The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Sermon 1
A Preparation-Sermon, FOR THE COMMVNION.
1 Cor. 11.29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh Damnation to himſelf, not diſcerning the Lords Body.
IT hath been ſo ordered in the good Providence of God, that ye have lately heard of that main, very comprehenſive and indiſpenſibly neceſſary duty, called for from all that would worthily partake of the ordinance of the Lords Supper, for which we are now making ready, viz. Self Examination; In reference to which the Apoſtle having perceived many faults, and failings in theſe Corinthians, and much unſuitableneſs as to their communicating; gives advertiſment that whoever for the time to come would aright approach to the Table of the Lord, would examine themſelves, and ſo eat: and knowing well that this is a difficult exerciſe, and that there is naturally a great deal of averſeneſs in peoples hearts from it; he Judgeth it meet to Preſs the exhortation to that neceſſary, though difficult duty, by a reaſon or Motive ſet down in the words now read in your hearing, For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh Damnation to himſelf; As if he had ſaid, you had need to look well to the examination of your ſelves, for if ye neglect or miſcarry in that duty, your hazard and danger is dreadfully great through unworthy communicating; which if ye would eſcape, then make conſcience narrowly and carefully to examine your ſelves: The laſt words of the verſe are a confirmation of the reaſon, and do ſhew why the Lord is ſo holily ſevere in puniſhing and Plaguing thoſe who approach to this Table unworthily through not examining of themſelves? becauſe They diſcern not the Lords Body; The force whereof is, that there is a moſt ſingular and graci…us preſence of the Lord Chriſt in the Sacrament of his Supper, and therefore the perſon who goes not aright about it; doth put a great diſreſpect upon, yea doth even vilifie him who is thus preſent in that ordinance.
It is the firſt Part of theſe Words, that at this time we would mainly ſpeak to; wherein we would explicat the meaning of theſe three. 1. To eat and drink unworthily, here, is to eat and drink unſuitably or unbecomingly; as the Apoſtle when he willeth the Chriſtian Romans Chap. 16.2. To receive Phebe as becometh and is ſuitable to Saints, he makes uſe of the word worthily, for ſo it is in the Original; and this being the oppoſite to that, is to be underſtood, unſuitably and unbecomingly, to ſuch a manifeſtation o… the love of Chriſt, in giving himſelf to, and for his people: as in our common language, when a man does a thing unſuitably, we ſay he did it unworthily, when it anſwers not the end propoſed. 2. Judgment or Damnation here, takes in theſe three things. 1. A Temporal ſtroke: as v. 30 31. For this cauſe many among you are ſickly and weak, and many ſleep. 2 It may look to eternal Judgement, as Damnation is often taken in Scripture. 3. It may look to Spiritual Judgements; for though a Believer be not capable of eternal Judgement: yet by unworthy Communicating he may draw upon himſelf temporal ſtroakes and ſpiritual Judgements; he may much wear out the life of Grace, and bring himſelf under blaſting and withering; and unbelievers draw upon themſelves not only thoſe, but eternal damnation, and that with a higher degree of aggravation. 3. That he is ſaid to Eat and Drink this to himſelf, as in the former verſe a man is C…mmanded to Examine himſelf; It may take in theſe two, as aimed at by the Apoſtle, 1. It is to provoke every man to his particular duty, from his particular haza…d, He hazards his own ſoul, 2. Its put here to ſhew the reſtriction of the Judgement according to the Sun; and ſo, if a man examine himſelf, though others neglect it, the Judgment ſhal not overtake him; but if he examine not himſelf, whoever eſcape Judgement, he ſhal not eſcape it; and thus its an encouragement to a man to go about the duty of Self-examination, as well as a motive of terror; Corinth being corrupted with man… abuſes, one Perſon could not amend all: well (ſayes he) Let a man examine himſelf, and ſo he ſhal eſcape the hazard, if not, he will fall under it.
We ſhal Firſt draw ſome obſervations from the words, and then ſpeak a word for Uſe.
