A Body of Practical Divinity

Secondly, Having spoken of the Sacrament of Baptism, I come now to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is the most Spiritual and sweet Ordinance that ever was instituted. Here we have to do more immediately with the Person of Christ. In Prayer we draw nigh to God, in the Sacrament we become one with him. In Prayer we look up to Christ, in the Sacrament by Faith we touch him. In the Word Preached we hear Christ's Voice, in the Sacrament we feed on him.

Quest. 1. What Names and Titles in Scripture are given to the Sacrament?

Resp. 1. It is called, (1.) Mensa Domini, The Lord's Table, 1 Cor. 10.21. The Papists call it an Altar, not a Table. The Reason is, because they turn the Sacrament into a Sacrifice, and pretend to offer up Christ corporally in the Ma•s. It being the Lord's Table, shows with what Reverence and solemn Devotion we should approach to these Holy Mysteries. The Lord takes notice of the Frame of our Hearts when we come to his Table. Matth. 22.11. The King came in to see the Guests. We dress our selves when we come to the Table of some Great Monarch. We should think with our selves, we are going to the Table of the Lord, therefore should dress our selves by Holy Meditation and Heart-Consideration. Many think it is enough to come to the Sacrament, but mind not whether they come in Due Order^*. Perhaps they had scarce a serious Thought before whither they were going: All their Dressing was by the Glass, not by the Bible. Chrysostom calls it, The dreadful Table of the Lord: So it is to such as come unworthily. (2.) The The Sacrament is called Coena Domini, the Lord's Supper,