Works, Part 4 · Religious instruction · Chapter 61
CHAP. LXI. Of Sacraments.
GOd might hauehave wrought miracles without the rod which he willed Moses to vse: for he vsed it not for himselfe, but for Moses and the people of Israel to helpe their infirmities: So must we receiue the Sacraments as helpes, Contra…aereticos. AndOur Sacraments. as the rod in it selfe was a common rod, but being appointed of God for more excellent vse, was so to be accounted of them: So water, bread & wine although in themselues common, yet put apart for the vse of the Sacraments, are to be esteemed and receiued as the ordinance of the Lorde, for the strengthening of our Faith, wherein also the Lord will trie our obedience, whether we will worship him in these things which hauehave so small a shewe.
2 The neglect of Gods Sacraments doth prouoke him against vsus, as it did against Moses, Neglect of Sacraments.for the neglect of the Circumcision of his Sonne. The Lord met Moses with some▪ such affliction, as that he was readie to die according to the threatning, Gen. 17. Where we may see the neglecting of Gods ordinance punished, but not the want: for Moses did omit it, either to please his wife, or his father, or both: wherein hee honoured them more then the Lord. The like is said of the Passeouer, Num. 9. Deut. 27. Our Baptisme and the Lords Supper doe answere these Sacraments, therefore the neglect of them requires the like punishment. Wee hauehave no lesse grace offered to vsus in our Sacraments, then they had in theirs: if they then were worthily cut off, much more are wee if we refuse either of our Sacraments, vnlesse it be for necessities sake. And although the Lord doth not presently meete vsus as he did Moses, yet is he the same God, as in merciemercy to those that vse them in Faith, so in iudgementCōtēpt of our Sacraments is death. to take vengeāce vponupon the contemners of them. But some wil say they would come, but the Ministers will not suffer them. If the Ministers do hinder them without cause, they shall beare their condemnation: but if for want of Faith and repentance he doe stay them▪ and be diligent and willing to teach and warne them, and they still continue carelesse, their blood shall be vponupon their owne heads: they can claime no part in the companie of GodsTo receiue the vnworthy at the Lords Supper. children, for hee should communicate with them in their sinne, if he should receiue them being vnworthie, either for want of knowledge, or because of sinnes which they lie in.
3 The institution of the Passeouer, Exod. 12. hath in it some things, which are peculiar to the first celebration, other some things, which belong to the continuall obseruation, as in the …. verse and before, that they must not goe out of the doores, &c. These belonged▪ to the first celebration of it, & afterward were not to be vsed, because they had respect onelyonly to the present Time: therefore our Sauiour Christ offended not when they did eate the Passeouer sitting, and went forth after the institution of the Lordes Supper: some things were personall and had respect to the present time, which were not after to be vsed, as that it was to be eaten with vnleauened bread; for then there was none other: then that it was at Night in a parlor, which was that it might be shewed that the other Passeouer was abrogated, and this came in it stead: other things that had no such particular respect are whollie and onelyonly still to be obserued.
4 We must be prepared to receiue the Lords Supper with sinceritie and holines, whichThe truth of the ceremony of vnleauened bread. is the truth of the ceremonie of vnleauened bread: for vnleauened bread had first respect to true doctrine, as our Sauiour Christ himselfe expoundeth it; Beware of the leauen of the Pharisies. And this teacheth vsus not onelyonly to beware of all false doctrine, as the doctrine of the Papists, or such like, which in it selfe is euill, but also to beware that wee be not defiled1 with the corruption of the true doctrine, which in it selfe is most pure: for the doctrine of the Pharisies was much of it true, yet somewhat mingled and otherwise defaced: and this corruption of true doctrine is called leauē, because if it be suffered it wil corrupt the whole. Secondly, this hath respect to maliciousnes: for so Paul expounded it, The leauen of maliciousnes, 2where also not onelyonly the grosse sinnes are said to be of the nature of leauen, but euen1. Cor. 5. the very rootes of sinne & maliciousnes. Contrary to this are we commanded to come in a pure and sound religion and doctrine, also in sinceritie and trueth of heart, hauing respect vntounto, and hauing a desire to fulfill all the commandements of God. Thirdly, whereas3 it is called the bread of tribulation, Deut. 16. 3. it sheweth with what affection wee must eate this Passeouer: namely, that as the poore man hath much paine and labour before he can get bread, so that his hart fainteth with want, or when all taste is gone, by reason of his sicknes; and when he hath gotten bread, or findeth nourishment thereby, he euen weepeth for ioy: so should wee euen a long time bewaile our sinnes, and repent vsus of the euill which we hauehave done, and euen saint for the desire of IESVS CHRIST, that so we comming to thePapists & heretikes neuer felt the power of Christs grace. table of the Lord being refreshed, may effectually receiue grace, and be heartily thankfull.
5 This is one great cause why the Family of louelove and others, doe with so deadly hatred despise our Sacraments, because they neuer felt the power of them, nor sought to hauehave by them the assurance of the merits of Christ, conueied vntounto them, and sealed in their hearts▪ Would we not then be like vntounto this kinde of people, in d…spising the Word▪ Sacraments,n…r any assu…e of sal…tion …y the Sacrament, and therfore despise them. and other holy graces? let vsus not then rest in the bare vse of them, let vsus not come to them of fashion, let vsus not content our selues with hauing the outward things▪ but let vsus labour to feele in our hearts the power of the spirit, let vsus pray that by them the spirit may worke in our hearts, and in them alwaies let vsus looke for the teaching of the spirit, so shall it come to passe, that we shall alwaies reuerently and worthily thinke of the meanes, and neuer be wearie of them, but alwaies carefully vse them: and yet not separate them from the spirit, but looking for the working of the spirit in them; we shall finde the graces of the holy Ghost most plentifully powred on vsus, and as it were by Conduits, conueighed into our hearts.
6 The Lambe was not the Passeouer but a signe of it; so is bread and wine in the SupperSacramental phrases wher fore vsed. called the Lords body and blood, because it is a signe thereof. This is an vsuall speech, when the Scriptures speake of Sacraments, to teach vsus that although there be not carnall presence, as the Papists imagine, yet there is a true spirituall and effectuall presence of the things signified: and therefore we may certainly looke for the performance of the same, if by faith we can receiue it.
7 He said this was his manner in dealing with them that came to the Communion, ifC…uni…ants but indifferently prepared for the Sacraments. they were but indifferently instructed thereunto, he by exhortation charged them to beware what they did, he would not wish them to come, but if they came, he would not vtterly denie them if they lay in no sinne.
8 Barzillai hauing done a great benefit to Dauid the King, could not tell how sufficiently to gratifie him with recompence. In the end he chargeth Salomon his sonne that the sonne of Barzillai should sit at his table: which thing, both in Dauids opinion, and in Barzillais estimation was the greatest benefit, wherein they could both stay either for his liberalitie in bestowing, or for the others contentation in receiuing. Now if this for so great a benefit seemed so great a reward; how rich and how glorious is the bountifull dealing of God with vsus, which without any desert or deed offered on our parts, hath in his louelove appointed it to sit at his sonne Christ Iesus his table, where not Salomon, but a farre greater than Salomon is present?