A65285:2831
A Body of Practical Divinity
A body of practical divinity consisting of above one hundred seventy six sermons on the lesser catechism composed by the reverend assembly of divines at Westminster : with a supplement of some sermons on several texts of Scripture / by Thomas Watson ...
London: printed for Thomas Parkurst, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
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⟩should be knit together with the Bond of Love. Thou braggest of thy Faith, (saith Austin) but show me thy Faith by thy Love to the Saints. For as in the Sun, Light and Heat are inseparable, so Faith and Love are twisted together inseparably. Where there are Divisions, the Lord's Supper is not properly a Communion, but a Disunion.
2. The Sacrament being a Communion, shews, 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 Christistians are one Body. A Sacrament is a Love-Feast. The Primitive Christians (as Iustin 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⟩should be knit together with the Bond of Love. Thou braggest of thy Faith, (saith Austin) but show me thy Faith by thy Love to the Saints. For as in the Sun, Light and Heat are inseparable, so Faith and Love are twisted together inseparably. Where there are Divisions, the Lord's Supper is not properly a Communion, but a Disunion.