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A57383 A communicant instructed, or, Practicall directions for worthy receiving of the Lords Supper by Francis Roberts. Roberts, Francis, 1609-1675. 1656 (1656) Wing R1591; ESTC R28105 135,670 280

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of Jesus Christ Consider well 1. That the Spiritual Vnion and Communion of Saints is by all means to be preserved and increased For This is most agreeable to that spiritual Relation wherein they stand one to another in Christ being fellow-branches in the same Vine Christ Living stones in the same spiritual building upon Christ and fellow-members in the same mystical body of Christ that should have the same care one of another And whether one member suffer all the members should suffer with it or one member be honoured all the members should rejoyce with it For the●e should be no schisme in the body This is much urged and that with pathetical Arguments and importunity by the Apostle I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walke worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowlinesse and meeknesse with long-suffering forbearing one another in love Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace There is one body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your Calling One Lord One Faith One Baptisme One God and Father of all who is above all and through ●ll and in you all All these Vnities should perswade the Saints to unity And elsewhere Now I beseech you brethren by the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that you be perfectly joyned together in the same minde and in the same judgement This is much commended by the Spirit of God Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethre● to dwell even together in unity c. There also it 's compared to Aarons precious Oyntment and Hermon's fruitfull dew This also was practised by Believers in the purest Primitive times And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul c. 2. That Divisions Schismes Fractions Dis-unions among Christs members is by all means to be avoided For Christ is not Divided Divisions are a fruit of the flesh not of the Spirit Divisions evidence professors to be carnal and to walk as men not as Christians And at last divisions will prove their Destruction that nourish them If ye bite and devoure one another take heed that ye be not consumed one of another In these regard● there 's great need of maintaining and confirming Vnion and Communion of Saints and especially in such times as these are wherein professors of Christ have by their unparalle●'d Divisions both in Iudgment Affection and Practice brought such reproach upon the Gospel and way of truth prejudice upon their own souls hazard to the Kingdome of Christ and advantage to the Kingdome of Satan In this regard what need is there of the Lords Supper which in the nature of it tends so much to unite cement knit and sodder together the disjoynted members of Christs body For as the Apostle saith We being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread As many grains of Wheat make up one loaf so many members make up one body of Christ. And as we all partake that one bread so we all thereby professe to be one walk as fellow-members in Christ with all Christian love union and mutual tendernesse one towards anothe● and if we dissolve communion with our fellow-members how can we mai●tain communion with Christ our head Thus you may examine what need you have of the Lords-Supper which is the second Gener●al branch of Preparation What present fitnesse we have for the Lords Supper is the third and last but not the least Particular whereupon by way of preparation we are to examine our selves before we communicate Wherein doth our present fitnesse for the Lords Supper consist and how may we examine our selves about it Answ. Our present fitnesse for the Lords Supper consists principally in having and exercising of 1. A competent Knowledge 2. Faith 3. Repentance 4. New Obedience 5. Love to Christ and his Members 6. Thankfulnesse 7. A spiritual Appetite to this Feast The●e are qualifications peculiarly necessary to fit us for the Lords Supper How necessary they are and how we are to examine our selves about them comes now to be declared I. KNOWLEDGE This is an inlet and foundation to all the rest therefore begin we with it Touching Knowledge Consider 1. The Necessity of it to worthy Communicating 2. Th● Triall of it What necessity is there of Knowledge before we receive the Lords Supper Answ. A competent Knowledge in Spirituals is necessary before we communicate 1. For the di●cerning of the Lords Body in this Ordinance How can the Lords body be discerned here but by Knowledge and Faith The●e are the spiritual eyes of the soul. And whosoever discerneth not the Lords body he eats and drinks unworthily eates and drinks damnation to himself 2. For Directing Communicants in the due managing of the Lords Supper This Sacrament is a part of Divine Worship without due Knowledge thereabouts we shall worship we know not what and run into the error of the Athenians who er●cted an Altar to the Vnknown God whom therefore they ignorantly worshipped Grosse ignorance herein will make men guilty of the body and blood of the Lord and to stand in need of the like prayer that Christ put up for them that crucified him Father forgive them for they know not what they do 3. For the leading on and inciting of all the other Communion-Graces Knowledge will stir up Faith Repentance Obedience Love Thankfulness and Spiritual Desire to their proper objects and actions whereas gross ignorance will either withstand them or mislead them How is Knowledge to be tryed Answ. Knowledge may be tryed whether it be ●ound and competent 1. By the Particular points of Knowledge which are more peculiarly requisite to worthy communicating 2. By the properties of true sanctified knowledge I. The particular points of Knowledge requisite to prepare Christians for worthy communicating are e●pecially these viz. A competent knowledge 1. Of God For in the Lords Supper we come to renew Covenant with God and to have the New Testament with all the Promises Priviledges and Benefits thereof confirmed and assured to us The Lords Supper being a Pledge and Seal of the New Testament in Christs blood Now one clause of this New Covenant is That The Lord will be to us a God and we shall be to him a People If therefore we have not a due knowledge of this God how can we acceptably renew and re-establish Covenant with him 2. Of our selves For we are to be the Communicants And t●erefore it 's necessary we be well known to our selves thoroughly acquainted with our own state and condition whether it be carnal or spiritual and if spiritual whether we be weaker or stronger in a state of grace c. Otherwi●e 1. How can we discover our right to the