be borne but once but we dayly stand in need of food and strengthening therefore we often receiue the Supper of the Lord that our soules may be nourished vnto life everlasting Chap. II. What the Lord's Supper is That wee may rightly vnderstand the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper we must know 2. things 1 what it is 2 what belongs to the due receiving of it For the first the Lord's Supper is a Sacrament consisting of Bread and Wine lawfully consecrated distributed instituted by Christ himselfe for a cōtinual remēbrance of the Death Passion of Christ the benefits which we receiue thereby This institutiō was at Christ's last Supper after hee had eaten the Passeouer with his Disciples so that it is called a Supper in respect of the time of the institution and the Lord's Supper in respect of the Author the Lord Christ as also in respect of the end thereof which is partly to set forth the Lord's Death and the spirituall foode therein receiued namely the body blood of Christ himselfe In this Sacrament wee must consider 2 things 1. the parts 2. the end The parts are 2. first the outword Signes Secondly the thing signified The signes are either representing namely the elements themselues or applying signes which are the actions about those elements The elements are 2. Bread Wine not Bread only but both according to Christ's institution and that asunder not the Bread dipt in the Wine as some will haue it because Christ's blood was shed out of his body for our sinnes and wee are to receiue these signes as representing Christ not whole but wounded and peirced Now Christ chose those elements before any other because they best serue to set forth Christ's Body and Blood for as Bread by diverse breakings pressings comes to be perfect yea the chiefest food of our bodies still giving a good relish when other things doe not and is also more common to all thā any other So the body of Christ by many torments was made the chiefe nourishment of our souls remaining alwayes most sweet and pleasaunt and common to all that can receiue him by faith and as Wine doth cherish and comfort vs satisfie our thirst purge away many corrupt humours maketh vs bold and adventrous so the blood of Christ reviues and gladd's our drooping soules satisfieth our spirituall thirst purgeth vs from all our sinnes and maketh vs couragious against all feare of our enimie the Divell againe as bread is made of many graines into one loafe and wine of many grapes into one cuppe so wee partaking thereof and of Christ by faith are made one with him as our head and also one among our selues as members of his body thus of the elements The Actions in this sacramēt are of 2. sorts 1. of the Minister 2 of the Communicants The actions of the Minister are these 1 Setting apart 2 blessing of the Elements whereby is signified that Christ Iesus was set apart and sanctified for vs as it is Ioh. 17.19.3 breaking and powring out 4. distributing to the Communicants whereby is signified that Christ's Body was crucified his blood shed that the benefits thereof are offered vnto vs if we haue faith to receiue thē as it is Ioh. 3.15 He was lifted vp that whosoever beleeueth in him should haue life everlasting The actiōs of the Cōmunicāts are 2. 1. Taking 2. Eating drinking By which is signified that they which receiue benefit by Christ must receiue him by faith applying his merits to their owne soules as Ioh. 1.12 As many as received him to them he gaue power to become the Sons of God euen to them which beleeue on his name Thus of the signes the thing signified is the Body Blood of Christ with the benefits which wee receiue thereby namely the strengthening refreshing of our soules in the remission of our sins this wee receiue not of the Minister for he giues only the signes but of God himselfe apprehending the same by our faith for Christ is not signified in these signes as in a picture but exhibited vnto vs being himselfe present in the Sacrament though not corporally to the Bread Wine yet spiritually to our faith for though his Body bee in Heaven and must there remayne vntill the last day as it is Act. 3.2 yet we may feed on him spiritually by fayth by applying his death and passion vnto our sinfull souls so that there is one vnion betweene Christ and the Elements which is Symbolicall and an other betweene Christ and vs which is spirituall and reall The ends of this Sacrament are twofold 1 in respect of others 2 in respect of our selues In respect of others to testifie vnto them that faith which we professe that so they seeing our readines herein may haue their harts also stirred vp to such good duties In respect of our selues it concernes either what we haue received frō or what wee are to returne to God In the first respect it serueth First for remēbrance namely of the death of Christ for as often as we receiue this wee shew the Lords death till he come 1. Cor. 11.26 Secondly for confirmation