needlesse As therfore it is matter of humiliation to all good Christians that vpon due triall they finde more corruptions in themselues then did before appeare vnto them So this may bee a speciall comfort that there are also in them which by diligent triall they shall finde greater graces then euer they imagined to be in themselues This therefore should incourage vs to search ourselues so much the more narrowly for if we shall by a carefull search find in our soules but any one grace or but any degree of a grace more then wee did perceiue before it wil bring more sound comfort and ioy vnto our hearts then if wee had found a hidden treasure of siluer or gold 2 By this it appeares that a man if so be hee will carefully vse the meanes may come to some certain knowledge and insight of the sauing gifts and graces of God which are in his owne soule And therefore it must needes bee a great fault in him to bee carelesse in vsing the meanes It is a signe hee sets no price vpon Gods graces that makes no inquiry whether he hath them in his possession or no. Men vse to make diligent inquiry after hidden and concealed lands and treasures much more ought we to search out the concealed graces of God which lie hid in our own soules and which wee cannot imploy as wee ought so long as wee know not whether they be in vs or no. 3 It is in this respect very beneficiall and profitable for vs to finde out know what gifts God hath bestowed vpon vs in that as it appeares by this place it is a meanes not onely to preuent fearfull and dangerous sinnes but to make vs more capable of greater graces which otherwise shall bee withheld and detained from vs. For wee haue no grounded hope to receiue any new grace or blessing from any ordinance of God vntill by a diligent search of our selues we haue first found some former grace in our selues that may make vs in som degree fit and worthy receiuers thereof For to him that hath saith our Sauiour shall be giuen and from him that hath not shall be taken away euen that which he hath The vse of one grace is to fit and prepare vs for the receiuing of an other Those speciall gifts graces which are in all them whose persons are acceptable to God are Faith and Repentance By Faith wee are to vnderstand a true sauing and iustifying faith which is a supernaturall gift of God whereby a man seeing the vilenesse of his sinne relieth only vpon the merits of Christ Iesus for the pardon thereof From this Faith doe al other Christian graces proceed and according to the growth of it doe they grow Whatsoeuer is done by vertue of this Faith how simple soeuer the Action may seem to bee it is pleasing to God Otherwise how glorious soeuer it is odious to him This grace entitles vs to Christ and all his merits This effectually applyeth them vnto vs This is the onely mouth by which the Body and bloud of the Lord is eaten and drunken and therefore a speciall argument of Gods fauour and a necessary qualitie to be in all worthy Communicants And therefore we are to make speciall search and triall of it CHAP. III. Of the triall of our Faith by the grounds thereof VVEe may try our Faith first by the ground then by the subiect The ground of ture sauing faith is the word of God manifested vnto our consciences by the Spirit of God to bee the Word of GOD. That Faith which resteth vpon any other ground-work or foundation can bee no true sauing Faith A good meanes to try whether our Faith be indeed grounded vpon the Word of God is To examine our consciences in these particulars 1 Whether we beleeue indeed and in truth that the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles in the Old and New Testament are the very Word of God For the whole Word of God so farre as is needful to be beleeued vnto saluation is contained therein or at the least whether we be exceedingly troubled and grieued in our soules from our very hearts when throgh any temptation we are moued to doubt of the same And whether we vse al means we can to come to bee fully perswaded thereof For in such cases God accepts the will and indeuour for the deed Mar. 9 24 Rom. 7 18 Matt. 5.6 2 Whether we vnfainedly desire to be taught instructed in the Word of God and to come to the true knowledge and vnderstanding belief thereof And whether we loue and affect those meanes most which are most powerful and effectuall to that end and purpose For hee whose Faith is grounded vpon Gods Word hath his hope grounded vpon the same Word euen all the hope that hee hath of euerlasting life And therefore he must needs desire to bee acquainted therewith by all meanes possible 3 VVhether our ignorance and dulnesse in vnderstanding of the word and our forgetfulnesse thereof be grieuous and troublesome vnto vs For how can it chuse but grieue trouble a man when he knowes not or vnderstands not or cannot remember the Euidence of his owne euerlasting estate 4 Whether our reading Ps 119 92 97 98 103 or hearing the word read or preached our meditating conference and studie of it doe increase or nourish our loue and delight and beliefe in it or if wee cannot discerne any such matter whether wee be not vnfainedly grieued and