for such our Sauiour at the first institution tooke as was at that time commonly Exod. 12. 18. 19 vsed It was indeed vnleauened bread but no other at that time was lawfull nor to be had in that place Q. VVhat doth the bread and wine signifie A. The body and blood of Christ Mat. 26. 26. 28. Q. VVhy did the Lord make choyce of these creatures of bread and wine to this end A. Because they are of all the meanes of our nourishment Psal 104. 15. the chiefest and therefore meaning to set forth our spirituall nourishment by bodily things he made choyce of them Q. VVhy did hee not content himselfe with one of these onely A. That hee might thereby shew that by him wee haue whatsoeuer is needfull to nourish vs to life euerlasting and that wee haue a plentifull and assured redemption in Christ Wherefore the practice of the Papists in taking away the cup is answerable to their doctrine who teach that neither we are saued wholly nor certainly by Christ Q. VVhat are the sacramentall actions about the bread and wine A. The Actions of the Minister or Communicants Q. VVhat are the Ministers actions A. First after the example of our Sauiour Christ he consecrateth the bread and wine Q. How did our Sauiour consecrate them A. First by separating the bread and wine from the ordinarie vse to this holy vse by prayer and thankesgiuing the latter whereof being plainly expressed by the Apostle doth imply the former Whereby wee may vnderstand that our Sauiour Christ prayed to Mat. 26. 26. 1. Cor. 11. 24. God his heauenly Father to this effect that his death in it selfe sufficient to saue might by the working of his spirit be effectuall to the elect and that those outward signes of bread and wine might through the operation of his holy spirit bee effectuall to the purposes they are ordained for Q. Doth this consecration change the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ A. No but they still continue in nature and substance bread and wine still and are but only types and seales of Christs body and blood Q. But doth not our Sauiour say of the bread This is my body and of the wine This is my blood A. Though he do yet it thence no more followeth that the bread is his very reall body and the wine his blood then that he is a materiall doore or vine because he saith I am the doore I am the vine Q. How is our Sauiour then to be vnderstood A. To speake by an vsuall figure where the name of the thing signified is giuen to the signe After the same manner that in the old Testament Circumcision is called the Couenant and the Lambe the Passeouer Act. 22. 16. Tit. 3. 5. because they were signes of those things Q. What speciall reasons haue you against the change of these elements into the very body and blood of Christ commonly called Transubstantiation A. First then at the first institution there must needs be two Christs one that giueth another that is giuen Secondly If the bread bee the very body of Christ c. then there is no true and proportionable signe to represent the thing signified and consequently no Sacrament Thirdly the same indiuiduall body must then of necessity be in more places then one at once which is not onely against the nature of a true humane body but of a body in generall also Fourthly the Apostles and Euangelists cal it bread and wine after the consecration 1. Cor. 10. 16. 26. 27. 28. Matth. 26. 29. Fifthly if there were any such change it were the greatest miracle in the world but all other miracles are such as haue been apparent to sense Sixthly then the wicked as well as the godly should receiue Christ Iesus and his quickening spirit which is neuer separated from him Yea which is horrible to consider mice and rats may eate the true bodie of Christ and drinke his blood Q. But it is not likely that at this time and in this place our Sauiour would vse a figuratiue speech and speak obscurely whereas he might haue spoken plainly A. First it is plaine that at the same time he vsed as Iohn 14. 6. 15. 5. figuratiue a speech as this Secondly in this institution also wee must of necessity acknowledge that hee vseth a figure when hee saith that a Luk. 22. 10. the cup is the new Testament Thirdly there is often more light and plainnesse in a figure then in a proper speech Q. But what may be noted out of this forme of speech A. The neare and sure coniunction of the signe 1. Cor. 10. 16. with the thing signified which it hath in them that shall receiue it worthily in so much as they which partake of the one receiue the other also Q. Then it seemes that though vpon the consecration the bread and wine bee not changed into the reall body and blood of Christ that yet they are present in with or vnder the bread and wine A. Not corporally substantially or locally for then first the body of Christ should be euery where which doth as much destroy the nature of a humane body as to be in many places at once Secondly then as in transubstantiation the body and blood of Christ should not be a spiritual food of the soule but bodily such as the wicked eate of as well as the godly Thirdly then also as in transubstantiation Christ should be eaten as the Capernaites fancied really with the body Iohn 6. 