A Light from Christ Leading Unto Christ, Classis 19
The ninteenth Claſsis, or Company of Queſtions.
1 Queſtion.
YOu have declared your knowledge concerning the Author, matter, form, and end of this Sacrament; now what do you know concerning the outward circumſtances of partaking of this Sacrament, time, place, and geſtures: What light have you from Chriſt for theſe?
Anſw. I do not finde that the Lord Chriſt hath directly, and expreſly commanded any ſet time, place or geſture, when, where, and in what manner of geſture, ſitting, or kneeling, or ſtanding, we ſhould receive the Sacrament: But the Spirit of Chriſt in his holy Apoſtle Paul hath held forth two general Rules:
1 Cor. 14.40. and 11.34. Col. 2.5. Rom. 14.17, 18, 19. 1 Cor. 10.23. and 14.25. Rom. 14.1, 2, &c. and 15.1, 2.Firſt, That all things ſhould be done according to decency, and order;
And ſecondly, That all be done to edification.
Queſt. 2. But may not the conſciences of Gods children, be ordered and bound up to particulars in theſe things?
Anſ. I am perſwaded that no Law, or Rule ought to be made, to binde the tender conſcience of any man or woman, where the Lord Chriſt, the chief teacher, doth not binde; nor ought any liberty of conſcience be given, where the Lord Ieſus Chriſt giveth no liberty: But all Churches ought to be content, if they cannot agree in circumſtance, and ceremony, yet lovingly to agree in matters of ſubſtance, which Chriſt hath plainly holden forth unto his Church in the holy Scriptures.
Queſt. 3. But may not Chriſtian liberty be uſed in theſe things, which are onelyonly circumſtantial in this Sacrament?
Anſ. Yes: Chriſtian liberty may be uſed, in theſe things,Rom. 14.1, 2, &c. and 15.1, 2, 3. Gal. 6.1, 2, 3. and the ſtronger ought not to tyrannize over the conſcience of the weaker brother or ſiſter, but to bear one anothers burden, and ſo fulfil the Law of Chriſt: yea, the ſtronger brethren, and the Elders of the Church, ought in all love, and tenderneſſe to endevour the inſtruction of the weaker, and to inform the judgement, rather then by force upon the outward man, to compel the conſcience.
Queſt. 4. But may not the weak Chriſtians abſolutely, and peremptorily uſe what circumſtances they pleaſe?
Anſ. The weak ought in all humility to ſeek information of judgement, and ſatisfaction in ſcrupulous, or tender doubtful caſes of conſcience; that if it be poſſible he or ſhe may conform to the Directory of that particular Church,Eph. 4.1, 2, 3. Pſal. 133.1, &c. of which he or ſhe is a member, or if not, to behave themſelves humbly, peaceably, and Chriſtian like, rather then to break, or endanger the breaking of the bond of unity, amity, and uniformity in that Church, wherein God in his providence calls them to partake in this holy Ordinance.
Queſt. 5. Verily, I do deſire to conform my ſelf to the Order and Directory of that Church and Congregation where I live; and I long often to meet Chriſt in this holy Ordinance: But I have ſome doubts trouble me in the preſent Directory, for giving and receiving the bread and wine at the Lords Table: And firſt, I am not ſatisfied upon what ground the geſture of kneeling, ſo much preſſed formerly (as if it had been a matter of abſolute neceſſity) is now changed into a Table geſture of ſitting about or at the Lords Table?
Anſ. To ſatisfie you in this, I deſire you, firſt to conſider, that the geſture of kneeling at the Sacrament hath no example, much leſſe any command, either in Old or New Teſtament. Search the Scriptures, and you can finde none, and ſo no binding neceſſity can preſſe the continuance of it.
The real preſence bodily advanced by Pope Innocent, about 1215.Secondly, If you read all the Hiſtory of the Church in the Apoſtles, or in the primitive times after; where can be found any approbation of kneeling at Sacrament, untill after that groſſe idolatrous errour of Tranſubſtantiation of the Bread into the carnal body of Chriſt, was preſſed by Pope Nicholas, and confirmed in that wicked counſel of Conſtance, and when as eleva ſon,Bowing to Bread aboue 1220 …s in D retal G eg. lib. 3. and adoration of the Bread, was required by Pope Honorius the third, but about four hundred and twenty yeers ſince?