vnto vs and that both of our vnion among our selues as 1. Cor. 10.17 for we being many are one Bread and one Body for we all partake of one Bread as also of our Communion with Christ for as the Bread and Wine are turned into the substance of our bodies so wee by faith are vnited vnto Christ made flesh of his flesh for his flesh is meate indeed his bloud is drink indeed Ioh. 6.55 for this cause it is called the Communion In the second respect concerning that which wee are to returne vnto God it serues to testifie our thankfulnes to God for his mercy in giuing vs his Son and in him all things and assuring vs thereof by this Seale which wee cannot but doe when we consider the torments that he endured for our sinnes which were indeed the very nayles and speares that pierced him and for this cause it is called the Eucharist because in it wee offer vp our thankes vnto God and so also it may be called a Sacrifice not that wee doe therein offer vp Christ vnto God for Christ himselfe at once finished this offering of his Body on the Crosse but because we offer vp our thankfull hearts vnto God for his mercy in Christ so that it is a sacrifice not of Christ but of our thankfulnesse CHAP. III. The Necessity of receiuing the Lords Supper THat wee may receiue this Sacrament as we ought we must consider 2 things 1 the Necessity 2 the right manner of receiuing the same As for the first wee must know that it is not a thing indifferent for vs to receiue or not to receiue at our pleasure but that wee ought to doe it though not euery Sabboth after the custome obserued in the Primitiue Church yet without faile as often as occasion is
vnseemely behaviour for these must bee layd aside as GOD commanded Moses Exod. 3.5 Put off thy shoes from off thy feete for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground 2 Because as the place is holy so also God himselfe is there amongst vs as he sayth Matth. 18.20 Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them Hee is in the midst of vs beholding not only our outward gesture but our very hearts affections and ready both to reward those that honour him by reverencing to punish all such as dishonour him by prophaning and abusing his holy ordinance which we shall doe if our carriage be not with feare and reverence 2. When we heare the Minister say Drawe neere and take this Sacrament wee must consider that God by his Minister freely inviteth vs to his Table then let every one lift vp his heart by this or the like ejaculation Lord I am not worthy by reason of my sinnes to approach before thee but seeing it hath pleased thee in mercy to call mee behold in humility obedience I come Then joyne in prayer with the Minister In the time of the Consecration wee ought seriously to settle our mindes on the Elements the Actions about thē for the better stirring vp of our devotion so meditate thus 1. When we heare the Minister read the words of Christ's Institution see him take the Bread Wine wee ought joyfully and thankfully to meditate on the great loue of God in setting apart his Son for the Redemption of vs his enemies which is represented in the taking of these Elemēts setting thē apart to be distributed vnto vs as seales and pledges of the same joyfully I say in respect of the benefit which doth thereby come vnto vs thankfully in respect of God's loue which is greater thā all the harts of men joyn'd in one are able to expresse 2. When wee see the Bread broken and the Wine powred out we ought to be exercised in a twofold meditation 1 Of comfort considering that the Bread is broken and the Wine powred out not onely to be the more divisible to the Communicants but chiefely to represent vnto vs the crucifying of Christs Body and the shedding of his Blood for our sinnes for hee was broken for our iniquities Isai 53.5 By which is not meant that any bone of him was broken but that hee was crucified whence wee should every one of vs gather this comfort saying to our soules Christ Iesus was broken on the Crosse and suffred an accursed death for mee by whose merits I trust I shall escape the curse of that death which is due for my sinnes vnto mee And here by the way wee may take notice how the Papists doe erre in delivering whole cakes vnto the Communicants which represēt Christ whole not crucified and so afford the lesse comfort 2. Of sorrow that for our sins the grievousnesse of which was such that they could not bee satisfied for without the pretious Blood of Christ Iesus these were the speares that pierced him to the Soule that was that which drew his pretious Blood from his side and the consideration of this should breed in vs a harty sorrow that we so vile wretches as wee are should thus wound so loving a Redeemer and certainly if wee doe not grieue for those sins for which hee hath so much smarted wee may justly feare that the stupid Earth the hard rockes and the darke graues which trembled rent and opened at his death shall one