The Christians Alphabet, Part 2 · Section 20
V Of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.
Q. Rehearse the letter V?
A. VNderstand that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, is when bread and wine representing the body and blood of Christ, broken and shed for vsus, being by the Minister taken and blessed, is broken and poured forth, and so deliuered to all the faithfull present: and of them receiued, by eating the bread and drinking the wine, in remembrance of Christs death, as also to communicate vntounto vsus the very body and blood of Christ spiritually by faith: and so to confirme our faith in Christ and louelove one to another.
For this Sacrament is the signe of our new life, as Baptisme is of our new birth. And therefore as we hauehave neede of often nourishment, so wee ought to receiue often, and that with due preparation.
Q. Why is this Sacrament called the Lords Supper?
A. This Sacrament is called the Lords Supper for these reasons:The Lords Supper why so called. First a Supper, partly in regard of the time when it was instituted and celebrated: which was in the euening, before the day wherein Christ was crucified: partly in respect of the thing it selfe, because it is a Sacred Feast or Banquet, appointed of God, not for the body, but for the soule. And it is called The Lords Supper, both in regard of the Author, who is the Lord Iesus himselfe: as also in respect of the end, which was in remembrance of him.
Q. What is the outward signe in the Lords Supper?
The outward signe is Bread and Wine.A. The outward signe in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, doth consist of two elements, that is, Bread and Wine; for so our Sauiour did institute, not one onelyonly, but both: to shew, that in him wee hauehave perfect nourishment vntounto eternall life: and the better to expresse the giuing vp of his Body, and the shedding of his Bloud for vsus, which either the Bread alone, or the Wine alone, could not present vntounto vsus in so liuely manner. Againe, it is answerable to the type, Gen. 14.18. that as Melchisedech, so Christ should nourish and refresh his Church with Bread and Wine.
The thing signified is the Body and Bloud of Christ Crucified.Q. What is the thing siguified by the Bread and Wine?
A. The thing signified is the Body and Bloud of Christ broken and shed for vsus: this we may see by the first institution, Luk. 22.19.20. This is my Body, which is giuen for you. This cup is the New Testament in my bloud, which is shed for you; againe, 1 Cor. 11.24. This is my Body which is broken for you, &c. and verse 26. As often as ye eate this Bread, and drinke this Cup, yee doe shew the Lords death till he come. So the Sacrament is not simply the representation of Christs Body and Bloud contained in it, but of his dead and crucified body, and of his blend out of the body, shed vponupon the Crosse.
Q. Who is to administer this Sacrament?
A. This Sacrament as well as Baptisme,Who is to administer the Sacrament. is to bee administred onelyonly by the Ministers of Christ, who are therefore called, 1 Cor. 4.1. the Stewards or disposers of the mysteries of God; as wee may see by the institution of Christ himselfe, Math. 26.26.27. and the repetition of it by the Apostle, 1 Cor. 11.23. where is shewed, what is to be done both by the Minister, and by the people.
Q. What is to be done by the Minister?
The action of the Minister.A. The action o… the Minister is foure-fold: 1. To take the Bread and Wine into his hand, signifying how God did take and set apart his Sonne to be our Redeemer. 2. To consecrate or blesse them:Ioh. 3.16. noting how God did in the fulnesse of time, consecrate and send forth his Sonne, to worke our redemption. 3. To breake the Bread,and 6.27. and poure out the Wine, representing the breaking of the Body, and the shedding of the Bloud of Christ for vsus. 4. To distribute the Bread and Wine, signifying how God doth offer his Sonne to all, and effectually giuegive him to the faithfull, to be their Sauiour.
Q. What is to be done by the people?The action of the people.
A. There is a double action to be performed by the people, that doe communicate: the first is, to take the Bread and Wine into the hand,Ioh. 1.22. signifying, their apprehension or laying hold on Christ by faith. The second is, the eating of the Bread, and drinking of the Wine, representing their speciall application of Christ, and all his benefits, by faith for their spirituall nourishment vntounto saluation.1 Cor. 10.16.
