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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	care_n	dangerous_a	good_a	32	3	2.1572	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33455	A catechism containing the principles of Christian religion together with a preparation sermon before the receiving of the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's-Supper, as it was preach'd in Serjeants-Inn Chappel in Fleet-Street, London / by James Clifford.	Clifford, James, 1622-1698.; Clifford, James, 1622-1698. A preparatory sermon for the worthy receiving of the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.	1694 (1694)	Wing C4702; ESTC R27090	66,204	177

Meditation upon Christ's Death and the Benefits thereof The Bread and Wine separated by Consecration to this holy Use should re-mind us of Christ's being fore-ordained and set a-part by God from all Eternity to the work of Man's Redemption The Breaking of the Bread and the Pouring forth of the Wine should bring to our remembrance how Christ was torn in his Body with Wounds and Stripes and to●tur'd in his Soul with the sense of his Father's Wrath and Indignation and that for our Sins and Transgressions When the Minister offers to thee the Bread and Wine think of Christ given to thee of God freely and freely giving himself to thee if thou wilt receive him When thou receivest and eatest those Elements think on Christ the living Bread that gives Life to thy Soul and by his Merits preserve it from Eternal Death Let thy Heart cleave unto him by Faith throw thy self into his Arms wash thy Soul in his Blood hide thy self in the Holes and Clefts of this Rock from the stormy Tempest of God's Wrath. This is the Life of this holy Sacrament without which Spiritual Applications all is but a dead and empty Ceremony Now of the Affections that must be excited and stirred up in thi● Ordinance 1. Our Hearts must be drawn to a firm relying and dependance upon Christ as an All-sufficient Saviour having paid the utmost Farthing and trod the Wine-press defeated all the Powers of Darkness and purchased for us a Kingdom that cannot be shaken Let not greatness and difficulty of the Work of Redemption terrifie us Christ hath finished 2. The sight of Christ Crucified should beget in us a godly Sorrow for our Sins that were the Judasses Pilates Zech. 12. 10. Jews Mourn over him 3. Thankfulness Because by Christ's Death is purchased for us the greatest Blessing that ever was Pardon Reconciliation Grace Glory 2. On our part the greatest Undesert that might be 3. Infinite Disproportion betwixt Christ and us the Just for the Unjust the Prince of Glory for Vassals of Baseness 4. Love unto Christ How should we love Christ that loved us and gave himself for us 1. A Man must Examine himself after he is come from the Sacrament to consider what Comfort and Encrease of Grace he hath received what quickning Vertue and Refreshment he hath found to flow out of Christ into his Soul Now upon such Examination a Man shall find that it hath ●een well with him at the Sacrament o● that it hath not and so accordingly he is to proceed First then If a Man hath found no Joy Comfort or Enlargement but upon Examination finds that he hath been unfruitful dead and dull then two things are to be done 1. Suspect thy self that thou hast been ●ailing either in thy Preparation to or Performance of the Duty Labour therefore to find out what it was that hinder'd the Efficacy of the Sacrament and be seriously humbled for it Yea if we can but be sensible of our Senselessness of Heart that holy Duty and truly mourn for it we need no●●e much dishea●tned because this is one Fruit of the ●ife of Christ which was undoubtedly received in the Sacrament 2. Endeavour by after Pains and Humiliation to quicken and awaken t●e Efficacy of the Sacrament For we must know Sacraments do not always work for the present but the Efficacy may come afterwards The first Sacrament of the Supper the Disciples receiv'd it 's like they found not the Efficacy of it for the present for then they understood nothing of Christ's Death neither could it sink into their Heads that He should die but yet afterwards when they came more clearly to understand the Mysteries of Redemption and the whole ●octrine of Christ ●o question but they reaped the Benefit of that Ordinance which then they fully understood not 'T is with the Sacrament as with the Word Many a Man hears the Word and in some measure minds it but for the present it hath no Effect at all It 's possible it may work many Years after A Sermon preach'd seven Years before may prove the Means of a Man's Conversion seven Years after We have an Example in that kind All thing● that John spake Joh. 10. 