Londons Gate to the Lords Table, Pages 202-274

Londons Gate to the Lords Table · Pages 202-274

p. 202Mat.

But Sir, I feare that my minde was never yet truly enlightened becauſe I am ſo ignorant, p. 203and I feare I was never yet truly humbled, becauſe I now ſee that I have not renounced mine owne righteouſneſſe.

Min.

I pray you tell me, was there not a time, and that not long ſince, that you did not know that which you now know neither concerning God, nor concerning your ſelfe?

Mat.

Yea indeed Sir, I muſt needs confeſſe, that before I hearkned to the advice of that friend I told you of, and read that Booke which I mentioned before, I neither knew any thing either concerning my miſerable condition by reaſon of my p. 204ſins, nor yet of any remedy by meanes of Jeſus Chriſt.

Min.

Why then may you truly ſay with the man in the Goſpell, I was blinde, but now I ſee, for as ſure as Jeſus Chriſt did open his naturall eyes, ſo ſure hath he opened your ſpirituall eyes.

Mat.

But alas, I have ſuch a ſmall meaſure of knowledge, that I feare my minde is not truly enlightened.

Min.

For anſwer to this Objection, I will onelyonly tell you what a godly and judicious Divine ſaith, and that is this, Be not diſmayed p. 205ſaith he, at the ſmall meaſureRogers … the Sacr… ▪ p. 80. of thy knowledge ſo long as there is ſoundneſſe of minde in thee, if thy knowledge be ſound though weake, let it not diſcourage thee, and there may be ſoundneſſe of minde as well in a little knowledge as in much.

Mat.

I Sir, it is like that there may be ſo in others, but how ſhall I be ſure there is ſo in me?

Min.

It is very cleare and evident to me that your knowledge is ſound though weake, and that you have a ſound minde in that you know your ſelfe, your nature and your ſinnes, and are thereupon p. 206humbled, for unſound knowledge puffeth up, 1 Cor. 8. 1. But your knowledge hath diſcovered to you your ignorance, and ſo hath abaſed you in your owne eyes, and caſt you downe, and therefore doubtleſſe your minde is ſound.

Mat.

I but Sir, I told you that I alſo feared that I was never yet truly humbled, I pray you tell me what you ſay to that.

Min.

And the reaſon why you feare it (as you ſay) is, for that you have not renounced your owne righteouſneſſe.

Mat.

Yea indeed Sir, that is the reaſon of it.

p. 207Min.

Why I pray you tell me truly, have you any hopes to be juſtified, or accepted in the ſight of God for your owne performances?

Mat.

Yea indeed Sir, I told you that I have had hopes, that if I ſinned no more, then the Lord would forgive my former ſins, and accept of me.

Min.

But I doe not aske you what you have done formerly, but what you doe now?

Mat.

Why truly Sir, you have this day made it ſo evident and cleare to me, that it is onelyonly the Righteouſneſſe of Jeſus Chriſt received by faith, p. 208that procures acceptance in the ſight of God, that I ſee it is my onelyonly way to beleeve on his name, and as I told you I doe deſire ſo to doe.

Mat.

Then beleeve it, you are truly humbled, which is a very good and ſure foundation, and therefore you are like to erect a good and ſure building, though it may be it may not goe on ſo faſt, nor make ſo glorious a ſhew as ſome others doe.

Mat.

But alas Sir, I am ſo aſhamed, and troubled in my minde when I conſider how farre other men doe out-ſtrip me, both in knowledge and other p. 209graces, that I know not what to doe.

Min.

But ſurely you have no cauſe at all to be troubled at that, for it is to be feared there are ſome Profeſſors that grow up quickly, and flouriſh abundantly in a legall way, they are not troubled with inward heart corruptions as other poore ſoules are, they are full of parts, gifts, abilities, and duties which others want, and are very glorious Chriſtians in outward appearance, and yet for lack of an humble foundation they are but flittering fleeting motions, & windy p. 210conceptions; whereas you or rather the Spirit of Chriſt in you, hath laid ſuch an humble foundation, that queſtionleſſe there ſhall be built upon it a gracious building, compoſed of many Evangelicall Graces, and therefore I pray you be not diſmayed, though you come farre ſhort of many vaine glorious high-ſpirited Profeſſors; it is like the Lord ſees though it may be you doe not; that if you had ſuch parts, gifts, and abilities which ſome others have, and had not ſome ſinfull corruptions in you which it may be others have not, that then p. 211you would he lifted up above that which is meet, and be kept in your ſelfe from Chriſt; therefore it is the Lords glorious wiſdome, and gracious goodneſſe to you, to let ſome of your ſinfull corruptions remaine in you, eſpecially to open your eyes to ſee them, and to affect your heart with them, and to let you come behinde others in gifts and parts, that ſo your ſoule may ſink in holy deſpaire of any helpe in your ſelfe, and reſt in nothing till it come to Chriſt Crucified, and the eternall ſweet promiſe in him; howbeit this you may be aſſured p. 212of, that if you be carefull to uſe the good meanes to this end appointed, you ſhall have ſuch a meaſure of faith and all other graces of the Spirit of Chriſt, as ſhall be moſt fit for you.

