is not this bundle this bunch of Myrrhe Christ his righteousnesse worthy of praises being giuen by him as a speciall token of his fauour to poore miserable and sinfull creatures Did the i Luk. 17.16 tenth Leper returne thankes for the cleansing of his body and wilt not thou whom Christ hath chosen as one out of ten yea of twentie to purge thy soule returne glory to his name Mary Magdalen k Luk. 7.47 loued Christ much after He had forgiuen her much Dauid resolu'd with himselfe that on condition the Lord according to the multitude of his mercies would doe away his iniquities and purge him with Hysop which was an Embleme of his cleansing and cloathing with Christs righteousnesse his tongue should sing aloud of his righteousnesse l Psal 51.2.7.14 verses It is reported of Alexander sirnamed The Great that he acknowledged himselfe to owe more to Aristotle his Master then to Philip his Father because from his Master he receiued his Well being whereas from his Father he had but his naturall being m Pet. Mart. in lib. 1. Ethic. Arist p. 5. In like manner I dare boldly say thou that art a true Christian owest more to Christ thy Master yea thy elder brother for giuing thee through the merit of his owne righteousnesse a spirituall being in grace then to thy naturall Father or Mother by whom thou hast thy being in nature Oh therefore owing so much pay him much I meane loue him much be much thankefull vnto him for this his kindnesse Let thy thankefulnesse to him know no limits set no bounds to thy obedience let not much water quench the flame of thy loue thy zeale let not the very fire it selfe deterre thee scare thee from sacrifice from his seruice Propose the blessed Martyrs for thy patterne The sweetnesse of this bundle haue so affected them that rather then they would any way show themselues vngratefull they haue not spared to be prodigall of their very liues Take oh take then the cup of saluation and blesse his holy name vow seruice vow obedience to him vnto the very death for his free mercy in iustifying of thee requires no lesse deserues no lesse at thy hands Leauing this I come now to the next poynt which is That as Christ alone is the Iustifier of the Church * Doct. so the Church alone is iustified by Christ The true Church alone is iustified by Christ Iustification is a benefit belonging onely to the true members of the Church and to none else TO MEE in my Text implies as much To me the Church alone not to you daughters of Ierusalem * Except you be Eloct not to you aliants and strangers to the Common-wealth of Israell is my Beloued a bundle of Myrrhe a bringer of righteousnesse Aske Paul whom he speakes of when he saith In grace HE that is God hath made VS accepted in the Beloued n Ephe. 1.6 that is iustified through Christ and he will answere that he meaneth VS who are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world VS who are predestinated to the adoption of children * Verses 4.5 intimating none to be capable of iustification but such The same thing the same Apostle proueth in the eight of the Romanes Whom he predestinated them also he called and whom he called them also he iustified o Rom. 8.30 Now who are predestinated who are the called of God but the members of the Church p Vers 3. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that iustifieth that is it is God that iustifieth the Elect q Zanch. ad Eph. c. 2. p. 8. Tom. 5. i. e. Electosfolos Methinkes that of S. Iohn in his Reuelation is very fit for this purpose where he saith not that he saw the r Apoc. 13.1 BEAST with seauen heades and ten hornes that is the enemies of the Church who vse their wit and authoritie against it cloathed with the Sunne that is with Christs righteousnesse but a Å¿ Apoc. 12.1 WOMAN so cloathed that is the Church alone or the company of the faithfull Reason The reason is plaine for faith which apprehendeth justification by Christ is a gift proper and peculiar to the Church and none else for which cause it is stiled The faith of Gods ELECT t Tit. 1.1 Now if none haue faith but the Church then it must needes follow that none are iustified but the members of the Church How full of terror is this truth vnto all those that are out of the Church I meane not onely those who stand sunning themselues in the Church-yard that sit swilling in Alehouses fulfilling their fleshly pleasures following their worldly profits while the Word is Preaching and people are praying vpon the LORDS day I meane I say not onely them who are thus out of the materiall Temple which is made of Bricke and Stone * And yet I include them also for right Christians dare not doe as they doe but also all others that are no true members of Christs mysticall body who though they heare the Word receiue the Sacraments c. yet are voyde of sauing grace are no spirituall stones of the spirituall building no u Cant. 1.17 Cedar beames in Gods house that is no * For Cedar was vsed in cleansing Levit. 