Anonymous on Article XXIX: Of the Wicked which eat not the Body of Christ in the use of the Lord's Supper

Mysterious Parts of Worship : And either for the Sake of Re- putation, or Interest, or to remove some Terrors of Mind, or oblige fome particular Imagination, will approach the Table of the Lord, and eat and drink their own Destruction. Foz he that eateth and dꝛinketh unwozthily, eateth and dzinketh (his own) Damnation to himself. Which shews us the Sense of the Twenty Ninth Article, which

says, The Wicked, and such as be void of a lively Faith, although

„they do carnally and visibly press with their Teeth (as St. Augu- « stin saith) the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ ; yet « in no wise are they Partakers of Christ, but rather to their Con-

_ « demnation do eat and drink the Sign or Sacrament of so great a

„ Thing ”. Let us observe,

I. That the Wicked sometimes partake of the outward Ele- ments. The Wicked, and such as be void of a lively Faith,

do carnally and visibly ’ press with their Teeth , as St. Au-

guflin faith, the’ Sacrament of the Body and Blood of

$ Chri . | |

II. Ty do not receive worthily , or partake of the Body and Blood of Christ; in no wise are they Partakers of

III. They but eat and drink the Sacramental Representations ;

rather to their Condemnation do they eat and drink the Sign or Sacrament of so great a Thing. |

I. The Wicked do sometimes partake of the outward Elements, with great Hazard and Presumption.

1. The Wicked may sometimes be so daring and bold as to par- take of the Sacrament, and to press carnally and visibly with their Teeth, the Representations of the Body and Blood of Christ. For as all are invited to come, if such will appear there in an unworth Manner, tis upon their Peril; neither God nor Man will hinder

Cc them:

194 An EXPOSITION of the

Article them : God does not think fit to change by a Miracle those that are XXIX. over-confident in their Approach, or to strike them dead as he did > the Israelites, whilst the Heavenly Food was in their Mouths ; nor can Man search the Heart, or discern the secret Intentions of those that appear Devout, and prevent the Approach of such as Dissemble with God, if they will come without their Wedding Garment, and that Temper and Grace that 1s necessary for a worthy Participation ; they are oftentimes permitted to proceed, and to increase their Guilt by their Presumption. Sufficient Means are provided to prevent the. Mischief, and frequent Caveats.are put in to warn them ; and if af- ter all they will come, neither God nor Man can be reflected upon, or blamed on their Account: So long as Good and Evil are al- lowed to dwell together, and Goats and Sheep mix 1n the same Fold; so long as this is a trying State, and © the Heart of Man is deceit- „ful, and desperately wicked”, there will be some unworthyCommu- nicants, and it will not be in the Power of Man to prevent it. There can be no Society of Believers upon Earth, that is unmix d or un- defiled : That Privilege is reserved for the future State, when the Evil shall be set apart by themselves, and the Good shall be for ever with the Lord, not having Spot or Wrinkle, as St. Paul says : That | Eph. 5. 2. he might present it to himself” a glorious Church, not having Spot or Ds Wrinkle, or any such Thing, but that it should be Holy, and without

| Blemish.

2. They are very presumptuous, and run a, vast Hazard in so do- ing. They pretend they may, partake as well as others; and so they might, would they take the same Course : But to come meerly’ by mitation, is wrong; for we are not obliged to examine others, but our selves ; not their Hearts and Lives, but our own. And if some come, which the Wicked fancy to be as bad as themselves, tllat. can be no excuse of their Presumption ; they must; answer tothe Lord of all for themselves notwithstanding. . We, must not govern our selves in this Case by Comparison, but Self. Examination; not by comparing our selves with others,but with the Word of God; and may not connive at any willful Sin, or spare any, Vice, which we ima- gine others are guilty of, but look to our own Ways, and narrowly inspe& our own Actions. For otherwise we presume ang endanger 2 Cor. 10. 12. Our OWN Souls. For 1we dam not make our selves of. the Number, or compare our selves with some that commend themsolues; but they mea- surmg themselves by themselves, and comparing. themselves among them- selves, are not wife, 5 7 nei 410 ano 6 Bei 20 L Il. The Wicked do not receive worthily, or partake of Christ, be- ing void of a lively Faith, which should be the Instrument of re- ceiving him, and wanting that Holy Temper and Disposition, which Christ requires, by which we, may have Union and Communion with him. 3 ITT £9 1. The Wicked do not receive worthily, because they want that lively Faith , by which they should receive Christ, and partake = 2 the

