A Communicant Instructed, Part 2
II. Directions touching the Right Use of the Lords Supper in Communicating.
That thou maist rightly use and handle the Lords Supper in the Act of Communicating so as to be welcome and well-pleasing to Christ, and to reap benefit thereby to thine own soul, carefully observe and follow these few insuing Directions.
I. Approach to the Lords Table in an humble Sense of thy Self-unworthinesse: rather then with uncharitable censoriousnesse of others. Jesus Christ who invites us to this Feast, is a great Lord and a Mighty King; even oRev. 19.19.Lord of Lords and King of Kings: And we are but sinful lumps of dust and ashes. What self-abasing thoughts therefore should dwell upon our hearts, in all our approaches to him? Christ waspMat. 11.28. meek and lowly of heart, and loves that we should learn of him to be meek, and lowly also, that thereby we may finde rest to our souls. He qLuk. 18.9, to 15.justified the self-debasing Publican, when he condemned the Self-applauding Pharisee. Thou knowest worse by thy self, then by any other: have therefore meanest thoughts of thy self, be vilest in thine own eyes, rJoh. 8.7cast the first stone at thy self; say with Paul, sEph. 3.8.I am least of Saints, but t1 Tim. 1.15.chief of sinners; Say with the Canaanitish woman uMat. 15.27.Truth Lord, I am a dog, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their masters Tables. Say not, this person is ignorant, that scandalous, that unworthy, &c. but, say, Lord, I am ignorant, I amxLuk. 7.7. unworthy to come unto thee yLuke 1.16.I am no more worthy to be called thy son, make me as one of thy hired servants. The Apostles at the Supper censured not one another, but every one most suspected himself, saying, zMat. 26.21, 22, 25.Lord, is is I?
II. Propound to thy selfe, and actually level at right, not wrong ends, in Communicating. Good Ends cannot justifie a bad Action: but bad ends will corrupt and condemne a good Action: Good Ends are the crown and glory of good Actions.
Come not to the Lords Supper for these wrong Ends; viz. 1. Not to make the Sacrament a bond of iniquity. As the bloody Papists abused the Lords Supper to confirme themselves more strongly in carrying on the horrid Gunpowder-Treason. To take the Lords Supper to strengthen a mans resolutions in any evil practice, is blasphemously to make Christ a Patron to our sins, and the Sacrament a stalking-horse to our corruptions. 2. Not for Superstitious purposes; as in Popery, for Idolatrous Adoration of the Elements, carrying them about in Procession, Reservation of them for healing of diseases in man or beast, for casting them into dead mens graves, &c. These are abominable fooleries to be abhorred, utterly besides the intention of the Lords Supper. 3. Not for Conversion, or breeding Grace in a gracelesse heart. True, a man may possibly be converted at the Lords Supper by the Word then opened and applied, but not be converted precisely by the Lords Supper. For this sacrament was intended by Christ as a spiritual Feast, a1 Cor. 11.20.The Lords Supper; Therefore not to convert and give life to them that are spiritually dead, but to confime and nourish them that are spiritually alive: Not to breed Grace where there is none, but to feed Grace where there is. Again, Who shall be converted by the Lords Supper? either they must be Pagans from Paganisme to Christianity, or professed Christians from a carnal to a spiritual state in Christ; but neither of these are converted by the Lords Supper. Not Pagans, for they are to bebMat. 28.18, 19.converted by preaching the Gospel before they may be baptized, & till after they be baptized they cannot be admitted to the Lords Supper. Not professed Christians, for when they come to the Lords Supper, they either come worthily or unworthily; if worthily, then they are true believers already and need no conversion: if unworthily, then they are so farre from being converted, that they eat and drink their own condemnation. 4. Not for improving of Grace where Grace is, ex opere operato, by the bare work done in communicating. The Lords Supper is not like Physick or Medicine that works a cure by a natural property therein whether the Patient sleep or wake, &c. but it is a spiritual Ordinance that through Gods blessing, in the right use of it, improves and increaseth Grace. Rest not therefore in the meer work done, but look to the well-doing of it.
But come to the Lords Supper actually scoping and aiming at these right ends in communicating, for which the Lords Supper was indeed instituted, viz.
1. For the solemne Remembring of Christ and lively shewing forth of his Death. Christ saith in the Institution in reference to the Bread, cLuk. 22.….This do in Remembrance of me. Paul reciting the Institution, annexes this remembrance of Christ not only to the Bread, but also to the Cup;—d1 Cor. 11, 24, 25, 26. Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you: This do in remembrance of me. — This Cup is the New Testament in my blood: This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. And he addes, in reference to both joyntly; For …s oft as ye eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, ye do shew the Lords Death till he come. This remembrance of Christ and his Death therefore, is one eminent and principal End for which the Lords Supper was ordained, and is to be celebrated.
2. For the spiritual nourishment, support and strengthening of the inward man, Faith and all saving Graces. Hence it's callede1 Cor. 11.20. & ver. 24.25. The Lords Supper, And in this Supper here's spiritual food, The body of Christ broken, and his blood shed. As also spiritual eating and drinking of this heavenly provision. This is an other true End and use of it: for repairing the wants, weaknesses, decayes, &c. of the inward man, the Regenerate part in a Christian.
3. For Ratification of the New Testament or New Covenant to us.—f1 Cor. 11.25. This Cup is the New Testament in my blood. That is, This wine in the Cup is a Signe and Seal of my blood and death whereby the New Testament is confirmed. For A Will, or Testament is confirmed and becomes of force by the Testators Death. So that this Sacrament being a pledge of Christs Death: Ratifies to us the New Testament in Christs Death, together with all the Promises, Priviledges and Comforts of the New Testament, as being all ours.