14. Notes of the false Church Propounded by the way to shew whom this terror belongs to purified no sanctified ones in Gods familie To all of them to euery one of them here is I say a ground of terrour For ah poore creatures they are not iustified they haue no share in no benefit by the righteousnesse of Christ. This bundle belongs not to them It is peculiar to those whom they for their Religions-sake hate scorne and maligne It appertaines not to those daughters of Ierusalem spoken of in the fift verse of this Chapter who seeme to be of the Church who brag they are of the Israell of God and yet are not * 1. Particular loue of false teaching and teachers Thou therefore that delightest in false Doctrine and castest the Word of God behind thy backe x Ier. 8.9 thou that with Ahab hadst rather heare an hundred false Prophets then one sound Michaiah y 1 King 22. and with Ieroboam z 1 Kin. 13.4 wilt not hearken to the faithfull messengers of the Lord of Hosts * 2. Neutralitie in religion thou that with the same Ieroboam a 1 Kin 12.28.29 art readie to change thy Religion and manner of worship instituted by God himselfe * 3. Defence and ripnes of sinne thou that with the people in Ieremies time wilt palliate and defend thy sinnes professing thou walkest not after Balaim when as yet the Lord sees thy abhomination in the Valley b Ier. 2.23 being pure in thine owne eyes when as yet thou art not cleansed from thy wickednesse c Prov. 30.12 * 4. Blasphemy thou
Disciples to sit and eate and that intimates the heauenly dainties they should partake off in his Celestiall Paradise the Kingdome of glory which some * As Piscator Merc. doe vnderstand in this place But with * others I vnderstand the Word and Sacraments the dyet of the Church wherewithall shee is fed and refreshed spiritually as men are corporally with meates and drinkes set vpon their Table Neither doth this swerue from the Canon of Scripture For is not the Kingdome of heauen that is the Word of the Kingdome compared to a Supper and to * Ioh. 6.27 Meate that perisheth not And doth not the Apostle call the Sacrament of his last Supper A Table * 1 Cor. 19.21 And whereas it is called here HIS Table it intimates that HE is the Founder of this Feast For who giueth the Word the meate that endureth to eternall life if not * Ioh. 6.21 the sonne of man whom the Father hath sealed And the Sacramentall Table is called the Table of the LORD a In that place â—recited out f the Corinths I know indeed that Christ feedeth and feasteth his Church with the internall graces and comforts of his Spirit but because these follow to be considered off in His Sitting at this Table therefore my intent is in this onely to insist on the externall dishes of his Ordinances And so make this the Doctrine Doct. 2 That this King Christ spreades a Table and makes provision of the Word and Sacraments for his Church This is one of the things which the Church setteth his greatnesse forth by in my Text in so much that now with the Prophet Dauid euery member of the same may say * Psal 23.2 He maketh me to feed in greene pastures This is that which our Author signifieth elswhere when he brings in Christ in Wisedomes name not onely building her an house and erecting a Church but also making provision for the inhabitants of that house b Pro. 9.2 Shee hath killed her victualls shee hath mingled her wine shee hath prepared her Table In another place he is brought in vnder the similitude of a King making a marriage dinner for his sonne and sending forth his servants the Ministers of the Gospell to toll in guests and tell them of the feast both how bountifull it is and how ready it is Behold I haue prepared my dinner my Oxen and my Fatlings are killed and all things are ready c Mat. 22.23 And that this feast is peculiarly provided for the Church it is plaine in the same Parable d Verses 5.10 Where we may see that they which did set light by the seruants call the Ministers invitation as they that are out of the Church doe are threatned not to taste of that Supper and onely those are admitted as fit guests whom the servants gathered out of the high wayes whom the Ministers of the Gospell are made instruments to turne out of the high way of sinne that leadeth to hell through the Preaching of the Word And who are they but the Church Herewith accordeth that of Esay e Isa 25.6 Vpon this mountaine meaning the Church shall the Lord make a feast of fat things a feast of Wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of Wines on the lees well refined See Ezek. 16.13 So then deny it we cannot truth evincing it that Christ hath a board spread for his Bride richly furnished with such spirituall dainties as his Word and Sacraments be And not without cause Reason For why he would haue his Church to grow and thriue And how grow Two wayes in addition of members in augmentation of graces in multitude and in measure As therefore there is need of temporall foode for corporall growth so of these spirituall Ordinances for this spirituall growth First He would haue it to grow in multitude he would haue such daily added to the Church as are ordained to be saued that like as Ephraim Manasseh Simeon and Beniamin fell from Israel vnto Asa in abundance f 2 Chron. 