Sacramental Discourses Before and After the Lords Supper, Discourse 7

Sacramental Discourses Before and After the Lords Supper · Discourse 7

p. 243The Seventh Diſcourſe, BEFORE THE Lord's Supper.

From CANT. II.iv.

He brought me into the Banquetting-houſe, and his Banner over me was Love.

I Shall not need to ſpend Time to prove this Book to be Canonical, and of Divine Auuthority: It was never queſtioned to belong to the Jewiſh Canon, though ſome other of the Writings of Solomon have been doubted of. The whole is an Allegorical Deſcription of the myſterious Ʋnion between Chriſt and his Church, as Repreſented under the Perſons of a Bridegroom, and Bride: p. 244Which Metaphor is purſued in ſeveral other Places of Scripture, and alluded to by Chriſt and his Apoſtles in the New Teſtament. The 45th Pſalm is in ſome ſort an Epitome, and Abridgment of this Song of Solomon; And that by all Interpreters, even the Jews themſelves, is acknowledged to ſpeak of the Meſſiah.

In this Chapter, Chriſt and the Church ſeem to ſtrive, who ſhall outvie each other in their Encomiums, and Commendations. In the Two firſt Verſes Chriſt ſpeaks: In the following you have the Voice of the Church, or the Language of ſincere Chriſtians; They Praiſe, and Magnifie, and Extol the Lord Chriſt in the Fourth Verſe, for his Bounty and Magnificence, in making ſuch Rich Proviſions to Feaſt and Entertain them. She had ſaid before in the Third Verſe, That She ſate under his Shadow with great Delight, and his Fruit was ſweet unto her Taſte: And thereupon adds this Commendation of his Rich Proviſions, He brought me into the Banquetting-houſe, &c.

Where, 1. She deſcribes the Place, or the Means of ſuch a Spiritual Feaſt, The Banquetting-houſe.

2. The Welcom ſhe met with there, His Banner over me was Love. Under the p. 245firſt Expreſſion, is Repreſented the Excellent Proviſion, which our Lord makes, to Entertain the Souls of Believers: He led me to the Houſe of Wine, the Place where the Maſter of the Houſe was wont to entertain his Friends; Where the Wine is drank, or the Entertainment made; for ſo the Word ſignifies. Some underſtand it of the Places where Chriſtians Aſſemble and meet together, to Worſhip Chriſt, and Receive the Communication of his Grace; the Places where the Ordinances of the Gospel are Diſpenſed. But there is more than the Places of ſuch Communication, here meant, viz. All the ſpecial Means, and Inſtruments of Bleſſing unto the Souls of Believers. It may comprehend the Holy Scriptures, the Miniſters of the Word, the Sacraments, the publick Aſſemblies for Worſhip, and all the Inſtitutions of Chriſt. But amongſt them all, none more fitly, or exactly anſwering to the Allegory, than the holy Supper of the World, the great Feaſt on the Sacrifice of Chriſt, where we hope to be Entertained to Morrow.

2. The Welcom ſhe met with, His Banner over me was Love. His Standard towards me, by the lifting up whereof I was invited, and drawn to come over to his ſide, to yield to him, to give up my ſelf to him. The Love of a Crucified Saviour is diſplayed like a Banner, to invite and draw Souls to Chriſt. Therefore it is promiſed, Iſa. 49.22. I will lift up my Hand to the Gentiles, and ſet up my Standard to the people. Chriſt the Captain of our Salvation, lifted up upon a Croſs, Diſplays a Banner of Love to all the World, to invite them to come to him. And the Motto of his Banner is nothing but this, Dying Love Victorious; Or, The Crucified Jeſus Loving us to the Death; And by his Love conquering our Hearts, and conſtraining us to be his, to love him, and live to him, and even dye for him.

1. We may obſerve, That our Lord has his Banquet, and Feast, whereunto he leads, and where he Entertains the Souls of his Followers.

2. That the Diſplay of Chriſt's free, and glorious Love, is of all things the moſt proper to Invite, and Attract the Souls of Men.

1. That Chriſt hath his Banquet, and Feaſt, unto which he leads, and where he entertains the Souls of his Followers. Under this Metaphor of a Feaſt, or Banquet; all p. 247the Spiritual Bleſſings of the Goſpel-State are often Repreſented.

Thus when we Read of the Invitation to come to the Marriage Feaſt of the Kings Son, Mat. 22. All the Graces and Comforts of the Spirit are meant; forgiveneſs of Sin, the Promiſe, & the hope of Eternal Life: Theſe are the Proviſions of this Feast, which in the Word and Sacraments we partake of. In this Mountain ſhall the Lord of Hoſts make unto all people a Feaſt of fat things, of Wine on the Lees well refined, Iſa. 25.6. It is a Promiſe concerning the Days of the Goſpel. In this Mountain, In Mount Sion, In the Church, God will make a Feast for all people, for the Gentiles, as well as the Jews.