26. which our Sauiour denieth Fourthly it should not then be true which is said Act. 3. 21. That the heauens shall containe him till the time that all things bee restored Fifthly it is the nature of that faith by which we lay hold on and receiue Christ to seeke him and Coloff 3. 12. Philip. 3. 10. Hebr. 6. 10. behold him in heauen and to feed vpon him there Q. Thus much of the first action of the Minister what other actions are there of his A. Hee taketh the bread and breaketh it and the wine and poureth it out deliuering them vnto the receiuers and shewing the signification of them Q. What is meant and signified hereby A. That Christ himselfe of his owne accord offereth his body to be boken and his blood to be shead for our sinnes and that this body so broken and his blood so shead being receiued by faith is that food by which we liue euerlastingly Q. Why doth our Sauiour say This is my body which is broken for you when yet it was not broken A. It is vsuall in the Scripture to shew the certainty of that which is to come by speaking of them as if they were present Esa 9. 6. Ezech. 39. 8. Q. Why doth Christ call the cup the cup of the new Testament A. Because it is a seale of the promise of God touching our saluation in Christ which being in old time vnder the Law shadowed by
the sheading of the blood of beasts is now vnder the Gospell accomplished by the blood-sheading of Christ Q. What are the sacramentall actions of them which receiue A. To take the bread and to eate it and the wine Mat. 26. 26. 27. and to drinke it Q. VVhat is signified thereby A. The applying of Christ crucified and all his merits vnto our selues by faith as the onely meanes by which we looke to liue eternally Q. VVhat is the fittest time for the celebration of this Sacrament A. The Lords day in the morning Act. 20. 7. Q. But our Sauiour celebrated it vpon another day both he and his Apostles at another time euen in the night A. First our Sauiour did this occasionally after supper in regard of the Passeouer in the roome wherof this was to succeed and therefore hee did institute it presently after the eating of it Secondly that it might goe immediately before his passion the better to shew whereunto it hath relation Thirdly the Apostles did it in the night vpon necessity for feare of persecution and therfore where there is no such cause of feare the custome of our owne Churches is to bee performed which celebrate it in the morning when our wits memories and capacities are most fresh Q. But is there no speciall matter to bee obserued that our Sauiour celebrated this Sacrament after supper A. Yes verily for thereby we learne that wee are not to come to this table to fill our bellies but wee are to haue our mindes lifted vp from these earthly elements to our Sauiour Christ represented by them For it is not the vse after supper to set bread and wine vpon the table but banqueting dishes which reproues them which come only for a draught of wine and such as rest onely in the receit of the outward elements Q. How oft are the Sacraments to be celebrated A. As oft in a yeere as the Church where wee are members may conueniently and agreeable to the dignitie of the mysterie communicate therein 1. Cor. 11. 26. Q. What persons haue title to this Sacrament A. All Christians that are of yeeres of discretion 1. Cor. 11. 27. 28. and haue been baptized being fitted thereunto Q. May not infants and children partake thereof A. No because they cannot performe that dutie which the Apostle requireth of all worthie receiuers 1. Cor. 11. 28. that is they cannot trie and examine themselues Q. By what meanes may we be fit receiuers of this Sacrament A. First by a careful preparation before the action great heed in the action and a ioyfull and thankfull close and shutting vp of it Q. How are we to prepare our selues before the action A. Wee are first to examine our knowledge as in the grounds and principles of religion so also in this Sacrament whether we vnderstand the meaning and vse thereof viz. the signification of the signes and the graces that they seale Secondly wee are to examine what faith wee haue and what repentance not onely in the generall but for our particular sinnes whether wee doe bewaile them or iudge our selues for them otherwise we shall stirre vp Gods wrath against vs and those that belong 1. Cor. 11. 28. 