the hope that is in him with all meeknesse 1 Pet. 3. 15. 2 It makes a Christian willing to receive every truth discovered unto him from the Word of God 1 Tim. 6. 5. and carefull to put in practise whatsoever he knows already 1 Joh. 2. 3 4 5. 3 It makes us painfull and industrious for the increasing of that knowledge which we have attained Prov. 2. 3 4. Hos 6. 3. And thus we must examine our selves about our knowledge saying to our own souls What O my soul hath God as yet wrought these things in thee or not Qu. How may a man examine himself about his faith so as to know he hath true faith in Christ Ans A man may know hee hath saving Faith by these characters of it 1 Saving faith is always wrought and preserved by the Word of God preached Rom. 10. 14 17. 1 Cor. 1. 21. and is that whereby wee come to be weary and heavie laden with sins Mat. 11. 28. to bee utterly rid of all confidence in our own righteousnesse Rom. 10. 3 4. and also restlesse in hungring after Christ till we find comfort in the promises touching the pardon of our sins Mat. 5. 6. 2 Saving faith makes the Christian to look at sin as the greatest evill and the grace of Christ as the greatest good in the world Heb. 11. 24 25 26 27. c. it purifieth the heart will thoughts affections and conscience from all love and allowance of sinne Act. 15. 9. Rom. 7. 15. and so works inward sanctification Act. 26. 18. It wrestles against temptations of unbelief Mar. 9. 24. Luk. 22. 31 32. and works by love to God and our brethren Gal. 5. 6. And by these evidences we must examine our selves whether we have true faith or not saying to each of our own souls What O soul art thou thus and thus qualified or not Qu. How may a man examine himself about his Repentance so as to know that he doth truly repent Ans True Repentance may be known 1 By our willingnesse and gladnesse to have any sin discovered Psal 141. 5. and our hearty love of those that discover and reprove it in us 2 Sam. 12. 13. 2 By an inward godly sorrow for all known sins as they are a breach of Gods Commandements and are displeasing unto God 2 Cor. 7. 10. and by a forsaking of all known sins Ezek. 18. 5 6. c. Psal 119. 3. out of a perfect hatred of them and care to avoid all occasions of them 2 Cor. 7. 11. 3 By an universal turning to God Deut. 3. 10. and constant cleaving to him in all his revealed wil and by practise of al known duties of obedience which obedience the death of Christ set forth in the Lords-supper notably provokes a Christian unto And thus wee must try our repentance before wee come to the Lords Table O my soul dost thou repent thus Qu. How may a man examine himself about his Obedience so as to know that his obedience is unfeigned obedience Ans Unfeigned obedience may be known thus 1 It is grounded onely on the Word of God Eph. 2. 10. and not on the traditions or inventions of men Mar. 7. 6 7. and it hath respect unto all Gods commandements without partiality or exception Psal 119. 6. 2 Unfeigned obedience aims at the right end namely at the praise and glory of God Phil. 1. 11. and not at any private advantage crosse thereunto and it is alwayes accompanied with zeal Gal. 4. 18. humility Mich. 6. 8. and constancy Psal 106. 3. And thus we must try our obedience before we come to the Lords supper Is it thus with thee O my soul Qu. How may a Christian examine himself about his love so as to know whether his love to God bee entire or not Ans We may be sure that our love to God is entire if no Commandement of God bee grievous unto us 1 Joh. 5. 3. if our love weanes our hearts from the love of the world 1 Joh. 2. 15. 1 Joh. 4. 20 21. 1 Joh. 5. 1. 1 Joh. 4. 12. and lastly if it make us love the children of God Qu. How may a Christian examine himself about his love so as to know that he hath entire love to the children of God in speciall Ans Entire love to the children of God makes us love godly men for godlinesse sake 2 Joh. 1 2 verses that is it will make us love all the Saints Eph. 1. 15. whether rich or poor strangers or kindred and that constantly Prov. 17. 17. Also such entire love will communicate it self in doing good to their souls and bodies 1 Joh. 3. 17 18. Q. How may a Christian examine himself about his love so as to know that he hath true love and charity toward his neighbor that is to all men in general Ans True love toward our neighbor or all men in generall may be known thus 1 It will make us willing to forgive wrongs to others Col. 3. 13. and to seek peace Rom. 12. 18. and make satisfaction if we have wronged them Rom. 13. 10. 2 True love will cause us to love the souls of all people and not to suffer sin to lie upon them Lev. 19. 17. 3 True love to our neighbor will make us to overcome evil with good Rom. 12. 