Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
faith_n covenant_n sacrament_n seal_n 4,627 5 9.5821 5 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A10398 Three and tvventie sermons, or, Catechisticall lectures upon the sacrament of the Lords Supper preached monthly before the Communion. By that late able, and painfull preacher, Master Iohn Randall Bachelour of Divinitie, pastor of Saint Andrewes Hubbart in little Eastcheape London, sometimes fellow of Lincolne Colledge in Oxford. Published by his executor Iosh. Randall, as he found it corrected by the authors one hand, in his study, since his death. Randall, John, 1570-1622.; Randall, Joshua, fl. 1630. 1630 (1630) STC 20682A; ESTC S115645 295,622 568

There are 5 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

the New Testament as the Blood of Christ in a proper sence is the Blood of his owne Body The Vses of the Point follow Vse 1 First It commends vnto vs the excellencie of the New Testament aboue the Old What a gracious mercie of God is it for vs that are respited to liue in those dayes wherein the Lord hath vouchsafed vnto as all other things so the Sacraments of the New Testament fit for the Couenant of Grace which we professe and imbrace he hath beene pleased to giue vnto vs Christ himselfe in a more fuller manner then to the old People in the former Testament in the time of the Law To them in Promise in Sacrifice in Saddowes To vs in Substance To them a farre off To vs neere he came amongst vs he suffered was conuersant and dwelt amongst vs. Besides this he taught them the Doctrine of Saluation but it was shaddowed in Mysteries in a kind of darke Cloud But we see it in so cleare a Glasse that euerie Man that runs may read it Yet farther God hath giuen vs Christ more fully the Word and Doctrine of Saluation more fully and the Sacraments of the New Testament more liuely senceably teachable spirituall and heauenly then the Sacraments of the Old Testament where they are more liuely representations of Christ and more palpable and pregnant figures of the fruit and benefit purchased by his sufferings when they vnder the former Testament were to spell Christ in the eating of the Paschall Lambe it was a hard matter for them so to doe But when we come to doe this in this Sacrament in the breaking of the Bread and pouring forth of the Wine where the words of Institution are added thereunto as also the Doctrine of Saluation concerning the Death of Christ if we cannot now spell him our blindnesse is horrible This is that glorious Ministerie the Apostle speakes of 2 Cor. 3.7 c. The ministration of the Law was glorious but the ministration of the Spirit is more glorious This is in an other maner he giues two reasons for it The one It is the ministration of righteousnesse The other the ministration of the Spirit The ministration of the Law by reason of Mans corruption was Death The ministration of the Gospell is Life Here is matter of Righteousnesse the free mercie of God in Christ That was of the Letter this of the Spirit Looke what was deliuered to them in the Word and Sacraments it was done outwardly there was not that neere acquaintance of the Word and Spirit as now is It is common to the Gospell to be generally attended by the Spirit of Grace and there it is the ministerie of the Spirit When we are to preach the Word and to administer the Sacraments the Spirit attends vpon these Ordinances to sanctifie to the Heart and Conscience of the Beleeuer those things are tendered vnto him Vse 2 The second Vse teacheth vs that the more mercifully God deales with vs the greater meanes he affords vs the greater our sinne and condemnation and the more vnexcusable are we if we neglect the same Haue we greater light then they had Let vs then walke according to that light He lookes for that he giues to euerie Man where he giues much he lookes for much where he giues a better light to walke by he looks that we should walke by a better light and therefore seeing he hath vouchsafed this vnto vs he requires that our liues and conuersations should be more holy and religious then those that liued in a more obscure light vnder the times of the former Testament Especially we must not contemne and neglect these things He that despised the Law of Moyses dyed without mercie And what shall become of vs if we trample the Blood of the New Testament vnder our Feet If we neglect so great Saluation If those that contemned the Sacraments of the Old Testament were in a damnable case In what a fearefull condition are we if we defile the Blood of this New Testament which we shall doe if we come not with prepared Hearts with resolution to serue God to breake off our sinnes to be raysed vp in consideration of God Promise in Christ and with a full purpose and determination for hereafter to become new Creatures and therefore as we would not bring Damnation vpon vs so let vs be carefull that we are not omissiue herein Vse 3 The third Vse warnes our Ministers to looke to themselues that they defile not themselues with the corruptions of the World If the Priests and Leuites though they bare but the Vessels of the Lord were to be sanctified how much more is this required of vs that carrie such precious treasure the Word the Couenant of Grace the Sacraments the Signes and Seales thereof And likewise for your selues it teacheth you carefully to lay vp those heauenly things in good and honest Hearts that Gods purpose and your faith may meet together and so redound to