THE LORDS SUPPER BRIEFLY VINDICATED AND Clearly demonstrated by Scripture and other Authorities to be a GRACE-BEGETTING SOUL-CONVERTING as well as confirming ORDINANCE against all false vain absurd irreligious Cavils Objections Whimsies Delusions of those Novellists who have lately contradicted it both in Press and Pulpit here satisfactorily refuted retorted dissipated By William Prynne of Swainswick Esquire a Bencher of Lincolns Inne 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Bloud of Christ The Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ Synodus Senonensis 1528. apud Laur. Bochellum Decret Eccles Gallicanae l. 2. Tit. 1. c. 34. p. 153. Quis autem Vivificum esse neget Eucharistiae Sacramentum quod tam apertis testimoniis Scripturae comprobatur Calix enim Benedictionis cui benedicimus nonne Communicatio Sanguinis Christi est c. Quibus luce clarius constat Eucharistiae Sacramentum Gratiam conferre LONDON Printed and are to be sold by Edward Thomas in Green Arbor 1658 To the Reader CHristian Reader I here present thee with a Brief yet full Satisfactory Vindication and clear Demonstrations from Scripture and other Authorities That the Lords Supper is not only a meer confirming but likewise a Grace-begetting Soul-converting Ordinance Wherein I have truly propounded satisfactorily refuted retorted and I hope for ever dissipated all the false vain absurd irreligious Objections Cavils Whimsies Delusions of those Novellists who have lately contradicted it both in Press and Pulpit and upon this false Account most irreligiously if not antichristianly refused to administer it to their people for sundry years together and that by a secret Combination to carry on their own Self-interests against the very Interest and Institution of our Lord Jesus Christ The Occasion of penning this Publication was a late Act-Question and a Sermon which I heard this last Vacation The principal motive exciting me thereunto was this sad Observation That though sundry Ministers in most parts of England have most audaciously frequently earnestly in their Pulpits and Publications decried impugned the Grace-ingendring Soul-inlivening power of the Lords Supper and other Sacraments against the sacred Scipture the resolutions of Fathers Councils Schoolmen Protestant Divines the Articles Chief Writers of our Church and the Directory it self to justifie their debarring the people from it year after year yet few or none of our Ministers of a contrary judgement Mr. Humfryes with some one or two more excepted have dared openl to refute write or preach against this their most dangerous spreading Error and disusage of this Sacrament grounded on it to reclaim them from it or undeceive their seduced Auditors Readers such being their general luke warmness or rather key-coldness in this common cause for fear of discontenting those their over-rigid Presbyterian and Independent Brethren or impairing that now Classical Jurisdiction which they have long attempted to erect oft suspending their Parishioners from the Lords Supper at their pleasures that unless some Lay-men as John Timson Mr. Morrice and my Self had publikely opposed refuted them in printed Discourses having no command of their Pulpits this their Anti-Sacramental absurd impious Paradox had passed for Orthodox truth without controll and totally deprived the people in all or most places both of the frequent use of the Lords Supper and of their Christian liberty and free access thereto in any place unless they first submitted their necks to a Classical examination both of their knowledge lives and saving Graces or new-modelled themselves into an Independent or Anabaptistical congregation Which mischiefs though our Books through Gods blessing on them have in a great measure prevented yea converted some quite silenced others of the Opposite party yet such is their obstinacy such their unchristian uncharitable deportment towards us that the generality of the Presbyterial and Independent Ministers secretly backbite maligne and some of them openly revile us for our pains as crossing their self-designs though they cannot refute nor deny those Truths we have defended out of meer zeal to Gods Glory Christs Sacraments and the peoples Christian liberty Conversion Edification Consolation Salvation Now the Lord convince them all throughly of and convert them from this their sin error by his effectual blessing on our former Labors and particularly on this Brief Vindication from which if thou shalt receive any Spiritual benefit or satisfaction in the points therein debated give God the whole Glory of it and me only a share in thy daily Prayers William Prynne Swainswick 24 August 1657. The LORDS SUPPER a Grace-begetting Soul-converting Ordinance MEeting lately with a Printed Question in the Country professedly asserting in the publike Schools of my Quondam nursing Mother the famous University of Oxford the last Act there held The Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be no Grace-engendring Soul-converting but only a confirming