The communicants guide directing the younger sort, which have never yet received, and the elder, and ignorant sort, which have hitherto received unworthily, how they may receive the sacrament of the Lords Supper to their souls comfort together with a treatise of divine truths, collected out of ancient and moderne divines / by R. Gove ...

THE Communicants Guide, Directing The younger sort, which have never yet received, and the elder and igno∣rant sort, which have hitherunto received unworthily, how they may Receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper worthily, and to their Soules comfort.

Question. WHat must he doe, that would Re∣ceive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper worthily, and to his Soules com∣fort?

A. He must doe that, which is required of a worthy Receiver, before he commeth to receive; whilest hee is Receiving; and after he hath Received.

Q. What is required of a worthy Receiver before he commeth to receive? * 1.1

A. There is required a serious, and

solemne preparation of himselfe.

Q. Wherein doth that serious, and so∣lemne * 1.2 preparation of a Mans selfe con∣sist?

A. It consisteth in two things. First, in a solemne sequestring and setting apart of some convenient time, wherein hee may, betwixt God and his own Soule meditate on that which hee is about to doe: and secondly in doing that which may prepare him for it.

Q. What time is fittest to be set apart for this businesse?

A. The whole time from the warning given of a Communion to the very time * 1.3 of receiving it, should take up some of our thoughts touching the same: but es∣pecially * 1.4 we should spend some part of the day immediately foregoing it in that bu∣sinesse: by retiring our selves from other * 1.5 company into some private place (if it may be) to performe the same; and by with∣drawing our minds for that time from all other businesses.

Q. What are the duties which in this time thus set apart, a mam is to perform, that he may be rightly prepared?

A. They are two. The first is examina∣tion; * 1.6 and the second is Prayer.

Q. Concerning what must a man examine himselfe?

A. He must examine himselfe, whether he have in him those things which ought to be in a worthy Receiver.

Q. What are those things?

A. They are especially five. First, know∣ledge; Secondly Faith, Thirdly Repen∣tance; Fourthly Charity, and Lastly, an hungring and thirsting desire after Christ, and the benefits of his death, and passion.

Q. What knowledge ought there to be in a worthy Receiver?

A. There ought to be in him (besides a competent knowledge of the grounds, * 1.7 and principles of the Christian Religion in generall) a more particular knowledge, both of himselfe, who is to receive, and * 1.8 of the true nature, and use of the Sacra∣ment, which he is to receive. * 1.9

Q. What must hee know concerning him∣selfe, who is to receive?

A. He must know, how miserable he is by nature; and how much more miserable * 1.10 he hath made himself by his actuall trans∣gressions.

Q. What must hee know concerning the true nature, and use of the Sacrament which he is to receive?

A. Hee must know, first who ordained it; Secondly, for what ends it was ordain∣ed,

and thirdly, what are the parts whereof it consisteth.

Q. Who ordained this Sacrament?

A. The Lord Jesus Christ, and that in * 1.11 the Night when hee was betrayed, and therefore it is called the Lords Supper.

Q. For what ends was it ordained?

A. It was ordained, first to keepe in * 1.12 us a thankfull remembrance of the Death, and Passion of our Blessed Lord, and Sa∣viour Jesus Christ. Secondly to assure us of our particular part, and interest in the benefits thereof; and Thirdly, to be a Bond, and Pledge, both of our Union with Christ, and of our Communion one with another.

Q. What are the parts, whereof this Sa∣crament consisteth?

A. They are three. First, the outward Signes signifying. Secondly, the Divine Word sanctifying, and thirdly, the inward, and spirituall graces signified.

Q. What are the outward signes signi∣fying?

A. Bread, and Wine, with the seve∣rall actions pertaining to them, as Break∣ing, * 1.13 Giving, Taking, Eating, and Drink∣ing.

