Christs Last Supper, Sermon 3
The Third Sermon.
1. Cor. 11.28.
Let a man therefore examine himſelfe: And ſo let him eate of that Bread, and drinke of that Cup.
WHen wee hauehave Examined our ſoules, and prepared our harts, and bring the true VVedding garment of Knowledge, Faith, Repentance, and LoueLove: then wee are to come to this holy banquet and feaſt of our ſoules.
And ſo let him eat of that bread, and drinke, &c.
Heere we hauehave the act of Receiuing to be perfourmed by the true Communicant, his taking and receiuing of the Bread, and the Wine.
In which action we note
1. The Duety it ſelfe, Eate, Drinke.
2. The Qualification of the perſon, implyed in this word, So.
3. What hee muſt Eate and Drinke; This Bread, Of this Cup.
And firſt, for the dutie it ſelfe: As before he was inioyned to examine himſelfe: So heere by no …eſſe ſtraight an iniunction to Eate, and to Drinke. The Doctrine is,
Doct. 1 That it is not leaft to our …hoyce,To receiue th…s Sacrament is not a thing indifferent. whether we wil come to …his Sacrament, or not, to receiue …t, or not to receiue it; but it is the will of God, and his commandement, that we ſhould come vntounto it as often as conueniently vvee may. And ſo let him Eat, &c. This is not a bare permiſſion, but rather a precept, and binds all vntounto obedience therevnto: And therfore as it is our duty to heare the Worde, to pray, to ſanctifie the Lords Sabboths, &c. becauſe the Lord hath ſo commanded; euen ſo hath the Lord commanded vsus this dutie likewiſe, to come and partake of this holy Sacrament. And the neceſſity of this wil appeare, if we do but conſider, how ſtraightly the Lord inioyned the people of the Iewes the obſeruation of the types of both the Sacraments. Such as was Circumciſion vnderunder the Lawe, when the Lord commanded the vncircumciſed Man-child (that was not circumciſed according to the ordinance of the Lorde) to bee cut off from his people, Gen. 17.1 Exo. 3.24.5 Num. 9.13as one that had broken the Couenant. And ſo for the Paſſeouer, he that did not keepe it ſolemnly, according to the law was to be cut off from Gods people: now then, if it hold ſo in the ceremony, then how much more in the Subſtance? But the Reaſons that followe, will ſhewe the neceſſity of the ſame more clear…y.
Reaſon 1 Firſt, the receiuing of this Sa…rament in a holy manner, is a …rincipall part of Gods worſhip …nd ſeruice, which eueryevery Chriſti…n is bounde to perfourme. Now …he Lorde will bee ſerued accor…ing to his will preſcribed in his Worde. It reſteth not in man to …reſcribe or appoynt, but to re…aine and embrace that which is taught by him. For in vain do they worſhip me, Eſa. 29.13, 14teaching for Doctrine, men precepts.Mat. 7.7.
Now one principal part of his worſhip conſiſts in the due receiuing of this ſacrament, and therfore in obedience to ſo holy an ordinance of God, men muſt com therevnto.
Reaſon. 2 Secondly, it is an holy helpe and meanes to increaſe grace, howſoeuer of it ſelfe, it cannot conferre grace; for vntounto ſome, both the worde and Sacraments are but the ſauour of death vntounto death. 2. Cor. 2.16Yet notwithſtanding, this Sacrament may truely be ſayde to bee a Conduit, to conuay the grace of regeneration and remiſſion of ſins vntounto the true beleeuer:Simile. Euen as the Princes Letters are ſaide to ſaue the life of a malefactor, whereas indeede, they doe but ſignifie the Princes pleaſure that he ſhall be ſaued. And …he Lord working grace in the hearts of his ſeruants, hath …n his wiſedome appoynted the …ord, Sacraments, prayer &c. to …e the meanes for the effecting of …he ſame.
Reaſon. 3 Thirdly, this Sacrament is a …onfirmation of our couenant, …nd ſerues to bee a ſeale of the …ame, betweene God and vsus,Gen. 17.1. that …e will be our God,Eſay. 43.25 and wee will …ecome his people, by the which …s by a moſt ſure and certaine …ledge giuen on Gods part,Ier. 31.31. and …eceiued on ours,Zach. 8.8. God of his …reat mercy, doth as it were …nd himſelf to vsus by an euerlaſt…g decree to bee our God, and …ee againe binde our ſelues vn… him to remaine his people, …nd to keepe a conſtant courſe of obedience before him.
Vſe. 1 And ſurely this condemnes thoſe as do wittingly and wilfully abſtaine from the Lords Supper.For reprofe. As many do offend in comming vnworthily and vnprepared, ſo many offend in comming not at all, when occaſion & opportunitie is offered vntounto them to come. Doth not the practice of ſuch men beray that they do lightly eſteeme of Gods ordinance.Simile. If the King or ſome other greate parſonage, ſhould hauehave graunted vntounto a man the leaſe of ſome goodly Mannor vppon very reaſonable conditions, and appoint a day to ſeale the writinges, who woulde not giuegive attendance, or rather what great ingratitude, were it for a man not to come at the time appointed, but …ilfully to refuſe and contemne … friendly an offer. Oh beloued, …he Lord of heauen and earth, he …ath promiſed to giuegive vntounto vsus Chriſt and with him al things▪ Rom. 8.32.Hea…en, eternall life, and the ſaluati…n of our Soules. The very day …nd time of the Adminiſtration …f this Sacrament of the Lords …upper, what is it but the ſea…ng day wherein the Lord offers …o confirme his graunt vntounto vsus, …nd to ſtabliſh that his couenant, …hat ingratitude then ſhall wee …e guiltie off, if wee neglect ſo …reat ſaluation.
And ſurely this Sinne of wil…ll refuſing or abſtaining from …e Lords Table is not all one, …ut it hath many other ſinnes at…nding vponupon it, and accompa…ying it.
Firſt ſuch men as doe wilfully abſtaine and abſent themſelues, doe contemne and deſpiſe the commandement of Chriſt himſelfe,What ſins they are guilty of, that neglect to tome to the Lords Supper. who hath commanded al to doe this. To examine, to take, and t… eate. Now to rebel againſt God & Chriſt, is noe ſmall ſinne, Since herein they cannot but declare what a light eſteeme they hau… of the couenant, God hath mad… with them, & the ſeale of ye ſame
Secondly, ſuch make light account and deſpiſe the memor… of the bleſſed death and paſſio… of Ieſus Chriſt, which hee ſ… ſtraightly commaunded vsus to keepe in memory, as wherei… wee ſhall ſhew forth his death v… till his comming againe. For ſo ofte… as ye ſhall eate this bread, and drink… this cup, ye ſhew the Lords death t… he come.
Thirdly, this wilfull con…empt in any, doth manifeſtly …eclare the great vnthankefull…eſſe of ſuch vntounto God.Vnthankefullneſſe in a great meaſure. Who … great meaſure and deepe com…aſſion towards our poore ſoules …oth afforde vsus ſuch props and …ayes, to ſupport our weake …ith, as this Sacrament is. For …ch is our weakeneſſe while we …e here, euen when wee hauehave …ained vntounto the greateſt mea…re of grace, and aſſurance of …r Saluation, that wee ſtand in …ede dayly of the word and Sa…ments, as to beget, ſo to con…me and ſtrengthen vsus in the …ce receiued: And therefore … neglect the ſame, when the …rd doth offer it vntounto vsus, doth …nifeſtly declare great ingrati…e againſt God.
Fourthly, ſuch bee guiltie of … contempte of the price of their redemption euen the moſt precious body and bloud of Chriſt, which is offered in this ſacrament vntounto eueryevery true beleeuer.Mat. 26.2 28▪ 6. This is my body, which is giuegive… for you &c: And the very foode of their ſoules,Ioh. 6.55. men ſo loath, & ſo lightly regard.
Fiftly, ſuch men beray their infidelity, & do no leſſe then temp… God as Ahaz did, which refuſed ye ſigne, the Lord offered vnt… him, & ſaid, I will not aske a ſig… nor tempt the Lord. But becauſ… he asked not a ſigne, therefore h… did tempt the Lord, & what is i… elſe, but a tempting of God, for … man to neglect the meanes appointed of God, & make trya… whether hee will ſaue him with out ye meanes or not. Wee kno… yt the word, and Sacraments, a… ye meanes appointed of God, n… onelyonly to beget faith and other graces, in ye harts of his children, but are meanes likewiſe ordained of God, to helpe ye weakenes of our faith, and to neglect or lightly to eſteeme of theſe, doth manifeſtly declare yt ſuch men hauehave either no faith, or that they …egard not the increaſe or con…irmation of the ſame.
