h Matt. 26 26 27 vsing them so himselfe i Lu. 32.19 1 Cor. 11.24 25 but commanding his Church to doe so also and k Mat. 26.26 This is my body Mat. 26.28 this is my bloud promising vnto vs his gracious and effectuall presence in the vse of these elements according to his ordinance Q. How doe the Minister of the Word of God and the congregation consecrate these elements and sacramentall actions A. First l 1 Tim. 4 4 5 by declaring the institution of this sacramēt and how Christ did consecrate put apart these elements actions to this end vse and vsing them according to this his institution Secondly by m 1 Tim. 4 4. according to Christs example Mat. 26.27 Mar. 14 23 Lu. 22.19 1 Co. 11.24 giuing publike thanks vnto God both for the worke of our redemption by the bloud of his Sonne and also for making it knowne offering assuring it vnto vs not only by his word but most plainely and sensibly by this Sacrament Thirdly n 1 Ti. 4.5 by earnest praier vnto the Lord that hee would be present with blesse this his owne ordinance making it effectuall to those ends that himself appointed it for Q. We may receiue the Sacrament from none but from the minister of the word But why do you mention the Minister of Christ when you speake of the consecrating of this Sacrament Is it any matter who doth consecrate it or deliuer it or at whose hands wee doe receiue it A. Yes verily for first as it is not lawfull for any person without commission and authority from the King So when it was told Iohn that Christ baptized he answered none could do it without authority giuen him from heauē Ioh. 3.26 27. to vse and apply the Kings seale to conuey any assurance in worldly matters It is a hainous sin for any hauing no calling and commission thereunto frō Christ to take vpon him to administer this sacrament o Ro. 4.11 being the publike seale of the King of Kings of the common-wealth of Israel Secondly God p 1 Chr. 13 10.11 15 12 13 2 Chro. 26 16-20 hath bin wont seuerely to punish such as haue taken vpon them to deliuer his Sacraments without his calling commission and q 2 Chro 13.9.12.15 hath also beene much offended with the people amongst whom this fault hath bin committed Q. How may this appeare that onely Ministers and Preachers of the Word of God haue a calling and authority from Christ to administer this Sacrament A. First because we find r Gen. 6.14 compared with 2 Pet. 2.5 Ge. 17.23 compared with Gen. 20.7 Deu. 33 10 2 Chro. 35 3 6 Mar. 1.4 Mat. 28.29 that all the sacraments which God hath at any time instituted in his Church haue beene committed by him vnto such as were Ministers and Preachers of the Word that by them they might bee deliuered vnto the Church Insomuch as wee read the people of God ſ 2 Chr. 30 3. 5 3-6 Ez. 6.19 20 could not celebrate the Passeouer till such time as the Priests Leuits who were appointed of God both to teach the people and to sacrifice and minister the other sacramēts were sanctified and prepared vnto that seruice Secondly only the Ministers and Preachers of the Word are by reason of their special office function t 1 Cor. 4 1.2 called in the scriptures the Lords stewards and disposers of his mysteries vnto his Church Thirdly they onely are said u 2 Cor. 5 20 Exod. 4.16 to represent the Lord to beare his person and to be in his stead vnto vs in the matters of his worship as the Magistrate doth in the ciuil gouernment and affaires of this life and so are both his mouth vnto vs to deliuer vs his word and his hand vnto vs to deliuer vs his sacraments And x Ioh. 4.1.1 Ephe. 2.17 Lu. 10.16 that which is done by thē in these matters according to his Word is said to bee done by the Lord himselfe because y Matt. 28 20 hee hath promised to bee present with them and to worke with them ratifying from heauen his owne ordinance in their Ministry Q. Doth then the worthinesse and efficacy of the Sacrament depend vpon the goodnesse of the Minister that deliuereth vnto vs A. No but it dependeth wholly vpon the ordinance of God and vpon the truth and power of Christ that did institute it Yet must it needes make much for the securitie and comfort of a Christian to receiue it from such a one as hee knoweth hath authoritie and commission from Christ to deliuer it vnto him How farre forth it is needfull that the Word bee preached at all times when the Sacrament is to be administred Q. As you haue shewed the necessity