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Thirty Nine Ax TicLESs loc

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the Metits of his Passion: They do not believe in earnest in kim, Ct. > or depend upon him for Salvation; and therefore, when they come, XXI.. they partake of no more than the Sacramental Representations, and ww >—/ but press the Bread with their Teeth , and drink of the Cup, as if they were but Earthly Food and Drink. If indeed Christ were un- der the Accidents of Bread and Wine, with his Real Body, Blood, Flesh, and Bones ; then it would follow, that as the Wicked par- take of the Sacramental Signs, so they partake of Chrilt ; and by Eating the Bread, and Drinking the Cup, they eat his Body, and drink his Blood. But then it will follow also, that a Mouse may eat the Body, and a Fly may sip of the Blood of Christ : For they eat and drink, as the Wicked, without any Apprehension that their Lord is there. Now this is fo great a eee to the Lord of Heaven, and was thought so dishonourable by Mr. Gage to Christian Religion, that he turn’d Protestant upon it. For we may is

be sure he is not willing, that a Mouse should eat of his Bod which died for the Souls of Men; or that a Fly should sip of his Blood, which was shed for the Sins of the World. The Wicked then can eat and drink no more than the External Representations ; the ** and Blood of Christ being sacramentally annex’d to the Signs, for their Benefit only, who come with Faith, and spiritually discern the Lord’s Body. Should the Wicked cease to be wicked, and come with a lively Faith in God’s Mercy thro’ Christ, and un- feigned Reformation, they might spiritually eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. But so long as they are without Faith, and look no further than the World, they are not able to receive the Spi- ritual Benefits of Christ’s Passion into their Souls: They partake of the Sacramental Signs, but the Things signified are not discerned, or received by them. They do not perform, what is given in Com- mand: Do this in Remembrance of me. 1

1 Cor. 11. 15, the latter part.

2. They want that Temper and Disposition requir’d by Christ, by which they may have Union and Communion with him. They are guided by Sense, and their Hearts are overwhelmed with Sin, and set upon their Lusts ; and they are in no meet Capacity to re- member a Saviour, or to praise God for him; Tis a Burthen to them to be serious; a Pain to be devout. They have an Aversion to Goodness, and a Dislike to hearty Piety: And however they disguise their Intentions, when they come to the Table of the Lord, they neither love him, nor his Service ; and neither intend to reform, nor to walk worthy of him. This Temper of the Wick- ed disables them for any other Christian Duty, as well as the Sa- crament : They are as unfit to Pray, as to come to the Sacrament ; and are as unlikely to get any Good by Hearirig the Word, as by Supplication. For all that such pretend to do in Religion, turns in- to an Abomination; their Hearts are not right in the Sight of God, their Intentions are evil, and their Inclinations are biass’d that way, and till they are changed and reform d, they will be neither fit to hear the Word, nor pray; neither prepared to Receive the Sacra- ment; nor to dye; mo ready to be judg’d, nor to * ROSIE 83 TeLY

194 An EXPOSITION of the

Article them : God does not think fit to change by a Miracle those that are XXIX. over-conftident in their Approach, or to strike them dead as he did the Israelites, whilst the Heavenly Food was in their Mouths ; nor can Man search the Heart, or discern the secret Intentions of those that appear Devout, and prevent the Approach of such as Dissemble with God, if they will come without their Wedding Garment, and that Temper and Grace that is necessary for a worthy Participation; they are oftentimes permitted to proceed , and to increase their Guilt by their Presumption. Sufficient Means are provided to prevent the . Mischief, and frequent Caveats.are put in to warn them ; and if af- ter all they will come, neither God nor Man can be reflected upon, or blamed on their Account: So long as Good and Evil are al- lowed to dwell together, and Goats and Sheep mix in the same Fold; so long as this is a trying State, and © the Heart of Man is deceit- „ful, and desperately wicked”, there will be some unworthyCommu- nicants, and it will not be in the Power of Man to prevent it. There can be no Society of Believers upon Earth, that is unmix’d or un- defiled : That Privilege is reserved for the future State, when the Evil shall be set apart E themselves, and the Good shall he for ever with the Lord, not having Spot or Wrinkle, as St. Paul says : That Eph. 5.27, he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having Spot or | Wrinkle, or any such Thing, but that it should be Holy, and without

Hemish.

