Selected quad for the lemma: body_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
body_n	bread_n	communion_n	cup_n	8,923	5	10.0506	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41720	The communicants guide directing the younger sort, which have never yet received, and the elder, and ignorant sort, which have hitherto received unworthily, how they may receive the sacrament of the Lords Supper to their souls comfort together with a treatise of divine truths, collected out of ancient and moderne divines / by R. Gove ...	Gove, R. (Richard), 1587-1668.	1654 (1654)	Wing G1452; ESTC R17638	26,688	79

unworthy Receiving to the person himselfe that thus Receives and not to others that Receive with him Thirdly because neither the Prophets of old nor Christ himselfe nor his Apostles in the New Testament have left us any example to forbeare comming to the Sacrament and partaking thereof or any other part of Gods publique worship and service for the known sinnes of those that were to partake with us therein but have rather taught us by their example to doe the contrary and have shewed us by their practise that in Assemblies where the word and worship of God is kept pure for substance there may be a comfortable participating of Sacraments yea though by connivence of governours some inordinate walkers be admitted VIII Case Whether the wickednesse of the Minister who administers the Sacrament may impeach the sufficiency and efficacy of the Sacrament to a believing Communicant Solution NO it cannot for the vertue and efficacy of the Sacrament depends not on the goodnesse or evilnesse of the Minister that administers it but on Gods blessing accompanying it And this Divines both Ancient and moderne have many wayes illustrated As by water that passeth through a channell of stone into a garden though the channell it selfe receive no benefit by it because of his owne indisposition yet may the Garden be made fruitfull by the water that this channell conveigheth into it Secondly by sowing of seede wherein the seede-mans hands may be foule and dirty yet as long as the seed is good the soile fertile and it have the heate of the Sun and the benefit of the raine descending on it the seede may grow and prosper notwithstanding Many other such illustrations of this point might be added but these are sufficient to shew that the Sacrament received at an evill Ministers hands may yet have its due effect in the heart of the worthy Receiver and therefore is not to be refused by us when such do administer it unto us For what man that is in his right wits if he be in danger of the Law would refuse his Princes pardon though brought unto him by him that were never so wicked a man Or who would thinke that pardon the lesse forceible and available because such a man brings it let us not then refuse Gods Ordinance for the evill lifes sake of the Minister that is to administer it unto us alwayes remembring this that if he be a sinfull and unworthy man the sin is his but if I refuse it at his hands because he is such a one the sinne is mine and I shall not answer for his sinne but for mine owne neglect IX Case How often is a man bound in Conscience to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Solution THere is no set time nor times for this prescribed in the Scriptures Neither hath the practice of the Church in all ages been one and the same For we read th●● in the Primitive times of the Church they used at first to receive it every day afterwards every Lords Day afterwards it came to once a moneth afterwards to thrice a yeare and at last came the Councell of Trent and decreed that at least once a year it should be received And therefore in this variety of practise we must for our better guidance herein observe the circumstances of necessity conveniency and utility For the first t is true that we have daily neede of the remembrance of Christs Death and consequently of the Sacrament As our bodies have daily neede of nourishment by our corporall foode so have our Soules by our spirituall Yet must not this be the onely guide or ground of our Receiving but we must also have respect to conveniency For seeing there is required a due and diligent preparation for the Receiving of this Sacrament the same must moderate our necessity so that we should as well look to our fitnesse as to our neede But yet in the third place the due consideration of the inestimable benefit and comfort wee obtaine by Receiving this Sacrament must stir us up so oft as with conveniency we may to be partakers of this blessed banquet so that if it were possible wee might every day be fit to communicate or at least so often as the Sacrament is administred X. Case What quantity of Bread and Wine must be taken by him that Receiveth Solution SO much of each as may give both nourishing and cheering to the body And therefore that custome taken up by the younger sort of only kissing the Cup or taking but a drop or two of Wine into their mouths is not to be approved for Christs Ordinance is not to sip but to drinke at the Communion XI Case Whether such persons as are at contention and goe to Law one with another may with good conscience come to the Lords Table Solution QUestionlesse they may so that they go to Law lawfully for it is a true Rule in Lawes both divine and humane which the Apostle sets downe in 1 Tim. 1. 