And laſtly ſuch as willingly …nd wilfully refuſe to come, de…piſe the communion of Saints, …nd the fellowſhip of the Church …nd people of God, and heereby …ut themſelues off from Chriſt …nd his Church. For this Sacra…ent is the Communion of the …ody and bloud of Chriſt, from …e which they cut and ſeuer …emſelues, vsus vnworthy.
And thus you hauehave ſeene how …any ſinnes ſuch men are guilty of, as neglect the due receiuing of this holy Sacrament, which muſt be duly conſidered of vsus, leaſt by the heaping vp of theſe ſinnes now, one vponupon the necke of another, wee bring vponupon our owne heades ſwift damnation.
Now becauſe there is none that either refuſeth or neglecteth duly to come to this holy ordinance of God: But hauehave ſome excuſes for themſelues, I deſir… therefore breefely to remou… ſome of the cheefeſt of them, an… ſo come to the further vſes to b… made of this poynt.
Obiections anſwered.
This firſt and moſt common excuſe, men hauehave for themſelue… is they are not prepared,Obiect. 1. & the knowe that it is a dangero… thing to come vnprepared, ſuccate and drinke their owne damnation.
Anſw. I anſwere, that this obiection doth certainly bewray great impiety in the heart of ſuch a one: What, art thou not prepared, and therefore wilt not come? What is this but to pay one debt by another, and to adde vntounto ſuch mens ſinnes, and to make them …xceeding ſinfull. For knowe O …hou vaine man, that it is thy ſin …o neglect to come to the Lordes Table, when occaſion is offered …nto thee from the Lorde, and …hou haſt aggrauated thy ſinne, … that thou art not prepared to …ome vntounto it. What do ſuch men …at glory in their owne ſhame? …ur life ſhould bee a continuall …eparation, and ſetting of our …ues in order for eueryevery Chriſti… duety, yea ſuch as our dayly …crifice is to be offered vp vntounto …od. And Chriſtians are commanded to be watchfull, that ſo we may be alwayes ready,Mat. 24.44. euer expſecting the comming of the bridegroome. And therefore away with ſuch excuſes, which are but demonſtrations of a graceles hart, & no better then Fig leaues, that ſhall neuer hide thy nakednes from the eyes of the almighty: But the Lord one day will make it an argument againſt the… that thy condemnation is moſ… iuſt, and out of thy owne mout… will condemne thee.
Obiect. 2 Secondly, others thinke the hauehave better ground for their abſtinence, ſome buſineſſe or othe… that is in hand that muſt be ſe… vntounto,Mat. 22. like vntounto thoſe in the go… pel; one that muſt be excuſed b… cauſe he had bought a farme, … nother fiue yoke of Oxen, a thi… that had married a wife, a… therefore could not come, theſe hauehave ſome iorney to ride, or one triuiall buſineſſe or other, that is matter ſufficient to keepe them from the Lords Table.
Anſw. VntoUnto ſuch kind of men I will ſay with Chriſt: What ſhall it profite a man to win the whole worlde, and to loſe his owne Soule? Is not thy Soule more precious vntounto thee then thy body? and ye welfare of the one to be preferred before the welfare of ye other, ſince the loſſe of thy Soule, a whole world cannot recompence: make not light account then of ye Lords gracious cal, neither belike thoſe prophane Gadarens, to prefer thy Swine before Chriſt I meane, the world before thy ſaluation.
Obiect. 3 Other there be that alledg for themſelues, or rather indeede againſt themſelues, yt they are not in charity, and therfore they dare not come: Doe you not knowe, and hauehave you not taught vsus that we muſt come in louelove, otherwiſe we cannot receiue the ſacrament worthily; Now ſuch a one and my ſelfe, we are not friendes, and hee hath ſo wronged mee, that I can neuer put it vp.
Anſw. Oh how doe ſuch men bewray both their impiety and hypocriſie! Dare you not come? Dare you pretend Religion and conſcience in abſtaining, eſpecially vponupon this ground, that you are not in Charity? Whoſe fault is it that thou art not in charity … thy owne. Art thou not required to forgiue thy brother his treſpaſſes,Mat. 6.12. Mat. 5. and to goe and bee reconciled to thy brother? yea though hee hath treſpaſſed againſt thee, and iniured thee. Religion and Chriſtianity doth teach the profeſſors thereof to ſeeke reconciliation with their brethren. But of this before in the duety.
Many more are the obiections of wicked men, which when they come to be weighed in the weightes of the Sanctuary, will prooue to light, and manifeſtly declare the want of grace in the ſoule: For where there is true Sanctification in the hart of any, ſuch a one is euer conſcionable …n the vſe of ſuch meanes as are …ppoynted of GOD, for the increaſe of grace: Amongſt which …he reuerent vſe of this Sacrament is not the leaſt.
There are other obiections, …hat are of another nature, made …y weake Chriſtians, who are …uch diſcoraged in themſelues: …nd obiect againſt themſelues as followeth.
Obiect. 4 Firſt, they ſay they are ſo farre from loathing this Sacrament, as that they long after it, but now their wantes are ſo many, and their infirmities are ſo great, their faith ſo weak, repentance ſo ſmal as that they are afraid to come.
Anſw. VntoUnto ſuch a one I ſay with the Diſciple to blind Bartimeus, Behold, Chriſt calleth thee. Mar. 10.49Such are fit patients for Chriſt the ſpiritual Phyſician to worke on. If this complaint or the like, proceede from an inward feeling of their wants, and from a hart truely humbled for them, hauing in them a hungring and thirſtie deſire after Chriſt and his righteouſneſſe, Surely ſuch a one is not farre from the kingdome of Heauen. And therefore, for the endleſſe comfort and conſolation of ſuch that are thus humbled and deiected through the conſcience of their owne wants: Conſider
Firſt,Comfort to the weake Chriſtian. that the feeling of the want of grace, with griefe for the ſame, is grace it ſelf, for the graceleſſe and faithleſſe doe ſeldome or neuer find any ſuch defects in them.
Secondly, Chriſt inuiteth ſuch poore ſoules vntounto him, ſaying:Mat. 11.38 Come vntounto me &c.
Thirdly, that Chriſt pronounceth ſuch to be bleſſed, that doe …ut hunger and thirſt after righ…eouſneſſe, and hath ſaid,Mat. 12.20. that he …il not breake the bruiſed reede, nor …uench the ſmoaking flaxe.
Fourthly, that the Lord doth …ore regard the truth of grace, yt …aboureth after perfection, then …he meaſure of it, as that gift that was ſo highly commended by our Sauiour in the poore widdow.
And laſt of all, that this Sacrament of Chriſts Supper, was inſtituted and ordained for the weake, not for the ſtrong, for the poore, not for the rich, & for the ſicke and broken harted, and not for the whole.
Now then, what an abſurditie were it for a man to refuſe to eat, becauſe hee were hungry, and to refuſe to drinke, becauſe he were thirſty. Doe not then diſcourage thy ſelf more then there is cauſe, but come, O come vntounto this heauenly banket & feaſt of thy ſoule, where thou haſt a promiſe, that by the conſcionable and holy vſe of this ordinance, thou ſhalt hauehave thy faith ſtrengthened, thy repentance increaſed, and all other graces of God confirmed in thee, to thy endleſſe comfort.
Obiect. 5 Some againe obiect that the Iewes receiued ye paſſeouer, but once in the yeare. In the fourth…eenth day of the firſt monethmonth at euen, is the Lords Paſſeouer. Exo. 12.18. Leuit. 22.5.And ye paſſeouer wee knowe was but a …ype of this Sacrament.
I anſwer, we now compare the …haddowe and the ſubſtance together in that particuler where… they are not to bee com…ared. For touching this Sacrament of the Lords Supper it is …is will, that it ſhould bee admi…iſtred and receiued often, for ſo …ith our Sauiour, So oft as ye ſhall …te of this bread &c, And as for …is Annuall communicating, is …ow hatcht in time of popery in …e infancy of the Church, and …y no meanes to bee immitated …f vsus, that liue now in the Sunſhine of the Goſpell.
But to leaue theſe obiections we come now to make ſome further vſe of the poynt.