Q. What is the Divine Word Sancti∣fying?

A. The Word of Christs Institution, * 1.14 pronounced with Prayers, and Blessings, by a lawfull Minist••r.

Q. What are the inward, and spirituall graces signified?

A. The Body of Christ Crucified, and his bloud shed for the Remission of sins: exhibited by God to the faith of the wor∣thy Receiver, which receives it, and feeds on it, for the nourishing of his soule unto life everlasting.

Q. And thus farre touching the know∣ledge which is required in the worthy Re∣ceiver; tell me now next what faith is requi∣red in him?

A. There is required, not onely a bare * 1.15 knowledge, and perswasion, that the bo∣dy of Christ was crucified, and his bloud shed for the Remission of sinnes (for even this the very Devills in Hell doe be∣lieve, and yet tremble) but a particular application of the same, and of all the be∣nefits thereof, unto a mans owne Soule, * 1.16 whereby he believeth that Christs Body was Crucified, and his Bloud shed for the Remission of his Sins in particular.

Q. And thus far also touching the faith, which is required in a worthy Receiver: tell me now next what Repentance is required in him?

A. There is required in him an hearty, * 1.17 and unfaigned sorrow for all his Sins past: and a full purpOse (with Gods Grace, and assistance) never to offend God by the like in the time to come, but to amend his life, and to become a new man.

Q. And thus farre also touching the Re∣pentance, which is required in a worthy Re∣ceiver: tell mee now next what Charity is required in him?

A. There is required a care to be in * 1.18 Love, and Charity with all men, striving to be reconciled to those whom hee hath injured, and wronged; and being ready from his heart to forgive those, who have injured, and wronged him.

Q. And thus farre also touching the Cha∣rity which is required in a worthy Receiver: tell me now in the last place, what hung∣ring, and thirsting desire after Christ, and the benefits of his Death, and passion are re∣quired in a worthy Repentance?

A. There is required in him a sense, and feeling of his want of Christ, and his righteousnesse, and of Gods Wrath due unto him for his sins, which shewing him his woefull, and miserable estate without Christ, may make him to hunger, and thirst after him, and the benefits of his * 1.19

Death and Passion, (the only meanes of * 1.20 pacifying Gods wrath) as much, as an hunger-starved man, and one that is rea∣dy to die for thirst, doth after Meate, and drinke.

Q. And thus have you shewed me, what is the former of those two things, which must be performed by a worthy Receiver, that would prepare himself aright before he com∣meth to receive, to wit, examination: tell me now which is the other of them.

A. It is prayer: wherein if after exami∣nation hee doth finde in himselfe the for∣mer * 1.21 Graces in any measure, he is to bless God for it, and to pray for the continu∣ance, * 1.22 and increase of them; and if hee want them, or have them not in that measure, which God requireth in his Word, hee is to humble himselfe before the Lord in true contrition, and hearty * 1.23 sorrow for his failings, confessing them unto him, and desiring pardon of them all for Christs fake; and that his gracious Spirit may helpe his infirmities in those * 1.24 Graces hee hath, and may worke in him, those which he wanteth, that so hee may come as a worthy Receiver to this holy Table of the Lord.

Q. But what if a Man be not thus prepared when hee commeth to receive,

is there any great danger in it?

A. Yes, for first, he that is not thus pre∣pared, standeth guilty before God of the Body, and Blood of the Lord. * 1.25

Secondly, insteed of Receiving that which might further his Salvation, hee shall Eate, and Drinke his own Damnati∣on: * 1.26 And lastly hee shall not onely be * 1.27 damned hereafter, but shall be severely punished, also in this life, by sicknesse and weaknesse, yea, and at the end of his life by some fearefull death.

Q. And thus have you shewed me what is required of a worthy Receiver before hee commeth to Receive: tell mee now in the next place, what is required of him whilst he is Receiving?

