when Christ riding into Ierusalem on an Asse they spread their garments in the way cut downe branches from the trees and strawed them in the way and cryed through the streets of Ierusalem saying Hosanna the sonne of Dauid Mat. 21.8.9 blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord Hosanna thou which art in the highest heauens Here was great tokens of ioy and gladnesse but how much more gladnesse should be in vs seeing Christ hath not onely vouchsafed to come into our streetes but into our houses and our hearts Great ioy was in all Samaria when Philip came thither to preach among them Act. 8.6.8 but greater should our ioy bee among whom Christ inhabiteth and to whom he hath giuen his owne flesh to eate and his owne bloud to drinke for our spirituall and eternall nourishment Vse 1 Vse 1. This point may serue for direction to order our desires aright in the matter of ioy Euery man loues a glad heart and wisheth ioy but therein many mistake 1. One reioyceth in his substance Iob 31.25 he hath gotten much 2. Another reioyceth in his promotion 3. Hest 5.11 Another doateth vpon that mad mirth which Salomon speakes of 4. Eccles 2.2 Another reioyceth in a Table richly Dan. 5.1.2.3 c. deckt an ouerflowing Cup a faring deliciously euery day 5. Another reioyceth at the destructiō of him whom he hates 6. Iob 31.29 Another reioyceth in sinne and wickednesse Pro. 10.23 It is a pastime to a foole to doe wickedly It is the drunkards ioy to be at the Cup early Isa 5.11 and to sit till the wine haue enflamed them The twi-light glads the heart of the adulterer Iob 24.15 The oppressor danceth vpon the threshold of him that is oppressed Zeph. 1.9 Ismael geireth at Isaac Gen. 21.9 Holy Iob was as a Tabret to the godlesse ones Iob 17.6 and the drunkards made songs on Dauid Psal 69.12 Men imagine summum bonum their chiefe felicity to consist in their ioyes But alas how much are they deceiued for what are all these ioyes in comparison of that we treate of Indeed if it be rightly considered what true comfort can a man take in any thing so long as the dyet of his soule is not the ioy of his heart Howsoeuer the Deuill teacheth men to forget the consideration hereof that so he may lead them like an Oxe to the slaughter not knowing that they are in danger yet if euer at any time the conscience bee awakened to thinke on this the very remembrance of it is like the beholding of the hand vpon the wal to Belshazzar which when he saw it put him quite out of his humour of iollitie it was not then the delicate taste of his wine nor the fatnesse of his kids nor the royaltie of his Guests not the finenesse of his fare could keepe his countenance from changing his thoughts from troubling and his ioynts from beating one vpon another Vse 2 Vse 2. This may perswade vs to affect this ioy and to prefer it before all contentments Here we are assured that our labour is not in vaine Thou shalt haue ioy in seeking for this ioy it shall be gladnesse to thy soule to heare of this gladnesse no greater contentment in the world to an hungry beggar then to heare of a good dinner and to feede therein Oh then that thou couldst bee perswaded to seeke this ioy and in a kinde of distaste of all other Ioyes which are not worth the naming to cry out Lord euermore giue me this Ioy Then the meate in this Supper would be most sweete to thy soule and thy chiefest pleasure Vse 3 Vse 3. This may serue as a touchstone to try our selues by whether our stomackes bee in good case and whether we receiue this Sacrament aright to Gods glorie and our owne comfort or no If we doe then we reioyce take pleasure and delight in it more then euer we did in any worldly feast or banquet here is the daintiest meat and most precious banquet that euer we came to Here euery dish in this feast is made of the most precious bodie and bloud of Christ which is able to feede our soules whereas all other banquets can but onely feede our bodies Luk. 19.6 As Zacheus receiued Christ ioyfully when he came to his soule much more into his heart so those that haue sound stomackes receiue this sacrament with great ioy and gladnesse because herein Christ is come home vnto them and hath brought saluation with him Thus much of the duties touching our good behauiour in the Action of Receiuing