17 20 21. by heaping offices of love upon them that wrong us And thus we must examine our selves about our love before we come to the Sacrament and see whether these qualifications of Gods Spirit be wrought in our hearts or not Qu. How may a man examine himself about his hunger and thirst after Christ so as to know that hee hath an earnest hunger and thirst after him Ans We may know if we have true hunger and thirst after Christ thus 1 True hunger and thirst after Christ wil make us seek him with all our heart in the diligent and constant use of all the means Prov. 13. 4. so as that nothing wil satisfie us without Christ Psal 73. 25. 2 Earnest hunger thirst after Christ longs after him for his own sake so as to part with any thing for him Matth. 13. 44. and to be content to have him upon any conditions Phil. 1. 21. Phil. 3. 8. 3 Earnest hunger and thirst after Christ makes the soul ready to entertain with great thankfulness whatsoever means or messenger shall bring Christ home unto it Rom. 10. 15. And lastly true hunger and thirst after Christ causes the Christian to seek after Christ for holinesse Isa 51. 1. as well as for happinesse Now is it thus with my soul or not Qu. How may a man examine himself about the sincerity of his heart so as to know that he is sincere and upright in his heart Ans A Christian may know that he is sincere and upright in heart thus 1 Sincerity and uprightness of heart wil shew it self in a carefulness to reform our delightful and bosom-sins Psal 18. 23. in an endeavour to find them out
one that the Church admits and allows of in the judgment of charity may come without any danger of Church-censures but if they be inwardly void of true grace bee close hypocrites or unprepared persons then they will be in danger of Gods sore displeasure in case they so presume to come notwithstanding their admittance by the Church Qu. But is it not the Churches fault if such unsound professors close hypocrites and other persons come to the Lords Table Ans No it is not the Churches fault though such faulty ones doe come because the Church in admitting them did not know them to bee such by reason their inward unsoundnesse or grosse unfitnesse did not appeare either in their outward profession communication or conversation For the Church can no way judge of the nature of the tree but only by the sensible fruits Mat. 7. 1. Mat. 12. 33. 1 Cor. 2. 11. and Scripture-instances make it cleare that Church-censures were never inflicted in doubtfull suspicious or hidden cases but alwayes administred upon manifest and known grounds Mat. 18. 16. 1 Cor. 5. 1. compared with the 5 verse Qu. Well Let 's now proceed to enquire further about the nature ends and use of this Sacrament and first tell me How doe Baptism and the Lords-supper differ one from another Ans They differ in many particulars but their main difference is in respect of the end and use which they serve unto Qu. How doe they differ in respect of their generall end and use Ans They differ in respect of their generall end and use thus Baptism was appointed by the Lord to be a signe and seale of our spirituall birth spirituall life and spirituall being but the Lords-supper was appointed to be a signe and seale of our continuing growing and increasing in that spirituall life and all other spirituall graces Qu. Did Christ when he administred this Sacrament at the Table give the Bread and the Cup into each particular persons hand severally Ans No Christ did not give either the Bread or cup into each particular mans hand severally but he spake to them all jointly and gave them commission and charge to take the elements themselves Mat. 26. 26 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Qu. What is the Word of institution in the Sacrament of the Lords-supper Ans The Word of Institution in the Sacrament of the Lords-supper runs thus Take eate this is my body which is broken and given for you doe this in remembrance of me Drinke ye all of this for this cup is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins this doe ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me Mat. 26. 26 27 28. Luk. 22. 19. 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. Qu. What is the outward sign in the Sacrament of the Lords-supper Ans The outward sign in the Sacrament of the Lords-supper is Bread broken and Wine poured forth as also the actions of blessing breaking giving receiving eating and drinking Mat. 26. 26 27. Qu. What is the inward grace which is signified by the outward signe in the Sacrament of the Lords-supper Ans The inward grace signified by the outward sign in the Sacrament of the Lords-supper is the body and blood of Jesus Christ Mat. 26. 26 28. 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. and all the benefits of his death which are promised in the Covenant of Grace Rom. 8. 32. to such as are already beleevers as namely increase of faith and all saving-graces Psal 92. 12 13 14. Joh. 15. 