e whole need no phisiâ—â—an but the sick that it is the glorie ofthis excellent phisitian to cure diseases otherwise incurable quid eâ—â—m tam ad mortem quod Christi morte non sanetur Art thou lame and complainest that thou caÌ„st not with Dauid runne the way of the commaundements of God yet indeuour to halt forward with Iaacob vnto Canaan and to creep to the Lord Iesus As one of his little Babes praying vnto hâ—m O Lord that raisest-vp the crooked I beseech thee to order my goings aright and to staye my steps in thy pathes that I slide not anye more as I haue done And thou who laments thy blindnesse the weak measure of thy knowledge now in this time of light alas as wee haue all more then cause to complaine that by our own default the eyes of our vnderstanding are not lightned and wee haue so little insight into the ritches of that glorious inheritance and rich mercies manifested to vs by the gospel in comparison of that we might haue had If wiâ—h the Angels wee had beâ—ne desirous to behold them surely in regarde of time we should haue beene teachers yea the meanest inhabitant of Ierusalem should haue beene as Dauid and Dauid as the Angel of God But wee are become such as haue neede that the principles of God should bee taught againe vnto vs yet must we not dispaire but goe to Iesus who giâ—eth sight to the blinde and pray to him Lord open ouâ— eies that wee may see the wonders of thy law Let vs goe to this Table stand and â—rie with th â—e two blinde men Iesus the Sonne of Dauid haue mercie on me O Lord enliâ—hten mine eies â—hat I sleepe not in death Comfortable â—heÌ„ is that message sent by the Lord Iesus to the Church of Laodicea I knowe thoâ— art miserable and poore blinde and naked â—et I councel thee come to mee I haue the fiâ—e goâ—de thaâ— will makâ— thee rich I haue the white rayment to couer thy filthy nakednes I haue the eie salue that wil opeÌ„ thy â—ies let vs noâ— therfore heâ—rkeÌ„ to the voice of our infidelitie against so cleere testimonies of the word of God neither so looke on our miseries that we turne our backe vpoÌ„ Gods mercies but rather let our â—iseries chase vs to him who of his aboundant mercie is aâ—le to fulfâ—ll all our nenecessâ—ties aboue all that wee can aske or thinke But now to returne and speake of the tryall here required wee must consider that as this actiâ—n is not a daily action so iâ— requirâ—s a tryal aboâ—e our daylâ— trial aâ— to our daily and ordinaâ—ie tryall in it we are bound to examine all our actions in the court of conscience that we may cal our selues to accouÌ„t Not coÌ„cealing the iniquitie of our bosome as Adam did but iudging our sâ—lues â—hat we may not be iudged of the Lord. And this tryal without a daily losâ—e cannot be neglected for since we are subiect to so many chaÌ„ges that euen the iust man fallethâ—â—euen times in the day and no man knoweth the errors of his life we haue great need by daily consideâ—atiâ—n to view the state of our câ—nsciencâ—s and to looke into the course of our life whither or not it bee such as will lead vs vnto that end wherat we would be Such profit found godly Dauid by the exâ—mination of his waies that heâ— praised the Lord. Who gaue â—im counsell and made hâ—â— reynâ—s to â—eâ—ch hâ—m in the night And he acknowledgeth it a speciaâ— meane wherby many times he was reduced into the way of life when hee had wandred from it I haue considereâ— saieth he my wâ—ies and â—urned mâ— feet vnâ—o thy â—estimonâ—es As Dauid learned this from God so doth hee recommend it vnto vs that morning and eueniâ—g wee should examine our selues as a moste profitable meane to nourish that holy feare in vs where by wee keepe ouâ— sinne when wee are tempted to it or caste ouâ— sinne when we haue once conceiued it for this holy feare is Innocenâ—iae câ—stâ—s Tremble therefore saieth he and sinne not examine your hearts vpon your bâ—ds and be yee still Againe he protests that eueriâ— day he was punished and chastised â—uerie morning that he daily cleansed hiâ— heart washed his hands in innocencie Euerie day of our life we coÌ„tract some new debt of sinne wisdom â—rauâ—â— that euerie day we should seeke a discharge thereof As we cannot liue without daily foode far lesse can we liue without daily mercy therfore our Sauiour who in the one PetitioÌ„ taught vs to pray giue vs this day our daily bread in the next he taught vs also to pray and forgiue vs our sins that no day should goe by vs without examinination of our selues crying of God mercie for our sinnes But heâ—re commeth to bee lamented the sencelesse sâ—upidity of this generation in all their affaiâ—es they vse consideration bâ—â—ng to accouÌ„t reâ—koning their whole businesse with men but as touching their conuersation towards God and the state of their consciences whether or not they be translated froÌ„ nature into grace there are they so carryed away by presumption that they leaâ—e no place to the examination