The third sort of duties in our good behauiour after the Receiuing of the Sacrament follow The duties are foure 1. Thankefulnesse to God 2. Carefulnesse to grow in grace and strength according to the nourishment receiued 3. A worthie walking in the strength of this foode receiued to Gods glory and the good of his Church c. 4. A spirituall watchfulnesse by prayers supplications with all perseuerance thereunto that we may continue in well doing vnto the end and in the end The first dutie which after our receiuing we ought to performe is thankfulnesse to God We must shew our selues thankfull to God for bestowing so heauenly and blessed a feast vpon vs. 1 The. 5.18 In all things sayth the Apostle giue thankes Now if in all things in our publique feastes yea in all our afflictions and troubles then much more are we bound to be thankfull for the great benefit of our Redemption bestowed vpon vs in this heauenly banquet wherby being slaues vnto sin drudges vnto Sathan and subiect vnto hell and condemnation we are deliuered both from sinne and Sathan from hell euerlasting destruction A notable example hereof we see in Christ and in his Disciples when they had ended this supper Mat. 26.30 they departed not before they had sung a Psalme of thankesgiuing vnto the Lord. Mar. 14.26 Reasons to prouoke and induce vs hereunto if we haue had any true taste of Gods mercie in this Supper are these Reason 1 1. Hereby we haue experience of the great goodnesse of God of the loue of Christ towards vs who hath beene content to feede vs with his owne body bloud wherby being wounded and dead with sinne we are enliued and nourished vp vnto eternall life We read of the Pellican that for loue to her yong ones being deadly stung with some venemous serpent shee is content to haue her owne brest pearced that the bloud might gush out to nourish feede preserue and recouer them So our Pellican Iesus Christ for the loue he bare to vs being stung to death by the venemous Serpent Sathan was content to haue his bodie pearced and his bloud shed to feed and preserue vs. Therefore the Apostle considering this loue of God towards him in Christ prayed for the Ephesians that they may know this loue of Christ Ephes 3.19 20.21 which
wherin we liue because so much as possibly we can we are to keepe the vnitie and peace of the Church alwayes prouided that nothing be done in way of religious honouring and worshipping the sacrament which were to make the creature a Creator God onely is to be worshipped and serued Mat. 4.10 as our Sauiour answered Sathan when he would haue had him to haue fallen downe and worshipped him A Cerere Baccho Paganorum dijs longe absumus quāuis panis et calicis Sacramētum nostro ritu amplectimur Aug. ad Faust We must not worship saith one the heathen Gods of bread and wine though after our maner we embrace the sacrament of bread wine his meaning is that Christians doe not worship bread wine as the heathēs did A holy Martyr well answered his Opponents Thomas Spurdance Acts and Monuments Pag. 2025. I receiue Christ by faith by beleeuing in him but the bread being receiued is not GOD for God dwelleth not in Temples made with hands you doe euill to cause the people to kneele downe and worship the bread Vse 1 Vse This may serue to confute the Papists who fall into the contrary extreme and giue so much reuerence to it as that they worship and kneele to it as to God Concil triden sess 13. Can. 6. They hold and it was so decreed in the Councell of Trent that the Sacrament should be adored euen with the highest degree of worship cultu latriae which is proper to God that it should be carryed about in solemne Processions to be adored of the people and whosoeuer held the contrarie was pronounced accursed But this Sacrament is onely to bee reuerenced as an holy mystery not to be adored with any religious worship The Apostles receiued it at the handes of Christ sitting not kneeling taking it not lifting vp their hands to it Christ bids them take eate drinke and doe all in remembrance of me to teach vs how vaine and idle the religion of the Papists is in worshipping the Sacrament which neither Christ appointed nor the Apostles acknowledged Vse 2 Vse This may serue to reproue those that neuer looke to their feete but come rashly to