2. increase of the assurance of Gods favour and love Joh. 14. 21 23. and so consequently a more firm assurance of all good things both for body and soule here and hereafter Psal 84. 11. Qu. For what speciall end or to what purpose did Christ ordain the Sacrament of his Supper Ans Christ ordained this Sacrament of his Supper for divers speciall ends but the principall end was for the quickening of the hearts of his people in remembrance of him and his death untill his comming again Luk. 22. 19. 1 Cor. 11. 26. Q. What is there in the Sacrament of the Lords supper to put us in remembrance of Christ and his death Ans In this Sacrament there is Bread broken which puts us in minde of the breaking of Christs body and there is Wine parted from the Bread shewing the shedding forth of his most precious blood when hee died for us upon the crosse 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. Qu. But what comfort can we take by a bare calling to minde the death of Christ seeing a wicked person may barely call to mind Christ and his death when he sees the bread and wine as well as we Ans The godly soul at the sight of the bread and wine upon the Lords Table doth not barely call to mind Christ or his death but doth also by faith lay hold upon Christ crucified as the blessed cause and means of inward comfort and eternall life Luke 22. 19 20. Q. Why do you desire to receive the Lords-supper Ans I desire to receive it to the end I may be put in minde of my Saviour and of his death in such wise as that thereby my poor doubting soul may bee strengthened and setled in a more firm perswasion and belief that hee died for mee as well as for any others Gal. 2. 20. Q. Will the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords supper make you a good Christian though you be an unbeleeving and an ungodly person when you come to it Ans No the receiving of the Sacrament will not make me a beleever For if I bring no faith other graces with me I shall carry none away and if I come an ungodly person thither I shall go away again as bad if not worse then I came 1 Cor. 11. 27 29. Qu. But how then must worthy Communicants be qualified must they needs have the truth of saving grace wrought in their souls before they can be meet partakers of the Sacrament of the Lords-supper Ans Yes wee must have the truth of saving grace in us before wee can bee meet partakers of the Lords-supper because the Lords-supper is the sign seale and pledge whereby God assures us that wee shall continue and grow in grace 1 Cor. 10. 16. Joh. 6. 54 55 56 57. But now continuance and growth in grace doe presuppose the being and the life of grace to be in us before for dead things grow not at all Qu. But they say some have been converted at the Sacrament of the Lords-supper It seems then that this Sacrament is a converting ordinance and if so prophane persons and all sorts ought to come even as such What say you to this Ans Though instance could be given of some few in an age that were converted at the Sacrament of the Lords-supper yet that would not prove that we therefore ought to look upon it as a converting ordinance of God to be used directly for that end and so to admit and receive
not unfeignedly repent of the same as they doe eate and drink of the bread and wine which they there receive 1 Cor. 11. 29. Qu. Can one that is regenerated or born of God be an unworthy receiver at the Lords Table Ans One that is regenerated cannot properly be called an unworthy receiver because his person is accepted with God through Christ but yet such an one may eate and drink unworthily and so pull Gods displeasure upon himself for a time as those careless unprepared and forgetfull Corinthians did of whom God struck some with sickness and others with death 1 Cor. 11. 29 30. Qu. SEeing there is so great Mr Chancy's Doctrine of the Sacraments well suiting here with my scope and purpose gave mee ease in the matters following whose steps I have trod in yet so as that I have interwoven sundry variations and additions where I conceived them needfull danger in unworthy receiving what ought we to do for prevention thereof Ans There bee three sorts of duties to bee performed by us if we would bee accepted with God for worthy Communicants and prevent the danger of unworthy receiving Qu. Which be thâ—se three sorts of duties Ans The three sorts of duties belonging to a communicant are these namely some to be done before some at and some after our receiving the Sacrament of the Lords-supper Qu. What are the duties to be done by us through Gods assistance before our receiving the Sacrament of the Lords-supper Ans The duties that we are to perform before we come to the Lords Table are two namely First thorow examination of our selves 1 Cor. 11. 