A Body of Practical Divinity

2. We are to celebrate the Lord's Supper, because it is a provoking to Christ to stay away. Prov. 9.2. Wisdom hath furnished her Table. So Christ hath furnished his Table, set Bread and Wine (representing his Body and Blood) before his Guests, ⟨image 172⟩and they wilfully turn their Backs upon the Ordinance, Christ looks upon it as a slighting of his Love, and that makes the Fury rise up in his Face. Luke 14.24. For I say unto you, that none of those that were bidden shall taste of my Supper. I will shut them out of my Kingdom, I will provide them a black Banquet, where weeping shall be the first Course, and gnashing of Teeth the Second.

Quest. 5. Whether the Lord's Supper be oft to be Administered?

Quest. 5. Whether the Lord's Supper be oft to be Administred?

Resp. Yes: 1 Cor. 11.26. As oft as ye eat of this Bread. The Ordinance is not to be celebrated once in a Year, or once in our Lives, but often. A Christians own Necessities may make him come often hither. His Corruptions are strong, therefore he had need come often hither for an Antidote to expel the Poison of Sin; and his Graces are weak. ^*Grace is like a Lamp, if it be not often fed with Oil, it is apt to go out. How therefore do they sin against God, who come but very seldom to this Ordinance! Can they thrive, who for a long time forbear their Food? And others there are who do wholly forbear. This is a great Contempt offered to Christ's Ordinance. Men do as it were tacitly say, Let Christ keep his Feast to himself. What a cross-grained piece is Man, he will Eat when he should not, and he will not eat when he should. When God said, Eat not of this forbidden Fruit, then he will be sure to eat: When God saith, Eat of this Bread, and Drink of this Cup, then he refuseth to eat.