A25294:880
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian…The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian…
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian catechism in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy labourer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian catechisme in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy laborer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...
London: printed by T. Mabb for Thomas Davies, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
It is gathered from these words; He that eats or drinks unworthily. Now the worthiness that is here required, is not the worth of quantity, or of merit; but of quality, or uprightness in the business; and of suitableness, as when St. John Baptist saith, Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance; he understands not fruits that deserve repentance to be given us; but are agreeable to true repentance; that is, true fruits of true repentance, and suitable to the nature of it.
It is gathered from these words; He that eats or drinks unworthily. Now the worthinesse that is here required, is not the worth of quantity, or of merit; but of quality, or uprightness in the business; and of suitableness, as when St. Iohn Baptist saith, Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance; he understands not fruits that deserve repentance to be given us; but are agreeable to true repentance; that is, true fruits of true repentance, and suitable to the nature of it.
Reas. 1. Because these mysteries cannot be unworthily used, but that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ must needs withal be unworthily affronted, as it were by contempt. And hence it is, that unworthy partakers are said to eat and drink judgement unto themselves; to wit, from God's wrath, who by this most unworthy ignominy put upon his Son, is provoked.
Reas. 1. Because these mysteries cannot be unworthily used, but that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ must needs withall be unworthily affronted, as it were by contempt. And hence it is, that unworthy partakers are said to eat and drink judgement unto themselves; to wit, from God's wrath, who by this most unworthy ignomony put upon his Son, is provoked.
Reas. 2. Because no noble form is introduced ordinarily into matter, nor fitly disposed and prepared before; so the grace and comfort of this Sacrament, useth not to be received but by such, as are suitably disposed and prepared for it; so that who so comes unworthily, doth of necessity go unfruitful from this Sacrament, as to any solid fruits thereof.