Firſt it is ſuppoſed here, that in this ordinance of the Lords Supper there is a ſpecial eminencie, excellencie dignitie and worth; or, this Ordinance of the Lords Supper, is of a ſingular Solemn nature: and this I gather partly from this verſe conſidered in it ſelf, He that Eats and Drinks unworthily, implies that there is a ſpecial worthineſs in it, that a man ſhould not offer indign…ty to; and partly from the connexion of this verſe with the former, for it is made a reaſon why he preſſes particular and ſtrict Self-examination, which ſhews that there is a more ſingular excellencie in this ordinance then in others: and partly from the context, for every Circumſtance ſpeaks out a Solemnity in this Ordinance, as 1. The night when it was inſtituted, verſ. 23 The ſame night in which he was betrayed, and when he was taking his goodnight of his Diſciples, 2. His jealouſie of, and his quarrelling and threatening for the abuſe of this Ordinance, Speaks out a ſpeciall excellencie in the Ordinance; that all who approach thereunto ſhould be ſuitably affected with: all the ordinances of the Lord are excellent: for if all his works be excellent, Then much more the Goſpel-ordinances, as being a ſtep above thoſe: and yet this ordinance of the Lords Supper ſeems dignified with an eminencie and excellencie above them all. 1. In reference to what it ſets out and exhibits: They all ſet out love, but this ſets out love in an eminent degree: for it ſets forth the Lords Death, wherein the moſt eminent ſtep and degree of his Love ſhines, Yea this Ordinance ſets out his actual dieing, and ſo ſets out his Love in its Livelieſt Colours, and as the great Maſter-piece of it. 2. In reſpect of the excellent Benefits communicated in it; It is true, there is no other thing on the matter communicat in it, then there is Communicat in the word and Baptiſme, Yet if we look to the words, Take ye, eat ye, this is my Body, They hold out Chriſt Jeſus not ſo much giving any Particular gift, as actually conferring himſelf in his Death and Suffering; And the main ſcope being to conferr Chriſt and all that is in him to the Believer, It holds out ſome way the excellencie of this ordinance beyond others. 3. In reſpect of the manner how our Lord Jeſus makes over himſelf; whereby I mean not only the clearneſs of his making over himſelf for in this ordinance there is the cleareſt view of a ſlain Saviour, and of Covenanting wi…h God; and often the moſt comfortable manifeſtations of Love go alongſt with it, for which cauſe its called eminently the Communion; But alſo that there is here a clear glance of Heaven upon earth, Jeſus Chriſt and his People mixing (to ſpeak ſo) and being familiar together; he condeſcending not only to keep company with them, but to be their food and refreſhment: and he giving them not only the word to their faith, but himſelf (as it were) to their ſenſe: in ſo far as the mean whereby He communica eth himſelf is more ſenſible: It is by his Spirit that the mean is made effectual: and there is not only a fixedneſs of Faith on ou… Part but a ſort of Divineneſs in the ordinance it ſelf: the very Firſt fruits of Heaven being communicat, as it were, to the very ſenſes of the Believer: I ſay unto you, (ſayes the Lord, Matth. 26 29.) I will not Drink henceforth of the Fruit of the Vine, until that day, I Drink it new with you in my Fathers Kingdome; where he ſeems to point out a more ſpeciall way of keeping communion with his people in this Ordinance, in reſemblance to that which he will have with them in heaven: There being here a more ſpeciall union and communion betwixt the head and members ſealed up, a type of that which is to be in Heaven, A taſte whereof is ſometimes given in this ordinance of the Communion: hence, its not only called the Communion, as in the foregoing Chapter, but the communion of the Body and Blood of Chriſt, and the Table of the Lord.
The firſt Uſe of it ſerves to let us ſee how much we are oblidged to Chriſt Jeſus, what could he have given more then himſelf? And what mean could have been invented, that could have mo e confirmed and warmed the hearts of his people then this, which is ſo lively a repreſentation and Commemoration of his Bleſſed Body? very like we might come to d…ſcern His body better, if there were a more high eſtimation of this ordinance: not as if there were any efficacie in it of it ſelf to communicat Grace: Yet in reſpect of Chriſts inſtitution, its a moſt lively mean of Grace, and there is not a circumſtance in all the action, but its to be wondered at: as that it was inſtituted the ſame night he was betrayed: and a…ter the Paſchall Supper when the Traitor Judas was going to bring the band of Souldiers to take him: That he warrands us to take it, and that we have therein ſweet Communion amongſt our ſelves: every thing in it ought to draw us to admire his ſufferings, and the great love they came from, and the notable affects thereof …o us.