2. They are very presumptuous, and run a, vast Hazard in so do- ing. They pretend they may partake as well as others; and so they might, would they take the fame Courle : But to come meerly by Imitation, is wrong; for we are not obliged to examine others, but our selves ; not their Hearts and Lives, but our own. And if some come, which the Wicked fancy to be as bad as themselves, that can be no excuse of their Presumption ; they must; answer to the Lord of all for themselves notwithstanding. . We, must not govern our selves in this Case by Comparison, but Self-Examination z\ not by comparing our selves with others,but with the Word of God: and may not connive at any willful Sin, or spare any. Vice, which we ima- gine others are guilty of, but look to our own Ways, and narrowly inspe& our own Actions. For otherwise we presume ang [endanger 2 Cor. 10. 12, our OWN Souls. For 1we dar not make our selves of the Number, or compare our selves with some that commend themsolues; but they mea- suring themselves by themselves, and comparing. themselves among them-

selves, are not wife, II. The Wicked do not receive worthily, or partake of Christ, be- ing void of a lively Faith, which should be the Instrument of re- ceiving him; and wanting that Holy Temper. and Disposinon, ; which Christ requires, by which we, may have Union and Communion with him. 488 nie Too

” Liao 412

I. The Wicked do not receive worthil : 3 they want that lively Faith, by which they should receive Christ, and partake | 2 the

[…] 44.

Thirty Nine Ax TIc LES. 105

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the Metits of his Passion: They do not believe in earnest in him, Qt… > or depend upon him for Salvation; and therefore, when they come, XXI.. they partake of no more than the Sacramental Representations, and Www >— but press the Bread with their Teeth , and drink of the Cup, as if they were but Earthly Food and Drink. If indeed Christ were un- der the Accidents of Bread and Wine, with his Real Body, Blood, Flesh, and Bones ; then it would follow, that as the Wicked par- take of the Sacramental Sigus, so they partake of Christ ; and by Eating the Bread, and Drinking the Cup, they eat his Body, and drink his Blood. But then it will follow also, that a Moule may eat the Body, and a Fly may (ip of the Blood of Christ : For the eat and drink, as the Wicked, without any Apprehension that their Lord is there. Now this is fo great a Disparagement to the Lord of Heaven, and was thought so dishonourable by Mr. Gage to _ Christian Religion, that he turn’d Protestant upon it. For we may be sure he is not willing , that a Mouse should eat of his Body , which died for the Souls of Men; or that a Fly should sip of his Blood, which was shed for the Sins of the World. The Wicked then can eat and drink no more than the External Representations ; the my and Blood of Christ being sacramentally annex’d to the Signs, for their Benefit only, who come with Faith, and spiritually discern the Lord’s Body. Should the Wicked cease to be wicked, and come with a lively Faith in God’s Mercy thro’ Christ, and un- feigned Reformation, they might spiritually eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. But so long as they are without Faith, and look no further than the World, they are not able to receive the Spi- ritual Benefits of Christ’s Passion into their Souls: They partake of the Sacramental Signs, but the Things signified are not discerned, or received by them. They do not perform, what is given in Com- mand: Do thus in Remembrance of me. :

1 Cor. 11. 1 57 the latter part.

2. They want that Temper and Disposition requir’d by Christ, by which they may have Union and Communion with him. They are guided by Sense, and their Hearts are overwhelmed with Sin, and set upon their Lusts; and they are in no meet Capacity to re- member a Saviour, or to praise God for him; *Tis a Burthen to them to be serious; a Pain to be devout. They have an Aversion to Goodness, and a Dislike to hearty Piety : And however they disguise their Intentions, when they come to the Table of the Lord, they neither love him, nor his Service ; and neither intend to reform, nor to walk worthy of him. This Temper of the Wick- ed disables them for any other Christian Duty, as well as the Sa- crament : They are as unfit to Pray, as to come to the Sacrament ; and are as unlikely to get any Good by Hearirig the Word, as by Supplication. For all that such pretend to do in Religion, turns in- to an Abomination; their Hearts are not right in the Sight of God, their Intentions are evil, and their Inclinations are biass’d that way, and till they are changed and reform d, they will be neither fit to hear the Word, nor pray; neither prepared to Receive the Sacra- ment, nor to dye; _— ready to be judg’d, nor to 1 „„ 1 Ter

“An EXPOSITION of the

Article XXIX.

Rm Prov. 15. 8, 9.

—

their Sentence. The Sacrifices of the Wicked are an Abomination unto

the Lord. ——The Way of the Wicked is an Abomination unto the Lord. x

III. They but eat and drink the Sacrament of so Great a Thing to their own Condemnation. But to give you a clear Apprehension of this, and that ye may not misunderstand it, and prejudice your own Souls by it; I will show, That it is but just and fit, that such Presumptuous Wicked Men should smart for it; that God intends to shew Mercy by this Judgment ; and. that such as ate under it, are

left sometimes to Consideration , that they may repent, and come more prepared afterwards.

