N00254:289
Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness
Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness: wherein several important duties, are urged, and the evil of divers common sins, is evinced; delivered in sundry sermons. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in New-England. ; [Ten lines of Scripture texts]
printed by Samuel Green upon assignment of Samuel Sewall, 1682
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.
The very Names, which the Scripture describeth it by, declare this. As that of the Lords Supper, mentioned in this Context, ver. 20., They that Sup together hold Communion one with another: yea, intimacy of Communion is denoted by that expression, Rev. 3.20. And the Lords Table, 1 Cor. 10 2•. The Master of the Feast holds Communion with his Guests; when they […] and eat together at the same Table. In this Sacred Ordinance, Believers have Communion with Christ in respect of his Spirit, 1 Cor. 12,13 And in respect of •is person and death and all his Redeeming benefits, 1 Cor. 10 16 The Resurrection of their bodies unto everlasting life, is sealed to Believers. by their partaking at this Ordinance, Job. •. 54. Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. If thou art a true Believer, then as sure as thy •ody doth feed upon this Bread, it shall be raised from Death unto eternal ⟨p. 141⟩life. And our Communion or partaking with Christ in respect of his Kingdom, is sealed in this Ordinance. Therefore did the Lord say, when he gave the Cup to his Disciples, I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the Vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers King dome. Mat. 26. 29. Our Reigning with Christ is thereby signified and confirmed unto us: both our reigning with him on Earth, during the glorious transactions of the great Day of Judgement: the Saints sitting together with Christ upon Thrones of Glory, to judge the World, is here in a lively manner represented; and also their Reigning with him in Heaven to all Eternity. When Believers drink at his Table the Lord saith to them, You shall one day drink of those Rivers of Pleasure, which are at my right hand for evermore. The Sacrament is as it were a Map. and lively Representation of Heaven. on in Heaven there are none but Saints, separated from the World, holding Communion with Christ, wondering at his Glory, ravished with the sense of his love in that he died to redeem them; and is it not so at the Lords Supper: therefore Believers should do this.