John 6:53

Followeth Christs answer to this; Wherein he doth not alter his words, but presseth more and more the necessity of beleeving on him, and closing with him as crucified, under the tearmes of eating his flesh and drinking his blood. And 1. He presseth it from their danger if they do it not, ver. 53. 2. He encourageth to it, by shewing the advantage thereof, verse 54. 3. He proves the real advantage of feeding on him, verse 55, 56, 57. 4. He concludes this Sermon with a recapitulation of somewhat said before concerning the excellency and usefulnesse of this bread, verse 58. Unto which the Evangelist subjoynes a designation of the place where Christ preached these things, verse 59.

In this verse he presseth the necessity of feeding on him, from the consideration of their danger who neglect it; which is, that wanting this souls food, they can have no spiritual life in them, but are dead in their sins. Whence learn, 1. Ministers must not change nor alter their doctrine because of mens humours; But let people quarrel as they will, they must presse it the more that it is opposed; for, Christ repeats the same doctrine in the same tearms, notwithstanding their discontent. 2. Christ is not ashamed of his stooping to take on our infirmities for our good; Therefore doth he designe himself the Sonne of man, not onely to clear that his Incarnation was the way to make himself ours, and that we may expect good from him who is of our own nature, but to shew that he thought no shame of it, however they in disdaine called him this man, or, this one, verse 52. 3. There is a daily spiritual feeding upon Christ by faith, necessary to salvation, as men must eat daily for preservation of life; for, this is it which Christ presseth here in this Chapter and not (as some dreame) a Sacramental eating of his body, far lesse, an eating of his flesh in a corporal manner in the Sacrament; for, 1. The Sacramental eating was not yet instituted and appointed, and therefore could not be here inculcate. 2. This eating is so necessary to salvation and life, as none can have life without it, and all live who get it, verse 54. But neither of these can be said of Sacramental eating; For, before it was institute, they who were saved went to heaven without it; Yea, and after it was institute, many (and particularly children) have gone, and go to heaven, without it; and all are not saved who partake of it. Doctrine 4. Men will never feed on Christ for salvation in earnest, unlesse they look upon it as a matter of life and death; Therefore doth Christ so presse it upon them, and that with a Verily, verily. 5. It is the application of whole Christ, as incarnate, and in his sufferings, that brings life. And Christ, being applied, will prove compleat nourishment: Therefore, having spoken before onely of his flesh, now he addes his blood, they must eate his flesh and drink his blood: to shew, that they must apply him wholly, and that he will be compleat nourishment. 6. Such as do not make spiritual application of, nor feed upon Christ crucified, have no spiritual life or communion with God, but continue dead in their sins, and shall not partake of eternal life; for, except ye eate the flesh of the Sonne of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you, they are already dead irrecoverably, unlesse they make use of this remedy.