picture of a Prince is worthily iudged to bee offered to the Prince himselfe Yea forasmuch as in this Sacrament the very Body and bloud of Christ and all the benefits depending therevpon are spiritually offered vnto the Receiuer as lands are offered conuaied to men by the sealing and deliuering of Deeds and Indentures he that shall vnworthily behaue himselfe in the receiuing of this Sacrament shall therein as much despise the Body bloud of Christ as hee may bee said to despise the gift of lands which cōtemneth the writings Seales and Indentures whereby they vse to bee conuaied secured and confirmed Hence from this consequent we may note 1 That Christ receiues damnable indignitie and contumely sometimes not from Iewes and Infidels onely but often from Christians such as looke to be saued by his bloud-shedding that when they are performing speciall worship seruice vnto him For what greater wrong can there be then to be guiltie of that bloud which was shed to redeeme vs which was the sinne of this Church and is the sinne of all such Persons as are vnworthy receiuers of this Sacrament 2 The bare conformitie vnto the outward exercises of Religion whether Word Prayer or Sacraments is not enough to make vs good Christians but we may be the worse Christians for this Romans 2.28 1 Cor. 10 1-7 Many ignorant and seduced soules thinke they are Christians good enough if their foreheads haue been sprinkled with the water of Baptisme if somtimes they heare the Word and receiue the outward elements of this Sacrament But they may doe all these in such a manner that by doing of them they may crucifie Christ and trample his bloud vnder their feet It were better for vs neuer to receiue this Sacrament then in and by the very act thereof to pull vpon our heads the guilt of Christs body and bloud 3 Note the different and contrary effect of this Sacrament in the receiuers thereof It is the sauour of death vnto death to some to othersome the sauour of life vnto life The worthy Receiuer is fed and refreshed and nourished by the Body and bloud of Christ receiued therein Contrarily the vnworthy Receiuer is polluted defiled thereby the oftner he receiues it the more hee receiues therein the bane poyson of his owne soule Those therefore which in such a manner receiue the Body and bloud of Christ and looke for Grace thereby are therin as fond as if they that whipt Christ and nailed him on the Crosse and by meanes thereof had their faces hands and garments besprinkled with his bloud should thinke by that meanes to be purged freed from their sinnes Or as if hee who pierced christs side with a Speare should haue held a cup at the wound and filled it and drunke it off and haue fancied by that meanes to drinke the bloud of Christ to the health and eternall saluation of his owne soule And thus much of the first Part of Preparation Wherein wee haue been plainely taught by the Apostle what a dangerous sinne it is to abuse this holy Sacrament God grant that the consideration hereof may deepely affects vs that wee may with feare trembling take heed what hands wee lay vpon so holy Mysteries Amen A Preparation to THE RECEIuing of the Sacrament of CHRISTS Body and Bloud The second Part. Directing weake Christians how they may worthily receiue the same By W. BRADSHAVV LONDON Printed by Iohn Beale 1617. The means to preuēt the former sin cōsists in certaine duties Propoūded 1. The triall of our selues whereof the Triall it selfe In generall Cha. 1. In speciall 1. Of our faith by the Groūd Ch. 3. Subiect Chap. 4. 2. Of our Repētance C. 5. The Persons that are make it Ch. 7. 2. The continuance of the Tria Chap. 8. Vrged By the speciall curse that follow the neglect of the former duti Chap. 9. By the signes of that curse in t Church of Corinth Chap. 10. The ground of this second Part. 1 COR. 11 28-33 28. LEt a man therefore examine himselfe and so let him eat of this Bread and drinke of this Cup. 29. For hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh his owne damnation because he discerneth not the Lords Body 30. For this cause many are weake and sicke among you and many sleepe 31. For if we would iudge our selues we should not be iudged 32. But when we are iudged we are chastened of the Lord because wee should not be condemned with the world A Preparation TO THE RECEIuing of Christs Body and Bloud The second Part. Shewing how to preuent the dangerous sinne of profaning this Sacrament CHAP. I. Of the method of this second Part. THe Apostle by whose line wee drawe the doctrine of Preparation hauing set forth the odiousnesse of that sinne whereby the holy Sacrament is abused doth afterwards in the wordes following prescribe a special remedy how that sinne may be preuented In the due conscionable practise wherof doth our second Part of Preparation consist The meanes and remedy aforesaid consists in certaine speciall and necessary duties to be performed by euery Christian that will to his comfort partake of this Sacrament The duties the Apostle 1. Propounds 2. Vrgeth The duties propounded are two First That a man try search examine