Christs Last Supper, Table of contents
A Table of the principall matters contained in theſe Sermons following.
The firſt Sermon. page 1
The Text. 1. Cor. 11.28.29.
Let a man therefore examine himſelfe,ver. 28. and ſo let him eate of this Bread, and drinke of this Cup.
Verſe. 29.
For he that eateth and drinketh vnworthily,ver. 29. eateth and drinketh his owne damnation, becauſe he diſcerneth not the Lords body.
THe order of the Apoſtle in this Chapter. Page 2
Chriſts order in the Institution of this Sacrament. Page 3
He breakes the Bread and Wine. ibid
He bleſſeth them. page 4
He breakes the Bread, and poureth out the Wine. ibid
Hee giues them. page 5
He ſhewes the end of all, viz. to ſhewe forth the Lords death. ibid
The occaſion of this Scripture. page 7
The Text deuided. page 8
Reaſons ſhewing the neceſſitie of Examination. page 10
It is Gods commandement. ibid
The Lord hath promiſed to bleſſe it. page 11
The reuerence wee owe to theſe holy things doth require it. page 12
The Lords Table repreſents the kingdome of Heauen. page 13
The practiſe of the primitiue Church. page 15
The benefit and profit by ſo doing, doth bind vsus to this dutie: page 16
The benefite that comes by due receiuing. page 17
It is a prop to the weake, ibid
It ſeales vp vntounto vsus Chriſt and his righteouſneſſe. page 18
It quickens vsus to all good dueties page 19
Reaſon 5 The hurt and daunger which otherwiſ… will enſue, doeth ſhew the necesſity of the ſame. page 20
The vſes of the Doctrine.
Teacheth Miniſters their duety, to prepare men for the Lords Table. page 23
Shewes what manner of perſons ought not to be admitted thereunto. page 24
As firſt, Children. page 25
Secondly Mad-men, Ideots. ibid
Vſe 3 Is for tryall of our estates. page 26
Doct. EueryEvery man muſt be diligent to know his owne eſtate. page 30
Reaſons.
First, eueryevery man is beſt acquainted with his owne estate. page 31
Ministers not exempted from taking notice of vsus. page 32
Reaſon 2 EueryEvery man ſhall anſwere for his owne … eſtate. page 33
Vſes.
For reproofe. page 35
For inſtruction. page 38
The ſecond Sermon.
1. Cor. 11.28. Let a man therefore examine himſelfe.
MOſt men faile in the manner of performing moſt dueties page 44
VVhat Examination is. ibid
Reaſons mouing to perfourme the duety.
Becauſe mans heart is full of deceit. page 47
Becauſe God commaunds it. page 49
Becauſe Gods curſe is lyable to the neglectors of this duety. page 50
Becauſe by this we ſhall auoide the Lords iudging of vsus. page 51
Knowledge neceſſary to the due receiuing of this Sacrament page 54
What things are abſolutely neceſſary to be known to ſaluation page 55
The Principles of Religion. ibid
That Christ is onelyonly receiued by Faith. page 56
The things touching this Sacrament. page 57
The danger of ignorance page 58
It is neceſſary to encreaſe in Knowledge daily. page 59
The Vſes of the Doctrine.
Againſt the Papists, which teach, that Ignorance is the Mother of Deuotion. page 61
Shewes the fearefull eſtate of thoſe that liue in Ignorance. page 62
To teach vsus to labour for the getting of Knowledge. page 63
Secondly, Faith is neceſſary for the due receiuing of this Sacrament. page 64
What Faith is. page 65
The excellent vſe of Faith in this Sacrament. page 67
It muſt not be a generall, but a particular Faith. page 68
It is a hard thing to beleeue. page 70
The weake muſt not be diſcouraged. page 72
There is a weake Faith. ibid
Comfort to the weake. page 73
Faith is a moſt excellent grace. page 75
For, whatſoeuer is without it, is ſinne. page 76
Without it we cannot pleaſe God. ibid
Without it we cannot heare the word with profit or comfort ibid
We cannot Pray without it. ibid
We cannot be ſaued without it. ibid
The Vſes.
For examination for this grace of faith. page 77
How Faith is wrought. page 78
To ſhew, that many mens Faith is but a fancie ibid
Thirdly, Repentance is neceſſary to the due receiuing of this Sacrament. page 79
What Repentance is. page 80
How to come to Repentance. page 82
To ſee ſinne. page 83
To be humbled for ſinne. page 85
Two ſorts of ſorrow: Firſt, a worldly, Secondly, a godly Sorrow. page 86
What godly Sorrow is. page 87
The meanes to attaine to Godly Sorrow. page 88
To take notice of Gods manifold Fauours towards vsus. ibid
To weigh the ill effects of ſinne. page 89
To attend vponupon the Word Preached. page 90
To take heede of preſumptuous ſins. ibid
Comforts for the weake.
