A27107:856
A27107:856
London: printed for Edward Brewster, 1695
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
5. To be an assured pledge unto us of our Resurrection. The Resurrection of a Christian is Twofold, First the aspiritual Resurrection of our Souls in this life, from the death of sin, called the first Resurrection: because that by the Trumpet-voice of Christ, in the preaching of the Gospel, we are raised from the death of sin, to the life of Grace: bBlessed and holy is he (saith St. John) who hath part in the first Resurrection: for on such the second death hath no power: The* Lord's Supper is both a mean and a pledge unto us, of ⟨p. 325⟩this spiritual and first Resurrection.c He that eateth me, even he shall live by me. And then we are fit guests to sit dat the table with Christ, when like Lazarus, we are raised from the death of sin, to newness of life,
The truth of this first Resurrection will appear by the motion wherewith they are internally moved: for if, when thou art moved to the duties of Religion, and practice of Piety, thy heart answereth with Samuel: eHere I am, speak Lord, for thy servant heareth; and with David, fO God, my heart is ready. And withg Paul, Lord what wilt thou have me to do? Then surely, thou art raised from the death of sin, and hast thy part in the first Resurrection; but if thou remainest ignorant of the true grounds of Religion, and findest in thy self a kind of secret loathing of the exercises thereof, and must be drawn, as it were against thy will, to do the works of Piety, &c. then surely thou hast but a name that thou livest, but thou art dead, 4as Christ told the Angel of the Church of Sardis, and thy soul is but as salt to keep thy body from stinking.
2. The corporal resurrection of our bodies at the last day, which is called the second resurrection, which freeth us from the first death.h He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eterra• life, and I •id raise him up at the last day. For this Sacrament signifieth and feeleth unto us that Christ died and rose again for us, and that his ⟨p. 326⟩bflesh quickeneth and nourisheth us unto eternal life, and that therefore our bodies shall surely be raised to eternal life at the last day. For seeing our head is risen, all the members of the body shall likewise surely rise again. For how can those bodies which (being th• weapons of righteousness, Rom. 16. 13. Temples of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 6. 19 and members of Christ) have been* fed and nourished with the Body and Blood of the Lord of life, but be raised up again at the last day? And this is the cause that the bodies of the Saints, being dead, are so reverently buried and laid to sleep in the Lord. And their burial places are termed thec beds and dormitories of the Saints. The Reprobates shall arise at the last day; but by the Almighty Power of Christ, as he is Judge, bringing them as malefactors out of the Gaol, to receive their sentence and deserved execution: but the Elect shall arise by virtue of Christ's Resurrection, and of the Communion which they have with him, as with their Head. And his Resurrection is the† cause and assurance of ours. Thed Resurrection of Christ ⟨p. 327⟩
6. To seal unto us the assurance of everlasting Life. Oh what more wished or loved than life? 1Or what do all men naturally more, either fear or abhor, than death? Yet is this first death nothing, if it be compared with the second death: neither is this Life any thing worth, in comparison of the Life to come. If therefore thou desirest to be assured of eternal life, prepare thy self to be a worthy receiver of this blessed Sacrament. For our Saviour assureth us, That if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever: 2and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. He therefore who duly eateth of this holy Sacrament, may truly say, not only, Credo vitam eternam, I believe life everlasting; but also, Edo vitam eternam, I eat life everlasting. And indeed this is the true Tree of life, which God hath planted in the midst of the Paradise of the Church: And whereof he hath promised to give every one that overcometh to eat. And this Tree of life,3 by infinite degrees excelleth the Tree of life that grew in the Paradise of ⟨p. 328⟩Eden; for that had his root in the Earth, this from Heaven: that gave bu• life to the Body, this to the Soul; that did but preserve the life of the living, this restoreth life to the dead. The leaves of this tree heal the nations of believers,4 and it yields every month a new manner of fruit which nourisheth them to life everlasting. Oh, blessed are they who often eat of this Sacrament! at least, once every month, taste anew of this renewing fruit, which Christ hath prepared for us at his Table to heal our infirmities, and to confirm our belief of life everlasting.
