reason of the hope that is in you 1. Pet. 3.15 Phil. 2.11 Thus Peter made a bold profession of the death of Christ before the men of Iudaea Act. 2.14 3.10.18 4.8.9.10 c. 5.29 30. 10.34 35. c. all that dwelt at Ierusale before Cornelius his whole houshold So did Paule and all other the Apostles beeing not ashamed of his death whereby they and all the faithfull finde life 2 In life 1. By suffering crosses and afflictions for Christs sake We must looke to Iesus the Author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12.2 who for our sakes endured the Crosse and despised shame c. The seruant must not looke to bee aboue his Master Christ hath chalked the way and wee must walk after him through afflictions and troubles through sorrowes and crosses 2. Cor. 4.8.9.10 Paul tels vs that he did beare about in his body the dying of the Lord Iesus but how In this that he was troubled on euery side perplexed distressed persecuted cast down c. Vnto vs therefore it is giuen not onely to beleeue in Christ Phil. 1.30 but to suffer for his sakes Let vs take vp our Crosse and follow him knowing that afflictions and sufferings are the markes of the Lord Iesus in our body and that hee will not suffer vs to be tempted aboue that we are able 2 By a daily sorrowing and bleeding in our hearts shall Christ suffer for our sinnes and shall not wee whose sinnes they are be moued and affected The bleeding of our hearts with sorrow and the dropping downe of teares from our eyes may put vs in mind of his precious blood that dropped distilled downe from his sides The hardest Adamant that cannot be bruised with an hammer yet if it be steeped in the warme blood of a Goate it may be broken And surely the blood of Christ will supple and soften our hearts that we may lament and be sorry for him Zach. 12.10 as one that is sorry for his first borne The more wee mourne and weepe for our sinnes the more wee are put in mind of the sorrow and anguish Christ felt bleeding in his heart at his death when he cryed out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me 3 By dying vnto sinne Christ his death must bee like vnto the graue The graue consumes the body so the death of Christ must consumethe body of sinne This dying vnto sinne is called a crucifying of the old Man with all his workes Rom. 6.6 an vtter abandoning of sinne a selling of all that we possesse Mat. 13.14 a destroying of the body of sinne a mortifying of the deeds of the flesh Rom. 8.13 c. They that are Christs will shew forth his death by crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof Gal. 5.24 and in that Christ died vnto sinne once it may teach vs Rom. 6.10.11 euen vs that are redeemed by his blood to make this account reckoning with our selues to dye vnto sin euery day and to deny al manner of world lusts neuer walking after the flesh Tit. 2.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.4.9 though wee walke in the flesh The vse of this point is seeing God requireth at our hands the remembrance of Christ Vse and not onely so but that wee should shew forth his death Let vs then in the fear of God be carefull of this duty and shew forth his death till he come by magnifying his Name by making profession of the faith before the world by enduring troubles afflictions by inward sorrowing and weeping for our transgressions which were the sharp nails that entred into his precious body and by a daily dying vnto sinne But alas for the most part we forget Christ we neuer thinke on him wee seldome or neuer glorifie his holy Name as appeareth by our generall carelesnesse in all holy duties by our small account of Christs Passion by our ordinary cursing and swearing wee seldome or neuer make profession of the sauing faith vnlesse it bee cursorily or negligently for feare wee should bee disgraced in the world with the vpbraiding name of Puritans and nice Protestants or for feare of the losse of great mens fauour we neuer suffer for Christs sake but rather like Demas flie the troubles that are to come or if wee suffer it is as a malefactor 1. Pet. 4.15 or as a thiefe or an euill doer or as a busie-body in other mens matters Or for tumults in the Church by schisme and heresie or because we shame to be coūted Apostates and reuolters or because we desire to be honored as Martyrs We neuer mourne or take on for our sinnes but we remaine impenitent and lye in the hardnesse of our hearts neither doe we labour to kill sinne but it reignes in our mortall bodies which is the sword to kill Christ and as the poyson of a dragon in the mouth of Christ Thus wee put farre from vs the death of Christ Oh therefore if wee will looke to haue any part in Christ let vs not thus remaine in blindnesse and stubbornenesse let vs not thus blot Christ out of the booke of our memories but let vs so carry our selues that in euery thing wee take in hand we may remember him and shew forth his death Till