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Lord's fupper g; and yet are fpiritually prefent to the faith of the receiver, no lefs truly and really than the elements themselves are to their outward fenfes b; fo they that worthily communicate in the facrament of the Lord's fupper, do therein feed upon the body and blood of Chrift, not after a corporal or carnal, but in a spiritual manner; yet truly and really i, while by faith they receive and apply unto themselves Chrift crucified, and all the benefits of his death k.

Q.171. How are they that receive the facrament of the Lord's Supper to prepare themselves before they come unto it?

A. They that receive the facrament of the Lord's fupper are, before they come, to prepare themselves thereunto, by examining themselves / of their being in Chrift m, of their fins and wants n; of the truth and measure of their know

the new Teftament in my blood, which is fhed for you.

170. g Acts iii. 21. Whom the heaven muft receive, until the times of reftitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, fince the world began,

Mat. xxvi. 26 And as they were eating, Jefus took bread, and blef fed it, and brake it, and gave it to the difciples, and faid, Take, eat; this is my body. v. 28. For this is my blood of the new Teftament which is fhed for many for the remiffion of fins.

i 1 Cor. xi. 24. And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and faid, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. v. 25. after the fame manner alfo he took the cup, when he had fupped, faying, This cup is the new Teftament in my blood: this do ye, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. v. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do fhew the Lord's death till he come. v. 27. Wherefore, whofoever fhall eat this

bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, fhall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. v. 28. But let a man examine himself, and fo let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. v. 29 for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not difcerning the Lord's body.

k 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of bleffing which we blefs, is it not the communion of the blood of Chrift? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Chrift?

171./1 Cor. xi. 28. But let a man examine himself, and fo let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

#2 Cor. xiii. 5. Examine yourfelves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own felves; know ye not your own felves, how that Jefus Chrift is in you except ye be reprobates?

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n 1 Cor. v. 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened. For even Chrift our paffover is facrificed for us. Compared with Exod. xii. 15. Seven days fhall ye

eat

knowledge o, faith p, repentance q, love to God and the brethren r, charity to all men, forgiving thofe that have done them wrong t, of their defires after Chrift v, and of their new obedience w; and by renewing the exercise of these graces x,

eat unleavened bread, even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houfes for whofoever eateth leavened bread, from the first day until the feventh day, that foul fhall be cut off from Ifrael.

1 Cor. xi. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not difcerning the Lord's body.

PI Cor. xiii. 5. (See above in m.) Mat. xxvi. 28. For this is my blood of the new Teftament, which is fhed for many for the remiflion of fins.

9 Zech. xii. 10. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerufalem, the fpirit of grace and of fupplications, and they fhall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they fhall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only fon, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitternefs for his first born: 1 Cor. xi. 31. For if we would judge our felves, we fhould not be judged.

1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of bleffing which we blefs, is it not the communion of the blood of Chrift? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Chrift? V. 17. For we being many, are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. As ii. 46. And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from houfe to house, did eat their meat with gladness and fingleness of heart, v. 47. Praifing God, and having favour with all the people: and the Lord added to the church daily fuch as should be faved.

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1 Cor. v. 8. Therefore let us keep the feaft, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickednefs; but with the upleavened bread of fincerity and truth. I Cor. xi, 18. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divifions among you; and I partly believe it. v. 20. When ye come together therefore fato one place, this is not to eat the Lord's fupper,

Mat. v. 23. Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remembereft that thy brother hath ought against thee; v. 24. Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, firfl be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Ifa. lv. 1. Ho, every one that thirfteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price. John vii. 37. In the last day, the great day of the feaft, Jefus flood and cried, faying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

I Cor. v. 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Chrift our paffover is facrificed for us v. 8. Therefore let us keep the feaft, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of fincerity and truth.

x 1 Cor. xi. 25. After the fame manner alfo he took the cup, when he had fupped, faying, This cup is

the

by ferious meditation y, and fervent prayer z.

Q. 172. May one who doubteth of his being in Chrift, or of his due preparation come to the Lord's Supper?

A. One who doubteth of his being in Chrift, or of his due preparation to the facrament of the Lord's fupper, may have true intereft in Chrift, tho' he be not yet affured thereof a; and in God's account hath it, if he be duly affected with the apprehenfion

the new Testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. v. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do fhew the Lord's death till he come. v. 28. But let a man examine himself, and fo let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. Heb. x. 21. and having an high priest over the house of God; v. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full affurance of faith, having our hearts fprinkled from an evil confcience, and our bodies washed with pure water. V. 24. and let us confider one another to provoke unto love, and to good works. Pfal. xxvi. 6. I will wash mine hands in innocence: fo will I compass thine altar, O Lord.

y 1 Cor. xi. 24. And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and faid, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. v. 25. after the fame manner alfo he took the cup, when he had fupped, faying, This cup is the new Teftament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

z 2 Chron. xxx. 18. For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manaffeh, Iffachar, and Zebulun, had not cleanfed themfelves, yet did they eat the paffover, otherwife than it was written: but Hezekiah prayed for them, laying, The good Lord pardon every one v, 19. That prepareth his heart to

feek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleanfed according to the purification of the fanctuary. Mat xxvi. 26. and as they were eating, Jefus took bread, and bleffed it, and brake it, and gave it to the difciples, and faid, Take, eat; this is my body.

