A Light from Christ Leading Unto Christ, Classis 27
The twenty ſeventh Claſsis or company of Queſtions.
1 Queſtion.
YOu have made profeſſion of your preparation and enjoyment of the wedding garment, in reſpect of the Antecedent graces, and immediate enlivening of the preparative graces, and gracious actions and quickning of them: Now what are the third ſort, the preſent concomitant or accompanying graces, and gracious affections, and ſpiritual ſenſes, actions and operations of the ſoul and body, which do accompany, and are to be exerciſed and quickned in theſe Sacramental acts or actions of receiving, as of the Elements outwardly, ſo of Chriſt and his quickning and ſoul-refreſhing vertue inwardly, for the ſpiritual ſtrengthning of your ſoul, and life of grace to life of glory?
Anſ. There is a twofold nouriſhment which we receive and feed on in the Sacrament at the Lords Table:
The firſt, outward and corporal, the Elements of Bread and Wine, which nouriſh and refreſh the body.
The ſecond, inward and ſpiritual, Chriſt himſelf and his Body and Blood, or the living vertue and merits of Chriſt, his Life, and Death, and Paſſion, and Reſurrection, and Aſcention, and Interceſſion, which feeds, ſtrenghneth and nouriſheth our ſouls, and the life of grace in our ſouls, to life Eternal.
And ſo there are two ſorts of ſences, (as I may ſo call them) to be exerciſed,
1. Of the body:
2. Of the ſoul, or inward man; and two ſorts of actions to be acted in this Sacrament.
Queſt. 2. What are theſe two ſorts of actions in the Sacrament?
Anſ. Firſt, the actions of the body and organical parts, or by the inſtruments of the body.
The bodily eyes muſt ſee,Mark 14.22, 23. the bodily ears muſt hear, the bodily hand muſt receive, and the bodily mouth muſt eat and feed on the outward Elements of Bread and Wine in the Sacrament.
And ſecondly, the acts or operations of the ſoul, or of the inward man.
The ſpiritual eye of the ſoul muſt ſee, the ear of faith muſt hear, the hand of faith muſt receive, and apply Chriſt, the mouth of faith muſt feed on Chriſt.
So you ſee there are two ſorts of eyes; the eys of the body, & the eys of the ſoul.
And two ſorts of ears, the ears of the body, and the ears of the ſoul.
And two ſorts of hands, the hands of the body, and the hands of the ſoul.
And two ſorts of mouthes, the mouth of the body, and the mouth of the ſoul.
Rom. 10.6, &c. Iohn 6.54, &c.And ſo all the objects and Sacramental acts or actions at the Lords Table: So by faith we ſpiritually feed on Chriſt.
Queſt. 3. Are there not two ſorts of objects, about which theſe bodily and ſpiritual ſenſes are to be exerciſed?
Anſ. Yes, there are firſt outward viſible objects of Bread and Wine, with all the audible and viſible acts and operations of Chriſts Miniſters,Mat. 26.26, &c. and Chriſts people, in the ſeveral Sacramental actions and branches of the Lords Supper.
Secondly, Inward, inviſible and heavenly acts of Chriſt, and graces from Chriſt, in the inſtitution of this Sacrament, and participation thereof preſented, and communicated to faithful receivers at the Lords Table; and each of theſe, corporal and ſpiritual, anſwering one another in every particular object, branch, or Sacramental action in this ſacred Ordinance, in and about which the acts and operations of the ſoul and body, and inward man, are to be chiefly exerciſed in time of this ſolemn feaſt with the Lord Jeſus.
Queſt. 4. What are theſe acts and operations of the ſoul and body thus to be exerciſed at the Lords Table?
Anſ. There are chiefly theſe three,
Firſt, diligent Obſervation of every Sacramental action and object of the ſoul or body.
The ſecond, Divine Meditation of every of them.
Thirdly, ſpiritual and faithful Application of all to my own ſoul for my joy and comfort in this holy Ordinance.
Queſt. 5. What or how many are the Sacramental actions or objects of ſenſes corporal or spiritual, in which theſe ſenſes and operations of the ſoul and body, are to be exerciſed, and theſe acts of the ſoul to be buſied at the Lords Table?
Anſ. There are divers, but chiefly theſe ten which follow:
Firſt, a Sacramental preparation of Bread and Wine on the Lords Table.
Secondly, a Sacramental invitation to draw near to the Lords Table, with eyes of body or ſoul, when we are come rightly prepared.
