A Communicant Instructed, Part 1
I. Directions touching our due Preparation for the Lords Supper▪ before we Communicate.
OVr due preparation for the Lords Supper before communicating, consists chiefly in a judicious, impartial and sincere Self-examination. o1 Cor. 12.28.Let a man examine himselfe, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that Cup. There's A publike Ecclesiastical Examination by Church-Governours, preparing for fit communicating in respect of the Church: And there's al…o a …rivate Self-examination, preparing for worthy communicating in re…pec… of Christ. By That, …rovision i… made that the Lords Suppe… be not abused by grosse Ignorance and Scandals: By This, farther care is taken that the Lords Supper be not unworthily received, through Carnaln…sse, Vnbeliefe, Impeniten…y, Hyp…cris…, V…h…nk…ulness, Vncha…i… blenesse, &c. Both are necessary and helpfull to each other: but Self-Examination is more e…pecially needful. O, we have great cau…e to use all possi…e Preparations before …ommunicating. For, 1. The Lord and Author of this Sacrament, with whom we have to do here…n isp1 Cor. 11.23. Iesus Christ, who is most qHeb. 7.26.Holy Harmlesse, Separate from sinners, Higher, then the Heavens, rRev. 2.23.Searching the Heart and Reins; sRev. 1.14.Whose eyes are as a flame of fire, who tJohn 5.22. with Mat. 28.18.…, and all power in Heaven … and uRev. 22.12.who will render to every man according to his works. 2. The Nature of this Sacrament is sublime, mysterious, spiritual, heavenly. x1 Cor. 11.20.A … of Chri…ts providing, whe…in Chr…t is both the Master of the …, and …he M… er of the … A … Christ's engra…ing▪ whose Sup…rscription is Christ lo…ing us; who…e Image is Christ dying for us; whose … is Chri… N…w Tes…ment confirmed to his Members, &c. 3. The benefit of worthy com…unica…ing … surp…sing …vveet. H…reby … Soul-reviving y1 Cor. 11.24, 25, 26.death of Christ is a fre… remembered▪ the inward man with all the graces and abi…ties thereof is z1 Cor. 11.20, 24, 25.nourished;aMat. 26.28. Remission of sinnes through Christs blood is assured;b1 Cor. 10.16. Communion with Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death is sealed; our interest in thecMat. 26.28.New Testament, with all the Promises and Priviledges thereof is confirmed; and our spiritual d1 Cor. 10.17.fellowship with Christs holy Members is established and increased. 4. The danger o… unworthy communicating is exceeding great. For, hereby the e1 Cor. 11.27.guilt of Christs body and blood is …ontra…ted; hereby the deep f1 Cor. 11.30, 31, 32. with 1 Cor. 10.5.displeasure of God is procured; and hereby unworthy Communicants do as it were set Seal to their g1 Cor. 11.29.own judgement and damnation. All these considerations should mightily move us to prepare and examine ourselves, with all industry and integrity before we communicate.
But upon what particulars are we chiefly to examine our selves?
Answ. We are principally to examine our selves touching these three particulars, viz. 1. What right we have to the Lords Supper. 2. What need we have of it. 3. What actual fitnesse we have for it. If we have no Right we shall but usurp it, if we feel no Need we shall but despi…e it; if we be not Fit, we shall but abu…e it.
I. What Right we have to the Lords Supper. We should carefully examine our Right; for without a due Right and claime to the Lords Supper, receiving it, the Lord may justly count us intruders and usurpers upon the Childrens bread, and say, Friends How came you in hither, &c. Now as the Matter of the Lords Supper is two fold, viz. Outward, the Elements and Actions; and Inward, the spiritual mysteries represented by them: So there is a twofold Right to the Lords Supper, viz. Outward and Inward, 1. Outward and Visible, in respect of the visible Church of Christ wherein this visible Ordinance is dispensed, when we outwardly professe to be Federates of the New Covenant, whereof the Lords Supper is a Seal. And this outward Right, is either More Remote and Mediate, when by vertue of our Membership (being baptized though we be but Infants) we have a Ius ad rem, a remote Right to the Lords Supper, though no present capacity and fitnesse for it: More Near and Immediate, when by reason of our Qualifications, of competent knowledge, and unblameablenesse of life we have Ius in re, a Right in the Lords Supper, in respect of the Church, so that the Church may not exclude us, but ought to admit us. Now of this outward Right the Chu…ch takes Cognizance, examineth and judgeth. 2. Inward and Invisible Right, in re…pect of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. And this Inward Right is, when we not only outwardly professe to be, but inwardly and indeed are, Federates with God in Christ in the New Covenant, sealed by the Lords Supper; for of the Cup in the Lords Supper, it's said,hMat. 26.28. This is my blood of the New Testament; Or iLuke 22.20. 1 Cor. 25.This is the New Testament in my blood; That is, This wine in the Cup is the Signe and Seal of my blood and death, whereby the New Testament is ratified and established. Now of this our Inward Right to the Lords Supper in respect of God, we our selves are peculiarly to take knowledge, examine and judge.
