Sacramental Discourses Before and After the Lords Supper, Title page – Table of contents
Sacramental Diſcourſes, ON SEVERAL TEXTS, BEFORE, and AFTER THE Lord's Supper.
By JOHN SHOWER.
LONDON, Printed for Abr. Chandler, Sam. Clements, and Sam. Wade, at the Chirurgeons-Arms in Alderſgate-Street, the Swan in St. Pauls Church-yard, and Bible under the Piaza of the Royal-Exchange in Cornhill. MDCXCIII.
Mr: John Shower
THE PREFACE.
THERE are Three Things eſpecially requiſite unto a Worthy Communicant; to believe and own the Truths, which our B. Lord would preſerve the Memory of by this Institution; and to have a lively ſenſe of the Comforts, and Encouragements that may ariſe from thence; and then to perform thoſe Duties of Love and Gratitude, and faithful Obedience, which reſult from our Covenant Relation to him, and the open Profeſſion of it. The Doctrines, and the Encouragements, and the Duties of Chriſtianity are admirably connected, and joyn'd together. The Principal of all theſe we are called to conſider in this Sacred Ordinance. Which yet is ſhamefully neglected by many, who would take it very ill, not to be thought good Chriſtians: who live from year to year in the Omiſſion of it; who make no Conſcience of Remembring the Death of Chriſt in this manner. As if they had no Saviour who dyed for 'em; or he had not Appointed this way of Remembring his dying Love; Or as if the Command, Do this, in Remembrance of me, becauſe ſpoken to the Apoſtles, did only concern them, and the Miniſters of the Christian Church. Whereas tho' our Lord ſate down with the Twelve, the Command is given to them as Diſciples, and Repreſentatives of all his Church, rather than as Apoſtles. Or if the latter, He gave it to them, to d ſpenſe it afterwards unto Others: (not excluding their own Communicating; for they who deliver the Elements as Miniſters, do partake of 'em as Diſciples, and Chriſtians, and Brethren,) What I have received of the Lord, that alſo I deliver unto you, ſaith the Apoſtle: and if Miniſters are bound to Deliver it, the People are bound to Receive. If our Saviour's words, Do this in Remembrance of me, relate to Miniſters as ſuch, it is a Command for them to Adminiſter the Lord's Supper; and the ſame Command muſt be ſuppoſed to bind the People to Receive it, that doth oblige Miniſters to Deliver it.
There be ſome who omit it from Superſtitious, unbecoming Fears, and Scruples, as if our Lord were more to be Honoured by our abſenting from his Table, than by frequenting of it. Many, on the other hand, are guilty of Preſumption, and Raſhneſs, by careleſs, unprepared Approaching to it. Several Caſes are here ſpoken to, which relate to both ſorts, though many more ſhould be added.
As to the manner of performing this Duty, we cannot come too humbly, in a ſenſe of our Ignorance, and Weakneſs, and Sinfulneſs; owning, that we are nothing, and have nothing, and can do nothing, without his Grace, that may be pleaſing to him: and that we have done very much to diſhonour and provoke him, (eſpecially by our late Tranſgreſſions,) that we deſerve to be caſt out of his ſight, and denied the Priviledges of his Houſe and Family, never to taſte of the Childrens Bread. But having renewed our Repentance, before we come, we are called to expreſs our Love, Gratitude, and Joy. When we view a Dying Saviour, a Crucified Jeſus before our eyes, lifted up upon the Croſs, drawing all Men to him, bowing down his Head, and ſtretching out his Arms to embrace us; as he appears all bloody to fright us from our ſins, ſo he opens his ſide, that we may ſee his Heart flaming with Love. He calls us to behold his wounded body, with Hearts wounded with a Penitent Senſe of Sin, and a growing Love to the Redeemer. He calls us to ſeal a Covenant of Fidelity to him, and to accept the Purchaſed Benefits of a Gracious Covenant, ſealed back from him to us.
