Christs Last Supper, Sermon 2
The Second Sermon.
1. Cor. 11.28.
Let a man therefore examine himſelfe.
HITHERTO wee hauehave ſpoken of the neceſſity of Examination, & godly preparation, that ought to be made of eueryevery chriſtian before hee come to the Lords Table, as alſo of the Subiect of it Himſelfe. We are now in order to treat of the third circumſtance, & that is the duty it ſelfe layde …owne in this word Examine. Let … man therefore examine himſelfe.
Heere is the duty that eueryevery …hriſtian muſt performe, that …omes to partake of this Sacrament, and deſires to be a fit gueſt …or the Lords Table, he muſt firſt Examine himſelfe.
There is no man that will vn…ertake a buſineſſe of any im…ortance: but hee makes ſome …ind of preparation there-vntounto. …f it be but to goe to the market, … a Faire, or to his Meales, how …uch more in a matter of this …ature, that ſo highly concernes …ods glory, and the ſaluation of …ur own Soules, we are not to go …bout this lightly and vnadui…dly, but with great care and due …xamination of our ſelues, leaſt … ſeeking Comfort in comming …nto this ſo holy an ordinance wee bring vponupon our owne head… ſwift damnation.
Moſt men fayle in the manner of performing moſt duties.It is an vſuall and common practiſe of the moſt, to fayle cheefely in the manner of performing of any duty vntounto God by reaſon of that ignorance that is in them; their vnderſtanding… being not inlightned, and their iudgements informed in the truth. And as in al other duties o… Gods worſhip and ſeruice, ſo eſpecially in this. Examination of themſelues, either in being ignorant wherein it conſiſteth, of in performing the ſame according to the truth.What examination is We are therefore to know, that to examine our ſelues, is to make a narrow and ſtrict ſearch into our owne hart… not in a formal maner but ſubſtantially, as a matter of ye greate… conſequence & importance, yt ſ… …ow we may vncouer and make …aked things that are ſecret and …idden, and finde out how the …auſe ſtands betwixt God and vsus: what ſins we are guiltie of, how we ſtand affected towards them, whether wee hauehave laboured to ſubdue them, or hauehave let looſe …he raine vntounto them, commit…ing ſin with greedineſſe, as it were with deliberation, plod…ing and deuiſing how wee night accompliſh wickedneſſe, …nd whether we hauehave ſtill a pur…oſe to continue in our former …uill wayes.
Such a diligent Examination …oth the Apoſtle call for elſe …here,2. Cor. 13.5. when hee ſaith Proue your …elues whether ye be in the faith ex…mine your ſelues. Pſal. 4.4.And that of …auid,Lam. 3.40. Examine your ſelues vponupon …ur bed. But eſpecialy that of the Prophet Ieremy Let vsus ſearch and try our wayes &c. The word ſignifieth ſuch a ſearching: as if a man were to ſearch for gold or ſiluer in a mine in the earth, where there is much earth, but little oare. Thereby giuing vsus to vnderſtand that ſinne creepes into corners, and lieth cloſe, ſo that if a man would find it out, he muſt ſearch & that narrowly, o… elſe he may miſſe of it. This made Dauid to cry out,Pſal. 19.12. who can vnderſtand his faults? Oh clenſe me fro… my ſecret ſinnes. Eccle. 7.31.And Salomo… ſaith that God made man righteous, but they hauehave found ou… many inuentions. In all which reſpects we ſee, that it muſt not be … triuiall or ordinary examinatio… that wil ſerue turne, but the mo… diligent ſcrutiny and ſearc… that may be, And that,
Firſt,1 Reaſons moouing to performe the duty. becauſe mans heart is a …ine of deceipt, and is as a ſea of …ubtilty, and therefore vnleſſe a …an dig deepe and diue lowe, …t will not be ſounded. The heart … deceiptfull aboue meaſure, Ier. 17.9.who …an find it out? many mens hearts …re like vntounto a quagmire, rotten within and yet ſeeming ſolide without, like vntounto Iezabel, paint…ng the outſide, and making the …oule to ſeeme comely. As let a …an demand any queſtion of his …eart, how deceitfull ſhall the …nſwer bee, if he bring the ſame …o tryall, as in particuler, if a man …ske his heart whether hee may …ot ſafely goe to the Sacrament, …t will ſay with Elizeus, 2. Reg. 5.29goe in …eace, whereas indeede there is no …eace to the wicked. Eſay. 57. vltAnd as the A…oſtle ſheweth in the verſe fol…owing.v. 29. He that eateth and drinketh vnworthyly eateth and drinketh Iudgement to himſelfe. Yet al… who is there in a whole congregation, of ſo lewd and looſe a life that thinkes not himſelfe fit for the Sacrament, and all this com… to paſſe through the deceitfullneſſe of the heart.
Beſides how many are deceiued in their eſtates, when the… compare themſelues with others, and when they ſee tha… they breake not out into ye ſam… exceſſe of ryot with other me… (though God knowes they a… but kept by a reſtraining grace and are beſides fraught with al… manner of hypocrycie) they ca… thinke that all is well,Luk. 18.11 yea an… glory in that eſtate too: with Go… I thanke thee that I am not as othe… men. When they are but meer… Phariſes, paynted Sepulcher… and within are full of all manner of corruption.
Secondly, we had neede very ſeriouſly to performe this duety, becauſe of the ſtraight commandement of almighty God to that purpoſe: Keepe thy heart with all diligence. Pro. 4.23.Now this can neuer be done vnleſſe we view them thorowly, and ſearch into them with exceeding care. The Gouernour of a Caſtle can neuer defend it from the enemy, vnleſſe he hauehave …n eye to eueryevery paſſage that the enemy may make his entry. And …ure it is that wee ſhall neuer de…end the Caſtles of our ſoules, …nles we hauehave a ſpeciall care vn…o the in-roads of our ſenſes, and …he out-roads of our affections, …y the which as ſo many doores …nd Caſements, ſin and Sathan …oth wind himſelfe into vsus.
And again, this is not the leaſt motiue to ſtir vsus vp vntounto this duty, becauſe of the danger; for the curſe of God is lyable vntounto eueryevery one yt doth the work of the Lord negligently.Ier. 48.10. There is in no one part of Gods worſhip and ſeruice that requires more circumſpection, care, and conſcience to the right performance of it, then this of the due receiuing of this Sacrament of the Lords Supper. And therfore, as that great Gommaundement of Almighty God, of ſanctifying his Saboth, hath a ſpeciall memento prefixed before it, becauſe by the careful keeping of it, we ſhall obſerue the reſt the better. So of all other, the ordinances of God giuen vntounto his Church, this being the neare… and deareſt pledge of his louelove he doth in a ſpeciall manner require that men ſhould come prepared therevnto.