Mat.

O bleſſed be the Lord if this be true; but I pray you Sir, what are the meanes which you would have me to uſe.

Min.

Why I meane hearing and reading the Word of God, meditation, prayer, and receiving the Sacrament.

Mat.

Why Sir, I pray you, doe you thinke me ſit to come to the Sacrament?

p. 213Min.

Yea indeed do I.

Mat.

Surely Sir, I am altogether unworthy.

Min.

And why doe you thinke your ſelfe unworthy?

Mat.

Why becauſe of my ignorance and ſinfulneſſe.

Min.

Then belike you thinke that knowledge and righteouſneſſe makes a man worthy to come to the Sacrament?

Mat.

Yes indeed Sir, I have had ſuch thoughts, and therefore when I heard you queſtion whether my neighbour Simon were worthy to be admitted to the Sacrament, I did much admire at it, p. 214for that I know he is a man of great knowledge and godly life, but I doe much more admire that you ſhould thinke me to be worthy.

Min.

Indeed, if wee were to underſtand theſe words, worthy and unworthy, by way of meriting and deſerving, then he in regard he hath more knowledge then you, and it may be is more free from ſome inward corruptions then you, and doth more frequently performe religious actions then you, were more worthy then you; but as I told him not long ſince, we are not to underſtand p. 215words worthy, and unworthy by way of meriting and deſerving, but by way of fitneſſe and ſutableneſſe of diſpoſition to receive Chriſt, and taking them in this ſence, I ſay, that your ignorance and ſinfulneſſe have occaſionally through the working of GODS Spirit, wrought in you ſuch a fit and ſutable diſpoſition for the receiving of Chriſt, that I doe pronounce you worthy to be admitted to the Lords Table.

Mat.

O bleſſed be God if this be true; but Sir, I pray you what is this fit and ſutable diſpoſition which you ſay the Spirit p. 216of God hath by occaſion of my ignorance and ſinfulneſſe wrought in me, or wherein doth it conſiſt?

Min.

This fit and ſutable diſpoſition which the Spirit of God hath wrought in you, conſiſts in that ſight and ſence of your owne ignorant ſinfull miſerable and helpleſſe condition, as hath made you ſee your need of Jeſus Chriſt, to be made unto you of God wiſdome, 1 Cor. 1. 301 Cor 1:30righteouſneſſe, ſanctification and redemption.

Mat.

But Sir, I pray you how can ſuch a diſpoſition be ſaid to make me worthy to be admitted to the Lords Table?

p. 217Min.

Why even as we, when we ſee a miſerable poore hungry man, that is ſenceable of his owne miſerable and helpleſſe condition crave an Almes, with earneſt deſire and intreating, we doe conceive he is in a fit and ſutable diſpoſition to receive it, and account him worthy to have an Almes beſtowed upon him.

Even ſo when the Lord ſees a man ſo ſenſible of his owne miſerable and helpleſſe condition, that he ſees and feeles his need of Jeſus Chriſt, and therefore doth earneſtly deſire him, he conceives him to be in a fit and ſutable p. 218diſpoſition to receive him, and ſo accounts him worthy of him; and therefore we read in the tenth Chapter of St. Matthewes Goſpell, that when our Saviour ſent forth his Diſciples to preach the Goſpell, that is to ſay, the glad tidings of Juſtification, Sanctification, and everlaſting Salvation by Jeſus Chriſt, he ſaid unto them, verſe the 11, Into whatſoever City or Towne ye enter, enquire who in it is worthy, and there abide. And if we compare this verſe with Luk. 10. 7, 8, 9. we ſhall perceive that they, and only they were thoſe worthy ones, which p. 219teſtified their ſight and ſence of their owne miſery, and their deſire to receive Chriſt into their hearts, as their only remedy, by receiving his Diſciples into their houſes, counting their feet very beautifull for preaching the Goſpell of peace, and bringing unto them glad tidings of good things; theſe are thoſe poore ones whom our Saviour ſaith, Receive the Goſpell, Matth. 11. 5. and theſe are they who mourne under the ſight and ſence of their owne ſpirituall wants, unto whom he promiſeth comfort, Mat. 5. 4. and theſe are they that hunger and p. 220thirſt for Chriſts Righteouſneſſe, whom he promiſeth to ſatiſfie, Matth. 5. 6.

Mat.

But Sir, doe you not thinke that my neighbour Simon hath this fit and ſutable diſpoſition wrought in him.

Min.