Here we behold the Lamb of God a Sacrifice for thoſe ſins, we have ſo lately Repented of; removing that Wrath which we ſo lately trembled at, as having justly deſerved; and therefore we ſhould Approach this Table with Gladneſs, and Rejoycing. Here we are called to give publick Expreſſions of the Love and Honour we bear to the Remembrance of Chriſt. We do it in Thankfulneſs to him, for all he hath done, and ſuffered for us. Here we profeſs our Faith, and Hope, and Truſt in a Crucified Saviour. We own him for our Lord, and our Jeſus; we declare we are not aſhamed of his Croſs, or of any Difficulties, Trials, or Sufferings we may be expoſed to, for his ſake.
He needed not have cared whether we were Saved, or no: And yet how low hath he condeſcended to purchaſe our Happineſs and Salvation; and to Aſſure us of it? What manner of love is this? that the Eternal Son of God, Incarnate, ſhould endure a Painful, Ignominious, curſed Death for us, that we might not dye Eternally? How wonderful and incomprehenſible is this love! How pleaſant ſhould be the contemplation of it! Here is an Abyſs of Love, of Adorable, Allmighty Love, (on this ſide Heaven, but leading to it,) which we cannot fathom, but are called to admire.
A Crucified Jeſus repreſented, and commemorated, as a Sacrifice for us! What more Glorious Sight can we deſire to ſee? How ſhould this awaken all our Affections, and, in ſome reſpect, puzzle not only our Paſſions, but our Faith too? As an Object too large for our narrow Thoughts, too high for our Finite Minds, too Great for our Wonder, and for our little Love, and Joy. How delightful is it, to be thus even loſt in the conſideration of this matchleſs condeſcenſion, and Grace of our Redeemer? When the Object is too big for our higheſt Raptures, and Tranſports, and we are ſwallowed up in ſilence, and aſtoniſhment.
How ſhould this Love conſtrain and draw forth ours? When we conſider for what vile and ſinful creatures the Son of God gave his life and made his Soul an Offering. How his Love to us Enemies and Rebels, was ſtronger than fear, or ſhame, or death, without bounds, and without example. When we Feaſt on this Sacrifice, what can we do leſs, in requital for this Infinite love, than devote our ſelves, Souls and Bodies to him, as the Purchaſe of his Death? And lay all our Affairs, and deareſt concernments at his Feet to be diſpoſed of as he pleaſeth? How can it be, but our love to him muſt be kindled, maintained, and encreaſed by ſuch an Institution? Remembring, and conſidering his love to us, till we are brought practically to conclude, and determine, that our love to him is too little, if we love any thing beſides him, except it be by his order, for his ſake, and to his Glory; except it be according to the preſcribed Rules, and limits he hath ſet us.
And how proper is it here to Renew our Baptiſmal Covenant? faithfully to promiſe to be entirely the Lord's, to be obedient and reſigned to him to be Treacherous to him no more, but ſtedfaſt and reſolved in his Service? taking his Law as our Rule, his will to be our will, to love what he loves, to hate what he hates, to have the ſame Friends and Enemies with our Bleſſed Lord. For here we put God in mind of his Covenant with us through Jeſus Chriſt, and our ſelves in mind of our Covenant with God. And upon renewed Repentance for any ſins we have committed, after any Inſtance of Ʋnfaithfulneſs to our Solemn Engagements, by unſuitable walking, we here implore his Mercy and Grace to pardon us. We declare at the ſame time, that we deſire to take hold of his Covenant, that tho we are Sinners, we are not Apoſtates, we confeſs our ſins, and beg Forgiveneſs, and repeat our Reſolutions of Fidelity to him. We truſt in the unſhaken Faithfulneſs, and Truth of God to his gracious Promiſes: We place our hope and confidence in the ſtability of his Everlaſting Covenant, which the Blood of Jeſus, (the Blood of the Covenant) hath confirmed, and made Everlaſting: Not Truſting in our own Faith, but in his Free Mercy, and invariable Truth; not in our Repentance, but his Gracious Pardon; not in our own Preparations, but his Merciful Acceptance of us in his Beloved Son; not in any thing we our ſelves can do, but in the Merits of Chriſt, the Fruits of his Death, and the Purchaſe of his Croſs, as diſpenſed and applied according to the rule, method, and tenor of the Goſpel-Promiſe.