Laſtly, conſider what the Apoſtle ſayth in the verſes following:v. 31. That if we would iudge our ſelues, we ſhould not be iudged, and by our negligent and careleſſe neglect of this duetie, wee expoſe our ſelues vntounto the moſt ſtrict and dreadfull examination of the Almighty. Now were it not better that we ſhould iudge our ſelues, then that God ſhould iudge vsus, which the Lord will neuer doe, if we will truely iudge our ſelues. Thus did the Prodigall Sonne iudge himſelfe, when hee confeſſed he was not worthy to be called a Sonne, Luk. 15.19.and in ſo doing found mercy at Gods hands. But when men come ſhort of their duety herein, the Lord fals to his examination, and men that cannot indure to ſet ſinne before their eyes for their conuerſion, the Lord at the laſt will ſet them before his, to their confuſion.
Now hauing conſidered the reaſons to mooue vsus to this narrow ſearch and tryall of our ſelues, we now come to ſpeak of the duty it ſelfe, which conſiſts of foure particulars, without which wee can neuer celebrate the Lords Supper to the glory of God, the comfortable diſcharge of our owne dueties, and with peace vntounto our ſoules.
The firſt is Knowledge, the ſecond Faith, the third Repentance, the fourth LoueLove.
If we find not theſe things in vsus in ſome meaſure, wee cannot be meete partakers of theſe holy miſteries. Heere then is our duty, Examination
And the things that are to be enquired after, are firſt, whether wee hauehave in vsus the ſanctified knowledg of God and of Chriſt. Secondly, whether we hauehave faith in him. Thirdly, whether wee hauehave repentance for our ſinnes, and laſt of al, louelove and charity to our brethren. If theſe things bee in vsus, though but in a weak meaſure, we may come to this Supper of the Lord, heere to hauehave them ſtrengthened and confirmed, the Lord doth invite ſuch poore ſoules to come vntounto him, and hath promiſed to refreſh them, Mat 11.28. Mar. 12.26.and not to breake the bruiſed Reede, nor quench the ſmoaking Flaxe.
But if on the contrary part, we find vponupon Examination, that our hearts are ignorant of God and of Chriſt, and of our redemption through him, that we want faith in his promiſes, that our heartes are not broken and wounded within vsus for our ſins, that we are not in charity with men yt hauehave wronged and iniured vsus; Then our eſtate is moſt wofull and miſerable; thou mayeſt eate panis Domini, but not panem Dominum, as one ſayth: Thou mayeſt get part of the bread of the Lord, but not that Bread the Lord. Thou mayeſt get it into thy mouth, but not into thy heart: And which ſhall be ſo farre from turning to thy good and comfort, as that it ſhall rather adde vntounto thy ſinnes, and bring vponupon thy owne head the greater damnation.
1. Knowledge.The firſt Interrogatory in this our examination is, whether we hauehave that true and ſauing knowledge of God and of Chriſt, without which there can be no true faith, and ſo conſequently no ſaluation.
It is knowledge that is the ground of all grace and obedience vntounto which eternall life is promiſed, or which is the means to bring vsus to eternall life, as our Sauiour witneſſeth, ſaying; This is life eternall, to know thee to be the true God, and whom thou haſt ſent, Ieſus Chriſt. What things are abſolute neceſſary to be knowne to ſaluation.We muſt be carefull at the leaſt to attaine to the principles of Religion, as they are layd downe in the word: That is, to know that there is but onelyonly one God, Creator of heauen & earth, diſtinguiſhed into three perſons, Father, Sonne, and holy Ghoſt. We muſt know, that as God created man after his owne Image at the firſt,Gen. 1.26. Gen 2.17. Eſay 53.5. in holines and righteouſneſſe; ſo by his wilfull rebellion and tranſgreſſion, hee plunged himſelfe into all miſery, and made himſelfe guilty of eternall death. And that there was no creature in heauen or earth that could reconcile God and man, but onelyonly Chriſt Ieſus, and that he muſt take our nature vponupon him, ſatisfie Gods iuſtice for our ſinnes, by bearing the puniſhment, and fulfilling of the law.
Chriſt partaked onelyonly by faith.We muſt knowe againe, that there is no way to partake of Chriſt, but onelyonly by Faith. By Faith wee apply vntounto our ſelues all the merites of his death and paſſion. It is the Hand of the Soule, by the which vvee come to lay hold on Chriſt, to our own ſaluation.
And as wee muſt bee furniſhed in ſome good meaſure with the knowledg of ye word in generall,What is to be knowne touching this Sacrament. touching God and man, ſo in particuler conſerning this doctrine of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, wee muſt bee in…t …cted in the true vſe of it. Who did inſtitute and appoynt it, namely the Lord Ieſus, where…ore? For to bee the ſpirituall …oode and comfort of our Soules, that it might be a ſpecial meanes to ſupport and ſtrengthen our faith, and to keepe in our minds a perfect memory of the death and paſſion of Chriſt: and …n what a holy and reuerent man …er wee ought to come vntounto it. The knowledge af theſe things, …s abſolute neceſſary to ſaluation, and without the which wee cannot beleeue, pray a right, worſhip God ſincerely, heare the word profitably, or receiue the Sacrament worthyly Nay, which is more,The danger of ignorance. ſuch Ignorance is the fore-runner of deſtructiō, & an euident ſigne yt the Lord hath paſſed by ſuch a Soule and hath reſerued it as a veſſell of wrath to deſtruction. And this is plainely proued out of ſundry places of ye Scripture as,Hoſ. 4.6. my people periſh for want of knowledge. So againe Paul ſaith. That if the Goſpe… be hid, 2. Cor. 4.3.4.it is hid to thoſe that periſh, whome the God of this world hath blinded their minds. Oh fearefull Iudgement of God able to make a ſtony heart to rend in ſunder,Note. if men did duly conſider it, what is the wofull eſtate and condition of men that liue in ignorance! it is a manifeſt ſigne that ſuch ſhall pe…iſh. For if the Goſpell … hid, it is hid to ſuch as periſh. So gaine the ſame Apoſtle ſaith in …nother place,2. Theſ. 1.8 that the Lord Ieſus all ſhew himſelfe from heauen …ith his mightie Angels, inflaming …e, rendring vengeance to them that …ow not God, and obey not the …oſpel of Chriſt. And againe,Heb. 3.10. The …ord was grieued with that genera…on, and ſaid, it is a people that doe …re in their hearts, for they hauehave not …owne my wayes. Pſa. 59.10.By all which …aces of Scripture it is moſt …eare and plaine, that hee that …ueth in the eſtate of ignorance, …nd dieth without knowledge, …annot be ſaued.
Secondly,It is neceſſary to increaſe in knowledge dayly. as we muſt trye and …xamine our ſelues whether wee …aue this true ſauing knowledge …f God and of Chriſt in ſome …eaſure in vsus. So muſt wee try …nd examine our hearts, how we grow and increaſe in the ſame knowledge. For the childe of God is like a tree planted by the riuers of water, that doth euer bring forth fruit and grow. And it is impoſible, that ſuch a one ſhould ſtand at a ſtay in religion, if we grow not forward wee ſhall draw backward. And indeede, it is a dangrous ſigne of the want of grace, when men ſtand at a ſtay in religion, to be as ignorant and blinde in heauenly matters, this yeare as they were the laſt yeare, yea many yeares agoe. This is a marke of Gods curſe, that vnleſſe at the laſt ſuch a one be called home and plucked as a brand out of the fire. Hee muſt needes periſh eternally.1. Pet. 2.2.