Vſe. 2 Seeing then wee ſee the neceſſitie of this duty,For inſtruction. that it is not left as a thing arbitrary, to come or not to come, but it is rather a flat precept impoſed vponupon all, To come and eate of this breade, and drinke of this cup. Let this ſerue for our inſtruction yt wee learne to make more conſcience of this duty of comming to this Sacrament. If the Lord ſhould require as our hands a thing that were hard and heauie, wee ought with all chearefulneſſe to vndergoe it, and willingly to ſubmit out ſelues vntounto it, in regard of his commaundement. How be it, this the Lord requireth at our hands, is not hard, but eaſie, not an intollerable burthen, but tha… which may delight the Soule of chriſtian. And therefore were ſhame not to do it. It was well …aid of Naamans Seruant to his Maiſter. Maſter if the prophet had …id thee do ſome great thing, 2. Reg. 5.12oughteſt …ou not to hauehave done it? how much …ore when he ſaith waſh & be clean. …f Chriſt ſhould hauehave impoſed …ppon vsus greater things then …heſe, ought we not to doe them, …ow much more, when he ſaith, …ake and eate. How wil we drinke cup of Martyrdome for Chriſt: …at will not drink the cup of …luation with Chriſt.
Vſe. 3 And laſt of all this may ſerue …r matter of ſingular conſolatiō …to the godly that make con…ience of this duty,For conſolation. that hunger …d thirſt after this ſpirituall …nquet, more then their ap…ointed foode: ſuch may ſurely exſpect a bleſſing. Whatſoeuer thy wants are, ye Lord will couer them all. Do thou take the Lords offer when hee calles thee to his Table, and come with a certaine exſpectation of good ſucceſſe, and ſee if the Lord doe not open the windowes of heauen vponupon thee, and raine vponupon thee aboundantly the ſhowers of his grace, and refreſh thy hungry Soule, with good things.
And therfore in Gods name le… this bee an incouragement vntounto vsus,Iam. 4. to Draw neare vntounto God, ſeeing he will draw neare vntounto vsus. And although we cannot prepare ou… ſelues as we would, Yet when we labour after holineſſe, and Sanctification of life, let vsus come and not bee diſcouraged, the Lord will be mercifull vntounto vsus,…. Cro. 30.19. though we are not cleanſed according to the purification of the Sanctu…ry.
And thus much for the firſt …enerall circumſtance of the Text, the duty Eate, Drinke, wee …ome now to the qualification …f the perſon ….
And ſo let him Eate &c.2. Cir. The qualification of the perſon that muſt communicate.
The qualification of the …erſon, is imployed in this word …. Which hath reference to the …rmer part of the verſe, exami…tion it ſelfe. The doctrine is …eare.
Doct. 2 That after a man hath exami…d himſelfe as before,It is not ſufficient to come but to come prepared. and finds …mſelfe in ſome meaſure fitted … Knowledg, faith, Repentance, …d LoueLove, then he may come, yea …s he alone, that hath warrant … come and none other, and is …e required to participate of …s holy ordinance. It is not ſufficient that a man come to the Lords Table, but that he S… come, that is in an holy manner vntounto ſuch an holy ordinance.
Mat. 22.11.At the Marriage banquet i… the Goſpell, ma… were bidde… to the feaſt, and many came, bu… that was not all. If there bee bu… one in the company, that come without the wedding garment, b… is diſcouered, and it was not h… beeing preſent at the feaſt, th… would ſerue his turne, but in a much as hee was not perpar… and fitted thereunto, hee is th… ſentenced,Mat. 26 to be bounde hand, … foote, and to be caſt into vtter dar… neſſe. Iudas receiued this Sacr… ment as well as Peter, from … bleſſed hand of Chriſt: yet b… cauſe he was not prepared th… vntounto, it proued his bane, … gaue Sathan the more aduan…age, euen for the abuſe of ſo ho…y an ordinance, to enter into Iudas.Mat 25. The fooliſh Virgins ſeemed …o exſpect the Brid-gromes comming, but in asmuch as their Oyle was ſpent and their Lampes gone …ut, they were taken vnprepa…ed, and ſo for euer ſhut out of …he Marriage chamber, and the Bride-gromes preſence. Theſe …nd the like examples, whereof …he Scriptures are full, they all …erue as a cloud of witneſſes, to …onfirme vntounto vsus the vndoubted …ruth of this doctrine, that it is …ot ſufficient yt a man come vntounto …his Sacrament of Chriſts Sup…er, and ſo ioyne with the reſt of Gods people in receiuing of the …me, but he muſt So come, yt is …ted and prepared by a godly …xamination as before.
The reaſons follow.
Reaſon. 1 Firſt, it is Gods commaundement as to come, ſo to come worthyly and prep…red, without which preparation better neuer come. For we ſhall but offer th… Sacrifice of fooles, Which is abhomination vntounto the Lord. Ecle. 4.And a… our hearing, praying, receiuing▪ &c: When we come vntounto them for cuſtom ſake and faſhion ſake not in a holy manner, in faith▪ repentance, and obedience, ar… ſo farre from pleaſing God, a… that they rather prouoke hi… Maieſtie and ſtirre him vp to wrath againſt vsus.
Reaſon. 2 Secondly, ſuch a one as come prepared as he ought, may ſafely exſpect a bleſſing from God, wh… hath promiſed to adde a bleſſing to all that come prepared vntounto his ordinances, and hath ſaid, h… wil be found of al them that ſeek him, in the conſcionable vſe of thoſe means he hath appointed.
Reaſon. 3 Thirdly, as it were a ſinne for a man to receiue vnprepared, ſo were it no leſſe a ſinne for a man to bee prepared, and not to receiue, for his preparation otherwiſe were to little purpoſe.
Vſe 1 Seeing then yt it is not inough for a man to come, vnles he come prepared: Oh how ſhoulde this humble eueryevery one of vsus, that hauehave many times come and partaked of this royall feaſt and ſupper of the Lord, without our wedding garment;Note. many a time hauehave we receiued this Sacrament, when we made litle or no preparation vn…o it: and this was our caſe before our calling, in the time of our vn…egeneracy, howſoeuer it hath fa…ed with vsus ſince. And ſurely it was Gods wonderfull mercy vntounto vsus then, that wee were not deſtroyed for abuſing ſo holy an ordinance, and his gracious & glorious preſence therein. And now (my brethren) albeit we hauehave eſcaped our deſerued iudgement, which the Lord might then hauehave moſt iuſtly inflicted vponupon vsus, yet now ſhould wee iudge our ſelues worthy, then to hauehave beene deſtroyd, and labor to bee humbled for our olde ſinnes, leaſt they bring vponupon vsus new iudgements.
Vſe 2 Secondly, this may ſerue for matter of terror vntounto all wicked and vngodly men, that make no conſcience of this duety, who either ſeldome or neuer come to this holy ordinance of God, or if they come, come altogether vnprepared. What though the Lord in this Sacrament doe offer vntounto them his owne Son, and the benefites of his paſſion, remiſſion of ſinnes, redemption, his Spirit, and Kingdome. They preferre their ſinnes before theſe, and by no meanes will bee brought to part with them, but hauehave their appetites ſo taken vp with earthly things, that they hauehave no minde at all, or appetite to ſpirituall thinges. Oh, the caſe of ſuch men is moſt miſerable and fearefull. Hovv iuſt ſhal their condemnation one day bee, when the Lorde ſhall enter into iudgement with them for neglecting ſo great Saluation.
Vſe 3 Thirdly and laſtly, this may miniſter matter of ſingular ioy and conſolation vntounto the godly,For conſolation. that labour to prepare themſelues, and ſeeke to put away their ſinnes by godly ſorrowe. Though this man cannot bee ſo fitted and prepared as hee deſires, he may not be diſcouraged, but drawe neare vntounto God in his ordinance, who wil accept of the poore deſires of his ſeruants, and hath inuited ſuch hungrie and thirſtie ſoules to come vntounto him, and hath promiſed to ſatiſfie them: but of this before.
Now becauſe the heart of man is deceitfull aboue all things, Ier. 18.17.and we are ready to deceiue our ſelues heerein, I ſhall very ſhortly propound ſuch degrees of grace, as are in ſome meaſure found in thoſe whoſe hearts are at all ſeaſoned with grace: and without which no man,The leaſt degrees of grace are can come vntounto this Sacrament with comfort, or exſpect any bleſſing from God.
Firſt, they muſt ſee their wants,1 To ſee ſin. this is required in eueryevery one, to hauehave their vnderſtādings enlightened, by the which they come …o ſee what God requireth, and how farr ſhort they come of that obedience the Lord requires at …heir hands; and this is indeede … firſt ſtep to true repentance and …ound conuerſion, to attaine to …he ſight of our owne wandring, …nd is one of the ſmalleſt degrees …f grace that can be in any. And …ecauſe that wicked men and hy…ocrites may attaine vntounto this, …hat ſhall neuer bee ſaued, vntounto …his more muſt be added.