No, I feare not, for it doth appeare to me that his owne ſpirit hath taken occaſion from his great knowledge to puffe him up, as the Apoſtles phraſe is, 1 Cor. 8. 1. yea, and it doth appeare to me that it hath taken occaſion from his owne righteouſneſſe to move him to put confidence in himſelfe, and ſo he is p. 221hindered from ſeeing and feeling his owne need of Jeſus Chriſt, to be made unto him of God, wiſdome, 1 Cor. 1. 301 Cor 1:30righteouſneſſe, ſanctification and redemption.

Mat.

But Sir, how can ſuch a diſpoſition be ſaid to make him unworthy to be admitted to the Lords Table.

Min.

Why, even as we when we ſee a ſtout and luſty Begger come to crave an Almes, and heare him flouriſh in his Rhetorique, and not ſpeake Pro. 18. 23Prov 18:23with ſuplications, as the wiſe man ſaith the poore man doth, then we doe conceive he is not in a meet and ſutable diſpoſition p. 222to have an Almes beſtowed upon him, and therefore we uſe to ſay concerning ſuch a one, He is not worthy to have an Almes beſtowed upon him. Even ſo when the Lord ſees a man proud of his knowledge, and confident of his owne righteouſneſſe and deſervings, and ſees not his need of Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo conſequently not to deſire him, then he lookes upon him as one who is in an unfit and unſutable diſpoſition to receive him, and therefore accounts him unworthy of him; and therefore we read in the 13. Chapter of p. 223the Acts of the Apoſtles, that when Paul and Barnabas were in the City of Antioch, and preached the glad tidings of the Goſpell, as the Apoſtle calls them, verſe 32. It is ſaid verſ. 45. that the Jews ſpake againſt thoſe things which were ſpoken by Paul, contradicting and blaſpheming, whereupon Paul and Barnabas waxed bold ſaith the Text, verſe 46. and ſaid, It was neceſſary that the Word of God ſhould firſt have been ſpoken to you, but ſeeing ye put it from you, and judge your ſelves unworthy of everlaſting life, loe, we turne to the Gentiles. Thus you ſee that theſe p. 224Jewes, who doubtleſſe were very knowing men in all points of their Religion, and alſo very holy and righteous according to the Law, yet becauſe they were proud of their owne knowledge, and put confidence in their owne righteouſneſſe, and ſaw no need of ſalvation by Chriſt, and ſo were not in a meet & ſutable diſpoſitian to receive him; the Apoſtles counted them unworthy of him. So likewiſe we read in the 22. Chapter of St. Matthews Goſpell, that there were ſome that were invited to a feaſt, which the King made at the marriage p. 225of his Sonne, and it is ſaid verſe 5. That they made light of it, as if they had ſaid (taking it in the ſpirituall ſence, as the meaning is) what tell you us of Chriſt, or of Juſtification, or Sanctification, or eternall Salvation to be had by beleeving on Chriſts name, we are Abrahams children, we are the people of God, we are a righteous Nation, and therefore ſure of eternall life already, and have no need of any ſuch offer; whereupon the King ſaid, verſe 8. The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy; whereby you may alſo p. 226perceive that this unmeet and unſutable diſpoſition in not ſeeing a want of Chriſt, and ſo not deſiring him did render them unworthy of him.

Sim.

Well Sir, I ſee that you are ſtill falling foule upon me, ſurely Sir, I thinke it is ſtrange that you ſhould altogether diſcourage me, and altogether incourage him.

Min.

Why truly neighbour Simon, it appeareth to me that you have taken occaſion from thoſe good gifts and parts which God hath given you, to be puffed up, and incouraged in your ſelfe; and it doth … me that p. 227he hath taken occaſion from thoſe weakeneſſes and wants that are in him to be caſt downe, and diſcouraged in himſelfe, and therefore I have conceived it very needfull that you ſhould know that Chriſt accepts none for greatneſſe of parts, that you may not continue lifted up as you have been, becauſe of that which is of ſo little eſteem with him; and I alſo ſee it very needfull to let him know that Chriſt refuſeth none for weakeneſſe of parts, that he may not continue caſt downe and dejected, for want of that which Chriſt p. 228doth not ſo much regard; wherefore neighbour Mathias, I beſeech you to conſider what hath been ſaid, and take it home to your ſelfe for your comfort and incouragement.

Mat.

But Sir, did not you ſay to our neighbour Alexander, that knowledge muſt of neceſſity goe before faith?

Min.

Yea, I ſaid ſo indeed.

Mat.

Why then Sir, me thinkes our neighbour Simon ſhould have a great meaſure of faith, becauſe he hath a great meaſure of knowledge; and me thinkes I ſhould have little or no faith, becauſe p. 229you know I have little or no knowledge; and then me thinkes he ſhould be very fit to be admitted to the Sacrament, and I very unfit; for I remember you ſaid, That it is faith that ma…s a man fit to receive the Sacrament aright.

