A short and plaine TRACTATE OF THE LORDS SVPPER Grounded upon 1 Cor. 11.23 c. By VVILLIAM MORE Minister of Gods Word LONDON Printed by T. H. for Charles Green and are to be sold at his shop in Ivy Lane 1645. To the Right Honourable the Lady FRANCIS HOBERT Wife of the Honourable Sir JOHN HOBERT Knight and Baronet MADAM THe many obligements in which I acknowledge my selfe tyed unto your honours honourable husband who hath been Gods gracious instrument in preserving me from the unjust oppression of the perverse though I be not repaired in my sufferings have made me humbly to present unto your Honour as a true token of a gratefull minde this little Tractate short as might be shunning obscurity and plaine according to my best possibility Though Momus carp I care not The Word of God is not bound Receive honourable Lady this mite from him who daily doth plead at the Throne of Grace for your honours honourable husband for your honourable Ladiship And happy hopefull Children And who is really Madam Your Honours humble servant in the Lord WILLIAM MORE EMMANVEL A short and plaine Tractate of the LORDS SUPPER grounded on 1 Cor. 11.23 c. Q. WHat is a Sacrament of the new Covenant A. A divine Institution in which by visible signes all the blessings of the new Covenant are represented given sealed and applied that is Jesus Christ and all his graces unto all faithfull receivers Mat. 3.11 Act. 19. Mat. 26.26 Rom. 4.11 Joh. 1.12 Q. How many Sacraments are in the New Covenant A. Two Baptisme and the Lords Supper Our Lord nor his Apostles ordained no more Q. What is the Lords Supper A. A Sacrament of the faithfull their spirituall nourishment and increase of grace through Christ 1 Pet. 2.2 Q. Doth not the Lords Supper worke faith in those who receive it though they lack faith A. No For as no temporall food can make a dead childe to live no more can this spirituall food any who is spiritually dead Mat. 7.6 Q. Must we communicate often A. Yes for our soules like our bodies must be often fed and we must labour for it Joh. 6.27 Q. We are but once baptised why should wee often communicate A. As there is but one beginning of naturall life and yet it must be often fed so there is but one beginning of spirituall life which is faith Rom. 1.17 And it likewise must be often fed 2 Pet. ult ult Q. Why is both bread and wine given in the Lords Supper A. 1. As our bodies must be fed both with meat and drinke so our soules must be fed with Christs body which is that true bread that strengthneth our heart and with his bloud which maketh the heart glad Ps 104.15 2. To demonstrate that Christ is the only â—…ll and perfect food of our soules Joh. 6.51 Q. May not infants baptized ignorants of perverse indisposition naturall fooles obstinate malicious grossely scandalous sinners drunken men be admitted to this S. Supper A. No because they cannot discerne the Lords body 1 Cor. 11.29 Q. How many parts are there of the Lords Supper A. Foure 1. A lawfully admitted Minister 2. The elements bread and wine 3. The words of Institution 4. And a competent number of communicants Q. Are all those necessary parts of it A. Yes any of those wanting there can be no true Sacrament Q. May not any of the effectually called administer this Sacrament A. No for none may administer the Sacraments but Preachers Mat. ult 19. And none may preach except they be sent of God Rom. 10.14 And those who are sent of God must be lawfully admitted 1 Tim. 4.14 Heb. 5.4 1 Cor. 11.23 The Lord Iesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread Q. Who did first institute this Lords Supper A. The Lord Jesus himselfe Mat. 6.26 Mark 14.22 Luk. 22.19 1 Cor. 11.23 Q. What learnest thou hence A. 1. Seeing my Lord did institute it I must in filiall feare observe his commands in preparing my selfe to take it it tending so much to his glory and to my salvation Mal. 1.6 2. And seeing he is Jesus my Saviour Mat. â— 21 I must in love to advance his honour and mine owne salvation hunger for it Mat. 5.6 Q. Seeing Christ gave it in the night must not we doe so likewise A. No unlesse it be in times of persecution 1. Because that Sacrament of the Old Covenant the Passeover behoved to be ended before this Sacrament of the New Covenant the Lords Supper was instituted for this succeeded to that Luk. 22.15.16 2. The Pascall lamb was commanded to be killed in the evening Exod. 12.6 and eaten that same night v. 8. 