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A10398 Three and tvventie sermons, or, Catechisticall lectures upon the sacrament of the Lords Supper preached monthly before the Communion. By that late able, and painfull preacher, Master Iohn Randall Bachelour of Divinitie, pastor of Saint Andrewes Hubbart in little Eastcheape London, sometimes fellow of Lincolne Colledge in Oxford. Published by his executor Iosh. Randall, as he found it corrected by the authors one hand, in his study, since his death. Randall, John, 1570-1622.; Randall, Joshua, fl. 1630. 1630 (1630) STC 20682A; ESTC S115645 295,622 568

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risen c. Here you haue a great many of testimonies together God and Christ and the Angels Dauid and the Prophets Iohn Baptist and the Apostles and the Euangelists all ioyne together acknowledging him to be the Lord that is an absolute Lord it is an vsuall speech in the Apostles writings to call him The Lord Iesus or the Lord Iesus Christ and this title is so proper to him that whē the other Persons are spoken of together with him they oft-times are called by some other titles he by this 1 Cor. 8.6 For there is but one God which is the Father and one Lord Iesus Christ c. The Apostle calles the Father God and Iesus Christ Lord not but that Christ is God also and the Father is Lord but so it pleaseth the Holy Ghost to speake of them for causes best knowne to himselfe and so in the 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6. The same Spirit the same Lord God is the same c. and in Ephes 4.4 5 6. One Spirit one Lord one God and Father of all c. Now that none may thinke this to be a bare title onely it is sometimes giuen him with addition of diuers Royalties such as are peculiar onely to the Lord of Heauen and Earth as The Lord of Life Act. 3.15 The Lord of Power 2 Thes 3.16 The Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2.8 Secondly He is such an absolute Lord as that he is Lord of Lords Reuel 19.16 and he hath vpon his Garments and vpon his Thigh a name written The King of Kings and Lord of Lords not onely as he being greater then they but also as they being at his command and whatsoeuer power and authoritie they haue they haue it from him Thirdly He is such a Lord as that he is the sole Ruler and Gouernor of the World 1 Cor. 15.27 For he hath put downe all things vnder his Feet Math. 28.18 And Iesus came and spake vnto them saying All power is giuen me in Heauen and Earth Lastly He is such a Lord as that he is specially the Lord and sole Gouernor of his Church and of the Faithfull for that is specially intended in the New Testament for as they are the speciall Iewels of the World so Christ Iesus who is Lord of all the World is by speciall relation the Lord ouer them Ephes 3.14 15. the Apostle in the fourteenth Verse hauing spoken of the Lord Iesus Christ in the fifteenth Verse he saith Of whom is named the whole Family in Heauen and Earth all the Faithfull receiue their denomination from him and therefore they challenge him by particular claime as their Lord 1 Cor. 16.23 The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you and euerie one of them too as his Lord So did Dauid Psal 110.1 The Lord said vnto my Lord c. And so did Mary Magdalene Iohn 20.13 They haue taken away my Lord. And in Verse 28 so did Thomas My Lord and my God Nothing more frequent then this So you see the point is plainly proued by Scripture the Reasons are many Reas 1 First He is so in respect of his Being and Nature as he is the Sonne of God in the forme of God equall with God Phil. 2.6 He was God himselfe as the Scripture shewes and therefore he is truly and rightly the Lord of Lords if he had beene but the Sonne of God the reason would hold for if the Sonnes of Earthly Princes are Earthly Lords then the Sonne of God who is Lord of Heauen and Earth must needs be the Heauenly Lord the Lord of all Lords But in that it is said that he was in the forme of God equall with God it takes away all colour of exception and puts the matter out of all doubt that he is an absolute Lord. Reas 2 The second Reason is in respect of his Might whereby God hath manifested his Power Dominion and Maiestie visibly and sensibly to vs in the Person of Christ more then in any of the other Persons for howsoeuer God the Father is Lord and the Holy Ghost is Lord yet in God the Sonne the Lord hath visibly and sensibly manifested his power to vs more then in any of the other Persons and so he hath beene most plainly declared to bee the Lord 1 Cor. 15.47 Reas 3 Thirdly His workes proue him to be a Lord whatsoeuer belongs to a Lord that he hath done and he hath done that which none could doe but the Lord of Lords Who could haue done such Miracles as he did but the Lord onely And what belongs to a Lord to doe but to ouercome his Enemies and tryumph ouer them to rule and raigne ouer all as he will himselfe This the Lord Iesus Christ hath done he hath ouercome Death and destroyed him that had the power of Death that