humbled for it 5 VVhether wee giue credit and authoritie vnto it aboue all humane Traditions Ps 119 113 Customes whatsoeuer And whe-we doe not deny credit and beliefe vnto whatsoeuer wee know to bee repugnant vnto the same word 6 Whether we finde a lightnesse and cheerfulnesse in our consciences when we haue done any thing agreeable vnto the Word of God And whether wee finde a trouble or a dulnesse and heauinesse in the same when we haue done any thing which we know to be repugnant vnto the same Word 7 VVhether wee vnfainedly hope in the promises feare the threatnings desire the blessings indeuour to auoid the curses contained in this Word and whether we equally beleeue the one as well as the other 8 VVhether we iudge it a singular blessing of the Lord that he hath in this manner reuealed his will in the written Word that he vouchsafeth vs libertie and meanes to come to the knowledge vnderstanding and beliefe of it And whether wee iudge it to bee a great iudgement curse vpon them from whom this Word is hid and who want this liberty and meanes that we enioy 9 Lastly whether we can proue those points of Religion and Faith which wee hold and beleeue by the written Word of GOD And whether wee doe therefore beleeue them because we know that they are affirmed in the Word of God And whether we misdoubt suspect all those points of Religion that we cannot see warranted by the Word
are euidently reuealed in the word of God So that those who are conuersant in the same if they doe not wilfully shut their eyes against the light cannot but see them plainely set downe therein and vpon these grounds and principles doe all other Truths in the word of God in some sort depend tending either to the confirmation or illustration of them So that if in the triall of our selues we cā find assuredly that we beleeue all euery of these points doe our vttermost indeuour to beleeue them more and more then verily our Faith is sound in regard of the maine matter and substance therof though in diuers other particulars through our ignorance and corruption it may be weake and vnsound CHAP. V. Of the triall of our repentance THE second maine grace that is in all those that are in grace fauour with God is Repentance the trial wherof is also a triall of our faith That person whose heart is destitute hereof is as yet odious in Gods sight therefore a most vnworthy partaker of this Sacrament Repentance is an vnfained hatred of all sin arising especially from faith As they that want faith want a mouth to eat the Body and bloud of Christ So they which want repentance want an appetite and a stomacke thereunto For how can they hunger thirst after the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world who haue not this grace to repent them of their sins And how can they thankfully and worthily eat the body and drinke the bloud of that Lambe which was sacrificed for their sinne that haue no desire nor appetite thereunto The meanes then to try whether this Repentance be in vs or no is To make inquisition after the speciall signes effects thereof As Psa 51 3 4 Dan. 9.7 8 1 Cor. 11 31 Mat. 11.38 1 VVhether wee doe feele and perceiue that we are grieuous sinners and accuse condemne our selues from our harts for our sins and acknowledge the iust merit and desert of our sinne Ro. 3.20 4 15 7 7 Ps 119 18 143 176 2 Whether wee did come to the sense and feeling of our sin by the Law of God and whether wee loue the same Law the more by how much the more it discouereth our sinnes And whether also wee loue those meanes best that are most powerfull and effectuall to bring vs vn-the knowledge sense feeling of our sinnes 3 VVhether the more that we heare Gal. 5.24 1 Iohn 3 9 Rom. 6.2 3 4 5 beleeue the Gospell and in it the loue and mercy of Iesus Christ towards sinners the more wee hate and forsake our sinne 4. VVhether wee hate a sinne as much or more in our selues then in another and whether wee loue another because of conscience he forbeareth to sinne 5 VVhether wee hate striue against that sin that our nature is most disposed vnto which loueth and haunteth vs most 6 VVhether the more that wee haue formerly sinned against God Luk. 7 47 and by our sins dishonoured God the more now wee desire and indeuour to please God 7 VVhether wee doe striue against not onely great sinnes Gal. 5.9 1 The. 5.22 such as are punished at Assises and Sessions but also small sinnes such as are not punished nor neuer called in question in the Courts and Consistories of men 8 VVhether we hate and abhor in our selues not onely those sins that are hatefull and detestable in the eyes of men but euen those also Gen. 36.9 which men will account a grace and honour vnto vs to commit And for which they will recompence and reward vs when it shall be reuealed to vs out of Gods word that they are sinnes 9 Whether wee hate sin principally because God hates it and forbids it And not onely and especially in respect of the curse punishment or of the lawes of men 10 VVhether we doe not repent that wee did no sooner repent And whether wee would for any worldly good be in that estate Phil. 3.7 8 that we were in before our Repentance 11 