Ordinance or prae-existent Grace And having soon after heard the same with much confidence vehemently affirmed in the Pulpit of an eminent City where the Inhabitants upon this mistake have for divers whole years been deprived by their Minister of the inestimable Soul-refreshing Benefits of this heavenly banquet to their greatest grief I thereupon conceived my self obliged in point of Conscience Duty both to God and Men having formerly oppugned this a Mat. 16.6.12 Pharisaical spreading leven both in its rise and progress to apply a fresh Emplaster to so dangerous a Gangraena and new prodigious Error which the Anabaptists and Independents strenuously assert on the one hand to withdraw the people from our mixt Parochial Congregations to their select Separated Conventicles consisting only of the most refined sublimated Saints as they deem themselves and the over-rigid Presbyterians cry up on the other hand to lure the people to submit their necks consciences to their new Presbyterial Tryals and Suspensions from this Sacrament till adjudged worthy by their Classical Sentences to receive it which these different politick b Psal 58.5 Charmers hope to effect by this late-invented false Charm so frequently sounded by them in all places into the ears of their Auditors for these by ends alone not out of any real love to truth or their peoples Spiritual welfare without opposition This absurd irreligious Paradox I have heretofore at large refuted by Scriptures Reasons Experience Fathers Councils School-men Protestant Divines of our own and other reformed Churches and by the Homilies Articles of the Church of England ratified by Parliament and the Subscriptions of all our Ministers to them in my Vindication of 4. Serious Questions printed 1645. p. 39. to 48. my Suspension suspended published 1646. p. 18. to 39. and briefly touched in my Seasonable Vindication p. 28 29. Since which I have herein been seconded by Mr. John Humfrey in his acute and solid Rejoynder to Mr. Drake printed 1654. p. 216. to 241. in his Second Vindication of Free-admission to the Lords Supper 1656. p. 32. c. and by that learned Gentleman Mr.
Augustine saith That he was stirred up to come to Christ by reading a Heathen book written by Cicero called Hortensius Thus he saith That heathen Book changed my mind and turned my prayer O Lord unto thee Among OTHER CAUSES THE SACRAMENTS SERVE SPECIALLY TO DIRECT AND TO AID OUR FAITH For they are as i Aug. cont Faustum l. 19. c. 16. Saint Augustine called them VISIBLE WORDS and Seals and Testimonies of the Gospel k Defence of the Apology part 2. c. 7. divis 1. p. 150. For the word of God is the substance and life of all Sacraments and without the same all Sacraments whatsoever are no Sacraments c. All which abundantly evidence the Sacraments to be Grace-begetting Faith-quickning Soul-converting Life-conveying Ordinances having promises and the word annexed to them as well as preaching and that this is the express Doctrine of the Church of England though now contradicted by a Generation of Novellers upon meer whimsies Crochets of their own out of Self-interest and respects What other Protestant Divines have asserted to the same effect you may read at large in My Suspension Suspended p. 28. to 35. and in Mr. Morrice his laborious Diatribe p. 29. c. The Lords Supper therefore being a Sacrament must thereupon consequently be a Soul-converting Grace-producing Regenerating Ordinance instituted for this verie end as well as the word preached and have promises of Grace annexed to it as all these resolve 3ly All the Objectors and l See Jewels Defence of the Apology c. 10. divis 1. p. 205 c. others unanimouslie assert That the Lords Supper is a Seal of the New Testament and Covenant of Grace the tenor whereof is thus expressed both in the Old and New Testament Jer. 31.31,32 c. 32.38,39,40 Ezech. 11.19,20 c. 36.25 to 31. Heb. 8.6 to 13. c. 10.16,17 After those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their minds and in their hearts will I write them Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all our Idols will I cleanse you A new heart also will I give you and a New spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stonie heart out of your flesh and give you an heart of flesh and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my Judgements and do them and I will be your God and ye shall be my people And I will give you one heart and one way that you may fear me for ever for the good of you and your children after you And I will make an everlasting Covenant with you that I will not turn away my face from doing you good but I will put my fear into your hearts and ye shall not depart from me And I will rejoyce over you to do you good And I will also save you from all your uncleanness c. Then shall you remember your own wayes and your doings that were not good and you shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations and you shall all know me from the greatest unto the least for I will forgive your Iniquities and will remember your sins