Iesus Christ our Lorde So that wée must not doe as in times passed the Infidels did which made great lamentations and inuectiues against the Iewes Pontius Pilate Herode Iudas and them that had executed and put Christ to death and in the meane season flattered themselues vaunting of their owne merites and desertes and did not narrowly consider that Iudas Pontius Pilate Herode were but executers and ministers of their impieties and sinnes Let vs therefore consider in the breaking of the breade that our sinnes yea the sinnes of euery one of vs seuerally crucified the sonne of God and brake him with the sorrowes of the first and second death as namely the wordes of the Supper doe shew that the body of Iesus Christ was broken for vs and his blood was shed for the remission of our sinnes And our heauenly Father witnesseth the same speaking of the death of his Sonne Esa 53.3 For the sinnes of my people haue I smitten him Then if it bée so that our sinnes being weighed in the ballaunce of the iustice of GOD were found to bée so weightie and of so great importaunce that his wrath coulde neuer haue béene appeased towardes vs but by the death of his onely Sonne which maketh full satisfaction I say by the cruell ignominious deathe of the Crosse how should not wée hence forward detest and abhorre our sinne as that which is the cruell and bloody murderer of the only Sonne of God Mat. 27 451. Beholde the Sunne and the Moone beholde the Element beholde the vaile of the Temple beholde the stones and rockes which were moued at the death of Iesus Christ which shewed foorth tokens of sorrowe and wée which beare within our selues the cause of his death shal not wée haue in horrour and detestation this cursed enemie sinne that is lodged within vs Shall wée suffer him to rule and dwell in vs as before that il may bring home death vnto vs Not so but wée must detest it as that that before time separated vs from God our chiefest happinesse as that that caused vs to loose the image and similitude of God according to which wée were created at the beginning by GOD. It is that that hath wholy destroyed vs that hath depriued vs of holinesse and righteousnesse that hath banished vs out of Paradice that hath made vs slaues to the tyranny of the Diuell that hath made vs subiect to so many miseries and diseases and to be short both to the first second death It is that which after it had set a barre and diuision betwéen God and vs caused vs to sée our owne filthinesse purchased vnto vs shameful vilainous infamy made vs to tremble at the voyce of our God which was before most pleasant and louing vnto vs. It is that wherby the wrath of God is heaped vpon men that maketh the earth to become barren to bring forth thornes and thistles that causes women to bring forth in sorrow and that men eate their bread in the sweat labour of their bodies Séeing then that sinne bringeth forth and procureth vnto vs daily so many miseries it followeth that we ought to withdrawe our selues from it if we wil not be wilful enemies of our owne happinesse saluation Now then I cite here all disordered and slanderous persons which notwithstnading are so impudent to present themselues to the Lords holy Table I aske them what it is that they promised to God his Church in Baptisme They wil answere me that they promised God to renounce the Diuel all his workes But one of the chiefe and principall workes of the Diuel is sinne Why doe they not then abstaine from it Why are they traytours and disobedient to God his Church Why haue they conspired with the Diuel the world the flesh against their own saluation How dare they peesent themselues before God to aske him pardon and remission of their sins séeing that more and more they heape sin vpon sin crucifie kill againe as much as in them lieth the son of God or at the least make a scorne a scoffe of the purging of this blood which was appli-vnto them in Baptisme Put the case that a wicked man poore and destitute of all helpe wete fallen into a mire whence out he could by no meanes rayse vp himselfe that some young Prince passing that way tooke the paines to draw him out of the ditch to make him cleane to cloath him with gorgious and precious apparell if this wicked man poore miserable caytife fall againe into this myre wilfully by his own folly beray both himselfe his apparell being moreouer in great daunger of his life would not one think that this man were maruellously vnkind and a contemner of that princely bounty and goodnesse on the other side a wilful and sworne enemy of his owne health worthy to be lost and cast away without any helpe or assistance Euen so standeth our cause with Iesus Christ We fel al into the puddle of sinne in the person of Adam g Gen. 3.6 Psal 39.15 we are all wicked doers and worthy of an hundred thousande gibbets before God we can by no meanes get out of our selues and out of the ditche of destruction whereinto we are all fallen by our owne fault Behold the son of God the king of kings the Lord of Lordes which commeth to draw vs out of this puddle which cōmeth to wash vs with his precious blood which vouchsafeth to cloath vs with the proper cloake of his righteousnesse and innocency If we come againe to wallowe our selues in the puddle of sinne if we please our selues in it if we defile bedurt the robe of innocency which he hath giuen vs in Baptisme are we not manifest contemners of the inestimable loue gift of Iesus Christ are moreouer worthy to rot a thousand times in our filthinesse or rather to gnash our téeth euerlastingly with the diuels in hel It is euident Séeing then that it is so that the end of our redemptiō baptisme iustification requireth of vs to abstaine from sin so farforth as possibly we may our fleshly infirmitie wil suffer we must take all paines and diligence by the vertue of the spirit of God to cast out from vs all foulenesse filthinesse Idolatry blasphemy rebellion hatred murther whordome theft and vsury all other things contrary to the holy Lawe if we will not bee more than ingrateful towards Iesus Christ and open enemies of his Churche and our owne saluation But because it is not sufficient for the inducing of a true and he althful repentance to acknowledge our misery to abhorre it to confesse it and to abstaine from it but we must also know desire and do that good which God cōmandeth in his word we must consider the argument which ought earnestly to stirre vs vp to the sanctifying of the name of God First in that we are ioined and made one with Christ
for euer permanent if the mercy and power of our God had not plucked vs out of it by the ministery of the true Moses which is our Lord Iesus Christ who is the true Lambe which the heauenly father hath deliuered to death to deliuer vs from it and purchase vs eternall life As it is saide that God so loued the world Ioh. 3.16 that he hath giuen his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beléeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Now then séeing this good God hath done in vs so great a pleasure as to frée vs from the tyranny of the Diuel of sinne of death of hel séeing that his loue was so great that he deliuered his onely Sonne to the cruel and ignominious death of the Crosse for vs which were the seruants and bondslaues of Sathan his welbeloued for vs which were his enemies the iust and the Lambe without spotte for vs which were sinners and corrupt the onely heire of Paradice for vs which were worthily heires of hel ought we not to be rauished with admiration of this great and vnspeakeable loue of God towards vs our tongues to be for euer displayed to publish with a loud voyce the praise of the benefit of our redemption It is very reasonable and therefore we sée that Iesus Christ admonisheth vs of our dutie in this behalfe Luk. 22.19 1. Cor. 11.24 speaking of the celebration of the holy Supper Doe this in remembrance of me And S. Paul expresseth what remembrance this is when