The Lords Supper, Section 1 – Section 8
A ſhort and plaine TRACTATE OF THE LORDS SVPPER: Grounded upon 1 Cor. 11.23. &c.
By VVILLIAM MORE, Miniſter of Gods Word.
LONDON, Printed by T. H. for Charles Green, and are to be ſold at his ſhop in Ivy Lane, 1645.
To the Right Honourable, the Lady FRANCIS HOBERT, Wife of the Honourable Sir JOHN HOBERT Knight and Baronet.
MADAM:
THe many obligements in which I acknowledge my ſelfe tyed unto your honours honourable husband (who hath been Gods gracious inſtrument in preſerving me from the unjuſt oppreſsion of the perverſe; though I be not repaired in my ſufferings) have made me humbly to preſentunto your Honour (as a true token of a gratefull minde) this little Tractate; ſhort, as might be, ſhunning obſcurity; and plaine according to my beſt poſsibility. Though Momus carp, I care not: The Word of God is not bound. Receive, honourable Lady, this mite from him who daily doth plead at the Throne of Grace for your honours honourable husband, for your honourable Ladiſhip; And happy hopefull Children: And who is really,
Madam, Your Honours humble ſervant in the Lord, WILLIAM MORE.
EMMANƲEL. A ſhort and plaine Tractate of the LORDS SUPPER: grounded on 1 Cor. 11.23. &c.
Q. WHat is a Sacrament of the new Covenant?
A. A divine Inſtitution; in which by viſible ſignes, all the bleſſings of the new Covenant are repreſented, given, ſealed and applied (that is, Jeſus Chriſt and all his graces) unto all faithfull receivers, Mat. 3.11. Act. 19. Mat. 26.26. Rom. 4.11. Joh. 1.12.
Q. How many Sacraments are in the New Covenant?
A. Two: Baptiſme and the Lords Supper. Our Lord, nor his Apoſtles ordained no more.
Q. What is the Lords Supper?
A. A Sacrament of the faithfull, their ſpirituall nouriſhment, and increaſe of grace through Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2.2.
Q. Doth not the Lords Supper worke faith in thoſe who receive it, though they lack faith?
A. No: For, as no temporall food can make a dead childe to live; no more can this ſpirituall food any who is ſpiritually dead, Mat. 7.6.
Q. Muſt we communicate often?
A. Yes: for our ſoules (like our bodies) muſt be often fed; and we muſt labour for it, Joh. 6.27.
Q. We are but once baptiſed; why ſhould wee often communicate?
A. As there is but one beginning of naturall life, and yet, it muſt be often fed: ſo there is but one beginning of ſpirituall life (which is faith, Rom. 1.17.) And it likewiſe muſt be often fed, 2 Pet. ult. ult.
Q. Why is both bread and wine given in the Lords Supper.
A. 1. As our bodies muſt be fed both with meat and drinke: ſo our ſoules muſt be fed with Chriſts body (which is that true bread that ſtrengthneth our heart) and with his bloud which maketh the heart glad, Pſ. 104.15
2. To demonſtrate that Chriſt is the only …ll, and perfect food of our ſoules, Joh. 6.51.
Q. May not infants baptized, ignorants, of perverſe indiſpoſition, naturall fooles, obſtinate, malicious, groſſely ſcandalous ſinners, drunken men, be admitted to this S. Supper?
A. No: becauſe they cannot diſcerne the Lords body, 1 Cor. 11.29.
Q. How many parts are there of the Lords Supper?
A. Foure: 1. A lawfully admitted Miniſter.
2. The elements, bread and wine.
3. The words of Inſtitution.
4. And a competent number of communicants.
Q. Are all thoſe neceſſary parts of it?
A. Yes: any of thoſe wanting, there can be no true Sacrament.
Q. May not any of the effectually called adminiſter this Sacrament?
A. No: for none may adminiſter the Sacraments but Preachers, Mat. ult. 19. And none may preach except they be ſent of God, Rom. 10.14. And thoſe who are ſent of God muſt be lawfully admitted, 1 Tim. 4.14. Heb. 5.4.
1 Cor. 11.23. The Lord Ieſus the ſame night in which he was betrayed, took bread.
Q. Who did firſt inſtitute this Lords Supper?
A. The Lord Jeſus himſelfe, Mat. 6.26. Mark. 14.22. Luk. 22.19. 1 Cor. 11.23.
Q. What learneſt thou hence?
A. 1. Seeing my Lord did inſtitute it, I muſt in filiall feare obſerve his commands in preparing my ſelfe to take it, it tending ſo much to his glory, and to my ſalvation, Mal. 1.6.