no more If then the Lords Supper be a Seal annexed to all these Covenants and Promises of Grace all in the Future Tense made to such who were unregenerate void of Grace and the spirit of God having old stonie hearts and wanting new as I have formerly touched it must needs be a regenerating Grace-conveying Soul-converting Ordinance by divine institution by effecting and putting them into actual execution at this Sacrament and these Promises must be all annexed to it as Writings Covenants are to their Seals as well as their Seals to them Hence Dr. Ames thus taxeth Bellarmin Tom. 3. c. 1. q. 3. De Promissione Sacramentorum Male disjungit quae sunt conjungenda promissionem de efficacia Sacramenti et promissionem praecedentem à Sacramento obsignandam Nam promissio illa pertinet ad institutionem ut causa efficiens Sacramenti obsignatio ipsa est efficacia promissa Promissionem etiam obsignandam sua natura antecedere Sacramentum ex eo liquet quod foedus antecedit cujus Sacramentum ita et signum ut inde foederis nomen sortiatur Gen. 17. The Objectors therefore must either renounce the Lords Supper to be the Seal of these promises and Covenants as they positively define it or abjure this objection that there are no promises of Conversion or begetting saving Grace and Regeneration made unto it as there are to the preaching of the word 4ly Our Lord Jesus Christ in the very institution of his Supper m Mat. 26.26,27 Mar. 14 22,23 Lu. 22.19,20 1 Cor. 10.16,17.21 c. 11.23 to 30. Took bread blessed brake and gave it to his Disciples saying Take eat this is my bodie which is given for you this do in remembrance of me After which he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it for this is my bloud of THE NEW TESAMENT or Covenant as one Or◠This Cup IS THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MY BLOUD thereupon twice stiled The BLOUD OF THE COVENANT and of the EVERLASTING COVENANT Heb. 10.29 c. 13.20 as another Evangelist records it WHICH IS SHED FOR YOU and FOR MANY FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS this do ye as oft as ye drink it INREMEMBRANCE OF ME. For as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this Cup YE DO SHEW or shew ye THE LORDS DEATH TIL HE COME From which words of institution compared with Hebr. 13.20 Now the God of Peace which brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great shepherd of the sheep BY THE BLOUD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT represented communicated and spiritually received applied by everie worthie Communicant in and by the Lords Supper MAKE YOV PERFECT in every good work TO DO HIS WILL WORKING IN YOU THAT WHICH IS WELL-PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT THROUGH JESVS CHRIST It is most apparent that the Lords Supper was specially instituted blessed by Christ himself not only to commemorate and represent but also really effectually to communicate and convey to all worthie receivers all the benefits of his death bloud merits to make them perfect in everie good work to do his will to work in them that is well pleasing in Gods sight through Jesus Christ and that the New Testament or Covenant is thereby ratified applied made effectual to and upon their Souls in the remission of sins and all its forementioned branches 5ly The Scriptures resolve That n Rom. 5.9 we are justified by the bloud of Christ That o Eph. 1.5 we have redemption through his bloud That p Eph. 2.13,14 those who were afar off are made nigh by his bloud c. That q Col. 1.20 he hath made peace and reconciliation between his Father and us by the bloud of his Cross
Ordinance wherein Christ communicates himself to his people and seems to have a more special relation to this Spiritual Repast though not then instituted as the words shall give will give c. in the future tence import Are an invincible evidence that Christ doth as effectually promise and as really convey exhibite his flesh and bloud in a spiritual way with eternal life and salvation unto men and works faith and true conversion in their Souls in a proper ordinary way by his Supper duly administred as he doth by the Word preached or any other means of Grace it being of divine institution representing the flesh bodie and bloud of Christ more lively to their senses and by them unto their souls than any other Gospel Ordinance working upon three distinct senses at once the eie ear taste which no other Ordinance doth 9ly That Text of 1 Cor. 10.16,17 The Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the bloud of Christ The bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one Bread and one Body and are ALL partakers of that one bread compared with Ver. 1 2 3 4 5. and that parallel Text 1 Cor. 12.12,13 For as the body is one and hath many members and ALL the Members of that one body being many are one body So also is Christ for by one Spirit we are ALL baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been ALL made to drink of or into one Spirit afford us these Conclusions proving the Lords Supper a Converting