Thirdly, Sacramental Conſecration, firſt, of the Bread to be received, and after of the Wine to be drunk at the Lords Table.
Fourthly, Sacramental Repreſentation of Chriſts Death and Paſſion, by breaking of the Bread, and powring out of the Wine upon the Lords Table, to ſhew the Lords death till he come.
Fifthly, Sacramental Commemoration, and doing this in memory of Chriſt with a thankful remembrance of Chriſts Death for my ſins, and for my ſalvation.
Sixthly, Sacramental Congratulations, or Chriſts welcom to his gueſts at his Table, Take, eat, Take, drink.
Seventhly, Sacramental Foederation, or Covenant-promiſes held forth by Chriſt when he took the Bread and ſaid, This is my Body, and took the Cup and ſaid, This Cup is the New Teſtament in my Blood, ſhed for many for remiſſion of ſins.
Eigthly, Sacramental Participation by the mouth of the body of the outward Elements, and by the mouth of faith feeding on Chriſt himſelf, and his benefits to my ſoul.
Ninthly, Sacramental Ʋnion and Communion with Chriſt, and all his merits and benefits; with my head, and with the Saints as my fellow-members of the ſame myſtical body of Chriſt, with whom I do partake, and have communion at the Lords Table.
Tenthly, Sacramental Obſignation, or ſealing and communication of this ſpiritual union and communion with Chriſt, and of all graces from Chriſt to my believing-Covenanting-ſoul, renewing my general and particular Vows and Proteſtations to God in Chriſt, as Chriſt reneweth, and re-confirms his Covenant of grace and love to my ſoul, in this Sacrament at the Lords Table, Matthew 22.1, 2, 3, 4. and 26.26, &c. 1 Cor. 11.25, 26. and 10.16, 17.
Queſt. 6 What is the firſt Sacramental action, word or object of your bodily or ſpiritual ſences, about which the acts and operations of the ſoul or body are to be exerciſed when you are to draw near to the Lords Table?
Anſ. Sacramental invitation, when the voyce of the Miniſter of Chriſt having expreſſed,
1. The ineſtimable benefits communicated to the Saints in this Sacrament.
2. The Author.
3. The Inſtitution.
4. The ends.
5. The uſe of it to Believers.
6. The profit of it.
7. The great preparation required. And,
8. The danger of coming unprepared.
9. The ſolemn Admonition and Dehortation to all ignorant, ſcandalous and prophane perſons, that they ſtand back and preſume not to approach the Lords Table, leaſt they eat judgement to themſelves, and drink their own damnation, as 1 Cor. 11.19. And,
10. Invitation calling and embracing, and emboldening me with all Saints truly prepared to draw neer and partake of that bleſſed feaſt, which according to the inſtitution, example and command of Chriſt is there prepared for me and them at the Lords Table, as Matthew 22.4.
Queſt. 7. What muſt you do when you hear this voyce of the Miniſter of Chriſt ſounding to the ears of your body, and inviting you to draw near to the Lords Table?
Anſ. I ſhould be careful by the power of Chriſt, to wait on Chriſt in theſe three acts noted before.
1. Rightly to obſerve and conſider what is ſpoken by the Miniſter of Chriſt in this invitation.
2. To meditate and think by the power of Chriſts ſpirit, what this invitation is, and what a joyful thing it is to be invited to the Table of the Lord Jeſu.
3. To labour by the ſame power of Chriſts ſpirit,Pſa. 104.34. to apply this invitation to my own ſoul, as to one believing and longing for refreſhing from Chriſt, to the joy and comfort of my ſoul, and the reviving of my ſpirit in Chriſt Jeſus.
Queſt. 8. How muſt you exerciſe the ear of your faith?
Anſ. In attention, as if I heard the voyce of Chriſt from heaven,Cant. 5.1. calling me ſpiritually to feaſt with him at his Table.
Queſt. 9. What is the ſecond object, or Sacramental action or object which anſwereth your corporal ſence of Seeing in the Celebration of this holy Sacrament?
Anſ. The Sacramental preparation of the outward Elements of Bread and Wine, which I ſee ſet upon the Table, or made ready to be conſecrated,Mark 14.22, 23. and ſet apart for that holy Ordnance, when I am come to the Lords Table.
Queſt. 10. What is that ſpiritual ſenſe and ſpiritual object, which anſwereth the ſpiritual ſenſe of ſeeing to be exerciſed in this holy Sacrament?