2. And ſeeing he is Jeſus my Saviour, Mat. ….21. I muſt in love to advance his honour, and mine owne ſalvation, hunger for it, Mat. 5.6.
Q. Seeing Chriſt gave it in the night, muſt not we doe ſo likewiſe?
A. No: unleſſe it be in times of perſecution.
1. Becauſe that Sacrament of the Old Covenant the Paſſeover, behoved to be ended, before this Sacrament of the New Covenant, the Lords Supper was inſtituted; forthis ſucceeded to that, Luk. 22.15.16.
2. The Paſcall lamb was commanded to be killed in the evening, Exod. 12.6. and eaten that ſame night, v. 8.
3. This Supper was inſtituted as near before Chriſts death as poſſible could be, to the and that nothing might be altered in it, added to it, nor taken from it, Heb. 9.17.
4. That this legacy bequeathed by our Lords latter will unto all the faithfull, might be more firmly fixed in our memories.
No ſuch neceſſitie, viz. perſecution urge us.
Tooke bread.
Q. Why did our Lord take bread to reſemble his body?
A. 1. As our bodies cannot ordinarily live without bread (which ſtrengthneth mans heart, Pſ. 104.15.) no more can our ſouls live wanting Chriſt, who is the living life, giving bread, that gives eternall life, Joh. 6.51.
2. Chriſt tooke bread, for its generality: becauſe of all meats, bread is moſt generally knowne, moſt univerſally uſed; and in moſt Countries moſt eaſily acquired.
3. Becauſe of breads likeneſſe: for of all creatures which are eaten, bread moſt reſembles Chriſts body; And hence He calleth His body the true bread which came downe from heaven, Joh. 6.32.35.
4. As bread is needfull for all meats: So is our Lord for us in all matters moſt neceſſary, Joh. 15.5. 1 Cor. 1.30.
5. As the bread hath endured all kindes of breaking ere it can be food for my body: So Chriſt ſuffered all kindes of death (death in ſinne only excepted) ere he could be food for my ſoule, Heb. 2.9.10.
Q. What doth this teach thee?
A. I muſt labour for the fulneſſe of faith, that I may get the bread which endureth unto life everlaſting, Joh. 6.27.
Q. What doth that bread ſignifie?
A. 1. Chriſts body, as his owne words prove, This is my body.
2. As it is but one bread made of many graines: ſo all the elect are members one of another, Epheſ. 4.25. are all members of Chriſts myſticall body, Epheſ. 5.30. and Chriſt is their head, v. 23.
Q. What learneſt thou hence?
A. I muſt love Chriſt above all things, Mat. 22.37. and my neighbour as my ſelfe,v. 39. eſpecially the faithfull, Gal. 6.10.
Q. What kinde of bread tooke Chriſt?
A. Common table bread, unleavened: for no leavened bread might be eaten at the Paſſeover, Ex. 12.15.
Q What was meant by leaven there?
A. Falſe doctrine, Mat. 16.22. Hypocriſie, Luk. 12.2. Malice, and wickedneſſe, 1 Cor. 5.8.
Q. What ſhould that teach thee?
A. Thoſe all muſt bee rooted out of my heart, before I adventure to the Lords Table, 1 Cor. 5.8. otherwiſe I ſhall come unworthily, to mine own damnation, 1 Cor. 11.29.
Q. What forme was that bread of?
A. S. Scripture is ſilent of that.
Q. What learneſt thou hence?
A. The vanity of Papiſts, Prelats, and Lutherans, who uſe thin wafers printed with a crucifix.
V. 24 And when he had given thanks, &c.
Q. What is meant by thoſe words?
A. Chriſt would not breake that bread, untill He firſt thankt his heavenly Father for it, Luk. 22.19. and bleſſed it, Mat. 26.26.
Q. What learneſt thou hence?
A. 1. As Chriſt was both ready and willing to lay downe His life for me, Joh. 10.18. and thankt His Father who made Him redemption unto me, 1 Cor. 1.30. So ſhould I be ready, willing, and thanke the Lord, if he will count me worthy to ſuffer ſhame (which is worſe then death) for His ſake, Act. 5.41.
2. In every thing (eſpecially for giving Chriſt to ſive me, Act. 4.12.) to give thanks 1 Theſ. 5.10.
He brake it.
