Conco. 1a}
15. Jan. 1692
1. Cor. 11. 23. 24. 23. 26.
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, & said, Take, Eat; This is my Body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had Supped, saying this Cup is the New-Testament in my Blood: This do ye, as oft as ye drink it in Remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this Bread, & Drink this Cup, ye do shew the Lords death till he come.
Wonderfull was the Love & goodness of the great God towards Man in his first creation, when he was pleased out of Nothing (at least with reference to his body) to advance him to the excellent state of the humane nature, making him Lord of the Lower World, & capacitating him for present, & eternal com̄union & fellowship with his Creator: between whom was a covenant of friendship (commonly called a Covenant of works) made. But now much more wonderfull was the Love & goodness of God to fallen man, in making a Covenant of grace with him, establishing of it in the blood of his Son, adding his Oath, & annexing his Seals for the confirmation of our Faith, that we should upon condition of beleiving, be partakers of the great & glorious priviledges purchased by Christ, promised in the holy Scriptures, & Sealed in the Sacraments, of the New-Testament, Baptisme, & the Lords [Supper]. Of the last of these viz: the Lords Supper, the Apostle treats in the latter part of this Chap: Wherein
- 1. He reproves the Corinthians for their abuse & prophanation of this Ordinance: in that some who were contentious, nay some who were vicious, even when they were drunken did approach thereto, 17—23 v.
- 2. He endeavours their amendment, by bringing them back to its primitive institution. 23. v &c
Now this institution contained in our text is made up of two parts.
- 1. The first part treats of the Eucharistical, or Sacramentall, or holy Bread. 23. 24. 26. v.
- 2. The second part treats of the Eucharistical, or Sacramental, or holy Wine. 25. 26. v.
- 1. Then the first part treats of the Eucharistical, or Sacramental Bread. 23. 24. 26. v. which I shall begin with; & from whence these four following enquiries offer themselves. Viz
- 1. Who is the Author of this Institution?
- 2. When was this Ordinance of the Lords Supper instituted?
- 3. How, or after what sort has Christ appointed it?
- 4. Last: For what end has Christ instituted it?
- 1. Quest: Who is the Author of this institution of the Lords Supper?
- An: The Author & Institutor of this holy Supper is our Blessed Saviour, our Lord Jesus, who is both the Nourisher, & the nourishment, the Feeder, & the Food in this holy ordinance. Text. 23 v. For I have received of the Lord &c compared with 26. Matt. 26 &c. & 14. Mark. 22. &c. & 22. Luke. 19. &c. And in this holy banquet Christ shows
- 1. That he is the true Lord, who Redeemeth us from all misery by the price of his flesh & blood. 6. Joh. 48 &c.
- 2. Our Lord, & therefore gives himself for us. 10. Joh. 11.
- 3. The true Jesus or Savior, who would be deprived of his life, & perish for a time, that we might be Saved for ever. 1. Matth. 21.
- 4. Last: That we cannot be saved by any other means, than by his flesh & blood. It is observable that Christ did not institute this great ordinance mediately, as many others, but immediately by himself. And why so? Why that we may more fully understand, that we cannot be Redeemed by any other means, than by the Flesh & Blood of him, who only was able to say: this is my Body, & this is my Blood.
- 1. Use. Hince learn we that this great & holy ordinance is not to be slighted, or neglected. Seing Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, our great & only Saviour hath instituted this holy Banquet, & dos invite us unto it, we ought not to disdain, slight, or neglect it. John the Baptist (whom the holy Scripture gives such an honourable character of) speaking of Christ, sais. I am not worthy to unloose the latchet of his shoes, 3. Luke. 15. 16. Oh! how much less are we worthy to sit down at his Table. Nevertheless so good, so gracious, & so condescending, is this great Person, that he would have us for his Guests at his Table. Therefore let not any of the Lords People slight it, or neglect it.
- 1. R. Because the Lord Jesus the Institutor of this Feast, calls all Adult Beleivers to partak hereof. The Lord Jesus only has Authority to appoint Ordinances in his Church, & to institute significant sacramental signs. He is the King & Prophet of his Church, & has not left it to his Servant, & Officers to introduce any thing as part of Religious Worship, at their pleasure. Moses was not left to his own pleasure. 25. Ex. 40. And Paul here delivers what he had received for the Lord. Text. Well then Beleivers you are not to slight this call of him who has instituted & appointed this holy Ordinance.
- 2. R. From the liberality & bounty of the Lord in making such rich provision for us. Who would refuse a Rich Banquet made by an earthly Prince? How much less should this be slighted? Oh, come, sais Christ, for all things are ready. 22. Matth. 4. compd. wth. 9. Pro. 1. &c. When Christ thus offers himself, he offers all his infinite treasure therewith. 1. Col. 19.
- 3. R. From our own infirmity & indigency. (1) We are weak, here is Bread to strengthen us, for more than 40. days, as Elijah[s] food did. 1. Reg. 19. 5. &c. Bread is the Staff of life. 5. Ezek. 16. How weak is the man that has no bread. 1 Sam 30. 11. 12. We are as the Prodigal, ready to perish for hunger, Oh here is bread, & to spare in our heavenly
- 2. Fathers house. 15. Luke. 17. (2) We are sad, & sorrowfull, why here is wine to make the heart glad. Here is a cup of consolation. 2. Luke. 25. 6. Heb. 18.
- 4. R. Last: From the facility, & utility, of attending upon this Banquet: but of this more hereafter.
- 2. Use. Well then let it be a word of Exhortation to all grown Beleivers to come & partake of this Paschal Lamb. i.e. to bring true & firm faith to this holy Sacrament; the Lamb of God, slain to take away the sins of the World. 1. Joh. 29. 5 Rev. 9 &c. Oh! it is a necessary duty, pray be intreated to attend it.
- 1. It is a necessary duty, in opposition to Arbitrary. It is not left to the meer pleasure of Gods Peoples to partake if they will, or to let it alone if they will. But all you that love Christ Jesus in sincerity: All you my Brethren & friends, that rest your souls upon the Lord Jesus for Salvation, it is your priviledge that you may, & it is your duty, that you should partake hereof. You Pray, because you must, & you Hear, because you must. Why verily Beloved, you should receive because you must. Take, Eat, Drink, sais Christ. And yet how many true Christians that dare not but pray, nor dare not but Read, & yet dare live in the omission of this duty. If they omit prayer, or reading, their conscience will accuse them; & yet thô they neglect this duty after many calls, put not the neglect hereof amongst the confessions of their sins, as if a duty were not omitted; & as if for this omission they were not guilty before the Lord.
- 2. It is necessary for the well-being of Christians. I do’nt say it is necessary to the Essence, or Beeing of a Christian, but to the Well-beeing of a Christian. This Ordinance is not for dead men occ. It is not for Dogs &c. Men must be Christians before they partake, but when they are Christians they should partake for their growth in grace
- 3. Last: To say no more it is necessary, as it is a command of Christ Jesus. Do this, sais Christ. And therefore do this I will, should a Christian say. 1. Luke 5. 6.