shame Let us be steeled with courage being ready to suffer for Christ which is as Chrysostom speaks to be baptized with a Baptism of blood Did Christ bear the wrath of God for us and shall not we bear the wrath of men for him It is our glory to suffer in Christs quarrel 1 Pet. 4. 14 The Spirit of God and of glory resteth upon you Let us pray for furnace-grace Be like those three Children Dan. 3. 17. Be it known to thee O King that we will not serve thy gods They would rather burn than bow Oh that such a spirit as was in Cyprian might survive in us who when the Proconsul would have tempted him from his Religion and said to him Consule tibi Consult for thy safety saith Cyprian In so just a cause there needs no consultation When the sentence for his death was read he replyed Deo gratias Thanks be to God We know not how soon an hour of Temptation may come Oh remember Christ's Body was broken his blood poured out we have no such blood to shed for him as he shed for us 2. Let us shew our thankfulness to Christ by fruitfulness Let us bring forth the sweet fruits of patience heavenly-mindedness and good works This is to live unto him who dyed for us 2 Cor. 5. 15. If we would rejoyce the heart of Christ and make him not repent of his sufferings let us be fertil in obedience The wise men did not only worship Christ but presented unto him gifts Gold and Frankincense Mat. 2. 11. Let us present Christ with the best fruits of our Garden let us give him our love that flovver of delight The Saints are not only compared to Stars for their knowledg but Spice-trees for their fertilness Christ delighted in the breasts of his Spouse because they vvere like Clusters of Grapes Cant. 7. 7. The blood of Christ received in a spiritual manner is like the water of jealousie which had a vertue both to kill and make fruitful Christs blood kills sin and makes the heart fructifie in grace 3. Let us shew our thankfulness to Christ by Zeal Hovv zealous vvas Christ for our Redemption Zeal turns a Saint into a Seraphim A true Christian hath a double Baptism of vvater and fire he is baptized vvith the fire of zeal Be zealous for Christs Name and Worship Zeal is encreased by opposition it cuts its vvay through the Rocks Zeal loves Truth most when it is disgraced and hated Psal. 119 126 127. They have made void thy Law therefore I love thy Commandments above Gold Hovv little thankfulness do they shevv to Christ vvho have no zeal for his Honour and Interest They are like Ephraim Hos. 7. 8. Ephraim is a Cake not turned Baked on one side and Dough on the other Christ doth most abominate a luke vvarm temper Revel 3. 15. He is even sick of such Professors They who vvrite of the scituation of England say that it is seated betvveen the torrid and frigid Zone the Climate is neither very hot nor cold I vvish this vvere not the temper of the people and that our hearts vvere not too like the Climate vve live in The Lord cause the fire of holy zeal to be alvvays burning upon the Altar of our hearts 4. Let us shevv our thankfulness by universal subjection to Christ. This is to make the Lord's-Supper in a spiritual sense a feast of Dedication vvhen vve renevv our Vovvs and give up our selves to God's service Psal. 116. 16. Truly I am thy servant I am thy servant Lord all I have is thine My head shall be thine to study for thee my hands shall be thine to vvork for thee my heart shall be thine to adore thee my tongue shall be thine to praise thee 8. If Jesus Christ hath provided so holy an Ordinance as the Sacrament let us vvalk suitably to it Have vve received Christ into our hearts let us shevv him forth by our heaven lineâ—… 1. Let us shevv forth Christ by our heavenly vvords Let us speak the Language of Canaan When the Holy Ghost came upon the Apostles they spake vvith other tongues Acts 2. 4. While vve speak the vvords of grace and soberness our lips smell as a perfume and drop as honey 2. Let us shevv forth Christ by our heavenly affections Let our sighs and breathings after God go up as a cloud of incense Col. 3. 2. Set your affections on things above We should do by our affections as the Husbandmen do by their Corn if the Corn lie lovv in a damp Room it is in danger to corrupt therefore they carry it up into their highest Room that it may keep the better So our affections if set upon the Earth are apt to corrupt and be unsavoury therefore wâ—… should carry them up on high above the World that they may be preserved pure breathe after fuller discoveries of God desire to attain unto the resurrection of the dead Phil. 3. 11. The higher our affections are raised towards Heaven the sweeter joy we feel The higher the Lark flies the sweeter it sings 3. Let us shew forth Christ by our Heavenly Conversation Philip. 3. 20. Hypocrites may in a pang of Conscience have some good affections stirred but they are as flushings of heat in the face which go and come But the constant tenor of our life must be holy We must shine forth in a kind of Angelical sanctity As it is with a piece of Coyn it hath not only the King's Image within the Ring but his superscription without So it is not enough to have the Image of Christ in the heart but there must be the superscription without something of Christ must be written in the life The scandalous lives of many Communicants are a reproach to the Sacrament and tempt others to Atheism How odious is it that those hands which have received the Sacred Elements should take Bribes That those eyes which have been fill'd with tears at the Lords-Table should afterwards be filled with Envy That those teeth which have eaten Holy Bread should grind the faces of the Poor That those lips which have touched the Sacramental Cup should salute an Harlot That that mouth which hath drunk Consecrated Wine should be full of Oaths That they who seem to deisie Christ in the Eucharist should vilifie him in his Members In a word That such who pretend to eat Christ's Body and drink his Blood at Church should eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence in their own houses Prov. 4. 17. These are like the Italians I have read of who at the Sacrament are so devout as if they believed God to be in the bread but in their lives are so profane as if they believed not God to be in Heaven Such as these are apt to make the World think that the Gospel is but a fancy or religious Cheat. What shall I say of them They do with Judas receive the
