A Direction for Weaker Christians, Part – To the reader
A BRIEFE FORME OF TRIALL; Whether one bee in any measure fit to receiue the Sacrament of the Lord… SVPPER.
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Question.
WHy doe you desire to receiue the sacrament of the Lords Supper?
Answer.
Because it is one of the special ordinances of Iesus Christ, 1. Cor. 11.23.
Q. Who is Iesus Christ?
A. The only begotten son of God, & Redeemer of mankinde, Mat. 3.17.
Q. From what hath Christ redeemed mankinde?
A. From euerlasting death and condemnation.
Q. How came mankinde subiect thereunto?
A. By sinning against God in breaking of his Commandements.
Q. What are those Commandements?
A. God spake these words, and said, &c.
Q. HaueHave all mankinde broken those Commandements?
A. Yea, all, without exception, Rom. 3.10.11.12.23.
Q. Doe you beleeue, that the breach of these Commandements doe deserue euer…asting death and condemnation?
A. Yea verily, Gal. 3.10. Rom. 9.13.14.
Q. By what meanes did Christ redeeme mankinde?
A. By his death & bloodshedding vponupon the Crosse, Rom. 5.6.
Q. How could Christ, being the sonne of God, die?
A. He tooke vntounto himselfe the nature of man in the wombe of a Virgin, & so died for man, Mat. 1.18. &c.
Q. Was there no other means to saue a sinner?
A. No verily, Act. 4.12.
Q. Shall all mankinde be saued by Christ?
A. No, but those only who are true beleeuers, Ioh. 3.18.
Q. Who are true beleeuers?
A. Those which rely and depend vponupon Christ Iesus only for the pardon of their sinnes, and for the euerlasting saluation of their soules, Ioh. 3.16.
Q. What shall bee the estate and condition of those that are saued by Christ?
A. They shall raigne with Christ in all ioy and glory for euer & euer in the kingdome of heauen, Mat. 25.34.
Q. What shall be the estate of the rest of mankinde?
A. They shalbe tormented in hell for euer and euer, with the Deuill and his Angels, Mat. 25.41.
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Q. But why hath Christ ordained the receiuing of this Sacrament?
A. For a perpetuall remembrance and shewing foorth of his death and passion in his Church, Luc. 22.19.
Q. How is this done?
A. By applying the things signified to the outwarde signes.
Q. What are the outward signes?
A. Breaking and eating of Bread, and drinking of Wine.
Q. What doth the bread and wine signifie?
A. The Body and Blood of Christ.
Q. What doth the breaking and eating of the bread, and the drinking of the wine signifie?
A. The suffrings of Christ in his Body vponupon the Crosse, and the benefit that eueryevery true beleeuer receiueth thereby.
Q. For whom hath Christ ordained this Sacrament?
A. For all true Christians, that are of yeeres of discretion.
Q. Who are true Christians?
A. All those who being baptized, doe vnfainedly professe their beleefe in Christ.
Q. Where is this Sacrament to be receiued?
A. In the Church, 1. Cor. 11.22.
Q. What is a Church?
A. An holy Assembly ioining together in the worship and seruice of Iesus Christ, 1. Cor. 11.20.
Q. VVherein consistes the woorship and seruice of Iesus Christ?
A. In hearing his word, receiuing his Sacraments, and calling vponupon his name.
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Q. What is the benefit that comes by the receiuing of this Sacrament?
A. A further certainty and assurance of saluation by the death of Christ.
Q. What reason is there for that?
A. Because Christ hath instituted it to bee a seale of the couenant of grace, Rom. 4.11.
Q. What is the Couenant of grace?
A. A free offer and promise of saluation to all them that shall truly beleeue in Christ, Ioh. 3.16.
Q. Are all that receiue this Sacrament, partakers of this benefit?
A. No, but such onelyonly as are worthy receiuers thereof, 1. Cor. 11.28.
Q. Who are worthy receiuers thereof?
A. OnelyOnly those, who, vponupon due triall, doe find themselues to be true beleeuers.
Q. By what meanes shall they finde that?
A. By the special fruits and effects of faith.
Q. What are they?
A. An vnfained hatred of sinne, and an endeuour to obey God in all things for Christs sake, Ioh. 3.36.
Q. What if one that is vnworthy doe receiue this Sacrament?
A. He eateth and drinketh his owne iudgement, 1. Cor. 11.29.
Q. What if a man doe contemne to receiue this Sacrament?
A. He therein contemneth the grace of Christ represented thereby?
Q. Doe you vnfainedly hate sinne, and purpose heereafter to liue in obedience vntounto Gods Commandements for Christs sake?
A. Yea by the grace of God through Christ.
FINIS.
THE DOCTRINE of communicating worthily in the LORDS SVPPER. Deliuered by way of Question and Answer, for the more familiar instruction of the simple.
LONDON Printed by William Hall for Samuel Macham, and are to bee sold at his shop in Pauls Church yard at the signe of the Bull-head. 1609.
To the Reader.
GOOD Reader, after that I had yeelded to the publishing of mine owne poore meditations vponupon 1. COR. 11.23. there came to my hands in writing, this ensuing treatise, written some yeeres since by a godly & faithfull Pastor, for the direction of his owne people, in the worthie receiuing of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, at what time hee was first called vntounto them. In the perusall whereof, I being in my selfe well perswaded of the fulnesse and perspicuitie of that doctrine of Preparation, which it propoundeth to intreat of, the orderlie method of euerie part thereof, the plaine and familiar handling of the matter, and that it did supplie many needfull points of instruction that are wanting in mine owne Treatise, I was earnest with the Author to giuegive mee leaue to publish the same, and to adioin it as an ornament and helpe vntounto mine; which with much importunitie at length I hauehave obtained; though in the hard and vniust conceit he intertaineth of it, hee suffers, it in this sort as you see to, come abroad as a Childe of the Earth, without any mention of his name from whom it is descended.
For the spirituall good that thou shalt receiue thereby, blesse the Lord; and pray for the Author, that God would restore him again to that former libertie in his Church, which heeretofore, to the glorie of God, and the comfort of many a Christian soule, hee hath enioied.
Thine in the Lord, W. B.