The ſecond Uſe, ſerves to Provoke us to ſtudie to be in a Solemn Divine Heavenly frame, for ſuch a Solemn Divine Heavenly action as this is: and thorowly to examine our ſelves, and to ſee that all things be in good order: like to a bride that is to be Married to morrow, who will be trying on her marriage cloathes, and ſeeing that all things be right. I ſhal not deſcend to particulars, but in Three or Four words in the general, only point at ſuch a frame as we conceive is called for from you. 1. It ſhould be ſuch a frame as ye would deſire to be in, if Chriſt were coming perſonally and viſibly to Marrie you to morrow: and O! That this night might thus be a Brydel or Marriage evening to us all: Conſider what frame we w…uld wiſh to be in, if we were to meet with him, and ſtrike hands with him perſonally and viſibly, Studie and ſeek after ſuch a frame. 2. It ſhould be ſuch a frame as we would deſire to have if we were going to give up the Ghoſt, when all earthly things will be inſignifi ant and of little worth to us: even ſuch a Frame as if our eternal Peace and happineſs were depending on that chock, This would be the night of making our Teſtament (as it were) and of the adjuſting our accounts with God and of putting things to a Point betwixt him and us; other wayes our debt may increaſe and grow greater, and it will not be ſo eaſie for us to win to a diſcharge of it. 3. It ſhould be ſuch a frame as we would deſire to be found in, if the day of Judgement were coming, and if that day were to be to morrow: O! how humble, how abſtracted from the things of a preſent world, and how confirmed in the Faith of Gods love, would we ſtudy to be, If the voice of the Arch angel, and of the laſt Trumpet were ſounding, and a Solemn meeting of all before the Tribunal of Chriſt were preſently to be? what a frame (I ſay) would ye deſire to be in in ſuch a caſe? Even ſuch a frame ſhould ye ſtudy to be in this night as ye would deſire to be found in, In that day: We fear it will be to many then a Prick and a ſting in their Conſciences within them, That they made ſo little Conſcience to be in a ſuitable frame for this ſo Solemn an O… dinance; The Text tells that a ſentence will paſs on every one of you, and you would by all means labour to be in ſuch a Poſture as the ſentence may not be terrible to you. 4. It ſhould be a Heavenly and Divine frame, for if it be a Heavenly and Divine action, ye would conſider what a frame it calleth for; how abſtracted (as I juſt now ſaid) the Heart ſhould be from the Worldr, and from your carnall delights. How much in Heaven and converſant with God, what a pitch your communion with God ſhould be raiſed to, in apprehending of, and meditating on him, in conſidering of, and admi…ing at the Sufferings of Chriſt and at the love they came from: taſting that he is good, and even deligh…ing and ſolacing your ſelves in his love, which is the Lords allowance on his People, when the action is humbly and reverently gone about.
2. Obſerve, that though this …e a moſt ſingularly Solemn Ordinance and Solemnly to be gone about, yet oftimes men and women go moſt unworthily about it and abuſe it: This is implyed in the words, and we need not many proofs of it: If we will read from the 20. verſ. to this, we will find it ſufficiently proved: and if we look forward to verſ 30 and 31 We will find that many ſad ſtrokes came on theſe Corinthians for abuſing and profaning this Ordinance, and the Apoſtle would have them gathering their unworthy communicating from theſe ſtrokes: There is a readineſs both in unbelievers and in believers themſelves to miſcarry in going about this ordinance: a readineſs in unbelievers, for as they Spoile all things, all ordinances and duties they meddle with, all things being unclean to the unbeliever, So there is a miſerable and woful neceſſitie lying upon them to ſpoil this Ordinance: and a readineſs even in Believers, who alſo may miſcarry therein, as is implied in the laſt words of the Chapte… compared with verſ. 32. When we are Judged, we are chaſtened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the World: Some of them that were believers were chaſtiſed for this fault to prevent their eternal ruine: and are there any acquainted with their own corrupt nature but they may and will in ſome meaſure find in themſelves an aptitude to miſcarry, as in all other duties and ordinances ſo in this: But the Doctrine holds out a ſingular and peculiar bentneſs to miſca rie …n this duty and Ordinance, So tha… one who will p…ay with advertencie and be ca…ried fairly thorow in that and ſeveral other du ies, may yet in this Ordinance fall under the guilt of unworthy Communicating: The reaſons of it may be theſe. 