A Christian Plea, Treatise 3 · Chapter 10 – Chapter 12
CHAPTER X. Touching the manner of the adminiſtration of the Sacraments: Alſo, touching the Croſse in Baptiſme, and kneeling at the Lords Supper, &c.
VVHether the Sacraments ought not to be adminiſtred and received, according to the ſimplicity of the Goſpel, without any vain inventions of men, or corrupt abuſes thereabout. Exod. 20, 4, 5, 6. with Mat. 28, 18, 19, 20. and 1 Cor. 11, 23 — 26. 2 Cor. 11, 3. Lev. 10, 1. Eſa. 1, 12. Heb. 12, 25, 26 — 29. Gal. 3, 15. Col. 2, 23. 2 Tim. 3, 16, 17. Rev. 22, 18, 19.
1. Becauſe els there is tranſgreſſion of the commandement and ordinance of God. Exod. 20, 4, 5, 6. with Mat. 28, 19, 20. and 1 Cor. 11, 23, 24, 25.
2. And the Lord is thereby provoked to vvrath, and ſtirred up to punish ſuch tranſgreſſion. Exod. 20, 5. with 1 Cor. 11, 20, 30. Lev. 10, 1, 2, 3. 1 Chr. 13, 9, 10. Pſal. 119, 21, 101, 113.128. Ezech. 23, 41 — 49. and 43, 7, 8. Mal. 2, 1 — 9.
3. The people of God are bound, in the adminiſtration of the Sacraments, aſvvell as in other dueties of the ſervice of God, to worship … onelyonly according as himſelf hath preſcribed in his word:Lincol. Miniſters Abrid. excep. 2. arg. 2. Survey of the Book of common praier, Qu. 99. p. 97. 98. and therefore to renounce and forſake al ſuperſtition and idolatrous inventions of men in Gods vvorship: al humane ceremonies of myſtical ſignification: al parts and parcels of the Beaſts mark whatſoever; and carefully to keepe the commandements of God, and faith of Ieſus Chriſt. Exo. 20, 4, 5, 6. with Rev. 14, 9 — 12. and 18, 4. and 22, 18, 19. 2 Cor. 6, 17. Epheſ. 5, 11. Eſa. 30, 22. Pſal. 119, 101, 113, 128. Mat. 15, 7, 8, 9.
4. Thus shall vve alſo follovv the example of the godly and faithfull ſervants of God, that hauehave ben before us. 1 Cor. 4, 1, 2. and 11, 1, 2, 23. Gal. 1. 10, 11, 12. Num. 9, 1 — 5. Exod. 39, 43. with Heb. 3.1.2. Ioh. 12.49.50. Luke 1.5.6. 8.9. 1 Tim. 6.13.14. 2 Pet. 1.16. &c.
5. Els it should argue the Scriptures to be inſufficient for directing the church in the uſe and miniſtration of the holy things of God. Contrary to 2 Tim. 3.16.17. 1 Cor. 4.1.2. 1 Tim. 3.15. and 6.3.13.14. with Exod. 20.4.5.6.
6. Finally, what end els would there be in the Church, of mens precepts, nevv adminiſtrations, ſtrange vvorship, voluntarie religion, Antichriſtian apoſtaſie, &c. Eſa 29.13. Mat. 15.9. Col. 2.8.18.22.23. 2 Theſ. 2.3.4. with Num. 15, 38, 39, 40. Deut. 4, 2. and 12.32.
Hereby then may appeare, hovv corrupt the uſe is of the ſigne of the croſſe in baptiſme; of kneeling and uncovering the head at the Lords ſupper, in the act of receiving; of reading prayers out of a book, at the miniſtration of the Sacraments, and the like things; which the Scripture preſcribeth not, but men hauehave taken up of themſelues; thus breaking the ſecond commandement, and joyning their poſts and thresholds with the Lords. Exod. 20, 4, 5, 6. with Lev. 10.1. Deu. 12, 32. Pſal. 119.128. 2 King. 16.10.11 — 16. Ezech. 43, 7, 8. Mar. 7, 3 — 9. Col. 2.18.22.23.
Beſides that thus men are dravven from the ſimplicitie and ſynceritie of the practiſe, uſed by Chriſt and his Apoſtles, vvho ſate when they eate and drank, and did not then uncover their heads any more then before; neyther made a croſſe vvhen they baptiſed, nor read their prayers out of books, &c. Mat. 26, 20. &c. and 28, 18.19.20. with 1 Cor. 10, 16, 17, 18. and 11, 23. &c. And finally, that theſe are parte of the reliques & monuments yet remayning, of the apoſtaſie of Antichriſt the man of ſinne. Which therefore ought to be refuſed and witneſſed againſt by word and deed. 2 Theſ. 2, 3, 4. Whereof I need not vvrite more particularly, but onelyonly leaue the Reader to apply the former reaſons and the like, to theſe and other ſuch corruptions yet reteyned among them.