4. For Sealing up to our hearts, and helping on our Assurance of the Remission of our sins. — gMat. 26.28.This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. hHeb. 9.22.Without shedding of blood is no remission; because otherwise Divine justice had no satisfaction. AndiHeb. 10.4, & 9.9.10, 12, 13, 14.no blood could satisfie Gods justice fully, and obtain remission of sins▪ but the blood of Christ, God-man. Now as Christ kRev. 1.5.hath loved us, and washed us from our sins …n his own blood: So he ordained this Love-token, his Supper, to assure us that as certainly as we aright partake this Sacrament so certainly our sinnes are pardoned, and our persons justified through his blood. How sweet an use is this of the Lords Supper to every soul that hath experimentally felt the bitternesse of his sins, the Wormwood and the Gall!
5. For confirmation and increase of our Communion with Christ and him crucified. l1 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? The double Question doth eleg…ntly and vehemently put it out of que…tion, and beyond all doubt, that the Sacramental Bread and Cup are pledges of our Communion with Christs body and blood, That is, with Christs Death, and with all the Benefits, Victories, Purchases and Priviledges of his Death: That they are all ours, as truly as this Bread we eat, and this Cup we drink, are ours. This communion of the Saints with Christ crucified, is as sweetest Honey out of the Rock, as the Tree of life in the Garden of Eden, even their spiritual Parad…se and Heaven on Earth. Who ever truly tasted the sweetnesse of this communion with Christ: but must highly prize, and earnestly long for this Sacramental Seale of that Communion?
6. Finally, For testification and improvement of our Communion with Christs Members.m1 Cor. 10.17. For we being many are one Bread, and one Body: for we are all partakers of that one Bread, The Saints have not only communion with Christ as their head joyntly, but also n1 Cor, 12.12, &c.with one another as fellow-members mutually: loving, pittying, helping and taking care one of another. This reciprocal fellowship of Saints is signified, sealed, &c. in the Lords Supper. As many grains of wheat make one bread and many grapes one cup of wine: So they being many mēbers yet are but all one mystical body in Christ. And therefore from this spiritual and mystical union and communion among them, sealed in this Ordinance, they ought to be more and more dear to one another, every way careful …or the spiritual good of one another.
These are the right Ends & uses of the Lords Supper. In the Act of communicating, still keep thine eye intentively upon them: As he that shoots keeps his eie steadily on the mark or as he that runs directs his aims still to the Goal.
III. In order to these excellent Ends manage the whole Sacramental Action according to Christs Institution. Sacraments are not Natural, but Instituted worship, and therefore wholly depend upon Institution in their Being, and are wholly to be regulated by Institution in their use. Bread doth not naturally & in it self signifie Christs body, more then the flesh of Beasts doth: Nor wine his blood, more then water or the blood of Sacrifices doth: But by positive institution bread and wine in the Lords Supper so signifie Chr…sts body and blood, as no other Elements can, because these alone were instituted to that purpose. Therefore the institution must be the Rule and Standard for regulating the whole Action of communicating. So Christ commandeth; oLuk. 22.19.Do this, That is, Do this that I command, that I do in this Institution: follow ye my Precept, & my Patterne herein all-a-long. Hence Paul intending to reform the grosse abuses and prophanations of the Lords Supper in the Church of Corinth calls them back to the first Institution thereof by Christ, from which they had turned aside, p1 Cor. 11.23, &c.For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, &c. Therefore in thy Giving, or Receiving the Lords Supper, keep close to the Institution: then thou walkest safely.
1. The Elements which Christ used, were Bread and Wine. qMak. 14.22.23.24, 25. Mat. 26.27, 28.29.Iesus took Bread.—And he took the Cup, &c. of which Cup he said, — I will drink no more of the fruit of the Vine, untill. — The Lords Supper therefore must not be dispensed with any other Elements then Bread and Wine. What sort of Bread or Wine, is not prescribed particularly: but left to liberty. Papists deal sacrilegiously, who deny the Cup to the people, giving them only Bread.
2. The Mysteries signified &c. by these Elements, according to Christs Institution, are rMat. 26.26, 27, 28.Christs Body and Blood immediately, His Death and all the benefits thereof mediately. These and no other Mysteries we are to understand by the Elements. We may not devise other significations, then those Christ instituted.
3. The Actions instituted, On Christ and his Ministers part dispensing the Lords Supper were, sMat. 26.26, &c. Mark. 14.22, 23, Luk. 22.19 20 1 Cor. 11.23, 24, 25.Taking, Blessing, Breaking and Giving the Bread: Taking, Giving thanks, and Giving the Cup. On the Communicants part Receiving the Lords Supper were, Receiving Eating the Bread, and Drinking the Wine. These Sacramental Actions are to be used, and no other: these alone being instituted. The Form or Manner of Christs Taking, Blessing, Tanksgiving, Breaking and Giving the Elements, &c. is not particularly described. Doubtlesse they were all most suitable and congruous to the Ordinance in hand, (Christ doing all things most exactly and properly:) And such should ours be, most proper, pertinent & agreeable to the Nature of the Lords Supper. Nor Breaking of Bread, nor any other Action, may be omitted or changed. Nor may we super-adde new actions besides the…e, as Sacramental and Significative; for that were to usurp upon Christs Authority of instituting: therefore to adde (as some do,) The Pour…ng out of the Wine, for the signification of the pouring out of Christs blood, is not only needlesse, but also unlawful. Needlesse in that Chri…ts shedding his blood for us, and the actual separating of his blood from his body, is signified sufficiently according to the institution, otherwise: viz. Partly in the Breaking of the Bread, noting the breaking and wounding of his body, which could not be without shedding of his blood: Partly in the actual and distinct separation of the Wine from the Bread; both in Institution & Distribution. Vnlawful, for when did Christ institute this Action of Pouring out the Wine? Or where doth he require it at our hands?