he come There is a twofold comming of Christ one of bafenesse and humility which is his first comming and past already another of glory and power which is the second comming that we daily expect and of that doth our Apostle heere speake Till he come that is vntill Christs second comming to Iudgement From hence learne That At the last day Christ will come from heauen Doct. and visibly appeare in his manhood For the first Christ will come from heauen this is plaine in sundry places of Gods word Phil. 3.20 Our conuersation is in heauen frō whence we looke for the Sauiour Mat. 24.30 The Son of man shall come in the clouds of heauen Act. 1.11 This Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen shall so come as ye haue seene him goe into heauen And againe 1. Thes 4.16 The Lord shall descend from heauen This needs no furt her proofe It is a thing that we all beleeue and confesse that Christ beeing ascended into heauen and sitting at the right hand of God will come againe from heauen in his appointed time This may reproue many sectaries Vse and Atheisticall mockers of Christs second comming First the Carpocratians the Caians Porphyrie and other Sadducean heretiques that deny the Resurrection and the day of Iudgement when Christ should come they take away the cause and the end of his comming so by consequence they deny his second appearance Secondly the Iewes who fasten both their eyes so stedfastly vpon his first comming the basenesse and humility thereof that they haue no leisure to thinke of his second glorious appearance they
kind of punishments that the wicked Tyrants and instruments of the diuell could lay vpon them some of the godly had trialls of mockings He. 11.35.36 c. scornings bonds and imprisonment others were stoned others sawne asunder others slaine with the sword c. Yet they remained patient in all these for Christs sake and were boldened through him to say with Ignatius Come fire crosse wilde beasts Euseb hist Eccle. lib. 8. Chap. 7. slaughter tearing of bones dismembring the parts of my body yea let all the torments of the diuell rush vpon me so I may enioy Christ better for me to be a Martyr then a Monarch my loue is crucified Vse 1 1. This may confute the Papists that hold Christs passion of small worth without their owne sufferings merits and satisfactions they say it serueth onely to take away originall sin but as for other sinnes they must bee put away by the sacrifice of the masse their merits and sufferings Oh blasphemie intollerable and most derogatorie from the merits of Christs passion Ob. Did not Paul say of himselfe Ob. I reioyce in my sufferings for you Col. 1.24 and fulfill the rest of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his bodies sake which is the Church Here the Apostle suffered for the Church Sol. Such sense Sol. and meaning cannot bee gathered from this place as they haue deuised soâ— first if it should be sayd that the Apostle Paul fulfilled all the rest of Christ his afflictions as if some part of them had not bin fulfilled in Christ then this would follow That something was wanting in Christs passion and so the price of our Redemption was not fully payd This is an absurditie the meaning is rather this Hee fulfilled the rest of Christs afflictions That is he suffered with Christ not equally nor as Christ did nor yet to adde anything to Christ his afflictions Phil. 3.10 but to shew the fellowship of his afflictions Copula ponitur vice causalis Cal. And that in all his troubles and sufferings he had Christ as a companion to beare a part with him this is that the Apostle saith in diuerse places Rom. 8.17 If wee suffer with him we shall be glorified with him Whatsoeuer our sufferings are wee doe not suffer alone but Christ suffereth with vs And in another place 2. Cor. 1.5 The sufferings of Christ abound in vs. Our sufferings are not ours alone but they are Christs as well as ours By this that hath beene spoken wee see that the sufferings of massing Papists are of no value And albeit they may brag of their superabundance of merits and sufferings which are not layd vpon them by others Flagellarij but by themselues in their scourgings whippings beatings c. yet they shal do them no good Rom. 8.18 I account the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory which shall bee shewed vnto vs. Let vs therefore cast off this cursed doctrine of the enemies of God and relie vpon Christs passion and sufferings acknowledging with the blessed Martyr None but Christ Martyr Lambert none but Christ Vse 2 Vse 2. This ought to breake and bruise all our harts with godly sorrow for our sinnes If Christ was grieued and broken for mans cause being free from sin himselfe much more ought we to be greeued and broken in heart for our sinnes which were the cause of his suffering of the breaking of his body and of the shedding of his blood Men must not take pleasure in sinne make