Seven Treatises, Treatise 3 · Chapter 3
CHAP. 3. Of the ſecond publike helpe: namely, the Sacraments.
THe next meane or helpe publike, are the Sacraments, which (of the two) are more darkely ſeene and found to be helps to godlines, then the word, among the moſt part of thoſe who are partakers of them: both becauſe men hauehave ſeldomer vſe of them, then of other doctrine; and alſo, for that they be not ſo fully inſtructed in the ſame. And of the two Sacraments, which God hath left to his Church, in this latter age to be inioyed, Baptiſme is leſſe ſeene and perceiued to be an helpe, then the Lords ſupper: In ſpeaking whereof, I purpoſe only to ſtand vponupon this which I hauehave taken in hand, namely, to ſhew the Chriſtian reader, how the Sacraments are meanes and helpes to ſet him forward in a godly life (as too few doe make them) and to leaue him for other knowledge about the Sacraments (which is exceeding large) to thoſe who hauehave written of them at large, as M.P. Martyr, M. Caluin, M. Beza, and to ordinarie teaching.
And this alſo I will doe with as much breuitie as I can: Therefore firſt ſeeing the Sacraments are helps neceſſarily adioyned vntounto the preaching of the word, and doe viſibly confirme and ratifie that, which the word doth teach: and the couenant betwixt God and the beleeuer made,The Sacraments confirme that which the word teacheth. is moſt ſurely ſealed vp, and effectuall on both parts by them, thereby it may appeare, what helps they are, both to the ſtrengthening of faith, and incouragement to godly life: which that it may more plainely appeare, let this which I hauehave ſaid, be thus vnfolded to the Chriſtian reader. God hath freely granted to eueryevery faithfull perſon, that he will neuer call his ſinnes to a reckoning: but will be his God, Iohn. 13.1.and louelove him to the end through Chriſt; for the making good of this promiſe, he hath put to his ſeale, and hath cauſed the ſame his promiſe and will to be eſtabliſhed in the ſacrament, by ſo euident and infallible a ſigne as cannot deceiue. Now therefore doth not this ſacrament alwayes remaine to the faithfull receiuer, to whom it is made out, and graunted; a cleere witnes, that whatſoeuer benefit is promiſed, is his: and as oft as any doubt hereof might, through weakenes ariſe to the partie, is it not hereby ſufficiently remooued? and therefore they are called of the Apoſtle,Rom. 4.11. ſeales of the righteouſnes of faith.
And as God hath thus couenanted for his part;VVhat, God and the faithfull doe couenant, each to other in the Sacraments. ſo hath eueryevery beleeuer againe in his owne behalfe couenanted to truſt in God alwayes, to indeuour to walke before him continually in vprightnes of heart, and innocencie of hands: Now of the truth of his heart the ſacrament is a ſigne; which he hauing receiued, hath openly profeſſed thereby, that he hath giuen and conſecrated himſelfe vntounto the Lord, and is now no more his owne, to liue as carnall will would deſire. Is not therefore the ſacrament, though it be not alwayes receiued, yet is it not alwayes before his eyes, as it were, to tell him what he hath done; yea and that not raſhly nor by conſtraint, but with good aduiſe, as knowing, that he ſhall neuer hauehave cauſe to repent him of ſo doing? ſeeing he beleeueth, that ſtrength in meaſure ſhall be giuen him of God, to performe that which he hath promiſed and ſealed?
Is not then the Sacrament a continuall ſpurrer forward of him to performe his couenant? Is he not by the freſh remembrance of it, incouraged againſt temptations, wearines of doing his dutie, and ſuch other hinderances?Rom. 6.2. Doth it not cauſe him to ſay againſt them all, how can I that am dead to ſinne, The Sacraments are myſteries to the vnbeleeuers, but not ſo to the faithfull.liue any longer in it? So that although to others the Sacraments be a myſtery, and hidden thing, and as a booke written in Hebrew or Greeke, which a ſimple man opening findeth nothing profitable for him, but ſaith I cannot reade it (and yet the booke containes moſt fruitefull matter, if a skilfull reader taketh it in hand:) although I ſay, he who is ignorant, finde no helpe nor benefit by the Sacraments; yet the true beleeuer hauing been ſoundly inſtructed therein, beholdeth much in them, to incourage and ſet him forward in the godly life, hauing as ſure hold of Gods fauour, and helpe by them alſo, as the ſame God, who cannot lie, is to be beleeued.