26. and secondly a right behaviour and holy carriage after our self-examination Q What do you mean by examination of a mans self A. Self-examination is the calling of a mans self privately to account and question in the sight of God that hee may know whether he be duly fitted to partake of that ordinance or not Qu. Is it not enough for a Communicant to examine himself once for all Ans No for every Christian should very frequently be examining of himself Psal 4. 4. 2 Cor. 13. 5. touching the state and condition of his soul but especially before he comes to the Lords Table and look how oft soever hee intends to come to that Sacrament so often hee is bound strictly to examine and sift out his own spirituall state before he presume to present himself there as a guest 1 Cor. 11. 28. Qu. Wherein consists the thorow examination of our selves before receiving Ans The thorow examination of our selves before receiving consists in two things First in generall to examine our selves whether wee bee reall and sound Christians or hypocrites Secondly in a more speciall trying of our selves what sins we stand guilty of and whether those graces which are requisite to the right receiving of the Lords supper be truly wrought in us or not Qu. How may we discern whether wee bee sound Christians or hypocrites Ans We may discern whether wee bee sound Christians or hypocrites by these four notes viz. 1 If one that is a true Christian be enticed and drawn away from God he grieveth for it Gen. 39. 9. Rom. 7. 22 23 24. 1 Tim. 1. 15. and giveth not ready consent unto the temptation Rom. 7. 19. Gal. 5. 17. 2 If through frailty hee bee overborn to give consent to the temptation yet it is not full consent but he doth it against his will and purpose for his purpose is not to sin Rom. 7. 15 19. 3 If he do put his sinfull inclinations into execution and practise yet hee continueth not long in them doth not nor will not walk after them but recovereth himself because he is incorporated into Christ and hath the seed of true grace in him 1 Joh. 3. 9. Luke 22. 61 62. 4 When he does any good thing his main aim and level is at Gods glory 1 Cor. 10. 31. Phil. 1. 20. not at his own profit honor or credit Mark 8. 34 35 36. Gal. 1. 10. But the contrary to these four are the marks and notes of unsound and hypocriticall persons Qu. Now for the more speciall trying of our selves how should we examine our selves about our sins Ans Wee must examine our selves about our sins thus namely goe and seriously look into Gods Law and so call to remembrance how we have offended our God 1 Joh. 3. 4. Rom. 7. 7 9. Psal 51. 4. given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme 2 Sam. 12. 14. 2 Pet. 2. 2. scandalized our brethren that is to say grieved the stronger Psal 119. 136. and occasioned the weaker 1 Cor. 8. 10 11 12 13. christian to sin by our example And lastly how we have wronged our own souls by suffering sin easily to prevaile and the life activity and power of grace to faile and decay in us Rev. 2. 4 5. Q. Now in the next place how shall I know which be those Graces that are especially requisite and necessary to the right receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords-supper Ans The Graces that are especially necessary to the right-receiving of the Lords-supper are these eight namely 1 Sound knowledge 1 Cor. 11. 29. 2 Saving faith Rom. 4. 11. Mar. 16. 16. 3 True repentance for all our sins 1 Cor. 11. 31. 4 Unfeigned obedience Prov. 9. 5 6. 5 Entire love to God and man Mat. 5. 25. 1 Cor. 12. 13. 6 Earnest hunger and thirst after Christ 1 Joh. 7. 37. Luk. 22. 15. 7 The sincerity and uprightnesse of our hearts 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. 8 Thankfulnesse to Christ Mat. 26. 30. Qu. But how shall I know whether these graces are truly wrought in me by the word spirit of God or not Ans If you would know whether these graces are truly wrought in your soul or not then you must examine your self about each particular grace severally as first about knowledge then about faith and so of all the rest in order Qu. How may a man examine himself about his knowledge so as to be convinced that his knowledge is sound knowledge Ans A man may be convinced that his knowledge is sound by considering the measure of it and the properties of it Qu. What measure of knowledge is required of a Communicant Ans Every Communicant must in some competent measure know all the principles Heb. 5. 12. Heb. 6. 1 2. of the doctrine of Christ necessary to salvation As for example what is the naturall condition of every man and woman what is the means of our recovery out of that natural condition what is the spirituall meaning of the Ten commandements what is the most true meaning of all the Articles of the Christian Faith what is the nature use and end of each Sacrament and the like Qu. What are the properties of sound knowledge Ans Sound knowledge hath these and such like properties 1 It makes a man humble 1 Cor. 3. 18. Prov. 26. 16. and ready to render a reason of
