regarded not the sacrifices of his owne worship and seruice when men did not performe them in an holy manner in Faith and Repentance And therfore the Lord exhorts them thus Esa 1.16 Wash you make you cleane take away the evill of your workes from before mine eyes Cease to doe evill learne to doe well c. This were the way to haue their Sacrifices accepted to breake off their sinnes by repentance without which the Lord accepteth of nothing that we do The truth is further manifested by the same prophet where he sayth that Hâ— that killeth a Bullock Esa 66.3 is as if he slew â— man He that sacrificeth a sheepe â— as if he cut off a dogs necke He â—hat offereth an oblation as if he ofâ—ered swines flesh Now what is the â—eason of this did not the Lord â—equire these things at the peoâ—les hand did not his worship â—nd seruice consist in them I â—nswer yes Yet for all that these â—hings were abhomination vnto â—he Lord For in euery duetie â—ere is the Matter and the Manâ—er the Lord neuer regards the â—atter of his seruice if men faile 〈◊〉 the Manner if they doe not â—erforme the same in Faith Reâ—entance and Obedience And â—herefore the Lord layes downe â—e reason why their Sacrifices â—ere reiected viz. Because their â—ule delighted in their abhominatiâ— They came vnto them in â—eir sinnes which caused the Lord to hate both them their Sacrifice Vse 1 This serues to put the Ministers of the word in mind of their duty what doctrine it is that in a speciall maner they are to teach and to vrge vpon the consciences of the people euen the doctrin of the law in the first place and in a speciall manner that so men may bee brought vnto a sight of their sinnes and repentance for the same And surely in our dayes and times there is more neede of the Sonnes of Thunder then of Consolation inasmuch as sinne doth abound in euery place and congregation and that here bee so few that come truly to the sighâ— of the same Vse 2 Oh then in the feare of God let vs try and examine our selueâ— â—eriously in this one poynt espeâ—ially whether we find our harts â—o be broken and wounded in vs â—or sinne for the euils of our life â—ast desiring to walke more holiâ—y for the time to come For this 〈◊〉 the end wherefore we come to â—his Supper of the Lord that we â—ight bee strengthened against â—â—nne and bee knit vnto Christ â—nd so receiue the power of his â—eath to kill sinne in vs and â—ight haue more power to â—ease God So that wee must try our Reâ—entance how wee find and feele â—ur hearts humbled for our maâ—ifold sinnes and offences comâ—itted whether wee be grieued 〈◊〉 our soules for offending so â—ood and gracious a God wheâ—â—er we come to this Sacrament â—ith a hatred and detestation of all our former euill wayes and with a constant purpose to walke in newe Obedience in all thinges purposing to please him And when we haue partaked of this Sacrament we must then examine our hearts and see how we preuaile against our corruptions So that though we haue repentance before yet now wee must renewe our Repentance and labour to finde more poweâ— and strength against sinne theâ— before But if wee come in our oldâ— sinnes in our ignorance blindnesse hardnesse of heart prophanenesse lying swearing vncleannesse c. it were better thaâ— we neuer came at all we cannoâ— looke euer to reape any benefiâ— by this holy ordinance of God but in stead of a blessing shall bee sure to drawe downe from GOD some heauie iudgement Let vs not then come in our old sinnes as Iudas in his hypocrisie least we reape the rewarde of Iudas The Iewes had foure daies to â—o prepare themselues and they must eate the Passeouer with vnâ—eauened bread and sower herbs Exo. 12. â—y which Ceremony they were â—aught to come in Repentance â—ith harts grieued for sinne and â—o prepare themselues for so â—reat a mystery And the Apostle â—xhorteth vnto this duety when â—e sayth Purge out the old leauen 1. Cor. 5.7 â—at ye may be a new lump for Christ â—ur Passeouer is sacrificed for vs. And thus much for the third â—art of our examination viz. Reâ—entance Loue. The fourth Interrogatory in this our examination is for our loue to man or reconciliation to our brethren This vertue as it is necessary at al times so especially at this time when we come to partake of this Sacrament which is a Supper of loue This is as needefull and necessary to the due receiuing of this sacrament as the former For whaâ— were our knowledge if wee haâ— the same in neuer so great a measure what were our faith or repentance if loue to our brethreâ— be wanting we may well call thâ— truth of them all into question iâ— we find not our selues ready anâ— willing to remit and forgiue oâ— brethren their iniuries and trespasses committed