1. Becauſe the more Solemn the duty be, and the greater concurrence of duties be in it, there is the greater difficulty in going about it, for a Soul cannot be right in this, except it be right in a number of other duties and Graces, as in Prayer, Faith, Love, and Repen…ance; and that word: Let a man examine himſelf, takes in a complication of Duties and Graces: there would be a good ſtate and a good frame, and Graces would be in ſome vigour, and every Duty ſuitable and Proportionable to the Na…ure of the action and o… the day: and if it be a great and difficult work to carry rightly on an ordinary Sabbath, or in Prayer, or meditation, or other duties any day, what a difficult work muſt it needs be to have all theſe rightly yoked together? A Second reaſon may be drawn not only from the complication of Graces and Duties, that is required in this action; But from the Nature of the thing it ſelf, that calls for Duties in a high Degree of Spirituality; if any o dinance or Duty call for a Spiritual f…ame its this, It requires that the exe…ciſe of the Judgement be moſt clear, that Faith be moſt diſtinct, that Meditation be moſt Divine &c. And the more Spiritual the Duty be, there is cer…ainly the more aptneſs in us tho…ow our corruption to miſcarry in it. A Third rea…on is, Becauſe there is in Men and Women na…urally, and ordinarly but very little ſtudy, and endeavour to know and take up aright the …ature of this ordinance; There is in the moſt part a great ignorance of the Strain and Series of the Goſpel; but generally there is a greater Ignorance, Darkneſs and Blindneſs as to the right partaking of this Ordinance, then as to moſt others; either thorow the difficulty of it, or through our Lazineſs that puts us not to ſtudy it better: So that if it were asked at many of us who may have ſome affection, what is a Communion? And what is the right way of partaking of it? there would be found but very little diſtinctneſs in the thing, and many content themſelves to live without clearneſs about it: And this makes people incapable to go about it aright. A Fourth reaſon is from Peoples loathneſs to beſtir themſelves in the wo k of Preparation for it; There is ſome Self examination requiſite for every Duty, but there is a more Solemn Self examination injoyned in reference to this; and how very reluctant are we to it? And ſeeing examination of our ſelves is as the door, and entry to this Duty, is it any wonder that moſt Perſons Communicat unworthily? This exerciſe of Self-ſearching, being ſo much ſlighted, which is to the moſt part ſo very difficult, and to many through their own fault impoſſible.
The Firſt Uſe Serves for warning as to this matter; It is eaſie to get a Token and to come to the Table, but it is not ſo eaſie To Eat and Drink worthily, not ſo eaſie, to diſcern the Lords Body and to get Chriſt himſelf in the ordinance: and in a word ſo to go about partaking of the Lords Supper, as ye may have ſolid quietneſs of mind in reflecting on it: Is it not a wonder then that the moſt part doe ſo ſecurely and in a manner even deſperatly ruſh upon it, who have it may be lyen, ſome Ten, ſome Twenty, ſome thirty years without trouble under this guilt? We would think it a good piece of Preparation, if ye were Seriouſly afraid to become guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord: want of this holy fear breeds ſecurity and keeps from ſtirring up to dutie, and from reflecting on our ſelves: whereas if the heart were ſtirred and rouzed with ſuch a fear, there would be greater and more ſeiouſly ſharpened diligence in all theſe duties, whereof we heard from the foregoing words, to which this is a ſtrong and preſſing motive.
The Second Uſe Serves for Tryal, who among the great company gathered together here this day (are afraid of ſi…ning againſt God and taking his Name in vain in ſo Solemn an Ordinance; many think they are prepared: but we think not that perſon the better prepared that is not afraid and holily jealous over himſelf: Wo wo to many on the account of Communion-dayes that are paſt and gone without fear: It were good that ye were afraid leſt this day prove to be like many former dayes, and leſt any of you come ſhort of what hath been attained in former communion dayes.
Thir…ly: Obſerve That the ſin of unworthy Communicating is a Wrath provoking and a Judgement-drawing-on-ſin: He that Eates and Drinks unworthily, Eates and Drinks Damnation to himſelf: There is hardly any ſin that the Lord will more readily, ſpeedily, and Sadly Plague and punish, then this: Its true the Lord ha…h annexed ha… Certification to the third Command, That He will not hold him guiltleſs, that taketh his Name in vain: but i… there any Ordinance wherein the Threatning is more expreſſed, and in reference to which the Judgement hat… been more ſeve…ely & ſome way indifferently inflicted? As is clear whether we read before o… after the words of the Text: And there is good reaſon for it. For firſt, If the duty be more Solemn, if the preſence in it be more gracious, and the bounty that fl wes in it be more abundant, then ſure the ſin of abuſing, or of unbecoming going about it, muſt be the greater. Secondly if we look to the ſin not only in reſpect of its greatneſs in …everal other reſpects, but in reſpect of the Nature of it, Its a more direct diſreſpect put upon and deſpight done in ſome reſpect even unto Chriſt. Its to be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord: It as if the Spear had been in ſuch a mans hand that pierced Chriſts ſide, and as if he had driven by his own hand the Nails thorow His Hands and Feet: The reaſon is becauſe Chriſt in this Ordinance brings himſelf and his death ſo very near, that the ſin…er is put to it in a ſpeciall m…nner either to receive him, or to refuſe and reject him; and when he refuſes and rejects him, he thereby Practically ſayes, that he makes but very litle or no account of him at all, and that if he had been living in thoſe dayes when He was crucified, he would alſo have joi…ed with the Multitude and cryed, away with him; Thus ſuch an one Crucifieth the ſon of God a fresh and puts him to an open shame, O hainous and horrid guilt!