And in the ſecond place,2 To be humbled for ſin. this …an muſt bee humbled for his …ants, and not pleaſe himſelfe in …em. And this is it, as I take it, yt …ts the difference betweene the …odly Chriſtian and the Hypocrite, though both ſee and diſcerne ſin in them, yet both doth not diſlike ſin, becauſe it is ſin, and offends the Maieſty of God. There is euer in the heart of an hypocrit ſome ſecret ſin or other ye which howſoeuer in his iudgement he knoweth to be a ſin,Note. yet in his affection he could wiſh it were no ſinne, that ſo he might liue in the ſame without controlment, for this appeares by his often relaps into the ſame ſin, whe… as ye child of God is content tha… the ſacrificing knife of the Law, ſhold be applyed to the throat o… eueryevery ſin, euen to his darling and beloued ſin, that ſo he might no… offend ſo good & louing a fathe…
3 To pray for the pardon of ſin.Thirdly, he is earneſt with Go… to pray for pardon, not reſting in the former degrees of grace, to ſee ſin, and to be grieued for it but making conſcience of al holy meanes by the which hee may obtain deliuerance. And becauſe it is God alone that is offended, and his moſt righteous lawes violated, vntounto God goes hee, and deſires as earneſtly that God would cure his corrupt nature for the time to come, as to pardon his ſinnes that are paſt in his life: And O Lord thinkes hee, that I could be more holy, and leſſe ſinfull; and it is the on…y griefe of his heart, that he cannot maſter his corruptions as he …hould, and as he would.
Fourthly,4 To reſolue for the time to come of new obedience. he reſolues heereaf…er to come more prepared; as to …ee and acknowledge his want of due preparation, with griefe of heart for the ſame: So there is a …eſolute purpoſe in his ſoul, in al things to pleaſe God, and for the time to come, to walke in new obedience. Theſe are the leaſt degrees of grace, and in ſome meaſure are to bee found in the weakeſt Chriſtian, and in him whoſe hart is truly ſeaſoned with grace: as for others, they are able to practice more excellent degrees of Mortification and Sanctification.
Doct. 3 And So let him Eat, &c: That is, being fitted and prepared as before. Wee may yet obſerue one note of inſtruction further. That Circumſtances in Gods ſeruice are to bee obſerued,Circumſtances in Gods ſeruice muſt be obſerued. and good thinges muſt bee done in a good Maner. This is in effect the ſame that was handled in the former doctrine; I ſhall handle the ſame ſo much the more briefely.
The Manner as the Matter of Gods ſeruice is to be looked after, …nd hence is it, that many men …auing performed the outward worke of ſome commendable duty, and fayling in the circum…tance of the manner of performing of it, hauehave mard all.
The people of the Iewes per…ormed many thinges in them…elues commendable,Eſa. 1.14.15. yet hauehave…ng their faylings in ſome perti…ulars, the Lord did abhor both …hem and their ſeruices, & hence …s it that Dauid giuing direction …nto Salomon his ſon, touching Gods worſhip. Doth preſcribe …s ye matter, ſo the circumſtances …hat belong vntounto it, how and …fter what manner hee ſhoulde …erue the Lord. And thou Salomon …y ſonne, 1. Cro. 28.9knowe thou the God of thy …ather, and ſerue him with a perfect …eart, and with a willing minde &c And the ſame doth Salomon againe in his time giuegive touching Gods worſhip,Eccle. 5.1. When thou goeſt into the houſe of God, take heede to thy feete. How is this thing vrged in all the Epiſtles of the Apoſtles, that men ſhould regard circumſtance in the Act of Gods worſhip, and the manner how they performe it, as the matter, as: The Lord loueth a chearefull giuer. Iam. 2.12.So runne ye that ye may obtaine, and So ſpeake ye, 1. Cor. 9.26and ſo doe ye, as they that ſhall bee iudged by the perfect law of libertie. Theſe preſent texts of Scripture, and the like, whereof the Scriptures are full, they all ſerue to confirme vntounto vsus the vndoubted truth of this doctrine, that circumſtances are to bee regarded in Gods ſeruice, and men muſt regarde the manner, as the matter in the true performance of the ſame.
Reaſon. 1 And great reaſon, for the Lord that hath commaunded the one, hath commanded the other, and we hauehave a commaundement for circumſtance, as well as for ſubſtance, and God lookes that his worke ſhould be well performed, as performed.
Reaſon. 2 Secondly, Circumſtances of actions may ouerthrowe an action: GiueGive me children (ſaith Rachell) or elſe I die. A ſpeech proceeding from a Spirit very impatient of delay. That notwithſtanding, the deſire it ſelfe was not vnlawfull, yet her manner ſpoyled the matter; and ſo in the …andling of the word of God, when men ſhall leaue the foun…aine, the pure word of life, and …tuffe their Sermons with philo…ophy, and the vaine fantacies of mans braine, and ſo in prayer, when men will ſeeme, to Drawe neere vntounto God with their lipps, when their hearts are far from him. And to giuegive Almes phariſayical-like to bee ſeene of men, circumſtances make or marre all.
Reaſon. 3 Thirdly and laſtely, God is a Spirit, and hee that will worſhip him, muſt worſhip him in Spirit and truth. It is not ſhewes and ſhaddowes that will ſerue his turne, make we neuer ſo glorious a ſhewe, if wee giuegive not the Lord our hearts, all is nothing worth. So then, whether wee conſider, that God hath commaunded the manner, as the matter, that circumſtance of an action, may ouerthrow an action, or that God beeing a Spirit muſt be worſhipped ſpiritually, we conclud ye circumſtancs in Gods ſeruice, muſt bee regarded of vsus, that ſo holy duties may bee performed holily.
Vſe. 1 And ſurely this ſerues in the firſt place, to reproue ſuch as ſtand vponupon the worke-done,Forreprofe. not regarding any circumſtance, or the manner of doing it. How many hauehave we in eueryevery congregation, who thinke they can ſay inough for themſelues, that they they hauehave beene at the Church vponupon ye Sabboth, & if they hauehave offered their, there preſence once or twiſe vponupon that day, God …s much beholden vntounto them, & …hey hauehave done inough, yea, asmuch as any, or as the Lord doth require. And ſo if once or twice …t the moſt in the whole yeare, …hey partake of this Sacrament, what would we more? although (poore Soules) in the meane …ime they hauehave but offered the Sacrifice of Fooles, and the Lord one day will ſay vntounto ſuch, Who hath required theſe things at your hands? yet heerein they thinke they highly honour God, neuer regarding how or after what manner they come therevnto.
Vſe. 2 Seccondly, this may ſerue for our inſtruction, to teach vsus to learne what circumſtances are required in eueryevery duty,For inſtruction. and how and after what manner wee ſhould performe the ſame, both in publick and priuate, the hearing of the word, receiuing of this Sacrament, Prayer, Singing o… Pſalmes, &c, that ſo performing them aright both for matter and manner, or at the leaſt ſo indeuoring, wee may bring ſome glory vntounto God, and peace and comfort vntounto our owne Soules, th… which we ſhal neuer doe, ſo long …s wee reſt contented with the outward matter of Gods ſeruice: …nd looke not after the right …anner of our performing of …he ſame, but of this before.
And thus much for the Qua…fication, of the perſon that …uſt communicate. Wee come …ow to the third and laſt cir…mſtance, what hee muſt Eate, …d Drinke: Of this Bread: of this …up.
And ſo let him eate of this Bread, …d drinke of this Cup.
the handling of …is point we are to ſerue two things.
1. What it is to Eate and Drinke.3. Circumſtance What he muſt eate and Drink.
2. What we Eate and Drinke.
For the firſt,A two-fold eating. wee muſt know …t there is a two-fold Eating …nally, and Spiritually
The firſt is an outward partaking of the outward ſigne of Bread & Wine carnally,1 Carnally. which indeede a wicked man may doe which doth reape no benef… nor comfort thereby, as Iuda… did, and as all wicked and impenitent perſons that liue in thei… ſinnes, and want Faith, the han… of the Soule (whereby the tru… beleeuer doth lay hold vpo… Chriſt) doe at this day.
The ſecond, is ſpirituall an… myſticall,2 Spiritually. and that is by faith i… wardly to feede vppon the bod… and bloud of Chriſt. And … much importeth thoſe words … our Sauiour. I am the bread of li… hee that commeth to mee ſhall ne… hunger. Ioh. 6.36.And hee that beleeue on me ſhall neuer thirſt. And th… to feede on Chriſt,What it is to feede on Chriſt. is to belee… in Chriſt. And it is an action the Soule, when as wee doe by faith apply Ieſus Chriſt his death and paſſion vntounto our own ſoules in particular, beleeuing that hee dyed for our ſinnes, Rom. 4. vlt.and roſe againe for our iuſtification: According to that of Iohn: As many as receiued him, to them he gaue prerogatiue to …e the Sonnes of God, euen to them that beleeue on his name. So then, …o feed on Chriſt is to beleeue in Chriſt.