himselfe before hee presume to receiue Secondly That hee giue not ouer triall and examination of himselfe till hee haue found that which he seekes for In the first duty wee are to consider the triall it selfe First generally Secondly more specially And then the Persons that are to make this Triall CHAP. II. Of the triall of our selues in generall THe triall and examination of our selues in general here required is a diligent search and inquisition to bee made within our soules and consciences whether we bee such kind of persons as may be assured that the Lord will bid welcome to this Table And this triall is not to be sleight cursory but most strict and accurate such as gold Smiths vse when not onely by touch but by fier hammer they try whether their Gold and Siluer be pure or no. For such a manner of triall the Apostles word signifieth The Lord cannot bid any welcome to his Table but such as he is actually reconciled vnto and whose persons are acceptable and wel pleasing vnto him They who are such persons haue certaine speciall gifts and graces bestowed vpon them from which they may conclude infallibly that God doth loue and fauor them which for distinction sake from other common gifts are called Sauing Graces Herein then wee must labour to search out in our selues these Graces and to try whether they bee in vs or no. But before we come to particulars hence we may note in generall 1 That Gods speciall sauing graces may bee in vs and yet not alwayes apparant vnto vs but may sometimes lie hidden in the soule vntill by some speciall search they be discouered else such trials as these shold be
are bound to forgiue iniuries Page 113 Cautions and rules to bee obserued in going to law Page 116 How our faith is to bee renewed before we come to the Lords table Page 120 How repentance is to bee renewed before we come there Page 121 How our charity is to bee renewed Page 122 That weake Christians are not to forbeare communicating in the Lords Supper Page 123 Prayer to be vsed before wee come to the Lords Supper Page 127 That it is not necessarily required to receiue the Sacrament fasting Page 128 What outward behauiour actions are required of vs during the time of the administration of this Sacrament Page 129 What inward affection and disposion of heart is required whilst this holy action is in hand Page 133 Ioy and cheerfulnesse required in communicating at the Lords Table Page 139 What things to be performed by vs after we haue receiued Page 140 FINIS The Doctrine of Communicating worthily in the Lords SVPPER Deliuered by way of Question and Answere for the more familiar instruction of the simple Question HOw many things are required of them that would receiue the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to their comfort Answ Three First a diligent and carefull preparation of themselues before they come to receiue it Secondly a reuerent attentiue disposition of body and minde in the receiuing of it Thirdly an vnfained indeuour to feele find in thēselues the fruit of it after they haue receiued it None can receiue worthily that prepareth not himself carefully Q. What is that preparation that is required of euery one that would receiue this Sacrament to his comfort A. Euery one euen such as haue made best proceedings in religion before he presume to come to the Lords supper must fequester himself from al other busines that might any way distract him carefully set his whole mind and hart vpon this worke that hee is to goe about taking some time to examine himself whether those things bee in him that may make him a worthy Receiuer of this holy Sacrament Q. 3 Reasons for the necessity of this preparation What reasons may be giuen to shew the necessity of this so carefull an examination preparatiō of our selues before this sacrament A. First 1 Our naturall vnfitnesse to serue God 2 Gods strict commanding of special preparation in this case such is the vntowardnes corruption of our harts a Ex. 19.10 1 Sam. 16.5 Ioel. 2.15 16 Iob 11.13 Psa 108.1 Eccl. 5.1 Exo. 20.8 2. Chro. 12 14 that we are vnfit to do any speciall seruice to God till we haue taken some paines to prepare our selues therevnto Secondly there is no part of his seruice before which the Lord hath so straitly inioyned this preration as before the receiuing of this Sacramēt Before the Passouer which was in substance the same with this Sacrament and in the place whereof this was ordained by Christ the Lord did not onely b Exod. 12 3 6 command that the Lamb should be taken out of the flock three daies before it was to be sacrificed that his people might thereby be admonished to imploy themselues during that time in fitting of themselues vnto that seruice c 2 Chro. 35 6 but also he inioyned thē a speciall preparation before they came vnto it the Apostle affirmes of this Sacrament that euen they that are beleeuers d 1 Cor. 11 27.31 may shall certainly receiue it vnworthily if they do not examine and iudge thēselues before they com Thirdly the extreame danger that hee casteth himself into that receiueth it vnworthily shold make euery man afraide to come rashly vnreuerently or vnpreparedly vnto it Q. 3 The danger of vnworthy receiuing How may their danger appeare to be so great that receiue this Sacrament vnworthily A. In eating of this bread and drinking of this wine e 1 Cor. 11 29.34 they shal eat drink the iudgment curse of God Q. By what iudgements hath God bin wont to punish such as haue profaned or vnreuerently vsed this or any other of his Sacraments A. Sometimes by corporall and outward plagues f 1 Sam. 5.6 7.9.11.12 6. 