This is our Priviledge, and this our Employment at the Table of our Lord. And there is hardly any Subject will better bear to be treated of in ſeveral different methods, than this; or upon which, repeated Diſcourſes, by ſeveral Perſons, may be more uſeful. I grant there are many Excellent Books already written, to Inſtruct Men in the Nature, and to direct and aſſiſt their Devotion, in the Obſervation of this Holy Sacrament. I deſign not to wreſt them out of their hands, into whoſe this may fall. I pretend not to add, but to urge and proſecute the ſame Great End; and ſometimes by the ſame Arguments and Expreſſions. I acknowledge my having profited by the Writings of others; I hope 'tis what they deſign'd. Theſe Diſcourſes were acceptable to many, when Preacht, and being ſince reviewed (ſome of them with ſome Enlargement) I hope they may be of uſe, at leaſt to thoſe who heard 'em, and deſired their Publication. And it muſt be granted, that what is of ſo Univerſal, and Important a Concern, as a due Participation of this Ordinance, ought to be Treated and Inculcated, in as many different ways, as may beſt ſuit the Various capacites of ſeveral Perſons. It may be, a ſhorter Account of the Doctrine of the Lord's Supper, with Meditations and Devotions adapted thereto, would be more proper for the Younger, and more Ignorant Sort: this I have promiſed, and intend, but have not yet had time to perfect. The Lord follow this, and all Endeavours, for the Furtherance of Real Godlineſs, with an Abundant Bleſſing.
London, May 9th. 1693. J. S.
THE CONTENTS.
The Firſt Diſcourſe. OF Ʋnion to Chriſt, and the New Creature: Or a Preparatory Sermon to the Lord's Supper, on the Firſt Day of the Year. From 2 Cor. 5.17. If any Man be in Christ, he is a New Creature, p. 1.
The Second Diſcourſe. Of Chriſt's paſſing over the Brook Kedron, and entring into the Garden of Gethſemine. After the Lords Supper. From John 18.1, 2. When Jeſus had ſpoken theſe words, he went forth with his Diſciples over the Brook Cedron, where was a Garden, into which he entred, and his Diſciples: and Judas alſo knew the place; For Jeſus oft times reſorted thither with his Diſciples, p. 49.
The Third Diſcourſe. Concerning Spiritual Waſhing, the Nature, Means, and Evidences of it. Before the Lords Supper. From 1 Cor. 6.11. And ſuch were ſome of you, but you are waſhed, but you are Sanctified, but you are Juſtified, in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the Spirit of our God, p. 89
The Fourth Diſcourſe. Of the Communion of Chriſt's Body and Blood. After the Lord's Supper. From 1 Cor. 10.16. The Cup of Bleſſing which we bleſs, 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? p. 129
The Fifth Diſcourſe, The Sin and Danger of Unworthy Receiving. Before the Lord's Supper. From 1 Cor. 11.29. He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh Damnation to himſelf, p. 163
The Sixth Diſcourſe, Of Chriſt's Laſt Paſſover, And its Accompliſhment. After the Lord's Supper. From Luke 22.15, 16, 17, 18. With deſire have I deſired to eat this Paſſover with you before I ſuffer. For I ſay unto you, I will not many more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. And he took the Cup, and gave thanks, and ſaid, Take this, and divide it among your ſelves. For I ſay unto you. I will not drink of the Fruit of the Vine, until the Kingdom of God ſhall come, p. 199
The Seventh Diſcourſe, Before the Lord's Supper. From Cant. 2.4. He brought me into the Banquetting-houſe, and his Banner over me was Love, p. 243
The Eighth Diſcourſe, After the Lord's Supper. From St. John 20.27, 28. Then ſaid he unto Thomas, Reach hither thy Finger, and behold my Hands; and reach hither thy Hand, and thruſt it into my Side, and be not faithleſs, but believing. And Thomas anſwered and ſaid unto him, My Lord, and My God, p. 281
A Paraphraſe of the Lord's Prayer. Our Father, &c.