The Apoſtle Peter, bids vsus grow by the milke of the word. We muſt then bee carefull to ſee …hat by all holy helpes and meanes, ſuch as are the word, Sa…rament, prayer, meditation, …eading, &c: wee may finde our …nowledg to increaſe, and yt wee grow dayly in grace and in the …nowledge of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt.
Vſe 1 This being ſo, that knowledg … ſo neceſſary. This may ſerue to …ondemne that curſed and dam…able doctrine of the Church of …ome: who teach that ignorance is …he Mother of Deuotion. And the …ore ignorant, the more de…ote, and Religious. But our Sa…iour Chriſt which is the cheife Doctor of his Church, he teach…th that ignorance is the Mother of ſinne, rebellion, and damnation: and in eueryevery place the word of God, ſhewes the danger of this …nne. But no maruell though they pleade for ignorance as a maine piller of Popiſh Religion, for ſo are men kept from diſcouering their fithy abomination, for if men were not extreame ignorant in ye matters of God, & his word, how could they be abuſed a… they are this day amongſt them▪
Vſe 2 Secondly, this ſhewes the fearefull eſtate of thoſe that liue in ignorance, without the knowledge of God and his word, theſe men muſt needes liue in all ſinne and wickedneſſe, and ſo bring vponupon their owne heades ſwift… damnation, for ſuch cannot bu… ſinne in all things they put their hands vntounto.Rom. 14.23. For whatſoeuer is no… of faith, is ſinne. And no knowledge, no faith, for how can a man beleeue that he is ignoran… of. So that euen their beſt dueties they ſhall bee excerciſed in …s hearing the word, receiuing …f the Sacrament, prayer, &c▪ …heſe are abomination vntounto the Lord, and theſe adde vntounto the meaſure of their ſins, being not performed in a holy manner, in …aith, repentance and obedience, which is altogether impoſſible …or any that are ignorant to doe. And yet alas, though the eſtate of ſuch as liue in ignorance, bee ſo …amentable and fearefull as wee …eare it is: how many be there …hat ſeeme to hauehave paſt a ſtate of …heir Soules to ignorance for a …earme of life, as if they had who…y deuoted themſelues to ſinne …nd Sathan, and that there were …ot a reckoning day to come!
Vſe. 3 Laſtly, this may ſerue for our …nſtruction to teach vsus to vſe all care and diligence to get know…edg eſpecially that knowledge that hath the ſtampe of grace vponupon it, and is proper to the people of God. And that wee ſend to heauen for it by prayer vntounto the Lord. And attend diligently vppon the worde preached and taught, reading, conference, &c: leaſt it comes to paſſe that wee periſh for want of knowledge, and for our neglect and contempt of the ſame bee damned for euer.
And thus much touching the firſt Quere, Knowledge.
2. Faith.The ſecond, interrogatory i… this our examination, is for ou… faith, which is indeede the hand of the Soule, by the which wee lay hould on Chriſt in this Sacrament and therfore is called Sacramentum Fidelium. That Sacrament that belongs onelyonly to the faithfull. This faith is the Queene of all other vertues, with out which our Knowledge ſhall profite vsus nothing at all: It is of that nature, that it purifies the heart, and makes it a fit receptacle for Chriſt,Act. 15.9 Epheſ. 3.17 What Faith is. who is ſayde to Dwell in our hearts by faith.
Now this Faith is a gift of God, whereby the elect doe apply Chriſt and the ſauing promiſes of the Goſpell to themſelues …n particular. And according as … man beleeueth, ſo ſhall hee receiue, as our Sauiour ſpeaketh to the woman of Canaan, O woman, Mat. 15.28. Luk. 7.50 Luk. 8.48.great is thy Faith, be it vntounto thee as thou deſireſt. And vntounto the woman that annoynted Chriſts …eete, Chriſt ſayth, Thy Faith hath ſaued thee, goe in peace. This Faith was the hand, by which the poore woman in the Goſpel that had the bloudy iſſue, touched Chriſt, and was healed, according to that ſpeech of our Sauiour vntounto her: Daughter be of good comfort, thy Faith hath made thee whole. This is it that ſeaſons all our Sacrifices and Seruices that we offer vntounto God, whether it be to heare the word, receiue the Sacrament, prayer, ſinging of Pſalmes, thankeſgiuing &c. It is faith that makes them find acceptation with God, and without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God. Heb. 11.6.This made Abels Sacrifice, and Noahs Obedience accepted: this made that cup of water, giuen to a Diſciple in the name of a Diſciple, to bee regarded of God. And the poore VViddowes Mite ſo acceptable. And without this Faith, there is nothing that we can doe, can bee pleaſing in his ſight.
That the holy Ghoſt ſpeaketh of the word preached,Heb. 4.2. That it profited not, becauſe it was not mixed with faith in thoſe that heard it, may be ſaid of this Sacrament,Mat. 22. That it profiteth not, becauſe it is not mixed with faith in thoſe that receiue it; for it is faith that makes it acceptable, it is faith that bids vsus welcom to this feaſt of the great King.Heb. 11.1 It is the euidence of things not ſeene. It giues vsus a comfortable aſſurance of Chriſts preſence in the Sacrament. Yea, …t is ſo neceſſary in the receiuing of this Sacrament, that without …t we can neuer receiue aright, or …ruely partake of the body and bloud of Chriſt.
Chriſt ſayth,Ioh. 6.55. The excellent vſe of faith in this Sacrament. that his fleſh is Meate indeede, and his bloud is Drinke indeede, but we muſt eate …he ſame by faith. For faith is the hand of the ſoule, by the which we apprehend Chriſt and all the merites and benefits of his death and paſſion, and are made partakers of the ſame. Yea faith is the mouth of the ſoule, by the which we receiue Chriſt within vsus, the ſtomacke to digeſt Chriſt, and that moſt ſpecial part of the wedding garment, without which no man may approach neare the Lords preſence.
It muſt not be a generall but a particular Faith.Now concerning this Faith, we muſt know, that it is not enough to hauehave a generall Faith, as the Papiſts teach to beleeue as the Church beleeueth; but wee muſt labour for a ſpeciall and particular Faith, to apprehend Chriſt Ieſus and all the benefites of his paſſion vntounto our owne ſelues in particular.
The Deuils hauehave in them a generall faith, whereby they are brought to beleeue that there is a God, and that Chriſt dyed for ſinners: But that they ſhall hauehave any benefite by Chriſts death, they want faith to beleeue: wheras the true child of God muſt labour for a particular faith, to ſay with Paul;Gal. 2.20. I know that Chriſt loued me, and gaue himſelfe for me. And againe, I hauehave fought a good fight, I hauehave finiſhed my courſe, 2. Tim. 4.7I hauehave kept the Faith; henceforth there is laid vp for me a Crowne of righteouſneſſe, which the Lord the righteous Iudge ſhal giuegive me at that day. The promiſes of life and ſaluation, forgiueneſſe of ſins, &c. wee muſt beleeue that they be…ong vntounto our ſelues in particu…ar. The Scripture calleth Chriſt … Redeemer indefinitely, the …rue beleeuer cals Chriſt a Redeemer particularly. I know that my Redeemer liueth (ſayth Iob):Iob. 19.25. And Thomas out of a ſpeciall apprehenſion of Gods louelove to him,Ioh. 20.28. ſayth: Thou art my Lord and my God. And indeede, this particular application of Gods fauour in Chriſt, laying hold on him by faith, is the very ſumme of Chriſtian Religion, it will put life into all our ſeruices, and make them acceptable with the moſt higheſt.
