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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 (b); testify and renew their thankfulness (c) and engagement to God (d), 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, that the body of Christ was broken and given, and his blood shed for them (ƒ).

also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

(a) 1 Cor. 11. 23-26. 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. 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. 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, remembrance of me. 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. 10. 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. 11. 24. (See above in a).

(d) 1 Cor. 10. 14. 21. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 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.

(e) 1 Cor. 10. 17. For we being many are one bread, and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread.

(f) Luke 22. 19, 20. 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. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

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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 (g); 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 (h): 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 (i), while by faith they receive and apply unto themselves Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death (k).

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, are, before they come, to prepare themselves thereunto, by examining themselves (1) of their being in Christ (m), of their sins and wants (n); of the truth and

(g) Acts 3. 21. Whom the heavens must receive, until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, since the world began.

(h) Mat. 26. 26. 28. 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. For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins.

(i) 1 Cor. 11. 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.

(k) 1 Cor. 10. 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?

(7) 1 Cor. 11. 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

(m) 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine yourselves, 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. 5. 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. Compared with Exod. 12. 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,

measure of their knowledge (o), faith (p), repentance (q); love to God and the brethren (r), charity to all men (s), forgiving those that have done them wrong (t); of their desires after Christ (v), and of their new obedience (w); and by renewing the exercise of these graces (x), by serious meditation (y), and fervent prayer (z).

(0) 2 Cor. 11. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

1 Cor. 13. 5. (See above in m) Mat. 26. 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins.

(9) Zech. 12. 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 bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born. 1 Cor. 11. 31. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

(r) Acts 2. 46, 47, 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 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

(s) 1 Cor. 5. 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. 11. 18. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

(t) Mat. 5. 23, 24. Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

(v) Isa. 55. 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 without price.

(w) 1 Cor. 5. 7. Purge out, therefore, the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is crucified for us.

(x) Heb. 10. 21. 24. And having an high priest over the house of God; 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. And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love, and to good works. Psal. 26. 6. Í will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord.

(y) 1 Cor. 11. 24, 25. 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. 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.

() 2 Chron. 30. 18. For a multitude of the people, even

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 thereof (a); and in God's account it hath, if he be duly affected with the apprehension of the want of it (b), and unfeignedly desires to be found in Christ (c), and to depart from iniquity (d): in which case (because promises are made, and this sacrament is appointed, for the reJief even of weak and undoubting Christians (e) he is to bewail his unbelief (ƒ), and labour to have his doubts resolved (g); and, so doing, he may and ought to come to the Lord's supper, that he may be further strengthened (h).

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 pardon every one, 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.

(a) Isaiah 50. 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.

(b) Isa. 54. 7, 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. 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.

(c) Phil. 3. 8, 9. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but lost, 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; 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.

(d) 2 Tim. 2. 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.

(e) Isa. 40. 11. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

(f) Mark 9. 24. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

(3) Acts 2. 37. Now, when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 16. 30. And he brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

(h) Rom. 4. 11. And he re

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Q. 173. May any who profess the faith, and desire to come to the Lord's supper, be kept from it.

A. Such as are found to be ignorant or scandalous, notwithstanding their profession of the faith, and desire to come to the Lord's supper, may and ought to be kept from that sacrament, by the power which Christ hath left in his church (i), until they receive instruction, and manifest their reformation (k).

Q. 174. What is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper in the time of the administration of it.

A. It is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper, that, during the time of the administration of it, with all holy reverence and attention they wait upon God in that ordinance (1); diligently observe the sacramental elements and actions (m); heedfully dis

ceived the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised: that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. 1 Cor. 11. 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

(i) 1 Cor. 11. 27, to the end. 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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged, &c. to the end of the chapter.

(k) 2 Cor. 2. 7. So that, contrariwise, ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest

perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sor

row.

(1) Lev. 10. 3. Then Moses said unto Aaron, this is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people will I be glorified. Hebrews 12. 28. Wherefore, we received a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear. Psal. 5. 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. 11. 17. 27. Now in this that I declare unto you, I praise you not, that you come together, not for the better, but for the worse. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 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.

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(m) Exod. 24. 8. And Moses

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