or at least that haue knowledge in this present action and such as haue faith repentance and loue Father How shall a man know that hee hath these things Child Thrée wayes First by his setled purpose desire to obey God according to al the commandements of the law Secondly by his loue to the word of god Thirdly by his daily fruits towards God and men Father Who are to be reiected and put back from the communion Child Thrée sorts of men Father Which be they Child First strangers that is such as are vnknowen to the Pastor are not to bée admitted as it is written A stranger shall not eate thereof Secondly Ideots children mad men and fooles are not to be admitted for they cannot examine themselues according to the Apostles rules Thirdly notorious euill liuers by whom the congregation is offended for it is written Giue not that which is holy vnto dogs Againe It is forbidden in the law that any man being circūcised should be admitted to the communicating of the passouer because they were polluted by touching a dead corps and being at a buriall God gaue often charges and commaundements in the law that if any man had vnwittingly defiled himselfe by any legall pollution he might not enter into his owne house much lesse approch vnto the Passouer till he was purified and cleansed by offring vp a Sacrifice Now all these Scriptures do plainely prooue that no prophane or filthy persons as whooremongers drunkards blasphemers riotters and scoffers at religion and such like may be admitted to the holy communion Father What say you to such as shew no loue nor desire to this holy ordinance of God nor once so much as offer themselues vnto it except sometimes at Easter a little for fashion and law sake Child Such do shew themselues to bée little better then miscreants and atheists for they do contemptuously refuse the grace of God which hée offreth in this supper and doubtlesse to abstaine of set purpose is no lesse sinne then to receiue vnworthily For that patient which is daungerously sicke and yet maketh no account of the Phisitions receit and order deserueth no lesse blame then hée which abuseth the same receit that is doth not vse it according to that diet and order that was prescribed him Father If some very bad persons chaunce to creepe in or thrust in themselues to bee partakers of this holy institution is therfore the whole action defiled Child God forbid for wée read throughout the scriptures that good bad haue béene mingled together in matters of Gods worship and seruice both word prayer sacraments and sacifices and sure it is that the wickednes of the wicked cannot defile or pollute either the Sacrament it selfe or any of the godly communicants but onely themselues Father Are all to be admited to the sacrament of the Lords supper which professe saith and repentance either in truth or in shew Child Yes Vnlesse there bée some speciall exceptions taken against them For it is written al the cōgregation of Israel shal obserue it through their generations that is to say all the members of the visible Church which are within the outward couenant Father How ought ministers to deale with many ignorant simple men seely soules which are able to yeeld small reason of their faith are they all to be admitted to the communion or all to be reiected Child As ministers ought not rashly to accept of all that offer themselues without examination and conference so ought they not lightly to shut out any from that which should seale vp their remission of sinnes For albeit they be somewhat ignorant and simple yet finding in them any séeds of religion and sparks of the feare of God shewing it selfe in some tractablenesse to know God and in loue to the word they are to admit them with encouraging and exhorting them to go forward But if with ignorance and blindnesse be ioyned either froward contempt of meanes or méere carelesnesse or open wicked behauiour or profane dissolutenes without remorse when they be dealt withall Then they are with all mildnesse to be shut out All glory be giuen to God FINIS Iob. 11. 7. Psal 139. Exod. 3. Esay 40. Verse 18. Esay 40. Abac. 2. 18 Iohn 1. 7. Mat. 28. ver 19. Act. 4. 24. Heb. 11 3. Heb. 11. 3. Psal 19. Psal 104. ver 27. 28. Col. 1. 16. Col. 1. 16 Ioh. 4. 24. Psal 103. ver 20. Psal 34. 7. Mat. 18. 10. Psa 1. 91. 11 Mat. 18. 10. Esay 9. 2. Iohn 8. 44 2. Pet. 2. 4. Iud. ver 6. Mark 9. Mat. 26. 13 Mat. 12. 26 Eph. 6. 12. Eph. 1. 7. Eph. 6. 12. Iob. 1. 7. 1. Pet. ca. 8. Mat. 8. 29. 2. Pet. 2. 4. Iud. ver 6. Gen. 1. 26. Gen. 3. Rom. 5. Iam. 1. 14. Rom. 7. 15 1. Cor. 2. 14 Heb. 6. 4. Rom. 8. 8. Tit. 1. 15. Iohn 3. 3 Iame. 1. 18 Eph. 1. 13. Rom. 3. 20. Exod. 19. Exod. 19. Rom. 2. 2. Rom. 7. Rom. 7. Rom. 6. 14. Gal. 5. 13. 2. Cor. 3. 8. Heb. 1. 1. Rom. 6. 23. Iam. 2. 10. Gal. 3. 13. 2. Cor. 1. 21. Col. 1. 20. Col. 1. 14. Eph. 2. 13. Heb. 9. 12. Eph. 2. 14. Col. 1. 21. 2. Cor 5. 19 Ioh. 3. 15. Iohn 5. 24 1. Cor. 1. 30 Act. 4. 12. Act. 10. 43. Eph. 2. 3. Esay 64. 6. Iame. c. 13 1. Tim. 2. 8 Ioh. 15. 7. 1. Ioh. 3. 22 1. Ioh. 5 14. Eze. 14. 14 Mat. 20. 22 2. Cor. 12. 9 Luk. 18. 7. Lament 3 8. Eph. 5. 1. Cor. 10. 2 Gen. 15. 9. Iud. 6. 37. 2. Reg. 20. ◠Gen. 17. 7. 1. Cor. 7. 14 Act. 2. 39. Luk. 18. 16. 1. Cor. 11. Exo. 12. 45. 1. Cor. 11. 28 Mat. 7. 6. Exo. 12. 41. Num. 9. 6. Leuit. 13. Leuit. 14. Leuit. 15. Exo. 12. 47.