3. This Supper was instituted as near before Christs death as possible could be to the and that nothing might be altered in it added to it nor taken from it Heb. 9.17 4. That this legacy bequeathed by our Lords latter will unto all the faithfull might be more firmly fixed in our memories No such necessitie viz. persecution urge us Tooke bread Q. Why did our Lord take bread to resemble his body A. 1. As our bodies cannot ordinarily live without bread which strengthneth mans heart Ps 104.15 no more can our souls live wanting Christ who is the living life giving bread that gives eternall life Joh. 6.51 2. Christ tooke bread for its generality because of all meats bread is most generally knowne most universally used and in most Countries most easily acquired 3. Because of breads likenesse for of all creatures which are eaten bread most resembles Christs body And hence He calleth His body the true bread which came downe from heaven Joh. 6.32.35 4. As bread is needfull for all meats So is our Lord for us in all matters most necessary Joh. 15.5 1 Cor. 1.30 5. As the bread hath endured all kindes of breaking ere it can be food for my body So Christ suffered all kindes of death death in sinne only excepted ere he could be food for my soule Heb. 2.9.10 Q. What doth this teach thee A. I must labour for the fulnesse of faith that I may get the bread which endureth unto life everlasting Joh. 6.27 Q. What doth that bread signifie A. 1. Christs body as his owne words prove This is my body 2. As it is but one bread made of many graines so all the elect are members one of another Ephes 4.25 are all members of Christs mysticall body Ephes 5.30 and Christ is their head v. 23. Q. What learnest thou hence A. I must love Christ above all things Mat. 22.37 and my neighbour as my selfe v. 39. especially the faithfull Gal. 6.10 Q. What kinde of bread tooke Christ A. Common table bread unleavened for no leavened bread might be eaten at the Passeover Ex. 12.15 Q What was meant by leaven there A. False doctrine Mat. 16.22 Hypocrisie Luk. 12.2 Malice and wickednesse 1 Cor. 5.8 Q. What should that teach thee A. Those all must bee rooted out of my heart before I
or think that I can get Christ A. Christ resolveth thee Mark 9.23 If thou canst beleeve all things are possible to him that beleeveth Q. What doth that teach thee A. Three things 1. I must have saving faith that I may get Christ seeing He is freely offered 2. I must take that bread and that wine otherwise I both refuse the means by which Christ is truly given in this Sacrament unto the faithfull and also I refuse Christ who now offereth Himselfe unto me 3. And if I now take not Christ He will take vengeance of me in flaming fire for not observing this part of the Gospell yea which is its greatest part of it 2 Thes 1.7.8 Eate Q. What doth this import A. 1. By faithfull receiving of that bread I get the true life giving bread Christ Joh. 6.47 compared with v. 50. 2. That Christs flesh is meat indeed to all faithfull hungring souls Ioh. 6.55 And whosoever eateth of it shall live for ever v. 58. 3. As with my bodily mouth I must cat that bread which is the signe that my body may live so with my soules mouth faith I must eat the thing signified which is Christ that my soule may live for ever Ioh. 6.51 4. As my body cannot live ordinarily wanting bread which strengthneth our heart Ps 104.15 So nor my soule wanting Christ who is the true bread that came downe from heaven and giveth life unto the world Ioh. 6.33 5. As bread is not food to my body unlesse I cat it So nor Christ is food to my soul unlesse I eat him by faith for no promise profiteth unlesse it be received by faith Heb. 4.2 6. The fearfull condition of such who refuse it Prov. 1.24 c. much more who despise it Heb. 10.28.29 7. The godlessenesse of Papists and Lutherans who eat not their thin wafer but keep it whole in their mouth Q. Did Judas eat that sacrament all bread A. Weigh well Luk. 22.19 ad 24. and its probable that he did eat it Q. Did not our Saviour call Judas a Divell Joh. 6.70 A. Yes yet he ate only the