is true indeed that the part which our Lord had in the institution of his Holy Supper viz. The blessing of Bread and breaking it and taking Wine and giving thanks and distributing both belongs only to the Minister of the Gospel because these are all special Acts and Exercises of the Ministerial Function and as such have been always reserved to them alone But the receiving of the Bread and Wine wheâ— broken blessed and offered to us is the common dutâ— of all Christians as well people as Ministers Thirdly The end for which this is commanded to be done in remembrance of me or rather in commemoration of me For so the word which we here translate remembrance sometimes signifieth and this indeed seems to be the most proper signification of it in this place For commemoration is a solemn act of remembrance and such an one no doubt our Saviour here expects from us We are always bound habitually to remember him but this his Supper is particularly design'd to excite in our Souls a present and actual remembrance of him of him that is of his death and Passion of his Body that was broken and his Blood which was shed for us For the Bread and Wine which are here administred to us were appointed by him as signs and representations of his Flesh and Blood as he himself tells us at his Institution of this Holy Supper This saith he speaking of the Bread is my Body which is given for you that is this is a sign or representation of my Body which shall very suddenly be offer'd up upon the Cross for you and again speaking of the Cup This is my Blood of the New Testament or the new Testament in my Blood which is shed for you and for many as if he had said the Wine which you now see in this Cup and which I commanded ye all to drink of is a sign or representation of my Blood which will be shortly shed to ratify or confirm the New Covenant which I have made between God and Man When therefore we eat of this Bread and drink of this Cup we must be sure to put both parts of our Lord's Commandment together and to fulfil both by doing it in remembrance of his Body that was given and his Blood that was shed for us And such a remembrance as this necessarily implies these two things First An acknowledgement of Christ for our Saviour and Redeemer For what else is it to commemorate his dying for us but to declare that we are sensible that our peace is made with God through the blood of his Cross and that we who before were all under sin and lyable to wrath aliens from and Enemies to God shall now not have our trespasses imputed to us but be saved from wrath through Christ and in the body of his flesh through death be reconciled unto God To declare I say and shew both to God and Man that our hope is only in the Lord Jesus who hath now appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself and in whom alone we have redemption through his blood even forgiveness of sins This you see is what the Scripture means by Christ's Body being broken and his Blood shed for us and therefore all Christians who sincerely remember those must sincerely acknowledge this Secondly An acknowledgement of Christ for our Lord and Master For besides that by submitting to his Rites and Institutions we plainly declare our selves his Disciples besides that by acknowledging of and partaking in his Sacrifice we do according to the sense of all Nations own our selves members of his Church besides this I say by acknowledging Christ's dying for us we do manifestly acknowledge our obligations both to love and obey him To love him who hath so loved us as to lay down his life for us to obey him whose purchase we are who hath bought us with a price even the inestimable price of his Blood and has therefore a right to us as the Scripture tells us as a peculiar people to himself And this the Primitive Christians were so sensible of that they look'd upon every receiving of the Lords Supper to be a new tie and obligation a new vow and dedication of themselves to Christ And hence it was that the word Sacrament which signified among the Romans that Oath of Fidelity which their Soldiers took was given as a name to the Lords Supper because Christians were suppos'd to bind themselves there as it were by an Oath to Christ's Service The ends for which our blessed Lord instituted this holy Supper seem to have been these three First His Father's and his own Glory which could no way better be illustrated and extoll'd than by making all Christians whatsoever join in ascribing their Redemption and Salvation to them For this is at once to own both their power and wisdom and goodness which were so eminently display'd in these great works and likewise their Soveraignty and Dominion over us which are the natural effects of them Secondly The preserving the unity of his Church towards which nothing could contribute more than the frequent meeting together of its Members to acknowledge one hope of their calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all above all through all and in them all and this is most effectually acknowledged by our being all partakers of that one bread for thus as St. Paul teacheth we being many are one bread and one Body And likewise their meeting to commemorate the noblest instance of Love that ever appeared