But how may we try and know, whether we have this Inward Right to the Lords Supper, in respect of God? Answ. Our true Inward Right to the Lords Supper, we may discover by our inward Right to, and actual Interest in the New Covenant, or New Testament: for the Lords Supper is the Token and Seale of the New Covenant; Such therefore as is our Right to the New Covenant, such is our Right to the Lords Supper. Clear thine inward Right to the New Covenant, and thine Inward Right to the Lords Supper, is consequently evident. The New Covenant is summarily described by Ieremy and Paul. Compare Ier. 31.31. to 3…. with Heb. 8.7. to 13. and Ier. 32.38.39.40. According to the tenor of this New Covenant, examine thy Right to the Sacraments. Art thou a Party to this New Covenant?
1. All that are Parties to the New Covenan… are clearly taught to know the Lord. Art thou clearly taught of God savingly to know the Lord? kJer. 31.34. Heb. ….11.And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they sh…ll all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord. This clause of the New Covenant peculiarly concerns the Elect under the New Testament, they all shall be taught as it were with open face to k…ow the Lord, far more clearly then the Jewes were under the Old Testament. The Jewes knew the Lord darkly a… under a veile: and being as lGal. 4.1, 2.Children in Minority they stuck in principles, stood in need of Tutors and Governours, &c. But now the m2 Cor. 3.24.veile is done away in Christ, and the Elect, as children come to riper age, know not only Principles, but many abstruse mysteries of Religion, the Lord opening Col. 2.3.All treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ, and bestowing a oJohn 7.38, 39.greater measure of his Spirit. And yet this Text doth not countenance Enth…siasms, nor annul and lay aside the publike Ministery, or private brotherly instructions, &c. under the New Testament; but this phrase, (They shall not teach every man his neighbour, &c.) is an Hyperbolical expression, to show (as *I…. Calv. Com. in Ier. 31.34. & …n Heb. 8.11.Calvin well notes) how farre the knowledge of the Lord under the New Testament shall surpasse that under the Old. Private instru…tion and publik… Ministery are appointed under the New Testament, and are subordin… … the Spirits teaching. And (as *Dav. Pareus in Heb. 8.11.Parae… observes) We may as well …rgue; The Lord feeds all; therefore there's no more need of … or husbandry: as thus reason, The Long …aches all his people▪ therefore they need no more humane instruction, private or publick. And though under the New Covenant all shall more fully and clearly know the Lord then the Jewes, from the least to the greatest: yet shall not all under the New Testament, have an equal knowledge of the Lord, but every one according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Hast thou now this cleare New-Covenant-knowledge of the Lord, beyond Jewes of old, beyond all carnal men now? Then, 1. Thou art translated from natural darknesse, to supernatural light, pEph. 5.8Ye were sometimes darknesse, but now ye are light in the Lord. Is thy night of carnal ignorance past, and thy day of spiritual knowledge come? Hath the day dawned to thee, and is the day-starre risen in thine heart? 2. Thou art so savingly taught of God, as by his teaching to be effectually brought to Christ to believe in him, qJohn 6.45.It is written in the Prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, (saith Christ) cometh unto me. So that none are taught of God till they come to Christ by faith. 3. Thou so r2 Co…. 3.18.behold…st, as in a Glasse, the Glory of the Lord ▪ (his New-Covenant Glory) th…t thou art ch…ged into the same image from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Is the Image of Christs spiritual Glory, spiritual light in thee? Dost thou grow therein from glory to glory, from one glorious degree to another?
