adventure to the Lords Table 1 Cor. 5.8 otherwise I shall come unworthily to mine own damnation 1 Cor. 11.29 Q. What forme was that bread of A. S. Scripture is silent of that Q. What learnest thou hence A. The vanity of Papists Prelats and Lutherans who use thin wafers printed with a crucifix V. 24 And when he had given thanks c. Q. What is meant by those words A. Christ would not breake that bread untill He first thankt his heavenly Father for it Luk. 22.19 and blessed it Mat. 26.26 Q. What learnest thou hence A. 1. As Christ was both ready and willing to lay downe His life for me Joh. 10.18 and thankt His Father who made Him redemption unto me 1 Cor. 1.30 So should I be ready willing and thanke the Lord if he will count me worthy to suffer shame which is worse then death for His sake Act. 5.41 2. In every thing especially for giving Christ to sive me Act. 4.12 to give thanks 1 Thes 5.10 He brake it Q. What is meant by breaking of that bread A. It s breaking was partly necessary that one bread might be divided amongst many partly mysterious to signifie that Christ was broken for all the elect Esay 53.4.5 Ioh. 19. the whole Chapter Q. Did Christ suffer in his soule A. Yes as is evident Mat. 27.46 Luk. 22.44 Q. Did Christ suffer in his Godhead A. As Christ is God He is All sufficient Gen. 17.1 His Godhead therefore could not suffer Q. Seeing that Christ was made like unto us in all things sin excepted Heb. 2.17 compared with Heb. 4.15 How could He satisfie Gods infinitly wronged justice if His Godhead did not suffer A. The excellency of the party who suffered even Iesus Christ God-man in one person the great Mediator betwixt God and the elect being infinite gave infinite satisfaction to his Fathers infinite justice For although His Godhead neither did nor could suffer Yet Jesus was crucified Act. 1.36 The Prince of life was killed Act. 3.15 Christ dyed for us Rom. 14.9 The Lord of glory was crucified 1 Cor. 2.8 The Father spared not His owne Son but delivered Him up for us all Rom. 8.32 And the Son of God gave himselfe for us Gal. 2.20 Such an infinite person therefore suffering Gods infinite justice is satisfied to the full as the father Himselfe acknowledgeth Matth. 17.5 Q. What doth this teach thee A. 1. If I receive this Supper faithfully I get the great Mediator who was broken for me and so I cannot be damned Rom. 8.1 Ioh. 6.54 Yea I am made one of the sons of God Ioh. 1.12 2. Seeing that Christ was broken for my sins I must break off my sins by repentance before I dare communicate because God is of purer eyes then to behold evill and cannot looke on iniquity Hab. 1.13 And said Take Q. To whom said Christ this A. Unto all who were present even to His twelve Apostles for none other might be present at the Passeover with him Exod. 12.3 Q. No woman was there must they now bee excluded A. God forbid women are elected 2 Ioh. v. 1. ult Q. Did Judas communicate at the Supper A. He ate of the Pascall lamb which was the type of Christ and was Christ in signification The difference is in this under the Law they received Christ to come under the Gospell we receive Christ come already Q. How did they take it A. With their hands otherwise it could not have been a perfect communion which in this Supper was first between Christ the head and the faithfull His members And secondly between the faithfull communicants amongst themselves Q. What table gesture did they use at this Supper A. Christ and they all did sit Mat. 26.20 Mark 14.18 Luk. 22.14 Ioh. 13.4.12 Q. Some say they leaned and sat not A. If so one hand had been uselesse And if so yet it was the table gesture of that Countrey Q. May not we kneel now when we communicate A. No otherwise we violate the Institution and break Christs command Doe this c. Q. What hurt can we have by kneeling A. 1. This Supper is a banquet of love our Lord calls the faithfull His friends not servants Ioh. 15.15 servants invited kneele not at their Masters tables much lesse friends 2. Kneelers in receiving defraud themsolves of their grace here and of their glory hereafter which are promised in the word sitting Mat. 8.11 19.28 Luke 13.29 22.30 Ephes 2.6 Rev. 3.21 Q. The more humbly we receive is it not so much the better for us A. 1. Will-worship in our worshipping of God is alwayes rejected of God Esay 1.12 Col. 2. ult 2. Kneelers in the act of receiving violate the Institution for Christ and his Apostles did sit as is manifest Mat. 26.20 Mark 14.18 Luk. 22.14 Ioh. 13.4.12 3. Kneelers transgresse Christs command He commands us thus Doe this in remembrance of me Now this command must bee extended unto every particular of the Institution otherwise we have no rule whereby we can convince Heretiques Papists Prelats Lutherans in matters concerning this Sacrament Q. What doth all this teach thee A. 1. The foolishnesse of Priests in the Romish and Lutheran Churches who put the bread into the receivers mouthes by which their mutuall communion is frustrated 2. I see and sorrow at the blindnesse of those will-worshipping kneelers Rev. ult 18. Take Q. What are we to take here A. Heavens excellencie the earths only good even the Lord Jesus Christ himselfe and all his heavenly graces which are all here not only freely offered but also fully given to all worthy receivers for as truly and really as I get that bread and that wine to be one flesh with me so likewise as really and as truly I get Christs body by faith as his owne words prove This is my body to bee one spirit with mee 1 Cor. 6 17. Q. But Christs humane body is in heaven How then can I get him A. By faith for Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith Ephes 3.17 Q. But my bodily eyes see nothing in that Supper but bread and wine only How then can I get Christ A. Thou seest these thou hearest Christs words affirming of that bread This is my body and of that wine This is my bloud which of those two beleevest thou Christ or thy senses beleeve on the Lord Iesus Christ and thou getst him Ioh. 6.47 compared with v. 54. Q. Can I be infallibly sure that if I have saving faith to beleeve Christs words This is my body This is my bloud that I shall get Christ himselfe in this Supper A. Thou may and must be infallibly sure of it for Jesus is the truth Joh. 14.6 He cannot lie Tit. 1.2 He cannot deny himselfe 2 Tim. 2.13 Heaven and earth shall passe away but His words shall not passe away Mat. 24.35 Mark 13.31 Luk. 21.33 Q. But I finde in my selfe a body of death of corruption of doubtings how then dare I either take that bread
be no good end seeing all the faithfull wanting this change can and doe get Christ by faith as hath been proved before Ioh. 1.12 3.16 c. 5. This change were against all our senses we heare Christ calling it bread Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.22 Luk. 22.19 The H. Ghost calleth it bread 1 Cor. 10.16.17 1 Cor. 11.23 Now in objects of sense our senses are competent judges according to Christs own argument Luk. ult 39. we see we touch we taste we smell bread 6. This change were against not only S. Scripture Ioh. 16 7.28 17.11 Act. 3.21 Heb. 8.4 But also this change were against naturall yea heavenly reason that Christs humane body should be at one and the selfe same time in heaven and on earth also it would contradict Mat. ult 6. Mark ult 6. and Luk. ult 6. Ob. D. Luther affirmeth that there is no contradiction in this affirmation Christs humane body is at one and the same time not on earth as Joh. 17.11 Christ saith I am no more in the world then it is understood of a sightly moveable and comprehensible manner of being But when it is said that Christs humane body is in the world as in the bread and wine Then it is understood of the unsightly immoveable and incomprehensible manner of beeing A. The H. Ghost taught no such divinity in S. Scripture That Christs humane body hath a manner of being belonging unto it of invisibility immoveability and incomprehensibility Besides its visible moveable and comprehensible manner of being Surely Christ even after His resurrection demonstrates the realty of His humane body by its visibility and palpability Luk ult 39. 7. This change would altogether overthrow the very beeing of this Sacrament for in every Sacrament there must be both a signe and the thing signified that the elect may receive both 8. If such a change be it must either bee naturall or miraculous by nature it cannot be that a little bread should be made Christs body nor is it done by a miracle for all miracles were visible but this we see not yea all our senses witnesse the contrary 9. What Christ once rejected as unnecessary unto salvation He will not afterward admit of it as necessary unto salvation for he cannot lie Tit. 1.2 nor deny himselfe 2 Tim. 2.13 but Christ hath rejected the carnall eating of his