of a Minister and Preacher of the Word in the administration of this Sacrament so tell me whether it bee needfull that the Word should bee alwayes preached at the same time when this Sacrament is to be administred A. Yes verily for thogh to them that haue already beleeued through the preaching of the Gospell it may be a true sacrament seale of Gods couenant though the Word bee not preached immediately before it being administred by a true Minister of God yet is the ordinance of God in som degree transgressed and the comfort that Gods people should receiue by this sacrament greatly hindred if at any time the sacrament be administred and that duty neglected Q. How may that bee proued A. First z Mar. 1.4 Acts 19.4 10 37 Acts 8.12 35 37 38 10 34 47 16.14 15 32 33 2 41 Acts 2.42 20 7 because wee finde that it hath alwayes been the practise of Gods Church commended to vs in the holy scriptures to haue the Word preached at all times when they haue been assembled to receiue the sacraments of the new Testament Secondly seeing the sacrament can neuer doe vs good til we haue attained vnto a true faith which ordinarily is wrought by preaching it must needes be most fit and profitable that whensoeuer the people of God are to receiue this seale of the couenant of grace they may haue the couenant it self whervpon the force and efficacy of the seale dependeth published opened and applyed vnto them considering the great need wee all stand in at that time especially to haue our faith quickned and stirred vp in vs and that no means can be so effectual to quicken it as that whereby it was first begotten Q. The elements being consecrated are not changed in their substance but in their vse onely After that the bread and wine haue bin thus consecrated by the Minister of Christ are they not then by vertue of this consecration changed from that which they were before A. Yes but they are changed only in their vse not in their nature because heere they are not vsed to that end that other
picture of a Prince is worthily iudged to bee offered to the Prince himselfe Yea forasmuch as in this Sacrament the very Body and bloud of Christ and all the benefits depending therevpon are spiritually offered vnto the Receiuer as lands are offered conuaied to men by the sealing and deliuering of Deeds and Indentures he that shall vnworthily behaue himselfe in the receiuing of this Sacrament shall therein as much despise the Body bloud of Christ as hee may bee said to despise the gift of lands which cōtemneth the writings Seales and Indentures whereby they vse to bee conuaied secured and confirmed Hence from this consequent we may note 1 That Christ receiues damnable indignitie and contumely sometimes not from Iewes and Infidels onely but often from Christians such as looke to be saued by his bloud-shedding that when they are performing speciall worship seruice vnto him For what greater wrong can there be then to be guiltie of that bloud which was shed to redeeme vs which was the sinne of this Church and is the sinne of all such Persons as are vnworthy receiuers of this Sacrament 2 The bare conformitie vnto the outward exercises of Religion whether Word Prayer or Sacraments is not enough to make vs good Christians but we may be the worse Christians for this Romans 2.28 1 Cor. 10 1-7 Many ignorant and seduced soules thinke they are Christians good enough if their foreheads haue been sprinkled with the water of Baptisme if somtimes they heare the Word and receiue the outward elements of this Sacrament But they may doe all these in such a manner that by doing of them they may crucifie Christ and trample his bloud vnder their feet It were better for vs neuer to receiue this Sacrament then in and by the very act thereof to pull vpon our heads the guilt of Christs body and bloud 3 Note the different and contrary effect of this Sacrament in the receiuers thereof It is the sauour of death vnto death to some to othersome the sauour of life vnto life The worthy Receiuer is fed and refreshed and nourished by the Body and bloud of Christ receiued therein Contrarily the vnworthy Receiuer is polluted defiled thereby the oftner he receiues it the more hee receiues therein the bane poyson of his owne soule Those therefore which in such a manner receiue the Body and bloud of Christ and looke for Grace thereby are therin as fond as if they that whipt