8. that the Law is good if a man use it lawfully Now to use the Law lawfully there be these conditions required 1. That it be done not for every little trifle which will bear an action but onely for such things as if they be not remedied will breed a further inconvenience and which nothing but Law can remedy 2. That it be not done out of a covetous minde to have from another more than in conscience he thinkes is his due but onely desires to preserve his owne right which by Gods Law and mans belongs unto him 3. That it be not done out of an ambitious minde more to get the victory of his adversary than to gaine the truth 4. That it be not done fraudulently by any unlawfull and unjust meanes as by bribery subordination of witnesses to support a bad cause or the like 5. That there have beene used all lawfull meanes before to compremise it by reference to Christian Neighbours and Friends and by being willing to part with some of his right for peace and quietnesse sake rather than to try extremity of Law 6. And lastly above all that it be not done uncharitably out of desire to be revenged on his adversary more than to have his wrong righted And because this last is the maine obstacle of all because where Charity is wanting there can be no fitnesse to receive this Sacrament therefore all that goe to Law should be well advised and make a narrow search into their hearts which are deceitfull above all things and in this more than in any other things because of Selfe-Love and Selfe-seeking ends whether they can hate the wrong done without hatred to the person doing it for they that cannot doe so let their pretences be otherwayes what they will they are not fit Guests for the Lords Table Certaine EXCVSES Made and pretended by Ignorant People for not Receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper so often as they should do removed Many are the Excuses

and passion of Christ A. By observing carefully what is done by the Minister that doth administer it and himselfe that doth receive it Q. What doth the Minister do A. He doth consecrate and set apart the Bread and Wine whereby of common and ordinary Bread and Wine it is made the Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of Christ He doth also breake the Bread and poure out the Wine and having so done doth deliver it to each of the Communicants Q. What is he to meditate on when hee seeth the Minister to consecrate the Bread and Wine by the Word of Christs Institution and Prayer to be the Sacrament of the Blessed Body and Bloud of Christ A. Hee is then to meditate how that God the Father out of his meere love to mankinde did set apart seale and appoint his only begotten Son to be the all-sufficient meanes and onely Mediatour to Redeeme us from sinne and to reconcile us to his grace and to bring us to glory Q. What is he to meditate on when hee seeth the Minister to breake the Bread and to poure out the Wine A. Hee is then to meditate that the Body of Christ was as truely crucified and his bloud shed for the Remission of his sinnes under the sense of Gods wrath due unto them as hee doth now see the Bread in the Sacrament to be broken and the wine to be poured out by the Minister Q. Lastly what is he to meditate on when the Minister commeth unto him and delivereth him the Bread and Wine thus Consecrated broken and poured out A. He is then to meditate that as the Minister doth now offer and deliver into his hands the Bread and Wine and bids him take it eate it and drinke it So doth Christ himselfe come unto him and offer and give unto his Faith his very Body and Bloud with all the benefits of his Death and Passion Q. And thus we see what the worthy Receiver must meditate on in the time of Receiving upon his sight of what the Minister doth tell me now next what he must meditate on upon the sight and sense of what he himselfe doth at that time A. When hee hath received the Bread and Wine at the Ministers hand and is Eating of the one and Drinking of the other he must then meditate and thinke with himselfe thus as I have now taken and doe eate this bread and drinke this Wine for the nourishment of my body and life temporall so I doe believe that the Body and Bloud of Jesus Christ being apprehended of mee by the hand of Faith and applied by Faith unto my Soule shall nourish it up unto life everlasting Q. And thus wee have seene how the worthy Receiver is to meditate in the time of Receiving upon the Death and Passion of Christ and the benefits which accrue to him thereby Tell me now next what are the duties which he is to perform to God and man therefore A. To God hee is to lift up his heart by way of thanksgiving for the great worke of our Redemption by the