Sin and make it appear Ghastly is this It crucified our Lord It made Christ Vail his Glory and lose his Blood If a Woman did see that Sword which killed her Husband how hateful would the sight of it be to her Do we count that Sin Light which made Christ's Soul Heavy unto Death Mark 14. 34. Can that be our joy which made the Lord Jesus a man of sorrows Isa. 53. 3. Did he cry out My God why hast thou forsaken me And shall not those Sins be forsaken by us which made Christ himself forsaken O let us look upon Sin with Indignation When a Temptation comes to Sin let us say as David 2 Sam. 23. 17. Is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives So Is not this the Sin that poured out Christ's Blood Let our Hearts be enraged against Sin When the Senators of Rome shewed the people Caesar's bloody Robe they were incensed against those that slew him Sin hath rent the White Robe of Christs Flesh and dyed it of a Crimson Colour let us then seek to be avenged of our Sins Under the Law if an Oxe gored a Man that he dyed the Oxe was to be killed Exod. 21. 28. Sin hath gored and pierced our Saviour let it dye the Death What pitty is it for that to live which would not suffer Christ to live 6. Was Christ's Body broken Let us then from his suffering on the Cross learn this Lesson Not to wonder much if we meet with Troubles in the World Did Christ suffer who knew no Sin And do we think it strange to suffer who know nothing but Sin Did Christ feel the anger of God And is it much for us to feel the anger of Men Was the Head crowned with Thorns And would the Members lie among Roses Must we have our Bracelets and Diamonds when Christ had the Spear and Nails going to his heart Truly such as are guilty may well expect the lash when he who was innocent could not go free 2. The second Use is of Exhortation and it hath several Branches 1. Was Christ's precious body broken for us Let us be affected with the great goodness of Christ Who can tread upon these hot Coals and his Heart not burn Cry out with Ignatius Christ my Love is crucified If a Friend should dye for us would not our Hearts be much affected with his Kindness That the God of Heaven should dye for us how should this stupendious mercy have a melting influence upon us The body of Christ broken is enough to break the most flinty Heart At our Saviour's Passion the very Stones did cleave asunder Mat 27. 51. The Rocks rent He that is not affected with this hath an Heart harder than the Stones If Saul was so affected with Davids Mercy in sparing his Life 1 Sam. 24. 16. How may we be affected vvith Christs kindness vvho to spare our life lost his ovvn Let us pray that as Christ vvas Crucifixus so he might be Cordi-fixus As he vvas fastened to the Cross so that he may be fastened to our Hearts 2. Is Jesus Christ spiritually exhibited to us in the Sacrament Let us then set an high value and Estimate upon him 1. Let us prize Christs body Every crumb of this bread of life is precious John 6. 55. My flesh is meat indeed It is Panis eximius supersubstantialis as Cyprian calls it The Manna was a lively Type and Emblem of Christ's Body Manna was sweet Exod. 16. 31. The taste of it was like wafers made with honey it was a delicious meat therefore it was called Angels Food for its excellency So Christ the Sacramental Manna is sweet to a Believer's Soul Cant. 2. 3. His fruit was sweet to my taste Every thing of Christ is sweet His Name is sweet his Vertues sweet This Manna sweetens the Waters of Marah Nay Christ's Flesh excells Manna 1. Manna was Food but not Physick If an Israclite had been sick Manna could not have cured him but this blessed Manna of Christ's body is not only for food but for medicine Christ hath healing under his wings Mal. 4. 2. He heals the Blind eve the hard Heart Take this mediâ—…ine next your Heart and it will heal you of all your spiritual Distempers 2. Manna was Corruptible It ceased when Israel came to Canaan But this blessed Manna of Christ's Body will never cease The Saints shall feed with infinite delight and Soul satisfaction upon Christ to all Eternity The Joyes of Heaven would cease if this Manna should cease The Manna was put in a golden Pot in the Ark to be preserved there So the blessed Manna of Christ's Body being put in the golden Pot of the Divine Nature is laid up in the Ark of Heaven for the Saints to feast upon for ever Well then may we say of Christ's blessed Body It is meat indeed The Field of Christ's Body being digged upon the Cross we find the Pearl of Salvation there 2. Let us prize Christ's Blood in the Sacrament It is drink indeed John 6. 55. Here is the Nectar and Anibrosia God himself delights to taste of This is both a Balsom and a Perfume That vve may set the higher value upon the blood of Christ I shall shevv you seven rare supernatural Vertues in it 1. It is a reconciling blood Col. 1. 21. You that were sometime alienated and enemies yet now hath he reconciled through death No sooner vvas the Message brought to King David Uriah is dead 2 Sam. 11. 21. but the anger of David vvas removed No sooner vvas the blood of Christ poured out but God's anger vvas pacified Christ's blood is the blood of atonement Nay it is not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not onely a Sacrifice but a Propitiation 1 John 2. 2. Which denoteth a bringing us into Favour with God It is one thing for a traytor to be pardoned and another thing to be brought into Favour Sin rent us off from God Christ's Blood doth soader and â—…cment us to God If we had had as much grace as the Angels it could not have wrought our Reconciliation If we had offered up Millions of Holocausts and Sacrifices if we â—…ad wept Rivers of Tears this could never have appeased an angry Deiâ—…y only Christ's blood doth ingraâ—…iate us into God's Favour and make him look upon us with a smiling Aspect When Christ dyed the Vail of the Temple was rent This was not without a Mystery to shew that â—…hrough Christ's blood the Vail of our Sins is rent which did interpose between God and us 2. Christ's blood is a quickning â—…lood John 6. 54. Whoso drinketh my blood hath eternal life It both â—…egets life and prevents death Lev. 17. 11. The life of a thing is in the â—…lood Sure enough the life of our â—…oul is in the blood of Christ. When we contract deadness of Heart
