Augustine saith That he was stirred up to come to Christ by reading a Heathen book written by Cicero called Hortensius Thus he saith That heathen Book changed my mind and turned my prayer O Lord unto thee Among OTHER CAUSES THE SACRAMENTS SERVE SPECIALLY TO DIRECT AND TO AID OUR FAITH For they are as i Aug. cont Faustum l. 19. c. 16. Saint Augustine called them VISIBLE WORDS and Seals and Testimonies of the Gospel k Defence of the Apology part 2. c. 7. divis 1. p. 150. For the word of God is the substance and life of all Sacraments and without the same all Sacraments whatsoever are no Sacraments c. All which abundantly evidence the Sacraments to be Grace-begetting Faith-quickning Soul-converting Life-conveying Ordinances having promises and the word annexed to them as well as preaching and that this is the express Doctrine of the Church of England though now contradicted by a Generation of Novellers upon meer whimsies Crochets of their own out of Self-interest and respects What other Protestant Divines have asserted to the same effect you may read at large in My Suspension Suspended p. 28. to 35. and in Mr. Morrice his laborious Diatribe p. 29. c. The Lords Supper therefore being a Sacrament must thereupon consequently be a Soul-converting Grace-producing Regenerating Ordinance instituted for this verie end as well as the word preached and have promises of Grace annexed to it as all these resolve 3ly All the Objectors and l See Jewels Defence of the Apology c. 10. divis 1. p. 205 c. others unanimouslie assert That the Lords Supper is a Seal of the New Testament and Covenant of Grace the tenor whereof is thus expressed both in the Old and New Testament Jer. 31.31,32 c. 32.38,39,40 Ezech. 11.19,20 c. 36.25 to 31. Heb. 8.6 to 13. c. 10.16,17 After those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their minds and in their hearts will I write them Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all our Idols will I cleanse you A new heart also will I give you and a New spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stonie heart out of your flesh and give you an heart of flesh and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my Judgements and do them and I will be your God and ye shall be my people And I will give you one heart and one way that you may fear me for ever for the good of you and your children after you And I will make an everlasting Covenant with you that I will not turn away my face from doing you good but I will put my fear into your hearts and ye shall not depart from me And I will rejoyce over you to do you good And I will also save you from all your uncleanness c. Then shall you remember your own wayes and your doings that were not good and you shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations and you shall all know me from the greatest unto the least for I will forgive your Iniquities and will remember your sins no more If then the Lords Supper be a Seal annexed to all these Covenants and Promises of Grace all in the Future Tense made to such who were unregenerate void of Grace and the spirit of God having old stonie hearts and wanting new as I have formerly touched it must needs be a regenerating Grace-conveying Soul-converting Ordinance by divine institution by effecting and putting them into actual execution at this Sacrament and these Promises must be all annexed to it as Writings Covenants are to their Seals as well as their Seals to them Hence Dr. Ames thus taxeth Bellarmin Tom. 3. c. 1. q. 3. De Promissione Sacramentorum Male disjungit quae sunt conjungenda promissionem de efficacia Sacramenti et promissionem praecedentem à Sacramento obsignandam Nam promissio illa pertinet ad institutionem ut causa efficiens Sacramenti obsignatio ipsa est efficacia promissa Promissionem etiam obsignandam sua natura antecedere Sacramentum ex eo liquet quod foedus antecedit cujus Sacramentum ita et signum ut inde foederis nomen sortiatur Gen. 17. The Objectors therefore must either renounce the Lords Supper to be the Seal of these promises and Covenants as they positively define it or abjure this objection that there are no promises of Conversion or begetting saving Grace and Regeneration made unto it as there are to the preaching of the word 4ly Our Lord Jesus Christ in the very institution of his Supper m Mat. 26.26,27 Mar. 14 22,23 Lu. 22.19,20 1 Cor. 10.16,17.21 c. 11.23 to 30. Took bread blessed brake and gave it to his Disciples saying Take eat this is my bodie which is given for you this do in remembrance of me After which he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it for this is my bloud of THE NEW TESAMENT or Covenant as one Or◠This Cup IS THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MY BLOUD thereupon twice stiled The BLOUD OF THE COVENANT and of the EVERLASTING