Fides Catholica, or, The doctrine of the Catholick Church in eighteen grand ordinances referring to the Word, sacraments and prayer, in purity, number and nature, catholically maintained, and publickly taught against hereticks of all sorts : with the solutions of many proper and profitable questions sutable to to [sic] the nature of each ordinance treated of / by Wil. Annand ...

SECT. V

THis Ordinance of the Supper is instituted to assure the peni∣tent receiver of the remission of his sins; yet all that receive it are not pardoned, in regard that some receive it unworthily, and their sins are not forgiven justly, in as much as the condition upon which the Lord promiseth absolution for his part, is not per∣formed upon their part, and because of that they are so far from having their soul eased, that it is more burthened; They being guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, 1 Cor. 11.27. by reciving un∣worthily.

Now there are three wayes by which men receive unworthily. First, by not giving due reverence to the mystery in that Sacra∣ment contained. Secondly, to the ends for which it was appoint∣••d. Thirdly, to the Author by whom it was instituted.

• 1. The Ministery in that Sacrament contained. As,
  • 1. To the crucified body of Christ, this presents unto us Christ and him crucifed; and the same reverence or respect that we would give to Chr•••••• were he visibly present with us; we must give unto him represented before us by bread and wine. Not that we should give it to the bread and wine, but to the Person who is re∣presented to us by them.
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  • 2. All that God ever did do, or that ever he promised to do for the best and dearest of his Saints, is here fully presented and •••• ••fo, ••h, grace, favour, mercy, glory with all points that tend to ••••••∣ual life, are here signified by bread and wine, and comprized •• that one blessing Remission of sin, the mercy here sealed.
  • 3. The incorporation or Union of a soul with Christ. The bread eaten, is incorporated into the body of the receiver. Christ accept∣ed and received, makes the believer one body with him, flesh of his flesh, that they are no more two distinct beings of themselves, but parts of each other, as the root or body of the vine and the branches, 1 Iohn 15.5.
  • 4. The fellowship that believers shall receive with Christian glory; drinking of wine on earth as this Ordinane shews, That we shall drink with him in his Fathers Kingdom, and that many shall come from the East, and from the West, and sit down with Abra∣ham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, of which this Ordinance is a special representation, Math. 26.29.
  • 5. The necessity that lies upon men to embrace and apply the Lord Jesus; he by this appears as necess••ry for our spiritual well-being, as bread for our natural and sole being; and as nature would decay without the one, so grace will languish without the other.
  • 6. The perfection of the Lord Jesus; he is for all necessary things held out by bread, for all comfortable things repre∣sented by wine; there is nothing necessary for our being, nor comfortable for our well-being, but Christ is that, fully held out un∣to us in the Elements of this Ordinance.
  • 7. The Union and affection that ought to be in all the Mem∣bers of Christ towards each other; there are many grains of wheare goe to the making of one loaf, and many grapes to the filling of one cup; yet these being together without strife, shew communi∣cants should be of one heart without contention.

  All or any of these mysteries not to be regarded, reverenced, or valued, denotes the unworthy receiver.

• 2. To the ends for which it was appointed, of them we have spoken, Sect. 2. Unto which the reader may look back.
• 3. To the Author of whom it was instituted. This hath the Lord Jesus for its Original, and his precept for its receiving; and

• if he be not regarded and reverenced, by the Communicant, the Communicant by him shall be reproved and condemned.

Now there are four sorts of Persons that put not that esteem upon Christ as they ought in reference to this Ordinance.

• 1. The Formalist, he comes either out of custome or curiosity; at most it is that men say not he was away.
• 2. The Hypocrite, he brings an Alabaster boxe, but no pretious Oyntment; it is true he bows the knee, yet puts a vail upon Christs face, strikes him, saying, Prophesie who s••••ites thee; he denies Christs Omnipotence, and omniscience, as if he could not find out the wickedness of his heart, or were not able to punish him for it•• Luke 22.64
• 3. The impenitent; it is not they who are invited to the Lambs Supper; It is the mourning, sorrowful, weeping, repenting soul for whom this table is covered, and for whom Christ hath pardons ready sealed to comfort, refresh, cherish and acquit them; the Communion cloth dryes onely the weeping eye, and the wine onely warms and refreshes the fainting soul. The impenitent ought not to come there; and if they do, it is upon their own pe∣ril for Christ never called them.
• 4. The malecontent, he sins against the Author and mystery of this Ordinance with a witness; Christ was a man of peace, though acquainted with trouble; and this Ordinance is a bond of peace, and ought not to be sealed in wrath. How shall he expect to have his talents frankly forgiven him in this, who will not for∣give his Brother his pence at his own table? Christ is harmless, se∣parate from sinners; and this man therefore is to keep from him; this table is like that he••p of wheat, Cant. 7.2. and therefore to be set about him with Lilies; his man being a Nettle, he is nigh to be plucked up, and cast out: Math. 22.13.