Lord's fupperg; and yet are fpiritually present to the faith of the receiver, no less truly and really than the elements themselves are to their ouiward senses b; so they thatworthily communicate in the facrament of the Lord's supper, do therein feed upon the body and blood of Christ, not after a corporal or carnal, but in a spiritual manner; yet truly and really i, wlule by faith they receive and apply unto themselves Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death k.

Q. 171. How are they that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper to prepare themselves before they come unto it?

A. They that receive the sacrament of the Lord's fupper are, before they come, tu prepare themselves thereunto, by examining themselves l of their being in Christ m, of their fins and wants n; of the truth and measure of their

know

1

the new Testament in my blood, bread, and drink this cup of the which is shed for you.

Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of 170. g Acts iii. 21. Whom the the body and blood of the Lord. v. heaven must receive, until the times 28. But let a man examine himself, of restitution of all things, which and so let him eat of that bread, God hath spoken by the mouth of and drink of that cup. v. 29 čor all his holy prophets, since the world he that eateth and drinketh unwor. began.

thily, eateth and drinketh damnati. Mat. xxvi. 26 And as they were on to himself, not discerning the eating. Jesus took bread, and bles. Lord's body. sed it, and brake it, and gave it to ki Cor. x, 16. The cup of bler. the disciples, and said, Take, eat; fing which we bless, is it not the this is my body. v. 28. For this is communion of the blood of Chrift? my blood of the new Testament the bread which we break, is it not which is shed for many for the re. the communion of the body of Chrift? mission of fins.

171.01 Cor. xi. 28. But let a man i i Cor. xi. 24. And when he had examine himself, and so let him eat given thanks, he brake it, and said, of that bread, and drink of that cup. Take, eat; this is my body, which * 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Examine youris broken for you: this do in re. felves, whether you be in the faith; membrance of me. v. 25. after the prove your own felves; know ye fame manner also he took the cup, not your own selves, how that Jewhen he had fupped, saying, This fus Christ is in you except ye be recup is the new Testament in my probates ? blood: this do ye, as often as ye n i Cor. v. 7. Purge oat there. drink it, io remembrance of me. v. fore the old leaven, that ye may be 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, a new lump as ye are unleavened. and drink this cup, ye do fhew the For even Christ our passover is faLord's death till he come, v. 27. crificed for us. Compared with Wherefore, whofoever shall eat this Exod. xii. 15. Seven days Mall ye

knowledge o, fajth p, repentance q, love to God and the brethren r, charity to all mens, forgiving those that have done them wrong t, of their desires after Christ v, and of their new obedience w; and by renewing the exercise of these graces x,

by cat uoleavened bread, even the first si Cor. v. 8. Therefore let us day ye ihall put away leaven out of keep the feast, not with old leaven, your houses : for whosoever eateth neither with the leaven of malice leavened bread, from the first day and wickedness; but with the un. until the seventh day, that soul shall leavened breadof fincerity and truth. be cut off trom Israel.

1 Cor. xi, 18. For first of all, when 01 Cor. xi. 29. For he that cat- ye come together in the church, I eth and drinketh unworthily, eateth hear that there be divisions among and drinketh damnation to himself, you; and I partly believe it. v. 20. not discerning the Lord's body. When ye come together therefore

piCor. xiii. 5. (See above in m.) into one place, this is not to eat the Mat. xxvi. 28. For this is my blood Lord's fupper, of the new Telliment, which is shed # Mat. F. 23. Therefore, if thou for many for the remillion of lins. bring thy gift to the altar, and there

q Zech. xii. 10. And I will pour rememberelt that thy brother hath upon the house of David, and upon ought against thee; v. 24. Leave the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the there thy gift before the altar, and spirit of grace and of fupplications, go thy way, first be reconciled to and they shall look upon me whom thy brother, and then come and ofthey have pierced, and they shall fer 'thy gift. mourn for him, as one mourneth v Ifa. lv. 1. Ho, every one that for his only fon, and shall be in bit. thirsterh, come ye to the waters, terness for him, as one that is in bit. and he that hath no money; come terness for his first born : 1 Cor. xi. ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy 31. For if we would judge our wine and milk without money, and selves, we should not be judged. without price. John vii, 37. In the

1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing last day, the great day of the feast, which we bless, is it not the com- Jesus food and cried, saying, If amunion of the blood of Chrift? the ny man thirst, let him come unto bread which we break, is it not the me, and drink. commuoion of the body of Christ? w 1 Cor. v. 7. Purge out there. v. 17. For we being many, are one fore the old leaven, that ye may be bread, and one body: for we are all a new lump, as ye are unleavened. partakers of that one bread. Ads ii. For eren Christ our passover is facri46. And they continuing daily with ficed for us v. 8. Therefore let us one accord in the temple, and break- keep the feast, not with old leaven, ing bread from house to house, did neither with the leaven of malice eat their meat with gladness and and wickedness; but with the uoleafingleness of heart, v. 47. Praifing vened bread of fincerity and truth, God, and having favour with all x 1 Cor. xi. 25. After the same the people: and the Lord added to manner also he took the cup, when the church daily such as should be he had supped, saying, This cip is faved.