4. Finally, the Circumstantials attending upon the institution of the Lords Supper, (which were not meerly accidental and occasional,) They also are fit to be used by us, but not wit… opinion of the like intrinsecal necessity, as the essentials and integrals of the Lord… Supper are to be u…ed. As 1. T…e u…e of a Table is convenient, to …et the elements decently and …isib…y upon, and of vessels to put the elements in. And the Apostle makes mention oft1 Cor. 10.21. The Lords Table: And of the Cup of the Lord. 2. The …itting of all the Communicants at, or as neer as con…eniently they can, round about the Lords Tab…e that they may not on…y hear the words of the Institution recited and exp…ined, &c. but may also see the elements and actions: that their eyes may more deeply affect their hearts with the mysteries in hand. Such sitting being more agreable to theuMat. …6.20, &c. Mark. 14.18, 22. Luk. 22.14 19. Joh. 13 12, 23. & 21.20.example of Chri… and his Apostles in t…e first ins…itution, (who sate, or sate leaning,) than the gesture of kneeling: And being the gesture generally received and used in all the Reformed Churches, and xSee The Directory for publique worship.directed to be used in the Churches of England, Scotland, and Ireland. 3. The closing up of the whole action with some suitable Psalme, is agreeable to the Primitive paterne. Thus Christ and his Apostles shut up the Lords Supper in the first Institution thereof; yMat. 26.30. Mark. 14.26.And when they had sung an Hymne or Psalme, they went out into the Mount of Olives. To sing Psalmes therefore in the Act of administration of the elements, is clearly unsuitable to the i…itable Practice of Christ and his Apostles at the Institution; and also evidently repugnant to those General Rules for Christian worship; z1 Cor. 14 40, 26.That all things be don decently, in order, and to edification. This singing Psalmes in the action being un-decent and disorderly, whilest one part of the Congregation is receiving, another part is singing, which makes a grosse confusion in the Church, and in the Religious exercises. And also unedifying, yea against edification, whilest the Communicants thoughts are hereby distracted, and drawn away from fruitful pondering and meditating upon the many mysteries of the Lords Supper: and their graces are disturbed and hindred from their free and lively actings towards Christ crucified, the benefits of his death, his love therein to us, our reciprocal duties to him, &c. enough to employ the quickest thoughts and graces throughout the whole action.
But as for those Circumstantials about the Lords Supper, that were meerly accidentall and occasional; occasioned by the Paschal Supper, or otherwi…e extrinsecally in respect of the Lords Supper; As, The time, in the evening, not in the morning: The place, in a private chamber, an upper room, not in the place of publick worship: The quality of the Bread, unleavened, not leavened: The number, sexe, and office of the Communicants; They being but twelve; and all these men, no women being amongst them; and all these Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel, there being no private Christians amongst them: These being meerly accidental to the Lords Supper, and being occasioned by something besides the Lords Supper, they do not tie us to the observation of them. Thus manage the whole action of the Lords Supper according to Christs Institution.
IV. Act and exercising lively, in Communicating, all those Sacramental qualifications and graces fore-mentioned, viz. Knowledge Faith, Repentance, New Obed…ence, Love to Christ and to Christians, Thankfulnesse, and a Spiritual Appetite. It's not enough to have these, and bring them with us to the Lords Supper, but we must use and improve them discreetly and carefully at the Lords Supper. You have seen how necessary they are for a worthy Communicant. Stir them up therefore, and awaken them in your selves in Communicating. He that's to wrastle or run a race, must not only have strength and skill, but use them if he mean to prevaile. He that's cold must not only have fire raked up under the ashes, but must blow it up, if he means to be warm: so he that means to communicate worthily, must not content himself with the habit of Grace, but put forth the Acts of Grace. Gods children may receive unworthily, by not using of Grace: as wicked men receive unworthily by not having of Grace. Act and use therefore every Grace pertinently and properly according to their several natures respectively.
1. Act Knowledge, so as to have a right apprehension, Of that God, with whom thou hast to do in this Ordinance: Of thy selfe, that dost Communicate, what thy spiritual state is: Of Christ and his death, the chief mystery of this Supper: Of the New Covenant and the tenour of it, which is sealed in this Sacrament: And of this Sacrament it selfe, and the nature of it, which thou takest in hand. Rouse up therefore thy judgement and spiritual senses to eye and discern these things truly, that so all thine other Graces may be helped and quickened. Knowlede being the inlet, guide and enlivener of them all.
2. Act Faith, In discerning and tasting spiritually Christs body and blood, how sweet and precious nourishment they are: In assenting to the truth of the New Covenant and all the promises thereof; to the truth of Christs death and all the benefits thereof; to the certainty of this Sacramental comfort, and that to the worthy Communicant; The bread and wine are Christs body and blood indeed Sacramentally: especially in Applying the Covenant and Promi…es, Christ, his love, death, and all the fruits of his death particularly to thine own soul, as certainly & undoubtedly as the outward elements are applied to thy body. Say with Thomas, … ling Christs wounds,aJohn 20.28. My Lord and my God. With Paul bGal. 2.20.Christ loved me, and gave h…mself for me. Say, as certainly as this Bread and this wine are mine: so the New Testament and all the Promises thereof are mine, pardon of sin mine; Christ and his death, with all the advantages thereof are mine, &c. Thus to act faith is to eat and drink indeed, to communicate indeed.
3. Act Repentance and godly Sorrow. When thou seest the bread broken, and the wine separated from the bread, think how Christs body was cIsa. 53.4, 5, 6.wounded, and his blod shed and separated from his body, and this for thy sins. Then dZech. 12.9, 10, 11.look upon Christ by faith, whom thou hast pierced, and be in bitternesse for him by godly sorrow, as one is in bitternesse for his first borne, &c. Fill thine heart with shame and confusion for those sins, and with hatred iudignation and holy revenge against those sins of thine, that cost Christ so dear, and would have cost thee damnation. And resolve for future to abominate thy corruptions, as the thorns, scourges, nails, and spear, that did murder the Lord of glory.