communicates influence only to its own Branches The wild Olive hath no fruit from the Vine Such as abide in the old stock of nature Branches of the wild Olive have no benefit from Christ. It is cold comfort to the Reprobate part of the world that there is a Vine growing which bears the fruit of Salvation as long as they remain strangers to Christ and hate to be united to him Fire will come out of this Vine to devour them 3. Bran. See the Goodness of God! When we had forfeited the fruit of Paradise â—…e hath given us a better tree then any grew there he hath enriched us with a pleasant Vine When Christ suffered now was this blessed Vine nailed to the Cross now it was cut and did bleed and Salvation comes to us in the blood of this Vine The gleaning Grapes here are better then the World's Vintage This Spiritual Vine 1. Chears the heart Curam metumque juvat dulci lyaeo solvere Horat. Are we sad in the sense of sin and think our selves unworthy to come to the Lords-Table this wine of Christ's blood is a Cordial It is both the Price and Seal of our Pardon 2. It strengthens the Vine hath a strengthning vertue So when our Graces are spiritually consumptive by tasting the fruit of this Vine we renew our strength in the Holy Celebration of the Lord's Supper fresh influence is communicated to us This Spiritual Vine did invigorate the Saints and Martyrs of old and infuse a spirit of Magnanimity into them That I may raise the Saints esteem of Christ and that they may come to the Sacred Supper with more eagerness to drink his Blood I shall show wherein this True Vine surpasseth in glory all other Vine-Trees 1. In the Vine there is something unuseful Though the fruit of the Vine be sweet yet the wood of the Vine is unuseful it is good for nothing Ezek. 15. 3. Shall the wood be taken thereof to do any work or will men take a Pin of it to hang any Vessel upon But it is not so with Christ there is nothing in this Vine but what is useful We have need of Christ's Humane Nature to suffer of his Divine to satisfie we have need of his Offices Influences Priviledges there is nothing in Christ we can be without 2. There are variety of Vine-Trees But there is but one True Vine that brings Redemption to Mankind The Papists would fetch comfort from more besides Christ From the Angels and the Virgin Mary The Angels themselves are beholding to this Vine the Lord Jesus they are by Christ confirmed in their obedience that they cannot fall And as for the Virgin Mary it is not her milk that saves but Christ's blood The Virgin Mary though she was Christ's Mother yet she calls Christ her Saviour Luk. 1. 47. The Virgin Mary is saved not by bearing the Vine but by being ingrafted into the Vine 3. The Vine bears but one sort of fruit 't is all but Grape But the Lord Jesus bears several sorts of fruit 1. This Vine bears the the fruit of Justification Rom. 5. 9. Being justified through his blood In Justification there is remission of sin and imputation of righteousness A Believer triumphs more in the Righteousness of Christ imputed than if he had Adams righteousness in innocency nay then if he had the Angels righteousness for now he hath the Righteousness of God 2 Cor. 5. 21. Without this a sinner is put into a continual Ague of Conscience but by virtue of Justification he arrives at an holy Serenity Rom. 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God 2. This Vine bears the fruit of Sanctification 1 Cor. 1. 30. He is made to us Sanctification A man may have pleasant fruit growing in his Orchard and others be never the better for it but holiness in Christ is diffâ—…sive this fruit is for all the Elect they are made holy with Christ's Holiness 3. This Spiritual Vine bears the fruit of Consolation Cant. 2. 3. His fruit was sweet to my tast This is a bunch of Grapes by the way when a Believer hath tasted some of this fruit from Christ he hath had such Transfigurations of soul and been filled with such ravishing delight that he could be ready to say as Paul Whether in the body I cannot tell He hath been put in Heaven before his time 4. A Branch may be cut off andâ—…separated from the Vine But no Branch shall be ever separated from Christ this Heavenly Vine The Arminians tell us A justified person may fall away finally Is not Christ a perfect Vine He is not perfect if a living Branch may be pluck'd off from him Hath not Christ said of his Elect They shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of his hand Joh. 10 28. If any Branch be pluck'd away from Christ it is either because Christ is not able to keep it or because he is willing to lose it He is able surely to keep it for he is strengthen'd with the God-head and he is not willing to loose it for why then would he have shed his blood for it So that no Branch shall be ever separated from the Coelestial Vine You may sooner pluck a Star out of the Sky than a true Believer from Christ. Indeed Hypocrites who look like Branches fall off but they were never really in the Vine They were in Christ by Profession not by Union They were tyed on to the Vine but not ingraâ—…d An Elect Branch can no more perish than the Root 5. The Wine that comes from the true Vine is better than any other 1. Wine from the Grape delightâ—… the Palat and revives the Animal spirits but Christ's blood chears the Conscience 2. One may take too great a quantity of Wine and then it bites as an Addar But it is otherwise with the Wine which Christ gives we cannot have too much of it as a man cannot have too much health Christ's blood is Pardoning and Pacifying and the more we drink of it the better the deeper the sweeter the death of the Soul is not by drinking too much of Christ's blood but by refusing to drink 3. Wine will chear a man when he is living not when he is dead Wine in a dead mans mouth loseth its vertue but Christ's blood hath such a flavour in it it doth so sparkle and is so full of spirits that it will fetch life in them that are dead If they are dead in sin the blood of Christ makes them revive Joh. 6. 54. He that drinks my blood hath eternal life 4. The Wine that comes from the Grape doth but chear mans heart but that Wine which is distilled from Christ the Heavenly Vine chears God's heart The Lord did smell a sweet savour in the Wine of Christ's Blood and was so infinitely pleased and delighted with it that for this he spared all Mankind Use 2. Labour to be real Branches of