against vs. This Sacrament is called thâ— Communion to teach vs this duty how we ought to come vnto the same in loue we haue one God one Mediator and redeemer one Spirit one mother the church of God we be all members of one and the same misticall body and therefore when we come to this Supper we should come in loue That which our Sauiour saith of Sacrifices may very well bee saide of this Sacrament When â—hou commest to the Alter Mat. 5.23.24 and â—here remembrest that thy brother â—ath ought against thee First bee â—econciled to thy brother and then â—ome and offer thy gift There must be first reconciliatioÌ„ to our brethren before the Lord will â—ccept of our Sacrifice or Serâ—ice Nay more the Lord will â—aue his owne seruice and worâ—hip to cease for a time till â—his reconciliation bee performed I will haue mercy and not Sacrifice Hos 6.6 sayth the Lord meaning indeede that men can neuer performe aright the dueties of the first Table vvhere they make no conscience of the dueties of the second Loue and seruices to man And hence it is that our Sauiour doth most diligently exhort his Disciples and in them all christians vnto this duty saying By this shall all men knowe that you are my Disciples Ioh. 13.35 if ye loue one another 1. Ioh. 3.14 And againe This is my commandement that ye loue one another 1. Ioh. 4.12 1. Ioh. 4 7. Our Sauiour makes this loue a badg or cognisance by the which wee are knowne to be his Disciples this assures vs â—â—â—t we are Gods children and that wee are translated from death to life And Heereby we know that God dwelleth in vs and his loue is perfect in vs. And Paul most earnestly exhorteth vnto this duty when he saith as the elect of God Col. 3.12 holy beloued put on tender mercy kindnes humblenesse of mind meekenes long-suffering forbearing one another forgiuing one another If any man
of â—ryall tribulation Sicknesse and â—ther aduersitie to consider â—hat howsoeuer by sicknesse perâ—ecution imprisonment c they â—ay bee kept from partaking of â—is holy banquet they cannot â—e kept from partaking of Christ â—y faith and howsoeuer they â—ay be seperated from the conâ—regation and societie of the faithful yet they haue stil a secret and sweete fellowship societie with Christ their head who will accept of the will for the deede and answer the desires of their Soules when they cannot come vnto his ordinance with a gracious supply of his owne spirit Now as we haue heard what it is to eate Christ viz. to beleeue in Christ and that it is a priuiledg that belongs only vnto the faithfull so to doe So now we are to obserue our spirituall vnion which by this meanes wee shall haue with Christ The Godly haue communion with Christ in this Sacrament For this word Eate and Drinke serues to set out vnto vs our Spirituall vnion and communion that we haue with Christ being made now bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh That as verily as wee see and feele our bodyes to bee nourished and fed by the outward elements So euen so vndoubtedly are our soules likewise nourished strengthened by the body and bloud of Iesus Christ applyed by Faith So as the true beleeuer becomes now assured that Christ Iesus with all the merits of his death and passion becomes to be his righteousnesse and obedience and doth â—ruly belong vnto him seeing Christ is his Euen as truly as Bread and Wine is turned into his substance and becomes his so Christ and his benefites becomes â—is likewise Christ in this Sacrament doth giue the true beleeuer a sure possession of himselfe So that the Instruction Doct. 5 that doth arise hence to the â—ndlesse comfort of euery true â—eleeuer is That Christ Iesus in this Saâ—rament of his Supper doth giue vnto the true beleeuer a sure possession of himselfe And heereby wee come to bee ingrafted into Christ and to haue a spiritual being in him So that as the spirituall eateing of Christ consisteth in faith by the which the true beleeuer doth truly partake of Christ so doth it in a consequent and effect of faith which is our spirituall vnion and coniunction we haue with Christ And this the Apostle calleth a Great mistery Speaking of Christ and his Church Ephe. 5.32 for what vnion can be greater or stronger then that which is betweene the thing nourshing and the thing nourished The cup of blessing saith Paul which we blesse is it not the communion of the bloud of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 And the bread which we breake is it not the communion of the body of Christ And the Bread and wine are not onely pleadges of what shall bee bestowed vpon â—s but effectuall meanes to conâ—erre exhibite the things promised vnto vs. Yet what can be â—earer vnto vs then our Meate â—nd Drinke Wee