Uin

by.serious meditation y, and fervent prayef z.

y, Q. 172. May one who doubtet h of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation come to the Lord's supper?

A. One who doubreth of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation to the sacrament of the Lord's supper, may have true interest in Christ, tho' he be not yet assured thereof a; and in God's account hath it, if he be duly affected with the appre

hension

the new Testament in my blood : this seek God, the Lord God of his fado ye, as oft as ye drink it, in re. thers, though habe not cleansed membrance of me. 5. 26. For as according to the purification of the often as ye eat this bread, and drink fan&tuary. Mat. xxvi. 26. and as this cup, ye do fhew the Lord's death they were eating, Jesus took bread, till he come. v. 28. But let a man and blessed it, and brake it, and examine himself, and so let him eat gave it to the disciples, and said, of that bread, and drink of that Take, eat; this is my body. cup. Heb. X. 21. and having an 172. a Isa. 1. 10. Who is among high prieit over the house of God; you that feareth the Lord, that ov. 22. Let us draw near with a true beyeth the voice of his fervant, that heart, in full assurance of faith, have walketh in darkoess, and hath no ing our hearts sprinkled from an e- light ? let him trust in the name of vil conscience, and our bodies wash- the Lord, and stay upon his God. ed with pure water. v. 24.' and Joho v. 13. These things have I let us consider one another to pro. written unto you that believe on the voke unto love, and to good works. name of the Son of God; that ye Psal. xxvi. 6. I will walh mine hands may know that ye have eternal life, in innocence : fo will I compass thine and that ye may believe on the name altar, O Lord.

of the Son of God. Pfal. Ixxxviii. y i Cor. xi. 24. And when he had throughout. Pfal. lxxvii. to the 12. given thanks, he brake it, and said, v. 1. I cried unto God with my Take, eat; this is my body, which voice : even unto God with my voice, is broken for you: this do in reinem and he gave ear unto me, v. 2. In brance of me. v. 25. after the the day of my trouble I fought the same manner also he took the cup, Lord; my lore ran in the night, and when he had fupped, saying, This ceased not: my soul refused to be cupis the new Teftamentin my blood: comforted. v. 3. I remembred God, this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in and was troubled: I complained, remembrance of me.

and my spirit was overwhelmed. Se. % 2 Chron. xxx. 18. For a mul- lah. v. 4. Thou holdest mine eyes titude of the people, even many of waking: 'I am so troubled, that I Ephraim, and Manasseh, Iffachar, cannot speak, &c. v.7. Will the and Zebulup, had not cleansed them. Lord cast off for ever? and will be selves, yet did they eat the paísover, be favourable no more? v. 8. Is his otherwise than it was written: but mercy clean gone for ever? doth his Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, promise fail for evermore? v. 9. The goud Lord pardon every one Hath God forgotten to be gracious ? v, 19. That preparct bis heart to harh he in anger shut up his tender

hension of the want of it b, and unfeignedly desires to be found in Christ c, and to depart from iniquity d: in which case (becafe promises are made, and this facrament is appointed, for

the mercies ? Jonah ii. 4. Then I said, cellency of the knowledge of Christ I am cast oat of thy sight; yet I will Jesus my Lord: for whom I have look again toward thy holy temple. suffered the loss of all things, and v. 7. When my soul fainted within do count them but dung that I may me, I remember the Lord, and my win Christ. v.9. and be found in prayer came in unto thee, into thioe him, not having mine own righteholy temple.

ousness, which is of the law, but b Ifa. liv. 7. For a small moment that which is through the faith of have I forsaken thee, but with great . Christ, the righteousness which is mercies will I gather thee. v. 8. In of God by faith. Pfal. x. 17. Lord, a little wrath I hide my face from thou halt heard the desire of the thee for a moment, but with ever- humble: thou wilt prepare their Jalting kindness will I have mercy heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to on thee, faith the Lord thy redeem- hear. * Psal. xlii. 1. As the hart er. v. 9. For this is as the waters of panteth after the 'water-brooks, so Noah uoto me: for as I have sworn panteth my soul after thee, O God, that the waters of Noah should no v. 2. My soul thirsteth for God, for more go over the earth; fo have I the living God: when shall I come sworn that I would not be wroth and appear before God? v.5. Why with thee, oor rebuke thee. v, 10. art thou cast down, O my soul ? and For the mountains shall depart, and why art thou disquieted in me? hope the hills be removed, but my kindthou in God, for I shall yet praise ness shall not depart from thee, nei- him for the help of his countenance. ther shall the covenant of my peace