41 42. of this man were true And many believed on him there This is written of some of John's Hearers John had preach'd Christ before They did not thereupon believe in Christ when he preach'd John was dead and gone but now when Christ comes among them they upon John's former Sermons preach'd a great while before do now believe John was dead but not his Word that works while he lies in his Grave Thus also may it be with the Sacrament it doth not always presently work it may and doth work with some a long time afterwards when a Communicant humbled for his Unprofitableness in the Duty endeavours by after-Diligence and Humility to quicken and put Life into it Though we have miscarried in our Preparations to the Sacrament and Disposition in the Sacrament yet may the Vertue Efficacy and Comfort of it be recovered by after-Diligence and after-Humiliation But if when the business is once over Men shall never look back nor reflect upon it more so as to be humbled for their Deadness Hardness and Indisposition in the Duty and have no care to make up that by after-Diligence which was wanting in the present Performance no marvel though they receive no Benefit or Advantage by it But Secondly If upon after-Examination and a Review of the Business we find that we were refreshed our Hearts comforted and enlarged that we had Vertue from and Communion with Christ 1. Let us bless God with our whole Soul for his Mercy and Goodness to us and with all thankfulness acknowledge his gracious dealing with us 2. Let us be careful to keep up and maintain that graciou● and holy frame of Spirit which we brought from the Sacrament Pray we as David did for the People when he saw them in a good frame of Spirit and that they offered willingly and freely towards the Building of God an House O Lord 1 Chron. 29. 18. keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people So when we find a good frame of Heart wrought in us at the Sacrament we should pray and endeavour that this frame of Heart might be still upheld and continued in us We should endeavour to keep alive as long as may be that holy fire that was kindled in our Hearts in the Use of the Sacrament It 's a great fault in us when we come from the Sacrament that we have no care to keep our Hearts in good frame by Prayer Meditation or good Conference but presently fall a discoursing about secular Business or foolish idle and unprofitable Matters This is a dangerous quenching of the Spirit and tends to the hardening of the Heart as thrusting red-hot Iron into Water makes it harder Such sudden coolings and dampings of spiritual heats got in

Christ For as the body is one and hath many 1 Cor. 12. 12. members and all the members of the body which is one though they be many yet are but one body even so is Christ For by one Spirit we are baptized into Ver. 13 one body whether we be Jews or Grecians bond or free and have been all made to drink into one spirit For the body also is not one member but 14. many For we that are many are one bread 1 Cor. 10. 17. and one body because we are partakers of one bread We being many are one body in Christ Rom. 12. 5. and every one one anothers members But let us follow the truth in love and Eph. 4. 15. in all things grow up into him which is the head that is Christ For we are members of his body of his Chap. 5. 30. flesh and of his bones Whereby we are ready to communicate all God's Benefits both Spiritual and Temporal to the mutual Health and Comfort of one another according to the measure which we have received of God in this Life Besides the things that are outward I 2 Cor 11. 28. am cumbred daily and have the care of all the churches Bear ye one anothers burthen and so Gal. 6. 2. fulfil the law of Christ If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any compassion and mercy Fulfil my joy that ye be like-minded having the like love being of one accord and of one judgment That nothing be done through contention or vain-glory but that in meekness of mind every man esteem other better than himself Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of other men Q. Wherein have the Saints Communion one with another A. 1st In that they are made Partakers 1 Cor. 12. 13. of the same Privileges in Christ and of the same Saving Graces in his Life And though not in the same Phil. 1. 7. Measure yet of the same Glory in the Life to come For henceforth is laid up for me 2 Tim. 4. 8. the crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing 2dly In that they are made Partakers of the Prayers of one another I exhort therefore that prayers and supplications 1 Tim. 2. 1. be made for all men c. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem Psal 122. And therefore our Saviour Christ taught us to pray Our Father and not My Father To signifie That we ought to pray for all the Militant Churches as well as our selves 3dly In that they do employ those Talents that God hath given them not altogether to their own private Good but to the Good of God's Church The manifestation of the Spirit is given 1 Cor. 12. 7. to every man to profit withal So that ye labour together in prayer for 2 Cor. 1. 11. us that for the gift bestowed upon us for many thanks may be given by many persons for us For the gathering together of the Saints Eph. 4. 