it Representeth Christ and his benefits to the Eye and every Sense 1 Joh. 1.1 2. whereas in the Ministry of the Word he is Represented to the Ear only 2. As it is a Seal annexed to the Covenant of Grace 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. Q. What are the signs in the Lords Supper A. Bread and Wine The Signs and the Actions of the Minister and the Receivers in and about them Q. What is signified by the Bread and Wine A. The Body and Blood of Christ Things signified Q. But the Body and Blood of Christ are in Heaven and how then can we receive that being here on earth A. Although we receive Christ truly and really yet not corporally or carnally but spiritually by faith Joh. 6.3 Faith goeth from Earth to Heaven and taketh hold on Christ and the Spirit comes from Heaven to Earth and applyeth Christ unto us 1 Joh. 4.24 Q. But the Papists say the Bread and Wine are transubstantiated or turned into the very body and blood of Christ and therefore we receive him not only Spiritually but Corporally A. That is a false gross and absurd Doctrine contrary to Scripture sense and reason 1. Contrary to Scripture which expresly saith The Heavens must contain him untill the restitution of all things Acts 3.21 And at the last day he shall descend from Heaven with a shout 1 Thes 4.16 2. Contrary to sense for we see and taste nothing but bread and wine 1 Joh. 1.12 And Christs Body and Blood remained distinct from this Bread and Wine when he spake those words This is my Body and 3. Contrary to reason Because Christ having a true Humane Body like to us Heb. 2.14 and 4.15 and being ascended in his body up to Heaven Mark 16.19 he cannot be here on Earth too at the same time for it is contrary to the nature of a body to be in many places at once The signification of the Actions Q. What is signified by the Ministers taking and setting apart the Bread and Wine when he comes to the Table 1. Of setting apart A. God the Fathers setting of his Son apart from all Eternity for our Redemption Heb. 7.26 Q. What is signified by the Ministers action of Consecrating or seeking a Blessing upon the Bread and Wine 2. Of Consecration A. God the Fathers actual sending of Christ and Christs actual performing the great work of Redemption for us Gal. 4.4 Q. What is signified by the Ministers action of Breaking the Bread and Pouring out the Wine 3. Of Breaking and Pouring out A. All the Sufferings of Christ especially the Breaking of his Body and the Shedding of his Blood upon the Cross Heb. 9.14 Q. What is signified by the Ministers Bringing and Offering the Bread and Wine A. God the Father freely offering of Christ 4. Of Bringing and Offering and Christ freely offering of himself with all his Benefits to true Believers Q. What is signified by the Receivers Receiving the Bread and Wine at the hand of the Minister A. His Believing of the truth of what Christ hath done and God hath Promised 5. Of Receiving Q. What is signified by your Eating the Bread and Drinking the Wine A. The Applying of all that Christ hath Done and God hath Promised 6. Of Eating and Drinking to my self in particular so as to say with Thomas Joh. 20.28 My Lord and my God Thus you see what those things are that you are to know that you may come as worthy Guests to the Lords Table The Tryal of the six Sacramental Graces The Tryal of Knowledge Q. WHat is Knowledge Knowledge Defined A. It is a sanctified understanding and clear apprehension of those things revealed in the Scriptures necessary for our salvation Joh. 17.3 Q. What else are you to examine about your Knowledge Signs of Saving Knowledge 1 Sign A. Whether it be a True Sound Soul-saving Knowledge Q. What signs can you give me of that A. 1. One Sign of true saving Knowledge is this That it Prizeth the Knowledge of God in and above all other Knowledge 1 Cor. 2.2 Phil. 3.8 Q. What is another Mark of saving Knowledge A. 2. This 2 Sign That it makes a man to approve of the goodness of what he knows Rom. 7.16 Q. What is another Mark A. 3. That it is unlimited 3 Sign it sets no bounds to it self True Knowledge makes a man willing to let in any light to know whatsoever God will have him to know Acts 9.6 Acts 10.33 Heb. 6.7 