death of Christ and unto man hee is to extend his love by cleaving to his fellow-communicants in one Spirit as unto members of the same body and by shewing mercy to the poore members of Christs body in contributing to their necessities according to his ability Q. And thus we have also seene what is to be done by the worthy Receiver at the time of Receiving Tell me now in the last place what is required of him after he hath Received A. There is required Examination and Resolution Q. Wherein stands the Examination which must be in a worthy Receiver after he hath Received A. It stands in this to trie whether he hath gotten any good by the Sacrament or not Q. What if he finde little or no good by his Receiving A. He is then first to suspect himselfe that some miscarriage hath beene in him either in his preparation to or in his performance of the Duty and having found out what was the fault in either that hindred the efficacy of the Sacrament unto him he must judge himselfe and be seriously humbled for it And secondly hee must endeavour by after-paines in prayer and humiliation to quicken and awaken the efficacy of the Sacrament unto his Soule Q. But what if hee finde any good by his Receiving what is he to do then A. He is first to blesse God with all his heart therefore and to acknowledge with all thankfullnesse Gods gracious dealing with him therein and secondly he is to be carefull and watchfull that hee keepe up and maintaine that holy and gracious frame of heart in himselfe which he hath brought with him from the Sacrament Q. And thus have wee seene wherein the examination of a worthy Receiver consisteth after hee hath Received Tell mee now wherein standeth his Resolution A. It standeth in this that he be carefull and doe resolve to keepe touch with God and to expresse the power and efficacy of the Sacrament in making good and keeping his Vowes and Covenants which hee made to and with God of new obedience and amendment of life when he came to receive Q. Is there any great danger if we do neglect to do so A. Yes for first without this care and Christian resolution wee shall incur Gods heavy displeasure Secondly we frustrate and make voide all that we have formerly done in and at the Sacrament And thirdly we shall hereby bring our selves into a far worse condition than we were before we came to receive Q. How may we come then by power to do this A. By watching carefully over our wayes and courses by examining them by the Rule and Square of Gods Word and by hearty prayer unto God for his Grace to direct and assist us in all our wayes CERTAINE Cases of Conscience About the Receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper cleared and resolved I. Case WHether a man who after examination of himselfe findeth in himselfe much weaknesse and many defects in respect of those things which should be in a worthy Receiver may yet adventure to come to Receive Solution The weakenesse and defects which are in those that come to Receive are either such as are felt and thereupon are sorrowed for and striven against or they are such as are not felt and so can neither be sorrowed for nor striven against If our weakenesse and defects be of the former kinde wee neede not much to feare or doubt of Gods mercy and favour towards us if we doe come to Receive with such weaknesse and defects in us For first we must know that the Sacrament which we come to receive is ordained by Christ to be as well physick for the Recovery and strengthening of the sick and weake in grace as food to nourish the strong and healthy Secondly we must know that Christ even calleth such unto him and hath promised in his word not onely his gracious

and yet by vertue of that Parchment Inke and Wax made a Lease and sealed and delivered by the Land-lord the Tenant will possesse them all I demand then how it commeth to passe that this piece of Parchment and this Inke and Wax thus made a Lease and thus sealed and delivered hath power to conveigh really and actually this ground with his appurtenances to this Tenant To which the Answer is that the power it hath to performe this commeth not from the Parchment Inke and Wax but from the legall power and authority of the Law-giver who did decree and ordaine that a Deed conceived in such and such forme of words and thus sealed and delivered should be effectuall and powerfull to give a Tenant reall possession of such Lands and all the appurtenances thereof And just so is it in the Sacrament for by it Christ doth give us his very Body and Bloud his Merits and his Righteousnesse by it he passeth over unto us a Deede of all the joyes of Heaven he Seales unto us a pardon of all our sinnes and of all the Punishments belonging unto them but upon this condition still that wee doe truely pay unto him his Rent to wit true Repentance for all our sinnes true Charity towards our Neighbours true Faith in his Bloud and a new and sincere obedience to his Commandements So that when we receive this Sacrament after this manner we may say Here have I the