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A20536 Ten sermons tending chiefely to the fitting of men for the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper VVherein amongst many other holy instructions: the doctrines of sound repentance and humiliation, and of Gods speciall fauours vnto penitent sinners, and worthy communicants are largely and effectually handled. The six first, by I. Dod. The foure last, by R. Cleauer. Whereunto is annexed, a plaine and learned metaphrase on the epistle to the Collossians, written by a godly and iudicious preacher. There is also set before the sermons, a short dialogue of preparation: containing the chiefe points that concerne the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper, taken for the most part, out of the sermons following: and collected into a method for the benefit and ease of those that desire direction in this matter. Dod, John, 1549?-1645.; Cleaver, Robert, 1561 or 2-ca. 1625. aut; Winston, John, fl. 1614-1634. 1610 (1610) STC 6945; ESTC S114601 221,900 292

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these imperfectiōs of ours for Christ was appointed to be an vniuersall Minister for all his elect in the perfection of his petitions thankesgiuing all the blemishes that are in ours shall be hidden and couered Thirdly this is for the reproofe of such prophane persons Vse 3 as come vnchearefully and heauily vnto this Sacrament and if the respect of their gouernour of the lawes and of their owne credite did not moue them they would altogether absent themselues from it these are wretched persons that make no more account of this singular pledge of Gods fauour Hath Christ prayed vnto his Father for a matter of no worth and giuen thanks vnto him for that which is of no estimation But let such vnbeleeuing and sinfull wretches go and as for vs let vs be assured for our comfort that when Christ became asuitor to his Father he was in such fauour with him that he obtained that which was worth the hauing and deserued praise thankesgiuing both from him and from all his people as that which should be a meanes of their euerlasting happinesse Verse 22. Take eate this is my body c. This is the commandement that our Sauiour giueth vnto the communicants to wit that they should take the bread and take his body eate corporally and eate spiritually receiue the signe and the thing signified the one as well as the other for so much doth the promise which is annexed This is my body imply As if he should haue said This bread broken before your eies doth plainly represent vnto you my body that is the whole manhood a part being put for the whole which is giuen for you and shall be broken for you that so you may haue a spiritual communion with me as there is a naturall vnion betwixt you and this bread which I giue vnto you and the like is to be vnderstood of the wine The words thus expounded according to the simple meaning thereof affoord vs this doctrine that Christ Iesus in the Lords Supper Doct. 7 by corporall foode doth giue vs a most sure possession of himselfe Our vnion with Christ by the Sacrament and neare vnion with himselfe The bread and wine are not onely pledges of what shall be bestowed on vs but effectual means to exhibite the things promised vnto vs and therefore Christ vseth these words Luke 22.19 1 Cor. 11.24 Luke 22.20 Take eate this is my body which is giuen for you which is broken for you and so of the wine Drinke ye all of it this is my bloud which is shed for you Now what can be nearer vnto vs then our meate and drinke We haue greater interest in nothing then in our foode for that is made a part of our selues If we eate meate in another mans house after we haue receiued it it is more ours then his that prepared it no one ioint is so neare another nor the soule so neare to the body as our foode is neare vs when once it is digested and turned into nourishment vnto vs which doth plainly represent vnto vs the neare coniunction that is betwixt Christ euery worthy receiuer Hence proceedeth that speech of the Apostle The cup of blessing which we blesse 1 Cor. 10.16 is it not the communion of the bloud of Christ the bread which we breake is it not the communion of the body of Christ that is do not these cause vs to haue an effectuall cōmunion with him in all his gracious merits Now if question should be made why Christ should make choise of bread to be a signe in this Sacrament rather then of any other more excellent and glorious creature The answer is Answer that he did it for diuerse reasons 1. Why GOD made choise of bread Because it was his will as it is said concerning the Gospel that it pleased him by the foolishnesse of preaching to sone them that beleeue There is besides his pleasure great wisedome in it because it is very fit to represēt that vnto vs for which it was ordianed it being substantiall foode and therefore called the staffe of mans life on which it doth as it were leane and whereby it is vpholden and besides this is for euery mans stomach and for euery ones state and may euery where be gotten And yet withall we must know that bread cannot fully expresse the efficacy of the spiritualll food Christ Iesus which we are to feed vpon for bread is earthly that food is heauenly bread preserueth the corporall life and that but for a time Christ not onely preserueth but giueth not a naturall but a supernaturall not a temporall but an eternall life Thirdly God made choyce of bread in respect of his owne glory that the weaker the meanes are the stronger his hand might appeare to be If we had bene to receiue gold or gemmes or precious stones our senses would haue bene more wrought on then our hearts and we should haue more regarded the signe then the thing signified the which inconueniences with other of the like kind the Lord by giuing vs bread hath preuented Seeing then that the bread as