COVENANT Heb. 10.29 c. 13.20 as another Evangelist records it WHICH IS SHED FOR YOU and FOR MANY FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS this do ye as oft as ye drink it INREMEMBRANCE OF ME. For as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this Cup YE DO SHEW or shew ye THE LORDS DEATH TIL HE COME From which words of institution compared with Hebr. 13.20 Now the God of Peace which brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great shepherd of the sheep BY THE BLOUD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT represented communicated and spiritually received applied by everie worthie Communicant in and by the Lords Supper MAKE YOV PERFECT in every good work TO DO HIS WILL WORKING IN YOU THAT WHICH IS WELL-PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT THROUGH JESVS CHRIST It is most apparent that the Lords Supper was specially instituted blessed by Christ himself not only to commemorate and represent but also really effectually to communicate and convey to all worthie receivers all the benefits of his death bloud merits to make them perfect in everie good work to do his will to work in them that is well pleasing in Gods sight through Jesus Christ and that the New Testament or Covenant is thereby ratified applied made effectual to and upon their Souls in the remission of sins and all its forementioned branches 5ly The Scriptures resolve That n Rom. 5.9 we are justified by the bloud of Christ That o Eph. 1.5 we have redemption through his bloud That p Eph. 2.13,14 those who were afar off are made nigh by his bloud c. That q Col. 1.20 he hath made peace and reconciliation between his Father and us by the bloud of his Cross
Chron. 15.2 Ames 5.4,6 Isay 47.13 If you seek me early with the whole heart ye shall find me Seek the Lord and ye shall live I said unto the seed of Jacob seek ye me in vain With that of Heb. 5.8 The earth that drinketh in the rain that raineth oft upon it c. is blessed and Mat. 11.28 c. 28.15,16 forecited do all telate to our drawing near to God assembling together hungring thirsting after asking seeking knocking approaching coming to him watching at his gates remembring him in his waies seeking him and drinking in the rain of his Grace in the Lords Supper as well as in prayer fasting preaching reading meditating baptism or anie holy Ordinance else in particular Therefore we may must ought to expect Gods drawing near to us his presence with us our finding all Graces Benefits we ask seek knock thirst after entertainment by yea meeting with God finding of God Spiritual life to our Souls and all other blessings we need for our conversion edification or salvation in by and through the conscionable constant use of this discontinued Sacrament as well as in or by anie other Ordinance whatsoever and z Heb. 4.16 Jam. 1.5,6 we may boldly resort unto it in the concurrent strength of all these promises as to a Soul-converting Grace-begetting as well as Grace corroborating Ordinance let our Antagonists out of their own whimsical brains suggest what evasions they can to the contrarie Mr. Drake himself confessing in his Boundary p. 147. What the Word applied by one sense the Sacraments doth BY ALL SENSES he should have excepted smelling therefore it is a poweâ—full means of assurance and by consequence of conversion too by vertue of all these concurrent Promises 14. That prophecie and promise of Zech. 12.10,11 ch 13.1,2 I will powr upon the house of David c. the Spirit of Grace and of Supplication and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only Son and shall be in bitterness for him as one is in bitterness for his first-born c. applied particularly to our Saviours passion John 19.37 and to the Jews penitential monrning for crucifying him Acts 2.37 c. And in that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and for the Inhabitants of Jerusalem to wash in for sin and for uncleanness and I will cause the unclean Spirit to pass out of the Land c. seems more particularly and specifically to relate to the fountain of a Mat. 26.26,27 Lu. 23.19 1 Cor. 10.16 c. 11.23,24,25,26 Tit. 3.5,6 Rev. 1.5,6 Christs bloud of the New Testament shed for many for the remission of sins and the Communion of his bloud represented to us in the Lords Supper rhan to the word preached or anie other Ordinance except b 1 Pet. 3.21 Ephes 5.26,27 Baptism Therefore we may with much faith and confidence repair to it had we no other promise but this as to a regenerating Soul-humbling sin-clensing sanctifying Ordinance as well as a confirming 15. The Apostle affirms and our Opposites much insist on it in this Controversie That c 1 Cor. 11.27,29 those who eat and drink the Lords Supper unworthily eat and drink judgment and damnation to them selves not discerning the Lords bodie and are