he aduertiseth vs 1. Cor. 11. that as often as wée shall eate this bread and drinke this cuppe wée shewe the Lords death till he come Séeing thē that God requireth of vs a true acknowledging of his benefits which wée receiue at his hands bountifulnesse by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ let vs take heede that we be not spotted with the fault of ingratitude especially if we will not incurre the wrathful displeasure of God and acknowledge him for Iudge whom we would not acknowledge for a gentle and mercifull father as Saint Paul also to this purpose threatneth the ingrate and forgetful when he saith Whosoeuer shal eate this bread and drinke the cup of the Lord vnworthily eateth and drinketh his owne damnation And rightfully is the vengeance of God displayed against them which wickedly suppresse the glory of God in that that concerneth their owne saluation For if so be that a murtherer ready to be hanged for his wicked déedes casting away and reiecting his princes gratious pardon and not vouchsafing to thanke him for it deserueth worthily the gallowes or if a childe deserue the rod for not giuing once I thanke you to his father when he hath receiued at his handes great and singular benefits much more wee which for our sinfull and wicked déedes deserue to bée hanged in hell if wée contemne the grace of God our soueraigne Prince and make no count of this euerlasting benefite which our heauēly father presenteth vs withal in Iesus Christ who is offered to vs in the supper by good right and reason we are worthy to perish for our vnkindnesse vnthankfulnesse But here must we diligently marke the pointes that followe First this acknowledging must be made to one onely God by his onely sonne Iesus Christ For euen as God by his onely sonne hath created vs redéemd vs frō euerlasting death so wil he that to him alone and by him alone in whom he is well pleased we render thanks for all his benefits As we sée how S. Paul setteth this forth vnto vs in many places and precisely in the Epistle to the Ephesians where he saith Blessed be God euen the father of our Lord Iesus Christ which hath blessed vs with all his spirituall blessing in Heauenly things in Christ as hee hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world but they which call vpon Saints and put their trust in them or in their merites they also which make them patrons and aduocates to GOD warde and likewise they which trust in their owne strength in their owne frée will or good workes robbe God of his glorie and cannot giue him true thankes for the benefit of redemption For we cannot giue to any creature the least ioy that may be in the matter of our saluation but we commit sacriledge against God the Creator And therefore renouncing our selues and euery liuing creature let vs say with the Apostle Vnto the king euerlasting immortall 1. Tim. 1.17 inuisible vnto God only wise be honour and glory for euer and euer Secondly thanks must be giuen not with the mouth onely but with the hart also For séeing that God is a spirit he requireth a seruice of vs that is agréeable to his nature that is to say he will be serued of vs in spirit and truth And therefore when that praysing of God for the benefit of redemption commeth in question we must haue our hearts lift vp on high and there must be a consent and mutuall agréement betwéen our inward affections and our tongues as we sée how Dauid exhorteth himselfe to the same when he saith My soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within mee praise his holy name My soule I say praise thou the Lord Psa 103.1 and forget not all his benefits And the blessed Virgin singeth the selfe same in her song Luke 1.46 saying My soule magnifieth the Lord and my spirit reioyceth in God my Sauiour Now all hypocrites and wicked persons also they that sing and praise in an vnknowne tongue are here reproued For where there is no vnderstanding there is no affection nor wil and consequently no faith without which whatsoeuer we doe bee it neuer so faire and glorious before men it is but sinne and abhomination before God Let vs take héede therefore that in this behalfe we wander not and goe astray least we be condemned with the Iewish people which honoured and serued God in vaine insomuch as they came neare vnto him onely with their mouthes Esa 29.13 Mat. 15.8 and honoured him with their lips but not with their hearts Thirdly it must be done at all times and seasons Psal 34.1 that is to say aswel in affliction as in prosperity to this purpose Dauid protesteth That he will alwaies giue thanks vnto his Lord 1. Thes 5.18 and that his prayse shall be in his month continually And Saint Paul admonisheth the Thessalonians To giue thanks in all things adding For this is the wil of God in Christ Iesus But this is cleane contrarie to time seruers and to all them which in time of prosperity lawn vpon the Gospell and are wel cōtent for that time to praise God whom afterward in time of affliction they defie and set at naught The cause of this mischiefe is for that they haue not yéelded themselues to the Church of GOD for a good end and purpose as to extoll the glory of God to séeke
which is giuen for you This is my blood which is shed for the remission of your sinnes Finally they despise the church and the vnity thereof and willingly excommunicate themselues from the communion which the faithfull haue in the Supper as well with Iesus Christ as one with another Wée sée therefore how fondely these contemners of the Lordes holy Supper doe fall and are vtterly inexcusable And therefore let vs take good héede that wée followe them not if wee will not bée punished with them which for their Oxen a Mat. 12.7 Luke 14.22 Farmes Wiues and Trafficque of Marchaundize refused is come to the marriage in the Gospel Contrariwise of them which come vnwoorthily to the holie Supper of the Lorde or ought not to be thervnto admitted AL Atheistes that is suche as are without GOD These haue not faith misbeleeuers ignoraunt of God and his worde all heretiques and false Prophetes all Magicians Idolaters and superstitious which are partakers of the table of Diuels likewise all they which haue but an hystorical faith all the adherents ministers of the Romish Antichrist and they that establishe by any manner whatsoeuer his kingdome or depende thereon also all they which haue not yéelded themselues to the Churche of God and haue not made profession of their faith Finally all they that customably sweare eyther by the name of God or by their faith and applie it to vaine matters and causes of no value all these ought to abstaine from the Lords table for so much as they haue not a true trust in God without the which wée cannot be members of Iesus Christe nor consequently be apte and méete to receiue life of him which is the onely head of the true fatthfull These haue not repentance AL they which liue slaunderously all impenitentes and vnthriftes al contemners of God of his worde and of his holy assemblies al blasphemers and denyers of the name of God al despisers of correction and Ecclesiastical Discipline they also that haunt and frequent ordinarilie euill companie which walke in the counsel of the wicked a Psal 1.1 which stand in the way of sinners which sit in the seate of the scorneful To be shorte they in whome appeereth no amendement of life no regeneration and they that committe heynous and infamous vices and suche as are to bee punished by the Magistrate all these after that they are knowne to be suche ought not to be admitted to the Supper and if they present themselues vnto it they ought not to be receiued least that that is holy bée giuen to dogges and Swyne b Mat. 7.6 to the great dishonour of GOD and slaunder of his Churche Of them which sinne against the third Article which consisteth in giuing of thankes VVIthout true faith and repentance These are not thankful to God wée can not be méete to set foorth the praises of