also the wine in the Lords Supper is of such excellent force and vse as to put vs in mind of Christs death and bloudshedding to testifie his vndoubted true and reall presence to euery faithfull communicant and to refresh and feede the soules of the worthy receiuers vnto eternall life in which regard they doe as farre surmount common bread and wine as the waxe wherewith a pardon or charter or any other euidence is sealed is of more worth then that which is to be sold in the trade mans shop Seeing I say that the bread is of such singular vse this maketh first Vse 1 for the confutation of the Papists which hold that after the words of consecration there remaineth no bread at all but that it is transubstantiated into the very body of Christ I●ndeed we graunt that as the bread so Christ his body is there offered and receiued by euery faithfull communicant but how nor corporally but spiritually not from the Ministres hand but from God hand not by sense but by faith And for the further clearning and confirming of this truth many reasons might be brought but I wil produce but onely some few The first is taken from the expresse words of the holy Ghost in the Scriptures who mentioneth bread after the words of consecration Reasons against transubstantiation saying the bread which we breake 1 Cor. 10.16 and againe He that eateth this bread c. I Corinthians 11.27.28 A second reason is this We receiue the same in substance which the Fathers did in the wildernesse I. Cor 10.1 for the Manna is there called spirituall meate and the rocke is said to be Christ now it is certaine that they did not corporally eate the body and drinke the bloud of Christ because he had not then assumed our nature and our Sauiour denieth the Manna to bee the true bread
fathers wrath and with Satan death and hell and for our sakes in particular sustained such wofull terrors in his soule and torments in his body that he cried out in the bitternesse of his heart my God my God why hast thou forsaken me and at length shed foorth his most precious blood for the pacifying of his fathers displeasure and the satisfying of his infinite iustice And withall wee should seriously ponder vpon the inconceiuable loue of God the father in giuing his onely and welbeloued sonne to suffer such vnspeakeable tortures for vs who were cursed rebels against him and thence bee drawen to thinke on the hainousnesse and odiousnesse of our sinnes which so farre incensed the Lords wrath and indignation that nothing could quench the flame thereof but onely the precious blood of his deere sonne Secondly when we see the minister distributing the bread and wine we are to consider that as those outward elements are offered vnto vs by man so Christ Iesus with all his benefits is offered vnto vs by the blessed Trinitie Thirdly when we reach foorth our naturall hand to receiue the bread and wine we must withall reach foorth the hand of faith to apprehend and lay hold of Christ Fourthly in eating the bread and drinking the wine we must apply Christ with all his merits particularly vnto our selues and be assured that as that bread and wine are made the nourishment of our bodies so Christ his body and blood are made the nourishment of our soules and as certainly as the bread and wine are made one substance with vs to strengthen our bodies and to refresh our hearts so surely Christ is made one with vs and we with him and than our soules shall bee strengthned and our hearts spiritually reuiued either presently in the very act of receiuing or afterwards in due time when wee shall stand in most neede of comfort And therefore in assurance of faith wee should stirre vp our hearts to expect all the forenamed benefits of remission of sinnes and sanctification of our natures together with the fruition of all necessarie outward blessings and the remoouall of all hurtfull crosses Well were it for vs indeed if wee could looke for these things to be bestowed vpon vs but the greatnes and multitude of our sinnes is such that we iustly feare they will keepe good things from vs. This doubt should not perplexe nor trouble vs See the Sermon on Isa 1. if wee bee truely penitent for all our transgressions for Christ hath paid for many and great sinnes as well as for fewer and lesser Doct. 7 1. Iohn 1.9 Ezek. 36.25 and through him the Lord is ready to pardon all and all manner of iniquities as well the greatest of them as the smallest and if once our sinnes bee done away all the fore named benefites doe of right belong vnto vs. Thus much concerning the meditations that are needefull in the very act of receiuing What is to be done after our receiuing 1 First wee must giue hartie thankes vnto the Lord for this inestimable benefit which we haue receiued in being partakers of the Lords supper What to bee done after our receiuing Secondly wee must carefully marke how wee speed and what successe we finde and if the Lord afford vs present comfort wee must bee much more thankefull and endeauour by all good meanes to nourish and cherish the same and if wee misse of it for that time wee must notwithstanding giue God the glorie of his truth in making good his couenant and euerie part thereof and therefore with confidence and constancie waite and pray for the blessing resoluing with our selues euery one in his owne soule that as sure as God is true and faithfull in his promises wee shall in the fittest season reape fruite and profit by his ordinance which in conscience and obedience vnto him we haue been partakers of In which regard euery particular beleeuer may boldly speake in this or the like manner vnto his owne soule I haue with as great vprightnesse as I could communicated at the Lords table and there receiued the seale of the euerlasting couenant of grace and therefore shall it assuredly bee performed vnto mee and albeit my faith and assurance of Gods fauour bee but weake