guilty of the bloud of the Lord Therefore d Synodus Galonis c. Bochellus Decret Eccles Gal. l. 2. Tit. 1. c. 33. p. 152. by the rule of contraries those who receive it worthily shall eat and drink salvation and mercie to themselves be made partakers of all the benefits of Christs bodie and bloud and absolved from all their sins and guiltiness it being just like the word preached a savour of life unto life as well as of death unto death 2 Cor. 2.15,16 Mar. 16.16 16. That of John 1.12,13 But as many as received him to them gave he privilege or right to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his Name which were born not of bloud nor of the will of the flesh but of God is applicable as well to our receiving of Christ in and by this Sacrament as by the word preached Christ being received in both alike by faith wrought at and by them and men born again by God instrumentally through the use of them Therefore they are both alike regenerating converting Ordinances 17. The Ministry Word Sacraments and all other Ordinances of the Gospel were instituted by Christ for the conversion quickning of those who were dead in trespasses and sins the perfecting of the Saints the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ That we may grow up in all things into him which is the head even Christ from whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to THE EFFECTUALL WORKING IN THE MEASURE OF EVERY PART maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love Yea those Ordinances of God which serve to increase or nourish saving faith and Graces do likewise work and beget them by the corporation of Gods Spirit as is evident by Ephes 2.1,5,6.13 to 21. c. 4.11 to 17. 1 Cor. 10.16,17 c. 12.14 to 31. c. 14.4,5,12,13,14.24,25,26 1 Thes 5.11 Acts 20.32 Col. 2.7,10,11,12,13 1 Cor. 3.9,10,11 Jude 20. 1 Pet. 2.2 to 8. compared together being express in point Therefore all Gospel Ordinances are Soul-converting Regenerating Grace-begetting Edifying as well as confirming yea to assert any Gospel Ordinance or Sacrament to be unconverting is a meer untheological if not atheistical Paradox and Contradiction in it self denying it to be anie Ordinance or Sacrament at all of Divine institution a vilifying e Heb. 10.29 trampling it under feet as an unholy thing yea a meer diabolical invention in the event though not in the intention of those who generally stile them so to bring it into contempt and neglect amongst the people as a meer useless ineffectual Institution which can neither mortifie their corruptions nor regenerate their Natures nor sanctifie their souls nor beget any spiritual life Grace within them and only serve to increase their damnation without prae-existent Grace which it cannot work within them as these Novellers dogmatize 18. I shall desire the Objectors and all Christians seriously to read over all the ends of instituting the Lords Supper by our Saviour expressed in the Practice of Piety so highly applauded by most men and there is scarce one of them but especially the 2 3 4 5 6 7. but will prove it to be a Soul-converting Ordinance working in us as well as being an assured pledge unto us a most near and effectual Communion with Christ whereby there floweth from Christs nature into our natures united to him the lively Spiris and breath of Grace which renueth us to
William Morrice of Werrington Esquire in his irrefragable Diatribe in answer to Mr. Saunders 1657. p. 218 219 c. to whom I shall referr all such who desire fuller Satisfaction in this Controversie which they have so solidly and amply debated that there is little remaining to be superadded by me but some few Gleanings after these fuller Crops which I hope through Gods blessing will silence convince all future Antagonists and presume will be neither unacceptable nor contemptible nor superfluous to sincere unbiassed Christians who only study seek c Zech. 8.19 love the Truth and Peace for whose benefit I have made them publike Our d See Dr. Drakes Boundary to the Holy Mount p. 154. to 176. 120 121 c. Mr. Collins Mr. Saunders Books and others of them who have written of this subject Antagonists destitute of all Scripture proofs to evidence the Lords Supper to be no Soul-converting Grace-producing but only a Grace-confirming Ordinance do bottom their opinions upon these 7. sandy Foundations or Objections objection 1 1. That the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is a Seal not only of the Covenant of Grace but also of the truth of saving Faith and Grace in the hearts of the Receivers Therefore it is only a confirming but no soul-converting faith-begetting Ordinance I shall concisely examine dissipate overturn this rotten Foundation whereon this Error is principally grounded and display its vanity absurdity e 2 Cor. 4.2 to every mans conscience in the sight