Grace-begetting Spirit-infusing Ordinance as well as the Word preached 1. That all visible Church-members professing Christ makeÌ„ but one Mystical Bodie of Christ into which they all are actually incorporated united together by Baptism and the Lords Supper of both which Sacraments they did all equally participate in the Apostles times without any restraint suspension seclusion communicating together in the Lords Supper and being all made partakers both of the Sacramental Bread and Cup when ever administred whether regenerate or unregenerate ignorant or knowing scandalous or unblameable by virtue of their incorporation into this One mystical Body Now the Major part of visible Christians Church-members in g 1 Cor. 1.2,3 c. 6.1 to 8. c. 3.1,2,3,4 c. 6.18,19 c. 7.10,11 c. 8.1,2,7,8 c. 10.8.22,23,28 to 34. c. 11.30 to 34. c. 14 Corinth other hurches in all ages admitted to Baptism and the Lords Supper have been unregenerate ignorant void of saving Faith and Graces so as the Lords Supper could be no confirming Ordinance in the Objectors sense to wit of their several Graces unto them Therefore it was administred to them only as a converting Ordinance upon that reason which Chrysostom h In Marc. c. 14. Victor Antiochenus i Summa Theol. pars 4. qu. 11. Art 1. Sect. 3. Alexander Alensis and others render why our Saviour himself administred it to Judas at its primitive institution That he might leave no means unattempted to convert reduce him to a sound mind and reclaim him from his wickedness 2ly That the Lords Supper worthily received doth really communicate the body and bloud of Christ with all the benefits of his death and passion to those who receive it yea make them all partakers of that one bread of life to their eternal Salvation and to drinke into one spirit Whence judicious * â—n 1 Cor. 12. Calvin expounds this phrase of the Sacramental Cup to which doubtless it referrs thus Participationem Calicis huc spectare ut unum Spiritum accipiamus Learned Gerhard thus Ex uno Calice bibimus in the Lords Supper ut unum spiritum sanctum recipiamus Whom the French Divines in their Theses Salmur pars 3. p. 40. back asserting That the Spirit of comfort and sanctification doth much rather follow the lawfull celebration of the Sacraments than the hearing of the Word since that is not slightly to be passed by which St Paul hath said And have all been made to drink into one spirit to wit in the Lords Supper whereas he never uttered any like thing when as he spake of the preaching of the word as learned Mr. Morrice hath also noted to my hands in his Diatribe 3ly That all worthy Communicants of the Lords Supper are there really incorporated into the invisible body and Church of Christ and made bone of his bone flesh of his flesh spirit of his spirit as visible Church-members are thereby actually incorporated into his visible mystical bodie as these Texts compared with Eph. 1.22,23 c,2 18 to the end c. 4.12 to 17. c. 5.25 to 33. Col. 1.18 c. 2.19 resolve 4ly That this Sacrament is a k See Articles of Engl. c. 26. Harmony of Confessions Sect. 14. Bishop Jewels Reply to Harding p. 20 21. 93. 112. special means to unite both the visible and invisible Church and their members together and to prevent all Scismes in these bodies being both the bond and badge of their union and communion one with another A prevailing motive in these sad times of Scisms and Divisions in all places to restore the frequent constant use of this holy Ordinance the disusage whereof hath been the principal cause of the Growth and continuance of these manifold Sects and Differences which l Mat. 12.25 threaten desolation to our Church and State 10ly The Scripture positively resolves Rom. 1.16 and all our Opposites assert That the Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written The just shall live by faith Now the principal part and summ of the Gospel recorded in sacred Writ and preached by the Apostles to beget or increase faith convert win bring men to salvation is this m 1 Cor. 15.1,2,3,4 Isay 53.4,5 c. Acts 2.22 to 40. c. 3,4 to 20. c. 4.10 c. 5.30,31 c. 8,5.35 c. 10.36 to 42. c. 13.19,30 Rom. 1.2,3,4 c. 4.24,25 c. 5.6,7,8,9 Gal. 3.1 That Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures when we were yet sinners and his professed Enemies to reconcile us unto God to cleanse heal save us from our sins to make us his adopted sons and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom Hence iâ— that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 1.23 But we preach Christ crucified and chap. 2. 2. I determined not to know any thing amongst you save Jesus Christ and him crucified as being the marrow and substance of the Gospel whereupon the preaching of the Gospel is stiled n 1 Cor. 1.17,18 The preaching of the Cross This transcendent love of Christ in dying suffring for such wretched sinners Enemies as we in washing us from our sins in his own most precious bloud and redeeming us from Gods wrath Hell eternal damnation out of the freeness fulness and riches of his