1. It's Literally true of Mount Sion at Jeruſalem, (in which ſenſe it muſt be underſtood in the next Verſe,) This was the firſt Place; this Mount Sion, whence the Chriſtian Law was to be given out, and the Word of the Lord from Jeruſalem. There the Holy Spirit fell upon the Apoſtles at Pentecoſt: And there the Apoſtles began their Preaching after the Deſcent of the Holy Ghoſt, with Wonderful Succeſs. So Pſalm 36.8. They ſhall be abundantly ſatisfied with the Fatneſs of thy Houſe; Thou ſhalt make them drink of the Rivers of thy Pleaſures. The like in Prov. 9.2. Where p. 248Wiſdom is ſaid to have killed her Beaſts, and mingled her Wine, and furniſhed her Table. The Revelation of the Goſpel, &c. All kind of Gifts, and Graces, and Comforts, diſtributed by the Ordinances of the Goſpel, are to be underſtood. Eſpecially that part of our Spiritual Proviſion, which is ſaid to be Meat indeed, and Drink indeed: I mean the Crucified Body of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and his Blood ſhed for the Remiſſion of Sins. That Inſtitution therefore hath the very Name of the Table of the Lord, 1 Cor. 10.21. We cannot be Partakers of the Lord's Table, and the Table of Devils. It is called a Feaſt on the Sacrifice of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 5.7, 8. Of which I ſhall have occaiſon to ſpeak afterward. There being all Things there that are neceſſary to a Feaſt; And a Feaſt for all People for the Gentiles, whom the Jews deſpi-, ſed, and counted as Doggs, and who were Vile and Miſerable in themſelves, without God, and Chriſt, and under groſs Idolatry. This Feaſt is for us Gentiles. Which I ſhall firſt particularly Explain, and Prove, and then Apply.

1. In this Spiritual Feaſt, or Banquet, are the Choiceſt Proviſions that can be, for the Nouriſhment of our Souls. There is Spiritual Food for the ſatisfaction of Spiritual Hunger where we may eat and be ſatisfied, and find that which is ſweeter than Honey, the Love of Chriſt better than Wine, Pſal. 22.6. Cant. 1.2. Wine, that is ſaid to chear, and delight the heart, Eccleſ. 10.19. To lift a Man above ſad, and melancholy Thoughts, Make a Man forget his Affliction, and Miſery, Prov. 31.7. Give Wine to him that is of a heavy heart, Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his miſery no more. It may much more be ſaid ſo of this Sacramental Wine, exhibiting the Love of Chriſt to the Soul. And though Wine be put for all manner of Delicacies, Iſa. 25.6. Yet the Love of Chriſt is better than Wine, Cant. 1.4 His Blood is Drink indeed, and his Fleſh is Meat indeed, John 6.55. Far beyond Manna, which yet is called Angels Food. He is Manna for Food, the beſt Bread; And He is Wine for Drink.

And the Bleſſedneſs of the Heavenly State, whereof this Feaſt is the Earneſt, is ſet forth by the Pleaſures of eating and drinking, Luk. 22 30. That you eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdom. O the Satisfaction and Delight that holy Souls experience, in taſting of thoſe Proviſions, when they come with that due Preparedneſs which they ought! All the Delights of this World are not to be compared with one hours Enjoyment of Chriſt in this Ordinance: One hour, one half hour of Communion with the Father, and the Son, by the Spirit, in ſuch a Duty, is more delightful, than all the Pleaſures of the Palate and Taſte; It is a nobler, a purer, a ſweeter, a better kind of Content and Satisfaction, that we here meet with. I may appeal to the Experience of Serious Chriſtians, for the Truth of this.

2. At a Feaſt there are All Sorts of Proviſion; Not only the Choiceſt and the Beſt, but there is Variety. It i… a Feaſt of Fat things full of Marrow, of Wine on the Lees well refined. And it is ſuitable to every Condition, to every Relation, to every Neceſſity. Grace for Grace, out of his Fulneſs, that is, All manner of Supplies of Grace, John 1.16. Forgiveneſs of Sin, to take away our Fear of Hell; And the Aſſurance of Eternal Life, to anſwer our Deſires of Happineſs: p. 231And therefore anſwerable to all the Exigencies of our Caſe. For what can we need but may be received from Chriſt, who of God is made unto us Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification, and Redemption? His precious Blood can waſh away the ſtains of our blackeſt guilt; and his perfect Righteouſneſs be the Covering of our Naked Souls; by Meriting and procuring our Pardon, by Purchaſing and applying the Spirit of Holineſs, Light, Strength, Stability, Comfort. Whatever we need we may receive from him, among the Proviſions of the Goſpel, in this Spiritual Feaſt.

We may apply to the Heavenly Nouriſhment of this Table, what the Jews ſay of their Manna in the Wilderneſs; It was ſent down by God from Heaven to them; It contained, they tell us, all the Taſtes that any Man deſired or longed for; It was ſuited to every Palate, and to every Conſtitution; That none could fail of being**Bp. Patricks Chriſtian Sacrifice. fed and pleaſed, though they were of never ſo different Tempers. It is called the bread of Heaven, p. 252Exod. 16.4. And the Taſte of it is ſaid to be like Wafers made of Honey, Verſe 31. And yet in Numb. 11.8. the Taſte of it is ſaid to be as the Taſte of freſh Oile. Now, How can all theſe be true? How can they all Agree? that this Manna ſhould be like Bread, and like Honey, and like Oile too? The Jews Anſwer, That the Young Men taſted in it Bread, the Old Men Honey, and the Infants Oile. We may Accommodate this to the Divine Food of the Lord's Table, which is ſuitable to every Complexion of Mind, and Temper of Spirit. The Infant Chriſtians are there cheriſhed and incouraged, they having the Oile of Joy and Gladneſs poured upon them: The Young Men have Strength and Power by this Bread of Life, to overcome the Wicked One: The more Aged, the more Exerciſed Chriſtians, they find ſuch Reliſh in it, that they can ſay, Thy Commandments are ſweeter than the Honey, and the Honey-comb, and in keeping of them there is great Reward; Being a little Earneſt, and Pledge, and Foretaſte of the Joys of the Heavenly Feaſt. For therefore Manna in the Wilderneſs had the Taſte of Honey, ſay the Jews, that it might be an Earneſt and Repreſentation of the Land of Canaan, a Land flowing p. 253with milk and honey, unto which they were now going. In a word, Young and Old, Weak and Strong, Chriſtians of all Sizes, and different Stations, may receive Nouriſhment, Refreſhment, and Advantage by this Heavenly Food of the Table of the Lord. There is great variety at this Feaſt, to ſuit every ones Palate and Temper.

