can truly say The Lord hath written his law in their hearts and made them know him For carnal unregenerate men who seek not for a saving interest in Christ the second â—â—am according to the tenour of the New 〈◊〉 they do evidently content the◠〈◊〉 with their lapsed condition in the first Adam and so remaine still under the forfeit penalty and curse of the first Covenant of Works broken by Adams fall These things are principally to be known touching the New covenant by worthy Communicants that they may have a true notion or apprehension of that Covenant which is seaâ—ed unto them by tâ—e Lords Supper 5. Knowledge of the Lords Supper it self Finally the fifth and last point of Knowledge especially necessary to qualifie a person for worthy communicating is The knowledge of the true nature of Sacraments and particularly of the Lords Supper it self For How can that be duly managed which is not truly understood To this end we are to know 1. That the Lord hath been wont to deal with his Church and people by way of Sacraments in all times and ages As 1. With Adam and his posterity in a sort For it is supposed by the learned that when God cloathed Adam and Eve with skins he taught them also to sacrifice the bodys of those beasts with whose skins they were cloathed and this is the more probable because the Scripture declaring Abels Religion makes mention only of his Sacrificing the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof These Sacrifices were types of Christ yea pledges tokens and as it were Sacraments confirming the first promise of the seed of the woman Jesus Christ. 2. With Abram when God stablished his Covenant with him and his seed he annexed Circumcision as a Token or Sacrament of the Covenant 3. With Israel when God by the hand of Moses brought them out of Egypt destroying Egypts first-born that they might let Israel go he appointed the Sacrament of the Passeover as a pledge of the preservation of all Israels first-born from Gods wrath 4. When God brought them through the wildernesse in an extraordinary sort Israel also had four extraordinary Sacraments signifying to them spiritual Mysteries in Christ viz. 1 Baptizing in the cloud that both sheltred them from the heat and guided them in their way 2 Baptizing in the Sea which saved them when the Egyptians were drowned 3 Mannah that spiritual meat 4 Water out of the Rock that spiritual drink These four Sacraments were extraordinary and continued but a while viz. during Israels abode in the wildernesse The other lasted till Christs coming in the flesh 5. With the people of God under the New Testament the Lord dealeth also by way of Sacraments ordaining Baptisme and the Lords Supper as standing Sacraments till the end of the world But why doth the Lord thus deal with his people by way of Sacraments in all ages Answ. This comes to passe 1. From Gods familiar love and condescension to his people delighting most plainly and easily to make known spirituals unto them 2. From the abstrusenesse and mysteriousnesse of Christ and the things of Christ which are sublime high heavenly worthy of the quickest inâ—pection of Angels themselves and therefore so far above humane â—pprehension in their heavenly â—uâ—â—re that God represents them in earthly resemblances 3. From the dulnesse of our understandings in conceiving aright of the great Mysteries of Christ therefore God â—â—oops to us â—etting them forth in sensible and visible Elements He descends to our Carnalnesse that we may aâ—cend to his Spiritualnesse He helps our outward senses that they may help our inward graces II. Sacraments are part not of Gods naturall but of his instituted worship Gods Naturall worshâ—p is that which is required in the first Commandment and which the light of Nature dictates to be due unto him Instituted worship is that which is contained in the second Commandment which light of natâ—re cannot particularly lead us unto but onely some posâ—tive divine Institution Now Sacraments are not of Gods Natural but onely of his Instituted worship No light of nature can intimate to us that under the Old Testament God would be worshipped with Ciâ—â—umcision and the Passeover and under the New Testament with Baptisme and the Lords Supper had not God by expresse and positive Inâ—â—itution appointed both Whatsoever Sacraments are they are wholly by Institution We have no other particular ground or foundation for them at all Therefore in the administration of the Lords Supper and of every Sacrament both Ministers and People respectively must cleave close to the Institution The neerer we come up thereto the more acceptable we are to the Lord. As Paul both in planting Sacraments at first and reforming Sacrament-abuses afterwards precisely followed the Lords Institution III. All the Sacraments that ever were instituted since Adam's fall to this day were Tokens Pledges or Seals of the Covenant of grace As Circumcision was a Token of this Covenant a Seal of the righteousnesse of faith c. For