Christ and nailed him on the Crosse and by meanes thereof had their faces hands and garments besprinkled with his bloud should thinke by that meanes to be purged freed from their sinnes Or as if hee who pierced christs side with a Speare should haue held a cup at the wound and filled it and drunke it off and haue fancied by that meanes to drinke the bloud of Christ to the health and eternall saluation of his owne soule And thus much of the first Part of Preparation Wherein wee haue been plainely taught by the Apostle what a dangerous sinne it is to abuse this holy Sacrament God grant that the consideration hereof may deepely affects vs that wee may with feare trembling take heed what hands wee lay vpon so holy Mysteries Amen A Preparation to THE RECEIuing of the Sacrament of CHRISTS Body and Bloud The second Part. Directing weake Christians how they may worthily receiue the same By W. BRADSHAVV LONDON Printed by Iohn Beale 1617. The means to preuēt the former sin cōsists in certaine duties Propoūded 1. The triall of our selues whereof the Triall it selfe In generall Cha. 1. In speciall 1. Of our faith by the Groūd Ch. 3. Subiect Chap. 4. 2. Of our Repētance C. 5. The Persons that are make it Ch. 7. 2. The continuance of the Tria Chap. 8. Vrged By the speciall curse that follow the neglect of the former duti Chap. 9. By the signes of that curse in t Church of Corinth Chap. 10. The ground of this second Part. 1 COR. 11 28-33 28. LEt a man therefore examine himselfe and so let him eat of this Bread and drinke of this Cup. 29. For hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh his owne damnation because he discerneth not the Lords Body 30. For this cause many are weake and sicke among you and many sleepe 31. For if we would iudge our selues we should not be iudged 32. But when we are iudged we are chastened of the Lord because wee should not be condemned with the world A Preparation TO THE RECEIuing of Christs Body and Bloud The second Part. Shewing how to preuent the dangerous sinne of profaning this Sacrament CHAP. I. Of the method of this second Part. THe Apostle by whose line wee drawe the doctrine of Preparation hauing set forth the odiousnesse of that sinne whereby the holy Sacrament is abused doth afterwards in the wordes following prescribe a special remedy how that sinne may be preuented In the due conscionable practise wherof doth our second Part of Preparation consist The meanes and remedy aforesaid consists in certaine speciall and necessary duties to be performed by euery Christian that will to his comfort partake of this Sacrament The duties the Apostle 1. Propounds 2. Vrgeth The duties propounded are two First That a man try search examine himselfe before hee presume to receiue Secondly That hee giue not ouer triall and examination of himselfe till hee haue found that which he seekes for In the first duty wee are to consider the triall it selfe First generally Secondly more specially And then the Persons that are to make this Triall CHAP. II. Of the triall of our selues in generall THe triall and examination of our selues in general here required is a diligent search and inquisition to bee made within our soules and consciences whether we bee such kind of persons as may be assured that the Lord will bid welcome to this Table And this triall is not to be sleight cursory but most strict and accurate such as gold Smiths vse when not onely by touch but by fier hammer they try whether their Gold and Siluer be pure or no. For such a manner of triall the Apostles word signifieth The Lord cannot bid any welcome to his Table but such as he is actually reconciled vnto and whose persons are acceptable and wel pleasing vnto him They who are such persons haue certaine speciall gifts and graces bestowed vpon them from which they may conclude infallibly that God doth loue and fauor them which for distinction sake from other common gifts are called Sauing Graces Herein then wee must labour to search out in our selues these Graces and to try whether they bee in vs or no. But before we come to particulars hence we may note in generall 1 That Gods speciall sauing graces may bee in vs and yet not alwayes apparant vnto vs but may sometimes lie hidden in the soule vntill by some speciall search they be discouered else such trials as these shold be
