scandalous persons unto it Because the rarity of such instances would sufficiently shew that it is but meerly accidentall to the Sacrament to be a means to convert people from Sin and Satan to God and Christ and we must not gather ordinary and standing Practicall rules from accidentall providences and rare events Besides the very nature of the outward elements do plainly discover the nature of this Sacrament to be nourishing and not begetting And lastly if any were ever converted by this Sacrament their conversion surely was either by beholding the outward elements which are a visible word or by hearing the words of institution read or opened and prayer joyned therewith both which wee call the consecration of the Elements and not by actuall receiving the outward signes which will onely prove that unworthy persons ought to be suffered to see and heare but not prove that they ought actually to receive and partake of the Sacramentall elements Qu. But at least doe you not think that the by-past sins of a true beleever are pardoned in and by his meet partaking of the Lords-supper Ans No for if he be a true beleever his sins past especially if confessed to God and seriously repented of are pardoned Ezek. 18. 21 22. with God before he comes to eate and drink at the Lords Table Qu. If his sins committed bee pardoned before he comes to the Lords Table then what good can a beleever get by receiving that Sacrament Ans Though the sins past be pardoned to a Christian before hee comes to the Lords Table yet being a beleever and a worthy receiver he is by the Sacrament strengthened in a more firm belief of the pardon of his sins and also he is strengthened in a greater confidence that God will increase all saving graces in him Jud. 6. 36 37. c. Qu. How can the eating of a morsell of bread and the drinking of a little wine at the Lords Table strengthen the faith and make you more confident that God will increase all saving graces in you Ans In this respect the eating of the bread and drinking of the wine at the Lords Table doe strengthen and increase my faith and confidence Because I know that Christ did set apart bread and wine as tokens and pledges to assure me that as surely as a weak body is made stronger grows greater and is preserved alive by receiving meat and drink so surely shall my soul be made stronger in faith grow more and more in all saving graces and bee nourished up unto eternall life through my eating and drinking the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ by faith Joh. 6. 54. c. Qu. But doe worthy Communicants eat and drink the flesh and blood of Christ in the Sacrament Ans Yes worthy Communicants do eat and drink the flesh and blood of Christ at the Lords supper Joh. 6. 53 56. Q. How can we eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ seeing Christ is in heaven and we are on earth Ans Though Christ be in heaven and we on earth yet by faith we can reach him and by faith we doe spiritually eate his flesh and drink his blood Joh. 6. 35 47 48. Qu. But what is it to eat and drink Christs flesh and blood spiritually by faith Ans To eat and drink the flesh and blood of Christ spiritually by faith is to beleeve unfeignedly that as Jesus Christ doth spiritually unite himself to the outward signs of bread and wine so this spirituall presence of Christ in the outward signs doth bring along with it the merits and benefits of Christs active and passive obedience for the comforting strengthening and nourishing of my soul Qu. Is not Iesus Christ bodily present in the Sacrament Ans No Christ is not bodily present in the Sacrament for the Scriptures affirm that the heaven must receive him untill the times of restitution of all things Act. 3. 21. Qu. But are not the bread and wine changed into the very flesh and blood of Christ after the Minister has consecrated them that is after he hath read the words of Institution given thanks and prayed Ans The bread and wine after the words of consecration do receive a Sacramentall change in their use and effects because the worthy receiver by faith takes them as sacred and holy pledges and seals of Christs body and blood which before consecration were but common and ordinary creatures But in regard of their substance and materiality they remaine still the same as they were before without any change at all Qu. But does not Christ himself say of the Bread This is my body and of the Wine This is my blood and does not Christ speak true in so saying Ans Christs words in calling the bread and wine his Body and Blood are most certainly true in his own sacramentall and spirituall sense Joh. 6. 63. but not in a literall and carnall sense For if Christ had given his disciples his very flesh and blood to be eaten by their bodily mouths as they sate at the Table then he could not the next day have suffered upon the crosse which yet hee did Mat. 26. 26 34. comp with Mat. 27. 1. 46 50. Again if Christs body were materially present upon the Communion Table after the words of Consecration then he should bee in a hundred places at once for the Sacrament may bee and is many times administred in a hundred severall Congregations at one very time and so also we should make Christ to have a hundred bodies we still conclude therefore that Christ is not bodily but onely Sacramentally and spiritually present in the Sacrament Qu. But to return to our former matters Do all those that partake outwardly of this Sacrament of the Lords-supper receive the forenamed spirituall benefits thereby Ans No all those that partake of the outward signs do not receive the spirituall benefits for many come to this Sacrament of the Lords-supper not for the better but for the worse 1 Cor. 11. 17. 34. Qu. In what respect doe many come to the Lords Table for the worse Ans Many come to the Lords Table for the worse because by unworthy receiving thereat they become guilty of the body and blood of Christ and eat and drink their own damnation 1 Cor. 11. 27 29. Qu. How may unworthy partakers at the Lords table be said to be guilty of the body and blood of Christ Ans Unworthy partakers at the Lords Table are guilty of the body and blood of Christ because they are guilty of casting a sleight and contempt upon the body and blood of Christ which in that ordinance are represented unto them 1 Cor. 11. 20 21 22 29. Qu. How are unworthy partakers said to eate and drink their own damnation or judgment Ans Unworthy partakers at the Lords Table are said to eat and drink their own damnation or judgment because by that sin of unworthy receiving they do as certainly draw damnation or judgment upon themselves if they should
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
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