to offend their Parents carefull to please them So we must be afraid to offend our heavenly father c. as Mar. 1.6 4. Children go to their Parents to supply their wants cast all their care upon them to feed and cloath them c. So we on God Mat. 6.25 26. c. 31 32. Mat. 6.25 26. c. 31 32. If we have those dispositions and affections of Gods children in us this bread of the Lord is provided for us but not else If we be not born of God partakers of the divine nature are not holy heavenly mercifull c. But prophane earthly cruell c. we are not the persons here invited Quest How shall we know whether we be the servants of God Answ The Apostle resolves us Rom. 6.16 His servants we are to whom we obey If we do the works of God and obey him we are his servants but if we do the works of sin and Satan and obey them we are their servants not Gods Quest Which are the works of God Answ Those duties which God himselfe commands to be performed in his own way and manner Deut. 12.32 Mat. 28.20 1 Chron. 15.13 Quest What are those duties Answ They are of two sorts First Of Piety towards God as in the first table of the Law Mat. 22.37 38. Secondly of charity towards our neighbour as in the second table Mat. 22.39 Quest Which are the speciall duties of Piety which we owe to God Answ They are many according to the severall Commandements in the first Table as these especially 1. To know him as our God to believe or rest on him in all our straights to hope in him to fear him to love him with all our hearts c. To make choyce of him and him only as our God to be zealous for him his truth cause glory c. As in the first Commandement Exod. 20.3 2 Chron. 28.9 Joh. 17.3 Psal 9.10 Jer. 17.7 Psal 31.19 23. Deut. 10.20 Psal 119.139 2. To worship him not by images or any imaginary way of man but purely spiritually sincerely faithfully reverently c. as he requires without prophaness ignorance or superstition on the one side or formality and hypocrisie on the other as in the second Commandement Exod 20.4 5. Joh. 4.22 23 24. Acts 17.22 23. Isa 29.13 3. To honour him in his name titles attributes his word worship works c. and that in our hearts words and conversations as in the third Commandement Deut. 28.58 4. To sanctifie his Sabbath by consecrating it as holy and honourable to the Lord setting apart the Lords day to the Lords Service scil to duties of 1 praise 2 prayer 3 reading and hearing of the VVord 4 Catechizing 5 meditation 6 godly conference 7 examination and repetition of what we hear to apply the same to our practise and edification also to duties of * mercy and necessity as there is occasion as to visit and administer to the sick to comfort the sad instruct the ignorant warne the unruly to convince and bring home poor seduced and sinfull souls to the ways of truth and holiness reconcile differences c. To provide necessarie food raiment quench a dangerous fire lift up the Oxe fallen in the ditch preserve the creature which would else be spilt c. as in the fourth Commandement Compare Isa 58.13 Rev. 1.10 1 Psal 92. the whole Psalm entituled a Psalm for the Sabbath day 2 See Isa 55.6 7. Mark 1.35 c. 38 39. 3 Luke 4.14 15. and 15.21 4 16 17. c. Act. 13. Deut. 6.6 7. Gal. 6.6 5 Psal 1.2 Luke 2.19 6 Luke 24.17 c. 25. c. 32. with Act. 13.43 7 Act. 17.11 12. Joh. 13.17 * For duties of mercy and necessity see these Scriptures Mat. 12.1 c. 7.10 11 12. Ibid. Mat. 25.35 c. with 1 Thes 5.14 15. Gal. 6.1 c. Jam. 5.19 20. Rom. 12.18 1 Cor. 1.10 c. 6.1 c. Mat. 12.1 c. with Luke 6.1 c. 10. Quest Which are those duties of charity we owe to our neighbours as in the second Table Answ They are these two in brief 1. VVe must love them as our selves * Mat. 22.39 not only in their souls as our own souls Luke 22.32 Phil. 2.4.20 c. But in their honours as if our own in every relation whether our Parents naturall politick or spiritual c. whether as superiours equalls or inferiours as in the fifth Commandement Exod. 20.12 2. In their lives by seeking the preservation and comfort of them and that in our thoughts words and deeds as of our own as in the sixth Commandement Exod. 20.13 So 3. In their chastities 4. Their estates 5. Their credits and good names in the same manner as of our own i. e. as we ought to love our own As in the seventh eighth ninth Commandements Exod. 20.14 15 16. 