The Communicants Guide, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. The pretended Reasons for neglecting this Sacrament briefly answered.
NO good man will seek an Excuse, no wicked man can find one, for not endeavouring to do his Duty; and a Duty it is to do this in Remembrance of Christ. The Benefits are such as cannot be slighted by a wise man, the Necessity is such as cannot be dispensed with by any man. Yet because men are too apt to deceive themselves out of their Duty and Happiness at once by something that they call Reason, and where they have no good Excuse are ready to make a bad one; in charity to their Souls, their Vanity herein is to be shew'n them.
Obj. 1. We eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of Christ spiritually by Faith out of this Sacrament; what need therefore can there be of this Sacrament, seeing therein we are but to do the same?
Ans. This is all one as to say, We do some part of our Duty, what need is therefore of doing the rest? Or, We believe in Christ, what need i… there to obey his Commandments? It is enough to a Christian, that Christ hath commanded it.
That Faith whereby we eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of Christ spiritually, implieth Obedience to the Gospel of Christ; and it is an especial Command of the Gospel to do this. He then that neglects the doing of this, neglects to obey the Gospel, and therefore falsly pretends that he eats and drinks spiritually the Flesh and Blood of Christ. Whatever therefore the Christian doth more in this Sacrament than out of it, the willful Neglecter of it is inexcusable, for he is no Christian or true Believer.
Obj. 2. he that receiveth unworthily receiveth Damnation to himself; therefore 'tis safer to forbear.
Ans. So you may say, He that eateth may, if he be not careful, eat Poison, or choak himself, or surfeit and die; and therefore 'tis safest to forbear eating. Will you fast for this reason?
Willful neglect is certain Damna…; receiving is not so: Will you prevent an uncertain danger of Death, by killing your self?
If a man receive without Faith and Repentance, he receiveth Damnation; and so he doth if he do not believe and repent, tho' he receive not this Sacrament. What better is he then for not receiving it? He perisheth either way, receiving or not receiving it.
A Communicant that being a penitent Believer comes to the Lord's Table without due Preparation and sutable Affections, may receive thereby Iudgment, (so the Word translated Damnation may be englished) that is some Chastisement, such as Weakness, Sickness, or Death, 1 Cor. 11. 30. and he is thus chastened, that he may not be condemned, v. 32. But even this may be prevented by judging our selves, or duely examining our selves, v. 31. And now which is safer, to judge our selves and eat, or to neglect our Duty and perish?
Obj. 3. But I am afraid I am unworthy, and therefore dare not come to this Sacrament.
Ans. In a strict sense, we are all unworthy, even so much as to eat or live, being Sinners, and deserving Damnation.
In another sense, he is unworthy that is ignorant, an Unbeliever, and wicked, or no good Christian, and must not come. But say,
Are you a sincere Christian, or a dissembling Hypocrite? If the former, prepare your self and come; if the latter, be ashamed of it and repent, for otherwise you perish.
Obj. 4. I doubt of my Sincerity, and he that doubteth is damned if he eateth, Rom. 14. 23.
Ans. To do a thing, doubting that it is an unlawful thing or a Sin, is that which deserveth Damnation, according to that Text. But you cannot fear that the receiving of this Sacrament is a Sin, it being a necessary Duty. That which you doubt of is your own Sincerity. If you be indeed unsincere, that is, a Hypocrite and a Dissembler, you are not to receive it: if you be sincere you may, there can be no doubt of this. But you doubt whether you be a sincere Christian. And if this Doubt be so prevalent that you rather judge you are not, I shall not advise you to come to this Sacrament till you be better satisfied of your Sincerity. But then consider,
Will you contentedly rest in this doubtful Condition? Can you be quiet in your Mind, till you find cause to hope you are a Christian, and shall be saved? If you find no cause to hope this, why should you not forbear all other Christian Duties as well as this?
Why do you not lay open your condition freely and impartially to your spiritual Guide, and take his Judgment of your Sincerity? If you use not this or any other means of knowing your self, but rest contentedly under your Doubts, and plead them as an Excuse for not doing your Duty, you are certainly no sincere Christian.
But if you are troubled that you know your self no better, and are above all things desirous to be a good Christian, and endeavour by all means to be so, and to know that you are so, and give your self no rest, but mourn, and pray, and examine your self, and crave Advice, and set your self in earnest about the Duties of Christianity, these are good signs of Sincerity; and you ought to receive this Sacrament, and wait upon God for a farther Blessing.
Obj. 5. I fear I have not a saving Faith, I have no Assurance of my Salvation.
Ans. Though such Assurance may be had, yet I verily think, that the far greater number of good Christians want it, and are but working out their Salvation with fear and trembling. To labour after it is our Duty, to have it is our great Comfort, but no Condition of Salvation.
Do you believe the Gospel, that he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved? that Iesus Christ is the Saviour of all them that, repenting of their Sins, trust in his Merits, and live in Obedience to his Government and Laws?
Do you accordingly consent to be saved by him upon these terms; and striving against Sin, earnestly desire and endeavour to live according to his Gospel, and trust to him for Salvation? This is saving Faith, whether you have full Assurance or no, and you are to receive this Sacrament for the strengthning of your Faith.
Obj. 6. Faith worketh by Love, Gal. and I fear I do not love God.
Ans. Are you convinced, that God is the chief good, and ought to be loved above all things? And do you so value him above all things?
