Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	act_n	church_n	communion_n	1,604	5	9.1682	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13192	Godly meditations vpon the most holy sacrament of the Lordes Supper With manie thinges apperteininge to the highe reuerenee [sic] of soe greate a mysterie. In the end. De Eucharistiæ controuersia, admonitio breuis.	Sutton, Christopher, 1565?-1629.	1601 (1601)	STC 23491; ESTC S117947	70,901	378

confesse them with a penitēt hart with this preparation to come to the cōmunion is no pride Mun. If this be sufficient wherefore then did certaine godly men of reuerence spake so often of effectual preparing themselues as they haue done Spirit These of humilitie reuerence to this holy misterie haue spoken in deede of solemne preparation which assuredly is meete but frequenting of this holy communion is a most ancient custome wherewith the church of Christ first sprange as S. Luke the Euangelist in the Actes of the Apostles sheweth Mund. But in the Primitiue Church the feruentnesse of Christians was great which when it is not now in vs it seemeth more safe to abstaine from often communicating for if it bee otherwise it is in daunger that we come not so disposed to communicate as wee ought The safer way is rather to be held then the lesse safe Spir. Yea the selfe same thing for that so great desire is wanting in vs ought to driue vs to frequent this wholsome Sacrament for by the benefit thereof wee may both waxe hot be set on fire For hee which is cold ought rather to betake himself to the fire thē he which is hot So often as one humbleth himself before God hath a good intentiō there is no danger M. I haue often heard the Sacraments are instituted of Christ as medecines but we vse not medecines often S. If a mā were spiritually sick but somtimes then the argument were auaileable but wheras our nature is weak For the iust falleth 7. times a day sayth the Wiseman our nature therefore often needeth help so y e vse of a spiritual medicine Moreouer wheras this sacrament is of force ●o draw away al these euils both pre●ent to come frō the soule it is better to preuent infirmity then to cure it once contracted Lastly ther is a great difference between corporall medecines and this spirituall for they only put away bodily diseases often with euil humors take away the good also but this bringeth to the soul grace strength other heauenly gifts and therefore these seldome this often is to be vsed Adde y t for the most part bodily medecins are bitter lothsome to the intent that as seldom as may be we vse them But this sweete and delightfull and therfore God would that it be often receiued of vs. Mun. But thou canst not denie to abstaine from the holy Communion for reuerence of so great a Sacrament to be a good act and agreeable to vertue Spi. I deny nor but that it is good to giue reuerence to it yet this I say that to frequent this communion of deuotion desire of vniting himself with Christ is a better action for because this springeth of loue but that of feare and it is manifest to all that loue is better then feare wherfore it argueth a religious minde to communicate often Mun. But I am vnworthy so to do Spirit Wherefore Mund. Because I fall dayly into many sinnes Spir. If sinnes de●aine thee then shouldst thou neuer communicate because thou neuer ceasest to sinne Mundan But communicating seldome I haue more time to examine my selfe Spiritual Thou art deceyued for seeing our nature is prone to euill by how much the more grieuously sins raigne in it by so much the harder they are to be begun for a crooked tree the longer the turning thereof is deferred by so much the more hardly with greater paine is it made strait Mun. I do not wel vnderstand what this my errour is for I see dayly with mine eyes those which often communicate to come coldly and without deuotion and as it were customarily to the holy table and no more adoe but they which come seldome come with farre greater deuotion and reuerence as seemeth to me wherefore it is better to communicate seldom then often Sp. First that is false Mundanus which thou affirmest yea rather many of them which come so seldom come most coldly without deuotiō without feeling of loue rather indeed of custome and constraint then of loue Mund If it be better to communicate often then seldom how commeth it to passe that this often communicating is not praysed of some learned men Spirit I neuer sawe nor heard of any learned man indued with iudgement vertue that reprehended this action so holy so profitable so