That eueryevery mans body is not alike. page 92
God meaſures our Sorrow, according to that abilitie and ſtrength he hath giuen vsus to beare. ibid
The Lord lookes more after the manner, then the meaſure. page 93
Without Repentance, there is no way but death. page 95
The Vſes.
That Miniſters ought in the firſt place, to teach the Doctrine of the Law. page 100
That we ought to ſearch and examine for this grace of repentance. page 101
Fourthly LoueLove is neceſſarie for the due receiuing of this Sacrament. page 104
Reaſons to proue the neceſſitie of louelove.
It is Gods commandement page 109
It is a marke whereby we are knowne to be Chriſt Diſciples. ibid
We be all members of the ſame body. ibid
It is a note of our regeneration. ibid
It is a grace that ſeaſons all other graces. ibid
The vſes.
To labor for this excellent grace of LoueLove. page 110
To reprooue them which are full of malice. page 111
The third Sermon.
1. Cor. 11.28.
And ſo let him eate, &c.
Doct. 1 TO receiue this Sacrament is not a thing indifferent. page 117
Reaſon 1 It is a principal part of Gods worſhip. page 119
Reaſon 2 It is a meanes to increaſe grace. page 120
Reaſon 3 It is a confirmation of our couenant with God page 121
The Vſes.
To reproue thoſe which willingly abſtaine from the Lords Supper. page 122
What ſinnes they are guilty of, which willingly abſtaine from the Lords Supper.
They contemne Chriſts Comaundement. page 124
They deſpiſe the memory of Chrsts paſſion ibid
They are guilty of great vnthankefulneſſe ibid
They contemne the price of their redemption. page 125
They are guilty of infidelity. page 126
They wilfully deſpiſe the communion of Saints. page 127
Obiections of ſuch as refuſe to come anſwered.
They are not prepared. page 128
They hauehave other buſineſſe in hand to look vntounto. page 130
They are not in Charity, and therefore dare not come. page 131
Obiections of weake Chriſtians that dare not come, anſwered.
Their wants ſo many, and faith ſo weake, they dare not come. page 134
Comforts againſt their doubt.
The feeling of the want of grace, is grace it ſelfe.
Chriſt inuiteth ſuch poore ſoules to come vntounto him.
Chriſt pronounceth ſuch bleſſed, as doe but hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe.
The Lorde more regardes the Truth of grace, then the Meaſure of it. page 135
This Sacrament was ordained for the weake, and not for the Strong page 136
The Vſes.
Firſt, to teach vsus to make conſcience of comming to the Lords Supper. page 137
For our conſolation, ſeeing the Lord offers Chriſt freely to vsus. page 138
And ſo let him eate.
Doct. 2 IT is not ſufficient to come, but to come prepared. page 141
Reaſon 1 It is Gods Commandement, as to come, ſo to come prepared. page 144
Reaſon 2 If we come prepared, we may ſafely expect a bleſſing from God. ibid.
Reaſon 3 Becauſe it a ſinne to be prepared, and not to come. page 145
The vſes of the Doctrine.
For Humiliation, that we come vnprepared. ibid
For terror to wicked men, who when they come be not prepared page 146
For Conſolation to the Godly, who labour to prepare themſelues, though they find grace but in a little degree in them. page 147 The leaſt degrees of grace are
To ſee ſinne. page 149
To be humbled for ſinne. ibid
To pray for the pardon of ſinne. page 150
To reſolue for the time to come, of new obedience. page 151
Doct. 3 Circumſtances in Gods ſeruice must bee obſerued. page 152
Reaſon 1 Becauſe God that commands the worſhip commands the circumstances about it. page 155
Reaſon 2 Becauſe circumſtances of an action, may ouerthrow the action. ibid
Reaſon 3 Becauſe God will be worſhipped in ſpirit and truth. page 156
The Vſes.
To reprooue ſuch as regard not circumſtances, or the manner of Gods worſhip. page 157
For Instruction, to teach vsus what circumſtances are required in eueryevery action. page 157
The Text And ſo let him eat of this Bread, and drinke of this Cup.
There is a two-fold eating.
Carnally. page 160
Spiritually. ibid
What it is to feede on Chriſt. ibid
To feed on Christ, and to beleeue in Chriſt, all one. page 161
Doct. 4 The faithfull onelyonly feede on Chriſt in this Sacrament. page 164
The Vſes.