3. At a Feaſt, as there is Rarity, and Variety, ſo Plenty and Abundance, that none need go away hungry or empty, complaining or diſcontented. Here are Riches, unſearchable Riches of the Grace of Chriſt. We have here All things given us, richly to enjoy. And the Sanctifying Gifts and Graces of the Spirit are ſaid to be ſhed on us richly, or abundantly, through Jeſus Chriſt our Saviour, Tit 3, 6. There is a Fountain of Grace that will not have the leſs for us, by ſupplying the wants of others.

4. There is a Mirth, and Chearfulneſs at this Feaſt, which is another Concomitant of a Banquet. A Feaſt is made for Laughter, and Wine maketh Merry, Eccleſ. 10.19. When prodigal Sinners firſt return, their Father hath Mirth, and Muſick to entertain them. Luk. 15.24. Let us kill the fatted Calfe, and make merry; For this my Son was loſt, and is found; was dead, but is alive. And ſhall not the Reconciliation between God and our Souls through Chriſt, when it is ſolemnly profeſſed, and avowed at the Table of the Lord, be accompanied with Joy and Mirth? The Jews were not to Afflict their Souls in any of their Feaſts, Religious or Common. Thou ſhalt Rejoyce in thy Feaſts, Deut. 16.14. We are not called to the Houſe of Mourning. You may eat this Bread with Joy, and drink this Wine with a Merry Heart, in hopes of God's Acceptance of you, and your Sacrifice, Eccleſ. 9.7.

Our Redeemer ſeems to ſpeak to thoſe who are Diſconſolate at his Table, and if he ſee us Sad and Melancholy, to uſe ſome ſuch Language,

What, Do you not know where you are? Do you not underſtand what I have done to you, and for you? What I have done upon the Croſs, and what at the Table?

O did we but underſtand it better, and conſider it more, what he hath done and Suffered, purchaſed and Promiſed; we ſhould come to this Feaſt with a Gladſome Merry H…art. All the Muſick and Melody that the Feaſts of Senſual Men are attended with, wou…d be nothing to it. Therefore take heed of miſtaking the Nature of this Ordinance, ſo as to come like Mourners to Morrow to a Funeral: It is to no ſuch Solemnity, but to a Feast, that you are invited, to a Royal Feaſt: And therefore your Hearts and Lips ſhould be full of the high Praiſes of God, and Thankful Admiration of Chriſt, and his Redeeming Love and Grace; I will bring them to my Holy Mountain, and make them Joyful in my Houſe of Prayer.

5. At a Feaſt there is Good Company. Now there is no ſuch Company in all the World, as is to be found at Chriſt's Table. While the King ſitteth at this Table, Cant. 1.12. Chriſt himſelf is there preſent, and the Father alſo; For in this Ordinance eſpecially we have Fellowſhip with the Father, and the Son, through the Spirit. A Communion with them ſuppoſes the Preſence of Father, and Son. The Cup of Bleſſing which we bleſs, is the Communion of Christ's Blood, and the Bread we break, the Communion of his Body, 1 Cor. 10.16. We are invited Gueſts by Chriſt, and treated as his Friends; We are entertained with Kindneſs, and Familiarity, which is an Honour we ought to value▪ in his own Houſe we are treated; and have the ſame Fare with the beſt of his Friends, who are Invited with us. We ſit down with him, at his own Table, in the beſt Company, that we can deſire. Haman expreſſes it as an Honour, that the Queen let none come to the Banquet but himſelf: And to morrow, ſays he, I am invited alſo with the King, Eſth. 5.12. If the Father, and the Son, and the Children of God that are his ſpecial Favourites, and Heirs of the Heavenly Inheritance, if theſe are Good Company, you may have it at the Table.

6. At a Feaſt there is Welcome Exprest, and give…, by the Maſter of the Feaſt. Such an expreſſion we have of it, Pſal. 23.5. Thou prepareſt my Table for me, and Anointeſt my Head with Oile, or with Aromatical Ointments, formerly uſed at great Feaſts, as a token of Reſpect▪ and Kindneſs. Thou biddeſt me to a Feaſt, and biddeſt me welcome; Alluding to the Cuſtom of the Eaſtern People, and of the Jews particularly, who expreſt the h arty w…lcome they gave their Gueſts, by pouring ſome pretious Ointment on p. 257their Heads, Pſal. 92.10. Luk. 7.39. A very uſual**See Bp. Patrick's Christian Sacrifice, p. 100. Feſtival Solemnity.