THE HOLY Eucharist OR THE MYSTERY OF THE LORDS SUPPER Briefly Explained By THOMAS WATSON Minister of the Gospel The second Impression newly Enlarged Dedit nobis Christus carnem suam in cibum sanguinem in potum animam in pretium aquam lateris in lavacrum Bernard 1 Cor. 10. 21. Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's-Table and the Table of Devils LONDON Printed by A. Maxwel for Thomas Parkhurst at the Golden Bible on London-Bridge next the Gate To the Honourable Vertuous and my ever Honoured Friend Mrs. DOROTHY WOLSTENHOLM Madam BEsides the Cognizance I have had of you when it was my happiness to live among some of your Noble Relations your friendly deportment and the favourable Aspect which you have been pleased to cast upon me hath very much rendred me your Debtor And I knew not what other way to express my self grateful than by presenting yoâ—… with some of that Treasure which through the help of the Spirit I have digged out of the Sacred Mines of Scripture The Tractate which I here dedicate to you is small but the Subject treated on is of eminent and singular worth Pearls may lie in a little room and a soveraign Electuary may be given upon a Knive's point The Supper of the Lord is a matter of weighty importance as having in it the very pith and quintessence of the Gospel Madam Admire distinguishing Grace which hath made you Noble not only in blood but in spiritual Endowments How deeply are you obliged to God who hath given you an insight into the Mystery of Life which will abide with you when the Flower of Beauty shall fade and the Feathers of Honour must lie in the dust Madam let Jesus Christ be ever in your thoughts you are never out of his Let that dear Saviour lie as a bundle of Myrrh between your Breasts delight much in the Galleries where the King of Glory is held Let those hours be counted golden when you are at Free grace's Table and Christ sups with you and you with him I have no more at present to add only desire your Candid Interpretation kind reception of these few impolished lines So entreating the Lord to enrich you with all spiritual and eternal Blessings I take leave and rest Madam Yours to serve you Thomas Watson TO THE Reader Christian Reader VVHEN I Contemplate the Holiness and Solemnity of the blessed Sacrament I cannot but have some awe upon my Spirit and think my self bound to hold this Mystery in the highest Veneration The Elements of Bread and Wine are in themselves common but under these Symbolical Representations lie hid Divine Excellencies Behold here the best of dainties God is in this Cheer Here is the Apple of the Tree of Life Here is The House of Wine where the Banner of Free grace is gloriously displayed In the Sacrament we see Christ broken before us and his broken body is the only comfort for a broken Heart While we sit at this Tabâ—â— Christ's precious Spikenard of merit and grace sends forth its smell The Sacrament is both an healing and a sealing Ordinance Here our Saviour leads his people up the Mount of Transfiguration gives them a Glimpse of Paradise How welcome should this Jubilee of the Soul be wherein Christ appears in the oriency of his beauty and draws the golden 〈◊〉 of his love to the center of a Believer's Heart Oh what Flames of Devotion should burn in our Breasts How agil and nimble should we be mounting up as on Wings of Cherubims when we are to meet the Prince of Glory who brings the Olive-branch of Peace in his mouth and whose kisses leave a print of Heaven upon the Soul The scope of this ensuing Discourse is to raise an high value and appretiation of the Sacrament to Excite Holy Ardours of Soul in such as intend to partake of it Think not That it is enough to be outwardly devout at Gods Table drawing near to him with the lip when the Heart is far from him What is this but with Ephraim to compass God with Lyes They who put off God with bare shews he will put them off with bare signs They who give God only the skin of Duty shall carry away only the shell of Comfort Spirituality is the life of Worship If we come to the Sacrament in due order* we shall see him whom our souls love The Lord will give us a fore-crop here and reserve the after-crop of Glory for the Kingdom of Heaven That this may be effected shall be the earnest prayer of him who is Yours in the Work of the Gospel Thomas Watson THE MYSTERY of the Lords Supper MATT. 26. 26 27 28. And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to his Disciples and said Take eat this is my body And he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the Remission of sins IN these words we have the Institution of the Lords Supper The Greeks call the Sacrament 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Mystery There is in it a Mystery of Wonder and a mystery of Mercy The celebration of the Lords Supper saith St. Chrysostom is the Commemoration of the greatest Blessing that ever the World enjoyed A Sacrament is a Visible Sermon And herein the Sacrament excels the Word Preached The Word is a Trumpet to proclaim Christ the Sacrament is a Glass to represent him Quest. But why was the Sacrament of the Lords Supper appointed is not the Word sufficient to bring us to Heaven Answ. The Word is for the Ingrafting The Sacrament for the Confirming of Faith The Word brings us to Christ The Sacrament builds us up in him The Word is the Font where we are baptized with the Holy Ghost The Sacrament is the Table where we are fed and cherished The Lord condescends to our wâ—…akness Were we made up all of Spirit there were no need of Bread and Wine but we are compounded creatures therefore God to help our Faith doth not only give us an audible Word but a visible Sign I may here allude to that of our Saviour Joh. 4. 48. Except ye see signs ye will not believe Christ sets his Body and Blood before us in the Elements here are Signs else we will not believe Things taken in by the Eye do more work upon us than things taken in by the Ear. A Solemn Spectacle of Mortality doth more affect us than an Oration So when we see Christ broken in the Bread and as it were Crucified before us this doth more affect our Hearts than the bare Preaching of the Cross. So I come to the Text As they were eating Jesus took bread c. Where I shall open these five particulars in reference to the Sacrament 1. The Author 2. The Time 3. The Manner 4. The