172. a Ifa. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his fervant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him truft in the name of the Lord, and ftay upon his God. 1 John v. 13. Thefe things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Pfal. lxxxviii. throughout. Pfal. lxxvii, to the 12. v. I. I cried unto God with my voice: even unto God with my voice, and he gave ear unto me. v. 2. In the day of my trouble I fought the Lord; my fore ran in the night, and ceafed not: my foul refused to be comforted. v. 3. I remembred God, and was troubled: I complained, and my fpirit was overwhelmed. Selah. v. 4. Thou holdeft mine eyes waking: I am fo troubled, that I cannot fpeak, &c. v. 7. Will the Lord caft off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? v. 8. Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promife fail for evermore? v. 9. Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger fhut up his tender

mer

henfion of the want of it b, and unfeignedly defires to be found in Chrift c, and to depart from iniquity d: in which cafe (becafe promises are made, and this facrament is appointed, for

mercies? Jonah ii. 4. Then I faid, I am caft out of thy fight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. v. 7. When my foul fainted within me, I remember the Lord, and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

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b Ifa. liv. 7. For a fmall moment have I forfaken thee, but with great. mercies will I gather thee. v. 8. In a little wrath I hide my face from thee for a moment, but with everlalting kindness will I have mercy on thee, faith the Lord thy redeem.9. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have fworn that the waters of Noah fhould no more go over the earth; fo have I fworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. v. 10. For the mountains fhall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindnefs fhall not depart from thee, neither fhall the covenant of my peace be removed, faith, the Lord, that Kath mercy on thee. Mat. v. 3. Bleffed are the poor in fpirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. v. 4. Bleffed are they that mourn: for they fhall be comforted. Pfal. xxxi. 22. For I faid in my hafte, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless, thou heardft the voice of my fupplications, when I cried unto thee. Pfal. Ixxiii. 13. Verily I have cleanfed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. v. 22. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. v. 23. Nevertheless, I am continually with thee; thou haft holden me by my right hand.

Phil. iii. 8. Yea doubtlefs, and I count all things but lofs, for the ex

the

cellency of the knowledge of Chrift Jefus my Lord: for whom I have fuffered the lofs of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Chrift. v. 9. and be found in him, not having mine own righteoufnefs, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chrift, the righteoufnefs which is of God by faith. Pfal. x. 17. Lord, thou haft heard the defire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt caufe thine ear to hear. * Pfal. xlii. . As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my foul after thee, O God. v. 2. My foul thirfteth for God, for the living God: when fhall I come and appear before God? v. 5. Why art thou caft down, O my foul? and why art thou difquieted in me,? hope thou in God, for I fhall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. v. 11. Why art thou caít down, O my foul? and why art thou difquieted within me? hope thou in God, for I fhall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

d 2 Tim. ii. 29. Nevertheless, the foundation of God ftandeth fure, having this feal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Chrift, depart from iniquity. Ifa. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his fervant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in. the name of the Lord, and ftay upon his God. Pfal. lxvi. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart: the Lord will not hear me. v. 19. But verily God hath heard me: he hath at

tended

the relief even of weak and doubting Chriftians e) he is to bewail his unbelief f, and labour to have his doubts refolved g; and, fo doing, he may and ought to come to the Lord's fupper; that he may be further ftrengthened h.

Q. 173. May any who profefs the faith, and defire to come to the Lord's Jupper, be kept from it?

A. Such as are found to be ignorant or fcandalous, notwithftanding their profeffion of the faith, and defire to come to the Lord's fupper, may and ought to be kept from that facrament, by the power which Chrift hath left in his church i, until they

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e Ifa. xl. 1. He fhall feed his flock like a fhepherd: he fhall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bofom, and fhall gently lead thofe that are with young. v. 29. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might, he increaseth ftrength. v. 31. But they that wait upon the Lord, fhall renew their ftrength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they fhall run, and not be weary; and they fhall walk, and not faint. Mat. xi. 28. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you reft. Mat.

xii. 20. A bruifed reed fhall he not break, and smoking flax fhall he not quench, till he fend forth judgment unto victory. Mat. xxvi. 28. For this is my blood of the new Teftament which is fhed for many for the remiffion of fins.

f Mark ix. 24. And ftraightway

the father of the child cried out, and faid with tears, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.

g Ads ii. 37. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart, and faid unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, Men and

receive

brethren, what fhall we do? A&ts xvi. 39. and he brought them out, and, faid, Sirs, what must I do to be faved?

b Rom. iv. 11. And he received the fign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcifed: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcifed: that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. I Cor. xi. 28. But let a man examine himself, and fo let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.

173. i 1 Cor. xi. 27. to the end. Wherefore, whofoever fhall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, fhall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. v. 28. But let a man examine himself, and fo let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. v. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not difcerning the Lord's body. v. 30. For this caufe many are weak and fickly among you, and many fleep. v. 31. For if we would judge ourselves, we fhould not be judged, &c. to the end of the chapter. Compared with Mat, vii. 6. give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither caft ye your pearls before fwine, left they trample them

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