Meditations on the Lords Supper, Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
Whence Sacraments derive their value and being, namely from the Author that instituted them.
BUt why are not the instruments more glorious where the effects are so admirable? whence is it that there should lie so much power in the narrow roome of so small and common elements? It had been worth the creating of a new creature, to be made the pledge of a new covenant; the first fruits are of the same nature with their crop, and earnest useth to be paid in coine of the same quality with the whole after-summe. If then Sacraments are the earnests of our glory, why are not the faithfull instead of eating a morsell of bread, taken up with St Paul into the third heavens? why are they not in stead of drinking a sip of wine transformed with their Saviour; and have with Steven a vision of him at the right hand of the father? how discursive is foolish pride when it would prescribe unto God? vaine man who undertakest to instruct thy maker in stead of praysing him? to censure his benefits when thou shouldst enjoy them? wilt thou not receive salvation without thine owne counsell, or art thou so foolish as to conceive nothing precious without pompe? and to judge of the things conveighed by the value, and quality of the instrument that conveighs it? tell me then, why it is that water a vulgar element, is held in a Cisterne of lead, and thy wine a more costly liquor, but in a vessell of wood? Tell me the reason why that wax which in the shop haply was not priz'd at a penny, should by cleaving unto a small parcell of parchment be valuable unto a million of money? Tell me why should that clay, which while it lay under foot was vile and dishonourable dirt,Iohn 9. 6. when it was applyed by Christ unto the eye of a blind man, be advanc'd unto the condition of a precious and supernaturall salve? Is not even in works of Art, the skill of the workman more eminent in the narrowest and unfittest Subjects? Are not the Iliads of Homer more admirable in a Nutshell than in a volume? doe not Limmers set the highest value on their smallest draughts?aSen…c. naturaralium quaest. Augustine ep 3. Ambros: Hexam: lib. 6. c. 6. Chrysost. hom. 12. ad pop. Antioch. and is there not matter of admiration, and astonishment in the meanest and most vulgar objects? And what madnesse is it then by those reasons to undervalue faith, which are the arguments to confirme it? as if the power of an Agent were not there greatest where the subject on which hee worketh doth conferre least;Tertul. de Baptis. c. 2. & contra Marc. l. 5. c. 5. as if the weaknesse of the element did not adde unto the wonder of the Sacrament. If it were an argument of Christs miraculous power to feed five thousand with so few loaves, why should not the miracle of his Sacrament be equall which feeds the whole Church with so slender elements? certainly they who any way dis esteeme the seeming meanesse and emptinesse of the Sacrament, entertaining but low and vulgar conceits thereof, stumble at that same stone of foolishnesse, by which the Gentiles fell from their salvation. But wilt thou needs know both the reason why we use no other Sacraments, and why these carry with them so much vertue? one answer resolves both. It is the Majestie of the same King that coynes his mony, and that values it; he that frames a private mint, or imposeth another rate, is in both equally a traitor; in the former by stealing the Kings authority,Vide Ambrose de Sacrament. lib. 4. cap. 4. in the other by altering i…: the same Author did both institute the Sacrament and value it; from the same power did it receive the necessity of its being, and the efficacie of its working. In covenants or conveyances the articles and instruments may be haply drawne by some Lawyer, but the confirmation of them by hand and seale, are ordinarily performed by the men themselves who are interessed in them. A Secretary may write the letter, but his Lord will himselfe subscribe and seale it. Thus the pattent of Gods covenant hath been drawn out for the benefit of Gods Church by many selected and inspired instruments, unto whom God did dictate so much of his will by divine suggestion, as his pleasure was to acquaint and edifie his Church withall. But when hee comes to confirme this his gift by hand and seale, behold then an immediate presence of his owne; then comes Gods owne finger, that is in the phrase of ScriptureaMatth. 12▪ 28., his spirit to write as a witnesse in the soule;Luke 11. 20. and then doth God stretch out his owne hand, and reach unto us that Supper which is the seale to obsignate unto the senses the infallible truth of those covenants, and our evident interest in those benefits, which were before proclaimed in the pattent of his word. The b1 Cor. 11. 23.Apostle delivered nothing as it were by a second hand to the Corinthians, but what hee had formerly received from the Lord. Divine things are unto usc1 Tim. 1. 11. deposited, we must first be receivers, 1 Tim. 6. 20.before deliverers.