(1e Calice bibcndi. F.ffins in i Cor. vi. 25 De Commiinione cor-
poris Pt ianguinis Chrifti fub urrnque ipecie nullum extat oaiT'iijo
jMiccfptum. Ritus Ecckfix LaiuiuuenlJS p. 641.
F
[ 62 ]
fplred wrkers of the inftitution of the Lord's fupper
was moved, as we fee, to leave this upon record, that
they all drank of it. Mark xiv. 23.
3- We may therefore oppofe, not only the precept of
Chrifi, but the example of his difciples, to the general
praftice of the Papifts* in withholding the cup from
the laity, and all others, but the prieft who confecrates
it. As our Lord faid of the bread, take, eat, fo he faid
of the cup, drink ye all of it ; and fince it is evident from
the carriage of his apoilles that they looked upon his
precept to be as binding in one cafe, as it was in the o-
ther, why fhould not we alfo do the fame ?
4. Belides, if we confider the meaning of thefe rites,
it will appear that the drinking of the cup is more ne-
ceffary than the eating of the bread. For the cup fets
Chrirt before us as crucified for us, as well as the bread,
and like that calls for our faith in him. But it cannot
be faid of the bread, as it may of the cup, that it fets
the new covenant alfo before us ; and tliat it calls for
our faith in Chrill to difpofe us with the greater rea -
dinefs and cheerfalnefs of mind to accept of God's
gracious oifer of being our God, in covenant with us,
and to conftrain us to bind ourfelves in a folemn cove-
nant unto him ; and to lead us to do it in fuch a m.an-
ner as that we may be fure of finding favour in his
fight.
5. Had our bleffed Saviour appointed the cup with
X70 other view then to ttir us up to a repetition of that
faith in him as crucified for us, which we are to exer-
cile when taking and eating of the bread, it would have
been our duty to have complied with his inRitution ;
but when he hath appointed it not orily for that pur-
pofe, but alfo to encourage and engage us to covenant
with the Lord, that he fliall be our God. and we will be
his people and fervants, we fhould be fo far from think-
ing it needlefs to receive the cup, that we ftiould rather.
look upon the receiving it as a matter of even greater
importance to us, than the eating of the bread.
* The King of France may receive the cup at his coronation,
and fome others have this privilege. Ritus Ecclefite Lauduneiiiis,
p. 641. &.C.
[ 63 ]
(i. I (hall therefore put an end to the review of this
inilitution, with obfcrving, that the rcafons for giving
the cup to every communiciut arefo plain and convincing,
that it is really ama^ing any (liould entertain a thought
that the prielt alone is to receive it. So that %ve may
fay of this notion of the papills, as is faid by an ingenious
author* of tlieir abfurd doftiine of tranfubllantiation,
** that, as it is, one is almoft tempted to iufpeft it to be
the efFtiSt of arrogance, rather than error ^ and to conO-
der it as a meet infolent attempt to flievv the 'world, in
the ftroagell iuilance they could invent, what mon-.
llrous things the clergy (hould dare to fay, which the
wretchtd htity ihould not dare to contradift j nay, which
they ihould be forced to pretend they believed. In this
view the thought is admirable, and wortl.iy the moll ma-
licious wit, that ever lorded it over the heritage of God.
But it may deferve fome ferious relleclion, whetlier it
be not an inllance of infatuation, to which God has gi-
ven them up, that it may be a plain mark to all, that
will ufe common fenfe, of the groITeft error in a church,
which claims infiUibility j and may not be intended by
providence, as a kind of antidote againll the rell; of its
poifon."
Directions /o the Communicants, in their Medi-
tations and Ejaculations.
It fhould be our concern, to let none of that time rua
warte, which we fpend in the houfe of our God, but to
improve every minute of it to fome good purpofe. And
as to the fpaces, or intervals, that there may be between
one ordinance and another, it will be proper to fill them
up with pious thoughts ai-d ejaculations. This may be
a means to render thofe ordinances, that are over, the
more ufcful to us, and to prepare us for fuch as we are
to be found in. As foon therefore, as the reil of the
public worfliip is ended, you may fpe.-ik to vourfelves in
fome inch language as this.