it shall be strengthned and whatsoeuer Satan or mine owne deluded conscience tell me all mine iniquities are pardoned and couered and I am at this very instant as free from sinne in Gods account Psal 32. as Adam was before his fall and as the Saints and Angels are now in heauen yea as Christ Iesus himselfe is I being a member of his mysticall bodie And so for Sanctification though I be tainted with much ignorance with many errors with bad affections and euill actions yet the Lord according to his couenant will reforme all and giue me a minde to know him and his will and a memory to hold fast what I know hee will giue me a heart to loue him to feare him and to obey his commandements I shall haue Christ his power to strengthen and vphold me his wisdome to instruct and direct me his spirit to work al needful graces in me so that all the powers of hel shal neuer be able to preuaile against mee much lesse shall the affictions of this world be able to separate me frō Christ Iesus I need not feare any euill For all shall worke together for the best vnto mee Rom. 8. neither can I want any thing that is good for God hauing giuen vs his sonne how shall hee not with him giue vs all things Thirdly wee must determine and endeuour to lead a new life bringing foorth the fruits of repentance faith and loue more abundantly then in former times as hauing renewed our couenant with the Lord for that purpose and therefore when wee finde any sinnefull motions stirring within vs wee should reason thus did I not at the Sacrament vowe and couenant with God to striue against all manner of corruptions and did I not receiue the seale of the couenant in assurance that I should haue power and strength against them why then should I yeelde vnto them why should I bee any longer in bondage vnto them nay I will not serue sinne in the lusts thereof but will resist it and by the power of Christ I shall get victorie ouer it Rom. 6.14 for the Lord hath said that sinne shall not haue dominion ouer vs. So also when we finde wants and imperfections in our best seruices as coldnesse in praier distractions in meditating vnfruitfulnesse in hearing deadnesse in singing of Psalmes c. As also impatiencie or fainte-heartednes vnder crosses disgraces persecutions c. Let vs then relieue our selues with these or the like meditations was I not lately at the Lord table where I receiued a pledge of my ingrafting into Christ who is the true vine and is there not in him sufficient Iuice of all good graces to bee deriued to euery branch that is
children are for their mothers milke but when once you attaine to such an eager desire of goodnesse then you shall grow from a little measure of strength to a greater and still increase in the inward man as children doe in the outward and finde a progresse in grace as they doe in nature Thirdly as those that are destitute of this spirituall thirst haue no commandement No fitnesse nor promise from God so neither haue they any fitnesse in themselues because they want that principall grace which doth fit men for the entertaining of Gods holy spirit which alone maketh Gods ordinances effectuall to wit humility which proceedeth from a sense of our owne miserie and a sight of Gods mercy now where this is wanting there is no place for Gods graces For God resisteth the proud Iames 4. and giueth grace onely to the humble Let a man bring vnto the word neuer so good a wit capacity and memorie hee shall neuer take profit by hearing till hee get a broken heart and an humbled spirit but God will euer resist and crosse and thwart all his endeauours because if hee should get any benefit by the Gospell hee would haue no minde to ascribe the glorie thereof vnto God to whom it is wholly due Note but to himselfe to whom no part thereof doth belong First Vse 1 for terror vnto such as haue no manner of appetite eagernesse nor earnestnesse for spirituall things but are altogether bent for profit and pleasure credit and promotion c. which carnall desires doe vtterly kill their appetite vnto better things and extinguish or bannish all good motions and affections that doe at any time arise in their hearts These wretched men are in a wofull case for they rush vpon the holy things of God without any commission and therefore without expectation of good from them And howsoeuer they may talke and brag of their profiting by the word yet God that seeth and searcheth their hearts esteemeth of them but as of dogs and swine that prophane his holy things If they would bee partakers of the water of life they must bee thirstie and if they would eate of the bread of life they must bee hungrie otherwise though they be present in the congregation and heare the word preached and see the wine powred out and the bread broken before their eies at the celebration of the Lords Supper yet they can haue no hope that they shall haue one drop of Christ his blood to wash away their sinnes but may rather expect the viols of his indignation to consume their bodies and soules and it is a iust vengeance of God vpon such prophane and irreligious persons that when they come to the Sermons to the Sacrament they get no good but rather much hurt therby and haue their lusts stronger their hearts harder and their minds far more blind and vncapable of any good knowledge euery day then other But what is the reason heereof may some demand Is not the word of God mighty to beate downe the strong holds of the deuill and is not the Sacrament powerfull in operation and able to worke great things Yes they are so and why then haue such no profit by them because they are abusers and prophaners and not meet receiuers of the same because they come not with any preparation or desire of a blessing vpon the meanes but for custome and fashion that they might not seeme to bee so bad as indeed they are nor to set so light by the holy ordinances of God as in truth