Guests 5. The Benefits 1. The Author of the Sacrament Jesus Christ. Jesus took bread To Institute Sacraments belongs of right to Christ and is a Flower of his Crown He only who can give Grace can appoint the Sacraments which are the Seals of Grace Christ being the Founder of the Sacrament gives a Glory and a Luster to it A King making a feast adds the more state and magnificence to it Jesus took bread he whose Name is above every Name God blessed for ever 2. The Time when Christ did institute the Sacrament wherein we may take notice of two Circumstances 1. It was when he had supped Luk. 22. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 After Supper Which had this Mystery in it To shew that the Sacrament is chiefly intended as a spiritual Banquet it is not to indulge the Senses but to feast the Graces It was after Supper 2. The other Circumstance of Time is That Christ did appoint the Sacrament a little before his sufferings 1 Cor. 11. 23. The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread He knew troubles were now coming upon his Disciples it would be no small perplexing to them to see their Lord and Master crucisied and shortly after they must pledg him in a bitter Cup therefore to arm them against such a time and to animate their spirits that very night in which he was betrayed he gives them his Body and Blood in the Sacrament This may give us a good Hint That in all trouble of mind especially approaches of danger it is needful to have recourse to the Lords Supper The Sacrament is both an Antidote against fear and a Restorative to faith The night in which Christ was betrayed he took Bread 3. The Manner of the Institution wherein there are four things observable 1. The Taking of bread 2. The Breaking it 3. The Blessing it 4. The Administring the Cup. 1. The Taking of the Bread Jesus took bread Quest. What is meant by this Phrase He took bread Answ. Christ's taking and separating the bread from common uses did hold forth a double Mystery 1. It signified that God in his Eternal Decree set Christ apart for the work of our Redemption He was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Separate from sinners Heb. 7. 26. 2. Christ's setting the Elements apart from common Bread and Wine shewed That he is not for common Persons to feed on They are to be divinely purified who touch these holy things of God they must be outwardly separated from the World and inwardly sanctified by the Spirit Quest. Why did Christ take Bread rather than any other Element Answ. 1. Because it did prefigure Him Christ was typified by the Shew bread 1 King 7. 48. By the Bread which Melchisedeck offered unto Abraham Gen. 14. 18. And by the Cake which the Angel brought to Elias 1 Kings 19. 4. Therefore he took Bread to answer the Type 2. Christ took bread because of the Analogy Bread did neerly resemble him John 6. 48. I am that bread of life There is a threefold resemblance 1. Bread is useful Other comforts are more for delight than use Musick delights the ear colourâ—… the eye but Bread is the staff of Life So is Christ useful There is no subsisting without him John 6. 57. He that eateth me even he shall live by me 2. Bread is satisfying If a man be hungry bring him Flowrs or Pictures they do not satisfie but bread doth satiate So Jesus Christ the bread of the soul satisfies he satisfies the eye with beauty the heart with sweetness the conscience with peace 3. Bread is strengthening Psal. 104. 15. Bread which strengthens mans heart So Christ the bread of the soul transmits strength He strengthens us against temptations he gives strength for doing and suffering Work He is like the Cake the Angel brought to the Prophet 1 Kings 19. 8. He arose and did eat and went in the strength of that meat forty dayes and forty nights unto Horeb the Mount of God 2. The second thing in the Institution is Christs blessing of the bread He blessed it This was the Consecration of the Elements Christ by his Blessing sanctifyed them and made them Symbols of his Body and Blood Christ's consecrating of the Elements points out three things 1. Christ in blessing the Elements opened the nature of the Sacrament to the Apostles He did unriddle this Mystery Christ did advertise them That as sure as they did receive the Elements corporeally so sure they did receive him into their hearts spiritually 2. Christ's blessing the Elements signified his prayer for a Blessing upon the Ordinance He prayed that these Symbols of Bread and Wine might through the Blessing and Operation of the Holy Ghost sanctifie the Elect and seal up all spiritual mercies and priviledges to them 3. Christ's blessing the Elements was his giving thanks So it is in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He gave thanks 1. Christ gave thanks that God the Father had in the infinite riches of his Grace given his Son to expiate the Sins of the World And if Christ gave thanks how may we give thanks If he gave thanks who was to shed his blood how may we give thanks who are to drink it 2. Christ gave thanks that God had given these Elements of Bread and Wine not only to be signs but seals of our Redemption As the Seal serves to make over a conveyance of Land so the Sacrament as a spiritual Seal serves to make over Christ and Heaven to such as worthily receive it 3. The third thing in the Institution is the Breaking of the Bread He brake it This did shadow out Christ's Death and Passion with all the Torments of his Body and Soul Isa. 53. 10. It pleased the Lord to bruise him VVhen the Spices are bruised then they send forth a sweet savour So when Christ was bruised on the Cross he did send out a most fragant smell Christ's body crucifying was the breaking open a Box of precious oyntment which did fill Heaven and Earth with its perfume Quest. But why was Christs body broken What was the cause of his suffering Answ. Surely not for any desert of his own Dan. 9. 26. The Mesfiah shall be cut off but not for himself In the Original it is He shall be cut off and there is nothing in him There is no cause in him why he should suffer The high Priest when he went into the Tabernacle offered first for himself Heb. 9. 7. Though he had his Mitre or golden Plate and did wear holy Garments yet he was not pure and innocent he must offer sacrifice for himself as well as for the people But Jesus Christ that great High Priest though he offered a bloody Sacrifice yet not for himself Why then was his blessed body broken Answ. It was for our sins Isa. 53. 6. But he was wounded for our transgressions The Hebrew word for