The Firſt Uſe Serves to allarme you; that if the fear of ſin will not prevail with you; the fear of Judgement, of Gods curſe and wrath, and of the vengeance of the Media…o (repreſented in this Ordinance very clearly, as crucified and bleeding out his precious life or ſinners) Here and eternally hereafter, may prevail with you to be ſerious in the work ye are now called to.
Let me (which is a Second and more particular Uſe of the Doctrine,) adviſe you, as to examine your ſelves ſeriouſly, in reference to all your other wayes, ſo to take a Speciall look of your bygone Communicating; O! that many of you who are ſo whole at the Heart, that there is no provoking nor wakening of you, and who are ſo ſenſleſs that ye ſcare at nothing, could be prevailed with to charge your ſelves with this horrid ſin of being guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord, That thereby ye may be awakened; It will certainly one day awake you: therefore in your Self examination, take ſpeciall notice if ye have not Communicated unworthily: make Special addreſſes …o God for removing of this dreadful Guilt: and have a ſpecial eye for the time to come that ye fall not in it: I ſay again, take a ſpeciall review of your bygone carriage in this Ordinance, and ſay to your ſelves, whether are we Guilty of this ſin? and whether are we in Hazard to …all into it of new? And to ſtirre you up to this, Conſider 1. What temporal ſtrokes from God have come or may come for it: who knowes but our outward captivity, the Blood that hath been ſhed, the many new and unheard of or but very little heard of diſeaſes that are among us, have in a great Part been for this Sin? Secondly know: that beſide temporal Strokes on the outward man, ye may fall under Spiritual Plagues: the Lord may blaſt the Ordinances for the time to come, that they ſhal do you no good: and He may laſt any part and gift that ye have: He may make your Ears dull of hea…ing and your Eyes blind, and your Hearts fat; And if ye quench any convictions that ye may poſſibly be under for the time, it may be that ye ſhal never be priviledged with ſuch convictions again, nor be brought …o near Heaven hereafter: but more deluſion and ſeduction by Error, more Prophanity, Security, Hypocriſie, and Preſumpt…on may break in among you; And though theſe be not thought much of now by ſome a… leaſt, but lookt a… as very light things, yet the day will come when they will be found to be in…uppo tably Heavy: And men will be put rather to wiſh, that this houſe, wherein we now a…e, had fallen on them and bruiſed them, or that the Sword had fallen in upon them and ſlain them, then to ly under ſuch a weight. Thirdly, know that it may bring on eternal Judgement; And O! but this will draw deep on the Score of many Profeſſors; even the abuſe of the Lords Table, in partaking of His Table, and of the Table of devils: I ſhall Name but a few Sins here that ye would notice and try your ſelves in as to this: Firſt Ye have often Communicat, have ye alſo often Examined your ſelves? can many of you Pitch on ſuch an hour or half hour, that ye ſet a part to try your Souls condition! Secondly I would ask what Repen…ance hath there been, Right examination makes diſcovery of Guilt: and diſcovery of Guilt brings out Repentance, which hath ſome pricking and Soul panging with it; Thirdly. What effect hath followed? What engagements have been keeped? How have many of us reformed our walk? Is not our carriage as it was? Paſſion and Pride, as quick and lively as they had wont to be, Deadneſs, Security, and worldly mindedneſs as they were before? Are we not as little Self denyed? As unready to Fo give, As Ignorant and having as little knowledge of Goſpel myſteries as we were, and had many a Year Since? But very few can ſay on good grounds that they have made any Progreſſe in Mortifi…ation and Holineſs; and except it be ſome conviction, Some flaſh of affection, Or ſome faint Reſolution to amend things amiſſe, What uſe hath been made of, or what benefit hath been reaped by many and that not of the worſt ſort, by the Communion? and therefore in the next place let me ſay that it were not unbecoming or unſuitable to the Communion, to make this night a night of Humiliation before God and of prayer to him to be delivered from Blood Guiltineſs; There is not a more legible Evidence of our untenderneſs, then our being little pricked at the heart for this ſin; a word of reflexion from our Neighbour, or the apprehenſion of ſome great Mans diſpleaſure and Feud, hath lyen nearer our hearts, then the wronging of the Son of God at this rate, hath done, for which it were good now to caſt an eye To look to him, and to mourn as on mourneth for his only Son, and to go to Zion weeping as we go, asking the way thitherward. Theſe are no uncouth nor ſtrange things, but ſuch as are Ordinarily preſt upon us; We are afraid that many have loathed and left the ſimple way of Godlineſs; to get and look after ſome Shining and Gliſtering thing to the Eye, and that way will never profit them; to take a ſerious look of your Souls condition, and to be in good earneſt in the exerciſe of Repentance, as the life o… your Preparation; even that ye may come knowing well what ye need, and what ye are to Receive if ye come aright.
