Belzebub himselfe Principalities and Powers and if there be any stronger and mightier and greater than the rest Christ hath subdued them all And how hath hee subdued them He hath spoiled them saith the Text he hath subdued them even as a man should take away all that a man hath so Christ he hath spoyled these Principalities and Powers he hath taken away their weapons their forces and power from them yea and their hearts too in some sort they know they shall never overcome Gods children He hath spoiled Principalities and Powers and made shew of them openly It is speech that is drawn from a Conqueror and hath beene in warre and gotten the victory and comming into the Citie hee brings thofe that hee hath taken captives with him and he rides in great jollity up and downe as who should say these are my captives that I have overcome so hath Christ spoiled Principalities and Powers and made shew of them openly and triumphed over them saith the Text he hath gotten himselfe agreat victory Christ did not onely overcome them but hee triumphed over them that is to say he trode them under foot as a base thing never able to rise up againe But where how and when and by what meanes was all this done Why upon the Crosse saith the Text So then Christ shewed himselfe to be a Lord in his death upon the crosse Consider the state of the businesse as then it was consider Satan and all the powers of darknesse they were then in the greatest hope that could bee as they thought when they had once gotten Christ upon the cross the greatest possibility that ever they had against him On the other side Christ was in the most unlikeliest condition to overcome and to deliver us and most likeliest to have beene overcome and to be made a prey unto them Consider againe in the next place the Devill and his instruments were in the height of their malicious pride and power as Christ saith Now is the very houre and power of darknesse and Christ on the otherside he was in the deepest of his insirmitie forsaken of God in his apprehension forsaken of all the world made a prey to his enemies no way to acquit himselfe or to raise up himselfe his soule being heavie euen to the death consider these things I say they being in this faire hope and upon the top of their pride and Christ in the deepest of his misery now that Christ should free himselfe from them all so that not a bone of him was broken nor a haire off his head did perish and not onely so that he should so acquit himselfe from the Devill but should acquit all Gods children and that this hee should doe to the utter breaking of the power of Satan for all those that have true right and interest into the death of Christ oh what a glorious Lord did Christ shew himselfe to bee when hee was upon the Crosse there he did breake the Serpents head Iudges 16.12 13. when the Philistimes had gotten Samson and had him in their power that they could doe with him what they list and had plucked out his eyes and insulted over him in that miserable desolation now were the Princes of the Philistims in their greatest jollity the servant of God at least for that businesse he was the servant of God what doth he in this case He said unto the servant that led him by the hand Lead mee that I may touch the pillars that the house standeth upon and that I may leane to them and after his prayer he bowed himselfe with all his might saith the Text and the house fell upon them all and so they were slaine and he killed more at his death than in all his life So Christ hee was in the hands of Satan and his instruments and they had him upon the crosse they mocked and scoffed at him and did unto him as they would but then he bowed himselfe upon the Crosse and yeelded up the ghost and brought destruction upon them all and those that he slew at the houre of his death were infinitly more than those whom he overthrew all his life time Reason 3 The third Reason is in respect of death it selfe death we know is the commander of every creature that it hath any power over no creature could ever overcome it Christ overcame death by death therfore he was the Lord no creature that is subject to death can rid himselfe from death but Christ hee by death overcame death and therefore he is the Lord of death Act. 2.24 marke what the Text saith He loosed the sorrowes of death because it was unpossible that he should be holden of death There is no creature in the world that is subject to death that can possibly bee rid of death but Christ being subject to death cannot be held of death and therefore he was Lord even in his death Heb. 2.14 Christ through death hath overcome him that had the power of death that is the Devill Hosea 13.14 O death I will bee thy death 1 Cor. 15.54 Oh death where is thy sting Mark the triumphing of Christ upon the crosse by his death that he suffered upon the crosse hee overcame Death none can overcome Death but the Lord of Life Death and Deaths sting that is sin Death and Deaths master that is the Devill Christ hath overcome them all together upon the crosse and triumphed over them through the power of his humiliation Reason 4 The fourth Reason as it was so that Christ was the Lord and Christ shewed himselfe to be the Lord in his death upon the crosse so we will adde one reason to prove the necessity of it that it must be so namely because of his office he must be the head of the Church hee must be our Mediator and Redeemer and that in his very death therefore he must be the Lord. It is true that there be some things that he was to performe as he was man and belonged to him as he was a Redeemer but yet there were some things belonging to him as Redeemer that could not be performed but as he was the Lord of heaven and earth it was part of our Saviours office as hee was Mediator to reveale the will of the Lord unto us who knowes the will of the Lord but the Lord himselfe It was part of our Saviours office to forgive sinnes who can forgive sinnes but God alone It is a part of his office to redeeme us and deliver us out of the power of damnation except he had beene the Lord he could not have done it who can redeeme us but the Lord to deliver himselfe out of that great extremity that he was in was more than the worke of a man but if hee could have rid himselfe as being a man of extraordinary grace and strength to passe thorough such pikes as never any other man could yet he could not have beene our Redeemer by delivering himselfe to deliver us without he
that Christ must suffer and rise againe there it is said that he must doe thus and thus That repentance and remission of sinnes might be preached in his Name giuing vs to vnderstand that repentance and remission of sinnes they are not purchased by Christ nor haue no power from Christ nor are not to be preached in his Name but onely so as they come from Christ suffering and being punished for vs Christ must first suffer that repentance and remission of sinnes might be preached in his Name 1 Pet. 3.18 Christ must suffer and dye for sinne that he might bring vs to God So it appeares in the last part of the Verse that he suffered and was put to death faith the Text And what was it for Why it was for sinne For the taking away of sinnes and the bringing of vs to God that is to say the making good of this new Couenant that is to say That God would be our God and we his People that he would forgiue vs our sinnes and remember our iniquities no more these haue their power vertue and efficacie from Christ as he being punished for vs. Hebr. 13.12 Our Sanctification there is ascribed to the suffering of Christ that is to say to the death of Christ For Christ that he might sanctifie the People with his owne Blood hath suffered or dyed without the Gate Secondly Christ in his Offering or Christ sacrificed for vs Ephes 5.2 Christ hath loued vs and gaue himselfe for vs to be an Offering and a Sacrifice of a sweet-smelling sauour to God He is a sweet-smelling sauour to God generally in respect of his sacred Person and he is a sweet sauour in respect of his blessed Nature and in respect of his holy life but more especially in respect of his pretious death wherein he gaue himselfe as a sweet-smelling sauour to God Hebr. 9.28 Christ was once offered to take away sinnes insinuating vnto vs that Christ was powerfull for the taking away of sins How as he was Christ offered or as he was Christ sacrificed Hebr. 10.10 So likewise our Sanctification is by the offering of Christ Christ by that one offering of his hath sanctified vs. So likewise in the twelfth Verse there is our Iustification and in the fourteenth Verse there is our Consecration by one Offering and in the fifteenth and sixteenth Verses there is the New Testament confirmed by name by the verie offering of Christ So the Apostle implyes the reason by the offering of Christ Thirdly Christ in his Obedience or Christ humbled for vs In Hebr. 10. from the sixth Verse to the ninth there you shall find that the worke of the New Testament and of our Redemption is ascribed to Christ his doing of the will of God He tooke away the first and established the second he put away the Sacrifices of the Law of burnt Offerings and established the New Testament that is by doing the will of God by his obedience and humiliation Rom. 5.19 For as by one Mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many also be made righteous It is the obedience of Christ that iustifies vs and makes good vnto vs the Couenant of Grace And that we may know that it was not all the obedience of his life which was most holy that could serue the turne the Apostle telles vs Phil. 2.8 9. That he became obedient euen to the Death of the Crosse The lowest degree of his Humiliation was the highest degree of his Obedience and thereby he became a perfect Mediator Fourthly Christ on the Crosse or Christ crucified for vs And this intends more then the rest This intends not onely a bare dying of Christ but a violent a shamefull and a cursed Death Coloss 1.20 Christ hath made our peace by the Blood of his Crosse that is to say by the suffering that he did endure specially vpon the Crosse Likewise in Coloss 2.14 15. He fastned our sinnes vpon the Crosse and there tryumphed ouer the Powers of Darkenesse which is the verie matter of our Redemption And in Iohn 12.31 Now saith Christ is the Prince of the World cast out What speakes he there of his Crosse And if I be lift vp then will I draw others after me Now are the Faithfull to be drawne vnto Christ after that he had dyed vpon the Crosse It was Christ vpon the Crosse that vanquished the Diuell Death and Hell and drew the Faithfull to him And in Iohn 19.30 Now it is finished saith Christ when he was vpon the Crosse the last breath that Christ fetched When all his humiliation was finished then the worke of our Redemption was fully accomplished Hence it is that the ioy of the Faithfull is not so much in knowing Christ as in knowing Christ crucified 2 Cor. 5.16 I know no Man saith the Apostle after the Flesh no not Christ himselfe What not Christ himselfe No not after the Flesh not as a Man not as a holy Man not as a Iew not as one of my owne Blood but Christ crucified I esteeme to know nothing saith the Apostle but Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 And indeed this is the verie substance of the Gospell Christ crucified 1 Cor. 1.23 We preach vnto you saith the Apostle not simply Christ but Christ crucified and therefore in the eighteenth Verse it is called The preaching of the Crosse and suffering of Christ All this shewes that Christ in his Crosse and Christ crucified he is the Person by whom the New Testament and the worke of our Redemption is established Then fifthly The Death of Christ or Christ dying for vs Rom. 5.10 We are reconciled to God by the death of Christ There you see our reconciliation is ascribed to the death of Christ So also our Sanctification is ascribed to the death of Christ in Coloss 2.22 likewise in Hebr. 3.14 15. there it is said That Christ hath vanquished the Diuell by Death and hath deliuered vs from Death and the bondage that we were in All this was by the death of Christ by Christ his dying for vs. So in Hebr. 9.15 it is said that Christ is the Mediator of the New Testament thorough Death Then the sixth and the last point is the Blood of Christ or Christ killed and slaine for vs. True Christ layd down himselfe willingly in obedience to God for vs vpon the Crosse and in loue to vs his People He gaue himselfe for vs and he shed his owne Blood for vs Yet in regard of the Act and the Instrument he was no better then slaine killed and murdered and his Blood and Life was taken from him verie wrongfully But yet notwithstanding howsoeuer it be his willingnesse on the one side and the Iewes crueltie on the other side yet so it was that his Blood was shed and the shedding of his Blood is that whereupon the New Testament and the worke of our Redemption is stablished Rom. 5.9 We are iustified by the Blood of Christ there our Iustification
is ascribed to the Blood of Christ so our Redemption is ascribed to the Blood of Christ Ephes 1.7 Reuel 5.9 and in the 1 Pet. 1.19 all runs vpon the Blood of Christ Reuel 1.5 We are washed from our sinnes in his Blood 1 Iohn 1.7 The Blood of Christ cleanseth vs from all our sinnes The fetching of vs within the Couenant of Grace is by the Blood of Christ Ephes 2.13 and so indeed is the whole worke of our Redemption ascribed to the Blood of Christ You see then how rich and plentifull the Scripture is in this Argument all tending wholly to this effect to teach vs that the verie matter whereupon the New Testament and the worke of our Redemption is founded and stablished is the Blood of the Lord Iesus I am bold to insist so long vpon the proofe of this point because the Scripture is so plentifull in it Wee will come now to the Reasons Reas 1 The first Reason may be drawn from the nature of a Couenant amongst Men Wherein stands it Not in the making and writing of it but in the sealing of it Here is a Couenant made betweene God and Man that he will forgiue vs our sinnes and that he will sanctifie vs and it is sealed by the Blood of Christ and therefore it is called the Blood of the New Testament It is true indeed that all the Couenants and Promises of God are firme and sure in themselues because God hath made them and they need no Seale yet because God hauing made this Couenant respectiuely that he would haue it sealed and confirmed by the Blood of Christ Iesus Therefore looke whatsoeuer force and benefit it is of to vs it is by vertue of the Blood of Christ And hence it is that whosoeuer can shew this Seale for themselues that they haue part in this Blood of Christ they may challenge that they haue their part in the Couenant and whosoeuer cannot they haue no part in it Reas 2 The second Reason is drawne from the nature of a Testament which must alwayes be confirmed by the death of the Testator and is not of force before the partie be dead the Apostle applyes it so in Hebr. 9.16 17. Reas 3 The third Reason is drawne from the nature of a Sacrifice a burnt Offering a propitiatorie Sacrifice a Sacrifice for sinne No Sacrifice that was to be offered for sinne but it was to be killed and offered in Blood Leuit. 1.7 and therefore Christ comming to be a Sacrifice for the sinnes of the World he must be killed and slaine Reas 4 The fourth Reason it holds by way of proportion betweene the New Testament and the Old The Old Testament was confirmed by Blood and so must the New In the Old Testament the Pascall Lambe must be slaine and killed and so in the New Testament Christ must be killed and slaine Likewise the Sacrifice of the Law must be killed slaine and Blood shed so the Sacrifice of the New Testament Christ must be slaine and shed his Blood Reas 5 The fifth Reason is drawne from the rigour of the Law which did necessarily require it and could not be dispenced withall but whosoeuer sinnes must dye the death and therefore Christ being our Redeemer he must endure that death which we must haue suffered else the Law could neuer haue beene satisfied Reas 6 Againe it stands with the Iustice of God which must haue an absolute and perfect satisfaction It cannot be satisfied with any thing in the World but with the Blood of the Sonne of God Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore vnto your selues and to all the Flocke ouer the which the Holy Ghost hath made you Quer-seers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his owne Blood Marke now this stands with the Iustice of God God was offended and he must receiue full satisfaction therefore when Christ came to satisfie he could not satisfie but onely by his Blood Nay I say more Christ could not haue satisfied but that it was by the Blood of the Sonne of God that the infinitenesse of the Person satisfying might be answerable to the infinitenesse of the Person offended and that is the chiefe reason of the Doctrine Reas 7 Then another Reason is the haynousnesse of sinne The reward of sinne is death and where is no shedding of Blood there is no remission and therefore whosoeuer comes as a Mediator of the New Testament to procure for vs the remission of our sinnes his Blood must be shed else our sinnes still remaine vnpardoned And so much for the Reasons The Vses Vse 1 First It teacheth vs what it is that the Eye of our Faith should principally respect and looke vpon Christ and the hand of our Faith principally lay hold on when we doe imbrace Christ namely the Blood of Christ the Crosse of Christ the Obedience and Suffering of Christ c. in a word Christ crucified that is the subiect that our Faith must take hold vpon Christ crucified is the obiect of our knowledge 1 Cor. 2.2 I desire to know nothing but Christ and him crucified And the same is the matter of our reioycing Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should reioyce but in the Crosse of Christ The Blood of Christ is the ground and verie foundation of our Faith Rom. 3.25 Through Faith in his Blood c. What is it that the Faith of a beleeuing Man doth most properly embrace but the Blood of Christ The Iewes reuile vs because we beleeue in a crucified God and the Gentiles they deride and mocke vs because we trust to be saued in him that could not saue himselfe but sufrered such a cruell death Well howsoeuer it be saith the Apostle that he is to the Iewes a stumbling blocke and to the Grecians foolishnesse yet vnto vs he is the power of God and the wisedome of God He is the verie power of God without which God cannot ordinarily saue a Man And the verie wisedome of God without which God will not ordinarily saue a Man It is a world of heauenly comforts that a spirituall minded Man may gather vnto himselfe in the meditation and the beholding of the death of Christ when we thinke of Christ crucified and of Christ shedding his Blood there you may see First our sinnes punished to the full Secondly there we may see our sinnes pardoned to the full Thirdly there we may see our sinnes crucified and mortified and subdued by his Blood and by the power of the death of Christ soundly applyed to our Soules and Considences our sinnes begin to dye and to be mortified and to be crucified in vs. Fourthly in Christ crucified we may behold the Flesh crucified Gal. 5.24 we may see our wicked humors to be mortified and to be beaten downe and crucified within vs. Againe when as we thinke vpon Christ crucified why there we doe find indeed the verie crucifying of our selues to the World and the World to vs Gal. 6.14 Before we were caried after the things
