A Body of Practical Divinity

1. That this Ordinance is only for Believers, because none else can have Communion with Christ in these Holy Mysteries. —Communio fundatur in •nione: Faith only gives us Union with Christ, and by Virtue of this we have Communion with him in his Body and Blood. None but the Spouse communicates with her Husband. A Stranger may drink of his Cup, but she only hath his Heart, and communicates with him in a Conjugal manner: So Strangers may have the Sign, drink of the Cup, but only Believers drink Christ's Blood, and have Communion with him in his Privileges.

1. That this Ordinance is only for Believers, because none else can have Communion with Christ in these Holy Mysteries. —Communio fundatur in •nione: Faith only gives us Union with Christ, and by Vertue of this we have Communion with him in his Body and Blood. None but the Spouse communicates with her Husband. A Stranger may drink of his Cup, but she only hath his Heart, and communicates with him in a Conjugal manner: So Strangers may have the Sign, drink of the Cup, but only Believers drink Christ's Blood, and have Communion with him in his Priviledges.

2. The Sacrament being a Communion, shows, That it is Symbolum Amoris, a Bond of that Unity and Charity which should be among Christians. 1 Cor. 10.17. We being many are one Body. As many Grains make One Bread, so many Christians are one Body. A Sacrament is a Love-Feast. The Primitive Christians (as Justin Martyr notes) had their Holy Salutations at the Blessed Supper, in token of that Dearness of Affection which they did bear each to other. It is a Communion, therefore there must be Love and Union. The Israelites did eat the Passover with Bitter Herbs, so must we eat the Sacrament with bitter Herbs of Repentance, but not with bitter Hearts of Wrath and Malice. The Hearts of the Communicants ⟨p. 413⟩