Thirdly^ Meat and drink must undergo an alteration, and lose its own form, before it actually nourishes the body. The corn is ground to pieces in the mill, before it be made bread to nourish us. And Christ must be ground betwixt the upper and nether millstone of the wrath of God, and malice of men, to be made bread for our souls. The prophet saith, Isa. Hi. 14. His visage is marred more than any mans. He did not look like himself, the beauty and glory of heaven ; but the reproach of men, and despised of the people. Oh what an alteration did his incarnation and sufferings make upon him ! Phil, ii. 6, 7. Quantum mntatus ah illo !
Fourthly., Natural food must be received into our bodies, and have a natural union with them,- and Christ must be received into our souls, and have a spiritual union with them by faith ; or else we can have no nourishment, or benefit by him. An empty profession, a mere talk- ative religion, nourishes the inner man, just as much as the sight of meat, and our commending of it, doth our outward man. It is Christ's dwelling in our hearts by faith, Eph. iii. 17. our receiving of him, John i. 12. our eating his flesh, and drinking his blood, John vi. 53. i. e. The effectual application of Christ to our souls by faith, that makes us partakers of his benefits.
Fifthly., Meat and drink must be taken every day, or else natural life will languish ; and spiritual life will never be comfortably main- tained in us, without daily communion with Jesus Christ. If a gra- cious soul neglect, or be interrupted in its course of duties, and stated times of prayer ; it will be quickly discernible by the Christian him- self, in the deadness of his own heart ; and by others also, in the bar- renness of his discourses. And in these things stands the analogy, and agreement of the flesh and blood of Christ, with meat and drink.
2. Query. The next thing is to open the transcendent excellency of Chrisfs flesh and blood, above all other food in the world. And this appears in four particulars.
First, This flesh and blood was assumed into the nearest union with the second person in the blessed Trinity, and so is not only dignified above all other created beings, but becomes the first receptacle of all
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grace, intended to be communicated through it to the children of men; John i. 14.
Secondly^ This flesh and blood of Christ was offered up to God, as the great sacrifice for our sins, and purchase of our peace ; Col. i. 20. Eph. V. 2. and so it is of inestimable price and value io be- hevcrs. The human nature of Christ was the sacrifice, the divine na- ture was the altar on which it was offered up, and by which it was dignified and sanctified, and made an offering of a sweet-smelling savour to God, Eph. v. 2.
Thirdly^ This flesh and blood of Christ, is the great med'mm of conveyance of all blessings and mercies to the souls and bodies of be- lievers. It lies as a vast pipe at the fountain-head of blessings, re- ceiving and conveying them from God to men; Col. i. 14, 19.
So then, it being united to the second person, and so become the flesh and blood of God ; it being the sacrifice offered up to God for atonement and remission of sins, and the medium of conveying all grace and mercy from God to the fountain, to the souls and bodies of believers : how sweet a relish must it have upon the palate of faith .? Here faith may taste the sweetness of a pardon ; a full, free, and final pardon of sin ; than which nothing in this world can be sweeter to a sin-burning conscience.
Here it tastes the incomparable sweetness of peace with God, a peace which passeth understanding : The breach sin made, is by this sacrifice made up for ever ; Col. i. 20.
Here it tastes the inexpressible sweetness of acceptation with God, and an interest in his favour ; a mercy, which a poor convinced soul would give ten thousand worlds for, were it to be purchased. Yea, here it relisheth all the sweet promises in the covenant of grace, as confirmed and ratified by this sacrifice ; Heb. ix. 5. So that well might he say, ' My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink in- deed;' the most excellent New Testament food for believers.
I. Use, of Information.
First, See here the love of a Saviour, that heavenly pelican, who feeds us with his own flesh and blood. You read, Lam. iv. 10. of pitiful women, who eat the flesh of their own children ; but where have you read of men or women, that gave their own flesh and blood for meat and drink to their children ? Think on this, you that are so loth to cross and deny your flesh for Christ : He suffered his flesh to be rent, and his blood set abroach for you : What love like the love of Christ !
Secondly, Learn hence a ground of content, in the lowest and poor- est condition allotted to any believer in this world. It may be some of you live low in the world ; you have hard fare, and are abridged of many of those sweet comforts in the creature, which the enemies of God abound in : But still remember you have no cause to envy
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their dainties, and be dissatisfied with your own lot and portion ; when not many nobles, or mighty in the world, feed as your souls do feed. O what a feast have you ! What dainties do your souls taste by faith ; whilst others do but feed upon ashes and husks ? What is the flesh of lambs and calves out of the stall, to the flesh of Christ ? Amos vi. 4, 5, 6. What is wine in bowls, and the chief ointment, to the blood of Christ, and the anointings of his Spirit ? O to be sa- tisfied with your outward lot, however God hath cast it, whilst he hath dealt so bountifully with your souls.
Thirdly, Learn hence the necessity of faith, in order to the liveli- hood and subsistence of our souls. What is a feast to him that can- not taste it ? And what is Christ to him that cannot believe ? That cannot, by faith, eat his flesh, and drink his blood ?
It is not the preparation made for souls in Christ, but the applica- tion of him by faith, that gives us the sweetness and benefit of him. Faith is the souPs mouth, or palate : The unbeliever tastes no sweet- ness in Christ ; he can relish more sweetness in money, meat, drink, carnal mirth, or any sensual enjoyment than in Christ.
Fourthly, How excellent are gospel ordinances.? What sweetness is there to be found in them by true believers ? For there Christ is pre- pared, and, as it were, served in for them to feed upon. It is your minister s work, to prepare for you all the week long, and to furnish for you a feast of fat things. Lo here is a table spread and furnish- ed this day, with the costliest dainties that heaven affords ! O prize these mercies : sit not here with flat, or wanton appetites, lest God call to your enemies, and bid them take away.
II. Use of exiiortation.
Is the flesh and blood of Christ meat and drink indeed ? Then let me exhort you, brethren.