Passeover yea Judas himself though a Devil Traytor Murderer Thief Son of perdition Cast-away Mat. 26.14 to 30. Mar. 14.14 to 26. Luke 22.8 to 23. John 18.2,3 c. 28. c. 6.70,71 Acts 1.16 to 21. John 17.12 1 Cor. 11.23,24,25 The rather because the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.1,2,3,4,5 from this president That ALL our Fathers were under the cloud and ALL passed through the Sea and were ALL baptized under Moses and did ALL eat the same spiritual meat and did ALL drink the same spiritual drink for they drank of the rock that followed them and that rock was Christ Though with many of them God was not well pleased c. Inferrs the universality of all Christians right to and actual duty in Communicating together at the Lords Supper ver 16 17. The Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread and one body for we are ALL partakers of that one bread To which he subjoyns Chap. 12. 13. For by one Spirit we are ALL baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles tiles whether bond or free and have been ALL maae to drink into one spirit By which texts it is undeniable that whoever is admitted a visible Member into the mystical Bodie or Church of Christ hath a proper right and interest not only to all the Covenants and Promises of the Gospel but likewise to Baptism and the Lords Supper which our Opposites stile the Seals of the Gospel and ought freely constantly to be admitted thereunto as all the Israelites and seed of Abraham under the Law had a right interest and were all freely admitted to Circumcision the Passeover Manna the water in the Wilderness which were but Types of Christ and the same in substance with the Sacraments under the Gospel 3. Hence it inevitably follows that these Sacraments were all administred only as Grace-conveying Soul-converting ordinances to those who were unregenerate wanted saving Grace since they could not possibly be sealing and confirming Ordinances unto them in our Antagonists sence or language 4ly That the administring of Circumcision the Passeover Baptifm Lords Supper to such who have no saving faith Graces prae-existent in them is no setting of a Seal to a Blank as these New Dogmatists and Lord Keepers of the Great Seals of Heaven who refuse to set or distribute these Seals where God hath prescribed them as more wise holy carefull of their profanation and Nullity than God himself absurdly affirm who must now either renounce this their Cuckoes song they so oft inculcate or else blasphemously charge God himself our Saviour Jesus Christ the Patriarks Priests Prophets under the Old Testament the Apostles Ministers Primitive Churches under the new with folly error mistake in setting all these sacred seals as they term them to meer blanks and affirm all his Covenants Promises to be but Blanks the truth whereof are alwayes sealed ratified by these Seals when ever administred though to unregenerate graceless persons they being Seals onely to the promises Covenants of God by divine institution as they all acknowledge who stile them Seals not to the persons of those to whom they are exhibited or at leastwise but conditional not absolute Seals to their persons not graces sealing only damnation to them if they receive them unworthily without any gracious effect and salvation grace life eternal to them only when they receive them worthily as the q Mat. 16.16 2 Cor. 2.14,15,16 Gospel preached doth 1 Cor. 11.25 to 30. This absurdity because I have at large refuted in my Suspension suspended p. 20 21 22 23 24. and Mr. Marshal in his Defence of Infant Baptism p. 117 118. Mr. John Humfrey in his Rejoynder to Mr. Drake p. 170. to 202. and Mr. Morrice in his Diatribe have acutely answered I shall here no further prosecute being in plain English as pure Nonsense in Divinity as it would be in Law for any Ignoramus to assert that when ever the Great Seal of England or any other is affixed to the Charters Commissions Writs Grants Feoffments Bonds Covenants Pardons of unregenerate persons they are set only unto blanks of no validity because they are not affixed to their persons Graces as well as these to their Writings objection 4 Their 4. Argument or Ground to prove the Lords Supper no Grace-effecting Soul-converting Ordinance is this The Lords Supper necessarily pre-requireth faith and repentance in all resorting to it because without these they eat and drink their own damnation Therefore it is no Soul-converting Grace-producing but only a Confirming Ordinance belonging to the regenerate alone This Objection being answered at large by my self Mr. Humfrey and Mr. Morrice I shall only retort That the hearing of the word reading prayer fasting Baptism are all unprofitable unacceptable to God and work deserve damnation only without faith and repentance as well as the Lords Supper witnes Heb. 4.2 2 Cor. 2.15,16 Mar. 16.15,16 1 Pet. 2.1 to 9. Heb. 11.4.6 Jam. 1.5 c. 5.15 Pro. 15.8 c. 28.9 Isa 1.10 to 20. chap. 66.3 Jer. 6.19,20 c. 7.21,22,23,24 Amos 5.21 to 27. Will the Objectors then conclude from thence Ergo then all prae-require true faith repentance and unregeneracy and are no Soul-converting Grace-engendring but only confirming ordinances belonging solely to real converted Saints not to any unregenerate persons No verily For as these Ordinances require not alwayes prae-require faith and repentance to make them acceptable to God and effectual to men r See Suspenfion suspended p. 35 36 37 38. so they likewise work and convey by the concurrence of Gods spirit that faith repentance Grace which is requisite to make them acceptable and effectual Isa 55.3 Gal. 3.2 Rom. 1,16,17 c. 10.13 to 19. Acts 2.37,38 c. 10.44 to 48. c. 9.11,17,18,40,41 c. 16.14,15 c. 26.17,18 John 5.21,24,25,26 Eph. 2.1 to 22. 