The Lords Supper, Section 16
V. 28. But let a man examine himſelfe, and ſo let him eat of that bread, and drinke of that cup.
Q. What is here to be conſidered?
A. Here are the ordinary means to ſave us from being murderers of Chriſt: And theſe are, our examination of our ſelves.
Q. What muſt we doe in examining our ſelves aright?
A. 1. Right examination requireth, that we caſt totally out of our thoughts all other cares: for true examination muſt take us wholly up. We muſt (as in prayer) ſhut ourdoore, Matth. 6.5.
2. We muſt examine our ſelves in ſixe things eſpecially.
1. Of our knowledge, what we are to receive in this Supper.
2. Of our deſire of this Sacrament, ſo knowne.
3. Of our faith, by which only we can obtaine our deſire.
4. Of our love toward God, and our neighbour, that we may be ſure our faith is ſound.
5. Of our repentance, which proveth out love to be pure.
6. And of our obſervance paſt, preſent, and its purpoſe for the future, which demonſtrates our repentance to be perfect.
Queſt. 1.
Q. What muſt I know is here to be received?
A. That as truly as I get bread and wine which are my bodies food: So truly I get Chriſts body and bloud by faith, which are my ſoules only food, Joh. 6.47. compared with v. 55.
Queſt. 2.
Q. How ſhall I knew my deſires to be reall?
A. Counts thou all things but dung in compariſon of Chriſt? Philip. 3.8. Try if deſire, which is thy ſoules appetite, doth hunger for Chriſt, Mat. 5.6.
Queſt. 3.
Q. What ſhall I examine my ſelfe concerning my faith?
A. 1. That thy faith be not an hiſtoricall, temporary, or a faith of miracles. None of thoſe alone, no nor altogether can apprehend Chriſt truly, Jam. 2.19.
2. That it be a juſtifying faith, which, though it be but one ſimple grace; yet it is of a two fold conſideration: firſt, as it is our ſpirituall life, by which Chriſt lives in us, and we in him, Eph. 3.17. Gal. 2.20.
2. As faith is a vertue, and our duty towards God: and ſo, faith is an act flowing from that our ſpirituall life, by which I beleeve all whatſoever the Lord hath propounded in his S. Scripture, Act. 24.14.
Q. What is faith, as it is our ſpirituall life?
A. A reſting of our hearts on God, as on the only author of our life and ſalvation; that is, that in God we are freed from all evill, and are aſſured of all that is good, Eſa. 10.20. Pſ. 37.5. Act. 4.12. Pſ. 84.11. Thirdly, try thy faith in ſix things.
1. In its author, who works it.
2. In the means by which it is wrought ordinarily.
3. Concerning its object.
4. In its effects.
5. In its ground.
6. And concerning its end.
Q. Muſt I neceſſarily know all theſe?
A. 1. Yes verily: for whatſoever is not of faith, is ſin, Rom. 14. ult.
2. Without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God, Heb. 11.6.
3. Gods beſt ordinances availe not to us, unleſſe we receive them by faith, Heb. 4.2.
Q. Who works faith in us?
A. Jeſus is the author and finiſher of our faith, Heb. 12.2. And the Holy Ghoſt worketh faith in us, 1 Cor. 12.9. for the Father through the Son, by the Holy Ghoſt worketh all works which are wrought on the creature.
Q. By what means is faith wrought in us?
A. 1. By hearing of Gods word, which is a religious receiving of Gods revealed will, by whatſoever way we can know it.
2. Moſt ordinarily by hearing the word preached, Rom. 10.14.17.
Q. Who is the adequate object of our faith?
A. Chriſt, as he is our redeemer, is the immediate object of our faith: And God (as by his grace we live well, 1 Tim. 4.10.) is its ultimate object: for we live to God through Chriſt, Rom. 6.11. We have hope through Chriſt to Godward, 2 Cor. 3.4. And we beleeve in God through Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.21.
Q. Which are thoſe effects of faith, by which I muſt examine my ſelfe?
A. The firſt act of faith is to beleeve: doſt thou beleeve?
1. That there is but one God, Mark. 12.32.
2. That this God who is one in eſſence, is diſtinguiſhed into three Perſons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, 1 Joh. 5.7.
3. That the Lord Chriſt is equall with the Father in all things, Philip. 2.6. ſave only as he is Mediator, Joh. 14.28.
4. That creation is aſcribed to the Father, redemption to the Son, and ſanctification to the Holy Ghoſt (as it is in the Creed?) And yet, doſt thou beleeve that all the actions of all the three Perſons of the Trinity (on, and in the creatures) are common to them all, and proper to every perſon? Joh. 5.17.19. & 16.13.14.