15.9 so there may be an accesse of Elect ones vnto him out of Satans hands euery day more and more and this causeth him to giue g Ephes 4.8.11 gifts vnto men and to appoint some to be Prophets some to be Apostles some teachers some Pastors with this Commission h Psal 50.5 Gather my Saints vnto me for the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 augmentation of my body or addition of members therevnto Secondly He would haue his Church grow in measure his Will is that they which are added to the Church should haue grace augmented in their hearts to be more fat flourishing and well liking in their age i Psal 92.14 therefore he giues them the k 1 Pet. 2.2 sincere milke of the Word that they may * Dicimus quidem cibum omnem perficere ea quae aluntur c. Dyonis Areop libro Epistol fol. 183. b. grow thereby And giues he not also not onely Baptisme as the Sacrament of Initiation but also The Lords Supper for confirmation Nay by the administration of the one and communication at the other doth he not seale vp remission of sins by his blood to the conscience of the beleever for the strengthening of his faith increasing of his loue and bettering of his obedience So that the beleever may haue equall recourse to Water in Baptisme by meditation Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper by participation to stay his faith on to strengthen his faith by when either the malice of Sathan against him or the reliques of vnbeliefe in him shall raise any stormes of Despayre to weaken the same Vse 1 This being so makes first of all against those that care not for the Word that contemne the Sacraments vnto whom if the Ministers cry in the Prophets termes l Isa 55.1 Hoe euery one come yee to the Waters Come buy Wine and Milke without money and without price they stoppe their eares against this call make excuses when they are bidden One hath a Farme another hath Oxen another hath a Wife to please another his Market to follow another his Dice another his Dogs one cannot tarry in the Church while the Sacrament of Baptisme is administring another is at oddes with his neighbour and he cannot come to the Communion this yeare And thus while one feedes vpon his pleasures another vpon his profits another on his beastly and revengefull lusts the most hauing the broth of abhominable things in their vessells m Isa 65.4 This Table of Christs spreading is not so frequented so regarded as it ought to be Which contempt of Gods Ordinances how worthy of reprehension it is this poynt declareth Should some Prince or Peere of a Kingdome A similie make a great feast furnish his Table with all manner of dainties yea with such costly delicates as he feedeth his owne Queene or Spouse withall and should send forth his servants to invite guests
to that feast bidding to come who haue a list and well-come and they that are thus bidden should make excuse and say Alas I haue a poore neighbour dwells by me he hath invited me to a cold Sallet or a dish of herbes in which regard I cannot come were he not worthy to be Chronicled for a man without wisedome Might not his friends that loue him well reproue him for so carelesse contemning a Princes call and for preferring a dish of Pepons at a poore mans house before the royall dainties of a great mans Table they might very well In like manner may not they be as deservedly shent that shall preferre their earthly commodities their fleshly vanities nay their diabolicall impieties before these supernaturall meates and spirituall bitts of the Word and Sacraments Knowest thou of whose providing they are art thou aware for whom they be prepared are they not of the King Christ are they not for the Church and can that be course fare which is of so royall a preparer and for so royall partakers Verily I may say to thee as Elihu to Iob Thy soule abhorreth daintie meate n Iob 33.22 Let me expostulate a little with thee Why can the doctrine of salvation relish no better in thy pallate How is it that the Temple cannot hold thee while the Childe is a Baptizing but out thou must be running as if it were an Ordinance concerned thee not Why wilt thou chuse rather to liue in wilfull malice with thy brother then come and partake of the Lords Supper Or wherefore art thou so seldome at it when as thou maiest so often haue it If I were but acquainted with thy maladie I would apply a remedy according to the skill the Lord hath giuen me Oh that I knew but what would get thee a better stomacke If thou wouldest but provoke thy selfe to vomit out the loue of the world and of thy lusts which like poysonous crudities lie cloddering vpon thy stomacke thou wouldest haue a better appetite and this honey-combe would not be loathed by thee But if thou beest past cure then I haue done with thee Goe thy wayes to thy huskes with the filthy Swine to thy Venison with prophane Esau sell thy birth-right for pottage make excuses frame pretences to keepe thee from this Feast yet I must be terrible in my wordes vnto thee This King that makes this Banquet will be wroth with thee o Mat. 22.7 and will send forth his Armies to destroy all such as thou art Vse 2 But now in the second place as for thee whom counsell is like by the blessing of God to prevaile withall thee doe I perswade yea earnestly entreate to frequent this Table these Ordinances neither thy age sex condition gifts inward or outward can excuse thy absence or preiudice thy admittance Hither