Anſ. The ſpiritual ſenſe which anſwereth bodily ſight, is a ſpiritual ſight and eye of the ſoul, or rather eye of faith; and the ſpiritual object of the eye of faith, is the Body and Blood of Chriſt, or whole Chriſt my Saviour, preſented to the eye of my ſoul, as preprared from all Eternity, by God the Father, as a perfect Saviour and a full banquet,Ioh. 6.27, &c. 1 Cor. 10.16, 17. by his vertue and merits to nouriſh and enliven my ſoul and body to life eternal, and the life of grace in me, to the life of glory, for which himſelf exhorts me to labour, and wait for him in this Sacrament.
Queſt. 11. What is to be acted or done by you when you thus ſee the Bread and Wine prepared for you on the Lords Table?
Anſw. I ought by the power of Chriſt.
1. To obſerve diligently the Sacramental Elements of Bread and Wine, firſt, what they are.
2. To meditate and ſee how fitly they repreſent the Body and Blood of Chriſt. And,
3. By the eye and hand of faith to apply all to my own ſoul,Heb. 10.5, 6, 7. Ioh. 6.27. that as I ſee the Bread and Wine is prepared by the Miniſter of Chriſt, and Gods goedneſſe, for my bodily nouriſhment, ſo to ſee how the Lord Ieſus Chriſt is prepared from all Eternity for nouriſhment of my ſoul to life everlaſting.
Queſt. 12. What is the third Sacramental object of ſenſes corporal and ſpiritual, to be exerciſed in this feaſt of the Lord?
Mat. 26.6, 27. 1 Tim. 4.4, 5. Luke 22.19, 20. 1 Cor. 11.26, &c.Anſ. The action of bleſſing Elements in which both the ſences of ſeeing and hearing bodily are to be exerciſed, when the Miniſter of Chriſt by ſolemn prayer doth Bleſſe, Conſecrate, and Sanctifie,
1. The Bread to be the Sacramental Body of Chriſt.
2. The Wine to be his Sacramental Blood according to the Lords Inſtitution ſeeing and hearing of them both ſanctified, and ſeparated from common Bread and Wine to this holy uſe and end, by prayer, thankſgiving and bleſſing, according to the command, example, and inſtitution of Chriſt.
Queſt. 13. What is the object of your spiritual ſences of ſeeing and hearing in this action repreſented by conſecration of Sacramentdl Bread?
Ioh. 6.27Anſ. By the ear and eye of faith I am to hear and ſee God the Father, ſealing and conſecrating Chriſt the Lord, for the everlaſting nouriſhment of my ſoul and body ſpirirually to life eternal.
Queſt. 14. What is to be acted and done when you thus hear and ſee the Bread and Wine bleſſed and conſecrated by the Miniſter of Chriſt, with the ears and eyes of your body, and hear and ſee the Lord Chriſt ſo repreſented, conſecrated, and ſealed by God the Father with the ears and eyes of faith, the spiritual ſenſes of the life of grace in your ſoul, 1 Cor. 10.18. Rom. 10.7, &c.
Anſ. Firſt,Rom. 8.9. 1 Pet. 1.11. Iohn 16.26. Iſa. 63.4, &c. Heb. 10.14. obſervation by the power and aſſiſtance of Chriſts ſpirit, and his quickning power in my ſoul.
Secondly, to obſerve diligently by the power of God, this bleſſing, conſecrating, and ſanctifying of the outward Elements of Bread and Wine by Chriſts Miniſter, and by the ear and eye of the ſoul, this conſecrating and ſealing of Chriſt by the holy bleſſed God, as my full, perfect and ſufficient Saviour.
Queſt. 15. What is the ſecond meditation?
Anſ. Secondly, by the power of the ſpirit of Chriſt,2 Sam. 1.26. Pſal. 42.1, 2. by Divine meditation of this unſpeakable love of God, conſecrating his onelyonly begotten Son from all Eternity, to be my Redeemer and All-ſufficient Saviour, ſo to be affected, as to admire this wonderful free love of God in giving his Son, and having my ſoul filled with ſpiritual longings, to enjoy and partake of ſo rich a gift of grace held forth to my ſoul in this Sacrament, above that wonderful love of Jonathan to David, paſſing love of women.
Queſt. 16. What is a third particular act to be done?
Anſ. Thirdly, Application by the power of the ſame ſpirit, through the grace of faith, ſo to apply Chriſt thus conſecrated of God the Father to be my Saviour, as the Bread and Wine by the Miniſter to repreſent this ſacramentally to my ſoul, that I may finde I am united by faith, and the ſame ſpirit of Chriſt unto God the Father,Ioh. 20.17. as to my moſt tender Father in Chriſt Ieſus for ever.