A hard thing to beleeue.And thus to beleeue is the hardeſt thing in the worlde, by reaſon of the ſtrength of corruption within, and the force of Sathan his temptations, who ſeeks by all meanes poſſible to hinder the faith of the elect. Indeed it is an eaſie matter for a natural man yt finds no oppoſition, to ſay he hath faith, and he would be ſory to doubt of Gods mercy, which is indeede meere preſumption, and no faith. But when Sathan ſhal win now a poore ſoule, when his owne heart ſhall accuſe him, when ſinne ſhall lie heauie vponupon the ſoule of a man, and when his conſcience ſhalbe vponupon the rack, and the Lord ſhall ſeeme to write bitter things againſt him, Iob. 13.15.as Iob complaineth, then for a man to ſtand vpright, and to reſt himſelfe vponupon the rock Chriſt, and to comfort himſelfe in his God, and to ſay,Mat. 16.16. Though the Lord would kill me, yet wil I truſt in him. This, …his is the property of a ſounde faith indeed, againſt which the gates of Hell ſhall neuer pre…aile.
And thus hauing the godly euidence and aſſurance of a liue…y faith, we may boldly come to the Lords Table, to this heauenly banquet and feaſt of our ſoules.
The weake muſt not be diſcouragedNeither are we to abſtaine and to hang backe from comming to this Sacrament, becauſe we feele and finde ſundry wants and defects in our faith, for wherefore hath Chriſt leaſt this Sacrament to his Church, but as a ſtay and prop for a weake faith?There is a weak faith. An earneſt and vnfained deſire to be reconciled vntounto God in Chriſt, God accepteth, and embraceth, and accounteth the very deſire of faith as faith it ſelfe. And the very deſire of a Chriſtian ſoule, hungering and thirſting after reconciliation and forgiueneſſe of Sinnes, ſhall bee auaileable to worke out our attonement and redemption.
It is not the caſe of al the godly …o come to the fulneſſe in Chriſt, …o ſay: I am perſwaded, Rom. 8.38that neither …ife nor death, nor things preſent, …or things to come, neither Angels, …or principalities, nor powers, nor …eight, nor depth, nor any other …reature, ſhall ſeperate vsus from the …oue of God which is in Chriſt Ieſus our Lord. Only to this aſſurance, …hey labour to come, and ſeeke …fter, and ſo goe on from faith …o faith, and ſtrength to ſtrength: …ntill at the laſt (through Gods mercy) they begin to take foot…ng vponupon the battlements of …eauen, and can bid defiance vn…o the deuill, the world, and all …he enemies of their Saluation.
No doubt there were ſome,Comfort to the weake. …hat with a weake eye beheld the …raſen Serpent in the wilder…eſſe,Num. 21.8. yet were cured as well as …hey that ſaw more clearely, euen ſo hee that hath but a little faith in the Sonne of God, ſhall neuer hauehave his Saluation denied him, endeuouring after more faith & more Sanctitie of life.Luk. 17.5.6. When the Diſciples prayed that the Lord would increaſe their faith, our Sauiour declared preſently vntounto them,Mar. 2.23. that if faith be but as a graine of Muſtard-ſeede in quantitie: it ſhould be effectuall vntounto ſaluation, promiſing withall that hee would not breake the bruſed reede, nor quench the ſmoking flaxe. But would rather cheriſh and nouriſh the leaſt ſparke of grace in his children. The Diſciples themſelues, were ignorant of many things conſerning Chriſts death & Reſurrection, and therfore are called by Chriſt, Men of little faith.Luk. 2.4.25 And ſuch likewiſe was the faith of him, whoſe childe was poſſeſſed with … dumbe and deafe Spirit, when Chriſt ſaide vntounto him. If thou …anſt beleeue all things are poſſible …o him that beleeueth. Straightway …e cried out with teares, I beleeue, Lord helpe my vnbeleefe. Chriſt …oth not reiect him,Mat. 7.7.8. nor caſt him …ff, becauſe his faith was weake, …ut anſwereth him in the deſires …f his Soule, teaching vsus thereby …or to be diſmaied, though wee …nd many wants & imperfectiōs …o be in vsus, inaſmuch as hee hath …romiſed to couer them all, if we …e humbled for our wants, and …eeke to improue thoſe gifts and …races we hauehave already receiued.
And to that end wee may bee …irred vp the more to labour for …o excellent a grace, conſider du… theſe reaſons.Faith moſt excellent.
Firſt, that without it, whatſo…er we doe is ſinne.Rom. 14.23 Whatſoeuer is not of faith is ſin.
Heb. 11.6.Secondly wee cannot pleaſe God in any particuler action without it. For: Without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God.
Thirdly, if we want faith, wee cannot heare the word with profit and comfort.Heb. 4.2. For: The word which they heard, being not mixed with faith, did not profit them.
Fourthly, we cannot pray without faith,Iam. 1.6. for the Apoſtle wils vsus to pray in faith and wauer not.
And laſt of all wee cannot bee ſaued without it,Mar. 16.16. for thus runs the promiſe, He that beleeueth and is baptized ſhall be ſaued, but he that beleeueth not ſhall bee damned.
Vſe. 1 Seeing then that faith is ſo neceſſary, as that without it we cannot pleaſe God, in any particuler action that we ſhall doe, that we …annot heare ye word with profit, …ray aright, hauehave any aſſurance …f our owne ſaluatiō, nor receiue …is holy Sacrament with any …uit or comfort to our owne …oore Soules. Oh how doth this …and eueryevery one in hand to try & …xamine his own heart,2. Cor. 13.5 whether …e hath this excellent grace or …oe. Proue your ſelues whether ye be … the faith: Know ye not that Chriſt in you except ye be Reprobates. …nd to waite vponupon God in the …onſcionable vſe of al holy helps …nd meanes appointed of God, …oth for the begetting as alſo for …e increaſing of ſo excellent a …race. Leaſt by making light …count of it, wee ſhould ſhew …ur ſelues rebellious againſt God …nd iniurious to our own Soules.
And becauſe the miniſtry of …e word is the principal meanes ordained of God, both for the begetting of faith,How faith is wrought. and alſo for the dayly increaſe of the ſame, As ſaith the Apoſtle,Rom. 10.14 How ſhall they beleeue in him, of whome they hauehave not heard. And how ſhall they heare without a Preacher. And the inference vponupon that, is this verſe, 17. That faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God Therefore eueryevery one muſt with all care and conſcience attend vponupon that his ordinance: making conſcience of the duties of the Sabboth in publike and priuate, as hearing, reading, praying, conference, meditation &c. Which are the meanes the Lord ordinarily doth vſe, both for the begetting as alſo the dayly increaſe of this grace in vsus.