in the world and consequently the noblest Example for Christians to follow the noblest motive to excite them to love one another Thirdly The good and edification of every particular Christian and this end will appear to be admirably well serv'd this way if we will give our selves leave to reflect a little on the benefits which every Christian is made partaker of by receiving this Holy Supper And First If we consider this Holy Supper only as a Commemorative Sign or sign to put us in mind of Christs dying for us yet even thus it will prove of vast advantage to us For this will naturally tend to inflame our Love and exalt our Gratitude towards him to confirm our Faith and strengthen our Hope in him and to fix and stablish our purposes of obedience to him All this I say will be the natural result even of a bare contemplation or remembrance of Christs having freely given up himself to death even the death of the Cross for us and of his having thereby procured remission of all our Sins and a promise of Eternal Life and Happiness to all those that obey him But Secondly If we consider it as it is the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ that is as it is to all faithful Christians an actual participation of the benefits of Christ's death and passion viz. of remission of sins of the hope of eternal happiness upon our obedience and of the grace
of the holy Spirit to teach and enable us to obey we shall be abundantly convinc'd of the advantage and benefit of it to us By this means we have the same strength and nourishment convey'd unto our Souls which the outward Symbols Bread and Wine convey to our Bodies We are made one with Christ and Christ with us and nothing but our own wilful disobedience shall be ever able to part us more from him This is a true and faithful account of the Lord's Supper which I think may be fairly summ'd up in these few and plain words It is a Foederal Feast or Feast of Covenant between God and man instituted by Christ himself and perpetually to be observ'd by all Christians where by partaking of Bread and Wine in commemoration of Christ's Body given and his Blood shed for them they on their part acknowledge Christ for their Saviour and Redeemer Lord and Master and God on his part grants and confirms to them under the Symbols of Bread and Wine the Body and Blood of his Son Christ Jesus that is all the blessed effects of his Body broken and his Blood shed viz. pardon of past sins promise of eternal happiness upon future obedience of the Gospel and Grace to direct and enable them to perform this obedience And this Feast is therefore call'd the Lord's Supper because it was instituted by our Lord at Supper time From what has been said I think our obligations to receive this Holy Supper do abundantly appear For First We have here a plain command so to do Do this in nomembrance of me a command as has been already shewn you which reacheth to all Christians and will oblige them even to the end of the world So that it is meer trifling with God our Saviour and the World to call our selves Christians and yet live in a wilful neglect of this plain command of Christ Why call ye me Lord Lord saith our Saviour and do not the things which I say to what purpose do ye in words acknowledge me to be your Master and yet when I call upon you to do this plainly declare by your actions that you do not regard me Better had it been for you that you had never taken my sacred name into your mouths than that you should thus abuse and blaspheme it Be not deceived I will not be mock'd but I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sydon at the day of Judgment than for you Secondly This command of our Saviour is attended with a multitude of Circumstances which do every one of them very much add to its force and obligation and render the neglect of it more and more unpardonable For First It was his dying Command that very same night in which he instituted this Holy Supper was he betrayed into the hands of the Jews in order to be mock'd and derided buffeted and scourged and at last sacrificed upon the Cross for our sakes And can our dying Saviour require any thing of us that we will not do Can he speak and shall not his last words be minded by us What answer do ye think ye should have given him had ye heard him speaking in this manner to you My dearest Children who I love so well whose miseries I am so deeply concern'd for whose sins I am so very desirous to get a pardon for that behold I am just now going to dye an ignominious death upon the Cross for you that so by the Sacrifice of my self I may take away all your sins and make you heirs of eternal Glory My best and dearest Children dearer to me than my life itself Hearken to the last words of your dying Saviour I have but one thing more to require of you Oh let not that be neglected by you Let me intreat you with my last breath that breath which I am contented to part with for your sakes to preserve this my last Commandment inviolable I would ye not all have said Distrust us not O blessed Master we beseech thee command whatsoever thou seest good and we will cheerfully obey tho it be even to death itself Our hearts are affected with the sense of thy approaching kindness that we can no more