The Key of Knowledge, Catechism 4
The Communicants Alphabet.
1 The definition of a Sacrament.A Sacrament is the visible word, as the Scripture is the word audible. By it Christ crucified is spoken and preached to our eyes, as in the scripture to our eares.
2 The difference betwixt the two Sacraments.BAptisme is the Sacrament of our matriculation, and admission into the Church, and the Lords supper is the Sacrament of our establishment there, and confirmation after wee are admitted.
3 The efficient causes of a Sacrament.Christ is the principall Author, or efficient cause of a Sacrament in the Church. A lawfull minister is the secondary, or instrumentall cause. None but Christ alone who is the head of the Church can ordaine or institute one, none but a lawfull minister, that is, who hath gifts from God and calling from men, can officiate or administer one.
4 The matter.DIstinguish wisely betwixt the three parts which concurre to the constituting of a sacrament, to wit, first, the outward signes representing: secondly the inward and invisible graces represented; lastly the word of benediction, or consecration meeting with both.
5 Arule or Canon of S. Aug.EXcept the word accede, and be added unto the Elements, it is noe Sacrament, but common water, common bread, common wine.
6 The internall forme.FOrme inward, or the essence of a Sacrament, stands in the proportion or analogie betweene the outward signe, and inward grace, which may bee called a Sacramentall union, or conjunction of the signe, and the thing signified, as namely, the proportion which outward washing holds with inward sanctification is the essentiall form of baptisme, and the proportion which bread and wine hold with the body and bloud of Christ is the essence, and forme of the Lords supper.
7 The externall forme.GIve diligent heed also all the while of celebration to the whole leiturgie or office of the Church, that is, to all the words and actions of the minister, which are said and done according to the institution of Christ, and according to the rule and prescript of the Church, whereof thou art a member: for so much is called the outward forme of a sacrament.
8 The ends.HAve a stedfast regard withall to the threefold end of a sacrament, which are, first to be signes to represent; secondly, seales to confirme; thirdly instruments to conveigh Grace, for Sacraments were but poore thinges to what they are, if they had not an exhibitive vertue, as well as a significative.
9 A twofold worthinesse required in a Communicant.IN preparation to the Lords table due respect must bee had,both to the worthinesse of the receiver, and to the worthinesse of receiving, that is called precedent worthinesse, or the worthinesse of the Person, and is to goe before; this is called concurrent Worthinesse, or the worthinesse of handling, and is to goe along with the act of receiving.
10 The worthinesse of the person consists in Righteousnesse.KNow then that as only sinne doth avile, and unworthy our persons, so nothing but Righteousnesse doth dignifie them, and reestate them in their former worthinesse and excellency.
11 This Righteousnesse is double, of faith, and workesLEarne further that this righteousnesse must bee twofold; the one of Christ, which must bee imputed unto us, and therefore called the Righteousnesse of faith: the other our owne, which must bee imparted to us, and inherent in us, and therefore called the Righteousnesse of workes.
12 Theworthinesse of handling consists in selfe examination.MOreover the worthinesse of handling, or of receiving consists chiefly in putting in practice that grand Apostolicall rule, 1 Cor. 11. 28. Let a man examine himselfe, and so let him eate of that bread and drinke of that cup.
13 Yet selfe examination is not enough without selfe approbation.NEither is it sufficient to prove, unlesse (ou… weaknesses and infirmities being mercifully abated us in Christ) we be able to approve our selves both to our owne hearts, and to God, who is greater then our hearts.
14 Faith and manners are the two thinges to be taken into examination.OMit not then to examine diligently the present condition, first, of the Faith, and then of thy manners and life: the touchstone of the former is the Creed; and of the latter, the decalogue, or ten commandements.
15 The Apostles creed is the rule of Faith.PLace first before thine eyes the 12 Articles of that most auncient and Apostolique creed, and examine thy selfe as in the presence of God, first whether thou be able to give stedfast credit, and firme assent unto each of them one by one; and secondly, whether thou canst apply each article particularly unto thine owne selfe, and interest thine own soule by affiance and trust, in the benefits and comforts which result from each Article.
16 The decalogue is the rule of manners.QUestion nextly thy life and manners, and therin place before thee the ten precepts of the morall law, carefully searching by most diligent scrutiny through each commandement, wherin thou hast transgressed, and broken either the affirmative part of the commandement by sinnes of omission, or the negative by sinnes of commission.
17 Repentance is the onelyonly salve for sinne.REpent from the bottome of thine heart, where thou findest ought amisse in either, and give not thy spirit rest, till thou hast brought it to a bleeding plight, and wrought it to some measure of godly contrition. For where wee cannot offer a lambe, wee must offer a dove, that is, where wee cannot performe innocency wee must pay penitency.
18 Sorrow and reformation are the two parts of true repentance.SOrrow for what hath been amisse for the time past▪ and carefull both resolution, and endeavour to amend, and reforme for the time to come, are the two parts of true and formall repentance God will neither accept our sorrow without reformatiō, nor our reformation without sorrow and contrition.
19 The communicants carriage whilst he is receaving.TAke heed with all thy might, that whilst thou art at that holy exercise, neither eyes nor mind wander, least thou offer the sacrifice of fooles; but strive both to confine the thoughts of thy heart, and to fixe the speculation of thine eye. For (as was said before) it is the visible word, sermoning and preaching Christ crucified, yea Christ crucifying unto the eyes; in which regard not onelyonly the Elements themselves, but also every action of the minister, while he is officiating is significative and representative.
20 The communicants carriage and disposition afterwards. viz.UNto all this one thing more is to bee added, which is the consequent, or subsequent disposition and temper of soule, which is to follow the holy Communion: for the end crownes the worke. Praeexistent congruities, and coexistent concurrences, and subsequent dispositions must all meet to make a good worke perfect and absolute. There is required first a right ingresse into, and then a right progresse in, and lastly a right egresse out of every holy and pious performance, before it can bee put upon the file of good Workes. An action may miscarry upon one circumstance, it cannot bee good but upon all.
21 In thankfullnesse.WHen therefore thou hast received, and that the holy businesse is ended, thanke God heartily for so great a favour, as to vouchsafe to feast thee with his owne body and blood, and so make it as it is, an Eucharist, that is, a sacrifice of praise and thankesgiving.
22 And in newnesse of life.YIeld also unto God reall thankefullnesse, that is, constant and uniforme obedience, eschewing even the least of sinnes which may defile the soule, and setting upon the most difficult of vertues, which may ingratiate thee with God. Having washed thy feet, doe not defile them againe; having put off thy ragges, put them not on againe.
Novemb. 28. 1639.
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Iohannes Hansley.
End of the text · John Jackson, The Key of Knowledge (1640)