IMPRIMATUR, Ex Edibus Lambeth. то Jo. Battely RR Patri A PARAPHRASE WITH Notes, and a Preface, Upon the Sixth Chapter of St. 70 HN. SHEWING, That there is neither good Reason, nor sufficient Verily verily I fay unto you, Except ye eat the Flesh of the By Dr Clagett· LONDON, Printed by J. D. for J. Robinfon at the Golden Lion, 4 4-20-49 .058 12-23-49 EBS ТНЕ PREFACE: SIR, T 1S not for nothing that we are defired to read the Sixth Chapter of St. John every day. I have engaged my Thoughts with what attention I can, upon those Paffages between the 51 and 61 Verses; and the more I confider them, the more favourably they feem to me to look upon that Opinion, that the very Flesh of Chrift is eaten in the Sacrament. I know not what to Jay to this, that though the Jews understood Chrift's Words, of eating his very Flesh, and he faw plainly enough that they did fo; yet he went on in the fame strain of Exprefsions, Verily verily I fay unto you, Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his Blood, ye have no Life in you. I know you told me, that thefe Paffages are not to be interpreted of the Sacrament; and that there is no mention in them of any outward and visible Signs; which are neceffary to a Sacrament. But I have heard that the Church always thought thefe words to be spoken of the Sacrament. And befides, though there be no mention of a Sacrament, yet if Chrift's [a] words MM words enfore this, that the natural fubftance of his Flesh must be properly eaten by us, it will follow that it must be thus eaten in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood, unleß we could tell how or where else it is to be done. I would be glad to fee fuch a Paraphrafe upon this Chapter, as you Speak of, which would help to make all appear plain. And it were well if others might fee it too, and thereby fee this at least, that you are so well fatisfied with your own Reafons, that you are not afraid to let thofe judg of them that are otherwife perfuaded. I am, &c. SIR, Yo OU are defired to read the 6th Chapter of St. John's Gospel every day; and this I doubt not, for the fake of that part of it between V. 51, and V. 61; which feems to require eating the Flefb, and drinking the Blood of Chrift in the proper fenfe. And here I make no queftion your Thoughts were clofey engaged. But perhaps you have not applied that attention to the reft of the Chapter, which you gave to to that part where the difficulty lies, and then no wonder that the difficulty ftill remains. For I beg leave to put you in mind, once more, that the true fenfe of thofe difficult Paffages, as you count them, is to be gained by observing their connexion with all the reft. And therefore to that Requeft, that you would often read the 6th Chapter of St. John, which I acknowledg to be a reafonable Requeft, I must add another as reafonable as that, which is, that you would not only often read, but like |