And indeede,To feed on Chriſt, and to beleeue in Chriſt all one. Chriſt attribueth the ſame fruite and effect to …hem that beleeue in him, that …e doth to them that eate his bo…y and drinke his bloud, to teach …s, that by eating and drinking, …e meaneth nothing but belee…ng. And to this end, to con…me vsus heerein, compare theſe …criptures together▪ He that ea…th my fleſh, and drinketh my bloud, Ioh. 6.54.hath eternall life. verſe 40.And This is the will of my Father, that eueryevery one that beleeueth in the Sonne, ſhould hauehave eternall life, and I will rayſe him vp at the laſt day. Whereby it appeares, how Chriſt doeth attribute that to beleeuing, hee doeth to eating and drinking.
And hence it is that vnderunder the Law, before Chriſt came in the fleſh, it is ſayde, that the Fathers did Eate the ſame ſpirituall meate, and drink the ſame ſpirituall drinke the Corinthians did,1. Co.. 10.1.2. and other Chriſtians that liued vnderunder the Goſpell. And how could this be, but onelyonly by faith, reſting vponupon the promiſes of Chriſts comming, that it was hee alone tha… ſhould take away the ſinnes o… the Worlde.Luk. 23.40 And thus did the beleeuing theef vponupon the croſſe …hough he did neuer receiue this …acrament, eate the body, and …rinke the bloud of Chriſt to e…rnall life.
Obiect. If to beleeue is to eate Chriſt, … what ende then ſerues the …ſe of the Sacraments in the Church?
Anſw. They ſtill retaine their vſe, …d are moſt holy and excellent …rdinances of God, to be vſed of … for our benefit and comfort: …d ſerue, as for the begetting of …ith, and other the graces of …od in vsus; ſo for the confir…ation and ſtrengthening of the …me.
Now who hath that grace of …od ſo firme and perfect in him …ut ſtands in neede of helpe dai…, and of the further confirma…on of the ſame. Loe this is one … ye moſt excellenteſt ordinance of God, that he hath ſanctified to the ſame end, which in all holy obedience wee are bound to vſe, as a thing moſt neceſſary while we liue heere. So then, the poynt of Inſtruction is: That
Doct. 4 The faithfull onelyonly feeede on Chriſt in this Sacrament,The faithfull onelyonly feede on Chriſt in this Sacrament. As a man comming to a feaſt being hungry, is aſſured there to be refreſhed and ſtrengthened, ſo the true beleeuer, that hungers and thirſts after righteouſneſſe, is ſur… heere to be ſatisfied. And indeed… inaſmuch as the fruite and benefit thereof doth appertaine vntounto a ſpirituall and eternall life, wicked men cannot thus partake o… Chriſt in this Sacrament. The… wante a hand to lay holde o… Chriſt, a mouth to receiue Chriſ… a ſtomack to diſgeſt Chriſt, a… can only ta… of the outward el… ments of Bread and Wine, to the preſeruation of a temporall life: but can in no wiſe ſo partake of them, as they may ſerue for the ſtrengthening of their ſoules vn…o eternall life. For heerein indeed, is that true which the holy Ghoſt ſpeakes of the word prea…hed: That it profited not, Heb. 4.2.becauſe …t was not mixed with faith in them …hat heard it. So, euen ſo may it be …ayd of this Sacrament, that it …rofiteth not, becauſe it is not …ixed with faith in them that …eceiue it. But this point was ſuf…ciently declared in that part of …he communicants examination …hich ſhewed the great neceſſity …f faith to the due receiuing of his Sacrament. The vſes follow.
Vſe. 1 Seeing then that the faithfull …nely feed on Chriſt, in this Sa…rament, wee may hence learne, that all men doe not receiue alike: Some catch onelyonly the Shaddowe, ſome lay holde vponupon the Subſtance: Some feede on Chriſt, others feede onelyonly on the elements of Bread and Wine. Some are ſtrengthened in the inward Man, and Chriſt doth dwell in their hearts by faith▪ Others againe hauehave but the body only refreſhed, and their ſouls in the meane time, hunger-ſtar… ued and ready to periſh. VntoUnto ſome this Sacrament is a ſauou… of Life vntounto Life, vntounto others the wofull ſauour of Death vntounto Death: and eating the ſame vnworthily, eate and drinke Iudgement vntounto themſelues. And thi… is the condition of all ſuch a… want faith.
Vſe. 2 Secondly, ſeeing the faithful reape ſuch benefite by the reuerent vſe of this ſacrament, to feed on Chriſt, and to bee nouriſhed vntounto eternall life. Whereas wicked men that want faith, reap no fruit or benefite by it But on the contrary, this Sacrament is as poyſon vntounto them, and prooues the very bane of their Soules, ſo as they eat and drink their owne damnation.
This ſhewes what ought to be the care of eueryevery godly Paſtor …nd faithfull Miniſter, euen to …arre from ſo ſacred an Ordi…ance, all ſuch as ſhewe themſelues vnfaithfull, and impeni…ent, and in whoſe liues there ap…eares not the worke of Sancti…ication, all are not indifferent… alike to be admitted for that …ere to make ye Church of Chriſt … Stye of Swine: No, Holy things …e not to be giuen to Dogs. Mat. 7.A naked ſword in the hand of a child or mad-man that cannot vſe it. Let diſcipline hauehave her place, and wicked men as rotten members cut off, that ſo they may bee brought to the ſight of their ſinnes, and repentance for the ſame, that the reſt may feare, and ſo be preſerued in ſound doctrine, and holineſſe of life and conuerſation.
Note.Oh, if Miniſters would but conſider of this, that in giuing of theſe Seales to any, they do thu… much, as if they ſhould ſay vntounto eueryevery one whom they do admit; I as the Miniſter of Chriſt, and in hi… ſtead, do by theſe Seales aſſure thee that thou art the childe of God, … member of Chriſt, who is wholly thine, for thy eternall Saluation which to do to a lymb of Satha… how horrible a ſinne were it.
And for this cauſe it is well pro…ided in our Church in this and, that the Miniſter muſt not onelyonly examine ſuch as hee admitteth vntounto the Lords Table, …ut alſo refuſe ſuch as he findeth …o bee ignorant, and can giuegive no …eſtimony of their faith, be out of charitie, or any other wayes …e notoriouſly wicked, and ſhew …o token of repentance. Theſe …nd ſuch like, euen by the order …f our Church ought to bee de…arred & not ſuffered to partake …f the Lords Supper. So yt, what Miniſter can admit ſuch, but …uſt incur Gods heauy diſplea…ure, abuſe his Sacred ordinance, …reeue Gods faithfull people, …ncourage others in ſin, & make …imſelf guiltie of other mens ini…uities, then the which, what can …e more fearefull.
Furthermore Miniſters muſt know that this Sacrament is the Lords broade ſeale of eternall life. The keepers whereof are the Miniſters of God. Now therfore as the Lord-keeper of the Kings broad ſeale is guiltie of of great offence, if not of treaſon it ſelfe, that ſhould giuegive it without authoritie from his Maieſtie: How much more haynous is that Miniſters ſinne, who ſhall giuegive the ſeale of Gods kingdome to ſuch, as he is not able to iuſtifie it before God, that is fit for the ſame.
This I ſpeake not as though I meant that any man can iudge of the heart, for that is proper to the Lord. OnelyOnly this I ſay, that God who hath made his Miniſters keepers of his ſeale, hath plainely ſhewed to whome they muſt deliuer it, and hath put as it were a rule and meaſure into their hands to meaſure eueryevery one by, that ſo they may know whom to allow, & whome to diſallow.
Vſe. 3 Thirdly and laſtly, ſeeing that onelyonly ye faithfull feede on Chriſt vntounto eternall life, and that to be…eeue in Chriſt, is to eate Chriſt. This may miniſter matter of ſinguler comfort and conſolation vntounto the Godly, in time of …ryall, tribulation, Sickneſſe and …ther aduerſitie, to conſider, …hat howſoeuer by ſickneſſe, per…ecution, impriſonment &c, they …ay bee kept from partaking of …is holy banquet, they cannot …e kept from partaking of Chriſt …y faith, and howſoeuer they …ay be ſeperated from the con…regation and ſocietie of the faithful, yet they hauehave ſtil a ſecret and ſweete fellowſhip & ſocietie with Chriſt their head, who will accept of the will for the deede, and anſwer the deſires of their Soules when they cannot come vntounto his ordinance, with a gracious ſupply of his owne ſpirit.