Q. What is another Mark A. 4. When it is Experimental 4 Sign so as to make the soul to have sense and feeling of what it knows Phil. 1.9 10. Q. What is another Mark A. 5. When it is a Changing 5 Sign and Renewing Knowledge 2 Cor. 3.18 Rom. 12.2 Q. What is another Mark A. 6. When it is Practical 6 Sign when it makes the soul careful to practise what he knows Acts 9.6 Isa 2.3 Psal 86.11 Psal 119.34 Psal 111.10 Q. What is another Mark A. 7. When it is a Humbling Knowledge 7 Sign so as to make a man to walk humbly with God and the more he knows the more humble he is Prov. 30.2 James 3.13 Job 42.5 6. Q. What is another Mark A. 8. When it is Communicative of it self to others 8 Sign out of a desire of their spiritual good Psal 34.11 Acts 26.29 Q. What is another Mark 9 Sign The Affections that accompany saving knowledge A. 9. When it is affectionate or a heart-affecting knowledge Psal 119.15 16. Q. What are those Affections A. 1. The Fear of God Psal 86.11 Q. What is another A. 2. The Love of God 1 Joh. 4.7 8. Q. What is another A. 3. Affiance in God Psal 9.10 Q. What is another A. 4. Zeal for God Dan. 11.32 Q. What is another Mark of Saving Knowledge 10 Sign A. 10. When it is a Growing or a Persevering Knowledge Phil. 1.9 10. 2 Pet. 3.17 18. Thus of Knowledge The Tryal of Faith Q. WHat is the second Grace to be examined before the Sacrament A. It is Faith Q. What is Faith A. A special and supernatural Gift of God wrought by the Spirit Faith defined through the Ministry of the Word in the hearts of the Elect whereby they come to know and assent unto to take and rely only on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation Joh. 1.12 Acts 16.31 Q. How doth the Spirit work Faith in and by the Ministry of the Word A. Ordinarily he prepares the heart by the Law and worketh it by the Gospel How the Spirit works faith by the Word How the Law prepares the heart for Faith Q. How doth the Ministry of the Law prepare the heart for Faith A. Four wayes 1. By discovering the sinful and miserable condition of man by Nature 2. By convincing him that it is his condition as well as others Joh. 16.8 3. By humbling him under the consideration of it
the Excellency Necessity and Utility of those things that we do know 1 Joh. 2.3 4. Q. How are you to stir up the Grace of Faith before the Sacrament 2. Faith A. 1. By taking notice of the want and weakness of our Faith wherein we have manifested unbelief since we were last at the Lords Table 2. By meditating upon the freeness fulness and sweetness of the Promises 3. By considering the Lords kind Invitation and hearty welcome of upright hearts Cant. 5.1 Q. How are you to stir up the Grace of Repentance before you come to the Sacrament 3. Repentance A. 1. By searching out our special sins that we have committed since we were last at the Table of the Lord Lam. 3.40 2. By a free a full and particular confession of them Prov. 28.13 1 Tim. 1.13 3. By sound humiliation under them and self-condemnation for them James 4.9 10. 1 Cor. 11.31 4. By earnest Supplication for the pardon of them and power over them in and by the Use of the Sacrament 4. Obedience Q. How are you to stir up your Obedience before you come to the Sacrament A. 1. By taking notice what our omissions defects and failings have been in our Obedience 2. By bewailing them before the Throne of Grace 3. By renewing our Covenant with God of new and better Obedience of more forwardness to it and Spiritualness and fruitfulness in the use of the Sacrament 5. Love Q. How are you to stir up your Love before you câ—me to the Sacrament A. 1. By taking notice of our wants and defects in our Love to Christ or any of his 2. By humbling our selves under all our unkindnesses to them 3. By a willingness and readiness to seek and accept of Reconciliation with others 4. By a Resolution and endeavour to manifest more fruits of Love and mercy to the Souls and Bodies of others especially those that are of the houshold of faith Gal. 6.10 Q. How are you to stir up your Holy desire to thâ— Sacrament before you come 6. Holy Desire A. 1. By taking notice of our great want of Christ and need of Grace 2. By meditating on the great worth of Christ and the Alsufficiency