Blood shed for them Rom. 11 7 The Election hath obtained it Christ passed by others and dyed intentionally for them Impenitent Sinners have no Benefit by Christ's Death unless a short Reprieve Christ is given to the wicked in wrath He is a Rock of Offence 1 Pet. 2 8. Christs Blood is like Chymical Drops of Oyl which recover some Patients but kill other Judas sucked Death from the Tree of Life God can turn Stones into Bread and a Sinner can turn Bread into Stones The Bread of Life into the Sâ—…ne of Stumbling 5. The fifth thing observable in the Text is the benefit of this Supper in these Words For the remission of sins This is a mercy of the first Magnitude the Summum genus the crowning blessing Psalm 103. 3 4. Who forgiveth thy iniquities who crowneth thee with loving-kindness Whosoever hath this Charter granted is enrolled in the book of Life Psal. 32. 1. Blâ—…ssed is he whose transgression is forgiven Under this Word remission of sin by a Synecdoche are comprehended all Heavenly Benedictions Justification Adoption Glory in respect of which benefits we may with Chrysostom call the Lords Supper The Feast of the Cross. This Doctrine of the Sacrament confutes the opinion of Transubstantiation When Christ saith This is my body The Papists affirm that the Bread after the Consecration is turned into the Substance of Christ's Body We hold that Christ's Body is in the Sacrament spiritually but the Papists say that it is there carnally which opinion is both Absurd and Impious 1. Absurd For it is contrary 1. To Scripture The Scripture asserts that Christs Body is locally and numerically in Heaven Act. 3. 21. Whom the Heavens must receive until the times of Restitution of all things If Christ's Body be circumscribed in Heaven then it cannot be materially in the Eucharist 2. It is contrary to reason How is it imaginable that a thing should be changed into another Species yet continue the same That the Bread in the Sacrament should be transmuted and turned into Flesh yet remain Bread still When Moses Rod was turned into a Serpent it could not be at the same time both a Rod and a Serpent That the Bread in the Saâ—…rament should be changed into the body of Christ and yet remain Bread is a perfect contradiction If the Papists say The Bread is vanished This is fitter to be put into their Legend than our Creed for the colour form and rellish of the Bread still remains 2. This Opinion of Transubstantiation is impious as appears in two things 1. It is a Profaning Christ's body for if the Bread in the Sacrament be the real body of Christ then it may be eaten not only by the wicked but by Reptils and Vermin which were to disparage and cast contempt upon Christ and his Ordinance 2. It runs men inevitably upon sin for through this mistake that the bread is Christs very body there follows the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Divine Worship given to the bread which is Idolatry as also the offering up of the bread or Host in the Mass which is a blasphemy against Christs Priestly Office as if his Sacrifice on the Cross were imperfect Therefore I conclude with Peter Martyr That this Doctrine of Transubstantiation is to be abhorred and exploded being minted only in mens phancies but not sprung up in the field of the Holy Scriptures 2. This Doctrine of the Sacrament confutes such as look upon the Lords Supper only as an empty Figure or shadow resembling Christ's Death but having no intrinsick efficacy in it Surely this glorious Ordinance is more than an Effigies or representative of Christ Why is the Lords Supper called The Communion of the body of Christ but because in the right celebration of it we have sweet communion with Christ In this Gospel-Ordinance Christ doth not only shew forth his Beauty but send forth his Vertue The Sacrament is not only a Picture drawn but a Breast drawn it gives us a Tast of Christ as well as a Sight Such as make the Sacrament only a representative of Christ do shoot short of the Mystery and come short of the Comfort Use. 2. It informs us of several things 1. It shews us the necessity of coming to the Lords Supper Hath Jesus Christ been at all this cost to make a Feast then sure there must be Guests It is not left to our choice whether we will come or no but it is a Duty purely indispensable 1 Cor. 11. 28. Let him eat of that Bread Which Words are not only permissive but authorative As if a King should say Let it be Enacted The Neglect of the Sacrament runs men into a Gospel-Premunire It was infinite goodness in Christ to broach that blessed Vessel of his body and let his sacred Blood stream out and for us wilfully to omit such an Ordinance wherein the Trophie of mercy is so richly displayed and our salvation so nearly concerned well may Christ take this as an undervaluing of him and interpret it no better than a bidding him keep his feast to himself He that observed not the Passeover that soul was to be cut off Numb 9. 13. How angry was Christ with those that stayed away from the Supper They thought to put it off with a Complement but Christ knew how to construe their excuse for a refusal Luk. 14. 24. None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my Supper The Rejecting Gospel-mercy is a sin of so deep a die that God can do no less than punish it for a Contempt Some need a Flaming Sword to keep them off from the Lord's Table and others need Christ's Whip of small Cords to drive them to it Perhaps Some will say They are above the Sacrament It were strange to hear a man say he were above his Food The Apostles were not above this Ordinance and doth any one presume to be a Peg higher than the Apostles Let all Enthusiasts consult that Scripture 〈◊〉 Cor. 11. 26. As often as ye eat this bread and drink this Cup. ye shew the Lords death till he come The Lords Death is to be remembred Sacramentally til he come to Judgment 2. See the Misery of Unbelievers though the Lord hath appointed this glorious Ordinance of his Body and Blood they reap no benefit by it They come indeed to the Sacrament either to keep up their Credit or to stop the Mouth of Conscience but they get nothing for their Souls They come empty of Grace and go away empty of Comfort Isa. 29. 8. It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty So wicked men fancy they eat of this spritual Banquet but they are in a golden Dream Alas They discern not the Lords body The Manna lay round about Israels Camp and they knew it not Exod. 16. 15. They wist not what it was