they doe Secondly for instruction Vse 2 If wee would bee welcome to Christ Iesus when hee inuiteth vs to feast with him then let vs get a good stomacke to feed on such cheere as he offereth vnto vs. Otherwise if wee glut our selues before wee come to his Table and be onely looking on those dainties on which others are feedings it will not bee well taken at our hands but wee shall be as distastefull vnto the feast-maker as his prouision is vnto vs and those things which are vnto others the sauour of life vnto life shall proue vnto vs the sauour of death vnto our eternall destruction if our repentance doe not preuent Gods iudgement If Gods owne children comming carelesly and vnpreparedly cannot escape Gods hand 1. Cor. 11. then what shall become of those vngodly ones who come not onely negligently but altogether prophanely and so defile the sacred ordinances of God for to the vncleane all things are vncleane surely if iudgement begin at Gods house there is nothing remaining for vngodly men but a fearefull expectation of wrath and vengeance to be powred out vpon them in full measure In which regard it standeth vs vpon to looke vnto our hearts before hand and to the intent wee may come with this spirituall appetite the want whereof is so offensiue vnto God and dangerous vnto vs let vs vse all good meanes for the obtaining of it as First Meanes to get a spiritual appetite to purge away that which may annoy our stomacke and kill our appetite and what that is Peter telleth vs when hee saith Wherefore laying aside all maliciousnesse and all guile Allovv no sin 1 Pet. 2.21 and dissimulation and enuy and euill speaking as new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the word c. As if hee had said so long as you giue place vnto Note and delight in any euill so long as you carry a bitter and enuious mind against your brethren or an hypocriticall and dissembling heart towards God and suffer your euill affections to breake forth into euill speeches so long you can neuer delight in nor bee very desirous of the pure word of God and therefore can not possibly grow in the knowledge and practise of the same And therefore when we finde in our selues dulnesse and deadnesse and vnwillingnesse vnto good duties let vs conclude for a certainty that wee stand in need of Physicke for the purging of our soules for sinne worketh on our hearts as ill humors doe in our stomacks it maketh vs to loath all spirituall food and all meanes of refreshing And this take for an vndoubted truth which though our mouthes will not confesse yet our hearts must needs acknowledge when wee haue no desire to heare the word preached or to receiue the Sacrament when it is to bee administred there is some sinne or other not thorowlie repented of which so cloieth the soule that it cannot delight in those holy exercises and as our hearts are more purged by godly sorrow Matth. 5. so will our hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and the meanes thereof bee still increased in vs. This then is the first rule that wee must obserue for the getting of spirituall appetite viz. to put away the practise of all crosse euils and the allowance of all infirmities great or small A second is that wee must endeuour to know our owne misery what wee are by nature See thy miserie and
the word and by getting that sight of their wants that might cause them to come with an eager appetite vnto Gods house They seldome or at least very coldly pray vnto the Lord to giue them an vnderstanding minde and a teachable heart to profit by the meanes but for the most part thrust in themselues ruedly with a proud and vnprepared heart and with vnrulie and distempered affections that when they stand in Gods holie presence are wandring from the duties in hand and running after their couetousnesse or after their delights and so if the word flie in at the one eare it flies out as fast at the other And they doe not mingle it with faith as they should doe but with theirowne corruptions Hebr. 4. which hinder the effectuall working of it and so it seales vp vnto many their owne iust condemnation in steed of being an instrument of God for their edification and saluation And as for Gods owne children in steed of those excellent graces that might be thereby wrought in them it oftentimes hardens their harts and fittes them for sharpe correction So for praier whereas they should lift vp pure hands without wrath and without doubting Corruptions in praier many neuer care what maner of sacrifice they offer vnto the Lord but are full of passion which distracts them and full of vnbeleefe which excludes them from hauing interest in God blessings and so their praiers tumble down againe vpon their heads and bring vpon them iudgements in steed of mercies They may truly say that they haue sought for helpe often and haue had no hearing but it is long of themselues for the sea is not more full of water then God is full of mercy to all that call vpon him in truth and if they could put away their vnbeleefe and hypocrisie and other euils that are mixed with their suites and supplications they should finde that none is so kinde a Father as God is and they should not bee so ready to aske but hee would bee more readie to giue if so be they did come in faith and aske aright as God requireth The like may bee said for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper diuers there are that partake of it as often as their neighbours doe but they are so farre from receiuing benefit and comfort therefrom that it proues hurtfull and vncomfortable vnto them and why because they put not away the euils of this worke Euils to be remoued by communicants But what are they may some demand They are diuerse One common euill Ignorance 1 is grosse and palpable ignorance that men come not discerning the Lords bodie and blood that is not being able to put a sensible