2. They that are parties to the New Covenant, have the Law and Covenant of God written in their hearts. sJer. 31.33. Heb. 8.10.This shall be the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel, after those dayes, saith the LORD, I will put my Law in their inward parts, (or, into their minde, as Paul hath it) and write it in their hearts. Hast thou now the Laws of God put into thy minde, into thine inward parts? are they written in thine heart?
But how shall I know whether Gods laws be written in mine heart, &c? Answ. Thou mayst know God hath written his Law in thine heart and inward parts, by these ensuing discoveries. 1. By the conformity of thine heart and inwards to the Law of God. When Gods law is writ in thine heart, thou wilt have a Law within thy brest, exactly answering to Gods Law written without, in the Scriptures; even as Tally answers to Tally, Indenture to Indenture, the face in the glasse to the face of a man, or as the Counterpain exactly answers to the principal Deed or Conveyance; there's Article for Article, Clause for Clause, Covenant for Covenant, Word for Word, so will thine heart be to the Law of God. Thine heart will forbid thee every thing Gods law forbids thee, thine heart will command thee every thing Gods Law commands thee, thine heart will comply to the whole Law. 2. By the newnesse of thy heart and spirit. The writing of Gods Law in the heart brings in a spiritual newnesse into the heart; tEzek. 36.26.A new heart also will I give you (saith God) and a new spirit will I put within you. New, not for substance, but for Qualities and Qualifications. A new minde, illuminated: A new memory, strengthened and sanctified: A new Conscience, quickened and purified: A new Will, subdued to the obedience of Christ; New affections; new grief for sinne; new desires of grace; new love of God, Christ, and his Members; new joyes in the Holy Ghost; and in a word, the whole man is become u2 Cor. 5.17.a new Creature. Old things are past away, and all things are become new. If thou findest this newnesse of heart, then the new Covenant, the Law of God is in thine heart. 3. By the spiritual softnesse and tendernesse of thine heart. Naturally every mans heart is stony, a meer Stone, hard, inflexible and impenetrable: when God writes his law in mans heart, and admits him into Covenant with him▪ he takes this stony heart away and gives him a supple, f…eshy, soft, tender heart. xEzek. 36.26.And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. An heart of flesh is of a tender temper, flexible and easily wrought upon by God, quickly wounded for sinne, facile to melt and dissolve into penitential sorrows; is thine heart such? 4. By the Obedientialnesse of thine heart. Where the Law is written in the heart, there the heart becomes obedient to Gods Will, and delights in that obedience. So saith David, yPsal, 40.5I delight to do thy Will, O my God, yea thy Law is within mine heart: or, (according to the Hebrew phrase,) thy law is in the midst of my bowels. Because the Law was graven in his heart, therefore he so delighted to do the Will of God. Dost thou delight now to do thine own Will, the Will of the flesh? or the Will of the Lord?
3. They that are Parties to the New Covenant, have a Covenant-relation to God, and a Covenant-interest in God, and God in them. zJer. 31.33. & 24.7. & 30.27. &c. 32.38. with Heb. 8.10.This shall be the Covenant, —I will be their God, and they shall be my people. What greater blessing can God covenant to bestow on us, then to give himselfe to be our God? Had God covenanted to give Earth, Heaven, Grace, Glory, the whole world, ten thousand worlds; that were nothing comparable to God himselfe. This then is the greatest promise in the World. And on the other hand, what greater duty can lie upon us, then to ingage our selves to be Gods Covenant-people? Consider now, hath God given himselfe to thee as thy God in Covenant? then thou art in Co…enant with God. But how shall I know whether God is my God in Covenant? Answ. By this. Art thou one of Gods people by Co…enant? Art thou thy whole selfe, not on…y some part of thy selfe given up to God? Thou must be wholly not partially his. Is thy tongue his, to praise him: Thy hands his, to work his Will: thy feet his, to walk in his paths: thy Mind his, to know him: thy Conscience his, to accuse or excuse under him: thy Will his, to obey him: thy memory his, to retain him: thy heart his, to desire and love him, yea to embrace him with most ravish't affections beyond all: and in a word, is thy whole selfe, soul and body, with all that is within thee, wholly his sincerely to serve him, and to be a spiritual sacrifice to him? Then thou art in New Covenant with God indeed, and hast inward Right to the Lords Supper.