Vſe. 2 And ſurely this doth diſcouer vntounto vsus, that the faith o… many amongſt vsus, is but a meere …magination and fond preſump…ion, for why? doe not many …oaſt of their ſtrong faith, and …et liue in the continuall neglect …nd contempt of the publicke …iniſtry of the word, either they …re careles in cōming vntounto it, or …ſe care not to profit by it. Poore …oules, how do ſuch deceiue thē …elues: whoſe faith one day will …ppeare but a fancy, and in time …f neede will then deceiue them.
And thus much touching the …cond Quere, Faith.
Vſe. 3 The third interrogatory, in …is duty of examination is for …ur Repentance. For thoſe that …e vnited vntounto Chriſt by Faith, Repentance.…nd made his members, they …uſt needes repent and become …w creatures, and bee holy as …hriſt is holy. Such muſt be truly humbled for their ſins, hate and abhorre eueryevery euill way, and endeuour in hart and life to obey God in all his Commandements.
What repentance is.Now this gift or grace of Repentance, is nothing elſe but a conuerſion or change of the whole man from ſin vntounto God. When a man comes to conſider, & to examin his own wayes, and vponupon his examination finds his eſtate to be miſerable and curſed, … he is in extreame danger of God wrath, and eternall condemnation for his ſinnes. This will mak… a man deny himſelfe, and t… ſeeke for helpe of God.
And this is that paſſe, th… eueryevery one of vsus muſt labour t… bring our hearts vntounto, if we deſ… to come prepared vntounto th… Lords Table, and to reape an… benefit and comfort vntounto o… Soules by the vſe of this ſo holy …n ordinance.
Now if we will duely examin our ſelues, and ſearch into our owne hearts, we ſhal find, that we hauehave run farre into Gods ſcore, …nd that our ſinnes are infinite of all ſorts, ſins of omiſſion, and ſinnes of commiſſion, ſinnes of …nfirmitie, and preſumptuous ſinnes, in the time of our igno…ance, and in the dayes of our knowledge, againſt God, and againſt man, yea and againſt our owne ſoules: for all which, if our harts be not hardened in ſin, …nd wee our ſelues come to that height of impiety, to be paſt fee…ing, our hearts cannot chuſe but ſmite vsus, and wee our ſelues bee brought to cry out of our ſelues, and to ſay:Ier. 8.6. Alas! what hauehave I done? Which if the Lord do ſhew vsus that mercy, that we can once thorowly come to the ſight of it, it muſt needes worke in vsus ſorrow for ſin, and to ſeeke to make our reconciliation with GOD, whom we hauehave offended.
And becauſe our hearets can neuer ſmite vsus for ſinne, before our iudgement be truely enlightened & informed, that we hauehave ſinned, and ſin muſt be ſeene before it can be ſorrowed for.
How to come to repent.Wee muſt therefore firſt of all▪ make a narrowe ſearch after ſin, according to that of the Prophet:Lam. 3.40. Let vsus ſearch and try our wayes, and turn vntounto the Lord. And this ſearch ought to be ſtrict and narrow, in regard of the deceitfulneſſe of our our owne hearts which are deceitfull aboue al… things,Ier. 17.9. and there are in them many ſecret lurking-holes for ſin▪ …hich wil be vneſpied, vnleſſe a …rict ſearch be vſed. And there…ore the Prophet exhorting vntounto his duty, ſaith; Gather your ſelues, Hag▪ 2.1.…at is, gather your wittes toge…er, and fix them vponupon the con…deration of your eſtate.
And this is to be obſerued as …e only way to true repentance,1 To ſee ſin. … get a ſight of ſinne, for he that …es his ſinnes thorowly, will be…aile them hartily. Dauid conſi…ered his wayes, and what fol…wed vponupon the ſight of his error …d wandring:Pſa. 119.59 I turned my ſelfe in… the wayes of thy teſtimonies. It is … poſſible that a ſtraying trauel…r ſhould euer returne into the …ght way, yt doth not vnderſtand …s error: When God will bring …ome a poor wandring ſinner in… ye way of life, he giueth him e…r a heart to queſtion his eſtate, after this maner, God hath made me a man, endued me with a reaſonable ſoule, affording vntounto me the meanes of grace and ſaluation; what now doth my walking anſwere this mercy of his? is my life a walking in, or rather, not a wandring from the paths of his commandements? This makes a Sinner with Ephraim to ſmite vponupon his Thigh, and to be aſhamed, which before was as an vntamed calfe, and then conclude… he thus after, when I was inſtructed, Ier. 31.18.19.I Repented.
And this may be aſſigned a… the onelyonly cauſe of that grea… hardneſſe of heart, and ſenceleſneſſe that ſo raigneth this day i… the world, euen that bruitiſh in conſideration, that men goe o… ſtill in ſinne, adding ſinne vntounto ſinne, not conſidering what they doe, but flattering themſelues …n their euil waies, and abandon…ng the very thoughts that ſhold make their eſtates queſtionable; Oh this is the caſe of many thou…ands in the world, which doeth manifeſtly declare how far they …re from the practiſe of true Re…entance.
This is a matter (I confeſſe) …hat woulde aske heere a large …iſcourſe, if I ſhould ſpeake of all …he parts of Repentance, I deſire …ut briefely to obſerue ſome …ew paſſages of the ſame.
As there muſt bee in the firſt …lace a ſight of ſinne (as we hauehave …eard),2. To be humbled for ſin. ſo in true repentance …here muſt be a ſorrow of heart …or the ſame ſinnes: Neither will …uery ſorrow for ſinne ſerue the …urne, or hath Repentance ac…ompanying it, but onelyonly Godly Sorrow.
Two ſortes of ſorrow. 2. Cor. 7.10There is a worldly ſorrow that bringeth death, as there is a godly ſorrow, the end whereof is life and peace.
The firſt ſort of Sorrow is to be found amongſt hypocrites and wicked men, which are many times full of ſorrowe, but it is not for ſinne becauſe it is ſin, and offends the maieſty of God, but becauſe of the puniſhment which by their ſinnes they hauehave drawne vponupon themſelues, euen a guilty conſcience, a trembling heart, and wounded ſoule, and withall, a fearefull expectation of iudgement. Theſe are the effects of ſin, and theſe wound the hart of the ſinner, and maks him to fall out with his ſins, or rather indeede with the puniſhment▪ like vntounto Caine, Gen. 4.14. Exod. 9.28.Pharaoh, Saul, and Iudas, &c. which onelyonly were affected with the puniſhment,Mat 27.5. and could hauehave wiſhed with all their hearts, that the ſame had beene no ſin, that ſo they might hauehave liued in the ſame without controlment.
But beſides this,What godly Sorrow is. 2. Cor. 7.10 there is alſo a godly Sorrow, which is onelyonly to be found amongſt the godly: which hath the promiſe annexed vntounto it▪ And that is, when the Child of God is grieued for ſin, becauſe by ſinne hee hath grieued God, a good and gracious Father in Ieſus Chriſt; and if ther were neither hell, nor Sathan, nor puniſhment for ſin after this life, yet inaſmuch as the Lord is offended, and his righteous laws are violated, this is it that makes the hart of ye godly to ſmite them and they to be humbled for their Sinnes. And this Sorrow, theſe ſighes and throbs of the godly for ſinne, are thoſe ſower hearbs wherewith we muſt ea…e our new Paſſeouer; Exo. 12.and ſuch troubled ſpirits ſhall be acceptable Sacrifices vntounto God, and ſuch broken and contrite hearts the Lord will not deſpiſe.Pſal. 51.17.