Min.

I, but you muſt know that this rule holds not touching the meaſure of knowledge onelyonly, except it be alſo true and ſound, ſo that although our neighbour Simon have never ſo great a meaſure of knowledge, yet if it be not true and ſound as I feare it is not, then hath he no true faith, and p. 230therefore is he not fit to be admitted to the Sacrament; and although you have but a very ſmall meaſure of knowledge, yet it being true & ſound, as you know I have proved, then have you a true faith, and therefore are fit to be admitted to the Sacrament.

Mat.

But yet Sir, me thinkes ſo ſmall a meaſure of faith, as the Lord knowes I have, if any at all, ſhould not fit a man to receive the Sacrament aright.

Min.

O but you are toRogers on the Sacra. p. 48. conſider, that it is the kinde of faith that makes a man fit for the Sacrament, p. 231and not the meaſure, the truth of faith is rather required then any certaine meaſure; and thought you have not that meaſure of faith that you doe deſire, yet have you that truth of faith which Chriſt doth require.

Mat.

But Sir, doe you uſe to admit any to the Sacrament that are ſo weake as I?

Min.

Yea indeed, for we doe conſider, that a … ſpark of fire is fire as well as the whole Element, even ſo is a ſparke of faith faith as well as the flame; and we muſt looke to faith in the ſparke as well p. 232as in the flame, knowing right well that although all Beleevers have not the like ſtrong faith, yet have they all the like precious faith, whereby they lay hold, and put on the perfect righteouſneſſe of Jeſus Chriſt. And we are not ignorant that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper was inſtituted andRogers on the Sacrament, p. 107. ordained to make weake Beleevers ſtrong, and not onelyonly nor chiefly to make ſtrong Beleevers ſtronger.

Mat.

Well Sir, I thanke the Lord I doe now begin to ſee more concerning the Sacrament of the Lords Supper then hitherto I have done, for to p. 233ſay nothing of former times, when I went unto it and received it hand over head, not knowing any other reaſon why I ſhould receive it, but becauſe others did ſo; and I thought I did God ſome ſervice, and that he was as it were beholden to me for doing ſo; even ſince I have known more then formerly, I have therein been much miſtaken, for I had thought that knowledge, faith, repentance, love, and obedience had made a man worthy to receive the Sacrament, for I am ſure I have either heard ſome Miniſter Preach, or elſe read it in p. 234ſome Booke, that the wedding garment wherewith a man that commeth to the Sacrament is to be cloathed is made up of all theſe, and that therefore it was for want of theſe that the man in the Goſpell was bound hand and foot, and caſt into utter darkneſſe, and therefore becauſe I found a want of all theſe in my ſelfe I thought I was altogether unworthy to come to the Sacrament, and durſt not preſume to come unto it; but now I doe perceive that it is rather an hungering, and thirſting appetite after Chriſt and his Righteouſneſſe, p. 235ariſing from a true ſight and ſence of the want thereof, that makes a man worthy, and I hope I may truly ſay, That I doe ſee and feele a want thereof in ſome ſmall meaſure, and therefore Sir, I doe deſire to come to the Sacrament if you be pleaſed to admit me.

Min.

Neighbour Matthias, if you read the contents of the 22. Chapter of the Goſpell written by Sr. Matthew, where the wedding garment is mentioned, in the Bible that containes Bezas notes in the Margent you ſhall find theſe words, The wedding garment is faith, to p. 236the which I doe aſſent, for though tis true, where faith is truly planted in the heart all the other doe proceed and grow from thence as fruits, yet it is faith that is eſpecially exerciſed in the act of receiving the Sacrament, it being as I told you, the hand that receiveth Chriſt, and the mouth that feedeth on Chriſt; yea, and it is by faith that this hungering and thirſting appetite is ſtirred up in the ſoule, therefore I ſaid, that your hungering and thirſting after Chriſt and his Righteouſneſſe is from faith, or rather faith it ſelfe, and ſo you having p. 237the wedding garment, I doe pronounce you to be one of thoſe gueſts which Chriſt inviteth to his Table; and therefore I as a meſſenger ſent from Chriſt, doe in the name of my Lord and Maſter Chriſt invite you to his Table, aſſuring you that he will bid you kindly welcome; and therefore I beſeech you faile not to be there the next time it ſhall be adminiſtred, and in the meane time I would intreat you to come before me and the Elders together, that you may alſo have their approbation, for I of my ſelfe have not power to admit you.

p. 238Mat.

But Sir, it may be, though you doe think me fit to be admitted, yet it may be they will not, and then I ſhall be turned backe, and that will much trouble me.

Min.

Feare not man, I dare warrant you that they will be all of my minde in that point concerning you.

Mat.

