Antidote Against Quakerism, Part 5
Whether the Lords Supper be an Ordinance of Chriſt binding us?
For this alſo take theſe two arguments.
Arg. 1. What is ordained of Chriſt for his Church, and not aboliſhed, ſtill binds; but ſuch is the Lords Supper. It was Inſtituted by Chriſt, Mat. 26.26, 27. And as they were eating, Jeſus took bread and bleſſed it, and brake it, and gave it to the Diſciples, and ſaid, take, eat, this is my body. And he took the Cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, ſaying, Drink ye all of it. It was inſtituted for his Church, 1 Cor, 11.23. For I have received of the Lord that which alſo I delivered unto you. v. 24. This do in remembrance of me. He delivered the very command of Chriſt to them, being a Church of Chriſt: plainly diſcovering that they were all bound to the obſervance of it. Let any ſhew now where did Chriſt ever repeal this Inſtitution.
Ob. Divin. of Chriſt, Second part, p. 50. The Apoſtles condeſcended to the low capacity of the Corinthians, as not grown up to that ſpirituality, to ſee through the outward ſhadows. Their example is no Preſident?
Anſw. 1. The Apoſtle delivered to them the command of Chriſt. ver. 24. This do, ver. 25. This do. He warneth them of unworthineſs, under penalty of making themſelves guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. He enjoyns them with due preparation to obey the commands of Chriſt. ver. 28. But let a man examine himſelf, and ſo let him eat. Is all this but an Indulgence or Sufferance? Paul preſſeth to have the Inſtitution of Chriſt in a right manner obeyed in his Church.
Anſw. 2. Could not the Corinthians ſee through the outward ſhadows? were they not believers in Chriſt who is the ſubſtance of all the ſhadows? were they not ſanctified in Chriſt Jeſus? ch. 1.2. Yet the Apoſtle enjoyns them obedience to the Inſtitution of Chriſt.
Anſw. 3. Either the Apoſtle did deliver to them the commands of Chriſt, or not, and they were to obey the Apoſtles commands as the comands of Chriſt or not. If they were to obey the Apoſtles comands as the comands of Chriſt; then are they to be our Preſident: For we are to obey the commands of Chriſt as well as they. Here is no manifeſtation of a repeal.
Ob. It could not in reaſon or truth be enjoyned all others that ſucceed, who ſpiritually enjoy the Communion of the body and blood of Chriſt, where none of their diſorders have any place.
Anſw. 1. This Objection ſeems to yield that Chriſt ordained the Supper for weak Coriſtians, who are ſubject to Diſorders; but not for ſtrong: and the Corinthians are a Preſident for ſuch weak Chriſtians. Then why at leaſt do not thoſe: who look on themſelves as Teachers from Chriſt, among Quakers, enjoyn, as Paul did, ſuch weak ones, to partake of this Ordinance? Are there no weak ones among them?
Anſw. 2. Will this man take himſelf to be wiſer than Chriſt, and wiſer than the Holy Ghoſt, who inſpired Paul to enjoyn the Corinthians according to the inſtitution of Chriſt? There was not one ſanctified Corinthian but had Communion with the Body and Blood of Chriſt. And many of them were well grounded in Grace, ch. 1. v. 5. In every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; and yet theſe even theſe, are enjoyned to partake of the Lords Supper, Will he ſay the Holy Ghoſt did not act in reaſon or in truth?
Anſw. 3. A grown Chriſtian may grow more, and he that hath Communion with Chriſt may have further Communion, and he that is ſtrong may yet have more ſtrength, and ſo by this Ordinance be further and further helped on to Salvation. There doth appear then very good reaſon why the Holy Ghoſt ſhould enjoyn ſtrong Chriſtians this duty of partaking the Supper.
Ob. p. 51. They who know a beginning in the Spirit ought to wait for this ſpiritual appearance, and coming of Chriſt, and not turn back again to ſhadows.
