A poore mans rest founded vpon motiues, meditations, and prayers. Expressing to the inward man, true consolation. In all kindes and times of afflication. By Io. Norden.

A preparation to the Re∣ceiuing of the holy Commu∣nion of the Body and Bloud of IESVS CHRIST.

ADAM, the first man, was forbidden to eate of one fruit, which was fore-shew∣ed to be mortall, and hee did hasten to eate thereof. Wee, the Children of the second Adam, are commanded to eate of the liuely and sauing fruit, the Body and Bloud of Christ to our saluation; yet, how slacke are we to prepare vs thereunto, and to partake thereof?

The first step therefore of true prepa∣ration thereunto, is to search the Scrip∣tures, who teach the Mysterie of this holy Communion, and the institution of the same, as also the signification of the out∣ward signes, which are Bread and Wine; the things signified, the Body and Bloud of Christ shed for all beleeuers: the end of the receiuing whereof, is to retayne the remembrance of the Death & Passion

of Christ, which he suffered for our sins.

By the true receiuing of this Sacra∣ment, we are vnited vnto the loue of God, in, and by the death of Christ, the second Adam, being separated from him by the fall of the first. We are made heires by a∣doption of eternall saluation, in, by, and with Christ, which we lost in, & by Adam.

The true receiuing of this blessed Sa∣crament, must be in sincerity, with a re∣pentant heart, and faith vnfained.

And because it is not prouided for sin∣ners (who comming thereunto vnworthi∣ly, receiue their owne damnation) wee must, before we repaire thereunto, cleanse our soules from all sinne: which cannot be done without diuing into our own soules, with an impartiall search, to finde out our owne corruption, and truely to repent our sinnes. Therefore, saith the Apostle, Let a man try and examine himselfe, before he pre∣sume to come to this holy Table, &c.

It is not fit that wee should come to this holy Banquet abruptly, ••s men doe to their ordinary feasts, where they Phari∣saically and ceremoniously will wash their hands before they eate; but to this most holy Supper we are not to come without inward washing of the soule from sinne? for if vnwashed hands prophane the meat

for the belly, how much more an vnwasht heart, this sacred Sacrament, the foode of the Soule? Inward examination, impar∣tiall accusation, and an absolute condem∣nation of our selues for sinne, is the best preparation to this holy Table. For hee that looketh into, and examineth the hid∣den prophanenesse lurking in the heart, cannot, but (vpon due view of the same) accuse himselfe of deepe disobedience to God, which deserueth death. Finding this, he cannot but iudge himselfe wor∣thy to be reiected from this communion of Saints, and so condemne himselfe that he be not condemned of the Lord: for he that confesseth his sinnes to God, coue∣reth them: and he that coueteth to hide them, increaseth them. Therefore the A∣postle willeth all men to trye and examine themselues, which importeth repentance, and so to eate.

This caueat is no inhibition, but a ter∣rifying of the soule, not to presume to come to this holy Table, without purifi∣cation and sanctification.

Herein doth the Lord Iesus discouer his wonderfull loue towards vs, who be∣fore hee inuite vs to come to this Table to eate, doth instruct vs how wee should come, and how we should feede. He layes

not this Table to snare vs, as Absalom did Amnon: and yet forewarnes vs, that there is danger in receiuing it, namely, with polluted hands, with hands full of bribery and extortion, to take it with lips defiled with blasphemy, cursing, and lying; to put it into a stomacke gorged with drunken∣nesse and gluttony, and with a heart ma∣king no difference of the Lords body.

We must therefore lay aside all our old sinnes, and put on the new man, a Righ∣teous, a Holy, and Christian conuersation and disposition. Wee must be holy and heauenly minded towards God, we must be louing to our Neighbours, slow in ta∣king aduantages, or reuenging wrongs, wee must be lowly and little in our owne eyes, meeke and sober in all our actions.

And because things of so wonderfull value are herein exhibited and offered to the worthy Receiuers, wee must consi∣der who wee are, how wee are cleansed of our spirituall Leprosie, before we pre∣sume into the company of the Saints to communicate. Wee must consider well, whether vpon tryall made, as afore is said, wee can assure our selues that we are of the number of those, to whom these holy things doe appertaine For who so is prophane in his person, and an vnsan∣ctified

Creature, let him forbeare to come to this holy Table, and let him first vse the meanes of better assurance: namely, repentance for his sinnes, amendment of his corrupt and sinfull life: let him vse often zealous prayer to God, for remission of his omissions and transgressions: let him craue the assistance of his holy Spirit, to assist him in the beating downe, and mortifying sinne in him, and that his Heart and Conscience may be sanctified. And when he is cleansed, let him shew himselfe to the Priest, his Pastor, and let him take knowledge by his outward Con∣fession, of his inward Contrition, not by particularising of his sinnes, but by mani∣festing his repentance; and then in all reuerence, let him come to this holy Ta∣ble, let him eate the Bread, and drinke the Bloud of that Lambe that taketh away his sinnes, and will present him pure vnto the Lord.

The Lords eye is pure, and can abide no wickednesse. The Sacrament is holy; touch it not rashly. If thou haue not on the wed∣ding Garment of sincerity, come not: the Lord will finde thee out, and thrust thee forth of his presence, among the vnbelee∣uers, whose portion shall be with the Di∣uell and his Angels.

Let vs therefore search and examine our wayes: let vs lift vp our hands with our hearts vnto God in the Heauens, and feede on this holy mysterie, the life of our soules, in remembrance of Christs death, vntill his second comming.

O Lord increase my Faith.