Well then Sir, God willing I will come before you, and if they alſo give their conſent, if the Lord ſpare me life and health, I will come to the Sacrament with my godly neighbours the next time it ſhall be adminiſtred, and in the meane time I beſeech p. 239you Sir pray for me, that the Lord would be pleaſed to fit and prepare me to pertake thereof.

Min.

Yea, neighbour Mathias, as the LORD ſhall be pleaſed to enable me I will pray for you, and I beſeech you alſo in the meane time to pray for your ſelfe, and uſe all other meanes to informe your judgement aright concerning the nature, uſe, and end of the Sacrament, that ſo you may receive that fruit and benefit which the Lord doth thereby tender and offer to ſuch as you are.

Mat.

Sir, I doe acknowledge that I am very ignorant p. 240in theſe points, and therefore have great need to uſe all the meanes I can to be better informed, and truly for the preſent I know no better meanes then to intreat you to give me ſome further inſtruction concerning the ſame.

Min.

God willing you ſhall not want the beſt inſtructions that I am able to give you, and therefore I pray you underſtand that the Sacrament of the LORDS Supper was by Chriſt himſelfe inſtituted and ordained for three eſpeciall ends.

1 As firſt of all, to keep Beleevers in a continuall p. 241remembrance of that propitiatory Sacrifice which he once for all offered by his death upon the Croſſe, Doe this, ſaith he, in remembrance Luk. 22. 19.Luke 22:19of me; that is to ſay, Do this in remembrance that my Body was broken and my Blood ſhed for the remiſſion of your ſinnes.

2 Secondly, Chriſt did inſtitute and ordaine it to be a ſeale of the righteouſneſſe Rom. 4. …Rom 4of faith to ratifie and confirme the Covenant of promiſe made with all beleevers; for indeed that Covenant is as a laſt Will and Teſtament, and the Sacraments are as Seales ſet thereunto, whereby all p. 242the promiſes in the Covenant of Grace or the Goſpell are ratified and confirmed to every faithfull ſoule, that ſo they having both Chriſts hand and ſeale, their faith may be the better confirmed and ſtrengthned.

3 Thirdly, Chriſt did inſtitute and ordaine it to be ſpirituall nouriſhment to every hungry and thirſty ſoule; yea, and to be ſpirituall Phyſick to heale and cure every ſenſible ſick and diſeaſed ſoule.

Now theſe being the ends for which Chriſt did inſtitute and ordaine the Sacrament, I beſeech you let your comming thereunto p. 243be to obtaine theſe ends, and doe not you come for forme and cuſtome ſake, neither yet for your credit ſake amongſt your neighbours, neither yet out of a conceit that your very preſence there, and your very performance of the outward acts is well pleaſing and acceptable to the Lord, as I feare me many ignorant people have thought in former times; neither yet doe you conceive that for your ſo doing the Lord is ingaged to forgive you your ſinnes, and give you eternall life; neither yet doe you imagine, that the bare outward p. 244actions and elements are able to ſanctifie you; in a word, beware of conceiving too highly of the outward acts and outward elements; but rather look to the inward inviſible matter and vertue of the Sacrament, which is, Jeſus Chriſt; alwayes remembring that he is all in all in every action and in every element; and therefore when you are at the Lords Table (as I hope you will be very ſhortly) and there ſee the Bread and Wine ſeparated by conſecration unto this holy uſe, and theſe bleſſed ends, then remember Chriſt, and thinke how p. 245he was fore-ordained andPemble on the Sacraments, p. 8 fore-appointed by his Father from everlaſting unto the accompliſhing of our redemption, by his death and blood-ſheding; and when you ſee the Bread broken and the Wine poured forth, then remember Chriſt, and thinke how he was torne and rent in his precious Body with ſtripes and wounds, and pained even to the death in his moſt holy Soule, full of the wrath of God, and the indignation of the Almighty, by whom he was ſmitten for your ſinnes, and plagued for your tranſgreſſions: and when the p. 246Miniſter offereth unto you the Bread and Wine, then remember Chriſt, and thinke how he is given to you of God freely, yea and freely gives himſelfe to you if you will receive him; and when you receive the Bread and drinke the Wine, then remember Chriſt that living Bread, and thinke how he himſelf hath ſaid, Ioh. 6. 5. 5. My fleſh is meat indeed, and my blood is drinke indeed; and beleeve, that thereby hee gives life unto your ſoule, and will preſerve it to all eternity; in a word, conſider how God the Father did by this death and p. 247bloodſhed of his Sonne thus repreſented in the Sacrament, fully anſwer and ſatisfie his owne juſtice, to the end he might ſet open a doore of mercy to all humble penitent hearted ſinners; yea, and doe you thereupon aſſuredly beleeve that you have thereby tendered unto the Juſtice of God a full and perfect ſatisfaction for all your ſinnes, and that therefore now it is a meet and equall thing with God (he having received and accepted this full ſatisfaction) to pardon and forgive you all your ſinnes, according to his promiſe, Mat. 26. 28. yea, p. 248doe you beleeve, and aſſuredly perſwade your heart, that for this ſatiſfaction ſake you are reconciled unto God, according to his promiſe, Col. 1. 21, 22. yea, doe you beleeve, and aſſuredly perſwade your owne ſoule, that for the obedience and ſatisfaction ſake of Chriſt you are juſtified in the ſight of God, according to his promiſe, Rom. 5. 9. yea, and doe you then beleeve and make no doubt of it, but that for this ſatisfaction ſake of Jeſus Chriſt you ſhall be ſanctified by his Spirit according to his promiſe, Hebr. 13. 12. and have p. 249your heart of ſtone taken out of your bowels, and a heart of fleſh given unto you, according as it is promiſed, Ezek. 36. 26. and have ſtrength and vigour to all holy performances, according to that promiſe, Heb. 13. 20, 21. yea, doe you beleeve and make no queſtion of it, but that for this ſatisfaction ſake of Chriſt you ſhall have eternall life, according to Chriſts owne promiſe, Ioh. 6. 51.

