broken Eze. 34. and â—ing into the way all such as wanâ—er None of which can he doe â—nlesse hee knowe the estate of is flocke 2 Such as come in vnbeleefe Secondly such eate and drinke vnworthily which come in their vnbeleefe without faith in Christ Rom. 14.23 which is all in all For faith is the hand of the soule to lay hold on Christ Heb. 11.6 the mouth of the soule to feede on Christ and without which whatsoeuer we doe is sinne Vse Which may teach all men that desire to come to the Lords Table first of all according to the precept of the Apostle to Prooue themselues whether they be in the faith 2. Cor. 13.5 In asmuch as it is that grace that must bid vs welcome and make both vs and our Sacrifice accepted 3 Such as come without repentance Thirdly such doe eate and drinke vnworthily as come without Repentance that is which doe not finde their harts humbled and broken for sinne in whome there appeares not the worke of Sanctification and sound Conuersion that are not yet made New Creatures but liue in all Sinne. A manifest declaration that such are not in Christ And thus hauing discouered the person of the vnworthy Receiuer compared with the worthy wee will now come to propound a Doctrine or two from the consideration of the person and the punishment and so hasten towards an end He that eateth and drinketh vnworthily Note heere that wicked men will bee eating and drinking of these holy mysteries of the body and bloud of Christ aswell as others howbeit not with the same fruite and effect as others The Doctrine is cleare that Doct. 4 A man may Communicate and Communicate vnworthily A man may Communicate and yet vnworthily else what meaneth the Apostle heere to say that He that eateth and drinketh c. were it not that there are some that eate and drinke vnworthily and so draw downe iudgement vpon their owne heads And as in this so in all other the dueties of Gods worship and seruice as the hearing of the Worde Prayer c. a man may perfourme them and yet not in a holy manner as God commaunds and therein the same become sinnes vnto them This appears by the example of Cain who offered Sacrifice aswell as Abell yet it was so farre from being pleasing vnto God Gen. 4. and acceptable with the most highest as that it added vnto the number of Caines sinnes And thus did the people of the Iewes offer their Sacrifices in a great abundance Esa 1. but the Lord tels them that he had no pleasure in them This was the case of these Corinthians Paul tels them They came together for the worse And notwithstanding they had met together at the Lords Table and partaked of this Sacrament they had been so farr from pleasing the Lord therein as that rather they had stirred him vp to wrath against them VVitnesse those heauy iudgements that were inflicted vppon them for their vnworthy receiuing But the Reasons that followe will further cleare this trueth vnto vs. First because there are in the Church that are not of the Church Secrete and close hypocrites haue euer shrouded themselues vnder the profession of the trueth yet inasmuch as they ioyne with the rest of the Church in Gods seruice wee are not onely to embrace their fellowship but to hope the best of their seruice till the Lord shall at the last discouer them Now what is that duety that a wicked man will not ioyne with Gods seruants in Especially in publike such as is the hearing of the Word receiuing of the Sacrament publike Prayer c. And yet for all that highly prouoke the Lord in the doing of the same But of this before Reason 2 Another Reason why a man may Communicate and yet vnworthily is layd downe by the Apostle Heb. 11.6 All men haue not Faith And therefore cannot receiue this Sacrament worthily For without Faith it is impossible to please GOD in any particular action that wee doe It is Faith that seasons all our actions that we do in Gods seruice makes them to haue a gracious acceptance with the Almighty This made the widdows mite accepted and that cup of water that was giuen vnto a Disciple not to lose it reward But now wicked men and hypocrites that liue in the Church albeit they heare the Word pray receiue the Sacrament c it profits not them because their persons are not accepted with God they are out of Gods fauour and vnto them the Word is but the fauour of death vnto death Vse 1 Seeing then that a man may Communicate and Communicate vnworthily how doth this discouer the folly of them that stand vpon the worke done and neuer looke after the manner of doing the same Oh it is the case of many thousands in the worlde that thinke they haue highly honoured God if vpon the Sabboth day they haue presented their bodies before the Lord in his house and there haue heard the word and perhaps for company sake haue receiued the Sacrament with the rest But as for the maner of performing this duty they neuer looke after but hand ouer head rush vpon them and rest satisfied with the doing of them Poore soules how doe such deceiue themselues At the last day I doubt not there shal be as many condemned for the ill doing of good actions as for the doing of those things as are simply euill As many condemned for ill hearing Note as not hearing for bad praying as for not praying and for vnworthy communicating as not communicating for