is the Diuell and tryumphed ouer Sinne and Hell and all the powers of Darkenesse vpon the Crosse and made his Enemies his Footstoole therefore he is an absolute Lord. His Resurrection Ascention sitting at the right hand of God his Father his quickning whom he will executing Iudgement by his power his sending downe of the Holy Ghost and returning to Iudgement at the last day to giue sentence on all Flesh All these are so many Cognisances and badges that Christ Iesus is the Lord of all Reas 4 Fourthly He is the Lord by the appointment and assignement of his Father Act. 2.36 God hath made him both Lord and Christ c. which is not to be vnderstood of his Nature but of his Lordly Office the Office of his Mediatorship and hence he hath a large Patent and an absolute authoritie giuen him Math. 28.18 All power is giuen me both in Heauen and Earth and in Iohn 5.22.27 The Father iudgeth no Man but hath committed all Iudgement to the Sonne and hath giuen him power to execute Iudgement in that he is the Sonne of Man And that which agrees most to this in hand is in Phil. 2.9 10 11. Wherefore God hath highly exalted him and giuen him a name aboue euerie name that at the Name of Iesus euerie Knee should bow both of things in Heauen and things in Earth and things vnder the Earth and that euerie tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lord vnto the glorie of God the Father He obtained this Lordship by his Mediatorship and it is such a Lordship as all in Heauen and Earth and vnder the Earth doe acknowledge Reas 1 Now the particular Reasons why he is Lord specially of his Church are these two First because he redeemed them He bought the Church with his owne Blood Act. 20.28 The reason of the name Lord is this when any were taken Prisoners and Captiues he that redeemed and ransomed them was called their Lord and they were his Seruants We were Captiues vnto Sinne and Hell and Damnation and Christ he redeemed and ransomed vs and therefore he is our Lord and we are his Seruants Reas 2 Secondly because the Church is giuen by God
reioyce in trembling All the parts of Gods worship are reuerently to be performed the greatnesse of the glorious Maiestie of God requires it whose businesse it is likewise the excellencie of the worke requires it also the strictnesse of the Commandement of God requires it then againe the benefite we looke to receiue by it requires it yea also our owne voluntarie submission to Gods Ordinance that also necessarily requires reuerence at our hands no Man in the World can religiously vndertake any part of Gods worship without promise of due reuerence Therefore this being a principall part of Gods worship it should prouoke vs and stirre vs vp to attaine to all reuerence humilitie deuotion and christian affection that euer we can reach to in the participation of this Sacrament The Feast of Christ the Supper of Christ and the Table of Christ is attributed to him by a kind of excellencie How should this stirre vs vp reuerently to come to him We know ordinarie manners teacheth vs that if we be to come to the Table of a great Man we will looke to our selues that our Hands be washt and that our Cloathes our speech and whole carriage be reuerent and answerable to the greatnesse of his Person with whom we sit Is it so amongst Men Then for shame let Religion teach vs to doe that at the Lords Table as ordinarie manners teacheth vs to doe at Mens Table seeing it is the Lords Table let vs looke to our Hands and Eyes but specially and aboue all let vs obserue and looke to our Hearts and see that all our actions be well composed with due reuerence and deuotion fitting the high Maiestie of the Lord Iesus Christ Marke what Solomon saith Prou. 23.1 2. When thou commest to sit before a Ruler or a great Man consider diligently what is before thee c. that is to say when thou commest before a great Man carrie thy selfe with that due reuerence as is fitting the greatnesse of his Person carrie thy selfe with all sobrietie True indeed that the Lord Iesus Christ whose Sacrament we come to partake of is not a captious Ruler as the Holy Ghost speakes of that seekes aduantage at vs but yet know that he is a iust and a righteous Iudge a iealous God that cannot endure any mis-behauiour in his presence nor that his Victuals should be wastfully and riotously spent nor his Table abused and therefore come not to the Table of the Lord Iesus without you be furnished with holy sobrietie and Christian manners as becommeth a Guest of the Lord Iesus If we could but see the Lord Iesus to come amongst vs bodily in the Lords Table if we should see and heare him say this Table and this Feast and this worke and whole businesse is mine If he should come but in bodily presence and lay clayme to that we could not chuse but tremble at it and be astonished Why shall not our Faith in Christ being in Heauen sitting at the right Hand of God stirre vs vp to more reuerence and awe then to behold him bodily with our Eyes And therefore knowing this is his Table his worke and