shaken with the wind as the point of the Mariners compasse so long as it is not direct to the North trembles continually so the spirit of the wicked not set vpon the Lord is neuer quiet but tossed too and fro with restlesse perturbations which in a part presently he feeles but shall better perceiue it when he goeth out of the body For tribulation and anguish shal be on the soule of euerie man that doth wickedlye this is the portion of them that forsake God and wander after vanitie It is good therefore for vs to draw nere vnto God saying with Dauid whome haue I in the heauen but thee and I haue desired none in the earth with thee The Lord worke this heauenly disposition in vs. And now to helpe forward our earthly mindes vnto it wee haue to consider both the time and place when and where our Sauiour did institute this sacrament The place is recorded by Saint Luke to haue beene an vpper Parlour the consideration of the place saith Nazâ—aÌ„zin doth some waie warne vs that wee should celebrate this holy sacrament with high heauenly affections When God gaue the lawe he came downe from heauen to the top of Sinai and Moyses went vp from the plaine to it and so saieth he had familiar conuersation with the Lord and heere as the Lord cometh downe as lowe as he can in this Sacrament for our capacitie it becommeth vs to mount vp as high as possible we can in our affections if so be we be desirous to meete the Lord otherwise if the Lord shall abide in his glorie and in accesâ—ible light and if man shall lye still in the darke dungeon of hiâ— base and earthly minde what familiar meeting can there be betweene God and man And as to the time Saint Iohn witnesseth that our Sauiour ordeined this sacrament when he was to go out of the world to his father wherin said Augustine Spes membris in Capiâ—e data quod essent in illo transeunte sine dubiâ— seqâ—â—tura Yea not onlie should it nourish our hope that where he is there once we shal be but should waken our affection and desire to goe after him we should eat and drinke at this holie table not as if we were here to remayne but shold celebrate this supper like a passeouer standing as pilgrimes and our loynes girded vp hauing our staues in our hand readie to follow our Lord who is gone into heauen before vs and euerie day of our communion should be a new departing of our hearts out of this world vnto our heauenly Father yea we should receiue this meate from the Lord with that warning which the Angell gaue to Eliah in the wildernesse vp and eate for thou hast yet a great iourney to goe This bread is giuen vs that in the strength thereof wee may walke forward in the way which is before vs not that we should lie downe and rest vs in this wildernesse as if we had now attained to the end of our iourney The Angell wakened Eliah twice sleeping vnder the Iuniper twice he touched him and twice he bad him vp eate and walke at length hee arose and walked in the strength of that bread fortie dayes But alasse our securitie is greater then his Many a time hath the Lord warned vs of the iourney that is before vs many a time hath he proposed heauenly food vnto vs and now against this day the Lord reneweth his mercy towards vs. The Lord waken vs and graunt at the length that we may rise and walke following the Lord till we appeare before the face of our God in Sâ—on But of all other meanes the moste forceable to rauish our hearts afteâ— y e Lord is a deep meditatioÌ„ of the loue of god towards vs. The apostle protesteth it is a loue that passeth knowledge the height and breadth the length depth wherof none is able to comprehend he that at one time cryed out Come and I will tell you what God hath done to my soule is compelled another time to confesse O Lord my God thou hast made thy wonderful works so many that none can couÌ„â— in order to thee the thoghts towards vs I would declare and speake of them but they are more then I am able to expresse And yet although we be lesse able then