can haue no â—reater interest into any thing â—hen in our foode for that is part â—f our selues and turnes into our â—ery substance and there is no â—â—e member of the body but â—ceiues life and strength from â— what then can more liuely exâ—resse this vnion and coniunctiâ—n that wee haue with Christ then â—read and Wine in this Sacraâ—ent doth â— am not ignorant how the spiâ— of God in the Scripture doth â—der diuers similitudes labour â— set out this our vnion and coniunction with Christ as by the Similitude of a Marriage the strongest coniunction thaâ— can be betwixt any By a building whereof Christ is the foundation By a tree whereof Chriâ— is the Roote wee the branches Nay more which is strange theâ— is scarce two things in nature come to bee made one But thâ— spirit of God in some one placâ— or other doth borrowe a comparison from the same to expresâ— our vnion and communion thaâ— wee haue with Christ But amongst al other things none caâ— more liuely set out the same vntâ— vs then this Sacrament doth where Christ doth in a most liuely manner communicate himselfe vnto the true beleeuer 〈◊〉 the which he comes to be tranâ—formed and trans-changed intâ— into the Godly Nature 2. Pet. 1.4 making vs one with himselfe Obiect But Christ is in heauen and we are vpon earth how then can â—t bee that wee are vnited vnto him Answ I answere that though Christ â—e in heauen and we on earth â—o distance of place can hinder his vnion inasmuch as it is spiâ—ituall and so hath Christ promiâ—ed to be present with hiâ— church â—nto the end of the world Ioh. 14. spiriâ—ally We may see this to bee â—eare by the members of Christs â—ysticall body howsoeuer they â—e scattered and dispersed thoâ—wout the whol earth and haue â—uer seene each other yet are â—otwithstanding knit together â— the bond of one spirit into an â—ly Communion Note and haue in â—em a fellow feeling of the miseries one of another Then why should wee doubt but that the head and members of this mysticall body are also one by the same spirite though Christ be in heauen and wee vpon earth There needes not any corporall presence for the effecting of this vnion his spirite is sufficient while we abide heere which is giuen to all that truely beleeue Now from this ground of a Christian mans vnion with Chrisâ— there proceedes many comforts Comforts arising from our vnion with Christ First then seeing we are vniteâ— vnto Christ and made one witâ— him heere-hence ariseth a notâ—ble comfort That the Lord Iesus Christ 1 Comfort who sanctified oâ— Nature that hee might assumâ— it hee will also sanctifie vs iâ— asmuch as hee hath vnited vs vnto himselfe It is not so leaft vnto vs to doe as that the Lord Iesus Christ will bee a meere patient but hee hath taken it into his owne hand to perfourme Moses may marry an AEthiopian but hee cannot change her colour but the Lord Iesus Christ shall make to himselfe a glorious Church Eph. 5.27 not hauing spot nor wrinkle And from him shal we haue such a garment as shall couer all our nakednesse from Gods sight Euen Christ our righteousnesse who being vnited vnto vs and we vnto him shal couer vs therwith For shall the woman in the Gospell but touch Christs garment be cured and â—hal we be incorporated into his body Mat. 9.20 and made one with him and not haue the running sores of our corruptions stayd and more and more solued in vs by the worke of Gods Spirite that is in vs. 2 Comfort Secondly we haue by our vnion with Christ a communion of estates for being vnited vnto him he must needes be touched with compassion of our infirmities This is clearely to be seene in a naturall body as the Apostle witnesseth 1. Cor. 12.16 If one member suffer all suffer with it The foote cannot be payned but the head is affected with it one finger cannot
ake but al the body suffers payn Euen so it fares in this mysticall body He that toucheth you touch the apple of mine eye Zach. 2.8 There being a most sweete and secret sympathy betwixt Christ and his members so as to persecute them is to persecute him Act. 9.4 Mat. 25.40 he still partaking with them in their weale or woe a sweete comfort Thirdly we haue by vertue of this vnion and coniunction with Christ 3 Comfort a most certaine assurance of the resurrection of these our bodies to life eternal for so saith the Apostle Rom. 8.11 If the spirite of him that raysed vp Iesus from the dead dwel in you he that raysed vp Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies by his Spirite that dwelleth in you And this is likewise confirmed by that of our Sauiour where he sayth Ioh. 6.33.54.58 Whosoeuer eateth my flesh and drinketh my â—loud hath eternall life and I will â—ayse him vp at the last day What â—hough these bodies of