19 as he did them that in the dayes of Samuel vsed the Arke without due reuerence and them g 2 Chr. 32 20 in the dayes of Hezechia that went to the Passeouer not being sanctified and prepared therunto according to the Law and them h 1 Cor. 11 30 among the Corinthians that went to the Lords table before they had examined and iudged themselues 2 Somtimes he punisheth them as hee i Ioh. 13.27 did Iudas who with an euill vnpenitent hart presumed to receiue the Passouer by stripping them of those beginnings of grace they had receiued hardning them making them vnable to repent so as after they haue receiued they become two-fold more the children of hell then they were before Q. What is the cause why the Lord is wont to be so seuere in punishing the vnreuerent and vnworthy receiuing of this Sacrament A. Because the vnworthy receiuer k 1 Cor. 11 27 is guilty of the Body and Bloud of Christ Q. How can that be seeing he receiueth it not but the outward signes onely A. Because l 1 Cor. 11 29 he discerneth not the Lords Body nor iudgeth and esteemeth so highly reuerētly of this his holy ordinance wherby the same is represented and offered vnto vs as hee ought but accounteth it as common bread wine which the wicked as well as the godly haue title vnto Which is farre greater dishonour and contempt done to God then could be done to any King if his picture or armes that hang vp in some publike place should bee spet vpon or pulled downe or broken and trampled on by any of his Subiects The first vse of this doctrine Q. What vse are we to make of this that hath been said touching the necessity of preparing our selues aright before wee come to the Lords table A. First that therfore m 2 Chr. 23 19. 35 6 Ier. 15.19 Matt. 7.6 1 Cor. 5.2 7 13 the Minister and Church must doe that which in them lieth to keep from this Sacrament all such as are vnworthy and vnprepared Q. Why so A. Because else n 1 Sa. 2.29 they consent to the great dishonour that the vnworthy receiuer doth vnto God and o Leu. 19 17 Iude 23 vnto the certaine perill that he casteth his own soule into and so make themselues liable to that plague wherby God p 1 Cor. 11 30. 5.2.6 hath bin wont to punish whole congregations that haue willingly tolerated so great an abuse Q. Ministers are bound to examine the cōmunicants Is then the Minister also bound to examine such as hee admitteth vnto this Sacrament and not to receiue indifferently all that shall offer themselues A. He is for if at all other times q Pr. 27.23 Ier. 6.27 Act. 20.28 Phil.
saluation thereby that if they had no other sinne that should be sinne enough to pull vpon their heads eternall condemnation If God should turne these Elements of bread and wine being vnworworthily receiued vnto a bodily bane poyson vnto vs would it not make vs feare tremble how we receiued them and to try and examine our selues thorowly before wee presumed to receiue the same Surely if vpon our vnworthy receiuing our bowels and entrailes should bee in danger to rot within vs yet if no more euil then that shold follow it were nothing so fearefull a matter as this is to eat and drinke our owne damnation As therfore we hate and abhorre the damnation of our soules wee should hate and abhorre the vnworthy receiuing of this Sacrament and loue imbrace those means by which wee may become worthy receiuers thereof The ground of the curse is because such doe not discerne the Body of Christ that is make no difference betweene that food and those dainties which God prepareth offereth in this Sacrament euen the precious Body and bloud of our Sauiour Christ and other ordinary meats and drinkes eating and deuouring the bread and wine neuer looking after nor regarding to eat and drinke the body and bloud of Christ exhibited thereby What is this but to contemne Christ and his merits and to offer a foule indignitie to God that prepares this feast And how can they but indanger themselues to perish eternally that discerne not nor looke not after that food by which they should liue eternally CHAP. X. Of the speciall signes and tokens of the aforesaid curse in the Church of Corinth THe Apostle more specially shewes the curse aforesaid by certaine speciall signes and tokens thereof in the Church of Corinth viz. Certaine speciall iudgements of God that at that time were inflicted vpon diuers persons in and of that Church These iudgements were bodily afflictions of diuers sorts and degrees Some were smitten with one kinde of infirmitie and some with another and some with death it selfe For this cause saith the Apostle many of you are weake sicke and many sleepe