Therefore, when you come to morrow to this Feaſt, you muſt think, and believe, that Chriſt ſpeaks to you, when you behold the Symbols of his Body and Blood. For you are not to conſider the broken Bread, and the VVine poured out, as dumb ſigns, no, they ſpeak very diſtinctly to all the Communicants; but come with a chearful Wedding Garment, hearing the Voice of your Redeemer, as if Chriſt ſhould ſay to you, That you were welcome to his Table, and that he is pleaſed that you accept his Invitation. Come, My Brethren, as if he ſhould ſay, for ſo he calls us, when he Aſcended to his Father, John 20.17. Go and tell my Brethren, that I Aſcend to my Father, and their Father, to my God, and their God. Come, my Brethren, doth he ſay, I ſent and commiſſioned my Miniſters to call you to my Houſe, ſolemnly and earneſtly to Invite you to my Table; You did well that you are come, I take it kindly that you did not reject my Invitation; I am glad you are come, to Remember my Love, and to ſhew your ſelves my Friends. I have no other Deſign in ſending for you, but to make you more ſenſible of my Love, and to give you Freſh Tokens of it; to repeat the pledge and aſſurance of my Dying Kindneſs. Do not deſpiſe the Entertainment I here give you, though you ſee onelyonly Bread and VVine; Open the eyes of your Minds, and let your Faith diſcern, that this Bread is my Body, my crucified Body, my Body broken for you; And this Wine poured out is my Blood, my Blood ſhed for you. Oh ſee how I loved you! ſee what my Love to you brought me to undergo; Conſider how I was uſed for your ſakes, to procure your Peace, and to purchaſe your Reconciliation. I have nothing to deſire of you, but that you would continue in my Love; and then I promiſe you the Love of my Father, and that your ſins ſhall be forgiven, they ſhall not be remembred againſt you, you ſhall not come into Condemnation; And all your wants ſhall be ſupplied. Nothing you can need but I have purchaſed, nothing you can want but I will give. Till I have fitted you for my Preſence above, till you come to be with me in the Heavenly ſtate; You ſhall receive it all from time to time. Come, take the Pledge, and the Aſsurance of this, by doing this in Remembrance of me.

Come therefore, ſays Christ, Take and Eat; Eat, O Friends, drink abundantly, O Beloved. Take, eat this Morſel; as little and inconſiderable as it ſeems to be, it coſt my Life: I give it to you as a Token of my Love, and of my Fathers Love. Take it, and Remember both. I ſay the ſame for the Cup of Bleſſing, Drink it in Remembrance of me; Come pledge me, This is Wine of my own making, when I trod the Wine-preſs of my Father's Wrath alone. This will ſtrengthen and revive thy fainting Spirit; This will cure the Ulcers of thy Heart, This will give thee Boldneſs, and Courage to enter into the Preſence of thy Father, &c. Thus does Chriſt give Welcome to his prepared Gueſts.

7. And Lastly. This is a peculiar ſort of Feaſt, viz. a Feaſt upon a Sacrifice; A Feaſt that betokens a Covenant, and Reconciliation between God and ſuch as are Invited Gueſts at this Table. I often take occaſion to mention this, becauſe I judge it the true Notion of the Lord's Supper, and the ſenſe of the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 5.8. Chriſt our Paſſover was Sacrificed for us, Let us therefore keep the Feaſt, with the Ʋnleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth, which is ſpoken of the Feaſt, from which the Corinthian Church, by the Authority of Christ, was to bar and ſeclude the diſorderly Perſon.

p. 260It is well known, that Sacrifices were wont to be attended with a Feaſt. The Peace-offering under the Law was to be brought on the top of the Burnt-offerings; No burnt offerings were without ſome peace-offerings; And having offer'd them to the Lord, they were to eat their part chearfully among their Friends. For then they had, as it were, one Diſh ſent them from God's Table. One part of the Offering, viz. God's, was conſumed upon the Altar; Another part, the Prieſts had by God's Appointment; And a Third, the Offerers had to Feaſt upon. Chriſt's Offering up himſelf upon the Croſs, is the Great Sacrifice: This Banquet at the Table of the Lord is a Feaſt on that Sacrifice, Pſal. 50.5. Gather my Saints together, who have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice.

The Offering a Sacrifice was a Foederal Rite, whereby God and his People became one. Upon which account Salt was uſed in Sacrifices by God's own Direction, Lev 2.13. All Nations lookt on**See Dr. Hammond on Mark 9.50. And P. Fagius in Levit. 2. And more largely in Dr. Cudworth's Notion of the Lord's Supper. Biſhop Patrick's Chriſtian Sacrifice; and Dr. Pel…ing of the Sacrament, Chap. 1, 2, 3.Mark 9:50Lev 2 Salt, as a Token of Love, a Pledge p. 261of Friendſhip, a Symbol of Peace. And Feaſting on a Sacrifice was a Rite of the ſame Nature with Sacrificing; It being but the Complement, the Cloſe, the Finiſhing of the Sacrifice. In this ſenſe ſome underſtand thoſe words, Pſal. 50.16. Ʋnto the wicked, God ſaith, VVhat haſt thou to do, to declare my Statutes, and that thou ſhouldeſt take my Covenant in thy Mouth, i. e. Eating the Signs and Symbols of the Covenant, partaking of thoſe Sacrifical Banquets, which were a Token of God's Covenant. Thus when the Covenant was renewed between God and the Children of Iſrael; Moſes and Aaron, and the Seventy Nobles of the Children of Iſrael went up to God, and ſaw his Glory on the Mount, and after their burnt-offerings and peace-offerings are Sacrificed, they did eat and drink, Exod. 24.11. The eating of the Paſſover was ſuch a Foederal Solemnity, and therefore no Stranger was to eat of it, Exod. 12. It did not belong to thoſe who did not belong to that Covenant, which God had made with his Peculiar People the Children of Iſrael.