hungring and thirsting after Christ Iesus and his merits Q. Whence doth this appetite arise A. From a sence of the weakenesse of our Faith Repentance and a desire to haue them strengthned Act. 2 37 c. XV. Q. How may vvee come to this true sence A. By preparing our selues before hand therevnto Q. How are wee to prepare our selues A. By examining the sincerity of our Faith and Repentance by the speciall fruites thereof 1 Cor. 11 28. Q. What are they A. A constant and conscionable care to vse all meanes for the getting and increasing of them and a resolute purpose indeuour to obey God in all things for Christs sake XVI Q. What if we be vnworthy receiuers of this Sacrament A. Wee shall then eat and drinke our owne Iudgement 1 Corin. 11.27 29. Q. What if wee contemne or neglect to receiue this Sacrament A. We therein declare that wee contemne or neglect that which is signified thereby and offered therein 1 Corinth 11.29 Q. What if we receiue the same worthily A. Wee shall receiue thereby Christ himselfe and in him more more assurance of our saluation 1 Cor. 10.16 Q. VVhat if wee shall bee vniustly put from this Communion A. God in this case will accept our will for the deed FINIS The Doctrine of Communicating worthily in the Lords SVPPER Deliuered by way of Question and Answer for the more familiar instruction of the simple By A. H. The fifth Edition reviewed and corrected by the Author LONDON Printed by Iohn Beale for Ioyce Macham Widow 1617. To the Reader GOod Reader after I had yeelded to the publishing of mine owne poore meditations vpon 1 Cor. 11.23 there came to my hands in writing this ensuing Treatise written some yeeres since by a godly and faithfull Pastor for the direction of his owne people in the worthy receiuing of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper at what time hee was first called vnto them In the perusall whereof I being in my selfe well perswaded of the fulnesse and perspicuity of that doctrine of preparation which it propoundeth to intreat of the orderly method of euery part thereof the plaine and familiar handling of the matter that it did supply many needfull points of instruction that are wanting in mine owne Treatise I was earnest with the Author to giue me leaue to publish the same and to adioyne it as an ornament and helpe vnto mine which with much impportunitie at length I haue obtained For the spirituall good that thou shalt receiue thereby blesse the Lord and pray for the Author that God would restore him again to that former libertie in his Church which heeretofore to the glory of God and the comfort of many a Christian soule he hath enioyed Thine in the Lord W. B. The Summe and Contents of the Doctrine following NOne can receiue worthily that prepareth not himselfe carefully Page 2 Three reasons for the necessity of examination page 3 The first vse of this doctrine Page 8 Ministers bound to examine the communicants Page 9 The people ought willingly to yeeld to be examined the reasons why Page 10 The worthy receiuers are not depriued of the benefit of the Sacrament in communicating with them which are vnworthy Page 12 Yet it maketh to the comfort of the worthy receiuer to communicate with the godly Page 13 A second vse of the Doctrine touching the necessity of preparation Page 14 A sincere desire to the Sacramēt necessary to the worthy receiuing of it Page 17 This desire must rise from the consideration Page 18 1. Of the necessity of this Sacrament Page 19 2. Of the benefits receiued thereby Page 20 For thereby 1 wee make solemne profession of our faith Page 20 2. We binde our selues to continue in the faith Page 21 3 We receiue confirmation and increase of faith Page 22 For it assureth vs that through the merits of Christ we shall perseuere in the state of grace Page 23 1 By presenting most sensibly and cleerely Christ and his passion and the benefits receiued thereby Page 26 For wee haue heere not one element only to represent his body but another to represent his bloud Page 28 The bread is broken and the wine poured out in our sight Page 30 We haue heere not meat alone but meat and drinke Page 32 Yea the elements we receiue here are bread and wine Page 34 Wee eate the bread and drinke the wine Page 36 2 By offering vnto vs and applying Christ and the merit of his passion most particularly Page 36 3 By exhibiting verily and giuing Christ vnto vs and the merit of his passion Page 37 For Christ is indeede present with this Sacrament and truely giuen and receiued in it Page 38 Yet is not Christ corporally present there Page 39 Though the bread wine be called the body and bloud of Christ Page 43 4 By representing and confirming to vs our cōmunion with all the faithfull Page 44 This Sacrament is to be administred publikely Page 46 Reasons against priuate cōmunions Page 50 The benefit aforesaid not to bee receiued by any vse of bread and wine but only in this Sacrament Page 53 For only here they are consecrated Page 54 We may receiue the Sacrament from none but the Minister of the Word Page 56 How farre forth it is needfull that the Word bee preached at all times when the Sacrament is to bee administred Page 62 The elements being consecrated are not changed in their substance but in their vse onely Page 64 The vse of the Doctrine concerning that desire to the Sacrament which is to be in euery communicant Page 68 That wee are bound to receiue this Sacrament as oft as it is administred Page 70 Want of charity or other worldly distractions no sufficient excuse for not receiuing Page 73 The great fault of them which receiue this Sacrament without any desire or sincere appetite Page 76 How farre forth Magistrates may command and compell their subiects to receiue this Sacrament Page 77 Knowledge is necessary to the worthy receiuing of this Sacrament Page 79 Reasons of this Doctrine Page 81 Vse of this Doctrine Page 83 Faith is necessary to the worthy receiuing of this Sacrament Page 85 Reasons of this Doctrine Page 86 What motiues there are in the Word to perswade a man to beleeue Page 88 Vse of the Doctrine concerning the necessity of faith Page 90 Repentance is necessary for the worthy receiuing of this Sacrament Page 93 Reasons of this Doctrine Page 94 The vse of this Doctrine Page 95 Newnesse of life necessary to the worthy receiuing of this Sacrament Page 99 Reasons why it is necessary Page 99 The vse of the Doctrine Page 101 Charity necessary to the worthy receiuing of this Sacrament Page 102 Reasons of the necessity thereof Page 104 The vse of the Doctrine Page 106 Motiues to perswade to forgiue wrongs Page 106 How farre forth a Christian is bound to loue and thinke well of all men Page 111 How farre forth wee
11 24 the sacramentall actions to bee performed by the Minister as neer as conueniently they may be but once for all that receiue together Q. How may it appeare that the Lord hath ordained this Sacrament should bee administred publikely and not in priuate A. First t Gen. 17.26 27 Luk. 1.59 2 Chro. 30 3.5.13 35.18 Matth. 3 5 6 13 Luke 3.21 Acts 2.42 20.7 1 Cor. 11 18 20 it hath bin the practise of Gods Church commended in the Word to celebrate the sacramēts in solemne assemblies Secondly u Exod. 12 6 47 Deu. 12.5.9 Leu. 17.34 the Lord hath cōmanded his Sacraments should bee so celebrated x 1 Cor. 11 22 33 34 not otherwise Thirdly the Sacraments are y Ro. 4.11 seales of the couenant of grace which is not appropriated to any few but z Prou. 8 23. 9 3 Mar. 16.15 Acts 2.39 1 Iohn 2.2 Mat. 26.28 is offered in common to the whole Church and a 1 Cor. 12.13 Ga. 3.27.28 Ephes 4.5 Iude 3 wherein all how farre soeuer they differ one from another in worldly respects haue equall interest and therefore as they doe concerne the publike priuiledges of all they must needs be actions of a publike nature should be publikely administred Fourthly in the vse of the Sacraments wee b Ge. 17.11 Exo. 13.9 make profession of our faith c Ex. 12.14 1 Co. 11.26 celebrate with praise and thanksgiuing the remembrance of the great benefit of our redemptiō both which duties are then performed d Ps 22.22 40.9 10 149.1 in most acceptable manner vnto God when they are done in the most publike and solemne assemblies of his people Fiftly the dignity reuerence due to the Sacrament * As 2 Sā 6.1 2 15 requireth that they shold be administred publikely in the assembly of all Gods people and with the prayers of all Lastly it may appeare that in this sacramēt the Lord requireth this solemnity more then in any other he hath giuen at any time to his Church 1. because in it hee hath instituted such elements as might bee common to the whole Church 2. and e Matt. 26 26 27 Luk. 22.19 1 Cor. 11.24 25 brake the bread and poured forth the wine but once in the sight of all 3. and spake the wordes of institution but once to them all