and a gladness when they are discovered Psal 119. 59. 141. 5. 2 Sincerity will put us upon self-denyall and make us part with any outward comfort to keep a good conscience Heb. 11. 24 27. 3 Sincerity and uprightness will cause us to make conscience of the fruitfull performance of holy duties Rom. 12. 11. especially in secret Mat. 6. 6. And lastly it will stirre up an earnest desire of growth unto perfection Phil. 3. 12 14. Now is it thus with me or not Qu. How may a man examine himself about his thankfulness to Christ so as that he may know hee is truly thankfull Ans A man may know he is truly thankful to Christ when he esteemeth Christs Eph. 3. 17 18 19. love and benefits Phil. 3. 8. above all others and so desireth to please Christ 2 Cor. 5. 14 15 in all things And thus wee ought to examine our selves about all these particular Graces of Christ in us by asking our consciences whether it bee thus and thus with our souls Q WHen a man hath thus examined himself what must he endevor to doe after such self-examination for the finishing of his preparation to the Sacrament Ans 1. If a man after examination of himself shal plainly find any of these Graces to be wanting in him he must for the present abstain from the Sacrament Exod. 12. 48. Num. 9. 6 7 c. 2 If he doubt whether they be wrought in him or not he is likewise to forbear comming to the Sacrament Mat. 5 23 24. Rom. 14. 23. unless his conscience by some means may be resolved and setled that he hath them 3 If he shal truly find that God hath wrought them in him though yet in much weakness then he is to come to this sacrament to be therby further strengthened 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. Q What if a Christian having for the former reasons abstained from the Lords Table do a long time after continue in a sad and sorrowfull condition mourning for the want of those forenamed Graces in himself must he still forbear to come to the Sacrament Ans No man truly and inwardly mourneth for the want of those Graces but he that in some measure hath the truth of them wrought in himself by Gods Word and Spirit and therefore spiritual mourners may comfortably and should readily approach to Christ in this Sacrament 1 Cor. 11. 31. as well as in other of his holy ordinances Ps 34. 18. Isa 61. 2 3. 66. 2. Mat. 11. 28. Qu. Are there yet any more things required of a communicant after his examination of himself Ans Yes after a Christian hath throughly examined himself there be yet more duties to be practised For 1 He is carefully with bitterness of spirit to remember and bewayl to God the manifest rebellions of his unregenerate estate Psal 29. 7. 1 Tim. 1. 13. and the wants and weaknesses of his present state Rom. 7. throughout 2 He is to renew his faith in Christ Heb. 11. 28. and his repentance for all known sins especially committed since his former receiving 3 He is to renew and stir up his desires and thirstings after Christ in the Sacrament and his love to God and man 4 He is to renew his resolution and purposes of better obedience to God in the duties both of the first and second Table of the Law for the time to come Isa 1. 16 17 18. through the help of Christ And lastly he is to renew his thankfulnesse to God All these a Christian must endeavour to do because it is not the bare having of grace but the present exercise therof that makes us worthy receivers in Gods account 1 Cor. 1. 4 5 7. compared with 1 Cor. 11. 18 21 29. Qu. How must a communicant renew his faith in Christ before he comes to the Sacrament Ans A Communicant must labor to renew his saith in Christ thus 1 He must go to God in the name of Christ to sue out a new pardon of his sins 2 Chron. 30. 6. especially of such sins as most trouble the peace of his conscience and presse the promises that concern the sacrament 1 Cor. 11. 24 and the death of Christ 1 Joh. 1. 7. 2 He must strive by Prayer and meditation against carnall reason Joh. 6. 52 58. the greatest enemy of faith and also hee must bewayl his unbelief Mar. 9. 24. and ponder and weigh well the nature of the Sacrament as namely That the Sacrament is as Gods oath to secure his promises unto us Heb. 6. 16 17. and a pledge and seal of the righteousness of faith Rom. 4. 11. 3. And lastly he must consider that God commands us to receive and enjoy the merits of Christs death offered to us in this Sacrament 1 Cor. 11. 24. and therefore he must raise up his faith to take hold of Christ Qu. How must a Communicant renew his repentance before he comes to the Lords Table Ans In renewing his repentance a communicant must take this course 1 Strictly to call to mind his particular sins as near as possibly he can especially sins most lately committed 1 Cor. 11. 