bread of the Lord but not the bread the Lord. Q. What learnest thou hence A. I may not abstaine from this S. Supper though all communicants be not alike holy for their unholinesse can not hurt me if I be not accessary unto it Deut. 24.16 Ier. 31.30 Ezek. 18.20 Gal. 6.5 This is my body Q. Doe not those words prove clearly either transubstantiation as Papists affirme that is that that bread is changed into the body of Christ or consubstantiation that Christs body is in with under that bread as Lutherans say A. There is no necessity that Christ should be bodily present in this Sacrament neither in respect of this Sacrament it selfe nor yet of these words of Christ This is my body which is thus proved 1. Christs bodily presence is not necessary in respect of this Sacrament it selfe for if we be truly faithfull we may and doe attaine unto this Sacraments foure ends although Christs humane body be in heaven 2. This Sacraments first end is to remember Christ as his owne words doe witnesse Doe this in remembrance of me now this Sacrament it selfe puts all faithfull receivers in remembrance of Christ and His very words Do this in remembrance of me doe evidently shew Christs bodily absence for we remember absent not present friends 3. Its second end is to shew Christs death till He come This we can do though His body be absent And Till He come demonstrates His bodily absence 4. Its third end is to unite us unto Christ This union is partly reall and partly relative our reall union with Christ is by faith for Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith Ephes 3.17 And Christ lives in us and we live in Him by faith Gal. 2.20 And this is called our putting on the Lord Iesus Christ Rom. 13. ult to be our wedding garment Mat. 22.11 Our relative union with Christ is like that union between a man and his wife for we are espoused to Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 and married to Him Ier. 3.14 Hos 2.19.20 A wife is flesh of her husbands flesh and bone of his bone Gen. 2.23 although they were ten thousand miles asunder 5. This Sacraments most principall end is to seal the Covenant of Grace for encrease of and strengthning our faith Rom. 4.11 But by Papists Transubstantiation and Lutherans Consubstantiation our faith would be much weakned for which of these two are easiest to be beleeved that we get Christ by faith which all S. Scriptures affirme Ioh. 1 12. 3.16.18 6.29.40.47 11.25.26 Or that a bit of bread and a cup of wine are transubstantiated into the body and bloud of Christ or consubstantiated with His body and bloud which both want all warrant in S. Scripture yea which flatly contradicteth S. Scripture Act. 3.21 Heb. 8.4 In respect then of this Sacrament Christs bodily presence is not necessary Neither is Christs bodily presence necessary in this Sacrament in respect of Christs words This is my body 1. Because it is frequent in al Sacraments both of the Old and New Testament to call the signe by the name of the thing signified As Circumcision is called Gods Covenant Gen. 17.10 yet v. 11. it is but the signe of the Covenant The Lamb is called the Lords Passeover Ex. 12.11 yet it was only the sacrifice of the Lords Passeover v. 27. and a signe Ex. 13.9 Baptisme is called the washing of regeration Tit. 3.5 Yet it is but the signe of it for Christs bloud only can wash us from our sins 1 Ioh. 1.7 Baptisme is also said to save us 1 Pet. 3.21 Yet it is but a signe of Christs bloud which saveth us Act. 4.12 So in this Sacrament our Lord calleth that bread His body and that cup His bloud Yet they are but the signes of His body and bloud There is then no necessity of Christs bodily presence in this Sacrament in respect of Christs words This is my body 2. A second reason against Transubstantiation Consubstantiation is this This change is impossible for it is against Christs glory for he never appeared on earth but in glory Exod. 19.16.18 1 King 19.11.12 Mat. 17.2 Object Christ came in the forme of a servant Philip. 2.17 A. It is true yet the Apostles behold His glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace truth Joh. 1.14 3. This change would derogate from Gods honour for although Christs power can make such a change yet Christ did never shew his power but for advancing of Gods glory and honour what honour can it bring unto the Lord to change a bit of bread into Christs body Christ can doe all things but these which dishonour God Christ cannot lie Tit. 1.2 nor deny himselfe 2 Tim. 2.13 4. This change were against Gods wisdome for the Lord neither did nor doth any thing but for some good end but in this change there can