1 Tim. 3.16 Jonah 5.3 John 2.22 c. 4.39,41 c. 7.31 c. 8.30,31,32 c. 10.41,42 c. 20.29 Acts 8.12 c. 18.8.27 c. 28.24 1 John 5.13 1 Cor. 14.24,25 And so doth the Lords Supper likewise as I shall prove anon objection 5 5. Their 5. Allegation against the converting Grace-engendring power of the Lords Supper is this * An Answer to Suspension suspended p. 24 25 26 27. That there is no one president in Scripture to prove it a Soul converting Grace-producing Ordinance Therefore it is not such I answer 1. There is no express text or president in Scripture to prove it a Seal a sealing or confirming Ordinance yet they dogmatically conclude it such as a principle not once to be questioned or disputed 2. There is no one Text president in Gods word to prove warrant the power of Ministers Presbyteries Classes Triers to examin the Lives knowledge faith Graces fitnes worthiness of Communicants before they be admitted to the Lords Supper their secluding any Churchmembers from it for ignorance scandal unpreparedness or any other incapacity not excluding them alike from all other Ordinances their peremptory refusal to administer
William Morrice of Werrington Esquire in his irrefragable Diatribe in answer to Mr. Saunders 1657. p. 218 219 c. to whom I shall referr all such who desire fuller Satisfaction in this Controversie which they have so solidly and amply debated that there is little remaining to be superadded by me but some few Gleanings after these fuller Crops which I hope through Gods blessing will silence convince all future Antagonists and presume will be neither unacceptable nor contemptible nor superfluous to sincere unbiassed Christians who only study seek c Zech. 8.19 love the Truth and Peace for whose benefit I have made them publike Our d See Dr. Drakes Boundary to the Holy Mount p. 154. to 176. 120 121 c. Mr. Collins Mr. Saunders Books and others of them who have written of this subject Antagonists destitute of all Scripture proofs to evidence the Lords Supper to be no Soul-converting Grace-producing but only a Grace-confirming Ordinance do bottom their opinions upon these 7. sandy Foundations or Objections objection 1 1. That the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is a Seal not only of the Covenant of Grace but also of the truth of saving Faith and Grace in the hearts of the Receivers Therefore it is only a confirming but no soul-converting faith-begetting Ordinance I shall concisely examine dissipate overturn this rotten Foundation whereon this Error is principally grounded and display its vanity absurdity e 2 Cor. 4.2 to every mans conscience in the sight of God To this end take special notice in the first place 1. That the Lords Supper is never so much as once stiled in Scripture a Seal or Seal of the Covenant of Grace much less a Seal of saving Faith or of the truth of saving Grace in mens hearts but only the f Mat. 26.26,27 Lu. 22.18,19,20 1 Cor. 10.16,17.21 c. 11.20 to 30. Gal. 3.1 Lords Supper Table Bread Cup Body Bloud or the Remembrance Figure Sign Representation of his death and passion which have no analogy at all with a Seal By what rule then of faith or right reason can they justly affirm prove it to be any Seal at all or such a Seal as this If rherefore it be no Seal by divine appellation or institution then all their consequences built on this false foundation fall to the ground together If they allege that Circumcision is directly stiled A sign and Seal of the righteousness of the faith Rom. 4.11 Ergo the Lords Supper is likewise such a Seal and may properly be stiled a Seal Though many learned g See Dr. Ames Bellarm. Enerv. Tom. 3. l. 1. c. 1. p. 9. to 15. Protestants and some Papists be of this opinion yet under correction I deny the consequence upon these grounds 1. Because God himself gives this Title to Circumcision only and that but once but never to the Passeover Lords Supper Baptism or any other Ordinance Therefore his Ministers Servants must conform themselves to his pattern language herein 2. Circumcision was a vâ—sible mark set by Gods command upon the flesh or persons of all who were circumcised Therefore it might properly be stiled a Sign Seal and Covenant of God in their flesh upon which is left a perpetual impression Gen. 17.10,11,12,13,14 Rom. 2.28 c. 4.11 But the Lords Supper Baptism and the Passeover leave no such visible marks or impressions on the persons or flesh of those who receive them Therfore God never stiled any of them Marks or Seals as he did Circumcision neither may we without his warrant against his president and sacred language stile them so 3. The Lords Supper succeeded not Circumcision but the * Mat. 26.17 to 31. 