that Doth repentance change or abolish the substance of body or soule or any of the faculties thereof Child No such matter But true repentance doth rectifie and amend them by remoouing the corruption for it turneth the sadnesse of malancholy into Godly sorrow choler into good zeale softnesse of nature to méekenes of spirit lightnesse and wantonnes to christian mirth It reformeth euery man according to his natural constitution not abolishing it but redressing the faults of it Father By what meanes is repentance wrought in vs Child Both faith and repentance are wrought in vs by y t preaching of the Gospell through the inward worke of the holy Ghost Father Is not repentance wrought in vs by the preaching of the Law Child To speake properly it is not For the Law is not the proper cause but rather an occasiō of repentāce because it representeth vnto the eye of our soule our damnable estate and smiteth the conscience with dolefull terrours and feares which though they be no tokens of grace for they are in their owne nature the very gates and the downefall to the pit of hell yet are they certaine occasions of receiuing grace Father Expresse this more plainely Child Euen as a Phisition is sometimes constrained to giue that vnto his patient which increaseth sicknesse maketh his fits more sore and terrible to the end he may recouer him so man because hée is dangerously sicke of sin must bée cast into some fits of legall terrors by the ministrie of the Law that he may be soundly and inwardly cured Father The Law is a scholemaster to bring vs vnto Christ ergo it is the cause of repentance Child It bringeth vs to Christ but not so kindly naturally as doth the Gospel by alluring vs but as it were violently and forceably constraining vs and as they say it bringeth vs not simply and of it selfe but after some sort and manner For the law in it selfe is the ministry of death damnation because it sheweth a man his wretched estate but sheweth him no remedy therefore it cannot properly be an instrumentall cause of that repentance which is effectuall to saluation But the doctrine of repentance is a part of the Gospell and therefore the preaching of the Gospell and the preaching of repentance are put one for another Luk. 96. Mar. 6. 12. and consequently true repentance doth spring out of the gospell as out of his naturall root and most originall cause Father As you haue told me by what meanes faith and repentance are wrought in vs so now tell mee by what meanes they are nourished increased in vs Child As faith and repentance are first hatched and bred in our harts by the ministry of the word so also are they increased by the same and by other good helpes appointed of God for that purpose as prayer sacraments reading meditation conference and such like good meanes Father First then let vs proceed to speak a little of prayer and first of all tell me what prayer is Child And earnest calling vpon God according to his will or as some say a familiar speach betwixt God and vs or as a secret letter wherein Gods people signifie their minde vnto him at large crauing a spéedy answere which hée in his time according to his will and wisedome doth alwayes most graciously returne without fayling Father How manie partes are there of prayer Child Thrée confession petition thanks giuing Father Whereof must confession bee made Child Confession must bée made both of originall sinne and actuall transgressions both commissions of euill and omissions of good And all this must be done with as much particularising as may bée that is calling to minde and reckoning vp particular offences especially those which lie heauiest vpon vs and that with as great griefe vehemency and aggrauation of them as is possible Father Whereof must our petitions be Child Petitions must bée for the remoouing of euill the obtayning of good for spirituall and earthly blessings concerning our selues and those that are néere vnto vs concerning Church and commonwealth concerning magistracy ministerie commonalty Father For