the Elephant at one draught to drinke vp the riuer of Iordane let vs be content with the wearied passenger willinglie to take in so much as may refresh vs wee cannot measure the waters of the sea in our fist nor number the starres of heauen and how then shall we number his mercies which are aboue all his workes shall we therefore not looke to them nor beholde that glorie of God which shineth in them Though we cannot comprehend his incomprehensible loue yea blessed are we if it shall comprepend vs let vs notwithstanding earnestlie and frequentlie meditate vppon it not by starts and vanishing motions for as A Candle dooth not at the first receiue light from the fire were it neuer so bold but if for a time it be holden constantlie to the fire it is at the length enlightened so is it not vanishing meditations that wil warm our harts with the loue of God but if we shal continue without wearying to exercise our thoughts vpon this great loue that the Lord hath borne towards vs it shal happilie fall out at length that the powers of our soule shall bee inflamed with his loue and we shall finde the sauour of death in euerie thing that smelleth not of his loue No greater loue then this saith our Sauiour can be shewed among men then that a man should bestowe his life for his friendes but that which maÌ„ is not able to shew our Lord Iesuâ— God man hath shewed to the Children his good will for the loue he bore to vs he gaue himself in a sacrifice for our sins on the Crosse eueÌ„ when wee were his enemies and hath here in this SacrameÌ„t giuen himselfe a food and nourishment vnto vs for so that disciple belooued of him doth testifie When Iesus knew that his houre was come that hee should goe out of the world vnto his Father forasmuch as he loued his owne vnto the end he loued them therefore did he institute this sacrament that therein he might communicate himselfe to them O wonderfull loue stronger then the loue of Ionathan to Dauid When Ionathan and Dauid behooued to part companie because of Saules tyrannie Ionathan gaue Dauid his Garment his Girdle and his Armour he had no better and could giue no better so with many teares and mutuall imbracings departed from him but our blessed Sauiour before he remoued his corporall presence from vs gaue his life to redeem our life froÌ„ the death he sent out bloody sweat abouÌ„dantly as the witnesses of his burning loue towards vs hee prowred out an euerlasting prayer
to his father for vs he hath left behinde him in his laste will his peace for our portion he hath giuen vs his spirit for a comforter his word for a warner and this sacrament for a spirituall foode vntil his second coming againe No marueile his spouse in the Canticle praised his loue to be far aboue the loue of women for though in some of theÌ„ y e strength natural of affection be so great that it makes them indure the painful bearing bringing vp of their children with the milke of their brests yet what is that comparable to this nothing indeed Such a loue as here our Sauiour hath discouered towards vs is not to be fouÌ„d againe in the world for whereas Mothers saieth Câ—risostome either commit their children to Nurses or else brings them vp vpon the milke of their owne breasts Iesus Christ feedes vs not with the milke of another but with his owne flesh and his owne blood Necessitie sometime hath compelled the Mother to eate her owne Children but wee neuer reade that compassion hath mooued the Mother to giue her owne flesh to preserue her Children that they should not die in famine But our Lord Iesus is that kinde Pelican that sendeth out his owne blood to nourish his young and all this hath our Lord Iesus done not grudgingly but willingly prouoked hereunto by that feruent loue hee bare to the glorie of God his Father and to our saluation Which shall yet appeare more euidently out of his owne comfortable saying to his Disciples I haue greatly desired to eate this Passouâ—â— with you O word full of consolation sundrie Passeouers had he eaten before with them but he protesteth this was his desired Passeouer See ye not heere his vnquenchable loue he knew it was the last hee was to eate vpon the earth he knew he was to drinke no more with them of the fruite of the vine till it was fulfilled in his Fathers kingdome Hee knew that the same night they wold betray him and that after Supper a bitter cup of passion was abiding for him yet his loue ouercame all these impediments and made