thou must come the King doth enioyne thee hither thou maiest come he will accept thee on these dainties thou maiest feed thy meannesse need be no impediment to thee on these dainties thou must feed thy greatnesse can be no plea for the contrary And for thy encouragement hereto know thou Motiue 1. First That Christ will set no base fare vpon his Board for his best beloued Bride If the Cookes doe marre it sometimes in the dressing as Fryer-like Preachers doe powdering the Word with the dust of their owne inventions or as the Papist-like Prelates doe adding creame salt oyle spittle and the like trash to Water in Baptisme and defiling the Lords Supper with that abhominable idoll of the Masse yet the fault of that is not in the King and Kezar of the Church It is sweet it is excellent as it comes out of his handes p Psal 19.10 sweeter then the honey of q Iob 28 1â— price aboue Rubies more to be desired then gold yea then much fine gold The costliest meates the delectablest drinkes that are are but course in comparison of it God forbid then thou shouldest abhorre it Get thee to a good Cooke abhorre the Masse Baptize not thy Childe by a Seminary and come but to this Table stay but at this Table with a reverent regard and thou shalt finde that I tell thee no lie such sweetnesse shalt thou taste such goodnesse shalt thou see in the meanest of these Ordinances euen by thine owne experience Secondly Consider Motiue 2. that it cannot be sayd of this foode as Paul spake of indifferent meates and drinkes r 1 Cor. 8. â— Neither if we eate are we the better nor if we eate not are we the worse For thy admission to the Church if thou beest not yet called thy growing vp in grace if thou beest converted hangs vpon these Ordinances as vpon secondary necessary helpes Sayd I not before this meate the Feast-maker provideth for the growth of the Church How can the Church then grow in number one the more for thee if thou despise Prophesying How canst thou grow in measure if thou carest not for Preaching makest no vse of thy Baptisme prouest a superficiall and seldome guest at the Lords Table As then thou tenderest thy conversion to grace thy confirmation in grace so delight to be a guest at this Board which Christ spreadeth take pleasure to make vse of those Ordinances which like spirituall provision he hath made readie for his Church in the Sermons which are Preached in the Sacraments which are administred amongst vs knowing that to be a truth which a Father saith Å¿ Chrysost in Math hom 70. Cum spiritualia vâ—cant nulla occupationis excusatio est When spirituall things doe call vs no excuse of subordinate busines will serue the turne Vse 3 Lastly Hath Christ made such spirituall provision for his Church then from hence to their singular comfort may all Gods people that are pinched with penury assure themselues they shall neuer starue for want of needfull sustenance He that can giue the Kingdome with the righteousnesse of that can cast all other outward necessaries vpon vs He that can and doth spread his Table for the soule will prepare victualls for the bodie He can provide a Table for his Israel in the Wildernesse Dauids soule can he satisfie with Marrow and Fatnesse in a dry and thirstie Land t Psal 63.15 It is his honour to be franke and royall to his owne And indeed he that hath bin so liberall as to giue himselfe must needs with himselfe giue all things else Thou complainest thou hast not so full a purse so ouer-flowing a Table as others haue knowest thou not that Sheepe when they goe vp to the belly in pasture are in danger of rotting and that barer Common were better for them Thy Shepheard sees it is better safetie for thy graces to furnish thee with a mediocritie rather then fill thee with a superfluitie of outward blessings Tell me hast thou not provision for the soule the Word the Sacraments If Yea this is a u Gen. 43.34 Beniamins messe fiue times better then thy brethrens
as the Schooles would haue it He is not I say either of these wayes present in Baptisme But first to seale vnto vs our admission into the couenant of his grace and communion with himselfe and with his Saints r Act. 2.39 Gal. 3.27 Secondly to represent vnto vs and Sacramentally to show vs by the outward washing of Water the inward cleansing of our soules by his blood that is by iustification ſ Polan Synt. l. 6. c. 55. and by his Spirit that is by sanctification t Id. ibid. Ablutio per sanguinem Christi est iustificatio Ablutio per spiritum Christi est regeneratio Thirdly to put vs in minde of our repentance new obedience courage and care to show our selues his Souldiers by warring and fighting against the Deuill the world and the flesh So then you see that three wayes Christ is present in Baptisme 1. As a sealer of the mutuall couenant betwixt Him and his Church 2. as a representer of the benefits he will bestow on his Church if shee keepe her conditions 3. as a remembrancer of the duties shee owes to him if shee would haue him keepe his conditions Lastly to answere the third Question Qu 3. How Christ is present in the Eucharist How Christ is present in the Lords Supper We must know that he is not there Transubstantially as though the Bread and Wine were turned into the body of Christ flesh blood and bones as our adversaries the Papists hold nor yet Consubstantially * Existentia ve◠absconsione corporis invisibilis in sub cum pane by an existence or hiding his inuisible body in with vnder the Bread as if there were no figure in the Sacrament as the Vbiquitarians hold u Chemnit Har. Evang. cap. 83. col 1586. At verò hinc inferre velle Ergo in Doctrina Sacramenti propositio panis est corpus meum etiam est figuratae hoc verò absurdissimū Christi ingenio prorsus contrarium est Vide etiam Col. 1587. 