This you ſee is the Covenant of promiſe; this is Chriſts laſt Will and Teſtament; theſe are the riches which he hath left and bequeathed to all ſuch p. 250as you are; this is Chriſts owne hand and deed, and by the Sacrament duly adminiſtred and rightly received he ſets too his ſeale, and ſo confirmes it fully; wherefore I beſeech you, when you are at the Sacrament, yea as oft as you ſhall be there preſent at any time hereafter, ſpeake to your faith as Deborah did to her ſelf, Iudg. 5. 12. and ſay, Awake, awake O my faith, and now beſtir and rouze thy ſelfe up to do thine office in receiving Chriſt now offered, in whom all theſe … Cor. 1. …0.promiſes are Yea and Amen. Lift up thine eye to ſee Chriſt, reach forth p. 251thine hand and lay hold on him and receive him, ſet thy mouth to him and feed on him, eat and drink Chriſt by ſucking theſe breaſts of conſolation; and thus would I have you in the act of receiving the Sacrament by Faith, to knit your heart unto Chriſt, and throw your ſelfe into his armes ſtretched out on the croſſe to imbrace you, and waſh your ſoule in his Blood that you may be cleane, and by Faith apply his Blood to your ſoule for the healing of all your infirmities; ſay in your heart, Hath my Saviour died for my ſinnes, and p. 252ſhall not I die unto ſinne? ſhall I live any longer therein? Rom. 6. 2.Rom 6:2no, God forbid; and by this meanes ye ſhall finde your ſinnes weakned, and the graces of Gods Spirit revived and ſtrengthned; yea, you ſhall finde the Sacrament to become a good coraſive to eat out your corruptions, and as phyſicke to heale and cure you of all your infirmities; yea, you ſhall finde it to be, by meanes of the acting of your faith as a Conduit pipe, which being ſet to the Fountaine of grace Chriſt Jeſus, ſhall convey grace from that holy Fountaine Chriſt, into the p. 253ciſterne of your ſoule, and like a ſoveraigne medicine you ſhall finde it to become beneficiall to all the parts of your ſoule, making you apt and ready to every good worke; and therefore I beſeech you to receive it often.

Mat.

Truly Sir, by meanes of theſe your ſpeeches my judgement is much better informed touching the uſe and end of the Sacrament, and I am hereby much incouraged to approach thereunto; but Sir, becauſe you doe exhort me to receive it often, I would gladly know the reaſon why we muſt receive that Sacrament p. 254of the Lords Supper often, ſeeing we are to receive the Sacrament of Baptiſme but once in all our lives.

Min.

The Reaſon is, becauſe the ſacrament ofRogers on the Sacrament, p. 360. Baptiſme is the ſacrament of our Regeneration or new birth; and the ſacrament of the Lords Supper is the ſacrament of our ſpirituall nouriſhment and growth, and therefore we are to be baptized but once, becauſe we are borne but once; but we are to receive the ſacrament of the LORDS Supper often, becauſe that after wee are borne wee ſtand in need to be often p. 255nouriſhed and fed, that ſo we may grow in grace; for indeed, growth in grace is a maine end and fruit of that Ordinance, God thereby giving to every faithfull Receiver the Body and Blood of his Sonne Chriſt, that by the Bread of his Fleſh and the Wine of his Blood he may cauſe them to grow.

Mat.

Well Sir, this day hath beene a day of good tidings to me; and ſurely Sir, if the LORD have beene ſo mercifull unto me as you have declared, then have I cauſe to magnifie and praiſe the name of the Lord as long as I live, for bringing me hither p. 256this day to you; ſurely if the Lord doe count me worthy to come to his Table, and to receive Jeſus Chriſt with all his rich endowments, then may I truly ſay as I remember Hannah Samuels mother1 Sam. 2. 81 Sam 2:8 ſaid in her ſong, He raiſeth up the poore out of the duſt, and lifteth up the begger from the dunghill, to ſet him among Princes, and to make him inherit the throne of glory. I little thought when I came hither with my neighbour Simon that I ſhould bee found to be more fit and more worthy to be admitted to the Lords Table then he; ſurely Sir, if you p. 257had not proved it ſo plainly, I ſhould not have beleeved it.

Min.

Aſſure your ſelfe neighbour Mathias that this day the words of the Apoſtle James are fulfilled concerning you two, where he ſaith, that God reſiſteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble; and ſo are the words of the Virgin Mary, where ſhe ſaith, that God filleth the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath ſent empty away.

Mat.

Sir, I will now take my leave of you, and truly I cannot tell how to expreſſe my thankfulneſſe to you for the great paines p. 258you have taken with me this day, the Lord in mercy make it profitable to me, and recompence your paines to you an hundred fold, and I beſeech you Sir pray for me.

Min. Now the very God of peace ſanctifie you wholly, and I pray God that your whole ſpirit, and ſoule, and 1 Theſ. 5. 23, 24.1 Thess 5:231 Thess 5:24body be preſerved blameleſſe unto the comming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; faithfull is he he that calleth you who alſo will doe it.

Mat.

The Lord be with you, Sir. Come neighbour Simon, will not you goe along with me?

Sim.

No, I pray you be p. 259going before, and I will come after you.

Mat.

Well then, I will alſo take my leave of you, and I thanke you for ſuffering me to come along with you to this place, where I have, through the mercy of God, received ſo much good.

Sim.

Well, but do not you now goe home and boaſt among our neighbours that Maſter M. hath found you fit to be admitted to the ſacrament, and me unfit.

Mat.

No neighbour Simon I ſhall not do ſo, for I know that if it be ſo, it is the free mercy of the Lord towards mee, and p. 260therefore I deſire rather to ſpeake to my owne ſoule, and ſay unto it in the words of the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 4. 7. For who maketh thee to differ from another, and what haſt thou that thou haſt not received. Now if thou haſt received it, why doſt thou glory as if thou hadſt not received it. And ſo the Lord be with you both.

Sim.

Fare you well good neighbour Mathias.

Min.

The Lord be with you, good neighbour.

Sim.

Well Sir, I wiſh that I were fit to be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, for I ſee there is much good p. 261to be gotten by the right receiving of it.

Min.

Surely neighbour Simon, if men did but know what good is to be obtained at the hands of the Lord by the right partaking thereof, and what hurt doth come to a man by not receiving it aright, they would not onelyonly deſire to come thereunto, as indeed many doe, though it is to be feared hand over head, as we uſe to ſay, not knowing what they doe, but they would alſo endeavour to fit and prepare themſelves thereunto, and therefore no marvell though you do deſire that you were fit to receive it aright.

p. 262Sim.

Sir, I doe perceive that he who is not fit to partake thereof is a miſerable man, whether he do receive it or not.

Min.

He is ſo indeed, for if he doe receive it being not fit, he doth thereby commit the greateſt ſinne that is unpardonable, and doth expoſe himſelfe to the greateſt miſery that can befall a man, either here or hereafter, as you know I told my neighbour Alexander; and if he receive it not, then hee miſſeth and comes ſhort of all that good which you know I told our neighbour Mathias comes to a man by means p. 263of the right receiving thereof.

O then, what great care and paines ought men to take to fit and prepare themſelves to partake of that Ordinance? and how often ſhould they frequent it, being duly fitted and prepared? And yet, alas, for want of ſo doing, how many men and women by their abſence doe deprive themſelves of theſe great benefits?

Some there are that are neither fit nor willing to come; others there are that are willing to come, and yet not fit to come; and others there are that are fit to come, and yet p. 264not willing; as for inſtance:

How many are there, who becauſe they cannot receive the Sacrament kneeling, as they have formerly done, are not willing to come? What ſaid an old ſimple ignorant man in my hearing not long ſince? Rather then I will receive it ſo unreverently as they doe now a dayes, by ſitting at Table, as if they were equall with Jeſus Chriſt, I will never receive it while I live.

And are there not ſome others, who meerly out of a ſuperſtitious conceit doe deſire to come, and p. 265yet by reaſon of their unfitneſſe, are juſtly upon examination kept backe by the Elderſhip.

And are there not ſome, who it may be are fit to come, and yet doe not come; either becauſe they are aſhamed to come before ſo many men to bee examined, as they are informed doe ſit upon that occaſion, or elſe are fearfull leaſt they ſhould not be able to anſwer them to their content, and ſo be turned backe to their diſgrace.