1. It is hut just and fit, that such Presumptuous Wicked Men, who come unprepared to the Sacrament , should smart for it : For they cast a Slight upon God’s Authority, defile his Sanctuary, abuse the Holy Feast, injure their own Souls, encourage * in Wickedness, and (as it may happen) become Precedents and Exam- ples for others to follow. Nay, they vilifie the Body and

Blood of Christ, which are there represented, © they (as it were)

1 Cor. 11. 27.

< trample under foot the Blood of the Covenant, despise the Lord te that bought them, crucify him afresh, and [do what lies in them <« to] put him to an open Shame. They mistepresent his Holy Religion, as if it allow’d of their Vicious Practices: They © do De- c spite to the Spirit of Grace ”, as if that encouraged Prophaneness and Hypocrisy ; and would possess the World, as if the Lord, who

came © to save us from our Sins“, had publish’d a Method, how we

might go on and prosper in them. Whereas the Behaviour of those that make 5 bold with the Lord’s Table, is chargeable with these Con- sequences, it is consistent with the Justice of the Divine Government, under the Gospel, to“ punish for these Things: For St. Paul says expresly, That whosoever shall eat this Bread, and drink this Cup of

the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord.

2. Tho” this Sin is very provoking, God shews Mercy in his Judgment upon them. For tho’ our Version is, that they eat and

drink their own Damnation ; it may be translated, they eat and

drink their own Judgment. They are self-condemn’d in what the do, and expose themselves wilfully to the Severity and Judgment of God: Yet he inflicts it with so much Tenderness, that they may see = his Kindness in the Correction, and his Goodness in their Punish-

ment. For that Damnation, or Judgment, that was inflicted upon

the Corinthians, when they had so snamefully abused tlie Sacrament, ( when some were drunken at it) was not the Damnation of Eternal Death, in Hell-fire ; but a Temporal Punishment, a Condemnation

to Sorrow and Affliction here. Some were condemn’d to Sick-

ness, some to great Weaknesses, and some indeed to Loss of Life. And all this Punishment, which goes by the terrible Name of Dam- nation, was intended as a particular Mercy to them, and a

Check |

Thirty Nine ARTICLES.

Check upon them ; that those that survived, should pay more Reve- renee to the Sacrament, and approach it with more Sobriety and Devotion ; that they might come with due Preparation, in a Con- dition to remember their Lord, as Lord, to © discern his Body, % and to shew forth his Death till he come. And that this is the true Meaning of the Word Damnation, there used, St. Paul teaches you : For this Cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many are fallen asleep. Because you eat and drink your own Damnation, ye find the Damnation upon you; many of you are now under it, and are weak and sickly upon it: And that they might acknowledge God’s Compassion to their Souls, in this Correction; and that he was so far from bringing eternal Damnation upon them, that he intended thereby to prevent it, and to secure them from being damned with the World; he adds, But when we are judged, (or thought worthy

of Correction) we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the World.

1 Cor. 11. 30.

1 Cor. 11. 32.

3. Such as have come unworthily, and have exposed themselves

to the Judgment of God, may repent, and prepare to come hereafter in a more worthy Manner. If they fee into their Fault, and correct it; if they, being corrected, set their Souls in better Order; if they

are true Penitents, have a lively Faith in God’s Mercy, and remem- ber the Death of Christ with Thankfulness ; they may be accepted at last, Receive worthily, and secure their Salvation, For as it is ap-

parent, that God corrects them in Mercy, intends to bring them to

a sound Mind, that they may judge themselves; as he gives them Time in their Weaknesses and Sicknesses, to examine and judge them- selves, and to prepare that which is necessary; as he chastens them, that they may not be condemned with the World; there is no doubt to be made, but that when they appear before him with humble and penitent Hearts, he will accept, and embrace them with the

Prodigal Son, and (like a Kind and Affectionate Father) feed them at

his own Table, and nourish them up to Eternal Life. For if we do our Part, God is very ready and forward to do his: If we do examine and judge our Alves as We ought, he will spare us, as a Man doth his own Son, and will not bring his Displeasure upon us. And St. Paul expresly says, F we would judge our selves, we should not be judged. Which signifies thus much; That if we will faithfully examine our own Souls, before we come to that Table, and judge our selves according to his Word , he will not judge, or corre& us, but allow us all the Benefits of his Son’s Passion, that our