This Evangelical Feaſt at the Lord's Table is of the like nature and ſignification. Beſides, the Analogy and Reſemblance between theſe, the words of p. 262Inſtitution do ſufficiently prove it; for ſpeaking of the Cup, or the Wine in the Cup, Our Lord ſaid, This is my blood of the New Covenant. It is the Repreſentation of that Blood, which is the Seal of the New Covenant: As Circumciſion is called the Covenant of Circumciſion, Acts 7.8. becauſe it was the Token and Seal of the Covenant between God and Abraham.

Eating and Drinking together was alway reckon'd ſome token of Friendſhip, and Accord; Eſpecially when there is a Solemn Feaſt on purpoſe to expreſs, and ſignifie this Agreement; And when it follows after Diſagreement and Variance, it amounts to a covenant, or league, which the Parties enter into to be henceforward Friends. As Gen. 26.28, 29, 30, 31. Verſes. Let us make a covenant with thee, &c. And then it follows, He made them a feaſt, and they did eat and drink. But in the preſent caſe, there is yet more, for it was a more ſacred way of Covenanting, when they Feaſted upon part of the Sacrifice, that was made to God, of which I ſhall ſpeak more preſently. And uſually it was accompanied with an Oath, in the preſence of God.

p. 263Now at the Lords Table, Do we not profeſs our owning the New Covenant, made between God and us? And do we not there renew our Baptiſmal Covenant? Do we not accept of Chriſt, and all the Bl…ſſings of the Covenant of Grace? Do we not Reſign our ſelves, and all we have, to be his, according to the Tenour and Terms of it? Do we not receive the Pledge, and Aſſurance of his Love to us, and Engage our Faith that we will be his Servants; Binding our ſelves to all the Duties of the Covenant, as God does oblige himſelf to beſtow all the Bleſſings of it?

2. Having thus explained ſomewhat of this Banquet, or Feaſt, I might conſider the Reaſons of its Appointment, and the excellent purpoſes it ſerveth for; Beſides the known, expreſs, and principal one, of being a Memorial of Christ's Love, that we may remember him Crucified for us; there may be other Conſiderations, partly with reſpect to God and Chriſt, partly with relation to the Souls of Believers.

1. To repreſent the Royalty, and Magnificence of God, and the Tranſcendant Riches and Glory of the Grace of Chriſt. Accordingly we Read, that Princes and p. 264Potentates, and Great Men, upon ſuch Accounts, were wont to make Sumptuous Entertainments, Eſth. 1.3, 4. He made a Feaſt unto all his Princes, and his Servants, to ſhew them the Riches of his glorious Kingdom, and the Honour of his Excellent Majeſty.

Partly with reſpect to us. Firſt, To encourage us in the difficult Services we may meet with. To animate and embolden us to hold on our way, and work, of doing and ſuffering the Will of God, in obedience to Chriſt. The burthen of Affliction would be much more heavy, and our Spirits more like to faint, were it not for ſome Refreſhment, Quickening, and Comfort, now and then in ſuch Ordinances of the Goſpel: But the Pledge of the Love of God, and the everlaſting Love of Chriſt, the Earneſt of Heaven, and the Hopes of it, that we ſhould Sin, and Suffer, and Sorrow no more, makes outward Afflictions tolerable: For if God be reconciled to us, and pleaſed with us; If the Redeemer ſhine upon us, and ſay he is ours; If his Love be ſhed abroad in our Hearts, and ours kept alive to him; we can bear any thing, o… loſe any thing, and not deſpond. Beſides, the Solemn p. 265Dedication of our ſelves, and all we have unto Chriſt, which we there make, helps to awe our Hearts, and check our impatient murmurs; when by any ſevere Diſpenſation of Providence he doth but take us at our word. For he can only Take that, which we Reſigned to him before; and when he doth, he tries whether we were Hypocrites, or Sincere in our Reſignation.