To teach vsus, that all do not receiue Chriſt in this Sacrament. page 166
To teach the Miniſters, to barre all that ſhew themſelues impenitent, from this Sacrament. page 167
For comfort to the Godly, that though they may be kept by many meanes from partaking in this Sacrament, yet they cannot be kept from partaking of Chriſt by faith. page 171
The Godly hauehave communion with Chriſt in this Sacrament. page 172
Doct. 5 Chriſt in this Sacrament doeth giuegive the true beleeuer a ſure poſſeſſion of himſelfe. page 173
Comforts ariſing from our vnion with Chriſt.
Chriſt will ſanctifie vsus, to vnite vsus to him ſelfe. page 181
We hauehave communion of eſtates with him. page 182
We are hereby aſſured of the reſurrection of our bodies. page 183
This doth aſſure vsus of the grace of perſeuerance. page 184
The Vſe.
Shewes the happy estate of thoſe which be vnited to Chriſt. page 185
Doct. 6 Chriſt is eueryevery way a ſufficient Sauiour to the elect. page 187
Reaſon 1 Chriſt hath fully ſatisfied the rigor of the Law for vsus. page 190
Reaſon 2 God that was offended by mans diſobedience, is appeaſed by Chriſts obedience. ibid
Reaſon 3 The validitie that was in Chriſts death doth clear this truth to our great comfort. page 191
Reaſon 4 The wonderfull louelove of Chriſt in giuing himſelfe, doeth aſſure vsus of this. page 192
The Vſes.
This reprooues the Papiſts, who leaue the Merits of Chriſt, and cleaue to their owne. page 193
This is great ioy to the Godly, that Chriſt is a full Sauiour vntounto them. page 194
Doct. 7 Communicants are to partake of both kinds. page 195
Reaſons.
Becauſe Chriſt commanded it.
Chriſts body was broken, and his bloud poured out, otherwiſe the conditions of Chriſtians vnderunder the Goſpell, would be inferiour to them vnderunder the Law. page 197
The Vſe.
To ſhew the Sacriledge of the Church of Rome.
Doct. 8 Bread and wine retain ſtil their natures. page 201
Reaſons againſt Tranſubſtantiation.
Vſe. Againſt the Papiſts, who deny any bread to be in the Lords Supper. page 204
The fourth Sermon.
1. Cor. 11.29. For he that eateth & drinketh vnworthily, eateth and drinketh his owne damnation, becauſe he diſcerneth not the Lords body.
Doct. 1 THe conſideration of Gods iudgments ſhould make men perfourme holy duties holily. page 212
Reaſon. 1 Becauſe elſe Gods iudgements cannot be auoyded. page 216
Reaſon. 2 Becauſe Gods iudgements are vnſufferable.
The Vſes.
To ſhew the hardneſſe of their harts, who are not mooued at Gods iudgements. page 218
To admoniſh vsus, that we doe not lightly eſteeme Gods iudgements. page 219
Doct. 2 Many are puniſhed temporally, that are not condemned eternally. page 225
Reaſons.
That all may k…ow, that God is no reſpecter of perſons. page 227
God doeth ſo chaſtiſe his children, that they might not be condemned with the wicked. page 228
The Vſes.
To reproue thoſe which iudge of Gods fauour by outward appearance. page 229
This may comfort vsus in affliction, becauſe it is the portion of all Gods Saints. page 231
Doct. 3 It is a great ſinne to receiue vnworthily. page 233
Reaſon. Becauſe it procures ſo heauie a puniſhment. page 234
Vſe.
To reprooue thoſe who care not how they come to the Lords Table. page 236
To condemne thoſe which contemne this Sacrament. page 237
To teach vsus to be humbled for ſecret ſins. page 238
To teach vsus, when God ſendes his iudgements, to ſearch for Sinne the cauſe of them. page 240
Who they be that receiue worthily.
Such as hauehave a competent meaſure of Knowledge. page 244
Seuen things to be knowne of eueryevery worthy receiuer. page 245
A particular knowledge in this Sacrament. page 248
Vſe 1 To ſhew how many come vnworthily, not hauing this knowledge. ibid
Vſe 2 Such receiue worthily, who hauehave Faith. page 249
Vſe. To ſhew, the want of faith maketh vsus vnworthy receiuers. page 251
Vſe 3 Such receiue worthily, who hauehave Repentance. page 252
Who receiue vnworthily.
Such as be ignorant. page 255
Such as come in vnbeliefe. page 257
Such as come without repentance. page 258
Doct. 4 A man may communicate, and yet vnworthily. page 260
Reaſons.