GOD who wil not bée praised by the mouth of the wicked a Psal 50.16 and therefore al Infidels Ignorants and Impenitents sinne also against this Article and ought not to be receiued to the Lordes Supper Also they that are madde or fooles either by nature or some other accident They also which by reason that they be vnder age as little children cannot shew forth neither the Lords death fit he come nor are capable of the Supper of the Lord. Finally they which by fragilitie vnkindnesse and contempt in time of persecution did forsake Gods cause and renounce the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe ought not also to bée admitted thither vnlesse that they doe first make open confession of their faulte and be reconciled to the Church of God Of them which sinne against the fourth Article which consisteth in loue towardes our Neighbour THe disobedience to father and mother These are voyde of loue to the Magistrate and to al superiours the seditious conspiratours fighters murderers and such as beare malice and hatred against their neighbours they that are carried away with the fire of reuengement whoremongers adulterers incontinent buggerers Drunkards Gluttons Deceiuers Théeues and Vsurers Backebyters Mockers False witnesses Lyers and common periured Persons and in summe all they which make an Arte of the breache of Loue towarde their Neighbours conteined in the second Table of the Lawe of GOD ought not to bée receiued to the Supper For séeing that the Scripture pronounceth thus that such sort of men haue none acquaintance of God are shut out of the kingdome of Heauen a Eph. 5.5 Psal 15. and shall not dwell in the Lordes holy Mountaine they ought of right to bée shutte out from the sacred signes wherby the faithfull are ioyned to IESVS CHRIST and made possessors of eternall life FINIS
our selues then may we boldly come to the Lords Table whereat we shall enioy Iesus Christ God and man by the benefit of faith and shall feele moreouer a great increase and augmentation of the same But we must note that it is vnpossible for vs to be vnite and made one with Christ and to be made partakers of the treasures and riches which are in him vnlesse we first renounce Antichrist and his kingdome and vnlesse we detest all Idolatrie superstition and traditions of men directly contrary to the pure seruice of God bounded and limitted out in his word For séeing that God is our onely Creator and hée giueth himselfe wholy vnto vs in the person of his Sonne IESVS CHRIST the true Isaac Gene. 17.18 in whom all the nations of the earth are blessed it is great reason that likewise by Faith wee giue vp our selues Gen. 12.18 yéelde vs wholy vnto God And thence is it that God in his Lawe doth rightfully require of his people that they haue no other Gods but him Eccle. 20.2 And that they loue him with all their heart with all their soule with all their strength and vnderstanding that is to say with all their parts aswel inward as outward And thence is it also that God doth not only rebuke and reprooue al them that halt on both sides but commandeth also 1. Reg. 18.20 Deut. 13.1 and 17.5 that they which sacrifice vnto strange Gods should be put to death And to this purpose S. Paul minding to warne the Corinthians to flée from Idolatry vseth an argument taken from the knittting together and vnion that we haue with Iesus Christ our Lord in the Supper 1. Cor. 10.16 speaking after this sort The cup of blessing which wée blesse is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ And the bread which wée breake is it not the Commmunion of the body of Christ As if he would say that séeing the Corinthians came not to the Supper to bée partakers simply of earthly Elements but to be partakers really and in déede of the body and blood of our Lord Iesus Christ to bée made one with him by faith and to be made flesh of his flesh and bones of his bones that therefore it were too great wickednesse abhomination to be present in the assemblies of Infidels or to be partakers of their idolatrie And therefore the Apostle addeth afterward 1. Cor. 10.21 that the Corinthians cannot drinke of the cup of the Lord and of the cup of diuels and that they cannot bée partakers of the Lords Table and of the table of Diuels Whereby he signifieth that it is impossible to serue God and the diuel together and that whosoeuer doth communicate with Idolatrie doeth manifestly renounce our Lorde Iesus Christ Therefore seeing that darkenesse is no more contrarie to light vice to vertue death to life Paradice to Hell then the Pope and his doctrine is contrary to our Lord Iesus Christ and to his holy Gospel it behooueth all true faithfull people to withdraw themselues wholy from Poperie and cast off without delay the yoke of that Romish Antichrist that they may giue themselues wholy to the seruice of this Sauiour and Redéemer Iesus Christ But if so be that the CoÌ„munion that we haue with the sonne of God and the promises of the heauenly Father cannot intice perswade vs to yéeld our selues wholy to God to put our trust in him onely to serue and worship him onely according to his will but that we wil yet cleaue vnto Antichrist his seruants Ministers yet at the least let the threatnings iudgements of God hinder vs and feare vs so to doe as when it is sayde Goe out of her my people that ye bee not partakers in her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues And againe Apoc. 14.9 â—0 11 If any man worship the beast and his image and receiue his marke in his foreheade or in his hand the same shal drink of the wine of the wrath of God yea of the pure wine which is powred into the cup of his wrath and he shall be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe And that stinke of their torment shal ascend-euermore and they shal haue no rest day nor night which worship the beast and his image and whosoeuer receiueth the print of his name And againe The fearefull and vnbeléeuing the abhominable murtherers Apo. 21.8 whoremongers sorcerers idolatrors and all lyers shal haue their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Let this therefore be well printed in our hearts that we be not seduced and destroyed with the vaine seruers of this worlde which thinke it is a thing not impossible to serue God and the Diuell Iesus Christ and Antichrist to follow the commandements of God and of men and to satisfie the affections of the spirite and of the flesh all at once 2. We must haue repentance THe preparation whereof we spake before touching faith which applyed vnto euery one of vs particularly Iesus Christ with all his riches and blessings can haue no place in vs vnlesse it bring foorth also in vs a true repentance that is to say a true misliking of euill a burning loue and affection of goodnesse as we sée the example in Dauid Peter Paul and other holy men We must haue a sorrow and vnfeined grief for that we haue offended God for that wée haue before times wickedly abused our creation redemption and Baptisme for that wée haue prouoked God with all our members for that we haue abused our vnderstanding heart tongue féete and hands for that wée haue giuen and set foorth our soules and bodies which are the Temples wherein God would dwell to infidelitie idolatrie superstition filthinesse blasphemie whoredome extortion vsurie robberie gluttonie drunkennesse ambition excesse ryot other worldly vanities which is asmuch as if we would haue lodged God the father the sonne and the Ghost in a most stinking and filthy priuie Wée must therefore bée sorry for our wicked life passed vsing a true and seuere examining of our selues which may bring foorth in vs a displeasantnesse and horrour of our forepassed renting and breaking by al manner of meanes of the Lawe of God to follow the will of the Diuell of the world and of the flesh Nowe the breaking of the breade of the Supper which is omitted in the Passeouer of the Papists should cause vs to acknowledge and detest our wickednesse that is to say whatsoeuer is founde in vs contrary and repugnant to the pure and holy Lawe of GOD. For in that that the bread is broken for vs or rather in that that wée breake the bread of the Supper of our Lorde Iesus Christ it signifieth vnto vs that in déede it is we that it is our sinnes and iniquities which haue crucified and put to death the Lorde of life who is the very same