2. It may be conſider'd, That at this Feaſt we have the neareſt Fellowſhip, and ſweeteſt Communion with God, and Chriſt, of almoſt any Ordinance of the Goſpel; And the continuance of ſuch a bleſſed Entercourſe between God and our Souls, was another ground of his appointing it. Which will appear more plainly, by conſidering Another end of it, viz. to ratifie and confirm the Covenant between God and us. This is one ſpecial deſign of thus eating and drinking in his Preſence, to confirm our Covenant. It was very uſual, eſpecially in the Eaſtern parts of the World, to ratifie Contracts and Covenants, by eating and drinking together. Thus in the fore-mentioned Inſtance, Abimelech and Iſaac celebrated ſuch a Covenant-Feaſt, Gen. 26.30. as a Token of Friendſhip between them. p. 266Laban's eating with Jacob on an heap of Stones, was a Foederal Rite, Gen. 31.46. The Iſraelites eating of the Gibeonites Victuals, was the contracting a League with them, Joſh. 9.14. When David ſpeaks of his Friends Treachery (in words very applicable to Judas) Pſal. 41.9. he ſaith, My own Familiar Friend, in whom I truſted, who did eat of my Bread, hath lift up his Heel againſt me: He meant one who had entred into Covenant with him by a Feaſt (as you find that Abner did, 2 Sam. 3.20.) Therefore, in ſtead of a Friend, 'tis otherwiſe rendred in the Margin of our Bibles, The Man of my Peace, or the Man that was at Peace with me. Hence the Hebrew word, which ſignifies a Covenant, is derived from a Root, which ſignifies to Eat. And hence too we read of an Idol among the Sichemites, which was called Berith (or the God of a Covenant) becauſe the People of that Place were wont, when they made Covenants, to eat and drink with their Confederates in the Houſe of that God of theirs, as you find they did, when they entred into a League with Gaal, and made him their Head in Oppoſition to Abimeleck, Judg. 9.27.

p. 267Humane Writers afford many Inſtances of this Nature, how People were wont antiently to make and ratifie Covenants between Nation and Nation, between Party and Party, and between Man and Wife, ſometimes by eating Bread, ſometimes by drinking Wine, and frequently by partaking of both together. Which ſhows, that it was the General Cuſtom of Mankind to Contract, and Covenant with one another by the Viſible Rites of Feaſting, and Banqueting together. The Old Heathens had many Religious Feaſts before their Idols, whereby they Covenanted with thoſe Imaginary Deities. The Iſraelites are charged with Idolatry, for complying with ſuch Pagan Rites, Exod. 32.6. 1 Cor. 10.7. When the People made an Altar to the Golden Calf, they bring their Peace-offerings, and Celebrate a Religious Banquet upon the remainders thereof. They ſat down to eat and to drink, (to Feast together before the Golden Calf,) and roſe up to play. This they did in Imitation of the Aegyptians, among whom they had lived ſo long. So by the Perſwaſion of the Moabites, they joyned themſelves to Baal-Peor, entred into Communion with that Heathen Deity, that was p. 268Worſhipped on Mount Peor, by eating the Sacrifices of the Dead or**Selden de Diis Syris. Syntagm. 1. cap. 5. ſuch things as were offered in the Memory of the dead, Numb. 25.3. Pſal. 106.28.

And the Apoſtle calls the eating of the Heathen Sacrifices, a Fellowſhip with Devils, 1 Cor. 10.20. There were ſome in the Apoſtles time did go and eat of thoſe Idol Sacrifices, 1 Cor. 8.7. To prevent which a Canon was made at the Council of Jeruſalem, that Chriſtians ſhould abstain from Meats offered unto Idols, Acts 15. Becauſe by ſitting at Meat at the Idols Temple, they made themſelves partakers of the Table of Devils. And the Apoſtle ſhews the Inconſiſtency of this with the participation of the Lords Table, becauſe this is a Sacrifical Banquet, proper and peculiar to us Chriſtians, as the Idol-Feaſts, were Sacrifical Banquets proper to the Pagans, and the Moſaical ones to the Jews, 1 Cor. 10. As Jews and Heathens were wont to feed upon a Sacrificed Beaſt, we Chriſtians do feed upon a Sacrificed Redeemer, by eating and drinking in Commemoration of his p. 269Death and Sacrifice, and thereby Renewing our Covenant with him, as his avowed, ſworn Servants, and Diſciples.

4. Another Deſign of this Feaſt may be, to wean us from the Vanities of this World, by taſting theſe Spiritual Proviſions, and therein how gracious the Lord is: That by eating of this Bread, and drinking of this Wine, we may hunger and thirſt no more after Senſual Delights, That we may not care to feed on Husks, when we eat of this Bread in our Fathers Houſe.

5. That our Thoughts of the Heavenly Glory, and our Deſires after it, and progreſſive Meetneſs for it, may be excited and promoted. And no Inſtitution of the Goſpel is ſo proper for this, ſo well Adapted for this purpoſe, as were eaſie to ſhew, and your own Meditations can ſufficiently enlarge.

Ʋſe 1. Hath the bleſſed God his Feaſt, and Banquet to Entertain ſuch wretched Creatures as we? Let us ſit down, and Admire his Adorable Condeſcention, That the Lord of Glory ſhould make a Feaſt for ſuch Beggars, ſuch Worms, ſuch Vile Sinners as we! p. 270That we ſhould be called to the Priviledges of Children, to ſit down at his Table; We that deſerve not the Crumbs with the Dogs under the Table: That he doth not only richly Feaſt us, but ſtoops to Treat us in our own way, in a manner ſo ſenſible, and eaſie, and plain; that we may ſee, and taſte, to our fuller ſatisfaction, that he is Gracious: That the outward Signs and Symbols are ſo plain, and obvious, when the great Things ſignified, and repreſented, are fit to employ the deepeſt Meditation, and ſurpaſs all that our moſt comprehenſive Thoughts can reach.

