A Christian Plea, Treatise 3 · Chapter 14 – Chapter 16
CHAPTER XIIII. Touching the often celebrating of the Lords ſupper: And of the time of the day, whether in the morning or euening, &c.
VVHether it be not beſt and moſt agreeable to the vvill of God, to celebrate the Lords ſupper often, and (vvhere it can vvell be) everie Lords day: beſides the churches cōtinual ſerving & worshiping of God daily. 1 Cor. 11, 23 — 26. and 10, 16, 17, 18. compared with Act. 20, 7. and Eſa. 66, 23. with Exod. 20.8 — 13. Rev. 1, 10. Ezech. 44, 15, 16, 24. and 45, 17 — 25. & 46 chap. Numb. 28, 9, 10. Act. 2, 42.46. and 3, 1. and 26, 7. 1 Theſ. 5, 17, 18.
1. Becauſe the Apoſtle teacheth, that Chriſt at the firſt celebration thereof, ſaid, This doe ye, as oft as ye drinke it, in remembrance of me: And thereupon inferreth, As often as ye eat this bread and drinke this cup, ye doe ſhewe the Lords death till he come. 1 Cor. 11, 25, 26. Which plainly implyeth the often obſervation thereof, in remembrance of Chriſt, and his death.
2. Thus alſo the Apoſtles and Churches at firſt uſed to doe: as may appeare by the Apoſtles vvords aforeſaid, 1 Cor. 11, 26. and by that which is vvritten, Act. 20, 6, 7. Where it is ſaid, that Paul abiding at Troas ſeuen daies, upon the firſt day of the vveeke, vvhen the diſciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, &c. Where it appeareth, that their comming together to break bread (that is, to celebrate the Lords ſupper) was on the firſt day of the week, that is, on the Lords day. Which likevviſe is expreſly noted by‡Who lived about 150 yeres after Chriſt. Iuſtine Martyr, in his ſecond Apologie: vvhere he ſaith, On Sunday, as it is called, there is a comming together in one place of all that dwel either in the tovvne… or in the countrey. And there is read the commentaries of the Apoſtles and Writings of the Prophets, as time vvill ſuffer. Then the Reader ceaſing, †Ho proeſtos.the Praeſident maketh a speach, vvherein he inſtructeth the people, and exhorteth them to the imitation of ſuch excellent things. Aftervvard vve riſe up all together, and povvre out prayers: and (as I ſayde before) bread and vvine and *Euen by this time, corruptions began to creep in: as by this and other particulars here and otherwhere may appeare.vvater is brought: and the Preſident likevviſe povvreth out prayers and thankſgiving vvith all the might he can: and the people hartily ſpeak out together, ſaying, Amen. And then to everie one that is preſent is there made diſtribution & communication of thoſe things that vvere bleſſed, on vvhichwhich thanks vvere giuen before: and to thoſe that are abſent ſome is ſent by the Deacons. &c. Iuſt. Martyr. Apolog. 2. Edit. Commel. Graeco-lat. pag. 76.77. A remainder of vvhichwhich practiſe, for celebration of the Lords ſupper every Lords day, as alſo of the dayly vvorship of God (and of ſome other like things good to be obſerved) may be ſeen in the Cathedrall churches at this day: though with corruptions othervviſe.
3. The nature end & uſe of the Lords ſupper may likevviſe lead hereunto: inaſmuch as it is the ſacrament of our continuall nourishment and comfort in the church by Ieſus Chriſt: as baptiſme is of our once entring thereinto: And is alſo the memorial of the death of Chriſt, which he ſuffred for our ſinnes: and should therefore ſtil be remembred, and often celebrated of us with thankeſgiving. According as Chriſt himſelf hath taught, ſaying: Doe this in remembrance of me: and again, This doe ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 1 Cor. 11, 24, 25. By which meanes our faith is the more ſtrengthned, our hope increaſed, our mutuall louelove nourished, and vve ſtill ſtirred up, with all thankfulnes to aſcribe unto God the praiſe of our ſalvation in Ieſus Chriſt. In vvhichwhich reſpect alſo it may fitly be called the Euchariſt or Thankeſgiving. 1 Cor. 10.16 — 18. and 11.23 — 26. compared vvith Mat. 26.26.27.28. Mar. 14.22 — 25. Luke 22.19.20. Act. 2.41.42. and 20.7. vvith Numb. 28.9.10. Ezech. 44.15.16.
