be no good end seeing all the faithfull wanting this change can and doe get Christ by faith as hath been proved before Ioh. 1.12 3.16 c. 5. This change were against all our senses we heare Christ calling it bread Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.22 Luk. 22.19 The H. Ghost calleth it bread 1 Cor. 10.16.17 1 Cor. 11.23 Now in objects of sense our senses are competent judges according to Christs own argument Luk. ult 39. we see we touch we taste we smell bread 6. This change were against not only S. Scripture Ioh. 16 7.28 17.11 Act. 3.21 Heb. 8.4 But also this change were against naturall yea heavenly reason that Christs humane body should be at one and the selfe same time in heaven and on earth also it would contradict Mat. ult 6. Mark ult 6. and Luk. ult 6. Ob. D. Luther affirmeth that there is no contradiction in this affirmation Christs humane body is at one and the same time not on earth as Joh. 17.11 Christ saith I am no more in the world then it is understood of a sightly moveable and comprehensible manner of being But when it is said that Christs humane body is in the world as in the bread and wine Then it is understood of the unsightly immoveable and incomprehensible manner of beeing A. The H. Ghost taught no such divinity in S. Scripture That Christs humane body hath a manner of being belonging unto it of invisibility immoveability and incomprehensibility Besides its visible moveable and comprehensible manner of being Surely Christ even after His resurrection demonstrates the realty of His humane body by its visibility and palpability Luk ult 39. 7. This change would altogether overthrow the very beeing of this Sacrament for in every Sacrament there must be both a signe and the thing signified that the elect may receive both 8. If such a change be it must either bee naturall or miraculous by nature it cannot be that a little bread should be made Christs body nor is it done by a miracle for all miracles were visible but this we see not yea all our senses witnesse the contrary 9. What Christ once rejected as unnecessary unto salvation He will not afterward admit of it as necessary unto salvation for he cannot lie Tit. 1.2 nor deny himselfe 2 Tim. 2.13 but Christ hath rejected the carnall eating of his flesh which Transubstantiation and Consubstantiation do maintain as unnecessary to salvation Joh. 6 63. He will not then admit it now as necessary Ob. Christ affirmeth that unlesse we eat His flesh and drinke His bloud we have no life i.e. everlasting in us Joh. 6.53 A. 1. To beleeve in Christ and to eat his flesh and drinke his bloud are one and the same Joh. 6.29.35.40.47 compared with 1.51.53,54,55 2. These words litterally taken would contradict Christs affirmation unto Mary Magdalen who never tasted this Supper Luk. 7.48 and his assurance given to the theefe on the crosse Luk. 23.43 who never tasted this Sacrament Q. What learnest thou hence A. That that Sacramentall bread and wine are not changed in their nature even after the Consecration but in their use and end only Which is broken for you Q. Why was Christs body broken for the elect A. For two maine causes 1. That although Christ be the fountaine of life Ps 36.9 Ioh. 6.58 as in Himself Ioh. 10.18 So also unto us Act. 17.25.28 Col. 3.4 And although His flesh be meat indeed and His bloud drink indeed Ioh. 6.55 Yet unlesse His body had been broken for the elect He had neither been our life nor our soules food not our life untill by death he had destroyed him who had the power of death that is the divell Heb. 2.14 Nor could Christ be our soules food untill His body was broken Heb. 9.13,14,15,16 2. Unlesse Christs body had been broken He could not have procured remission of sin unto the elect for without shedding of bloud there is no remission of sin Heb. 9.22 Nor could he have answered Gods truth Gen. 2.17 because that nature that sinned behoved to dye But now His body being broken He is a fountaine opened for sin and for uncleannesse Zach. 13.1 Q. What doth this teach thee A. 1. To know the love of Christ which passeth all knowledge Eph. 3.19 that I may love him above all things counting my life and all things but dung in comparison of Christ Philip. 