verse 30. Hence we learne 1 That we ought in a speciall manner to reuerence and religiously vse those ordinances of God the profanation wherof hee markes and brands with particular visible iudgements Gods meere threatnings of death after this life should bee enough to terrifie Christians from the abuse of any of his ordinances Much more then should they moue vs when as so many seales Sacraments thereof hee shall annex thereunto sensible plagues punishments in this life We cānot but see that many plagues iudgements are gone forth from the Throne of God into the world yea into the Church yea into many of our houses and vpon our owne persons Neither doe we see the iudgements only but we might see also if wee did not wilfully shut our eyes for what particular sins GOD infflicteth many of them Who is it that cannot see that so many so many plagues and vengeances haue fallen and doe yet lie vpon such and such men for their murthers thefts adulteries treasons periuries drunkennesse c. And yet neither the sight of these iudgements no nor the sense and feeling of some of them in our owne persons will serue to restrain vs from those sinnes But in the midst of so many iudgements these sinnes abound and as it were triumph ouer them 2 We may learne that the vnworthy profane receiuers of this Sacrament doe not onely eat and drinke therein a spiritual iudgement which hypocrites and carnall men do not so much care for but euen bodily iudgements also so that it may proue in the end effect no bette rthen a very bane poyson vnto our bodies a means of many grieuousiseases yea and of vntimely death For so it proued we see to some of these Corinthians and we can pleade no speciall priuiledge The more therefore that wee may loue our bodily liues health the more let vs make conscience of the former duties These kind of iudgements here mentioned are no strangers amongst vs yea the hand of God in this kind hath lien a long time heauy vpon vs and though we cannot precisely say as the Apostle heere doth That for this very cause some of vs are afflicted with this disease some with that and so many with the pestilence c. yet hauing such a president set before vs in the Word of God of such a sin punished with such iudgements it being too apparant that not onely the same sin doth raigne amongst vs but that also the same iudgements lie in great weight and measure vpon vs wee haue iust cause to feare that amongst others this very sinne is one cause thereof And therefore in seeking to remoue these iudgements let vs haue a speciall care amongst other sinnes to reforme this 3 So oft as any of vs are guiltie vnto our selues of vnreuerent and vnworthy receiuing of this Sacrament and the more free we haue been withall from any of these iudgements in the greater danger we shold feare our selues to bee For wee are indebted so many deaths and sicknesses to the Lord which except wee preuent betimes with true Repentance we shall be sure to pay with the interest either in this life or in another For the Lord as much hates this sinne in vs as in the Corinthians and will be sure at some time or other by one meanes or other to punish it seuerely And the more hee deferres to punish it the more seuerely he will doe it when hee takes the rod once into his hands Let vs then in the feare of God take heed how in this case wee too much abuse the patience and long suffering of God patience wounded becomes fury For the further inforcing of this the Apostle shewes First the Iustice of God in this curse of his Secondly his Mercy His Iustice in that he had not thus sharpely iudged them if they had iudged themselues For saith hee if wee would iudge our selues we should not be iudged v. 31. As though hee should say Wee may thanke our selues for these and such like iudgements that lie vpon vs and can no way blame God for them For it is iust with him the best of vs being so sinfull as we are that when wee will not iudge and condemne our selues we should be in such a manner iudged and condemned by him Hence we may learne 1 That the best means to preuent any iudgement of God whether temporall or eternall is to accuse arraigne iudge condemne our selues and contrarily the surest way to pull downe all sorts of iudgements vpon our selues is to iustifie our selues and to glory in the merits of our owne righteousnesse Would wee then in most effectuall manner preuent sicknesse shame death Let vs examine our selues and search what sinnes are in vs and passe the seuerest sentence of condemnation against our selues that may be The more if it be done