Now as we hauehave heard what it is to eate Chriſt, viz. to beleeue in Chriſt, and that it is a priuiledg that belongs only vntounto the faithfull ſo to doe.
So now we are to obſerue our ſpirituall vnion, which by this meanes wee ſhall hauehave with Chriſt.
The Godly hauehave communion with Chriſt in this Sacrament.For this word Eate and Drinke ſerues to ſet out vntounto vsus our Spirituall vnion and communion that we hauehave with Chriſt, being made now bone of his bone, and fleſh of his fleſh. That as verily as wee ſee and feele our bodyes to bee nouriſhed and fed by the outward elements. So, euen ſo vndoubtedly are our ſoules likewiſe nouriſhed & ſtrengthened, by the body and bloud of Ieſus Chriſt, applyed by Faith. So as ye true beleeuer becomes now aſſured that Chriſt Ieſus with all the merits of his death and paſſion, becomes to be his righteouſneſſe and obedience, and doth …ruly belong vntounto him, ſeeing Chriſt is his. Euen as truly as Bread and Wine is turned into his ſubſtance, and becomes his, ſo Chriſt and his benefites becomes …is likewiſe.Chriſt in this Sacrament doth giuegive the true beleeuer a ſure poſſeſſion of himſelfe. So that the Inſtruction Doct. 5 that doth ariſe hence to the …ndleſſe comfort of eueryevery true …eleeuer, is
That Chriſt Ieſus in this Sa…rament of his Supper doth giuegive vntounto the true beleeuer, a ſure poſſeſſion of himſelfe. And heereby wee come to bee ingrafted into Chriſt, and to hauehave a ſpiritual being in him.
So that as the ſpirituall eateing of Chriſt, conſiſteth in faith, by the which the true beleeuer doth truly partake of Chriſt, ſo doth it in a conſequent and effect of faith, which is our ſpirituall vnion and coniunction we hauehave with Chriſt. And this the Apoſtle calleth a Great miſtery. Speaking of Chriſt and his Church:Ephe. 5.32. for what vnion can be greater or ſtronger then that which is betweene the thing nourſhing, and the thing nouriſhed. The cup of bleſſing (ſaith Paul) which we bleſſe▪ is it not the communion of the bloud of Chriſt? 1 Cor. 10.16.And the bread which we breake, is it not the communion of the body of Chriſt? And the Bread and wine, are not onelyonly pleadges of what ſhall bee beſtowed vponupon …s, but effectuall meanes to con…erre & exhibite the things promiſed vntounto vsus. Yet what can be …earer vntounto vsus then our Meate …nd Drinke. Wee can hauehave no …reater intereſt into any thing …hen in our foode, for that is part …f our ſelues, and turnes into our …ery ſubſtance, and there is no …e member of the body, but …ceiues life and ſtrength from … what then can more liuely ex…reſſe this vnion and coniuncti…n, yt wee hauehave with Chriſt, then …read and Wine, in this Sacra…ent doth.
… am not ignorant, how the ſpi… of God in the Scripture, doth …der diuers ſimilitudes, labour … ſet out this our vnion and coniunction with Chriſt, as by the Similitude of a Marriage, the ſtrongeſt coniunction tha… can be betwixt any. By a building, whereof Chriſt is the foundation. By a tree, whereof Chri… is the Roote, wee the branches: Nay more, which is ſtrange, the… is ſcarce two things in nature come to bee made one: But th… ſpirit of God in ſome one plac… or other doth borrowe a compariſon from the ſame, to expreſ… our vnion and communion tha… wee hauehave with Chriſt. But amongſt al other things none ca… more liuely ſet out the ſame vnt… vsus, then this Sacrament doth where Chriſt doth in a moſt liuely manner communicate himſelfe vntounto the true beleeuer. … the which, he comes to be tran… formed, and tranſ-changed int… into the Godly Nature, 2. Pet. 1.4.making vsus one with himſelfe.
Obiect. But Chriſt is in heauen, and we are vponupon earth, how then can …t bee that wee are vnited vntounto him?
Anſw. I anſwere, that though Chriſt …e in heauen, and we on earth, …o diſtance of place can hinder his vnion, inaſmuch as it is ſpi…ituall, and ſo hath Chriſt promi…ed to be preſent with hi… church …nto the end of the world,Ioh. 14. ſpiri…ally. We may ſee this to bee …eare, by the members of Chriſts …yſticall body, howſoeuer they …e ſcattered and diſperſed tho…wout the whol earth, and hauehave …uer ſeene each other, yet are …otwithſtanding knit together … the bond of one ſpirit into an …ly Communion,Note. and hauehave in …em a fellow feeling of the miſeries one of another.
Then why ſhould wee doubt but that the head and members of this myſticall body, are alſo one by the ſame ſpirite, though Chriſt be in heauen, and wee vponupon earth. There needes not any corporall preſence for the effecting of this vnion, his ſpirite is ſufficient while we abide heere, which is giuen to all that truely beleeue.
Now from this ground of a Chriſtian mans vnion with Chriſ… there proceedes many comforts.
Comforts ariſing from our vnion with ChriſtFirſt then, ſeeing we are vnite… vntounto Chriſt, and made one wit… him, heere-hence ariſeth a not… ble comfort; That the Lord Ieſus Chriſt,1 Comfort. who ſanctified o… Nature, that hee might aſſum… it, hee will alſo ſanctifie vsus, i… aſmuch as hee hath vnited vsus vntounto himſelfe. It is not ſo leaft vntounto vsus to doe, as that the Lord Ieſus Chriſt will bee a meere patient, but hee hath taken it into his owne hand to perfourme. Moſes may marry an AEthiopian, but hee cannot change her colour: but the Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſhall make to himſelfe a glorious Church, Eph. 5.27.not hauing ſpot nor wrinkle. And from him ſhal we hauehave ſuch a garment as ſhall couer all our nakedneſſe from Gods ſight, Euen Chriſt our righteouſneſſe, who being vnited vntounto vsus, and we vntounto him, ſhal couer vsus therwith. For, ſhall the woman in the Goſpell but touch Chriſts garment, & be cured, and …hal we be incorporated into his body,Mat. 9.20. and made one with him, and not hauehave the running ſores of our corruptions ſtayd, and more and more ſolued in vsus, by the worke of Gods Spirite that is in vsus.
2 Comfort.Secondly, we hauehave by our vnion with Chriſt, a communion of eſtates; for being vnited vntounto him, he muſt needes be touched with compaſſion of our infirmities. This is clearely to be ſeene in a naturall body, as the Apoſtle witneſſeth:1. Cor. 12.16. If one member ſuffer, all ſuffer with it. The foote cannot be payned, but the head is affected with it; one finger cannot ake, but al the body ſuffers payn. Euen ſo it fares in this myſticall body: He that toucheth you, touch the apple of mine eye. Zach. 2.8.There being a moſt ſweete and ſecret ſympathy betwixt Chriſt and his members, ſo as to perſecute them, is to perſecute him,Act. 9.4. Mat. 25.40. he ſtill partaking with them in their weale or woe; a ſweete comfort.
Thirdly, we hauehave by vertue of this vnion and coniunction with Chriſt,3 Comfort. a moſt certaine aſſurance of the reſurrection of theſe our bodies to life eternal, for ſo ſaith the Apoſtle;Rom. 8.11. If the ſpirite of him that rayſed vp Ieſus from the dead dwel in you, he that rayſed vp Chriſt from the dead, ſhall alſo quicken your mortall bodies, by his Spirite that dwelleth in you. And this is likewiſe confirmed by that of our Sauiour, where he ſayth;Ioh. 6.33.54.58. Whoſoeuer eateth my fleſh, and drinketh my …loud, hath eternall life, and I will …ayſe him vp at the laſt day. What …hough theſe bodies of ours, for … time doe taſt corruption, they …hall not periſh in corruption. Trees, and plants of the earth in …he winter ſeaſon, appeare like dead trees, without leaues or fruite, but in the Spring time they budde, bloſſome, and bring forth. And the reaſon is, becauſe of that vnion and coniunction which they hauehave with the roote, where lies the Sappe all the Winter ſeaſon. Euen ſo, by vertue of our vnion and coniunction we hauehave with Chriſt, theſe decayd bodies of ours ſhall one day riſe againe, and that to life eternall, where we ſhall euer enioy the Lord.