6. And lastly We must conscientiously resist every covetous thought or desire * Jam. 1.14 arising in us or cast into our souls by Satan * Luke 22.3 4. after any thing that is our neighbours whether his house wife c. and be sweetly satisfied with that portion and condition which is or shall be allotted to us by the Lord. As in the tenth last Commandement Exod. 20.17 Rom. 7.7 Compare the examples of David Paul c. Psal 16.5 6. Phil. 4.11 12. These and the like are the works of God Quest Which are the works of sin and of the Devill Answ Every breach of the Law of God or whatsoever is contrary to these former duties 1 Joh. 3.4 8. as 1. All ignorance of God unbelief want of hope in God fear of him or love to him all hatred or contempt of him neglect of zeal for him his cause truth c. The not making choice of him as our God the loving our pleasures profits or any thing more then him c. 2 Tim. 3.4 Jam. 4.4 against the first Commandement 2. All worshiping of God by Images or any imaginary way of man without warrant of the word of God Deut. 12. Ma. 32.15.9 As al prophanes ignorance superstition irreverence infidelity formality or hypocrisie in his worship * Isa 29.13 Iohn 4.23 24. or the wilfull contempt and neglect of it against the second Commandement 3. All abusive cursing swearing irreverent use of Gods name his titles attributes word worship works or servants either in thought word or deed against the third Commandement Deut. 28.58 4. All prophanation of the Lords day by vain sports worldly imployments c. giving way to our own thoughts words or works on that day not making it our delight to consecrate it as holy and honorable to the Lord as is required Isa 58.13 Or by neglect of the duties of this day before mentioned whether of Piety towards God or of charity and mercy towards our selves or others in publike private or secret against the fourth Commandement 5. All hatred or injurious dealing towards our neighbour his soul body honour or
A Practical Catechisme Of purpose framed for the help of such as desire to enjoy more sweet and intimate Soul-communion with Jesus Christ in that sacred Ordinance of his own Supper Begun at Newport-Pagnel in Buckinghamshire revived at Luton in Bedfordshire and now perfected at Queen Hithe in London By Samuel Austin an unworthy Minister of the Gospell of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 17. The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ the bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread 1 Cor. 12.13 For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body whether we be Iews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been made to drink into one Spirit 1 Ioh. 1.3 4. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ And these things write we unto you that your joy may be full London Printed for Tho. Vnderhill at the sign of the Bible in Woodstreet 1647. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY To my dearely beloved friends the Church and faithfull People of God which are at Newport-Pagnell in Buckinghamshire at Luton in Bedfordshire and at Michael Queen Hithe in London * 2 Pet. 1.2 Grace and Peace be multiplyed unto you through the knowledge of God and of Iesus our Lord. Dearely beloved IT is not unknown to some if not to the most of you that this sacred Ordinance of the Lords supper is superstitiously and prophanely abused by many who are extreamly zealous to have their part in the outside visible elements of this Ordinance * As Popish spirits who content themselves with the opus operatum or work done but never care for the invisible grace or spirit of Christ in the Ordinance Others there are that do 〈◊〉 much slight and despise both the elements and the grace of it that they seldom or never care for the participation of it unless formally and for fashion sake Others that not only neglect it themselves but hinder such from it as much desire the renovation of their Covenant and sweet Soul-communion with Christ in the due participation of it And some there are also sprung up of late I hear which to me appear in a more strange visage then the rest who deny this and other Ordinances of Christ in the New Testament to be now had in use at all amongst Gods people they holding this as a principle That this and all other Ordinances are now lost and dead with Christ and his Apostles which sad opinion I must confess I cannot look upon as a notion of any new light as some may please to esteem of it but rather to bewaile it as a strange and dangerous fancie without and against the word of truth * Mat. 28.