a spott and pastime of sinne but mourne and lament for sinne The Prophet Zacharie tels vs that the Church shall mourne for Christ Zac. 12.10.12 They shall looke vppon him whom they haue pierced and lament for him as a father for his first borne and mourning shall be in Ierusalem like that of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo not for feare of punishment hell and destruction but for sinnes whereby wee haue pierced and wounded our most blessed Sauiour At his passion the Sun Moone and earth seemed to relent how can we then to whom all the benefits of his passion redounded bee so hardened in heart like brasse but be touched with compunction Oh then let it pricke vs at the very heart to see him lie groueling on the ground in a bloody sweat and let our hearts rise vp within vs at the committing of the least sin whatsoeuer which hath cast him into so strange an Agonie and paine Vse 3 Vse 3. This must teach vs to endure many hardshipps willingly and readily for his sake if we will be Christs disciples Mat. 10.38 Luk. 9.23 we must take vp our crosse and follow him If the Author and Prince of our saluation was consecrated by afflictions Luk. 24.26 ought not Christ to suffer these things and so to enter into his glory Then ought not wee to thinke strange of sufferings as if some new thing hapned to vs 1. Pet. 4.12 but wee must submit our selues to the whippe and scourge as the Lords appointment and so enter into fellowship of Christs kingdom our Sauiour hath drunke to vs in the cup of his passion Mat. 20.22 as he sayd to the two sonnes of Zebedeus and we must pledge him when occasion is offered For vnto vs it is giuen Phil. 1.29 that not onely wee should beleeue in him but also suffer for his sake 4. Action he gaue the bread and wine intimated and gathered from hence that hee sayd Take Hee gaue the bread and wine and kept them not backe as the Papists do whose Priests stand all alone at the Altar and â—ate and deuoure all alone by themselues And that which he did giue it was willingly and with a free heart no constraint egging and constraining him thereto And in that Christ did thus willingly giue himselfe wee may obserue Doct. That Christs suffering was a free will offering Isay 53.10 He made his soule an offering for sin and himselfe of no reputation Phil. 2.7.8 in that he humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto the death of the Crosse And hee testifieth of himselfe No man taketh my life from mee but I lay it downe of my selfe Ioh. 10.18 This willing Sacrifice may bee so noted by these circumstances 1. When the time was at hand that hee should suffer he tells his Disciples that he must go to IerusaleÌ„ many things must be layd to his charge which he must suffer there Peter wished him neuer to suffer any thing but to fauor himselfe for which labour hee called Peter Sathan Get thee behind me Sathan 2. When hee was at Ierusalem he neuer went about to withdraw himselfe from the Iewes as hee had formerly done nor to seeke starting hoses to hide his head in but hee went to his accustomed place of prayer a little beyond the brooke Cedron Ioh. 18.1.2 which place Iudas knew well 3. When Iudas and al his route
make a supply And for this Sacrament of the Lords Supper it will direct thee in euery particular thereof It may be thou knowest not what this Sacrament is goe to the Word it will teach thee and tell thee that it is an ordinance of God whereby Christ and all his benefits in externall tites are represented sealed and most certainly coÌ„ueyed to euery faithfull Christian It may be thou knowest not how Faith is nourished by this Sacrament Goe to the Word againe it will teach thee 1. That Christ gaue himselfe for thee Phil. 2.8 Tit. 2 14. 2. That the bread and wine which thou doest take eate and drinke are by Faith the body and blood of Christ the onely comfort and nourishment of thy soule and so thy faith may bee confirmed Ioh. 6.48.51 It may bee that thou doubtest of thy selfe and canst not tell whether thou art a worthy receiuer of this Sacrament or no Goe to the Word and it will teach thee that if there be first Repentance Marke 1.15 Secondly Faith Ephesi 3.16.27 Thirdly Loue 1. Corinth 10.17 Fourthly Thanksgiuing Luke 22.24 Then thou art a worthy receiuer I might instance in other points of this Sacrament but these are sufficient to confirme vs in this point That recourse vnto Gods Word is the meanes to helpe and further vs to the knowledge of all points in this Sacrament Psal 119.11.105 Oh let vs hide the Word of God in our hearts Oh let not the Booke of the law depart out of our mouthes Ioshu 1.8 but let vs meditate therein day and night let vs obserue and do according to all that is written therein Neuer shall we be able to performe the duties that God requireth nor auoyde the sinnes that God forbiddeth till wee binde the precepts of the Word vpon our heart Prou. 2.16 Ps 119.97 and tie them about our necks that they may be our continuall meditation Thus much of the first point Againe the Apostle saith hee receiued of the Lord that c. Hee doth not say that men sent him or that any one taught him how to speake or deliuer his message but he had all from the Lord Iesus Hence we learne That Gods Ministers receiue their Order from the Lord Doctr. 