The Third and main Uſe is, that ſeeing there is ſo great ground to fear Communicating unworthily, and that ſo great Judgements follow upon it, it would be, as our fear to Communicat unworthily, So our uptaking buſineſs, how we may communicat worthily; This is the end of the day, and ſhould be our task, and work this night, even to endeavour to be worthy communicants to morrow: Ye will readily ask how is ſuch a Frame to be attained and come by? I would, for anſwer, deſire you ſeriouſly to mind what ye have heard on theſe words, Let a man Examine himſelf and ſo let him eat, Which comprehend the Summe of what is called for from you; and we ſhal now add theſe Four things, that in your preparing your ſelves to Communicat Rightly and worthily, ye would ſeriouſly mind, 1. A right uptaking of your ſelves. Secondly, A Right uptaking of the Ordinance. Thirdly, A right Acting in reference to both. Fourthly, A right manner of Acting, or a right Frame in your going about the work. For the Firſt, We ſay, there would be a right uptaking of our Selves, that we may know what we are, what are our Sins, Spiritual wants and neceſſities, that we may have ſome diſtinct errand to God; This is implyed in theſe Words. Let a man examine himſelf; That he may be well acquainted with himſelf: if there be not ſome time taken for attaining to a right Conſideration of our Selves, we cannot come rightly to thi O…dinance: or if any word come that ſuits our condition it will come by gueſſe as to us, and we may come to the Communion, and neither know what we need, not what we are ſeeking or would be at.
For the Second: We ſay, there would be a right uptaking of the ordinance it ſelf, which when wanting it mar…es us, that we know not how to Communicat: in the ordinance we would take up the ſubſtance of it, the end of it, and how it effectua…s the end. Firſt, The Subſtance of the ordinance is Chriſt Jeſus himſelf, who though he be not bodily, yet is he really preſent in the Sacrament; His words are not empty words, the Signes are …o… empty Signes; But the Bread is his Body, and the wine is his Blood: For if there be a preſence in the wo…d, as he makes it known through his Spirit, by the efficacie of it on the Heart; then in a more ſpeciall and Solemn manner, there is a preſence in the Sacrament; which alſo he makes ſenſible, to the Spiritual ſenſes of the Believer Secondly, The end and uſe of the Ordinance for which God hath appointed it, would alſo be rightly taken up; and this is large. It ſerves for the man feſting of his love in his Death till he come again; and this would be a piece of your exerciſe to deſcover the love of Chriſt in it, and to put your faith to exerciſe on that love: In which reſpect Chriſtians have not only their Particular caſe to look to in the Sacraments, But alſo that their Spirits be taken up with the thoughts of the wonderfully condeſcending love of Chriſt, who hath given and left behin… him a token and Memoriall of it: and eſpecially theſe ends would be looked to and conſidered, viz. That its given for our inſtruction, for it gives us a Sight o… Chriſt crucified; It ſhewes us the way of making up our union with him, and the neceſſity of it, and the warand given us to make uſe of him: and as its given for inſtruction and teaching ſo for ſealing and confi ming; the Lord would have us the eby knowing the truth of his Promiſes and covenant for our greater conſolation, and that we may with greater liberty apply them: even as when a Prince offers peace to a Rebel and grants him a Pardon, to make him …he more ſu…e, and to remove all doubts and jealouſies there is a ſeal appended to the Pardon, which confirmes it, and conſequen ly ſtrengtheneth the Faith of the Rebel to reſt upon it: So this is a ſpecial end of the Sacrament to Seal and confirme: God having graciouſly condeſcended to Covenant and Promiſe, and to Swear to the truth of his Covenant and p omiſe, That the Heirs of Promiſe may have ſtrong conſolation, He alſo appends ſeals to his Covenant. But Thirdly, We are to conſider how it effectua…s theſe ends: and thus we are to look on the Sac…amen… as exhibiting and appl…ing Jeſus Chriſt and his Benefits: which muſt needs be a ſpiritual and Sublime thing, holden out in theſe words. Take ye, eat ye, this is my Body, &c. Where we have Jeſus Chriſt giving over himſelf to the Believer, ſo as he and the Believer become one, and he ha h Chriſt to feed upon: Its true there is no Phyſicall conjunction here: Yet as in the word, the offer and promiſes conveigh Chriſt holden out in the Promiſes to the Soul, being received by fai…h, there is an union thus made up betwixt Chriſt and the Perſon: So in the right partaking of the Sacrament, the Spirit go…ng along with the word and Seal, and the believer receiving the Seal as given him of God for that end, as well as the word: The…e reſults an union and Communion, a myſtical and Spiritual uniting and joyning of Chriſt and the believer together: Which although it doth not alwayes neceſſarily preſuppoſe Faith going before, yet it ſuppoſes Faith neceſſarily to go along with it: and in this there is moſt expreſſe covenanting and bargaining betwixt Chriſt and the Believer, Jeſus Chriſt not giving himſelf here indefinitly, as he doth in the word and offer of the Goſpel, but particularly: and thus the Believers Faith hath the moſt diſtinct ground and reaſon to make application of him, and ſo the more diſtinct confirmation.
For the Third, there is a right acting in reference to both the former to be looked to, 1. There is ſomething that our Judgement and memory would be taken up with, which is as the key to what follows: we are to remember the Lords Death, the end of it: the love he had in dying: and his inſtituting of this ordinance when he died for this end, that we might remember his death and love therein, till he come again; and have our minds meditating on theſe. Secondly, There would be the exerciſe of our Graces, as of repentance, from reflecting on our ſelves; of love from looking to Chriſt, and of continued ſpiritual mourning reſulting from bo…h; & eſpecially there would be the exerciſe of Faith as being the main thing that on our part makes up the union, and whereby our Communion is entertained: and there is a threefold act of Faith called for in worthy Communicating, 1. An act receiving, 2. An act giving. 3. A ratifieing act, that knits both the acts together. 1. I ſay an act of Faith receiving Chriſts word and ordinance, and himſelf therein. 2. An act of faith giving, reſigning or committing our ſelves to him: the covenant being in this reſpect mutual. And Thirdly, a ratifieing act coupling or knitting theſe together, viz. Chriſt giving himſelf to us and our giving our ſelves to him, his ingagement to us and ours to him: To clear theſe a little further, Firſt the receiving act of faith looks to the inſtitution and covenant to which the Sacrament is appended, and to Chriſt in the words of inſtitution and in the Covenant, making offer of himſelf; Which is to be conſidered as in the word and covenant, to which the Sacrament is appended, and accordingly it welcometh him, as it doth in the word; for as there is a receiving act of Faith as to the Word, So there is a receiving act of Faith as to the Sacrament; That is, when the Soul is put to diſpute whether about the offer if it be made to it, or about the Promiſe that ſuppoſes the condition, if it may lay hold upon it; The Believing ſouls taking of the Sacrament, is the permitting and allowing of it ſelf to be confirmed by vertue of Chriſts appointing that ordinance for its confirmation, that the offer is made to it, and that the Promiſe belongs to it in particular: as when a penitent ſinner comes to the Communion, and that promiſe rolls in his thoughts, Thy ſins and thy iniquities will I remember no more, and he would fain believe it; the receiving act of Faith is to take the Sacrament as Gods putting his Seal to that word of p omiſe that he will make it good to the ſoul in particular. Thy ſins and thy iniquities will I remember no more: Or when a Soul hath its ſecret longing after Chriſt, and cannot diſpenſe with the want of him, and cryes out, O! When wilt thou come unto me? In the Sacrament it lo…ks on the inſtitution and takes it as a Seal of co…firmation to put it out of queſtion, that he that hath promiſed to come, will come and will not tarry, and it looks on Chriſt giving the Communion, as if it ſaw him taking the pen, and with his own hand Subſcribing the contract, and layes it up in its heart as in a Charter Gueſt, as an evidence and confirmation of its right to Chriſt: and indeed there is much need of being diſtinct in this; for there are many who make conſcie…ce of engaging to Chriſt in this Ordinance, who look not on it as Chriſt engaging to them; but the