forget thy dying words than we can refuse to accept thy dying Love Secondly It is a very easy Command take Bread and Wine bless them and then eat and drink of them â—n remembrance of me is a Commanndment as little â—rievous as our hearts could wish for so that they â—…ho neglect it have nothing to say in excuse for â—hemselves but seem to sin purely for sinnings sake â—nd this is the very height of wickedness Blessed God â—hat ever the Devil should so far get possession of mens â—earts as to keep them from doing their duty even â—…here there is no hardship in doing it How can â—hese men in reason expect that our Saviour should â—e at any pains to save them who are resolv'd they â—…ill be at none to obey him Or rather how can â—hey not expect to be made the unhappy instances of â—is wrathful displeasure who will not do even this â—mall thing to please him Thirdly This is a Command in which our obedience to â—hrist is more peculiarly try'd In most other of his â—ommands there are other obligations besides those â—f his Authority as in all moral duties obligations â—rom nature reason or the like so that it is not â—ery easy to tell by mens complyance with these â—…hether they are true Servants of Christ or no beâ—ause they may nay and it is plain they sometimes â—o comply with these Duties upon principles of â—ature or reason when yet they have no true sence â—f their obligation from Christs authority But in the â—uty before us there being no obligation but Christs â—ositive institution they who perform it as they â—ught must certainly act upon a true Christian prinâ—iple viz. a sense of the obedience they owe to Christs â—ommands This then being a plain Test of our â—eing true Christians it is certainly our duty to let â—ll the world see by our compliance with it that â—…e are so and that the obligation of Christs Authoâ—ity when alone is abundantly sufficient to comâ—…and us whithersoever it pleaseth Fourthly This command is a more than ordinary Tryal of â—ur gratitude and Love to Christ because it commands â—othing but what we are bound even by the meer â—aws of Love and Gratitude to be most ready to perâ—orm For supposing Christ had had no authority to â—ommand us any thing but had only requested of us that we would perpetually observe this his Supper in commemoration of him yet considering whaâ— great unspeakably great things he had done for us we should have been most inexcusable if we should not have answer'd this his request The Laws oâ— Love and Gratitude are founded upon reason and therefore ought to have a powerful influence upon reasonable creatures and certainly all that Love and Gratitude can oblige us to we must be
upon your conversion from your sins Must you not stay some considerable time to try by your Actions whether your purposes of amendment are sincere or no Yes if you cannot trust your self you had best so to do if you are in doubt of it you must not dare to mock God But if after a thorough search and examination of your self you are fully perswaded that you are really beginning a new life and that you shall persevere in it I see no reason then why you should not come come to him that refresheth such as are weary and heavy laden come to him who having wrought in thee to will according to his good purposes will infallibly if it be not thy own fault work in thee to do likewise and so finish the good work which he has happily and graciously began in thee We read in the Acts of the Apostles that the new Converts to Christianity without any time of tryal were immediately admitted to the Lord's Supper for so we are told Acts 2. that all the whole three thousand new Converts there mention'd immediately after their conversion continued in breaking of Bread that is in the Communion of the Lord's Supper And therefore I can see no reason why a man that really thinks a true change of mind wrought in him should not presently upon his assurance of such a change from an honest and impartial examination of himself hope that he is a fit guest for our Lords Table Especially considering how kindly the prodigal Son in the Gospel is receiv'd and treated by his Father even immediately upon his return I shall add no more but that I most earnestly beseech men to be very faithful to themselves in this weighty business of self examination They are the only persons that can suffer by making a false judgment of themselves and therefore it highly stands them in stead so to judge themselves that they be not judged of the Lord so to search and examine their own consciences and that not lightly and after the manner of dissemblers with God but so that they may come holy and clean to such a heavenly Feast in the marriage garment required by God in the holy Scripture and be received as worthy partakers of that holy Table CHAP. III. Of frequency of Communicating I Shall not here detain you with a long account how the Primitive Christians communicated at at first twice a day then daily for a considerable time and at length never seldomer than once a week The state of the Church while in its Infancy and under persecution required then a more frequent performance of this Duty for the strengthning and comforting of its members and for the propagation of the Faith than