vnconscionable preaching as for seldome preaching It shall not auaile any to say these and these thinges haue I done when men haue not regarded how they haue done them Neither would I bee so vnderstoode as if there were no hope that God will accept of our seruice vnlesse it be absolute in the manner of perfourming God forbid wee should so thinke for then what would become of the best dueties euen of the best No better to heare in weakenesse then not to heare better to pray with infirmity then not to pray and to Communicate with some defect then vtterly to forbeare Better it is to limp and creepe in the way then not to come at al. Yet we must learne to make conscience of the manner of our performing of good dueties and bee humbled for our wants therin least the Lord reiect both vs and them and say vnto vs one day when wee looke to haue comfort in them Who hath required these thinges at your hands Vse 2 Secondly this Doctrine may affoord vnto vs matter of tryall and examination of our selues When Christ told the Disciples one of them should betray him euery one began to say Master is it I They doubted the worst that might be in themselues and out of a godly ielously make question Master is it I So my bretheren do we heare that some may communicate and that
the Lordes wrath is to iudge our selues page 327 Vse To teach vs to iudge our selues because by it we escape Gods iudgement page 328 Doct. 6 The wicked shal certainely be condemned page 332 Vse To teach that there is a day of iudgement page 335 To terrifie wicked men who without repentance are certain of damnation page 336 To reproue those who think God is made all of mercy page 339 To teach vs not to enuie the felicitie of the wicked page 340 Doct. 7 The godly shall not bee condemned but most certainely saued page 342 Reason 1 Because Gods election is immutable page 345 Reason 2 They were redeemed with Christs bloud ibid Reason 3 Else it would crosse Gods iustice which is satisfied in the death of Christ ibid Vse 1 To shew Gods loue to his Church page 346 Vse 2 To condemne the wicked who account any blessing better then Saluation page 347 Doct. 8 One principall meanes that God vseth to free his children from condemnation is correction page 350 Reason 1 God hath decreed it as a helpe page 353 Reason 2 Gods corrections worke contrition ibid Vse 1 To keepe Gods children from being disheartened in time of affliction page 354 Vse 2 To magnifie Gods Power who out of affliction brings good to his children page 355 FINIS 1. Cor. 11.28.29 28 Let a man therefore examine himselfe and so let him eate of this bread and drinke of this cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh his owne damnation because hee discerneth not the Lords body VPON occasion of some abuse committed by the Corinthians about the receiuing of the Sacrament the Apostle deliuers vnto them the first institution of this Sacrament of the Lords Supper For as one sayth well Where thinges are reduced to the first institution Tertul. Vbi ad primum veritatem diuertuntur c. all humane error then ceaseth Concerning the institution of the Lords Supper Paul sets down sundry poynts The order of the Apostle in this Chapter First the Author of it namely Iesus Christ himselfe the eternal Sonne of God and blessed Sauiour of the worlde for none else hath authority to set on the seale but hee that makes the couenant V. 23. Secondly the Apostle notes the time when it was ordained euen the very night before hee was betrayed whereby our Sauiour Christ woulde teach his Church and people that nowe there was an end to be put vnto the Passouer and that this Sacrament of his blessed body and bloud was to come in stead therof as also to testifie that his wonderful care of his poore Church and chosen people that immediately before his death and bitter passion he was so mindefull and carefull of their comfort as that notwithstanding his time was but short and that his apprehension drew neare hee seemeth to neglect himselfe and the preparation he was to make for his owne suffering and prouides for the comfort and wel-fare of his Church Concerning the institution Christs order in the first institution of the Sacrament it is sayd First that he tooke the bread into his blessed hands to shewe vnto vs that the bread is now set apart from a common vse to a holy and religious vse 1 He takes the bread and wine to bee the Sacrament of Christs body and so the wine of his bloud v. 23. 2. He blesseth them Secondly he blessed them as Christ did open the institution of this Sacrament amongst his disciples v. 24. with the nature and quality of the same to what end and purpose it was ordained he teacheth them likewise the right and holy vse of it by blessing it by prayer and thankesgiuing to his Father For these are essential parts of the Sacrament the opening of the institution by the ministery of the word prayer to the blessing of the elements direction in the vse of this holy ordinance and thankesgiuing vnto God 3. He breakes the bread poureth out the wine Thirdly after hee had thus consecrated the elements and blessed them and set them apart for this holy vse hee breakes the bread and poures out the wine which accordingly must be imitated of the ministers of the word that so by