31 vnto vs and moue him although not to condemne vs in the world to come yet to inflict fearfull plagues and iudgements vpon vs in this world Q. What heed is to be taken in the action A. That in the act of receiuing with the signes we consider and call to our remembrance the particular matters signified Seeing the bread broken and the wine poured out wee are affectionately to remember the body of Christ broken and his blood shead for vs and by the eye of faith behold him crucified as it were before our eyes Further beholding the Minister reaching forth these elements vnto vs wee are to behold Christ himselfe therein offering himselfe and all his merits vnto vs if we will receiue them by faith Lastly in the stretching forth of our hands to receiue these elements wee are to labour to haue a sense and feeling of our faith laying hold vpon Christ and all his sauing benefits and in our eating of this bread and drinking this wine wee are to labour to feele such a spirituall refreshing of our soules with the body and blood of Christ as wee feele in our bodies by the bread and wine Q. How are we to close and shut vp this action A. We are to be comforted in heart in the sense of Gods fauour towards vs from whence we should be ready with feeling ioy to sing a Psalm vnto the Lord of praise and thanks-giuing and feeling our selues strengthened in the new man we are to depart with a Mat. 26. 30. resolution to walke more strongly and steadily in the waies of God all the daies of our life afterward For this is a Sacrament not of our incorporation into Christ but of our growth in him CHAP. 39. Of Ecclesiasticall Discipline Censures wherein note their Kindes they are either Medicinall Priuate Publike Of punishment Power and authoritie MAT. ch 18. vers 15. to the 20. and 1. COR. 16. 22. 15. Moreouer if thy brother shall trespasse against thee goe and tell him his fault betweene thee and him alone if hee shall heare thee thou hast gained thy brother 16. But if he will not heare thee then take with thee one or two more that in the mouth of two or three witnesses euery word may be established 17. And if hee shall neglect to heare them tell it vnto the Church but if he neglect to heare the Church let him bee vnto thee as an heathen man and a Publican 18. Verily I say vnto you whatsoeuer ye shall binde on earth shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heauen 19. Againe I say vnto you that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall aske it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heauen 20. For where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the middest of them 1. COR. 16. 22. 22. If any man loue not the Lord Iesus Christ let him bee Anathema Maranatha Q. HItherto of the Sacraments now followeth the Discipline of the Church what is it A. The spirituall Censures of the Church executed against such members of the Church as haue fallen into any scandalous sinne Q. What need is there of them A. Very much both to helpe the godly and to restraine and root out the wicked out of the Church euen as much as of the sword of the Magistrate in the Common-wealth or the rod in the house yea so much more as these are for the body and this life the other for the soule and the life to come Q. What is to bee considered in this text concerning these Censures A. First the kindes secondly the power and authoritie Q. What are the kindes A. They are either of
spirit applying vnto our soule the blood of Christ by a liuely faith worketh in vs newnesse of life whence this Sacrament is called the Baptisme of Repentance Mark 1. 4. Q. VVhat learne you hereby A. That although sinne doth dwell in our mortall bodies and many leaud motions rise and rebell in vs yet if we be the children of God we shall finde it mortified by the death of our Sauiour Christ and although we bee by nature sluggish to good things yet shall we find our selues quickened by him Q. VVhat persons are to receiue this Sacrament A. All that by the Lawes of Charity are to Act. 10. 47. be esteemed within the Couenant of grace of what nation sexe or age soeuer Q. VVho are to be esteemed to be within the couenant of grace A. First those which being of yeeres of discretion Mat. 3. 6. 28. 29. Act 2. 41. Mark 16. 10. Act. 8. 15. 37. 10. 46. 47. giue assent vnto the doctrine of the Gospell and professe faith and repentance Q. How are those that are at yeeres of discretion to prepare themselues to the receiuing of this Sacrament A. First they are to submit themselues to bee instructed in the a Heb. 6. 1. principles of religion commonly called the Catechisme Secondly they are to make solemne b Mat. 3. 6. Act. 2. 41. Mat. 3. 6. Act. 8. 37. profession of their faith confession of their sinnes with faithfull promise to forsake them Thirdly As a testimony of their faith vnfained repentance after this they are to desire Baptisme of them that haue the dispensation therof and to procure the same assoone as they can Q. Who else are to bee esteemed within the couenant of grace and consequently to haue a title to Baptisme A. The infants of those Parents that are themselues Act. 2. 