what must our thanksgiuing be Child First for al spiritual blessings as election creation redemption iustification sanctification adoption word sacrament good men good bookes good societie good conference all furtherances to eternal life whatsoeuer Secondly for all outward blessings as preseruation of prince country peace for magistrats soode rayment health liberty peace and preseruation For dayly ordinary and particular fauours which are renued vpon vs continually from day to day euen as the eagle renueth her bill Father As you haue shewed mee the parts of prayer so also shew mee some circumstances of prayer and first tell me to whom we must pray Child To God onely Father In whose name must we pray Child In the name of Christ onely Father How must we pray Child In the spirit that is feruently féelingly and constantly which cannot be without a féeling of our misery Father When must we pray Child At all times as occasion and necessitie doth mooue but specially in the time of affliction as it is written if any be afflicted let him pray Father Where must we pray Child Euery where but especially in the publike assembly and our priuate families Father Vpon what must our prayers bee grounded Child Vpon the word of God and the promises of the Gospell Father What must we pray for Child For those things which our Lord Iesus hath taught in his praier which is the perfect platforme of all prayer both for matter and forme Father Which bee those things which our Sauiour would haue vs alwaies to bee mindefull of when we haue any suites vnto his father Child First the honoring and setting vp of his name héere amongst vs both in regard of his Iustice and mercie and also in respect of his worde and wisedome power and prouidence Secondly for the aduancement and flourishing estate of his Church and kingdome by the regiment of his word and Spirit by the increase of good worke men in his haruest and a blessing vpon their labour by a remoouing of all lets by a weakning ouerthrow of all aduersary power whatsoeuer especially that of Antichrist Idolatry and Atheisme Thirdly that all chéerful obedience may at all times and of all persons in their seuerall places and callings bée yéelded vnto his most holy will without grudging or hypocrisie Fourthly that all things necessary for this life may bée ministred vnto vs as food rayment health libertie peace and preseruation and also that a blessing may bée vpon all that wée haue as body goods name wife children family stocke store corne cattell trades occupations yea all the works of our hands both goings out and commings in Fiftly that a generall pardon may be graunted from the throne of grace thorow Christ for the remission of all sin in his blood that therby we may be iustified acquited and discharged Sixtly that we may not
of the Sacrament of Baptisme let vs now proceede to speak of the sacramēt of the lords supper first tell me what is the special vse of it Child First it serueth to seale vnto our consciences all the promises made in Christ and all the benefits of his death whatsoeuer therfore there is the same vse of it that is of a seale which is to cōfirme and ratifie a writing For in outward things men like wel of a promise but better of a writing best of all of a seale Now therfore the sacrament is as it were y e kings broad seale set to his generall frée pardon For all the doctrine of the Gospel is as it were an open proclamation of pardon to all penitent sinners this sacrament is the seale of the kings pardon to ratifie confirme all the promises of the Gospell for a word or promise must necessarily go before the sacrament which it doth seale confirme vnto vs therefore the sacraments without the word of promise going before are as it were a seale to a blanke Secondly the sacrament of y e Lords supper is as it were a second seale set by the Lords owne hand vnto the former couenant made in baptisme which is renued in the Lords supper betwixt y e Lord himselfe the faithfull receiuer and that by the outward actions of eating bread drinking wine c. Thirdly the Lords supper serueth to represent vnto vs our continuall féeding in the house of God For as by baptisme we are once admitted into the houshold of God so by the Lords supper is signified a daily féeding in the same vpō Christ and all the promises made in him also vpon the word which is our most swéet heauenly manna Father Which bee the outward signes in the Lords supper Child Bread and wine Father Which be the inward things signified Child The body and blood of Christ Father How receiue you the outward signes Child I receiue them with my hands eate them with my mouth digest them with my stomack