since the fall God never set on foot any other Covenant but the Covenant of Grace The Old and New Covenant are both the Covenant of Grace When therefore we come to the Lords Supper we come to renew Covenant with God and to have his gratious New Testament sealed to us IV. Every Sacrament both ordinary and extraordinary of Old or New Testament represents principally Jesus Chrst and him as crucified Adam's sacrifices types of Christ the true sacrifice Circumcision a pledge of our heart-Circumcision through Christs blood The Passeover a token and type of Christ our Passeover sacrificed for us The extraordinary Sacraments Signes of Christ and his sufferings By Baptisme we are said to be baptized into Christ and into his death And by the Lords Supper we so oft as we eat and drink it are said to shew forth the Lords death until he come So that Christ and his death Christ as crucified is the golden thread that runs along through every Sacrament and is the substance and mystery of all Sacraments When therefore we come to the Lords Supper we come to partake a Seal and solemn Memorial of Christ crucified and of all the benefits of his death V. Sacraments are of severall sorts viz. 1. Sacraments of the Old Testament signifying Christ crucified to come afterwards and these were either ordinary or extraordinary Ordinary Sacraments of the Old Testament were chiefly two 1 Circumcision the initiating Sacrament denoting the cutting off of the corruption of the heart by Christ and his grace 2 The Passeover the consummating Sacrament signifying spiritual nourishment by Christ and preâ—ervation from Gods wrath through him Extraordinary Sacraments of the Old Testament were four 1 The Cloud 2. The Sea 3 Mannah from Heaven 4 Water out of the Rock All these were Sacraments of the Old Testament 2. Sacraments of the New Testament signifying Chriâ—t crucified already
Resurrection from the dead out of the grave the third day He both revived and rose again As a second Adam and Head of his Church for our Iustification Spiritual raising of our souls out of sin and Corporal raising of our bodies out of the grave at the last day declaring hereby his infinite God-head His Lordship over quick and dead His full satisfaction of Gods justice for us and his absolute victory oâ—er sinne death and the devil 3. In his Ascension up into heaven fourty days aâ—ter his Resurrection as our Head and Fore-runner Thereby to lead Captivity Captive most triumphantly To receive and give gifts for men To cause our hearts and Affections spiritually to ascend after him To prepare a place for us that where he is we might be also 4. In his Session or sitting down at Gods right hand as God-man our Mediatour in highest Majesty and Glory farre above all Angels Having compleat dominion not only over his Church but over all things in the whole world for the good of his Church Pouring his Spirit upon his people continually making intercession for them 5. Finally In his coming again at the last day to judge the whole world in righteousnesse In his Humiliation at his first coming he was judged and condemned by sinners unjustly In his Exaltation at his second coming he shall judge both men and Angels justly And he shall come in His own and his Fathers glory descending from heaven with a shout and the voice of the Arch-Angel and the Trumpet of God attended most gloriously with the triumphant train of innumerable Saints and Angels to render to every one according to his works Thus we are to know that Christ diâ—charged his office of Mediatourship as Prophet Priest and King both in his state of Humiliation and Exaltation V. That this Mediatour Jesus Christ is an absolutely All-sufficient Mediatour There can be nothing required for sinners salvation which is not compleatly to be had in Christ. Is it Redemption He hath obtained eternal Redemption for his Elect. And by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Is it reconciliation to God When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son Is it Justification He is made unto us righteousness He is The LORD our Righteousnesse He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the Righteousnesse of God in hâ—m for he is the Righteousnesse of God viz. which God hath devised and will accept So that Christ hath more righteousnesse than we have unrighteousnesse more pardons than we have debts more justification than we have condemnation Is it Holinesse He is full of grace and truth that out of his fulnesse we might receive and grace for grace Is it any thing He hath all fulnesse in hâ—mself that we may be compleat in him And he is able to save to the utmost all that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to moke intercession for them VI. That though Jesus Chriâ—t be such an All-sufficient Mediatour and Saâ—iour yet he will saâ—e none at all but them onely to whom he is actually applied He that hath the Son hath life but he that hath not the Son hath not lâ—fe He justifies sinners but onely thoâ—e