The means of godly Sorrow.Now the meanes by which this godly Sorrow may be attained vntounto, are theſe:
Firſt, a man ought to take notice of the manifold fauours and mercies the Lord hath beſtowed vponupon him, and his own vnthankfulneſſe againe vntounto him, and this will bee a good meanes to breake a mans heart with ſorrow for ſinne: Thus doeth Nathan deale with Dauid, 2. Sam. 12▪7.8.putting him i… mind of Gods mercies in aduancing him to be King ouer Iſrael, …d deliuering him out of the …nds of Saul, adding moreouer, … that had bin too little, hee would …aue giuen thee more. That was it yt …rought remorſe and ſorrow in …e heart of Dauid. And this was … that preuailed ſo with Ioſeph, …nd kept him from ſinne, euen …e conſideration of Gods good…eſſe, formerly extended towards …im. How can I doe this great …ickedneſſe, and …in…e againſt God.Gen. 39.
Secondly to call to mind, and …horowly to weigh the ill effects …hat follow vponupon ſinne, I meane, …ot onelyonly the ſhame before men, …uniſhment heere, loſſe of goods …c, but principally ye wound of …oule and conſcience, dea…ing …nd dulling our hearts and af…ctions, when wee are to per…rme good duties, and making …s a burthen to the Church, our ſelues, the very earth we tread vponupon, beſides the full fruition of Gods wrath and eternall vengeance in the life to come.
Thirdly, to attend diligently vponupon the word preached, that ſo ſinne may bee diſcouered, and the heart may come to ſmite for the ſame, and thus were the poore Iewes brought to compunction of heart for their ſin of crucifying ye Lord of glory.Act. 2.37. And this word is called the Hammer of the Lord, for by it the Lord doth breake the hard and ſtony hearts of men.
Fourthly, of all Sins, ſo in … ſpeciall manner to take heede o… preſumptuous ſinnes, for the… are the ſinnes that wound deepe and one of them will ſtand Sathan in ſteade of many This made Dauid to pray in … ſpeciall manner, that the Lord would keepe him from Sinnes of this nature, ſaying, Keepe thy Seruant from preſumptuous ſinnes. Pſal. 19.13.Knowing that they would at the …aſt, lie heauie vponupon the Soule …nd conſcience of that man that …ommitted them, when hee …hould come to a true ſight of …hem.
But heere the weake Chriſti…n is bewayling his want, that he …annot bring his heart to any …eaſonable paſſe to be ſorrowful …or ſinne, but howſoeuer, that …ine he would, and withall his …eart hee deſires that his heart …ould diſſolue into teares, yet he …ndes that his heart is fat, and …ill not ſtoope, and this makes …im grieue becauſe hee cannot …ieue, yea and mourne becauſe …e cannot mourne.
Let ſuch for their comfort obſerue.
Comfort for the weake.Firſt, that the conſtitution of eueryevery mans body is not alike, & there may be true compunction and contrition of heart for Sin, though at all times it doe not manifeſt it ſelfe in the eye by teares,
Secondly, conſider that God meaſureth out this ſorrowe and contrition of heart vntounto his Seruants, according to their abilitie and ſtrength to beare, for hee i… that moſt wiſe and skilfull Phyſician, who knoweth well what a potion of phyſick will worke▪ and more or leſſe will not ſerue whoſe promiſe is, that hee wi… not lay more vponupon vsus then he… will giuegive vsus ſtrength to beare.
And laſt of all, let ſuch kno… for their comfort heerein, tha… …he Lord lookes after the maner, …hen the meaſure of any duty, or grace. And,2. Cor. 8.12 Accepteth vsus according to that which we hauehave, not according to that which we hauehave not. And hath promiſed that he will not Quench the ſmoking flax, Mt. 12.20.nor …reake the bruſed reede. And ſo …ong as wee pleaſe not our ſelues …n theſe poore beginnings, but …ndeuour after more grace, and …ouet after the beſt giftes, 1. Cor. 12.3the …ord doth except both of vsus and …hem.
Thirdly and laſtly, as we muſt …abour to ſee Sinne, and to get Godly ſorrow for the ſame: …o that wee may reape the …intage and comforte of all, we muſt adde a leaving and for…aking of ſinne.To leaue and forſake ſinne. For he that hath …oue his penance once truly be…ore God, I meane, hath had this hearty ſorrow for his ſinne, it will abandon ſinne in his Soule, for when this Godly ſorrow comes in, ſinne goes out. A man that hath ſurfeited of ſuch meate once, will afterwards loath it. This poynt is very cleare by the examples of all the godly, of whome wee neuer reade, they fell into the ſame ſinnes againe after their repentance. They made not a trade of ſinne, as of Dauid, of whome it is ſaide, That Dauid did that which was right in the ſight of the Lord all the dayes of his life, 1. Reg. 15.5ſaue onelyonly in the matter of Vriah. And Zacheus, no ſooner called by Chriſt, but leaft his former courſe. And great reaſon: for eueryevery true penitent is partaker of Chriſts death, and the power of the ſame, which cauſeth him that hee is now become dead vntounto ſin:Rom. 6.6. and withall hath ye ſpirit of God dwelling in him, whoſe proper worke is to purifie the heart, and not to ſuffer any …ilthineſſe to remaine where it …oth lodge.Act. 15.9.
And thus wee hauehave ſeene the …arts of true repentance, and wherein it doth conſiſt: Wee …re now to ſpeake of the neceſſi…ie of the ſame.
The neceſſitie of this duty …ppeares by that ſpeech of our …auiour,The neceſſitie of Repentance. Except ye repent ye ſhall … periſh. Luk. 13.5.And the words are there …ice repeated, to ſhew the cer…intie of it. And againe, If ye wil …t returne but continue ſtill in your …s, I will viſite you ſaith the Lord, Ier. 5.3.9.…d bee auenged on you. Many are pathetical exhortations, in the …ripture to this purpoſe, to ex…rt men to repentance. O Ieruſalem, waſh thy heart from wickedneſſe that thou maiſt be ſaued. Ier. 4.14.And Caſt away from you all your tranſgreſſions whereby ye hauehave tranſgreſſed, Ier. 18.31.and make you a new heart and a new Spirit. And againe, Let vsus ſearch and try our wayes, Lam. 3.40.and turne vntounto the Lord. This is that louing admonition,Hag. 1.5.7. Chriſt giues vntounto the Church of Eph… ſus who had loſt their firſt louelove,Reu. 2.5. ſhe ſhould Remember from whence ſhee: Ephe. 4.23.was fallen, and repent. The… and infinit places more doe ſuf… ciently declare the neceſſitie … Repentance,Rom. 12.2. Seeing without we cannot be ſaued.