Thirdly, conſider that if the Br zen Serpent ſet up by Gods own appointment, Num. 21.9. might be taken away, and broken in peeces, becauſe it was abuſed to idolatry (as you may read it was 2 Kings 18 4.) much more may the geſture of kneeling be changed, which hath been and ſtill is, ſo much abuſed by the Pap…ſt in adoration of the Bread in that idolatrous ſacrifice of the M…ſſe,Col. 2.2.23. a will worſhip forbidden in the ſecond Commandmen…. And too much eſteemed by …gnorant perſons, who are too too ſuperſtitious in this reſpect. And alſo by ſome tender conſciences, who conceive not rightly of the nature of geſtures in this Holy Ordinance, kneeling h…ving been moſt abuſed to adoration, and wilworſhip.
Queſt. 6. I think indeed ſince it hath been, and is ſo much abuſed to adoration of Bread or Bread worſhip it may be changed, and I am convinced it is dangerous, if not ſinful: But yet me thinks I cannot receive the Sacrament ſitting, with that reverence and humility, as I ſhould do kneeling: and therefore ſince I conceive, I might lawfully receive kneeling (not to adore the Bread) but to declare my reverence to Chriſt, and my humility; I had much rather kneel then ſit.
Anſ. I will not ſay but ſome well inſtructed, and rightly informed, and beleeving Chriſtians, might in former times lawfully receive the Sacrament kneeling, the rather when the Directory of the Church was not againſt it but for it, as it was in the Church of England.
Secondly, yet notwithſtanding I ſhould deſire you to conſider, that true reverence and humility doth not conſiſt in the outward bodily geſture of kneeling, but in the inward ſpiritual reverence and humility of the heart.Ioh 4.24 and 5.63 A man or woman may kneel at the Sacrament, and yet neither receive with true reverence not humility, as many unprepared, ignorant people, moſt zealous for kneeling have done. God requireth the heart, as Prov. 23.26. And a truely humbled contrite ſpirit God will not deſpiſe, but dwel with, and Chriſt will meet in his Ordinance the humble minded ſoul, Pſa. 51.17. Iſai. 57.15, 16, 17, 18. Matth. 18.20. and 11.28, 29.
Thirdly, I pray conſider, that a true beleeving man or woman, that comes with the wedding Garment, and when Chriſts invites, ſits at the Lords Table, may receive, and do's receive the bleſſed Sacrament both with great humility and reverence,Mat. 26.20.21. Cant. 5.1 and the rather when he or ſhe being ſenſible of his or her own unworthineſſe, conſiders how kindly the Lord Chriſt invites, and bids him or her welcome at his bleſſ…d Table.
Queſt. 7. But what better ground is there for ſitting?
Anſ. Firſt, Conſider that ſitting at the Feaſt of the Lord, is the moſt proper Table geſture, and the moſt agreeable in this reſpect to the example of Chriſt, Luke 22.21.
Secondly,Acts 2.46, 47. and 20.7, 8. 1 Cor. 10, 16, &c. and 11.20, 21, 22, 23.That the Apoſtles and Diſciples or Chriſt with the Saints in the Primitive times did receive the Sacrament at their Feaſts of Charity in a Table geſture, as Feaſting with Chriſt, as well as one with another. And for the Sacrament it ſelf, it is called the Lords Table, and a Table geſture is moſt convenient.
1 Cor 14.26. …0.Thirdly, that this table geſture (if any edification may be in geſtures) it may hold forth, Firſt, our union and communion at this Feaſt of Grace:1 Cor. 10.16. Luk. 22.30. Secondly, our union and communion with Chr…ſt at his Table in the Kingdom of Glory: Therefore ſitting at the Lords Table being allowed and warranted by the example of Chriſt, and of the Apoſtles, and Primitive Church, and by the example of other reformed Churches, and agreeable to the Apoſtles rules, of order and edification: It muſt needs be both lawful and comfortable, for one that comes rightly prepared (with Faith, Humility, Reverence, and other neceſſary graces rightly enlivened) to receive the holy Sacrament, ſitting at the Lords Table.
Queſt. 8. I am in a comfortable manner ſatisfied in the geſture of ſitting, yet I have one doubt more: me thinks it was better in the old Directory, when the Miniſter of Chriſt did give the Bread and the Wine, to every Communicant, in particular with a particular prayer and application; as the body of our Lord Jeſas, that was given for thee, &c. and take and eat, &c. rather then only to preſent it in general to the whole Table by the Miniſter, and every one to take and eat of the Bread out of the diſh, or cup wherein its broken, and take and drink of the cup from of the Table as it is now uſed.