Iesus in the supper in that we are made flesh of his flesh and bones of his bones in that we liue by his holy spirit ought not this vpon good cause to exhort vs to conforme our selues to the Image and likenesse of the holines of our Lord Iesus Christ Can he dwel in vs nourish vs with his own substance quicken vs with his holy spirit ioyne vs vnto himself by the bond of Faith yet so that he his holy spirit and faith bring not forth in vs good holy works Moreouer for so much as he doth not giue himselfe vnto vs halfemeale and destitute of his qualities and riches accompanied with all spirituall giftes and blessings adorned with righteousnesse and perfection accompanied with innocencie sanctification how can we receiue Iesus Christ enriched with all his graces that the righteousnesse of our head may not shine in vs which are members yea shine in all our parts as well inward as outward Must it needs be that the two partes of our soule that is to say our mind and heart which ought to apprehende and take hold of the promises of God which ought to receiue by faith the body and blood of our lord Iesus Christ that is to say whole Iesus Christ true God equal in euery respect to God his father and true man made of humane body and soule that this minde heart I say must be applyed to the meditation and loue of worldly and wicked things being destitute of the knowledge and loue of God and of the loue of our neighbour Doth it behoue our body which is the temple of God to be prophaned That our eares which were created of God to heare his voice shuld be stopped against it and be opened to vanities wanton talke vnchast worldly songes Doth it behooue our tongue which is bound by the right of creation to sing the praises of God and by the right of redemption to shew forth the Lords death till he come h That this tongue which is so proper an instrument of the glory of God should be mute to goodnesse incessantly occupied in backbiting slaundering blaspheming or at the least in speaking idle words whereof one day wée shal yéeld an account before the throne of the Maiesty of God i Mat. 12.36 Doeth it behoue our mouth which ought to receiue the blessed signe of the body and blood of our Lord Iesus to suppresse the benefit of our redemption and to haue adders poyson in it Doeth it behooue our hands which ought to take at the supper the assured gage of the loue of God the infallible pledges of his league with vs the earnest penny of our saluation to be voide of goodnesse beside that be giuen to extortion theft murther oppression violence Doth it behooue our féete which ought to runne and make hast to goodnesse to be ready and light to runne to mischiefe No surely but as he which calleth vs is holy so likewise must we also be wholy holy as he hath brought vs by holy Baptisme into his holy house which is his Church the Cōmunion of Saints Euen so likewise must we lead therein a good holy conuersation as he hath washed vs from our sinnes by the precious blood of his sonne Iesus Christ so must we dye to them liue in righteousnesse as he hath called vs to the the incorruptible hope of the blessed resurrection eternal life so must we lift vp our harts on high and not be buried like Moles in this fraile and transitorie earth To be short séeing that the grace of God is set before vs euery day and his holy word soundeth in our eares l Tit. 2.11 12.13.14 to this onely end that it may be saluation vnto vs and that renouncing all vngodlinesse worldly desires we should liue soberly iustly and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the mighty God and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ We must pray vnto this good God that he would giue vs grace so to behaue our selues towardes him in liuing godly so towards our neighbours in liuing iustly so towards the poore in reléeuing them charitably so towards our selues in liuing soberly that we may be found at the day irreprehensible by the meanes of that his wel beloued Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ 3 Thirdly Of thankes giuing we must giue thanks to this good God for the benefit of our redemption for this cause it is that the Auncients called the holy supper Eucharistia that is to say gratefulnesse good grace giuing of thankes For if so be that our ordinary food and daily bread which GOD giueth vs for the nourishmēt of our bodies ought to be sanctified by the word receiued with thankesgiuing ought we not much more to thanke God for the heauenly bread for the nourishment of our soules which is offered vnto vs really giuen vs in the holy Supper of Iesus Christ And we sée also how Iesus Christ himselfe sheweth vs an example hereof For when he tooke the bread of the Supper S Matthewe and S. Marke say that Iesus Christ blessed And S. Luke expoundeth this word to blesse when he saith that he gaue thankes Now then séeing that we sée that Iesus Christ when he tooke the bread of the supper gaue thankes to God his father as he did also when he tooke the cup that for the redemption of mākind it is our duty to do the like And that we may be the better moued to giue thanks to God we haue to consider the greatnesse of the benefit of our redemption and the excellency of the gift which God giueth vs at his holy table which cannot bée done vnlesse we consider our miserable condition which was before figured by the temporall captiuitie of Egypt We see there how Pharaoh was strong and mighty how he knew not the generall how he went about to kill all the séede of the Israelites Exe 1.3 by the suppression and death of their men children we sée also how excessiuely he caused the Israelites to worke without any hope of wages how he would not suffer them by any meanes to sacrifice to the Lord nor to goe forth of the land of Egypt Which thing continued not for one yeare or two but for the space of foure hundred and thirtie f Exo. 12.30 yeares Here may we liuely beholde a draught of our misery We were all lost and destroyed in Adam Wee were holden captiues in the helly Egypt vnder the Tyranny of a spirituall Pharaoh which is the Diuell This Tyrant was strong and mighty hee suffered vs not to serue our GOD. He made vs to labour incessantly in slauish and vnfruitfull workes of sinne to the establishment of his owne kingdome He slew not onely our men children but he led vs all indifferently to vtter ruine and destruction And this Tyranny had not onely continued for a certaine time but had béene eternall and