this Sacrament without feare or reuerence they neuer consider that God is there present It befalleth to many of them as it befell to Iacob while he slept The Lord was there Gen. 28. but he was not aware So the Lord is here but they consider it not they stand gazing on the rest of the Communicants as if they should be asked that question when they come home What went you out to see and not what to receiue But doe these men thinke God is present that they stand before Angels surely they know it not if they did they would not be so rash and carelesse Vse 3. Here we are taught to demeane our selues reuerently and with feare while we are about to receiue Considering 1. the worth and price of this Supper it cost the sonne of God his precious life he came downe from his throne of excellencie humbled himselfe was reputed a base seruant and offered himselfe a sacrifice to die for vs that we might liue 2. The daintie cheare in this Supper the bodie and bloud of him who is the ruler of heauen and earth the Lord at whose becke the Angels tremble and by whom both quicke and dead shall be iudged at the last day 3. The maiestie of him that sits at the Table with vs which is God Almightie that foldeth the heauens in his span and before whom heauen and earth shall passe away like a scrole 4. the person that inuiteth vs to this feast no meane seruant but a Lord euen Christ Iesus Col. 1.15 the expresse Image of his Father 5. Our owne vnworthinesse we deserue not to eate at this table hauing beene conceiued in filthinesse and wallowing euer since in the mire of iniquitie these should make vs feare and quake as Iacob cryed out at Bethell that is at the house of God How fearefull is the the place Surely it is none other but the house of God and this is the gate of heauen So in respect that Christ inuiteth vs giueth himselfe to be our foode that God also is present at this Table and wee for our parts are most vnworthie to fit thereat or to feede of the meate thereon we ought to cry out surely this is the Lords table and all the meate set vpon it is of Christs prouision and therefore we will eate it with feare and reuerence If a poore man sitting at a knights boord tremble and feare at euery bit of meat that he puts in his mouth how much more should wee feare that sit at this boord where the Lord of Heauen is present If Iohn Baptist an Apostle Euangelist and a Prophet Mat. 3.11 thought himselfe vnworthie to beare Christs shooes O Lord how vnworthie are wee prophane wretches to eate Christs flesh and to drinke his bloud If the Woman that had the bloudie issue feared to touch the hemme of Christs garment how should we tremble to eate his flesh and to drinke his all-healing bloud Oh therefore let vs come with pure eyes and heart to see and receiue the Arke of the new Couenant Col. 1.19 in whom dwelleth all the fulnesso of the Godhead bodily The third dutie touching our good behauiour in the time of receiuing is the particular application of the Sacrament vnto a mans selfe while he is in receiuing of it and this is done by meditating vpon the holy actions and rites which according to Christs institution are vsed in and about it for it hath pleased God considering our weakenesse to appoynt those rites as meanes the better to lift vp our mindes to the serious contemplation of his heauenly graces We must apply this Sacrament 3 wayes as it is 1. a Supper 2. a Seale 3. a communion 1. As a supper on this manner when the Minister setteth apart and consecrateth by the Word the bread and wine for Sacramentall signes I am to thinke how God the Father of his meere loue hath set apart and consecrated his sonne yea Ioh. 6.27 as the Apostle speaketh sealed him to be my mediator and redeemer when he breakes the Bread and powreth the Wine I must meditate how that Christs bodie was broken and his bloud shed for my sinnes when he giueth the bread and the wine I am to thinke that then God is offering giuing me his owne sonne to feed me vnto eternall life When I receiue the bread and wine and feede on them I must meditate of the receiuing of Christ and of my feeding on him by faith to the cherishing and nourishing of my soule Except I eate his flesh and drinke his bloud Ioh 6.51.57 there is no life in me I am but dead and for this cause did hee come downe from heauen Col. 2.13 that hee might giue life to me and to the world of the faithfull 2. As