that which maketh them guilty A. 1. It is some speciall either contempt or light esteem offered or done to the person offices ordinances actions sufferings of our Saviour or too some one of them 2. On to sin against that greatest worke of our redemption and so to partake with the murderers of Christ Q. How is that proved A. To be guilty of bloud is in some sense or other to be a murderer to be guilty therefore of Christs bloud is to be a murderer of Christ Q. How can I be a murderer of Christ he being in heaven and I on earth A. By continuing in known sins with delight thou crucifiest the Son of God afresh and puttest him to open shame Heb. 6.6 10.29 Ob. Those two Scriptures strike at such who fall from faith to infidelity A. It is true and yet when faith purifieth not thy heart it is no saving faith Act. 1â— 9 And when faith produceth not good works it is a dead faith Iam. 2. ult If then thou continuest in known sins with delight thou art a murderer of Christ and thy doome is denounced Mat. 7.22,23 Luk. 13 26.27 Q. What learnest thou hence A. 1. Seeing Abels bloud was so heavy on Cain who murdered him Gen. 4.19 O how intolerable will Christs bloud be upon the soules of such who murder Christ by their sins delighted in and unrepented Rev. 6.15,16,17 2. I may not continue even in the least knowne sin lest I fall from faiths practice and so from faiths profession Seeing that sin is the transgression of the Law 1 Joh. 3.4 and that bringeth the curse Gal. 3.10 Q. How doth that contempt or light esteem make receivers guilty A. By eating this bread and drinking this cup of the Lord unworthily Q. How doe receivers eat and drinke unworthily A. In generall it is to communicate wanting our wedding garment Christ Mat. 22.11 for we must be cloathed with Christ Rom. 13. ult otherwaies we may not come to this marriage Mat. 22.2 compared with v. 13. Q. How can I put on Christ A. Doe as Jacob did bring the two kids Gen. 27.9 That is have faith by which Christ lives in us and we live in Him Eph. 3.17 Gal. 2.20 and observance which demonstrates our faith to be sound Jam. 2.18 Q. What are the more speciall means which render unworthy receivers to be guilty A. Ignorance in not knowing the Vertue Worth Use and Ends of this Sacrament Q. Wherein consists its Vertue A. If thou communicate having on thy wedding garment all thy feares occasioned by sense of thy sin will be quite removed 1. If thou complainest thus Alas how shall I get Christ to be my wedding garment Christ answereth Take eat this is my body This is my bloud drinke it by faith and live for ever Joh. 6.47 compared with v. 51. 2. My sinnes multiply daily A. The Lords mercies are new every morning Lam. 3.23 God is the father of mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 Rich in mercy Eph. 2.4 3. I am dead in trespasses and sins A. Beleeve and thou shalt live Joh. 11.25 But I cannot get repentance for my sins A. Repentance that is sound is Gods work 2 Tim. 2.25 Seek knock and aske for it and God will worke it Mat. 7.7 8. Jam. 1.5 Mat. 9.13 2. This Sacrament being rightly received will resolve all thy doubts 1. Will the Lord save such a lost sinner as I am A. Christ came to seek and to save that that is lost Luk 19.10 1 Tim. 1.15 Ps 50.15 Mat. 11.28 Ioh. 6.37 3. It will cure all thy diseases Ps 103.3 and salves all thy sin-sores Esay 53.5 4. In this Supper thou getst Christ himself who is all and in all Col. 3.11 Q. Wherein stands the worth of this Sacrament A. By worthy receiving we get Christ as his owne words doe witnesse And in getting Christ we get the Father and the Holy Ghost for these three are one 1 Ioh. 5.7 Q. Wherein consists the use of this Sacrament A. That bread and that wine are taken from their common use which is to strengthen and glad mans heart Ps 104.15 To signifie seal and really to give unto all faithfull