the breaking of the bread and powring out the wine the people may be put in minde of the breaking of the body and powring out of the blood of Christ Fourthly Christ deliuers it vnto the Disciples saying 4 Hee giues them Take eate c. Shewing that as the communicant doth take the bread and wine with his bodyly hand so hee must reach out fayth the hand of the soule and lay holde on Christ And so spiritually eate his flesh and drinke his blood applying the merits of his death and passion vnto his owne soule in particuler Fiftly and lastly 5 Hee shews the end of all viz. to shew forth his death Christ laies downe the ende likewise why this blessed Sacrament of his was ordayned namely to Shew forth his death and to keepe in remembrance that his bitter passion vnto the end of the world that so often as we come to this Sacrament wee shoulde freshly call to mind the bitter death passion of our Lord Iesus Christ What how cruell tortures torments he suffered for our sakes that so we might be brought to the true sight of our sinne which in no one thing more can appeare then in the sufferings of Christ which were indeede the very Nayles and Speare that put him to death and might be brought to bee more thankefull for so great a worke of mercy shewed vnto poore Sinners These things touching the institution it selfe of this holy Sacrament the Apostle hath handled in the former part of this chapter Now the Apostle hauing set downe the true institution of the Lords Supper The occasion of this Scripture and also the ende of it He doth heere labor to prepare the Corinthians and in them all Christians to the right vse of this holy Sacrament And teacheth that as the benefits is wonderfull great if they come to this holy ordinance in a holy manner prepared as they ought to be as meete guests for so holy a banquet So is the danger great if wee come to the same vnworthyly and vnprepared such shall be so farre from receiuing a blessing as that rather they shall prouoke the Lord to plague them with some heauie iudgement or punishment temporall heere to bring them to the sight of their sinnes and to true repentance for the same if not then with eternall condemnation in the life to come And therefore our blessed Apostle here is the more earnest in this poynt to perswade al Christians to take heede how they come to so holy an ordinance This text consists of two parts The text deuided First a precept or commandement Let euery man therefore Examine himselfe v. 28. Secondly a reason to inforce the dutie v. 29. For hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthyly
Eate Drinke 2. The Qualification of the person implyed in this word So. 3. What hee must Eate and Drinke This Bread Of this Cup. And first for the dutie it selfe As before he was inioyned to examine himselfe So heere by no â—esse straight an iniunction to Eate and to Drinke The Doctrine is Doct. 1 That it is not leaft to our â—hoyce To receiue thâ—s Sacrament is not a thing indifferent whether we wil come to â—his Sacrament or not to receiue â—t or not to receiue it but it is the will of God and his commandement that we should come vnto it as often as conueniently vvee may And so let him Eat c. This is not a bare permission but rather a precept and binds all vnto obedience therevnto And therfore as it is our duty to heare the Worde to pray to sanctifie the Lords Sabboths c. because the Lord hath so commanded euen so hath the Lord commanded vs this dutie likewise to come and partake of this holy Sacrament And the necessity of this wil appeare if we do but consider how straightly the Lord inioyned the people of the Iewes the obseruation of the types of both the Sacraments Such as was Circumcision vnder the Lawe when the Lord commanded the vncircumcised Man-child that was not circumcised according to the ordinance of the Lorde to bee cut off from his people Gen. 17.1 Exo. 3.24.5 Num. 9.13 as one that had broken the Couenant And so for the Passeouer he that did not keepe it solemnly according to the law was to be cut off from Gods people now then if it hold so in the ceremony then how much more in the Substance But the Reasons that followe will shewe the necessity of the same more clearâ—y Reason 1 First the receiuing of this Saâ—rament in a holy manner is a â—rincipall part of Gods worship â—nd seruice which euery Christiâ—n is bounde to perfourme Now â—he Lorde will bee serued accorâ—ing to his will prescribed in his Worde It resteth not in man to â—rescribe or appoynt but to reâ—aine and embrace that which is taught by him For in vain do they worship me Esa 29.13 14 teaching for Doctrine men precepts Mat. 7.7 Now one principal part of his worship consists in the due receiuing of this sacrament and therfore in obedience to so holy an ordinance of God men must com therevnto Reason 2 Secondly it is an holy helpe and meanes to increase grace howsoeuer of it selfe it cannot conferre grace for vnto some both the worde and Sacraments are but the sauour of death vnto death 2. Cor. 2.16 Yet notwithstanding this Sacrament may truely be sayde to bee a Conduit to conuay the grace of regeneration and remission of sins vnto the true beleeuer Simile Euen as the Princes Letters are saide to saue the life of a malefactor whereas