A. There is required a reverent gesture * 1.28 of Body; and a Religious disposition of minde.

Q. What gesture of body is fittest in the time of Receiving?

A. There is no certaine gesture pre∣scribed in Gods Word to be used in the Receiving of the Lords Supper, and there∣fore that is fittest, which is most decent, and orderly, and most agreeing to the * 1.29 Discipline of the Church under which we live: So that it be not contrary to piety, or charity, and if we be left to our owne

choyce, then that gesture is to be judged * 1.30 best, which may best set forth the great∣nesse of the Giver, the worth of the Gift, and the humility, and thankfullnesse of the Receiver.

Q. What disposition of minde is required in a worthy Receiver, at the time of his Re∣ceiving?

A. There is required, first, that his mind * 1.31 be taken off from all worldly, and sinne∣full thoughts; and secondly, that it be wholly taken up with heavenly Meditati∣ons, and hearty prayers, and thanksgivings unto God.

Q. Whereon should a worthy Receiver specially meditate in the time of Recei∣ving?

A. Hee should especially meditate on the Death, and Passion of Christ Jesus his Saviour; of the benefits which accrue to him thereby; and of the duties, which hee oweth to God and man therefore.

Q. How may he come best to meditate on the death and passion of Christ?

A. By observing carefully what is done by the Minister, that doth admini∣ster it; and himselfe that doth receive it.

Q. What doth the Minister do?

A. He doth consecrate, and set apart

the Bread, and Wine, whereby of com∣mon and ordinary Bread and Wine, it is made the Sacrament of the Body, and Bloud of Christ. He doth also breake the Bread, and poure out the Wine; and having so done, doth deliver it to each of the Communicants.

Q. What is he to meditate on when hee seeth the Minister to consecrate the Bread, and Wine by the Word of Christs Instituti∣on, and Prayer, to be the Sacrament of the Blessed Body, and Bloud of Christ?

A. Hee is then to meditate, how that * 1.32 God the Father, out of his meere love to mankinde, did set apart, seale, and appoint his only begotten Son to be the all-sufficient meanes, and onely Media∣tour to Redeeme us from sinne, and to reconcile us to his grace, and to bring us to glory.

Q. What is he to meditate on, when hee seeth the Minister to breake the Bread, and to poure out the Wine?

A. Hee is then to meditate, that the Body of Christ was as truely crucified, * 1.33 and his bloud shed for the Remission of his sinnes, under the sense of Gods wrath due unto them: as hee doth now see the Bread in the Sacrament to be broken, and the wine to be poured out by the Minister.

Q. Lastly, what is he to meditate on, when the Minister commeth unto him, and delivereth him the Bread, and Wine, thus Consecrated, broken and poured out?

A. He is then to meditate, that as the Minister doth now offer, and deliver into his hands the Bread, and Wine, and bids him, take it, eate it, and drinke it; So doth Christ himselfe come unto him, and offer, and give unto his Faith, his very Body, and Bloud, with all the benefits of his Death, and Passion.

Q. And thus we see what the worthy Re∣ceiver must meditate on in the time of Re∣ceiving, upon his sight of what the Minister doth: tell me now next what he must medi∣tate on, upon the sight, and sense of what he himselfe doth at that time?

A. When hee hath received the Bread and Wine at the Ministers hand, and is Eating of the one, and Drinking of the other, he must then meditate and thinke with himselfe thus: as I have now taken, and doe eate this bread, and drinke this Wine for the nourishment of my body, and life temporall; so I doe believe, that the Body, and Bloud of Jesus Christ, be∣ing * 1.34 apprehended of mee by the hand of Faith, and applied by Faith unto my

Soule, shall nourish it up unto life ever∣lasting.

Q. And thus wee have seene, how the worthy Receiver is to meditate in the time of Receiving upon the Death, and Passion of Christ, and the benefits which accrue to him thereby. Tell me now next, what are the duties, which he is to perform to God, and man therefore?