a seale for as a seale set to a Deed of gift confirmeth all things therein promised So when I receiue this Sacrament it sealeth vp in my heart an assurance of all Gods promises therefore God is sayd to haue sealed vs Ephes 1.13 14. and to haue giuen vs the earnest of his spirit Now the promises which are sealed vnto vs and which faith layeth hold on this Sacrament respect 1. our Redemption 2. Reconciliation 3. Sanctification 4. Preseruation 1. Those that concerne my Redemption are these such like T it 2.14 Heb. 4.14.15 1 Ioh 3.8 that Christ died for me that he hath redeemed me from sinne and Sathan from hell from the wrath and curse of God Gal 3.13 Mat. 1.21 that hee hath saued me from all my sinnes that they are all forgiuen for his sake Gal. 4.5 and I am released of the punishment due vnto them Rom. 8.3 4 that hee hath kept the Law for me Mat. 3.15 and fulfilled all righteousnesse in my behalfe Rom. 3.24.25 Mat. 17.5 Rom. 4.21 that his righteousnesse is imputed vnto me and that God accepteth it as mine owne c. 2. Those that concerne my Reconciliation are these and such like that Christ hath reconciled me to God his Father Rom. 5.10.11 by whom I haue receiued the attonement that he hath purchased the fauour Ephe. 1.14 and good will of God towardes me that God is my Father and I am his child Gal. 4.6.7 that he loues me in Christ Ier. 31.3 and will loue me vnto the end that he is well pleased with mee in his sonne Christ Ioh. 15.8.9 10. c. that he is well pleased with my prayers 1 Ioh 5.14 to accept them and with all my workes Mat. 18.20 and exercises to giue me a blessing in them c. 3. Those which concerne our Sanctification are these and such like Ephes 1.17 18.19 that I shall receiue the spirit of Christ whereby I shall be endued not onely with knowledge faith repentance the gift of prayer 2 Cor. 12.9 and all other graces necessarie for mee but also that I shall bee sanctified throughout 1 The. 5.23 both in spirit soule and bodie and this will appeare when my minde shall abound with all good motions Rom. 8.29 and heauenly meditations Ephes 4.23 24. when my heart shall be filled with all righteousnesse in Christ Phil. 1.11 with all good desires holy affections when my will shall be subiect Luk. 22.42 and obedient to the will of God 2 Cor. 10.5 when my words shall be the words of God able to edifie Ephe. 4.29 and minister grace to the hearers when my workes shall be such 1 Tim. 2.10 as becommeth them that professe the feare of God when I shall be a vessell vnto honour sanctified 2 Tim. 2.21 and meete for my masters vse and when I shall serue God in loue and good workes that the name of our Lord Iesus may be glorified in me 2 Thes 1.11.12 and I in him 4. Those which concerne my Preseruation are these such like that I am an heire of saluation Heb. 1.14 sealed vp vnto the day of Redemption Rom. 8.17 Ephes 4.30 so that the Lord will deliuer me from euery euill worke 2 Tim. 4.18 and preserue me vnto his kingdome which is kept for me and I for it 1 Pet. 1.3.4.5 Hee hath promised to send his Angels to attend Heb. 1.14 and waite vpon me day and night Psal 34.7 to defend and keepe mee from all dangers Psal 91.11.12 c. and to minister and bring to my hand all things necessary for me c. 3. This Sacrament must be applyed as a Communion for as it is called a supper and a seale so a Communion by reason of that Communion and fellowship the Communicant hath with Christ and his fellow members 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of blessing which we blesse is it not a Communion The application is true and sound first when I feele that I am in the presence of God Isa 44.10 and that my soule hath communion and fellowship with God the Father Zoph 3 17 and with his sonne Iesus Christ Ioh 14.16 23. Ioh 17.20 as verily as my bodie hath communion with bread and wine 2. When that I feele I haue fellowship and communion with all the Saints of God Ephes 3.7 that I am vnseparablie knit ioyned to all my neighbours 1 Cor. 10.17 1 Ioh 1.7 1 Cor. 12.13.25 Rom. 12.10 Ephes 4 16. Act. 4.32 and brethren by loue doe liue in the practise of loue like a liuely and feeling member of the bodie Vse 1 Vse 1. This