whole businesse and that he layes right and clayme to it then what manner of Men and Women ought we to be in all manner of holy conuersation as at other times so especially at this Vse 2 The second Vse It should serue to stirre vs vp to thankefulnesse Is it the Feast and the Table of the Lord How much are we bound to Christ that hath vouchsafed vs this fauour as to admit vs bid vs and inuite vs to his owne Table 2 Sam. 9.7 Dauid had a purpose to shew some fauour and kindnesse to Mephibosheth for his Fathers sake now how would he doe it but in making him to eat Bread at his Table He could not shew his kindnesse more nor expresse it more then in bidding him to his Table So Christ he hath a purpose to shew fauour and kindnesse vnto vs for our heauenly Fathers sake now wherein can he expresse it more then in inuiting and admitting vs to his Table to participate of his heauenly blessings This should stirre vp our Hearts to thankfull obedience that seeing Christ is so gracious so louing and kind to vs as to feast vs at his Table therefore should we consecrate our selues ouer-to his seruice and exercise that he hath ordained vs for Who should haue the vse and seruice honor of our strength but he that gaue vs our strength and from whom we receiue it We receiue all from Christ it is he that feeds vs and nourisheth vs by his Word and by his Sacrament and therefore see that our spirituall strength be faithfully and wholly imployed to the honour of Christ Now to stirre vs vp to the performance of this more effectually let vs consider and obserue some particulars which may be greater spurres to stirre vs vp to more thankfulnesse 1 First Consider the excellencie of his Person that inuites vs it is Christ himselfe the King of Glorie of Heauen and of Earth he of whom it is said Dan. 7.10 That thousand thousands ministred vnto him and ten thousand thousands stood before him It is he that makes vs his Fellow-guests O what thankfulnesse doth this require at our hands 2 Secondly Consider the daintinesse of the Fare it is not Bread and water and cold commons that we are inuited vnto it is not perishing Food but Food that lasteth for euer euen the Body and Blood of the Lord Iesus Christ that he here feasteth vs withall What lesse thankfulnesse then this can we giue to him then Body for Body and Blood for Blood 3 Thirdly Consider the benefite of this we receiue not onely temporal comfort but spiritual as forgiuenesse of sinnes grace sanctification and life eternall This deserues therefore eternall thankfulnesse to be rendred to Christ in our liues and conuersations 4 Fourthly Consider further who we are that are admitted to this Feast Why alas poore base wretches miserable and damned sinners not worth the ground we tread vpon yet Christ admits vs as Guests to his Table We are those spoken of that are poore and hault blind lame and naked we are vagrant Persons that lye vnder the Hedge Luke 14.21 22. that Christ calles and comples to come to this Banket Churlish Nabal 1 Sam. 25.11 he grudged when Dauid came and asked him bread and reliefe in his distresse Shall I saith he take my Water and my Bread that I haue prouided for my Shearers and giue it to them that I know not whence they are But the Lord Christ he stucke not at a greater matter but he gaue his owne Body and Blood for vs he did not onely bestow vpon vs his Bread and his Wine poore wretched sinners of whom he may more iustly say then Nabal said of Dauid Goe your wayes I know you not The rich Man in Luke 16. would not afford poore Lazarus the crummes that were vnder his Table but the Lord Iesus Christ
THREE AND TWENTIE SERMONS OR Catechisticall Lectures upon the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Preached monthly before the Communion By that ●●te able and painfull Preacher Master Iohn Randall Bachelour of Divinitie Pastor of Saint Andrewes Hu●●●rt in little Eastcheape London sometimes Fellow of Lincolne Colledge in Oxford Published by his Executor Iosh Randall as he found it corrected by the Authors one hand in his Study since his death 1 COR. 11.28 But let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of that bread and drinke of that cup. LONDON Printed for Fulke Clifton and are to be sold at his Shop on new Fishs●●e●●-hill 1630. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Right vertuous and truly affected Lady the Lady BOYS Ioshua Randall wisheth increase of Grace here and perfection of Grace and Glory hereafter through Iesus Christ GRacious Madam your zeale for God your love to Religion respect to Christs members practise of charitie and respect to my selfe a most unworthy object gives me incouragement to dedicate to your Ladiship by way of thankf●●●esse these ensuing labours of that able Mini●●●●f Christ Iohn Randall Intreating your goo●●●●●ship to accept the truth of affection accom●…ing this present expression The work w●● praise it selfe and commend the Author I shall therefore say nothing though I can say many things both of the worke and Author also but ceasing