Reaſon 1 Becauſe there be in the church that are not of the church. page 261
Reaſon 2 Becauſe all hauehave not faith. page 263
Vſes.
To reproue thoſe that come to the Sacrament, and neuer looke to the manner how they come. page 264
To teach vsus to try and examine our ſelues. page 266
Doct. 5 There is no ordinance of God ſo holy, but wicked men abuſe it to their owne condemnation. page 268
Reaſon 1 Becauſe wicked men are ignorant how to vſe Gods Ordinaunces aright. page 272
Reaſon 2 Becauſe they are wilfull, and will not goe the right way about the performance of them
Reaſon 3 Becauſe to the wicked and vncleane, all things are impure. page 273
Vſes.
To ſhew the miſerable eſtate of wicked men, who are alway increaſing their ſins. ibid
To teach vsus to performe holy dueties in a holy manner. page 175
The Text. Not diſcerning the Lords body.
What it is to diſcerne the Lords body. page 279
Doct. 6 It is the property of an vnworthy receiuer to put no difference betweene bread and wine in this Sacrament, and common bread and wine page 280
Vſes.
To ſhewe the fearefull eſtate of ignorant perſons, who ſay, they receiue their Maker. page 283
To teach vsus to acquaint our ſelues with the Doctrine of this Sacrament. page 284
The fift Sermon.
1. Cor. 11.30, &c.
For this cauſe many are ſicke and weake among you, and many ſleepe.
For if we would iudge our ſelues we ſhould not be iudged.
But when we are iudged, we are chaſtened of the Lord, beecauſe wee ſhould not bee condemned with the world.
Doct. 1 IT is the Miniſters duty to make partilar application of their Doctrins. page 291
Reaſon 1 It is Gods commandement. page 293
Reaſon 2 Conuiction is the ready way to Conuerſion ibid
Vſe 1 To reprooue the negligent in the Lordes worke. page 294
Vſe 2 For Inſtruction to Miniſters to vſe this courſe. page 295
Vſe 3 For Hearers, to be content to be ſo dealt with. page 296
Doct. 2 Sickneſſe and diſeaſes are the fruit of ſin.
Reaſon 1 The Lord neuer ſtrikes, but there is ſome thing amiſſe page 301
Reaſon 2 By our ſinne we deſerue thoſe corrections that the Lord layeth vponupon vsus ibid
Vſe 1 In afflictions to acknowledge ſinne the cauſe of them. page 302
Vſe 2 To reproue thoſe which aſcribe ſickeneſſe vntounto Fortune. page 303
Doct. 3 Gods iudgements are ſeaſoned with mercy page 304
Vſe. To reproue thoſe which in time of ſicknes receiue the Sacrament at home. ibid
Doct. 4 The death of the godly is but a ſleep. page 308
Reaſon 1 Becauſe the elect, though they taſte of corruption, yet doe not periſh in corruption. page 309
Reaſon 2 Becauſe the dead are wakened by God. ibid
Vſe 1 To confute thoſe that deny the Reſurrection of the body. page 310
To comfort Gods children againſt the fear of death.
Doct. 5 Foure things neceſſary to the iudging of a mans ſelfe. page 311 1. Examination. 2 Accuſation. 3. Condemnation. 4. Execution. The onelyonly way to turne away the Lordes wrath, is to iudge our ſelues. page 327
Vſe. To teach vsus to iudge our ſelues, becauſe by it we eſcape Gods iudgement. page 328
Doct. 6 The wicked ſhal certainely be condemned page 332
Vſe. To teach that there is a day of iudgement page 335
To terrifie wicked men, who (without repentance) are certain of damnation. page 336
To reproue thoſe who think God is made all of mercy. page 339
To teach vsus, not to enuie the felicitie of the wicked. page 340
Doct. 7 The godly ſhall not bee condemned, but most certainely ſaued. page 342
Reaſon 1 Becauſe Gods election is immutable. page 345
Reaſon 2 They were redeemed with Chriſts bloud. ibid
Reaſon 3 Elſe it would croſſe Gods iuſtice, which is ſatisfied in the death of Chriſt. ibid
Vſe 1 To ſhew Gods louelove to his Church. page 346
Vſe 2 To condemne the wicked, who account any bleſſing better then Saluation. page 347
Doct. 8 One principall meanes that God vſeth to free his children from condemnation, is correction page 350
Reaſon. 1 God hath decreed it as a helpe. page 353
Reaſon. 2 Gods corrections worke contrition. ibid
Vſe 1 To keepe Gods children from being diſheartened in time of affliction. page 354
Vſe 2 To magnifie Gods Power, who out of affliction brings good to his children. page 355
FINIS.