2. Doſt thou, by faith, role thy ſelfe, and thy waies on Iehovah? Pſ. 37.5. Set up thy hearts reſt on holy Iehovah, Eſa. 10.20. And giveſt thou thy ſelfe over unto God? 2 Cor. 8.5. Iob. 13.15.
3. Does faith purifie the heart from the love of all ſin? Act. 15.9.
4. And examine thy ſelfe, if thy faith worketh by love? Gal. 5.6.
Q. What is that ground on which juſtifying faith is built?
A. All the promiſes, which are of mercy, in S. Scripture: for thoſe only are properly the ſure foundation on which our faith is built: becauſe thoſe only propound Chriſt unto us, Ioh. 5.39. Rom. 10.4.
Q. What end doth faith aime at?
A. Moſt principally at the advancing of Gods glory, 1 Cor. 10.31. And ſecondarily, the ſalvation of our ſoules, 1 Pet. 1.9.
Queſt. 4.
Q. Wherein muſt I examine my ſelfe concerning love?
A. If thou loveſt God above all things, Mat. 22.37. and thy neighbour as thy ſelfe, v. 39.
Q. How ſhall I know that I love God above all things?
A 1. By thy burning deſire to be united with God through Chriſt, Pſ. 42.1,2,3. which is wrought by faith, Gal. 2.20. called the love of union.
2. By that joy unſpeakable, and full of glory, which ariſeth from that union, 1 Pet. 1.8. This is called the love of well-pleaſedneſſe.
3. By thy zeale to advance Gods glory in all things, Pſ. 69.9. & 119.139. This is the love of benevolence.
Q. How can I love God above all things?
A. When both in affection, and all effects, thou loves the Lord, preferring him above all things in heaven and earth, Mark. 12.33.
Q. How ſhall I know that I love my neighbour as my ſelfe?
A. All things whatſoever ye would that men ſhould doe to you, doe yee even ſo to them, Mat. 7.12.
Queſt. 5.
Q. What is true repentance?
A. A godly forrow for offending God, with a continued totall change of our will, willing nothing but Gods glory, and our ſalvation, 2 Cor. 7.10.11.
Q. How ſhall I know that my repentance is ſound?
A. 1. By ſorrowing for ſin as it offends the Lord, more then for fear of any puniſhment, Pſal 51.4.
2. By confeſſing and forſaking all ſinne, Prov. 28.13.
Q. How can I repent of my unknown ſins?
A. Who repent diſtinctly of every known ſin, doth virtually repent their unknown errours, Pſ. 19.13.
Q. Muſt I repent often of all my ſins?
A. 1. Our by-paſt ſins ſhould never bee forgotten, Deut. 9.7. Pſ. 25.7. & 51.3.
2. Becauſe we ſin daily, Prov. 24.16. wee muſt repent daily, Luk. 13.3.5. for one ſinne unrepented (if it be known) makes us, as if we had never repented of any, Jam. 2.10.
3. I muſt repent greatly, if my ſinnes be great; as did David, Job, St. Paul, St. Peter, and Mary Magdalen.
Queſt. 6.
Q. What is obſervance?
A. Obſervance is that by which Gods will is performed in ſubjection for Gods glory.
Q. Why is that (in ſubjection) added?
A. Becauſe obſervance applyeth my will to fulfill Gods known will willingly, in reſpectof his abſolute authority over me, Rom. 9.21.
Q. Doth not obedience the ſame?
A. No: for obſervance conſiſteth as in the externall performance of Gods knowne will: So, or more in the internall intent of a willingly ſubjected will, unto Gods revealed will in all things. 1 Sam. 15.22. 2 Theſſ. 1.8.
But obedience reſpecteth the externall act, which it often performeth, even when the internall intention of the will is wanting: As in Galley-ſlaves, and ſleepy ſervants.
Q. How ſhall I know that my obſervance is ſound?
A. 1. By thy eſteem of Gods revealed wil, more then of all, or any mans commands, Act. 4 19. This is a ſure ſigne; for the life of obſervance is in our lovingly ſubjecting our will unto Gods revealed will in all things. Reprobates nill they, will they, muſt obey; but they doe not obſerve, Rom. 8.7.
2. By willingly ſubjecting thy will unto Gods knowne will, even when it ſeemeth contrary to reaſon. Ioh. 13.18.
3. By loving theſe parts of S. Scripture moſt, which moſt exactly teach obſervance, Pſ. 119 33. Act. 9.6.
4. By fearing to offend God, Prov. 28.14. and by flying from all occaſions of offence, Heb. 12. ult.
5. By reſolution to perſevere in obſervance, though thou loſe life and the world, Act. 20.24.
6. By conſtant uſe of all means which can incline thy will unto a willing ſubjection, Ioſh. 1.8. Pſ. 1.2. 1 Cor. 9. ult. Ioh. 5.39.