indeede they doe but signifie the Princes pleasure that he shall be saued And â—he Lord working grace in the hearts of his seruants hath â—n his wisedome appoynted the â—ord Sacraments prayer c. to â—e the meanes for the effecting of â—he same Reason 3 Thirdly this Sacrament is a â—onfirmation of our couenant â—nd serues to bee a seale of the â—ame betweene God and vs Gen. 17.1 that â—e will be our God Esay 43.25 and wee will â—ecome his people by the which â—s by a most sure and certaine â—ledge giuen on Gods part Ier. 31.31 and â—eceiued on ours Zach. 8.8 God of his â—reat mercy doth as it were â—â—nd himself to vs by an euerlastâ—g decree to bee our God and â—ee againe binde our selues vnâ—â— him to remaine his people â—nd to keepe a constant course of obedience before him Vse 1 And surely this condemnes those as do wittingly and wilfully abstaine from the Lords Supper For reprofe As many do offend in comming vnworthily and vnprepared so many offend in comming not at all when occasion opportunitie is offered vnto them to come Doth not the practice of such men beray that they do lightly esteeme of Gods ordinance Simile If the King or some other greate parsonage should haue graunted vnto a man the lease of some goodly Mannor vppon very reasonable conditions and appoint a day to seale the writinges who woulde not giue attendance or rather what great ingratitude were it for a man not to come at the time appointed but â—ilfully to refuse and contemne 〈◊〉 friendly an offer Oh beloued â—he Lord of heauen and earth he â—ath promised to giue vnto vs Christ and with him al things Rom. 8.32 Heaâ—en eternall life and the saluatiâ—n of our Soules The very day â—nd time of the Administration â—f this Sacrament of the Lords â—upper what is it but the seaâ—ng day wherein the Lord offers â—o confirme his graunt vnto vs â—nd to stablish that his couenant â—hat ingratitude then shall wee â—e guiltie off if wee neglect so â—reat saluation And surely this Sinne of wilâ—ll refusing or abstaining from â—e Lords Table is not all one â—ut it hath many other sinnes atâ—nding vpon it and accompaâ—ying it First such men as doe wilfully abstaine and absent themselues doe contemne and despise the commandement of Christ himselfe What sins they are guilty of that neglect to tome to the Lords Supper who hath commanded al to doe this To examine to take and tâ— eate Now to rebel against God Christ is noe small sinne Since herein they cannot but declare what a light esteeme they hauâ— of the couenant God hath madâ— with them the seale of the same Secondly such make light account and despise the memorâ— of the blessed death and passioâ— of Iesus Christ which hee sâ— straightly commaunded vs to keepe in memory as whereiâ— wee shall shew forth his death vâ—till his comming againe For so ofteâ— as ye shall eate this bread and drinkâ— this cup ye shew the Lords death tâ— he come Thirdly this wilfull conâ—empt in any doth manifestly â—eclare the great vnthankefullâ—esse of such vnto God Vnthankefullnesse in a great measure Who â— great measure and deepe comâ—assion towards our poore soules â—oth afforde vs such props and â—ayes to support our weake â—ith as this Sacrament is For â—ch is our weakenesse while we â—e here euen when wee haue â—ained vnto the greatest meaâ—re of grace and assurance of â—r Saluation that wee stand in â—ede dayly of the word and Saâ—â—â—ments as to beget so to conâ—me and strengthen vs in the â—ce receiued And therefore 〈◊〉 neglect the same when the â—rd doth offer it vnto vs doth â—â—nifestly declare great ingratiâ—e against God Fourthly such bee guiltie of 〈◊〉 contempte of the price of their redemption euen the most precious body and bloud of Christ which is offered in this sacrament vnto euery true beleeuer Mat. 26.2 28 6. This is my body which is giueâ— for you c And the very foode of their soules Ioh. 6.55 men so loath so lightly regard Fiftly such men
The Lord euer effecteth what is the purpose of his owne will The gifts and calling of God are without repentance Rom. 11.29 Ioh. 13.1 whom he loueth he loueth to the end His loue is perpetuall and therefore sayth Esay 44.8 With an euerlasting loue had I compassion on thee sayth the Lord thy redeemer And indeed this is a most certaine rule that where God beginneth the good worke of grace there is no opposition whatsoeuer that can bee made by the Deuill the World or our owne Corruptions shall euer be able to hinder the same And therefore sayth Paul I am perswaded Phil. 1.6 that he that hath begun this good worke in you will finish the same vntill the day of Iesus Christ And it is made the very finall cause why God sent his Sonne into the VVorlde euen this That all that beleeue in him should not perish Ioh. 3.16 but haue life euerlasting And vnto all that I haue sayd adde these Testimonies I know my Sheepe Ioh. 10.27 28. I giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish Neither shall any pluck them out of my hand Rom. 8.1 And there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus 2. Tim. 2.19 And that the foundation of the Lord remaineth for euer sure Surely there is no poynt of Doctrine more often vrged or clearly proued in the Scripture then this to shew the certainety of the saluation of al the