now when it is well grown and generally spread and has gotten helps and advantages from secular interest and power And therefore the example of the Primitive Christians in this point circumstances having much varied between their times and ours cannot be an exact Rule to us However thus much we may very fairly infer from it that we ought to be frequent in this Duty tho not so frequent as they were But that which it principally concerns a private Christian to know as the case stands now is how often he ought to partake of the Lord's Supper when administred in the Parish where he resides I say in the Parish where he resides because certainly private Christians are not bound to look further these being the places in which the Church has commanded them to attend the Ordinances of Religion and to expect the administration of them And the answer to this is very plain and easie That we ought not to omit any opportunity so offered to us of partaking of the Lord's Supper For considering how much our partaking of it is for the honour of God and our Saviour for the credit of our Religion the good of the Christian Society of which we profess our selves Members and our own particular interest and advantage I cannot see how we can answer it either to God our Saviour our Brethren or our selves if we at any time neglect to partake of it Can we doubt whether it will not be highly displeasing to God if when he calls us together to give thanks and praise to him in a most solemn manner for his abundant mercies in Christ Jesus we at any time unthankfully refuse to come Do we think that our Blessed Saviour can take it well at our hands if when he by his Ministers invites us to commemorate his Love in dying for us we at any time turn our backs upon him as those who think him not worthy our remembrance Are we afraid that we shall give too much countenance to our Religion if we always appear upon this occasion or that the Church will grow too strong by our thus often becoming one bread and one body Or do we suspect that we shall be too much gainers by our constant communicating in the blessed effects of the body and blood of Christ Methinks I am ashamed to ask such questions as these Oh! with what Joy ought we to run to our Lord's Table when ever we behold it spread for us How ought the sight of the heavenly Food there prepared for us to transport and delight us How much more eagerly ought we to embrace every opportunity of having the pardon of our sins confirmed and the promises of Grace and everlasting Life renewed to us than of heaping up Riches Honours or any other worldly good and yet we are sure to be careful enough to let slip none of these But perhaps you will say certainly there are sometimes when a man may be despensed with from communicating some reasons which will excuse his absence and every time of staying from the Lord's Table is not sure to be looked upon as a sin of Omission I answer that the excuses which will avail in this case are very few That which is commonly made of want of time for particular preparation I have already shewed to be insufficient in the foregoing Chapter And I know of none that will hold good but these three First In some Parishes the number of Communicants is so vastly great that they cannot possibly communicate all at one time at least not with any tolerable conveniency and in such a case a good man not only may but ought to give way and make room for others who have a right to communicate as well as he But then we must be very careful that when we do absent our selves upon this account there be real ground and reason for it and that we may be sure of this we shall do well to consult our Minister about it who is the most competent Judge in this matter Secondly It may sometimes so happen that a man just before the time when he should receive the Lords Supper by some sudden and surprizing occasion may be drawn into some gross and enormous Sin and not have time enough between that and the Administration of
O Lord help thou my unbelief I believe that the blessed Jesus laid down his life for me and acknowledge with all possible thankfulness his inexpressible kindness in so doing I believe that he gave himself for me and all Mankind that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works therefore will I I endeavour to manifest my Faith by my works I believe that there is none other name under Heaven given among Men whereby they must be saved but the name of the Lord Jesus therefore in his name only I implore thy mercy increase of Faith here and of Glory hereafter Amen For Charity O Lord who hast taught us that all our doings without Charity are nothing worth send thy Holy Ghost and pour into my heart that most excellent gift of Charity the very bond of peace and of all Virtues without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee More especially now when I am going to commemorate the unspeakable love of my blessed Saviour in dying for me let me not be destitute of love towards my Brethren O let my readiness to forgive others their trespasses fit me for thy forgiveness of mine let me not be an enemy to any man lest I be thy enemy too but give me that Charity which covereth a multitude of Sins that Charity by which all Men