II. The Necessity of this grace of Repentance in every worthy Communicant, upon his approaching to the Lords Table, appeareth, because we come to receive a sacrifice for sin; but to offer to receive a sacrifice for sin, without turning from sin, is to ⟨p. 114⟩count the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing. We are not ignorant, that one main end of our approaching to the Lords Table, is to receive Christ as he hath offered himself a sacrifice and price of Redemption for our sins; for so he is set forth in that Sacrament, the breaking of the bread, and pouring out of the Wine, import as much. Yea Christ expressly saith of the Sacramental Cup,1 This is my blood which is shed for remission of sins. Now he that looketh for pardon of sin, must have a full purpose, and according to his purpose, a faithful and resolute endeavour to forsake sin, which is, and will be the mind of every true penitent, and so also it ought to be. The Lord therefore requireth of them, who bring their sacrifices to him for pardon, That they take away the evil of their works, and cease to do evil, and learn to do well, and thereupon inferreth this gracious invitation, Come now and let us reason together. 2With what face then dares an impenitent sinner, that is not touched with any remorse for his sins past, nor hath any purpose to turn from his sins for the time to come, offer to take that body which was broken, and that blood which was shed for sin? Such an eating and drinking of Christs body and blood, is a plain trampling of the Son of God under foot, and a counting of the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing, a thing that may be mixed with impu•e and unholy things. If this be not to be guilty of the body and blood of Christ, what can be?
II. The Necessity of this grace of Repentance in every worthy Communicant, upon his approaching to the Lords Table, appeareth, because we come to receive a sacrifice for sin; but to offer to receive a sacrifice for sin, without turning from sin, is to ⟨p. 114⟩count the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing. We are not ignorant, that one main end of our approaching to the Lords Table, is to receive Christ as he hath offered himself a sacrifice and price of Redemption for our sins; for so he is set forth in that Sacrament, the breaking of the bread, and pouring out of the Wine, import as much. Yea Christ expresly saith of the Sacramental Cup,1 This is my blood which is shed for remission of sins. Now he that looketh for pardon of sin, must have a full purpose, and according to his purpose, a faithful and resolute indeavour to forsake sin, which is, and will be the mind of every true penitent, and so also it ought to be. The Lord therefore requireth of them, who bring their sacrifices to him for pardon, That they take away the evil of their works, and cease to do evil, and learn to do well, and thereupon inferreth this gracious invitation, Come now and let us reason together. 2With what face then dares an impenitent sinner, that is not touched with any remorse for his sins past, nor hath any purpose to turn from his sins for the time to come, offer to take that body which was broken, and that blood which was shed for sin? Such an eating and drinking of Christs body and blood, is a plain trampling of the Son of God under foot, and a counting of the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing, a thing that may be mixed with impu•e and unholy things. If this be not to be guilty of the body and blood of Christ, what can be?
- 1Mat. 26. 28.
- 2Isa. 1. 15, &c.