4. They that are Parties to this New Covenant, have their iniquities forgiven and forgotten of God. So the Lord covenanteth; aJer. 31.34 & 33.8.I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Or, as the Apostle alledged it, bHeb. 8.12 & 10, 16.17.I will be merciful to their unr…ghteousnesse, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Hath the Lord now forgiven thine iniquities? then thou art in Covenant with him indeed.
Thou wilt say, O that mine iniquities were pardoned, then should I be an happy soul. But how may I know that the Lord hath pardoned my sins, and will remember mine iniquities no more? Answer. Thou majest know that God hath forgiven thy sins, 1. If thou hast sincerely confessed, bewailed, and forsaken thy sins, and turned from all thine evil wayes; for thus hath God promised. cProv. 28.13.He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but who so confesseth and forsaketh them, shall have mercy.— dIsa. 1.16, 17, 18.Wash ye, make ye clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to doe evil.—Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD; though your sins be as Scarlet, they shall be as white as Snow; though they be red like Crimson, they shall be as Wool. And elsewhere most sweetly; eIsa. 55.7.Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him returne unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will multiply to pardon. 2. If thine heart be calmed and quieted through faith in Christ, so that thereby thou art at peace with God. When we through faith have pardon and justification from God, we consequently have peace with God: fRom. 5.1.Being justified by faith, we have peace with God. Is God pacified towards thee? doth he smile upon thee? doth he still thy soul with true peace? this is an Argument of thy sins pardon. 3. If thine heart be singularly inflamed with the love of Christ, through whom thy sins are pardoned, it's a great evidence thy sins are forgiven. The woman that gLuke 7.38, 47.had many sins forgiven her by Christ, she loved him much; upon that account, She wept and washed his feet with tears, she wiped them with the hairs of her head, she kissed his feet, and anointed them with oyntment. Nothing was too good, too dear for Christ, that had paid all her debts, forgiven all her sins. 4. If thou art earnest with God more and more for assurance of pardon, for purity of heart, and stablishment in the wayes of grace for time to come; it's a good signe thy sins are pardoned. God told David by Nathan; h2 Sam. 12.13.The Lord hath put away thy sin, thou shalt not die. VponUpon this David prays so pathetically, iPs. 51.1.2, 7▪ 8, 12.Purge me with Hysope, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter then Snow. Make me to hear joy and gladnesse.—Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit. 5. Finally, it's a signe thy sins are pardoned, if thy heart and soul, and all within thee be singularly inlarged to blesse and praise God for his pardons. So it was with David; kPs. 103.1 2, 3.Blesse the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, blesse his holy name. Blesse the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases. If thine heart feel his pardons, thy mouth will sing his praises.
5. Lastly, they are parties to the New Covenant, that have Gods fear so implanted in the heart, as not to depart from him. lJer. 32.40.And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them, that I will not turne away from them to do them good: but I will put my fear in their hearts, and they shall not depart from me. Apostates and Back-sliders were never truly in Covenant with God. All in Covenant with God, persevere: for God will not forsake them, and they shall not forsake him; his fear in them shall be their Preservative. Now then, if the Lords fear in thee, keep thee from falling away, thou art in Covenant with God.
Thus thou mayest from the substance and nature of the New Covenant, discover w…ether thou beest a Party to the New Covenant, having true inward interest therein, and consequently having true inward Right to the New Covenant-Seale the Lords Supper in respect of God himselfe. Now if this be thy case, thou hast a childes portion in the Lords Supper, and mayst lay claim to it, and all the benefits of it, beyond any carnal man in the world. Thou shalt be no usurper: in …hat regard come and well-come. Thus examine, What right thou hast to the Lords Supper.
What need we have of the Lords Supper. As we should examine our Right to it, that we be not usurpers; so we should search what need we have of it, that we be not despisers of the Lords Supper; mPro. 27.7The full soul loatheth an Honey-combe. Sense of want excites desire, and enlivens the appetite after what we want. And Hunger (we say) will break stone-walls.
Now Christians have need, urgent, pressing need of the Lords Supper in many re…pects. Examine thou, whether thou hast not great need of it in all these respects.