ours for â— time doe tast corruption they â—hall not perish in corruption Trees and plants of the earth in â—he winter season appeare like dead trees without leaues or fruite but in the Spring time they budde blossome and bring forth And the reason is because of that vnion and coniunction which they haue with the roote where lies the Sappe all the Winter season Euen so by vertue of our vnion and coniunction we haue with Christ these decayd bodies of ours shall one day rise againe and that to life eternall where we shall euer enioy the Lord. And last of all this our vnion with Christ 4 Comfort vvhat doeth it but assure vs of the grace of perseuerance that we shall holde out firme and constant vnto the ende so as the gates of hell shall neuer preuaile against vs. And the reason is cleare Mat 16.16 Rom. 11.18 VVee beare not the Roote the Roote beareth vs. VVee are fast knit vnto him that is the Lorde of Life Wee are built vpon a sure foundation Ephes 2.20 Christ himselfe beeing the chiefe Corner stone And Because I am not changed therefore yee are not consumed Oh yee Sons of Iacob And surely in time of temptation this is a sure stay vnto Gods people to consider the manifold priuiledges that follow such as are vnited vnto Christ Now the vse in a word Vse Seeing the godly are thus knit vnto Christ and haue such an vnion and coniunction with him it shews as the happy and blessed estate of all those that are thus vnited vnto Christ in regarde of their manifold priuiledges they enioy by him So the miserable estate and condition of such as are left in their olde sinnes as wild Oliues not plucked vp and planted into the stocke Christ Their nature is not change Christ partakes not with them in their sufferings but the same is inflicted as a iudgment of God vpon them Little comfort can such haue in their life whose hope and glory is but vaine and dyeth with them if not before them Lesse comfort in death inasmuch as Iudgement doeth follow Heb. 9.27 and they are then to giue vp their account vnto God Poore soules if such onely bee happy and blessed who haue the Lord for their God and are thus knit vnto him oh where shal the vngodly and sinner appeare that are solyable vnto al miseries crosses and curses in this life hereafter to bee separated for euer from his glorious presence But of this before And thus much for the first circumstance what it is to Eate and what to Drinke The second folâ—oweth and that is what we eate â—nd what we drinke Of this Bread Of this Cup. It is Bread then that we eate 2 Circumstance what it is that we Eate and Drinke â—nd it is Wine that wee drinke â—wo of the most excellent creatures â—hat God ordained for the vse 〈◊〉 comfort of mans life the one â— strengthen mans heart The oâ—er to glad mans heart For vse â—nd comfort what would wee â—aue more and therefore of all â—her creatures the fittest for â—ch an holy vse Teaching vs â—us much Doct. 6 That the true beleeuer that â—rtakes of Christ Christ euery way a sufficient Sauiour vnto the elect as euery true â—â—leeuer doth in this Sacrament shall find him euery way a sufficient Sauiour whatsoeuer our wants are wee shall here finde a Supply made vnto them all for the weake here is Bread to strengthen them For the sorrowfull here is Wine to comfort them And thus doth the Lord by his prophet Esay make a free and a large profer of his heauenly graces vnto his Church yea such good things as shall make a Supply vnto all our wants Hâ—e euery one that thirsteth Esay 55.1 come ye vnto the waters And ye that haue no siluer come buy and eate come I say buy Wine and Milke without money c. Whereby Wine and Milke c. are to bee vnderstood the graces of Gods spirit yea such good things as wil fit euery manâ— turne according to their seuerall necessities Some haue Sorrowfull hearts for such he hath wine to comfort them Some are Babes for such hee hath Milke to nourish them Others are feeble â—nd weake for such hee hath Bread to strengthen them â—thers are grown Christians and â—espect their pleasure and vnto â—hem hee hath Let your Soule deâ—ght in fatnesse So that Christ is all â— all vnto all Col. 1.19 for so saith the Aâ—ostle It pleased the Father that in â—m should all fulnesse dwell And â—his fulnesse wee all receiue grace â—r grace Mat. 1.21 Hee is Iesus a Sauiour â—â—d shall saue his people from their â—nes Hee is the way the truth 1. Cor. 10.3.4 â—â—d the life and there is saluation â— none other Say wee then â—th the Apostle Lord whether â—ll we goe thou hast the words of â—rnall life It shall little auaile to goe to Saints or Angels or the Virgin Mary to procure a pardon from the Pope indulgence c. in asmuch as for al our wants of what nature soeuer here we may haue supply