2. they are fitted and qualified by the Lord to their Ministerial function So Paule speakes of himselfe that he had nothing as of himselfe but all was from God I receiued of the Lord that which I deliuered And whensoeuer God sent any to his people hee gaue him first his gifts and graced him with heauenly parts of wisedom and endowments of spirituall knowledge as may appeare in Esay the Prophet whom God sent forth to his people one of the Seraphins touched his mouth with a coale from the Altar Esay 6.8 that he was sensible of the supply of Grace and found himselfe ready to goe as the Lord would imploy him So likewise in Ezekiel of whom it is said That the Word of the Lord came expresly to Ezekiel the Priest Ez. 1.3 c. 2.2 and the Spirit into him to furnish him Ths Lord encouraged Ieremie when he cried out I am but a child and told him Behold Ier. 1.6.9 feare not I haue put my words in thy mouth So our Sauiour Christ told his Disciples that he would make them fishers of men that is that they should bee fit for the seruice to which hee ordained theÌ„ Ioh. 20.22 thereupon he breathed on them the holy Ghost and endued them with power froÌ„ on high Luk. 24.24 It is plaine then that no Ministers doe come from the Lord without his orders Reas 1 1 Because it is contrary to the grounds of Gods holy wisedome to send any without their orders and gifts As vineger is to the teeth and smoake to the eyes Pro. 10.26 Pro. 29.6 so is the sloathfull to them that send him No wise man will send a foole of an errand no more will God entrust a dumb greedy dog with his Embassage Reas 2 2 As all the faults and absurdities in word and worke of foolish and sinfull seruants are imputed to the reproach of their masters that imploy them So if any messenger comming from the Lord should either miscarry or deliuer a false message or giue liberry or tollerâ—tion to commit sinne or adde or diminish his message the fault would not so much be laid on the messenger as on God that sent him therefore the Lord hath bene euer especially carefull to send forth none but such as haue beene well qualified and might deale truely with him in the deliuery of his message Reas 3 3 God fitteth and furnisheth his seruants with gracious gifts 1. that by their industrious discreete faithfull and sound dealing God might gaine credit and glory to himselfe Pro. 25.13 Salomon telleth vs that a faithfull messenger refresheth the soule of his master that sent him how much more then will the Lord bee delighted with and shall haue his Name glorified by the diligence prudency and faithfulnesse of those whom hee sendeth abroad into his haruest filled with all knowledge of his will 2. That his Church might thriue for when the wholesome doctrine of the Word is deliuered by those that are furnished and prepared therewith then the graces of Gods people may be stirred vp in them and others may bee added to the Church thereby and no maruell if the people thriue and grow when their Pastors giue them their meate in due season feed them with knowledge and vnderstanding Ier. 3.15 3. That they might gaine reuerence and estimation to their persons They that labour in Word and Doctrine are worthy of double honor 1. Tim. 5.17 Paule testifieth of the Galatians that they esteemed so reuerently of him Gal. 4.14 as that they receiued him as an Angel of God that is as a messenger sent ready furnished to them of the Lord. And the same Apostle when hee sent Epaphroditus a faithfull Minister and his companion in labour to the Philippians hee bids them receiue him with all gladnesse in the Lord Phil. 2. that is as one come vnto them from God These are the reasons to proue that God will first fit and furnish his seruants before they shall go forth to deliuer his message The Vses Vse 1 1 This may reproue those that thrust theÌ„selues into the Lords businesse without his warrant that runne before they bee sent Ier. 23.21 such bee no Ministers of the Lord he hath not put them into orders though they stand vp in the Pulpit yet they are none of his Preachers they are counterfeit Dogge-leaches and pretenced Chyrurgions they are idle and lazie they are couetous and flatterers they are foolish and ignorant c. All which prouoketh the Lord to refuse them that they shall bee no Priests vnto him Hosea 4.6 Obiect Obiect But the most vnworthy of them are euer boasting of their calling they are called of the Church