31. either by not-doing the good he ought and might have done or by doing the evill he ought not to have done and by the serious consideration of such sins with all the circumstances and aggravations thereof he is to renew a more bitter sorrow for them Lam. 3. 40. 2 He must renew his free and humble confession of each particular sin 1 Sam. 7. 6. as near as he can judge himself for them and lift up fervent prayers for the pardon of them Psal 5. 1 2. and for strength and power against them and this wil shew that he stands not wel-affected towards his sins 3 In case that he hath wronged any one he must make restitution and satisfaction to the uttermost of his power Luk. 19. 8. and must resolve fully by Gods grace to leave all sins and avoid the occasions thereof giving up himself to newness of life and to the frequent constant and conscionable use of all good means with the improvement of all holy opportunities conducing to that newness of life Psal 1. 1 2. Qu. How must a communicant renew his spiritual desires and thirst after Christ before each Sacrament Ans He that would renew his desire and thirst after Christ must follow this course 1 He must acquaint himself throughly with his own spiritual wants and emptiness Prov. 27. 7. and take heed of a presumptuous imagination of more grace then yet he hath attained unto Rev. 3. 16 17. 2 He must take a thorow view of the wonderfull excellency and fulness that is in Christ Job 4. 10. Col. 1. 19. and the promises â— Pet. 1. 4. as also a view of the worth of Gods favor and loving kindness which is better then life it self Psal 63. 3. 3 He must have a thorow view of his own utter insufficiency to bring his heart to any true hunger and thirst after these things Phil.
2. 13. Qu. But how shall a Christian be sensible of his own spirituall wants and the decay of the power and activity of grace in his soul Ans A Christian may come to be sensible of his own spirituall wants and decays of grace by the consideration of his daily slips and sins of thought word and deed either against Gods precepts or prohibitions As for instance my distrust lets me see my weakness of faith and my omission of and sloathfulness in holy duties le ts me see my want of love and zeal towards God and Christ And so of the rest Hereupon now a Christian must apply the seal of the Covenant for an assurance to himself that as all so especially these and these particular wants shal be supplyed from Christs fulness Job 1. 16. Psal 1. 3. Jam. 4. 6. Qu. How must a Communicant renew his love before he comes to the Lords Table Ans A Communicant must renew his love before he comes to the Lords Table thus 1 He must strive to get his heart inflamed with love to God 2 Cor. 5. 14. and Man 1 Joh. 4. 11. by a due considetion and deep sense of Gods free and great love to him in Jesus Christ and by considering also that eating and drinking together at the Lords Table is a testification of that sweet love which is and must be among Christians one towards another 1 Cor. 12 13. 2 If any man have wronged him he must forgive injuries freely Ephes 4. 26. and if he hath given any just occasion of offence to others he must seek reconciliation with them Mat. 5. 24 25. Rom. 12. 18. Q. How must a Communicant renew his resolution of better obedience before he comes to the Lords Table A. A Communicant is to renew his resolution of better obedience thus namely in an humble acknowledgment of his own weakness Psal 119. 106. he must resolve through Gods grace without all further delay Psal 119. 60. to walk in new obedience and to this end he must earnestly crave strength from God and intreat that he would enable him thereunto Psal 119. 117. Qu. How must a Communicant renew his thankfulnes to God and Christ before he comes to the Lords Table Ans A Communicant before he comes to the Lords table must renew his thankfulnes to God thus 1 He must seriously consider that though he has broken Covenant with God oftentimes and in speciall since the last Sacrament yet the Lord now graciously offers to confirm the Covenant of Free-grace to him anew in this next Sacrament 2 He must also take notice that if there be but the least spark of saving grace in him the Lord will not quench Isa 42. 3. but nourish it and for that end invites him to come to the holy feast of his Sons flesh and blood 3 He must also remember that if he hath throughly endevored 2 Cor. 8. 12. to examine and prepare himself for that ordinance he shal find acceptance with God through Christ and the Lord will look upon him as a worthy guest at his Table 1 Cor. 11. 28. Now all these three indulgences from God call for present thankfulness from the beleeving soul Qu. Besides self-examination and the renewed exercise of the forenamed graces and also besides Prayer so often mentioned before had we not need yet more especially to seek God by earnest Prayer before we come to the Lords Table Ans Yes as a Christian must pray earnestly to God for many particulars hinted before so in speciall he must also pray that God would please further to fit him by his Spirit Phil. 4. 