father and Christ our blessed Sauiour haue so deerly loued done so much for yea we must stir vp our hearts to beare a louing and kind affection as to all the people of God so specially to them that we do communicate withall Lastly when after we haue receiued wee giue some-what according to our ability for the relief of the poore and ioyne with the whole congregation in prayer and singing of Psalmes then must wee stir vp our selues to do all this with feeling and ioy and thankfulnes of hart as vnto God that o 2 Co. 9.7 loueth a cheeerfull giuer and p Iohn 4 23 24 is a spirit will accept of no seruice but that which is done in spirit and truth so offering vnto him the sacrifice not q He. 13.16 of almes only and r Hos 14.3 of the calues of our lips ſ Ro. 12.1 but of our owne bodies and soules in thanksgiuing for this inestimable benefit of our redemptiō for his fatherly care by ordaining this Sacrament to apply it vnto vs and to confirme our faith in the same Q. What is the cause why in all the parts almost of that inward disposition that is required of vs in this holy action Ioy and cheerfulnes required in communicating at the Lords table you make mention of ioy Can we not rightly celebrate this heauenly banquet without inward ioy and gladnesse of heart A. No verily for as in the t 2 Chr. 30 21 26 celebration of the Passeouer and u Deut. 12 12. 16.15 Neh. 8 10 1 Sam. 1.7 of all those solemne feasts that were kept vnder the Law the people of God were commanded to reioyce and to stir vp thēselues therevnto by all good meanes * Psa 27.6 126.2.3 92.1.4 because no man can indeede be rightly thankefull vnto God for that blessing wherin hee doth not reioyce so in this Sacrament especially wherein x 1 Cor. 11 24 25 we are to celebrate with thanksgiuing the memory of a benefit that is incomparably greater then euer the Church receiued vnder the Law this ioy and gladnes of heart is necessarily required at our hand What things to be performed by vs after we haue receiued Q. You haue shewed how we must prepare our selues before wee come to the Lords table and also what disposition of body and mind is required of vs at that time when this holy action is in hand tell mee now what must wee doe after wee haue receiued to confirme and increase the comfort and fruit of it in our selues A. First so soone as we are come home from the publike assembly wee ought in secret to consider and bethinke our selues seriously what wee haue done and how wee haue sped what ioy comfort we haue felt in this Sacramēt what increase of faith resolution to lead a holy life wee haue receiued thereby because we may bee sure that no man hath receiued this Sacrament worthily nor fedde vpon Christ in it y Ioh. 6.55 whose flesh is meat indeed and whose bloud is drinke indeed z Mar. 5.28 30. 6.56 whom none euer touched with a true faith but they receiued vertue from him that hath receiued no refreshing nor strength by it Secondly if we can finde no such comfort and fruit that wee haue receiued by it then must wee examine diligently whether wee may not iustly charge our selues to be the cause therof because wee came not vnto it with that preparation of heart as hath been described And if we finde the cause wholly in our selues then a Lam. 3 39 40 1 cor 11.31 must we presently humble our soules before God in feruent prayer vnfained repentance for this our grieuous sinne that so iudging our selues for it wee may not be iudged of the Lord. Thirdly if vpon diligent examination of our harts we can finde that this our want of comfort fruit which wee are vnfainedly grieued for ariseth not thus from our owne sinne but that we brought with vs vnto the Sacrament in truth sincerity though in much weakenesse that preparation of heart that hath been described then haue wee no iust cause to b 2 Chro. 30.18.19 be dismaied in our selues but after that wee haue humbled our soules before God in prayer for the sanctifying and remouing of this his correction which for our triall other causes best knowne to himselfe he seeth good to exercise vs by we may comfort our selues in this that such c Esa 63 13 hardnesse and senselessnesse of heart which we thus feele and bewaile in our selues may bee in them that are in the state of grace and our conscience bearing witnes with vs that wee came rightly prepared vnto the Sacrament wee haue vndoubtedly receiued comfort fruit by it d Ps 97.11 which we shal also feele hereafter though we do not for the present Fourthly if vpon this examination of our owne hearts wee can finde that wee haue sped well at this feast and that the Lord hath so welcommed and entertained vs at it that wee are come from it well refreshed and strengthened in our faith and loue and in our resolution to lead a holy life then must wee presently in heartie prayer giue thankes vnto God for this his vnspeakeable gift e 1 Chro. 29.18 and craue of him the continuance and pefecting of his owne worke which hee hath wrought in vs. Lastly the benefit wee haue receiued by this Sacrament and comfort in the sense of Gods loue and fauour to vs in Christ as it must prouoke vs to come oft to this bāquet so must it make vs careful f Ps 116 14 18 Eccl. 5.3.4 to performe our vowes we haue now made vnto God in the presence of all his people by laboring to express the g Ezr. 10 11 Psa 50.23 Psa 106 2 3 truth of our thankefulnes both in taking heed that we returne not again as the dog to his vomit vnto any of our sins which wee haue professed repentance of as also in indeuouring to honour God by a holy obedience to his will in our whole conuersation all the dayes of our life Soli Deo gloria