receiving act of faith looks on it Immediatly as his engaging to the S…u…: as a pe…ſon that hath a hard heart, looking on tha… promiſe, I will take away the ſtony heart, and give a heart of flesh, and expecting the making out of it, takes the Sacrament as a Seal that he will performe that promiſe, becauſe he a…ticles ſo with him to get that promiſe made good; even as a man that would have ſome debateable clauſe in h…s right to ſuch a piece of land created and put out of queſtion, brings it to his Superior to get it Sealed of new: Now this receiving act of faith doth not only, diſpoſe and fit us to receive from God; but as the hand takes o… receives the elements ſo Faith receives Gods offer of the Covenant, and that which is repreſented and ſealed up in that ordinance. Secondly The act of faith giving; is (as I ſaid) that whereby we give our ſelve… away to Chriſt; and ſo, as we get one right, we give (as it we…e) another; or as we take on ba…d we gave another; we receive Ch iſt engaged to us according to the Covenant, and we engage and give our ſelves away to be His: our very receiving ſu…p…ſe…h our c…nſenti…g, and faiths delivering and giving up it ſelf or the pe…ſon to Chriſt and taking Chriſt to it, or to himſelf, So making (as it were) an exchange. (O! wonderful exchange, by which we receive infinitly more and better then we give) when the Soul hath gotten him, it gives it ſelf to him, to be changed and made better, and renews its purpoſes reſolutions and promiſes to that end, and takes the Sacrament to make theſe ſure and ſecure. Thirdly The ratifieing act of Faith is this, when we have taken Chriſts Promiſe by Faith and have given our promiſe to him, and ſurrendered and delivered up our ſelves unto him; and we go about the communion and exer…iſe our faith to get both confi…med; as we uſe to ſpeak We will take our Sacrament on it; we take the Communion to ſeal his part of the Covenant to us, and to confi…m our ſelves as to the performance of that which we have engaged to him; and thus that which was before a bond on Chriſts ſide, and a bond and engagement on our ſide, becomes now a mutuall contract and bargain; both a…e put in one and complicated together, Sealed with one ſeal, and made uſe of for both theſe ends: the believer thinks himſelf ſurer of Gods promiſe, and himſelf more ſecurely ingaged to God; and though this engaging hath no new Promiſe w…th it; yet thereby the more explicitely is our dutie brought forth, and the promiſe more particularly becomes ours.
As for the Fourth and laſt thing, It is a right manner of acting, or a right way or ſuitable frame in our going about this ordinance, which takes in ſeveral things as. 1. Fear, becauſe it is a very difficult thing rightly to Communicat, and we had need to fear leaſt we miſtake and miſcarry. 2. Diſtinctneſs and clearneſs, which is a part of the reſult of ſelf examination; we would at leaſt be ſo far clear in our condition as to know and be convinced that the generall ſtrain of our way hath not been right as it ſhould have been by very far when we cannot ſo well find ou… and condeſcend upon he particular evils, that we have been given to or have done; and though we know not all nor many of the particular Promiſes of the Covenant, yet we would be clear in that general, that in the Covenant God maketh over himſelf a God all-ſufficient to the believer. Thirdly faith in and dependance on God for preparation, and for a ſuitable frame; for gaining new ground of corruptions, for more humility and tenderneſs, for more thorow turning to the Lord; Convert me (ſayes Ephraim, Jer. 31.) And I shal be converted, there would be many Serious and Sincere reſolutions, engagements, and purpoſes, and much heart-melting, and Prayer in the making of them, as it was with Iſrael and Judah Jer. 50.5. Whoſe great deſire and deſigne was, to have the Covenant betwixt God and them ſo ſecured, that it might hold perpetually and never any more be forgotten, they deſired to keep (as we uſe to ſpeak) no bank in their own hand, they allow of no reſervations or exceptions, and they go about this great work Praying and weeping: This were a Sweet and ſuitable frame for a Communion, and notably well becoming a people that Approach to the Lords Table; and we ſeriouſly commend it to you, and you to the grace of God in the Practiſe of theſe things, which his own bleſſed ſelf make forthcoming to you.