A. To God hee is to lift up his heart * 1.35 by way of thanksgiving for the great worke of our Redemption by the death of Christ: and unto man hee is to extend his love, by cleaving to his fellow-com∣municants in one Spirit, as unto mem∣bers of the same body; and by shewing mercy to the poore members of Christs body in contributing to their necessities according to his ability.

Q. And thus we have also seene, what is to be done by the worthy Receiver at the time of Receiving. Tell me now in the last place, what is required of him after he hath Received?

A. There is required, Examination, and Resolution.

Q. Wherein stands the Examination, which must be in a worthy Receiver after he hath Received?

A. It stands in this, to trie whether

he hath gotten any good by the Sacra∣ment, or not.

Q. What if he finde little, or no good by his Receiving?

A. He is then first to suspect himselfe, that some miscarriage hath beene in him, either in his preparation to, or in his per∣formance of the Duty; and having found out what was the fault in either, that hindred the efficacy of the Sacrament unto him, he must judge himselfe, and be * 1.36 seriously humbled for it. And secondly, hee must endeavour by after-paines in prayer, and humiliation to quicken, and awaken the efficacy of the Sacrament un∣to his Soule.

Q. But what if hee finde any good by his Receiving, what is he to do then?

A. He is first to blesse God with all * 1.37 his heart therefore; and to acknowledge with all thankfullnesse Gods gracious dealing with him therein; and secondly, he is to be carefull, and watchfull that hee keepe up and maintaine that holy, and gracious frame of heart in himselfe, which he hath brought with him from the Sacrament.

Q. And thus have wee seene, wherein the examination of a worthy Receiver con∣sisteth, after hee hath Received, Tell mee

now wherein standeth his Resolution?

A. It standeth in this, that he be care∣full, * 1.38 and doe resolve to keepe touch with God, and to expresse the power, and efficacy of the Sacrament in making good, and keeping his Vowes, and Co∣venants, which hee made to, and with * 1.39 God, of new obedience, and amend∣ment of life, when he came to receive.

Q. Is there any great danger, if we do neg∣lect to do so?

A. Yes, for first without this care, and Christian resolution, wee shall incur Gods heavy displeasure: Secondly we frustrate, and make voide, all that we have formerly done in, and at the Sacrament. And third∣ly, we shall hereby bring our selves into a far worse condition, than we were before we came to receive.

Q. How may we come then by power to do this?

A. By watching carefully over our wayes, and courses; by examining them by * 1.40 the Rule, and Square of Gods Word; and by hearty prayer unto God for his Grace, to direct, and assist us in all our wayes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2 Chron. 30. 18. 19.
• * 1.2

  2 Sam. 16. 5 Psal. 26. 6 2 Chro. 35 6.
• * 1.3

  Exod. 12. 3. & 6.
• * 1.4

  Joh. 19. 14 & 31.
• * 1.5

  Zech. 12. 12 Mat. 6. 6 Ge. 24. 63 1 Cor. 7. 5 Gen. 22. 4 & 5. Nehe 6. 3 & 4.
• * 1.6

  1. Cor. 11. 28 1 Tim. 4. 5
• * 1.7

  Heb. 8. 10, 11. Heb. 5. 12.
• * 1.8

  1 Cor. 13. 5
• * 1.9

  1 Cor. 11. 29
• * 1.10

  Psal. 51▪ 5 Rom. 5 12 Eph 2, 3. Rom 6. 23 Gal. 3. 10.
• * 1.11

  Mit. 26. 26 27, 28. 1 Cor. 11. 23 1 Cor. 11. 20
• * 1.12

  1 Cor. 11. 24 26. John 6 54, 56 & 57. 1 Cor. 1••. 24, 26 1 Cor. 10. 16, 17. 1 Cor, 12, 13.
• * 1.13

  Mar. 26. 26 27. 1 Cor. 11. 23, 24, 25.
• * 1.14

  Mat. 26. 26 27. 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. 1 Cor. 10. 16. Heb. 5. 4. Mat. 26. 26 27. Mark. 14. 22, 23, 24. Luk. 22. 19 20. John 6. 54
• * 1.15

