Worthy Communicating, Introduction · Part 1
The INTRODUCTION.
IN this matter of the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper, there are two great Faults which are every where incurr'd, and which all that Love their Saviour or their own Souls ought most carefully to avoid; and they are, a Refusal or Neglect, and an unworthy Vsage or Prophanation of it; both which are most offensive to Almighty God, and to our dear Lord. For our Blessed Saviour has appointed it, and expresly commanded us to come to it, and shew'd us by manifest Tokens that he lays a particular weight upon it; so that we are greatly undutiful and disobedient if we keep back from it: And he has appointed it for sacred Ends and solemn Purposes, which call for a very Reverent and Devout Carriage; so that we prophane it if we come carelesly, and behave our selves unworthily when we approach thereto. It is a most necessary part of our Religion, and therefore not to be passed over, and let alone through Negligence; and a most awful one, and therefore not to be perform'd with disrespect, and an irreverent Carriage. So that we must be careful, both to partake of this Holy Feast when we are called to it, and to come to it worthily when we do. And this St. Paul prescribes concerning it, 1 Cor. 11. Let a man examine himself, says he, and so let him eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. v. 28. Let a man examine himself, i. e. let him approve himself, as the †foreign.word here rendered examin signifies v. †foreign, they that are approved may be made manifest.19, and Chap. 16. v. *foreign, Whoms…ever you shall approve.3: let him so long try his fitness for it, till he see cause to like and approve himself, and think he is worthy of it; for he would not call unworthy Receivers to the Sacrament, but drive them from it, as he doth by telling them the extream danger of it, v. 27, 29. But when once he is so approved, and fit to come to it, then, says he, let him not forbear the Feast, but hasten to partake in it; Let him eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup.
Thus are both a careless Forbearance, and an indecent unworthy Vsage of this Holy Feast, great Indignities to our Blessed Lord, and criminal Violations of it. It suffers on either hand, so that to secure it in its just esteem and due observance, both are carefully to be removed. And to do what Right I can to this Holy Ordinance, and what Service I am able to all such as shall seek help from this Treatise, I shall endeavour, what in me lies, to cure, or prevent both, in that which follows.
Now to do this with the greater clearness, in Discoursing upon this Subject I shall do these five things.
1st, I shall shew What is the meaning of eating Bread and drinking Wine in the Blessed Sacrament.
2ly, Wherein lies the worthiness of doing it.
3ly, How much it is every good Christians Duty to frequent it.
4ly, What great inducements we have to it, and how great the Benefits are that come by it, which should make us press to it of our selves, though it were not commanded.
5ly, I shall consider those Excuses, and take off those Pleas, which are most usually made against it.
And when all this is done, I think I shall have said enough, both to invite, and press men to this Feast, and also to a worthy partaking of it, that so they may come to it when they are invited, and be welcome and worthy Guests when they do.