This may for the edifying of the ſimple, bee ſeene particularly in the two Sacraments of our Church at this day,Baptiſme how it is and helpe. baptiſme and the Lords ſupper. For eueryevery faithfull Chriſtian which hath been baptized, may as long as he liueth, hauehave this benefit thereby, that as by his ingraffing into Chriſt, he is one with him, and therefore ſeeth that while Chriſt liueth, he muſt and ſhall liue alſo: ſo he hauing thereby perpetuall vnion and fellowſhip with him, doth drawe ſtrength and grace from him, euen as the branch doth from the vine, that ſo he may liue the life of a Chriſtian. If then he hauehave that power of renewing him (which is ſignified and ſealed by baptiſme) namely the power of Chriſts death mortifying ſinne, and the vertue of his reſurrection in raiſing him vp to new life; is not baptiſme throughout his life a forcible meanes to helpe him forward in a Chriſtian courſe, as oft as he doth duely conſider it?
The Lords ſupper how it is an helpe.So in the Lords ſupper, the faithfull communicant, by the oft receiuing of it, is not onelyonly by the bread and wine aſſured that his ſoule may be comforted by Chriſt, and ſo inioyeth the ſame; but alſo is ſpiritually ſtrengthened to all good duties; ſo that he findeth a moſt ſoueraigne helpe by it, to growe vp vntounto a perfect age in Chriſt Ieſus. And this ſhall more appeare, if we conſider how manifoldly the faithfull Chriſtian is furthered, and ſet forward in the well framing and amending his life thereby, both in preparing himſelfe to it before it come;VVherein worthie receiuing conſiſteth. in the action and preſent vſe of it, when he doth come thereto; and after the inioying of, and departing from it. Of which three, ſeeing they may ſerue as well for a perpetuall rule to examine himſelfe by, and to direct him in the right vſe of it alwayes after, as well as to proue the matter which I hauehave in hand (namely, that the Sacraments are great helpes to godlines) I will ſtay a little while about them.The manner of preparing our ſelues to the Lords ſupper.
And for the preparing or making him fit to receiue with profit, this is the manner how it ought to be done, namely: Firſt, that he proue and trie himſelfe in theſe things, whether he hauehave the knowledge of mans miſerie, of his redemption, of his renewing, and of the nature and benefit of that Sacrament, with the knowledge of other principall points; all which it is meete that he ſhould hauehave, who looketh for comfort by it. Secondly, that he hold faſt his faith in the promiſes of ſaluation, which God hath wrought in him before, by the preaching of the Goſpell: the which at this time may not be wanting, but holden faſt, and after, particular falles recouered. The third is, that he keepe his heart diligently to the renouncing, and ſubduing of all ſinne, and readie to any dutie that he ſhall be called vntounto. Fourthly, and more particularly, that he hauehave no ſwelling, nor riſing of heart againſt any man or woman, no although they be his vtter enemies: but be reconciled to them, and at peace with them, as he deſireth to be with the Lord. And fiftly, that he being thus qualified, deſire (as he ſhall hauehave opportunitie) to be partaker of this Sacrament, and to receiue the benefit which God offereth by it. And this is the manner of examining a mans ſelfe: vntounto the which rules he that is ſutable, he is a welcome gueſt to the Lords table.