VVhether we can instance in any speciall or particular sins which formerly wee loued and delighted in which now we hate striue against 12 Whether wee doe so much the more study and imbrace the contrary vertues vnto such sins as we now repent of by how much the more we haue beene formerly giuen vnto them 13 VVhether we are not afraide that something that wee loue and affect should by the word of God be discouered to be a sinne And whether we doe not desire and pray that God wold discouer vnto vs al our sins to the end that wee may striue against them and forsake them 14 VVhether we doe reioyce and vnfainedly thanke God when any thing that we take pleasure and delight in is discouered to be a sinne 15 VVhether wee esteeme it a singular blessing of God that wee haue beene and are crossed of God in those sins which our nature thirsteth after And that we haue not had that opportunity meanes of committing them which our corruption hath desired 16 VVhether wee doe not hate but rather loue him that dutifully louingly and brotherly doth admonish vs of a manifest sin especially if it be a Minister of God CHAP. VI. Of new Obedience and the triall thereof ONe maine and special effect and fruit of true Repentance and consequently of Faith without which our persons cannot be acceptable vnto God is new Obedience 1 Pet. 4 2 1.21 Rom. 6 15 Acts 13 1 Dan. 3.18 New obedience is a constant purpose to forsake all sin and an endeauour to obey God in all things for Christs sake Euery Article of our Faith is an vnresistable argument to proue that wee owe this duty vnto God And if we beleeue them truely they will moue vs yea force vs vnto the same in some measure or other The means to try whether this grace bee in vs or no is to examine our consciences in these points following 1 Whether we desire and indeuour 1 The. 5.21 Act. 17.11 Ps 119.15 to know the will pleasure and commandement of God that wee might thereby frame our selues to please God and whether wee doe to this end vse the most likely approued meanes to come to the knowledge thereof and whether wee reioyce in the knowledge thereof after we haue attained vnto it 2 Whether wee are content Gal. 5 24 1 Cor. 1 18 19 20 Mat 26 39 Nū 22 19 to subiect our owne wills reason and affections vnto Gods reuealed will and doe not exalt our owne wisdome and will aboue his 1 Pet. 4 12 16 Matth. 19 28 29 1 Pet. 4 17 18 19 Phil. 1 29 Ps 119.71 1 Cor. 1 4 Rom. 5 3 1 Pet. 4 13 3 Whether we labour to perswade our selues that wee shall lose nothing by yeelding obedience to Gods wil and that it shall be worse for vs for crossing his will in any
of God If we can finde these properties in our soules then haue wee found in our selues so many infallible signes and tokens that our Faith hath a true and sound ground CHAP. IIII. Of the triall of our Faith by the Obiect or matter thereof SEcondly wee are to try and examine our Faith in Christ whether it bee true and liuely no or yea by the obiect and matter thereof The obiect and matter of true Faith is That diuine truth which God in his Word hath reuealed vnto vs. For if the testimony of GOD in his Word be the ground of our Faith then that truth which is reuealed in the Word must needes bee the obiect and matter therof Now forasmuch as there was neuer any one man that could euer atttaine vnto the knowledge of all euery particular truth reuealed in the word of God the readiest meanes heerein to try our Faith is by such maine fundamentall truths therein contained and plainely taught vpon which all other truths doe in some sort depend and vnto which they are to be reduced And therefore let vs examine our consciences in these points 1 VVhether doe wee vnfainedly beleeue the the Mysterie of the Trinitie the Creation of the world the fall of Adam the Incarnation death resurrection and ascension of Iesus Christ That there shall bee a rising againe of all flesh from death to life a generall day of Iudgement that there is a heauen a hell an euerlasting life for some and an eternall death for othersome after this life And such other grounds of Religion euidently contained in the word of God and collected and proued by the same in our ordinary confessions of Faith and Catechismes 2 More specially whether we beleeue that the Law of God the a Mat. 22 4 sum whereof is contained in the ten Cōmandements is a b Ro. 7.12 9 14 15 16 holy perfect and iust Law And such a Law as God may iustly binde euery man to the obedience of euery Commandement therein contained And Psal 19 7 Deut. 6.2 4 5 whether we beleeue that hee that perfectly keepeth this Law is d Deut. 28 15 Gal. 3.10 Rom. 6.23 2 Thes 1.9 is a blessed and happy man 3 VVhether wee beleeue That e the breach of this Law deserueth euerlasting death condemnation And that God in f Rom. 9 13 14 his iustice may punish euerlastingly in hell fire the breakers thereof 4 VVhether we beleeue That g Rom. 3 10 11 12 20 23 5 12 Prou. 20 8 all men liuing vpon earth since the fall of Adam haue broken this Law and so are guiltie of euerlasting death and that no man by reason of the corruption of his will h Gē 8.11 Ro. 7.7 27 is now since the said fall able to keepe this Law 