3.8 2. To bewaile my sins confesse them and forsake them Prov. 28.13 because they occasioned the breaking of Christs body Esa 53.5 and crucifie him afresh Heb. 6.6 3. Papists and Lutherans sinfull folly who keep their sacramentall bread whole unbroken in their mouth Ob. But they offer an unbloudy sacrifice as they say A. They are meer deluders of their owne soules for without shedding of bloud there is no remission of sins Heb. 9.22 4. Seeing the Father spared not his own Son but gave him freely for us all Rom. 8.32 And that Christ spared not himselfe but laid downe His life willingly for all the elect Ioh. 10.18 If I can get Christ in this Sacrament by faith I get all whatsoever is good for me Rom. 8 32. Doe this in remembrance of me Q. What doth the Holy Ghost aime at in those words A. 1. This is the first end of this Sacrament in which I am commanded to remember continually all that Christ hath done and suffered for me which all is summarily signified in this Supper of the Lord. 2. That whatsoever was at first done and said in this Sacrament by our Lord and his Apostles must be imitated in discretion ever afterwards Q. What doth this teach thee A. 1. Never to forget my Lords love lest I be turned into hell Ps 9.17 2. In receiving this Sacrament to imitate the institution according to my calling be I Minister or hearer 3. The terrible condition of such who refuse or contemne this Sacrament for they refuse the means of their salvation and remember not Christ V. 25. This cup is the New Testament in my bloud Q. Why did Christ take wine to represent Hâ—… bloud in this Sacrament A. 1. Because wine resembles Chrisâ— bloud both in colour being red and in namâ—… for its called the bloud of the grape Gen. â—… 11 2. As it is not wine untill it be pressed oâ—… of the grape So nor Christs bloud did saâ—… as actually untillit was shed out of His body Mat. 26.28 Heb. 9.14 3. As wine is to be given to the sorrowfull and heavy hearted for comforting them Prov. 31.6 So Christs bloud is the only salve which can comfort a sin-sick soule which is sensible of its sin and misery Act. 2.38,39 1 Joh. 17. 4. As wine maketh mans heart glad Ps 104.15 So doth Christs bloud glad our souls when by faith we are sure that it was shed for us 1 Pet. 1.18,19 Q. What doth the Holy Ghost shew in these words This cup is the New Testament in my bloud A. 1. As the Gospel consists of two main
A short and plaine TRACTATE OF THE LORDS SVPPER Grounded upon 1 Cor. 11.23 c. By VVILLIAM MORE Minister of Gods Word LONDON Printed by T. H. for Charles Green and are to be sold at his shop in Ivy Lane 1645. To the Right Honourable the Lady FRANCIS HOBERT Wife of the Honourable Sir JOHN HOBERT Knight and Baronet MADAM THe many obligements in which I acknowledge my selfe tyed unto your honours honourable husband who hath been Gods gracious instrument in preserving me from the unjust oppression of the perverse though I be not repaired in my sufferings have made me humbly to present unto your Honour as a true token of a gratefull minde this little Tractate short as might be shunning obscurity and plaine according to my best possibility Though Momus carp I care not The Word of God is not bound Receive honourable Lady this mite from him who daily doth plead at the Throne of Grace for your honours honourable husband for your honourable Ladiship And happy hopefull Children And who is really Madam Your Honours humble servant in the Lord WILLIAM MORE EMMANVEL A short and plaine Tractate of the LORDS SUPPER grounded on 1 Cor. 11.23 c. Q. WHat is a Sacrament of the new Covenant A. A divine Institution in which by visible signes all the blessings of the new Covenant are represented given sealed and applied that is Jesus Christ and all his graces unto all faithfull receivers Mat. 3.11 Act. 19. Mat. 26.26 Rom. 4.11 Joh. 1.12 Q. How many Sacraments are in the New Covenant A. Two Baptisme and the Lords Supper Our Lord nor his Apostles ordained no more Q. What is the Lords Supper A. A Sacrament of the faithfull their spirituall nourishment and increase of grace through Christ 1 Pet. 2.2 Q. Doth not the Lords Supper worke faith in those who receive it though they lack faith A. No For as no temporall food can make a dead childe to live no more can this spirituall food any who is spiritually dead Mat. 7.6 Q. Must we communicate often A. Yes for our soules like our bodies must be often fed and we must labour for it Joh. 6.27 Q. We are but once baptised why should wee often communicate A. As there is but one beginning of naturall life and yet it must be often fed so there is but one beginning of spirituall life which is faith Rom. 1.17 And it likewise must be often fed 2 Pet. ult ult Q. Why is both bread and wine given in the Lords Supper A. 1. As our bodies must be fed both with meat and drinke so our soules must be fed with Christs body which is that true bread that strengthneth our heart and with his bloud which maketh the heart glad Ps 104.15 2. To demonstrate that Christ is the only â—…ll and perfect food of our soules Joh. 6.51 Q. May not infants baptized ignorants of perverse indisposition naturall fooles obstinate malicious grossely scandalous sinners drunken men be admitted to this S. Supper A. No because they cannot discerne the Lords body 1 Cor. 11.29 Q. How many parts are there of the Lords Supper A. Foure 1. A lawfully admitted Minister 2. The elements bread and wine 3. The words of Institution 4. And a competent number of communicants Q. Are all those necessary parts of it A. Yes any of those wanting there can be no true Sacrament Q. May not any of the effectually called administer this