But becauſe much ſlouth, forgetfulnes, darkenes, corruption and weaknes do ſoone gather together, and ſo grow vp euen in good men, to the choaking of theſe forenamed gifts of God, that ſuch as hauehave ſometime found all theſe in themſelues, yet at the time of receiuing cannot finde them; therefore at the comming to the Lords ſupper, God giueth eſpeciall charge, that if in any of his people theſe graces ſhould by their owne negligence and default,VVhat is to be done, when we cannot prepare our ſelues. be weakned, dimmed and decayed, that they doe not raſhly put themſelues forward to it in that caſe; but ſpeedily ſeeke to recouer themſelues againe, by a due examination of their eſtate according to the forementioned rules: Which if they do then more hardly and difficultly obtaine, and going about it, cannot ſee cleerely that they are thus furniſhed, as they were ſometimes, they may thanke themſelues; the fault is their owne, for that they did ſo long neglect the ſame, and did not labour, when they were well, to keepe well conſtantly: Let them not ceaſe therefore till they recouer; which of them that knowe how, being ſanctified, ſhall be obtained. Now the recouering of themſelues is on this manner: Let them goe apart by themſelues, and laying all other things aſide, ſeriouſly enter into due conſideration, what accuſeth them, and troubleth their conſcience, which in no wiſe may be omitted: then whatſoeuer bee found amiſſe (be it ſlouth, careleſnes, worldlines, diſtruſt, vncharitablenes, or any other like ſinne) let it be ſenſibly and heartily bewailed, acknowledged, renounced, Prou. 28.13. and laſtly, a recouering of their faith, by apprehending Gods mercy, Prou. 28.13. and their wants therein, and in their repentance, ſupplyed againe, by renuing their couenant with God. This manner of behauiour in Chriſtians before they offer themſelues to the Lords ſupper, is neceſſarie after they hauehave fallen (as I hauehave ſaid before:) and herein ſtandeth their preparation to receiue the Lords ſupper. Which preparation is one of the three things neceſſarily required of them, who ſhall with profit come vntounto the Lords ſupper.
And can this preparation be any leſſe then a great helpe to all,How preparation to receiue worthily is an helpe to liue well. which ſhall inioy it? He who was before ſnared in the world, who had been filled with ſtrong corruption, as with poyſon, fallen into ſome particular ſinnes, who had neglected the nouriſhing of his faith, been at ſome bitter variance with his neighbour, or had done any ſuch other like thing: now by this preparation calling himſelfe home, repenting and returning as this examination teacheth, doth he not finde thereby a ſingular helpe (thinke we) to the recouering of his ſtrength, and the doing of his former workes againe? And if he hauehave done none of all theſe offences (and therefore ſhall not neede to offer ſuch violence to himſelfe) but hath kept a Chriſtian courſe in his life, and followed a good direction to the peace of his conſcience (as I doubt not but many doe) yet as oft as he ſhall repaire to this Sacrament in this eſtate ſhall he not be much confirmed and more ſtrongly ſetled in the duties of Chriſtianitie, when he ſhall by examination finde and ſee, that he (though fraile) is a meete gueſt for the Lords table, and therefore welcome; and not thruſt out of the companie, for want of his wedding garment? Shall it not be a great comfort at many other times, as oft as hee ſhall remember and thinke vponupon it: and that it hath been thus with him alreadie when he receiued, and thus may be alſo, as oft as he ſhall repaire vntounto it againe? So that euen the preparation to the Lords ſupper, is a great meane to goe forward in godlines.
How the faithfull ſhould be at the ſupper of the Lord. Iohn. 6.55.Now to come to the action itſelfe, when a man rightly prepared, inioyeth the preſent benefit of the Sacrament, and there is comforted and made glad by the words of Chriſt himſelfe, the maker of the banquet, who biddeth him welcome and to be merry: ſaying, his body (which is meate indeede) and his bloud (which is the onelyonly holeſome and ſauourie drinke) are prepared for him; how can he but be much heartened and be ſet forward in a Chriſtian courſe, when he ſhall be thus reuiued and quickned in his ſoule with the ſpirituall duties which by true faith he feedeth vponupon, and that no leſſe ſenſibly, then he eateth the breade and drinketh the wine?
And yet thus much I will ſay, that if this merry making at the Lords boord, were either in hollownes on the behalfe of him that biddeth (as it is with many men who inuite other to their table) or onelyonly a temporarie and earthly benefit, on the behalfe of the receiuer, it were not ſo much to be accounted of: but it being farre otherwiſe, namely, both in goodnes and perpetuitie, a benefit that hath no companion, euen a continuall feaſt; it hath therefore great force to ſtirre vp the partie to honour God. And from hence it is, that the communicant, as one admiring the goodnes and kindnes of God there declared to him, and of himſelfe felt and inioyed; breaketh forth into praiſes and ſaith,Cant. 2.4. as is figured in Salomon his ſong, O Lord, thou haſt made me drunke with the wine of thy ſeller! how ſweete is thy louelove, and thy kindnes paſt finding out? Pſal. 116.12.What ſhall I render to the Lord for all his mercies?