receivers Christs body and bloud to bee meat indeed and drinke indeed to their soules Ioh. 6.55 And so Christ dwelleth in us and we in him v. 56. Q. What hurt will it bring though we bee ignorant of this Sacraments foure ends A. Great every way both to the Pastor and people 2 Thess 1.7,8,9 For 1. Ministers must be diligent to know the state of their flocks and to looke well to their herds Prov. 27.23 They must not be blinde but seeing nor ignorant but must know nor dumbe but must speak nor sleeping but must watch nor greedy of another mans goods but contented with the Lords allowance nor drunken but sober Esa 56.10 c. Nor daubers with untemperate morter promising peace where there is no peace Ezek. 13.10 They must warne the wicked to forsake his way otherwise the bloud of the wicked will be required at the Ministers hand Ezek. 33.8 They must feed the flock of God 1 Pet. 5.2 And watch for their soules for which they must give an account Heb. ult 17. 2. The people likewise perish for lacke of knowledge Hos 4.6 when they are not taught to know this Sacraments foure ends 1. To imitate the institution in remembrance of Christ 2. To shew Christs death till he come 3. That this Sacrament unites true receivers unto Christ 4. And that it seals the covenant of Grace to all worthy receivers Rom. 4.11 Q. What doth those things teach thee A. 1. The fearfull condition of ignorant communicants for they are murderers of Christ 2. And the terrible state of those Ministers who take no care to catechise their flock Mat. 15.14 Q. We have heard that a light esteem or contempt of Christ The want of our wedding garment and ignorance of the vertue worth use and of the ends of this Sacrament maketh unworthy receivers to be murderers both of themselves and of Christ Now what other sinnes doe worke the same effects 4. A. Want of faith Heb. 11.6 when receivers beleeve not fully that Christ giveth himselfe effectually to all faithfull communicants in this Supper nor that themselves can by faith get Christ in it and yet dare receive the signes that bread and that wine by which they sinne dangerously Rom. 14. ult 5. Superstition beleeving Papist and Lutheran-like that they eat in this Supper the humane body of Christ with their bodily mouth and yet we can only eat him with our soules mouth faith for to beleeve in Christ and to eat his flesh is one Iob. 6.47 compared with v. 51. 6. Sensuality when cloyed with worldly cares with the deceitfulnesse of riches and pleasures of this life Luk. 8.14 They hunger not for Christ Such shall never be filled Mat. 5.6 7. Carnall security when receivers neither expect good in worthy receiving nor evill by unworthy Such are like Laodicea Rev.
3.15.16 8. Presumption foolishly beleeving thâ—… they shall speed as well as the best thought they lacke preparation and sanctification yea and their wedding garment let such read and tremble Mat. 22.11,12,13 9. Want of true love which brancheth it selfe in two severall particulars 1. When men rashly suspect other mens intentions or actions without sufficient warrant This is described Esay 65.5 Stand by thy selfe come not neare unto me for I at holier then thou This is prohibited Mat. 7.1 Iudge not that ye be not judged Threatned v. 2. with damnation Luk. 3.37 Such rash judgers are hypocrites Mat. 7.5 2. Who will not forgive men their trespasses and so the Lord will not forgive their trespasses Mat. 6.15 These are implacable unmercifull Rom. 1.31 Such shall have judgement without mercy Iam. 2.13 10. Temporising receiving for fashions sake Such are hypocrites 2 Tim. 3.5 Those likewise who come to this Supper more for fear of the Magistrate then for fear of the Lord. This is hellish feare even the spirit of bondage Rom. 8.15 11. Inconsideration when receivers thoughts are estranged from the action and â—…re intent upon the world sin lust and such like Such cannot please God Rom. 8.8 12. Prophanenesse scorning the action in not beleeving Christs truth This is my body This is my bloud or scornfully refusing to receive though Christ commands To take eat drinke do this 13. Damnable injustice in adding altering or substracting any necessary thing of the institution All plagues are denounced against such Rev. 22.18 19. Whosoever