elect that their life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 And that such shall neuer perish And hence it is that Christ is called the Author Heb. 12.2 and finisher of our faith to comfort and stay the poore sheepe of Christ with this that if the Lorde haue in any measure begun in them the true worke of grace as he is the author of it For euery good gift and euery perfect gift coms from him that is the Father of light Iames 1.6 and God of all consolation So he will neuer cease vntill he haue brought the same vnto perfection And the reasons heereof are Reason 1 First because the Lord that hath from all eternity willed the saluation of all the elect is immutable and vnchangeable His gifts are without repentance Rom. 11.29 his foundation standeth sure And wee are kept by his power vnto saluation 2. Tim. 2.19 Reason 2 Secondly the Elect are sure of Saluation in regarde of the price of the same and that is the bloud of Iesus Christ which cleanseth from all Sinne. 1. Ioh. 1. And that beeing giuen as a ransome for many what a fearfull imputation shoulde wee cast vppon it if the same shoulde not be auaileable vnto the elect to Saluation Reason 3 And thirdly it were directly to crosse Gods iustice which being satisfied in the death of the Sonne of God for the sins of all the elect and to make the same of no validitie if the elect redeemed by Christ should finally fall away and perish euerlastingly But not to stand vppon these Reasons The vses are Vse 1 First to take notice of Gods vnspeakeable loue and mercy vnto his Church and Children Who euen heerein hath magnified his mercy towards vs not only setting vs free from the prison of our sinnes and from the fearefull punishment belonging vnto the same but hath also in deepe compassion towardes our poore Soules acquainted vs that we shall not come into condemnation but shall escape from death vnto life To the end that being free from that same bondage and seruile feare that the Wicked liue vnder Wee might learne to serue the LORDE in Righteousnesse and Holynesse yea with much ioy and comfort Luke 2. all the dayes of our life Vse 2 Secondly this serues to discouer a wonderfull poynt of folly that raignes in the world of all the mercyes of GOD this is the cheefest when the Lord doth giue vnto a man Christ and the benefits of his passion amongst which this is not the least assurance of Gods loue touching remission of sinnes and our euerlasting saluation And yet alas wee see of all things this is lesse sought for as if saluation and eternall life were not worth the seeking Heerein wee are like vnto little children that looke after babies in a booke and regard not the matter Oh why shoulde wee bee so foolish to seeke those things which cannot continue and let goe those things as are both perpetuall and eternall Doe we affect perpetuities doe wee desire a glorious a comfortable an honorable and withall an vnchangeable estate Beholde heere is an excellent estate indeede Eternall Saluation an Eternall inheritance An Eternall wayte of glory A Lease not of one and twenty yeares but for tearme of such a life as shall neuer see death Why then seeke wee not after it and get good euidences of the same that so at last Saluation may be our portion And thus much breefely for the second conclusion We are chastised of the Lord that wee might not bee condemned with the world The Apostle herein labours to prooue that these iudgments of Almighty God vnto them that can make a right vse of them are but Fatherly chastisements and instructions to keepe his children from the condemnation of the world We are chastised of the Lord c. q. d. You are euen in the midst of your trials troubles and afflictions to beholde Gods mercy towards you who doth thus correct you not out of any hatred hee beares to any of you but euen as a louing and deare Father correcteth his own childe to preuent more dangerous courses which might bring him to shame in the end So God doth exercise you with these temporall chastisements that thereby hee might keepe and restraine you from falling into such sinnes as might bring you to Damnation with the rest of the world the Doctrine then is Doct. 8 One principall meanes that God doth vse to free his children from condemnation is correction That one principall meanes that God doth vse to free his Children from condemnation is correction For whereas by nature they are corrupt aswell as the wicked God vseth this correction as a soueraigne Medicine to Purge out their corruption and so to cleanse them from their sin to bring them to repentance and to Saluation This is intended by Christ when he saith Euery branch that beareth not fruit in mee he taketh away Iohn 15.2 and euery one that beareth fruit he purgeth That it may bring forth more fruit And most agreeable vnto this is that of the Prophet Dauid Psa 94.12 Blessed is the man whome thou chastisest O Lord and teachest him in thy Law That thou maiest giue him rest from the dayes of euill whilest the pit is digged for the wicked Whereby wee learne what an excellent fruit commeth to Gods children by correction euen no lesse then such as accompanie eternall life and Saluation Which commeth to passe not simply thorough afflictions For then shoulde the wicked haue the