of Christ and the readiness of Christ to supply all our wants 3. By considering the Greatness of the Feast the greatest that ever Heaven and Earth affords and the greatness of the Feast-maker being no other than the King of Kings 4. By considering the Lords Gracious invitation of us and the many precious Promises that he hath made to supply all our wants Psal 81.10 Psal 145.18 19. Of stirring up the Graces in the Sacrament 1. Knowledge Q. HOw are you to stir up the Grace of knowledge in the Vse of the Sacrament A. By a serious meditation of these Three things 1. The Greatness of the Majesty in whose presence we are 2. The Excellency of the Matter which we partake of 3. The things Signified by the Elements and the Actions about them Q. How are you to stir up your Faith in the Vse of the Sacrament 2. Faith A. By making particular Application of all the Sacramental Promises and Sacramental Actions and Sacramental Ends and Sacramental Benefits that are Signed Sealed and Exhibited in the Sacrament to any true Believer That they are Signed Sealed up and Exhibited to my self in particular Q. How are you to stir up your Repentance in the Vse of the Sacrament 3. Repentance A. By labouring to have our hearts feelingly affected with Godly sorrow for sin which was the principal in the Death â—nd Sufferings of Christ and so hating sin as never to leave pursuing it until we have the death of that which was the cause of the Death of Christ Q. How are you to stir up your Obedience in the Vse of the Sacrament A. By Renewing our Covenant of more circumspect walking for the future 4. Obedience and fetching Vertue from Christ to walk before him in new and better Obedience Q. How are you to stir up the Grace of Love to Christ in the Vse of the Sacrament A. 1. We are to stir up our Love to Jesus Christ 5. Love by taking notice of his wonderful Love to us in taking our Nature upon him and in Doing and Suffering that in our nature for us which neither we our selves nor the whole Creation were able to do and suffer for us Q. How else A. 2. By taking notice wherein we are or have been defective in our Love to him and humbling our selves under our failings and renewing our Covenant of more expressions of Love to him than ever Q. How are you to stir up the Grace of Love to the Saints in the Vse of the Sacrament A. By taking notice wherein we have been defective in our Love to them and humbling our selves under it and renewing our Covenant of exercising more Love to others and endeavouring to go in and out before others in all offices of Love Q. How are you to stir up your Holy Desire in the Vsâ— of the Sacrament 6. Holy Desire A. By opening our mouth wide that he may fill it and by an earnest expectation of all the good things Signed Sealed up and Exhibited in the Sacrament to all true believers Psal 81.10 A Right Disposition in the time of Administration of the Sacrament Q. WHat is Required at the time of the Administration of the Sacrament 4 Things Required in the time A. Four things 1. Reverence 2. Meditation 3. Affection 4. Prayer I. Reverence Q. What Reverence is Required A. It is both Outward and Inward 1. Outward To fix our eye upon the Elements and the Actions of the Minister about them 2. Inward in a sense of our own unworthiness and an endeavour to approve our hearts to God in all we do Q. What are those things that we are to Meditate on II. Meditation in the use of the Sacrâ—ment A. 1. We are to Meditate on the near Resemblance 1. On the Resemblances or Relation between the Bread and Wine and the Body and Blood of Christ Q. What are some of those Resemblances A. 1. As the Bread is the staff and strength of our natural Life so is Christ of our Spiritual life 1 Cor. 12.6 2. As the Corn hath much labour bestowed upon it before it come to be Bread so the Lord Jesus Christ suffered much for us before he could become Bread for our Souls 3. As Bread is but one body though it be made up of many Grains so all the faithful are but one Body though they are many Members Q. What Resemblanâ—â—s are there between the Wine and the Blood of Christ A. 1. As Wine quencheth the thirst of the Body so doth the Blood of Christ quench the thirst of the Soul Joh. 4.13 14. 2. As Wine cheereth and maketh glad the heart so doth the Blood of Christ cheer and make glad the drooping Spirits 3. As Wine warmeth the Stomach