sée also that the Wine is made of many clusters of grapes yet after it is made is but one onely wine in like sort must the Christians which are many in themselues bée ioyned together throught loue into one body which is the Church whereof Iesus Christ ought to bée the onely head and leader But wée must note that this loue whereunto we are exhorted by so many reasons of the Supper cannot bee where there is enuie brawling contentions rancour debate and diuision and therefore before wée come to the Supper which is a witnes of our agréement as well with Christ as with his congregation if wee haue had any strife and contention with our brethren wée must louinglie reconcile our selues vnto them If any man haue offended vs wée must franckely and fréely forgiue our brethren h Mat. 5.23.44 yea our enemies as wée would that our good GOD should pardon vs and as wée sée how IESVS CHRIST our Lorde hath left vs an example of his loue when he praied to GOD his Father for his enemies which put him to death i Luke 23.34 as wée read also that Saint Stephen did the same k Acts. 7.60 Againe wée must also marke that this loue ought to bee practised in all estates Kings must loue their subiects they must be Nurces l Esai 49.23 of the Churche of GOD louers of common peace they must vse their people with all moderation and clemencie So likewise must the people honor the King m 1. Pet. 2.13 14.15 Ro. 13.2.3 they must pay him their tribute faithfullie they must be obedient to all his Lieftenants and Officers The Pastour must loue his flocke n Acts. 20.28.31 1. Pet. 5.2.3 hée must watch take paines and pray incessantly for it o. Sa. 12.13 So likewise must the shéepe loue their Pastour the fathers their children the children their fathers and mothers the wife the husband and the husband the wife the maisters their seruantes and the seruants their maisters and euery one in his calling must endeuour to exercise loue in that vocation wherevnto God hath called him For otherwise it wil be impossible for vs to doe our dueties faithfully aswel towards God as towards men if the rule of loue doe not guide and gouerne vs in all our doings Other necessarie obseruations for them that will come to the Lordes Table IN the foure Articles aforesaid consisteth the true examining of our selues notwithstanding we must take good héede to these poynts and notes which follow First wée haue to note that wée must not cast our heads and bende our braines to examine curiously another mās life as many do which stretch out and scanne so narrowly the blemishes of their brethren that they forget their owne It is to be wished and wée must procure it as much as lyeth in vs that the Church of God may be maintained in purity without shew of offence But forsomuch as in this world corne shall alwaies be mixed with chaffe wéedes with wheate Mat. 3.12 Mat. 13 24 Mat. 13.47 Mat 10. Mat. 25. good fishe with bad Iudas with true Apostles foolishe Virgins with wise yet none of vs must be affended therefore And moreouer let euery man indeuour to finde that perfection in himselfe which he desireth to bring into an other Secondly we must not thinke that faith repentance giuing of thankes and loue and other vertues which GOD requireth of vs can be perfect here in this worlde for there will be alwaies in vs what regenerate and newe borne soeuer wée be some remnantes of sinne of incredulitie of lacke of repentance of vnthankfulnesse selfe loue which is directly contrary and opposite to the true loue of our neighbour As long as we liue the flesh will fight against the Spirit Rom. 7.23.8.6.7 Galat. 5.1 1. Pet. 5.8 the Diuel and the worlde will make warre against vs as the life of the Patriarches Prophettes and Apostles doe sufficiently witnesse vnto vs so that euen to the last breath of our life we shall haue néede to craue of our God that he would forgiue vs our sinnes through his sonne Iesus Christ Notwithstanding so farre it is that the imperfections which are in vs should cause vs to drawe backe from God and from this holy banquet that rather so that we are displeased with our selues for them they ought to cause vs to come the sooner to the intent that as poore famished creatures we might more gréedily with greater desire receiue Iesus Christ which is the true shepheard of our soules Thirdly although it be not required of the worthy comming to the Supper to haue a perfect faith perfect repentance perfect giuing of thanks perfect Loue yet must they be notwithstanding true and procéede from the heart and from the spirit Our faith must not be feigned our repentance must not bée counterfeit and painted as that of hipocrites the thanks which we giue to GOD must not come onely from the mouth neither must we loue our brethren in word onely and not in déede but let the whole profession of our faith and Christian life aboue all things bée farre from ostentation and hypocrisie so that we take more paines to be good Christians in déede and before God then to be so counted and taken before men Of those that refuse wilfully BVt as there are many which do amisse in presenting themselues vnworthily to the Communion so there are manie which doe amisse on the contrary side in that they wil by no meanes come nor present themselues to this holie banket for feare of communicating as they say vnwoorthily and so consequently to be culpable of the body and blood of Iesus Christ But let them that abstaine of set purpose from the Lordes holy table knowe that it is no lesse faulte vpon an vnthankfulnesse and contempte to abstaine from the holie and sacred meates which God presenteth to vs at the Supper then to receiue it vnworthily as we see that a Patient which being very sicke maketh no account of the receyte and dyet which the Phisitian hath prescribed is no lesse faultie then hee which abuseth or vseth it not competently as the Phisitian hath appointed Therefore let not this sorte of people flatter themselees as though by this meanes they could be excused doth before God men seeing that it is a most certaine truthe that so hainous an ingratitude is in no wise to be admitted or worthy excuse For first of all such men doe willingly contemne the commandement of Iesus Christ which saith to all his Do this take yee eate yee Secondlie they contemne the blessed remembraunce of the death and Passion of the Sonne of GOD who commaundeth all the faithfull to celebrate the Supper in remembraunce of him Thirdly they contemne the price of their redemption that is to say the precious body and blood of Iesus Christ which are giuen distributed to all faithfull Christians in the Supper according as it is saide This is my body
make the eares of them that heare it to tingle O sentence intollerable which depriueth sinners of all good things and bringeth them to all woe The Lord sometime accursed the Fig-trée and immediately not onely the leaues but also the body and rootes were wholy withered Euen so that feareful curse of the last day shal be no lesse effectual For on whomsoeuer it falleth it shal so scortch them and shal so make them destitute of Gods grace that they shal neuer more be able to doe to speake to thinke or to hope for any good thing 31 Then therefore the wicked being stricken with this thundering sentence will lift vp their mouthes towards heauen wil spue foorth their shamefull blasphemies against God the Iudge they will curse this day and the houre wherein they were borne and their Parents which begat them and the wombs which bare them the aier which gaue them breath and the Earth which hath borne them but they shal not be suffered any long time to speake these things against the Iudge 32 For suddenly the Spirite of the Lord shal ouerwhelm them and shal with great violence caste them downe headlong into the déepe Apoc. 18. as in Saint Iohns Reuelation appeareth in these wordes Then a mightie angell tooke vp a stone like a great Milstone and cast it into the Sea saying With such violence shall the Citie of Babilon bee cast Apoc. 20. and be found no more And againe Whosoeuer was not found written in the booke of life was cast into the Lake of fire And this déepe shal be shut vp with gates of brasse and with yron barres which cannot bee broken with any force nor cut in sunder by any arte and there they shal drinke of the cup of the Lords wrath and the smoke of their torments shal ascend worlde wtout end they shal not rest day nor night 33 On the contrarie part the iust being in the fruition of ful blessednesse and of euerlasting glorie shall haue in their mouthes the prayses of the Lorde and giuing of thankes and shal with singing and with mirth extol the name of their Lorde and God with whom they shal reigne without ende 34 But although wée heare of those things often yet neuerthelesse wée are not awaked from the sléepe of sinne before wee be ouerwhelmed with the night of death and of darkenes Why doe we which haue this time now looke for another time which peraduenture wée shal neuer haue Now is the accepted time now is the day of