The Lords Supper, Section 17 – Section 19
And ſo let him eat of that bread, and drinke of that cup.
Q. What is meant by thoſe words?
A. Being fitted by examination, as the word, So, imports; we may without danger of bloud-guiltineſſe, v. 27. and of damnation, v. 29. communicate to our everlaſting comfort: As thoſe officers ſaid, Ioh. 7.46. Never man ſpake like this man. So I avouch, Tha… never was bread, like this bread: Nor cup▪ like this cup.
Q. But how ſhall I be aſſured that I am fitte… for receiving, even after I have examined my ſel… ▪
A. The examination of thy ſelfe muſt b… continued till thou ſinde thy ſelfe fitted.
Object. The H. Ghoſt commands not that continued examination.
A. 1. The word, So, demonſtrates the contrary: for, So, is not an adverbe of time, but a note of qualification.
2. The H. Ghoſt commands us, To examine our ſelves till we be prepared, So to eat of that bread and drinke of that cup; which certainly denoteth continuation.
3. He hath never examined himſelfe exactly, who continueth not his examination until he find theſe ſix ſpirituall graces (knowledge, deſire, faith, love, repentance, and obſervance) in ſome good meaſure wrought in him; which all, he may obtaine by zealous prayer, according to Chriſts promiſe, Mat. 7.7,8. Iam. 1.5.
4. We muſt examine our ſelves, becauſe hypocrites may delude the moſt exact of all mortall examiners.
5. Our hearts which are deceitfull above all things, deſperately wicked, Ier. 17.9. can only be examined by God, v. 10. and by our ſelves, 1 Cor. 2.11.
Q. Seeing that we are commanded to examine our ſelves: why ſhould our Miniſter examine us?
A. 1. Becauſe we are commanded to do good to our ſelves, may none other do us good?
2. Faithfull Miniſters muſt (of all callings) be moſt conſcientiouſly diligent to know the eſtate of their flocks, and to look well to their herds, Prov. 27.23.
As the ſalt of the earth, Mat. 5.13. they muſt ſeaſon their hearers.
As lights of this world, Mat. 5.14. they muſt ſhew in doctrine the true light; and in converſation practice it, Mat. 5 16.
They muſt open their hearers eyes, convert them from darkneſſe to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, Act. 26.18.
They muſt firſt feed their ſlocks with milk, and thereafter with meat, 1 Cor. 3.2. 1 Pet. 5.1.
They muſt be ſtewards of the myſteries of God, 1 Cor. 4.1.
Miniſters muſt watch for their peoples ſoules, and give account for them, Heb. ult. 17.
All the premiſes prove, that faithfull Miniſters muſt examine their people.
We are commanded to give an anſwer to every man that asketh us a reaſon of the hope that is in us, with meekneſſe, and fear; and we muſt be ready to doe it, 1 Pet. 3.17.
Who obſtinately refuſe to be examined by their Miniſter, run hazard of condemnation: Seeing light is come into the world, and ſuch love darkneſſe rather then light, Iohn 3.19.
Such, are doers of evill, haters of the light, and dare not come to the light, leſt their deeds ſhould be reproved, Ioh. 3.20.
Such, who will not be examined by their Miniſter, are deſpiſers both of Chriſt, and of God, Luk. 10.16.
Q. What learneſt thou hence?
A. 1. The H. Ghoſt tyeth this examination, and our receiving together: I muſt not then ſeparate them, Mark. 10.9.
2. The greater that the danger is in unworthy receiving, we ſhould be the more ſtrict in our examining of our ſelves, and in our being examined by our Miniſter.
3. All Chriſtians (occaſion being fully offered) muſt receive, or be deſpiſers of Chriſt, and of God: all then who would bee Chriſtians muſt both examin themſelves, and be examined by their Miniſter, leſt they deſpiſe Chriſt and God.
4. Who will not examin themſelves, and be examined by their Miniſter, they hide their ſin, and ſo ſhall never proſper, Prov. 28.13.
5. Who will not examine themſelves concerning their ſins, and wants, cannot be helpt by receiving. Iudas the traytor, Ioh. 13.17. and Simon Magus, Act. 8.20. are inſtances.
Queſt.
Q. What muſt I doe when I come to the table to communicate?
A. We muſt come with filiall feare; ſetting our faith a worke in meditation of foure things:
1. When we ſee that bread broken, and wine powred out; we muſt call to mind, That our Saviour was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, and broken for our iniquities, Eſa. 53.5.
2. As that bread, and that wine are given unto us: So, God the Father gave his Son, Rom. 8.32. And Chriſt gives himſelfe unto us in this Sacrament, 1 Cor. 11.24,25.
3. We muſt beleeve without doubting, that as that bread eaten, and that wine drunken of us, become one ſubſtance with us: So Chriſt, and all the faithfull receivers are made one, Ioh. 17.21. That Chriſt is ourbead, Eph. 5.23. That we are members of his body, of his fleſh, and of his bones, Eph. 5.30. And that we are every one members one of another, Rom. 12.5.
4. As we take that bread, and that wine with our bodily hand: So with my ſoules hand, faith, we muſt take Chriſt, Ioh. 6.29.35.40.47. compared with v. 51.54.56.58.
Queſt.