7. To bind all Christians, as it were, by an* oath of fidelity, to serve the one only true God; and to admit no other propitiatory sacrifice for sins, but that one real sacrifice, which by his death Christ once offered, and by which he finished the sacrifices of the Law, and effected eternal Redemption and Righteousness for all believers. And so to remain for ever a public mark of profession, to distinguish Christians from all Sects and false Religions. And seeing that in the M•ss there is a strange Christ adored, not he that was born of the Virgin Mary, but one that is made of a Wafer Cake; and that the offering up of this breaden god is thrust upon the Church, as a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the quick and the dead: all true Christians upon the danger of wilful perjury before ⟨p. 329⟩the Lord Chief Justice of heaven and earth, are to detest the Mass, as the Idol of Indignation, which is most derogatory to the all-sufficient world-saving merits of Christ's Death and Passion. For by receiving the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, we all swear that all real Sacrifices are ended by our Lord's death, and that his body and blood once crucified and shed, is the perpetual food and nourishment of our Souls.
7. To bind all Christians, as it were, by an* oath of fidelity, to serve the one only true God; and to admit no other propitiatony sacrifice for sins, but that one real sacrifice, which by his death Christ once offered, and by which he finish•d the sacrifices of the Law, and effected eternal Redemption and Righteousness for all believers. And so to remain for ever a publick mark of profession, to distinguish Christians from all Sects and false Religions. And seeing that in the M•ss there is a strange Christ adored, not he that was born of the Virgin Mary, but one that is made of a Wafer Cake; and that the offering up of this breaden god is thrust upon the Church, as a Propitiatory S•crifice for the quick and the dead: all true Christians upon the danger of wilful perjury before ⟨p. 329⟩
A Man shall best perceive his own unworthiness, by examining his life according to the Ten Commandments of Almighty God. Search therefore what duties thou hast omitted, and what vices thou hast committed, contrary to every one of the Commandments: remembering, that without repentance, and God's mercy in Christ, the* Curse of God (containing all the miseries of this life▪ and everlasting torments in hell fire, when this is ended) is due to the breach of the least of God's Commandments. And having taken a due survey both of thy sins and miseries, retire to some secret place, and there putting thy self in the sight of the Judge, as a guilty malefactor standing at the Bar to receive his Sentence, bowing thy knees to the earth, smiting thy breast with thy fists, and •edewing thy cheeks with thy tears, confess thy sins and ⟨p. 330⟩humbly ask him mercy and forgiveness, in these or the like words.
A Man shall best perceive his own unworthiness, by examining his life according to the Ten Commandments of Almighty God. Search therefore what duties thou hast omitted, and what vices thou hast committed, contrary to every one of the Commandments: remembring, that without repentance, and God's mercy in Christ, the* Curse of God (containing all the miseries of this life▪ and everlasting torments in hell fire, when this is ended) is due to the breach of the least of God's Commandments. And having taken a due survey both of thy sins and miseries, retire to some secret place, and there putting thy self in the sight of the Judge, as a guilty malefactor standing at the Bar to receive his Sentence, bowing thy knees to the earth, smiting thy breast with thy fists, and •edewing thy cheeks with thy tears, confess thy sins and ⟨p. 330⟩humbly ask him mercy and forgiveness, in these or the like words.
O God and heavenly Father, when I consider the goodness which thou hast ever showed unto me,1 and the wickedness which I have committed against heaven and against thee, I am ashamed of my self, and confusion seems to cover my face as a veil; for which of thy Commandments have I not transgressed? O Lord, I stand here guilty of the breach of all thy holy Laws. For the love of my heart hath not so entirely cleaved unto thy *2 Majesty as to vain and earthly things: I have not feared thy judgments to debtor me from sins, nor trusted to thy promises, to keep me from doubting of my temporal, or from despairing of mine eternal state. I have made the rule of thy† divine worship, to be what my mind thought fit, not what thy Word prescribed; finding my heart more prone to remember my blessed Saviour in a painted Picture of Man's device, rather than to be behold him crucified in his Word and Sacraments, after his own ordinance. Where* I should never use thy Name (whereat all knees do bow) but with religious reverence; nor any part of thy worship, without due preparation and zeal: I have blasphemously abused thy holy ⟨p. 331⟩Name to rash and customary oaths; yea, I have used oaths by thy sacred name, as false covers of my filthy sins. And I have been present at thy Service oft-times more for ceremony than conscience, and to please Men more than to please thee my gracious God.