doubt and therefore because we should not be thus perplexed and in despaire he giues vs his Spirit to witnesse to our Spirits that he hath in the Blood of Christ smelt a sweet Sauour of rest that our sinnes are pardoned and we reconciled Againe we may know it by peace of Conscience Rom. 5.1 Being instified by Faith we haue peace towards God He giues vs peace of Conscience when he forgiues vs our sinnes all is then pacified our Consciences which before were like the Surges of the Sea tumultuous and raging are then layd into a sweet calme I doe not say that this shall be alwayes so but we shall know it some times or other and find it to be as the pledge of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and howsoeuer by reason of our sinne and weakenesse that may faile for a time in our sence yet the truth of God stands sure for euer Againe we may know it by the dying of sinne in vs for it is effectuall to kill sinne as the shedding of Christs Blood was the death of himselfe so his Blood is the death of our sinne This is one sure token that our sinnes are pardoned when we find this bond of sinne loosed and that we are set at libertie Vse 2 The second Vse teacheth vs the excellencie of the state of Gods Children that the Faithfull are aduanced to they are freed and haue remission of all their sinnes A Man that liues and lyes in his sinne vnpardoned is in a wofull case his sinne is bound that is he stands obliged therein to abide the danger and penaltie of eternall death and condemnation but when he is once forgiuen his sinne is loosed that is he is loosed from his sinne before he was hampered in the Snares of Sathan in continuall subiection to the terrors of Gods wrath fast held in the Fetters of an accusing Consocience linked in the Chaines of eternall death and condemnation But when God releaseth him he deliuers him from all these he quits him of this bond and breakes it in peeces and sets him free from all danger and not onely so but he bestowes a contrarie state of happinesse vpon him as he deliuers him from the power of Sinne and Sathan so he translates him into the glorious libertie of the Sonnes of God as it is said Thus shall it be done to the Man whom the King will honour So shall it be said of him whom the King of kings shall honour whose sinnes are pardoned in the Blood of Christ Vse 3 Thirdly This serues to reproue the Doctrine of Merit which generally is taught in the Popish Church howsoeuer many of them in priuate conference will not confesse it yet in their life and practise they shew as much There is a perfect contradiction betwixt Mans Merit and forgiuenesse of sinnes Mans Merit is a matter of Iustice Remission of sinnes is a matter of Mercie Mans Merit is a matter of Debt Remission of sinnes is a matter of Grace Mans Merit challengeth Saluation of dutie Remission of sinnes puts it wholly vpon Gods bountie all our Merit is Gods Mercie We thorough Grace are interested into the Merits of Christ without which no manner of Merrit doth concerne Mankind no not the name of it I am perswaded that the Children of God can neuer heare mention of Mans Merit but presently they thinke of eternall condemnation They that thinke they can merit I aske them did they euer sinne or no If they say no they lye For no Man liueth and sinneth not If they say they haue sinned Then I answer before euer they can merit any thing this sinne must first be forgiuen and tell me canst thou merit the pardon of this sinne No that must be remitted in the Blood of Christ for so the Papists themselues will coufesse If thou canst not fatisfie for one sinne much less for many and much lesse canst thou merrit newnesse of Life Grace and Saluation Whosoeuer challengeth this to themselues they detract from God and incroach vpon Christs Office and the power of his Blood which onely is meritorious But if these two could stand together yet they debarre themselues of the benefit of Christs Blood by which comes remission of sinnes So that these magnifiers of the Merit of Man while they thinke they goe the high way to Heauen they tread the high way to Hell and euerlasting destruction Vse 4 The last Vse teacheth vs the singular wisedome of God in working by contrarie meanes by destroying Sinne and Sathan by Death We despightfully shed Christs Blood and yet of this Blood the Lord made a soueraigne Plaster to take away our sinnes The shedding of his Blood was the grossest sinne that euer was heard of and yet see his admirable wisedome that by this he tooke away our sinnes Sinne and Sathan thought to haue destroyed Christ by Death by Death he vanquished and ouer-came them both We crucified him by our sinnes by Death he crucified and ouer-came our finnes We shed his Blood by our sinnes God in mercie and Christ in mercie made it to be a Salue for our Sores Our shedding of his Blood by his ouer-ruling Hand ouercame our wickednesse and was a meanes to take away our sinnes and to saue our Soules The end of the eighth Lecture THE NINTH LECTVRE VPON THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORDS SVPPER THAT you may be fitted and prepared for the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper the next Saboth day we are now to make digression into the Argument of the Lords Supper Let this course not see me tedious to any nor let it not be vnprofitable to any for if we labour to be prepared and fitted against those dayes we shall receiue that profit and comfort by the Lords Supper that will make vs amends for all our labours We haue entred as you see into a place in Math. 26.28 where the Sacrament is called The Blood of the New Testamens which is shed for many c. I haue shewed you first concerning the New Testament which is the first thing in nature to be handled Secondly haue shewed you concerning the Blood of Christ which is the second thing in nature The third particular is the Remission of sinnes which is the benefit that comes by this New Testament and the Blood of Christ this point was handled last Now remaines the fourth and last particular and that is the Persons that are made partakers of this benefit Remission of sinnes by the Blood of the New Testament This is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many c. Here is no particular description of the Persons by their Place Qualitie Degree Nation State or any such matter of speciall note but onely in a generallitie by their number Many If we confider it well we shall find that it carries the force and intendment of a double exception The first is of restraint Not all but many The second is of inlargement Not few but many First of the exception of restraint Many
should wee love the glorious Lord of heaven and earth seeing the Lord of heaven and earth hath so loved us as to dye for us Also it teacheth us patience seeing Christ the Lord hath dyed for us therefore we must not thinke much to suffer temptation and affliction yea death it selfe Christ the Lord hath gone through these before and therefore no doubt but he will bring us through the like with joy and with comfort Christ the Lord hath dyed for us this will breed and worke faith and boldnesse in us we may be bold to hazard our soules upon Christ knowing that our salvation is sure and firme it is the Lord that hath wrought it by his death and it is not all the Devills in hell can disanull that salvation which the Lord hath wrought for us Againe it ministers matter of rejoycing that we doe not onely beleeve in Christ crucified but we rejoyce in Christ crucified Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should rejoyce but in the crosse unto me and I unto the world this Crosse I oppose against all my feares afflictions and temptations and persecutions against all that ever can come I am crucified to the world and the world to me because the Lord hath dyed for me Lastly this is a matter of excellent comfort to Gods children for hereby we may discerne the infinite worthinesse of the death of Christ and the infinite preciousnesse of his death Why was the death of Christ so precious why because it was the death of Christ the Lord not the death of Christ as he was man but of Christ the Lord of life and glorie When wee consider that so many thousand shall be saved wee thinke with our selves how shall these bee saved why the infinite blood of the Lord is sufficient for us al this death being the Lords death it must needs be of force and power and vertue and merit to procure mercy and grace and forgivenesse of sinnes to all those that have a true faith and doe earnestly endeavour and desire to be conformable to this death of Christ The end of the sixteenth Lecture THE SEVENTEENTH LECTVRE VPON THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORDS SVPPER NOw wee are to proceed as God shall inable us in the handling of the 26. verse of the 11. chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians because this afternoones exercise we must spend in the matter of preparation against the next Sabbath for the receiving of the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.26 For as often as ye shall eate this bread and drink this cup ye shew forth the Lords death till hee come We divided this Scripture as you may remember into these two parts first an action to bee performed in the former part of the verse namely the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper set forth here by the name of eating this bread and drinking this cup. Secondly the caution that this action is to bee performed withall that we have in the latter part of the verse ye shew forth the Lords death till he come In this caution in the latter part of the verse we observed the caution it selfe namely to shew forth the Lords death secondly the often using or the often observing of this caution For though that be not here expressed yet it is to be supplyed out of the former part of the verse and is in common understanding to be read thus As often as ye shall eat this bread and drinke this cup so often yee shew forth the Lords death till he come Thirdly and lastly here is the continuance of it how long this is to continue why till the end of the world till the day of Iudgement till the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ ye shew forth the Lords death till he come In the caution first we observed the matter that is to be remembred that is the Lords death then secondly we told you here wee must consider of the manner of the remembring of it how must it be remembred by a shewing forth by a lively and a kinde of sensible expressing of it yee shew forth the Lords death till he come Concerning the matter to bee remembred namely the Lords death there wee shewed you first what is meant by the death of the Lord namely both the act of his death in respect of himselfe and likewise the benefit of his death in respect of us for that also must be remembred in the receiving of the Sacrament Then when as it is said here it is the Lords death I shewed you that howsoever Christ as he was Lord could not dye yet notwithstanding the death that Christ did suffer is rightly called the death of the Lord because Christ being man was also God and Lord yet by reason of the union of both these natures in one and the same person therefore that which is proper to Christ as he is man is rightly affirmed of him as being God and Lord. And thence we drew this observation in that it is here called the Lords death namely that howsoever Christ Iesus was cruelly and shamefully crucified and put to a most cruel and ignominious death upon the Crosse as ever any man could bee put unto yet notwithstanding even in that state of his death he was the Lord and shewed himself to be the glorious Lord of heaven and earth It followes now that we are to goe on Wee have spoken hitherto touching the Lords death as it is considered absolutely in it selfe we are yet further to speake of the Lords death by way of application or by way of reference of it to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper for so you see here the Apostle speakes of it respectively unto this Supper As often as ye shall eate this bread and drinke this cup ye shew forth the Lords death till he come where by it is plaine that looke what the Apostle speakes here concerning the Lords death the same is confined expressety to the reference of the Lords death to the Lords Supper we must alwayes remember the death of the Lord Christ Iesus every one of us that looke to have any part or to have any benefit by it must remember it at all times but yet when as we come to communicate in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper then there is required of us a more speciall meditation thereof than generally at other times Again even in the participation of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper we must meditate upon whole Christ Christ borne Christ living Christ dying Christ buried Christ risen againe for Christ was given wholly for us upon the Crosse and Christ is given wholly unto us in the Lords Supper and therfore there we must receive Christ wholly and meditate upon whole Christ I but yet in this case when wee come to receive the Sacrament then wee must more meditate and our hearts and our mindes must more runne upon the death of Christ than upon any thing else that ever Christ did or suffered for us it is the death
come and so expect a blessing from God but if thou have a veile before thee and thou canst not see and behold the death of Christ that is to say Christ Iesus crucified for the taking away of thy sinnes surely thou art not in case to come to the Table of the Lord. Vse 2 The second Vse of this Doctrine is matter of instruction and it serves to instruct us in many good Christian duties Is it so that the very substance and the chiefest matter of the Lords Supper is the death of Christ Iesus then this should teach us in the first place that wee should hunger and thirst long after this Sacramēt we must hunger thirst after grace we must hunger thirst after righteousnesse the death of Iesus Christ is our grace and our righteousnesse and the same also is the substance of this Sacrament therefore wee must hunger and thirst after this Sacrament Oh beloved that wee could but consider with our selves the worth of the death of Iesus Christ which was as great a matter as the whole world besides or if we could but consider the necessity of the death of Christ that without the sense and feeling of it in our hearts it is impossible that any man can be saved or if we could but consider the power of the death of Christ what a force it hath to beat downe the power of sinne hell and death and if we could consider the sweetnesse of Christ crucified the crucifying of Christ is the very life of a man that is truly regenerate and converted to God if wee could but consider the benefit of Christ Iesus crucified all grace and all glory belongs unto us by the death of Christ lastly if we could but consider the glory of Christ crucified Christ was most glorious upon the Crosse when he was in the height of his obedience and so God beheld him and then indeed did he procure most glory to us as it was his glory so it is our chiefest glory I rejoyce in nothing but in Christ crucified saith the Apostle If wee could soundly taste of these things the worthinesse of Christ crucified the necessity of Christ crucified the power of Christ crucified the sweetnesse of Christ crucified the benefit of Christ crucified the glory of Christ crucified we would hunger againe and againe after the Sacrament of the Lords Supper after the death of Christ therein tendred unto us it should whet us on to a spirituall appetite to this heavenly banquet This teacheth us in the second place what bee the graces that every one of us must be furnished withall when we doe come to the Lords Table What be the speciall graces why all graces that are any way respective to the death of Christ it is the death of Christ that there we come to celebrate now because every grace is in some sort or other respective to the death of Christ therefore every one of us shold come furnished in some measure or other with every grace but yet there be some graces that be more proper and nearer respective to the death of Christ than others are and these we must all be furnished withall when we come to the Sacrament they be so necessary that if we come not with them it is damnable for us to come at all There bee many I will but touch these five Knowledge Faith Love Obedience Thankfulnesse The first grace is knowledge we must bee indued with knowledge the knowledge of God generally and likewise of all other matters that be necessary to salvation but more specially the knowledge of Christ Iesus crucified we must know the story of his crucifying the benefit and power of his crucifying but yet more particularly we must know Christ Iesus crucified in reference to the Lords Supper there is the particular knowledge required of us the presence of Christ in that Sacrament the power of Christ in that Sacrament the benefits of Christ in that Sacrament these bee the things that wee must be well acquainted withall except we know these things wecome in a miserable case I shewed you that the death of Christ must bee meditated upon in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper here is the eye whereby wee doe discerne Christ crucified in these holy mysteries even the knowledge of Christ crucified in reference to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and therefore as ever thou lookest to have any benefit by the Sacrament of the Lords Supper whosoever thou art see that thou be experienced and well seene and well grounded in the knowledge of Christ crucified be not to seeke of this when thou doest come see that thou have this knowledge before thou commest hee that hath his money to seeke when he should pay for his meat is like to fast so if we have not this knowledge before we come to the Lords Supper if we be not well experienced in this grace we are like to fast we are like to him that hath his weapons to seeke when hee should goe to fight he is like to be beaten Secondly we must bring Faith with us that is the second grace faith to apprehend the death of Christ to apprehend Iesus Christ crucified and this is as it were the hand whereby we doe apply and lay hold upon Iesus Christ for it is but in vaine for us to know Christ crucified except we doe apply him to our selves the eie of knowledge cannot save us without we doe apply him with the hand of faith by faith we doe as it were lay hold upon Christ in the Sacrament and lay his death upon our sores as a plaister to cure them and as a cordiall to our soules to comfort them Thirdly there must be Love in us love to God love to Christ and love to our brethren for Gods cause for the death of Iesus Christ being first wel knowne and understood then secondly well beleeved and applyed by faith worketh in us a kind of sensible feeling of the love of God towards us in Christ Iesus and thereby kindles in us a love to God himselfe and to Christ and then consequently to our brethren if God hath so loved us we must also love him and if Christ have so loved us as to give himselfe for us how ought we to love Christ and to love one another for his sake This is the heart as a man would say whereby we do give entertainment unto Iesus Christ crucified whereby we doe embrace him within us and surely whosoever can come to this that our hearts be seasoned with a love to God and to Christ and to our brethren for his sake out of question the Lord Iesus Christ dwells in us and lives in us and we dwell and live in him The fourth grace is Obedience even obedience to the whole will of God here comes in the whole duty of a Christian as well repentance as new obedience This is a grace specially respective to the death of Iesus Christ Iesus Christ he was perfectly obedient