of God To this end take special notice in the first place 1. That the Lords Supper is never so much as once stiled in Scripture a Seal or Seal of the Covenant of Grace much less a Seal of saving Faith or of the truth of saving Grace in mens hearts but only the f Mat. 26.26,27 Lu. 22.18,19,20 1 Cor. 10.16,17.21 c. 11.20 to 30. Gal. 3.1 Lords Supper Table Bread Cup Body Bloud or the Remembrance Figure Sign Representation of his death and passion which have no analogy at all with a Seal By what rule then of faith or right reason can they justly affirm prove it to be any Seal at all or such a Seal as this If rherefore it be no Seal by divine appellation or institution then all their consequences built on this false foundation fall to the ground together If they allege that Circumcision is directly stiled A sign and Seal of the righteousness of the faith Rom. 4.11 Ergo the Lords Supper is likewise such a Seal and may properly be stiled a Seal Though many learned g See Dr. Ames Bellarm. Enerv. Tom. 3. l. 1. c. 1. p. 9. to 15. Protestants and some Papists be of this opinion yet under correction I deny the consequence upon these grounds 1. Because God himself gives this Title to Circumcision only and that but once but never to the Passeover Lords Supper Baptism or any other Ordinance Therefore his Ministers Servants must conform themselves to his pattern language herein 2. Circumcision was a vâ—sible mark set by Gods command upon the flesh or persons of all who were circumcised Therefore it might properly be stiled a Sign Seal and Covenant of God in their flesh upon which is left a perpetual impression Gen. 17.10,11,12,13,14 Rom. 2.28 c. 4.11 But the Lords Supper Baptism and the Passeover leave no such visible marks or impressions on the persons or flesh of those who receive them Therfore God never stiled any of them Marks or Seals as he did Circumcision neither may we without his warrant against his president and sacred language stile them so 3. The Lords Supper succeeded not Circumcision but the * Mat. 26.17 to 31. 1 Cor. 5.7,8 c. 10.3,4 Passeover never called a Seal in sacred Writ Therefore this stile appropriated to Circumcision cannot be rationally given to it the rather because the Holy Ghost never gives it to Baptism which succeeded Circumcision 4. Circumcision is only stiled A Seal of the righteousness of the faith which Abraham had being uncircumcised g See Calvin Peter Martyr Aretius Fayus Paraeus willet wilson and others on Rom. 4. That is a token of the Covenant between God and Abraham and his seed made to him by God and believed by Abraham before he was circumcised as is evident by Gen. 17.1 to 15. compared with 15.1 to 8. Rom. 4.9 to 23. But the Lords Supper is not such a Seal token but instituted for other ends to represent unto us the breaking of Christs body and shedding of his blood on the Cross for our sins to shew forth his death till he come c. Whence it is stiled The new Testament in his blood Mat. 26.26,27,28 Lu. 22.19 1 Cor 11.24,25,26 c. 10.16,21 c. Therefore Gods stiling Circumcision a Seal is no warrant for us to stile the Lords Supper so Objection If any Object That the Lords Supper may properly be stiled a Seal because it doth confirm which is their only reason I deny the consequence for then by this reason an Oath should be a Seal Answer because it is for confirmation Hebr. 6.16,17 Miracles and Signs done by the Apostles should be Seals because they confirmed the words and Gospel they preached Mar. 16.20 The huâ—bands Silence should be a Seal which confirmed all his wives vows and bonds Num. 30.14 The plucking off the shoe and giving it to a neighbor should be a Seal because it confirmed all things concerning redeeming and changing Lands in Israel Ruth 4.7 Every Decree should be a Seal because it confirms the things decreed Esther 9.29,32 Yea the Apostles Ministers and Word preached should be Seals too because they confirmed the Souls of the Disciples the Churches of Christ and testimonie of Christ in men Acts 15.32,41 c. 14.22 1 Cor. 1.6 Heb. 2.3 Phil. 1.7 And Christ himself a Seal too who shall confirm us unto the end 1 Cor. 1.8.5 The Scripture makes mention only of 2. sorts of Seals The 1. material affixed to Writings Deeds Books Letters and other material things for their confirmation securing or secrecy Neh. 9.38 c. 10.1 Esth 3.12 c. 8.8.10 Job 41.15 c. 14.17 Deut. 32.43 Isay 29.11 Cant. 4.12 Jer. 32.10,11,14,44 Dan. 6.16 c. 12.9 Mat. 17. Tim. 6.6 Rev. 5.1 c. 8.1 c. 10.4 c. 22.10 The 2. immaterial and invisible set by the Spirit of God or his Angels on the souls or forheads of his chosen Saints who are said to be sealed by and with the holy Spirit 2 Cor. 1.22 Eph. 1.13 c. 4.30 2 Tim. 2.19 or to be sealed with the seal of God in their foreheads Rev. 7.2 to 9. But the Lords Supper is no material Seal visibly affixed to any material Writing Deed Letter Book thing the visible Elements of it being instituted consecrated h Mat. 26.27.27,28 1 Cor. 11.24 to 30. c. 10.16,17,21 only to be eaten and drunken by us like other bread meat drink which may be as properly stiled Seals as the consecrated bread and wine not to remain as Seals upon us and the