  Esay 53. 6. 8. 10. Mat. 26. 28 Jam. 2. 19
• * 1.16

  Gal. 2. 20 1 Cor. 5. 7 Job 19. 25 Luke 1. 47 Joh. 20. 28
• * 1.17

  1 Cor. 7. 9, 10. Luke 15. 21 Psal. 51. 3. 4 Zech. 12. 10 Hos. 14. 8 Esai. 30. 22 Acts 26. 20 2 Cor. 5. 17
• * 1.18

  1 Cor. 11. 18 20. 1 Cor. 12 13 Eph. 4. 16 Mat. 5. 23, 24. 1 Cor. 5. 8 Colos. 3. 13 Esai. 1. 11. & Luke 17. 4
• * 1.19

  John 7. 37 Rev. 22, 17
• * 1.20

  Luke 1. 53 Psa. 63. 1. Psal. 107. 9 Psal. 42. 1. Rev. 21. 6 Esay 55. 1 Esay 4••. 1
• * 1.21

  Psal. 10. 17 1 Tim. 4. 5
• * 1.22

  Mark. 9. 24
• * 1.23

  Psal. 51. 17 Esay 57. 15 Esay 66. 2.
• * 1.24

  Rom. 8. 16
• * 1.25

  1 Cor. 11. 27
• * 1.26

  1 Cor. 11. 29
• * 1.27

  1 Cor. 11. 30. Exod. 5. 3 2 Chron. 30. 18. & 20
• * 1.28

  Esa▪ 45. 23 Psal. 95. 6 Ps. 103. 1. & 2. Luke 1. 46
• * 1.29

  1 Cor. 14. 40. Mat. 18, 17 1 Cor. 8. 12 13.
• * 1.30

  1 Cor: 10. 32. Psal 95. 2, 3. Rev. 7. 11, 12. 1 Chron. 29 10, 11, 13.
• * 1.31

  Exod. 3. 5. Colos. 3. 2 Phil. 1. 27 Psa. 104. 33 & 34. 1 Cor. 10. 31 Colos. 3. 17
• * 1.32

  John 3. 16 1 John 4. 9 John 6. 27 Mat. 1. 21 1 Tim. 2. 5 Ephes. 2. 14 Ephes. 1. 6 Heb. 9. 15
• * 1.33

  Gal. 3. 1 Exod. 24. 8 John 1. 29 Esay 53. 5
• * 1.34

  Rom. 3. 25
• * 1.35

  Psal. 116. 13, 14. Psal. 63. 5 Mat. 26. 30 1 Cor. 10. 17 1 Cor. 12. 13. Psal. 16. 2. & 3. Eph. 4. 3. 15. & 16. 2 Cor. 8, 9, &c. 2 Cor. 9. 7 Gal. 6. 10 1 Cor. 16. 2 Mat. 12. 7
• * 1.36

  1 Cor. 11. 31 Eze. 20 43
• * 1.37

  Ephes. 4. 3 &c. 1 Pet. 1. 3 1 Chron. 29. 18. 2 Chron. 30. 21, 22, 23. Luke 4. 1 1 Cor. 10. 4
• * 1.38

  Hos. 11. 12
• * 1.39

  Psa 116. 14. 18. Eccles. 5. 3. Psal. 50. 16, 17. 23. Pro. 9. 5. 6 Colos. 1. 10 Ps. 119. 106 Hos. 8. 13 1 Cor. 11. 30 Esay 1. 11. 13 Gen. 4. 5 1 Cor. 11. 17 Joh. 13. 26, 27. Luk. 11. 24
• * 1.40

  Psal. 39. 1 Job 31. 1 Eccles. 5. 1 Esay 8. 20 Psal. 119. 9 Gal. 6. 16. Psal. 119. 5. 35. 88. 133