SERM. the Promise he made to be with them alVII. ways, even to the End of the World.

Matth.

Luke

35.

The Sacrament of his Body and Blood xxviii.20. he had inftituted, while living; and now therefore he celebrated it together with them: For he took Bread, and blesxxiv. 30, fed it, and brake it, and gave unto them, and was known of them in thus breaking of Bread: A Phrafe, which in the Acts manifeftly referrs to the Eucharist; and may juftly therefore be understood of it here, in the Story of our Saviour.

Matth.

In a word, he opened their Underxxviii. 20. ftandings, that they might understand the Scriptures, and all the Prophecies concerning himself; and he bad them teach all Nations to obferve all things that he had commanded them: Which two Paffages comprize the Knowledge of what relates both to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church, both to the Faith and Practice of a Chriftian.

But the chief Way of our Saviour's fpending his Te with the Apostles, after he arofe from the Dead, was, by affording them thefe Illuftrious, thefe Infallible

Infallible Proofs of the Truth of his SERM. And God be thanked VII.

Refurrection.

that he did fo! fince, by thus fettling his wavering Disciples, in an unfhaken Belief of this Truth, he enabled them, with the utmoft Firmnefs and Conftancy, to propagate their Belief of it, and even to feal their Teftimony with their Blood; and hath, by that means, extended the Efficacy and Influence of those Infallible Proofs to us also, who live near Seventeen Ages, after they were given. Our Conviction depended upon Theirs, is derived from it, and proportioned to it. And in virtue therefore of the Evidence indulged to them (not for their Sakes alone, but for the Sake of all fucceeding Chriftians) do we meet here this Day, with Joy and Thankfulness to celebrate this Festival, and to profefs our Faith in Him that was dead, but is alive, was crucified, but is rifen, and now fitteth at the Right Hand of the Father.

Blessed indeed, in many respects, beyond us, bletfed were the Eyes that faw these

03

SERM. thefe Things, and the Ears that heard VII. them, for they faw and heard, and believed; but bleffed alfo are We, who receive their Teftimony, blessed even beyond them, in this refpect, if not seeing, we do yet believe. The Lips of Truth have affured us, that in this Cafe, there is one Beatitude more reserved for Us, than belonged even to the Apostles themfelves, if We believe the Refurrection of Christ upon their Report; whereas They believed it only, upon the Teftimony of their Senfes. Having therefore these Promifes, dearly beloved, wait with Pet. i. Patience, that the Tryal of your Faith (as S. Peter fpeaks) may be found unto Praise and Honour and Glory at the appearing of Jefus Chrift; whom having not feen, I trust, ye love; in whom, though now ye fee him not, yet believing, ye rejoyce with Foy unspeakable, and full of Glory ; receiving, in his due time, the End of Your Faith, even the Salvation of your Souls.

7. 8.

And may the God of Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing, that you

may

may abound in Hope, through the Power SERM. of the Holy Ghost.

VII.

I cannot difmifs this Reflection, without applying it to the bleffed Sacrament of which we are going to partake, and by partaking of which, we profess, in a most especial Manner, to exercise our Faith in an invifible Jefus. He is there really, effectually, though Spiritually prefent; the Eye of Faith can behold him, though that of Senfe cannot: For his Flesh is Meat indeed, and John vi. his Blood is Drink indeed. That Bread, and that Wine, which he there imparts to us, fhall become his very Boy and Blood, in such a Senfe, as he intended it, to every worthy, and faithful Receiver: It fhall convey to us all the Benefits of his Body broken, and his Blood poured out on the Cross; and unite us to him in our Bodies and Souls, after fuch a Wonderful Manner, as none but they, who feel it, can conceive, and even they, who conceive it, cannot exprefs. Let us look then through the outward Symbols or Signs, to the Thing 04 fignified

SERM. fignified by them; and carry in our Ears, VII. as we approach the Holy Table, that Voice of our Saviour to his doubting Difciple, Be not faithlefs, but believing. Bleffed and Happy is He, who, in this Inftance alfo, though he doth not see, yet doth believe; he fhall be vitally nourished, and cherished, by the Food of this Pafchal Lamb, and his Soul shall be made Joyful in the Strength of this new Wine.

To that Lamb of God, without Spot, or Blemish, whofe Sacrifice we are now about to commemorate, and represent, even the Lamb that was flain for our Sins, and raised again for our Juftification, as on this Day, together with the Father, and the Divine Spirit, be afcried all Honour, Might, Adoration, and Praise, now and evermore,

MIRACLES