together 4. and ordained it to this end among others to testifie and confirm the mutuall loue that should bee in all the faithfull one towards another Q. Do you then condemne all such as being vnable to come to the congregation do desire this sacramēt to be administred to thē in priuate A. No but First all Christians are to be taught that they may not put off the receiuing of this sacrament till their sicknesse but receiue it when they may with the rest of Gods people in the publike congregation that it is their ignorance and infirmitie to desire it in priuate Secondly if at any time vpon extraordinary occasion the sacrament be administred in a priuate house yet ought a sufficient company of the faithfull to bee present and to communicate in it and that not without the ministery and preaching of the Word Q. Reasons against priuate Communions How are Christians to be disswaded from the desire of the Sacraments in priuate A. First by the consideration of that I haue alreadie said to proue that it is the will of God the sacrament should bee administred in the publike assemblies Secondly because asthey shall swerue therein from the example of the best instructed and reformed Churches and Christians so they shall fashion themselues to such as are ignorant popish and profane with whom these priuate communions euer haue beene and still are most in vse Thirdly because theyshall not heereby depriue themselues of the comfort and benefit of the sacrament in their sickenes or in the houre of their death if they doe not receiue it at that time seeing the efficacie and fruit of this sacrament which they receiued so oft as they might in the publike congregation when they were in health is not to be restrained to the time of receiuing but extends it selfe to the whole time of their life afterward Lastly because it is f 1 Sam. 4 3 10 2 Sa. 25.25 folly and superstition to giue that honour or ascribe that necessitie to the sacrament as to thinke it can doe vs good being receiued or vsed otherwise then according to Gods ordinance wheras on g Ez. 11.16 Psal 141.2 the other side we are to assure our selues that the Lord both can and will helpe comfort vs without the outward meanes when wee cannot haue them in such sort as he hath ordained but are depriued of them not by our owne negligence but by the hand of God Q. The benefits aforesaid not to be receiued by any vse of bread wine but only in this Sacrament As you haue shewed at large how our communion with Christ and his church is both represented and confirmed to vs by the bread wine the breaking and pouring forth the giuing and receiuing of the same in this Sacrament so tell mee now whether all bread and wine that is broken and poured forth giuen and receiued may not aswell serue to represent and confirme these things vnto vs as these elements and actions that are vsed in this Sacrament A. No for the bread wine by nature serue only for the nourishment and comfort of the body neither are they at all effectuall to yeeld this strength or comfort to the soule being vsed any where else but only in this Sacramēt For here onely they are consecrated and how that is done Q. How are these elements actions in the Sacrament made more effectuall to represent and confirme these spiritual heauenly things then the same elements and actions vsed any where else A. By being consecrated put apart frō that vse they serued to by nature vnto this holy and spiritual vse Q. How are the elements actions in this sacrament thus consecrated and put apart from that vse they serued to by nature vnto this holy and spirituall vse A. Partly f Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.22 1 Cor. 10 16 by that which Christ himselfe did in the first institution of this Sacrament partly by that which the Minister of the Word of God and the congregation doe whensoeuer this Sacrament is administred according to the institution of Christ Q. How did Christ himselfe consecrate these elements and actions vnto this holy and spirituall vse A. First by g Matt. 26 26.27 Luk. 22.19 1 Cor. 11.24 the thanksgiuing Prayer he made vnto his Father at that time when he first instituted this sacrament whereby it is said hee blessed these elements that is obtained a speciall blessing from God vpon them Secondly by instituting ordaining these elemēts and actions in this Sacrament to serue vnto this end not only