And laſt of all, this our vnion with Chriſt,4 Comfort. vvhat doeth it but aſſure vsus of the grace of perſeuerance, that we ſhall holde out firme and conſtant vntounto the ende, ſo as the gates of hell ſhall neuer preuaile againſt vsus. And the reaſon is cleare:Mat 16.16. Rom. 11.18 VVee beare not the Roote, the Roote beareth vsus. VVee are faſt knit vntounto him that is the Lorde of Life. Wee are built vponupon a ſure foundation,Epheſ. 2.20 Chriſt himſelfe beeing the chiefe Corner ſtone. And Becauſe I am not changed, therefore yee are not conſumed, Oh yee Sons of Iacob. And ſurely in time of temptation, this is a ſure ſtay vntounto Gods people, to conſider the manifold priuiledges that follow ſuch as are vnited vntounto Chriſt. Now the vſe in a word.
Vſe. Seeing the godly are thus knit vntounto Chriſt, and hauehave ſuch an vnion and coniunction with him, it ſhews, as the happy and bleſſed eſtate of all thoſe that are thus vnited vntounto Chriſt, in regarde of their manifold priuiledges they enioy by him: So the miſerable eſtate and condition of ſuch as are left in their olde ſinnes, as wild Oliues, not plucked vp, and planted into the ſtocke Chriſt: Their nature is not change, Chriſt partakes not with them in their ſufferings, but the ſame is inflicted as a iudgment of God vponupon them. Little comfort can ſuch hauehave in their life, whoſe hope and glory is but vaine, and dyeth with them, if not before them: Leſſe comfort in death, inaſmuch as Iudgement doeth follow,Heb. 9.27. and they are then to giuegive vp their account vntounto God. Poore ſoules, if ſuch onelyonly bee happy and bleſſed, who hauehave the Lord for their God, and are thus knit vntounto him, oh, where ſhal the vngodly and ſinner appeare, that are ſolyable vntounto al miſeries, croſſes, and curſes in this life, & hereafter to bee ſeparated for euer from his glorious preſence: But of this before.
And thus much for ye firſt circumſtance, what it is to Eate, and what to Drinke. The ſecond, fol…oweth, and that is what we eate, …nd what we drinke.
Of this Bread: Of this Cup.
It is Bread then that we eate,2 Circumſtance what it is that we Eate and Drinke. …nd it is Wine that wee drinke, …wo of ye moſt excellent creatures …hat God ordained for the vſe … comfort of mans life, the one, … ſtrengthen mans heart. The o…er, to glad mans heart. For vſe …nd comfort, what would wee …aue more, and therefore of all …her creatures the fitteſt for …ch an holy vſe. Teaching vsus …us much.
Doct. 6 That the true beleeuer that …rtakes of Chriſt,Chriſt eueryevery way a ſufficient Sauiour vntounto the elect. as eueryevery true …leeuer doth in this Sacrament, ſhall find him eueryevery way a ſufficient Sauiour, whatſoeuer our wants are, wee ſhall here finde a Supply made vntounto them all; for the weake; here is Bread to ſtrengthen them. For the ſorrowfull here is Wine to comfort them, And thus doth the Lord by his prophet Eſay make a free and a large profer of his heauenly graces vntounto his Church, yea ſuch good things as ſhall make a Supply vntounto all our wants. H…e eueryevery one that thirſteth, Eſay. 55.1.come ye vntounto the waters: And ye that hauehave no ſiluer come buy and eate, come I ſay, buy Wine and Milke without money &c. Whereby Wine and Milke &c. are to bee vnderſtood the graces of Gods ſpirit, yea ſuch good things as wil fit eueryevery man… turne, according to their ſeuerall neceſſities. Some hauehave Sorrowfull hearts, for ſuch he hath wine to comfort them. Some are Babes, for ſuch hee hath Milke to nouriſh them. Others are feeble …nd weake, for ſuch hee hath Bread to ſtrengthen them, …thers are grown Chriſtians and …eſpect their pleaſure, and vntounto …hem hee hath Let your Soule de…ght in fatneſſe. So yt Chriſt is all … all vntounto all,Col. 1.19. for ſo ſaith the A…oſtle, It pleaſed the Father, that in …m ſhould all fulneſſe dwell. And …his fulneſſe wee all receiue grace …r grace. Mat. 1.21.Hee is Ieſus a Sauiour …d ſhall ſaue his people from their …nes. Hee is the way, the truth, 1. Cor. 10.3.4.…d the life, and there is ſaluation … none other. Say wee then …th the Apoſtle, Lord whether …ll we goe? thou haſt the words of …rnall life. It ſhall little auaile to goe to Saints or Angels, or the Virgin Mary, to procure a pardon from the Pope, indulgence &c. in aſmuch as for al our wants, of what nature ſoeuer, here we may hauehave ſupply.
The reaſons followes.
Reaſon. 1 For firſt, the Lord Ieſus Chriſt he hath ſatiſfied the law fully in the rigor thereof, & by his death hath remoued the curſe: euen that iudgement, that was due for ſinne. As alſo by his obedience merited our peace and procured the bleſſing. So that now we may ſafely reaſon with the Apoſtle▪ If when we were enemies wee were reconciled vntounto God by the death o… his Sonne: Rom. 5.10.how much more being reconciled, we ſhall be ſaued by his life The reaſon is cleare.
Reaſon. 2 Secondly, God the Father i… he that was offended with mankinde, for his diſobedience, and he it is, yt threatneth the curſe an… …flicteth the puniſhment, now …ath not he appoynted his own …onne to bee our peace-maker? … worke-mans reconciliation? …nd to make Attonment for vsus? …ow then can he but be pleaſed …ith his owne ſacrifice, and ac…ept of the obedience of Chriſt: …naſmuch as he appoynted him … ſuffer for the ſame end.
Reaſon. 3 Thirdly, the infinit power …at is in Chriſt Ieſus, and the …onderfull validitie that is in his …bedience and ſufferings, doth …eare this truth, and to the end…ſſe comfort of eueryevery chriſtian …ule may ſettle our iudgements, …d comfort our conſciences, …at Chriſt is eueryevery way a ſuffici…t Sauiour vntounto the true belee…r, that As by ones mans diſobedi…ce many became ſinners, euen ſo, Rom. 5.19.… the obedience of one, many be made righteous. The meanes that Chriſt hath vſed, being more forceable to repaire our breaches, and to ſet vsus at libertie, then Adams ſi… could be to procure our miſery, and to keepe vsus in bondage.
Reaſon. 4 And vntounto all that hath bee… ſaid, may be added the wonderfull louelove of Ieſus Chriſt toward his Church and people, who a… hee is a Prince of wonderful… riches, power and glory, bein… the Soueraigne Lord of al thing… and hath in his power and po… ſeſſion great varitie of all goo… things. So is hee ready and wi… ling to communicate the ſam… vntounto others, calling vponupon men … come, and to Eate, and to Refre… themſelues with good things. An… who can doubt of this, that he… that was ſo willing to lay down… his life a ranſome for vsus, when w… were his enemies, can deny vsus any good thing, inaſmuch as we are now reconciled vntounto him. Oh no, the Lord is very bountifull and needes not to be ſparing as man in his gifts, in aſmuch as in him lie hid all the treaſures of life and of happineſſe.
Vſe. 1 This ſerues, to refute that horrible doctrine and practice of …he Church of Rome, that leaue …he fountaine, & dig vntounto themſelues ciſternes that can holde …o water. I meane which leaue …eſus Chriſt, in whome all the …reaſures of happineſſe are hid …nd through whoſe ſufferings a…one we come to hauehave life, and …o relye vppon the merits of …aints and Angels, and ſo patch …nd peece out their owne merits …ith others, denying the free iu…ification of a ſinner by Chriſt alone, a Doctrine; then the which, what can bee more derogatory to the bloud of Chriſt, when men ſhall mingle heauen and earth together, the merits of fraile men, with the al-ſufficient ſufferings of Ieſus Chriſt.
Vſe. 2 Secondly, this may miniſter matter of ſinguler ioy and conſolation vntounto the Godly; tha… Chriſt is eueryevery way a ſufficien… …au iour. Whatſoeuer then ou… wants and neceſſities are: Le… Chriſt be our refuge, and to him let vsus goe, heere wee may hau… ſupply made vntounto them all Chriſt is a gracious helpe an… remedy vntounto all afflicted conſciences, hee hath promiſed t… ſatisfie the hungry, and to refreſ… the thirſtie ſoule, yea hee will fi… vsus with all good things, an… neuer ſend vsus away emptie.
Of this Bread: Of this Cup.
Doct. 7 Note further heere, that the true Communicant is not onelyonly to Eate, but to Eate and Drinke▪ Chriſt deliuered both theſe ſignes, not onelyonly the Bread, but the Wine alſo vntounto the Diſciples. So that the inſtruction is, That both kinds by the Miniſter are to be deliuered,Communicants are to partake of both kinds. and both kindes by the Communicant are to bee receiued: not Bread onelyonly, nor Wine onelyonly, but Bread and Wine.