4. And note here, hovv the Papiſts and Lutherans doe much urge, (though diverſly) the having of Images, for the better remembrance of Chriſt, and to be in ſtead of books for the unlearned people, &c. whereas Chriſt hath appointed himſelf to be deſcribed, and his people to be taught and put in remembrance of him, not by Images, but by his Goſpel and Sacraments: Mar. 16.15. Gal. 3.1.8. Mat. 26.28. and 28.18.19.20. 1 Cor. 10.16. and 11.23 — 26. And therewithall let it be obſerved, whether that Images vvere not then moſt of all brought into the churches and private houſes, under the pretences aforeſaid, vvhen the diligent teaching of the Goſpell, and often celebration of the Lords Supper, did by degrees decay and ceaſe more and more in the parishionall churches among the people. So as the Miniſters becomming themſelues dumbe, non reſident, or ſlothfull, the Images (though alſo dumbe) vvere made to ſupply their place, being novv ſet up to be the peoples teachers and remembrancers another way, in ſtead of the liuely preaching of the vvord, & careful obſervation of the Lords ſupper; for the continuall shevving forth and memoriall of his death from time to time. Which therefore may the more ſtirre up the churches (novv being reformed) not onelyonly to abandon the foreſaid Images, but alſo diligently to uſe both the preaching of the Goſpel, & often communicating at the Lords Table, the better to meet with the corruptions of later times, and to returne to the intier practiſe of the churches that vvere in former ages.
5. Furthermore, the Lords ſupper (being rightly conſidered) is anſwerable not onelyonly to the Paſſeover, but to the other Feaſts alſo and ſacrifices had at Ieruſalem: And the Prophets ſpeaking of the times of the Goſpel, (under the termes of the shadovves of the Lavv) foretold that from one Nevv moone to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all fleſh ſhould come to vvorſhip before the Lord, at Jeruſalem, &c. Which by the practiſe aforeſaid carefully obſerved, vve may performe and enjoy in Chriſt, who is the truth & body of all thoſe types and shadovves. And how othervviſe it is or can outwardly be performed aright, and anſvverably to the prophecies and shadowes aforeſaid, should by al churches heedfully be obſerved. Eſa. 66.23. Ezec. 44.15.16.24. and 45, 18 — 25. and 46, 1 — 11. Zach. 14, 16 — 19. vvith Col. 2.16.17. Act. 2.42. and 20, 7. Rev. 1, 10. 1 Cor. 10.16 — 18. and 11.23 — 26. Beſides that the Lords day, and the Lords ſupper at the Lords Table, doe fitly agree together both for the termes, and for the things themſelues, thus ſpoken of Rev. 1.10. compared vvith 1 Cor. 10.16.17.21. and 11.20. and Act. 20.7.
Another queſtion there is, about the time of the day, vvhen the Lords ſupper should be celebrated, vvhether in the morning or euening, &c. Some think, it should be in the euening or after noone, becauſe Chriſt at firſt with his diſciples did eat it at euen, after the Paſſeover, vvhereupon it vvas called the Lords ſupper. Touching which, on the other hand, may theſe reaſons be obſerved, and the like.
1. That the having of it then at euen, vvas upon ſpeciall occaſion; becauſe it follovved the celebration of the Paſſeover, which was kept at euen. Which occaſion ceaſing, the time is left free: Chriſt having not appointed it, or any ſet time thereunto. Mat. 26.17 — 26. &c.
2. So Chriſt and his diſciples eate it then with unleavened bread by the occaſion aforeſaid; and the feaſt of unleavened bread, then alſo obſerved. Which now being ceaſed, as vve are not therefore bound to the uſe of unleavened bread, ſo neyther are vve bound to that circumſtance of time, but may as freely uſe another time, as other common and uſuall bread therein. Mat. 26, 17 — 26. Mar. 14, 12 — 22. vvith Exod. 12.8.15.18. &c Act. 2.42. and 20.7. 1 Cor. 10, 16.