to water Sol. now may not water that passeth through a woodden or stony channell which it selfe is so vndisposed that it cannot receiue or haue any benefit of it make a whole garden fruitfull So it is in this Sacrament thogh it come throgh a woodden or a polluted vessell a bad Minister Ob. But by communicating with him Ob. wee communicate in his sinne Sol. Hee that receiueth the Sacrament at the hands of an Adulterer Sol. is not made thereby an Adulterer nor partakes of his Adulterie If wee either made him Minister or communicated with his insufficiency which our soules groane vnder some part of the guilt would sticke to our singers But wee communicate onely in the Lords ordinances so farre as hee is able to administer and iustifie not the lawfulnesse of his calling but that bee onely is in the place of a Minister whom wee cannot auoide vnlesse wee will put away the Lord in refusing his Sacraments Ob. But what say you to a dumbe Minister Ob. He is no Minister and therefore he can performe no ministeriall action His Sacraments also are no Sacraments Sol. For themselues Sol. I say their ministery it vnlawfull to themselues and without repentance a certaine matter of destruction 2. I cannot blame those who with their owne and the Churches peace do auoid them 3. We must distinguish betweene such a man and a meere priuate man for althogh they bee not good and lawfull Ministers of God yet because they come in the roome of Ministers by the election of the Church to whom God gath giuen power to ordaine them they are now publique persons and Ministers though not good ones 4. Being thus enabled by the Church to giue what they can and bound by being in the place of a Minister though hee come neuer so inordinately to administer Sacraments wee may receiue from him what hee can giue Ob. But how may I partake Ob. where open sinners are tollerated to receiue the Sacrament do not I partake in their sins Sol. Christ was content to wash in a common water Sol. in the flood Iordan hee feared no infection from it Though Naaman the Leper were washed there though the Pharises and Hypocrites washed there yet hee takes no exception contracts no vncleannesse So the wickednes of another communicant doth not preiudice him that is rightly prepared though hee communicate with him in the Sacrament yet not in his sinne No mans sinne can defile another or make Gods promise in vaine nor the scale of it to him that is no way accessary to it neither hath it power to hinder him from the Sacrament Do this in remembrance of me Here is the end of Christs commandement hee bids vs celebrare this Sacrament that wee may remember him not that wee should thinke him present with his body nor that the bread is turned or transsubstantiated for remembrance belongs not to things present and before the face but to things absent but that so often as we partake of this Supper wee might call his loue in sacrificing himselfe for vs to our mindes Our aduersaries leaue out this piece of Scripture as a thing pertaining to no purpose yet they are so necessary that without the knowledge of thē the Sacrament profiteth little Or if they do not leaue out these words yet they whisper them to themselues that no man may be the better for their doings and that the people may be kept still in blindnesse But the maine reason why they make these words out-casts and as without a father is because they make against their transsubstantiation If we do al in this Sacrament in remembrance of Christs body which was broken like the bread it is an argument that his body is not there For remembrance is as I sayd before of things absent we cannot be sayd to remember but rather to see that which is before vs. Let the Papists well remember themselues that they are out of the right way Christ is not bodily present in the Sacrament when he bids vs do this in remembrance of his body But seeing Christ doth in this his institution cōmand vs to celebrate his Supper in remembrance of him we may learne this lesson That Wee are very inclinable to forgetfulnesse Doct. else Christ would not so much haue pressed vpon vs this duty of remembrance He thought that we would not thinke of his loue towards vs vnlesse he had giuen vs a memento whereby we might be put in mind of it and indeede soone do we forget Christ without a speciall token of remembrance And that because Reas 1. 