2. Doth God make ſuch a Feaſt? Then let him never Invite, but be you willing and ready to come; Take heed how you ſlight the Invitation, and Call of God. It is a dangerous thing, I grant, to come unprepared, and unready; and ſo is it to tarry away, and to refuſe Obedience to the Command of our dying Lord, who the ſame Night in which he was betrayed, Inſtituted this Feaſt, and calls us to do it in Remembrance of him. They that come without a Wedding Garment, they are ſaid to be Ʋnworthy, and to eat and drink unworthily: And they that refuſe p. 271to come to the Goſpel-Feaſt upon Chriſt's Invitation, they are ſaid to be Ʋnworthy too, Matth. 22.8. You little mend the caſe, if, when you hear of the Danger of coming unworthily, you will not come at all: For that Impenitence, and Unbelief that makes unworthy Communicants, will not excuſe your Neglect of the Duty; You muſt Repent and believe in Chriſt, and ſo come prepared. He that eateth this Bread, and drinketh this Cup unworthily, he eats and drinks Judgment to himſelf: 'Tis certain he is guilty of a Sin, that without Repentance, will damn him; and he is in danger of ſome Calamity, Sickneſs, or ſudden Death: Such as was inflicted on the faulty Corinthians: But he doth not ſo eat and drink Damnation, as that ſuch a Sin is Ʋnpardonable, and ſhall certainly be followed with Hell: For it is not the Sin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, which is never Repented of. If the fear of Damnation have influence in the one Caſe, it ſhould have in the other: becauſe to neglect this Duty, is a Sin, as well as to come unprepared; we ought to do neither.

You therefore who are to come, look to it that you come worthily, leſt you be Guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord; Leſt you be Guilty of the Murder p. 272of Chriſt, and of Self-murder at once, by eating and drinking your own Damnation. Ignorant perſons, ſcandalous perſons, Hypocrites, and falſe Pretenders to Religion; ſuch as intrude raſhly, and come impenitently, with the habitual love of Sin, without true Repentance: All who come ignorantly, or hypocritically; who cannot diſcern the Lord's Body, or come with a deſign to cover ſome ſecret Luſt: Let theſe beware, for they come, as it were, with a Knife in their hand, to kill the Redeemer in his own Houſe, to ſtab him at his own Table, and Crucifie him afreſh; They are Guilty of his Body and Blood, which in ſtead of pleading on their behalf for Mercy, will cry againſt them for Vengeance.

You will hereupon, I doubt not be glad of a little Advice, and Direction, that you may come worthily, and be duly prepared, that you may avoid ſo great a hazard. And becauſe you have many good Books on this Subject that will Aſſiſt you in this Matter, I ſhall only put you in mind of a few Things: As,

p. 2731. That you take ſome convenient Time for ſolemn and ſerious Preparation. They eſpecially ſhould do ſo, who have never come till now; And they who for ſome conſiderable time have neglected it, with whom ſeveral Months have paſt, ſince they have been at the Lord's Table; Either through their own Neglect, which they muſt Repent of, or for want of Opportunity. God expected and required ſolemn Preparation, for the Paſſover Feast, Exod, 19.10. He doth ſo for this Feaſt, upon Chriſt our Paſſover, ſacrificed for us. Therefore take ſome time to conſider what you are about to undertake, Beg of God a prepared Heart; and by Reading, Meditation, and Prayer, endeavour to bring your Spirits into a ſuitable Frame for ſuch ſolemn Work. He brought me into his Banquetting-houſe. Chriſt himſelf, by his Spirit, muſt lead his own Guests to his own Table; He muſt awaken and excite all thoſe Graces that are to be exerciſed in this Feast. Therefore beg a prepared Heart, and do what you can by other means to endeavour it.

p. 2742. Renew your Repentance for all the Sins of your Life. Do not come with filthy Hearts and Hands to the Table of the Lord, no more than you would in filthy Rags to a great Man's Table. Lay aſide all Filthineſs, and Superfluity of Naughtineſs; Purge out the Old Leaven of Hypocricy and Malice, of Ignorance, or Envy, and Wickedneſs of every ſort; that you may come with penitent, humbled Hearts, and ſo with a thankful, receptive Frame, conſenting to all the Claims, and Purpoſes of this Ordinance.

3. Therefore Examine your ſelves afreſh, that you may thus come. Review the State of your Souls, ſee how it hath been, and is with you, as to Heart, and Life, State, and Frame. Let a man examine himſelf, and ſo let him eat, 1 Cor. 11.28. Examine your ſelves about your Knowledge, and your Faith, to underſtand the meaning, and the very myſtery of this Table; that you may firmly Aſſent to, and heartily believe, what is Repreſented, and exhibited here; And have right Apprehenſions of thoſe Doctrines, that Explain this Ordinance, as concerning our State of Apoſtacy, concerning the Method of our Recovery by Christ, and our p. 275Faith in him, as Teacher, Saviour, and Lord, in all his Offices. The like might be ſaid concerning Repentance, or Godly Sorrow for Sin, hatred of it, and hearty forſaking of it; Whether you can penitently, believingly, ſeal back your part of the Covenant, (when God ſets the Broad Seal of Heaven unto his part;) when he ſays, I will be thy God, and I will remember thy ſins no more; I will, with my Chriſt, freely give thee all things: This I promiſe, this I ſeal to every of you, ſays God, I here deliver it as my Act and Deed. Now can you ſeal back your part of the Covenant? Lord, I will be thine, henceforth I deſire, and reſolve to be entirely thine, thy ſealed Fountain, thy ſealed Garden; I engage henceforward to be the Lord's; This I deliver as my Act and Deed.