Concerning which, they that vvould ſee more, may read the treatiſes that hauehave ben heretofore purpoſely vvritten hereabout: Namely, M. Parkers Scholaſticall diſcourſe againſt Symbolizing with Antichriſt in ceremonies: especially in the ſigne of the croſſe. Where (in ten ſeveral chapters) he treateth of the breach of all the Ten commandements thereby. Alſo, A litle treatiſe touching kneeling at the Lords Supper, in the act of receiving. Moreover, The Trial of ſubſcription: And, The Lincolne Miniſters Abridgment of the reaſons why they refuſe Subſcription and Conformitie. The Survey of the Book of common prayer. And M. Greenvvoods and other treatiſes of book-prayer. About vvhichwhich alſo, ſee here before, chap. 1. pag. 245. &c.
CHAPTER XI. Of the diſpoſing, bleſſing, breaking, distributing of the bread and wine.
VVHether vve should not (at the celebration of the Lords Supper) ſet the bread and cup upon a Table, & ſo with thankſgiving firſt bleſſe the bread, and then break it in the ſight of the church, and ſo diſtribute it being broken: and then after the diſtribution thereof to all the communicants, to take the cup alſo, and to bleſſe and diſtribute it in like ſort. 1 Cor. 10.16.21. and 11.20— 34. Mat. 26, 26, 27. with Lev. 24.5 — 9. Ezech. 44.15.16.
1. Becauſe at the firſt celebration and inſtitution of the Lords Supper this order vvas obſerved: as vve may ſee, Mat. 26.26.27. Mark. 14, 22, 23. Luke 22.19, 20. with Mat. 28, 20. And the ſame maner alſo kept by the Apoſtles afterward: as may be gathered, by that vvhichwhich is written, 1 Cor. 10, 16, 21. and 11.23 — 26.
2. The breaking of the bread, doth not onelyonly ſerue for the diſtribution thereof, but is alſo a liuely repreſentation of the death of Chriſt, which we shew forth in the participation thereof. 1 Cor. 10, 16, 17. & 11, 24, 26. with Mat. 26, 26. Mar. 14, 22. Luke 22, 19.
3. Such placing of the bread and vvine upon a Table, and the diſtribution of them there accordingly made, vve may alſo learne by the very terme of a Table, and the common uſe thereof. Paul calleth it a Table, not an altar, forme, or deske: and oppoſeth it to the Idolaters Table, on which they were woont to ſet their meat and drink. 1 Cor. 10, 21. with ver. 19, 20, 28. Hitherto alſo may be referred the uſe of the Table in the Tabernacle, on which the Shevv bread continually was ſet before the Lord. Exod. 25, 23 — 30. Lev, 24, 5 — 9.
4. And for the thankſgiving to be made both at the bleſſing of the bread, & the wine, it is plainly expreſſed. Mat. 26, 26, 27. & Mar. 14, 22, 23.
CHAPT. XII. Touching the Miniſters communicating with the reſt of the Church.
VVHether the Miniſter himſelf (that adminiſtreth the Lords ſupper) should not alſo partake vvith the church, communicating together therein. Mat. 26, 17 — 29. Act. 20, 7 — 11. 1 Cor. 10, 16, 17. and 11, 23 — 26. and 12, 12, 13. with 2 Chron. 35, 3 — 14.
1. Becauſe Chriſt himſelf did ſo, communicating vvith his diſciples both in the Paſſeover, and in the Supper follovving. Mat. 26, 17 — 29. with Luke 22, 15, &c.
2. So alſo did the Prieſts and Levites at the celebration of the Paſſeover, vvhereunto the Lords ſupper with us is anſwerable. 2 Chron. 35, 3 — 14. with 1 Cor. 5, 7. and 10, 16. and 11, 23 — 26. And the Fathers of families, at the firſt celebration of the Paſſeover, Exod. 12, 3. &c. And the Apoſtles at the celebration of the Lords ſupper, Act. 20, 7 — 11. 1 Cor. 10, 16, 17.
3. And Chriſt our Lord hath thus commanded, ſaying, Drinke ye all of this, Mat. 26, 27. And againe, Doe this in remembrance of me. 1 Cor. 11, 24, 25.
4. The nature alſo of the thing it ſelf, and the reaſons vvhichwhich are annexed to the commandement of Chriſt, concerning the celebration of the Lords ſupper, comprehend and bynd the Miniſter himſelf, aſvvell as the other members of the church, to the participation thereof. As namely, that it is a ſigne and ſeale of the remiſſion of ſinnes obteyned for us by the death of Ieſus Chriſt. Mat. 26, 26, 27, 28. And, that thus we should shevv forth the Lords death, till he come. 1 Cor. 11, 23 — 26. And, that it is called the Euchariſt, or thankeſgiving, becauſe we doe now giuegive thanks unto God for our redemption wrought by the death of Ieſus Chriſt, & thus confirmed unto us through his grace. Luke 22, 19. 1 Cor. 10, 16. and 11, 24. with Pſal. 116, 12, 13, 14. &c.
5. And the miniſter himſelf is together with the reſt a member of the church and body of Chriſt: the communion vvhereof is here alſo celebrated. Rom. 12, 3 — 8. compared with 1 Cor. 10, 16, 17. and 12, 12, 13, 18, 27, 28. Othervviſe alſo we had need take heed, that there be not in deed a ſchiſme or rent made in that Church, (& ſo in the body of Chriſt) where this order is not obſerved. Like as came to paſſe in that other caſe, where of the Apoſtle vvriteth to the church of Corinth, 1 Cor. 11.18. &c.