A Communicant Instructed, Introduction
The INTRODVCTION, or PREFACE to the DIRECTIONS.
GOds Covenant of Grace, for salvation of lapsed sinners by Iesus Christ, is the principal Subject of the Holy Scriptures: The New Covenant and Testament is the Complement, or compleat fulness of the Covenant of Grace▪ Baptisme and the Lords Supper, are the Lords n…w Covenant Tokens or Great Seals of his New Testament: And Jesus Christ is the Kernel, Marrow and Soul of them all. In the whole Scriptures Chr…st is re…e…led; In the Covenant of Grace Christ is tendered v…z. As promised under the Old Testament: As performed under the New: In the Sacraments of the New Testament, especially in the Lords Supper, Chr…st is evidently, as it were, crucified before our eyes▪ represented, sealed, and exhibited to the bel…eving soul. Thou therefore O Chr…st…an aJoh. 5.19Search the Scriptures, that thou mayst there finde Christ: Accept the Covenant, that thou mayst therein embrace Christ; And duly partake the Sacraments, èspec…ally the Lords Supper, that thou ma…st more fully and undoubtedly assure thy self of Chr…st to thy salvation. To this end ser…ously consider,
1. It is not bare partaking, but due partaking of Sacraments, that will commend us to God, and interest us in Christ. It is possible that in a visible Church multitudes may partake Sacraments, and yet be deeply displeasing to God. The Israelites of old had not only the ordinary and standing Sacraments of Circumcision and the Passeover, but also the extraordinary and transient Sacraments of the Cloud and Sea, answering to our Baptism; Of Manna and water out of the Rock, answering to our Lords Supper. b1 Cor. 10.1. to 6.All our Fathers were under the Cloud, and all passed through the Sea: And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud, and in the sea, and did all eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink (for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ:) But with many of them God was not well plea… ed, for they were overthrown in the Wilderness. Ishmael was circumcis'd as well as Isaac; yet Ishmael is branded for cGal. 4.29.a Persecuter: Esau circumcised as well as Jacob; yet dRom. 9.13.Jacob loved, Esau hated of God▪ Simon Magus baptized, yet eAct. 8.13.21, 23.his heart was not right in the sight of God, and he still remained in the gall of bitternesse, and bond of iniquity. Judas did eat the f…oh. 13.2, 21, 16, 27.Sacrament of the Passeover with Christ and his Disciples; yet after the eating of it, Satan more strongly entered into him then ever before: and he died an hypocrite, a murderer, a devil. And the Corinthians not onelyonly were baptized, but received also the Lords Supper: yet notwithstanding they were g1 Cor. 11 30, 31, 32.judged of the Lord: many were weak and sickly among them and many slept, viz. were dead (as is thought of the plague of Pestilence.) Thus we may possibly be baptized, yea eat and dri…k the Lords Supper; and yet for all that, through unworthy communicating incùrre the Lords displeasure.
2. They that partake Sacraments in a visible Church, may so farre notwithstanding be displeasing unto God: As 1. That all the Sacraments and Services, they take in hand may be accounted by God as Nullities, as no Sacraments, no Services at all. h1 Cor. 11.20.This is not to eat the Lords Supper. 2. That all their Sacraments and religious performances may be accounted their iIsa. 1.13▪ 14.sins and abominations, 3. That the Sacraments which were intended for spiritual benefit, shall become a spiritual mischief to their souls through their abuse. That the Lords, Supper instead of nourishing Grace k1 Cor. 11.27, 28, 29. John 13 2, 27.36.should strengthen sinne; instead of sealing of Remission of our sinnes in Christs blood, should render us guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, even guilty of murdering the Lord of Life and Glory. 4. That by unworthy handling them, they may incurre many l2 Chron. 30, 18, &c. 1 Cor. 10.5, 7, 8, 9, 10. & 11.30.temporal afflictions and chastisements in Gods displeasure. 5. Finally, they may enjoy Sacraments; and yet so farre displease God therein, as thereby to hazard m1 Cor. 11.29.their own Judgement, and eternal Damnation, and lose Heaven it selfe for ever. As those Iews of old, notwithstanding their enjoyments of Sacraments n1 Cor. 10.1, to 6were overthrown in the wildernesse, lost Canaan the Type of Heaven, and, it's to be feared, Heaven it selfe thereby typified.
3. Hence consequently these things are clear. I. That our bare enjoyment of Sacraments, is no infallible signe, either of Gods special love tow, or of our good spiritual state towards God. II. That it is altogether unsafe for Christians to rest themselves satisfied and contented with the meere having, or the meer using of Sacraments. It's the Right having and Due using of Sacraments, which will commend us, and our actions about them unto Go…. III. That it singularly concerns all Gods people to endeavour so to enjoy and use all Sacraments, and particularly the Lords Supper. Which is often to be received, as therein they may be well-pleasing and acceptable to the Lord.
Now that we may acceptably and profitably manage the Lords Supper, these things are peculiarly necessary. 1. A due Preparation for the Lords Supper before we commmunicate. 2. A right use of the Lords Supper while we are communicating. 3. A Christian conversation suitable to the Lords Supper, after we have commmunicated. In reference to these three General Heads, seriously consider, and practically improve these brief Directions following.