saluation There is nothing more profitable for a man then to knowe his time and therefore in our worldly businesse wée obserue times and seasons as a conuenient time to eare a fitte time to sowe to plant and such like Yea the brute beast by the instinct of nature can make choyce of his time for benefite The Swallowe when winter approacheth prepareth himselfe to take his flight into a warmer Countrey The Bée and the Ant in the time of summer prepare their foode against winter And the Prophet Ieremie saith that the Storke knoweth his appointed time If brute beastes deuoide of reason haue this foresight to make choise of time for their good and if man him selfe in a worldly regarde can make choyse of a fitte and due time to gette earthly and transitorie things how much more prouident ought hee to bee for heauenly things that to attaine these hée lose not his fittest time to attaine saluation 35 The olde worlde that liued in the dayes of Noah knewe not their time that was the cause they then perished with the flood The Cities of Sodome and Gomer knew not their time that brought fire and brimstone from heauen vpon their heads to their destruction The foolish Virgins knewe not their time therefore when their Lorde came they being altogether vnready were shut out of the Lords ioy Let vs then knowe the season how it is time now that wee should awake out of sleepe Rom. 13.36 1. Thes 5. Let vs watch and be sober for they that sleepe sleepe in the night and they that are drunken are drunken in the night But let vs which are of the day be sober least the darkenesse come vpon vs wherein we can neither walke nor worke Let vs alwayes haue before our eyes that day and time wherein we shall appeare before God and his Angels and before the whole worlde to answere our cause and either to receiue a Crown of glory or else perpetual shame and confusion Let vs know that we haue here a very short time limitted vnto vs. wherein wée must so endeuour our selues that for short and transitory things we lose not that which is eternall If wee haue this consideration of that great day of the Lorde wée shal not only be the more secure in death but also be the better prepared to méet with our Lord and Sauiour when he shal come to iudgement CHAP. IIII. Concerning Hell and the torments thereof THere is nothing that the Diuell laboureth more then to perswade men that there is no hel that so the more easily hée may leade them thether as it were blindfolde by the way of sinnes while they haue no feare of any punishment euen as shéeues are wont to bee ledde with a vaile before their faces when they are going to the gallowes as Ezechias was serued whose eyes Nabuchadnezer commanded to be put out whē he was caried away captiue into Babilō 2 But it may bée shewed by many reasons and authorities that there is a hel For as a Princely magnificence requireth that a King haue a beautiful Pallace for to entertaine the best sort of men and a prison for the worst Euen so the king of kings and Lord of all glorie and principalities hath a Pallace wherein there are many mansions as our Sauiour Christ in the Gospel testifieth which is the kingdom of heauen and he hath also a darke prison or dungeon which is hel 3 The lawe of nations requireth that malefactors for their offences be driuen into exile for euer euen so God doth banish from his presence Luke 16. the impenitent sinners into hel For so it is said of Diues that he dyed was carried into hel Esay 5 And the prophet saith Hel hath inlarged it self hath opened his mouth with out measure and their glorie and their multitude and their pompe and he that reioyceth among them shall discend into it Also S. Iohn saith that the feareful and vnbeleeuing and murderers Apoc. 21. the whormongers sorcerers and Idolaters and all lyers shall haue their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death And Christ Iesus saith Feare him which hath power to cast body and soule into hell 4 But forsomuch as God hath not made Death nor the kingdom of Hell vpon earth Wisd 1. We must vnderstand that the principal procurer of this Hell is Sathan the Prince of darkenesse who béeing in
nature that there is nothing that we can more hardly digest then the forgiuing of iniuries For the which cause let vs vnderstand and knowe that by how much this forgiuenesse which God requireth is hard vnto vs by so much it is a greater argument vnto men that they are the sonnes of God which doe easily forgiue and forget iniuries and with their heart loue their enemies For herein they do shew foorth a certaine likenes vnto God their Father who loued vs as the Apostle saith when we were his enemies and reconciled vnto himselfe being redeemed by the death of his onely Sonne from eternall damnation Pray saith our Sauiour Christ for them that persecute you Mat 5. and say all maner of euill sayings against you that ye may be the children of your Father in heauen who suffereth his sunne to shine vpon the iust and vpon the vniust 18 The example also of our Sauiour Christ maketh this matter yet more manifest the which we ought alwaies to haue before our eyes For he hauing not so much as any suspition of sinne yet being buffeted spit vpon whipped blasphemed crowned with thornes nayled to the Crosse prayed thus for his enemies Luke 23. Father forgiue them for they wote not what they doe 19 There are many other most waightie reasons which the Fathers haue vsed to suppresse their frowardnesse which are most obstinate and wilfully bent to reuenge One is to giue him to vnderstande that hath the iniurie done vnto him that the same is not the principall cause of the iniurie which he desireth to reuenge For all those things whatsoeuer which we suffer in this life doe come from the Lord who is the author and fountaine of all righteousnes and mercie For God doth correct and chastice vs as his sonnes wherein he vseth his creatures as his ministers which can hurt vs in nothing but in those things which befall outwardly But euery man may most wickedly hurt himselfe and defile his owne mind with hatred enuy These things that most rare man Iob vnderstood who being vexed of the Sebeans Caldeans and the diuel himselfe vsed these words The Lord gaue Iob. 1.21 Gen 45. 2. Sam. 19 and the Lord hath taken Thus Ioseph forgaue the iniuries which his brethren did vnto him Thus Dauid bare patiently the iniuries which Shemei did vnto him It is great magnanimitie in a man when he hath receiued a wound not to feele or regard the harme 20 A second reason is that they which do not forgiue shall not be forgiuen of the Lord. For 1. Iohn 3. Eccle. 28. he that hateth his brother as S. Iohn saith abideth in death And Sirach saith Hee that seeketh vengeance shall find vengeance of the Lord. 21 The third reason comprehendeth those incommodities into the which we then fall when we will not forgiue the iniuries that are done vnto vs. For it is most certaine that hatred is not onely a grieuous sin in it selfe but also by continuance it striketh more fast into our mindes is made greater In so much that the man which fostereth hatred in minde and desireth reuenge with hope to preuaile against his enemie at the last is so continually troubled day and night that hée neuer can put that wicked cogitation out of his minde whereby oft times it commeth to passe that the malicious man will sooner goe downe into hell then be brought to forgiue and with his whole heart to remit the iniurie Wherefore hatred is rightly compared to a wound wherein the head of the dart or arrow remaineth fast still 22 There are many other inconueniences and sinnes which are fast linked to this sinne of hatred Therefore Saint Iohn saith He which hateth his brother is in darkenesse and walketh in darknesse and knoweth not whither he goeth because the darknesse hath blinded his eyes Therefore of necessitie he cannot but stumble and fall For how is it possible that a man should allowe or like eyther of