solicitude and shunning prolixitie committing the worke your selfe and yours to the tuition of the Almighty I humbly take my leave Resting Your Ladiships to be commanded IOSHVA RANDALL TO THE READER CHristian Reader here is by a divine hand and providence through many difficulties presented to thy view and committed to thy consideration the faithfull labours and painfull endeavors of that late painfull Preacher and faithfull Minister of Christ Iohn Randall Bachelor in Divinity sometime Fellow of Lincolne Coledge in Oxford and late Rector of Saint Andrew Hubbart in little Eastcheape London whose learning and Religion is sufficiently declared in these sermons concerning the Sacrament of the Lords Supper a worke perfected in his life time found in his study under his owne hand ●all but two sermons which in his life time were lent as is seemes but never returned which with much paines at the length by the love of some unexpected friends are obtained Other of this Authors workes are extant published by that late Minister of Christ William Holbrooke Compare these and them together and I hope thou shalt finde in them a parity and lik●nesse so that they will appeare children of the same fath●●●●ey have beene viewed and approved and are now pu●…or the common good If thou read with that affection 〈…〉 was caried in delivering I doubt not but thou sh●… 〈◊〉 much sweetnesse in the increase of grace and strength 〈…〉 with Christ for the fitting thee for glory which is the thing in truth of affection I wish to thee for thy endlesse and eternall comfort Thus intreating thee to beare with my rudenesse and to afford thy earnest prayers to God 〈◊〉 his blessing upon the work that it may profit in the thing intended I take my leave Resting thine in any thing in the Lord for the furtherance of thy Faith IOSHVA RANDALL THE FIRST LECTVRE VPON THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORDS SVPPER Being an Introduction to the following Lectures THus thorough Gods assistance we haue made our entrance into the worke that we intended it remaines now that we should goe on forward in the way that we haue thus chalked out before vs but I am called away by God to another businesse I say by God for the time calles me away and you know that times and seasons are at Gods disposing and a iust occasion calles me away now all iust occasions you kno● 〈◊〉 Gods occasions In Luke 22.7 8. the day of 〈◊〉 ●●auened Bread came and Peter and Iohn must lay aside all other businesses and be gone to prepare for eating the Passeouer that is the businesse which for that present dispensation and time Christ himselfe and all his Disciples must apply themselues vnto All of vs know that the time of our Christian Passeouer is now at hand the time wherein by our account Christ our Passeouer was sacrificed for vs a time when all that are of any vnderstanding or discretion in Religion doe vsually receiue the Sacrament of the true Passeouer the Lords Supper the occasion or businesse is of that consequence that whosoeuer hath any hand in it must see that he be well fitted and prepared vnto it Being therefore thus called away by God and the time and the iustnesse of the occasion let vs follow the example of Christ and his Disciples All make ready for the Passeouer Let me and you and all of vs lay aside our other businesse for this present dispensation and apply our selues wholly to this how we may be prepared to the Religious profitable and comfortable participation of this blessed Passeouer It may seeme some-what disorderly and out of season that seeing the Doctrine of the Lords Supper is one part of the Catechisme I should so abruptly and suddainly fall into it before I meet with it in the due place True it is out of season in regard of the Method of the Catechisme but in regard of our selues and our present necessitie and the instant opportunitie it is most seasonable and in the verie naturall place he 〈◊〉 ●euer out of his way that followes God and see 〈◊〉 God hath by his prouidence cast in this oportunitie vpon vs we must serue his prouidence and follow that for the right way wherein he leads vs and goes before vs. Neither doe I purpose onely to enter vpon this Argument now and so let it rest but as we haue our monthly Communions so if God enable me I meane to make my digressions and proceedings into this Argument accordingly that so I may confine the knowledge of the Lords Supper to the vse of the Lords Supper for when should we know what belongs to the Lords Supper that our knowledge and our practise may quote and second one another our knowledge may direct our practise and our practise may exercise and confirme our knowledge by continuall sensible and liuely practise My course God willing shall be this euerie next Sabboth before the Communion Sabboth I will treat of some points or other touching the Lords Supper as they shall offer themselues in their due order some preparation must needs be made the weeke dayes cannot conueniently be spared because of worldly affaries that which is made the morning wherein you are to receiue is good but not sufficient there is required some time of respite for Meditation betwixt your hearing and receiuing therefore it is fittest to begin the Sabboth day before that you may haue some seasoning some profitable matter to feed vpon all the weeke long whereby if you haue any grace in your Hearts you may be put in continuall remembrance what a great worke you are to vndertake the Sabboth following and so