risen c. Here you haue a great many of testimonies together God and Christ and the Angels Dauid and the Prophets Iohn Baptist and the Apostles and the Euangelists all ioyne together acknowledging him to be the Lord that is an absolute Lord it is an vsuall speech in the Apostles writings to call him The Lord Iesus or the Lord Iesus Christ and this title is so proper to him that whē the other Persons are spoken of together with him they oft-times are called by some other titles he by this 1 Cor. 8.6 For there is but one God which is the Father and one Lord Iesus Christ c. The Apostle calles the Father God and Iesus Christ Lord not but that Christ is God also and the Father is Lord but so it pleaseth the Holy Ghost to speake of them for causes best knowne to himselfe and so in the 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6. The same Spirit the same Lord God is the same c. and in Ephes 4.4 5 6. One Spirit one Lord one God and Father of all c. Now that none may thinke this to be a bare title onely it is sometimes giuen him with addition of diuers Royalties such as are peculiar onely to the Lord of Heauen and Earth as The Lord of Life Act. 3.15 The Lord of Power 2 Thes 3.16 The Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2.8 Secondly He is such an absolute Lord as that he is Lord of Lords Reuel 19.16 and he hath vpon his Garments and vpon his Thigh a name written The King of Kings and Lord of Lords not onely as he being greater then they but also as they being at his command and whatsoeuer power and authoritie they haue they haue it from him Thirdly He is such a Lord as that he is the sole Ruler and Gouernor of the World 1 Cor. 15.27 For he hath put downe all things vnder his Feet Math. 28.18 And Iesus came and spake vnto them saying All power is giuen me in Heauen and Earth Lastly He is such a Lord as that he is specially the Lord and sole Gouernor of his Church and of the Faithfull for that is specially intended in the New Testament for as they are the speciall Iewels of the World so Christ Iesus who is Lord of all the World is by speciall relation the Lord ouer them Ephes 3.14 15. the Apostle in the fourteenth Verse hauing spoken of the Lord Iesus Christ in the fifteenth Verse he saith Of whom is named the whole Family in Heauen and Earth all the Faithfull receiue their denomination from him and therefore they challenge him by particular claime as their Lord 1 Cor. 16.23 The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you and euerie one of them too as his Lord So did Dauid Psal 110.1 The Lord said vnto my Lord c. And so did Mary Magdalene Iohn 20.13 They haue taken away my Lord. And in Verse 28 so did Thomas My Lord and my God Nothing more frequent then this So you see the point is plainly proued by Scripture the Reasons are many Reas 1 First He is so in respect of his Being and Nature as he is the Sonne of God in the forme of God equall with God Phil. 2.6 He was God himselfe as the Scripture shewes and therefore he is truly and rightly the Lord of Lords if he had beene but the Sonne of God the reason would hold for if the Sonnes of Earthly Princes are Earthly Lords then the Sonne of God who is Lord of Heauen and Earth must needs be the Heauenly Lord the Lord of all Lords But in that it is said that he was in the forme of God equall with God it takes away all colour of exception and puts the matter out of all doubt that he is an absolute Lord. Reas 2 The second Reason is in respect of his Might whereby God hath manifested his Power Dominion and Maiestie visibly and sensibly to vs in the Person of Christ more then in any of the other Persons for howsoeuer God the Father is Lord and the Holy Ghost is Lord yet in God the Sonne the Lord hath visibly and sensibly manifested his power to vs more then in any of the other Persons and so he hath beene most plainly declared to bee the Lord 1 Cor. 15.47 Reas 3 Thirdly His workes proue him to be a Lord whatsoeuer belongs to a Lord that he hath done and he hath done that which none could doe but the Lord of Lords Who could haue done such Miracles as he did but the Lord onely And what belongs to a Lord to doe but to ouercome his Enemies and tryumph ouer them to rule and raigne ouer all as he will himselfe This the Lord Iesus Christ hath done he hath ouercome Death and destroyed him that had the power of Death that is the Diuell and tryumphed ouer Sinne and Hell and all the powers of Darkenesse vpon the Crosse and made his Enemies his Footstoole therefore he is an absolute Lord. His Resurrection Ascention sitting at the right hand of God his Father his quickning whom he will executing Iudgement by his power his sending downe of the Holy Ghost and returning to Iudgement at the last day to giue sentence on all Flesh All these are so many Cognisances and badges that Christ Iesus is the Lord of all Reas 4 Fourthly He is the Lord by the appointment and assignement of his Father Act. 2.36 God hath made him both Lord and Christ c. which is not to be vnderstood of his Nature but of his Lordly Office the Office of his Mediatorship and hence he hath a large Patent and an absolute authoritie giuen him Math. 28.18 All power is giuen me both in Heauen and Earth and in Iohn 5.22.27 The Father iudgeth no Man but hath committed all Iudgement to the Sonne and hath giuen him power to execute Iudgement in that he is the Sonne of Man And that which agrees most to this in hand is in Phil. 2.9 10 11. Wherefore God hath highly exalted him and giuen him a name aboue euerie name that at the Name of Iesus euerie Knee should bow both of things in Heauen and things in Earth and things vnder the Earth and that euerie tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lord vnto the glorie of God the Father He obtained this Lordship by his Mediatorship and it is such a Lordship as all in Heauen and Earth and vnder the Earth doe acknowledge Reas 1 Now the particular Reasons why he is Lord specially of his Church are these two First because he redeemed them He bought the Church with his owne Blood Act. 20.28 The reason of the name Lord is this when any were taken Prisoners and Captiues he that redeemed and ransomed them was called their Lord and they were his Seruants We were Captiues vnto Sinne and Hell and Damnation and Christ he redeemed and ransomed vs and therefore he is our Lord and we are his Seruants Reas 2 Secondly because the Church is giuen by God
Christianitie specially you that haue proceeded so farr in it as to receiue the Sacrament of the Lords Supper you haue thereby absolute Communion you haue giuen your selues vnto Iesus Christ and he hath giuen himselfe likewise to you you are made one with Christ and he with you and with all the Faithfull this is set downe in the sixteenth and seuenteenth Verses On the other side saith he they that doe communicate in their religious Feasts that are consecrated vnto Idols they doe giue themselues ouer vnto those Idols and make themselues one with those Idols with them that worship them That you heard in the 1 Co. 10.20 marke what the Apostle inferres vpon it It is impossible to be one with God and one with Idols One with God and one with Diuels For these they are no better then Diuels it is impossible you should be so if once you giue your selues to the seruice of God ye renounce the Diuell if once you giue your selues to the seruice of the Diuel then ye renounce God and all the Faithfull We cannot be partakers of the Lords Table and of the Table of Diuels it is impossible that euer you should be so And therefore in any case partake not with them in any of their religious Feasts Thus the Argument stands You that are religious are made one with Christ and Christ with you and therefore it is impossible that ye should communicate and partake in the seruice of Idols or Diuels and in the Supper of the Lord that is to say it can neuer be done so the seruice that ye performe to God in the Sacrament cannot be acceptable to him the force of the reason stands in this in the proofe of the first point as many as professe Christ beleeuers and receiuers of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper they haue made themselues one with Christ and Christ with them that is proued in the 16 and 17 Verses and for confirmation thereof he makes them Iudges in it and he appeales to their consciences saying I speake but vnto them that haue vnderstanding Iudge you what I say The Cup of Blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ The Bread which we breaks is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ As who should say I appeale to your consciences you know it is so any Man that knowes what belongs to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper knowes this to be true So then there is the occasion of the words Now concerning the meaning of the words He is to expresse what is meant by the Communion and then what is meant by the Body and Blood of Christ The Communion imports in the Originall either the act of communicating whereby there is a communion and fellowship made or else it imports the Communion it selfe which is made by such an act As for example when we speake of a Contract of Marriage or of a Bargaine the name may signifie either the act whereby the contract is made or the contract or bargaine which is made by such an act So this Communion signifies the contract betweene vs and Christ So then this Communion is of two sorts there is a Communion here meant between Christ and the Faithfull and secondly a Communion of the Faithfull among themselues First a Communion of Christ with the Faithfull and that is of two sorts first a naturall Communion and then a spirituall that we haue together The naturall Communion that we haue with Christ is in respect as he is a Man and as he doth take our nature vpon him as he was made Bone of our Bone and Flesh of our Flesh and this is generall to the whole Race of Man-kind there is a naturall Communion betweene Christ and the whole Race of Man-kind yet notwithstanding the sauing benefite and comfort of it is proper to the elect Children of God and hence it is that this Communion is appropriated to the Children of God Hebr. 2.14.16 For as much then as the Children are partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himselfe likewise tooke part with them that he might destroy through death him that had the power of Death that is the Diuel For he in no sort tooke on him the Angels nature but he tooke the Seed of Abraham and did communicate in the whole Race of Man-kind but yet so as onely the Children of God haue comfort thereby This Communion doth arise from vs vnto Christ Why Because our Nature was first before Christ was incarnate and he by taking of our Nature vpon him is made Flesh of our Flesh and Bone of our Bone and therefore this Communion is from vs to Christ The second Communion is a spirituall Communion as Christ is our Head and Mediator and as we are ingrafted as Members into his mysticall Body Now this Communion none are partakers of nor haue any part in it but onely the Beleeuers and in this Communion we are made Flesh of his Flesh and Bone of his Bone as in the other he was made Flesh of our Flesh and Bone of our Bone so in the spirituall Communion we are made Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh Ephes 5.30 the Apostle speakes there of a spirituall Communion betweene Christ and the Church now this Communion ariseth from him and by him vnto vs and the other Communion ariseth from vs to him for the grace of the Spirit of Life which is in Iesus Christ is that by which we are ingrafted and incorporated into Christ So then you see concerning both the naturall and the spirituall Communion that we haue with Christ Then the second Communion what is it Why the Communion that the Faithfull haue among themselues whereby they are ioyned together thorough the Bonds of Faith of Hope Loue and the Spirit of God and all of them made Members of one and the same Body and this Communion ariseth from the former The Communion of the Faithfull among themselues ariseth from the Communion of vs with Christ therefore are we ioyned together because all our Members doe agree together from Christ our Head The Apostle deliuereth the point and the illustration of the point together in 1 Cor. 12.12 Though the Members be many yet all the Members concurre together in one Body That is true though many Members yet all of them concurre in one Body and vnder one Head and so is Christ So stands the case of the comparison betweene Christ and the Church there is a Communion betweene Christ and the Church why so there is a Communion between all that haue fellowship one with another because they concurre ioyne together vnder one Head So much shall serue to haue spoken concerning the Communion The next thing that is to be vnfolded is the Body and Blood of Christ that is to say Christ wholly his Body his Blood his Death his Resurrection and all his Merits For howsoeuer it be that the Lord Iesus Christ is tendred vnto vs in the Lords Supper
Guest It is noted that when the Passeouer was to be eaten and celebrated that they were to looke for a Chamber trimmed a cleane neate Roome so we when we come to the Lords Table must be fitted and prepared by Faith and Repentance and a purpose to lead a new life We find that Ioseph of Aremathea begged the Body of Iesus when he was crucified and he tooke a cleane Linnen cloath and wrapr it in sweet cleane and neat entertainment for the fleshly Body of his crucified vpon the Crosse then much more cause haue we that receiue the Body and Blood of Christ after a spirituall manner What need haue we to purge our selues of all our filthinesse and vncleanenesse and to wrap the Body of Christ in cleane cloathes and to lay him in a new Sepulcher where neuer Man was layd And therefore whosoeuer comes to the Lords Table see that you come fitted and prepared Vse 5 The last vse teacheth vs that we should frequent the Lords Table Is it so that it is the Body of Christ who can euer thinke he hath enough of that You know what the Apostle saith O Lord give vs euermore of this Bread If we did but consider when we come to the Lords Table of this sweet Communion that is ratified between Christ and vs then we would say Euermore let vs come to thy Table and as the Apostle Peter said Not my Feet onely but my Head and my Hands also when he knew the benefit of the washing So if we knew the benefite of the Lords Supper we would not come once a yeere nor once a month but euerie day if we could It is the ignorance of the benefite of it that makes vs come so seldome to it as wee doe The end of the fourth Lecture THE FIFTH LECTVRE VPON THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORDS SVPPER WEE are now to make digression into the matter of the Lords Supper and so according as we began to pay our monthly tole as it were to our Lord Iesus Christ in remembrance of his death and passion in preparing our selues to a worthy receiuing of the Sacrament of his blessed Body and Blood that so we may be fitted to come with glorie to God and comfort to our owne Soules The third name It is called a Communion as you haue heard out of the 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of Blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ The Bread which we breake is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ Where the Apostle entends a double Communion One that the Faithfull haue with Christ their Head Another which the Faithfull haue amongst themselues That which we haue with Christ is double Naturall and Spirituall Naturall and that is by his incarnation as he is Man and this Communion is common to all Men but yet the sauing benefite of it reacheth onely to the Faithfull Hebr. 2.14 For as much therefore as the Children were partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himselfe tooke part with them that he might destroy thorough Death him that had the power of Death that is the Diuell The Spirituall Communion is from Christ our Head to vs by grace The Naturall Communion is from vs to Christ The Spirituall Communion is from Christ to vs In the former he is made Bone of our Bone and Flesh of our Flesh In the latter we are made Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh as in Ephes 5.30 For we are Members of his Body of his his Flesh and of his Bones The second Communion is of the Faithfull amongst themselues and this stands in Faith and Hope and Loue and this proceeds from the first for therefore the Faithfull are knit together amongst themselues as Members because they are first knit to Christ their Head We haue spoken of the first Communion already so farre as it concernes this Sacrament Now we come to the second Communion which the Faithfull haue amongst themselues And that we may proceed vpon a good and sure ground we must first see that this second Communion is here entended by the Apostle as well as the former For howsoeuer the word Communion may be indifferently vnderstood of each as well the Communion which the Faithfull haue amongst themselues as of that which they haue with Christ yet if the Apostle doth not here so intend it wharsoeuer we shall speake of it though happely true and fit for the Argument in hand yet it may iustly be distasted as not seasonable because it is not pertinent to this place but when we plainly see that it is part of the Apostles reach to shew that the Lords Supper is a Communion of the Faithfull amongst themselues wee shall much better relish and digest those Doctrines which shall be raysed from it Now that such is the entendment of the Apostle it appeares thus He saith in Verse 16. The Bread which we breake is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ And so proceeds and saith Verse 17. For we that are many are one Bread and one Body because we all are partakers of one Bread Where you see it is an next to the former by way of reason Now ye know that the reason must be answerable in sence to the proposition that is thereby confirmed Therefore except we will make the Apostle to speake absurdly and without sence to set downe the proposition of one thing and to render the reason of an other It must needs be granted that looke what Communion he speakes of in the reason Verse 17. the same Communion he speakes of in the proposition Verse 16. and so on the contrarie looke what Communion he speakes of in Verse 16. the same he speakes of in the 17 but in Verse 17 he speakes expresly and distinctly of the second Communion as well as of the first for when he saith in the latter part of Verse 17. We are all one Bread there is our Communion with Christ And in the former part We that are many are one Bread and one Body there is the Communion which we haue amongst our selues And marke the latter part containes the cause of the former and is rendred as a reason of it because we are all partakers of one Bread shewing not only that there is such a Communion amongst themselues in and by the vse of the Sacrament but also how it is effected namely because all partake of one Christ that thorough the Communion which euery one hath thereby in the Body and Blood of Christ they haue also a Communion amongst themselues And for further confirmation hereof he giues instance in two cases of like nature one in Verse 18. Israel which is after the Flesh are not they which eat of the Sacrifices partakers of the Altar As who should say It is so with those Israelites that still obserue the carnall Rites as the Apostle else-where calles them that communicate together in their seruice and therefore so doe you in yours The other instance is in