Is it hard now to ſee, is it hard now to iudge, how this heauenly banquet doth for the preſent time, and in the receiuing therof, or may at leaſtwiſe, inlarge the heart of the faithfull ſeruant of God, and make him fit for dutie, and fill his heart with comfort, while he communicateth in the ſupper with the reſt of the faithful, ſo welcome to the Lord, who inuited him to it? For there, he may and ought to meditate on the daintines of the banquet; on the louelove of him that ordained it; on the communion he hath with Chriſt and his graces, and on the outward ſignes, what they aſſure him of; and on the word preached, which ſheweth him all this: All theſe things, with ſuch like, he may thinke on and apply to himſelfe. For although the fleſh ſtriueth againſt the ſpirit, as well herein, as in other workes of it; yet the faithfull communicant in his meaſure, findeth his heart readie to yeeld vp to the Lord in this heauenly banquet, no leſſe, then I hauehave ſaid, euen the ſacrifice of praiſe and thankes, though all doe it not in a like meaſure.
And euen ſo to come to the third point, it is of the ſame force, after he hath receiued the Sacrament,After receiuing the faithfull communicant is fitter to liue godly. and inioyed the benefit therein beſtowed vponupon him, to hearten him on, and ſtrengthen him to eueryevery good worke; euen as a man well refreſhed with meate, is made ſtrong to labour: this Sacrament (I ſay) doth after the receiuing of it (where right vſe is made of it, according to Gods appointment) through the remembrance and due conſideration of the kindnes of God therein offered and reaped, eaſily carry on the ſeruant of God in a feruent deſire of all well doing. In all that I ſay of the Sacrament, the wiſe reader (I doubt not) vnderſtandeth me, not that this alone, without other meanes and helpes doth this; but as the Lord in great fauour to his Church, hath prouided varietie of them for it,One helpe being vſed, another is not to be neglected. as the weakenes of it doth require, as ſome publike, ſome priuate: ſo he hath made this amongſt the reſt to be one, by the which, as by the reſt, a godly life is much furthered.
Which I thought very meete to adde, becauſe of all other helps to the practiſe of Chriſtianitie, I am perſwaded, that the Sacraments are leaſt thought, or found to be ſo: and that they are vſed for the moſt part, without the benefit which God hath ioyned with them, that is, in ceremonie onelyonly. And this holeſome or right vſing of them, becauſe it is little ſeene or inioyed; therefore is there ſuch negligence in repairing to them, and vnreuerence, diſorder, yea and prophane behauiour in the adminiſtring and receiuing of them, which is the principall matter that is to be regarded about the Sacrament, and looked vntounto both of the miniſter and people.
But it is not my purpoſe to enter into this treatiſe: I conclude this point therefore, that ſeeing the Sacraments doe ſeale vp the promiſes of God to the faithfull receiuer, vnderunder a viſible and infallible ſigne, and againe binde him (in reuerence be it ſpoken) to the performing of his couenant, and ſeeing particularly the firſt Sacrament of baptiſme doth ingraffe him into Chriſt, and that other of the Lords ſupper doth by ſo holy preparation before he come, with ſuch comfort miniſtring in and at his receiuing, and ſuch ſtrengthening of him after, worke vponupon him, as hath been ſaid; that therefore the Sacraments are ſingular helpes for all true beleeuers to growe in a godly life. And conſequently, I ſay of the receiuers of them, as of them which vſe the other helpes, that he who is not made more able to conquer his luſts, and weaken the ſtrength of ſinne, and is not more hartened to the life of godlines, doth abuſe them, and ſeeth not Gods purpoſe in ordaining them. Which ſinne how ſeuerely God will puniſh,1. Cor. 11.30. the Corinthians example doth teſtifie and proue.