So carnal persons see the external Elements but Christ is not known to them in his saving Vertues There is honey in this spiritual Rock which they never taste They feed upon the bread but not Christ in the bread Isaac eat the Kid when he thought it had been Venison Gen. 27. 25. Unbelievers go away with the shadow of the Sacrament they have the Rind and the Husk not the Marrow They eat the Kid not the Venison 3. See in this Text as in a Glass infinite Love display'd 1. Behold the love of God the Father in giving Christ to be broken for us that God should lay such a Jewel to pawn is the Wonderment of Angels John 3. 16. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son It is a pattern of Love without a Parallel it was a far greater expression of Love in God to give his Son to dye for us than if he had voluntarily acquitted us of the Debt without any satisfaction at all If a Subject be disloyal to his Soveraign it argues more love in the King to give his own Son to dye for that Subject than to forgive him the wrong freely 2. Behold the amazing Love of Christ His body was broken The Cross saith St. Austin was a Pulpit in which Christ preached his Love to the World Let us see an holy Climax or Gradation of the Love of Christ 1. It was wonderful Love that Christ who never had the Viper of sin fastened on him should be reputed a sinner That he who hated sin should be made sin That he who is numbred among the Persons of the Trinity should be numbred among transgressours Isa. 53. 12. 2 That Christ should suffer peath Lord saith Bernard thou hast loved me more than thy self for thou didst lay down thy life for me The Emperour Trajan rent off a piece of his own Robe to bind up one of his Souldiers Wounds Christ rent off his own Flesh for us Nay that Christ should dye as the greatest sinner †having the weight of all mens sins laid upon him here was Love usque ad stuporem dulcis It sets all the Angels in Heaven a wondring 3. That Christ should dye freely John 10. 17. I lay down my Life There was no Law to enjoin him no Force to compel him It is called the Offering of the Body of Jesus Heb. 10. 10. What could fasten him to the Cross but the Golden Link of Love 4. That Christ should dye for such as we are What are we Not only Vanity but Enmity When we were fighting he was dying when we had the Weapons in our hands then had he the Spear in his Sides Rom. 5. 8. 5. That Christ dyed â—…or us when he could not expect to be at all bettered by us We were reduced to penury we were in such a condition that we could neither Merit Christ's Love nor Râ—…quite it for Christ to dye for us when we were at such a low Ebb was the very Quintessence of Love One Man will extend kindness to another so long as he is able to requite him but if he be fallen to decay then love begins to slacken and cool But when we were ingulphed in misery and were fallen to decay we had lost our Beauty stained our Blood spent our Portion then Christ dyed for us O amazing love which may swallow up all our thoughts 6. That Christ should not repent of his sufferings Isa. 53 11. He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied It is a Metaphor that alludes to a Mother who though she hath had hard Labour yet doth not repent â—…it when she sees a Child brought forth so though Christ had hard Travel upon the Cross yet he doth not repent of it but thinks all his Sweat and Blood well bestowed because he sees the Man-child of redemption is brought forth into the World He shall be satisfied the Hebrew Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies such a satiating as a man hath at some sweet repast or banquet 7. That Christ should rather dye for us than the Angels that fell They were creatures of a more noble Extract and in all probability might have brought greater Revenues of glory to God yet that Christ should pass by those Golden Vessels and make us Clods of Earth into Stars of Glory O the Hyperbole of Christ's Love 8. Yet another Step of Christ's Love for like the waters of the Sanctuary it riseth higher That Christ's Love should not cease at the hour of Death We write in our Letters Your Friend till Death But Christ wrote in another Style Your Friend after Death Christ dyed once 〈◊〉 loves ever He is now testify 〈◊〉 his Affection to us he is making the Mansions ready for us John 14. 2. He is interceding for us Heb. 9. 27. He appears in the Court as the Advocate for the Clyent When he hath done dying yet he hath not done loving what a stupendious love was here Who can meditate upon this and not be in an Extasie Well may the Apostle call it A love that passeth knowledg Eph. 3. 19. When you see Christ broken in the Sacrament think of this Love 4. See then what dear and intire affections we should bear to Christ who gives us his body and blood in the Eucharist If he had had any thing to part with of more worth he would have bestowed it upon us O let Christ lie nearest our Hearts Let him be our Tree of Life and let us desire no other Fruit â—…et him be our Morning Star â—…nd let us rejoice in no other Light As Christs Beauty so his Bounty should make him loved by us he hath given us his Blood as the Price and his Spirit as the Witness of our Pardon In the Sacrament Christ bestows all good things He both imputes his Righteousness and imparts his Loving-kindness He gives a Fore-taste of that Supper which shall be celebrated in the Paradise of God To sum up all In the blessed Supper Christ gives himself to Believers and what can he give more Dear Saviour how should thy Name be as Oyntment poured forth The Persians worship the Sun for their God let us worship the Sun of Righteousness Though Judas sold Christ for Thirty Pieces let us rather part with all than this Pearl Christ is that Golden Pipe through which the Golden Oyl of Salvation is transmitted to us 5. Was Christ's Body broken then we may behold Sin odious in the Red Glass of Christ's Sufferings It is true Sin is to be abominated as it turn'd Adam out of Paradise and threw the Angels down to Hell Sin is the Peace-breaker it is like an Incendiary in the Family that sets Husband and Wife at variance it makes God fall out with us Sin is the Womb of our Sorrows and the Grave of our Comforts But that which may most of all disfigure the Face of