1. Hast thou not great need, often to nourish, strengthen and comfort thine inward man with all the graces and spiritual abilities thereof? Consider, 1. Thy whole new man, when at perfectest, is but imperfect. n1 Cor. 13.12.We see now but through a glasse darkly, we know but in part, and so we love but in part, obey but in part, &c. Paul himself durst not challenge perfection to himself in this life, saying, oPhil. 3.12Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect; but I follow after, that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of Christ Iesus. 2. Consequently thy new man & all thy gracious endowments are but weak, when at strongest; for every thing that's imperfect, is comparatively weak. 3. Thy inward man is assaulted with many temptations, adversaries and difficulties tending to enfeeble and discourage it: especially with the reliques of the flesh. pGal. 5.17.The flesh lusteth against the Spirit. Paul saith in the Person of the Regenerate; qRom. 7.21, 22, 23.I finde a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my minde, and bringing me into Captivity to the law of sin. Hast thou not need now to nourish thine imperfect graces, that they may grow up to perfection: thy weake graces, that they may be strong: thine assaulted graces that they may not faile?
Behold now what need thou hast of the Lords Supper to these ends. For what nourishing ordinance is this Sacrament for all these purposes? For it's stiled r1 Cor. 11.20.The Lords Supper. It's A Supper, therefore, suitable to nourish the inward man; The Lords Supper, therefore sufficient to nourish it effectually. As the body and all its strength decays without due corporal food; so the soul and its graces without due spiritual food. Here is meat indeed, Christs body; and drink indeed, Christ blood; and both tendred most familiarly in this Ordinance, and most effectually. When the Lord Christ prepares a Supper for his members, he provides like himself. They that truly eat with Christ, eat of Christ in this Supper, shall never die, never totally hunger, or mortally thirst more.
2. Hast thou not need to have the pardon of thy sins often testified to thee, and to have thy faith, apprehension and assurance thereof, con…irmed to thee? There are many things may daily make thee question and doubt whether thy sins be pardoned: or at least may darken and dimme thine evidence of pardon. As 1. Multitudes of sinfull infirmities, that still hang upon thee invincibly, makes thee fear sin is not pardoned. Hence for clearing the assurance of pardon daily we are taught daily to pray, sMat. 6.12.Forgive us our debts. 2. Lapses into grosser sins obscure the evidence of our pardon. David by his fall, lost in great measure tPs. 51.12.the joy of Gods salvation, which he prayes to have restored. 3 Sharp trials and severe afflictions, are wont to revive sin unto the conscience, and to bring in scruples about the pardon of them. Iob himself in the great storms of his afflictions, somewhat dazeled in his sence of pardon, complains, uJob. 13.23, 24.How many are mine iniquities & sins? make mee to know my transgression & my sin; wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? xVers. 26.Thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me possess the iniquities of my youth. — yJob 14.16, 17.Thou numberest my steps, dost thou not watch over my sin? my transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sowest up mine iniquities.
Thus here's great need to have thy sen…e and apprehension of thy sins pardon assured to thee. Consequently thou hast great need of the Lords Supper, which notably tends to relieve thee in this case. zMat. 26.28.This is (saith Christ in the In…itution) my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for Remission of sins. That is, this wine in this Ordinance, is a Signe, Seal, and Conveyance of my blood, ratifying the New Testament, which blood is shed for many, (viz. for all the Elect, for all Christs sheep) for remission of sins; Christs blood then was shed meritoriously to procure our sins remission: and the Lords Supper is appointed, to signifie and seal up to us this remission of sins in Christ blood. Herein Christ seems as it were thus to speak to every worthy Communicant; I poured out my blood to procure the Remission of thy sins: and I give thee this Sacramental wine, this pledge of my Blood, to assure thee in particular of the Remission of thy sinnes; that as verily as thou drinkest this wine, so verily thou hast pardon of thy sinnes through my blood. Oh they are happy that have their sinnes pardoned! Oh they are double happy that have their sinn's pardon, assured to them!