DIRECTIONS FOR THE Right Receiving OF THE Lords Supper Drawn up by way of Question and Answer for the Use and Benefit of the younger sort especially the Citizens of Exeter By J. B. Whosoever Eateth my Flesh and Drinketh my Blood hath Eternal life and I will raise him up at the Last Day Joh. 6. 54. With Allowance London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns over against the Great Conduit at the lower end of Cheapside 1679. DIRECTIONS FOR THE Right Receiving OF THE Lords Supper Question TO whom doth the Sacrament of the LORD's SVPPER belong Answer Not to the unworthy but to the worthy Q. Who are unworthy Guests at the Lords Table A. All grosly Ignorant and openly Scandalous Q. Why are all grosly Ignorant to be kept back from the Sacrament A. Because being Ignorant they want an eye to discern the Lord's Body a Hand to receive him and a Mouth to feed upon him and therefore in so coming they eat and drink Judgement to themselves 1 Cor. 11.29 Q. Why are openly Scandalous to be kept from the Sacrament A. Because such in presuming to touch such holy things with unholy hearts lips and lives they dishonour and provoke God pollute and prophane his Ordinance grieve and make sad the Godly and make themselves guilty of Murdering Christ and Dâ—mning their own souls 1 Cor. 11.27 Q. Who are grosly Ignorant A. Such as are ignorant of the Nature Ends and Use of the Sacrament and not able to give a Reason of their Faith and hope to be saved 1 Pet. 3.15 Q Who are openly Scandalous A. Such as live and lye Impenitently in a course of Sinning and by their speeches and practices give just offâ—nce to any of the Godly 1 Cor. 10.32 33. Thus of such as are unworthy Guests to come to the Lords Table Q. Who are worthy Communiâ—ants Worthy Communicants A. Such as are willing and in some measure able to give a Reason of their Faith and Hope to be Saved and whose Conversation is suitable to their Profession Ephes 4.1 Q. Are there any worthy in themselves of this honour A. No but the Lord is pleased to account and accept them so in and for and through the Righteousness of Christ imputed to them Rev. 3.4 And because their desire and endeavour is to walk worthy of and suitable to their profession Ephes 4.1 Col. 2.6 Q. What is required of those that would come as worthy Guests to the Table of the lord A. A Due Preparation before Requisite to a Right Receiving A Right Disposition in and an Answerable Carriage after Q. Why is every one bound Duly to prepare himself A. Because in coming unpreparedly he not only dishonours God and pollutes the Ordinance but makes himself Guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ and eateth and drinketh Judgement to himself 1 Cor. 11.27 29. Q. What is that Preparation that is required A. It is double Habitual and Actual Q. What is Habitual Preparation Habitual Preparation A. The Examination of our selves Whether we have the Habit or Seed of those Graces that do qualifie and fit us for the Sacrament Q. Why is every one to examine whether he have those Graâ—es A. 1. Because this is expresly required 1. Cor. 11.28 2. Because without Examination we cannot come to know the truth of Grace in us nor act our Graces Jer. 8.6 3. Because without a work of grace the Sacrament will be but a Seal to a blank of no benefit but much hurt Q. What are those Graces that we are to examine whether we have them A. They are six 1. Saving Knowledge 2. Faith 3. Repentance 4. Obedience 5. Love and 6. A Holy desire or an Appetite to the Sacrament Q. Why is every one bound to examine whether he have a competent measure of Knowledge A. 1. Because without Knowledge we cannot discern the Lords Body 1 Cor. 11.29 2. Because without Knowledge we cannot please God in the service of him Prov. 19.2 Hos 6.6 3. Because we shall have no salvation but eternal destruction without Knowledge 2 Cor. 4.3 4. 