1. Our naturall corruption and vncleanenesse of our hearts and minds is such a cursed fruite of originall sinne as that it filles vs full of wicked thoughts and carnall meditations and makes vs cast off all care of Christ as if wee had nothing to do with him Reas 2 2. We haue no loue nor delight in him al our loue and delight is in worldly things and idle vanities If wee thought that all our spirituall treasure were in Christ and that with the gaining of him wee should gaine all heauenly blessings we could not so easily forget him But our hearts can harolie bee perswaded thereunto and all we gape after is nothing else but filthy lucre Reas 3 3. There is such pride of heart in euery one of vs through the vnthankfull abuse of our prosperity that we neuer minde Christ whereas store of benefits should lift vs vp to a perpetuall remembrance of the author and giuer of them on the contrary they so lift vs vp to a pride of our selues that we forget him So complaines the Prophet According to then pasture so were they filled Hose 13.6 they were filled and their heart was exalted therefore they haue forgotten the Lord their God Vse Seeing we are so forgetfull of our Sauiour Christ Vse that hath done so much good for vs as the world cannot comprehend Let vs labour not only to see this our sinne of forgetfulnesse but also to subdue it which that wee may performe with care and conscience let vs consider the grieuousnesse of it and the greatnesse of the punishment threatned against it The grieuousnesse of it appeareth by the Lords often forbidding of it Deu. 4.23 et 8.11 Take heede to your selues lest you forget the couenant of the Lord And againe Beware thou Jorget not the Lord thy God 2. Forget fulnesse is a kind of Atheisthe Psal 10.4.11 for they who are forgetfull haue no impression of God not his Sonne Christ engrauen in their heart minde and soule 3. It is the mother nurce of many sinnes it goth not alone but carrieth many sins with it whereof it commeth to passe that forgetfulnesse and transgressions are ioyned together as the cause and the effect It was the cause of the idolatry of Israell of her sacrifice to diuells Deu. 32 15 17 18. of her comtempt of Gods messengers of her selfe conceite of
peruerting her way Ier. 3.21 Iudg. 3 7. of doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord c. And now speake by way of reproofe to any one that hath done amisse Why Sir why did you sweare prophane the Lords Sabbaoth deale iniuriously commit that act of vncleannes speake vainely and idly c. Did you not heare the Minister reproue these the other day His answere will bee Surely I had quite forgotten and neuer remembred Thus you see forgetfulnesse is the cause of many great sinnes Secondly as this sinne is grieuous so the punishment of it is fearefull 1. Isa 49.14 They that forget God shall be forgotten of God that is Lam. 5.20 hee will withdraw his loue from them 2. They shall be vexed with barrennesse Hos 4.6 and death 3. With desolation and destruction of their cities Isa 17.10 4. With bondage Hos 8.14 and subiection vnder Tyrants 1. Sam. 12.9 5. The Lord will scatter thē as the stuble that passeth by the wind of the wildernesse 6. Ier. 13.24.25 Ier. 18.17 They shal be ouerthrown in the day of battell 7. They shal beare their lewdnes and their iniquity Eze. 23.35 which is a burthen intollerable 8. Lastly they shall be punished with the torments of hel The wicked shall be turned into hell Psal 9.17 and all the nations that forget God hell death and eternall destruction shal be their portion Now therefore that we may auoide the grieuous and fearefull punishments inflicted vpon this sinne let vs euer set our selues in Gods presence As the Lords eie is in euery place to behold the euill and the good Pro. 15.3 so let the eie of our minds be stedfastly fixed on him this is a matter of especiall behoofe to be well thought vpon Secondly when we go about sin let vs remember Christ how it was our sinnes that caused him to shed his most precious blood let vs apply him to our hearts by faith For Reas 1 1. This remembrance of Christ will keepe and preserue vs from sinne lest we crucifie againe to our selues by our sins the Lord of life Reas 2 2. It will recouer vs out of sinne being fallen into it Peter when hee once remembred Christ Mat. 26.75 and his words what did he then surely the text sayth He went out and wept bitterly and so became penitent euen so if we haue sinned and cal to mind the great loue of Christ who came downe from heauen to die for our sinnes to rise for our righteousnesse it will make vs if there be any spark of grace in vs weepe mourne for our sins that we may become penitēt reformed 3. It wil helpe to strēgthen our faith to increase our loue towards him Reas 3 as when one friend calles to mind such and such tokens another friend gaue him is set further in loue vpon the remembrance to him that did bestow them So it may be with vs the oftner we remēber Christ in this Sacrament the deeper impression of loue it will worke in vs. Ob. But my memory is short will some man say Ob. and I cannot remember Christ as I ought Sol. But tell me this one thing I pray you Sel. as short as your memory is did you euer forget where you laid your treasure No I warrant you that will alwayes be remembred though you layd it vp many dayes ago But shall I tel you how it comes to passe that so seldome Christ is remembred The fault is not in thy memory but in the will thou wantest a good will and a loue vnto Christ a man will neuer forget that thing hee loueth best he will hide it in his heart