3. In like manner, at the firſt celebration of the Paſſeover in Egypt, they eat it ſtanding with ſtaues in their hand, as ready to depart from thence: and ſprinkled blood upon the lintell & ſide poſts of their doores, keeping within, & not going out of their houſes, becauſe that night the Lord vvould paſſe through, to ſmite the Egyptians, and ſeeing the blood on their doore poſts, would paſſe over them, and not deſtroy their firſt borne vvith the other. Exod. 12.7.11 — 13.22.13. Which occaſions ceaſing, vvhen aftervvard they vvere in the land at reſt, they eat it ſitting, & ſprinkled not their doore poſts vvith blood, neyther vvere bound to keepe vvithin, but might goe out of their houſes: as we read that Chriſt vvith his diſciples ſate dovvne to eat it, and then aftervvard went out of the houſe that night to the mount of Oliues, &c. Mat. 26, 19.20.30.
This sheweth forth the Lords death already done: as thoſe typed out his death then to come.4. Moreover, the Lords ſupper (as by other occaſion I noted here before) is ſo to be conſidered, as not onelyonly ſucceeding the Paſſeover, but as anſvvering alſo to the other Feaſts and Sacrifices then had in Iſraell. Which were obſerved aſwell in the morning, as at euening. Not to ſpeak of the Shevv bread, ſtill being on the pure Table, before the Lord: & other the like ordinances had in Iſraell. Which in the perpetuall equitie thereof, may hauehave their uſe: being hereunto fitly and vviſely applyed, according to the proportion of faith. Ioh. 1, 29, 36. 1 Cor. 5, 7. and 10, 16, 17, 18. Luke 22, 7 — 20. compared vvith Lev. 1 — 7. and 23 chap. and 24, 5 — 9. Numb. 15, 1, 2 — 29. and 28 & 29 chap. Deut. 16, 1 — 17. Heb. 13, 8 — 16. Hoſ. 14.2. Mal. 1, 11. Zach. 14, 16 — 19. Eſa. 66, 23. Rev. 13, 8.
5. Finally, the auncient practiſe of the churches of Chriſt, ever ſynce the Apoſtles times, confirmeth the ſame yet more unto us. As, when in the Acts of the Apoſtles it is vvritten, that upon the firſt day of the week, the diſciples came together to break bread. Act. 20, 7. Where, in that he ſaith, they came together that day to this end, we muſt either think that they met but at euening for it, or grant that they had and might hauehave it at other times beſides: Which Iuſtine Martyr makes manifeſt, whoſe words I noted here before, beſides the continuall practiſe of the Church ever ſince throughout all ages: vvhichwhich is carefully to be regarded, in all ſuch things as are not repugnant or diſagreeing to the vvord of God.
CHAPTER XV. Touching the having of a Fast, and the Lords ſupper, both together, in one day.
VVHether it be meet and right, upon one and the ſame day, to hauehave a ſolemne Faſt, together vvith the celebration of the Lords ſupper. Judg. 20, 26. Eſter. 4, 16. compared with Mat. 26, 26 — 29. Act. 20, 7 — 11. 1 Cor. 10, 16, 17, and 11, 23 — 26.
1. Becauſe the nature of them both (to wit, of a Faſt, and of the Lords Supper) is ſo very divers & differing the one from the other. Which may appear by their names, beſides the nature of the things themſelues. The one is a Faſt, the other a Feaſt. In the one we abſteyne from meat and drink: In the other vve doe eat and drink. Which alſo Chriſt himſelf hath cōmanded, ſaying, Take ye, eat ye, drinke ye, &c. And the one is a ſigne or ſolemne teſtification of ſorrow, the other of joy. Judg. 20, 26. Eſter. 4, 16. vvith Mat. 26.26 — 29. Luke 22.17 — 20. 1 Cor. 5, 6, 7, 8. Where alſo ſee & conſider that which is vvritten, Neh. 8, 10— 13.
2. The Lords ſupper ſucceedeth the Paſſeover, and is anſwerable unto it. At the celebration whereof the Lord required, that they should eate and drink in Iſrael. And not that they should faſt, as in the day of Atonement, wherein they were enjoyned to afflict their ſoules, and from euen to euen to celebrate their reſt. Luc. 22, 7 — 20. 1 Cor. 5, 7. and 10, 16, 17. and 11, 23 — 26. and Exod. 12, 3 — 11. Deut. 16, 1 — 7. 2 Chron. 30, and 35 chap. and Pſal. 116, 13. compared with Lev. 23, 5, 6, 27 — 32. and with Iudg. 20, 26. and Dan. 10, 2, 3, 22. And here note, that the Lords ſupper was celebrated of Chriſt together with his diſciples, ſtraightvvay after their eating of the Paſſeover. Which is a point likevviſe to be obſerved in this behalf. Matth. 26, 17 — 30. Mar. 14, 12 — 26. Luke 22, 7 — 20. As alſo, that it is now in the Church the Chriſtians feaſt, anſwerable (in ſome reſpects) to the ſundry feaſts obſerved among the Ievves. Act. 2, 42. and 20, 7. 1 Cor. 5, 7, 8. and 10, 16, 17, 18. and 11, 23 — 26. vvith Mar. 14, 22 — 26.
