The Worthy Receiving of the Lords Supper, Chapter 9
CHAP. 9.
Of duties to be performed after this action is ended.
AS before we ſhould preſume to this Table, we muſt ſet our ſelues and our thoughts by meditations a part by times, ſome two or thrée daies, that we may come prepared (after the example of the Paſſeouer, Exod. 12.3, 6.) So after this Sacrament is ſolemnly celebrated in the Church, each man and woman particularly, ſhould doe well to ſet apart, ſome fit and conuenient time; to conſider well what is done, what God hath done for them, and what they hauehave promiſed, and ought to doe for God.
And here, Firſt, each one for himſelfe muſt in particular be thankfull for the high fauour vouchſafed him, that God would admit him to his Table, being in himſelfe vnworthy ſo much as to gather vp the crums that fall from it. (The forme of thanks may either be performed, as it ſhall pleaſe God by his Spirit to helpe our infirmities, Rom 8.26. or helpe may be had from the order of the Church and from diuers good bookes of deuotion in this kinde.)
Now to this end, each for himſelfe muſt well remember what he hath made promiſe and profeſſion of. Here we hauehave renued our promiſe and vow made in Baptiſme, to forſake the deuill, and hauehave taken the Sacrament vponupon it, and receiued as it were preſſe-money from God, to fight valiantly, conſtantly, and faithfully vnderunder his banner, againſt all his and our enemies, (after which, it is high treaſon againſt his Maieſtie to reuolt or giuegive ouer) reſolue therefore now of conſtancie to hold out to the end, whatſoeuer come of it, whatſoeuer oppoſition wée finde, from our traiterous and rebellious fleſh, from the ſcoffes of the world, from the aſſaults and ſlie ſuggeſtions of Satan. And as thou lookeſt that God ſhould make good, what he in his word hath promiſed, and in this Sacrament hath ſealed vntounto thée, ſo looke that thou performe all thy vowes to God, elſe this Sacrament which thou haſt ſo often receiued, will be a witneſſe againſt thée, and helpe to ſeale thy damnation.
After all is performed, each muſt examine himſelfe what comfort, what ioy, what encreaſe of grace he hath reaped by this Sacrament. If we féele none, then muſt we either accuſe our ſelues, for want of ſufficient preparation before, and then fly to God for pardon, &c. Or if we hauehave in ſome meaſure endeuoured to examine and prepare our ſelues, then muſt we not be diſmayed, but truſt in the mercy of our good and gracious God for acceptation of our endeuours: Sée 2. Chron. 30.18, 19. and depend on him for a bleſſing, ſéeing God hath not tyed his grace to the very time of receiuing: Light may be ſowne for the righteous, and ioy for the vpright in heart, as it is, Pſal. 97.11. and yet the harueſt of that comfort not reaped till afterwaad. So, the ſickman féeleth not for the preſent, the ſtrength and nouriſhment of the meate he hath taken, and yet is nouriſhed: the Word preached euen by our Sauiour, doth not alwayes take effect for the preſent, ſee Act. 11.16. Ioh. 12.16. And in Baptiſme we receiue not the comfortable aſſurance there made and ſealed vntounto vsus, till afterwards.
If we hauehave felt any comfort, or God more graciouſly preſent with vsus in this Sacrament: Then, Firſt, let vsus be more ſpecially thankfull to him for it, not by our words, but by our déeds, by our liues and holy conuerſation, according to our purpoſes and promiſes here made and renued; and therefore,
Firſt, pray with Dauid (after he and his people had offered willingly for the building of the Temple) Keepe this, O Lord, for euer, in the purpoſe and in the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their hearts vntounto thee, 1. Chron. 29.18. And then hauing fed on this heauenly food, ſhew forth the goodneſſe and ſtrength of this thy food receiued, by yéelding a plentifull fléece in new obedience, like the Shéepe which ſhewes (not by her bleating, but) by her fléece, how much, how well, how heartily ſhe hath eaten.
Otherwiſe this were both for the ſhame of our Maſter Chriſt, at whoſe table wee are ſo often and bountifully fed, if ſtill like Pharaohes ſeuen leane kine, wee remaine leane and ill fauoured. Geneſ. 41.19, 20, 21. And alſo, doth argue ſome ſpirituall diſeaſe in vsus, which like a conſumption hinders our growth and increaſe, or that indéede for all the ſéeming comfort wee found, wee hauehave not truely receiued Chriſt, and hauehave him not abiding in vsus, for hee hath ſayd, Iohn 15.5. I am the Vine, ye are the Branches: hee that abideth in mee and I in him, the ſame bringeth forth much fruit. If wee hauehave feltt any comfort, then let vsus hence bee moued, the oftner to frequent this Table. As good men oftner frequent thoſe tables where their friends conſort.
Laſtly, in caſe of temptation doubting, and vnbeléefe, flie hither for thy comfort, and for the conſſimation and ſtrengthning of thy faith: remember what thou haſt once and often receiued: namely, ſignes and ſeales of the couenant of grace, as certaine tokens of Gods louelove in Chriſt, and particular aſſurances thereof: therefore … Satan off to Chriſt, ſhew him Gods generall promiſe, Iohn 3.16. Sealed vntounto thee in particular, both in Baptiſme and in the Euchariſt, and let that be thy ſecuritie and comfort.
FINIS.