* Dr Doddridge on the New Teftament, vol. ii. p. 444,
C 64 3
" Now the Lord furnifheth a table for us in his houfe,
" and fetteth thereon the choiceft dainties. There will
" be bread, which ftrengtheneth man's heart, and wine,
**â– that maketh it glad ; bread which came down from
** Heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die ;
** wine, which whofoever drinketh, hath eternal life.
" There the crucified Jefus, and all the blefled fruits
" of his fufferings and death, will be fet before us. And
*' behold ! though vile, and finful, and utterly unworthy
** of fuch a favour, I am invited to be a gueil ! The
*' Spirit and the bride fay come, and let him that heareth
*' fay come, and let him that is athirlt come j and whofo-
** ever will let him freely take of this fpiritual provifion.
" With what fatisfaclion, delight and joy ; with what
" admiration of the love of God in Chrift j and with
*''what thankfulnefs and praife ftiouldil thou, O my foul,
** accept of the invitation !
" Oh ! may I be aright prepared for this feaft.
*' When the king flialt ceme in to fee the guefts, let me
" not be found without a wedding garment. Forbid it,
" O Lord, that I fliould eat and drink at thy tabic, in
*' token of friendlliip with thee, and fecretly purpofe
" to go on in fin and rebellion againft thee. Give me
" to be found in all the duties now incumbent on me j
*' and to hunger and thiril after all the good things thou
" haft preppaed for me. And O blefs me with all fpi-
" ritual blellings in heavenly places in Chrift. On his
" grace I depend for affiilance 5 I truft to his merits for
*' acceptance."
And now being come to the table, and looking on the
bread, and on the cup, let them lead your thoughts to
the Lord Jefus, and fix them on him as one. who came
from heaven that he might gi^e his fieflx, and ftied his
blood- for the life of the world, and fay upon it,
" Although thou haft finneJ, O ray foul ! and by fin
deftroyed thyfelf, yet there is hope. In God is thine
help. He has laid help on one that is mighty ; mighty
to fave. In this was manifelled the love of God to-
wards us, becaufe he fent his only begotten Son into the
world, that we might live through him. Behold what
manner of love the Father hath bellowed upon us !
C 6s ]
" He fpared not the angels that Hnned ; but caR theni
down to hell •, and dclivejed them into chains of dark-
nefs to be refeived unto judgment. The Son of God
did not come fiom heaven with a defign to take hold on
them, or help and five them, no, but with a view to our
falvation •, and took p^rt of our tle(h and blood, that he
might deliver us from all the evils, which our fins liad
brought upon us, and raile us up to endlcls. bids and
glory.
" Hofannah to the Son of David ; Blefied is he that
cometii in the name of the Lord. Holunnah in tlie
hJv^heic. God is the Lord wiiich hath fiiewed us
light. Thou art my God, and I will praile thee.
'J'hou art my God I will exalt thee. O give thanks
unto the Lord ; for he is good, for his mercy ea-
dureth for ever. Come, and let us offer the facrificc of
praife unto God, the fruit of our lips, and call upon his
name. Let the heart of them rejoice that feek him,
feek the Lord and his ibength ; feek his face for ever-
more •, remember his marvellous works that he hath
done."
Who knows but that while engaged in fuch exercifes
as thefe, your hearts may grow hot within you j while
you are thus muling, the facred fire of devotion may be
kindled in your brealts. This is certainly a very proper
means to prepare our minds for thofe public prayers
atid thankigivings in which every communicant is to
join ; and as when thefe are over, the next thing to be
attended to, is the breaking of the bread ; io this rite
fetting Chriil be*ore us as lufTering and dying for us, we
may Ipend the time it takes up in thus ipcaking withia
Oiirfelves.