That r Hebr. 9.14,15 the bloud of Christ purgeth our consciences from dead works to serve the living God For which cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of death for the redemption of Transgressions under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance That ſ Heb. 10.19,29 c. 12.24 we have Liberty to enter into the holiest by the bloud of Jesus it being THE BLOVD OE THE COVENANT WHEREWITH WE ARE SANCTIFIED and the bloud of sprinkling which speaketh better things than the bloud of Abel That t Heb. 13.20 Christ suffered without the gate that he might sanctifie the people with his bloud That u 1 Pet. 1.18,19 through the bloud of the everlasting Covenant God makes us perfect in every good work to do his will That x 1 John 1.7 we were redeemed from our vain conversation with the precious bloud of Jesus Christ as of a Lamb without blemish That y Rev. 1.5,6 c. 5.9,10 the bloud of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin That z he hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own bloud and made us Kings and Priests unto God his Father and hath redeemed us unto God by his bloud Now all this is most lively visibly effectually emphatically held forth represented assured to our eies ears and by them unto our Souls in the Lords Supper the a Mat. 26.27 Lu. 22.19 1 Cor. 10.16 c. 11.24 New Testament in Christs bloud and that more demonstratively energetically then in the preaching of the word alone not coupled with the Sacramental Elements Therefore it must needs be a most prevailing Soul-converting Sin-cleansing Grace effecting Ordinance applying assuring all these Gospel Texts and promises to penitent humbled dejected hungring gasping souls resorting thereunto Hence * Hist Angliae p. 1. Contin Mat. Paris p. 977. Thomas of Walsingham Rishanger and others record of our devout King Henry the 3d That he was wont to hear three Masses everie day with special devotion and desiring to hear more he daily assisted those who celebrated private Masses and when the Priest elevated the Lords bodie he used to hold and kiss the Priests hand Whereupon St. Lewes King of France conferring with him concerning it and saying That he should not alwaies addict himself to Masses but more frequently hear Sermons than Masses King Henry thereunto replied with a facetious urbanitie Se malle amicum suum saepius videre quà m de eo loquentem licet bona dicentem audire That he would rather see his friend often than hear one only speaking of him although well thereby intimating that Christ visibly represented to the eie in the Sacrament everie day doth more effectually affect the Soul and work upon mens hearts than the bare hearing of him by the ear in the word preached 6ly The Holy Ghost assures us 2 Cor. 1.20 That all the promises of God are in Jesus Christ Yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us especially as they are b Heb 9.15,16,17 to 24. all confirmed ratified in and by his bloud death represented to us in his Supper c 1 Cor. 11.23,24,25 instituted for its memorial And the Church of England in her ancient Liturgy established by sundrie Acts of Parliament at the celebration of the Eucharist particularly annexeth these comfortable Gospel promises thereunto for the comfort encouragement of all the Communicants resorting to the same Matt. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will refresh you John 3.16 So God loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief 1 John 2.1,2 If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the Propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world Therefore all the promises of God in general and these in particular belong unto and are effectually applied by this Sacrament to the souls of all worthie receivers as well as by the word preached And by consequence it must by the cooperation of Gods Spirit and benediction not only confirm but beget true saving faith repentance all spiritual Graces and eternal life within us and assure us of the free remission of all our sinnes by the bloud of Christ as well as the word it self preached 7ly That Commission and promise of Christ himself soon after the institution of his Supper made to his Apostles and their Successors d Mat. 28.19,20 Mar. 16.15,16 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Teaching them to observe ALL things that I have commanded you And lo I AM WITH YOU ALWAYES UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned extends as well to the