his words or déeds whom he hateth Héereof therefore come rash iudgementes wrath enuie slaunderings reprochfull raylings and many such like euery one of the which bring men in danger of hel-fire wherof he is guiltie as appeareth by the testimonie of Christ which saith but so much as Thou foole Math. 5. What then doth continuall hatred and back-biting raylers and slaunderers deserue 23 Let vs therefore follow the counsell and admonition of Iesus Christ as wée tender the remission of our sinnes Forgiue and ye shall be forgiuen For as Tertullian saith most comfortably Si apud Deum deposueris iniuriam ipse vltâ—r est Si damnum restitutor est Si doloreÌ„ medicus est Si morteÌ„ resuscitator est That is to say If thou lay downe the iniurie that is done vnto thee before Gods tribunall seate he is thy reuenger If thy losse he is thy restorer If thy griefe he is thy Physition If thy death he is thy resurrection and thy life Now therefore as Gods elect put on the bowels of mercy kindnesse humblenesse of minde méeknesse long suffering Coloss 3. forbearing one another and forgiuing one another if any haue a quarrell to another as Christ forgaue euen so doe yée So shalt thou peaceably procéede in thy pilgrimage CHAP. VIII Concerning Blessednesse and Felicitie IT is written in the ninetie one Psalme There shal no euill happen vnto thee neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling These wordes of the Prophet Dauid may beare a two folde interpretation First that they which are héere in this life vnder the protection of the Almightie are frée from all euil Secondly they containe a propheticall promise concerning the life to come And wheÌ„ we be in that heauenly Tabernacle of the which it is said in another place Psal 84. O Lord of Hostes how amiable are thy tabernacles My soule longeth yea and fainteth for the Courtes of the Lord. And the Lord in the Gospel saith Lu. 9.16 I say vnto you make you friendes of the vnrighteous Mammon that when yee want they may receiue you into their euerlasting habitations And the Authour of the Epistle to the Hebrewes saith Heb. 9. Christ beeing a High Priest of good things to come by a greater and a more perfect Tabernacle not made with handes that is not of this building neither by the blood of Goates and calues but by his owne blood entred hee in once into the Holy place and obtained eternall redemption for vs. Also Saint Iohn in his Apocalips Beholde Apoc. 21. the Tabernacle of God is with men and he wil dwell with them and they shall bee his people and God himselfe shall bee their God with them And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and there shall bee no more death neither sorrowe neither crying neither shall there bee any more paine for the first things are passed When I say wée bee in this heauenly Tabernacle then shal no euill happen vnto vs neither shal any plague
Lord 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 damnatiō because he discerneth not the Lords body c. Here the Apostle sheweth vs the danger of the vnworthy receiuing the Lordes body and blood and also the meanes how we may bée worthy receiuers of the same namely by examining our selues which examinatiō consisteth chiefly in foure pointes That is to say in Faith Kepentance Giuing of thanks to God and loue towards our neighbours First we must haue Faith that is to say a certaine and infallible assurance and firme perswasion that God is a mercifull Father vnto vs in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord whom he deliuered to death for vs. Yea euery sinner must apply Christ his merites particularly vnto himselfe This Faith commeth not of vs neither is it grounded vpon vs or vpon any thing that is in vs but it commeth from God and is grounded vpon God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost and vpon the promises of the Gospell confirmed inwardly within vs by the working of the holy Ghost which cryeth in our hearts Abba Rom. 8 15 Gal. 4.6 that is to say Father Furthermore this faith is nourished confirmed and increased in vs by the holy Sacraments For in the Supper God as a good father after that he had once brought vs into his Church by Baptisme nourisheth vs spiritually with the proper substance of his Sonne Iesus Christ applying and making proper vnto euery one of vs the merit of his death and passion To this ende and purpose is it that Iesus Christ himselfe giueth vs the Bread and Wine that he commandeth vs Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.21 Luke 22.19 1. Cor 11.14 to eate and drinke it that he saith that the Bread is his body which is giuen for vs and that the Wine is his blood which is shed for the remission of our sinnes by which words he giueth himselfe wholly vnto vs he will be out nourishment and spirituall life he wil dwell in vs by his holy Spirit and will that we abide in him by faith that through beliefe we may not perish but haue eternall life Iohn 3 36.18 Psal 8.7 Mat. 11. Heb. 1.2 Iohn 17.12.27 and 28. whereof he is the onely heyre and giuer In like sort the breaking of the Bread of the Supper serueth to the confirmation of our Faith and sure warranting of our saluation insomuch as it assureth vs and causeth vs to see with spirituall eyes that Iesus Christ was once broken with the paines of death in Hierusalem to deliuer vs from the same and to get vs eternall life Also in that that by the Commandement of Christ Iesus we take the Bread in our hands and then the Cup moreouer in that that we eate the Bread and drinke the Wine which turne into the nourishment of our bodies we are certified that by the hands of Faith we take and imbrace Iesus Christ our Lorde for our onely Sauiour and Redéemer and that by the same Faith we eate his body spiritually and drinke his blood to the hope of eternall life Nowe euery one of vs must liue by his owne faith according as wée may make our Confession in the Beliefe which is called the Apostles in that euery man saith by himselfe I beleeue in God and saith not Wée beléeue We must not here cast our braines or thinke vpon the beléeuing or vnbeléeuing vpon the worthynesse or vnworthynesse of an other man but vpon our owne For S. Paul doth not teach vs to examine other men or that other men should examine vs but he saith namely Let a man examine himselfe Therefore let euery one of vs for his owne part be assured in his heart that Iesus Christ the true Messias is come into the world to saue sinners amongst whom hée ought to account estéeme himselfe by the example of S. Paul the chiefest Let him beleeue that Iesus Christ came downe from Heauen into earth to lift him vp from earth to heauen that he was made the Sonne of man to make him the child of God that hée was conceyued by the holy Ghost and that he was borne of the Virgin Marie to purifie and cleanse his wicked conception and birth .. Let him perswade himselfe that the Sonne of God hath ourcome the Diuel to deliuer him from the tyranny and slauish subiection of the Diuell that he hath fulfilled all the Lawe louing God his Father with all his heart strength and might and his neighbour as himselfe to get him iustice that hée appeared before Pilate an earthly Iudge and receiued as an euill doer sentence of condemnation for this life to exempt him frō appearing before the terrible iudgement seate of Gods iustice to receiue sentence of death and euerlasting damnation for that he had offended one eternal and euerlasting God Let him assure himselfe Psal 22.1 that the same Iesus Christ went downe to Hell for him that is to say that hée suffered the sorrowes and terrours of the second death and of the sincere wrath of God to deliuer him that hée died a death accursed of God in that hée was hanged on the Crosse to purchase him life and blessing before God that hée rose againe for a gage and assurance of his resurrection that he ascended into Heauen for a certaine token that hée also shall ascend thither that hée sitteth on the