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. 25 26. or as an ignis fatuus a fond light that will lead those that follow it if God in mercy prevent not into utter darkness To administer some means of cure to these sad distempers if God shall please to glorifie himself by so weak an instrument I have taken this opportunity to send out these few Catacheticall thoughts of mine upon this Ordinance of the Lords supper wherein I have endeavoured to clear to you and others so far as a work of this nature would bear these four particulars 1. The divine authority of this Ordinance 2. The nature of it 3. The ends of it wherein the perpetuity of it is implyed 4. The requisites or things required for the prevention of the abuse and the better help of my self and others to the sweet and comfortable participation of it All which dearely beloved in the Lord I have thought good to present respectively unto your selves as the fittest objects I could make choyce of to dedicate this work unto and that for diverse reasons as these in special 1. Because it was conceived and brought forth amongst you as being a part of my poor ministeriall pains while divine providence did call me to labour with you and therefore you have the more right unto it A poor childe by Law must be kept where it was born I leave it therefore to your tender care hoping you will nourish it as your own 2. It was at first intended for your spirituall good and therefore I do now the more boldly bequeath it to you 3. These labours of mine in a way of Catechizing have been sometimes profitable to some yea I may say with thankfulness to God by the acknowledgment of others to many of you * As at Newport especially before our late troubles where I bestowed many years pains in this exercise I desire by this means they may prove so unto you all 4. Divine providence hath called me off from some of you and I know not how soon I may be called from others where I now am to a country and people that have more need of the ministery at least more sence of their needs then many now in London have Where I may be more serviceable to God then in that slender Congregation which I now attend And therefore I desired to leave this amongst you as a perpetuall pledge and memoriall of my most dear love unto your souls and of my most earnest desires to help you on in your more sweet and intimate Communion with Jesus Christ in this and other of his Ordinances of grace here till hee shall call you home into full Communion with himself in his everlasting glory 5. The time will come how soon I know not that you all as well as my self must give up your accounts * Rom. 14.10.12 2 Cor. 5.10 of your Stewardships to Jesus Christ and what holy use you have made of this and other Ordinances of grace I thought it meet therefore to leave this with you both to put you in remembrance * As 2 Pet. 1.12 13 14 15. of your duty and to help you in it that so you may give up your accounts with joy and not with grief 6. There are some reasons in respect of the times 1. You know the times are full of loosnes prophaness by this I desire to press you to more holy strictness Eph. 4.17 20. 5.15.16 Heb. 12.14 2. The times are full of unchristian bitterness divisions c. By this I desire that you may endeavour the more to make up breaches and to preserve Christian Vnity and Vnanimity amongst your selves * Remember Phil. 2.1 2. Which hath been sometimes opened applyed unto you Phil. 2.1 2. Eph. 4. v. 3. 3. The times are full of slighting and neglecting this and other divine Ordinances the means and ministery of grace which are sadly withdrawn from some of you †As Newport and Luton I desire you by this