5 VVhether wee beleeue ps 51.3 4 5 Neh. 1.7 Dan. 9.5 12 Psa 40 12 32 4 Ezra 9.6 That our selues in particular are grieuous sinners and haue deserued by our sinnes euerlasting death and condemnation And that it is a great misery to bee a sinner and a happinesse to be free from sinne 6 VVhether wee beleeue Luk. 19.23 12 34 Mat. 7 13 Rom. 9 27 Prou. 16.4 That God will punish euerlastingly in hell fire a great part of the world for their sin And that to the praise of his glorious Iustice 7 VVhether wee beleeue That neither our selues Rom. 3 23 5 6 12 7 18 19 20 nor any man else by his owne power strength or merit is able to free himselfe from this condemnation And therefore if there be no meanes out of our selues to saue vs that wee also shall be in the number of those that shal be euerlastingly condemned 8 VVhether wee beleeue Iohn 17 9 Dan. 9 7 Ro. 15 14 9 22 23 Heb. 4 6 that God wil shew grace and mercy to some sinners freely sauing pardoning and forgiuing them without the least merit and desert on their part 9 VVhether wee beleeue that all that are saued pardoned of their sinnes Rom. 8.1 7 24 25 5 1 12 3 28 Mat. 1.21 are partakers of this mercy only through the merits of Iesus Christ God and man And that hee merited the same by his death bloud-shedding vpon the Crosse 10 VVhether we beleeue Iohn 1.12 6 35 Mat. 9 2 Ro. 7.24.25 Esa 1.18 Heb. 9.4 that the merits of Christ are sufficient for the pardon and forgiuenesse of our owne sinnes in particular 11 VVhether wee beleeue that all that are saued by Iesus Christ Ro. 8.30.31 1 Cor. 1.30 Ioh. 15 19 17 6 20 21 shall in this life if they liue till they come to yeeres of discretion haue the Mysterie of Redemption reuealed vnto them in the preaching of the Gospell by meanes whereof they shall effectually bee called out of the world Eph. 5.30 Iohn 15.1 Ez. 11.19 Acts 16 14 Iohn 1 12 2 Pet. 1.5 to Faith and repentance And that they shall testifie the same by sorrow vnfained for their sinnes past an endeuor carefully to lead a new life euer after and in a readines to do Iesus Christ faithfull seruice in his Church according to his wil reuealed in his word Mat. 29 34 Reuel 22 1 2 3 2 Tim. 4 8 And whether wee beleeue that after this life all such shall raigne with Christ Iesus in all blisse and glory in heauen for euer and euer 12 VVhether we beleeue that all such as do beleeue and vnfainedly repent them of their sins and haue a constant purpose to lead a new life according to the will word of God Iohn 3.36 1 Ioh. 5 10 are in the number of them that shal bee saued euerlastingly And whether wee iudge and beleeue that it is a sin for any such person Iohn 3 18 36 to despaire of the mercy of God not to repose trust and confidence therein 13 VVhether we beleeue that all those persons are most vile and miserable that are not called to Faith and Repentance and that they most of all other are most vile and wicked persons that contemne dispise Mat. 11.21 25 Heb. 2.3 or care not to vse those meanes that God hath ordained to bring them thereunto 14 VVhether we beleeue that we are bound to vse all the meanes we can Mat. 7.7 8 21 22 Mar. 11.24 2 Tim. 4 7 8 Luk. 2 29 Iob 19 25 for attaining Faith and Repentance And whether we beleeue that in vsing the meanes wee shall attaine them And lastly Mar. 9 24 Luke 17 5 Mat. 5 6 Reu. 21 6 whether when we feele that wee haue in some measure obtained these graces we doe beleeue that our selues in particular are of that number that shall bee saued Or whether we doe vse all indeuour at the least and vnfainedly desire to beleeue the same In these seueral points consists the substance matter of the true Christian Faith euery one of which
remembrance would not one thinke he should rather need som means to make him forget his loue Yet this is the strange disposition of all Christians euen of the best that though our condition was a thousand times more miserable then the condition of a Turkes Gally-slaue can bee Though christ Iesus hath done ten thousand times more for our freedome therefrom then is possible for any one man to doe for another though whatsoeuer wee enioy we haue it from his mercy and loue our soules bodies senses wit beautie wealth life so as all our senses are so compassed about with memorialls of his loue that wee can see heare feele nor taste any thing but it may put vs in minde of his loue yea of his death and passion by which the free vse of these things haue beene purchased vnto vs yet for all this you see we stand in need of a more special remembrance Yea and yet sinfull wretches that we are we are ready to abuse these Remembrances And which exceedeth wonder wee are prone in the midst of them most of all to forget Christ and his loue towards vs and then and therein readiest to dishonour him Wee may hence further note That Christ our Sauiour takes it most kindly when we remember and thinke vpon him that which hee hath done for vs. The institution of this Sacrament to this end shewes hee much affects and desires it And the more he affects and delights in our remembrance of him the more vnkindly and offensiuely hee will take our forgetfulnesse of him Hence also it