the Substance that the Couenant of Workes this the Couenant of Grace or Faith that the Letter this the Spirit that after the Flesh this after the Promise that the Minister of Death and Condemnation this the Ministration of Life The Apostle Hebr. 12.18 c. sets forth the excellencie of this estate by comparing it with that of the Law and amplyfies it by that hard condition that we are deliuered from and the blessed condition that we are aduanced vnto such as if there be any sence of Grace or care of our owne good it should rayse vs vp to much cause of reioycing Secondly see it by the longing and the desire after it of others many Kings and Prophets haue desired to see the things that wee see and heare the things that we heare and haue not seene them nor heard them O what a blessed turne haue we therefore that enioy such comfortable things that such great and holy Men desired and yet could not enioy them Abraham saw these dayes but it was afarre off and yet he reioyced at it We see them with our Eyes and heare these things with our Eares and see them with our Eyes they are not farre from vs they are in our Mouths and in our Hearts how should we reioyce in Gods rich mercie to vs and in our rich Portion we haue in him But you will say had not they vnder the former Testament the same meanes of Saluation which we haue Yes surely the same in substance Iesus Christ yesterday and the same for euer None were euer saued but by Faith in Christ Iesus But because he was manifested to them darkely and sparingly and carnally to vs cleerely and aboundantly and spiritually therefore is our estate so much extoll'd aboue theirs But is the onely manner of deliuerie sufficient to make it a New Testament Yes as Iohn 13.34 the Commandement is called a new Commandement though for the substance of it it hath beene from the first beginning yet because it is pressed by our Sauiour after a new manner that is to say that we should so loue one another as he hath loued vs therefore it is called a new Commandement Thirdly by the speciall loue that Christ therein hath shewed vnto vs that he should remember vs poore wretched sinners in his will long before we were borne to bestow a Legacie such a large and rich Legacie vpon vs that the Lord Iesus hanging vpon the Crosse pouring out his owne Blood suffering the verie pangs of Death wrastling with the verie wrath of God and terrors of Hell and assaulted with all the infernall Furies and Powers of Darknesse should euen then in the infinitenesse of his Diuine power and goodnesse entend to offer himselfe for thee and me and euerie beleeuer pleading for vs in particular by the power of his death that we might haue our part in it and in all the benefits thereof Fourthly by the certaintie of it it is by Will and therefore it is sure and vnchangeable not by the Will of Man though that be a stong Conueyance and cannot be altered but by the Will of the Sonne of God himselfe who or what can put vs by this Legacie if once we be rightly instated into it Neuer feare it it shall neuer be taken from vs Corruption and infirmitie may say vnto vs that we are cut off and the Diuell will face vs that we haue no right of Grace nor Heauen Tell them that they are Lyers Falsifiers of the Will and last Testament of Christ Iesus Fifthly by the absolutenesse and compleat perfection of Christs Will and Testament there are all things concurring in it that are accessarie to the right nature of a Will here is First the Testator Christ Iesus Secondly the Legators are the Faithfull Thirdly the Legacies are Iustification Sanctification and Glorification Fourthly the Euidences or Instruments or the Will written the Scriptures Fifthly the Seale the Sacraments Sixthly the Witnesses the Prophets and Euangelists and Apostles Seuenthly the Executor Gods Spirit whose office it is to performe the behests of Christ Iesus If you aske for an Ouer-seer it is God the Father who by his almightie Prouidence doth especially ouer-see these businesses The date of it was from the beginning of the World the continuance of it is for euer and therefore it is called the Blood of the euerlasting Couenant Hebr. 13.20 the Court where it is to be proued is the Court of euerie beleeuers Conscience here and the Court of Heauen hereafter and that before a most righteous Iudge God himselfe euen the blessed Trinitie who will surely see that euerie one of vs shall haue our Legacie which is bequeathed vnto vs a happy Testator and happy Legators and Legacies and therefore happy we whosoeuer haue our portion in this happy Testament Lastly by the ratification of it which is by his owne precious Blood that which is more worth then all the World that is the price thou art purchased by that is the Offering thou art consecrated by that is the Merit thou art iustified by that is the Grace thou are sanctified by and that is the Power thou art saued by What assurance may we haue of the free and full forgiuenesse of our sinnes when wee see they are all washed away by the Blood of Iesus Christ With what bouldnesse may we come vnto the Throne of Grace since we haue entrance vnto God thorough Christs Blood With what courage may we fight against all our corruptions and rebellions within against all the oppositions of the World without against all the assaults and temptations of Satan both within vs and without vs We shall be sure to ouer-come them all in the Blood of the Lambe Let it be all our care to make our selues sure that we haue our part in this New Testament thus sealed with the precious Blood of Iesus Christ and then our case is most happy neuer any thing shall separate betwixt God and vs. The end of the sixth Lecture THE SEVENTH LECTVRE VPON THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORDS SVPPER ACcording to our wonted manner we are now by occasion that the next Sabboth day is a Communion day to fall into our digression againe touching the matter of the Lords Supper that there may be some fit preparation of vs for that holy and heauenly dutie something to feed vpon all the weeke long to quicken vs and to put vs in mind what we are to doe and also to stirre vs vp that we may be fit and welcome Guests to come into the presence of God We haue entred as you see vpon a fourth title that is giuen in Scripture to the Lords Supper and that is The New Testament which howsoeuer it be set downe by Marke by Luke and by Paul yet because Mathew sets it downe more at large as it is in Math. 26.28 therefore we haue made choyce of these words to treat vpon For this is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes
serve for all nor to say they will doe it hereafter though they omit it now but as often as they doe the one they must doe the other as often as they doe receive they must thinke upon the Lords death But some will say What are we never to remember Christs death but then when we communicate Yes this is not spoken by negation as if we should never remember him but then but by affirmation that we must specially remember it then above all other times as that Sacrament being instituted and sanctified specially for that purpose next it is said So oft as yee shall eate c. ye shall shew where you see the Holy Ghost presseth it upon every one for his owne particular shewing thereby that it is not enough that the Minister shew forth the Lords death for all them that bee there present but every one is to shew it forth for himselfe Further it is said Shall eate this bread c. you see here hee speakes of the Sacrament and he describes it by the use or the actuall participation of it thereby shewing that the benefit of this Sacrament doth not consist in the seeing or the having of it but in the use and communicating in it And note here further that the Apostle calls it bread even after the words of consecration it is bread still and yet it is the body of Christ in regard of the use it is altered and is the body of Christ but in regard of the nature of the creature it is bread still Consider yet further that he nameth not onely the eating of the bread but the drinking of the cup together with it he saith not Or drinke this cup but And drinke this cup whereby we may see that they who separate the cup from the bread in the use of this Sacrament as the Papists doe they doe wickedly put asunder that which God hath joyned together and this being spoken directly to the people doth extend the words of our Saviour when he said Drinke ye all of this as well to the people as to the Ministers next it is said You shew forth the Lords death that is to say you set it forth after a speciall and eminent manner you shew it forth by your practice for all they that truly receive the Lords Supper doe as it were act the death of Christ as a holy Tragedy upon a holy and spirituall stage the word may either be expounded affirmatively you doe shew forth or imparatively as enjoyning them that they must shew forth both tend to the same effect that this Sacrament is the very shewing forth of the Lords death the word in the originall entends a shewing forth in the highest degree with much seriousnesse and earnestnesse as prescribing a zealous and affectionate setting forth of Christs death in the use of this Sacrament It is said further the Lords death which we must not understand as if it were meant barely of his dying or of his crucifying but his death together with the benefit and fruit of his death and whereas hee calls it here the Lords death it may seeme some contradiction For if Christ suffer death how should he be Lord or if Christ be Lord how should he dye but if wee consider it well we shall finde that it is a sweet medley that the Apostle here makes when hee saith it is the Lords death Christ dyed as being man but Christ even in his death shewed himselfe to bee the Lord that had the power over death And because he that dyed was the Lord thence it comes that his death is beneficiall unto us As it is said Acts 20.28 God hath purchased his Church with his owne blood as his blood being therefore effectuall for the purchasing of the Church because it was the blood of him who being man is God also Lastly it is here said till he come that is to say in bodily presence to judge the world Therefore he is now absent in body even from the Sacrament if he were bodily present at the Sacrament as the Papists say then what need a memoriall of him till his comming Hereby we see also that so long as we are here we need the helpes of Sacraments to strengthen our faith and God hath provided that we shall have them so long as we need them even till the end of the world but when he comes then we shall have no further use of them and therefore then they shall cease all things are for us and for our good so long as we need them we shall have them but the things that are the Sacraments Gods saving ordinances shall utterly cease to bee when wee shall have no further use of them So much for the meaning The third point is the parts of the Text first an action to be performed in the former part of the verse secondly a caution or condition in the latter part First an action to be performed the receiving of the Lords Supper wherein the Apostle offers to our consideration these things First the parts of the action secondly the frequenting of the action the parts eate and drinke things diverse in themselves yet both together making up one and the same action of receiving as in our ordinary suppers wee eate and drinke and each differs from other our eating is not our drinking nor our drinking is not our eating yet in the generall both make but one action the taking of our supper Secondly the frequenting of this action often as this action is to bee performed and done so the doing of it is to be frequented as often c. we must not make an annuall thing of it to be performed once a yeare a prophane thing amongst Christians but there must be an often frequenting of it In the latter part of the verse is a caution or condition that we must performe in receiving wherein principally is to be observed first the caution it selfe shew forth the death of Christ secondly the frequenting of it which is to be borrowed from the first part of the verse as often as you eate shew forth the Lords death c. for this is a particle common to the whole verse and serue each part alike as who should say As often as you eate this bread and drinke this cup so often you shall shew forth the Lords death Lastly here is the continuance of this caution or condition till he come How long is it to continue even so long as the world stands till the Lord come to judgement Whosoever thou art thou must shew forth the Lords death in receiving this Sacrament till his comming that is for the parts of the verse Now we come to the Doctrines For as often as you shall eate of this bread and drinke of this cup you shew forth the Lords death till he come Where you see that this speech of Paul is inferred by way of reason from the words of our Saviour verse 25. Doe this as often as do it in remembrance of
mee the conferrence of both these speeches together ministers this profitable observation namely that the true and right remembrance of our Saviour IESVS CHRIST is our affectionate and religious remembrance of the death of our Saviour Christ Remember me saith Christ verse 25. that is saith Paul the Lords death verse 26. Remember it so that you shew it forth that is religiously and affectionately Zach. 12.10 I will poure upon the house of David and upon the Inhabitants of Ierusalem the spirit of grace c. there is a promise of the Spirit to be poured downe on the faithfull under the Gospell and one principall effection of it there mentioned is this that they shall looke on Christ that is they shall remember him and meditate upon him Well what is the principall object in Christ that they shall set their meditations upon his piercing that is his death and sufferings when he was pierced with thornes and nailes and Speare and how shall they be touched with this remembrance of him Surely very religiously and affectionately grieving and lamenting as for their first borne Here then is the right remembrance of Christ that is our affectionate and religious remembrance of the piercing and death of Christ Rev. 13.8 Christ Iesus is the Lambe of God that takes away the sinnes of the world But how doe the faithfull whose names are written in the Lambes booke of life apprehend him Not simply as a Lambe but as a Lambe slaine that is in his death and crucifying that is the true and right apprehending of him Gen. 3.15 The seed of the woman c. when the Lord himselfe first published the Gospell he propounds the seed of the woman to be beleeved in that is CHRIST but with speciall reference to his death for that is the very bruising of the Serpents head CHRIST on his Crosse spoiled principalities and powers Col. 2.14 and the bruising of his heele there spoken of is an intimation of the death and sufferings that the Devill and his Instruments should bring upon CHRIST and yet these very sufferings of Christ shall break and destroy all their power this was Adam and all the faithfull to beleeve of Christ and this is their true and right remembrance of Christ This was shadowed in the sacrifices before the Law as in the Passeover Exod. 12.6 7. they should kill it and strike the blood on the two posts c. what is the meaning of this wee must carry the streames of our meditations on Christ towards his killing and death and blood And so under the Law Heb. 9.22 almost all things are by the Law purged with blood What is the meaning of this That all that beleeve in Chritst are thereby admonished still to have the eye of their mindes setled on the meditation of the blood of Christ if ever they looke to bee purged from their sinnes by Christ they must bee purged by the blood of Christ so the Prophets set forth Christ in this manner Esay 53. from the first to the seventh verse hee that of all the Prophets spake most plainly of him sets him forth principally in regard of his death as he was wounded and broken and oppressed and afficted the Prophet leaves them the best memoriall of Christ and therefore he acquaints them with the death of Christ The Apostles observed the same rule 1 Cor. 17.3 First of all I delivered unto you how that Christ dyed for our sinnes no doubt but hee would teach them Christ so as hee might worke a most affectionate impression and remembrance of Christ in their hearts and how doth he this By teaching them Christs death first of all as the chiefe and maine ground of all the rest And looke how he taught them so hee practised himselfe 1 Cor. 2.2 I esteemed not to know any thing amongst you save Iesus Christ and him crucified for his knowledge he esteemed to know nothing else and so Gal. 6.14 for his rejoycing God forbid that I should rejoyce in any thing but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ and both these are spoken by way of exclusion disclaiming all other knowledge and rejoycing in comparison of that because that is the rise and ground of all the rest To conclude the Word and the Sacraments are purposely fitted to worke this remembrance in us 1 Cor. 1.18 the word is called the preaching of the Crosse that is it the Minister must specially preach and the people learne Gal. 3.1 the Apostle taught Christ and his death to them so plainly as if hee had beene crucified amongst them and so the Sacraments are fitted to this end first Baptisme Rom. 6.3 4. we are baptised into his death and buried with him in baptisme and so the Lords Supper as you see here is to set forth the Lords death c. The reasons First Christ in his death was most pleasing to God and wherein should wee or can wee bee better affected with the remembrance of Christ than in that state wherein hee was most pleasing to his and our heavenly Father God cannot properly be said to be pleased with his Sonne at any one time more than another but we speake it after the manner of men and by way of supposall if ever God could be better pleased with him at one time than at another it was at his death Ephes 5.2 then he was an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour to God I but you will say then God was most angry with him pouring on him his fierce wrath and vengeance from heaven True he was most angry with him in regard of our sinnes which he beheld on him and punished in him but in regard of his owne decree thereby accomplished and Christ his perfect obedience therein yeelded and the absolute satisfaction for our sinnes there made by his precious blood even then God was best pleased with him we feele it through Gods mercy for we are sure it was his death and blood that we are reconciled to God by and that God was pleased with us for and therefore Christ himselfe must needs be most pleasing to him in that estate Secondly therein Christ shewed his greatest love and affection to us and how shall we remember him with our best affections but in that state wherein hee shewed most love and affection towards us Iohn 15.13 Greater love than this can no man shew than to give his life for his friend this love Christ hath shewed us he gave his whole state for us he spared not his precious body his precious blood his precious life his precious soule for us all these are precious yea infinitely precious in themselves yet hee thought nothing too precious to give for us but exposed them all in his death to the wrath of God for our redemption whosoever thou art that canst thus remember Christ thou hast many strong bonds and motives to binde thee fast to thankfulnesse and love and obedience to God in Iesus Christ and that is to remember him