The reasons followes Reason 1 For first the Lord Iesus Christ he hath satisfied the law fully in the rigor thereof by his death hath remoued the curse euen that iudgement that was due for sinne As also by his obedience merited our peace and procured the blessing So that now we may safely reason with the Apostle If when we were enemies wee were reconciled vnto God by the death oâ— his Sonne Rom. 5.10 how much more being reconciled we shall be saued by his life The reason is cleare Reason 2 Secondly God the Father iâ— he that was offended with mankinde for his disobedience and he it is that threatneth the curse anâ— â—â—flicteth the punishment now â—ath not he appoynted his own â—onne to bee our peace-maker â—â— worke-mans reconciliation â—nd to make Attonment for vs â—ow then can he but be
the Lordes wrath is to iudge our selues page 327 Vse To teach vs to iudge our selues because by it we escape Gods iudgement page 328 Doct. 6 The wicked shal certainely be condemned page 332 Vse To teach that there is a day of iudgement page 335 To terrifie wicked men who without repentance are certain of damnation page 336 To reproue those who think God is made all of mercy page 339 To teach vs not to enuie the felicitie of the wicked page 340 Doct. 7 The godly shall not bee condemned but most certainely saued page 342 Reason 1 Because Gods election is immutable page 345 Reason 2 They were redeemed with Christs bloud ibid Reason 3 Else it would crosse Gods iustice which is satisfied in the death of Christ ibid Vse 1 To shew Gods loue to his Church page 346 Vse 2 To condemne the wicked who account any blessing better then Saluation page 347 Doct. 8 One principall meanes that God vseth to free his children from condemnation is correction page 350 Reason 1 God hath decreed it as a helpe page 353 Reason 2 Gods corrections worke contrition ibid Vse 1 To keepe Gods children from being disheartened in time of affliction page 354 Vse 2 To magnifie Gods Power who out of affliction brings good to his children page 355 FINIS 1. Cor. 11.28.29 28 Let a man therefore examine himselfe and so let him eate of this bread and drinke of this cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh his owne damnation because hee discerneth not the Lords body VPON occasion of some abuse committed by the Corinthians about the receiuing of the Sacrament the Apostle deliuers vnto them the first institution of this Sacrament of the Lords Supper For as one sayth well Where thinges are reduced to the first institution Tertul. Vbi ad primum veritatem diuertuntur c. all humane error then ceaseth Concerning the institution of the Lords Supper Paul sets down sundry poynts The order of the Apostle in this Chapter First the Author of it namely Iesus Christ himselfe the eternal Sonne of God and blessed Sauiour of the worlde for none else hath authority to set on the seale but hee that makes the couenant V. 23. Secondly the Apostle notes the time when it was ordained euen the very night before hee was betrayed whereby our Sauiour Christ woulde teach his Church and people that nowe there was an end to be put vnto the Passouer and that this Sacrament of his blessed body and bloud was to come in stead therof as also to testifie that his wonderful care of his poore Church and chosen people that immediately before his death and bitter passion he was so mindefull and carefull of their comfort as that notwithstanding his time was but short and that his apprehension drew neare hee seemeth to neglect himselfe and the preparation he was to make for his owne suffering and prouides for the comfort and wel-fare of his Church Concerning the institution Christs order in the first institution of the Sacrament it is sayd First that he tooke the bread into his blessed hands to shewe vnto vs that the bread is now set apart from a common vse to a holy and religious vse 1 He takes the bread and wine to bee the Sacrament of Christs body and so the wine of his bloud v. 23. 2. He blesseth them Secondly he blessed them as Christ did open the institution of this Sacrament amongst his disciples v. 24. with the nature and quality of the same to what end and purpose it was ordained he teacheth them likewise the right and holy vse of it by blessing it by prayer and thankesgiuing to his Father For these are essential parts of the Sacrament the opening of the institution by the ministery of the word prayer to the blessing of the elements direction in the vse of this holy ordinance and thankesgiuing vnto God 3. He breakes the bread poureth out the wine Thirdly after hee had thus consecrated the elements and blessed them and set them apart for this holy vse hee breakes the bread and poures out the wine which accordingly