this Memorial when they resolve to live Wickedly and contrary to that Religion and so tread under foot the Son of God and count the Blood of the Covenant His Blood wherewith they were Sanctified an unholy thing They are guilty of the Body and Blood of our Lord and Eat and Drink Judgment to themselves not discerning the Lord's Body not distinguishing the Death of Christ in that Remembrance as they ought to do The Lord's Supper if it be celebrated aright is it self a Preparation to a Religious Life and a Refolution for a Religious Life is the summary Preparation for that Supper Nor can we with a sincere Joy and Thankfulness remember the setting up our Religion by the Death of Christ unless we love our Religion and resolve to live Religiously 3. The Life consequent to this Commemoration must be agreeable to that Religion the setting up of which we commemorate The Jews did not remember what God had done for them and what Religion he had set up among them meerly for the Remembrance sake but they remembred the setting up their Religion That they might be persuaded by such Remembrance to live according to their Religion They did therefore remember what God had done for them and what God would do for the Religious to this end that they might be persuaded to live according to his Religion set up among them And so we Christians Remember the setting up our Religion by the Death of Christ not meerly and ultimately for remembrance sake but that by such remembrance we might be persuaded to live Religiously And for this same end we remember what the Son of God has done for us and what he will do for the Religious that by such Remembrance we may be persuaded to live Religiously according to his Institution A Religious Life according to the Gospel of the Son of God is necessary to our Eternal Happiness und the Memorial of the Lord's Supper is in order to that Religious Life If after the Lord's Supper we do live Religiously through the influence of the Remembrance there Celebrated we then receive the Lord's Supper to good and great purpose but if we do not so live Religiously after it the Lord's Supper is in vain to us Let us not therefore if we be Wicked deceive our selves by a false and preposterous Notion of things There is not any Ritual Preparation for the Lord's Supper by the Devotions of a Week before that can qualify impenitent Sinners to receive they know not what Benefit thereby and they know not how The Lord's Supper is to a wise and serious Christian an Obligation to a Religious Life and that Religious Life must be according to the Gospel in which we see what that Religion was which Christ set up at his Death which we Remember in his Supper To Conclude When we are about to Celebrate the Lord's Supper which is called the Communion or Fellowship of his Body and Blood we must consider how St. Paul exhorts us to approve our selves to God when we Eat this Bread and Drink this Cup. For the Lord's Supper is not like our own Meals in which we Eat and Drink for natural Necessity or Pleasure but it is a Religious Performance in which we remember the Death of our Saviour and the Obligations to our Religion And as the Privilege of those is very great who by Repentance and Faith and Obedience are true Disciples of Christ and as they rightly Commemorate his Death in Wâ—ole Life the Life of Christ is manifest so their Condemnation is just who notwithstanding that the so often Remember the Death of Christ 〈◊〉 which and by which the Religion which they Profess was set up yet do not live as his Distiples bus as his Enemies They sin against the Death of Christ and unless they truly and effectually Repent and Amend his Blood will be upon them to their eternal Destruction Nor are they sure to escape the Judgments of God even in this World who so highly provoke him by their presumptuous Wickedness Consider therefore well with your selves what the Temper of your Hearts and the Course of your Lives are Whether you be such as God does Approve or such as God does Condemn Renew your Repentance exercise your Faith amend what is amiss in your Lives love God above all things and love your Neighbour as you love your selves Live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World and let the Remembrance of the Death of Christ prevail with you so to live Give also unfeigned Thanks and Praise unto God for sending his Son into the World to save Mankind from Sin and who to this end lived subject to the Afflictions of this mortal State and suffered the painful and cursed Death of the Cross for us when we had deserved the worst we could suffer by our Sins which Sins we are obliged by the Blood of our Saviour and by the hopes of Pardon to forsake And to the end that the Consideration of the Love of Christ in Living and Dying for us might never be forgotten but might eflectually prevail upon us to live as his Redeemed He has appointed this his Supper to be often Celebrated in Remembrance of him and his Death For this purpose when we are Assembled at the proper time and place let us call to mind what the Son of God has done and suffered for us and let us give Glory