" Thou art now, O my foul, on fix thine eye on the
blefl'ed Jefus, the Lord of life and glory, fullering snd
dying for thee. This he did now more than fevcnteca
liundred years ago, and he has inliituted this rife, the
breaking of this bread, to preferve the memory of tj
and it now prefents it to thy thoughts. Lord help me
to turn afide and fee tliis great fight ; may I view it on
all fides ; view it thoroughly, and with a becoming
temper. What more amazing ! what more afi'ecting !
" See here a righteous and innocent pcrlbn, givtn up
t 66 j
jnlo the power of his blood-thirily enemies, to be cruci-
fied and iiain by their wicked hands, as if he had been
the vilell of raalefaftors j nay, Tee here, the only begot-
ten Son of God bruiled, and put to grief by his beloved
lather.
" Who can fay how great his fufferings were I what
an agony was he in when he prayed again and again un-
to God, with ftrong cr» ing and tears, " O my Father, if
it be polTiljle, let this cup pafs from me ; nevertlielefs
not as 1 will, but as thou wilt ;" and when he was lb de-
preffed with forrow and amazement ; when fuch was'
the diilrefs and anguiih of his foul, that his fweat ran from
him Uke-great drops of blood I
" How lliiall we account for thefe fulTerings of the
Holv Jefus, the ion of God, his beloved bon, in whom
he was well pleafed I Wliere were the bowels of his Fa-
ther ! nay, w here his jullice ! The fcripture anfwers, God
commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were
yet linners, Chriil died for us, Rom. v. 8. He fpared
not bis own Son, but delivered him up for us all, chap,
viii. 32. And this he might do without any injuftice,
or want of affeftion to him ; for Chrilt alfo hath loved
us, and hath given himfelf for us, an offering, and a fa-
crifice to God, for a fweet fmelling favour, Eph. v. 2.
" See then, O my foul, this love of God, this grace
of our Saviour Jefus Chrilt. Lord, give me to know
more of this grace ; raife in me the higheft thoughts of
this love. Oh ! may I feel that it conftrainelh me hence-
forth to live, not unto myfelf, but unto him that died
for me, and role again."
And now the bread being broken, it is next prefented
to the commuuicants, and the words ot our Lord Jefus
are repeated, Take, eat, this is my body, which is given
and broken for you. This may lead us to add as fol-
lows.
'• What words do I hear I with what pleafuie and
-joy (liould I receive them ! Is not this the fame as if
the blefl'ed Jefus were faying unto thee, O my foul I
Let all thy fears and doubts, as to thy concern in i^y
fufferings and death, immediately vanilh j and know, al-
furedlv, that as ray body was given and broken upon the
crofs, fo it was for thee that this was done j for thee I
C 67 ]
fuffered ; for tlice I was crucified : for thy good ; for
ihy lalvation : And I am willing, heartily willing, to be
thy J>aviour. *' To this end 1 was born, and lor this
caufe came 1 into the world, and made my foul an of-
fering for fin." And 1 now give thee this bread, the fym-
bol of my body given and broken for tliee, in token of
my calling on thee to look to me, uith hope and joy,
for all the blefl'ed fruits of my fuflerings and death : " be
not faithlefs, but believing."
" And furely it wiU become thee to fay, in return,
** Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief. Mine ini-
" quities tellify againll me, and my tranfgreflions, which
" have been multiplied. Ah, how have I defpifed the
" commandments of God, and done evil in his light. It
** is of liis mercies, that I am not confumed. But why
" Ihould the fenfe of my fins cauie my heart to defpair,
** when thou, O bleffed Jcfus, the hope of Ifrael, and
" the Saviour thereof, callell: to all the ends of the
" earth, to look unto thee, that they may be faved, Ifa.
" xlv. 22 ; to come unto thee, that they may have reft,
" Matt. xi. 26.
'• Encouraged therefore, not only by thy word, but
*' by this fenfible pledge of thy favour, which thou here
" givell me, 1 now fly to thee as my Saviour. In thee
" alone 1 trull : Lord, fave me, or I perilh. To thee
" 1 now look for repentance, and the forgivencfs of all
" my fins j for a righteoufnefs to juftify me ; for thy
" Spirit to fanftify me ; for reconciliation and peace with
" God, and all the blcfiings thou haft purchaied.