12. and for the work of the Ministry and for the edification of the body of Christ 4thly In that God's Saints are ready to relieve the Necessities of their Brethren And the multitude of them that believed Act. 4. 32. were of one heart and of one soul neither any of them said that any thing of that which he possessed was his own but they had all things common He is ever merciful and lendeth Psal 37. 26. A devout man one that feared God Act. 10. 2. with all his houshold which gave much alms to the people He that hath two coats let him part to Luk 3. 11. him that hath none and him that hath meat do likewise 5thly The Communion of Saints consists in respect of Society and Fellowship one with another And all that believed were in one Act. 2. 24 place and had all things common And they continued daily in the temple 26. with one accord and breaking bread at home did eat their meat together with gladness and singleness of heart Thou art my Lord my well-doing extendeth Psal 16. 3 4. not to thee but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent all my delight is in them And not only in Private Meeting together of the Saints but also in the diligent and chearful Meeting together at God's House at his Publick Ordinances as at Publick Prayer Hearing the Word Preached Receiving the Holy Sacrament c. I thank my God having you in perfect Phil. 1. 3. memory Because of the fellowship which ye have 5. in the Gospel from the first day till now When I remembred these things I Psal 42. 4. poured out my very heart because I had gone with the multitude and led them into the house of God with the voice of singing and praise as a multitude that keepeth a feast Q. What is to be understood by Saints in this Article A. Not only dead Men much less such as are Canoniz'd by the Pope but also such Servants of God that live upon the Earth being Sanctified by the Blood of Christ and by the Spirit of God being also set a-part and separated out of the World I mean from the Estate of an Unregenerate Person and such as are called Saints in divers places of Scripture Unto the church of God which is at 1 Cor. 1. 2. Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus Saints by calling To the Saints that are at Ephesus Eph. 1. To the Saints in Christ that are at Philippi Phil. To them which are at Coloss Saints Col. and faithful brethren in Christ Q. Which is the Tenth Article of the Creep A. The Tenth Article to be believed is Remission of Sins Q. What is the Remission of Sins A. Remission of Sins is the free Gift of God whereby the Elect are freed both from the Guiltiness and Punishment of Sin by the means of the Passion and Intercession of Christ and that in this World Q. Who is it that giveth Remission of Sins A. Remission of Sins is given of God only I even I am he that putteth away Isa 43. 25. thine iniquities for my own sake and will not remember your sins Why doth this man speak blasphemy Mark 2. 7. Who can forgive sins but God only And it must needs be so because Sin is only committed against God and therefore God only hath Power to forgive it Q. But Remission is ascribed to the Apostles and the Ministers as is manifest Mat. 18. Joh. 20. 23. A. The Apostles remit Sins in that they are Signifiers and Declarers of God's Remission The Church remitteth Sins when according to the Commandment of God she denounceth Remission of Sins to the Repentant One Neighbour

holy Duties cannot be without much Danger to the Soul A Second thing to be look'd into is A great care to make good and perform that Vow of New Obedience which we have renewed with God in the Sacrament Our Hearts are very s●ippery like a Bullock unaccustom'd to the Yoke and Satan is very subtle to draw us speedily to a breach and therefore it concerns us to be watchful The Devil is exceeding desirous to go in and go down after a Sacramental Sop. No sooner was Christ Baptized Luk. 3. but Luk. 4. presently after the Sacrament receiv'd he sets ●iercely upon Christ with all his might strength and skill in his Temptations so he lies upon the catch to tempt us immediately after we come from the Ordinance And therefore we must have a special care to keep our Covenants and to express the Power of God's Ordinance in the Hol●ness and Obedience of our Lives We must have a care to walk closely with God to forsake all former Sins to perform all Duties of Obedience formerly neglected Elias after he was fed by God went in the strength of that Food 1 King 19. 8. Forty Days and Forty Nights together So should we walk in the strength of our Sacramental Food many Days and shew that indeed we have received Strength from it and by it by keeping our Covenants with God of Holiness and Righteousness Novus Dies Novos Mores Now God requires we should take up new Thoughts Resolutions Endeavours that we should lead new Lives It should be with us after our Communion with God in the Sacrament as it was with Jacob after his Communion with God in Beth●l Then Jacob lifted up his feet and Gen. 19. 