3. Hast thou not need to have the fresh memory of Christ, and of his death for sinners perpetuated to thee? Consider. 1. That to forget Christ, argues disaffection to him; true Lovers cannot forget one another, nor can endure to be forgotten one of another. Hence the Church desires Christ, to aCant. ….…set her as a Seal upon his heart, and as a Seale upon his arme; that we might never be forgotten of him: proportionably we should se… Christ as a Seale on our heart, and as a Seale on our arme, that we might never forget him. 2. That to forget Christs death for sinners, argues great ingratitude; For, what greater love could Christ ever have manifested unto us then to die for us? bJohn 15.13.Greater love then this hath no man, than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends: Yet Christs love greater then mans love; for, cRom. 5.6, 8.10.When we were yet without strength while we were yet sinners, when we were even enemies, Christ died for us. Now to bury in oblivion Christs greatest expression of love, cannot but be great ingratitude. As David quickens his soul dPs. 103.1, 2.not to forget all Gods benefits, lest he thereby should be unthankful. And Pharohs Butler was unthankful to Ioseph, in that eGen. 40.23.He remembred him not, but forgat… him 3. That the remembrance of Christ and his death, is most sweet and profitable to every believing soul. For, Christ is he whom the Christian fCant. 1▪ 7soul loves, and loves to remember. Christ is the Christians sole Mediatour, King, Priest and Prophet; his g1 Cor. 1.30.Wisdome, Righteousnesse, Sanctification, and Redemption; His Head, Husband; elder Brother, Life, and Hope of glory And Christs death is that whereby hRev. 1.5.our sins are washed away and purged, iCol. 1.20.21▪ 22.our reconcilement with God is obtained, kGal. 3.13.Gods Curse is removed from us; lCol. 2.14, 15. Heb. 2.14, 15.all the enemies of our salvation are subdued; mHeb. 9.12.Our eternall Redemption is wrought; and nHeb. 10.19, 20.our liberty of entrance into the Holiest of all, Heaven it self, is procured. Oh what variety of Cordials arise out of Christs grave! what precious balme distils from Christs bleeding side! and what heavenly honey drops out of this everlasting Rock! Thou canst not live without Christ and his death; hast thou not need then that Christ and his death should still live in thine heart and memory?
Consequently thou hast great need of the Lords Supper. The Lords supper is as a lasting Monument of Christs death, a Marble Pillar on Christs grave. Christ living, erected this Monument and Memoriall of Christ dying. In the Institution he saith of the bread oLuke 22.19.Do this in Remembrance of me. And of the Cup, p1 Cor. 11.25.This do ye, as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me. And of them both, saith Paul, As oft as ye eat this bread, and drink of this Cup, ye do shew the Lords death till he come. So then, in the Lords Supper, thou hast Jesus Christ as it were evidently crucified before thine eyes. Canst thou see this bread broken, and the wine distinctly severed from the bread, and not call to minde (according to the Scripture) Christs Agony in the Garden, his sufferings in the High-Priests Pallace, and his Crosse upon Mount Calvary, in all which places he freely shed his blood for thee? Canst thou take and eat this bread; take and drink this Cup; and in so doing not apprehend Christ stooping from heaven to feed thy soul with bread of Life, his own body: and water of life, his own blood? Christ bowing his head upon the Crosse to kisse thee; Christ opening his side to heale and wash thee; and Christ condescending to thy senses as once to Thomas, saying; rJoh. 20.27.Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, & reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithlesse, but believing.
4. Hast thou not great need to maintaine, increase and evidence to thy selfe more and more, thy spiritual Communion with Jesus Christ and him Crucified? Behold 1. This Fellowship & Communion with Christ, is the Saints spiritual Paradise: their Heaven on Earth. Therein we enjoy his person, and all sweet relations to his person; his Death, and all the saving fruits, priviledges, and influences of his death. Hereby we are sCant. 2.4.brought into Christs banqueting house; held in his Galler…es, his Banner over us being love; & are carried up into the Mount with Christ, as it were to behold Christ trasfigured, and may say with Peter, tMat. 17.1, 2, 3.4.Master, it's good for us to be here, and let us build Tabernacles. Oh thrice happy soul that may thus lodge in Christs bosome, and Christ dwell in their hearts! 2. This dear Communion with Christ may be much obscured and interrupted; Sometimes by uCant. 5.2, 3, 4▪ 5.carnal security creeping upon the Church, which causeth Christ to withdraw himself from her: Sometimes by a Churches xRev. 2.4, 5decay in her first love to Christ and his wayes; which provokes Christ to remove her Candlestick, (that is, to un-Church her,) if she repent not; And when the Candlestick removes, Christ removes, for he walks among the golden Candlesticks: Sometimes by the grosse falls and sins of Gods own people, which causeth the Lord to yPs. 51.…, 12.break their bones, as it were, and to take away the joy of his salvation; as in Davids case. 3. When this sweet Communion with Christ is interrupted, how grievous, painful, and intolerable is it to the Church and Members of Christ; Then the soul of the Church zCant. 5.6 7, 8. &c.failed even fainted away; then she sought Christ, but could not finde him: she called him, but he gave her no answer; then she became love-sick; then she was restlesse till she found him whom her soul loved. These things considered, there's great need of preserving, improving, and clearing to thy self more and more thy Communion with Christ.