sinners that beleeve in him He gives soul-rest to wearied souls but onely to thoâ—e wearied and heavy-laden â—ouls that come unto him He gâ—ves Priviledge to become the sons of God But this Priviledge he onely gives to them that receâ—ve him c. Our union to Christ is the foundâ—tion of all our Communion with Christ. No Vnion no Communion VII Finally we are to know touching Christ that he is the subâ—tance of all the Sacraments both of Old and New Testament The Centre of the Covenant of grace and of all the Promises And the very marrow of all the Scriptures They that know not Christ aright know nothing of the Holy Scriptures to purpose for they principally testifie of him They are as the â—tarres that lead to Christ They are as the Sun-beams that discover this Sunne of Righteousnesse They are the secret swadling-clothes of the childe Jesus These things we should know touching Christ before we come to the Lords Supper 4. Knowledge of the New Covenant Knowledge of the New Covenant is the fourth point of knowledge requisite to a worthy Communicant before receiving of the Lords Supper In the Institution of the Lords Supper it is said of the Cup This is my blood of the New Testament That is this Wine in the Cup is a Signe and Seal of my blood by which the New Testament is ratified So that by the Lords Supper the New Testament or New Covenant is confirmed to us and in receiving the Lords Supper we renew Coâ—enant with God This we cannot do judiciously unleâ—s we competently understand the nature of the New Covenant Now for the opening of the New Covenant in some measure Consider these following Propositions which may afford some true taste of the nature of the New Covenant 1. The New Covenant is not the same Covenant which God made with Adam in Innocency but far different from it and that in divers particulars For 1. The Covenant with Adam was a Covenant of amity or friendship made by God with him as by a Creator with his creature But the new Covenant is a Covenant of reconciliation made by God as a Redeemer with the sinner 2. The Covenant with Adam was upon tearms of personal perfect and perpetual Obedience to the Moral Law written in his heart the curse and death being threatned to the least transgression thereof But the New Covenant is upon tearms of Faith and new obedience as the fruit thereof and testification of our thankfulness The Spirit of Grace being promised to work that faith and obedience whereunto eternal lifâ— is promised c. 3. The Covenant with Adam was with a person perfectly able to fulfil the Covenant in his own peâ—son alone The New Covenant is with persons unable of themselves to do any thing acceptably before God without divine Grace assisting and therefore performing Covenant onely in Jesus Christ their Surety 4. The Covenant with Adam was wâ—â—hout a Mediator Adam in his innocency nâ—eding no Mediator of Redemption or Reconciliation But the New Covenant is with a Medâ—ator Jesus Christ most necâ—ssary unto sinners for their salvation II. The New Covenant is the same in substance and essential constitution but far different in circumstance and manner of administration from the Old Covenant By Old Covenant I understand The Covenant of promise That is to say all the Covenants and Promises touching Christ from the first promise of The seed of the woman immediately after the fall till Christs
discover whether we are parties to the New Covenant and have inward interest in it 1. By our New Covenant-Knowledge of the Lord evidenced three wayes p. 6 7 8. By the Inscription of Gods Law in our Hearts proved four wayes p. 8 9.10 3. By our Covenant-Relation to God p. 10 11. 4. By the pardon of our sins where five Signes of that pardon p. 11 12 13. 5. By the implantation of Gods fear in our hearts p. 13,14 The New Covenant differs four wayes from Gods Covenant with Adam in innocency p. 82 83. How it agrees and differs from the Old Covenant p. 84 85 86. Four grand Priviledges of it p. 87 88. The New Covenant-Priviledges none can actually claim without the New covenant-Covenant-Grace p. 89. Creation What it is p. 46. 4. Excellencies in Gods Creation p. 47 48. D. DEcrees What Gods Deerees are more generally and specially considered p. 42 43. 6. Perfections of Gods Decrees p. 44 45 46. How God Executes his Decrees bâ— Creation and Providence p. 46 c. E. EXamination before Communicating is publike and Private p. 1 2 Necessary upon four grounds p. 2 3. 1. We are to Examine Our Right Need and Actuall Fitnesse p. 3. 1. Our Right to the Lords Supper is Outward and Inward p. 4 5. Our Inward Right to the Lords Supper may be try'd by our inward Right to and Interest in the New Covenant and that five wayes p. 5. to 15. See Right and New Covenant 2. Our Need of the Lords Supper is great in five regards p. 15. to 29. See Supper of the Lord. 3. Our fitnesse of the Lords Supper consists in having and using Knowledge Faith Repentance New Obedience Love Thankfulnesse and a Spiritual Appetite p. 26 c. See these heads severally F. FAith Five sorts of Faith and which fits for the Lords Supper especially p. 110 111. Saving Faith is described and the description cleared by Scripture p. 111 112. The necessity of this Faith to worthy Communicating in four regards p. 113. to 116. The Properties of Faith 1. It softens the Heart and how p. 116 117. 