Page images
PDF
EPUB

ful Habits, and watching against all finful Acts; and if they perfevere in this course, studying to ferve God according to the best of their Power and Knowledge; there is no doubt, but they shall find acceptance with God. And these are the things which we profefs at the Sacrament, that we do and will do: 1. We profefs our felves Penitents for all that is past and gone. 2. We undertake to live Godly Lives for the future; meaning as near as we can, by the help of God's Grace, confidering the Imperfections of our Depraved Nature. And if we do not Profefs and undertake these things at other times, we are not fo much indeed as Chriftians; and if we do them fincerely now, we are fit to be Communicants. So that, I confefs, I do not fee, what Reason any Conscientious and Good Hearted Man hath to be afraid of this Ordinance; rather it should be hist Comfort and Joy, that he hath liberty to use it; because it is the Seal of thofe Promises of Pardon and Mercy, which God hath made to every broken Heart. No fcruples therefore are fufficient to beat off any Pious and Penitent Souls; for if Men do not Repent and Reform, they are not the Disciples of Chrift; and if they do, they are in a good Condition to be

Guests

Guests at Chrift's Table. I have more to say concerning this matter, when I come to treat of the Nature of that Preparation which is neceffary; but this I hope is fufficient for the prefent.

CHAP. III.

Of the Neceffity of Preparation.

ΤΗ

HE Neceffity of Receiving the Holy Sacrament being thus proved, it is time now to confider those Difpofititions and Preparations wherewith all People are bound to come to the Lord's Table, that they may Eat and Drink af tr a worthy manner.

AND here, two things are to be enquired into, for the full fatisfaction of Mens Consciences. 1. First, concerning the Neceffity of Preparing our felves before hand; how that doth appear. 2. Secondly, concerning the Nature of this Preparation; wherein that doth confift.

I. FIRST, touching the Neceffity of Preparing our felves, before we prefume to eat of this Bread and to drink of this Cup. It is obfervable, That our Bleffed Saviour himself

himself gave his Difciples no particular Inftructions about this matter, when he Instituted this Solemnity. He commanded them indeed to do this, and to Celebrate this Mystery in Remembrance of him; but we do not Read of any exprefs Directions he gave, touching Preparation thereunto. However, that no Man may be emboldened to ufe this Ordinance, after an Irreligious or rafh manner, the Neceffity of Preparing our felves, will evidently appear from these following Confiderations. 1. From the confideration of that Analogy which this Myftery bears to those Ancis ent Sacrfical Feafts, that were Celebrated by all Mankind. Thefe I have treated of at large, because the full Knowledge thereof, is very ferviceable in helping us, to understand both the Nature of this Feast, and our own Duty too in the use of it; which probably might be the Reafon of our Lord's Silence in this point: Because it was not so very neceffary for him to give particular Inftructions in a matter, which was fo obvious to all, that Men could eafily be led to a Senfe of their Duty by thofe common Notions and Apprehenfions, which both Heathens and Jews had of Banquets of this Nature.

AS for the Heathen part of the world, they faw by the Light of Nature, that

[ocr errors]

Holy

Holy things ought to be used with a great deal of Reverence, and by Men of Holiness and Purity. And for this Reason their constant Custom was, before they went to their Sacrifical Banquets, to Prepare themselves with many previous Rites and Ceremonies, fuppofing, that thereby they did Sanctifie and fit themselves for the Service of their Deities. Thus the Pagan Priests were wont to forbear the very touching of any Bread that was Leavened, left they should be polluted. They used many forts of Luftrations and Wafhings, cleansing as well their Cloathes, as their Bodies (especially their Hands) with the Pureft Water, that was appropriated to that purpose. They abftained for many days before hand from Eating of Flesh, and from Drinking of Wine. They refrained from the Nuptial Bed, and from all Carnal Pleasures, ufing many Artificial Methods, to fubdue and Mortifie their Senfual Appetites. And when the time for Sacrificing was come, they arrayed themfelves with clean and fpotlefs Garments, which they called their Holy and Religious Drefs. Nor was this the Practice of the

Farinam fermento imbutam attingere, ei fas non eft. Aul. Gell. de Flam. Dial. No. Attic. lib. 10. c. 15. Of thefe Preparatory Rites, See Stuckius pag. 79. &c. Gyrald. Hift. Di orum Syntag. 17. P. 497. Natal. Mythol. lib. 1. c. 9. 14 Alex. ab Alex. Gen. dier. 1. 4. C. 17.

[merged small][ocr errors]

Priefts only. For all the People that were to Eat and Drink before their Deities, were required alfo to Prepare and Purifie themselves throughly after their way; believing that the outward Sanctifications of their Bodies, did ferve to Sanctifie and Cleanse their very Souls and Spirits. Thus they were wont to wash themselves often; to give themselves to Faftings and much Abftinence; to deny themselves thofe Fleshly Satisfactions, which at other times were lawful. Their Cuftom too, was to make folemn acknowledgments of the Sins of their Lives, Praying to their Gods not to take Vengeance upon them. If any Man had his Hands Defiled with Blood, or was polluted and ftained with any grofs Wickedness, he was not to come to the Altar: And when their Services were See the Aubeginning, Proclamation was made, is thors above de, who are here? Whereunto they Anfwered, modi, nagado, that is, Many and Good Men: And if any was found there, that was known to be otherwife, or to be in a State of Guilt, he was turned out of the Company of the Reft; thens believing, that none were fit to meddle with things Sacrificed, but fuch as were Upright in Mind, and void of an Evil Confcience.

the very Hea

mentioned.

In Sacrificiis rite celebrandis

majorem nullam ceremoniam fuiffe videmus,quam nibil fibi confcire, bonos ac pios effe. Gyrald. Syntag. 17. pag. 492.

AND

« PreviousContinue »