difference betweene that and common bread and wine and so comming vnto it no otherwise then to their ordinarie foode not conceiuing much lesse well considering what they are to receiue from God what from man what examination is to be vsed that they may bee worthy receiuers of it what iudgements are to bee feared if they bee vnworthy receiuers and so they feele those iudgements before they feare them 2 A second euill to bee remoued from this worke Vnbeliefe 2 is vnbeliefe which hinders vs that wee cannot finde the inward vertue of those holie mysteries For when wee drawe neere to the Lords table wee should make reckoning of greater benefits then all the kings and kingdomes of the earth can affoord vs. For there God the Father is the feast-maker hee giueth vs for our intertainement the body and blood of his owne sonne to feede vpon hee offereth vs and would exhibite vnto vs if wee had faith to apprehend it Christ his perfect righteousnesse and increase of our true holinesse and entitleth vs to all comforts in this life and to the crowne of glorie in the life to come This many know but they want faith to make application of it to themselues and thence it commeth to passe that their soules are so barren of grace notwithstanding their often communicating at the Lords table The woman in the Gospel that was troubled with a bloody issue said in her heart before shee came to Christ Note if I may but touch the hemme of his garment onely I shal be made whole Math. 9.21 and according to her faith it was vnto her for that touch healed both her soule and body yet shee had no speciall commandement to come nor promise of good successe if she did come nor experience of any in her case that had sped well before her if shee were thus confident hauing had so few meanes to confirme her what strength of faith should wee come withall and what a stedfast expectation of mercie should wee haue setled in our hearts when wee come to Christ Iesus in this his ordinance seeing that wee haue both a commandement and a promise and the examples before our eies of such as haue found vnspeakeable good by this holy Sacrament and there is more reason why our Sauiour should pitie vs then why he should pitie that woman for we haue a more dangerous issue of sinne in our soules then she had of blood in her body and many of vs haue beene longer troubled with it then shee was with hers and hee came rather to heale the sicknesse of the soule then to cure the maladies of the bodie And besides all the former hee shall haue more glorie by sauing vs from sinne then by healing her from a bodilie infirmitie and the taking and eating of the blessed Sacrament of the eternall couenant is much more effectuall to draw vertue from Christ then the bare touching of his garment was and hee is neerer vnto vs now in his gracious presence then hee was vnto her then in his bodilie presence This wee should beleeue and rest vpon and if wee doe not wee offer vnto the Lord the greater iniurie for hee is no deceiuer but purposeth to bestow that vpon vs in truth which he makes offer of in shew euen to giue vs as full a communion with the righteousnesse of the second Adam as wee had with the corruption of the first Adam Euen as the branches doe partake of the sappe of the Vine and the members of the body haue life and motion deriued vnto them from the head so shall we receiue grace and life from Iesus Christ in and by his holy meanes so often as wee doe thankefully vse them 3 A third euill that must be put away when wee are to bee partakers of the Lords Supper Vncharitablenesse is vncharitablenes and vnmercifulnesse for that is a feast of loue where we are to receiue further assurance of Gods loue to vs and an increase of our loue to God and men And how can we looke for mercie if we shew no mercie or how can wee expect from the Lord a generall acquittance for all our debts and trespasses when we will not passe by small matters of offence in our brethren Therefore as we would finde any fauour in heauen let
of any commandement but driuen vnto it by a secret prouidence of God Secondly they do it not in loue vnto God but in malice against God or men or both as Iudas in a splene conspired against his Maister because he found fault with his hypocriticall dealing Mark 14.6 c. and 10. c. Thirdly they aime not at Gods honour though they accomplish that which tendeth to his honour but they seeke themselues some way or other in that which they doe Which serueth for the iust reproofe terror of those Vse 1 that when they are conuicted of any haynous crime cast off all the fault with this I was predestinated vnto it and vnlesse God had appointed it I could neuer haue done it What of that therfore they hope there is no danger hanging ouer their head for such facts But what then will they say of Iudas did not he do that which God had decreed yet our Sauiour saith woe to him and we may as well say woe vnto thee for whatsoeuer they imagine the necessity of their sinning in respect of Gods decree doth nothing diminish the grieuousnesse of their offence neither shall it at all mitigate the extremity of their punishment This is for our instruction Vse 2 that we should frame our obedience in another manner and for that purpose reason thus with our selues haue I a cōmādement for this which I do is it a duty warranted by the Word which I now performe Some do that which God hath appointed but it is onely by a prouidence not in any conscience how doth my obedience differ from theirs Do I practise good duties because God calleth for them then shall my seruice be acceptable vnto God do I forbeare euill because he forbideth it then do I that which is pleasing vnto him otherwise not In this maner let vs sift our hearts performing euery thing in that manner and to that end which God hath ordained that we may not onely doe that which the Scripture saith for so did Iudas