Christs Last Supper, Title page – Dedication
CHRISTS LAST Supper OR The Doctrine of the Sacrament of Chriſts Supper, ſet forth in fiue Sermons.
Wherein is taught the great neceſſitie of a godly preparation, before men come to the Sacrament. Wherein it doth conſiſt: with the condemnation threatned againſt the vnworthy receiuer of the ſame.
BY SAMVEL SMITH, Miniſter of Gods word at Prittlewell, in Eſſex.
IOHN 6.27.
Labour not for the Meate that periſheth, but for the Meate that indureth vntounto euerlaſting life, which the Sonne of Man ſhall giuegive vntounto you.
LONDON Printed by T. D. for Iohn Bellamie, and are to bee ſold at the South Entrance of the Royall Exchange. 1620.
TO THE HONORABLE Sir FERDINANDO DVDLEY, Knight of the Noble order of the Bath, and Sonne and Hei…e vntounto the Right Honorable Edward L. Dudley. And to the Honorable and vertuous Lady, the Lady Honor Dudley his wife. S. S. wiſheth the increaſe of all true Honour in this life, and eternal Glory in the life to come.
HONORABLE
IF the Lord did not like, that men ſhould ſorake and gather their fields, as nothing might remaine for the poore to glean after: Aſſuredly, himſelf ſuffereth not the great and glorious Field of his Word, to be ſo reaped downe by any (beeing a Fountain of liuing waters, neuer to be drawn dry: and containing in it the very hid wiſdom of God). But ſomething remaineth, which the poore may come after, and gather vp. I confeſſe, that many of Gods worthy Seruants hauehave taken paines in this kind, and that vponupon this ſubiect, The Doctrin of the Sacrament, to the great benefit of thoſe who deſire to be acquainted with the ſame, how to come prepared vntounto the Lords Table: yet as a poore man, and one that hath a great charge, I hauehave come after, and gathered a gleane or two out of the Lords field, for me and mine, from the which none are forbidden, but rather, inuited to come, and take freely. And albeit, it be but a little that I hauehave gathered, yet with the VViddowes Oyle and Meale, which alſo was but little, may notwithſtanding (by Gods blesſing) bee good releefe vntounto the poorer ſort, that want better prouiſion: Whatſoeuer it be, to your Honors it comes for ſhelter and protection▪ And why ſhould I any whit doubt of your Honourable acceptance, hauing known you (Syr) from your youth, to be both religiouſly educated, and for your ſober, ſtudious, and moſt religious Conuerſation, worthily held your Countries Honour. And for your Honourable LADY, aboue many of her ranke, eſpecially in thoſe partes, God hath ſeaſoned her affection with louelove to the Trueth, and tender reſpect vntounto the deſpiſed Miniſtery amongſt you: who reioyce in you both, and expect that as God hath honoured you aboue others, ſo you ſhold ſtill countenance his ſeruants, and ſhine as lights, in the midſt of a crooked and peruerſe generation. And when the Lorde ſhall call you (Syr) into greater imployment in the Common-wealth, the Church will expect, you ſhould promote her cauſes, and ſtand still in the maintenance of pure religion. Goe on therefore I beſeech you ſtill, in that good way you hauehave begun: VVhat though ye find little encouragement from the World, your reward is with the Lord. It was the great prayſe of Righteous Lot, that he liued Righteouſly in that age, and in that place: I leaue the application. Theſe beeing the dayes fore-tolde by our bleſſed Sauiour, wherein men, as in the dayes of Noah, Luk. 17.26.27.and Lot, doe Eate and Drinke, Buy, Build, and Plant, &c. Altogether vnmindfull of him who is readie to come as a Theefe in the Night: At what time they onelyonly ſhall be bleſſed that watch.
I hauehave endeauoured in the Sermons following, to ſhew men the way how to perfourme aright, one of the most excellent partes of Gods worſhip, the receiuing of the Sacrament of Chriſts Supper: wherein I hauehave laboured to proue the great neceſſi-of a godly preparation that muſt be made thereunto, wherein it doeth conſiſt, the m…anes to be vſed to Communicate worthily As alſo, the great hurt and danger that is like to follow the vnworthy receiuing of the ſame.
Theſe are the things that are here offered vntounto you. I confeſſe, you deſerue a better oblation, then the tender of this ſmall Booke: But may I adde, but one graine to your godly care of a Chriſtian life, with which I offer my moſt inward affections, I hauehave my expectation I know your ſufficiencie in this kind, aboue many of my profesſion, yet I reſt aſſured, you will not refuſe the helpe of thoſe whoſe function and calling it is to attend thereon: and in an humble maner offers the ſame vntounto you.
And ſo I commend you both to that God,Iude 24 who is able to keepe you, that you fall not: and to that VVorde of his grace, Act. 20.32. Luk. 10.42.which as it hath taught you, to chuſe the good part, that ſhal not be taken from you ſo is able, to build you vp further, and to giuegive you an inheritance amongſt thoſe that are ſanctified. And reſt
Prittlewell this 18. of Nouember 1620. Your HONORS in the Lord Ieſus to be commaunded SAMVEL SMITH.