acceptable vnto God but that it is dispraised of some carnall men it is no maruell for they thinke others vnworthilie cōmunicate this Sacrament for as they liue euilly themselues so they thinke that those liue euill also who often Communicate Munda You say true I acknowledge that it is more safe often to strengthen the soule with this heauenly food but I doe it not least I giue occasion to the worlde of whome those that often Communicate are had in derision Spirit If in this matter thou wilt haue a regard of the world then hast thou not only lost thy soule but also thy wit Art thou ignorant that it is the propertie of the world to flie from all spirituall things to fauour the wicked and speake euill of the good Munda As long as we are in this world wee ought to frame our selues and conforme our manners to the world Spirit But that is manifest foolish●nesse If the world be one of thy three Capitall enemies how mayst thou apply thee to it and obey the will therof without manifest and apparent ruine knowest thou what it is to abstaine from the sacred Communion for the obliquies of the world No other thing then to bee ashamed and to account it a reproach if thou art a good Christian and indued with vertue wherefore worthily too may Christ be ashamed to receiue thee into heauen Mund. If I should often communicate I must repent often become a good example to others keep me at home Cast off al recreations which were to take away all my libertie from mee and so I should pine away and waxe old before my time Spi. Although thou Communicate but once in a yeere thou art boūd to repent to giue good exāple to others neither art thou ignorant how great a sin it is to giue a scandall to others And the often cōmunicating doth not take away recreations but doth allow thē so they are lawfull honest In that thou sayst thy libertie is taken away it is not true for if thou dost thinke any thing forbidden lawfull vnto thee not Communicating thou art deceiued for whether thou communicate often or seldome thou art bounde to abstaine from sins He which for recreation offendeth his creator looseth true liberty when he maketh himselfe a seruant of sin yea he looseth true ioy which springeth of a good conscience this the foolish world doth not vnderstand Mund. To y e receiuing of this most holy Communion it is required that a man bee of a quiet minde which cannot bee commonly brought to passe for the aduersities and perturbations of this world it is not

great reuerence and deuotion before any attempt against his enemie his wont was to receiue the holy Eucharist Euseb. in vita Constantin By the force of this Sacrament the force of the diuell is rebated Ignatius ad Ephes. Saint Cyprian calleth this blessed Sacrament a ioyfull solemnitie Cypria de caena Dom. Of the olde Christians it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an assembly of loue Charitie it selfe A prayer of thanksgiuing after the receiuing of the most holy Communion I Giue thee thankes O most louing Iesus Christ who hast vouchsafed to admit me a sinfull creature to the magni●●cent and quickning feast of thy sacred table Thou wouldst that I shuld bee as the Arke of Couenant where thou thy selfe vouchsafest to abide Thou wouldest that in this Arke M●nna should bee kept wherewith thou didst feede thy people vntill they entred into the Land of Promise Cause I beseech thee that this Manna nowe receiued wherof that was but a figure may bee preserued in my Soule that I may feele the effectual fruit of thy passion for the remission of my sinnes the merit of righteousnes and reward of euerlasting glorie Cause also that like as in the Arke the Tables of the Lawe were kept so a desire of fulfilling thy will may bee contained in my Soule Graunt that I may honour loue and obey thee that I be seperated from this loue by no allurement whatsoeuer of my ghostly enemie Tarrie with mee O blessed Iesu vntill the euening of my age and when the night of death approacheth I will not let thee goe till thou hast blessed mee and yeelded to this petition of my sobbing soule O Lord fulfill her desire neuer depart from her What blessing shal I giue vnto thee O my deere Sauiour where shall I beginne to expresse by loue and duetie towardes thee which hast sayd Behold I am with you euen vnto the end My soule desireth to be satisfied in the beholding of thy countenance euen as the Hart longeth for the fountains of water Turne thee O my soule into thy rest for the Lorde hath done well for thee hee hath shewed thee maruailous great kindnes in the land of the liuing