" To thee 1 now folemnly and heartily devote myfelf.
" Lord, I am thine ; fully lefolved, la an human depen-
" dcnce on thy grace, to ipend all my days in thy ler-
" vice : and 1 now take, and eat this bread, in token of
*' my acknowledging thee as my Lord, and of my triift-
" ing and hoping in thee as my Saviour."
If there be any time between the receiving of the
bread, and the other part of this ordinance, it may be
employed in fome fuch thoughts as thefe :
*' Thou haft now named the name of Chrift, let it be
** thy care, O my foul I to depart from all iniquity.
" Like one of his familiar friends, thou haft been
** eating of his bread, give proof of tliy loving him,
[ 63 ]
** by keeping his commandments. Be concerned to ap-
" prove thyielf to him, as his difciple indeed, by conti-
" nuiiig in his word, living in his fervice. Let thy con-
** verfation be as it becometh his gofpel j fo as to adorn
" this doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. As
*' thou hall received Chrift Jefus the Lord, fo walk in
" him, rooted, and built up in him, and ftabliflied in
" the faith, abounding therein with thankfgiving. Q
" mayeft thou never forget that he is thy Lord, but dai-
*' ly worlhip and ferve him. Always remember that he
" is thy Saviour : the life which I now live in the flefii,
" I live by the f:uth of the Son of God, who loved me,
" and gave himfelf for me.
" O Lord I do thou enable me to maintain a conilant
" dependence on any grace, and grant that 1 may find it
" fufficient for me in all difficulties and trials, O thou
*' bleffed Jefus ! thou almighty Saviour I keep that
" which I have committed unto thee againft that day.
*' Pray for me, that my faith may never fail ! Lord, in-
" creafe and ftrengthen it ; perfe6l that which is lack-
*' ing in it. Fulfil all the good pleafure of thy goodnefsj
" and the work of faith with power. May its adlings
" be more vigorous and lively, in the remaining part of
*' this duty, than they have been in that which is now
" over. Mine eyes are unto thee, O Lord, have mtr-
*' cy upon me."
Our meditations and ejaculations, relating to the cup,
fhould be fuitable to the leveral things that our Lord
obferved, as he prefented it to his diiciples ; as that it is
the fymbol of his blood, which he flied for us, for
the remiflion of fins ; that this blood, of which the cup
is the appoinXed fymbol, is the blood of the new cove-
nant •, and that agreeably to this, the cup is alio to be
confidered as the token and feal of this covenant, in Chrilt's
blood, both on God's part and on ours.
The confidering the cup, as reprefenting the blood of
Jefus (lied for us, and for many, for the remiflion of fins^
" that whofoever belleveth, through him might be lav-
ed," may lead us to exprefs our thoughts in iuch words
as thefe :
*' Thou art now again, O my foul ! to view the cru-
" ciSed Jefus j for he is again evidently let forth before
[ 69 ]
*' thine eyes, as crucified among us. Behold the price
" of thy redemption, the forgivenefs of thy fins j not
" corruptible things, as filvcr and gold, but the preci-
*' ous blood of Chrirt, as of a lamb without blcmifli, and
*' without fpot. How great is that falvation, which was
" purchafed by the Son of God at fo dear a rate ! how
" fliall I efcape if 1 negledl it !
*' But be not call down, O my fonl ! why fliouldft
" thou fear, and not hope in the Saviour of all men, e-
" ven every one who believeth, when he aflureth thee,
" that he fuffered and died for thee, and again calleth
" on thee to look to him for all the bleffed fruits of his
" fufterings and death ; nay, again prefenteth them un-
" to thee !
" Do not forget that he who was delivered for thine
" offences, was raifed again for thy jultification ; and
•* that, as by his blood, that blood which he (hed for
" the remiffion of thy fins, he entered into the holy place,
" heaven itfelf, now to appear in the prefenceof God for
*' thee ; fo he is able to fave them to the uttermort, that
" come unto God by him, feeing he ever liveth to make
*' interceffion for them."