4. Act New Obedience. Say to thy self, O my soul, was Christ thus ePhil. 2.8.obedient to the death for thee, even to the death of the Crosse? Did he count itfJoh. 4.34 meat and drink to do the will of him that sent him, and to finish his work? Did he gPsal. 40.6 7, 8. with Heb. 10.51 to 11.delight to do, yea and to suffer the Will of God, in being sacrificed for thee? How obedient then shouldst thou be to Christ! live not to the world, or to sinne, or to thy selfe, but to Christ, willingly do any thing he commands, forbear any thing he forbids, and bear any thing he inflicts, that Christ in all may be glorified.
5. Act Love sincerely to Christ and his Members. This Sacrament is Christs Love-token to his Church. A Memorial of his death for us, which was hGal. 2.20 Rev. 1.5. 1 Joh. 3.16his greatest expression of love to us. Behold how his love streamed forth to sinners out of every stripe and wound of head, back, hands, feet, and heart! Behold how he loved thee! wilt not thou love him again? warme thy frozen affections at this fire of Christs love, and melt them into reciprocal love to Christ. Love him in his Person, Offices, Ordinances, and in his Image, in whomsoever it appeares.
6. Act Thankfulnesse. Christ crucified, represented here, is highest matter of Thankfulnesse. Acknowledge this mercy of mercies, esteem it according to its worth, and resolve to render again to Christ thy praises, service, affections, sufferings, and thy self, both soul and body in way of Thankfulnesse. Say with David, iPsal. 103.1, 2.Blesse the Lord, O my soul, —And kPs. 116.12What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me? &c.
7. Act, Finally, a true spiritual Appetite. Eagerly hunger and thirst after this bread and drink indeed, the flesh and blood of Christ. These will so fully satisfie the soul, that it shall never totally hunger or thirst more, but shall live for evermore. And as the hungry stomach delightfully closeth with corporal food, extracting the nutritive juyce out of it: so let thine hungring soul contentingly close with Christ, drawing all hearty juyce and nourishment from him.
V. Improve thy corporal Senses, discerning the outside of the Lords Supper, to help thy spiritual Senses and Graces to discerne the inside of the Lords Supper. As windows & casements let in the light, heat, and influence of the Sun into an house: so these windows and casements of the outward senses, let in the light, heat, and spiritual influence of Jesus Christ, the Sun of righteousnesse into the heart and soul. As in the Word preached Christ enters into the heart by the Sense of Hearing, the Organ of Discipline: so in the Lords Supper Christ comes into the heart by the senses of Seeing, Touching, and Tasting Doth Christ make use of thy Senses to condescend to thee? do thou improve thy Senses to ascend up unto him. Thomas lJohn 20.25, 27, 28.would not believe that Christ was alive, till he put his fingers into his wounds after he revived, and then he cries out, My Lord, and my God: so thou that doubtest of Christs love to thee, and dying for thee, cast hither thine eye to the bread broken, and wine severed from it; To the elements and actions, and see the Lords dying for thee; reach hither thine hand, take and apply this bread broken to thine own self, and as it were feel his wounded hands and feet and heart; use here thy taste, and discern what nourishment Christ is; And mJoh. 20.27.be no longer faithlesse, but believing, O fix thy senses stedfastly upon the Supper of the Lord, till thou hast fixed thine heart firmly upon the Lord of the Supper. Let thy senses be acted towards the bread and wine, till thy soul be affected with the bread and water of life.
VI, Remember Iesus Chr…st, and him crucified, throughout the whole action. This is Christs command in the Institution, that we both eat the Bread and drink the Cup in nLuk. 22.19. 1 Cor. 11.24, 25.remembrance of him. And Paul explaining this remembrance of Christ, interprets it especially in reference to o1 Cor. 11.26.his Death, and the shewing of it forth. The Lords Supper then was intended for a solemne Memorial of Christ crucified, and as it were a Marble-Monument or piller upon Christs Sepulchre, that Christ and his death might never be forgotten; but that Christ dying might be everliving in his peoples hearts. Therefore at the Lords Supper remember Christ, remember his love to thee, remember his death for thee: think often, and meditate much upon these things.
Quest. But how shall I remember Christ crucified at the Lords Supper, for greatest advantage and benefit to my soul? Answ. Remember Christ crucified three wayes, v…z. 1. Historically, remembring the History of Christ and his death. 2. Mysteriously, remembring the spiritual mystery of Chr…st and his death. 3. Energetically, so remembring both, as to imprint them with energy, effect, and eff…cacy upon the soul. This will be remembring Christ crucified indeed.
1. Historically; Remember the History of Christ and of his death, as it is recorded in holy Scriptures, especially as it is delineated by the four Evangelists. Read the History of Christs passion in them before thou commest to the Lords Table: that the memory thereof may be fresh and lively in thy thoughts at the Lords Table. Think with thy self how Christs life was as it were a continued Passion, and a daily dying. He was very meanly brought forth into the world, borne in a stable, wrapped in swadling cloathes, and pLuk. 2.7.laid in a Manger. He was no sooner born, but qMatt. 2.1 to 19.Herod seeks to murder him, murdering many poor Infants lest he should misse him. He is no sooner rMat. 3.13, to the end, with 4…1, to 12.baptized, but Satan assaults him, Tempting him to Despaire, Self-murder & worshipping of the Devil in per…on; but prevailed nothing. Is he in his publick Ministery? How is sJoh. 7.5, 7. & 9.16 24. Matt. 12.24 Joh. 11.47, 48, 53. & 12.10, 11. & 18. & 19. throughouthe hated reviled, bla…phemed and persecuted by Scribes and Phari…es▪ by his own people the Jew…, yea by his own kindred! And when he was nigh the period of his Minis…ery, what torrent of sorrows & sufferings flow'd in upon him! Remember what he endured, in the Garden, in the High Priests Hall, and in Mount Calvary: and then behold and consider if any sorrows were like his sorrows.