Father How do you receiue the inward things signified Child Onely by faith and féede of it as of a foode giuen me to life euerlasting Father Is the bread and wine then changed into the substance of the body and bloud of Christ Child No for that were to destroy y e nature of a sacrament which must consist both of heauenly earthly matter Therefore the bread and wine remaine still in their own forme nature substāce but Christs naturall body is in heauen Therfore the papists would make vs beléeue the moone is made of a gréen théese whē they beare vs in hand that bread is changed into flesh and wine into bloud and Christs naturall body is really present in the sacrament and yet we sée it quite contrary with our eyes and a child may discerne that it is neither so nor so Father Is there then no difference beetwixt bread and wine in the sacrament common bread and wine Child There is no difference eyther in substance or forme but only in the vse end whereunto they are applyed which is to represent signifie holy things for wheras before they were common meat now they are holy signes and beare the name of that thing which they signifie otherwise out of this action they are the same with common bread Father You said euen now that Christs bodie and blood and all the benefits of his death are receiued of vs by faith tell me therefore whether a wicked vnfaithfull man can receiue them Child He cannot for if they be receiued onely by faith how shall hée receiue them that hath no faith the vnbeléeuers therefore may receiue the outward signes that is the bread and wine as wel as others as did Iudas but the inward thing signified which is the body and blood of Christ and all the benefits of his passion none can receiue but onely the elect Father If this be true that all that receiue the shell doe not receiue the kernell then it followeth that grace is not necessarily tyed to the outward signe or sacrament Child True indéed for otherwise the faithlesse should gaine as much by the sacrament as the faithfull which were most absurd but most certaine it is that saluation is not tyed nor shut vp within the Sacraments neither doe they giue grace but onely testifie and assure that grace is giuen as sealed euidences doe giue no lands which are otherwise attayned as by inheritance friendship and money but onely testifie that they are giuen and assure the quiet possession and enioying thereof Father Why did God choose these creatures of bread and wine to represent vnto vs the body and blood of Christ rather then any other earthly creature Child Because there are none other earthly creatures that can so fitly represent vnto our outward senses those things which God would haue vs learne by this sacrament Father What be those things that God would haue vs learne by this Sacrament Child By the breaking of the bread we haue to learne the breaking of the bodie of Christ vpon the crosse and by powring forth of the wine the shedding of his blood and by the distributing to all that are present Christs communicating himselfe to all that will faithfully receiue him By eating and drinking wée learne that as bread wine do nourish our bodies in this life so Christs body and blood do nourish our soules to life euerlasting and as the substance of bread and wine by digestion passeth into the substance of our bodies euen so by faith Christ and wée are vnited with an vnspeakable vnion and wée made flesh of his flesh and bones of his bones and this is the proportion and analogie betwixt the signe the thing signified For if the sacraments had not a certaine likenesse of those things wherof they are sacraments then were they no sacraments at all Father What more is to be learned hereby Child That wée being many are one in Christ as of many graines is made one loafe and of many grapes one wine Father For as much as the vnworthy receiuer is dāned as the Apostle saith how wilt thou know whether thou art a worthie receiuer or no Child If I examine my selfe and find that I humbly acknowledge mine owne vnworthines that is to say my sins and be heartely sorry for them and fully purpose amendment of life assuredly resting vpon y e promises of pardon made in Christ then am I worthy because mine vnworthines is forgiuen put out of remembrance Father For whom are the Sacraments ordained Child The sacraments are specially ordained for those which beleeue in Christ and do séeke for remission of sins eternall life onely through his sacrifice for how can the forgiuenes of sin bée sealed vnto the vnbeléeuers whose sin is not forgiuen Father Who ought to approach vnto the Lords supper Child None but such as haue the knowledge of God in some measure