Sacrament A. No for none may administer the Sacraments but Preachers Mat. ult 19. And none may preach except they be sent of God Rom. 10.14 And those who are sent of God must be lawfully admitted 1 Tim. 4.14 Heb. 5.4 1 Cor. 11.23 The Lord Iesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread Q. Who did first institute this Lords Supper A. The Lord Jesus himselfe Mat. 6.26 Mark 14.22 Luk. 22.19 1 Cor. 11.23 Q. What learnest thou hence A. 1. Seeing my Lord did institute it I must in filiall feare observe his commands in preparing my selfe to take it it tending so much to his glory and to my salvation Mal. 1.6 2. And seeing he is Jesus my Saviour Mat. â— 21 I must in love to advance his honour and mine owne salvation hunger for it Mat. 5.6 Q. Seeing Christ gave it in the night must not we doe so likewise A. No unlesse it be in times of persecution 1. Because that Sacrament of the Old Covenant the Passeover behoved to be ended before this Sacrament of the New Covenant the Lords Supper was instituted for this succeeded to that Luk. 22.15.16 2. The Pascall lamb was commanded to be killed in the evening Exod. 12.6 and eaten that same night v. 8. 3. This Supper was instituted as near before Christs death as possible could be to the and that nothing might be altered in it added to it nor taken from it Heb. 9.17 4. That this legacy bequeathed by our Lords latter will unto all the faithfull might be more firmly fixed in our memories No such necessitie viz. persecution urge us Tooke bread Q. Why did our Lord take bread to resemble his body A. 1. As our bodies cannot ordinarily live without bread which strengthneth mans heart Ps 104.15 no more can our souls live wanting Christ who is the living life giving bread that gives eternall life Joh. 6.51 2. Christ tooke bread for its generality because of all meats bread is most generally knowne most universally used and in most Countries most easily acquired 3. Because of breads likenesse for of all creatures which are eaten bread most resembles Christs body And hence He calleth His body the true bread which came downe from heaven Joh. 6.32.35 4. As bread is needfull for all meats So is our Lord for us in all matters most necessary Joh. 15.5 1 Cor. 1.30 5. As the bread hath endured all kindes of breaking ere it can be food for my body So Christ suffered all kindes of death death in sinne only excepted ere he could be food for my soule Heb. 2.9.10 Q. What doth this teach thee A. I must labour for the fulnesse of faith that I may get the bread which endureth unto life everlasting Joh. 6.27 Q. What doth that bread signifie A. 1. Christs body as his owne words prove This is my body 2. As it is but one bread made of many graines so all the elect are members one of another Ephes 4.25 are all members of Christs mysticall body Ephes 5.30 and Christ is their head v. 23. Q. What learnest thou hence A. I must love Christ above all things Mat. 22.37 and my neighbour as my selfe v. 39. especially the faithfull Gal. 6.10 Q. What kinde of bread tooke Christ A. Common table bread unleavened for no leavened bread might be eaten at the Passeover Ex. 12.15 Q What was meant by leaven there A. False doctrine Mat. 16.22 Hypocrisie Luk. 12.2 Malice and wickednesse 1 Cor. 5.8 Q. What should that teach thee A. Those all must bee rooted out of my heart before I
adventure to the Lords Table 1 Cor. 5.8 otherwise I shall come unworthily to mine own damnation 1 Cor. 11.29 Q. What forme was that bread of A. S. Scripture is silent of that Q. What learnest thou hence A. The vanity of Papists Prelats and Lutherans who use thin wafers printed with a crucifix V. 24 And when he had given thanks c. Q. What is meant by those words A. Christ would not breake that bread untill He first thankt his heavenly Father for it Luk. 22.19 and blessed it Mat. 26.26 Q. What learnest thou hence A. 1. As Christ was both ready and willing to lay downe His life for me Joh. 10.18 and thankt His Father who made Him redemption unto me 1 Cor. 1.30 So should I be ready willing and thanke the Lord if he will count me worthy to suffer shame which is worse then death for His sake Act. 5.41 2. In every thing especially for giving Christ to sive me Act. 4.12 to give thanks 1 Thes 5.10 He brake it Q. What is meant by breaking of that bread A. It s breaking was partly necessary that one bread might be divided amongst many partly mysterious to signifie that Christ was broken for all the elect Esay 53.4.5 Ioh. 19. the whole Chapter Q. Did Christ suffer in his soule A. Yes as is evident Mat. 27.46 Luk. 22.44 Q. Did Christ suffer in his Godhead A. As Christ is God He is All sufficient Gen. 17.1 His Godhead therefore could not suffer Q. Seeing that Christ was made like unto us in all things sin excepted Heb. 2.17 compared with Heb. 4.15 How could He satisfie Gods infinitly wronged justice if His Godhead did not suffer A. The excellency of the party who suffered even Iesus Christ God-man in one person the great Mediator betwixt God and the elect being infinite gave infinite satisfaction to his Fathers infinite justice For although His Godhead neither did nor could suffer Yet Jesus was crucified Act. 1.36 The Prince of life was killed Act. 3.15 Christ dyed for us Rom. 14.9 The Lord of glory was crucified 1 Cor. 2.8 The Father spared not His owne Son but delivered Him up for us all Rom. 8.32 And the Son of God gave himselfe for us Gal. 2.20 Such an infinite person therefore suffering Gods infinite justice is satisfied to the full as the father Himselfe acknowledgeth Matth. 