of the world after our lusts and corruptions but when once we are truly partakers of Christ crucified then we are crucified to the World and the World to vs and then we scorne the things of the World the great riches and high promotion and the beautifullest things we account them as Dung of the Earth Againe when we consider Christ crucified there we behold how patient we should be in affliction euen to the death there is the picture of our whole life which must be a continuall course of mortification and there is the seasoning of our death looking thoroughly vpon Christ crucified it is that which seasons our death that whensoeuer death commeth and seaseth vpon vs it shall be a sweet passage to a better life Againe when we see Christ crucified we see all euils turned to good they are seasoned to vs in the sufferings of the Lord Iesus and if we haue any comforts we enioy them so farre forth as they are seasoned vnto vs in the Blood of Christ Lastly when we consider Christ crucified there we find all good things purchased for vs Grace and Mercie and Peace and eternall Saluation There is a World yea a Heauen of Treasure and riches gathered for vs and that we are made partakers of by a due view and Faith in the meditation of Christ crucified and therefore whosoeuer would haue any true rellish of Christ he must labour for the rellish of the Blood of Christ Vse 2 The second Vse teacheth vs the difficultie of the worke of our Redemption it was a maruelous difficult and a hard thing which could not be effected but by the Blood of the Sonne of God Oh how deepely had we plunged our selues into a bottomlesse Sea of miserie that nothing could plucke vs out but the Death and Blood of Iesus Christ How fast did the filth of sinne sease vpon vs both in our Bodyes and in our Soules that nothing could wash and cleanse vs from it but the Blood of Christ How desperately were we entangled in the Snares of the Diuell that nothing could loose vs but the Death and Blood of Christ How fearefully had we enthrall'd our selues to Death Hell and Destruction that nothing could deliuer and free vs but the Blood of Christ How infinitely had we exposed our selues to the wrath and vengeance of God that he being a God of compassion and of himselfe most gracious and ready to forgiue sinnes yet he could not be moued to haue pittie and companion vpon vs but onely by the cruell and cursed death of the Lord Iesus The more difficult the worke on his part the greater was his loue to vs and therefore the more thankfulnesse we are to render vnto him Vse 3 The third Vse It teacheth vs the certaintie of the worke of our Redemption and the certaintie of the state of the Children of God It is confirmed by Blood and therefore it shall stand sure and firme for euer If so be that our sinnes can be more powerfull to destroy vs then the Blood of Christ to saue vs then is our Redemption vncertaine If so be that Death and the Diuell which haue beene already ouercome and trampled vnder Foot by Christ if these Principallities and Powers can recouer themselues and get vp in Armes againe and make Warre against Christ and bring him downe from Heauen againe and crucifie him the second time then is our Saluation and Redemption vncertaine But if that be impossible then it is impossible that those that haue part in this Couenant should faile of Saluation and Redemption Vse 4 The fourth Vse It teacheth vs the preciousnesse of the worke of our Redemption you see it hath cost the verie Blood of the Sonne of God himselfe How preciously and highly did the Lord value our Soules who was pleased himselfe that knew the worth of euerie thing to set our Soules at such a high rate as the Blood of Christ How deerely did he esteeme and loue vs when he would come and purchase these poore Soules of ours and pay so high a price for them And how preciously ought we to carrie and behaue our selues and possesse these Vessels of ours in holinesse and honour and giue vp our Soules a liuing Sacrifice to our Lord Iesus 1 Cor. 6.20 You are bought with a price saith the Apostle therefore glorifie God in your Bodyes and in your Soules for they are Gods God hath esteemed so highly of you as to set you at the rate of his own Sonne And Christ hath esteemed so highly of you to buy you so deerely and therefore doe not commit sinne filthinesse and vncleanenesse but giue your selues to holinesse and pietie that God may be glorified and honored by you Vse 5 The fifth Vse It teacheth vs the sufficiencie and perfection of the worke of our Redemption All that euer was and