Q. What is meant by breaking of that bread?
A. Its breaking was partly neceſſary, that one bread might be divided amongſt many; & partly myſterious, to ſignifie that Chriſt was broken for all the elect, Eſay 53.4.5. Ioh. 19. the whole Chapter.
Q. Did Chriſt ſuffer in his ſoule?
A. Yes: as is evident, Mat. 27.46. Luk. 22.44.
Q. Did Chriſt ſuffer in his Godhead?
A. As Chriſt is God, He is All ſufficient, Gen. 17.1. His Godhead therefore could not ſuffer.
Q. Seeing that Chriſt was made like unto us in all things, ſin excepted, Heb. 2.17. compared with Heb. 4.15. How could He ſatisfie Gods infinitly wronged juſtice, if His Godhead did not ſuffer?
A. The excellency of the party who ſuffered (even Ieſus Chriſt, God-man in one perſon, the great Mediator betwixt God and the elect) being infinite, gave infinite ſatisfaction to his Fathers infinite juſtice.
For, although His Godhead neither did, nor could ſuffer. Yet Jeſus was crucified, Act. 1.36. The Prince of life was killed, Act. 3.15. Chriſt dyed for us, Rom. 14.9. The Lord of glory was crucified, 1 Cor. 2.8. The Father ſpared not His owne Son, but delivered Him up for us all, Rom. 8.32. And the Son of God gave himſelfe for us, Gal. 2.20.
Such an infinite perſon therefore ſuffering, Gods infinite juſtice is ſatisfied to the full, as the father Himſelfe acknowledgeth, Matth. 17.5.
Q. What doth this teach thee?
A. 1. If I receive this Supper faithfully, I get the great Mediator, who was brokenfor me; and ſo I cannot be damned, Rom. 8.1. Ioh. 6.54. Yea, I am made one of the ſons of God, Ioh. 1.12.
2. Seeing that Chriſt was broken for my ſins, I muſt break off my ſins by repentance before I dare communicate, becauſe God is of purer eyes then to behold evill, and cannot looke on iniquity, Hab. 1.13.
And ſaid, Take.
Q. To whom ſaid Chriſt this?
A. Unto all who were preſent, even to His twelve Apoſtles; for none other might be preſent at the Paſſeover with him, Exod. 12.3.
Q. No woman was there; muſt they now bee excluded?
A. God forbid: women are elected, 2 Ioh. v. 1. ult.
Q. Did Judas communicate at the Supper?
A. He ate of the Paſcall lamb, which was the type of Chriſt, and was Chriſt in ſignification. The difference is in this, under the Law they received Chriſt to come: under the Goſpell we receive Chriſt come already.
Q. How did they take it?
A. With their hands; otherwiſe it could not have been a perfect communion: which, in this Supper, was firſt between Chriſt the head, and the faithfull, His members: And ſecondly, between the faithfull communicants amongſt themſelves.
Q. What table geſture did they uſe at this Supper?
A. Chriſt, and they all did ſit, Mat. 26.20. Mark. 14.18. Luk. 22.14. Ioh. 13.4.12.
Q. Some ſay they leaned, and ſat not?
A. If ſo, one hand had been uſeleſſe. And if ſo, yet it was the table geſture of that Countrey.
Q. May not we kneel now when we communicate?
A. No: otherwiſe we violate the Inſtitution, and break Chriſts command, Doe this, &c.
Q. What hurt can we have by kneeling?
A. 1. This Supper is a banquet of love: our Lord calls the faithfull His friends, not ſervants, Ioh. 15.15. ſervants invited kneele not at their Maſters tables, much leſſe friends.
2. Kneelers in receiving defraud themſolves of their grace here, and of their glory hereafter; which are promiſed in the word, ſitting, Mat. 8.11. & 19.28. Luke 13.29. &22.30. Epheſ. 2.6. Rev. 3.21.
Q. The more humbly we receive, is it not ſo much the better for us?
A. 1. Will-worſhip in our worſhipping of God, is alwayes rejected of God, Eſay 1.12. Col. 2. ult.
2. Kneelers in the act of receiving, violate the Inſtitution: for Chriſt and his Apoſtles did ſit as is manifeſt, Mat. 26.20. Mark. 14.18. Luk. 22.14. Ioh. 13.4.12.
3. Kneelers tranſgreſſe Chriſts command, He commands us thus, Doe this in remembrance of me. Now this command muſt bee extended unto every particular of the Inſtitution, otherwiſe we have no rule whereby we can convince Heretiques, Papiſts, Prelats, Lutherans, in matters concerning this Sacrament.