day rise vp in judgement against vs condemne vs. When therefore we see the Bread broken c let every one thus meditate O vile wretch that I am that I by my sinnes should thus wound my mercifull and loving Redeemer After the Consecration when the Minister is receiving himselfe considering that wee are in the presence of God who seeth our very hearts wee should power out our soules vnto him in this or the like soliloquie O Sweete Iesu I doe humbly acknowledge with the Centurion that I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter vnder my roofe much lesse to come and suppe and dwell with mee but seeing it is thy good pleasure to vouchsafe mee this favour cleanse mee I beseech thee from my sinnes that I may entertaine thee in a pure and sanctified heart strenthen my faith that I may fully rely on thy mercie comfort mee with thy blessed spirit so dwell with mee for ever grant this O blessed Redeemer for thy mercies sake Amen Againe before wee receiue when the Minister is comming to distribute and offers the Elements vnto vs considering that Christ with all his benefits is offered vnto vs by GOD as well as the Elements by the Minister let every one meditate thus with himselfe Christ with the benefits of his Death doth now come to sanctifie and comfort my sinfull Soule in full assurance whereof I am to receiue these signes and Seales at the hand of his Minister And so as he stretcheth out his hand to receiue these let him lift vp his soule in faith with this or the like ejaculation Come Lord Iesu vnto thy humble servant as my trust is thou wilt This wee are to doe after the Consecration before wee receiue After this in the act of receiuing wee are to performe these two things 1 While wee eate the bread meditate every one thus Blessed Iesu I doe heartily beleeue that thou wast crucified on the Crosse and that for mee as well as for any other and as I haue now receiued this Bread broken whereby my Body shall bee nourished So I beleeue that I haue also receiued spiritually thy Body crucified with all the benefits thereof the full pardon of all my sinnes and the strengthening and refreshing of my sinfull soule this I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeleife for thy mercies sake Amen 2. When wee drinke the wine and while wee feele it in our stomake wee should thus meditate Most blessed Redeemer I do truly beleeue that thy Blood was shed out of thy Body as verily as I haue receiued this wine apart from the bread and that for the remission of my sinnes as well as any others I do also beleeue that with this wine I haue received thy precious Blood whereby my sins are fully washed away my soule purified that according to thy promise I shall neuer hunger nor thirst any more because with this Bread Wine I haue receiued thy flesh which is meat indeed thy Blood which is drinke indeed with which I hūbly pray thee to cherish nourish my poore soule to encrease in me hearty loue to these my fellow-members who haue now participated with mee that so we may serue thee as we ought and that nothing may bee able to separate vs from thy loue which I humbly beseech thee to grant for thy mercies sake Amen Chap. XII Of Practise THis is that whereon wee ought to meditate in
is the supreame Iudge of all There is indeede a time wherein wee may make confession before men either in publike before a whole congregation by way of pennance being by the Church therevnto commanded or else in private and that either for satisfaction to our Neighbour whom wee haue wronged or for consolation to the Minister when our consciences are troubled But that confession which is a part of our Repentance for our sinnes past against God and wherein wee desire full pardon for the same wee are to make to God alone for hee it is who is offended and hee alone that canne forgiue our sinnes 3. Our Confession must not bee of the heart onely but of the mouth also for God who made both expecteth to bee honoured by both as both haue bin vncleane before him soe they ought both also to acknowledge the same that hee may cleanse and purifie both them with them the whole man Againe our confession must proceed frō a twofold ground 1 Hatred of sinne because by it wee dishonour GOD 2. Hope of mercy which is that wee ayme at in our confession and it must further bee qualified with sincerity with shame and sorrow that wee haue offended soe gratious a GOD least GOD reiect vs as hypocriticall Let vs therefore hencefoorth leaue off censuring the faults of other men and beginne to aggravate our owne and especially before wee presume to come to the Supper of the LORD Let vs take some time vnto our selues wherein wee may bee most private and shut our selues vp in our closets and there humbly on our knees lay open before God those sinnes which wee haue committed in our life past and that fully and faithfully neither diminishing the number of them nor mincing the haynousnesse of them for God will not bee