A vvorthy communicant: or, A treatise, shewing the due order of receiving the sacrament of the Lords Supper. By Ier. Dyke, minister of Epping, in Essex

A Table of the Heads of this Treatise.

The due Order of receiving the Sacrament of the Supper, and seeking God therein, stands in three kindes of Duties:

• 1 Duties Antecedent, in doing such Duties as must go before the Sacrament. All which come under the generall Head of preparation. Preparation is twofold:
  • 1 Habituall, having the soule furnished with such graces as may make a man a worthy Communicant:
  • They are these,
    • Knowledge.
    • Faith.
    • Repentance.
    • Charity.
    • Obedience.
  • 2 Actuall, which stands in these things:
    • 1 Solemne sequestration of a mans selfe.
    • 2 Examination
      • 1. of the Truth of
        • Faith.
        • Repentance.
        • Love.
        • Obedience.
      • 2. of the Growth of Grace.
      • 3. of our Wants.
    • 3 Renewing and quickning our Habituall Graces.
    • 4 Excitation and stirring up in our selves strong desires after Christ.
    • 5 Stirring up in our selves a strong expectati∣on of the benefits to be had in the Sacrament.
    • 6 Earnest seeking of GOD by Prayer.

• 2 Duties concomitant. In doing such Duties as accompany the action of Receiving, where the generall Duty is; The offering up of our selves to God, in an holy and spi∣rituall disposition in receiving the Sacrament. This stands in five things:
  • 1 Solemne and serious meditation.
  • 2 An exercise of re∣pentance, standing in
    • Godly sorrow for sin.
    • A solemne renewing of our covenants with God.
  • 3 The actuating of faith, upon
    • Sacramentall offers.
    • Sacramentall promises.
    • Sacramentall representations.
  • 4 The Duty of Thanksgiving.
  • 5 An Exercise of Love and Mercy.
• 3 Duties subsequent. In doing such Duties as must follow after Receiving. And they are two:
  • 1 Examining a mans selfe how he hath sped at the Supper.
    • 1 If sped ill. Then
      • 1. finde out the cause of miscarri∣age, and be humbled for it.
      • 2 Labour by after-paines to quicken, and make the Sacrament effectuall.
    • 2 If sped well. Then
      • 1. blesse God for it.
      • 2. labour to keepe and main∣taine the holy frame of heart gotten at the Sacrament.
  • 2 A speciall care to keepe our vowes, and expresse the power of the Ordinance, in our holinesse of life, and obedience.