but that which the Scripture warranteth and in that sort as it approueth for so Gods seruants are bound to do It had bene good for that man if he had neuer bene borne It is good for vs that he was borne because we haue benefite thereby but not for him because whatsoeuer matter of contentment he had in his life time turned at length to the increase of his misery and to his perpetuall damnation Whence this point may be gathered Doct. 5 that All the delights and contentments of wicked men in this world No earthly contentment can coūteruaile the punishments in hell cannot counteruaile the miseries that they shall feele in the world to come Iudas had life it selfe which is a thing very delightfull and of which it is truly said though by a lying spirit Skin for skin and all that euer a man hath Iob. 2.4 will he giue for his life He had also great preferment being one of the Apostles and the chiefe office amongst them namely to be their pursebearer which liked him exceeding well because he was a thiefe and stole from them much of that which was giuen yet notwithstanding all this and whatsoeuer else can be named our Sauiour saith it had bene good for him that he had neuer bene borne The like may be said of Saul Ieroboam Ahab and many other kings Who would accoūt it a good bargain to haue their kingdomes with all the honours and delights which they could afford and their victories with all the glory that accompanieth the same vpon this condition that he shall endure the same miseries and torments in hell that they do Certainely no wise man would willingly make such a match for what shall it profit a man to winne the whole world and to lose his owne soule First Reason 1 the best delights and contentments of this life are mixed with many troubles sorrowes and feares but their miseries in the life to come are pure miseries without any mitigation or comfort in their paine and torment Secondly their pleasures heere are few and short and of small continuance but their paines hereafter shall be innumerable and endlesse Thirdly all their delights in this life are but snares and all their good cheere and dainties but poysons and the more men take of them Reuel 18.7 the more grieuous shall their punishment in hell be For instruction Vse 1 that we should not endanger our soules for the enioyment of the pleasures of sinne for a season yet many are so foolish that so they might satisfy their fleshly desires they care not though they doe it with the price of their soules so they may haue their pleasures and commodities and fulfill their beastly lusts they will euen sell themselues vnto destruction as Ahab did not caring what miseries they cast themselues into nor what snares they intangle thēselues in so they may accomplish their brutish and diuellish purposes being therein more silly then the poore bird or fish that once perceiuing the snare or the hooke will not easilie meddle nor aduenture the danger the second time Secondly if it be so Vse 2 that all the cōmodities and delights of this life cannot counteruaile the miseries of damnation then on the other side why should it not hold as true for our comfort that all the losses and sorrowes of this life cannot counteruaile the happinesse of saluation for the Apostle saith Rom 8.18 that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory that shal be shewed vnto vs the one being light momentany the other weighty and eternal Let vs suffer neuer so many disgraces and losses go through neuer so many hard brunts our blessed estate in heauen will answer for all so that as it was said of Iudas it had bene good for him he had neuer bene borne notwithstanding all the delights that he enioyed so may it as truly be said happy we that euer we were borne notwithstanding all the miseries that we haue endured yea though they haue bene as great as theirs of whom mention is made Hebrewes 11. that they were racked and stoned and hewen in sunder c. for they endured all in hope of a beter resurection Verse 35. and so should we if God bring vs vnto the like extremities And thus much of the conference now followeth the institution of the Lords Supper The end of the ninth Sermon THE TENTH SERMON MARKE 14.22.23.24 22 And as they did eate Iesus tooke the bread and when he had giuen thankes he brake it and gaue it to them and said Take eate this is my body 23 Also he tooke the cup and when he had giuen thankes gaue it to them and they all dranke of it 24 And he said vnto them This is my bloud of the new Testament which is shed for many ANd as they did eate Iesus tooke the bread and when he had giuen thankes c. or as the word fignifieth blessed that is prayed
prouision for vs. Vers 23. Also he tooke the Cup c. In that wine is ioyned with the bread Doct. 8 this point may be noted Christ maketh vs a sull meale that Iesus Christ in the Sacrament doth make vs a full meale We haue here not onely bread but wine not onely the body of Christ but his bloud also euen the whole Christ with all his graces offered vnto vs. This is promised in the Prophesie of Isaiah where it is said Isaiah 25.6 In this mountaine shall the Lord of hoasts make vnto all people a feast of fat things euen a feast of mixed wines c. Meaning that he would make for his Church complete prouision whatsoeuer might be for health or strength or delight And the like is proposed in the ninth chapter of the Prouerbs And there is cause why we should thinke this to be so for First he is of sufficient ability so that he can doe it Reasons And Secondly his loue vnto vs his people is such that he is willing ready to doe it Some men whē they make feasts could prouide variety of good cheare but they are loath to go to the charges others are franke and liberall enough but they want ability to giue great intertainment so that they speake that truly which others doe vaine gloriously I am sorry that your cheare is