could be done was done of Christ What could he haue done but to be holy all his life and to be subiect to the Death euen to the Death of the Crosse Who can add any thing more perfect to this worke of our Redemption What can any Man adde vnto this worke of our Redemption No no it colt more then so to redeeme our Soules What can we doe any thing of our felues if we doe either it must be some holy doings or some holy sufferings What are our doings to Christ his doing Surely nothing and therefore nothing that we can doe can add any thing Then for our suffering what is the shedding of the Blood of Men to the shedding of the Blood of Christ Infinitely incomparable is the one to the other Therefore seeing our Redemption is accomplished by his Blood it is not the Blood of Man that can add any thing thereunto And therefore you see Christ hath done all in all and so let him be acknowledged our perfect Redeemer Vse 6 The sixth and last Vse It teacheth vs what an vnrecouerable losse they doe sustaine that doe prophane this worke of Redemption that haue had some shew of interest in it yet gaue it ouer and prophaned the Blood of the New Testament and counted it an vnholy thing and fell away from God and that holy profession that they tooke vpon them Alas what shall become of them that fall from God If their sinnes be not forgiuen them then they must needs goe to Hell and be damned Whither shall they fly to haue their sinnes forgiuen And where shall they plead for mercie They must plead it in Christ and in none else In Christ they cannot plead it for they cannot plead the pardon of sinne but in the Blood of Christ Christ dyed but once he suffered and was crucified but once and cannot dye againe and therefore as many of vs as haue taken the professsion of Christ vpon vs looke that we doe not let goe this holy and heauenly profession but let vs labour to sticke fast to Christ to his Death and Blood and then thou mayst be sure that the worke of thy Redemption
acquaintance with him and hath better informed himselfe of him and was by when he was arraigned and heard his arraignment and his inditement and all the passages of the businesse and what was alledged against him by his accusers and what he answered for himselfe and why the sentence of death was passed against him which of these two men shall be most affected with the death of this Martyr Out of question hee that was so lately acquainted with his arraignment and his inditement and with the whole cause of his death the death of that Martyr shall strike much into this mans heart and worke soundly upon him whereas the other man which knew of him but in generall shall bee moved with it but little or nothing at all So it is in this case when wee come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper wee come to behold Iesus Christ executed and put to death to every spirituall receiver in a spirituall manner to reade the story concerning the death of Christ to meditate upon those things conscionably and religiously with a desire to profit by them it is as if so bee a man should have stood by when Christ was arraigned and indited and heard what was spoken against him and what sentence was passed upon him For when the Holy Ghost pennes a story he will pen it throughly and if we lay downe our hearts to be wrought upon by the power of the Word wee shall finde such a powerfull working by it that it shall bee more effectuall to us than it wee had beene there present to have seene the death of Christ So then by reading the story before-hand wee being as it were present with him at his arraignment and inditement thinke with your selves whether this will not be a notable meanes to make the death of Iesus Christ effectual unto us in the Sacrament and if we looke for any benefit by the Sacrament let us come with this preparation before-hand Iohn 13.19 Christ saith I tell you these things before-hand that when ye see these things come to passe ye might beleeve He speakes there partly concerning his death the words that Christ spake concerning his owne death hee puts upon his Disciples before-hand that when it did come to passe they might beleeve this would bee a meanes to cherish faith in them and to make them beleeve it the better so if wee come to the Sacrament reade the Word of God that part of the Word that principally concernes the death of Christ and meditate upon that which Christ hath told us of before-hand that so we might beleeve it and this will bee a notable meanes through Gods blessing to make us that we shall beleeve that the death of Christ is ours and that it is effectuall for our redemption The second Vse for instruction is this Is it so that the Sacrament is such a lively representation of the death of Christ then this teacheth us that the publike cariage of the whole businesse of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper must be framed and fashioned so as it may make most for the lively setting forth of the death of the Lord Iesus Christ and herein are many duties required