1 Cor. 5.7,8 c. 10.3,4 Passeover never called a Seal in sacred Writ Therefore this stile appropriated to Circumcision cannot be rationally given to it the rather because the Holy Ghost never gives it to Baptism which succeeded Circumcision 4. Circumcision is only stiled A Seal of the righteousness of the faith which Abraham had being uncircumcised g See Calvin Peter Martyr Aretius Fayus Paraeus willet wilson and others on Rom. 4. That is a token of the Covenant between God and Abraham and his seed made to him by God and believed by Abraham before he was circumcised as is evident by Gen. 17.1 to 15. compared with 15.1 to 8. Rom. 4.9 to 23. But the Lords Supper is not such a Seal token but instituted for other ends to represent unto us the breaking of Christs body and shedding of his blood on the Cross for our sins to shew forth his death till he come c. Whence it is stiled The new Testament in his blood Mat. 26.26,27,28 Lu. 22.19 1 Cor 11.24,25,26 c. 10.16,21 c. Therefore Gods stiling Circumcision a Seal is no warrant for us to stile the Lords Supper so Objection If any Object That the Lords Supper may properly be stiled a Seal because it doth confirm which is their only reason I deny the consequence for then by this reason an Oath should be a Seal Answer because it is for confirmation Hebr. 6.16,17 Miracles and Signs done by the Apostles should be Seals because they confirmed the words and Gospel they preached Mar. 16.20 The huâ—bands Silence should be a Seal which confirmed all his wives vows and bonds Num. 30.14 The plucking off the shoe and giving it to a neighbor should be a Seal because it confirmed all things concerning redeeming and changing Lands in Israel Ruth 4.7 Every Decree should be a Seal because it confirms the things decreed Esther 9.29,32 Yea the Apostles Ministers and Word preached should be Seals too because they confirmed the Souls of the Disciples the Churches of Christ and testimonie of Christ in men Acts 15.32,41 c. 14.22 1 Cor. 1.6 Heb. 2.3 Phil. 1.7 And Christ himself a Seal too who shall confirm us unto the end 1 Cor. 1.8.5 The Scripture makes mention only of 2. sorts of Seals The 1. material affixed to Writings Deeds Books Letters and other material things for their confirmation securing or secrecy Neh. 9.38 c. 10.1 Esth 3.12 c. 8.8.10 Job 41.15 c. 14.17 Deut. 32.43 Isay 29.11 Cant. 4.12 Jer. 32.10,11,14,44 Dan. 6.16 c. 12.9 Mat. 17. Tim. 6.6 Rev. 5.1 c. 8.1 c. 10.4 c. 22.10 The 2. immaterial and invisible set by the Spirit of God or his Angels on the souls or forheads of his chosen Saints who are said to be sealed by and with the holy Spirit 2 Cor. 1.22 Eph. 1.13 c. 4.30 2 Tim. 2.19 or to be sealed with the seal of God in their foreheads Rev. 7.2 to 9. But the Lords Supper is no material Seal visibly affixed to any material Writing Deed Letter Book thing the visible Elements of it being instituted consecrated h Mat. 26.27.27,28 1 Cor. 11.24 to 30. c. 10.16,17,21 only to be eaten and drunken by us like other bread meat drink which may be as properly stiled Seals as the consecrated bread and wine not to remain as Seals upon us and the
invisible body bloud benefits of our Saviours death they represent and convey unto our Souls for their spiritual nourishment are received only as spiritual food not Seals neither are our bodies or souls in any Scripture said to be visibl or invisibly inwardly or outwardly sealed but only to be fed and nourished by this Sacrament Therefore it is as improper a speech to call it a Seal as to stile our meat and drink a Seal or to averr that mens persons faith or the Covenant of Grace are sealed by the Lords Supper as that their persons or Evidences of their Lands Charters Bonds are sealed by their Ordinary Suppers there being no Analogy at all between Meat Drink and a Seal or between feeding and sealing as these new Doctors affirm with as much sense and reason as the i Concil Trident. Sessio 21. c. 3. Concil Constant Sess 13. Bish Jewels Reply to Harding p. 72. c. Ames Bellarminus Enervatus Tom. 3. lib. 4. c. 7. p. 179. c. Popish Councils Doctors assert That the Lay-Communicants actually drink Christs bloud in the Eucharist by way of Concomitancy only in and by their eating the consecrated dry bread 6. Admit the Lords Supper might in some strained secondary improper sense be stiled A Seal of the new Testament or Covenant of Grace recorded in the Scripture and ratified by Christs death yet with what propriety of speech can they stile it a Seal affixed to the Grace of faith or saving Graces in the hearts of worthy Communicants Can the visible material consecrated Elements which they refuse to administer to those they repute not real Saints for fear of setting a Seal to a blank be affixed by them to invisible immaterial Graces If yea then k Bellarminus Enervatus Tom. 3. c. 3. P. 37. Dr. Ames and other Protestants main Argument against the Papists that the Sacraments convey not grace ex opere operato as physical instruments unto the receivers of them Fieri n non potest ut Sacramenta quae sunt res crassae et materiales ad animam penetrent et ibi quasi creando ingenerent divinam ac supernaturalem virtutem idque in momento quia proportionem nullam habent ad objectum in quod agunt must be both false and disclaimed by them as absurd for the future If no then this foundation and chief corner-stone of our Opposites structure against the Lords Suppers Soul-converting Grace-producing efficacy That it is a Seal both of the Covenant and truth of saving faith and Grace in the hearts of the receivers must be henceforth disclaimed recanted renounced by them as a false unproper unscriptural Paradox and Expression though embraced by them as an unquestionable principle which having l Suspension suspended p. 19 20. elsewhere more fully refuted in another method I shall here no further prosecute but only request them for the future to confine themselves wholly to the Scripture language and then this Controversie will soon be ended objection 2 2. From this first main foundation they deduce their 2. which I shall next discuss That Sacramental seals serve only to confirm ratifie prae-existent not to convey or effect non-existent Grace the proper office of a Seal being to confirm not convey Therefore the Lords Supper being a Seal cannot possibly beget or convey Grace where it is not but only corroborate it where already wrought This Position of theirs hath neither Scripture nor reason to support it being an apparent untruth and gross Solecism both in Divinity and Law For Scripture Law and common experience might have instructed these Opposites that there are several properties and uses of Seals The 1. is to conceal and seal up things from publike view as they usually seal up Letters Books Bags of money and what else they would keep private for which peruse Isa 29.11 Cant. 4.12 Job 41.15 Rev. 5.1 c. 6.1 c. 10.4 c. 22.10 2ly To secure and keep things safe from being embezelled attested by Deut. 32.43 Job 34.16 c. 14.17 Dan. 6.17 Mat. 27.66 3ly To appropriate and mark persons or things for our own and to distinguish them from others Rev. 7.2 to 9. c. 9.10 2 Tim. 2.19 2 Cor. 1.22 Eph. 1.13 c. 4.30 4ly To commission or authorize Officers and others to exercise their Offices or execute their commands Esth 3.12 c. 8.10,11 John 6.26 Hence all Judges Justices Commissions Officers Patents and Writs to Sheriffs are and must be sealed 5. To confirm or ratifie Writings and make them valid and irrevocable in Law Esth 8.8 Neh. 9.38 c. 10.1 Jer. 32.10.14.44 Isa 8.16 Now these writing are of several sorts and Natures 1. Charters Feoffments Grants Covenants Gifts Wills Bequests giving granting transferring and newly conveying Lands Goods Honors Annuities Rights Titles Interests Offices Powers Privileges Advantages c. from the King or from one person to another in which they never had any right or interest before being conveyed to them only by these new sealed writings 2. Deeds or Charters of confirmation corroboration or release confirming or inlarging mens former rights interests estates in Lands or other things wherein they had a precedent interest or possession by former conveyances Seeing then there are several other properties uses of Seals besides confirmation and the primary original most usual end of Seals and sealed writings is to convey transferr new rights titles interests privileges estates possessions but the secondary end of them to confirm corroborate or enlarge estates formerly conveyed To argue that the Lords Supper is only a Grace-confirming not a Grace-conveying Ordinance because it is a Seal is as gross an absurdity as to averr that all Deeds of meer Feoffment Grant Gift Bequest are only Confirmations of precedent interests or estates not conveyances of new ones because they are sealed and that Seals serve only to corroborate not convey or transferr 2. Themselves assert that this Sacrament is a * Though not immediately affixed to it as Seals are to Deeds Seal of the New Covenant of Grace and if so then it must certainly be rather a Seal for Conveyance of new Grace where wanting than a confirmation of prae-existent Grace the m See Olevian de Substantia Foederis Tenor of this new Covenant being thus expressed both in the Old and New Testament Jer. 31.31,32 Heb. 8.6 to 13. c. 10.16,17 I will put my Laws into their hearts and in their minds and hearts will I write them both in the future not preterperfect tense And I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people c. Thus enlarged Ezech 11.18,19,20 c. 36.25,26,27 Jer. 32.39 I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean from all your filthiness c. A new heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you not confirm that old you had before and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh And I will put my spirit