may know me to be Christs Disciple which shall dispose me to be of a meek patient long suffering forgiving temper like him and to do good to all men as he did that Charity which shall never fail but shall go along with us into and make us fit Inhabitants for that City of Love the new Jerusalem Grant this O merciful Father for the sake of thy Son Christ Jesus through whose love alone we are encouraged to present these our requests to thee Amen A Prayer to be said in the morning before we communicate after our usual Prayers O Most gracious and ever merciful Lord God who art always wont to give more than we either desire or deserve accept I beseech thee my most humble and hearty thanks for thy great mercy in bringing me to the light of this day and thereby giving me an opportunity of meeting my dear Redeemer at his holy Table of testifying my love and gratitude to him and of communicating in all the blessed effects of his love towards me of renewing to him my Baptismal Vow of Faith and Obedience and of receiving from him fresh confirmations of the benefits made over to me in my Baptism even remission of sins grace and eternal life O that I may be careful duly to improve this happy opportunity now before me that I may eat and drink so worthily as to eat and drink my own Salvation that my sins which are many and great more especially all such as have been committed knowingly and wilfully such as Here mention those wilful sins if there are any such which thou knowest thy self to have been guilty of may be forgiven me and that henceforward whither I live I may live unto thee or whither I dye I may dye unto thee that so living or dying I may be ever thine And the same mercies which I beg for my self I beg likewise for all my fellow Christians more particularly those who shall this day any where partake in the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ O let not one of their precious Souls perish who seem to be so near to the Kingdom of Heaven but do thou by thy Grace so assist and direct strengthen and support them now and evermore in doing thy will and working out their own Salvation that in the end they may obtain everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A short Prayer to be said after that which we commonly say at our first coming into the Church GRant O blessed Jesu that the nearer I draw to thy Table the nearer I may likewise draw to thee in purity of heart and affections in strength and liveliness of Faith in fervency and extensiveness of Charity That so being of the same mind which was in thee and thinking believing and doing as becometh thy Disciple I may be meet to be partaker of those pledges of thy favour which thou now offerest at thy holy Table to all thy faithful Servants and of those Joys in another world which thou in thy mercy hast prepared for them Amen Just before we receive HEar those Prayers O Lord which have been offer'd up by thy Congregation and for the sake of thy well beloved Son Jesus Christ suffer us to draw nigh unto thee and to hope for thy mercy In his name alone it is that I a most vile wretch and miserable Sinner am bold to call thee Father and to intreat thy favour and forgiveness O let his merits answer for my unworthiness let his death preserve me from dying let his Body and Blood preserve my Body and Soul unto everlasting life Amen Immediately after receiving the Bread O Merciful Lord Grant I beseech thee that by virtue of thy dear Son's Body given for me and represented to me by this Bread I may become acceptable in thy sight obtain thy pardon and peace thy grace and assistance thy everlasting happiness and glory And do thou O Lord so fill my heart with thankfulness for the inestimable benefits of my Saviour's death and passion that I may be ready to do any thing even to lay down my life for him and that loving nothing more than him he may vouchsafe to think me worthy of him and to crown me with eternal Glory in his Kingdom Amen Immediately after receiving the Wine I Thank thee from the bottom of my heart O gracious God that thou hast redeemed us to thy self by the blood of thy Son O let me evermore bear in mind thy inexpressible kindness and condescension in so doing and shew forth my sense of them in a sincere universal and constant obedience to thee That so the Lord Jesus may be indeed the Author of Salvation to me and I being wash'd and cleans'd from all my sins in his Blood may appear pure and spotless before thee and be admitted to partake of those rivers of pleasure which are at thy right hand for evermore Amen When you return to your Seat GRant O blessed Lord that I and all those who meet together this day under pretence of commemorating thy death may so effectually remember it as for ever after to hate those sins which were the occasion of it so effectually remember it as constantly to love and adore thee for it so effectually remember it as to use our utmost endeavours to imitate and transcribe it so effectually remember it as to remember that we are thine bought with the price of thy Blood and are therefore bound to serve thee with our Bodies and Spirits which are thine Amen A Prayer to be used the evening after communicating with our other Devotions ACcept O Blessed Lord accept my