Q. What doth all this teach thee?
A. 1. The fooliſhneſſe of Prieſts in the Romiſh and Lutheran Churches, who put the bread into the receivers mouthes, by which their mutuall communion is fruſtrated.
2. I ſee, and ſorrow at the blindneſſe of thoſe will-worſhipping kneelers, Rev. ult. 18.
Take.
Q. What are we to take here?
A. Heavens excellencie, the earths only good, even the Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelfe, and all his heavenly graces, which are all here, not only freely offered, but alſo fully given to all worthy receivers: for as truly and really as I get that bread and that wine to be one fleſh with me; ſo likewiſe as really and as truly I get Chriſts body by faith (as his owne words prove, This is my body) to bee one ſpirit with mee, 1 Cor. 6 17.
Q. But Chriſts humane body is in heaven; How then can I get him?
A. By faith: for Chriſt dwelleth in our hearts by faith Epheſ. 3.17.
Q. But my bodily eyes ſee nothing in that Supper but bread and wine only: How then can I get Chriſt?
A. Thou ſeeſt theſe, thou heareſt Chriſts words affirming of that bread, This is my body; and of that wine, This is my bloud; which of thoſe two beleeveſt thou, Chriſt or thy ſenſes? beleeve on the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and thou getſt him, Ioh. 6.47. compared with v. 54.
Q. Can I be infallibly ſure, that if I have ſaving faith to beleeve Chriſts words (This is my body, This is my bloud) that I ſhall get Chriſt himſelfe in this Supper?
A. Thou may, and muſt be infallibly ſure of it; for Jeſus is the truth, Joh. 14.6. He cannot lie, Tit. 1.2. He cannot deny himſelfe, 2 Tim. 2.13. Heaven and earth ſhall paſſe away, but His words ſhall not paſſe away, Mat. 24.35. Mark. 13.31. Luk. 21.33.
Q. But I finde in my ſelfe a body of death, of corruption, of doubtings, how then dare I either take that bread, or think that I can get Chriſt?
A. Chriſt reſolveth thee, Mark 9.23. If thou canſt beleeve, all things are poſſible to him that beleeveth.
Q. What doth that teach thee?
A. Three things: 1. I muſt have ſaving faith that I may get Chriſt, ſeeing He is freely offered.
2. I muſt take that bread and that wine; otherwiſe I both refuſe the means by which Chriſt is truly given in this Sacrament unto the faithfull: and alſo I refuſe Chriſt who now offereth Himſelfe unto me.
3. And if I now take not Chriſt, He will take vengeance of me in flaming fire, for not obſerving this part of the Goſpell (yea which is its greateſt part of it) 2 Theſ. 1.7.8.
Eate.
Q. What doth this import?
A. 1. By faithfull receiving of that bread, I get the true life giving bread, Chriſt, Joh. 6.47. compared with v. 50.
2. That Chriſts fleſh is meat indeed to all faithfull hungring ſouls, Ioh. 6.55. And whoſoever eateth of it ſhall live for ever, v. 58.
3. As with my bodily mouth I muſt cat that bread (which is the ſigne) that my body may live: ſo with my ſoules mouth, faith, I muſt eat the thing ſignified (which is Chriſt) that my ſoule may live for ever, Ioh. 6.51.
4. As my body cannot live ordinarily wanting bread which ſtrengthneth our heart, Pſ. 104.15. So, nor my ſoule, wanting Chriſt, who is the true bread that came downe from heaven, and giveth life unto the world, Ioh. 6.33.
5. As bread is not food to my body, unleſſe I cat it: So, nor Chriſt is food to my ſoul, unleſſe I eat him by faith: for, no promiſe profiteth unleſſe it be received by faith, Heb. 4.2.
6. The fearfull condition of ſuch who refuſe it, Prov. 1.24. &c. much more who deſpiſe it, Heb. 10.28.29.
7. The godleſſeneſſe of Papiſts, and Lutherans, who eat not their thin wafer, but keep it whole in their mouth.
Q. Did Judas eat that ſacrament all bread?
A. Weigh well Luk. 22.19. ad 24. and its probable that he did eat it.
Q. Did not our Saviour call Judas a Divell? Joh. 6.70.
A. Yes: yet, he ate only the bread of the Lord; but not the bread the Lord.
Q. What learneſt thou hence?
A. I may not abſtaine from this S. Supper, though all communicants be not alike holy; for, their unholineſſe can not hurt me, if I be not acceſſary unto it, Deut. 24.16. Ier. 31.30. Ezek. 18.20. Gal. 6.5.