about it Secondly Consider the things we must examine our selves of before we come Quest Why must we set some time and pains apart about it Answ For these four reasons 1. Because every duty requires time and pains Ecles 3.1.9 10. Jer. 48.10 so this especially Psal 4.4 Sam. 3.40 1 Cor 11.28 and 31. verses 2. We cannot finde out our sins to be humbled for them nor our graces to rejoyce in them or rather in God for them without time and pains 2 Cor. 13.5 Gal. 6.4 1 Cor. 1.30 31. c. 3. We cannot bring our hearts to close with God in this or any other holy duty unless we bestow some time and pains about it Psal 208.1 2. 2 Pet. 1.5 and 10. verses with Mark 1.35.38 4. This will abundantly requite all our cost 2 Pet. 1.5.10 11. Quest What are the things we must examine our selves of Answ These two viz. 1. What need we have of this Sacrament 2. Whether we be the persons invited to it Quest Why must we examine our selves of these Answ For these two reasons 1. Because unless we finde and feel our need of this Sacrament we will never care for it or desire it as we ought Mat. 9.12 2. Although we do finde and feel our need of it yet if we are not the parties invited to it we can hope for no benefit by it as a feast does no good to those who are not called to partake of it Mat. 22.11 12 13. Quest How may we finde and feel our need of this Sacrament Answ By serious looking on our own spirituall vileness sinfulness and emptyness of grace in our selves by nature and then on the fulness of grace that is in Christ as presented to us in this Sacrament As for instance 1. Although we finde our selves dull yea dead spiritually in our selves by nature 2 Cor. 3.5 Eph. 2.1 c. 4 5. verses Yet Christ is here presented as a fountain of life to quicken us Ephes 2.1 c. John 4.10 14. Rev. 21.6 Secondly Though we be dark and ignorant in our selves yet Christ is our wisdome to enlighten us 1. Cor. 1.30 Thirdly Though we are guilty and lyable to condemnation of our selves yet Christ is our righteousness to cover and justifie us 1 Cor. 1.30 Phil. 3.7 8 9. Fourhtly Though we are polluted in our selves yet Christ is our sanctification that fountain of David opened to cleanse and purifie us Zeach 13.1 Fifthly VVe are soul-sick in our selves yet Christ is here our Physitian to heal us Mat. 9.12 Sixthly Our graces viz. faith hope patience humility love to God and his people c. Are exceeding dull weak in our selves yet Christ is here our bread of life to quicken strengthen them in us Joh. 6.35 Seaventhly and lastly Our corruptions temptations and soul-enemies are very strong see Rom 7.23 Eph. 6.12 Luke 11.21 1 Pet. 2.11 But we may here see what great need we have of the vertue and power of Iesus Christ in this Sacrament to subdue and conquer them 2 Cor. 12.9 Rom. 8.37 c. Phil. 4.13 Quest But how shall we know whether we be the persons invited to this Sacrament Answ VVe may know it by these three things 1. If we be such as hunger and thirst after Christ Jesus and his pretious merits and righteousness in this Sacrament out of true sense and feeling of our own sin and misery as Isa 55.1 2 3. 2. If we be the children of God this bread is provided for the children and not for dogs Mat 15.26 with 7. cap. ver 6. 3. If we be the Servants of God he hath furnished his table only for his own servants not for ruffians loyterers or such as are strangers to him Luke 12.36 37. with cap. 22. the verses 26 29 30. Quest How shall we know whether we are such as do truly hunger thirst after Christ Jesus and his pretious righteousness in this Sacrament Answ VVe may know by this if we have the true marks and symptomes of spirituall hunger and thirst answerable to those in nature Quest Which are they Answ These six especially viz. 1. A true sence and feeling of the great want of meat and drink Pro. 27.7 So here we must finde and feel our exceeding want of Iesus Christ if we hunger thirst for him Mat. 5 6. with John 7.37 c. 2. Pain and torment for this want till it be supplyed as Judges 15.18 19. So here till the soul enjoys Christ Psa 42.1 Cant. 3.1 2. 