Q. 168. What is the Lord's supper? A. The Lord's supper is a sacrament of the New Testament 2, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine according to the appointment of Jesus Christ, his death is shewed forth; and they that worthily communicate, feed upon his body and blood, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace a; have their union and communion with him confirmed; testify and renew their thankfulness ", and engagement to God, and their mutual love and fellowship each with other, as members of the same mystical body e. Q. 169. How hath Christ appointed bread and wine to be given and received in the sacrament of the Lord's supper? A. Christ hath appointed the ministers of his word, in the administration of this sacrament of the Lord's supper, to set apart the bread and wine from common use, by the word of institution, thanksgiving, and prayer; to take and break the bread, and to give both the bread and the wine to the communicants: who are, by the same appointment, to take and eat the bread, and to drink the wine, in thankful remembrance 168. z Luke xxii. 20. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you. a Matt. xxvi. 26. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. Ver. 27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it: Ver. 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: Ver. 24. And, when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. Ver. 25. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testa ment in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Ver. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. b 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? c 1 Cor. xi. 24 [See above in a.] d1 Cor. x. 14. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. Ver. 15. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. Ver. 16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Ver. 21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and of the table of devils. el Cor x 17. For we,being many, are one bread and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. that the body of Christ was broken and given, and his blood shed, for them. Q. 170. How do they that worthily communicate in the Lord's supper, feed upon the body and blood of Christ therein ? A. As the body and blood of Christ are not corporally or carnally present in, with, or under the bread and wine in the Lord's supper, and yet are spiritually present to the faith of the receiver, no less truly and really than the elements themselves are to their outward senses b; so they that worthily communicate in the sacrament of the Lord's supper, do therein feed upon the body and blood of Christ, not after a corporal and carnal, but in a spiritual manner; yet truly and really, while by faith they receive and apply unto themselves Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death *. Q. 171. How are they that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper to prepare themselves before they come unto it? A. They that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper 169. f1 Cor. xi. 23, 24. [See before under a.] Matt. xxvi. 26, 27, 28 [See before at a.] Mark xiv. 22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said,Take, eat; this is my body. Ver. 23. And he took the cup; and, when he had given thanks, he gave it to them; and they all drank of it. Ver. 24. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many. Luke xxii. 19. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body, which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me Ver. 20. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. Ver. 28 For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. i1 Cor. xi. 24. And, when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. Ver. 25. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Ver. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Ver. 27. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Ver 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. Ver. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. * 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing are, before they come, to prepare themselves thereunto, by examining themselves of their being in Christ ", of their sins and wants"; of the truth and measure of their knowledge, faith P, repentance ; love to God and the brethren", C charity to all men, forgiving those that have done them wrong; of their desires after Christ", and of their new obe which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 171. / 1 Cor. xi. 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. m 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves: know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates ? n 1 Cor. v. 7. Purge out there fore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. Compared with Exod. xii. 15. Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread, even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. o 1 Cor. xi. 29. For he that eat eth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. p 1 Cor. xiii. 5 [See above in let ter m Matt. xxvi 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. q Zech. xii. 10. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitter. ness for him, as one that is in bit. terness for his first-born. 1 Cor. xi. 31. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. r1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of bless. ing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Ver. 17. For we, being many, are one bread and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Acts ii. 46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart Ver. 47. Praising God, and ha ving favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. s 1 Cor. v. 8. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Cor. xi. 18. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly be lieve it. Ver. 20. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. t Matt. v. 23. Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Ver 24. Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. u Isa lv. 1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, 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 dience; and by renewing the exercise of these graces *, by serious meditation, and fervent prayer 2. Q. 172. May one who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation, come to the Lord's supper? A. One who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation to the sacrament of the Lord's supper, may have true interest in Christ, though he be not yet assured thereofa; and in God's account hath it, if he be duly affected with the without price. John vii. 37. In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 1 Cor. v. 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. Ver. 8. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. x 1 Cor. xi. 25. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Ver. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Ver. 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. Heb. x. 21. And having an high priest over the house of God, Ver. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Ver. 24. And let us consider one another, to provoke unto - love and to good works. Psal. xxvi. 6. I will wash mine hands in inno. cency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord. y 1 Cor. xi. 24. And, when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in re membrance of me. Ver. 25. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament 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 Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written: but Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord par don every one Ver. 19. That prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. Matt. xxvi. 26. And, as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 172. a Isa. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. 1 John v. 13. These 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. Psal. lxxxviii. throughout. Psal. Ixxvii. to Verse 12. Ver 1. 1 cried unto God with my voice: even unto God with my voice, and he gave ear unto me. Ver. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: apprehension of the want of it, and unfeignedly desires to be found in Christ, and to depart from iniquity d: in which case (because promises are made, and this sacrament is appointed, for the relief even of weak and doubting Chris my soul refused to be comforted. Ver. 3. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Ver. 4. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak, &c. Ver. 7. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Ver. 8. Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Ver. 9. Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Jonah ii. 4. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. Ver. 7. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. b Isa. liv. 7. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee, Ver. 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. Ver. 9. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. Ver. 10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be remov. ed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. Matt. v. 3. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Ver. 4. Bless. ed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Psal. xxxi. 22. For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes; nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications, when I cried unto thee. Psal. Ixxiii. 13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. Ver. 22. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Ver. 23. Nevertheless I am continually with thee; thou hast holden me by my right hand. c Phil. iii. & Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Ver. 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of. God by faith. Psal. x. 17. Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear. * Psal. xlii. 1. As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Ver. 2. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? Ver. 5. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Ver. 11. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me ? hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. d 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Isa. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his |