confutes the Papists that hold it sufficient to looke and gaze on this Sacrament in the Pixe to worship it but not to apply it the Laitie are debarred from it that it might not profit them Vse 2. Must this Sacrament bee particularly applyed this sheweth that many receiuing it receiue little profit by it for want of application some receiue in 1. ignorance 2. others vnprepared 3. other some for fashion 4. others because the season serueth 5. others for satisfaction of their taste 6. others to feede their bodies few for the right end and vse Vse 3. Disburden thy selfe of all worldly thoughts and vaine cogitations and let thy soule be as emptie of them as the poore mans cofer is of gold and Iewels hereby a way is paved to walke in heauenly meditations and freedome purchased to thinke seriously vpon this Sacrament The fourth and last dutie touching our good behauiour in the action of receiuing the Sacrament is that we must receiue it with ioy and delight In the Scripture it is called a feast Reu. 19.7 a banquet it is compared to the Marriage feast of the Kings son Mat. 22.2 As the guests that are called to such feasts doe much reioyce so must we when we come to this heauenly feast like the Children of Israell that obserued the feast of vnleauened bread seuen dayes with great gladnesse 2 Chro. 30.21.22 c. Our ioy in this banquet should exceed all other reioycings in naturall or temporall feasts should stoope vnto it In this is a kingdome righteousnesse peace Rom. 14.17 and ioy in the holy Ghost in those nothing but bodily sustenance This ioy will encrease as our assurance of Gods mercy towards vs encreaseth The holy Ghost who is our earnest penie Ephe. 1.13.14 is giuen vnto vs to assure vs of the fulfilling of Gods promises so that hauing receiued him and feeling him stirred vp in vs more and more by this Sacrament 2 Cor. 1.12 we reioyce vnder the hope of the glorie of God 2 Co. 5.5.6 yea as the Apostle sayth we haue cause to reioyce with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious 1 Pet. 1.8 A good shew of ioy and gladnesse did many of the Iewes then giue
vs in bestowing vpon vs a singular and a rare banquet He hath not dealt so with euery Nation Psa 147.20 So should we shew mercie vnto our poore brethren in bestowing some reliefe vpon them according to our abilitie 1 Cor. 16. 1 Rom. 15.25 Qui copiosiores sunt volūt pro arbitrio quisque suo quod visum est contribuunt quod ita colligitur apud praepositum deponitur c. Iustin Martyr Apolog 2. This was practised in the Primitiue Churches Collections and Loue-feastes were made for the reliefe of the poore Saints those of the richer sort finding themselues willing to giue something did contribute as they thought fit and that which was giuen and collected publiquely the Ouerseers did so dispose of that poore widdowes fatherlesse children and all sicke lame impotent persons found helpe And as in publique so also in priuate it behoueth vs to yeeld them some reliefe and to send vnto them of our superfluity as in Nehemiahs time vpon the Sabboth Nehe. 8.10 after the hearing of the Word c. the people did eate and sent part vnto them for whom none was prouided Vse 1 Vse 1. This doctrine may shew vs that most men though by name they be called Christians yet walke vnworthie of this high and honourable calling whereunto they are called they goe on in sinne without Repentance and do what they can to disgrace the Lord and Author of their profession giuing iust cause of offences both to God and the world vnlesse they reforme their liues and labour to be purged from all filthinesse of the flesh 2 Cor. 7.1 and spirit their end will be fearefull It will be the eternall destruction of their bodies and soules Of these prophane Esaues and fleshly Libertines S. Paul maketh mention saying Phil. 3.18.19 There be many that walke he spake passionately with teares who are the enemies of Iesus Christ whose end is destruction Our Sauiour Christ sayth Mat. 18.7 Woe vnto the world because of offences yea woe be to that man by whom the offence commeth Doest thou heare this thou that liest in ignorance that giuest thy selfe to drunkennesse to contempt of the Word and Sacraments c. then lay it to thy heart thy end if thou continue in this course is damnation and that which