your euerlasting comfort and Saluation Vse 4 The fourth and last Vse of the Point is this Here is matter of reproofe against many bad vngodly and gracelesse Receiuers First of those that are ignorant of the matter of Saluation this is a Sacrament of the New Testament and that is a state of life and knowledge they that are destitute of this the Sacrament is not them nor such persons must not come vnto it In the second place it reproues superstitious Receiuers that come as the Papists and thinke that for the deed done they shall be iustified and find good will as if the action of it selfe were of effect that it workes Grace whether they haue Faith and Repentance or no. The Sacrament of the Supper is the Sacrament of the New Testament The state of the New Testament requires God to be worshipped in Spirit and Truth not formally but in Faith and Repentance Thirdly it reproues those that come to it vncharitably such must not come till they haue dispensed with their high stomackes and are reconciled to their Brethren This Sacrament is the Sacrament of the New Testament The New Testament is a Couenant of Peace not onely betwixt God and Man but betwixt Man and Man Not onely glorie vnto God on high but peace vpon Earth good will towards Men And such as come vncharitably they are Vsurpers they meddle with that they haue nothing to doe withall Fourthly it reproues those that are vnregenerate they conceit with themselues that howsoeuer they vnderstand not the matter of Saluation though they haue no perswasion of Gods loue yet that the Sacrament may worke this No they are deceiued the Sacrament makes vs not good but confirmes vs in the state of Righteounsnesse in that good which God hath already wrought in vs. The Word and Spirit makes vs new Creatures the Sacraments strengththen vs already made This Sacrament is a Sacrament of the New Testament and therefore belongs to such as haue part in that Couenant of Grace Such as are
strengthens our faith but having the seale of it which is the Sacrament here is a more sensible fastning of this truth upon us this strengthens our faith much more we doe pray to God to increase our faith doe wee thinke that God will encrease it without meanes that is preemption but wee pray to God to blesse the meanes unto us that it may be powerfull to encrease it but doe we pray to God to blesse the meanes without our frequent use of the meanes that also is presumption too we must make use of the meanes that God hath appointed tor the encrease of our faith now the Sacrament of the Lords Supper being such a speciall meanes whereby the faith of Gods children is strengthned therefore a speciall care they must have to frequent the same often Reason 3 The third reason is somewhat agreeable unto this our assurance that our sinnes arc pardoned and forgiven unto us is a sweet and precious thing many of Gods children would give all they have in the world to enjoy that grace and that comfort the more oft they have it the more comfort they have the seldomer they have it the more uncomfortable their life is wee know that there is no meanes whereby wee have this assurance of the forgivenesse of our sinnes more sensibly fastned upon us than by the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper for therein is Christ delivered as it were unto us and his merits even by actuall possession the Lord puts the signe into our hands and the things signified into our hearts if we doe beleeve and come as worthy receivers and therefore how oft ought we to be in the participation of this blessed Sacrament when as we receive such a benefit by it as the assrance of the pardon and forgivenesse of our ssinnes if we have the assurance of our pardon to day we are so fickle that it may be to morrow wee doubt of it againe Now we are assured of it anon we sinne and then our conscience is troubled and doubts arise and so we thinke with our selves Oh I had thought I had beene reconciled to God and my sinnes had beene pardoned but it was but an imagination it is gone away like a dreame this we know we are subject unto and therefore how ought we to fence our hearts and to keepe the life of God afoot in our hearts for the assurance of the pardon of our sinnes is the very life of God in our hearts and therefore to be carefull of the frequent use of the meanes by which this assurance may be confirmed unto us and that is by the participation of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper for that is the speciall means by which this is most sensibly fastened upon us I have heard that it was the worldly wisedome of a Treasurer in this land in Queen Elizabeths time that he would never be a fortnight or a month at the most without his Quietus est that whatsoever changes and alterations might come yet he might be in that respect in some good security See how wise men can be for the matters of the world how foolish they are for the matters of heavē every mā that wil address himselfe to come into Gods presence at his table and prepare himselfe by faith and repentance he may have this Quietus est and receive an actuall acquittance from God and God shall tell him by his Spirit that his sinnes are pardoned and forgiven and he reconciled to him in Christ wee have this opportunity offered unto us once a moneth and yet such is our dulnesse and backwardnesse in matters of salvation that we are most of us carelesse of this if we were so carefull for our soules as he was for his body wee would come every moneth to