2 Thes 1.7 8 9. Q. What is Knowledge A. It is a sanctified understanding and clear apprehension of those things revealed in the Scriptures Knowledge Defined necessary to our Salvation Joh. 17.3 Q. What are we to examine in and about our Knowledge A. What those things are that we are to know and whether our Knowledge be true Saving Knowledge Q. What are those things that we are to know A. Some things concerning God Things to be known in five heads and concerning our Selves and concerning Christ and concerning the Covenant of Grace and concerning the Sacrament the Seal of the Covenant Knowledge of God in five heads I. Of the Nature of God Q. What are we to know of God A. His Nature Attributes Works Word and Worship Q. What is his Nature A. He is One Infinite Eternal Perfect Incomprehensible Spirit distinguished into three Persons the Father Son and Holy Ghost 1 Joh. 5.7 Q. What is a Spirit A Spirit A. A Substance or Being that cannot be seen Joh. 4.24 Luke 24.39 Q. What is a Person A Person A. A distinct Subsistence or Being having in it the whole God-head and distinguished from another by an incommunicable property Joh. 14.9 10. Heb. 1.3 Q. What are the Attributes of God II. Of the Attributes of God A. Certain essential Properties whereby God is pleased to make himself known unto us who otherwise cannot come to know him Otherwise called his Back-parts Exod. 33.23 Because we can have but an imperfect Knowledge of him as we have of a man when we see him only by his back Q. Of what kind are those Attributes A. They are either Incommunicable or Communicable Q. What are his Incommunicable Attributes A Such as cannot be given to 1. Incommunicable Attributes or found in the Creature as Omnipresence Jer. 23.23 24. Omnisciency 1 Joh. 3.30 Omnipotency Luke 1.37 Immutability James 1.17 Q. What are his Communicable Atâ—ributes A. Such as are given to 2. Communicable Attributes or found in the Creature as Truth Holiness Mercy Justice Exod. 34.6 7. Q. Are these Communicâ—ble Attribuâ—es in God as they are in man A. No In men they are but Qualities in God they are his very Essence Whatsoever is in God is God God is Love it self 1 Joh. 4.2 These Properties are imperfectly in men There are but some Degrees of Mercy Justice c. But in God they are in perfection he is so merciful and just as he cannot be more he is infinite in all perfections Q. What are the Works of God III. Of the Works of God A. His Work before time was His Decree His Works in time Creation and Providence Q. What is the Decree of God Gods Decree defined A. His unchangeable purpose with himself from all Eternity concerning the World and every Creature in it especially Men and Angels their ends and the
so the Blood of Christ applyed by faith warmeth the Soul and increaseth the Graces of the Spirit Q. What else are you to Meditate on 2. On the Things signified A. 2. The things signified by the Actions of the Minister and the Receivers in and about the Sacrament and the near resemblances between them As for instance when I see the Minister take and set apart the Bread and Wine Then am I to Meditate on the Love of God the Father in setting apart his Son Jesus Christ from all Eternity for the work of our Redemption Q. What are you else to Meditate on 3. The ugly nature of sin c. A. 3. We are to meditate on The ugly nature of sin that could not be done away but by the shedding of the precious blood of Jesus Christ The Impartial Justice of God the Father in punishing sin in his own Son The Infinite Love of God in giving Christ to be our Surety and accepting him as our surety The Infinite Love of Christ in undertaking the great work of our Redemption for us and in Instituting this Sacrament to put and keep us in remembrance of it Q. What else are you to Meditate on A. 4. The many 4. On the Benefits that come by it and great Benefits that come to true believers by the right Receiving of the Lords Supper Q. What are they A. Amongst others these 1. Communion with Jesus Christ and all his Merits Graces and Purchases 1 Cor. 10.16 2. Power over our Corruptions and increase of our Graces and 3. Enlargement of our comforts in the Assurance of the pardon of our sins and an interest in eternal Life and Salvation by Jesus Christ Q. What is the Third thing required at the time of the Administration of the Sacramâ—nt A. 3. Affection III. Affection