3. An earnest desire and going out of the soul after meat and drink so here after Iesus Christ Psal 42.1.63.1 c. 4. A diligent use of means to obtaine these as our poor people when they have no food at home go abroad to the market and to their neighbours for supply Gen. 42 2. So here when we finde the want of Christ at home we must seek abroad for him come to his house Word Ministers Ordinances c. as Cant. 1.8.3.1 2. c. Joh. 5.39 We must go many miles for him if need be as those Joh. 6.24 Mat 2.1 2. c. 5. Willingness to be at any cost or charge to obtain these as Jacob and the Aegyptians Gen. 42.2.43.11 and 47.13.19 20. as Job 2.4 So we must be willing to part with any thing not only our sins and lusts our pleasures and profits c. But with our dearest lives if need require and count all as loss and dung that we may win Christ Mat. 13.44.46 Phil. 3.7 8. as Acts 21.13 Rev. 12.11 6. Readiness and resolution to break through any dangers and difficulties to obtain meat and drink as those lepers 2 Kings 7.4 And as in the Proverb hunger will break through stone walls So those who are spiritually hungry and thirsty after Iesus Christ will break through any dangers and difficulties reproaches disgraces persecutions both of tongue and hand through bad report as well as good will do or suffer any thing to win Christ Heb. 11.25 26 36 37. c. 2 Cor. 6.4 5. 8. verses with Acts. 21.13 Rev. 12.11 as before If we be thus spiritually hungry and thirsty after Christ in some sincere measure we are the guests invited but not otherwise Quest How shall we know that we are the children of God Answ VVe may know by this if we have the dispositions and affections of children viz. these four 1. Children partake of the nature and image of their Parents as Gen. 5.3 So if we be Gods children we must partake of the divine nature and image of God be holy as he is holy mercifull heavenly as our heavenly father is mercifull c. 2 Pet. 1.4 and 1 Pet. 1.15 Joh. 3.3 5. Mat. 5.44 45. c. 48. Luke 6.36 compare Ephes 5.32 Col. 3.10.12 c. 2. Children have a deare love unto and longing desire after the presence of their Parents So we after God to enjoy him in grace and glory Psal 42.1 2. c. 3. Children such as are good are afraid
and 2. By the effects or operations of it Quest How may we know it by the nature of it Answ Thus It will empty us and carry us out of our selves and our own lost estates to rest and quiet our souls wholly only in and upon Iesus Christ for our salvation as Acts 16.30 31. 1 Cor. 1.30 So to rest on him for temporals as well as spirituals Psal 23.1 Quest What are the effects or operatis ons of it Answ These three 1. It is a living not a dead faith Heb. 2.4 Gal. 2.20 The soul that hath it must live by it spiritually i.e. by drawing spirituall life and influence from Christ and not sweare by it as too many do 2. It is a working or loving not an idle faith it works by love to God his people Word and Ordinances Gal. 5.6 Jam. 2.18 with Psal 119.97 c. It is like Dorcas full of good works Acts 9. 3. It is a purifying and holy not a filthy and unholy faith Act. 15.9 1 Joh. 3.3 2 Cor. 7.1 c. 't is holy in it self and makes those pure and holy that partake of it Jude 20. Like a good housewife that makes all clean where she comes so faith Ibid. Acts 15.9 By these we know our faith to be the true faith of Gods elect but if these be wanting it is an illusion of Satan meer presumption not faith Quest What is that thankfulness which is here required Answ it is not a meer lip-devotion but a pious and hearty acknowledgment of the great love of Jesus Christ in dying for us with answerable desires and resolutions by Gods grace to do and suffer any thing for Jesus Christ who hath done and suffered so much for us as Psal 103.1 2 3. 116.13 Rev. 1.5 12.11 Acts 5.41 21.13 Quest What is the last piece of this wedding-garment viz. Charity which is here required to be put on by us over and above all the rest as being the bond of perfection Col. 3.14 Answ It is that gracious affection of soul where we must have a true tender and compassionate love to all viz to wicked men and enemies as well as others I mean unto their souls not sins as Mat. 5.44.45 But especially to the houshold of faith the Communion and fellowship of the Saints Gal. 6.10 Ephes 4.32 Joh. 15.12 1 Joh. 5.1 c. Where there is most of God there must be most of our love dearest affection Psal 16.3 Phil. 1.1 4.1 1 Joh. 5.1 So we that have one and the same God and father the same Christ spirit baptisme table faith hope heaven c. should have the same most intimate love and dear affection in Christ Iesus to one another desiring and seeking the good and Salvation of each other as our own Ephes 4.3 4 5 6. Phil. 2.1 2 4. 