A Direction for Weaker Christians, Dedication – Errata
A DIRECTION for the weaker sort of Christians, shewing in what manner they ought to fit and prepare themselues to the worthy receiuing of the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ: with a short forme of Triall or Examination annexed. Grounded vponupon 1. Cor. 11. 23.—30. By W.B.
Whereunto is adioined a verie profitable treatise of the same argument, by way of question and answer, written by another.
MATTH. 22.12.
Friend, how camest thou in hither, and hast not on a wedding garment?
London, Printed by W. Hall for Samuel Macham, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Bul-head. 1609.
TO THE VERtuous and worthie Ladie, GRACE DARCY.
Madam,
THose notes which were lately writ foorth for your priuate vse, I am now emboldened to make more common; not for any conceited worth in them, but to auoid the trouble of yeelding satisfaction to other good friends that desire and expect the like office from me. I am sure heerein I shall hurt none, except my selfe; nor so much as offend any, excepting those for whose vse I neuer intended the publishing heereof.
Your Ladiships fauourable acceptance of them in priuate, hath made them thus bold to come foorth in publike, and to grace themselues with the profession of your fauour, which is their greatest ornament.
I hope that you which hauehave giuen them some entertainment in your closet, wil not passe by them as vnknowen, now they present themselues vntounto you in the street: and the rather for that they come not alone, but accompanied and assisted with a most profitable Treatise of the same Argument, written long since by one whom your Ladiship reuerenceth, and whose person and labours in the worke of Christ Iesus are much esteemed of the people of God. I shall not need to admonish you of the vse of either of these Treatises: Themselues, how little soeuer, are in that pointable to speak for themselues. OnelyOnly take heed (good Madam) lest in their withdrawing of you from the damnable sinne of profaning this holie Sacrament, you be not by misconstruction brought vntounto the wicked and superstitious adoration thereof.
Thus in haste, vnfainedly praying the Lord more and more to blesse the worthy Knight your husband, and your selfe, and from heauen to reward those many fauours receiued from you both, I humbly take leaue. Ian. 2. 1608.
Your Ladiships much bounden, W.B.
THE CONTENTS of the Direction following: framed according to the Apostles owne method.
THe first part declareth what a dangerous sin it is to profane the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.
1. By laying downe the principal doctrine of the Sacrament.
2. By inferring and concluding from the said doctrine, the greatnesse and grieuousnesse of the sin aforesaid.
The doctrine of the Sacrament consists in six points.
The first concerneth the authority by which it was broght into the Church.
page 6
The second concerneth the first Instituto… and Administer of it.
pa. 14.
The third concerneth the circumstance of time wherein it was instituted.
page 17
The fourth concerneth the parts of the Sacraments.
page 21
The fifth concerneth the consecration thereof.
page 35
The sixth concerneth the maine and generall end thereof.
page 38
The inference and conclusion from the aforesaid doctrine, is; That those which shal receiue such a mystery vnworthily, are guiltie of the bodie and blood of Christ.
Wherein is shewed, First, what it is to receiue vnworthily,
page 50
Secondly▪ what it is to be guiltie of the body and blood of Christ,
page 54
Thirdly, why such as receiue vnworthily, are guiltie of the body and blood of Christ.
page 56
THe second part sheweth, By what means the danger of the former sinne may be auoided.
The meanes is a due triall and examination of our selues before we receiue.
For the better vnderstanding whereof, fiue points are handled in order, so farre foorth only all of them (excepting the second) as the Apostle giueth occasion.
1. What manner of triall it is which is heere required.
page 71
2. Wherein particularly this triall consisteth.
page 75
3 The duties in and after this triall.
page 109
4. The persons that are to make this triall.
page 115
5. The speciall motiue vntounto this triall.
page 126
THE forme of triall explaineth these three things:
1. The excellencie of the person and merits of Iesus Christ, who hath ordained the receiuing of this Sacrament.
page 133
2 The speciall end why Christ Iesus did ordaine the same.
page 136
3 The special benefit that comes to the worthy receiuer thereby.
Faults escaped.
PAg. 9. lin. 16. For Ordinance, read Ordinances. p. 16. l. 2. for once, read only. p 72. l. 4. adde, For the word heere v…ed implies as much. p. 86. l. 16. That there is an heauen. p. 87. l. 8. for might, read may.