appeares that then we specially eat the flesh of christ drink his bloud when with a beleeuing heart mind we effectually remember in our remembrance we seriously meditate of in our meditation are religiously affected and in our affections throughly inflamed with the loue of Christ grounded vpon that which Christ hath done for vs and which is represented and sealed vnto vs in this Sacrament CHAP. IX Of the End and vse of this Sacrament in respect of others THE end that respecteth others is The shewing forth of his death till he come that is By eating this bread and drinking this wine Christians are to testifie and professe and after a sort to preach to others euen vnto the worlds end the mystery of the Gospell the sum substance and accomplishment whereof is in the death of Christ and the fruites that flow therefrom all which are represented in this Sacrament Therefore in our due receiuing of this Sacrament we doe as it were lead men by the hand into the Garden of Gethsemane and there shew them Christ in extreame horror sweating bloud Iudas traiterously kissing him the Souldiers binding him and leading him to iudgement We lead him to Caiphas Hall and Pilates Throne there shew them Christ most vniustly cōdemned most contumeliously buffetted and spet vpon scourged crowned with thorns scorned and derided We lead them to Mount Caluerie there shew them him nailed on the Crosse drinking vinegar mingled with gall pierced with a speare forsaken of his Father in the horror thereof crying out most bitterly My God my God why hast thou forsaken me And all this for our sake that thereby he might free vs from the curse of the Law and purchase for vs euerlasting life Can we in this mystery see behold all this shall wee aftet a sort heereby point it out vnto others and shall wee therewith be nothing affected in our own soules but come vnto the receiuing thereof as so many senselesse blockes By this it appeares how forcible the doctrine of the Sacrament is to terrifie all Christians from the profanation thereof and consequently to the fitting and preparing of them to the worthy receiuing thereof Where to conclude note that the Apostle in al the former points hath propounded nothing vnto the Church of Corinth but what they could not be ignorant of before which practise of the Apostle teacheth vs of what necessitie continuall teaching is in the Church of Christ when Ministers must be faine not onely to instruct the people of God in those points of doctrine that they are ignorant of but often also call to their minde consideration those points which they know already well enough vpon such particular occasions as they are to make speciall vse of them And verily though men could say all the Scriptures by heart though they could vnderstand euery hard and difficult place thereof though they knew al the grounds and principles of the Christian Faith though they were able to answere all oppositions against any diuine truth yet for all this there would be vse both of reading the Word preaching also in the Church of God For let our knowledge bee neuer so great yet if wee bee not often put in mind of it if we be not taught how in such and such particular cases to apply it if by the power of Christs Ordinance it be not beaten out of our head into our heart it will bee as a dead letter vnto vs yea and most out of our head when wee should most vse it For so was the particular knowledge of this Sacrament in this Church of Corinth And so will the knowledge of this or of any truth else bee if it bee not reuiued and quickned in vs by daily teaching instruction CHAP. X. What it is to bee guilty of the body and bloud of Christ. HItherto of the Doctrine of this Sacrament The consequent of the Doctrine followeth Whosoeuer therefore saith the Apostle shall eat this Bread and drinke the Cup of the Lord vnworthily shall be guilty of the body bloud of Christ We haue in the consideration of euery particular point of Doctrine cōcerning this Sacramēt inferred generally that it must needs bee a fearefull sin to profane and abuse the same and not to receiue it in that manner that we ought to doe But the Apostle heere from inferreth in speciall a monstrous dangerous sinne indeed For the better vnderstanding therefore of the Apostles consequent and for our further helpe in this preparation Let vs consider First The sin it selfe and The means by which we are guilty of the sinne Secondly the ground vpon which such persons are guilty The sinne is A guiltines of the Body and Bloud of Christ To be guilty of his body and bloud is to offer some speciall disgrace and indignitie vnto the Person and sufferings of Christ and in a speciall manner to sinne against the great worke of our Redemption Yea in some sort to commit a sin of the very same nature quality which they did who had their hands in crucifying Christ For to be guilty of bloud is in some sense or other to be a murtherer and shedder of bloud and therefore to bee guilty of Christs bloud is in some degree or other to haue our hands in his death And by consequent to be partners with Iudas in betraying him with the wicked Iewes in crying crucifie him w th