as Dauid did Gods word Psa 119.11 If therefore thou hadst a delight loue vnto Christ thou wouldest vse all meanes to rectifie thy memory that he might not be forgotten Vers 25. After the same manner also he tooke the Cup when hee had supped saying This Cup is the new Testament in my blood c. Hitherto wee haue spoken of both seruices at this Table viz. The bread and the Cup and also of all circumstances and actions touching them both yet somewhat remaineth behind in this verse to be spoken of that concerneth the second part of this Sacrament After hee had supped he tooke the Cup The Apostle seemes to expresse and note some difference of time betweene the giuing of the bread and the giuing of the Cup and the Euangelists agree with him therein fierienim potest c. as Maister Caluin sayth It may be that in the Interim betweene the deliuery of the bread In locum and the wine Christ preached or prayed he was not idle nor ill occupied quia nihil agebat extraneum à mysterio Because hee neither did any thing nor spake any word diuerse from or contrary to this holy mysterie The Ministers calling is no idle calling Doct. 1. but a calling of labour and great emploiments when hee hath dispatched one worke he must beginne another and when they are both ended he must set afresh on them againe When our Sauiour hath administred the bread he then prayeth or preacheth after that he deliuereth the wine c. He was alwayes employed The ministers taske is endles 1. Thes 5.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Tim. 5.17 They must labour among you in word and doctrine The word there vsed doeth fignifie to labour vnto wearines And in another place Paul describing the office of a faithfull Minister 1. Tim. 3.1 saith If any man desire the office of a Bishop he desireth a worthy worke whereupon one sayd well Episcopatus nomen est operis nonhonoris August the office of a Bishop is a name of labour not of honour The names that are giuen to them in Scripture Eze. 3.17 Mat. 9.38.12.2 1. Cor. 3.9 2.5.20 Ioh. 10.2 Luk. 5.10 betoken labour and diligence they are called Watchmen Labourers Husbandmen Seedsmen Embassadours Shepheards Fishers c. Though their calling bee an high and an honourable calling yet it is a calling of labour not of case they go out of one Loome into another sometimes they are employed in prinate study first they learne by study what is fit to be taught 1. Tim. 3.2 sometimes they are imployed in priuate prayer for their people like Samuel God forbid saith he that I should sin against Lord 1. Sam. 12.23 and ceasse praying for you here hee promised neuer to giue ouer this duty for his people Sometimes they are employed in visiting the sicke in godly conference in Christian and heauenly admonitions and reproofes sometimes againe they are employed in painefull and diligent preaching of the Word in administring the Sacraments and many other holy ordinances and exercises so as we see they cannot bee idle but instant in season out of season 1 This Doctrine serueth to reproue those people 2. Tim. 4.2 Vse who account the Ministers calling a
Can. comperimus autem quod quidam sumptâ c Anno 494. Pope Gelasius ordained that all Christians spiritual and temporall should receiue the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ in both kindes and hee that would not should abstaine from both Pope Iulius the first Ibid. Cum omne c. Anno. 338. commanded that the people should receiue both the bread and the wine one seuerall from another Pope Eugenius the fourth allowed of Christs institution when the Councell holden at Basile concluded that according to Christs institution the people shold receiue the Sacrament in both kinds Anno 1430. 7 Lastly they speake much for charity but yet there is none to be found in their Sacrament For what charity is there where one drinkes vp all alone If their Sacrament were a Sacrament of charity and loue then the members of Christ might not only eate thereof but also drinke The Cup of blessing which we blesse 1. Cor. 10 16. is it not a communion of the blood of Christ and againe Do we not all partake the same bread But the Masse-monger he eates and drinkes vp all by himselfe contrary to Christs commandement and the order of charity so as he makes the Lords Supper a Sacrament of hatred and dissention rather then of loue and vnity Verse 26. For as often as yee eate this bread and drinke this cup yee do shew the Lords death till he come The Apostle hauing set downe the institution of this Sacrament now proceedeth to the end and vse of it and teacheth vs how wee may remember the death of Christ how the vertue thereof may bee sealed and stamped in our consciences For as often c. That is whensoeuer you are partakers of the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ and necessary it is that we should often communicate You shew forth the Lords death or you shal shew forth the Lords death