is guilty of all or of any of these horrible sins are murderers of Christ Q. What is the ground or cause that makes unworthy receivers guilty of Christs body and bloud A. 1. They contemne Christs authority and are therefore accursed Esa 45.9 2. They despise Christ himselfe who gives himselfe freely and fully to all faithfull receivers 3. They despise his merits Heb. 9.14.15 4. They despise Christs three offices His Propheticall office Luk. 10.16 His Priestly office Heb. 10.28,29 And they despise his Kingly office for they will not have Christ to raigne over them Luk. 19 14.27 5. They despise Christs most meritorious worke of mans redemption Rom. 5.8,9,10,11 6. They contemne Christs love who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blond Rev. 1.5 Heb. 10.28,29 7. And they despise the whole Covenant of Grace whereof this is a seale Rom. 4.11 Q. Many received who were ignorant of these things and yet they live and prosper How comes that A. The times of that ignorance God wincked at but now commands all men every where to repent Act. 17.30 Q. What learnest thou hence A. 1. To seek knock and aske without ceasing that I may be cloathed with Christ my wedding garment that I be not one who murders Christ 2. I must zealously and incessantly beg in the name and merits of Christ that the Lord will cleanse my soule and make it clean from all these and all other sins as is covenanted Ezek. 36.25 V. 28. But let a man examine himselfe and so let him eat of that bread and drinke of that cup. Q. What is here to be considered A. Here are the ordinary means to save us from being murderers of Christ And these are our examination of our selves Q. What must we doe in examining our selves aright A. 1. Right examination requireth that we cast totally out of our thoughts all other cares for true examination must take us wholly up We must as in prayer shut our doore Matth. 6.5 2. We must examine our selves in sixe things especially 1. Of our knowledge what we are to receive in this Supper 2. Of our desire of this Sacrament so knowne 3. Of our faith by which only we can obtaine our desire 4. Of our love toward God and our neighbour that we may be sure our faith is sound 5. Of our repentance which proveth out love to be pure 6. And of our observance past present and its purpose for the future which demonstrates our repentance to be perfect Quest 1. Q. What must I know is here to be received A. That as truly as I get bread and wine which are my bodies food So truly I get Christs body and bloud by faith which are my soules only food Joh. 6.47 compared with v. 55. Quest 2. Q. How shall I knew my desires to be reall A. Counts thou all things but dung in comparison of Christ Philip. 3.8 Try if desire which is thy soules appetite doth hunger for Christ Mat. 5.6 Quest 3. Q. What shall I examine my selfe concerning my faith A. 1. That thy faith be not an historicall temporary or a faith of miracles None of those alone no nor altogether can apprehend Christ truly Jam. 2.19 2. That it be a justifying faith which though it be but one simple grace yet it is of a two fold consideration first as it is our spirituall life by which Christ lives in us and we in him Eph. 3.17 Gal. 2.20 2. As faith is a vertue and our duty towards God and so faith is an act flowing from that our spirituall life by which I beleeve all whatsoever the Lord hath propounded in his S. Scripture Act. 24.14 Q. What is faith as it is our spirituall life A. A resting of our hearts on God as on the only author of our life and salvation that is that in God we are freed from all evill and are assured of all that is good Esa 10.20 Ps 37.5 Act. 4.12 Ps 84.11 Thirdly try thy faith in six things 1. In its author who works it 2. In the means by which it is wrought ordinarily 3. Concerning its object 4. In its effects 5. In its ground 6. And concerning its end Q. Must I necessarily know all these A. 1. Yes verily for whatsoever is not of faith is sin Rom. 14. ult 2. Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 3. Gods best ordinances availe not to us unlesse we receive them by faith Heb. 4.2 Q. Who works faith in us A. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12.2 And the Holy Ghost worketh faith in us 1 Cor. 12.9 for the Father through the Son by the Holy Ghost worketh all works which are wrought on the creature Q. By what means is faith wrought in us A. 1. By hearing of Gods word which is a religious receiving of Gods revealed will by whatsoever way we can know it 2. Most ordinarily by hearing the word preached Rom. 10.14.17 Q. Who is the adequate object of our faith A. Christ as he is our redeemer is the immediate object of our faith And God as by his grace we live well 1 Tim. 4.10 is its ultimate object for we live to God through Christ Rom. 6.11 We have hope through Christ to Godward 2 Cor. 3.4 And we beleeve in God through Christ 1 Pet. 1.21 Q. Which are those effects of faith by which I must examine my selfe A. The first act of faith is to beleeve dost thou
conversation practice it Mat. 5 16. They must open their hearers eyes convert them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God Act. 26.18 They must first feed their slocks with milk and thereafter with meat 1 Cor. 3.2 1 Pet. 5.1 They must be stewards of the mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 Ministers must watch for their peoples soules and give account for them Heb. ult 17. All the premises prove that faithfull Ministers must examine their people We are commanded to give an answer to every man that asketh us a reason of the hope that is in us with meeknesse and fear and we must be ready to doe it 1 Pet. 3.17 Who obstinately refuse to be examined by their Minister run hazard of condemnation Seeing light is come into the world and such love darknesse rather then light Iohn 3.19 Such are doers of evill haters of the light and dare not come to the light lest their deeds should be reproved Ioh. 3.20 Such who will not be examined by their Minister are despisers both of Christ and of God Luk. 10.16 Q. What learnest thou hence A. 1. The H. Ghost tyeth this examination and our receiving together I must not then separate them Mark 10.9 2. The greater that the danger is in unworthy receiving we should be the more strict in our examining of our selves and in our being examined by our Minister 3. All Christians occasion being fully offered must receive or be despisers of Christ and of God all then who would bee Christians must both examin themselves and be examined by their Minister lest they despise Christ and God 4. Who will not examin themselves and be examined by their Minister they hide their sin and so shall never prosper Prov. 28.13 5. Who will not examine themselves concerning their sins and wants cannot be helpt by receiving Iudas the traytor Ioh. 13.17 and Simon Magus Act. 8.20 are instances Quest Q. What must I doe when I come to the table to communicate A. We must come with filiall feare setting our faith a worke in meditation of foure things 1. When we see that bread broken and wine powred out we must call to mind That our Saviour was wounded for our transgressions and broken for our iniquities Esa 53.5 2. As that bread and that wine are given unto us So God the Father gave his Son Rom. 8.32 And Christ gives himselfe unto us in this Sacrament 1 Cor. 11.24,25 3. We must beleeve without doubting that as that bread eaten and that wine drunken of us become one substance with us So Christ and all the faithfull receivers are made one Ioh. 17.21 That Christ is our bead Eph. 5.23 That we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones Eph. 5.30 And that we are every one members one of another Rom. 12.5 4. As we take that bread and that wine with our bodily hand So with my soules hand faith we must take Christ Ioh. 6.29.35.40.47 compared with v. 51.54.56.58 Quest Q. What must I doe after I have received A. 1. Render all possible praise unto God for that his inestimable benefit Ps 103.2 1 Thess 5.18 2. If we have sped well and gotten Christ we must be the more thankfull and become new creatures 2 Cor. 5.17 But if we finde not our selves to have sped well we must notwithstanding praise the Lord and not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not Gal. 6.9 Quest Q. Is it not a sure signe of unworthy receiving if we become worse after we have received A. We must distinguish betwixt a reall worsenesse and Satans delusions 1. If we become really worse then aâ—…redly