A Sermon of the True Spiritual Transubstantiation, Title page – To the reader
SERMON Of the True, Spiritual, Tranſubſtantiation, Oppos'd to the GROSS, CARNAL, IMAGINARY, Tranſubſtantiation.
WHEREIN The true Meaning of the Lord's Supper is opened, in order to a conſtant, habitual, and actual Preparation to it.
By T Beverley.
Printed for the Author, 1687.
TO THE Chriſtian Readers, ESPECIALLY MY CONTINUAL AUDITORS.
I Offer this Sermon to the Publick, as the most ſatisfactory Reſolution concerning the Lord's Supper and its true Tranſubſtantiation, in oppoſition to the falſe, ſo eagerly contended: I have done it with all the Modeſty and Inoffenſiveneſs I could, without Injury to Truth, without Denying Chriſt before Men.
I have put the best Value, and all the Value poſſible, upon Tranſubſtantiation; that is, To Interpret it into a True Scripture, Goſpel Notion, into a Spirituality: I confeſs the very Word, nor any one Word parallel to it is found, that I know of, in the New Teſtament; but the Thing it ſelf is every where in the Goſpel of Christ: Chriſt in us, and we in Chriſt, Baptiz'd into one Body, one Body, one Bread, a Drinking into one Spirit, are favourable to it; Chriſt being All in All the Head, putting on Chriſt, but above all, dwelling in Chriſt, and Chriſt dwelling in us, joyn'd with Eating his Fleſh, and Drinking his Blood, are the very ſame thing with this Spiritual Tranſubſtantiation; to which the Bread and Wine are the moſt fit and ſenſible Symbols, and Chriſt is as really preſent in them by his Word, ſanctifying them into Spirituality, as in his Word it ſelf; And if we Abide in him, and his Words abide in us, we are one with him in Both, as the Vine and the Branches are one, John 15. 1. &c.
I conſider nothing is ſo likely to ſatisfie ſo deeply an engraven Notion in ſome mens minds, as this true and faithful Account of it, as nothing could ſatisfie the confuſed Lineaments of Nebuchadnezzar's Dream in his own mind, but Daniel's Prophetical Revelation of the Thing, and of the Truth it ſelf to him. I look upon this True Preſence of Chriſt given from the Word of God, as the moſt effectual means to recover thoſe to the Truth who live in Error concerning it, to ſettle the Wavering, reſolve the Doubtful, to confirm and ſtabliſh in the one Truth always preſent, the True Chriſtian. This is far above all Reaſons of Philoſophy, Vindication from Antiquity, and the Fathers concerning it. When we find we have that which anſwers all the Notions of Scripture, and is worthy to be its meaning, we may be at reſt. Here the Romaniſts Zeal for a Tranſubſtantiation, the Lutherans for a Conſubſtantiation, other Proteſtants for a real Preſence, may find full Reception and juſt Entertainment, in a ſenſe worthy of them if they will accept it.
Beſides this, I have aimed at poſſeſſing the Minds of Chriſtians with ſo high a ſpiritual Notion, to recommend the Goſpel as Preach'd, as in the Lord's Supper, in its higheſt Intendments and Efficacy, and to win mens Souls to the outward Obſervation by their being impregnated with the inward Life and Power; In which Purſuit many excellent Truths, and of great moment, have riſen up, and offered themſelves. There remains nothing, but to beſeech the God of all Grace to give his Bleſſing to it, and to you particularly, My very Honoured and truly Loved Hearers, to whom it is my conſtant Endeavour, through the Grace of God, to open to you together the Spirituality and the Reaſonableneſs of Divine Things; whom I commend to God and the Word of his Grace, to build you up, ſtrengthen, ſtabliſh, ſettle you, and ſhall thereunto labour while God allows me opportunity, with moſt conſcientious Meditations, moſt earneſt Prayers, and deareſt Affections.
Your very faithful Servant in the Work of the Lord, Beverley.