as thou shouldest remember him he that can once speake by experience in his owne heart as the Apostle doth Gal. 1.20 that Christ hath loved mee and gave himselfe for me will empty himselfe also and say as the Apostle did I live and yet not I now but Christ Iesus lives within me his love to us in dying for us stirres up our love to him in dying with him and as the nature of true love is to transanimate or transforme the lover into the thing loved so we are turned as it were into Christ we live not but he lives in us and surely we can never be perswaded to give over our selves thorowly to God service till wee be brought unto it by the thorow meditation and remembrance of Christs death Thirdly therein Christ hath beene most beneficiall to us and wherein is he most worthy of our remembrance but in that whereby we have most benefit by him and that is his blood or his death We have reconciliation by his blood Rom. 3.23 Redemption by his blood Heb. 9.12 and forgivenesse of sinnes by his blood 1 Iohn 1.7 all good things temporall and eternall are purchased to us by the merit of his death and contrary all evill things are thereby turned away Why doe wee remember Christ Not because of any good that he receives from us but because of the good that we receive from him now his death is that whereby we receive greatest good from him yea in some sort all the benefit that ever we enjoy by him his Incarnation Resurrection Ascension are so farre forth beneficiall unto us as they have reference to his Death and therefore except we remember Christ in his death howsoever we remember him otherwise it is no true remembrance of him at all Lastly therein he shewed himselfe most powerfull and victorious over his and our enemies Heb. 2.14 He hath destroyed through death him that had the power over death that is the Devill 2 Col. 14 15. He hath nailed our sinnes upon the Crosse and there hath spoiled principalities and powers how can we remember him better than in state wherein he gave the utter overthrow and deadly stroke to all our enemies he told them that it was then their very houre and power of darknesse and it is true to doe what they could but not what they would for that was but as it were a mocke to them for indeed it was their very houre to be destroyed and his very houre to triumph over them as our Saviour himselfe speaking of his death shewes plainly Iohn 12.31 Now is the judgement of this world now shall the Prince of this world be cast out If there were a Champion that should undertake a combat for us and overcome our enemies wee would not consider so much other circumstances of his person or state but specially his cariage and behaviour in managing our combat and his act of overcomming Christ our Champion hath overcome all our enemies in his death upon the Crosse and therefore that is the fittest object for our hearts to be set upon in the remembrance of Christ The Vses The first use serves for reproofe of those that are so nice and dainty that they cannot endure to meditate on Christs death the matter of his resurrection and ascension and glorification are pleasing unto them but the matter of his death that is harsh and distastfull all of us could be content to goe with Christ to Mount Tabor where he was transfigured that we might see his glory but we are loth to goe with him to mount Calvery where hee was crucified to taste of his sufferings the Iewes bewrayed this humour in the corrupt nature of man when they said Let him come downe from the Crosse and we will beleeve in him If Christ could be separated from his crosse and sufferings and from his death generally all would be forward enough to take hold upon but let us know that except we have our part in Christ crucified we shall never have our part in Christ glorified the crosse of Christ was his way to glorie and our due meditation and participation on his Crosse is the onely way for us to come to the participation of his glory But some will say to thinke upon Christ crucified and slaine and murdered and tormented these be bloody thoughts how should we digest them I answer First it is needfull for us that we should bee possessed with such bloody thoughts that thereby we may bee brought to see and take notice of the uglinesse and fearfulnesse of our sinne but secondly wee doe not dwell in the grosse and carnall meditation of his wounds and blood-shedding as the Papists doe but we are spiritually minded in the meditatiō of his death and therein we behold Gods decree in giving his Son for our redemptiō his wrath against sinne and his mercy to us in the forgivenesse of our sins and this is it that makes our meditations and thoughts of Christs death to be most comfortable and heavenly thoughts Secondly this teacheth us that wee should labour to bee skilfull and well practised in the meditation of Christs death and to have our eye continually upon Christ crucified That which our Saviour said to Thomas Iohn 20.27 Put thy finger here and see my hands and put it forth and put it into my sides though it were spoke there of his materiall wounds yet every one of us must take it spiritually to be spoken to our selves wee must put our fingers our hands into the holes of his sides we must dive deep by our meditatiōs into the secret mysteries of his death that therby we may become his true beleeving Disciples the death of Iesus Christ is of all other things most serviceable and profitable and comfortable to us even in respect of all the parts of Religion Wouldest thou behold the love of God towards thee and know how dearly hee loves thee See it in the death of Christ God hath given his Sonne not onely to become man for us but even to dye for us and to endure the greatest extremities for us that ever could be thought upon here is a cleere glasse wherein we may behold the height and the depth and the length and the bredth of Gods love towards us touching the forgivenesse of our sinnes every one would faine bee perswaded of it but we can never attaine to any sound perswasion thereof till wee search and see thorowly into the death of Christ Gods wrath against sin is infinite and it passeth all our apprehension to conceive how hee being so just and righteous can possibly forgive a sinner till by our thorow acquaintance with the death of Christ we finde therein infinite matter of satisfaction to Gods infinite justice so in our hatred to sinne we can never loath sinne as we should doe but by looking into the death of Christ where we see that it was so loathsome and so odious to God that it did kindle Gods infinite wrath even against
tender himselfe in his feast and spread his table and call us as the King called her to eate and to drinke of that which he hath prepared if wee refuse to come as she did what can we expect but that there shall be a divorce made betweene God and us I will not acknowledge you for my spouse will God say you shall have no more my ordinances nor Oracles amongst you Let us I beseech you rightly consider of these things and so farre as we are guilty labour to reforme them in our selves and according to our power in others It is strange to see and to heare what strange alligations men make to colour themselves in this their negligence it is strange to see how witty men are to colour these things and to deceive their owne soules it is the Devills wit he puts it into them now the true ground and reason why they come not oft to the Sacrament is because they contemne Gods ordinance and are unthankfull to the Lord Iesus Christ for his infinite love and withall also it is a kinde of sluggishnesse that is in them that they are loth to put themselves and their hearts to such examinations and tryalls and provings and siftings and rippings up to such denying of themselves and such faithfull promises to God of new obedience as every one that comes as a worthy receiver must have they are loth to put themselves to this hardness therfore they communicate not oft in this Sacrament and this is the true reason why they are loth to come to it they say it is a toyl to come so oft it is true it is a toyle to the flesh and to corrupt nature but no toyle to a childe of God but joy and comfort to him Yet further you shall heare what they will alleadge and pretend besides some of them say there is no such necessity that we should receive it so oft and they give you some reasons for it as first why say they the Sacrament of Baptisme is a Sacrament of good use as well as the sacrament of the Lords Supper and that is to be communicated in but once and why then should wee communicate so oft in the sacrament of the Lords Supper I answer baptisme is ordained for our admissiō into the Church and house of God and there can be but one admission into if but when wee are in then we must grow further and further to bee incorporated into Christ and that is by the sacrament of the Lords Supper our baptisme gives us our admission and entrance though the power of baptisme continues to our lives end and whosoever feeles not the power of his baptisme in the course of his life that man was never truly baptised though the outward action of baptisme bee not to be reiterated yet still it continues in being to our last end still we are baptized into the death of Christ still wee must labour to bee that which we are baptized to be to be like to Christ and to follow him So then you see there is great reason why baptism must be but once because that is the admission of us into the Church but this is our going forward in the Church and in the work of grace therefore we must not stand still but proceed forward in this exercise continually Againe another reason that they alleadge is this I but say they was not the Passeover in the former Testament a sacrifice answerable to the Sacrament in the new Testament and that was celebrated but once a yeare and why then should this be often I answer there is great reason the time of the celebration of the Passeover was a ceremony and so a part of Gods worship to the Iewes the Passeover was commanded to be celebrated once and but once in the year and they should have sinned if they had celebrated it more then once but the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is to bee celebrated often and we sinne if wee doe not Besides that the Passeover was but for one temporall deliverance from the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh and that one deliverance was but once wrought but the Sacrament of the Lords Supper resembles unto us our eternal deliverance from sinne Sathan hell death and damnation and this is not onely wrought but dayly running on and all Converts are still dayly plucked out from hell and the jawes of Sathan The worke of our redemption is every day after that wee are throughly converted still the old man is crucified and the new man is repaired in us and therefore howsoever it were sufficient that the passeover was once celebrated and but once yet this sacrament crament of the Lords Supper is oft to bee received because it is the celebration of our eternall and everlasting redemption and deliverance a thing that is continually in working Lastly if so be that that were a good rule then it followes that as the Israelites were to celebrate the Passeover that day onely that they were delivered our of Egypt then it followes that wee should receive this Sacrament but onely upon good Fryday and no time else but they themselves confesse that that is Iewish and therefore by their owne confession this can bee no just reason against the often participation of this Sacrament Another reason that they have that there is no necessity in receiving it oft is the example of our Saviour Christ we need not to bee more carefull say they then Christ and he never received it but once in all his life time and therefore wee need have it but once I answer Christ to the time of his death was under the Law as hee was man and so was to behave himselfe and conforme himselfe to the ceremonies of the Law and therefore he was not to have a hand in this Sacrament of the new Testament till the time came that the old was to be abolished Besides that we must understand that hee was rather an Institutor then a receiver of this Sacrament and therfore he was to make choyce of the fittest time when it was to be done and that was as neere to his death as could be and therefore he spake of it as a thing past This is my blood that is shed for you so that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper must be as neere to his death as may bee and therefore it was fittest to bee instituted by him the night before he suffered Last of all if they say so then they must conclude by their owne rule that they must never receive the sacrament but when they are ready to dye if that reason hold good But as I said before our Saviour Christ was the Institutor of the sacrament therfore he chose that time that it might bee the fresher in memory Another thing they alledge is a matter of inconveniency oh say they if we should come oft it would be tedious to us I surely matters of God are tedious to worldly and carnall men tedious to flesh and
to be Lord. Rom. 1.4 there it is said that Christ was declared mightily to be the Sonne of God He speakes there of our Saviour Christ and calls him the Sonne of God that is to say the Lord. He saith He was declared mightily to be Sonne of God and how I pray you By the spirit of sanctification by the resurrection from the dead Now this you must understand that the power whereby Christ raised himselfe from death was in him whilest he was in the state of death and whilest Christ lay in the grave then was this power in him to raise up himselfe now by this power hee shewed himselfe to be the Sonne of God to bee the Lord and it is a mighty declaration of him to be the Sonne of God and therefore Christ declared himselfe mightily to be the Lord even in the state of his death Luke 23.42 the Thiefe he gives testimony to this truth our Saviour being upon the Crosse he saith O Lord remember mee when thou commest into thy kingdome Those that crucified him did not see nor take notice that hee was the Lord but the poore Thiefe did see him to be the Lord and did know that hee was the Lord and he beleeved in him and called upon him as the Lord wee never reade that ever he did know before that he was the Lord nothing brought him to know Christ to be the Lord but that which he discerned in him upon the Crosse So the Centurion in Matth. 27.44 the Text saith that the Centurion and others that saw those fearfull things that came to passe at the death of Christ Of a truth say they this man was the Sonne of God The Centurion for ought we know did never know nor take notice that this man was the Sonne of God till he came to behold his death but when he came to behold him on the Crosse by the eye of Faith he saw such evident signes of him to be the Lord that hee perswaded himselfe and takes his oath of it and saith Of a truth this man is the Son of God howsoever it is that they killed him yet of a truth this was the Sonne of God In the 51. and 52. verses those fearfull accidents that are mentioned there as the veile renting the Rockes cleaving asunder the graves opening and many of the bodies of the Saints that slept arose what did all this shew but that Christ did clearly manifest himselfe and prove himselfe to bee the Lord even in his death that the dead and insensible creatures were sensible of it the earth the stones and graves discerned it and the bodies of the Saints that were dead discerned it and did acknowledge it in their kinde What a fearfull upbraiding to the Iewes was this that either they did not see Christ to be the Lord or would not see him nor acknowledge him when the very stones and other insensible creatures were sensible of it So then you see the Doctrine is clearly proved by Scripture that Christ Iesus howsoever he was shamefully crucified and put to a most cruell and ignominious death as ever any man could be putunto yet notwithstanding even in that state of his death he was the Lord and shewed himselfe to be the Lord the glorious Lord of heaven and earth The Reasons of the Doctrine are these Reason 1 The first is this Hee was the Lord and shewed himselfe to be the Lord over his Church The first Reason I say is drawne from his Church Christ Iesus in his death was Lord over his Church and so shewed himselfe to be for then indeed by his death he did purchase and redeeme his Church he bought his Church then the faithfull were his owne by actuall redemption You know that those things which a man purchases and buyes at a deare rate and gives for them as much as they are worth they are his owne by a true title If so be that any man do redeem a man out of the gallies he is truly his Lord in the right kind of owning and the other is his servant Christ when he was upon the crosse then did he purchase and buy his Church by his blood and then therein he shewed himselfe in a most right sense to bee the Lord of his Church then were they his owne by actuall redemption and this is that which the Saints did acknowledge Revel 5.9 Oh worthy art thou to take the Booke and to open the seale thereof and why is he worthy more than any other Because thou wast killed and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood and therefore thou hast a true interest into us and thou art surely our Lord and worthy art thou so to bee acknowledged And our Saviour gives some intimation of it in the 18. of Iohn If I were lifted up from the earth saith our Saviour I would draw all men unto me What is meant by lifting up that is to say his crucifying If I were crucified I would draw all men after me The reach of the place is this That Christ by his crucifying and his death drawes all men and gathers all his Church to himselfe he purchases them and makes them his owne by redemption that he may be acknowledged their Lord and they his people and servants and surely as Christ did gather all beleevers from the beginning of the world by the power of his word and death and blessed Spirit so specially in the actuall performance of his suffering then chiefly did he draw all men unto him for then his Lordship after a speciall manner was advanced and the territories of his kingdome were much inlarged and now no longer was it to be bound and to be contained within the borders of Iudea but to have dominion from sea to sea unto the worlds end Oh what a mighty Lord did he shew himselfe to be even in his death Reason 2 Secondly as he was Lord over the Church so he was and so hee shewed himselfe to be even a Lord over his enemies What is the greatest honour of a Lord or whereby doth a man come to be most justly and rightly called Lord but by subduing his enemies under him Psal 110. The Lord said unto my Lord sit at my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstoole Here is a true and a right Lord when he can subdue and trample his enemies under his feet Christ being upon the crosse in his death then indeed did he especially vanquish and trample his enemies under his feet Satan and all his instruments Then he tooke them downe to their greatest shame to their irrecoverable losse and utter ruine for ever See how the Apostle speakes of it Coloss 2.15 Hee hath spoyled Principalities and Powers and hath made a shew of them openly and hath triumphed over them in the Crosse What bee the enemies that our Saviour Christ hath why they are Principalities and Powers he hath vanquished them all the Devill and his Angells not onely as a man would say petty Devills but