1 Cor. 11. 31.

Spirits my be saved in the Day of the Lord. But if we will not

be at the Pains of judging our selves, he in Mercy: judges us, and corrects us, that we may not be condemned with the World. | This Account of the Article may, with Reason, terrify the Pro-

phane, but should not in the least discourage the Sincere and Hum-

ble, or leave any Terror upon them ; since the Damnation

here threaten’d, is but the Judgment of Condemnation to Tempo-

ral Punishment ; unless Men are obstinate in Sin, and hate to be re- EN WS | | formed;

An EXPOSITION of the

Article XXIX.

formed; and then indeed that which is Temporal, may become E- ternal. 8 . 611” OP 2:

1. This Account may with Reason terrify the Wicked and Pro- fane, and keep them from coming to the Lord’s Table. For should they go thither, they but provoke and offend the more. Can they remember his Death with Thankfulness, who crucify him fre with their Sins, and hate to be reformed? Or can they promise

themselves any Comfort there, who are purposed to destroy him?

Will God connive at such palpable Presumption? Or their Lord ac-

cept of that which is offered in Dissimulation ? Such wicked Men

are unhappy in all Respects, and unless they reform, will be misera- ble: They are neither fit to live, nor prepared to die; neither fit to

be judged, nor ready for their Doom. If they live, they continue

in Sin, add Sin to Sin, increase their Guilt, which is too great al- ready, and hasten their Damnation: If they die, they die in their Sins,

the same wicked Temper with them, and will go into everlasting Punishment, to suffer for their Misdeeds. They are unhappy in an high Degree; for if they continue in Sin, that which does others good, will do them none ; and that which they call Good is Evil, and most pernicious to them: Whereas others pray, and are heard, these call, and are not answer’d ; whereas others are pitied, relieved, and blessed ; these are not succoured or rescued, but are left under their Miseries. And whereas others are instructed by the Word, and learn the Fear of the Lord, these remain stupid and hardened under it ; or if awakened, soon sink down into their Mire and Filth; and

when others meet their Lord, and partake of his Body and Blood,

Ezek. 18. 31,

they rashly take the Signs, and eat and drink their own Damnation: So that the Wicked are miserable upon all Accounts, and if they do not repent and return to the Lord, it had been better for them, if they had never been born, and had never heard of Jesus Christ ; and as there is no Peace for them here, so no Safety for them hereafter,

unless they return and live in the Fear of the Lord ; then their Pray-

ers will be heard, and their Participation of the Sacrament will prove

Salutary. I may be allowed to say thus much, when Ezekiel says in the Name of the Lord ; Cast away from you all your Franspressions, whereby. ye haue transgressed, and make you a new Heart, and à new Spirit; for why will ye die, O House of Isael 2 For ] have no Plea- sure in the Death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God : wherefore turn, your selves, and live ye. EIT II oe

2. This should not discourage those that are sincere and humble, from doing their Duty, and waiting-upon. God at his own Table : For he is gracious and merciful, ready to forgive and accept us; and declares, That if we faithfully judge our selves, we shall not be judged by him; and though he informs us, that unworthy Commu- nicants eat and drink their own Damnation; he lets us know that this is but a temporal Correction, in order to bring them to himself ; so that none of us may frighten our selves with the dread of it. For if we are upright before him, and approach his Presence *

aith

Thirty Nine Ax TIc LES.

Faith and Repentance, we shall be worthy Partakers of his Son’s Passion, and shall eat and drink our own Salvation and Happiness.

For he will make much of those that truly fear him, and are faith-

ful to his Covenant. Of all Men living, they have the least Reason to be jealous of his Love, or suspicious of his Favour ; they need not entertain any Doubts or Fears of his gracious Intentions towards them : For whom he loveth, he loveth to the end. If the Sincere pray, he will hear them; when they attend to his Word, he will guide them by it; and when they come to his Table, he will manifest himself to them, feed them with the Bread of Life, and engages to raise them up at the last Day. To conclude, If ye are in a sinful Course, return with Speed, that God may be reconciled : If ye are sincere and pious,

go on in your Duty, and never torment your selves with unrea-

sonable Fears. For God loveth the Upright, and they have most Cause to rejoice before him; he will be their Refuge and Salvation. Whoso offereth Praise, olorifieth ne; and to him that ordereth bis Conversation right , will I shew the Salvation of God.

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Psal. 30. 23.

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A EXPOSITION of the

Article XXX. —