and offering himself a Sacrifice to the justice of God for these who were given him of his Father was accepted of God then we cannot lay the burden of our sins upon and trust our Souls to that Sacrifice 5 If we do not believe that God hath provided a way for our partaking of that Sacrifice and the benefits thereby purchased then we cannot believe a Participation and Fellowship of his Sufferings 6. And if we know nothing of that appointed way viz. by Faith then we cannot make application of his Death and so shal not have the Communion of his Body and Blood And that the necessity of firm believing the Doctrine of Christ may appear Consider First that we may see with grief how many turn Apostates Athiests Blasphemers who were professed Christians and appeared to have no doubt of what they professed for many years yet by frequent Apâ—stacy mens Souls are ruined Religion reproached Satans kingdom advanced 2. It 's found also that others of a better stamp who do not precipitate themselves into such Gulfs of Apostacy improving the benefit of a good Education their practice being in some measure according to their knowledge yet in progress of years when they come to be more deeply concerned with their eternal state and to know on what grounds they can warrantably expect to be no worse but better when this life hath its period searching into these grounds do often find such difficulties to believe the truths whereof they doubted nothing in their younger years that their souls are cast into deep disquiet and sometimes are made to bless God who hath kept them alive and under means of knowledge that they may yet be confirmed in some important truths which nearly concern their very Salvation And notwithstanding that conscientious Christians are cautious and sparing in uttering their Doubts specially when they are such as might prove stumbling to others Yet where the benefit of cordial Sympathy is obtained many are found under distressing conflicts of this nature in so much that if their gracious God did not relieve they could not stand long in their profession but would be noticed to their grief as fainting Such temptations have not yet left this World in vain I have washen my hands in innocency Psal 73. 13. 3. It 's also too evidently found that some by reason of not being fixed in the great Gospel truths concerning Christ and Salvation are retarded in their whole Christian progress for the foundation not being firmly laid they cannot go on to perfection this is no charge against the foundation which God hath laid for that is still sure and unmoveable 1 Cor. 3. 11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ For which we are to bless God but it 's mens not being fixed upon and cemented with the true foundation and whether men will or not this hath a Secret strong influence to deaden all their religious practice when they doubt but all their pains may be in vain at last and that they have been but beating the air 1 Cor. 9. 26. 4. Some are assaulted with violent temptations tempting them to doubt of many truths at once and such as are of great consequence and then their weakness appeareth then they smart bitterly for not being established in the truth having no solid answer for repelling of such temptations then they are tossed to and fro with any wind of Doctrine yea many woes are at hand then they are ready to call good evil and evil good and put darkness for light then they are ready to run down the stream and yield all were it not that God knoweth how to deliver his own out of temptation 2 Pet. 2. 9. 5. Known instances may be given of some who in their day shined to the glory of God and Edification of many who yet not long before their great change found it their greatest tryal and difficulty to be fixed in believing even as to the object of their Faith which should be remarked as a warning to weaker persons to spend more of our time and seriousness for rooting in the truth that we may know whom we have believed which was the Apostles great rejoycing 2 Tim. 1. 12. 6. It 's also to be observed that especially at Communions Doubts do arise in many of the People of God when they are examining their Faith and Knowledge and Satan always going about to resist good labouring to obstruct the best works whereof self-examination is one instead of questioning their own weakness in knowledge or slowness to believe he tempteth them to doubt of the object of their Faith and if not fixed they are at least so disturbed in their Souls and cast down that they have no confidence for going to the Lords Table and supposing they were not afflicted with such temptations yet if fundamentals Gospel-truths be not understood nor a judicious assent of the mind yielded to them then there can be no consent An assent of the mind may be to the truth without consent but we cannot chuse and consent to that which the mind doth not believe to be truth So then you cannot consent to receive Christ at his Table except ye believe the report and testimony that God hath given of him 1 John 5. 10. Therefore spare no pains for knowledge dig for it as for hid treasures account the knowledge of Christ excellent knowledge as others did who knew him better than you who did look upon other things as but loss and dung Phil. 3. 8. Thou hast none to know like him nor any knowledge so necessary as to know him 1 Cor. 1. 30. Who is made of God unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification Redemption be not too easily satisfied with thy knowledge of Christ as many in this age are Let it be an exercise of thy Soul by it self how to know Christ lest thy first knowledge of him be as of a Judge to give out Sentence Depart I know you not lay this to heart though thou had not the Lords Table to go to but if thou wilt go to it ignorant of him ignorance it self will render thee an unworthy Communicant as I sear it doth too many in our times who yet cannot be judicially debarred what if thy own conscience should rise upon thee when thou art going to his Table and accuse thee of presumption for attempting a Communion with him to whom thou art a meer stranger not so much as believing the record God hath given of his Son Can such a person be accepted of him Labour then to be acquainted with him in time Job 22. 21. Acquaint thy self with him rendering praise to God that thou has yet a season for it and if thou dost not affect ignorance but art one who longest for the knowledge of the Holy fearing thou art the very person that has not that knowledge Prov. 30. 3. Fearing the danger of thy Soul were it for nothing else but thy ignorance of