Q. What is the end or vse of this Sacrament?The end or vse of this Sacrament.
A. The end or vse, for which this Sacrament of the Lords Supper was ordained, was first for the perpetuall retaining of the memory of Christs death.1For remembrance of, Christs death. So it is commanded, Luk. 22.19. Doe this in remembrance of me, and 1 Cor. 11.26. the Apostle saith, A… oft as you shall eate this Bread, and drinke this Cup, yee shew tho Lords death, till he come.
Q. What is the second end or vse of this Sacrament?2For Communion with Christ.
A. Secondly, it was appointed as an instrument or meanes to communicate vntounto vsus, the very body a…d bloud of Christ spiritually by faith; therefore it is, that the Apostle saith, 1 Cor. 10.16. The cup of blessing which we blesse, is it not the communion of the bloud of Christ? the Bread which we breake, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? And this is that feeding vponupon Christ, that eating of his flesh, and drinking of his bloud, spoken of, Ioh. 6.29.35.47.51. &c. namely, when by beleeuing, we are made partakers of him, which is done in this Sacrament, in a speciall manner.
Q. What is the third end or vse of this Sacrament?
3For confirmation of our faith and louelove.A. Thirdly, the Lords Supper was ordained for the confirmation of our faith in Christ, and louelove one to another. For when in the Sacrament, together with the word which wee heare, Iesus Christ is euidently set forth before our eyes, and as it w…re crucified among vsus, and in our sight, as Paul speaketh, Gal. 3.1. insomuch,How our faith in Christ. that the Sacrament, which is called the visible word, doth seeme to speake vntounto vsus, as Christ did to Thomas, Ioh. 20.27. Come see and feele my wounds, and be not faithlesse, but beleeuing: How can it but greatly nourish and strengthen our faith in the Lord Iesus, who hath thus suffered for vsus.
Q. How doth the Sacrament confirme our louelove?
A. Againe,How our louelove one to another when in the Sacrament we consider, that there are many graines in one bread, and many grapes in one wine, representing vntounto vsus, as it is in 1 Cor. 10. 17. How we being many, are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread. How is it possible, but that we should be thereby nourished and confirmed in the deerest louelove and affection one Christian to another? and out of that ground of louelove, bee ready to doe all the good we can, as being members of the same body, whereof Christ is the head, 1 Cor. 12.12.13.
Q. How is the Lords Supper the Sacrament of our new life?
A. As Baptisme is the Sacrament of our new birth,It is the signe of our new life. because by it we are regenerate and borne againe, Ioh. 3.3. So the Lords Supper is the Sacrament or signe of our new life, because by it our soules are continually nourished, in feeding vponupon Christ by faith, as bodily foode doth nourish the body. Therefore it is, that our Sauiour saith, Ioh. 6.55. My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed: that is, spirituall meat, and spirituall drinke, as it is, 1 Cor. 10.3.4. Yea, such as doth nourish vntounto eternall life, not as Manna, which was but bodily and mortall food, Ioh. 6.57.58.
Q. Proue that wee must receiue often?It is often to be receiued.
A. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper, being to our soules, as bodily foode is to our bodies, reason it selfe doth teach, that it is to bee receiued often, as our bodies stand in need of often nourishment. Besides, our Sauiour Christ in the first institution of this Sacrament, did manifestly expresse his intention for the frequent vse of it, in that he did apoint it to bee done for the continuall remembrance of his death till his second comming. Whereupon Saint Paul, who deliuered nothing to the Church, but what hee receiued of the Lord, saith, As often as yee eate this bread, and drinke this cup, yee doe shew the Lords death till he come. 1 Cor. 11.26.
Q. Proue that it ought to be receiued with due preparation?
A. That we ought to receiue this Sacrament with due preparation,With due preparation. the Apostle teacheth, 1 Cor. 11.28. Where he giueth this strait charge, and doth second it with diuers forcible reasons, Let a man examine himselfe, and so let him eate of that bread, and drinke of that cup. But if there were no such speciall charge, yet the serious consideration of so sacred a mystery, should stirre vp all men to a religious and reuerent estimation of it: specially recounting, with what sanctified preparation the Iewes did celebrate their Passeouer, which was to them as this is to vsus: but yet farre inferiour both in excellency and vse, to our Sacrament.