6. Psal 19. 14. for a meet partaking of this sacrament and also accept of him through Jesus Christ as a worthy receiver though in himself most unworthy And the reason of al is because God wil be sought unto even to doe those very things which he hath already promised to do for his people Ezek. 36. 37. Thus far of the Duties before Receiving Qu WHat are the duties required of a Christian At and In the time of receiving the Lords-supper Ans The duties required at and in the time of our receiving are these 1 Every communicant is to give diligent attention to that which is publickly done not onely when he himself is to receive but during the whole action 1 Cor. 14. 16. to behold and look upon both the elements themselves Exod. 24 8. and all the Sacramentall actions 1 Cor. 11. 23. c. in the administration of the Sacrament 1 Cor. 14. 40. 2 He must use such reverent behaviour as may be free from super stition yet fit to stirre up and expresse inward faith and thankfulness 1 Cor. 14. 40. Q. What must be the meditation and disposition of our hearts in tune of receiving the Sacrament Ans Our meditation and disposition of heart at and in the time of our receiving must be this 1 When we see the Bread and Wine consecrated and set apart for this holy use then we must call to mind and consider the eternal love of God the Father in sanctifying setting apart his Son Jesus Christ in his secret counsell to be the Redeemer and Surety of his people Joh. 10. 36. and the tender mercy of Christ in undertaking this hard service for us Heb. 7. 26. Heb. 10. 9. 2 When we see the Bread broken and the wine powred out we are to mourn over him whom we have pierced by our sins Zech. 12. 12. and remember the infinite justice and wrath of God against sin that could never be satisfied but by this means Rom. 3. 25. 3 When we see the Bread and wine given unto us al by the Minister we are to meditate upon the gift and application of Christ crucified to our own souls in particular and to every beleeving receiver els Gal. 2. 20. 4 When we take the Bread and Wine we must stir up our selves by faith to lay hold upon and apply to our selves all the merits of Christs death 1 Cor. 11. 24. and so joyfully to feed thereupon by beleeving that as sure as bread and wine will nourish the body up in a naturall life so sure will the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ fed upon by faith nourish our souls unto eternall life and will also satisfie our souls Matth. 11. 29. and strengthen them against all temptations here in this world 1 Cor. 10. 16. Joh. 6. 35. 5 When we behold the rest of the Congregation communicating with us we are then to stir up our hearts to loving and kind affections towards them and all the people of God 1 Cor. 10. 17. Qu. WHat is that holy carriage that is required after receiving the Sacrament Ans 1. Immediately after receiving a Christian in token of thankfulness for his receiving such inward pledges of love from God must offer up the sacrifice of praise 1 Thess 5. 18. to the Lord and cheerfully give alms 1 Cor. 16. 2. Heb. 13. 16. for the relief of the poor members of Christ 2 At other times after receiving he must often try himself whether he hath been made to drink into one spirit with Christ and his members or not 1 Cor. 12. 13. and what growth he hath gotten by the Sacrament in assurance of Gods favor in strength against corruptions in power to walk with God in obedience to him and in all other graces of the Spirit and fruits of Christs death 3 If the Christian after receiving cannot find these fruits in himself he must humble himself for his own sinnes as the cause thereof 1 Cor. 11. 31. and though he finds not that comfort and benefit he looks for yet if he be truly humbled for the want of it he may be comforted in this as a fruit of a worthy receiving 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. 4 If he shall find upon this after-examination the forenamed benefits truly wrought in his heart then he is most thankfully to give God the glory and to desire the continuance and increase of the same grace with all holy endevors to that end 1 Chron. 29. 13 14 18 verses and as he hath received Jesus Christ so he is to walk in him Col. 2. 6 7. 2 Pet. 2. 20 21 22. and not to return to his former evil practises but to keep the Covenant that he hath renewed with the Lord at the Sacrament and to increase in love and fellowship with Gods children 1 Cor. 10. 16 17. 5 And lastly a Christian upon the sense of the comfort and benefit received at the Sacrament is to resort the oftner and with the more earnest desire unto it 2 Chron. 30. 21 23 verses FINIS