receive our acquittance because changes and alterations may come wee may dye before the next day come or tentations may assault us and such like and therefore let us labour to have our Quietus est from God alwayes in a readinesse Reason 4 The fourth reason is this our covenant with God is daily to bee renewed and therefore the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is daily to be received and frequented and participated in because that is a speciall meanes and occasion and bond of our renewing our covenant with God it is true we do or at least we ought alwayes renew our covenant with God in our daily prayers repentance of our sinnes and faith in Christ specially every Sabbath day we should doe this and we should consecrate our selves wholly to his service but most particularly when we come to the Lords Table ordinary people commonly doe make some kinde of preparation according to their manner when they come to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and in the truth of the thing the most especiall renewing of our covenant is then when we come to partake of the Sacrament Now because our covenant is daily to be renewed this Sacrament being a bond of the renewing of it therefore this must oft be frequented That this is a speciall meanes and bond of our renewing of our covenant with God is cleare because that therein wee receive a pawne and pledge of the mutuall covenant and promise made on both sides a pledge from God whereby he bindes himselfe to be our God to forgive us our sinnes to give us his Spirit to justifie and sanctifie us and that he will save us and we by the receiving of it doe by this binde our selves anew to be his people and to beleeve in the promises of grace and salvation made in Christ and to subject our selves to the power work of sanctification we to betake our selves wholly to his obediēce thus I say is the covenant of Gods childrē renewed with God especially in the matter of receiving the Sacrament therefore it being our duty daily to renew our covenant with God therefore we ought to have access to it to receive the sacrament oft because in it our covenant is spccially renewed Reason 5 The fift Reason is our love towards our brethren the mutuall love betweene the children of God that must alwayes bee kindled their love must be like to that fire mentioned in Levit. 6.13 that must never goe out of the hearts one of another Fire we know will goe out if it be not kindled and supplȳed with fewell so the fire of love in the hearts of Gods children is ready to bee quenched many occasions of worldly matters and other businesses there are that breed such differences that it makes love many times cold and turns it into contention yea even in Gods children and therefore we must use the meanes whereby it may be kindled and kept still alive but there is no better meanes to kindle it and keepe it alive than the participation of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper there is no such bellowes to blow up the fire of love in their hearts as this when they come to the Lords
with an eie and respect to his Death on the Crosse his Body broken his Blood shed yet notwithstanding that is not all we are not to stay there but it hath a further reach otherwise those that stood by our Sauiour Christ when he was crucified put the case that one of them had sprinkled his Body with the Blood of Christ should he haue had a Communion then with Christ Certainly no. Therefore our Faith must reach further and not stay in the Body and Blood of Christ but it must reach to the fruit and comfort that comes thereby to sanctification and eternall life For so Christ spake Math. 26.28 This is my Blood which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes Consider of Christ his Death his Body broken his Blood shed we must haue a further reach to discerne the sauing fruits and benefits of his Death as forgiuenesse of sinnes sanctification and eternall life So then we see what is meant by the Body and Blood of Christ The Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ Now the third point to be spoken of is the manner of the performing and accomplishment of those things in the Sacrament or Supper of the Lord. We must vnderstand it to be thus performed that is to say that this Communion with Christ or the Communion that we haue among our selues we must not so vnderstand it as if it were begun or made but so performed as according to the nature of the Sacrament will reach vnto it that is to say it is there confirmed ratified and sealed vp vnto vs the Body and Blood of Christ is communicated vnto vs by the way of Seale of Pledge of Ratification the Sacraments doe not beget Faith in vs but they confirme Faith where it is begotten already Rom. 4.11 After he receiued the signe of Circumcision as the Seale of the righteousnesse of Faith which he had when he was vncircumcised c. The Sacrament that comes and seconds it and ratifies it vnto vs. Then here is the case at our first conuersion when God gaue vs an effectuall calling God drawed vs neere to himselfe and worked Faith in vs and touched our Hearts by his Spirit and so makes this holy Communion betweene Christ and vs and so makes vs one with him and he with vs. Well Faith being thus begotten in vs by the preaching of the Word the Vnion being thus made then God admits vs to his Table to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper the point now in hand He admits vs there that so this Communion already made betweene