to God for this inestimable Mercy and let us Devote our selves Souls and Bodies unto Him which is our reasonable Service MOST great and glorious God the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ by whose name we are called We do not present our selves before thee with any confidence in our own righteousness but humbly confess our sins and implore the forgiveness of them We are wretched dust and ashes less than the least of all thy mercies and have deserved the severest of thy judgments But thou hast assured us by thy Son our Saviour that thou wilt pardon the sins of those who repent and live religiously and thou hast obliged us by this blessed hope so to do We depend upon thy promise in Christ and assure our selves of thy grace to enable and dispose us to live as he lived and we cannot but approve those sacred obligations which the death of thy Son has laid upon us Grant that the remembrance thereof which we celebrate in his Supper may for ever abide upon our Souls and constrain us to live unto him who died for us that we may at last live for ever with him and give glory unto thee who hast redeemed us by his blood Amen THE Bread which we break is the Memorial of the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ its being given for men as the Propitiation for Sin we take and eat this in Remembrance of Him The Wine which we drink is the Memorial of the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for men for the Remission of Sins we drink this in
of Tabernacles was a Memorial of God's dwelling among the Religious Jews so if Christ was Born at that time God did dwell John 1.14 Is 7.14 or Tabernacle in our Flesh and Christ was Immanuel or God with us What these Three Festivals were unto the Jews viz. Memorials of God's setting up his True Religion among them with the Obligations and Advantages thereof The same the Lord's Supper is to us Christians viz. a Memorial of God's setting up his True Religion among us by the Death of his Son together with the Obligations and Advantages thereof Thus we see the true meaning of the Lord's Supper the Doctrine of which as contained in the Holy Scripture is briefly this 1. The Jewish Religion when it was set up was called the Covenant and since with respect to the Christian Religion the First and Old Covenant The Christian Religion is also called the Covenant and by way of distinction from the Jewish Religion the Second and New Covenant 2. The Jewish Religion or the Old and First Covenant or Testament was set up by Sacrifice and the Blood of the Sacrifice is called the Blood of the Covenant So also the Christian Religion or New and Second Covenant or Testament was set up by Sacrifice i. e. the Death of Christ and his Blood is called the Blood of the Covenant and distinctly The Blood of the New Covenant or Testament 3. The Jewish Religion or the First and Old Covenant or Testament was founded upon the Israelites Deliverance out of Egypt as is manifest from the Preamble to the Decalogue or Ten Commandments which is the words of the Covenant And the Christian Religion or Second and New Covenant or Testament is founded in the Deliverance and Salvation of Mankind by Jesus Christ 4. The Jewish Feasts were a Commemoration of the setting up the Jewish Religion or Old and First Covenant or Testament and the Lord's Supper is a Commemoration of the setting up the Christian Religion or the New and Second Covenant or Testament The Law was our Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ Gal. 3.24 The Jewish Religion was a preparative for the Christian and in these things there is a similitude between what was done at the setting up the Jewish Religion and for the Commemoration of it and what was done at the setting up of the Christian Religion and the provision for the Commemoration of it Also the Words and Phrases used concerning both the Religions are alike and we shall understand what is meant by those phrases which are used concerning the setting up of the Christian Religion at and by the Death of Christ if we consider what is meant by the like Phrases used concerning the seting up the Jewish Religion and the Commemoration thereof The Design of both Commemorations was to persuade those who profess the True Religion to live according to that Religion which they profess Thus have I manifested what the design of our Blessed Saviour was in appointing the Lord's Supper To remind his Disciples of the setting up his Religion on by his Death and to remind them of the Obligations they are under therefrom and the Advantages they are capable of thereby II. I shall make some Inferences from hence by way of Instruction concerning our Celebrating the Lord's Supper viz. Concerning the Preparation necessary thereunto 2. The Exercises of Devotion thereat And 3. The Life which must be consequent thereupon and which we are influenced unto thereby 1. We may from hence learn what Preparation is necessary to the Celebrating the Lord's Supper viz. Such a Resolution of living according to this Religion as will be effectual for if the Design of the Lord's Supper be a Remembring the setting