right hand of God his Father to be for him an euerlasting Priest Teacher King defender reconciler and aduocate to be short that he shall come at his last comming for his comfort and full redemption We must also euery one of vs for his owne part make proper vnto our selues yea and make ours all the goodnesse and all the riches that is in Iesus Christ because that in giuing himselfe to vs he giueth vs also his benefits So then in that that Iesus Christ is God it is to make vs partakers of his Diuinitie in that that he is heyre and Lord of the world it is to make vs partakers of his Lordship and inheritance and that we recouer in him the gouernment of all things which we lost in Adam in that that he is well beloued of his Father it is that we may be acceptable vnto him in that that he is rich it is to make vs partakers of his riches in that that he hath all power against the Diuel Sinne Hell Antichrist the Worlde and all our enemies it is to defend and shield vs in that that he is iust and good it is to iustifie vs and make vs good in that that he is happy and immortall it is to make vs partakers of his blessednesse and immortalitie When we shall thus particularly apply all the actions and benefites of Iesus Christ our Lord and also all his essentiall qualities vnto our selues putting our whole trust in him and in his promises and distrusting
their own saluation and the saluation of their brethren but rather to make themselues greater in their goods and honours and to satisfie their owne affections And therefore it commeth to passe that as soone as the diuell lifteth vp his hornes against the Church of God and persecutions be at hand they melt away by and by in afflictions as doth waxe before the fire they are offended and parched with the Sunne of the crosse they are sorie for the good they haue done they repent themselues that they were so hasty to confesse the name of our Lord Iesus Christ in the assembly of the faithful they wish they had neuer known GOD nor his word nor his Church nor his Ministers because they make greater account as Esau did of one messe of pottage q Ge. 25.38 than of the birth-right and blessing of the heauenly father But let such manner of persons knowe that it shall no more profit them that they made a faire beginning and iolly holding vp of their buckler then it did Cain Esau Saule Iudas For séeing that sentence is generall that whosoeuer continueth vnto the end he shall be saued it followeth by the contrary that all they which doe not continue constantly in the confession of the sonne of God are hindered by their goods and honours loue of the world ease of their flesh to set forth and declare with a continuall traine the benefit of our redemption it followeth I say that such persons shal goe to ruine and euerlasting destruction Last of all this acknowledging must not onely be priuate but publike in the face and presence of the whole Church and therefore as Dauid saith r Psa 116 12.13.14 What shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefites towardes me I wil take the cuppe of saluation and cal vpon the name of the Lord. I wil pay my vowes vnto the Lord euen now in the presence of all his people ſ Psal 40.9.10 And againe I haue declared thy righteousnesse in the great congregation Loe I haue not refrained my lips O Lord thou knowest I haue not hid thy righteousnesse within my heart but I haue declared thy truth and thy saluation I haue not concealed thy mercy thy truth from the great congregation So then this ought to be wel printed in the heart of the weake those that are ashamed to confesse and praise openly our Lord Iesus Christ For séeing that God doeth auouch vs openly for his people and giueth himselfe fréely vnto vs and to our children in the person of his welbeloued Sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ wee can doe no lesse then auouche him publikely for our God and Sauiour in the person of that same his welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. 4. Of Loue. FAith Repentance and Acknowledging of GODS benefits cannot haue place in vs and in vaine are we called Christians or that we bragge of our selues for the practise of the Commandements of the first Table which concerne the seruice of God before mentioned vnlesse we shew the effects by the kéeping of the Cōmandements of the second Table which concerne the loue of our neighbor without which wée cānot worthily present our selues to the holy Table of Iesus Christ our Lord. And therefore it is that Iesus Christ himselfe in the Sermon of the Supper which he made to his Apostles the same night that he was betrayed and deliueuered to death for vs did diligently beat this point into their heads saying By this shall all men knowe that yee are my Disciples a Iohn 13 35. if yee haue loue one to another b Iho. 15.12.13.14 And againe This is my commandement that yee loue one another as I haue loued you Greater loue than this hath no man when any man bestoweth his life for his friendes Yee are my friendes if yee doe whatsoeuer I commaunde you To this same ende tendeth also that that the same night IESVS CHRIST washed the féete of the Apostles c Ihon. 13.12.13.14 15. after which washing hée said vnto them Knowe yee what I haue done to you yee call mee Maister and Lorde and yee say well for so I am If I then your Lorde and Maister haue washed your feete yee also ought to wash one anothers feete For I haue giuen you an example that yee should doe euen as I haue done to you Wee must therefore according to the commaundement and example of the Sonne of GOD be furnished with true and hote loue that we may worthily present our selues to the Lordes Table If wée will haue a true description of this loue wée must take it of Saint Paule which painteth it out in liuely colours writing to the Corinthians in this sorte d 1. Co 13 4. Loue saith hée suffreth long and is bountifull Loue enuyeth not loue doeth not boast it selfe it is not puffed vp it disdaineth not it seeketh not her owne things it is not prouoked to Anger it thinketh not euill it reioyceth not in iniquitie but reioyceth in the trueth It suffereth all things it beleeueth all things it hopeth all things it endureth all things Sée what manner of loue ours ought to bee euerie one of vs must endeuour that all the partes of this description may rightly agree vnto vs. Wée are many wayes and in sundrie sortes exhorted to this loue and brotherly concorde in the holy Supper of our Lorde Iesus Christ First in that that wée must waite one for another e 1. Cor. 1.35 and that it is not lawful for euery one of vs to celebrate the Supper particularlie and aparte but when the whole congregation is assembled together all the faithfull together must take eate and drinke the Bread and Wine of the Supper according to the commandement of Iesus Christ f Mat. 26.26 Mark 14.21 Luk. 22.19 1. Cor. 11 14. Take yee eat yee and drinke yee all of thit It is a true figure anst testimonie of the vanitie that ought to bee among vs. Moreouer in that that wée béeing all gathered togeather in one house of God which is his Church wée do there all call vpon one selfe same father which is in Heauen wée haue all one selfe same heade Aduocate and intercessour g Mat. 12. Iohn 11.17 1. Tim. 2. 1. Iohn 2. which is Iesus Christ We are all quickened with his holy Spirit which dwelleth in vs in that that we all haue one selfe same Word of God in that that we all eate of one selfe same Spiritual meate and drinke all of the selfesame spirituall drinke in that also that we all pretend as brethren to one selfesame inheritance which is the kingdome of heauen ought not this to enflame vs with true and hote loue Finally the making of the bread and Wine of the Supper doth teach vs also what vnitie and concord we ought to haue one with another for as we sée that the bread is made of many cornes and yet notwithstanding afterwardes is but one selfe same lumpe of bread as wée