Body and Bloud of Christ my Saviour here have I Remission of all my sinnes and the Kingdome of Heaven passed over unto mee And yet that bit of Bread which I have eaten hath not the Kingdome of Heaven lying in it nor the Body of Christ moulded up in it or converted into it neither hath the Wine which I have drunken the Bloud of Christ within it or is converted into it Whence then have they this power In their owne nature they have it not whence then can they convey all this to mee I answer the power which they have comes from the Law-giver Jesus Christ who Decreed Instituted and Ordained that those Elements of Bread and Wine received in his manner and on his conditions should be powerfull and effectuall to convey unto me and make me partaker of his blessed Body and Bloud and of all the benefits of his Death and Passion EXPRESSION II. Of this That a wicked man and an unworthy Receiver may at the Sacrament Receive the outward Elements of Bread and Wine without receiving any benefit by the Body and Bloud of Christ FOr it is here as in the usance of a conveyance Now we know that if a conveyance made to Peter lying upon a Table be given to Richard or to any other person to whom it doth not belong or which Richard or any other person fraudulently taketh away it doth them no good at all by reason the Covenant was not made with any of them but with Peter onely So the unworthy Receiver being not the party to whom the promise is made of receiving Christ with the benefis of his Death and Passion receives onely the bare outward Elements and not the things signified thereby EXPRESSION III. Of this That the consecrated Bread and Wine are not to be taken as common Bread and common Wine FOr it is with this as it is with Wax stamped with the great Seale for as that in substance differs not from other Wax but yet in value is farre more excellent and may not be abused or unreverently used without contempt or great wrong offered to the King or State whose the Seale is So the Bread and the Wine in the Sacrament though in substance it differ not from other Bread and Wine yet concerning the use to which it is now put and designed it is much more pretious than any other Bread or Wine in the World being now appointed by God to be a Signe and Seale and an exhibiting instrument of the Body and Bloud of Christ and therefore cannot be profaned or abused without contempt of Christ Jesus and his holy Ordinance EXPRESSION IV. Of this What a shamefull thing it is to come unprepared to the Lords Table IT were a matter of foule shame for a Man to come and sit downe at a great Mans Table in rags and in nasty and filthy cloathes and in such a case how apt would every one be that sees him to take him up and say Art thou not ashamed to come to such a Mans Table in so base a fashion What an uncivill fellow art in such a garbe and pickle to come into such a presence And is it not then a matter of fouler shame to come rudely unpreparedly and in so unbeseeming a manner to the Lords Table EXPRESSION V. Of this That the receiving of the Lords Supper without those graces that are to be in a worthy Receiver will do us no good FOr what is this but the having of a Seale to a blanke And what is a Man the better for that What is a Man the better for having the Broade Seale to a piece of Parchment that hath nothing written in it He hath nothing but a piece of Parchment and Wax hee hath neither Land nor Living sealed and conveyed unto him thereby And just so it is in this case EXPRESSION VI Of this That ignorant persons though they pretend never so much their good meanings and their good minds cannot be worthy Receivers IGnorant persons use to plead for themselves that they have not the knowledge and understanding that others have and cannot answer as others doe yet they hope they have as good meanings and come with as good minds as the best But alas how sillily is this spoken for 't is as if one should say though I have a blinde Eye yet I have as good an Eye as he that can see farthest For wherein lieth the goodnesse of the Eye but in the sight and the goodnesse of the minde but in the knowledge of God Prov. 19. 2. EXPRESSION VII Of this That without Faith we can be no worthy Receivers FOr he that will receive Christs Body and Bloud for his Soules Comfort must have an Eye to see Christ and his Worth must have a foote to come unto him must have an hand to receive and lay hold upon him and must have a mouth to feed on him Now Faith is all these to a worthy Receiver It is the Eye of the Soule John 8. 56. Esay 17. 7. 2 Chron. 20. 12. It is the foote by which we come unto Christ John 6. 35. It is the hand by which we receive him John 1. 12. Yea it is the mouth by which we feede on him John 6. 53. Now can a man see without an Eye Come without a foote Receive without an Hand Feede without a mouth No surely he cannot No more can we see Christ in the Sacrament without the Eye of Faith come unto him without the foote of Faith receive him without the hand of Faith or feed on him without the mouth