in his death and whosoever we are that have our hearts rightly seasoned with the death of Christ why surely it will worke a conscionable obedience to the will and commandement of God to be sorrowfull for our sins past to deny our selves to mortifie the lusts of the flesh to dye to sinne these be the naturall effects of the death of Christ in the hearts of beleevers these we must bring with us to bee conformable to the whole wil of God as Christ was in his life and specially at his death I am come saith he to doe thy will O God and thus doth the death of Christ frame the hearts of every one of us to true obedience I am content to doe thy will O God this is as it were even the practising of the death of Christ crucified namely in our obedience to God denying our owne selves in mortifying our owne sinfull lusts and affections for wee must know that these meditations must not be dead meditations but such as must be lively and operative to quicken us up to obedience to Gods wil. The last grace is Thankfulnesse to acknowledge all honour and thankes to be due unto God for this great worke of our Redemption by the blood of Iesus Christ this is a chiefe grace that we must chiefly bring with us to the Lords Supper to give God the praise and glory of it and this is our rejoycing in the death of Iesus Christ it is not possible that a man should know Christ Iesus or that a man should love Christ for his death or that he should obey Christ but he must also rejoyce in the death of Christ and how should wee rejoyce in the Lord but by giving him thanks and singing of praise to him for this great benefit every one must bring these graces in some measure or else hee is not fit to come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Now if so bee the Lord should come among us and make an inquirie and rip up every one of us alas how should he finde every one of us to be empty of these graces or else full of imperfections in every one of them well yet though we have failings still let us labour for these graces let us pray to God for these graces and let us never doubt if we do pray and labour for them conscionably but that first God will give us in some measure every one of them secondly if wee come with a true desire God will graciously accept of our desire as if we had possession of the graces themselves but the chiefest matter is this that that which wee have and that which we want of these graces the Lord will supply them all out of the fulnesse of Christ who is full of grace and truth and of whose fulnesse we all receive grace for grace therefore let us seeke for these graces and labour for them and use the meanes and let us put our selves to the mercy and leasure of God and let us not doubt but that the Lord will be mercifull unto us and he will give them us so farre forth as shall suffice for the saving of our soules Another matter of instruction is this this teacheth us what it is that wee must especially looke after when wee come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper that which is specially tendred unto us the death of Christ I shewed you first there must be hungring and thirsting and secondly what graces we must bring with us now what is the chiefe matter that we must ayme at the very death of Iesus Christ to discerne it and here we must inlarge our thoughts to many considerations First and for most we must consider with our selves that Christ dyed for us that he suffered a shamefull and a cruell death then when we have considered of that we must consider that Christs death is a sufficient ransome for mans redemption I but I must goe further and say that I am one of the persons that shed Christs blood thogh it were the Iewes act yet it was my sinne and then further that that blood which I have spilt the same shall bee effectuall through Gods rich mercy for the saving of my soule and then withall I must tye my selfe to obey the death of Iesus Christ and to be made like unto it and conformable thereunto The last Vse It should teach us what is the straine the highest straine the highest pitch that a man should reach at in the receiving of the Sacrament Wee must so discerne the death of Christ in the Sacrament that we may bee made partakers of Christs death First to be swallowed up of it with an holy admiration and a fervent meditation thereupon and secondly to be more and more incorporate into it by a holy kinde of union thirdly and lastly to be saved by it as by the all-sufficient price of our redemption First we must come to meditate and so to partake of it as that we be swallowed up with the meditation of the death of Iesus Christ the death of Iesus Christ is a bottomlesse depth man cannot reach it the Angels cannot reach it and wee cannot comprehend it and therefore the best way is when we have considered all the occurrences of it that we can let us lay our selves wholly into the hands of God to be swallowed up with that holy meditation of the death of Christ and to bee comprehended of that which wee are not able to comprehend Secondly to bee more and more incorporated into it by a holy kind of union every man that is a true beleever that is converted unto God is already incorporated into Christ his death so then when we come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper we must partake the death of Christ so as that we may be the more incorporated into it that is to be made more and more one with Christ in his death than ever we were before more crucified and more mortified than ever wee were before there is no way whereby we can have part in Christ but by union and there is no way whereby we can have uniō with Christ but by being incorporate into him by the power of his death and there is no better way to make us more incorporate into the death of Christ than the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is and therefore when we come to this let this be our straine not onely to bee swallowed up with the meditation of the death of Christ but labour to be more and more incorporate into the death of Christ thereby Last of all let us so labour to bee made partakers of it that we may be saved by it as being the all-sufficient price of our Redemption for by the death of Iesus Christ the wrath of God is appeased the Law of God is fulfilled there the Iustice of God is satisfied for there our sinnes are pardoned there our ransome is payd there is all performed whatsoever is necessary for the salvation of mankinde and therefore
as at all times so then especially when we come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper let us labour to be so made partakers of the Lords death of that infinite benefit that ariseth by it that wee may be saved by it as by the all-sufficient price of our Redemption The end of the seventeenth Lecture THE EIGHTEENTH LECTVRE VPON THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORDS SVPPER WEE are still to proceed God willing in the handling of this Text by occasion of the next Sabbath being a Communion day so that now we are to goe on where we left I shewed you that in the latter part of the verse there is contained a caution that the receiving of the Lords Supper is to bee performed withall the shewing forth of the Lords death wherein I noted to you in the caution it selfe these two things first the matter that is to be remembred and secondly the manner of the remembring of it The matter that is to be remembred is the death of the Lord Iesus Christ the maner of the remembring of it how is it to be remeÌ„bred why by a kind of shewing forth by a kinde of lively or sensible expressing of it Wee have spoken of the matter heretofore and even now we made repetition of that which was last spoken concerning this caution namely concerning the death of Iesus Christ Now as God shall inable us we are to handle the manner the manner how this death of the Lord Iesus Christ is remembred in the Sacrament is a shewing forth saith the Text a setting forth or a shewing forth for so the words signifie that is to say a kinde of lively and sensible expressing of the death of Christ is in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper one translation comes a little short of the power of the word in the originall which is worthy to be knowne we read it hence we shew the Lords death the originall word intends two things very materiall to our present purpose for it is a Compound word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the simple verbe it selfe is very significant but the preposition that it is compounded withall addes somewhat more to the significancy of it and makes it more pregnant and more full to the matter wee have in hand First the simple verbe it selfe signifies to shew to publish or to declare not simply but to shew and publish by way of a message or as it were by way of a lively voice In the Sacrament of the Lords Supper there must be certaine speeches and certaine words that are to be used there is a message that is to bee published whensoever the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is rightly administred If you aske what that message is I answer it is the very message of the Gospell the very doctrine of the Gospell free remission of our sinnes by the blood of Christ that is the substance of the Sacrament that is the doctrine of the Gospell and our Saviour himselfe when he did institute the Sacrament as it is in Matth. 26.28 there he saith This is my blood of the New Testament that is shed for many for the remission of sinnes Here is the very preaching of the Gospell published in the administration of the Sacrament free remission of sinnes by the blood of Iesus Christ And surely the very same word that signifies the Gospell in the originall is derived from this simple verbe that here is used giving us some intimation that the message that is to bee published is indeed the message of the Gospell Why then in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Christ must be published by way of message or by way of lively voice But secondly the preposition that it is compounded withall that addes somewhat more what is that It must be done throughly it must be done earnestly for so the word signifies in the Originall as if â—â—e would say there must be a vehement publishing of it a vehement shewing forth It is not onely a shewing that will serve the turne much lesse a slender and a carelesse shewing of the death of Christ but it must be shewed throughly and earnestly as the matter it selfe is a matter of great waight and moment as ever was so likewise the shewing forth must be answerable thereunto It must be shewed most seriously and most affectionately and this the word signifies in the originall Yee shew forth the Lords death by way of a message and that earnestly till he come And whereas some reade it positively by way of approbation You doe shew the Lords death till he come and others doe reade it imparatively by way of command See ye shew the Lords death or You shall shew the Lords death both these in substance tend to one and the same effect And indeed the one of these doth consequently inferre the other For if wee reade it positively Yee doe shew the Lords death then this being a matter that is commended in them by the Apostle it doth imply that it is a duty and must be performed then if we reade it imparatively Ye shall shew or See you shew the Lords death till he come then it is implyed that all the faithfull that will conforme themselves to the ordinance of God they doe performe this they practise this at the receiving of the Sacrament they doe shew forth the Lords death till he come If we reade it positively it intends thus much namely that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is a fit occasion or a fit meanes in and whereby we come to shew forth the Lords death If we reade it imparatively ye shall shew forth the Lords death it imposes a duty that whensoever we meet together at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper we must be shewing forth of the Lords death there is little difference betweene them and in effect they are the same and because I am loth to vary from our own translatioÌ„ but upon good occasion because our translation comes neerest to the originall because the originall doth naturally sound to this effect you doe shew the Lords death rather than yee shall shew forth the Lords death therefore I will not change our owne translation but take it positively as it is propounded that you doe shew forth the Lords deathtill he come so we will take it that the Sacrament is a fit subject or meanes in and wherby to shew forth the Lords death and this is the principall matter that this Scripture doth ayme at and this doth confirme directly the very point that we made choice of this Scripture for namely to prove that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is a memoriall of the death of Christ The Text saith plainly As often as ye eate this bread and drinke this cup ye shew forth the Lords death till hee come or remember or expresse in a lively manner the Lords death Doctr. The Doctrine then that here we are to observe for our instruction is this In that the Apostle saith here Whensoever you receive the Sacrament
vnto us therefore the Sacrament that shewes forth the death of Christ lively to us too that the word shewes forth the death of Christ lively it appeares Gal. 3.1 Oh ye foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you that ye should not beleeve the truth to whom Christ Iesus was before described in your sight and among you crucified The Galathians they never saw Christ crucified in their lives but yet Paul did preach Christ crucified so plainly and so effectually to the Galathians that he did as it were present Christ crucified before their bodily eyes he did so worke by the operation of Gods spirit in his ministery that they had a more sure and plaine apprehension of the death of Christ within them then many of those that stood by and saw him crucified if it be so in the word it is so in the sacrament if the word do so lively represent him the sacrament doth it much more for the sacrament is a visible word that is to say looke whatsoever the word sounds unto us in our eares that the sacrament presents and exhibits before our eyes the sacrament is a visible word now that which I see to bee done before my face is more lively represented unto mee than that which I heare with my eares therefore if the Word describe the death of Christ lively then doth the Sacrament much more Reason 3 The third Reason is drawne from the end of the institution What was the end of the institution of the Sacrament what purpose had our Saviour when he instituted the Sacrament Even this purpose chiefly that he might leave among his Disciples to the end of the world a pledge a token and pawne as the memoriall of his death that he suffered for us the end that Christ aymes at he will not have frustrate that which Christ doth he will doe it throughly If hee come to set fire upon the earth what is his will but it should burne If Christ ordaine a memoriall of his death it shall be a cleare memoriall this Sacrament was ordained of purpose by him for his remembrance Doe this in remembrance of me saith hee therefore it is a lively representation of his death and except wee will impeach either the power or the goodnesse of Christ Iesus as who should say he could not make a lively representation of his death or else he would not we must needs confesse that this Sacrament is as lively a memoriall of his death as ever could be devised I might adde other reasons as namely concerning the state of the New Testament The state of the new Testament requires that all things should be most cleare and most plaine and especially the death of Christ that that should be most clearly represented unto us Zach. 12.10 I will poure forth my Spirit upon the inhabitants of Ierusalem and I will make them that they shall looke upon me whom they have pierced that is behold me as it were with their bodily eyes Now the meaning is that hee shall deale with them to this effect by his Spirit but yet collaterally it reaches also to the Word and Sacraments for if he doe deale with them so by his inward Spirit then the outward meanes must bee answerable so then the reach of the place is to teach us that in the time of the Gospell Christ Iesus shall be represented before our eyes and this shall bee by the Spirit of God in our hearts but still it must bee understood that the Word and Sacraments must be answerable hereunto and therefore the Word and Sacraments must represent Christ Iesus unto us as clearly as if hee were nailed upon the Crosse before our eyes Vse 1 The Vses of the Doctrine are these The first Vse is this First here is matter of instruction calling upon us for many good duties that the consideration of this doctrine should raise us up to performe Is it so that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is such a lively representation such a fresh memoriall of the death of Iesus Christ then this should teach us that our private and publike preparation before wee come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper I say our publike but especially our private preparation should be such as may bee answerable unto that businesse that we have in hand and seeing when we come to the Lords Table wee come to behold Christ here before us as it were with our bodily eyes in the outward signes and with the eyes of our mindes under and within those veiles therefore every one of us must labour so to be fitted and so prepared before we come hither that we may be worthy and profitable beholders of Christ crucified and worthy receivers of the mysteries and benefits of his precious death Take this for your rule and remember it well and let this bee practised if not in the same kinde yet in the like whensoever wee have a purpose to come to the Lords Table let us still have our hearts meditating upon Christs death all the weeke long but especially over-night and that morning that we are to receive let us labour carefully to endue and informe our selves with the thoughts of the death of Iesus Christ How should that be why reade some good booke of that argument especially reade the Booke of all Bookes I mean the Booke of God if thou canst not reade get another to reade it to thee read the 53. of Esay there we may see how lively he sets before us the death of Christ long before Christ himselfe felt the smart of it and so proceed to reade the story of his death in one of the Euangelists as Matthew Marke Luke or Iohn as all are very pregnant for that purpose and we know that howsoever there bee some men that have set forth this argument very worthily yet all of them come farre short of one line of the Holy Ghost one chapter in the Booke of God being well understood shall doe us more good being seriously meditated upon than all other Books besides I say reade the Chapters of the story of the death of Christ and as thou readest them take them to heart and pause deliberately upon them and consider of them well and pray to God to imprint the same into thy heart by the finger of his Spirit and if thus thou doest from one Communion to another thou shalt finde through Gods blessing that whensoever thou commest to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper thou shalt there see thy Saviour most clearly but if thou be not carefull thus to meditate of Christ before-hand thou shalt be but an unprofitable receiver and beholder of these mysteries I will make the matter somewhat cleare by a comparison If there were a Martyr to suffer for the profession of the Gospell two men having knowne him before goe together to see his death the one of them knows him but a little and hath heard of the cause only in some generall termes but the other hath more neere
