Part 3 › Question 98: Quest. 98. Is it Lawful or a Duty to join Oblations to the Sacrament, and how?, A Christian Directory by Richard Baxter (1673) | AskReformation

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:6943p. 863

4. It is certain that the Lords Supper is as fit a season as any part of that day, for such Oblations and Collections. The ancient Christians did therefore call it the Communion, because in it they showed their Love and Communion, and feasted in common to that end. There are two several •orts of Oblations which may lawfully be made (and fitly) at the Communion. 1. The Creatures of Bread and Wine should be offered or presented before God, as acknowledging him to be the Creator and Giver of all, and to desire his acceptance and benediction of them for that holy use. 2. Our Alms or charitable contribution may be then fitly offered to God, that he may first accept it, and so it may be communicated to the Church and poor. When we receive from God the most obliging benefits, when we return our greatest thanks, when we resign our selves and all to God, its then sure a seasonable time, to express all by the oblation of our benevolence: That hypocrites may not pretend that they are charitable in secret, but the Church may have due notice of it, and the Pastors¹ be duly entrusted with it.

4. It is certain that the Lords Supper is as fit a season as any part of that day, for such Oblations and Collections. The antient Christians did therefore call it the Communion, because in it they shewed their Love and Communion, and feasted in common to that end. There are two several •orts of Oblations which may lawfully be made (and fitly) at the Communion. 1. The Creatures of Bread and Wine should be offered or presented before God, as acknowledging him to be the Creator and Giver of all, and to desire his acceptance and benediction of them for that holy use. 2. Our Alms or charitable contribution may be then fitly offered to God, that he may first accept it, and so it may be communicated to the Church and poor. When we receive from God the most obliging benefits, when we re•urn our greatest thanks, when we resign our selves and all to God, its then sure a seasonable time, to express all by the oblation of our benevolence: That hypocrites may not pretend that they are charitable in secret, but the Church may have due notice of it, and the Pastors¹ be duly entrusted with it.

11 Cor. 16. 1, 2.

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3. As the word [Sacrament] is taken less properly, defectively, secundum quid, for the same Covenant of Grace or Christianity renewed by any arbitrary sign of our own, without a solemn Ceremony of Divine institution, so there are divers Sacraments of Christianity or the Covenant of Grace, that ⟨p. 864⟩is, Divers solemn renewals of our Covenant with God. As 1. At our solemn transition from the state of Infant-membership unto that of the Adult, when we solemnly own our baptismal Covenant, which Calvin and many Protestants (and the English Rubric) call Confirmation. 2. The solemn owning the Christian Faith and Covenant, in our constant Church-assemblies, when we stand up at the Creed or profession of our saith, and all renew our Covenant with God, and dedication to him: 3. At solemn days of Fasting or humiliation, and of Thanksgiving when this should be solemnly done. Specially upon some public defection. 4. Upon the public Repentance of a particular sinner before his absolution. 5. When a man is going out of the world, and recommending his soul to God by Christ: All these are solemn renewings of our Covenant with God, in which we may use any Lawful, Natural or Arbitrary signs or expressions, to signify our own minds by, as speaking, subscribing, standing up, lifting up the hand, laying it upon a book, kissing the book, &c. These Sacraments are improperly so called: And are Divine as to the Covenant renewed, but Humane as to the expressing signs.

3. As the word [Sacrament] is taken less properly, defectively, secundum quid, for the same Covenant of Grace or Christianity renewed by any arbitrary sign of our own, without a solemn Ceremony of Divine institution, so there are divers Sacraments of Christianity or the Covenant of Grace, that ⟨p. 864⟩is, Divers solemn renewals of our Covenant with God. As 1. At our solemn transition from the state of Infant-membership unto that of the Adult, when we solemnly own our baptismal Covenant, which Calvin and many Protestants (and the English Rubrick) call Confirmation. 2. The solemn owning the Christian Faith and Covenant, in our constant Church-assemblies, when we stand up at the Creed or profession of our saith, and all renew our Covenant with God, and dedication to him: 3. At solemn dayes of Fasting or humiliation, and of Thanksgiving when this should be solemnly done. Specially upon some publick defection. 4. Upon the publick Repentance of a particular sinner before his absolution. 5. When a man is going out of the world, and recommending his soul to God by Christ: All these are solemn renewings of our Covenant with God, in which we may use any Lawful, Natural or Arbitrary signs or expressions, to signifie our own minds by, as speaking, subscribing, standing up, lifting up the hand, laying it upon a book, kissing the book, &c. These Sacraments are improperly so called: And are Divine as to the Covenant renewed, but Humane as to the expressing signs.