him thinke long to eate of this Passeouer And which is much more before euer he gaue himselfe to be crucified for vs on the Crosse he prouided this Sacrament as a means of the communication of himselfe vnto vs thereby assuring vs that his subsequent passion should not defraude vs but rather affoord vnto vs and make ready for vs that righteousnesse and life by Christ purchased on the Crosse and communicate in his holye table to them who are his In the one he was prepared made ready as the onely foode of our soules to eternall life in the other he is applyed communicated giuen vnto vs both of these necessarily behoued to bee done for the worke of our saluation Sicut enim ad potandum vinum venire neâ—â— potest nisi botrus calcetur ante et prematur sic nos sanguinem Christi bibere non potuimus nisi Christus prius fuisset calcatus et prâ—ssus It was a great loue which made our Sauiour content that his blood shold bee shed out on the crosse so should be made both a ransome a conuenient foode for vs for the father sent him Quasi saccuÌ„plenuÌ„ misericordia in passione coÌ„scindenduÌ„ vt effundatur quod in eo latet pretium nostruÌ„ So is this also a new declaration of his loue that before his body was brokeÌ„ his blood was shed he first ordeyned the meanes whereby it should be communicated vnto vs. These and many more spirituall meditations should be vnto vs as the breathings of the mouth of God to kindle in our soules that little sparke of the loue of God which alasse for fault of entertainmeÌ„t is almost ouer-gone extinguished with the ashes of our corruptioÌ„ for seeing our Sauiour loÌ„ged to eat with vs shal not we long to eat with him he greatly desired to giue himselfto vs in this table for vs on the crosse shall not we earnestly desire to receiue him hee knew it was the last he shold eat vpoÌ„ earth that after it heauy sufferings abode him we know that our banquetting here is the baÌ„quet that shal be accoÌ„plished in heauen it is begun here it shal not end here CoÌ„fortable is y e word of our sauiour it shall be fulfilled in my kingdoÌ„â— wil not we then ioyfully begin this banquet shal we be so foolish as to wait vpoÌ„ lying vanities forsake our owne mercies shal we turne our back vpon y e fountaine of liuing waters and dig to our selues Cisterns y t can hold no water crtainâ—ly our darkene is grosser theÌ„ the darkenesse of Egipt and our hearts harder then the Adamant except this burning loue of the Lord Iesus rauish vpward our hearts after him The spouse in the Canticle professeth she was sicke of the loue of her glorious husband the Lord Iesus but alasse we are not touched with the like loue we feele not the smell of his oyntments and therefore with the rest of the Virgins we runne not after him Eliah touched Elisha with his Mantle and therwithall the Lord ioyned his inward calling suddenly Elisha left his plough of Oxen of a husbaÌ„dmaÌ„ became a prophet Now the lord cals vpon vs by his word sacrameÌ„t Let vs also pray that the Lord wold shed abroad in our hearts by his holy spirit the sence of that loue of God then should we neglecting all things runne after the Lord seeking onely to inioy him The men of this world maruell to beholde the suddaine change of life which is made in the children of God by his effectuall calling they maruell to see them running so feruently after Christ seeking him by continuance in prayer by hearing of his word by participation of his Sacrament and that with such an insatiable desire that in this life they can neuer be satisfied with hearing reading praying and communicating but if the Lord should in like manner touch their hearts and let them feele the power of an inward calling then would they marueile no more farre lesse disdaine yea they would make haste and ioyne themselues to the company of the godly And Saul also shold become amoÌ„gst the Prophets The womaÌ„ who had liued before a licentious life would now change it with Marie Magdalen she had beene a greate sinner in the Citie but became an example of repentance to all the sinners in the Citie she prostrates no more her body to her carnall Louers but falles downe at the feete of Christ to craue his mercie in steed of her wanton lookes her eies poure out teares her beautifull hayre which before shee set out as a proclaimer of her luste now shee pulleth downe to wash the feet of Christ. Thus all the former meanes of her sin she maketh new witnesses of her repentance the man