Of the duties of communicants,
An Exposition ofthe Affembly's Catechism. the table,andatthe ſame time was dead, and inthe diſciples mouths and ſtomachs inthe firſt ſacrament; and that in all after-facraments it is wholly in heaven, and whollyin asmany thouſand places in the world, as there are ſacraments adminiftered.
Q. 10. What doth the breaking ofthis bread, andpouring outofwinein the ſacrament, ſignify ?
A. It fignifies the violentpainful death, andbitter ſuffer. ings ofChrift for us ; 1 Cor xi. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread,anddrink this cup, yedo ſhew the Lord's death tillhe come.
Q. II. What doth the givingandtaking ofthe facramental bread and wine fignify ?
A. Theſe actions fignify God'sexhibiting, and the believers applying ofChriſt, and all his benefits,to their fouls.
Q.12 . Who are fit ſubjects to receive the Lord's fupper ?
A. None that aregroſsly ignorant, ſcandalous, or unbeliev. ers in their natural ſtate, for ſuch cannot examine themſelves, as theword requires ; 1 Cor. xi. 28. But let a man examine himſelf, and ſo lethim eat ofthat bread, and drink of that cup.
Butdo eat anddrink judgment to themſelves ; Cor, xi. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not difcerning the Lord's body.
Q. 13. Are morallyhoneſt and ſober perſons qualified for this facrament ?
A.No ; civility and morality do not qualify perſons, they arenotthewedding-garment ; but regeneratinggrace and faith doth, in the ſmallest meaſure ; Matth. xxii. 12. And he faith unto him, Friend, how cameſt thou in hither, not having a wedding-garment ? &c. 1 Cor.x. 16, 17. The cup ofbleſſing which we bleſs, is it not the communion of the blood of Chrift ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Chriſt ? For we being many, are one bread, and onebody; for we are all partakers of that onebread.
OftheDuties ofCommunicants.
W Quest. 97.
Hat is required to the worthy receiving of theLord'sfupper ?
A. It is required ofthem that wouldworthily partake of the Lord'sfupper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge todifcern the Lord'sbody; oftheirfaith tofeedupon him; oftheir repentance, love, andnew obedience; left coming unworthily, they at and drinkjudgment to themselves,
( An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechism.
Q. r. What are theduties ofworthy receivers ?
A. There are three forts of duties incumbent on them ; ſomeantecedent to it, ſomeconcomitant of it, and ſome fubſequent to it.
Q. 2. What are the antecedent duties to it ?
A. They are two : (1.) Examination of theirgraces. (2.) Preparation of their fouls.
Examination of their graces ; 1Cor. xi. 28, 29. But let aman examinehimself, and ſo let himeatofthatbread, and drinkofthat cup.
For he that eateth anddrinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation tohimself, not difcerning the Lord's body. Andpreparation oftheir fouls ; 1 Cor. v. 8. Therefore let us keep the feaft, not withold leaven, neither with the leaven ofmalice and wickedneſs, but with the unleavened bread of fincerity and truth.
Q. 3. What is the firſt grace to be tried ?
A. Ourſaving knowledge ofGod in Chriſt, without which wecannotdifcern the Lord's body ; 1 Cor. xi. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinkethdamnation tohimself, notdifcerningthe Lord's body.
Q. 4. What arewe to enquireof, touching our knowledge ofGod in Chriſt ?
A. We are toexaminewhether itbecompetent forquantity, and ſavingly operative and influential onthe heart and life, for quality ; Hofea iv. 6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, &c. 1 Cor. xiii. 1. Though I ſpeak with the tongues ofmen, and of angels, and have not charity ; I am become as a founding braſs, or tinkling cymbal.
Q. 5. When is knowledge competent, and influential ?
A. Whenwe truly understand,by the teachings of the Father, the fin and mifery ofthe fall, thenature and neceſſity of Chrift,and,undertheſe convictions,come to him inthe way of faith ; John vi. 45.--Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. And ſubject ourſelves to him in fincere obedience ; Matth. xi. 28,
29. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn ofme, for I am meek and lowly in heart ; and ye ſhall find reſtunto your fouls .
Q. 6. What arewe to examine ourſelves about,befides knowledge?
A. We are obliged to examine ourſelves about our faith, whether we have it in any ſaving degree ; 2 Cor. xiii . 5 .
Examine yourſelves, whether ye be in the faith : Prove your-
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechism. ſelves, &c. For without faith we cannotpleaſe God ; Heb. xi . 6. But without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God, &c.
Norenjoy fpiritual communionwith Chriſt ; Eph. iii. 17. That Chriſt may dwell in your heartsby faith; that ye being rooted andgrounded in love, &c.
Q. 7. What other gracemuſt be examined, and fought for ?
A. We must examine our love to Chriſt, and all that are his; becauſe no gifts ſignify any thing without love; 1Cor. xiii. 2. And though I have the gift ofprophecy, and underſtand all myſteries, and all knowledge ; and though I have all faith, fo that I could remove mountains, andhave no charity, I am nothing.
Q. 8. What elſe muſt worthyreceivers examine themſelves about?
A. The fincerity of their hearts, evidencedby their obedience; withoutwhich, they cannotworthily approach the table ;
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 fincerity and truth.
Q9. But if, upon examination, we are in doubts about our faith and fincerity, muſt we forbear ?
A. Ifour doubts ariſe from the weakness, and not the total wantofgrace, fuch doubts ſhould not hinder us ; Rom. xiv. 1 .
Him that is weak in the faith, receive you, &c.
Q. 10. What is thedanger ofcoming to the Lord's table withouttheſegraces ?
A. The danger is exceeding greatboth to foul andbody.
(1.) Tothe foul; 1 Cor. xi. 29. For he that eateth and drinkethunworthily, eateth and drinketh damnationto himself, &c.
And to the body ; 1 Cor. xi 30. Forthis cauſe many are weak and fickly among you, and many fleep.
Q. 11. What are the duties of worthy receivers at the Lord's table? ble A. Their duties at the table are, to difcern Chriſt by the eyeoffaith ; under thoſe ſigns of his body and blood ; 1 Cor. xi. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth anddrinketh damnation to himself, not difcerning the Lord's body. On the diſcovery of him, to mourn bitterly for fin ;
Zech. xii. 10.---Andthey ſhall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they ſhall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only fon, and ſhall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firſt-born.
And to excite all their graces intovigorous acts, for the applying Chriſt to themſelves; Cant. iv. 16. Awake, O north-wind, and come, thou fouth, blow