took bread and blessed it Thirdly after it 's blessed it remaineth still bread the Apostle doth not say the Body which we break but the Bread which we break now the Bread is not broken before but after it 's blessed for he took bread and blessed it and brake and the Apostle saith expresly it's Bread which is broken but if after the blessing or consecration the bread were transubstantiated into the natural Body of Christ then the Apostle had said the Body which we break sure the Apostle knew what name to give it having received of the Lord what he delivereth and what can be more plain than that it 's still Bread when it 's broken which is after it's consecration this breaking of the bread is so material a part of the institution that the whole of the Sacrament bears its name called the breaking of bread Acts 2. 42. The breaking of Christs precious Body being thereby signified Christ requireth this discerning of his Body broken saying this is my body which is broken for you 1 Cor. 11 24 and the breaking of the bread must be Sacramentally and publlckly performed in sight of the Communicants for their instruction as in the first Celebration And in the last place the sincere Believer in eating of this bread according to Christ's institution doth by Faith receive himself hath special Communion with him and partakes the benefits and purchase made through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all Heb 10 10 This is the Sacrifice he came to give when no other could do and therefore it's memorial should be always fragrant Many pertinent Doctrines may be here observed both from the scope and words of this Text but I shal name only this one Doct. The worthy receiver at the Lords Table hath Communion with Christ in partaking the benefit of his precious blood and broken Body From this great and comfortable truth these ten inferences following appear native which shal be the subject matter of the ensuing Discourse First inference the celebration of the Lords Supper being an holy transaction between Christ and Believers wherein they have the Communion of his Body and blood then the Doctrine of Christ concerning himself what he is what he hath done and suffered should be firmly believed as a foundation for our partaking of this blessed Communion 2. Inference the Lords Supper being the Communion of Christs body and blood to the believer then all who partake are obliged to prepare for so great a blessing particularly to examine themselves before they eat 3. This blessed Ordinance of Christ being the Communion of his body and blood Then Communicants are to approach it with a humble sense of their sin as needing the vertue of that precious blood 4. The worthy Receiver obtaining the Communion of Christs body and blood Then Communicants are obliged to understand what that is which is called Communion with Christ before they partake 5. Seing such blessed near Communion with Christ may be obtained at the Lords Table then Communicants should prepare for entertaining communion with him in the very time of that Solemnity 6. This blessed Ordinance of the Lords Supper being the communion of Christs body and blood then believers are obliged to have a sincere desire to partake of so great a mercy 7. This holy Ordinance being the Communion of Christ body and blood Then believers should approach it with Faith and expectation of this blessed Communion with Christ 8. Seing so great a benefit as the Communion of Christs body and blood may be had in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Then Christians are obliged to endeavour the removal of all objections and stumbling blocks that stand in the way to obstruct their partaking of this benefit 9. This holy Sacrament being the Communion of Christ's body and blood Then after partaking Communicants are obliged to try if they have obtained that blessed Communion 10. This holy Ordinance being the Communion of Christ's body and blood Then Communicants are obliged to live suitable to so great a benefit and testifie their gratitude by an holy walk and conversation CHAP. II. The Doctrine of Christ Crucified must be believed by Communicants The first Inference THe celebration of the Lords Supper being an holy transaction between Christ and Believers wherein they have the Communion of his body and blood then the Doctrine of Christ concerning himself what he is what he hath done and suffered should be firmly believed as a foundation for our partaking of this blessed Communion For if the Doctrine unto which this Sacrament belongeth and whereupon it dependeth be doubted such also will our partaking be not in faith but doubting therefore all concerned who have a due value for their Souls are to labour for fixedness in the great Gospel truths concerning Christ and the way of obtaining Communion with him I shal God willing make this appear in this Chapter and conclude it with a few words of advice to such Communicants as have most need of greater establishment in the truth Consider first that mens professing of Gospel truths is not sufficient proof that they believe these truths for many profess that which they do not believe having no firm perswasion of these truths in their own minds but stand yet in need of being taught which be the first principles of the oracles of God even after such profession and opportunities of knowledge that they might have been teachers of others Heb. 5 12. 2. Nor is want of doubts concerning these truths sufficient evidence that they are firmly believed for the want of doubts doth not always proceed from fixedness in Faith but sometimes from being unconcerned whether the Doctrine be true or false not being so serious as either to believe or doubt 3. Nor is it sufficient that people have an implicite Faith in what concerneth their Salvation because their teachers instruct them so and they so receive having nothing against it because men may be easily shaken out of that sort of Faith and therefore we are to receive the Doctrine of Christ 1 Thes 2 13 not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God Particularly first if we do not believe there was and is a Christ we cannot converse with him for who can seek Communion with one of whose very being they doubt Would to God all professed Christians believed in heart firmly that there is a Christ as our merciful God hath given us full evidence for our belief 2. If we do not believe that he is God and man God manifest in the flesh we cannot have Communion with him as such and if we have not Communion with him as such then we have not Communion with the true Christ the Mediator and sent Saviour of the World 3. If we do not believe that he really died then we can have no Communion of his Body and Blood Not believing that his Blood was shed 4. If we do not believe that this his Death