no better But it is otherwise with the Lord as he is bountifull and will not spare cost so is he rich in all aboundance of heauēly treasures and needs not spare cost and therefore seeing Christ hath prayed that al his ghests might haue of the best they shal not faile of any thing that their heart can desire and long for Especially seeing it is for his owne glory A mortal sinfull man euen the king of Persia for the setting forth of his magnificence and greatnesse spared no cost in the feast that he made vnto his Princes Ester 1 much lesse wil the Lord of glory in this banquet which he prouideth for his people feeing that he is incomparably better able and more bountifull and withall seeth and considereth the seuerall needes and necessities of all his children Here then in the first place Vse 1 is confuted the error of Popish Priests that will haue but one kind of food at this table and so cause the people to haue a dry feast without any wine at al thus do they sacrilegiously rob Gods people of that allowance which he hath appointed for them and him of that glory which is due in respect of his large bounty in this behalfe For whereas the Lord instituted the cup as well as the bread and prayed and gaue thanks for the one as wel as for the other bidding thē drinke all of the wine as well as eate of the bread they teach and practise the cleane contrary And that their sacriledge may not seeme so vile as in truth it is Obiect they produce some shewes of reason for this their dealing It is needlesse say they to adde the wine vnto the bread for when we receiue that we feede on the whole Christ and partaking of his body we must needs withall partake of his blood which is contained in the veines See here how shamelesly they controll Christ himselfe Answer for if we receiue the bloud in receiuing his body why did he ordain the cuppe as well as the bread They answer Obiect that Christ gaue it onely to Ministers and so doe they So did he the bread also Answer and therefore by the same reason they may administer neither bread nor wine vnto the Laity and what reason can they alleadge why Ministers may not receiue the bloud in the veines as well as any other But the words of Christ may decide this controuersie when he saith Drinke yee all of this this is my bloud c. which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins And who are those many euen all that should afterwards beleeue in him To those for whom Christ his bloud was shed the cuppe must be administred but his bloud was shed for priuate men as wel as for Ministers and therefore the cuppe must be administred to them as well as vnto the Apostles themselues A second vse of this point is for instruction Vse 2 that seeing there is such plenty and variety of all good things offered vs at this banquet no other feasting or voluptuous liuing should either keepe vs from it or make vs come vnworthily vnto it yet how many are there that do so glut themselues with eating and drinking and surfetting on their carnall delights that they are altogether vnfit for the Lords table Thirdly here is matter of reioycing for Gods poore seruants Vse 3 that though they fare hard at home yet they may haue as good refreshing as any other in the Lords house for Christ Iesus doth there prouide a full meale for them This was Dauids comfort when he was banished from the assemblies of Saints and could not be present at the Sacraments and sacrifices when he could but remember that he had bene at them and also bene a profitable communicant as oft as he could it did much refresh his soule so that it was satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse with the very meditation therof he had receiued such store of grace from Gods ordinances and such a strong apprehension of his fauor that he counted it better then life it selfe And the cōsideration thereof did not onely comfort his soule but helped him also in his bodily necessities in so much that when he was in a barren and dry wildernesse pinched with hunger and pressed with thirst the very remembrance of those things that were past long before did cause him more chearefully to vndergoe all his penury and want If he then tooke such comfort therein in his absence how much more should we being present at the same Verse 24. This is my bloud of the new Testament That is this is a signe and seale of the new Testament which is so called because thereby Iesus Christ doth bequeath vnto his people as all the benefites of 〈◊〉 life so the speciall blessing of all euen eternall life and this is tearmed a new Testament in respect of that which was made the time of the law That was and this is when that was insufficient in some respects the Lord abolished it and established this in stead thereof as being much better then that for though both of them aime at saluation by Christ yet it is in a different manner for 1 Differences betwixt the old and new Couenant That was obscure consisting in rites and ceremonies where by Christ was darkly perfigured but this is more plaine and perpicuous so that Gods mercy and goodnesse towards vs in his Sonne may more clearly and euidently be discerned in this one Sacrament then it could by all their sacrifices Then the bloud of beastes was shed in stead of Christs but now hath he shed his owne bloud