acquaintance with him and hath better informed himselfe of him and was by when he was arraigned and heard his arraignment and his inditement and all the passages of the businesse and what was alledged against him by his accusers and what he answered for himselfe and why the sentence of death was passed against him which of these two men shall be most affected with the death of this Martyr Out of question hee that was so lately acquainted with his arraignment and his inditement and with the whole cause of his death the death of that Martyr shall strike much into this mans heart and worke soundly upon him whereas the other man which knew of him but in generall shall bee moved with it but little or nothing at all So it is in this case when wee come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper wee come to behold Iesus Christ executed and put to death to every spirituall receiver in a spirituall manner to reade the story concerning the death of Christ to meditate upon those things conscionably and religiously with a desire to profit by them it is as if so bee a man should have stood by when Christ was arraigned and indited and heard what was spoken against him and what sentence was passed upon him For when the Holy Ghost pennes a story he will pen it throughly and if we lay downe our hearts to be wrought upon by the power of the Word wee shall finde such a powerfull working by it that it shall bee more effectuall to us than it wee had beene there present to have seene the death of Christ So then by reading the story before-hand wee being as it were present with him at his arraignment and inditement thinke with your selves whether this will not be a notable meanes to make the death of Iesus Christ effectual unto us in the Sacrament and if we looke for any benefit by the Sacrament let us come with this preparation before-hand Iohn 13.19 Christ saith I tell you these things before-hand that when ye see these things come to passe ye might beleeve He speakes there partly concerning his death the words that Christ spake concerning his owne death hee puts upon his Disciples before-hand that when it did come to passe they might beleeve this would bee a meanes to cherish faith in them and to make them beleeve it the better so if wee come to the Sacrament reade the Word of God that part of the Word that principally concernes the death of Christ and meditate upon that which Christ hath told us of before-hand that so we might beleeve it and this will bee a notable meanes through Gods blessing to make us that we shall beleeve that the death of Christ is ours and that it is effectuall for our redemption The second Vse for instruction is this Is it so that the Sacrament is such a lively representation of the death of Christ then this teacheth us that the publike cariage of the whole businesse of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper must be framed and fashioned so as it may make most for the lively setting forth of the death of the Lord Iesus Christ and herein are many duties required of us The first duty of all is this the Word is to be preached that so the people may understand and know that which belongs to God and to their owne salvation else it will bee but a blinde Sacrament but especially the Gospell the voice of the Gospell namely the free remission of sins by the blood of Iesus Christ that is to be pressed upon them againe and againe that they may be stirred up in their affections to esteeme and receive it graciously it is a course that God hath used in all Sacraments still to joyne together with the Sacraments the Word preached Before the sacrament of Circumcision was administred the Word was taught so likewise the Passeover as is cleare in Exod. 12.35 It is noted there that when their children should come to aske what was this Passeover Tell them saith God that this is the memoriall of the great deliverance of their fathers many hundred yeares before out of the bondage of Aegypt So likewise Christ saith in the Sacrament of Baptisme Goe teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost Matth 28. He doth not say Goe and baptize and let teaching alone but Goe teach there is the ground and foundation and then he builds upon it the administration of the Sacrament Goe teach and baptize in the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost If teaching be not joyned with the Sacrament it is but a dumbe sacrament if men should come here to the sacrament of the Lords supper and be not taught what it meanes and what belongs to it it should be with them as it was with the Israelites Exod. 16.15 That saw Manna like Coriander seed the Text saith they knew not what it was but when Moses came and said This is the bread that God gave them from heaven now they come to relish it So when we come to this sacrament and see the bread and the wine except we be indued with the knowledge of Christ and we understand Christ and him crucified know the nature of the sacrament wee shall not know what to make of it but if the Word be preached then we beginne to grow to some understanding and some life in the businesse and to relish this Sacrament as the spirituall Manna the heavenly food of our soules Secondly as the word must be preached so likewise confession of Faith ought to made Generally here amongst us wee make confession of our Faith by the tendring of our bodies but indeed the confession of our faith ought to be published before the receiving of the Lords supper this is a right shewing forth of the Lords death Marke it the Apostle saith yee shew forth the Lords death hee speakes not to the Ministers onely but to the people yee shew forth therfore they should make some publike confession that they beleeve in Christ Iesus And this is a matter that tends much to the setting forth of the death of Christ Thirdly Prayers are to be made for therein likewise wee shew the death of Iesus Christ First there must be confession of our sins and wee must search into our hearts and lives narrowly and throughly and the more we search into them the more clearely we shall see Christ his death Together with confession of sinnes wee must use supplication and petition calling earnestly upon God for Christ his sake which thus was crucified for us that hee would forgive us our sinnes in his blood and this will give great light to the setting forth of the death of Christ and then also thankesgiving must be given to the Lord we must thanke and praise God that it hath pleased him so to set his love upon us as to give his Sonne to die for us cursed and miserable sinners as we are
at any time forget us this should and must perswade us to make the death of Iesus Christ our continuall remembrance Reason 2 Secondly God alwayes remembers the death of Christ it is our duty and it is our grace and our happinesse to doe as God doth therefore seeing that God remembers Christs death alwayes oh how ought we to remember Christs death alwayes too It is true God cannot bee said properly to remember any thing because remembrance is of things past nothing is past in respect of God all things are still present before him neither can he be said properly to remember one thing more then another because hee cannot forget any thing But yet to speake according to the manner of man God may be said and God is said to remember things done yea some things more then others because he testifies and shewes by his outward proceedings more respect unto some things then unto other thus may God be said to remember the death of Christ and that more and above all things else because he shewes in his outward proceedings more respect to the death of CHRIST then to any thing else Whatsoever God doth in the administration of the world he doth it respectively to the death of Christ let it be to the preservation and salvation of the faithfull It is respectively to the death of Christ because they have their parts in him and he in them Let it bee to the destruction of the wicked it is respectively to the death of Christ they have no part in Christ whatsoever dangers thou escapest thou escapest them by the power of the death of Iesus Christ whatsoever benefits thou receivest it is by vertue of the death of Christ whatsoever grace God giveth thee he giveth it thee only in the remēbrance of the death of Christ whatsoever sinne God forgiveth thee he forgiveth it thee meerly in the shedding of Christs blood Is the death of Christ so precious that it is worthy alwayes to bee remembred by the Lord himselfe how much more then is it to be remembred by us Reason 3 A third reason we have continuall need and continuall use of the death of Christ and therefore wee must have it alwayes in continuall remembrance we must alwayes have it in a readinesse about us we have continuall need and use of the death of Christ great need as much as our bodies and our lives yea as much as our soules are worth our faith that requires daily to be strengthened why our faith that is stablished in the blood and death of Christ so the Scripture speaketh Through faith in his blood as the blood of Christ or the death of Christ being the very chiefe foundation that the faith of Gods children is rooted in and setled and stablished upon wee must pray continually every body knowes that it is the expresse commandement of the Apostle Pray continually we can never put up any the least pleasing petition to God but the eye of our faith must be fixed upon the death of Christ and therefore we must alwayes remember it wee are tempted daily to sinne no sound resistance of any temptation but in the death of Iesus Christ Rev. 12.10 11. If we ever overcome the accuser it must be by the blood of the Lambe sin must be mortified the death of Christ is the onely sword to mortifie and to slay sinne within us And last of all we sin dayly and therefore we have need of the forgivenesse of our sinnes and reconciliation and peace to be made with God continually no hope of forgivenesse of sinnes and of reconciliation but onely and meerly by the blood of Iesus Christ now ordinary wisedome and reason teacheth us looke what we know wee have continuall use of wheresoever wee goe wee will bee sure to carry that about us be it money or strong waters or the like wee will alwayes have it about us wee have continuall use and great need of the death of Christ even as much as the price of our life and soule is worth therefore let us alwaies have that in our hearts alwaies in a readinesse about us because we have continuall use of it Reason 4 A fourth reason is this the death of Christ Iesus doth alwaies labor for us and worke for us as a man would say and travels for us and that not in any small employment but in the best and the greatest worke that concernes our best good namely in satisfying our debts and in making our peace with God Heb. 12.24 the Apostle saith there that the blood of Christ Iesus that speakes better things then that of Abel the intendment of that Scripture is this wee sinne daily against God the sinnes that we doe commit doe cry out daily to heaven for vengeance to be poured upon us even as the blood of Abel did cry for vengeance to bee poured upon Cain but the blood of Christ Iesus that steps in for us and that speakes better things than the blood of Abel and calls to God for mercy and for forgivenesse and so prevailes against the cry of our sinnes and procures mercy and forgivenesse at the hands of God Heb. 10.19 20 vers there the Apostle calls the blood of Christ the new and the fresh and the living Way Well what is the meaning of it the meaning is this that whereas wee doe sinne and offend God daily the blood of Christ Iesus that daily makes our peace the death of Christ that is as it were day by day fresh and bleeding anew in the sight of God and so makes our peace with God It is true indeed when Christ offered himselfe upon the Crosse that then his blood was actually shed and never else yet it is as true that the blood of Christ bleedeth anew effectually in the sight of God when any sinne is forgiven any soule The death of Christ thus working and travelling for us shal not we remember it continuallie We must never forget those that worke and labour for us and for our good and shall wee not alwaies remember CHRIST IESVS especially in his death whereby hee doth effect our greatest good Reason 5 The last reason is this the thoughts of the death of Christ Iesus are most sutable and agreeable unto us in this present estate that we are in and therefore wee ought to remember it alwaies so long as we are in this estate the thoughts of his resurrection they are alwaies comprehended within the thoughts of his death and the thoughts of Christ his glory that being a matter which we can see here onely a farre off are not so fit for us in this abasement and humiliation and corrupt estate we are now in continually to feed upon but the thoughts of the death of Iesus Christ are most fitting for this present estate In this estate we are daily to bee cast downe before the Lord nothing will humble us so throughly as the thoughts of the death of Iesus Christ still wee must have sinne to be crucified
mortified and killed within us In this state of humiliation that we are in there is nothing so powerfull and effectuall to kill sinne as the death of Iesus Christ in this state we must be fitted still and prepared to the glory that shall be revealed the thoughts of the death of Iesus Christ continually meditated upon are an excellent preparation for us to glory for if we remember the death of Christ affectionately as we ought wee suffer with him and therefore we shall be sure to raigne with him wee are dead with him and therefore also shall live with him these thoughts being so sutable and agreeable to our present estate therefore the remembrance of Christs death must alwaies bee present with us The uses of the doctrine are these Vse 1 the first use is this here is matter of reproofe this serves then to reprove two sorts of people First it serves to reprove the prophane and carnall gracelesse wretches of the world that will never enter into any serious thoughts of the death of the Lord Iesus Christ if so be that to blaspheme Christs death to blaspheme Christs blood to make mentiō of it in their fearfull oathes damnable protestations if that be to remember Christs death they remember it often enough oftner then they are able to justifie but as for any holy religious reverent devout and saving remembrance of Christs death that they never enter into no they seek all the means they can take all the courses that ever they can to turne such thoughts out of their hearts such thoughts are too sad and too sorrowfull for them they cannot endure them take a man that lies wholy in his sinne hee had as lieve thinke upon hell as upon the death of Iesus Christ soundly and seriously as he ought to doe but let such gracelesse wretches know that for this they shall never bee had in remembrance before the Lord for any mercy because they doe not remember the death of Christ wherein alone mercy is tendered to mankind Secondly it serves to reprove some of our nice and sluggish professors that content themselves now and then with the thoughts of the death of Iesus Christ happily when they come to the Lords Table happily when any affliction or cross or extremity comes upon them when they have any pang or torment of conscience comes unto them for their sinnes then happily they will entertaine the remembrance and the thoughts of Christs death but they cannot endure to make it their continuall taske which is the duty here prest upon us these men must know that God doth not love to be served by spirts and fits whatsoever we doe in the service of God let us doe it soundly and constantly God cannot endure such service as theirs is God requires intire obedience that we should obey him in all our courses and that at all times especially when just occasion of any duty is offered unto us Now then seeing just occasion is daily offered that wee should alwaies bee meditating and our hearts running upon the death of Iesus Christ therefore God requires it at our hands that wee should alwaies remember it this fire should never go out of our hearts it must glow and burne within us night and day It is fit that Gods children should have some set time when they should enter into a serious meditation of the death of Christ and yet not to thinke our selves acquitted if we doe it onely then but that that should prepare us to remember it ever after as we shewed before in our bodily repast A second use of this doctrine is this Vse 2 here is matter of tryall for us whereby wee may know our selves whether we be in the right way or no whether we doe truly professe the faith of Christ as we ought to doe all of us professe Christs religion wee know wee can have no part in Christ except we have part in the death of Christ and we know we can have no part in his death except it be remembred of us and applyed unto us in our continuall meditation therefore let us conclude this that so many of us as professe religion if wee doe not apply the death of Christ to our selves from time to time by due meditation whatsoever wee professe surely wee professe in vaine and this will be a witnesse against us that we are not the true children of God if so be that you would learne how you might come to know whether you have the right remembrance of the death of Iesus Christ within you learne it by these two or three markes see it in the morning when you awake doe you finde your hearts seasoned with good thoughts of the death of Iesus Christ with thoughts concerning forgivenesse and mortification and reconciliation to GOD and likewise if you have these thoughts or the like at night when you goe to bed this is a certaine evidence that your soules are seasoned with the death of Iesus Christ againe when we are in the duties of our calling all the day long we must still have our hearts lifted up and setled upon the death of Christ and our thoughts must be running upon our justification and our sanctification and our conformity to the death of Christ yea in our very mirth we must still preferre Ierusalem when we are in our greatest mirth in our honest recreations for those that are unhonest there is no hope of any spirituall comfort in them but in our honest recreations doe we prefere the death Iesus Christ before all those things that wee for a while doe solace our selves withall especially in the use of the meanes of salvation in the hearing of the Word the receiving of the Sacrament When we come to heare the Word do we finde in our selves a desire to be drawn on to see Christ crucified before our eyes When wee come to the receiving of the Sacrament is it our chiefe practice to remember Christ crucified affectionately and to have our hearts throughly seasoned with the power of his death these bee undoubted signes and assurances unto us that wee have our part in the death of Christ Vse 3 A third use is matter of exhortation for us Ministers teaching us that we should still labour to sprinkle all our speeches private and publike with some matter concerning the death of Christ with some matter concerning Christ crucified it was almost the whole doctrine of the Apostle still to preach Christ crucified but the use doth concerne all both Ministers and people therefore this should stirre up every one of us both Ministers and people that we should labour to make the thoughts and the remembrance of the death of Christ to be ordinary with us to bee familiar with us still make that as familiar with us as ever possibly we can in all our courses let us remember the death of Christ if wee remember that soundly then it shall goe well with us whatsoever befals us that we may bee the