Now therefore to this purpose thou hast great need of the Lords Supper; which to thy Soul, to thy Faith, yea even to thy outward senses, signifies, seals, and instrumentally exhibits this Communion with Christ and his Death. a1 Cor. 10.16.The Cup of blessing which we blesse, is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break, is it not the Communion of the body of Christ? His Question whether it be so, puts it out of question that doubtlesse it is so. That as verily as we partake that Bread and Cup: so verily we partake, and are strengthened in this fellowship with Christ.
5. Finally, Hast thou not great need to confirme and increase spiritual union and communion with the Saints and members of Jesus Christ? Consider well, 1. That the Spiritual Vnion and Communion of Saints is by all means to be preserved and increased. For, This is most agreeable to that spiritual Relation wherein they stand one to another in Christ, being bJoh. 15.1fellow-branches in the same Vine Christ, c1 Pet. 2.4, 5. Eph. 2.19.20, 21, 22.Living stones in the same spiritual building upon Christ, and d1 Cor. 12.25, 26, 27.fellow-members in the same mystical body of Christ, that should have the same care one of another. And whether one member suffer, all the members should suffer with it: or one member be honoured, all the members should rejoyce with it. For the…e should be no schisme in the body. This is much urged, and that with pathetical Arguments and importunity by the Apostle. eEph. 4.1. to 7.I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you, that ye walke worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called; with all lowlinesse and meeknesse, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your Calling; One Lord, One Faith, One Baptisme, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through …ll, and in you all. All these Vnities should perswade the Saints to unity. And elsewhere f1 Cor. 1.10.Now I beseech you; brethren, by the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you: but that you be perfectly joyned together in the same minde, and in the same judgement. This is much commended by the Spirit of God; gPs. 133.1, &c.Behold, how good and how pleasant it is, for brethre… to dwell even together in unity, &c. There also it's compared to Aarons precious Oyntment, and Hermon's fruitfull dew. This also was practised by Believers in the purest Primitive times. hAct. 4.32.And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart, and of one soul, &c. 2. That Divisions, Schismes, Fractions▪ Dis-unions among Christs members is by all means to be avoided; For, i1 Cor. 1.11, 12, 13Christ is not Divided. kGal. 5.19 20, 21, 22.Divisions are a fruit of the flesh, not of the Spirit. l1 Cor. 3.1, 3.Divisions evidence professors to be carnal, and to walk as men, not as Christians. And at last divisions will prove their Destruction that nourish them; mGal. 5.15If ye bite, and devoure one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. In these regard… there's great need of maintaining and confirming Vnion and Communion of Saints, and especially in such times as these are, wherein professors of Christ have, by their unparalle…'d Divisions both in Iudgment, Affection and Practice, brought such reproach upon the Gospel and way of truth, prejudice upon their own souls, hazard to the Kingdome of Christ, and advantage to the Kingdome of Satan.
In this regard what need is there of the Lords Supper, which in the nature of it tends so much to unite, cement, knit and sodder together the disjoynted members of Christs body? n1 Cor. 10.17.For (as the Apostle saith) We being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. As many grains of Wheat make up one loaf; so many members make up one body of Christ. And as we all partake that one bread; so we all thereby professe to be one, & walk as fellow-members in Christ, with all Christian love, union, and mutual tendernesse one towards anothe…: and if we dissolve communion with our fellow-members, how can we mai… tain communion with Christ our head?
Thus you may examine what need you have of the Lords-Supper, which is the second Gener…al branch of Preparation.
What present fitnesse we have for the Lords Supper, is the third and last, but not the least Particular; whereupon by way of preparation, we are to examine our selves, before we communicate.
Wherein doth our present fitnesse for the Lords Supper consist, and how may we examine our selves about it? Answ. Our present fitnesse for the Lords Supper consists principally in having and exercising of, 1. A competent Knowledge. 2. Faith. 3. Repentance, 4. New Obedience. 5. Love to Christ and his Members. 6. Thankfulnesse. 7. A spiritual Appetite to this Feast. The…e are qualifications peculiarly necessary to fit us for the Lords Supper. How necessary they are, and how we are to examine our selves about them comes now to be declared.