thou most delightest in shal be thy sorrow and thy glorie shall be turned into shame It had bin as good for thee to haue had a Milstone long agoe tyed about thy neck and thy selfe throwne into the bottome of the Sea then to haue liued to the offence of GOD and scandalized his Church It is too much that thou thy selfe should bee euill spoken of but the holy Gospel with the profession of it and the whole companie of religious and godly people by thy meanes to be blasphemed is most horrible and cannot bee without the curse of God Oh therefore I beseech and entreat you in the feare of God Sic viuite vt nemo de vobis male loqui absque mendacio possit Hierot Epist ad Caelum de Institut Matrisfam when wicked men are giuen to speak euill of you make them eate their words and so liue that none may speake euill of you but that all the world may see they lie Remember God hath called you not to vncleannesse 1 Thes 4.7 but vnto holinesse euery thing in his Calling sauoureth of holinesse 2 Tim. 1.9 the Calling is holy 1 Pet. 1.15 the Caller is holy the meanes and instrument is holy Ioh 17.17 the immediate worker which is the Spirit is the fountaine of all holinesse Oh then walke worthie of this calling Vse 2 Vse 2. This may shew vs if we trie our selues by the former signes whether we walke worthie of our Calling and liue according to our profession the badge and cognisance whereof we haue alreadie receiued If we resist sin and Sathan and suffer neither of them to raigne in nor ouer vs if we take heed that we be not spotted of this present euill world if we loue our brethren and the members of Christ and with chearfulnes helpe them in their present exigents then we haue receiued grace by vertue of this heauenly Manna and walke in our Callings to Gods glorie and the edifying of his Church But on the other side if we neither resist Sathan nor sinne but giue them house-roome inhabitation if we cannot in any sense commiserate and helpe the necessities of our brethren then we haue but the name of the Calling of Christianitie Christians indeed wee are not and deseruedly may grieous imputations be cast vpon vs. Vse 3 Vse 3. Seeing after the receipt of the Sacrament the workes of mercie are to bee remembred and the wants of the poore relieued iustly may they bee blamed that depart the Congregation giue nothing to the poore whose bowels sound like Shaulmes for want of foode and whose faces gather blacknesse through famine We haue those that receiue the Sacrament and yet so miserable and so voyd of the bowels of compassion that they can suffer the pitifull child halfe starued and hanging vpon their mothers breast to crie out ready to giue vp the ghost Where is bread and where is drinke And the hearts of the parents to fall asunder like drops of water because they haue not to giue vnto them I would wish these to remember the Parable of the rich Glutton and poore Lazarus Lak 16. and the manner of the last Iudgement Mat. 25. where the wicked are reproued not for murder or whoredome though they shall be damned for these but for vnmercifulnesse being fed themselues they would not giue any foode to the needie There is no loue of God in such 1 Ioh 3.17 Some are so eager in scraping for their heires that the poore can get nothing but that surely is best laid vp which is layd vp in Christs almes boxe which is the poore mans hand for he and his shall finde the benefite of it afterwards Some in matter of Almes 1 Sam. 25.10.11 haue Nabals answere they haue families of their owne should they take and giue to others Some stand vpon their termes they will giue but with to wicked men Yes to them in great and extreame necessitie some indeed to spare their purses will pretend either that the persons be wicked or that they know them not to bee good But mans nature is to be pitied euen in an euill man he which giues to a sinner not because he is a sinner Non peccatorem sed iustumpauperens nutrit quia millo non culpam sed naturam diligit c. Grego mag but because he is a man relieueth not a sinfull but a righteous poore man because hee respects not his fault but his nature Mercy vseth not to iudge of deserts but to helpe necessitie Some would giue but they plead their owne pouertie What thou wantest in purse bestow in prayers to God for them