Direct. 1. Understand well the proper ends, to which this Sacrament was instituted by Christ; and take heed that you use it not to ends, for which it never was appointed. The true ends are these, 1. To be a solemn Commemoration of the Death and passion of Jesus Christ, Mat. 26. 28. Mar. 14. 24. Luke 22. 20. to keep it, as it were, in the eye of the Church, in his bodily absence till he come, 1 Cor. 11. 24, 25, 26. 2. To be a solemn renewing of the Holy Covenant which was first entered in Baptism, between Christ and the Receiver; and in that Covenant it is on Christ's part, a solemn delivery of himself first, and with himself the benefits of Pardon, Reconciliation, Adoption, and right to Life eternal. Heb. 9. 15, 16, 17, 18. 1 Cor. 10. 16, 24. And on mans part, it is our solemn acceptance of Christ with his Benefits, upon his terms, and a delivering up our selves to him, as his Redeemed ones, even to the Father as our reconciled Father, and to the Son as our Lord and Saviour, and to the Holy Spirit as our Sanctifier, with ⟨p. 4⟩Professed Thankfulness for so great a benefit. 3. It is appointed to be a lively objective means, by which the Spirit of Christ should work to stir up and exercise, and increase the Repentance, Faith, Desire, Love, Hope, Joy, Thankfulness, and New-Obedience of Believers; by a lively Representation of the evil of sin, the infinite love of God in Christ, the firmness of the Covenant or Promise, the greatness and sureness of the Mercy given, and the Blessedness purchased and promised to us, and the great obligations that are laid upon us. And that herein believers might be solemnly called out to the most serious exercise of all these Graces, 1 Cor. 11. 27, 28, 29, 31. 1 Cor. 10. 16, 17, 21. 1 Cor. 11. 25, 26. 2 Cor. 6. 4. and might be provoked and assisted to stir up themselves to this Communion with God in Christ, & to pray for more as through a sacrificed Christ. 4. It is appointed to be the solemn Profession of Believers, of their Faith, and Love, and Gratitude, and Obedience to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and of continuing firm in the Christian Religion. And a Badge of the ⟨p. 5⟩Church before the World. Acts 2. 42, 46. & 20. 7. 5. And it is appointed to be a sign and means of the Unity, Love, and Communion of Saints, and their readiness to Communicate to each other.
Direct. 1. Understand well the proper ends, to which this Sacrament was instituted by Christ; and take heed that you use it not to ends, for which it never was appointed. The true ends are these, 1. To be a solemn Commemoration of the Death and passion of Jesus Christ, Mat. 26. 28. Mar. 14. 24. Luke 22. 20. to keep it, as it were, in the eye of the Church, in his bodily absence till he come, 1 Cor. 11. 24, 25, 26. 2. To be a solemn renewing of the Holy Covenant which was first entred in Baptism, between Christ and the Receiver; and in that Covenant it is on Christ's part, a solemn delivery of himself first, and with himself the benefits of Pardon, Reconciliation, Adoption, and right to Life eternal. Heb. 9. 15, 16, 17, 18. 1 Cor. 10. 16, 24. And on mans part, it is our solemn acceptance of Christ with his Benefits, upon his terms, and a delivering up our selves to him, as his Redeemed ones, even to the Father as our reconciled Father, and to the Son as our Lord and Saviour, and to the Holy Spirit as our Sanctifier, with ⟨p. 4⟩Professed Thankfulness for so great a benefit. 3. It is appointed to be a lively objective means, by which the Spirit of Christ should work to stir up and exercise, and increase the Repentance, Faith, Desire, Love, Hope, Joy, Thankfulness, and New-Obedience of Believers; by a lively Representation of the evil of sin, the infinite love of God in Christ, the firmness of the Covenant or Promise, the greatness and sureness of the Mercy given, and the Blessedness purchased and promised to us, and the great obligations that are laid upon us. And that herein believers might be solemnly called out to the most serious exercise of all these Graces, 1 Cor. 11. 27, 28, 29, 31. 1 Cor. 10. 16, 17, 21. 1 Cor. 11. 25, 26. 2 Cor. 6. 4