must be imitated of the ministers of the word that so by the breaking of the bread and powring out the wine the people may be put in minde of the breaking of the body and powring out of the blood of Christ Fourthly Christ deliuers it vnto the Disciples saying 4 Hee giues them Take eate c. Shewing that as the communicant doth take the bread and wine with his bodyly hand so hee must reach out fayth the hand of the soule and lay holde on Christ And so spiritually eate his flesh and drinke his blood applying the merits of his death and passion vnto his owne soule in particuler Fiftly and lastly 5 Hee shews the end of all viz. to shew forth his death Christ laies downe the ende likewise why this blessed Sacrament of his was ordayned namely to Shew forth his death and to keepe in remembrance that his bitter passion vnto the end of the world that so often as we come to this Sacrament wee shoulde freshly call to mind the bitter death passion of our Lord Iesus Christ What how cruell tortures torments he suffered for our sakes that so we might be brought to the true sight of our sinne which in no one thing more can appeare then in the sufferings of Christ which were indeede the very Nayles and Speare that put him to death and might be brought to bee more thankefull for so great a worke of mercy shewed vnto poore Sinners These things touching the institution it selfe of this holy Sacrament the Apostle hath handled in the former part of this chapter Now the Apostle hauing set downe the true institution of the Lords Supper The occasion of this Scripture and also the ende of it He doth heere labor to prepare the Corinthians and in them all Christians to the right vse of this holy Sacrament And teacheth that as the benefits is wonderfull great if they come to this holy ordinance in a holy manner prepared as they ought to be as meete guests for so holy a banquet So is the danger great if wee come to the same vnworthyly and vnprepared such shall be so farre from receiuing a blessing as that rather they shall prouoke the Lord to plague them with some heauie iudgement or punishment temporall heere to bring them to the sight of their sinnes and to true repentance for the same if not then with eternall condemnation in the life to come And therefore our blessed Apostle here is the more earnest in this poynt to perswade al Christians to take heede how they come to so holy an ordinance This text consists of two parts The text deuided First a precept or commandement Let euery man therefore Examine himselfe v. 28. Secondly a reason to inforce the dutie v. 29. For hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthyly
seruing but to preserue a temporall life and that but for a time the other tending to the preseruation of a spirituall life and that for euer And heerein indeed do these signes make wonderfully for Gods glory in that hee shoulde make choyce of such weake meanes that so his glory might appeare If we had bin to receiueâ— any other signes or things of aâ— higher nature we should haue been ready to haue pored so vpon the shadow as that we should haue lost the substance and ouâ— senses woulde haue beene more wrought vpon then our heartes which the Lord in his wisedome hath preuented in giuing vs these signes of Bread and Wine Of this Bread Of this Cup. Doct. 8 Last of all obserue heere that if Christ took gaue Bread and Wine retain still their natures and deliuered Bread and Wine then they must needes retaine their former natures and their former proper substance and still remaine the same elementes euen after the words of consecration Against the doctrine of the Church of Rome which holde that after the words of consecration there remaineth no Bread at all but that it is transubstantiated into the very body bloud of Christ a meer fable and fantasie against all diuinity philosophy reason sense and experience Reasons against transubstantiation First it doth ouerthrow the very nature of a Sacrament which consisteth of two partes an outward signe an invisible grace Now then if after the wordes of consecration the Bread Wine were transubstantiated into the very body and bloud of Christ then the signe must needes bee taken away and the element ouerthrowne Secondly the Lord leads vs to the spirituall vse of this Sacrament by sense thus that as the substance of the bread and wine receiued strengtheneth and comforteth the body euen so Christ receiued by faith Ioh. 6.33 doeth nourish and strengthen the soule Now then to take away the naturall vse of this sacrament wherin can our faith be coÌ„firmed strengthened which euer relies vpon this in the vse of this Sacrament that as the bread and wine serueth to nourish and feede our bodies so doth Christ Iesus and the merits of his death passion feede our soules so that while they take away the substance of bread and wine in this Sacrament the very nature and spirituall vse of the Sacrament is taken away with it Thirdly wee now that liue â—nder the Gospell receiue the same in substance which our â—ore-fathers did vnder the Lawe But the Manna they eate off and â—he Spirituall Rock they dranke â—f 1. Cor. 10.1 was not Christs body and â—loud corporally because hee â—as not then come in the flesh â—either had he taken our nature â—pon him Therefore it was by â—ith that they fed on Christ vnâ—er the law Neither is there any other feeding on Christ vnder the Gospell Fourthly if the bread wine should so miraculously be turned into the very body and bloud oâ— Christ how could it bee that iâ— should not appeare vnto the outward senses for our senses still apprehend the same to bee Bread and Wine The eye seeth it the taste deserneth it to bee Bread and not flesh to bee Winâ— and not bloud And thereforâ— that doctrine of transubstantiation is most false and absurd I might hereunto adde diueâ— reasons of this nature As namely if that should be granted theâ— mayntaine what absurditieâ— would follow it As Hypocriteâ— shoulde then eate the flesh oâ— Christ and so be saued inasmucâ— as Christ hath said Hee that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud Ioh. 6.15.54 hath eternall life Besides what canibals would they make of christians to feede vpon mans flesh which nature it selfe doth abhorre And to make a naturall body â—n diuers places at one time which cannot be Vse And last of all as this doctrine serueth to confute our aduersaries the Papists that hold there â—s no bread at all in the Lord Supper So it maketh no lesse against such as conceiue there is nothing â—ut bread to bee expected there â—nd this is the condition of many thousands that come â—hereunto They are not able to â—o discerne of the Lords body â—oore Soules they want the eye â—f faith and this must be spiritually discerned Whereas the true beleeuer beholds the Lord truly although not corporally to offer vnto him Iesus Christ with al the precious merits of his death and obedience vnto his endelesse comfort though naturall men neither see nor feele it inasmuch as they being not able to discerne of the Lords body come vnto this Supper as to their appoynted and ordinary foode And thus much for the Apostles precept or commandement Let a man therefore exam c. Let vs pray The Fourth Sermon 1. Cor. 11.29 For hee that eateth and drinketh â—nworthily eateth and drinketh his â—wne damnation because he discerâ—eth not the Lords body IN the former verse wee haue heard the Apostles precept that euery one ought â— Examine himselfe before hee â—ome to the Lords Table and partake of these holy Mysteries Wee haue heard the necessitie of that duty The subiect of it a mans selfe And the duty it selfe examination And wherein the same doth consist Wee are now to speake of the second generall part of the text and that is the reason the holy Ghost doth heere lay downe to inforce the dutie and the Reason is taken from the great hurt and daunger which for want of this Examination is like to ensue layd downe in these words For hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh his owne Damnation That is by eateing and drinking these holy mysteries vnworthily that is vnprepared and vnreuerently they doe thereby prouoke the Lord to plague and â—unish them with some iudgeâ—ent or other in this life to â—â—ring them to the sight of their â—innes and to repentance for the â—ame if not then with condemâ—ation in the life to come â—nd in handling of â—is reason we will â—bserue this order 〈◊〉 speake 1. Of the persons 2. Of the punishment 3. Of the cause of their punishment Of vnworthy receiuers Two sorts of vnworthy receiuers there â—e two sorts one pertaining to â—ods couenant the other not â—e one the godly who thorow â—egligence and carelesnesse may â—â—me to to this Sacrament vnâ—ted and vnprepared without â—at reuerence and due respect â—ey ought to shewe vnto such â—cellent mysteries The other â—icked and profane that want â—ith and so come in their sins ignorance blindenesse malice c. vnto whome this ordinance of God is a sauour of death vnto death And Two sorts of punishment And as the persons do differ so doe their punishments the godly if they come vnprepared vnto this ordinance withouâ— that godly examination and preparation they ought to makâ— thereunto the Lord wil not passâ— by that sinne of theirs but he will bee sure to chastise them so the same they eate and drinke iudgement vnto themselues buâ— what iudgement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—fflictioniâ—