The pathvvay to prayer and pietie Containing, 1 An exposition of the Lords Prayer, with an apologie for publicke, and priuate set prayer. 2 A preparation to the Lords Supper, with Ma. Zanchius confession, confirming that sacrament. 3 A direction to a Christian life, both in our generall and particular callings. 4 An instruction to die well, and a consolation against all crosses. With diuers prayers, and thanksgiuings fit for this treatise. By Robert Hill, Doctor in Diuinitie.

CHAP. III. Of the dutie of a Christian man in the Sup∣per of the Lord.

WHerefore I thinke and beléeue, that these are the duties of a Christian man in the Lords Supper.

First, that he set before his eyes the per∣fect Communion with God, which is none at al without Christ, and is to be found only in him, and that he direct all things vnto it, as vnto the last end.

Secondly, that hee may come vnto this end, hee must make his beginning from the meanes which doe incurre into our senses, as those things which are first perceiued by our vnderstanding, and are better knowne by nature, as also hee must heare the word attentiuely, and come vnto the Sacraments reuerently and diligently consider as well,

what the word signifieth as what the Sa∣craments doe represent, and what is offe∣red vnto vs by the Ministerie of them both, which is this, that Christ hath offered vp his bodie vnto death for vs, and shedde his bloud for remission of sinnes, and therefore hee hath by his bloud sealed and confirmed in himselfe being Mediatour the New Te∣stament of our euerlasting reconciliation and peace with God. And these things are so signified by the Sacraments that they are also offered, and giuen vnto vs to be re∣ceiued. Whereby it comes to passe that they are truly called Signes, not only signi∣fying, but also exhibiting and giuing the things which they signifie.

Thirdly, I beleeue, because the thinges signified and offered by the Signes are to be receiued by faith, and faith is the gift of God: therefore God is to be praied vnto, as hee who offereth the things by the Signes, and who commands vs to receiue them by faith. He also can giue and increase faith, whereby we are able to receiue them.

Fourthly, I beléeue, that faith being be∣gotten in vs by hearing of the Word, and increased by the diligent consideration of the Sacraments through the Holy Ghost, it is the dutie of a Christian man, while he receiueth the Externall and Visible Signes

with his hand being also Externall and Vi∣sible, and eateth them with the mouth of his body, and drinketh them heare vpon Earth: together also to receiue with the hand and mouth of faith, and to eate and drinke the Heauenly and Inuisible thinges, namely the flesh and bloud of Christ with a faithful heart, lifted vp vnto the Heauenly Table: that hee being more and more coupled vnto Christ, and made flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones, may liue in Christ, and Christ in him. For I beleeue the faithfull in the Supper truly to receiue and eate, but by the Spirit and by faith, the very true bodie of Christ the which was crucified for vs, and so farre forth as it was deliuered vp for vs: and that they drinke his bloud which was shed for vs for the remission of sinnes: accor∣ding as the wordes of Christ doe manifestly, testifie. And that indéed the bodie is present and the bloud is present, but vnto the Spi∣rit, and vnto the inward man. For vnto the Spirit all thinges which hee receiueth by faith, are in truth present according to that, that Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith. And no distance of place can effect, that the thinges wee receiue by faith, should bée absent from vs: euen as the Sunne cannot be said to be absent from the eyes, of which it is perceiued.

Fiftly, I beléeue, because the new coue∣nant in Christ is established by his bloud, and the Testament is confirmed by the death of the Testator: and because by the bloud of the eternall couenant, wee are for euer ioyned vnto God: therefore a Christi∣an man, who now by faith féeleth himselfe to be incorporated into Iesus Christ, ought also to beléeue that hee is confirmed in the couenant with God the Father by a bond that cannot bee broken: and therefore that all his sinnes are forgiuen him of God, and that hee is destinated and assured to bée the Sonne of God and Heire of eternall life, without all feare to be disherited. For these thinges which we on our part according to the condition of the couenant owe vnto God, namely Faith, Loue, Obedience: wee may firmely beléeue, that all those things are fully by Christ the first begotten effected for vs, and imputed vnto vs. Fur∣ther wee ought to bee certainly perswaded, that by the assistance of Christ wee shall neuer be forsaken, but that we may in some part performe the same. And that because Christ himselfe hath both performed those things for vs, and hath promised vs this as∣sistance, that the New Testament should re∣maine sure and perpetual as on Gods part, so also on our part: vntil at length we being

receiued into the full possession of the Hea∣uenly Inheritance, doe liue in perfect hap∣pinesse, with the Father, Sonne and Holy Ghost our God.

For there are thrée principall heads of the couenant on Gods part. The forgiue∣nesse of sinnes, Adoption which is ioyned with a promise of Gods perpetual good wil, grace, protection, and at last the full posses∣sion of Heauenly Inheritance. There are also thrée thinges which on our part God doth require by couenant: faith in God, charitie towards our Neighbour, and holi∣nesse of life or perfect obedience. Christ by his perfect obedience euen vnto death, and by his owne bloud and death hath obtained for vs, both those thinges which God hath promised, as also hath performed those things which God by couenant required at our hand. In testimonie whereof he giueth vs faith whereby wee beléeue in God, and charitie whereby wee loue our Neighbour, and the Spirit of regeneration, whereby we endeuour vnto holinesse of life, and true obedience is begun in vs. So Christ brin∣geth to passe that not only the couenant, on Gods part, but also on our part remaineth sure and perpetuall. It is therefore our du∣tie that first by faith giuen vnto vs by Christ, as wee doe eate his flesh and drinke

his bloud, so also wee beléeue our selues to be confirmed in the couenant with God: and therefore both our sinnes to bee remitted, and God to be our Father, and that he will perpetually loue and protect vs: and lastly that we shall bee heires of eternall life, and shall arise to glorie and life euerlasting, and that through Christ with whose flesh we are fed in the Supper, and we ought to be per∣swaded, that we our selues also are nouri∣shed, to the end we may bee partakers of a blessed resurrection. And therefore wee ought to giue due thankes for so many and so great benefits: we ought also to embrace in loue our Neighbour, and especially our faithfull brethren. That as wee are all one with Christ, so wee may also grow vp toge∣ther, in one bodie more and more with the Church. Euen as the Apostle Paul exhor∣teth vs by this argument that wee are all one Bodie and one Bread, because we are all partakers of the same Bread.

With the endeuour of an holy life and and true obedience, which is also the gift of Christ, wee ought alwayes to glorifie God, and declare indéed that wee are true and liuely members of Christ, and there∣fore haue intrest to that true felicitie, which cōsisteth in that most perfect vniō with God wherein hee shall bee all in all. Thus I be∣léeue

concerning the dutie of a Christian man in the Supper, wherein hee may wor∣thily and for his Saluation eate the Bread of the Lord and drinke of his cup.