Two Sermons for the Lords Table, Afterword 1
A WATCH-WORD FOR ALL COMMVNICANTS, BEFORE THEY come to the supper of the LORD.
AS for you Brethren and Sisters that are to communicate, to morrow yee shall see the remembrance of that, which the Sunne in the Heavens could not behold for doole, viz. the bloody passion of our LORD.
* This passion was so sore,Note. that the Sunne, Luke. 23. 45.the eye of the world overclouded himselfe, and as it were winked, vntill the vnspeakable torments of CHRISTS death were past; then were the Heavens covered with a vaile of sacke; then the earth shooke:Note. * The stones, the bones of the earth were rent at the racking of the bones of GOD, the rememberance whereof should make hearts of stone to cleaue asunder.
To morrow, deare Brethren and Sisters we are for to eate with Christ: * Yea tomorrow wee are for to …ate of Christ, Note.who is both the feast and the Feast-maker: To morrow wee are all for to sit at his table, where he will narrowly behold and clearely consider the faces of our soules, and therefore wee must take care this day that our Soules bee washen and baptized with the truest teares of repentance. * I read of Iames and Iohn, while they were vnchristned men, for to speake so, that is, not baptized, they desired the one to sit at CHRISTS right hand, and the other at his left: But the LORD told them, that before such sitting downe, it behoved them to bee baptized with the baptisme of afflictions: Math. 20. 22.Hee and hee onelyonly that is partaker of this Baptisme to day, shall bee made partaker of GODS Supper to morrow. As for these that are not baptized with teares of griefe before they sit downe at Table, the LORD hath sworne that they shall not partake of his feast:Note. * They may well eate panem Domini the LORDS bread, but they shall never taste panem Dominum, the LORD bread.
It shall therefore bee our wisdome, that everie one of vsus bee busie to prepare his owne heart, to decke & trim his soule before hee approach vntounto this TABLE, for to appeare before his GOD:Note. * As Ioseph was trimmed and powled, Genes. 41. 14.before he would appeare before Pharaoh, so must eueryevery soule hauehave the Wedding garment, Math. 22. 11.before it present it selfe before the LORD at his Banket.
Take heede what I say: This day is our preparation day: A day wherein wee must provide that wherewith wee must come before the LORD to morrow:Micah. 6. 6 Note.* If wee doe well, this day must be vntounto vsus all a very painefull day, even a day of Battell against all the pleasures that ever wee had in sinne, since we could discerne good from ill: In this day wee must trye and search carefully all the secrets of our hearts: Note.* This is the time wherein wee must keepe an Assise against our selues, both for to judge and condemne our selues: Note.* In a word, wee must all take such paines in sifting out all our bypast iniquities, that the LORD may say of vsus, as hee said of the woman that broke the Boxe of ointment vponupon his head,Mark. 14. 8 Shee hath done what shee could.
Good Brethren and Sisters! What yee can doe, doe: What yee can not doe, pray GOD to doe it, and to pardon you your impossibility:Note. * I beleeue, Mar. 9. 24(said that poore man with teares, that is all that I can doe;) but I beleeue not as I should, and therefore LORD helpe thou myne vnbeleefe. Let vsus all bee earnest to intreat GOD to giuegive vsus grace to doe what wee can doe, and what wee can not doe that hee would pitie vsus, and pardon vsus.
I reade that in the dayes of Hezekiah, a number of the people which had not cleansed themselues, did eate the Passcover otherwise then it was written; But what befell them? I pray you: Many of them were troubled with sore sickenesse: Note.* But how were they cured of these diseases? It is said that Hezekiah prayed for them: The good LORD, (said hee) pardon every one, that prepareth his heart to seeke GOD, 2. Chron. 30. 18. 19.the LORD GOD of his Fathers, though hee bee not cleansed, according to the purification of the Sanctuary. Now what was the fruite of that prayer? This was it,v. …o. The LORD hearkned to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
That which the Passover was to them, the LORDS Supper is vntounto vsus, even a Sacrament appointed by GOD, for the sealing vp of our Salvation: If wee eate this supper otherwise then it is written, let vsus looke for diverse diseases: For this cause, (saith the Apostle,)1. Corin. …. 30. Many are weake and sickely amongst you, and many sleepe, that is, die. Let vsus therefore, as we would desire our bodies health, and our soules Salvation, prepare ourselues to meete the LORD to morrow: There is none of vsus I confesse, that can prepare himselfe, according to the preparation of the Sanctuary, nor cleanse himselfe according to its purification, No Soule can bee so well prepared and purified, as GOD in his Sanctuary requireth.Note. * But this I dare be bold to say, that the good LORD shall pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seeke GOD; though hee bee not so cleansed, as the purification of the Sanctuary requireth.
GODS word is plaine, that GOD is mercifull: Hee hath sworne by his life, that He deligteth not in the death of sinners. Note.* He hath sent his word for to tell vsus,1. Cor. 11. 31. that If wee will judge our selues, wee shall not bee judged. * Yea such is his mercy,Note. that while wee are chastised with sicknesse or death for our carelesse preparation, he maketh all that to worke to our well, for when wee are judged, wee are chastened of the Lord; 1. Cor. 11. 32.that wee should not bee condemned with the world.
Now good people, not knowing if ever after this yee shall heare or I teach another Preparation Sermon in this place, let me conclude all with that adew of St. Paul, said to the elders of Ephesus at Miletum,Act. 20. 32. I commend you to GOD and to the word of his grace which is able to build you vp, and to giuegive you an inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified.
Passe the rest of this day in a serious meditation of your owne miserie, and of the bloodie agonie of IESUS our Master,Gal. 3. 13. who out of louelove to vsus hang vponupon a cursed tree for to purchase vntounto vsus the everlasting blessings of his Father: To whom with the Sonne of his louelove, and with the Spirit of Comforts, bee Glory and Majestie, Dominion, and Power, now, and ever. Amen,