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gracesx, by ferious meditation y, and fervent prayer z.

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

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, though he be not yet affured thereof a; and in God's account hath it, if he be duly affec

fore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Chrift our pallover 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 new teftament 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 Lords 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 prieft over the house of God: v. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full affurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled 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. Pfa. xxvi. 6. I will wath 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

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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, Ifachar, and Zebulun, had not cleanfed themfelves, yet did they eat the paffover, otherwife than it was written: but Hezekiah prayed for them, faying, 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. l. 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 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. Pfal. lxxxviii. throughout. Pfal, lxxvii, to the 12. v, 1. 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;

ted with the apprehenfion of the want of it b, and unfeignedly defires to be found in Christ c, and to depart from iniquity d: in which cafe (because promises are made, and this fa

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Lord; my fore ran in the night, and ceafed not: my foul refufed to be comforted. v. 3. I remembred God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah, v. 4. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so 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 promise fail for evermore? v. 9. Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger fhut up his tender 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 remembred the Lord, and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

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 hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, faith the Lord thy redeemer. v. 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 kindness fhall not depart from thee, neither fhall the covenant of my peace be removed, faith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. Mat. v. 3. Bleffed are the poor in fpirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. v. 4. Blessed are they that mourn: for they fhall be

crament

comforted. Pfa. xxxi. 22. For I-faid in my hafte, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless, thou heardst the voice of my fupplications, when I cried unto thee. Pfal. lxxiii. 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.

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Phil. iii. 8. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but lofs, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ 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 righte oufnefs, 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 hast heard the defire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear. * Pfal. xlii. 1. As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, fo panteth my foul after thee, O God. v. 2. My foul thirfteth for God, for the living God: when shall 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 caft down, O my foul and why art thou difquieted within me? hope thou in God, for I fhall yet praife him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. d2 Tim.

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crament is appointed, for the relief even of weak and doubting Christians e) he is to bewail his unbelieff, 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 strengthened b.

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

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A. Such as are found to be ignorant or fcandalous, notwithstanding 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

d2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth fure, having this feal, The Lord know eth 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 darknefs, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and ftay upon his God. Pfal. Ixvi. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart: the Lord will not hear me. v. 19. But verily God hath heard me: he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. v. 20. Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

e Ifa. xl. 11. 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 those that are with young. . 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 strength: they fhall mount up with wings as eagles; they fhall run, and not be weary; and they fhall walk, and not faint. Mat.

church,

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 fmoking 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 Actsii.37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and faid unto Peter, and to the reft of the apostles, Men and brethren, what fhall we do? Acts xvi. 30, And he brought them out, and faid, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

bRom. 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 righteoufnefs might be imputed unto them alfo. 1 Cor. xi. 28. But let a man examine himself, and fo let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

church i, until they receive inftruction, and manifeft their reformation k.

Q. 174. What is required of them that receive the facrament of the Lord's fupper in the time of the administration of it?

A. It is required of them that receive the facrament of the Lord's fupper, That, during the time of the administration of it, with all holy reverence and attention they wait upon God in that ordinance /, diligently observe the facramental elements and actions m, heedfully difcern the Lord's body,

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 Lords body. v. 30. For this cause many are weak and fickly a mong 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 cast ye your pearls before swine, left they trample them under their feet, and turn a gain and rent you. And with 1 Cor. chap. v. to the end. And with Jude ver. 23. And others fave with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garments spotted by the Alefh. And with 1 Tim. v. 22. Lay hands fuddenly on no man, neither be partakers of other mens fins: keep thy felf pure.

2 Cor.ii. 7. Sothat contrarywife, ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, left perhaps fuch a one fhould be fwallowed up with over

much forrow.

174./ Lev. x. 3. Then Mofes faid unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord fpake, faying, I will be fanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. Heb. xii. 28. Wherefore we receiv ing a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may ferve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear. Pfa. v. 7. But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy, and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 1 Cor. xi. 17. Now in this that I declare unto you, I praife you not, that ye come together, not for the better, but for the worse. v. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do fhew the Lords 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.

m Exod. xxiv. 8. And Mofes took the blood and fprinkled it on the people, and faid, Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord hath made with you, concerning all thefe words. Compared with Mat. xxvi. 28. For this is my blood of the new teftament which is fhed for ma

dyn, and affectionately meditate on his death and fufferings, and thereby ftir up themselves to a vigorous exercise of their graces p; in judging themselves q, and forrowing for finr; in carnest hungering and thirsting after Chrift, feeding on him by faith t, receiving of his fulnessv, trusting in his merits w rejoicing in his loyex, giving thanks for his gracey; in renewing

ny for the remiffion of fins.

n1 Cor. xi. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not difcerning the Lords body.

• Luke xxii. 19. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, faying, This do in remembrance of me.

p 1 Cor. xi. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do fhew, the Lords death till he come. 1 Cor. x, 3. And did all eat the fame fpiritual meat; v. 4. and did all drink the fame fpiritual drink: (for they drank of that fpiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Chrift.) v, 5. But with many of them God was not well pleafed: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. v. 11. Now all thefe things happened unto them for enfamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. v. 14. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

q 1 Cor. xi. 31. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

r Zech. xii. 10. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerufalem, the 1pirit 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 bitternefs for him, as one that is in bitter

nefs for his first born.

Rev.xxii. 17. And the Spirit and the bride fay, Come. And let him that heareth, fay, Come. And let him that is athirst, come: And whofoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

John vi. 35. And Jefus faid unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me, fhall never hunger; and he that believeth on me, hall never thirst.

John i. 16. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

w Phil. iii. 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. lxiii. 4. Thus will I blefs thee, while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. v. 5. My foul fhall be fatisfied as with marrow and fatnefs: and my mouth fhall praise thee with joyful lips. 2 Chron. xxx. 21. And the children of Ifrael that were prefent at Jerufalem, kept the feaft of unleavened bread seven days with great gladnefs: and the Levites, and the priests praised the Lord day by day, finging with loud inftruments to the Lord.

y Pfal. xxii. 26. The meek shall eat and be fatisfied: they fhall praise the Lord that feek him; your heart hall live for ever.

- Jeɛ.

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