A Communicant Instructed, Frontispiece – Dedication
Vera Effigies FRANCISCI ROBERTS in … Magistri, Pastoris Ecclesiae apud Augustinian: LOND
Tho: Cross Sculp…
A COMMVNICANT INSTRVCTED. OR, Practicall Directions FOR Worthy Receiving OF THE LORDS-SUPPER.
By Francis Roberts, M. A. Pastor of the Church of Chri…t, at Wr…ngton, in the County of Sommerset.
The third Edition, re…ised and corrected by the AVTHOR.
1 Cor. 11.28, 29. Let a man examine himse…f, and so let him …at of that Bread, and drink o… that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworth…ly, eateth & drink…th damn…t…on to himself, not di…c…rning the L…rds Body.
London, Printed by I. Stre…ter, …or G. Calve…t and are to be …o…d at the S…gn of the Half-Moon in the new Buildings in Pau…s Church yard, neer the little North-Door. 1656.
To the Church of Christ in the Parish of Wrington, in the County of Somerset. Grace, Mercy, and Peace, from the Father of Mercies, and the God of all Consolation.
Men, Brethren and Fathers, entirely beloved in the Lord.
THe substance of these practical Directions for worthy receiving of a1 …or. 11.20.the Lords Supper, I have represented to your eares in preaching; That before I administred unto you this heavenly b1 cor. 10.16.Communion, I might (according to my duty) instruct you in right Communicating: Now I offer them to your eyes in Printing; And, by both Preaching and Printing, to your Hearts; that they may be unto you as a continual Sermon before every Sacrament.
When first I treated of this Subject, I had no thoughts of printing it in any other Book, than in your breasts. (O that your hearts and lives were living Books, wherein the whole cHeb. 6.1.Doctrine of Christ were printed in Capitall Letters, that he that runs might read: Then should …ou be d2 Cor. 3.2, …The Epistle of Christ▪ written not with …nk, but with the Spirit of the living God) Yet since that, I have been induced to make these familiar Directions more publique, upon these Considerations;
1. That I might gratifie your pious request in publique to me, That these Instructions might be printed, which you apprehend might be of such frequent use and advantage to you and yours, before, in, and after every Lords Supper.
2. That I might help on your Edification and Consolation, and happily others also, in reference to that sweet fellowship which Christ affords his Members with Himself and his Death, in this Ordinance. For hereby your understandings may be farther cleared, your memories confirmed, your Hearts & affections raised upwards, your Graces acted unto higher perfections, & your Sacramental Duties regulated so as to seek the Lord herein, in a right Order. And I perswade my self that those things which were so acceptable to you in my Sermons; will be the more profitable to you in my Book. If your souls prosper, my heart shall rejoyce. I shall count it my Crown and glory, to promote your Grace and Glory. It will be my Heaven here, to help you forward towards Heaven hereafter. And in order hereunto, I hope I shall willingly preach; print, and bestow my pains in publique or private amongst you, that I may more and more endeare you and espouse you unto Iesus Christ; For I trust I may truly say with the Apostle, ePhi. 1.8. to 12.God is my record, how greatly▪ I long after you all, in the bowels of Iesus Christ. And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all sense.
That ye may approve things that are excellent, that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ: Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Iesus Christ unto the glory and prayse of God.
3. That I may preach unto you, not onelyonly whilest I am with you, but even after the Lord shall have taken me from you.
As fHeb. 11.4Abel by his faith (he being dead) yet speaketh: So these lines may live, when I shall be dead; and they may speak to you, when I shall be silent in the Grave. I am here but gPs. 39.12.a Pilgrim, and my abode with you can be but momentany at the longest, for hJam. 4.24our life is but a vanishing vapour, iPs. 102. iiour dayes a declining shadow, our kPs. 39.5.years as nothing, lHeb. 13.14.we have here no continuing City, but seek one to come: Therefore by this publication, m2 Pet. 1.15.I will endeavour that you and yours may be able after my decease to have these things alwayes in remembrance. Thus Moses & the ProPhets, Christ and his Apostles, preach unto us & the whole Church of Christ still (though they are all in Heaven,) by their Doctrines & writings left behinde them.
4. That I may testifie this way my true love and affection to you in the Lord Iesus: And to let you know, n2 Cor. 7.3that ye are in mine heart to live and die with you. For you have not only loved & deservedly honoured my Reverent, learned, and pious Predecessor, now sleeping in the Lord, thereby shewing your selves very eminently exemplary to all the Congregations round about you: but you have also declared your singular respect & affection unto me, the unworthiest Labourer in the Lords Vineyard, ever since my first entrance amongst you, both in your ready accepting of my Ministery, diligent attending upon the Ordinances, willing compliance with such pious proposals as I have laid before you, and in other demonstrations of your kinde dispositions towards me to this day. And therefore I have cause to be o1 Thes. 2.8.the more affectionately desirous of you, and I am willing to impart unto you not the Gospel of God onelyonly, but also mine own Soul, because ye are dear unto me.
The Lord maintain and increase the Spirit of love still betwixt us, whilest we have a day or an houre to live together.
Upon these Motives especially I have been inclined to commit the…e ensuing Meditations to the Presse: And I dedicate them unto you especially, most earnestly beseeching the Lord, that they may be abundantly useful and beneficiall both to you and others. p2 Thes. 2.16, 17.Now our Lord Iesus Christ himself, and God even our Father, which hath loved us, & hath given us everlasting consolation, & good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. And fill you with all grace, that may fit you for everlasting glory, So prayeth
Your truly loving Pastor, who longs for your salvatition. FRAN: ROBERTS. From my Study in Wrington in Somersetshire June 12. 1651.