Lords Supper as to Baptism and the preaching of the word because the administration of the Lords Supper is e See my Seasonable Answer of 2. important Questions a part of the Ministers office a visible and audible Word Sermon preaching the Gospel to the eie and ears together and one of the principal things our Saviour f Luke 22.19 1 Cor. 11.23,24,25,26 commanded his Apostles to do and observe in remembrance of him to shew forth his death til he come having an AS OFT AS YE DO IT annexed to DO THIS in remembrance of me Therefore the selfsame promise of Christs effectual presence blessing made to Baptism and the Word preached to work faith and Grace in mens hearts by them that they may be saved is likewise made to the Lords Supper Wherfore it is doubtless a Faith-begetting Soul-saving Converting Ordinance as well as the Word preached or Baptism 8ly All these Gospel passages promises of our Saviour John 6.27.33.48 to 53. Labor not for the meat that perisheth but for that which endureth unto eternal life which the Son of man SHALL GIVE UNTO YOU I am the living bread that came down from Heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever and the bread which I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud dwelleth in me and I in him He that eateth me even he shall live by me He that eateth this bread shall live for ever c. Which some Father and most Popish Authors appropriate wholly to the Lords Supper and all Protestants equally apply to the Lords Supper as well as to the Word preached or any other
grace is o 2 Cor. 5.14,15,19,20,21 c. 7.1 Rom. 5.5.6,7,8,10,21 John 3.16 c. 6.44 c. 10.11.15 c. 15.13 Gal. 2.20 c. 3.1 Eph. 5.2.25,26 c. 1.6,7 c. 2.4 to 20. 1 Pet. 1.3.8.18,19 Rom. 14.7,8,9 1 John 1.1.2,7 c. 2.2 c. 3.16 c. 4.9,10,11 Rev. 1.5 â—… 5.9,10 1 Tim. 1.15 Isay 53.4 to 12. Acts 2.22 to 40. set forth and recorded in sacred Writ as the most powerfull attractive perswasive overcoming constraining Argument motive consideration of all other to work true conversion in mens hearts to turn them from all their sinful courses unto God to allure attract unite espouse marry their souls for ever unto Christ to inflame ravish theÌ„ with his surpassing love Now it must be granted by all that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is a part of this Gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth since instituted recorded commanded by Christ in the Gospel being likewise both an audible visible sensible Gospel as the Fathers with others usually stile it Moreover it most lively powerfully flexanimously graphically represents holds forth yea preacheth to our eyes ears taste and by them unto our minds hearts souls spirits the câ—ucifixion death passion of our Saviour and his transcendent love in dying for our sins the most powerful attractive perswasive overcoming conuraining argument motive considera ion of all others in the Gospel to work true conversion in mens hearts to p Acts 26.17,18 turn them from theÌ„ power of Sin Satan unto God to allure attract q Hos 2.19,20,23 espouse unite receivers souls for ever unto Christ to inflame ravish them with his transcendent love and cause them r 2 Cor. 5.15 from hence forth no longer to live unto themselvs but unto him which died for them and rose again Therefore all must of necessity grant it to be the power of God unto Salvation a most effectual Å¿ Eodem modo justificant verbum Dei et Sacramenta ae que enim tribuitur Justificatio verbo Sacramentis Ames Bellarm Enervat Tom. 3. l. 1. c. 3. p. 36. justifying a Soul-converting Faith-engendring Faih-increasing Ordinance as well as the Gospel preached yea a powerfull means of working that belief and saving faith in the souls of those who in obedience to Christs command constantly resort unto it which is required in worthie Communicants to make both it and the Gospel too the power of God to their Salvation even as the Gospel read heard preached begets that faith or belief which God requires to make it saving und converting Rom. 10.14,15,17 In Brief There is not any means of or motive to faith or conversion in the Gospel preached which is not included in the Lords Supper and pressed with the selfsame yea greater force and advantage upon mens Souls in this Sacrament both by the prayers confessions meditations exhortations that accompanie it by the very breaking of the bread powring out of the wine with other Sacramental actions then they are or can be in any Sermon t Bellarm. Enervat Tom. 3. c. 1. p. 9. Non debent hic inter se comparari verbum et Sacramentum ut realiter à verbo distinctum sed verbum nudum verbum Sacramento vestitum Hoc autem majus et efficacius dici potest quoad nos quia plenius pluribus sensibus test atur et magis accommodatur ad animos nostros efficiendos So Dr. Ames in answer to Bellarmines Objection Nihil fingi