The word vsed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth to declare or set forth And according to the sense of the Ancient Hebrewes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deu. 20.3 it signifieth to praise or giue thankes or to make profession It is much at one with that which was spoken before Do this in remembrance of me till he come till the day of Iudgement when Christ will perfonally appeare at that time wee shall neede no shewes nor simbolls of him for then hee will shew himselfe from heauen bodily that all men may behold him visibly but till that time come this Sacrament is a shew of his death and a remembrance of his person So often as yee eate From this word Often here vsed of the Apostle we learne this Doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That This holy Communion of the Lords Supper Doct. ought at sundry and diuers times to be celebrated and administred of the Pastor and receiued of the people This the Apostle giueth vs to vnderstand in that he saith So often as ye eate taking it for granted that it is not sufficient for vs to eate once or twice by the yeare at this blessed Table and of this holy Supper but we must eate thereof often as time and occasion may coÌ„ueniently serue Hence wee see in the Olde Testament though the people of God were but once circuÌ„cised yet often and sundry times they receiued the Passeouer and eate the Paschall Lambe So though we be but once baptized yet we are to be made frequent partakers of the Lords table For a man is borne but once Reason but hee encreaseth still till he come to a perfect growth euen so a Christian is but once borne of water and the Spirit and so by baptisme is receiued into Gods Church but being in the Church hee daily encreaseth or ought to encrease till he becom a perfect man in Christ and therefore answerably this Sacrament of the Lords Supper must often be receiued beeing a signe a speciall meanes and help of our growing forward in Christ Omnibus diebus dominicis comunicandâ—â— suadeo Aug. My counsell is saith one that euery Lords day this blessed Sacrament bee receiued Vse Here two sorts of people may greatly bee reproued Vse First all such whether they bee teachers or people that content themselues with receiuing this holy Sacrament but once a yeare they thinke it sufficient and therefore they will trouble themselues no more with it this plainely sheweth their superstitious madnesse in their choyce of one day in the yeare viz. Easter day and no other for the receiuing of this Sacrament and it bewrayeth their little care of the remembrance of Christ of his death sufferings and shedding of his blood for remission of sinnes 2 All such may be reproued that when occasion is offered yet for negligence slothfulnesse ignorance malice hatred or for clearing themselues of hypocricy as some say c. will not receiue they will absent themselues on purpose neuer considering this duty of often receiuing which was coÌ„manded by Christ binds the conscience It may bee that thou art not prepared that thou liest in sinne without repentance that thou hast hatred enuy and malice boyling in thy heart against thy neighbour In this taking thou art not to lye still but to vse double diligence in preparing thy selfe in repenting of thy sinnes in seeking reconciliation with thy brethren otherwise thou doest depriue thy selfe of that singular fruite and great good which may bee reaped from the receiuing of this Sacrament This point hath beene handle before and by Gods assistance shall bee more largely spoken of in our treatise touching the duties of Communicants Yee shew the Lords death This is a special end of this Sacrament and teacheth vs that wee ought often to remember Christ Doct. and to shew forth his death this is a speciall thing which God requireth at our hands and for this end and purpose he hath enioyned vs this Sacrament And Christ also willeth vs in the eating of this sacramentall bread and drinking this sacramentall cup to remember him for in so doing wee shall shew forth his death till he come Christs death is shewed forth either in word or in life 1 In word First by praysing and magnifying God for his mercies in Christ especially for our Redemption wee are made a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people 1. Pet. 2 9. that wee might set forth the vertues of him that hath called vs out of darkenesse into his marueilous light therefore Blessed be the Lord God of Israel Luk. 1.68.69 because he hath visited and redeemed vs and raised vp the horne of Saluation vnto vs in the house of his seruant Dauid yea blessed be the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Eph. 1.3 who hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in heauenly things 2 By making a confession and profession of Christ his death before our enemies Bee you ready alwayes to giue an answer to euery man that asketh you a