Christ fearing also to go to the Lords Table on the same account then Consider First all the true knowledge thou canst have of Christ and the Doctrine of Salvation by him is supernatural thou canst not dig it out of thy self None knoweth the Son but he to whom it 's revealed Matth. 11. 27. And when Peter giveth an account of his knowledge of Christ he is told Matth. 16. 17. flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee Then thy work is to pray for this knowledge what ever other means thou use thou must have it as a free Gift 1 Joh. 5. 20. He hath given us an understanding to know him that is true it 's also given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom Matth. 13. 11. despond not though this day thou art very ignorant of Christ and the mysteries of his Kingdom it may be thou has too much depended on thy own understanding and not prayed for a given understanding the neglect of this keepeth many in ignorance for though we sometimes grieve because we are ignorant yet we are naturally so proud that we had rather have it of our selves than take it as a free gift of God but take his counsel who saith If any man lack wisdom let him ask it of God who giveth liberally Jam. 1. 5. Blessed Jesus Christ is sent to open the eyes of the blind Isa 42. 7. Let him have his work beseech him to open thy eyes he will not fail to perform what he came for if thou wilt sincerely acknowledge thy blindness remember what he saith John 9. 41. if you were blind ye should have no sin take it then as a great mercy to be sensible of thy blindness it being the surest way to the best light 2. Consider also that there are degrees both of knowledge and faith though thou come not up to the first Worthies yet thou may'st be no unworthy Communicant if Christ has so manifested himself unto thee that thou canst not live contentedly without him If what thou hast discovered of him hath captivated thy Soul If thou lovest all thou knowest of him And followest on to know more Though thou seest not him flying in that glorious brightness that some did on the Mount yet Christ will come and meet with thee waiting for him though at the foot of the Mount he will come down to thee when thou canst not go up to him and he will be as good as his word in manifesting himself to all who love him and keep his words though he do not manifest himself in a like manner to all we must be glad to see him though thorow a lates's if so be we are sure it 's he the very Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world any sure knowledge of him any manner of his manifesting himself should be highly valued for where he manifesteth himself there will he come and make an abode Joh. 14. 23. 3. It deserveth a special remark that though the Disciples continued long weak in their Knowledge confessing their ignorance that they knew not the way John 14. 5 and sometimes that they knew not what he said Joh. 16 18. And as yet they knew not the Scripture that he must rise again Joh. 20. 9. They were not so fully confirmed as afterward yet as to the state of their souls Christ declareth them clean Joh. 15. 3. and admitted them to his Table yea and giveth a comfortable account of them to his Father Joh. 17. 25 and these have known that thou hast sent me and vers 6. they have kept thy Word O! the depth of his love and faithfulness First to open the eyes of the blind and reveal his Father unto them and then though they see but darkly to give this comfortable account of them father they have known What piercing eyes hath Christ to observe the good as well as the evil of his people and to bring forth aâ—â—â—tâ—e of his own fine Gold from under vast rubbish and make it shine before his Father as fruit of the travel of his Soul Let not the Reader mistake in making a bad use of this to his own hurt in presuming without some competent knowledge for by Christ's testimony it 's evident the Disciples had knowledge only Christs condescensions must not be concealed in allowing his Table to such as were but weak that others in succeeding generations grieved for their weakness might not despond since it is not the altogether perfect that Christ expecteth at this lower Table but at the higher where that unknown that reserved new wine may be drunk without danger Matth. 26. 29 I might here also add that believers sometimes have a real knowledge of these Gospel mysteries which themselves think they know not As for instance Joh. 14. 4. and whither I go ye know but in the next verse Thomas denieth both saying we know not whither thou goest and how can we know the way This contradicteth what Christ had said he saying ye know and â—homas saying we know not Now what Christ said is inâ—allibly true and needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man Joh. 2. 25. And it was very ill manners in the good Man to contradict his Master and little better than give him the lie in his face Who would bear such things as meek Jesus doth The man should have well pâ—ndered the words spoken by Christ as certainly true because he spoke them and â—hould have rendered praise for his discovering that in himself and others which they could not observe and thereby allowing them comfort as to their knowledge but as he so some Christians yet take a sinful liberty to deny the goodness of God to their souls by a mismanaged I will not say pretended kind of humility when some reflect on their knowledge and find it mixt with darkness and indistinct How ready are they to conclude and say they have no knowledge Whereas Christ may have other thoughts of them for his thoughts are not their thoughts Isa 55. 8. Fifthly Yet by all means study to grow in grace and knowledge the hand of the diligent maketh rich It 's very observable that some Christians are more obnoxious to doubts than others and find them a great hinderance to their Spiritual advancement yet when they set themselves to Diligence in observing Christs Works in them and for them and the sweet harmony betwixt his Word and Works do often get their doubts cleared their Fetters fall off and then they run and not weary knowing they run not in vain When the Disciples attend diligently to Christs Words then they come to say chearfully Now we believe and are sure Joh. 16. 30. Sixthly Be diligent to practise what ye know John 7. 17. If any man will do his Will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self Hearken carefully to this counsel as thou would be confirmed in the truth for our not practising what