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COnsider 1. Christ would institute this divine Mystery immediatly before his Passion. 1. To testify the excess of his love towards men, in pre∣paring for them a heavenly banquet, and inestimable present, even then, when they were contriving his death. 2. To manifest the desire he had of ever remaining with us, even corporally; for being now to depart out of the world, he would not∣withstanding leave himself, after a special manner,
to abide with us for ever. 3. To leave us a per∣petuall Memorial of his Passion, and a living Sacrifice, (The Sacrifices of the antient law ceasing by his death) by which the fruit and vertue of his Passion might be applyed to us. 4. To make us the more sensible of his love, bequeathing himself unto us by his last will and Testament.
Consider 2. Christ did institute this Sacrament under the formes of bread and wine. 1. That so he might the straighter be united with us, becoming meat and drink to us, penetrating our very bowels, and incorporating himself with us. 2. To signify that he doth work in our Soules what bread and wine doth in our bodies; that is, nourish, conserve, and augment our Spiritual life, so as even to trans∣form us into himself. He that eateth me, the same also shall live by me. 3. That as bread is made one masse of many graines, and wine one liquor of many grapes, so by participation of this divine Sacrament, the hearts of the faithfull are made one Spirit; and therefore it is properly called Com∣munion, or union of many among themselves, and of all with Christ.
Consider 3. Allthough in each Sacramentall forme, the entire body and bloud of Christ is con∣tained, without any reall Separation of one from the other, yet Christ would institute the Sacrament in two different formes, the better to put us in mind of his Passion, and to signify that thereby all his pretious bloud was entirely separated from his body; namely by his sweat in the garden, by whips at the pillar, by the thornes, by the nayles, and by the lance on the Cross. Think what you can return to our Lord for his infinite love towards you, expressed in this Sacrament; Say with David I will take the Chalice of Salvation, by grateful remembrance, and compassion, and I will invocate the name of our Lord.
Jo. 6.57.
Ps. 115.4.