Christ and vs might be further confirmed and ratified The Sacrament doth this not as an efficient cause but as an outward instrumentall cause It is not done by the deed done as the Papists say the deed done is not enough to conferre grace no it is no such matter the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ The meanes that Gods children are conuerted by and effectually called is the Word thereby Faith is wrought in them and a holy Communion made betweene Christ and them after they are admitted to the participation of the Sacrament by which Sacrament as an outward instrumentall cause this Communion being already begun and made is further ratified and confirmed This is the meaning of those words that it is the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ Now we come to the obseruations that here ariseth for our instruction First concerning the Communion betweene Christ and the Faithfull and then the Communion between the Faithfull and themselues The Communion that is betweene Christ and the Faithfull is confirmed vnto vs in the participation of the Lords Supper that is it is an effectuall Bond Pledge and Seale of that holy and blessed Communion that the Faithfull haue with Christ and Christ with them In Math. 26.26 the Text saith there that our Sauiour tooke Bread and gaue it to his Disciples that is Christ communicated himselfe to vs in the Sacrament Now we are to proue that Christ communicated himselfe to vs in the Sacrament He gaue it to his Disciples what freer then the guift And withall he presseth it vpon them and bids them take eat this is my Body What can be spoken more frankly and more freely And therefore being spoken by him that neuer spake any thing that he meant not in his Heart it must needs be a verie franke and free bestowing of himselfe Yet as you will say here is Bread and here is Wine frankly and freely giuen but what is this to Christ his owne Body Yes that Bread in a Sacramentall sence is the Body of Christ he giues the name of the Signe to the thing signified this Bread is his Body whatsoeuer he speakes and performes concerning the one he doth concerning the other He was not so franke free and liberall in giuing Bread as he was in giuing his Body to feed vpon So the like is concerning the Cup in Vers 27.28 First here you see then that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in regard of the first institution is a Bond and Seale of the blessed Communion that we haue with Christ He gaue himselfe to vs. In Iohn 6.51 52. there Christ tels them that He it the liuing Bread which came downe from Heauen if any Man eat of this Bread he shall liue The meaning is that Christ gaue vs his Flesh to eat spiritually In Vers 53. it is said Except ye eat the Flesh of the Sonne of Man and drinke his Blood ye haue no Communion with Christ But that which is most pregnant for our purpose is in Vers 56. where it is said He that eats my Flesh and drinkes my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him What neerer Communion can there be then this that we dwell in him and he in vs Who are they that partake of this He that eats my Flesh and drinkes my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him And is not this his Flesh eaten and his Blood drunken In the participation of the Lords Supper is ratified the sweet Communion that is betweene Christ and vs. I doe not say that that in the sixth of Iohn is vnderstood properly of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper but is mystically applyed to this of eating Christ by Faith and therefore iustly agrees with this of the Lords Supper when we meditate vpon Christs workes in the Sacrament or out of the Sacrament not eating his Flesh and drinking his Blood after a spirituall manner that is in the generall there if we doe this in the vse of the Sacrament we doe it in a particular manner So then it is so in all our spirituall eating of Christ and drinking of his Blood we dwell in him and he in vs then much more in the participation of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper when our Faith is lift vp to Christ that we feed vpon him more thoroughly and earnestly and therefore much more doth that place take hold of our
vnregenerate haue no interest in the Couenant and therefore no part in this businesse Lastly it reproues Pharisaicall and Iustitiarie Receiuers that stand vpon their owne Righteousnesse This is a Sacrament of the New Testament the New Testament is the Couenant of Grace free pardon and remission of sins through the Blood of Christ Whosoeuer then stand vpon their owne Righteousnesse and thinke to be saued by the least measure part or contribution of their owne workes or merits haue no part in the New Testament and so haue nothing to doe with this Sacrament This is onely for such as haue their share in the Testament that apply and cast themselues vpon God Here I am a wretched and damnable sinner I haue nothing to say for my selfe I haue deserued thy wrath I cast my selfe vpon thy promises for the free remission of my sinnes in the Blood of the Lord Iesus there is my plea. Thus come and welcome But otherwise as Peter said to Symon Magus thou hast no part in this businesse So much for the first point that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is proper to the state of the New Testament In the second place whereas in is said that the Sacrament is of the New Testament Hence obserue thus much that Doct. 2. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is an effectuall Pledge and Seale of the whole worke and Couenant of Grace We shall not need to seeke farre for proofe but onely to the words of institution here and elsewhere vsed That which is in Luke 22.20 This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you some read it and so the originall of the Text requires because of the Particle that That it is spoken in reference to that in Ierem. 31.33 I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their Hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People I will forgiue their iniquitie and remember their sinner no more This is the New Testament now administred He saith not a part of it but that whole Testament which the Lord there promised by the Prophet is conferred vnto vs in this Sacrament So looke how farre the Testament extends that God made so farre this Sacrament extends it selfe The Testament extends to the matter of our Iustification that he will forgiue our iniquitie And to the matter of our Sanctification that he will put his Law into our Hearts and therefore the Sacrament being an effectuall pledge of that whole Testament doth as well extend it selfe to the matter of our Iustification as to the matter of our Sanctification in both which consists the Couenant of Grace And that which our Sauiour saith Luke 22.19 Doe this in remembrance of me proues as much He saith not in remembrance of my continuance and workes of this and that act but of all that euer I haue done and suffered for the accomplishment of your Redemption in remembrance of whole Christ as a Man would say And whereas it is here said and likewise by the other Euangelists For Remission of sinnes This proues the point by the nature of the phrase and likewise by the matter it selfe By the nature of the phrase Remission of sinne is but one part of the Couenant part being put for the whole as I shewed you in the opening of the Text But much more by the matter for the truth is this That God neuer remits any Mans sinne but he regenerates him And therefore if it be effectuall for the one it is also effectuall for the other If for our Iustification then also for our Sanctification Last of all when it is said by our Sauiour in Mather Marke Luke and Paul That it is the Testament in his Blood it shewes that it is a pledge of the whole Couenant of Grace For the Blood of Christ is the cause of our Iustification and also of our Sanctification The cause of our Iustification Rom. 5.9 The cause of our Sanctification 1 Pet. 1.2 That according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit vnto obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Iesus Christ The Blood is effectuall both to our Iustification and Sanctification The Sacrament in a Sacramentall sence is the Blood of Christ and therefore in a Sacramentall sence is effectuall as well to our Iustification as to our Sanctification It is an effectuall Seale of the whole worke and Couenant of Grace The Reasons of this are these Reas 1 The first is drawne from the shadowes of the Law For concerning the Passe-ouer what was that a signe to the People of Israel Of their departure out of Aegypt But was that all No it was also a token that God would receiue them to mercie that he would not onely deliuer them out of Aegupt but would also bring them into Canaan The principall thing wee looke for in the Sacrament is not our deliuerance out of Aegypt from the slauerie and bondage of sinne but that he will carrie vs thorough Temptations against our Corruptions Satans oppostions the inticements and allurements of the World thorough the Red Sea and Wildernesse of this World thorough all afflictions and will not leaue vs till he hath brought vs to our heauenly Canaan a place of spirituall rest and happinesse Reas 2 Another Reason is drawne from the nature of a Seale The Seale must extend it selfe as farre as the Writing the Writing extends it selfe to the whole Couenant of Grace and therefore the Seale doth so also Whether the Sacrament be a Seale of the Word that promiseth both or of the Blood of Christ his Blood being of both therefore the Sacrament is of both Reas 3 Againe Christ is giuen vnto vs wholly Body and Blood both for there is our acceptation of Gods loue towards vs his Body and Blood either of them had been sufficient but because he would meet with our dulnesse hardnesse of Heart and vnbeleefe he hath therefore appointed both of them that if any should thinke his Body more effectuall then this Blood either to Iustification or Sanctification he might be satisfied Thus the whole Couenant of Grace is plentifully deliuered and sealed vp in this Sacrament Reas 4 Fourthly Looke whatsoeuer was done vpon the Crosse the same is represented resembled and tendered vnto vs in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper But his obedience and sufferings vpon the Crosse were effectuall for our Iustification and Sanctification and therefore the obedience of the Lord Iesus procureth both at the Hands of God and therefore the same is tendered vnto vs in this Sacrament Reas 5 Fifthly In the true participation of this Sacrament the whole worke of Faith is implyed when we come we bring not a peece of our Faith but all that possibly we can Now Faith takes hold vpon the whole Couenant of Grace and therefore the Sacrament tenders vnto vs the whole Couenant of Grace Whatsoeuer God giues vnto vs by his Ordinance we receiue it by Faith Whatsoeuer God giues vs
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