of us The first duty of all is this the Word is to be preached that so the people may understand and know that which belongs to God and to their owne salvation else it will bee but a blinde Sacrament but especially the Gospell the voice of the Gospell namely the free remission of sins by the blood of Iesus Christ that is to be pressed upon them againe and againe that they may be stirred up in their affections to esteeme and receive it graciously it is a course that God hath used in all Sacraments still to joyne together with the Sacraments the Word preached Before the sacrament of Circumcision was administred the Word was taught so likewise the Passeover as is cleare in Exod. 12.35 It is noted there that when their children should come to aske what was this Passeover Tell them saith God that this is the memoriall of the great deliverance of their fathers many hundred yeares before out of the bondage of Aegypt So likewise Christ saith in the Sacrament of Baptisme Goe teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost Matth 28. He doth not say Goe and baptize and let teaching alone but Goe teach there is the ground and foundation and then he builds upon it the administration of the Sacrament Goe teach and baptize in the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost If teaching be not joyned with the Sacrament it is but a dumbe sacrament if men should come here to the sacrament of the Lords supper and be not taught what it meanes and what belongs to it it should be with them as it was with the Israelites Exod. 16.15 That saw Manna like Coriander seed the Text saith they knew not what it was but when Moses came and said This is the bread that God gave them from heaven now they come to relish it So when we come to this sacrament and see the bread and the wine except we be indued with the knowledge of Christ and we understand Christ and him crucified know the nature of the sacrament wee shall not know what to make of it but if the Word be preached then we beginne to grow to some understanding and some life in the businesse and to relish this Sacrament as the spirituall Manna the heavenly food of our soules Secondly as the word must be preached so likewise confession of Faith ought to made Generally here amongst us wee make confession of our Faith by the tendring of our bodies but indeed the confession of our faith ought to be published before the receiving of the Lords supper this is a right shewing forth of the Lords death Marke it the Apostle saith yee shew forth the Lords death hee speakes not to the Ministers onely but to the people yee shew forth therfore they should make some publike confession that they beleeve in Christ Iesus And this is a matter that tends much to the setting forth of the death of Christ Thirdly Prayers are to be made for therein likewise wee shew the death of Iesus Christ First there must be confession of our sins and wee must search into our hearts and lives narrowly and throughly and the more we search into them the more clearely we shall see Christ his death Together with confession of sinnes wee must use supplication and petition calling earnestly upon God for Christ his sake which thus was crucified for us that hee would forgive us our sinnes in his blood and this will give great light to the setting forth of the death of Christ and then also thankesgiving must be given to the Lord we must thanke and praise God that it hath pleased him so to set his love upon us as to give his Sonne to die for us cursed and miserable sinners as we are
religiously and certainly the God of peace will be with you Here is a most serious exhortation as any is in the Booke of God that is for the generall Now for the severall duties of the first and second table and first of the first table in the 1 Thess 5.16 to 21. Rejoyce evermore pray continually In all things give thankes quench not the spirit despise not prophecying Ioy in God prayer thankes cherishing the spirit and good motions embracing the Word that Gods Prophets and Ministers bring unto us these and such like are duties of the first Table which wee must be exercised in And so for the second table Tit. 3.8 this is a true saying and these things I will that thou shouldst affirme that they which have beleeved in God might bee carefull to shew forth good workes as many as beleeve as many as professe the faith of Christ Iesus must be carefull to shew forth all good duties that are profitable to men which specially are those of the second Table if we take a view of all true professors that are approved in Scripture we shall find them all wel experienced in the practice of the duties of both tables it is true they had their failings but yet this was the ordinary bent of all their courses The reasons why we must doe thus there are many reasons The first reason is this because the practice of these duties is the grace of our profession the grace of all morall vertues consists in the actions of vertue and the grace of every trade consists not so much in the