When confidering the cup, as fetting before us the
blood of the new covenant, you may proceed as fol-
lows :
" O may the God of our Lord Jefus Chrift, the Fa-
*' ther of glory, enlighten the eyes of my underrtanding,
""that I may know what is the hope of his callings
" what the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindnefs
" towards me through Jefus Chrifl: ; how very defirable
*' that bleflfednefs is, which is noiv fet before me.
" Had no more been faid of the blood o Jefus, than
" that it was (hed for the remiffion of fins, it might have
" been thought, that the being faved from wrath through
*' him, is all I am to look for. But how fliouldll thou
'* wonder, () my foul ! at tlie gracious words which pro-
*' ceeded out of his mouth I This is my blood of the
*' new covenant : words evidently defigned to encourage
" thy hopes of the fum of all bleiTednefs, the having the
*' Lord for thy God, in covenant with thee.
" And now thou art not merely to view, but receive
*' Chrift by faith, as having ooce fuffered for fins, the
[ 70 ]
" juft for the unjufl, that he might bring thee to God 5-
•• that God, of an enemy, might be thy friend •, that his
*' covenant of life and peace might be with thee ; that
** all the exceeding great and precious promifes in his
*' word, promifes of the life that now is, and of that
*' which is to come, might be thy portion. In Chrift
" they are yea, and in him, amen j ratified -and confirm-
" ed by his blood.
" Now thou art to look up to God in the heavens, as
*' fitting on the throne of his grace, holding out the
" golden fceptre, inviting thee to draw near, and in how
'* condefcending, how kind, and moving a manner ! in-
*' cline thine ear ; come unto me ; hear, and thou flialt
*' live, and I will make an everlarting covenant with
" thee, even the fure mercies of David, Ifa. Iv. 5.
" Be aftonifhed, O ye heavens, at this ! let angels, as
" well as faints, iland amazed at the love of God, in giv-
*' ing his Son ; and the love of Chrift, in giving himlelf
'* to fuffer and die that we might partake of this blelTed-
" nefs. Oh how rich is God in mercy ! How great is
*' the love wherewith he hath loved us ! How exceed-
*' ing abundant is the grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift !
*' Shoulaft thou not love him who firft loved thee !
" What is there, O my foul ! of greater importance
*' than this, the having God's covenant with thee. Thy
*' life ; thy all •, thy peace and comfort, in this world,
" and eternal bleffednels in the other depend upon it.
" Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help ;
" whofe hope is in the Lord his God, who made hea-
*' ven, earth, and fea, and all that is therein; whokeep-
" eth truth and Ihall reign for ever, even thy God, O
" Zion, unto all generations I"
That each of thefe notions, which our Lord has given
us of his blood, may be further improved for your com-
fort, it may be proper to add.
" And what can do more to filence all thy fears, nay,
*' to fill thee with all joy, and peace in believing', and
*' even give thee to abound in hope of this unfpeakable
" privilege, through the power of the holy Ghoft, than
*' that, which thy blefTed Saviour has obfcrved concern-
" ing his blood ?
[ 71 ]
" Thy fins, O my foul, have been many, thy guilt has
*' been great ; but be of good comfort ; the blood of
" Jefus was fhed for thee, tor the remilTion of thy fins :
*' if therefore thou confeffeft and forlakell them, e-
*' ven the faithfuluefs, as well as mercy, of God, may
*' encourage thy hopes of forgivenefs, i John i. 9.
Prov. xxvii. 13.
" Thou haft rebelled againft the moft high God, the
*' pofl'efl'or and Lord of heaven and earth j and there
" is nothing thou canft do to merit his favour •, but doll
" thou repent of thy wickednefs and chufe the things
" that pleale him, it is no prefumption in thee to take
" hold of his covenant, and look for all the bleflmgs it
" fpeaks of , for this blood, which was Ihed for the re-
" milTion of thy fins, is alfo the blood of the covenant,
" the price of theie bleflings."
