In the supper of the Lord, the church of Rome in particular is not contented that we have a representation and instituted memorial of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the signs of his body as broken and his blood as shed for us, with an exhibition of grace in - the word of promise, or the gospel; but they will have the natural body and blood of Christ, his flesh and bones, to be contained therein, and to be eaten or devoured by all that partake of the out- ward signs! This is to put that into the ordinance which God never put into it, and so to overthrow it. And there are two grounds or ends of what they do. The first is, to turn the wisdom of faith into a carnal imagination. It requires the light and wisdom of faith to apprehend the spiritual exhibition of Christ in the sacra- ment unto us. It is a great spiritual mystery, not at all to be
apprehended but by the supernatural light of faith. This, the vain, darkened minds of men like not, they cannot away with it; it is foolishness unto them. Wherefore, under the name of a “ mystery,” they have invented the most horrible and monstrous. figments that ever befell the minds of men. This is easily received and admitted by a mere act of carnal imagination; and the more blind and dark men are, the more are they pleased with it. Secondly, They do it
40 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ’ [CHAP. VIII.
to exclude the exercise of faith in the participation of it. As they deal with the wisdom of faith as unto its nature, so they do with the exercise of faith as unto its use. God hath given this measure unto this ordinance, that it shall exhibit and communicate nothing unto us, that we shall receive no benefit by it, but in the actual exercise of faith. This the carnal minds and hearts of men like not. It requires a peculiar exercise of this grace, and that in a peculiar manner, unto a participation of any benefit by it. But this, under the notion of bringing more into the ordinance than ever God put into it, they exclude, and ease all men of. Let them but bring their mouths and their teeth, and they fail not of eating the body and drinking the very blood of Christ. So, under a pretence of putting that in the ordinance which God never put into it, they have cast out of the hearts of men the necessity of those duties which alone render it useful and beneficial.
Some, on the other side, do derogate from them, and will not allow them that station or use which God hath appointed unto them in the church. (1.) Some do so from their dignity. They do so, by joining their own appointments unto them, as of equal worth and dignity with them. (2.) Some do so from their necessity, practically setting light by or disregarding the participation of them. (8.) Some do so from their use, openly denying their conti- nuance in the church of God.
The reasons why men are so prone to deviate from the will of God in his institutions, and to despise the measures he hath given them, are, (1.) Want of faith in its principal power and act, which is submission and resignation of soul unto the sovereignty of God. Faith alone renders that an all-sufficient reason of obedience. (2.) Want of spiritual wisdom and understanding to discern the mystery of the wisdom and grace of God in them.
Obs. II. It is an honour to be employed in any sacred service that belongs unto the worship of God, though it be of an inferior nature unto other parts of it—It is so, I say, if we are called of God thereunto. This was the greatest honour that any were made partakers of under the old testament, that they “served unto the example and shadow of heavenly things” only. And if now God call any of us into his service, wherein yet, by the meanness of our gifts, or want of opportunities, we cannot serve him in so eminent a manner as some others do, yet if we abide in our station and duty, there is great honour in the meanest divine service.
Obs. III. So great was the glory of heavenly ministration in the mediation of Jesus Christ, as that God would not at once bring it forth in the church, until he had prepared the minds of men, by types, shadows, examples, and representations of it——This was the end of all legal institutions of divine worship and service. And herein the
VER. 5.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. Al
wisdom of God provided in these to cases that were necessary." (1.) He filled them with glory and beauty, that they might affect
the minds of men with an admiration and expectation of that greater glory which they represented and pointed unto. And this they did among all them who truly believed; so that they conti-
nually looked and longed after the coming of Him, the glory of whose ministry was represented in them. In these two things did
their faith principally act itself: [1.] In a diligent inquiry into the
mediation and ministry of Christ, with the glory which it was to be