V. II. Why art thou caít down, O be removed, faith, the Lord, that my soul? and why art thou difhath mercy on thee. Mat. v. 3. quieted within me? hope thou in Blessed are the poor in fpirit : for God, for I shall yet praise him, who theirs is the kingdom of heaven. v. is the health of my countenance, 4. Blesed are they that mouro: for and my God. they shall be comforted. Psal. xxxi. d 2 Tim. ii. 29. Nevertheless, the 22. For I said in my hafte, I am cut foundation of God landeth fure, off from before thine eyes: never having this feal, The Lord knowtheless, thou heardit the voice of my eth them that are his. And, Let fupplications, when I cried unto every one that nameth the name of thee. Pfal. Ixxiii. 13. Verily I have Christ, depart from iniquity, Isa. 1. cleansed my heart in vain, and wash- 10. Who is among you that feareth ed my hands in innocency. v. 22. the Lord, that obeycth the voice of So foolish was I, and ignorant: I his servant, that walketh in darkness, was as a bealt before thee. v. 23. and hath no light? let him trust in e Nevertheless, I am continually with the name of the Lord, and stay uthee; thou hast holden me by my pon his God. Pfal. Ixvi. 18. If I reright hand

gard iniquity in my heart: the Lord c Phil. iii. &. Yea doubtless, and I will not hear me.' v. 19. But rerily count all things but loss, for the ex- God hath hoard me: he hath at

per; that he

the relief even of weak and doubting Christians e) he is to bewail his unbelief f, and labour to have his doubts resolved g; and, so doing, he may and ought to come to the Lord's fup

may

be further strengthened h. Q. 173. May any'who profess the faith, and desire to come to the Lord's Jupper, he kept from it?

A. Such as are found to be ignorant or fcandalous, notwithstanding their profession of the faith, and desire to come to the Lord's supper, may and ought to be kept from that facrament, by the power which Christ hath left in his church i, until they

receive

tended to the voice of my prayer. brethren, wliat shall we do? A&s V. 20. Blessed be God, who hath xvi. 39. and he brought them out, not turned away my prayer, nor his and, said, Sirs, what must I do to be mercy from me.

faved ? e Ifa. xl, is. He saall feed his b Rom. iv. 11. And he received flock like a shepherd: he shall ga- the sign of circumcision, a seal of ther the lambs with his arm, and the righteousness of the faith which carry them in his bosom, and shall he had yet being uncircumcised : gently lead those that are with that he might be the father of all young. v. 29. He giveth power to them that believe, though they be the faint; and to them that have no not circumcised: that righteousness might, he increaseth strength. v. might be imputed unto them also. 31. But they that wait upon the 1 Cor. xi. 28. But let a man examine Lord, shall renew their strength : himself, and so let him eat of thao they shall mount up with wings as

bread and drink of that cup. eagles; they shall run, and not be 173. i 1 Cor. xi. 27. to the end. weary; and they shall walk, and Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this not faint. Mat. xi. 28. Come unto bread, and drink this cup of the me all ye that labuur, and are heavy Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of laden, and I will give you rest. Mat. the body and blood of the Lord. v. xii. 20. A bruised reed shall he not 28. But let a mao examine himself, break, and smoking flax shall he not and so let him eat of that bread, and quench, till he fend forth judgment drink of that cup. V. 29. For he unto victory. Mat. xxvi. 28. For that eateth and drinketh unworthithis is my blood of the new Tella- ly, cateth and drioketh damnation ment which is shed for many for the to himself, not discerning the Lord's remission of sins.

body. v. 30. For this cause many f Mark ix. 24. And straightway are weak and sickly among you, and the father of the child cried out, and many sleep. v. 31. For if we would said with tears, Lord, I believe, judge ourselves, we should not be help thou mine unbelief.

judged, &c. to the end of the chap& Ads ii. 37. Now when they ter. Compared with Mat, vii. 6. heard this they were pricked in their give not that which is holy unto the heart, and said unto-Peter, and to dogs, neither cast ye your pearls bethe rest of the apostles, Men and fore swine, left they trample them