1. In the Garden; How was his soul surrounded with sorrows even to the Death! How bitter was the Cup which he then began to drink, which set him into an Agony, so that he tLuk. 22.41, 42, 43, 44. Matt. 26.42.prayed thrice most earnestly to his Father to let that Cup passe from him, if possible: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground, hereby his spirits being brought so low, that there appeared an Angel from heaven strengthening him! (With this Agony probably Christ was so weakened, that the next day he was not able to bear his Cross but Simon was compelled to bear it after him) And immediatly uLuk. 22.47, 48, &c compared with Mat. Mark, and John.after his Agony Iudas betrayes him to the multitude of the Jews with a kisse, who apprehended him, bound him, and led him away to the High Priests House. Thus as the first Adam sinned in a Garden, the second Adam suffered in a Garden. Now then when thou art at the Lords Table, Remember Christs Garden-sufferings, think so lively of them as if thy self hadst been in the Garden with the Disciples, imagine thou hadst heard him pray so earnestly against his bitter Cup, thou hadst seen him sweat drops of clotted blood so lamentably in his woful Agony, that the earth was all besprinkled with his blood, and that thou hadst lookt on to see him betrayed so villainously by Iudas his own Apostle into the hands of his enemies.
2. In the High Priests Palace and the judgement-Hall; xLuk. 22.54, to the end; & 23.1, to 33. comparded with the other three EvangelistsHow was Christ denyed by Peter! How was he mocked, …mitten, blindfolded, buffetted, spit upon, crowned with Thornes, having a Reed in his hand, being scornfully bow'd unto and derided with haile King of the Iews, cruelly scourged, blasphemously intreated, falslely accused, causelesly exclaimed against by the people, and unjustly condemned by Pilate, against his own conscience! When thou art at the Lords Table, Remember those passions of thy Saviour. Imagine thou hadst stood by all the while, and sadly beheld all these passages, his cheeks swoln with buffetting, his face defiled with spitting on, his head wounded with thornes, his back torn with scourges, &c. Oh behold, what a woful spectacle!
3. In Mount Calvary, in that filthy Golgotha how woful and tragical was his yLuke. 23 33, &c. See also the Hist. of Mat. Mark and John.end! His body was stripped of his garments; His limbs were cruelly stretched upon the Cross; His hands and feet pierced with rugged nails, and fastened to the cursed tree; He was ranked betwixt two crucified thieves, as if he were the Arch-malefactor; he hanged from the sixth till the ninth houre most painfully upon the tender wounds of his hands and feet: He was forsaken by his disciples and friends, derided by his enemies, & by the very thieves that were crucified with him; & being a thirst in his pains, abused with gall and vineger given him to drink; And which was heaviest of all, he was in a sort deserted of God, so that he bitterly cryed out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me, and so he yielded up the Ghost: after which, a souldier with a spear piercing his side and heart; there gushed out water and blood. Now when thou art at the Lords Supper, …emember all those sad passages. Think thou hadst stood with Mary and Iohn under …is Crosse, and hadst seen and heard his intolerable repro…ches, his bleeding wounds, his tortured body, his bitter cries, his dying groans; think thou hadst his dead body, all besmeared in his own blood, like Ioseph of Arimathea, in thine armes.
Remember this story of Christs death, and remember it seriously, pathetically. Imagine The Sacrament-day, to be as Christs Agony-day, His Condemning-day, His Crucifying-day: The Lords Table to be as the Crosse whereon he was crucified: And the breaking of the bread as the breaking of his body with all these mortal Sufferings. This is the first Act or degree of thy Remembring Christ crucified: to remember him Historically.
2. Mysteriously; Remember the Mystery of Christ and of his Death. This is a farther and an higher degree of remembring Christ crucified, at the Lords Supper Christs Death was not a common and ordinary Death full of miseries only: but a speciall and extraordinary Death full of Mysteries also. Among other Mysteries of Christs death, The Causes and Effects of his death are singularly mysterious. Remember them in communicating.
1. Causes of Christs death were either, 1. meritorious, or 2. impulsive.
1. Meritorious procuring causes of Christs death, were the sins of Gods Elect imputed to him. Christ in himself was totally zHeb. 4.15.without sin; aIsa. 53.8.no guil was found in his mouth; He was b1 Pet. 1.19.a Lamb without blemish, & without spot: He was cHeb. 7.26Holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners: Pilate his Judge cleared him, saying, dJoh. 18.28. & 19.4.6. Luk. 23.4.14.I finde in him no fault at all; The condemned thief justified him, eLuk. 23.41.We indeed justly but this man hath done nothing amisse. But Christ becomming fHeb. 7.22.Surety for sinners, even for all his Elect that were ruined by Adam's sin, stood charged with their whole debt, which they were no way able to satisfie for in the least degree. And so gIsa. 53.6.all their sins were at once imputed to him: and death the due wages of their sins was inflicted upon him, that his Elect might be fully acquitted and discharged. Hence those passages; h2 Cor. 5.21.He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.— iGal. 3.13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us. Admirably the Evangelical Prophet, kIsa. 53.4, 536.Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him strieken, smitten of God & afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like she…p have gone astray: we have turned every man to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him (Heb. hath made to meet on him) the iniquity of us all. — lV…rs. 8.For the transgression of my people was he stricken. — mVers. 11.By his knowledge shall my righteous Servant justifie many, for he shall bear their iniquities. — nVers. 12.And he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bare the sin of many. Thus Christ who in himself had no sin, was crucified for the sins of his Elect who had nothing but sin. The guiltless for the guilty, the innocent for the nocent, the Pastor for the flock, the Master for the servant, the Captain for the Souldier, the Physician for the Patient, the King for the people, the workman for the work, and he that was God himself for man. Christ was betrayed, but our sins the Iudas that betrayed him: Christ was condemned but our sins the Pilate that condemned him: Christ was crucified, but our sins the nails that fastned him to the Crosse: Christ had Gall and Vineger given him to drink, but our sins were the Vineger and the Gall: Christ was pierced, but our sins were the Thorns and Spear that pierced his head and heart. Remember these things; when thou receivest the Sacrament of Christs death, call to minde thy sins the procuring causes of Christs death. Say in thine own heart to Christ, as Augustine, *Quid commisisti, dulcissime puer, ut sic judicareris? quid comnnsifti, amantissime juvenis, ut adeo tractareris? quod scelus tuum, quae noxatua, quae causa mortis, quae occ… s…o tuae damnationis? Ego enim sum tui plag… doloris, tuae cul pa occisionis. Ego tuae mortis meritum, tuae vindictae flagitium. Ego tuae passionis livor, tui cruciatus labor. O mirabilis censurae conditio: & ineffabilis Mysterii dispositio: Peccat iniquus, & punitur justus: delinquit reus, & vapulat innocens: offendit impius, & damnatur pius: quod meretur malus, patitur bonus, quod perpetrat servus, exolvit Dominus, quod committ…t homo, sustinet Deus: quonat… dei, quo tua descendit humilitas; quo tua flagravit charitas, &c. Aug. lib. Meditat. 