Q. What muſt I doe after I have received?
A. 1. Render all poſſible praiſe unto God for that his ineſtimable benefit, Pſ. 103.2. 1 Theſſ. 5.18.
2. If we have ſped well, and gotten Chriſt, we muſt be the more thankfull, and become new creatures, 2 Cor. 5.17.
But if we finde not our ſelves to have ſped well, we muſt notwithſtanding praiſe the Lord, and not be weary in well doing; for in due ſeaſon we ſhall reap, if we faint not, Gal. 6.9.
Queſt.
Q. Is it not a ſure ſigne of unworthy receiving, if we become worſe after we have received?
A. We muſt diſtinguiſh betwixt a reall worſeneſſe, and Satans deluſions.
1. If we become really worſe, then a… redly our unworthy receiving made that holy Ordinance ineffectuall unto us; as unto Judas, and Simon Magus.
2. But though paſſiens ſtir in us more furiouſly, and temptations aſſaile us more deſperately after we have received, then they did before; we muſt not conclude thence, that we received unworthily; but by the plaine contrary.
For if by prayer and practice we continue conſtantly to reſiſt theſe ſinfull motions; our conſtancie in that our reſiſting, proveth that we were worthy receivers: for then wee may be ſure, that (becauſe ſin (in our worthy receiving) had a deadly wound, and that Satan was diſlodged out of his too long kept lodging) ſin would the more furiouſly rage, and Satan more fiercely aſſault.
Queſt.
Q. I ſwore both afore, and in the act of recuving new obſervance, I come far ſhort of performance: was I not then an unworthy receiver?
A. The true ſight and reall ſenſe of our imperfections, with a zealous endeavour to be perfect, is the greateſt perfection we can attaine unto in this life: for to know our fins, to confeſſe, and forſake them, is to findemercy, Prov. 28.13. And to endeavour zealouſly, is to be accepted of God through Chriſt, 2 Cor. 8.12.
V. 29. For he that eareth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himſelfe, not diſcerning the Lords body.
Q. Wee have heard what unworthy eating, and drinking is: But what is meant by damnation?
A. 1. Some Interpreters read it thus: They eat and drink judgement to themſelves. But becauſe the H. Ghoſt did affirme, v. 27. that ſuch were guilty of the body and bloud of the Lord, which was proved to be murder; it is more conſonant to the ſcope of the H. Ghoſt to read it damnation.
2. Damnation is the conſummation of ſpirituall death; or the higheſt degree of that eternall puniſhment which the Lord hath adjudged unto reprobates for ſinne, Revel. 19.2.3.
Damnation is infinite in reſpect of loſſe: for reprobates loſe God, who is that infinite and only good, Mat. 19.17.
Damnation is eternall in reſpect of duration; for it ſhall never be ended, Mark. 9.44.46.48.
Hence is the higheſt height of all extreameſt torments upon their ſoules and bodies; having a never dying worme of their accuſing conſcience within them, eternall torments of devouring fire round about them, ugly divells to be their only companions: And all to continue everlaſtingly, Luke 16.23.
Not diſcerning the Lords body.
Q. What is that, To diſcerne the Lords body?
A. 1. To have the Lords body in higheſt eſteem, duly conſidering its excellencies, that ſo with moſt exact examination, preparation, conſideration, and ſanctification, wee come and receive at the Lords Table.
2. That that bread, and that wine, even after the words of inſtitution, remaine breadand wine in ſubſtance. And although that Chriſts humane body be in heaven, Act. 3.21. Heb. 8.4. Yet in due receiving this ſacramentall bread and wine, all faithfull receivers get in this Sacrament, Chriſts body, and ſpilt bloud, by faith; as his owne words (Take, eat, drinke, This is my body which is broken for you: This is my bloud which was ſhed for many for remiſſion of ſinnes) doe prove.
3. It is by a full knowledge of our damnable condition by ſin; and to know what Chriſt hath done and ſuffered for us, that ſo we may prepare our ſelves to be both ready and willing to doe and ſuffer for his ſake, Philip. 1.29.
Q. What doth this teach thee?
A. Foure things:
1. The deadly and damnable condition of eſpecially perverſe ignorants, who neither know, nor will be taught what infinite good there is in worthy receiving; nor what infinite evill is in unworthy receiving: They are murderers of Chriſt, v. 27.
2. Their deſperate eſtate, who either maliciouſly deſpiſe, or careleſſely neglect their examination, preparation, conſideration andfanctification; and yet dare adventure to receive: Thoſe eat and drinke damnation to themſelves, v. 29.
3. Their dangerous condition, who having time and opportunity to examin themſelves; yet will not communicate: Thoſe are deſpiſers of Chriſt, Luk. 10.16.
4. And their bleſſed eſtate, who come well prepared, having on their wedding garment, Chriſt; for they get the ſeale of the Covenant, Rom. 4.11. They get increaſe of grace, and of all ſpirituall graces: They get Chriſt, who is our life, Col. 3.4. Our light, Rev. 21.23. And our all, Col. 3.11.
FINIS.
Soli Deo gloria in aeternum.
Amen.
Imprimatur. Ia. Cranford,
Aug. 28. 1645.
End of the text · William More, The Lords Supper (1645)