up the Religion of Christ by his Death then we who solemuly remember this in obedience to his Command must do it with a Resolution to live according to this Religion the setting up of which we Remember When the Jews were to receive the Law at Mount Sinai where the Old and First Covenant or Testament was established where the Jewish Religion was set up Exod. 19.10 v. 14 c. the People were to Prepare themselves that day And Moses received a command to Sanctisy the People and he did it That Preparation was Ritual but the words in which their consent was required shew that the Preparation was Spiritual viz. Exod. 24.3 7. A Preparation to declare with truth that they would live according to the Religion God set up among them And as their Festival Memorials centred in this viz. A Remembrance of the Religion God had set up among them so the Spiritual Preparation for the Festival was their steady and effectual Resolutions to live according to that Religion the setting up of which they solemnly Remembred And so it is with us we are then prepared acceptably to Remember the setting up the Christian Religion by the Death of Christ when we are unchangeably and effectually resolved to live according to that Religion And as the Lord's Supper is that Memorial so our Preparation for the Lord's Supper is no other than a Preparation of Mind to live according to that Religion the setting up of which the Lord's Supper is a Memorial of The Jews did distinctly Remember their Deliverance out of Egypt and God's dwelling among them first in the Tabernacle and then in the Temple They did also remember the giving of the Law establishing the Covenant and setting up their Religion and all the Joy and Thankfulness for the Benefits of being God's People pointed to this Their living according to his Religion And so we Christians may well Remember the Salvation by Christ and the Inhabitation of God by the Holy Ghost and the setting up our Holy Religion But all our Joy and Thankfulness must centre in our living according to our Religion Nor can there be any other preparation for the Thanksgiving at the Lord's Supper for that Eucharistical Devotion but a full Preparation of Mind to live according to that Religion the setting up of which by the Son of God at his death we do commemorate 2. Our Devotions at the Lord's Supper must be of the same nature we must consider well what the Religion we Profess is Who the Author of it viz. The Son of God Incarnate And what the Establishment of it viz. The Death of him And as there are peculiar Considerations of every one of these so we must affect our Hearts with those Considerations that they may prevail with us then to resolve as the Jews did at the setting up their Religion All that the Lord hath said we will do and be obedient Thus to remember Christ at his death is considerable and they who do thus Celebrate the Lord's Supper are in no danger of eating and drinking unworthily But those who solemnly remember the Death of their Saviour and the setting up his Religion thereby without any true and lasting Intention to live as that Religion obliges them They who pretend to celebrate
Loaf tho made of many Grains of Wheat And this Communion of Fellowship we Christians have one with another in the Lord's Supper Where we all drink of the same Cup and eat of the same Bread 21. But 't is no more lawful to Joyn in the Religious Feasts of Christians and in the Idolatrous Feasts of Pagans than 't is to Worship the True God and False Gods The Wine drank in the Lord's Supper is the Cup of the Lord the Wine drank in the Idolatrous Feasts is the Cup of Devils or False Gods The Table at which we celebrate the Lord's Supper may be call'd the Lord's Table the Table at which they celebrate the Idol-Feasts may be call'd the Table of Devils But as we must not worship Devils and God so neither may we drink the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Devils We may not be partakers of the Table of the Lord and the Table of Devils Therefore Christians must not Paganize must not be partakers in the Idolatrous Feasts of Pagans the Lord's Supper being the Christians Religious Feast and we must not Worship the True God and False Gods V. 1 Cor. 11.17 34. IN this Chapter the Apostle reproves the Corinthians for their Misrepresentation and Prophanation of the Lord's Supper which were introduced to the great Scandal and Danger of Christianity by the vicious Disorders they were guilty of at those Entertainments which were made before the Celebration of the Lord's Supper among them as the Paschal Entertainment was before the Celebration of it by Christ and his Apostles 17. AS to what I hear is done by you at the Celebration of the Lord's Supper saith St. Paul I cannot either Justify or Excuse it because by your disorderly Behaviour 〈◊〉 so Solemn an Occasion you are Guilty of intolerable Wickedness and Prophaneness and are not upon the whole the better for the Religious Duty but the worse for your gross Immoralities 18. I am informed and have too much Reason to believe the Information that in your Assemblies there are unfriendly and scandalous