Queſt. 17. What is the fourth Sacramental action or object in the celebration of this bleſſed Sacrament, about which your corprral and ſpiritual ſences ſhould be exerciſed?
Luk. 22.19, 20. Mat. 26.26, &c. 1 Cor. 11.24, &c. Iſa, 53.4, &c. Luk. 24.15, &c.Anſ. The ſacramental repreſentation, or the breaking of Chriſts body with torments, and the ſhedding of his blood for my ſins, as Chriſt our Lords intimates in his inſtitution of this holy ſacrament, and as foretold before by Prophets.
Queſt. 18. What bodily or ſpiritual ſences, or organs and inſtruments of body and ſoul are to be exerciſed by you in this Sacramental action of breaking Bread, and powring out of the Wine in the Sacraments by the Miniſter of Chriſt?
Anſ. Firſt, the ſence of bodily ſeeing, when by the eyes of the body I behold the Miniſter of Chriſt, breaking the Bread the ſacramental body, and powring out of the Wine the ſacramental blood of Chriſt, prepared and bleſſed, conſecrated, ſanctified by the Word and prayer for this holy uſe, and powred forth for my refreſhing, as 1 Tim. 4 4, 5. common bread and drink; ſo much more this by Chriſts inſtitution and ordinance, Mark 14.22, &c.
Queſt. 19. What ſpiritual ſences are to be exerciſed?
Anſ. I ought to exerciſe the ſences of ſpiritual ſight,Iſa. 53. Zach 12.11. & 13.6, 7. Mat. 26.31, ult. & 27. c. Luk. 22.23. and by faith the ſpiritual eye of the ſoul, to behold and ſee the natural body of Chriſt crucified, and broken with torments for my ſins (though a bone of him was not broken) but his ſoul broken with grief and ſorrow in ſenſe of the wrath of God, and his body with ſenſe of pains, buffetings with fiſts, whippings with ſcourges, crowned with thorns, crucifying with tormenting nails, mixing of Gall and Vinegar to drink; and above all, his Agony in the Garden, ſweating drops of blood, and not onelyonly denying, forſaking and betraying, but ſenſe of his Fathers wrath and forſaking, at leaſt in ſenſe to him for a time; I ſay the eye of my faith is to ſee all this,Mat. 27.46. and what more the ſcripture revealeth in the bitter paſſion of Chriſt, held forth to my ſoul in the breaking of the bread, and powring out of the wine for me to partake of at the Lords Table.
Queſt. 20. What is to be acted or done by you upon the beholding of this Sacramental action of breaking Bread, and powring out of the Wine, with the eyes and ſence of ſeeing both bodily by eyes of your body, and ſpiritually by eyes of faith?
Anſ. I muſt ſtill by the power of Chriſt exerciſe theſe three ſpiritual acts or actions of my ſoul to be exerciſed in every particular ſacramental action:
1. Diligent obſervation.
2. Divine meditation.
3. Faithful application and appropriation of all to my own ſoul.
Queſt. 21. How muſt obſervation be exerciſed by you? What light ſhineth from Chriſt for your direction?
Anſ. I ought diligently by the ſpirit of Chriſt to obſerve the ſacramental action of breaking bread,Luk. 22.17, &c. or powring out or giving of the wine, according to the inſtitution of Chriſt, as it is a ſacrament…l act…on for the end for which Chriſt appointed it.
Q… ſt. 22. How ought you to exerciſe medi ation?
Anſ. By help of Chriſt I ought ſo to meditate and think of the breaking bread, and powring out of the wine, as to meditate of Chriſt crucified, his body broken with torments (as before noted) and his blood ſhed for my ſins, Gal. 3.1.
Q…eſt. 23. How ought you to exerciſe ſpiritual and faithful Application and appropriation of all to your ſelf?
Anſ. By the ſtrength of Chriſt and Chriſts ſpirit, ſtrengthning and communicating ſtrength of life from Chriſt to my ſoul, I ought to apply by faith, and appropriate all this that Chriſt hath done or ſuffered, as done and ſuffered by Chriſt for me and my Redemption, and as loving me, and giving himſelf for me, his ſoul to be made an offering for my ſin, his body to be broken with torments, and his blood to be ſhed to the death for my eternal Redemption and ſalvation, Iſaiah 53.10. Galathians 2.20. Heb. 9.12.