67. p. 698. Tom. 9. Basil. 1569.I am the stroke of thy grief, I am the fault of thy killing, I am the desert of thy death, I am the offence of thy revenge, I am the grievousness of thy passion, I am the toil of thy torment. O wonderfull condition of censure, and ineffaeble disposition of the mystery! The unjust sins, and the just is punished, the guilty transgresseth, and the guiltless is beaten: the impious offends, and the pious is condemned: What the bad deserves, the good suffereth: what the servant perpetrates, the Lord payeth: what man commits, …od undergoeth▪ Whither, O Son of God, whithe… … humility? whither flamed thy charity? whither proceeded thy piety? whither increased thy benignity? whethtr reached thy love? whither came thy compassion? For I have done unjustly, thou art punished: I have dealt heinously, thou art …evengefully smitten: I have committed the fault, thou art tortured: I have been proud, thou hast been humbled, &c. Thus remember that thy sins were the procuring causes of Christs sorrows.
2. Impulsive or inward moving causes of Christs Death were only the free grace, self-propension and love of God & Christ to sinners. The Souldiers had never fast'ned Christ to the Crosse, had not our sins first fast'ned him there: our sins had never fixed him to the tree, if his Love had not first fixed him. Love moved God to give his Son: Love moved Christ to give himself. Love brought him down from Heaven r…frus; Love brought him upon the Crosse fo…ous; Love made him pray, & sweat, and bleed, and die for us. God so lo…ed us, as to give his Son for us;oJoh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him should not per…sh, but have everlasting life. — p1 Joh. 4.9, 10.Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. — qRom. 5.6, 7, 8.But God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were …et sinners Christ died for us. And Christ so love… us, as to give himself to death for us; rJoh. 10.11.I am the good Shepherd, The good Shepherd g…veth his life for the sheep. — sVers. 18.No man t…keth it from me, but I lay it down of my self. — tJoh. 15.13.1.Greater love hath no man then this, that a ma… lay down h…s life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you. — u1 Joh. 3.16.Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down h…s l…fe for us.— xRev. 1.5VntoUnto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in h…s own blood. Hence Paul experimentally saith, yGal. 2.20The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. In Communicating, remember this love of God and Christ to thee: But for this love God had never died for thee.
2. Effects, fruits, and benefits of Christs Death are manifold and most excellent. In this memorial of Christs Death, especially remember these fruits of his death, viz.
1. Redemption. We by the first Adams fall, were utterly enslaved and enthralled under sin, the curse of the Law, Death and all the powers of darkness: By the second Adam's Death we are redeemed from them all. zHeb. 9.12.But Christ by his own blood entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal Redemption for us.—a1 Pet. 1.18, 19. Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation, &c. but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish, and without spot. — bGal. 3.3Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us; and Christ hath cHeb. ….14 15. …ol. 2.15 Luk. 1.74, 75.by his death triumphed over all our enemies, and deli…ered us from them. Hence Christ is said to be d1 Cor. 1.30.made of God to us, Redemption.
2. Reconciliation. By the first Adam's Apostasie we are not only enthralled under sin, death, Satan and all our spiritual enemies: But we are become utter eRom. 5.10. Col. 1.21.Enemies to God, and to all true spiritual goodness; yea the fRom. 8.7, 8.carnal minde is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. And being at enmity with God we are consequently at enmity with all his creatures, every thing is against us. But by the blood and death of Christ the second Adam we are reconciled again to God. gRom. 5.10. with Heb. 2.17.For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son: much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life. — hCol. 1.19 20, 21, 22.It pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell. And (having made peace through the blood of his Crosse,) by him to reconcile all things unto himself, by him I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you that were sometimes alienated, and enemies in your minde by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, &c. Hence God is said toi2 Cor. 5.1….20. be in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: And the Gospel is called The word of Reconciliation. 3. Iustification, and Pardon of sin. By reason of our fall in Adam, we have lost all our original righteousness, our persons are become sinners; our natures, principles and actions unrighteous; and our selves are become guilty of death before God. Now k1 Cor. 1.30.Christ is made of God righteousness unto us. He is lJer. 23.8. & 33.16.The Lord our righteousness. For God imputing mIsa. …3.6.all our unrighteousness to Christ, and all Christs righteousnesse active and passive to us: through the merit of Christs death and obedience, our sins are freely remitted, our guilt removed, and our persons are accepted as righteous before God. Christ was offered, nHeb. 2.8to bear the sins of many. —oRom. 5.8, 9. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. —pVers. 19. For as by one mans disobedience, many were made sinners: so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Hence Christ in the Institution of the Supper, saith, qMat. 26.28.This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. rRom. 8.33.God justifies us efficiently▪ sRom. 4.25.Christ justifies us by his blood and obedience meritoriously, by his Resurrection evidentially, evidencing the full vertue and victory of his death; tRom. 3.28.Faith justifies us instrumentally, uJam. 2.14. to the end.good works justifie us declaratively in the sight of men, declaring our faith to be lively and true, that brings forth good works.