Are you thereupon resolved to do any thing, to part with any thing, to suffer any thing, thereby to honour him and enjoy his Love?
Do you thus practice, and can you deny your self and your own Will to do his? This is Love, that you keep his Commandments. And though you feel not such a passionate Lov… … you have for some other things, yet, if you have this prizing and over-ruling Love, that you do prefer his Will and his Favour above other things, you are to use this Sacrament for the confirming and farther inflaming your Love.
Obj. 7. I fear I do not truly repent, for I cannot weep for my Sins.
Ans. Can you hate them and avoid them; and do you in Obedienee to God, and of Love to him, shun all Temptations, and watch against them? If so, though your Eyes be dry, God will not despise a broken Heart.
Obj. 8. But I feel Lusts and evil Inclinations stirring in me.
Ans. So you shall whilst you live, more or less. But do you not feed and cherish them? Do not you delight in them, nor obey and fulfill them? Do you, on the contrary, check and restrain them, and use all the means of subduing and mortifying them? If you find it thus, come to this Sacrament with Comfort. Let not Sin reign in you to fulfill the Lusts thereof, and all will be well.
Obj. 9. I am not in charity with my Neighbours, therefore I dare not come.
Ans. That is, You dare sin and perish, but you dare not leave off sinning and do your Duty and be saved. If you be not in charity, how dare you pray for the Forgiveness of your Sins as you forgive others? how dare you sleep, lest you die out of Charity? Plead not Sin as an Excuse for not doing your Duty, but leave your Sin, and do it.
Obj. 10. But I am engaged in Law Suits, and dare not come till they be ended.
Ans. That is, You will have your Right first, if you can get it, and let God stay your leisure for his. When you have got your Will of your Neighbour you will do your Duty to God.
But cannot you manage your Law Suits justly and charitably? Can you not defend or recover your Right without doing wrong or bearing ill will to your Neighbour? Then do… you take a sad course, to damn … own Soul to do your Neighbour an ill-turn.
Do nothing but your Duty in going to Law, and you need not be kept from your Duty in this Sacrament of Christ.
Obj. 11. I have so much Business, that I cannot prepare my self.
Ans. Is it honest and profitable Business which you may do to the Glory of God? Then need it not hinder you from doing this great Business of your Soul.
Doth it afford you time to eat and drink, to sleep, yea and perhaps give and receive impertinent Visits? And will it allow no time to prepare your self for this Sacrament? See that you make no more Business than is needful.
Examine your self daily, and stir up your Affections to God, and renew your Vows, and use only honest Business, and the work of Preparation will require no great time.
…bj. 12. I receive it sometimes, but why so often?
Ans. Where's the Zeal of the Primitive Christians, who communicated every Lord's Day, or oftner?
What Reason can you give, why this Sacrament should not be a part of all our publick and more solemn Worship, seeing it is a Duty whereby we are so especially to own our selves the Disciples of a Crucified Saviour?
Have we not need often to stir up in us the Remembrance of Christ, to quicken and actuate our Graces? Are they so lively and active in us?
Would not the frequent Celebration hereof keep in us a warm sense of our Christian Duty, to live Godly, Righteously, and Soberly?
Would it not keep in a constant readiness to dye, and fit our Accounts for Iudgment?
Can our unwillingness frequently to communicate signifie any thing else, but that we too coldly resent God's Love to our Souls in Christ; and tha… we desire to have time enough betwixt Sacrament and Sacrament to … get our Vows, and to enjoy our Sins, and hope to make amends for all the next time we receive?
Obj. 13. I see many that come to this Sacrament little better for it, they live no better Lives than they did before.
Ans. You see some that thrive not by their Labour, nor grow strong by their Meat, nor are cured by their Physick. Will this move you to neglect your Business, refuse to eat, seek no Remedy when you are sick?
Must not you do your Duty because others do it amiss?
Obj. 14. I have not found that Benefit and Comfort by it formerly which should encourage me to come to it again.
Ans. We are to do our Duty whether we get any thing by it or no.
If we reap not the Benefit, the fault is neither in God, nor his Ordinance, but in our selves. The Sun makes a living Plant grow, but drieth up a dead one.
If we have done our Duty as we ought, the Conscience of that should comfort us very much.
If we hold on constantly in a Christian course of Life, we may presume we have got good by this Sacrament, and may get much more by receiving it oftner.
Be more careful to do your Duty in an acceptable manner, than too desirous of sensible Joys and Comforts. The Duty is ours to perform in its season, the Benefit is God's to give when he pleaseth, and the Comfort may be reserved to come in fully in Heaven.
Obj. 15. But I am guilty of back-stiding into many Sins since the last Sacrament.
Ans. It is that which good men have been guilty of, and for that there is no less need of Humiliation and Repentance, but there is more room for Hope.
The more dangerously you have fallen, the more care ought you to take to rise again by Repentance, the more need have you to renew you… Covenant, and to come for more strength in your greater need.
Obj. 16. I shall but break my Vows again, and incur the greater Damnation.
Answ. If thy Leg were broken, would'st thou not set it for fear of breaking it again? If thou art sick, wilt thou not be cured for fear thou should'st relapse and dye?
If indeed thou resolvest to return to the Mire again, it is in vain for thee to wash and be clean. But be in good earnest to strive against thy Sin and forsake it, and fear not, God's Grace is sufficient for thee.