In a word, Examine your ſelves, Do you believe the Gospel of Chriſt to be true, and heartily conſent to the Doctrines of it? Do you reſolve to be Governed by Chriſt as your Lord, and conſent to the Terms of his Gospel? Do you take him for your only Saviour, and look for all your Acceptance with God, and hope of Pardon, and Life, only for his ſake, and upon his Account? Do you conſider the Vow you made in Baptiſm, of Fidelity p. 276to Chriſt, and reſolve to be true to it? Do you here ſeriouſly Renew it, and will you now again promiſe Faithfulneſs to him, to your Lifes end? Do you value his Favour, and Grace above all things? and come to remember his dying Love, and receive the Communications of the purchaſed Spirit, with this Deſire, Deſign, and Hope, That you may love him, and obey him better, and that you may live in Love, and Charity towards your Brethren, and all Mankind, &c.

4. Look to the Inward part of the Ordinance, and labour to Appropriate, and Apply Chriſt to your ſelves. Here is a Covenant confirmed by Sacrifice, by Blood, by the precious blood of Christ; I am called, O my Soul, to feat upon it. This Blood was ſhed to Reconcile me to God, I will drink of it in token of ſuch a Reconciliation made, as a Testimony that I have Recieved the Atonement made by that Blood. My Body was broken for you, ſays Chriſt, Take, and eat it. My Blood was ſhed for you, Take, and drink it. Apply it to your ſelves, every one to his own Soul, ſaying, He loved me, and gave himſelf for me.

p. 2775. Endeavour to fix your Purpoſes and Reſolutions of faithful Adherence to Chriſt, whatever it coſt you. Tell him that you diſtruſt your ſelves, and are afraid of Temptation. Tell him in Prayer, You are almoſt aſhamed to come to his Table, you are ſuch vile unworthy Sinners, and are afraid you ſhall not keep the Covenant, that now again you deſire to renew: But bewail your ſelves, as ſenſible of your ſins, and weary of them. Tell him, that you hate them, and reſolve againſt them, or elſe you durſt not have the face to ask forgiveneſs, and receive the Seal of it. Therefore Reſign your ſelves into his Hands: Beg that the Holy Spirit would take poſſeſſion of you, that you may not backſlide, and wander as you have done. Tell him, that you renounce all Confederacy with his Enemies, you would fain be more ſtedfaſt in the way of the Lord: It is the deſire of your Souls that you may not violate this Covenant; but having ſworn, that you may perform it, to keep his Righteous Judgments; and that you hope you are ready, through his Grace ſtrengthning you, to do, and ſuffer any thing for him.

p. 278Therefore penitently, and humbly offer up your ſelves to be his for ever; ſaying, Lord, I preſent thee with what thou haſt ſo dearly bought: And here without reſerve, I give up my ſelf to be Thine. O do not reject a broken, and contrite Heart, that deſires to be employed, and uſed as may beſt pleaſe, and ſerve thee. Lord! I am nothing, I have nothing, I can do nothing, I deſerve nothing, I deſire nothing; but to love thee better, to be more filled with thy Grace, to partake more of thine Image, to be enabled to honour thee now, and enjoy thee for ever. Grant me this, Lord, and do with me what thou wilt. Accept the Sacrifice I make of my ſelf unto thee, of Soul and Body, of all I have, without any Exception or Reſerve, to thy holy will and pleaſure.

Laſtly, After all this, Remember that Thankſgiving and Joy, is a principal part of our Work at this Table. Let our Souls, and all that is within us then praiſe the Lord, giving Thanks to the Father of Mercies, for this unſpeakable Gift; Bleſſing the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, for all the Riches of his Grace in him. The very Name of this Sacrament, the Euchariſt, imports this, That Thanksgiving is our principal p. 279Work. He took the Bread, and he took the Cup, and he gave Thanks, ſay the Evangeliſts, indifferently of the one, and of the other, Bleſſing, and Giving of Thanks, being the ſame. This Food is hallowed by Thanksgiving, and if ever the High Praiſes of God ſhould be in our Mouths, it ought to be ſo upon this Occaſion. Praiſing God for parting with his only Son, not ſparing him, that we might be ſpared. Thanking our Lord Redeemer, for leaving the Right Hand of his Father, and the Glory of Heaven, to come and Tabernacle amongſt us, and take our Nature, and Dye for us. Lord Jeſus! Who are we? What am I? that thou ſhouldſt part with the Glory of Heaven, and part with thine own Life, upon the accurſed Tree, for ſuch a Wretch as I am? Was I dearer to thee, than thine own Heart-blood, that thou didſt freely ſhed it upon the Croſs for me? How Amazing is thy Love! How do I rejoyce in it! With what Thankfulneſs do I reremember it! How am I aſhamed of my ſelf, that I love thee no more! O that I might feel the Conſtraints of thine Endearing Love! to warm, and quicken my cold, and dead Heart; that ſo I might ſpeak thy Praiſe? And let Heaven and Earth, p. 280and Angels and Men, for ever Extol thy Matchleſs Grace, and Love, which paſſeth Knowledge, but calls for Everlaſting Thankſgiving.

With ſuch a Frame as this, let us endeavour to Come, and we ſhall find that His Banner over us will be Love.

THE END.