and see the face of his own Soul The eye can see every thing but it self But this probatory work is necessary Because 1. If we do not examine our selves we are at a losse about our Spiritual estate we know not whether we are interested in the Covenant or whether we have a right to the Seal 2. God will examine us It was a sad question the Master of the Feast asked Mat. 22. 12. Friend how camest thou in hither not having a Wedding-garment So it will be terrible when God shall say to a man How camest thou in hither to my Table with a proud vain unbelieving heart What hast thou to do here in thy sins Thou pollutest my holy things What need therefore is there to make an heart-search before we come to the Lords-Supper We should examine our sins that they may be mortified our wants that they may be supplied our graces that they may be strengthened 2. We must come with serious hearts Our spirits are feathery and light like a Vessel without Ballast which flotes upon the water but doth not sail We flote in holy duties and are full of vain excursions even when we are to deal with God and are engaged in matters of life and death That which may consolidate our hearts and make them fix with seriousness is To consider God's eye is now especially upon us when we approach to his Table The King came in to see the Gnests God knows every Communicant and if he sees any levity and indecency of spirit in us unworthy of his presence he will be highly incensed and send us away with the guilt of Christ's blood instead of the comfort of it 3. We must come with intelligent hearts There ought to be a competent measure of knowledg that we may discern the Lords body As we are to pray with understanding 1 Cor. 14. 15. So ought we to Communicate at the Lords Table with understanding If knowledg be wanting it cannot be a reasonable service They that know not the mystery feel not the comfort We must know God the Father in his Attributes God the Son in his Offices God the Holy Ghost in his Graces Some say they have good hearts yet want knowledg We may as well call that a good eye which wants sight 4. We must come to the Sacrament with longing hearts Say as Christ With desire I have desired to eat of this Passeover If God prepares a Feast we must get a Stomack Why hath the Lord frowned upon his people of late but to punish their surfeit and provoke their appetite As David longed for the water of the Well of Bethlehem 2 Sam. 23. 15. So should we long for Christ in the Sacrament Desires are the Sails of the Soul which are spread to receive the gale of an Heavenly Blessing For the exciting holy desires and longings consider 1. The magnificence and royalty of this Supper It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Heavenly Banquet Isa. 25. 6. In this Mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things a feast of wine on the lees Here the juice of that Grape which comes from the true Vine Under these Elements of Bread and Wine Christ and all his benefits are exhibited to us The Sacrament is omnium aromatum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a repository and storehouse of Coelestial Blessings Behold here life and peace and salvation set before us All the Dulcia fercula the sweet delicacies of Heaven are served in at this Feast 2. To provoke Appetite consider what need we have of this spiritual repast The Angel perswaded Elias to take a little of the Cake and Cruse of water that he might not faint in his Journey 1 King 19. 7. Arise and eat because the Journey is too great for thee So truly we have a great Journey from Earth to Heaven therefore had need recruit our selves by the way How many sins have we to subdue how many duties to perform how many wants to supply how many graces to strengthen how many adversaries to conflict with so that we need a bait by the way by feeding upon the body and blood of the Lord We renew our strength as the Eagle 3. Consider Christ's readiness to dispense Divine blessings in this Ordinance Jesus Christ is not a sealing Fountain but a flowing Fountain 'T is but crying and he gives the Breast 'T is but thirsting and he opens the Conduit Rev. 22. 17. Let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely As the clouds have a natural propenseness to drop down their moisture upon the Earth So hath Christ to give forth of his gracious vertues and influences to the soul. 4. There is no danger of excess at this Supper Other Feasts do often cause Surfeit it is not so here The more we take of the bread of life the more healthful we are and the more we come to our spiritual complexion Fulness here doth not encrease humours but comforts in spiritual things there is no extream Though a drop of Christ's blood be sweet yet the more the better the deeper the sweeter Cant. 5. 2. Drink abundantly O beloved In the Original it is Be ye inebriated with my love 5. We know not how long this Feast may last While the Manna is to be had let us bring our Omer God will not always be spreading the Cloth If people lose their stomacks he will call to the Enemy to take away 6. Feeding upon Christ Sacramentally will be a good preparative to Sufferings The bread of life will help us to feed upon the bread of affliction The Cup of Blessing will enable us to drink of the Cup of persecution Christ's blood is a wine that hath a flavour in it and is full of Spirits Therefore Cyprian tells us When the Primitive Christians were to appear before the cruel Tyrants they were wont to receive the Sacrament and then they arose up from the Lords Table as Lyons breathing forth the fire of heavenly courage Let these considerations be as sawce to sharpen our appetite to the Lords Table God loves to see us feed hungrily upon the bread of life 5. If we would come prepared to this Ordinance we must come with penitent hearts The Passeover was to be eaten with bitter herbs We must bring our Myrrhe of Repentance which though it be bitter to us it is sweet to Christ Zac. 12. 10. They shall look upon me whom they have pierced and mourn over him A broken Christ is to be received into a broken heart We that have sinned with Peter should weep with Peter Our eyes should be broached with tears and our hearts steeped in the brinish waters of Repentance Say Lord Jesus though I cannot bring sweet Spices and perfume thy body as Mary did yet I will wash thy feet with my tears The more bitterness we taste in sin the more sweetness we shall taste