And great Reaſon.
Reaſon. 1 For firſt, it is Chriſts commandement that wee ſhould doe …o. After a man hath examined …imſelfe, he is inioyned To Eate …f this Bread, and Drink of this Cup. Luk. 22.19. 1. Cor. 11.24. Luk. 22.20. Ioh. 6.54.And often are theſe words vſed …y Chriſt; Take, eate, this is my bo…y, which is giuen for you, and …hich is broken for you. And ſo for the Wine, Drinke ye all of this: and This is my bloud which is ſhed for you. This then being Chriſts commaundement, and his owne ordinance, doeth bind all to this duety.
Reaſon. 2 Secondly, the true communicant ought to partake of both ſignes, and communicate vnderunder both kinds, in regard that Chriſts bloud was indifferently ſhed for all the faithfull; for the Layetie aſwell as the Clergie, and All are commaunded to ſhewe foorth Chriſts death vntil he come, and how ſhall this bee done, but by eating of the Bread, & drinking of the Wine: for ſo ſayth the Apoſtle;1. Cor 11.26. As often a… yee ſhall eate o… this Bread, and drinke of this Cup ye ſhew the Lords death till he come▪ And againe, of the Wine, Chriſ… ſayth thus; This is my body, whic… is ſhed for you, and for many, for the remiſsion of ſins. Mat. 26.28.Why then ſhould the bloud of Chriſt, or the Cup, which doth repreſent the ſame vntounto vsus, bee denied them vntounto whom Chriſt hath giuen it. If …hey hauehave part in Chriſts death, which is the thing ſignified, why …hen not in the Signe and Seale …hereof?
Reaſon. 3 Thirdly, to receiue this Sacrament vnderunder one kind, is to make …he condition of Chriſtians vn…er the Goſpell, inferiour to the …ſtate of the people of Iſraell vn…er the Law: For what ſayth the …poſtle;1. Cor. 10.4 They did all drink of that …iritual Rocke that followed them, …d that Rocke was Chriſt. But …at were abſurd, to make the …ndition of ſuch that liued vn…er the ſhadow, to excel the con…tion of ſuch as liue vnderunder, and enioy the ſubſtance, no, no, the Lord doth more highly honour his Church vnderunder the Goſpell, then ſo to keepe them back from any priuiledge they enioyed vnderunder the Law.
Vſe 1 This doth ſhew how ſacrilegiouſly the Church of Rome doth deale with the people, who will not ſuffer them to partake of this Sacrament in both kindes, but depriue them altogether of the Cup, ſeparating thoſe thinge… which God hath ioyned together, and ſo bereaue the poore people of GOD of the ſweet… comfort of this Sacrament, making them but a dry feaſt only o… Bread, whereas Chriſt hath inſtituted and appointed Wine aſwe… as Bread, to be vſed in this Sacrament, of all ſuch as come prepared thereunto.
Now if any ſhould aske,Why Bread and Wine. why Chriſt ſhould make choyce of Bread and Wine, rather then any other creature, to repreſent his death and paſſion in this Sacrament.
I anſwer, becauſe it is his will: and if there were no other reaſon to be aſſigned, this were ſufficient, and with this we ought …o reſt contented, it is his pleaſure, it is his will. As it is ſayde …oncerning the preaching of the Goſpell:1. Cor. 1.21 It pleaſed God by the foo…ſhneſſe of preaching, to ſaue them …hat beleeue.
Yet there may bee other rea…ons giuen, wherefore Chriſt in … ſpeciall manner might make …hoyce of theſe ſignes in this Sa…rament.
Becauſe Bread is the moſt ordi…ary food of the body, and therfore called the Staffe of mans life, So is Chriſt the foode of the ſoul, by the which we are nouriſhed vntounto eternall life: Howbeit theſe elements doe but in part ſhadow out the ſame, the one being earthly, the other heauenly, the one ſeruing but to preſerue a temporall life, and that but for a time: the other tending to the preſeruation of a ſpirituall life, and that for euer.
And heerein indeed do theſe ſignes make wonderfully for Gods glory, in that hee ſhoulde make choyce of ſuch weake meanes, that ſo his glory might appeare. If we had bin to receiue… any other ſignes, or things of a… higher nature, we ſhould hauehave been ready to hauehave pored ſo vponupon the ſhadow, as that we ſhould hauehave loſt the ſubſtance, and ou… ſenſes woulde hauehave beene more wrought vponupon then our heartes, which the Lord in his wiſedome hath preuented, in giuing vsus theſe ſignes of Bread and Wine.
Of this Bread: Of this Cup.
Doct. 8 Laſt of all, obſerue heere that if Chriſt took, gaue,Bread and Wine retain ſtill their natures. and deliuered Bread and Wine, then they muſt needes retaine their former natures, and their former proper ſubſtance, and ſtill remaine the ſame elementes, euen after the words of conſecration. Againſt the doctrine of the Church of Rome, which holde, that after the words of conſecration, there remaineth no Bread at all, but that it is tranſubſtantiated into the very body & bloud of Chriſt, a meer fable and fantaſie, againſt all diuinity, philoſophy, reaſon, ſenſe, and experience.
Reaſons againſt tranſubſtantiation.Firſt, it doth ouerthrow the very nature of a Sacrament, which conſiſteth of two partes: an outward ſigne, & an inviſible grace. Now then, if after the wordes of conſecration, the Bread & Wine were tranſubſtantiated into the very body and bloud of Chriſt, then the ſigne muſt needes bee taken away, and the element ouerthrowne.
Secondly, the Lord leads vsus to the ſpirituall vſe of this Sacrament by ſenſe, thus: that as the ſubſtance of the bread and wine receiued, ſtrengtheneth and comforteth the body, euen ſo Chriſt receiued by faith,Ioh. 6.33. doeth nouriſh and ſtrengthen the ſoule. Now then, to take away the naturall vſe of this ſacrament, wherin can our faith be cōfirmed & ſtrengthened, which euer relies vponupon this in the vſe of this Sacrament that as the bread and wine ſerueth to nouriſh and feede our bodies, ſo doth Chriſt Ieſus and the merits of his death & paſſion feede our ſoules, ſo that while they take away the ſubſtance of bread and wine in this Sacrament, the very nature and ſpirituall vſe of the Sacrament is taken away with it.
Thirdly, wee now that liue …nder the Goſpell receiue the ſame in ſubſtance, which our …ore-fathers did vnderunder the Lawe. But the Manna they eate off, and …he Spirituall Rock they dranke …f,1. Cor. 10.1 was not Chriſts body and …loud corporally, becauſe hee …as not then come in the fleſh, …either had he taken our nature …pon him. Therefore it was by …ith that they fed on Chriſt vn…er the law. Neither is there any other feeding on Chriſt vnderunder the Goſpell.
Fourthly, if the bread & wine ſhould ſo miraculouſly be turned into the very body and bloud o… Chriſt, how could it bee, that i… ſhould not appeare vntounto the outward ſenſes? for our ſenſes ſtill apprehend the ſame to bee Bread and Wine. The eye ſeeth it, the taſte deſerneth it, to bee Bread and not fleſh, to bee Win… and not bloud. And therefor… that doctrine of tranſubſtantiation is moſt falſe and abſurd.
I might hereunto adde diue… reaſons of this nature: As namely if that ſhould be granted the… mayntaine, what abſurditie… would follow it. As Hypocrite… ſhoulde then eate the fleſh o… Chriſt, and ſo be ſaued, inaſmuc… as Chriſt hath ſaid. Hee that eateth my fleſh, and drinketh my bloud, Ioh. 6.15.54.hath eternall life.
Beſides, what canibals would they make of chriſtians, to feede vponupon mans fleſh, which nature it ſelfe doth abhorre.
And to make a naturall body …n diuers places at one time, which cannot be.
Vſe. And laſt of all, as this doctrine ſerueth to confute our aduerſaries the Papiſts, that hold there …s no bread at all in the Lord Supper. So it maketh no leſſe againſt ſuch as conceiue there is nothing …ut bread to bee expected there, …nd this is, the condition of many thouſands, that come …hereunto. They are not able to …o diſcerne of the Lords body: …oore Soules, they want the eye …f faith, and this muſt be ſpiritually diſcerned. Whereas the true beleeuer, beholds the Lord truly although not corporally to offer vntounto him Ieſus Chriſt, with al the precious merits of his death and obedience▪ vntounto his endeleſſe comfort, though naturall men neither ſee nor feele it, inaſmuch as they being not able to diſcerne of the Lords body, come vntounto this Supper as to their appoynted and ordinary foode.
And thus much for the Apoſtles precept or commandement▪ Let a man therefore exam, &c.
Let vsus pray.