flesh which Transubstantiation and Consubstantiation do maintain as unnecessary to salvation Joh. 6 63. He will not then admit it now as necessary Ob. Christ affirmeth that unlesse we eat His flesh and drinke His bloud we have no life i.e. everlasting in us Joh. 6.53 A. 1. To beleeve in Christ and to eat his flesh and drinke his bloud are one and the same Joh. 6.29.35.40.47 compared with 1.51.53,54,55 2. These words litterally taken would contradict Christs affirmation unto Mary Magdalen who never tasted this Supper Luk. 7.48 and his assurance given to the theefe on the crosse Luk. 23.43 who never tasted this Sacrament Q. What learnest thou hence A. That that Sacramentall bread and wine are not changed in their nature even after the Consecration but in their use and end only Which is broken for you Q. Why was Christs body broken for the elect A. For two maine causes 1. That although Christ be the fountaine of life Ps 36.9 Ioh. 6.58 as in Himself Ioh. 10.18 So also unto us Act. 17.25.28 Col. 3.4 And although His flesh be meat indeed and His bloud drink indeed Ioh. 6.55 Yet unlesse His body had been broken for the elect He had neither been our life nor our soules food not our life untill by death he had destroyed him who had the power of death that is the divell Heb. 2.14 Nor could Christ be our soules food untill His body was broken Heb. 9.13,14,15,16 2. Unlesse Christs body had been broken He could not have procured remission of sin unto the elect for without shedding of bloud there is no remission of sin Heb. 9.22 Nor could he have answered Gods truth Gen. 2.17 because that nature that sinned behoved to dye But now His body being broken He is a fountaine opened for sin and for uncleannesse Zach. 13.1 Q. What doth this teach thee A. 1. To know the love of Christ which passeth all knowledge Eph. 3.19 that I may love him above all things counting my life and all things but dung in comparison of Christ Philip. 3.8 2. To bewaile my sins confesse them and forsake them Prov. 28.13 because they occasioned the breaking of Christs body Esa 53.5 and crucifie him afresh Heb. 6.6 3. Papists and Lutherans sinfull folly who keep their sacramentall bread whole unbroken in their mouth Ob. But they offer an unbloudy sacrifice as they say A. They are meer deluders of their owne soules for without shedding of bloud there is no remission of sins Heb. 9.22 4. Seeing the Father spared not his own Son but gave him freely for us all Rom. 8.32 And that Christ spared not himselfe but laid downe His life willingly for all the elect Ioh. 10.18 If I can get Christ in this Sacrament by faith I get all whatsoever is good for me Rom. 8 32. Doe this in remembrance of me Q. What doth the Holy Ghost aime at in those words A. 1. This is the first end of this Sacrament in which I am commanded to remember continually all that Christ hath done and suffered for me which all is summarily signified in this Supper of the Lord. 2. That whatsoever was at first done and said in this Sacrament by our Lord and his Apostles must be imitated in discretion ever afterwards Q. What doth this teach thee A. 1. Never to forget my Lords love lest I be turned into hell Ps 9.17 2. In receiving this Sacrament to imitate the institution according to my calling be I Minister or hearer 3. The terrible condition of such who refuse or contemne this Sacrament for they refuse the means of their salvation and remember not Christ V. 25. This cup is the New Testament in my bloud Q. Why did Christ take wine to represent Hâ—… bloud in this Sacrament A. 1. Because wine resembles Chrisâ— bloud both in colour being red and in namâ—… for its called the bloud of the grape Gen. â—… 11 2. As it is not wine untill it be pressed oâ—… of the grape So nor Christs bloud did saâ—… as actually untillit was shed out of His body Mat. 26.28 Heb. 9.14 3. As wine is to be given to the sorrowfull and heavy hearted for comforting them Prov. 31.6 So Christs bloud is the only salve which can comfort a sin-sick soule which is sensible of its sin and misery Act. 2.38,39 1 Joh. 17. 4. As wine maketh mans heart glad Ps 104.15 So doth Christs bloud glad our souls when by faith we are sure that it was shed for us 1 Pet. 1.18,19 Q. What doth the Holy Ghost shew in these words This cup is the New Testament in my bloud A. 1. As the Gospel consists of two main
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