Yea all our Sacrifices and Se… uices that we offer vp vntounto Go… whether it be to heare the wor… to receiue this Sacrament, … pray &c. Without repentan… are nothing worth. Faith an… Repentance, makes all our ſeruice …o God to be accepted: and that …his may the more euidently ap…eare, conſider what the Lorde …ayth by his Prophet Eſay: When you come to appeare before me, who hath required this at your …ands, to tread in my courts? Eſa. 1.12.13.14.15.Bring …o moe oblations in vaine; Incenſe … abhomination vntounto me, I cannot …uffer your new Moones, nor Sab…oths, nor Solemn dayes, nor Aſſem…lies: And when ye ſtretch out your …ands, I will hide my eyes from you; …nd though you make many prayers, will not heare. Theſe are feareful …hreatnings that the Lord de…ounceth againſt the Iewes his …wne people: But would wee …now the cauſe of all? the Lord …eclares the ſame in the very next …ords following: Becauſe your …ands are full of blood. They came in their old ſinnes, without Repentance, and thought that ſo long as they offered vp their ſacrifices, all was well, God could not chuſe but accept of them. But the Lord regarded not the ſacrifices of his owne worſhip and ſeruice, when men did not performe them in an holy manner, in Faith and Repentance. And therfore the Lord exhorts them thus:Eſa. 1.16. Waſh you, make you cleane, take away the evill of your workes from before mine eyes: Ceaſe to doe evill, learne to doe well. &c. This were the way to hauehave their Sacrifices accepted, to breake off their ſinnes by repentance, without which the Lord accepteth of nothing that we do. The truth is further manifeſted by the ſame prophet, where he ſayth, that H… that killeth a Bullock, Eſa. 66.3.is as if he ſlew … man: He that ſacrificeth a ſheepe, … as if he cut off a dogs necke: He …hat offereth an oblation, as if he of…ered ſwines fleſh. Now what is the …eaſon of this? did not the Lord …equire theſe things at the peo…les hand? did not his worſhip …nd ſeruice conſiſt in them? I …nſwer yes. Yet for all that, theſe …hings were abhomination vntounto …he Lord: For in eueryevery duetie …ere is the Matter, and the Man…er; the Lord neuer regards the …atter of his ſeruice, if men faile … the Manner, if they doe not …erforme the ſame in Faith, Re…entance and Obedience. And …herefore the Lord layes downe …e reaſon why their Sacrifices …ere reiected, viz. Becauſe their …ule delighted in their abhominati…. They came vntounto them in …eir ſinnes, which cauſed the Lord to hate both them & their Sacrifice.
Vſe 1 This ſerues to put the Miniſters of the word in mind of their duty, what doctrine it is that in a ſpeciall maner they are to teach, and to vrge vponupon the conſciences of the people; euen the doctrin of the law in the firſt place, and in a ſpeciall manner; that ſo men may bee brought vntounto a ſight of their ſinnes, and repentance for the ſame.
And ſurely, in our dayes and times, there is more neede of the Sonnes of Thunder then of Conſolation, inaſmuch as ſinne doth abound in eueryevery place and congregation, and that here bee ſo few that come truly to the ſigh… of the ſame.
Vſe 2 Oh then in the feare of God let vsus try and examine our ſelue… …eriouſly in this one poynt eſpe…ially, whether we find our harts …o be broken and wounded in vsus …or ſinne, for the euils of our life …aſt, deſiring to walke more holi…y for the time to come. For this … the end wherefore we come to …his Supper of the Lord, that we …ight bee ſtrengthened againſt …nne, and bee knit vntounto Chriſt, …nd ſo receiue the power of his …eath to kill ſinne in vsus, and …ight hauehave more power to …eaſe God.
So that wee muſt try our Re…entance, how wee find and feele …ur hearts humbled for our ma…ifold ſinnes and offences com…itted; whether wee be grieued … our ſoules, for offending ſo …ood and gracious a God; whe…er we come to this Sacrament …ith a hatred and deteſtation of all our former euill wayes, and with a conſtant purpoſe, to walke in newe Obedience, in all thinges purpoſing to pleaſe him.
And when we hauehave partaked of this Sacrament, we muſt then examine our hearts, and ſee how we preuaile againſt our corruptions. So that though we hauehave repentance before, yet now wee muſt renewe our Repentance, and labour to finde more powe… and ſtrength againſt ſinne the… before.
But if wee come in our old… ſinnes, in our ignorance, blindneſſe, hardneſſe of heart, prophaneneſſe, lying, ſwearing, vncleanneſſe, &c. it were better tha… we neuer came at all, we canno… looke euer to reape any benefi… by this holy ordinance of God but in ſtead of a bleſſing, ſhall bee ſure to drawe downe from GOD ſome heauie iudgement. Let vsus not then come in our old ſinnes, as Iudas in his hypocriſie, leaſt we reape the rewarde of Iudas.
The Iewes had foure daies to …o prepare themſelues, and they muſt eate the Paſſeouer with vn…eauened bread and ſower herbs,Exo. 12. …y which Ceremony they were …aught to come in Repentance, …ith harts grieued for ſinne, and …o prepare themſelues for ſo …reat a myſtery. And the Apoſtle …xhorteth vntounto this duety, when …e ſayth: Purge out the old leauen, 1. Cor. 5.7.…at ye may be a new lump: for Chriſt …ur Paſſeouer is ſacrificed for vsus.
And thus much for the third …art of our examination, viz. Re…entance.
LoueLove.The fourth Interrogatory in this our examination is for our louelove to man, or reconciliation to our brethren. This vertue, as it is neceſſary at al times, ſo eſpecially at this time, when we come to partake of this Sacrament, which is a Supper of louelove. This is as needefull and neceſſary to the due receiuing of this ſacrament as the former: For wha… were our knowledge, if wee ha… the ſame in neuer ſo great a meaſure, what were our faith, or repentance, if louelove to our brethre… be wanting, we may well call th… truth of them all into queſtion, i… we find not our ſelues ready an… willing to remit and forgiue o… brethren their iniuries and treſpaſſes committed againſt vsus.
This Sacrament is called th… Communion, to teach vsus this duty how we ought to come vntounto the ſame in louelove, we hauehave one God, one Mediator, and redeemer, one Spirit, one mother the church of God, we be all members of one, and the ſame miſticall body, and therefore when we come to this Supper we ſhould come in louelove.
That which our Sauiour ſaith of Sacrifices, may very well bee ſaide of this Sacrament. When …hou commeſt to the Alter, Mat. 5.23.24.and …here remembreſt that thy brother …ath ought againſt thee. Firſt bee …econciled to thy brother, and then …ome and offer thy gift. There muſt be firſt reconciliatiō to our brethren, before the Lord will …ccept of our Sacrifice or Ser…ice. Nay more, the Lord will …aue his owne ſeruice and wor…hip to ceaſe for a time, till …his reconciliation bee performed. I will hauehave mercy, and not Sacrifice, Hoſ. 6.6.ſayth the Lord: meaning indeede, that men can neuer performe aright the dueties of the firſt Table, vvhere they make no conſcience of the dueties of the ſecond, LoueLove, and ſeruices to man.