And are there not alſo ſome others who it may be are fit to come, and yet either becauſe they p. 266ſcorne to be examined at theſe yeares, or by ſuch and ſuch a man, whom they doe conceive is inferiour to themſelves, they will not come.

And are there not others alſo who are fit to come, and yet doe not come, becauſe ſuch are admitted to the Sacrament whom they conceive are not fit to partake thereof?

Thus I ſay, either thorow ſuperſtitious ignorance, prophanneſſe, or through fooliſh ſhame or feare, or elſe through the ſinne of pride, many are kept from that great benefit which otherwiſe p. 267they might receive by the right partaking of that Ordinance.

Sim.

It is true indeed, Sir, I ſee it clearly, and therefore I beſeech you tell me what courſe you would adviſe me to take to fit and prepare my ſelfe thereunto, that ſo I may come before you and the reſt to be admitted.

Min.

Why truly neighbor Simon, the beſt counſell that I can give you is to labour to become truly poore in ſpirit; that is to ſay, labour to ſee in your ſelfe a want of all good, as of your ſelfe, that ſo you may ſee your need or Jeſus Chriſt; and to this end p. 268I pray you conſider thatShepherds …ound beleever. p. 145. as a godly writer ſaith, Not onelyonly ſome ſinne, but ſome good that a man thinkes he hath and reſteth in, without Chriſt, may as eaſily prove his ruine, becauſe a mans owne righteouſneſſe reſted in, doth not onelyonly hide mens ſinnes, but ſtrengthens them in ſome ſinne, by which men periſh.

Truſting in a mans own righteouſnes, and committing iniquity being couples, Ezek. 33. 13. and therfore though you have forſaken all other ſinnes, yet if you doe ſtill with the Scribes and Phariſees and with zealous Paul, before p. 269his converſion, retaine this ſin, you undoe your ſelfe.

Caſt away therefore from you all your tranſgreſſions, and confidence in your owne righteouſneſſe amongſt the reſt, and with Paul after his converſion, reckon it all but loſſe for Chriſt; yea, andPhil. 3. 8, 9Phil 3:8Phil 3:9 judge it to be dung that you may win Chriſt and be found in him, not having your owne righteouſneſſe, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Chriſt, the righteouſneſſe which is of God by faith; for God as a Creator,Sincere Convert. p. 108. ſaith that godly writer in another place, having p. 270made a Law, will not forgive one ſin without the Blood of Chriſt; Nay, ſaith hee further, Chriſts Blood will not do it neither, if thou doſt joyne never ſo little that thou haſt or doſt unto Jeſus Chriſt, and makeſt thy ſelfe or any of thy duties co-partners in that great work of ſaving thee; Cry out therefore as that bleſſed Martyr did, None but Chriſt, None but Chriſt; yea, and as Richel cryed out, Give me children, or Gen. 30. 1.Gen 30:1elſe Idie; even ſo do you cry out, Give me Chriſt, or elſe I die: For as hee that hath the Sonne hath life; ſo he that hath not p. 271the Sonne, hath not life, 1 Joh. 5. 12. But for as much as you of your ſelfe have no power to do this, I beſeech you be earneſt with God in prayer, to make you ſee and feele your owne ſinfulneſſe and helpleſneſſe, and ſo your great need of Jeſus Chriſt, who is that mighty one upon whom the Lord hath laid Act. 4. 12.Acts 4:12help, Pſal. 89. 19. Neither is there ſalvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men whereby wee muſt be ſaved: wherefore ſaith the holy Ghoſt, He Heb. 9. 25.Heb 9:25is able alſo to ſave them to the uttermoſt that come unto God by him, ſeeing hee p. 272ever liveth to make interceſſion for them; ſo that you may aſſure your ſelfe there is no need of any of your own righteouſneſſe or performances in the caſe of Juſtification or Salvation, and therefore I pray you come empty handed to Chriſt, who doth not require you to bring any thing at all to him to enrich him, but would have you come poore, and then will he inrich you, and ſo ſhall you be fit to be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; and then if you come in to us when we meet together, and make it appeare to us p. 273that your heart is ſo qualified, we ſhall willingly ſet open the gate to you and let you in; and ſo beſeeching the LORD to worke this in you by the power of his owne Spirit, I will for this time take my leave of you, commiting you to God, and to the word of his grace.

Sim.

Sir, I could willingly have tarried longer with you, but it may be your occaſions doe now call you away from mee, and therefore I will at this time take my leave of you, giving you many thanks for the great pains you have taken with me, and I beſeech you, Sir, p. 274pray for mee, and before long, God willing, I will make bold to come to you againe; for truly I am perſwaded I ſhall never be well till I have further conference with you, but no more at this time.

FINIS.

End of the text · Edward Fisher, Londons Gate to the Lords Table (1647)