1 Thes 2.7 8. These are the sacramentall graces or wedding garment to be put on by way of preparation before we come Quest What is the second thing required of those that would be worthy and welcome partakers of this Ordinance Answ A right disposition and behaviour of themselves when they come Quest How is this proved Answ This is required in all our approaches unto God so here especially See Psal 2.11 12. 95.1 2 3 6. Eccles 5.1 2. Mal. 1.11 As if we were invited to some great mans table we would behave our selves seemly and sutably to so great a presence so we being invited to the table of the great King of Heaven and earth Mat. 22.2 11. Quest Wherein does this right disposition or behaviour of our selves consist Answ In these 6. particulars viz. 1. In demeaning our selves humbly without high-conceitedness Mic. 6.8 Rom. 7.24 1 Tim. 1.15 2. Reverently without rudeness Eccles 5.1 Mal. 1.11 12 14. 3. Intensively without distractedness wholly minding the business which we came about scil to feed in our selves upon Iesus Christ Joh. 6.27 4. Sincerely and heartily without feignedness Pro. 23.26 Isa 29.13 Rom. 10.9 10. 5. Divinely and spiritually without earthliness Exod. 12.24 27. 1 Cor. 11.25 26. 6. With renovation of our Covenant both of Faith and obedience towards God and love unto the Saints without back-slidingness Cant. 2.16 6.3 with Exod. 24.3 7 8. 1 Cor. 6.15 1 Thes 3.12 4.9 10. Qu. Pray open explain the meaning of these 6 particulars a little more fully for the further benefit of your selves and others First How must we demean our selves humbly without high conceitedness when we approach unto God in this Ordinance Answ We may conceive it thus viz. By lying low in our own eyes and in the eyes of God in true sense and feeling acknowledgment of our own sinfulness vileness and unworthiness of the least mercy in our selves having so often slighted and abused mercy and worthiness of the greatest shame and misery and therefore we look upon it as a most high mercy of our God unto us that we who are such vile unworthy wretches should be admitted to gather up the crumbs under his table as in the confessions of Jacob David Daniel Paul and that pretious Canaanitish woman Gen. 32.10 1 Chron. 17.16 c. Dan. 9.7 8. Eph. 3.8 Mat. 15.27 Quest How may we demean our selves reverently without rudeness Answ By setting our selves as in the presence of the great King of heaven and earth before whom the very Angels hide their faces and the Elders cast down their Crowns to give him glory Isa 6.1 2. c. Rev. 4.10 11. Quest How intensively without distractedness Answ By applying our selves wholly to the business which we go about which is not to feed our bodies but our souls and that with the body and blood the pretious merits and excellencies of Iesus Christ * As a man invited to a feast comes not to gaze but to eat So we to feed upon Iesus Christ that meat which endures to everlasting life Joh. 6.27 It is to suck life and salvation from his bleeding wounds Isa 53.5 6. Gal. 2.20 To get a rich supply of all grace as faith hope patience humility holiness heavenly-mindedness sincere love to God his word people Ordinances c. from his fulness Joh. 1.16 7.37 38. c. To gain strength against every base lust wandering desire and against all our pride envy malice worldliness c. and gracious abilities to all holy duties Compare 2 Cor. 12.7 8 9. with Phil. 4.13 Quest How sincerely and heartily without feignedness Answ This is done by performing every duty with our hearts we must pray hear confess and bewaile our sins with the heart beleeve and close with Christ in the heart Pro. 23.26 Isa 29.13 Joel 2.12 13. Rom. 10.9 Acts 8.37 c. not to say we repent and bewaile our sins and yet were never sorry for them or sensible of them or did ever resolve to leave them so to say we believe in Iesus Christ and yet our hearts are far from him we were never taken off from our sins or