Animosities among You. The Judaizing Christians entertain those who are of their own Perswasion with an unchristian Partiality neglecting those who being Gentile Converts differ from them Acts 15. and Acts 18 1 11. and not only Violate Charity at their Feasts of Charity but also Indulge Themselves to an Excess which is Inexcusable at all Times and Intolerable at this 19. Diversity of Opinions in Matters of Religion there will be among the Professors of it But by their Good and Religious Behaviour on such Occasions those who are Truly Religious will be distinguished from Others 20. Those who are not Truly Religious will by their unchristian and vicious Behaviour expose Themselves and their Religion And when They in that Vicious Manner partake of the Lord's Supper they Provoke God's Wrath against them for Prophaning his Institution 21. At the previous Entertainment They allow in Themselves malicious Animosity and shameful Excess This is inexcusably Prophane and Irreligious 22. That eating and drinking which is for the Use and Necessity of Nature should be in your Private Houses and according to the Measures of Sobriety But not to have so much distinguishing Regard for the Lord's Supper as not to Abstain from gross Immoralities when you are about to Celebrate the Lord's Supper This is a very high Contempt of Religion and of the Son of God our Saviour 23. THAT which I have Taught you concerning the Celebration of the Lord's Supper I was Taught by Jesus Christ himself the Author of our Religion and of our Salvation And that is this The Lord Jesus Christ in the Eve of that Day on which he Dy'd Celebrated the Jewish Passover with his Disciples and closed that Solemnity eating Bread and drinking Wine with Thanksgiving unto God for the deliverance Commemorated thereby according to the custom and usage of the Jews Luke 22.15 18. 24. After this he took Bread again and holding it in his Hand he gave Thanks unto God in a form of words suitable to the Nature of this Institution and the Design of his Death at which the new State of Religion under the Messiah called the Kingdom of God and the New Testament or Covenant was set up By which the great Propitiation for Sin was made and the Salvation of Men was effected and having broken the Bread he gave it to his Disciples and said Take and eat this This Action is the Memorial of my Death which I Suffer for you and for mankind Do this therefore in Remembrance of Me. 25. Also after the Passover was ended he took a Cup of Wine and holding it in his Hand he gave Thanks again unto God in a form of words suitable to the Nature of the Institution and the Design of his Death And gave the Cup to his Disciples saying This Action is the Memorial of my Death at which the Blood of the New Testament or Covenant Ex. 24.8 is shed and the State of Religion under the Messiah is set up And the great Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World is made Drink this therefore in Remembrance of Me. 26. THUS says the Apostle as often as Christians eat this Bread and drink this Wine of the Lord's Supper in obedience to the command of our blessed Lord they do a solemn Action in Remembrance of him and his Death until he come again at the last Day Acts 1.11 27. Therefore whosoever shall perform this sacred Action and celebrate the Memorial of Christ and his Death so unworthily as not to distinguish it from the Paschal Supper or even from a sober Feast are liable to the Judgments of God as if in a Sort they were Guilty of the Death of his Son 28. Let every one then Approve himself to Go◠by a truly Religious performance of this solemn Duty 29. For he that performs it so unworthily as by his Immoralities of Malice and Intemperance at the very time to Prophane it will unavoidably bring the Judgments of God upon himself for so doing not distinguishing the Lord's Supper from all other eating and drinking by a religious and devout Celebration of it 30. And indeed 't is for the Prophanation of the Lord's Supper that some of You are Sick and others Dead The sickness and death among you are the Judgments of God upon you for this wickedness 31. But if ye would reform these Miscarriages God would withhold those Judgments 32. For God sends these Judgments upon you in order to your Amendment That you may not at last be eternally damned for your Impenitency 33 34. Wherefore Brethren my Exhortation to you is That at your Entertainments before the Lord's Supper ye receive one another with Charity and Christian Friendship And that every one be sure to eat and drink with exact Temperance And as for other Matters I will give you Advice when I see you FINIS BOOKS Printed for William Rogers at the Sun against St. Dunstan 's Church in Fleetstreet ARchbishop Tillotsons's Sermons of the Stedfastness in Religion of Family-Religion of Education of Children and the Advantage of an early Piety Twelves Price 1 s. 6 d. Persuasive to Frequent Communion in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Octavo Price Stitched 3 d. Discourse against Transubstantiation Octavo Price 3 d. 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