2. It purifies the Heart three wayes p. 118 119. 3. It makes sincerely obedient and how in four respects p. 120 121. 4. It loosens the heart from the world p. 121 122. 5. It enliveueth a Christian. p. 122. 6. It 's attended with three Companions p. 123. 7. It overcomes the World Flesh and Devil p 123 124. 8. It upholds under troubles p. 124. 9. It daily grows and perseveres p. 125. Fall of Adam How happy he and we were before the fall in nine respects p. 50. to 55. How miserable Adam and we are since the fall By privation of Good nine wayes p. 55 56. By position of Evil both of Sin and Sorrow p. 56. to 63. G. GOD. Concerning God these things are cleared by Scripture 1. That God is 2. That God is one 3. That this one God subsists in three distinct persons p. 29 30. 4. That God is a Spirit p. 31. 5. That God hath made himself known by his Attributes and Works p. 31. c. His Attributes Incommunicable Communicable and Resulting from both seventeen in all are Ennumerated and cleared by Scriptures p. 31. to 42. His Works are his Decreés and the Execution thereof p. 42. What Gods Decrees are more Generally and more Specially Considered p. 42 43. 6. Excellencies or Perfections of Gods Decrees p. 44 45 46. His Execution of his Decrees is by Creation and Providence p. 46. What Creation is and how Gods Freedom Wisdom Power and Goodnesse shine forth therein p. 46 47 48. What Providence is generally considered and the three Acts thereof p. 48 49. Gods special Providence over man in his four-fold estate p. 39. Iustification p. 224. How God Christ Faith Good works justifie p. 225. K. KNnowledge Three Characters of New Covenant-knowledge p. 6 7 8. Knowledge is necessary to worthy Communicating in three respects p. 26 27. Knowledge of God our selves Christ New Covenant and Lords Supper why necessary to worthy Communicating p. 27 28 29. 1. What Knowledge of God is requisite to worthy communicating p. 29. â—o 49. 2. What Knowledge of our selves p. 49. to 69. 3. What Knowledge of Iesus Christ. p. 79. to 82. 4. What Knowledge of the New Covenant p. 82. to 90. 5. What Knowledge of the Lords Supper p. 90. to 99. True Sanctified Knowledge may be tried by eight Properties of it It is 1. Experimental p. 99 100. 2. Soul-abasing p. 101 102. 4. Communicative for others Edification p. 103. 4. Growing p. 104. 5. Heart-affecting p. 105. 6. Spiritualized p. 106 107. 7. Pure p. 107. 8. Obedientiall and that from four grounds p. 108 109. L. LAw Four Signes of Gods Law written in the Heart p. 8 9 10. Lords Supper See Supper of the Lord. Love to Christ. It is in two degrees necessary to fit for worthy Communâ—cating p. 147. to 151. Our Love to Christ may betryed 1. By the grounds of it viz. Christs Lovelinesse Faâ—th in Christ Experience of Christ. p. 151. to 154. 2. By the Degrees of it viz. Good-will to Christ Desire of Christ and Acquiescence in Christ. p. 154. to 158. 3. By the properties of it viz. It is Obedientiall â—ranscendent Breathing after more Evidence of Christs Love Accepting Christs Rebukes Sincere Constant. p. 158. to 164. Love to Christians How necessary it is to fit for worthy Communicating in five regards p. 164. to 170. How it may be tryed by these Properties It is 1. Arising from our Love to God 2. Pure 3. Spiritual 4. Vniversal 5. Sincere two wayes 9. Kindly-affectioned three wayes 7. Contenting in Society of the Brethren 8. Fervent 9. Constant. p. 170. to 178. N. NAture The Necessity of getting out of our Natural condition into a Supernatural state in Christ four wayes evidenced p. 63. to 66. New Covenant See Covenant New Obedience See Obedience O. OBedience New Obedience is necessary to Qualifie for worthy Communicating in three regards p. 139 140. Properties of true Obedience It is 1. Conscientious p. 140. 2. Cordiall in three respects p. 141 142. 3. Transforming p. 142. 4. Resolved in many regards p. 143. to 146. 5. Compleat two wayes p. 146. 6. Constant p. 146. P. PArdon of Sins Five Signes of it pag. 11 12 13. Preparation before the Lords Supper consists â—n Examination p. 1 2. It is urged upon four weighty grouâ—ds viz. From the Author Nature Benefit of the Lords Supper and Danger of unworthy Communicating p. 2 3. See Examination Providence What it is generally considered Thrâ— grand Acts of Providence p. 48 49. Gods Special Providence over man in his fourfold estate p. 49. R. Remembring How we are to Remembr Christ crucified at the Lords Supper 1. Histrically p. 214. to 218. 2. Mysteriously p. 218. to 2â—6 3. Energetically p. 226. to 234. Rendering again See Thankfulnes Repentance How necessary it is to sit for worthy Communicating in three regards â— 126 127. Repentance is described and