you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Iesus Christ And considering that the blessing of all labour dependeth vpon the Lord our beginning is with hearty prayer vnto God for the grace and fauour of God to be freely giuen together with all blessings both of this life and of that which is to come from GOD the Father and from our Lord Iesus Christ to you Colossians yet not all that dwell in that citiy but to those which by faith are Saints and brethren not in the flesh but in Iesus Christ Verse 3. We giue thanks vnto God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ alwaies praying for you And that you may haue further testimony of our loue towards you know you that we do continually both pray giue thanks to God for you whom to separate from all false Gods I call the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Verse 4. Since we heard of your faith in Christ Iesus and of your loue towards all Saints For the report of your profession and piety in Iesus Christ and of your loue towards all Saints is come vnto vs. Verse 5. For the hopes sake which is laid vp for you in heauen whereof ye haue heard before by the word of truth which is the Gospell Which both profession and loue we know to be sincere in that they are vpholden in you through the hope expectation of a treasure laid vp not on earth but in heauen which hope you haue conceiued not of your owne fantasie or of the word of any man but by the word of truth that is to say the Gospell Verse 6. VVhich is come vnto you euen as it is vnto all the world and is fruitfull as it is also among you from the day that ye heard and truly knew the grace of God And if you aske what is that truth or Gospell verily none other then that which is preached among you now which is not among you alone but is preached in all the world a certaine note of the truth therof there hauing neuer bin nor euer shall be any doctrine which hath leauened so great a lump of dow as is the world but only the Gospell And for further assurance that it is the truth of God I offer this to your consideration that as in other places of the world so among you it hath brought forth fruit euen from the first time you haue truly and sincerely acknowledged this grace of God Verse 7. As ye also learned of Epaphras our deare fellow seruant which is for you a faithfull Minister of Christ Where if you say we know not what doctrine is preached in all the world nor what fruit it hath brought forth although it be no other thing then the common constant report which many may bring vnto you yet to ioyne neare vnto you and to ridde you of all doubt which is the true Gospell of Christ it is euen the very same that you haue learned of Epaphras whom if you loue me you must loue as being my beloued fellow seruant in Christ yea if you loue your selues you must respect him as being a faithfull Minister of Christ for you Verse 8. VVho hath also declared vnto vs your loue which yee haue by the Spirit Who made manifest vnto vs your true loue not onely naturall but that especially which is spirituall whereof the Spirit is the author Verse 9. For this cause we also since the day we heard of it cease not to pray for you and to desire that yee might be fulfilled with knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding And as we giue thankes for your good and so for the same cause that you haue well begun both because you should not go backe againe and for that you haue not attained to perfection euen from the first day we heard of you we neuer giue ouer praying for you making this suit that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and vnderstanding whereof the holy Ghost is the Author Verse 10. That ye might walke worthy of the Lord and please him in all things being fruitfull in all good workes and increasing in the knowledge of God Not that you should content your selues with a bare knowledge and contemplation of heauenly things but that you walke worthy of those whom the Lord hath called to such honor to a full and whole pleasing of him both by bringing forth frunt in euery good worke and by being increased in the knowledge of God Verse 11. Strengthened with all might through his glorious power vnto all patience and long suffering with ioyfullnesse Wherein because there are many difficulties and hinderances laid in your waye our suit also is that you may be strengthened with all manner of strength according to that glorious power which being in God he is able to furnish you with that euen with ioy you may be able to beare all troubles how grieuous and how continuall soeuer they be Vers 12. Giuing thanks vnto the Father which hath made vs meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light And as we giue not ouer praying for you so doe we not cease to giue thanks to God the Father because that it is he that by his holy Spirit hath made vs fit to haue a part in the inheritance of Saints whom whether we consider as they are in this world by reason of the comfort and true knowledge of God or as they shall be in the world to come by reason of their perfect blessednesse may well be said to be in light Vers 13. Who hath deliuered vs from the power of darknesse and hath translated vs into the kingdome of his deare Sonne This parte of our inheritance standeth first in that God with a mercifull hand pulled vs out both of the present darknesse of ignorance and disobedience and from that which is to come euen the most fearful punishment of them both And secondly it standeth in this that the same God hath translated vs into the kingdome of his most deare Sonne which being here begun shall be accomplished in the life to come Vers 14. In whom we haue redemption through his bloud that is the forgiuenesse of sinnes In which his deare Sonne we haue a full redemption whereof one parte which is our iustification we haue already receiued waiting for that which remaineth euen the redemption of our bodies all which redemption is purchased vnto vs in the obedience of the Sonne which obedience was specially and most significantly declared in the shedding of his bloud Vers 15. VVho is the image of the inuisible God the first borne of euery creature This Christ that you may know what plentifull and rich redemption you haue in him to the end that you may rest in him alone is thus set forth vnto you as followeth As touching his person standing of two natures he is the most liuely and expresse Image and character of God not only of