mocked These are things which wee are to performe in respect of the time past as for the time to come we must know that hee which will truely repent must not only turne from Euill but also turne vnto Good therefore hauing confessed our sins past with sorrow for them we must if wee expect pardon constantly purpose for euer after by Gods grace to amend reforme our liues resoluing as much as in vs lieth to avoide all occasions which may draw vs into the like sinnes againe and to make better vse of those meanes which God hath affoorded vs than wee haue done heretofore and that by so much the more by how much we haue offended so gracious a Father But of this resolution of amendment more in the 12 Chapter CHAP. VIII The Examination of our Faith THe Examination of our Faith is that wherevnto S. Paul exhorteth the Corinthians saying examine your selues whether you bee in the Faith or not 2. Cor. 13.5 The necessity whereof appeareth euen from this that without Faith wee cannot please God in any thing wee doe Heb. 11.26 much lesse in this weighty businesse yea Faith is so necessary that without it wee doe receiue nothing at all when wee doe receiue for although with our bodily hands wee receiue the Bread Wine yet if we haue not Faith wee want a hand to receiue the Body and Blood of CHRIST and the comfort which thence ariseth vnto our Soules for how can wee be perswaded in our consciences that our receiuing is acceptable vnto God and that the merits of Christ Iesus belong vnto vs without Faith it is impossible that wee shoūld receiue any more comfort than what wee beleeue and therefore our Sauiour CHRIST sayth hee that beleeueth on mee shall neuer thirst Ioh. 6.35 therein implying that hee which doth not beleeue in him shall euer thirst yea which is fearefull he which beleeueth not shall bee damned Mar. 16.16 Now that Faith which is here required of vs must not be only a generall faith whereby wee beleeue that the Word of God is true and that God is a just Iudge for this the Divells themselues beleeue and tremble at it and well they may considering what is due to them eternall condemnation but wee must goe on further to a more speciall kinde of Fayth and which they cannot doe apply the merites of CHRIST and the promises of GOD made therein vnto our Soules and Consciences saying with Iob chap. 19. v. 25. I know that my Redeemer liueth I know by the knowledge of Faith or I beleeue and not only the Redeemer of Man but My Redeemer liueth Of which that wee may the more fully perswade our selues wee must beleeue first concerning our selues that we are not able of our selues to do any thing that is acceptable pleasing in the sight or God for we haue nothing but what we haue receiued of God as S. Paul testifieth whether good gift or ability of doing good 2. Concerning the meanes of our Saluation wee must beleeue that the merites of CHRIST'S Death and Passion are alone sufficient for our Redemption without any merits at all or satisfaction of ours 3. Concerning GOD wee ought to beleeue that if wee truly repent vs of our life past constantly purposing to lead a new life hereafter and sincerely vse those good meanes which hee shall affoord vs hee will then bee mercifull vnto vs in accepting our indeavours through the merits of Christ Iesus 4. Concerning the Sacrament wee ought to beleeue that it is a meanes ordained of God to exhibite vnto vs Christ Iesus with his merits a seale to confirme our Faith If vpon consideration of these particulars we can be thus perswaded of our owne insufficiency and unworthinesse that yet notwithstanding vpon our sincere humiliation obedience God will bee mercifull vnto vs if we can not only say in generall that God is a mercifull Father and that Christ died for the redemption of Man but euery one of vs in particular thus apply vnto himselfe I beleeue that God is my mercifull Father and that Christ Iesus died to redeeme me as well as any other all which I shall haue plainely confirmed vnto mee in the receiuing of this Sacrament wherein I trust God will in mercy accept mee for Christ's merits though of my selfe I be vnworthy if I say wee can finde that wee are not hypocritically but sincerely not verbally but hartily thus perswaded then may wee hauing thus made peace with GOD by our Faith and Repentance boldly approach vnto the Lord's Table CHAP. IX The Examination of our Charity HAuing examined our selues in those former duties towards God wee are to goe on to another duty which concerneth our neighbour namely Charity which is a free forgiuing of those that haue offended vs with a testification of the same when occasion is offered and a reconciliation of our selues to those whom wee also our selues haue wronged That wee may be the better perswaded vnto a due performance of this duty wee are to obserue 2 things 1. The motiues therevnto 2. The manner how it ought to be done The motiues which invite vs to the necessity of it are drawne from the