Anſ. 1. He condemns Pauls practice, which he approved of before. If condeſcending Paul acted according to the mind of Chriſt, then true Miniſters ought thus to condeſcend and put weak believers upon receiving the Supper, that they might act alſo according to the mind of Chriſt. …e ye followers of us, ſaith he, as we alſo are of Chriſt. But if weak believers muſt not partake of it; becauſe a ſhadow, then Paul ſhould not have condeſcended to give them the Lords Command, putting them upon receiving: examine your ſelves, and ſo eat. Will this man become Pauls Teacher, and pretend to know Chriſts will better then Paul?
Anſ. 2. According to this Doctrine, the Corinthians ought to have rejected the commands of Chriſt by Paul. [Do this, let a man examine himſelf, and ſo eat.] We do know a beginning in the Spirit, and muſt we return to ſhadows?
Anſ. 3. As if partaking of the Supper were inconſiſtent with waiting for a more full manifeſtation of Chriſt; or Naaman waſhing in Jordan, could not expect from God a cure of his Leproſic. It is the duty of all believers in the uſe of means, which the Lord hath appointed to expect his preſence and his bleſſing; and in the uſe of ſuch means it may be had. If God appoint the blowing of Rams horns, in their obedience, Iſrael may expect the fall of Jerico's walls. And ſo in the uſe of the Supper, it being of the Lords own appointment, we may expect his gracious preſence, 1 Cor. 10.16. The Cup of bleſſing which we bleſs, is it not the Communion of the blood of Chriſt? We may expect the confirmation of our faith touching pardon, Mat. 26.28. This is my blood of the new Teſtament, which is ſhed for many for the remiſſion of ſins.
Anſw. 4. Though it be a ſhadow, yet an Evangelical ſhadow, a ſhadow of the Lords own appointing, and which he never yet repealed. And ſhall not this be dear to every gracious ſoul? Who is not bound to uphold the unrepealed ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt? As every Jew was bound to uphold the Paſſeover in a Holy manner, till Chriſts death did put an end to it: So is every Chriſtian bound to uphold the Lords Supper, Chriſt having neither done, nor ſaid any thing to cauſe the celebration there to ceaſe. And therefore where the Lords unrepealed ordinance are contemned, they may talk of Chriſts ſpiritual appearance, but they may wait long enough, and with ſmall hope to obtain. The Lord thy God is a jealous God. He ſpeaks with reference to inſtituted worſhip, as the Supper is. Contemn this, expect the Lords burning wrath, never look for his gracious preſence, it will not be vouchſafed. Might a Jew have ſaid, I have had a beginning in the ſpirit. I muſt wait for a ſpiritual appearance of the Meſſiah; I will not turn back to this ſhadow of the Paſſeover. What ſaith God? Num. 9.10.13. He ſhall be cut off from his people. See the ſeverity of God in point of inſtituted worth. Deut. 4.2. Thou ſhalt not diminiſh. Such are more likely to pull down a curſe upon their heads, than obtain the ſpiritual ſence of Chriſt.
Arg 2. What is appointed to continue till Chriſts coming at the end of the world, is ſtill binding. But ſo is the Lords Supper, 1 Cor. 11.26. As oft as yee at this bread and drink this cup, ye do ſhew forth the Lords death till he come.
1. Ob Life of Chriſt within, p. 40. we do not read of another coming in the fleſh yet to be expected, Divin of Chriſt, p. 49. Chriſt the induring divine ſubſtance ends all types and his comings and appearance in the fleſh. The Diſciples were witneſſes of his coming after the Reſurrection, of his ſpiritual coming, and Chriſt promiſed ſome of them ſhould not taſte of death till they ſee the Son of man coming in his Kingdom. Matt. 16.28. But there is no coming in the fleſh to be expected.