our unworthy receiving made that holy Ordinance ineffectuall unto us as unto Judas and Simon Magus 2. But though passiens stir in us more furiously and temptations assaile us more desperately after we have received then they did before we must not conclude thence that we received unworthily but by the plaine contrary For if by prayer and practice we continue constantly to resist these sinfull motions our constancie in that our resisting proveth that we were worthy receivers for then wee may be sure that because sin in our worthy receiving had a deadly wound and that Satan was dislodged out of his too long kept lodging sin would the more furiously rage and Satan more fiercely assault Quest Q. I swore both afore and in the act of recuving new observance I come far short of performance was I not then an unworthy receiver A. The true sight and reall sense of our imperfections with a zealous endeavour to be perfect is the greatest perfection we can attaine unto in this life for to know our fins to confesse and forsake them is to finde mercy Prov. 28.13 And to endeavour zealously is to be accepted of God through Christ 2 Cor. 8.12 V. 29. For he that eareth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords body Q. Wee have heard what unworthy eating and drinking is But what is meant by damnation A. 1. Some Interpreters read it thus They eat and drink judgement to themselves But because the H. Ghost did affirme v. 27. that such were guilty of the body and bloud of the Lord which was proved to be murder it is more consonant to the scope of the H. Ghost to read it damnation 2. Damnation is the consummation of spirituall death or the highest degree of that eternall punishment which the Lord hath adjudged unto reprobates for sinne Revel 19.2.3 Damnation is infinite in respect of losse for reprobates lose God who is that infinite and only good Mat. 19.17 Damnation is eternall in respect of duration for it shall never be ended Mark 9.44.46.48 Hence is the highest height of all extreamest torments upon their soules and bodies having a never dying worme of their accusing conscience within them eternall torments of devouring fire round about them ugly divells to be their only companions And all to continue everlastingly Luke 16.23 Not discerning the Lords body Q. What is that To discerne the Lords body A. 1. To have the Lords body in highest esteem duly considering its excellencies that so with most exact examination preparation consideration and sanctification wee come and receive at the Lords Table 2. That that bread and that wine even after the words of institution remaine bread and wine in substance And although that Christs humane body be in heaven Act. 3.21 Heb. 8.4 Yet in due receiving this sacramentall bread and wine all faithfull receivers get in this Sacrament Christs body and spilt bloud by faith as his owne words Take eat drinke This is my body which is broken for you This is my bloud which was shed for many for remission of sinnes doe prove 3. It is by a full knowledge of our damnable condition by sin and to know what Christ hath done and suffered for us that so we may prepare our selves to be both ready and willing to doe and suffer for his sake Philip. 1.29 Q. What doth this teach thee A. Foure things 1. The deadly and damnable condition of especially perverse ignorants who neither know nor will be taught what infinite good there is in worthy receiving nor what infinite evill is in unworthy receiving They are murderers of Christ v. 27. 2. Their desperate estate who either maliciously despise or carelessely neglect their examination preparation consideration and fanctification and yet dare adventure to receive Those eat and drinke damnation to themselves v. 29. 3. Their dangerous condition who having time and opportunity to examin themselves yet will not communicate Those are despisers of Christ Luk. 10.16 4. And their blessed estate who come well prepared having on their wedding garment Christ for they get the seale of the Covenant Rom. 4.11 They get increase of grace and of all spirituall graces They get Christ who is our life Col. 3.4 Our light Rev. 21.23 And our all Col. 3.11 FINIS Soli Deo gloria in aeternum Amen Imprimatur Ia. Cranford Aug. 28. 1645.