A Soul-Searching Catechism, Catechism 1 · Part 3
Of the Lords Supper.
Q. WHat muſt a Chriſtian do, that he may receive worthily and preparedly?
A. As he muſt examine himſelf, whether he be in Chriſt and the Spirit of God dwell in him, 1 Cor. 11.28. 2 Cor. 13.5. Alſo it is very expedient (I will not ſay the not doing it is ſinful) that every time before a perſon receives, the ſaid perſon judge it ſelf before the Lord for what it hath done amiſs, 1 Cor. 11.13. but in any wiſe before thou comeſt, examine to finde good grounds of thy union with Chriſt, without which neither preſume to come to baptiſm nor the Supper, leſt they prove means of thy final hardneſs and impenitency.
Q. What was the end wherefore the Lords Supper was inſtituted.
A. For the continual remembrance of Chriſt his death (which we deſire to ſhew forth to all men out of conſcience so his command, 1 Cor. 11.25, 26.) and more particularly for the remembrance of the new Teſtament or Covenant which is eſtabliſhed in his death, wherein remiſſion of ſins is bequeathed to believers Mat. 26.28. 1 Cor. 11.25. Which I take (with ſubmiſſion to better judgement) to be the prime end, yea (as to me ſeemeth) the onelyonly end of this inſtitution.
Q. What mean you by calling the Lords Supper the new Teſtament in the blood of Chriſt?
A. I mean, that whereas theſe was an old Covenant of works, which all men tranſgreſſing are condemned, Rom. 5.12. Gal. 3.10. Rom. 10.5. God was pleaſed to make a new Covenant with all the elect, to accept the ſacrifice of Chriſts death, as a ſatisfaction to his juſtice for our breaches of the firſt Covenant, Heb. 10.14, 16, 18. Heb. 9.15. Which Covenant is not onelyonly preſented to us by the Goſpel in audible words, but alſo viſibly to our ſenſe in the ſigns of the Covenant: ſo that as the Rainbow was a witneſs or ſign betwixt God and the Earth that he would no more drown it; and if he did, his bow ſhould witneſs againſt him: and as the blood of the paſſover ſprinkled upon the Iſraelites poſts, Exod. 27.7. was a ſigne betiwxt God and the people, that God would ſpare them, verſ. 13. and if he did not, that blood ſhould witneſs againſt him: and as in covenants among men, they confirme them with ſome ſigns of memorial, that when they forget the bargain, it may be ſaid unto them. This is your hand or ſigne; ſo as in Baptiſme, ſo in the Lords Supper (for one and the ſame thing for number is ſignified in both) God for the ſtrengthning our belief appoints ſigns as witneſſes againſt him if he go about to break his covenant, and as witneſſes againſt us if we forget our duty of faith, repentance, ſelf-denial, confeſſion of Chriſt, &c. wherein we have in thoſe ſignes by all deep engagement obliged our ſelves.
Q. What is the danger of unworthy receiving?
A. In ſtead of receiving to comfort, Satan hath a greater poſeſſion of ſuch perſons, as in Judas (if he were at the Supper, as many learned men think) who Luke 22.3. had Satan entring into him before his going to the High-Prieſts and receiving the ſop; but after the receiving the ſop, the Devil entred further into him, John 13.27, and v. 30. having received the ſop, he went out immediately, and came to a thorow reſolution to betray Chriſt; beſides, good men receiving in part unworthily, receive temporal judgements, as ſickneſs, weakneſs, death, 1 Cor. 11.30. and wicked men having a total unworthineſs, receive eternal damnation.
Q. What is the manner of Chriſt his preſence in the Lords Supper?
A. He is preſent ſpiritually to the Faith of the receiver, to increaſe by his Spirit the Union & Communion of the ſoul with Chriſt, Epheſ. 3.19. 1 Cor. 10.16. Epheſ. 4.15, 16, 1 Cor. 12.13. he is alſo preſent by grace and operation of feeling, in the hearts of his, as the Sun is preſent with us, by his light and influence, though in Heaven: he is alſo preſent in the promiſe, Mat. 26.26. Take, eat this is my body and my blood; as if he ſhould ſay, I promiſe you in the uſe of this Ordinance, you ſhall receive the vertue of my quickening death and merit thereof, as verily as you receive bread and wine.
Q. What think you of that opinion, that the body of Chriſt is preſent, in, with, or, under the bread, after an unperceivable manner?
A. It is an erroneous opinion, It is againſt the Article of Chriſt his aſcenſion into heaven, Act. 3.21.
2. Hereby they deſtroy the nature and truth of a humane body, which is both finite and viſible, making it infinite and inviſible.
Q. Whether is the body of Chriſt really and ſubſtantially contained under the kindes of bread and wine, in the ſame ſpace where bread and wine were contained before?
A. No: for 1. Bread in the Supper is ſix times after conſecration called bread ſtill, 1 Cor. 10.15, 16. 1 Cor. 11.23, 24, 25.
2. The truth of Chriſts fleſh is proved by ſight and touching, Luk. 24.39. but in the Supper it cannot he touched: therefore it is not ſubſtantially or fleſhlily preſent.
3. Its a contradiction, that one whole body ſhould be whole together in divers places, Mat. 28.6. he is riſen, he is not here: the conſequence had proved nothing, if a whole body might be whole in divers places.
Q. How oft are we to receive the Supper?
A. Often: our own decayes of grace requires often receiving; the Apoſtles indeterminate Command, Do this as often, admits of no other limitation then want of occaſion and opportunity.
Q. But there are ſome that are not in charity with me, may I receive?
A. Yes, (ſuppoſing the uncharitableneſs on their parts) their ſin cannot debar us of the priviledges and benefits Chriſt hath purchaſed for us; if the ſin be on our part, we muſt lay aſide our wrath, leſt we double our ſin by abſenting from Ordinances, and retaining wrath.
Q. Who are the perſons to be received to the Supper?
A. OnelyOnly Church-Members. 1 Cor. 10.13. 1 Cor. 11.20. holy things are not to be given to Dogs, Mat. 7.6. in expoſing the ſigns of the Covenant to thoſe concerning whom we have no ground to believe God promiſes any thing, we prophane them; they are not to be acknowledged for Covenanters with God, who are his enemies.
Q. How are wicked men partaking, guilty of the body and blood of the Lord?
A. 1. They are guilty of rejecting it. 2. Becauſe they prophane the ſignes that repreſent Chriſts body; as they that deſpiſe Chriſts Servants, deſpiſe himſelf, Luk. 10.16. 1 Theſ. 4.8. or as a reproach done to the Ambaſſadors redounds to the Prince or as he that commits Treaſon againſt a Princes Seal, commits it againſt himſelf.