And hence it is that our Sauiour doth moſt diligently exhort his Diſciples and in them all chriſtians vntounto this duty, ſaying: By this ſhall all men knowe that you are my Diſciples, Ioh. 13.35if ye louelove one another. 1. Ioh. 3.14And againe, This is my commandement that ye louelove one another. 1. Ioh. 4.121. Ioh. 4 7.Our Sauiour makes this louelove a badg or cogniſance by the which wee are knowne to be his Diſciples, this aſſures vsus …t we are Gods children, and that wee are tranſlated from death to life. And, Heereby we know that God dwelleth in vsus, and his louelove is perfect in vsus. And Paul moſt earneſtly exhorteth vntounto this duty, when he ſaith, as the elect of God, Col. 3.12.holy & beloued, put on tender mercy, kindnes humbleneſſe of mind, meekenes, long-ſuffering, forbearing one another, forgiuing one another, If any man hauehave a Quarrell to another: Euen as Chriſt forgaue you, euen ſo do eye, And aboue all things put on louelove, which is the bonde of perfection. Where the holy Ghoſt doth require vsus, that wee would make it manifeſt to our ſelues & others, …hat we are the elect of God, and …hat the louelove of God is ſhed into our hearts, that wee hauehave taſted of the Lords mercy towards our own Soules in particuler, for the pardon of our ſinnes. Which we …hall doe by ſhewing our ſelues …eady and willing to forgiue others, as wee hauehave founde the Lord both ready and willing to forgiue vsus.
And to this end hath the Lord ordained this Sacrament of his Supper, that it might bee a feaſt of louelove, and a band or chaine to knit vsus faſt one vntounto another. Wherefore not vnfitly is this Sacrament called the Communion, to ſhew that there would bee a holy and bleſſed agreement amongſt thoſe that come therevnto yt they come in louelove, with one hart & mind, euen as one man, as the Apoſtle teacheth. We that are many are one bread & one body, becauſe wee are all partakers of one bread.
Reaſons to proue the neceſſitie of louelove.And to prouoke vsus vntounto this duty, conſider.
Firſt it is Gods commandement that we ſhould louelove one another; This is his commandement, that we ſhould louelove one another.2. Ioh. 5,
Secondly, it is a marke or cogniſance by the which wee are known to be Chriſts Diſciples:Ioh. 13.35. By this ſhall all men know that ye are my Diſciples, if ye louelove one another.
Thirdly, we come all to one Table, drinke of the ſame Cup, eate of the ſame bread, and ſo profeſſe the communion of Saints to be amongſt vsus.
Fourthly, It is a certaine marke …nd moſt euident ſigne, that wee are tranſlated from darkeneſſe vntounto light,1. Ioh. 3.10. from death vntounto …ife, euen our louelove to the bretheren.
And laſt of all, this is that grace that ſeaſons all other the gifts …nd graces of God. And as Ioſephs brethren were welcom for Beniamins ſake, euen ſo are all duties accepted for Loues ſake, otherwiſe what will it profit a man to heare, to reade, to pray, receiue the Sacrament, &c: yea though he ſhould giuegive his body to the fire,1. Cor. 13 14. that it burned, and had not louelove, it ſhoulde profit him nothing.
Vſe. 1 Seeing then that louelove, is ſo excellent a gift & grace of God, as that it miniſtreth vntounto vsus the certaine aſſurance of our election, that wee are the Sons of God, that it is it, that ſeaſons all our actions in Gods ſeruice, and makes all duties accepted to God or man. Oh how ſhoulde this cauſe vsus to labour for this excellent grace,Col. 3.12. that we Put on tender mercy, kindeneſſe, humbleneſſe of minde, meekeneſſe, long Suffering &c, and aboue all things LoueLove, the bond of perfection, otherwiſe we …ot exſpect any fruit or comfort …n the vſe of this Sacrament, or …ny other the ordinance of God.
Vſe. 2 Secondly, Seeing louelove and Charitie with man, is ſo neceſ…ry to the due receiuing of this …acrament. This may ſerue to …eproue thoſe that are growne …uen ruſtie, with rancor and ma…ce towards their bretheren, that …ake eueryevery ſmall occaſion or …eſpaſſe, occaſion ſufficient of …llings out amongſt them, ſuch …en deceiue themſelues, and …eir owne Soules, if they looke …r any benefit or comfort in this …acrament.
Obiect. Obiect▪ I did him noe wrong, …e wronged me, and if he would …me and confeſſe his fault, I …ould forgiue him, but I will …uer ſeeke vntounto him. But marke this is the fleſh and the Deuill, and as yet thou haſt taken counſell of none but them, Anſw. Chriſt will teach thee another leſſon. If thou remember that thy brother hath ought againſt thee &c. Mat. 5.23.ſtand not vponupon ſuch tearmes but goe thou to him, looke not for him to come to thee firſt, and ſeeke reconciliation with him, hereby thou ſhalt heape coales of fire vponupon his head.
Otherwiſe with what hart canſ… thou pray, forgiue vsus our treſpaſſes, as we forgiue them that treſpaſſ… againſt vsus. Doeſt thou not pray the Lord to haſten thy deſtruction, and no way to forgiue thee in asmuch as thy heart is ſhut vp againſt thy brother? whereas in deede wee are taught to louelove ou… very enemies, after the Exampl… of Chriſt, who prayed for h… Enemies, thus vntounto his Father. Father forgiue them they wot not what they do. Luk. 23.35. Act. 7. vlt.And that of Stephen, Lord lay not this ſin to their charge. Oh this, this is the truth, let vsus then acknowledge it. And this is the way, let vsus then walke in it, otherwiſe let vsus not looke …o reape peace vntounto our Soules, …or comfort by any of Gods ordinances.
And thus (Beloued) you hauehave …cene the neceſſitie of a Chriſti…n mans preparation,The Concluſion. before hee …omes to this holy Sacrament. You hauehave ſeene againe …he Subiect of it, not another, …ut a mans ſelfe. And laſt of all, …ou hauehave ſeene wherein this du…y doth conſiſt.
Now if wee finde our ſelues …urniſhed with ſome competent …eaſure of Knowledge, Faith, Repentance, and LoueLove, as you hauehave heard, all which are required to the due receiuing of this Sacrament, wee may then with comfort come vntounto it. And howſoeuer theſe graces bee in vsus but in part, and in much weakeneſſe, yet if we be humbled for our wants, and deſire to increaſe in our Knowledge, to be ſtrengthened in our Faith, to bee bettered in our Repentance, &c. Heere we are called to the liuing Fountaine, from whence we may looke to hauehave ſupply made vntounto all our wants. But if on the contrary part, vponupon examination, we find our ſelues altogether ignorant of God, and his Son Chriſt, and the meanes of our redemption, that we hauehave not our harts truely touched with our ſinnes and that we are not at peace with men, better not come; for this were but to abuſe ſo holy an ordinance, to mocke God to his face, and to ſtirr him vp to wrath againſt vsus. And by this that hath beene ſayde, it may appeare that few come worthily, and prepared as they ought, but ignorantly, and for cuſtome ſake, to the great diſhonor of God, and abuſe of ſo holy an ordinance.
And thus much concerning the preparation that is to be made by eueryevery faithful communicant: the participation follows, which we referre to another time.
Let vsus pray.