knowledge of the trade as in the well managing of that trade our Christian profession is a vertue and a trade a spirituall vertue and a heavenly trade therefore the grace of it stands in our well managing of it by the practice of all religious duties godly cariage in servants the meanest that professe religion and consequently in all doth adorne and beautisie and grace the doctrine of God our Saviour Tit. 2.10 not that wee can adde any grace to religion in it selfe no in it selfe and of it selfe it is most gracious so that it need not nor cannot receive any grace from our doing but that thereby we grace it before men our friends that like us the better for it and our enemies that are put to shame and silence by it yea and oft-times are forced to speake well of our Religion for our practice and we also procure a more reverent estimation of our profession generally in the world When we take this holy profession upon us it graceth us and when we prastice hereby answerable to this holy profession we grace it therefore this wee must doe Secondly this is the life of our faith it can live no longer then it is exercised in good duties as Rachel Gen. 39.1 said to Iacob Give me children or else I dye so likewise saith faith to the soule of a Christian give me children let mee bring forth fruits of piety towards God and charity towards man else I dye and have no life in me The Apostle saith as much Iames 2.26 Faith without works it dead and Revel 3.1 God tells the Church of Sardis That she had a name to live but was dead because her practice was not answerable to her profession vers 2. her faith and religion was readie to die how so I have not found thy workes perfect before God there was a great failing in the practice of Religion when good exercises dye amongst us saith dies amongst us when they decay within us faith decayes it lyes a bleeding but when they are well practised that saith worketh by love that is both to God and man then our faith lives and thrives within us therefore we must practise good duties both to God and men else faith cannot live within us Thirdly it is the end of our calling 1 Thess 4.7 For God hath not called us unto uncleannesse but unto holinesse that is to the practise of holy and religious duties when a man is called of purpose to doe a worke shall hee come and not doe that which he is called to and come for this were a shamefull and a senslesse thing either let him not come when he is called or when he is come let him doe that which hee is called unto The maine matter that Christians are called unto is holinesse therefore if wee doe not practise holy and religious duties wee goe quite beside the marke and to the profession we aime at Fourthly it is one maine condition that is intended on our part when wee are first admitted to the profession of Christianitie it is so required by God 2 Tim. 2.19 The Lord knoweth who are his and let every one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquity And it is so undertaken by us in baptisme that we will renounce the world the flesh and the Devill and become dutifull Children unto God in the practise of all holy duties which he requires This then being our condition in Christianity therefore we must practise it or else we shall never come to heaven Lastly God scornes and hates all Professors of his name that will not obey his will hee utterly renounceth them and their profession to be none of his so he doth here in this world and so he will doe hereafter so hee doth here as wee may see Psal 50.16 But unto the wicked saith God what hast thou to doe to declare mine ordinances that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth Lay this to heart and see if God say not thus to every one of us here present What hast thou to doe to come into my house and to professe my name seeing thou wilt not obey my will but hatest to be reformed And so he will scorne and deny them hereafter Matth. 7.23 Then will I professe to them I never knew you depart from me you that worke iniquity though they professe never so much yet if their practice bee not answerable God will scorne and hate and renounce them here and so he will doe hereafter The Vses are these First this serves for matter of reproofe of divers sorts indeed of all sorts For who is there here among us yea what professor living upon the earth that is not rightly taxed and reproved for the breach of this doctrine what professing man or woman in the world can say My heart is cleane in this kinde Every one is faulty some more some lesse let our owne courses be our owne accusers The whole Land professeth Gods Religion as being a nationall Church but how few be there in the whole land that are daily conversant in the exercises of Religion either they doe not performe them at all or else if they doe them yet they doe not make conscience of them but they doe them overly and for fashion at least they doe not make it their daily and continuall practice but onely now and then when they list themselves Who is zealous for the Lord