O God and heavenly Father, when I consider the goodness which thou hast ever shewed unto me,1 and the wickedness which I have committed against heaven and against thee, I am ashamed of my self, and confusion seems to cover my face as a veil; for which of thy Commandments have I not transgressed? O Lord, I stand here guilty of the breach of all thy holy Laws. For the love of my heart hath not so intirely cleaved unto thy *2
Where I should sanctify thy† Sabbath-day, by being present at* the public exercises of the Church, and by meditating privately on the word and works of God, and by visiting the sick anda relieving of my poor brethren: alas I have thought those holy Exercises a burden, because they hindered my vain sports: yea, I have spent many of thy Sabbaths in my own bprofane Pleasures, without being present at any part of thy divine worship.
Where I should sanctifie thy† Sabbath-day, by being present at* the publick exercises of the Church, and by meditating privately on the word and works of God, and by visiting the sick anda relieving of my poor brethren: alas I have thought those holy Exercises a burden, because they hindred my vain sports: yea, I have spent many of thy Sabbaths in my own bprophane Pleasures, without being present at any part of thy divine worship.
Where I should have given all due reverence to myc Natural, Ecclesiastical, and Politic Parents, I have not showed that measure of duty and affection to my Parents, which their care and kindness hath deserved. I have not had thy Ministers in such singular dlove for their works sake, as I ought: but I have taunted at their zeal, and hated them because they reproved me justly. And I have carried my self contemptuously against thye Magistrates and Ministers, though I knew that it is […] ordinance, that I should be obedient unto them.
Where I should have given all due reverence to myc Natural, Ecclesiastical, and Politick Parents, I have not shewed that measure of duty and affection to my Parents, which their care and kindness hath deserved. I have not had thy Ministers in such singular dlove for their works sake, as I ought: but I have taunted at their zeal, and hated them because they reproved me justly. And I have carried my self contemptuously against thye M•gistrates and Ministers, though I knew that it is 〈…〉 ordinance, that I should be obedient unto them.
2. The corporal resurrection of our bodies at the last day, which is called the second resurrection, which freeth us from the first death.h He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eterra• life, and I •id raise him up at the last day. For this Sacrament signifieth and fealeth unto us that Christ died and rose again for us, and that his ⟨p. 326⟩bflesh quickeneth and nourisheth us unto eternal life, and that therefore our bodies shall surely be raised to eternal life at the last day. For seeing our head is risen, all the members of the body shall likewise surely rise again. For how can those bodies which (being th• weapons of righteousness, Rom. 16. 13. Temples of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 6. 19 and members of Christ) have been* fed and nourished with the Body and Blood of the Lord of life, but be raised up again at the last day? And this is the cause that the bodies of the Saints, being dead, are so reverently buried and laid to sleep in the Lord. And their burial places are termed thec beds and dormitories of the Saints. The Reprobates shall arise at the last day; but by the Almighty Power of Christ, as he is Judge, bringing them as malefactors out of the Gaol, to receive their sentence and deserved execution: but the Elect shall arise by virtue of Christ's Resurrection, and of the Communion which they have with him, as with their Head. And his Resurrection is the† cause and assurance of ours. Thed Resurrection of Christ ⟨p. 327⟩is a Christian's particular faith: the Resurrection of the dead, is the Child of God's chiefest confidence. Therefore Christians in the Primitive Church, were wont to salute one another in the Morning with these Phrases:* The Lord is risen: and the other would answer, True, the Lord is risen indeed.