1. came into the land of the people of the East He lift up his Feet went with Strength Spirit and Chearfulness So when we have had Fellowship with God in the Sacrament in the Strength of the heavenly Food we should lift up our Feet and go on chearfully in God's Ways 'T is said That Jesus returned from Luk. 4. 1. his Baptism in Jordan full of the Holy Ghost to be tempted of the Devil● He went from the Sacrament full of the Holy Ghost and full of Power against the filthy Ghost So should we rise from the Sacrament full of the Holy Ghost full of Power and spiritual Strength Tanquam Leones Ignem spirantes Like Lions breathing Fire as St. Chrysostome speaks that so we may be Terrible to Satan and Powerful against our Lusts That which St. Paul speaks must Eph. 4. 28. be especially remembred Let him that stole steal no more Let him that swore swear no more that used to lye be drunk unclean c. Eccl. 5. 4. do so be so no more We do interpretatively and in effect Vow this in the Sacrament Reason thus with thy self therefore I have been at the Sacrament I have there vowed and taken the Sacrament upon it That I will forsake my Sins become a New Man And with this stop the Mouth of the Devil when he shall tempt thee to Evil either by himself or Instruments Christiana sum Many come to the Sacrament and there vow New Obedience and yet when once the Action is over O! how soon are their Vows forgotten 'T is said That the people sate down Exod. 32. 6. to eat and drink and rose up to play How many sit down to eat and drink the Sacramental Elements and that done rise up to play To what play To play the Beasts the Swine the Wantons the Wretches and so make themselves by such Receiving two-fold more the Children of the Devil than they were before The Abassines after the Receiving of the Sacrament think it not lawful for 'em to Spit on that Day till the Setting of the Sun This is Superstition and yet such Superstition as shall condemn the Profaneness of many among us They that hold it unlawful so much as to Spit that Day would they out of Excess of Drunkenness Spue that Day They that will not Spit that Day would they endure the h●llish Drivel of ungodly Oaths and unsavoury rotten Communication to fall from their Mouths that Day They that would not Spit that Day would they in that Day spit in God's Face as our common Swearers and Blasphemers do The Rock followed the Israelites 1 Cor. 10. 4. The Water issued out of the Rock according to some followed them as they journeyed and streamed after them in their removes so should we have a care that the Vertue and Efficacy of the Sacrament should follow us and stream after us all the while we are travelling in the Wilderness of this World Unless it be thus with us we horribly pollute and take God's Name in vain a●d make our selves guilty of Spiritual Perjury in the sight of God And woe be to that Man that breaks Covenant with the Great God of Heaven and Earth who will not be mo●ked 〈◊〉 will not be baffled who will be a swift Witness against all such as gros●ly take his glorious Name in vain and so ●oully pollute his Holy Ordinance You see then how much i● concerns us to walk Holily Circumspectly Faithfully after our Participation of this Blessed and Holy Ordinance Doct. It is a necessary Duty required of every one before he come to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper That he examine himself diligently and carefully Quest Wherein d●th this Examination consist Resp In a diligent Enquiry Whether we have those Graces or not which are requisite to be found in every one that would come Worthily to this Ordinance They are Three Faith Repentance and Charity Without Faith we cannot ●eed on Christ or drink his Blood Without Repentance we cannot mourn over Christ whom we have pierced by our Sins and crucified by our Transgressions which is a Duty to be exercised in the Sacrament And without Love we have neither Union with Christ the Head nor yet with the Faithful who are the Members of Christ's Mystical Body First therefore we are to examine our selves in Point of Faith Now we may judge of the Truth of this Grace by taking into our serious Consideration 1st How it is Wrought 2dly How it Works 'T is wrought by the Ministry of Rom. 10. 17. the Word Faith cometh by hearing 1. Convincing us of our Misery and Wretchedness by reason of Sin Original and Actual the Sin of our Nature and the Sins of our Lives 2. Terrifying us with the Threats of the Curse Internal External Eternal 4. Humbling us and laying of us low in the sight of God 4. Revealing unto us the Lord Jesus Christ in his Fulness and All-sufficiency to Save in his Willingness and Readiness to Embrace poor contrite broken-hearted Sinners 5. Working the Heart to an insatiable Hunger and Thirst after him to a Willingness to accept of him upon any Terms to a Contentedness to do or be any thing so we may but have him 6. To a Recumbency and Relying upon him alone for Lif●