better inabled and the more quickned to the performance of this duty First I will give you a taste of the meanes whereby wee may attaine to make the death of Christ so familiar to us and then I will shew the benefits that we shall receive hereby if we conscionably travell in this course The means of it are these in few words If we would have the death of Christ familiar unto us we must be sure that we doe never passe it over with a sleight meditation but let it be soundly taken to heart doe not thinke upon it as an ordinary common thing but conceive of it as a matter that doth concerne us and our good most of all let us thinke upon the death of Christ in that which he suffered and endured in his soule and body for our sinnes how hard it went with him in the Garden when hee sweat water and blood when his soule was heavy even unto death and how much more harder it went with him when hee was upon the Crosse when he said My God my God why hast thou forsaken me That he that was in singular favour with God should be made the very marke of Gods wrath to light upon that he who was the worlds Redeemer should bee exposed to the obloquy and reproch of the whole world that he who was the Lord of heaven and earth should be now in the hands of the powers of darknesse wee should yearne in our very bowels and be much troubled in our inmost affections at the thoughts of these things Secondly we must be frequent in the use of the meanes in the hearing of the Word in the receiving of the Sacrament and prayer for by this meanes wee shall make this death of Christ our owne there God tenders unto us the death of Christ let us come thither with hearts desirous ready and willing to receive it and there we shall be sure to have it Let it be our reach in all these duties to have an eye upon the death of Iesus Christ seeking to have that soundly fixed and fastened upon us whatsoever we faile in else still let that above all other sticke most close to us Then againe wee must labour to worke the remembrance of Christs death into our affections this is the right memory of heavenly things when the heart affects them the heart will surely remember that which it doth much affect When I see any thing that causeth deepe affection within me either much sorrow or much joy or the like I will remember that soundly then let us labour to worke the remembrance of the death of Christ into our affections let it still worke love in us because Christ loved us to die for us and let it worke hatred in us against sinne because it was sinne that brought him to his death and let it worke sorrow in us that he should bee so cruelly murthered and put to death for us And let it worke rejoycing in us that wee for our parts by his death are saved and by his stripes are healed Let the death of Christ worke these affections in us and then it shall be our owne never to forget it Lastly let us put our selves to the power and the rule and the directions of it let us suffer our selves to be swayed by the death of Iesus Christ in all our courses let it beare rule with us the counsell that our Saviour gives in the like case Iohn 7.17 If any doe my will the same shall know my doctrine any Christian that labours to be well acquainted with any duty the best way to bee acquainted with it is to labour for the obedience to that duty so if wee would remember Christ his death then let us labour to submit our selves to the power and obedience of it Whatsoever we doe let us examine it whether it be agreeable to the death of Christ if it be not then to say with our selves wee will not doe it though we may gaine all the world by it these are the meanes whereby wee may attaine to the habit of this grace namely to the continuall remembring of the death of Christ Iesus a saving remembrance The other point is the benefits that hereby will arise unto us If wee remember continually the death of Christ in our hearts we shall have many and great blessings The first blessing is this By this means we shall have a Book alwayes ready in our bosome alwaies a book about us to teach us every Christian duty for the death of Iesus Christ is such a Booke that will instruct us in every duty that belongs unto us To give you an instance in two or three Would you learne humility and meeknesse looke into the death of Christ Philip 2.5 6. that shall be sufficient to teach you humility and meeknesse and obedience Would you learne patience the death of Christ is a book to teach you patience Heb. 12.1 2 3. Looke to the author and finisher of your faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the Crosse and despised the shame c. consider him therefore that yee faint not Would you learne love to the brethren Christ his death teacheth you this duty in the highest degree 1 Iohn 3.16 If Christ so loved us that he laid downe his life for us then how ought wee also to lay downe our lives for the brethren Lastly to deny our selves is a speciall lesson that all Christians are to learne this is effectually taught us by the death of Christ 1 Pet. 4.1 2. Christ hath suffered in the flesh that we should not live to our selves but to him and this is a lively teacher if the death of Iesus Christ be soundly layd up in thy heart it will both teach thee the duties to bee performed and also inable thee to performe them A second benefit is this thou shalt have wonderfull peace and unspeakable comfort from God by this meanes Our sinnes they accuse us our consciences they accuse us the devill hee accuseth us daily before the Lord O but if thou have a remembrance of the death of Christ in thy heart there is a Supersedeas for them all that pacifies and appeaseth them all and that is a generall release and acquittance from all that ever they can charge thee withall Thirdly we shall have much spirituall growth and increase by the word and the Sacrament and much spirituall growth if once our hearts be seasoned with the death of Christ What doth the word and the sacrament teach but the death of Christ that is the substance of them all Then if once the death of Christ be grafted in thy heart before Oh with what comfort and chearfulnesse and with what great profit shalt thou heare the word and receive the sacrament When our stomacke hath some liking to our meate and our meate hath some affinitie to our stomacke then there is a quicke digesture Why so if so bee our hearts be seasoned with the death of Christ why then
when wee come to heare the word and receive the Sacrament there will be a sweet digesting and battening in the inner man Indeede the whole worke of the Spirit it is done meerly in the power of the death of Christ Iesus Gods Spirit doth nothing in the heart of any man or woman for the matter of salvation but it is done all in respect of the death of Iesus Christ Fourthly it will be a notable bridle to thee from sinne an excellent meanes to restraine thee from sin that howsoever thy corruption drawes thee on and Sathan hee tempts thee and the world that allures thee the flesh that provokes thee How shouldest thou stand against all these enemies Oh if thou have the death of Iesus Christ and the remembrance of it soundly in thy heart then all these speakers to thee they shall speake unto thee as to a stone-wall to a deafe man Gal. 6.14 The Apostle faith there God forbid that I should rejoyce in any thing save onely in Christ and him crucified whereby the world is crucified to mee and I unto the world Let the whole world set upon me to tempt me yet it shall not prevaile for the whole world is crucified to me and I unto the whole world by the Crosse of Christ I am as a dead man unto the world A man that hath the death of Christ soundly seated in his heart hee cannot wittingly and willingly sinne against God Indeed this light may be and is sometime darkened in us by the mist of corruption and temptation and then we may be and are oft-times over-taken with sinne but so long as this light is cleare within us sinne shall never bee able to overcome us There is such a strong stay against sinne in the serious thoughts of the death of Christ that so long as that these are within us sinne cannot prevaile against us A fift benefit is this it will furnish us and inable us to the dutie of prayer that we shall come to God at all times humbly and yet chearfully too humbly alwayes acknowledging and bewailing our sinnes and mourning that we are the parties that have crucified the Lord of life and of glory and yet cheerfully as resting upon the merits and death of Iesus Christ for our reconciliation And howsoever it be that we finde many infirmities and imperfections in our prayers and thinke with our selves that therefore God will not heare us yet let us comfort our selues in the remembrance of the death of Christ this being in thy heart and conscience be of good cheare the Lord Iesus Christ hee makes continuall intercession for thee and hee takes thy prayers and puts them up and presents them unto God in thy behalfe in his owne name and so makes thy prayers acceptable before the Lord. The last benefit is this this should be a singular meanes to make us fit and ready to die to worke in us an earnest looking for and hastning of the day of Christ Hee that hath the death of Christ soundly seated in his heart hee is fit and ready to die For first by this practice by the continuall remembrance of the death of Christ we alwayes looke death as it were in the face and being every day and every houre so well acquainted with it we are not afraid of it when it comes Againe hereby by the remembrance and sound meditation of the death of Christ wee dye daily as the Apostle saith our sinnes die in us and our lusts die in us and our affections and rebellions dye in us and so wee are halfe dead already that so when death comes to take hold upon us it hath not so much to doe with us as with other men Take this for a certaine truth that a man of mortification who hath his heart broken for sinne and that hath his lusts and affections and rebellions in some good measure mortified and crucified within him I say death is nothing so tedious and irksome to such a man as it is to another Wee see this by experience in the case betweene Christ and the two theeves that were executed with him Iohn 19. The manner of their death was thus They were to bee crucified and nailed upon the Crosse and then to hang till they dead wee cannot say of any one thing that it should give them their deaths wound but the custome was that when they were crucified they should have their legs broken thereby to make an end of them the Text saith that they came to the theeves and brake their legs but when they came to our Saviour Christ they brake not his for he was dead already he had none of those rebellions none of those resisting lusts within him to strive against the ordinance of God as the other had but he did sweetly yeeld up the ghost in obedience unto God and therefore Death had nothing to doe with him so much as with the other So likewise wee finde it with men of mortification Thirdly by this remembrance of the death of Christ continually we see all the evills and all the harmes of our death taken away in his death and so there is no cause to us to feare it at all Fourthly wee see by this that Christ himselfe who is our Lord and Master and Head hee hath undergone this before us and therefore wee are content in a holy resolution to undergoe that which he hath done shall the members fare better than the Head No surely Fiftly and lastly by the continuall remembrance of the death of Christ we see and behold that it was a full and finall end of all his afflictions and that thereby he entred into glory wee consider from thence as it was with him so it shal be with us when death comes it shall put an end to all trouble and affliction and the consideration of this should quicken us up to desire death to desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ O beloved when a man comes to lye upon his deaths bed he would give all that he had to be fitted for death and to be sure of comfort Oh let us make the death of Christ therefore our continuall meditation and this is that which will yeeld us such a gracious preparation for our death as that nothing in the world shall doe the like besides and therefore let these considerations stirre us up to a reverent and conscionable performance of this duty of the remembrance of the death of Christ Iesus so much good and so many benefits as are to be reaped by it why surely we are utter enemies to our owne good if we doe not travell conscionably in the faithfull practice of this duty let not the difficulty of this duty in it selfe let not the distastfulnesse of it to flesh and blood nor the losse of carnall pleasure and worldly profit nor let not the harsh censure of the gracelesse people of the world nor let not the bent of our naturall life which is utterly against it make it unpleasant
first Church that ever was after Christs ascension and the visible comming downe of the gifts of the Holy Ghost and wee may call it the very prime of the Primitive Churches and where shall wee have a fitter patterne of a true visible Church than that which is fetcht from the first visible Church after our Saviours ascension Vsually Gods ordinances are best at the first institution when they are fresh out of Gods hands spick and span new as it were In time when they come into mens handling they are degenerate and corrupted but at the first when they come out of Gods handling then they are most pure and sincere Mariage is the ordinance of God and the first mariage that ever was was the best mariage that ever was and that is the patterne that all other are to be examined and fashioned by as our Saviour sheweth Matth. 19.4.5 the Lords Supper is Gods ordinance and the first that ever was was the best that ever was and that is the pattern which all other Suppers of the Lord are to be framed by as the Apostle sheweth 1 Cor. 11.23 So this being the first Church after Christs ascension was in best case of all other Churches and therefore that was a fit patterne for other Churches to be tryed and censured by But some will except and say What is this the best Church that ever was What say you of the particular Churches that were soone after as of the Church of Rome and Corinth and Ephesus c. I answer they were goodly Churches and had some more outward complement than this had but they had no more for substance than this had yea they had many failings and corruptions that this as yet was free from Others will except and say But what say you of the Church when our Saviour himselfe lived and was personally present and preached on earth I answer first That even in respect of Christs owne personall presence yet this is nothing inferiour to that for now after the sending downe of the Holy Ghost hee is present with them by his Spirit and this presence of his by his Spirit is as effectuall for all saving purposes as his bodily presence was as our Saviour shewes Iohn 14.16 17 18. Secondly I say that setting only Christs personall presence aside that was not comparable to this for then the Church was not so throughly furnished with gifts as now it was yea then the Apostles themselves had not received that fulnesse of power from on high as now they had Take it thus Christ Iesus by his life and preaching and miracles did as it were plant the Church Christ Iesus by his death and resurrection did as it were water the Church Christ Iesus by his ascension and sending downe of the Holy Ghost ripened his Church and furnished it with all sufficient gifts and brought it to perfection Besides that Church was onely a provinciall Church consisting of Iewes onely within Iudea but this is a more generall Church gathered out of all the Iewes and Proselites of any nation under heaven as verse 5. And indeed this Church is the wombe of all other Churches from thence to the end of the world all of them issuing and proceeding out of this as so many streames out of one fountaine Rome pretends and challengeth it selfe to be the mother Church but falsely this this is the true mother Church of all true visible Churches And therefore as the proverb is in another case Ezek. 16.44 As is the mother so is her daughter so in this case such as this Church is that is the mother such are all her daughters such are all true visibly Churches So we see the wisedome of the Holy Ghost in setting downe this Church as a patterne to all true visible Churches whatsoever Now secondly wee are to proceed to the instruction that hence ariseth The doctrine is this In that the state of this Church is set before us as the patterne of true visible Churches by this that they continued in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayer Observe that wheresoever the Word is truly preacht the Sacraments rightly administred and the duties of prayer to God and love to our brethren religiously and conscionably practised there is a true visible Church of God I name the manner of performance together with the duties because it is said in the Text they continued in them which intends that not onely they had such duties but also that they were duly and rightly practised and the doctrine holds and so is here meant reciprocally that is to say both wayes as thus first wheresoever these duties are there is a true visible Church and secondly wheresoever is a true visible Church there are these duties For proofe of the first that wheresoever these are there is a true visible Church looke in the 10. of Iohn the 4. and 27. verses in the fourth verse our Saviour saith Hee goeth before his sheepe and they follow him for they know his voice and in the 27. verse he saith My sheepe heare my voice c. Christ goes before his sheepe that is in the use of his owne saving ordinances the Word and Sacraments leading them along thereby in the wayes of salvation for by the voice of Christ there mentioned is directly meant the Word preached and under that the Sacraments are comprehensibly understood which doe alwayes attend upon the Word as the Seales upon the Writing And the same voice of Christ commanding the exercises of prayer and of love doth consequently include them also and when it is said is the 27. verse They heare his voice and follow him there is set downe the practice of these duties So then if one should aske us who are the sheepe of Christ the answer is ready they that heare his voice and follow him which is as much to say If any aske which is the true visible Church the answer is ready there where is the ordinary use of the Word and Sacraments and prayer and love to the brethren Matth. 28.19 20. Goe teach c. The businesse that there the Apostles are employed in is the planting of visible Churches in the world the meanes whereby they are to plant them are teaching and baptizing that is the Word and the Sacraments and what must they teach them but to observe all that Christ commanded now Christ had instructed them specially in prayer teaching them what and how to pray and gave them also a speciall charge to love one another as that being his owne speciall commandement Iohn 15.12 therefore where these things are thus in use as Christ commanded them there is a true visible Church Secondly wheresoever there is a true visible Church there the word is truly preacht the Sacraments rightly administred and prayer to God and love to our brethren religiously and conscionably practised I doe not say they are there in their height but in some decree I shall not need to prove this for all