Conco 4a.}
Afternoon. 5. March. 1692
2. Q. Why did Christ defer or delay this institution of his Supper untill the very last night, the night before his passion & death?
- An: These following Reasons may be given for it (1) The Paschal Lamb could not cease before the fulness of that time drew near, in wch Christ the true Passover was to be slain. For Christ would have that old Passover to end before his
- 2. passion, as a Type of his suffering (2) The Lord would hereby teach us that his Death, which he was now about to undergo, he did not suffer for any sin of his own, nor as a Simple Martyr: but most innocently, as a Sacrifice for the sins of others. Even as the Lamb was not slain for it
- 3. self occ. (3) Christ would that his supper should be a certain testament for the confirming of his Death which was now at hand. For Wills & Testaments are made for the sake of Death, & from Death receive strength & vigour.
- 4. 9. Heb. 16. 17. (4) Last: Hereby Christ would purchase the greater Reverence to this holy & mysterious ordinance. For the words & actions of dying persons are diligently to be heard & observed, & to stick more firmly upon the
- Q. Memory. (Qu) But it may be from hence some will say; Are not Christians bound to receive this Sacrament at night, seing our Saviour did first institute it at night, & the Apostles did first receive at night?
- An: We are no more bound from this Example to receive this Sacrament at night, than we are bound to receive it in an upper room, & but twelve in company which was the practise in the first institution. We have not the same reason for receiving it at night as the Apostles had, wo were then to eat the Passover before; & the Passover (as has been shown) was to be eaten at Even. It is an indifferent thing whither this Ordinance be attended at Noon or Even; I have know[n] some observe it at Even i.e. after the afternoon publick & more generall Worship was ended. Churches are at liberty in this matter: Only it is good that Churches do follow the practise of the Churches where they live.
- 1. Use. Hince from this circumstance of time we are admonished of the end of this mystery: namely that we might be confirmed in the assured benefit of the Death of Christ, For the Lord Jesus might have commended this ordinance to his Apostles a little before, no but he would tarry till the time of his own suffering drew near, that so they might in very deed discern in his body by & by upon the Cross, that which he had prefigured to them in the Bread & Wine viz. his reall torn body, & his reall Streaming Blood &c.
- 2. Use. Behold here the wonderfull love of Christ to poor, wretched, undone sinners. Now this may be gathered from the time when Christ appointed the Ordinance, viz that same night in which he was betrayed, when he was so near unto his Death, & knew all that was to be done unto him, & suffered by him: Oh wt great love was this of our dying Lord, that when he was so full of Sorrow, he should be making such Provision for our comfort?
- 3. Use. Behold here the excellency of this Ordinance, in that it had its original from Christ when he was so near his end. Great & weighty things take up the mind & thoughts of wise & serious dying men. That then must needs be a most great, weighty, & excellent Ordinance that our Lord instituted with his departing Breath.
- 4. Use. Last: Let all Christians then be exhorted to make much of this Ordinance. How will good children prize the Last will & com̄ands & counsells of their godly parents; Let us imitate such, & attend this command of Christ upon his dying
- Mot: May be drawn from the Passover wch was a type of this great Passover, as we have seen.
Now there is the same parity of Reason that Beleivers under the Gosple should receive the Lords Supper, as the Israelites under the Law should eat the Lords Passover. We see this was there duty, it is prescribed, & the manner how, & the end for which. 12. Ex. And again it is renewed in the Wilderness. 9. Num. 1. 2. 3. And if a man were unclean that he could not keep it the first month, yet he must keep it the second month. 9. Num. 6–12. Yea God pronounced destruction to such as should neglect this ordinance. 9. Num. 13. Here is guilt contracted, & severe punishment threatned to such as should neglect this Ordinance of the Lords Passover. Now (I say) there is as great Reason for Beleivers to attend the Lords Supper, as for the Israelites to attend the Lords Passover
- 1. This may appear from the agreement betwixt these.
- 1. In the Author & Efficient cause; God appointed both.
- 2. In the matter principally signifyed in both, & that is Christ; & the same priviledges held forth and conveyed to Beleivers in both, viz: Remission of sin, justification, & Spiritual nourishment & growth in Grace
- 3. In the End, viz: to commemorate the mercy & goodness of God, in the deliverance of his People from wofull captivity & bondage
- 4. In the Instrument of receiving & applying the thing signifyed by both, & that is Faith.
- 5. In the Parts: in both, there is somthing that is a Signe, & somthing that is signifyed
- 6. In the Properties of the Passover Lamb, which are a[l]so in Christ our Passover (1) That was to be without blemish. 12. Ex. 5. So was Christ. 1. Pet. 1. 19. 7. Heb. 26. (2) The Lamb must be a Male. 12. Ex. 5. So Christ for Sex & Strength a mighty Saviour 89. Ps. 19. 63 Isa. 1. (3) The Lamb must be of a year old. 12. Ex. 5. in a perfect age: So Christ about 34 years, in the prime of his age (4) The Lamb must be taken out of the Flock. 12. Ex. 5. So Christ must be taken from mankind, he must be partaker of Flesh & Blood. 18. Deut. 18. 2. Heb. 11. (5) The Lamb must be seperated from the Flock. 12. Ex. 4. 5. So Christ must be seperated from sinners. 7. Heb. 26. (6) The Lamb must be Roasted with Fire. 12. Ex. 8. 9. So Christ must be as it were Roasted with the Heat of Gods wrath. (7) Last: The Lamb must be eaten: So Christ must be eaten, or received by Faith. 6. Joh. 53. Now the Lamb was to be eaten (1) By every Family. 12. Ex. 3. So Christ is to be received by every person (2) With unleavend bread. 12. Ex. 8. So Christ & this Sacrament is to be received in sincerity & truth. 1 Cor. 5. 7. 8. (3) With bitter herbs. 12. Ex. 8. So Christ, & this Ordinance is to be received with bitter Repentings. 12. Zech. 10. (4) Wholly, all of it must be eaten. 12. Ex. 9. So a whole Christ must be received: Christ in all his Offices: Christ as the Paschal Lamb must be received with all his appurtenances (5) In haste. 12. Ex. 11. So Christ must be received presently, instantly, & without delay.
- 7. Last: There is an agreement between the Passover Lamb & Christ in the subjects that must eat thereof: viz: Israelites & circumcised. So those wo would partake of Christ must be Israelites indeed, circumcised in heart. 1. Joh. 47. 2. Col. 11. Thus you see the agreement, & were the Israelites bound to partake of that, & shall Beleivers, Christians set loose from this?
- 2. We may argue from the disagreement between these, whereby we may see there is greater Reason for our attendance on this, in that this is the more excellent Ordinance. As (1) In the manner of their Signification. The Passover Signifyed Christ that was to come: But the Lords Supper Christ already come (2) In their Duration. The Passover but for a time viz: till Christs coming in the Flesh: The Lords Supper till the end of the world, till Christ come again in Glory. (3) Last: In their perspicuity & clearness: In the Passover Christs death was signifyed more darkly; In the Lords supper more clearly.
Now then, I intreat you meditate on these things, & see how you will excuse your selves for neglecting this great Ordinance &c.