4. Victorie over our spiritual enemies. Naturally by the fall we are xAct. 8.23in the bond of iniquity; and yHeb. 2.14, 15.through fear of death all our life-time subject to bondage: and z2 Tim. 2.25.led captive by Satan at his will. Israels bondage and slavery in Egypt or Babylon, no way comparable to this spiritual bondage. But Christ by his death aRom 8.3Hath condemned sin in the flesh, bHeb. 2.14 15. with Col. 2.14, 15.Hath overcome death, and destroyed him that had the power of death, the Devil; having spo…led principalities and powers, and triumphed over them openly by his Crosse.
5. Finally, Entrance into Heaven. Though our sin had cast us out of Paradise, and from all hope of Heaven: yet Christ by his death and blood, hath opened to us the gate of the heavenly Paradise. cHeb. 10.19, 20.We have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Iesus, by a new & liv…ng way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh.
The…e are some of the glorious fruits of Christs death, Redemption, Reconciliation, Justification, Victory over our spiritual enemies, and entrance into the holiest of all. Remember the…e at the Lords Supper, that sweet Memorial of Christs death. Thus remember the Mystery of his death.
3. Energetically; Remember Christ and his death the History & Mystery of his death, so as to work this remembrance with energy, force and efficacy upon thine heart and spirit. Let this remembrance of Christ make some savory practical impressions upon thy soul, which may dwell and fix there for thy good. How may that be done? Answ. Thus,
1. Remember Christ and his death, so as to lay to heart the deep sinfulness and misery, into which the first Adam plunged us by his fall. Judge of the extremity of the malady, by the eminency of the remedy. No lesse then death, then such a death, and that of such a person as Christ, who was God-man, could e…er have expiated that sinfulness, or ha…e remo…ed that misery. If all the men on earth, and all the Angels in heaven had died, and that eternally, they could never have satisfied Gods justice for one sin. For Gods justice offended is infinite, and all that mere creatures can do or endure, are as themselves meer finite; but Christs person being of infinite worth in respect of his God-head, satisfied to the full. Think not Adams sin to be small. It murdered himself and all his posterity. It cost Christ his dearest hearts blood. And Adams first sin was thy sin, for thou wast in his loyns when he fell. Lay this to heart proportionably.
2. Remember Christ and his death, so as to admire Gods infinite, 1. Wisdom. 2. Iustice, and 3. Love therein toward sinners. 1. Admire his wisdom, in contriving this strange way for saving of sinners, which men and Angels could not have contrived or imagined. That the eternal Son of God should become man, personally uniting the humane nature to his divine person: That as man he might suffer, as God he might satisfie for sinners. Here's d1 Cor. 1.23, 24.Chr…st crucified the wisdom of God indeed. e1 Cor. 2.7.The wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory. Oh the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! 2. Admire his justice. Christ his dear and only Son must be sacrificed, that we his utter enemies might be spared. Christ his spotless Son, who knew no sin must be condemned, that we sinners who knew nothing but sin, might be cleared. Christ who was th… life it self must die: that we who were dead in sins might live. fVid. Salvian. de Gubern. Dei lib. 4.Who would not count it an unrighteous Act: if any King should put to death his own obedient Son, to save the life of a Traytor? or condemn the innocent knowingly for the nocent? Oh then, how infinite is this Justice of God in giving Christ the righteous to die for us unrighteous! It is such justice, as seems to have a shew of injustice, but that God is so righteous, that he can do nothing unrighteously. 3. Finally, Admire his love, gJoh. 3.16 Rom. 5.6, 7, 8. &c. & 8.7. Eph. 3.18.God so loved us as to give his own Son, his only Son, his righteous Son, the Son of his love, to die a painful, shameful and cursed death, for us worthless, loveless sinners, dead in sins, enemies, enmity it self against God. O the depth, and heighth, and length, and breadth of this love of God in Christ, which passeth knowledge: Say, be astonished, O my soul, at this love which passed all love.
3. Remember Christ and his death, so as to lament and hate those sins for which Christ thus suffered. When thou seest the bread broken, think how Christs body was broken & wounded for thy sins. And then fill thine heart with grief and indignation against those sins. Shall Christs body be so broken, and his heart pierced for thy sins: and shall not thy heart be pricked and broken for thine own sins? Shall thy sins derive Gods wrath upon Christ: and shall not thine hatred and wrathful indignation be kindled against thine own sins? Dost thou count those sins small, or light; which Christ found so heavy and heynous, that he sweat great drops of blood falling down to the ground, and cryed out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Dost thou think much to shed a few penitential tears, for those sins for which Christ shed all his hearts blood? Canst thou love or be reconciled to those corruptions, for which Christ was so hated to the very death? Say to thy soul; O my soul, consider thy sins aright. For those Christ bled, wilt thou not bleed for them? for those Christ died, and wilt thou live in them … &c.