Anſ. 1. That Chriſt is to come in the fleſh; that is to ſay, our humane nature glorified at the end of the world; take theſe Scriptures, Heb. 9, 28. Chriſt was once offered to bear the ſins of many, and unto them that look for him ſhall be appear the ſecond time, without ſin unto ſalvation. Chriſt hath once appeared already in our nature, and he is to appear a ſecond time; which bearing relation to the former, muſt needs be alſo in our nature, 1 Cor. 1.7. Ye come behind in no gift waiting for the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. He was come to them ſpiritually already, this therefore ſpeaks of his coming in the end of the world to Judgment, 1 Theſ. 4.17. The Lord himſelf ſhall deſcend from Heaven with a Shout, with the voice of the Arch-Angel, and with the Trump of God, and the dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt, then we which are alive and remain ſhall be caught up together with them in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, ſo ſhall we ever be with the Lord. G. W. Did the Apoſtle live to a perſonal coming? Anſ. The Apoſtle ſpeaks in the perſon of believers, ſome of them will be then alive. This cannot be underſtood of a ſpiritual coming in this life. 1. He was ſo come to the Apoſtles already. 2. Doth the Lord come ſpiritually with a ſhout? &c. doth the dead in Chriſt then riſe firſt? Are thoſe to whom Chriſt comes ſpiritually, caught up with the dead raiſed, into the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air? 2 Theſ. 1.7, 8. The Lord ſhall be revealed from Heaven, with his mighty Angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; who ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord. Is all this done at Chriſts ſpiritual coming to a Soul? Rev. 1.7. Behold h… cometh with Clouds, and every eye ſhall ſee him. Doth every eye ſee him, when he comes ſpiritually to a particular Soul? Acts 1.11. Ye men of Galilee, why ſtand ye gazing up into Heaven? this ſane Jeſus which is taken up from you into Heaven, ſhall ſo come in like manner as ye have ſeen him go into Heaven. He went up in his humane Nature, therefore ſo ſhall he come down. Mat. 24.30, 31. Then ſhall the Tribes of the Earth mourn, and they ſhall ſee the Son of man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great glory; and he ſhall ſend his Angels with a great ſound of a Trumpet, and they ſhall gather together his Elect. Mat. 26.24. Hereafter ſhall you ſee the Son of man ſuting on the Right hand of Power, and comin the Clouds of Heaven. So Mark 14.62. 1 Cor. 15.21, 22. Phil. 3.20. Jude 4. Acts 2.20. If he never read theſe Scriptures, now he may; and ſee that Chriſt's firſt coming in the fleſh ends not his ſecond, as he ſpeaks.
Anſw. 2. Whatever Coming that 16th. of Matth. ſpeaks of, it ſhall not hinder his laſt viſible coming in the Clouds at the end of the world. The Scripture muſt needs be fulfilled. The Senſe may be this; that Chriſt aſcending to take poſſeſſion of his Kingdome, they ſhall by Faith ſee him exerciſe that his Kingly power by his Word and Spirit.
Obj. Div. p. 49. He hath tarried above ſixteen hundred years.
Anſw. 2. Pet. 2.3, 4. There ſhall come in the laſt days Scoffers, walking after their own Luſts, and ſaying, where is the promiſe of his coming? For ſince the Fathers fell aſleep, all things continue as they were at the beginning of the Creation. Ver. 9, 10. The Lord is not ſlack. But the Day of the Lord ſhall come as a Thief in the night. Matth. 24.48. But and if that evil Servant ſhall ſay in his heart, my Lord delayeth his coming, &c. Ver. 50, 51. The Lord of that ſervant ſhall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and ſhall cut him aſunder, and appoint him his portion with Hypocrites.
Obj. 2. If they ſhould ſay as ſome of theſe words [Ye do ſhew forth the Lords death till he come] are either to be underſtood of Chriſts coming after his Reſurrection, or of his coming in his Kingdom, which his Diſciples ſaw before their death; or of his ſpiritual coming; but by no means of his laſt coming.
Anſw. 1. Why by no means of his laſt coming? what convincing Argument is there for it?
2. It cannot be underſtood of either of thoſe mentioned, and therefore it muſt of his laſt.
1. Not of his coming after his Reſurrection; for if it were to ceaſe then, the Apoſtle would not after that have enjoyned it upon the Corinthians.