1588. but these wayes first to keepe vs mindfull of his death which he endured for vs in which regard some haue called the Lords Supper * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sacrificium a Sacrifice of remembrance Secondly to strengthen our faith in the assurance of the continuance of his loue and to ratifie the pardon of our sinnes our title of adoption our interest in grace our right to glory to our soules Thirdly to arme vs against Idolatry that partaking of the Lords Table wee may not communicate at the Table of Deuills ¶ 1 Cor. 10.21 Fourthly to preserue vs in the way of obedience Fiftly to assure vs of the resurrection of our bodies at the last day according to Christs owne speech x Ioh. 6.54 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternall life and I will raise him at the last day And lastly to signifie vnto vs and ascertaine vs of our vnion with himselfe as Paul declareth when he sayth The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ y 1 Cor. 10.16 Thus we see not onely THAT but also HOVV Christ is present with his Church in his holy and sacred Ordinances Let vs now consider to what end the Doctrine serueth and what vses it affoordeth which are divers Vse 1 First It informeth vs of the reason why Gods people doe so diligently frequent the house of God are so often present at his Ordinances to wit because they meete their husband their King their Sauiour in such places at such exercises If a poore man comming to a great mans house findes the Master of the house to bid him well come to beare him company to entertaine him with good cheere merry talke and kind invitations to come oftner would you wonder to see that poore man euer and anon at that rich mans Table So it is with the children of God A great many marvaile at them what they meane to run so to Sermons as they doe Once a day say they cannot content them but they must heare twice say they the Saboth cannot suffice them but they must out on the weeke day If Baptisme be administred they will not out of the Church by any meanes If there be a communion euery moneth they must be at it euery time as though once or twice in a yeere were not sufficient wee wonder at it Doe you so it is because you know not whom they see whom they finde present whom they meete withall here They see the King here even the King of heauen and earth And although they haue his presence in their houses shops fields walkes and closets yet they know here He is present after a speciall and peculiar manner to conferre with them about deepe secrets to carue bitts to them according to their necessities If they be erroneous in their iudgements they finde him here to informe them if scrupulous in their consciences they find him here to resolue them if they be drowsie in his seruice they finde him here to rowse them if fallen into any sinne they finde him here present to rayse them if heauie in their hearts here he is to accheere them if they haue mistaken their way here he is to direct them In these Ordinances they finde their faith strengthened the couenant of Gods grace sealed their vnion with Christ ratified their assurance of persevering in grace of raising from death and raigning in glory confirmed and what not Marvaile you then what they doe frequenting such places where the Word is Preached and the Sacraments administred What wife that loues her husband doth not delight daily to converse with him at his Table Marvaile therefore at thy selfe rather that thou and thy companions take no more delight in such places at such exercises then you doe and cease wondering at them who come hither to be recreated and accheered with the gracious presence of their great Bride-grome Albeit I deny not but some doe as the people in Christs dayes did follow him for the z Ioh. 6. loaues some for his miracles some for one corrupt end some for another yet there is an holy and chosen generation who follow him in his Ordinances because they know he Sitteth at Table in the same and doth communicate vnto them such gracious glaunces of his countenance as Reprobates are like neuer to partake off Vse 2 Secondly Is Christ present with his Church in his Ordinances What meane the Papists then to take vpon them so tedious a taske as to runne to Compostella to see his holy coate which they say is there though no man knowes how it came there and to Ierusalem to visit his Sepulchre Oh folly to be pittied if not to be derided Thinke they to finde Christ in his coate finde his presence in the graue Is this one of their meritorious actions See Christians see their simplicitie Christ sits not there is not so present there as he is in