The viewing the cup as the new covenant in Chrift's
blood, may lead you to fpeak to yourfelves in fome fuch
manner as this.
'• And ihould it not remove every difcouragingthought,
" to behold the Lord Jefus ptefenting thee with this cup,
" the lymbol of l)is blood, and commanding thee to re-
" ceive it, as the new covenant in his blood. It is a
" fenfible pledge of God's favour to thee ; the feal, as
*â– ' well as token of his covenant ; and defigned, not meer-
*' ly to lead thy thoughts to the gracious declarations
" and promifes of the word J but to excite and Ibength-
" en thy faith and thy hope in them, and to ferve as a
*' witnel's for God, that there (hall not fail one word of
" all his good proiTiifes.
" Make ufe then, O my foul, of that liberty that is
*' granted thee, to enter into the holiell by the blood of
" Jefus •, tliat blood by which he hinifelf is entered ; and
" go boldly, though with reverence and godly fear, to
*' the throne of grace, that thou mayell obtain mercy,
" and find grace to help in time of need.
" And now, O Lord, I draw near to thee. O may
*' I do it with a true and upright heart I In thy favour
*' is life. Thy loving kindnefs is better than life. My
" flelh and my heart faileth ; and all things here will
•' fail ; but if I have thee for my God, in covenant with
" nte, my hapninei's will befecure and lulling •, for thou
C 7^ ]
*' wilt be the ftrength of my heart and my porlion for
*' ever. This is all my falvation, and all my deiire.
" I acknowledge my fin unto thee, and mine iniquity
" will I not hide j to me belongeth confuiion of face,
" becaufe I have iinned againft thee, I am not worthy
" of the leaft of all thy mercies ; if thy compafiions had
" failed, how very milerable had I now been ! who am
" I, O Lord God ! whence is this to me, that thou
" fliouldft fpeak of making with me an everlalling cove-
" nant, ordered in all things and fare j but fuch are the
" riches of thy grace, that as in thy word thou fettelt
" this bleffednefs before me, fo this cup is prefented to
*' me to encourage myhopes of enjoying it.
*' And now having full affurance of faith, being firm-
" ly perfuaded of the efficacy of the blood of Jefus , that
*' blood which he Ihed for the remiffion of my fins, the
" blood of the new covenant, I receive, and drink of this
" cup as the fymbol of this blood, and as the token and
*' feal of this covenant, and this I do, for a teftimony of
" my taking thee for my God and dedicating myfelf
" to thy fervice.
" O Lord, thou art my Lord, my lot, my portion,
the life of my foul ; the father of mercies ; the God
of all comfort. All my fprings are in thee. In thee
>vill I put my trull:. In tliee will I boalf all the day
long. I will praife thy name for ever. Li this alone
will I glory, the underllanding and knowing thee. Thy
mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens ; thy faithfuluefs
reacheth unto the clouds. Thou exercifell loving kind-
nefs, judgment and righteoufnels in the earth. Thou wilt
abundantly fatisfy thy people ; thou wilt make them
' to drink of thy pleafures. For with thee is the foun-
tain of life. In thy light fliall we fee light.
" I now yield myfelf unto thee as thy fervant ; all
the powers and faculties of my foul, and all the members
of my body, as inftmments of righteoufncfs unto God.
I now enter into thv covenant and into thine oath, that
I will be thine ; and will walk in thy ways, will live in
thy fervice. 1 now folemnly engage to make thy word
the rule of my life, and thy glory the end of my living.
*' O take away all iniquity, and receive me gracioul-
ly : turn not away from me, but rejoice over me to do
me good, and put thy fear in my heart, that I may ne
C 73 ]
never depart from thee. Thou who art the God of peace,
that hart broiioht again from the dead our Lord Jelus,
through the blood of rhe everlaliing covenant, make me
perfeti in every good work to do thy will, working in
me that which is well pleafing in thy fight, through Je-