3. And all things in the church of God should be done decently & in order. 1 Cor. 14, 40. Now what order, or decency is there in this, that whiles and where a Feaſt is ſolemnely obſerved, there should bread and wine in the ſame aſſembly be ſet upon a publike Table, & all at the ſame time be enjoyned, to take, to eat, and to drink, &c. or that ſolemne Faſts and Feaſts should be celebrated and joyned togethef, upon one and the ſame day?
4. Here moreover may be obſerved, how they were woont in the primitiue churches to hauehave louelove-feaſts, vvith the Lords ſupper: as by ſome Scriptures, and other vvriters may appeare. 1 Cor. 11, 20— 34. and Iude epiſt. ver. 12. Tertullian. Apolog. cap 39. Which then being ſo, may shevv how far this cuſtome & practiſe differeth from that vvhichwhich was uſed in the churches of old. Not to ſpeak, hovv ſome in former times hauehave made queſtion, whether the church might hauehave any Faſts upon the Lords day at all. Into vvhichwhich point I vvill not novv enter: neither inſiſt upon things, that in extraordinarie caſes may be admitted.
CHAPT. XVI. Touching LoueLove-feaſts.
VVHether it be good and lawfull, for the churches now, to hauehave & uſe LoueLove-feaſts, at times convenient, and namely, on ſuch dayes, vvhen they hauehave the Lords ſupper. Iude, epiſt. ver. 12. 1 Cor. 11, 20— 34. compared vvith Deut. 12, 5, 6, 7. and 16, 1 — 15. Touching vvhichwhich, on the one hand, obſerue theſe things following.
1. That ſo they practiſed in the primitiue Churches: as may appeare both by ſome ſpeaches in the Scripture, Iude, ver. 12. 1 Cor. 11, 20— 34. and by the record of auncient writers, Clement, Tertullian, &c.
2. And note in Tertullian, how he sheweth, that they were kept in his time, which vvas about two hundred yeeres after Chriſt. And ſo long then they had continued from the Apoſtles times there, vvhere Tertullian lived. Tertullian. Apolog. cap. 39.
3. Now whence this practiſe firſt aroſe, I leaue further to be conſidered. OnelyOnly for the point in hand, this I note, that vvhether they did it for the better nourishing & continuing of louelove & peace among themſelues; or for the more comforting & refreshing of the poor by the richer ſort, & together with them; or that they had therein reſpect to the action of Chriſt, who celebrated the Lords ſupper after the eating of the Paſſeover (Luke 22.7 — 20.) or that they took this cuſtome (as they did many other things) from the Ievves, vvho vvere woont to hauehave feaſts together with their ſacrifices (ſpecially with their thanks offerings) and at their ſolemne feſtivities; or that they had it from ſome other like originall; it cometh to a like end, as touching the matter ſpoken off. Deut. 12, 7. and 16, 1 — 15. 1 Sam. 1, 4. with Exod. 32, 6. Pſal. 116, 12, 13, 14, with 66, 13, 14, 15.
On the other hand may be conſidered, how it is obſerved and noted†Paraeus in 1 Cor. 11.22. Piſcator in 1 Cor. 11.34 &c. by divers, that the Apoſtle tooke them away, and would not ſuffer the uſe of them in the church of Corinth, becauſe of abuſes that were among them, through faction, ſchiſme, and ſuperfluitie. 1 Cor. 11, 17 — 34. Which being compared vvith the other particulars here before mentioned, may shew that it is a thing indifferent, eyther to keep them, or to leaue them, as they shalbe uſed or abuſed, and as everie church shall find to be moſt expedient for them and their eſtate: vvhereas if it were a morall & perpetuall ordinance of God, the abuſe onelyonly should be corrected, and the thing it ſelf ſtill continued, and all churches continually bound to the obſervation thereof. As we ſee done in the ſame place, about the Lords ſupper it ſelf. 1 Cor. 11.20, 23. &c.