potest majus aut efficacius verbo Dei Therefore orr Opposites must either grant the Lords Supper a Soul-converting Faith-begetting Ordinance as well as preaching or disclaim preaching to be such and cast that aside too as unconverting as they have most impiously done this Sacrament for sundry years in too many places 11ly The principal end of instituting the Lords Supper * 1 Cor. 11.25,26 was to shew forth the power efficacie principal ends fruits effects of our Saviours death till he come not only in bare representation but by practical efficacious operations and applieations for the spiritual benefit conversion consolation of the receivers souls Now what are the ends fruits effects of our Saviours death therein held forth is evident by these Gospel Texts Isay 53.5 1 Cor. 15.3 1 Pet. 2.24 He was wounded for our transgressions he was btuised for our iniquities he died for our sins the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes are we healed Who his own self bare sins in his own bodie on the tree that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness Luke 1.74 75. That we being delivered from the hands of our Enemies should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the daies of our life 1 Thes 5.9,10,11 For God hath not appointed us unto wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him wherefore comfort your selves together and edifie one another Rom. 4.25 c. 5.8,9,10 Who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification But God commendeth his love unto us that whiles we were yet sinners Christ died for us much more then being now justified by his bloud we shall be saved from wrath by him For if when we were Enemies we were reconciled unto God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Rom. 6.1 to 11. Shall we continue in sin that Grace may abound God forbid How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death Therfore we are buried with him in baptism that like as Christ was raised up from the dead even so we also should walk in newness of life For if we have been planted together in the likness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the bodie of sinne might be destroied that henceforth we should not serve-sin Now if we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall also live with him knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him c. Likewise reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof c. Rom. 11.7,8,9 For none of us liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself For whether we live we live unto the Lord or whether we die we die unto the Lord whether we live therefore or die we are the Lords For TO THIS END Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of quick and dead Gal. 2.19.20 I am dead to the Law that I might live unto God I
a spiritual life and so sanctifieth our minds wills and affections that we daily grow more and more conformable to the image of Christ who bestoweth upon us in the use of this Sacrament ALL SAVING GRACE NECESSARY TO ATTAIN ETERNAL LIFE as is therein more at large expressed And it concludes the 6. end of the Lords Supper thus The leaves of this tree heal the Nations of believers and it yields EVERY MONTH a new manner of fruit WHICH NOURISHETH THEM TO EVERLASTING LIFE Oh BLESSED ARE THEY WHO OFTEN EAT OF THIS SACRAMENT AT LEAST ONCE EVERY MONETH tast a new of this renewing fruit which Christ hath prepared for us at his Table TO HEAL OUR INFIRMITIES and to confirm our belief of life everlasting How Sacrilegiously impious and injurious then are those Ministers to their peoples souls who for sundrie years together deprive them of deterr debarr them from this Sacrament this tree of life which they should receive everie Moneth at least both as a Converting and confirming Ordinance And how unhappy are those people who live under such perverse and obstinate Ministers who will neither suffer them to be converted or confirmed by it and cast it quite aside 19ly The Objectors have no Scripture text disproving the Lords Supper to be a Soul-converting nor yet affirming it to be only a Grace-confirming Ordinance Therefore this distinction not being founded in Gods word nor extant in any Father any ancient Writers or School-men must be exploded as a New upstart Fancy and Delusion Like the new-fangled words Really Corporally Substantially never used by any one of the Old Fathers invented by the Papists for which our learned f Reply to Harding Art 5. p. 238. Jewel justly taxeth them to maintain their Absurditie or Transubstantiation which first introduced that g Bochellus Decret Eccl. Gal. l. 3. Tit. 1. c. 70 72 73 93 105 106 107. prae-examination or Confession to the Priest and Suspension from the Lords Supper which some would bring in again into our Churches by this New Distinction and