That we labour to be feelingly affected with what is represented in the Sacrament with godly sorrow for our sins whereby we have pierced the Lord Jesus Christ And with Joy and rejoycing in the apprehension of the great benefits Signed Sealed up and Exhibitted to us in the Sacrament Q. What is the Fourth thing required at the time of the Administration of the Sacrament IV. Prayer A. 4. Prayer That God who hath Graciously Invited us would Graciously Accept us and help us to carry our selves Reverently Meditate seriously and Affect us heartily with what we go about And bless the Ordinance to those ends to which he hath appointed it The Mortification of our Lusts and the Increase of our Graces The Assurance of perfect Justification and Eternal Salvation by Jesus Christ An Answerâ—ble carriage After the Receiving the Lords Supper Q. WHat is Required After you have Reâ—eived the Sâ—crament A. An answerable Carriage in the Observance and Performance of all those Duties that are required in Publick and in Private Q. What are those Duties that are required in Publick after your Receiving the Sacrament Publick Duties A. 1. To joyn with the Minister and the Congregation in Solemn Thanksgiving for the Infinite Love of God in giving us Jesus Christ And the Infinite Love of Christ in undertaking the great work of Redemption for us and of the Holy Ghost in Signing and Sealing and Exhibiting such great blessings in it For the Opportunity to partake of this Ordinance And for the present Benefit and Comfort which we have found by it Q. What is another Publick Duty A. 2. The Renovation of our Covenant with God of more circumspect humble holy and Heavenly walking with God Q. What is a Third Publick Duty A. 3. A Testification and Expression of our thankfulness to God for the present Soul mercy by shewing mercy to his poor Saints by giving something towards the relief of their necessities 1 Cor. 16.1 2. Q. What is required in Private after you have received the Sacrament Private Duties A. 1. Examination 1. Examination To Examine what Benefit and Comfort we have reaped by being at the Sacrament Whether we have received any more Assurance of Gods Love Peace of Conscience any more strength of Grace and power over Corruption Q. What if we cannot find this what are we then to do A. To search out the cause whether we were not careless in our Preparation before or in our Disposition and behaviour in the time of Receiving and to humble our selves accordingly Q. What if our Conscience tell us that we were not willingly faulty this way but that we endeavoured to prepare our selves to it and behave our selves in it as we ought what are we then to do if we cannot find comfort A. To wait upon God for the discovery of his Love to us Because as Physick doth not presently work nor Meat presently nourish So neither doth the Sacrament alwayes presently comfort but in Gods time Q. What if I find present Benefit and Comfort what is then my Duty A. To give God the Glory of his Grace in it and to labour to walk humbly and watchfully for the future that we do not lose it Q. What is another Duty in Private besides Examination A. 2. Reformation 2. Reformation That we remember to observe and make good all our vows and promises unto God as we expect he should make good his unto us Q. What are those things that we promise to God in the Sacrament A. To walk more holily humbly spiritually and heavenly before God To serve him more faithfully cheerfully and fruitfully To watch more against sin and to resist the motions temptations and occasions of it And to watch more over Grace to cherish the motions of it And to lay hold on all opportunities of honouring God and of doing and receiving good Q. Why is every one to be so careful of remembring and making good his vows and promises of more circumspect walking after the Sacrament A. Because otherwise we cannot expect that God should make good his vows and promises unto us we should but mock with God and deceive our own souls We should deprive our selves of peace and comfort and expose our selves to Gods displeasure for the future For it is better never to vow than not to perform that which we have vowed Eccles 5.4 5. FINIS