F●r this cause also shall my flesh rest in hope Blesse thou the Lord O my Soule Another forme of thanksgiuing OMnipotent most louing father I cannot giue thee thāks worthy inogh according to the desire of my minde for the treasure of this heauenly foode which thou hast now giuen mee in this heauenlie mysterie ineffable that is to say the true bread of heauē that euerlasting meat that aabideth for euer thy blessed Sonne our Lord and Sauior Christ Iesus in whom I haue obtained by the gift of this h●ly Communion a pledge of an inheritance to come Grant O Lord that I may daily profit in vertue godlines that this sacred vnion with Christ may bee of such force in me that reiecting al euill waies I may goe forward in pietie towards God instruction towards my selfe charitie towards my neighbour to thy good pleasure through the same our Lord sauior Iesus Christ Amen The Soloquie AWake O my ●oule and behold the new ●●uor wherewith louing 〈…〉 prosecute thee Thou hast good cause to reioyce that the Lord of Maiestie vouchsafeth to come vnto thee to comfort thee Continue onely a good will for all this bountie Bee not as the nine vnthankfull Leapers who forgat their cu●ing Cast all thy care vpon him who careth for thee cease not to magnifie him O my soule for he that is mightie hath magnified thee and done great things for thee Thou knowest how the son of God loued thee when departing out of this world vnto the Father hee left so comfortable a remembrance and seale of all his mercyes O loue without measure returne O my soule vnto thy rest for the Lord hath blessed thee Returne vnto thy gracious Sauiour of whome thou mayst say Here will I rest here will I dwell foreuer Can it bee O Lord that thou wouldest follow man with such loue as to vnite thy selfe vnto him Reioyce O yee sonnes of Adam for no longer shall that of the Prophet be applyed against you My teares haue beene my meate day and night whilst they yet daily sayd where is nowe thy God Teares are now no longer your meare but the gladsome foode of Angels your God is with you euen vnto the end The poore do eate and are satisfied O Lord graunt mee the grace of Deuotion and thankfulnes that I may aske it instantly expect it patiently receiue it gratefully conserue it humbly vse it diligently to the glorie and honor of thy holy and blessed name Amen I desire to offer my selfe my soule and body a sacrifice vnto thee nay I offer vp all my sinnes both originall and actuall vpon the acceptable Altar of thy mercy consume them with the sacred fire of thy loue and let this offering as Abels offering be well pleasing in thy sight but to returne vnto this heauenly foode now offered Ah hard and peruerse hart of mine how canst thou continue earthly when as thou art fed with the bread of heauen When at length wilt thou become heauenlie Howe is it that thou dost remaine sensuall and alienated from the spirit which art spiritually conserued Is it because thou dost consist of earth O Iesus remember here what thou hast else wher sayd I come to send a fire and what is my desire but that it bee kindled Let it be kindled in mee that I may be carried vpward and seek the things where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God that though my body conuerse here in earth my affections may bee in heauen that from henceforth not so much I liue as thy grace may bee sayde to liue in mee The eleuenth generall Meditation to bee vsed aft●r the receiuing of the blessed Sacrament COnsider with what labours teares Adam after hee was cast out of Paradise did eate the bread of carefulnesse all the dayes of his life But now man receiued into the state of grace is come to feede on the bread of life it selfe 2 Consider that as the Israelites when they had eaten the Pascall Lambe were deliuered frō Pharaoes bondage made no stay in the darknes of Egipt but set forward forth with towardes the Land of Promise So after this our Passeouer wherein a mighty deliuerance from the hands of our spirituall Pharo is signified were to depart from the works of darknes to go forward without delay f●ō grace to grace frō vertue to vertue vntill we come to our heauenly Canaan 3 Consider how the wisemen when they had seene Christ at Bethlem and there done their humble reuerēce Math. 2.12 they returned not by ambitious and cruell Herod nor by troublesome Ierusalem but Per aliam vtam another waye So wee hauing visited Christ at our Bethlem which signifieth the house of bread and there offered our Soules and bodyes a sacrifice vnto him should returne towards our owne countrey which is