Nonsence Expression of setting a Seal to a Blank which they couple together with it like whelps of the same litter I shall therefore now desire adjure our Antagonists in this Controversie and other Ministers no longer to delude themselves or others with such fond absurd erronious distinctions uncouth expressions and fallacious Arguments against the Soul-converting Grace-begetting efficacie of the Lords Supper nor to bring a perpetual scandalous impious blasphemous false report upon it by denying it both in Press and Pulpit to be either iustituted by Christ or made use of by the Spirit as a proper instrumental means to work conversion faith repentance or other saving Graces originally in mens Souls but utterly to renounce and publikely to retract them upon this fresh conviction and trial by the word of God which hath h Rev. 2.2 found them not to have been Apostles in these particulars as they formerly deemed themselves but Lyars and Impostors as I hope their own Judgements Consciences will upon their serious perusal of the Premises effectually convince them In which condition if they shall still wilfully persist without reformation and upon these or other new brain-sick Notions obstinately continue as too manie Ministers rather out of Confederacie than Conscience have done most sacrilegiously to rob their people year after year of this blessed Sacrament which they should at least monthly administer to them for the more effectual conversion sanctification consolation edification and the generation corroboration nutrition augmentation of all saving Graces in their souls not only to the apparent hindering of their conversion edification spiritual growth in Grace but also to the verie murdering starving i Rom. 14.15 1 Cor. 8.11,12 destroying of their most precious souls as much as in them is administring it neither as a converting Ordinance to those they deem unregenerate nor as an instructing Ordinance to the ignorant nor as a reforming Ordinance to the vicious nor as a comforting and corroborating Ordinance to those they deem truly gracious though they importunately crave it at their hands they may justly fear expect for this their impiouâ— injurious seclusion of their flocks as k So they stile them from Mat. 7.6 Dogs from the Lords Table against his express command and the practice of the Apostles Primitive and Protestant Churches in all former ages to be for ever secluded by Christ himself out of the New Jerusalem and to receive their portion amongst those l Rev. 22.15 Dogs Murderers Sorcerers Lovers and Makers of Lyes who shall never be admitted into heaven Yea to have this fatal doom denounced against them by Christs own mouth at the great day of Judgement m Mat. 25.41,42,45,46 Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels For I was an hungry and ye GAVE NE NO MEAT I was thirsty and ye GAVE ME NO DRINK no not at my own sacred Table against my express command Verily I say unto you in so much as ye did it not TO ONE OF THESE ye did it not to me And then shall ye go away into everlasting punishment I beseech you sadly to ruminate upon this Text Doom and what else I have here presented to you for your conviction conversion from this Soul murdering Cruelty Injustice to your people and selves too and the Lord give you unfeigned repentance and n 2 Tim. 2.7 understanding in all things that so you may speedily recant reform whatever you have written spoken preached or done amiss in relation to this blessed Ordinance and your peoples Spiritual welfare by the inestimable benefits therof detained from them for so manie years It was the sad lamentation of the Prophet Jeremy Lam. 1.11 4.4,5 All her people sigh they seek bread to relieve their Soul The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst the young children ask bread and no man breaketh it unto them They that did feed delicately are desolate in the street See O Lord and consider And is not this the sadder complaint lamentation of many whole parishes and some Cities in England who for sundrie years last past have been deprived of the Sacramental bread and wine in the Lords own Supper for the spiritual conversion consolation of their Souls by their uncharitable obstinate domineering Ministers though frequently pressed with praiers sighs tears to break and distribute it unto them and oft contesting with them for detaining from them this spititual bread and sweet bloud of life to their gasping Souls And will not there be a See O Lord and consider with a witness for this Soul-murdering Tyranny since the Apostle resolves * 1 Câ—r 8,11,12 When ye sin so against the brethren and wound their weak consciences ye sin against Christ and cause the weak brother to perish for whom Christ died I shall admonish such Ministers in the Apostles words to the Elders of Ephesus Acts 20.28