17.5 Q. What doth this teach thee A. 1. If I receive this Supper faithfully I get the great Mediator who was broken for me and so I cannot be damned Rom. 8.1 Ioh. 6.54 Yea I am made one of the sons of God Ioh. 1.12 2. Seeing that Christ was broken for my sins I must break off my sins by repentance before I dare communicate because God is of purer eyes then to behold evill and cannot looke on iniquity Hab. 1.13 And said Take Q. To whom said Christ this A. Unto all who were present even to His twelve Apostles for none other might be present at the Passeover with him Exod. 12.3 Q. No woman was there must they now bee excluded A. God forbid women are elected 2 Ioh. v. 1. ult Q. Did Judas communicate at the Supper A. He ate of the Pascall lamb which was the type of Christ and was Christ in signification The difference is in this under the Law they received Christ to come under the Gospell we receive Christ come already Q. How did they take it A. With their hands otherwise it could not have been a perfect communion which in this Supper was first between Christ the head and the faithfull His members And secondly between the faithfull communicants amongst themselves Q. What table gesture did they use at this Supper A. Christ and they all did sit Mat. 26.20 Mark 14.18 Luk. 22.14 Ioh. 13.4.12 Q. Some say they leaned and sat not A. If so one hand had been uselesse And if so yet it was the table gesture of that Countrey Q. May not we kneel now when we communicate A. No otherwise we violate the Institution and break Christs command Doe this c. Q. What hurt can we have by kneeling A. 1. This Supper is a banquet of love our Lord calls the faithfull His friends not servants Ioh. 15.15 servants invited kneele not at their Masters tables much lesse friends 2. Kneelers in receiving defraud themsolves of their grace here and of their glory hereafter which are promised in the word sitting Mat. 8.11 19.28 Luke 13.29 22.30 Ephes 2.6 Rev. 3.21 Q. The more humbly we receive is it not so much the better for us A. 1. Will-worship in our worshipping of God is alwayes rejected of God Esay 1.12 Col. 2. ult 2. Kneelers in the act of receiving violate the Institution for Christ and his Apostles did sit as is manifest Mat. 26.20 Mark 14.18 Luk. 22.14 Ioh. 13.4.12 3. Kneelers transgresse Christs command He commands us thus Doe this in remembrance of me Now this command must bee extended unto every particular of the Institution otherwise we have no rule whereby we can convince Heretiques Papists Prelats Lutherans in matters concerning this Sacrament Q. What doth all this teach thee A. 1. The foolishnesse of Priests in the Romish and Lutheran Churches who put the bread into the receivers mouthes by which their mutuall communion is frustrated 2. I see and sorrow at the blindnesse of those will-worshipping kneelers Rev. ult 18. Take Q. What are we to take here A. Heavens excellencie the earths only good even the Lord Jesus Christ himselfe and all his heavenly graces which are all here not only freely offered but also fully given to all worthy receivers for as truly and really as I get that bread and that wine to be one flesh with me so likewise as really and as truly I get Christs body by faith as his owne words prove This is my body to bee one spirit with mee 1 Cor. 6 17. Q. But Christs humane body is in heaven How then can I get him A. By faith for Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith Ephes 3.17 Q. But my bodily eyes see nothing in that Supper but bread and wine only How then can I get Christ A. Thou seest these thou hearest Christs words affirming of that bread This is my body and of that wine This is my bloud which of those two beleevest thou Christ or thy senses beleeve on the Lord Iesus Christ and thou getst him Ioh. 6.47 compared with v. 54. Q. Can I be infallibly sure that if I have saving faith to beleeve Christs words This is my body This is my bloud that I shall get Christ himselfe in this Supper A. Thou may and must be infallibly sure of it for Jesus is the truth Joh. 14.6 He cannot lie Tit. 1.2 He cannot deny himselfe 2 Tim. 2.13 Heaven and earth shall passe away but His words shall not passe away Mat. 24.35 Mark 13.31 Luk. 21.33 Q. But I finde in my selfe a body of death of corruption of doubtings how then dare I either take that bread