I. KNOWLEDGE. This is an inlet and foundation to all the rest: therefore begin we with it. Touching Knowledge Consider
1. The Necessity of it to worthy Communicating. 2. Th… Triall of it.
What necessity is there of Knowledge before we receive the Lords Supper? Answ. A competent Knowledge in Spirituals is necessary before we communicate, 1. For the di… cerning of the Lords Body in this Ordinance. How can the Lords body be discerned here but by Knowledge and Faith? The…e are the spiritual eyes of the soul. And o1 Cor. 11.29.whosoever discerneth not the Lords body, he eats and drinks unworthily, eates and drinks damnation to himself. 2. For Directing Communicants in the due managing of the Lords Supper. This Sacrament is a part of Divine Worship: without due Knowledge thereabouts, we shall worship we know not what, and run into the error of the Athenians, who er…cted an pAct. 17.23.Altar to the Vnknown God, whom therefore they ignorantly worshipped. Grosse ignorance herein will make men guilty of the body and blood of the Lord: and to stand in need of the like prayer that Christ put up for them that crucified him; qLuk. 23.34.Father forgive them; for they know not what they do. 3. For the leading on and inciting of all the other Communion-Graces. Knowledge will stir up Faith, Repentance, Obedience, Love, Thankfulness, and Spiritual Desire, to their proper objects and actions: whereas gross ignorance will either withstand them, or mislead them.
How is Knowledge to be tryed? Answ. Knowledge may be tryed whether it be …ound and competent. 1. By the Particular points of Knowledge which are more peculiarly requisite to worthy communicating. 2. By the properties of true sanctified knowledge.
I. The particular points of Knowledge, requisite to prepare Christians for worthy communicating, are e…pecially these, viz. A competent knowledge.
1. Of God. For in the Lords Supper we come to renew Covenant with God, and to have the New Testament with all the Promises, Priviledges, and Benefits thereof confirmed and assured to us. The Lords Supper being a Pledge and Seal of the rMat. 26.28.New Testament in Christs blood. Now one clause of this New Covenant is, That, sHeb. 8.10The Lord will be to us a God, and we shall be to him a People. If therefore we have not a due knowledge of this God, how can we acceptably renew and re-establish Covenant with him?
2. Of our selves. For we are to be the Communicants. And t…erefore it's necessary we be well known to our selves, thoroughly acquainted with our own state and condition, whether it be carnal or spiritual, and if spiritual, whether we be weaker or stronger in a state of grace, &c. Otherwi…e, 1. How can we discover our right to the Lords Supper? … How can we di…cern our need of the Lords Supper? 3. How can we judge of our …i…ness for the Lords Supper? Ignorance of our selves will render us ignorant in all these things.
3. Of Iesus Christ. For, 1. Jesus Christ is the 1 Cor. 11.23.Author of this Ordinance, that at first gave Being to it, and still gives Benefit by it. 2. Jesus Christ is the Matter, the inward Matter and Marrow of the Lords Supper to be fed upon. u1 Cor. 11.2… ▪ …5.Take, eat this is my body, which is broken for you.—This Cup is the New Testament in my blood. 3. Jesus Christ and the solemn remembrance of his death, is one eminent end of the Lords Supper,x1 Cor. 21.26. As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this Cup, ye shew forth the Lords death till he come. Consequently without a competent knowledge of Jesus Christ, it's altogether impossible to communicate worthily.
4. Of the New Covenant, or New Testament. For this is one of Christs great Seals, and solemn tokens of his New TestamentyMat. 26.28. This Cup is the New Testament in my blood. So that when we renew t…e Lords Supper, we renew the Lords Covenant. And how can we renew that Covenant, whereof we are grosly ignorant?
5. Of the Lords Supper it self. For should we intrude upon this Ordinance, and not competently understand what is the nature o… Sacraments in general, and of this in particular; we should but give God a blinde and a lame service, and offer the sacrifice of fools.
These are the principal points, more peculiarly necessary to be known in some competent sort before communicating; and these are the reasons why they are so necessary to be known. Next consider what ought to be known of them severally in order.