Anſ. For Anſwer of this doubt: Firſt, conſider that we do not read in the Scripture, that our Saviour Chriſt did give the Bread, and that Wine to every one of the Apoſtles in particular: Search the Scriptures and where can you finde any ſuch expreſſion in any of the Evangeliſts or Apoſtles cleerly: Read in particular, Mat. 26.26. he …ook it and broke it, and gave it to his Diſciples, he doth not ſay he gave it to every one in particular, or to Peter, or Iames, or Iohn in particular, but to them in general, Mat. 26.27. for the cup he gave to them, ſaying, drink ye all of this; not, take you in particular, or drink you in particular, but take ye all, and drink ye all of it: And read, Luk. 22.17. Take this cup and devide it amongſt yourſelves which whether we reſpect the Paſſeover or the Sacrament; it declareth it as moſt agreeable to Chriſts order to receive the Sacrament, as given from the Miniſter to all in general at the Table; as it was given from Chriſt to all in general, and not into every ones hand in particular, as was lately done in the old Directory: Not take thou and eat thou, but take ye and eat ye: and take and drink ye all of this Mat. 26.26, 27.
Clemens. Alexand. ſtrom. 1. Pag. 2. Thus about 220 yeers after Chriſt the manner was when they had divided the Euchariſt, every one of the people did take his part.Secondly, again there may be too much ſuperſtition put into this manner of receiving in particular from the hand of the the Miniſter; as formerly hath been when the people durſt not touch the Bread with their hands, but the Prieſt put it in their mouths, for fear they ſhould defile the Lords body: And ſuch Communicants I my ſelf have met with, who reached out their mouths inſtead of their hands, to receive the Bread from me; and ſo the hand by which the hand of Faith is remembred, was made of no uſe in the action, which you will ſay ought not to be in this Sacrament: For the hand of Faith receives Chriſt the Lord of our ſouls, for the ſpiritual refreſhing, as the hand of the body receives the Bread and Wine.
Thirdly, If you rightly obſerve the ſacramen…al action, or act, or miniſtration: you ſh…ll finde and ſee the Miniſter of Chriſt, having broken the Bread according to the inſtitution, command, and example of Chriſt, to take the Bread in a Silver or other Charger, or Diſh in which it is broken, and preſent and give it to all in general at the Table: with Chriſts invitation take and eat; and ſo the cup, take and drink ye all of this; which doth imply every particular man or woman at the Table: So our taking the Bread all out of one diſh, doth ſweetly hold forth (reaching out of a living hand of Faith) a Chriſtian union and communion in Chriſt, as the Apoſtle intimates, 1 Cor. 10.17. And thus I hope I have ſatisfied your doubts, ſo that you may come with comfort to the Lords Table.
Queſt. 9. But what if a tender conſcience cannot be ſatisfied about circumſtances, may not Saints agree to meet Chriſt in the Sacrament, and receive the outward Elements in divers geſtures of the body, ſome ſitting, ſome ſtanding, or the like, as well as they agree daily, to hear the Word preached, as they pleaſe or can be fitted, without any ſuch asking queſtion for conſcience?
Anſ. Theſe Ceremonies I conceive are not worth contending for,1 Cor. 11.16. if men cannot agree; or a tender conſcience not ſatified; nor ought to be excommunicated or delivered over …o Satan for theſe things; yet it is good (yea, a duty for all) to ſtudy to be all of one minde, and in one manner to meet Chriſt if it were poſſible, according to the Directory of that Church wherein they live.
Queſt. 10. But have you any antiquity of your opinion herein?
Dan. 7.8. Pſa. 122.6. Eph. 4.3, 4, 5, 6. Euſebius l. 5. c. 26. Anſelm. Epi. 327. of Ireneus to Victor and others.Anſ. Yes; the ancient of dayes, God himſelf holdeth forth this in the Scriptures, That Gods people ſhould endeavor unity, and the Saints in former ages have been of the ſame judgement, in that controverſie between the E…ſtern and Weſtern Church about the celebration of Eaſter, though they differed in opinion in circumſtance, yet they agreed in ſubſtance, and received the Sacrament together; and ſo in the d fferent manner of celebrating the Lords …upper, and the like, when the unity of charity was obſerved in the ſubſtantial matters of Faith; divers cuſtomes in circumſtance did not, nor ought to ſeparare; but Saints ought to unite in love, as the reformed Churches do at this day.