16.21. Mar. 8.31

ter paffions of death, as himself often acknow- Mat. ledged, and all the four Evangelifts have recorded from his mouth, that He must suffer Luke many things, and be killed.

24.46.

All this being presumed and granted, there Joh.3.14 is yet one thing more of the greatest concernment to us to be confidered, viz. how his Obedience in performing the Law, and his Death for the tranfgreffions thereof, can be fatisfactory to Divine Justice for us, Seeing God hath often declared, that one shall not be punished for another, especially an Innocent for a malefactor; which feems to be our cafe, for me are the Tranfgreffors, but Chrift is innocent, yet he is punished, and we quitted.

Our Answer is, that Christ, and Mankind, are not to be looked on as Two, but as One. Nor is his death, the death of one for another, but of the fame; He as a Surety, and we as the principal Debtor; He as the Head, and we as the Members of the fame Body. The Surety and the principal, are but one Perfon in Law, and the Head, and the other parts are both one, and the fame Body in Nature.

Therefore, that the proceedings of the Godhead, concerning the work of Mans Redemption, might appear to be contrived, not only with infinite Mercy, but also with exact Juftice. God at the beginning fo ordered, that the Redeemer, and the Redeemed fhould be

united

united in One original Fountain, who to that end planted all the Bodies and Souls both of Chrift, and of all Mankind, in that One First Man, from whofe Flesh and Soul, both Christ, and all Mankind, have derived their Bodies and their Souls. In this confifteth our Union with Chrift, and hence it is, that Chrift and we are accounted but Qne, and this is that Union which was meant, and defcribed by Chrift under those figurative words, of Eating his Flesh, and Drinking his Blood. The clear demonstration and proof whereof, is the whole, and only defign of this ensuing Treatife.

The learned Romanists I conceive, do perfectly understand, that the benefits which come by Christ, cannot otherwise with justice be communicated to Mankind, but only by the Union of Christ with us, viz. of his Flesh with our flesh, and of his Soul with our fouls; And therefore they have phanfied this Union to be effected, by an Oral and carnal Eating of his living Flesh, and Drinking his Blood in the Sacred Eucharift by their way of Transubstantiation.

For the learned French Cardinal of Perron, in his Book of the Eucharift, written in French, affirmeth, that the real natural Prefence of Christ in the Sacrament is to greateft purpose, because the Refidence of Chrifts

Natural

Natural Body in our bodies, doth really and fubftantially joyn us unto God, establishing true and real Unity between God and Men. Thus far he, which is obferved by Dr. Jer. Taylor in his Book, intitled The Real Prefence and Spiritual of Christ in the Sacrament, pag. 50.

We also confefs the neceffity of this Union, but by another way, which is plain, evident and comfortable, as it is defcribed in this Book, as I trust will appear to the Reader. So that no need will be of that Roman Subterfuge, and pretence of their horrid, unreasonable and impoffible Mode by an Oral, grofs, carnal and literal Eating of his Flesh, and Drinking his Blood, with which Imposture, a great part of the Chriftian World hath been a long time abufed; but by the cool and fober perusal of this Difcourfe, the Ingenuous Romanist may happily in fome measure be undeceived.

The most compleat and perfect Union of Chrift with Man, confifteth in five things. I. Carne, in Flesh. 2. Anima, in Soul. 3. Spiri tu, in Spirit. 4. Vadimonio, in Covenant or Suretyship. 5.Fide in Faith.

The Union which I shall chiefly endeavour to defcribe in this Tractate, confifteth in the two first of thefe, which I firmly believe to be intended, and meant in that Speech of Christ, Joh. 6.53. Except ye Eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, and Drink his Blood, &c.

THE

Flesh of Chrift.

CHAP. I.

E that attempteth to dif cover the grand mystery of Eating and Drinking the Flesh and Blood of Christ, muft begin his Work very early, even at the Creation of our first Parents, or rather, before the foundation of the World. Because, the most wise, mercifull, and juft Godhead, had defigned the redemption of Mankind from Eternity by God the Son: And did lay the founda tion, and the frame, order, and method thereof in the firft Man, and the first WoB

man,