4. Remember Christ and his death, so as to resolve more effectually to conform to Christ, and to his death. Then we aright remember Christ crucified, when we resolve and endeavour to resemble Christ crucified. In this Supper so think upon Christ dying, as to be willing to die with him. But how shall I die with him, or be conform to Christ crucified? Answ. By dying to sin. By being crucified to the world. And by suffering for Christ. 1. By dying unto sin. Christ died for sin, that we who are dead in sin, might die unto sin. Whilest we are dead in sin, we can do nothing else but sin; but when we die to sin, we habitually live not any longer therein, nor thenceforth serve sin. hRom. 6.2How should we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Hence the Apostle urges our death to sin from Christs death: iRom. 6.2 to 12. &c.That as Christ died and rose again, so we should die to sin, and live to God. And Peter saith, k1 Pet. 4.1, 2.Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm your selves likewise with the same minde: for he that hath suffered in the flesh, hath ceased from sin, &c. Was Christ wounded for thy transgressions, and bruised for thine iniquities: and wilt thou wound and bruise him afresh by these iniquities? Had not Christ sorrows and sufferings enough for thy sins of old: that by renewed offences thou wilt tear open his wounds afresh, and crucifie him again? If thou knowest not what sin is; go to the Garden of Gethsemane, the High Priests Palace, the Judgement-Hall, and to the Mount Calvary, and there see what it cost Christ. Oh the Worm-wood and the Gall! Kill those sins that have killed thy soul: let not them live that would not let thy Saviour live. When thou art ready to commit sin, then imagine thou didst meet thy crucified Saviour, all bathed in his own blood, and beseeching thee by all his wounds and blood to forbear thy sin: and would not this disswade thee? 2. By being crucified to the world, Christ dying forsook this world, and went up in his soul that day into Paradise. And Christ lCor. 11.23.instituted this Supper when he was now the same night readie to be betrayed. Let this Supper remember thee to be crucified with Christ to the world: As Paul mGal. 6.14gloried in the Crosse of Christ, whereby the world was crucified to him, and he unto the world. Let thy spirit mount up after Christ into Paradise; that thou mayst live above this world, having thy conversation in Heaven. Let thine heart be wholly in Heaven, whilst thou art at this heavenly Feast. 3. By suffering with Christ, and for Christ, or at least being resolved and prepared for suffering w…th him, thou becomest conformed to Christ crucified. In this Supper, in the breaking of the bread for thee, thou hast represented the breaking and suffering of Christ for thee. Christ most worthie was broken for thee most unworthie. Did Christ so willingly bear all his sorrows for thee, and dost thou grudge to bear any sufferings for him? was he so reproached for thy sins: and dost thou think much to be reproached for Christs righteousness? Art thou treacherously used by friends? Christ was betrayed by his own Apostle. Art thou imprisoned? Christ was apprehended. Art thou in bonds? Christ was bound. Art thou belied? Christ was falsely accused. Art thou unjustly censured? C…rist was more unjustly condemned. Art thou spoiled of thy good? Christ was stripped of his very rayment, and they cast lots for his vesture. Art thou put to death? Christ Jesus the Prince of life was put to death before thee. Grudge not to pledge Christ in his bitter cup.n1 Pet. 2.22. &c. He hath suffered for thee, giving thee an example that thou shouldst follow his steps.
5. Remember Christ and his death, so as to enflame thine heart with love to Christ dying for thee. Christs death for thee is the highest expression possible of his love unto thee, as was before evidenced. And this Sacrament is Christs Love-token to his Church, for perpetuating of the memory of Christs death, that high discovery of his love. When therefore thou comest to the Lords Supper; call to mind Christs infinite love: and stir up thy self to love him again. Love breeds love, as fire breeds fire. Shall Christ love thee so as to die for thee, so as to oRev. 1.5.wash thee from thy sins in his own blood: And wilt not thou love him with all thine heart, and soul, and mind, and might? Was Ch…i… so fastened on the Crosse for thee? and shall he not be fastened in thine heart by thee? Shall thy sins pierce his heart▪ and shall not his love pierce thine heart?
6. Remember Christ and his death, so as to comfort thy self in the sufficiency of Christs death, and thy propriety in it. As in this Supper is tendred a sufficiency of bodily nourishment, both against hunger and thirst, here being both bread and wine: So in Christs Death hereby represented, there's a sufficiency of spiritual nourishment, His pJoh. 6.55, 56.flesh being meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed, And he that eats his flesh, & drinks his blood hath eternal life. For qHeb. 10.14.by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified; and so rHeb. 7.25is able to save to the utmost all that come unto God by him. And as the sufficiency of Christs death is set forth in the Lords Supper: so Christ endeavours by this Ordinance to assure every worthy Communicant of his particular interest, and propriety in Christs death, as certainly as he eats▪ this bread, and drinks this cup. Therefore at the Lords Supper thus think; How all sufficient is Christs death for my salvation! There's more righteousness in it, then unrighteousness in me. There's more merit and pardon in it, then sin and misery in me. There's more Reconcilement, Redemption and Justification in it, then enmity, slavery and condemnation in me; His person being an infinite God, I being but a finite creature. And all this sufficiency is as surely mine, as this bread and wine mine. Therefore why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me! Trust in Christ and his death, herein is more for thy consolation, then in thy self or sins for thy disconsolation.
7. Remember Christ and his death at the Lords Supper, so as to provoke thy self to all true thankfulness for Christ crucified. This Sacrament is called the Eucharist, as was formerly noted. It is the Christians solemn Thank-offering. Christ s1 Cor. 11.24. Luk. 22.19gave thanks in instituting it: and we should give thanks in celebrating it. For what? for Christ, for his death, for all the fruits and benefits of his death, Oh what great and manifold matter of thankfulness! Say with David, tPs. 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 healeth all thy diseases, pardoneth all th…ne iniquit…es rede…meth thy soul from death, &c. uPsa. 116 12. &c.What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me … I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.—I will pay my vowes unto the Lord &c.
Thus should we remember …hrist, and his death at the Lords Supper, and this will be to communicate indeed.
VII. Finally, Carefullie avoid all d…straction throughout the whole Sacramental Administrat…on, From the beginning to the end keep thine heart and thoughts closely fixed on the mysteries in hand. Let not thine eye wander, but intentively behold the pledges and memorials of Christ crucified. Let not thy thoughts rove, but be glued to these heavenly objects laid before thee. Here's enough in Christ crucified fully to take up thy utmost meditations at this Feast. Think upon them from point to point, as the Sacrament ministreth occasion. In this and all duties we should attend upon the Lord without distraction. Distractions will deprive us of all the sweetness of this Ordinance. As the xGen. 15.11.Fowls that fell upon Abrahams sacrifices, would have pickt, torn and …poi…ed his Sacrifices, had he not driven them away: So will Distractions and wandrings deface and spoil this spiritual Sacrifice; therefore dri…e them all away. Be thou wholly with Christ crucified, whilest thou art at the Sacrament of Christ crucified.
Hitherto of the right use of the Lords Supper in Communicating. In the last place consider we of that Christian Course of life suitable to the Lords Supper after we have Communicated.