2. Not of his coming in his Kingdom, which the Apoſtles ſaw, for the ſame reaſon. Becauſe this coming was eminently ſeen, when Acts 2, The Diſciples were filled with the Holy Ghoſt, and ſpake with other Tongues; Chriſt ſhedding this forth upon them; and Peter ſo preached, that about three thouſand Souls were added to the Church,
3. Not of his ſpiritual Coming. 1. This would imply, That Chriſt appointed this Ordinance for the Ʋnconverted, to whom he hath not thus ſpiritually come: whereas theſe men will neither yield that converted or unconverted ſhould partake.
2. The Apoſtles were already converted, unto whom Chriſt did adminiſter it: and ſo were the Corinthians, that did partake of it, and unto whom the Apoſtle by the Inſpiration of the Holy Ghoſt, enjoyned it. They came behind in no Gift. They were enriched in all knowledge; therefore they knew the ſpiritual preſence of Chriſt with them. Chriſts ſpiritual Coming therefore puts not an end to this Ordinance. Therefore it muſt needs be that only his ſecond coming in the fleſh, or his laſt coming at the end of the world, that ſhall put an end to this Ordinance. If they will cavil at Chriſts appearing in the Fleſh, let them know that Chriſt will change our vile Bodies, and make them like his glorious Body: And yet, ſaith Job, In my fleſh ſhall I ſee God. So that when Jobs Body is a glorious Body, like Chriſts, yet doth it not ceaſe to be fleſh. No more doth Chriſts.
Obj. Div. p. 50. If Chriſts coming in the Spirit be not the end of the Lords Supper, where then is the Myſtery and inward Spiritual Grace ſignified by the Outward Sign?
Anſw. This man ſeems better pleaſed with his Conceits than Chriſts Truth; and when he cannot by Reaſon perſwade, he would by Sophiſtry cheat men into a belief of Errour. Is the Conteſt about the Deſign? Is it not about the Ceſſation of the Supper? He ſpeaks not to the Point. If the Argument had been framed thus, What is the Deſign of the Lords Supper, that attained, is the Ceſſation of it: But Chriſts Spiritual Coming is the Deſign. The Ma…or Peopoſition would have carried as much Truth in it as this. The Deſign of Preaching is to form Chriſt in us: aſſoon as Chriſt is formed in a man, therefore he muſt he preached unto him no more. The deſign of eating is to have Hunger ſatisfied to be ſtrengthened. If therefore a perſon hath once ſatisfied his hunger, and ſtrengthened himſelf by eating, he muſt never eat more.
It being clear that the Supper is an Ordinance of the Lords own appointing, never repealed, nay appointed to continue till Chriſts coming in the end of the world. Is it not Rebellion againſt the Lord, to reject it? And ſhall we be found as Pharaoh, crying, Who is the Lord, that I ſhould obey his voice? When the Lord hath appointed it for our good, to further our ſpiritual Communion with him, nouriſh, ſtrengthen our Faith, and help us in our Obedience, ſhall we reject this Love of Chriſt? Shall we deprive our own Souls of this Spiritual Food? Indeed had men only appointed it, we could have no warrant to uſe it, no ground to expect Gods bleſſing in the uſe of it. In vain do they worſhip me, ſaith God, teaching for Doctrines, the Commandments of men. But ſince it is the Lords own Inſtitution, there is good to be hoped for from it, Deut. 12.28. It ſhall go well with thee and with thy Children after thee for ever, when thou doſt that which is good and right in the ſight of the Lord thy God. This Ordinance is ſuch a thing. What though it be a Sign, a Shadow? If God ſets us a Shadow, a Brazen Serpent, it ſhall not be in vain to look up unto it. What if it were true, that we were perfect? Yet if the Lord will appoint Adam, even in Innocency, the uſe of a Sign, the Tree of Life, he hath reaſon to rejoyce in it. And truly by inſtituted Worſhip, in a ſingular manner doth God try our Love or Hatred of him; as we may ſee in the Second Commandment: He will ſhow Mercy to thouſands of them that love him; puniſh the iniquity of Parents upon their Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate him. God reckons thoſe that are Conſcientious Upholders of inſtituted Worſhip, Lovers of him. To conclude therefore; Let us examine our ſelves, and ſo let us eat: for if we would judge our ſelves, we ſhall not be judged of the Lord.