39. Gen. 17. 7. Luk. 18. 16. within the Couenant and haue been baptized Q. Is it necessarie that both the Parents bee in the Couenant A. No it is sufficient for the intitling of the child 1. Cor. 7. 14. to baptisme if either of them be Q. How doe you proue that Infants are to be baptized A. There is the same vse of Baptisme vnder the Gospell that was of Circumcision vnder the Law and the Infants of Christians are vnder the Couenant as well as theirs and Baptisme is a signe of the Couenant as well as Circumcision if therefore a Gen. 17. 12. Col. 2. 11. 12. Infants were circumcised and Baptisme possesse the roome of Circumcision except there can bee shewed a speciall prohibition or restraint in Gods word it will follow that Infants also may be baptized Further the Apostles are said to baptize a Act. 16. 15. 18. 1. Cor. 1. 16. whole families amongst which it is ordinarie that there be some children and there is no reason to limit the words to them that are at yeeres And this vse hath continued in the Church since the Apostles times and was neuer gainsaid by any but those that by the vniuersal Church haue been iudged hereticks Q. Is Baptisme absolutely necessarie to the saluation of Infants or are we to iudge all those damned that die vnbaptized A. Such a conceit is both vnchristian and vncharitable and without all ground offering wrong to the grace of God and the vertue of his Couenant wherein he promiseth that he will be the God of the faithful and their seed And seeing this Sacrament is not the cause but a testimonie and seale onely of saluation and the fault is not in the Infant that hee is not baptized and seeing in cases of meere necessity where there is no contempt of the means but the party doth as much for the obtaining of them as he can doe God doth not tie himselfe to the meanes but can and often doth giue the thing without the meanes neither haue we herein more warrant to iudge the Infants of Christians damned that without any default of their owne die without Baptisme then the Infants of the Israelites that died before the eighth day or whilest they were in the wildernesse Q. What preparation is to bee required of Infants that are to be baptized A. None can be required of them who in regard of age are but meere patients but that which is to bee performed is to be done of them that bring the child to Baptisme and that are present at the baptizing thereof Q. Who are they A. The Parent or the rest of the Church Q. What is the Parent to performe A. First hee is to consider of the goodnesse of God that hath receiued not onely himselfe but his Gen. 11. 17. child and therefore to reioyce in this loue and fauour of God and then to confirme himselfe in this hope that as God hath quickened him after his Baptisme so will hee his child Secondly hee is to present 1. Sam. 1. 20. Luk. 1. 60. 63. the child Thirdly to giue or to take order for the giuing of some such name as may put the child in remembrance of some good dutie by the signification of it or by setting before him in it the example of some whose faith and vertues are commended in the Scriptures Fourthly after Baptisme when the child Ephes 6. 4. is capable he is to catechize and to bring it vp in the feare and information of the Lord or to procure it to bee done by others that are more able Q. What are the duties of the rest of the Church A. First to reioyce and to giue thankes to God for the encrease of his Church Secondly to giue attendance to the doctrine and to pray that the child may be made partaker of Christ and his benefits Thirdly when it commeth to age to doe such duties vnto it as one member oweth to another CHAP. 38. Of the Supper of the Lord. Wherein consider The parts Signes Elements Actions about them Things signified The circumstances Time Persons MATTH chap. 26. vers 26. 27. 28. 29. 26. And as they were eating Iesus tooke bread and blessed it and brake it and gaue it to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my body 27. And he tooke the cup and gaue thankes and gaue it to them saying Drinke ye all of it 28. For this is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes 29. But I say vnto you I will not drinke henceforth of this fruit of the vine vntill that day when I drinke it new with you in my Fathers kingdome Q. SO much for Baptisme What is the Lords Supper A. It is the other Sacrament of the Gospell whereby is sealed vnto vs our continuance minishment 1. Cor. 11. 20. and growth in Christ and in his body which is his Church Q. What are the outward signes in this Sacrament A. Bread and wine and the sacramentall actions in and about the same Matth. 26. 26. c.. Q. VVhat manner of bread is fittest A. Ordinarie bread