A Bosome-Piece FOR COMMUNICANTS. OR, THE Nature and Design OF THE SACRAMENT Of the LORD's-SUPPER.
Laid Open in a Letter to Mrs. ELIZ. YEARLEY, of Ockham in Surrey.
By JOSHƲA STANLEY, Late Chaplain to the Lady Nicholas.
LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1699.
To my truly Virtuous Cozen, Mrs. ELIZ. YEARLEY, of Ockham in Surry.
I must of necessity, return this Bosome-Piece into your Brest again, lest (unhappily) my Cold Affections Congeal so warm a Subject. Truly, I am apt often to Censure my self with being a bad master to so Divine a piece; and fancy that it longs to be remitted Home, where it may follow it's wonted Exercise with a more Zealous Divinity. Take it, then, Madam, my dear Cozen! but not with a Belief, that it has made no Impression on my obdurate Heart; but, to the Contrary, since thro' it's Merit, and the Author's Worth, I have made it to the Life Ʋniversal.
As to the Late Reverend Mr. Stanley's Letter, I have Presum'd to Intitle it; A Bosome-Piece for Communicants, &c. For, What Brest-Plate so Armor-proof against the Assaults of Death and Hell, as the blessed Sacrament of our Redeemer's Body and Blood?— A Brest-plate as well to be worn by the Fair Sex, as others, to the making 'em Champions over the Vassals of Sin, and compleat Heroesses in Divinity, under the Banner of their GOD!
In fine, the World may give a large Guess how Divine a Soul the now Happy Author had, and how close his Zeal kept him to the Altar of his holy Jesus, by the following Letter; which is, at your Command return'd Home in a more Ʋniversal Dress, from him who is,
A BOSOME-PIECE FOR Communicants: In a LETTER.
BECAUSE you Desire to Receive the Sacrament, (and if you did not Desire it, you would not be Fit to Receive it:) 'tis Fit you should Understand in some Measure, the [Page 2]Meaning of what you Do, and what you Receive, that so your Desires may be Increased in some Proportion to the Excellency of the Thing, and your Zeal may not be altogether without Knowledge. Therefore be Pleased to Accept, for the present, this Plain and Easy Direction.
FIRST, I. What a Sacrament is. It is Fit you should Understand, What a Sacrament is.
A Sacrament is a Seal of the Promises of GOD, made to us in CHRIST, wherein, by some Outward Signs, Commanded by GOD, and [Page 3]Blessed by His Minister, our blessed Saviour, with all the Blessings he hath purchas'd for us, is Signifyed and Conveyed to our Souls; and (that we may not Doubt) 'tis likewise a Pledge and Earnest of all those Things.
AND, the Reason that GOD gives us Spiritual Blessings, by Outward and Visible Signs, is, That He may condescend to our weak Capacities, to Help our Infirmities, and Understandings, and to Strengthen our Faith, and to mind us of His Covenant with us, and of Ours with Him; for He Promises, Mercy, Grace, [Page 4]Peace, and Pardon here, and Eternal Life Hereafter, to all those that keep His Commandments, and come unto Him by Jesus Christ; and we, for our part, promise all Duty, and Love, and a sincere Obedience, to him again.
NOW as for the Sacrament of the Lord's-Supper, It's Nature opened briefly. I shall lay down the Nature and Design of it in the plainest method I can devise; deriving it from the very Fountain, by explaining those Texts of Scripture, wherein we find it describ'd.
[This do in remembrance of Me] This is a Command Luc. 22.19. [Page 5]of CHRIST, 1 Cor. 11.24. which makes it an indispensable Duty to every one that calls himself a Christian, to come to the Sacrament, as soon as he understands it; and when he is come, it tells him, That 'tis his Duty to remember that great Love, and bitter Sufferings of CHRIST dying for his Sins; which, how great soever, if we consider the Malice of some, and the Frailties of all, might have been forgotten; unless remembred, and continually fixed in our minds, by some visible Sign or Token: And so by this—
[WE shew the LORD's Death till he come.] 1 Cor. 11.26. That is, Declare openly, that we do seriously, and heartily Believe, that CHRIST did Dye for us, to Redeem us, and procure great Blessings for us; some of which He bestows here, especially in the Sacrament; and some of which He faithfully keeps for us hereafter. And besides this, We shew, and offer unto GOD the Father, the Sufferings, the Obedience, and Sacrifice of his Dear Son, pleading them, for that Pardon, and those Graces, which we want: And this we do with all possible Praise, Humility, [Page 7]and Thanksgiving. And so 'tis call'd,
[The Cup of Blessing;] 1 Cor. 10.16. Wherein we offer up our hearty Praises, and Adoration,
To GOD the Father, who gave His Son for us; and now is ready to give him to us.
To GOD the Son, who gave Himself for us; and now offers Himself to us, and to His Father for us. And,
To GOD the Holy-Ghost, thro' whom Christ was offered up; and who now conveys Him to us, with all the Benefits of that Eternal and Glorious [Page 8]Sacrifice. And so tis call'd,
[THE Communion of the Body, 1 Cor. 10.16.and Blood of CHRIST.] That is, a holy Ordinance and Institution, whereby GOD the Father does communicate, and impart to worthy Receivers, all th [...] Benefits of CHRIST's Incarnation, Passion, Resurrection, and Ascention; all which is meant by the Body and Blood of CHRIST, and all which good things are conveyed to us, and by those outward Signs of Bread and Wine.
AND therefore, (saith CHRIST) after He had broke, and blessed the Bread, [Page 9] Take, Eat, this is my Body, Mat. 26.26. Luc. 22.19. 1 Cor. 11.24. and for the Cup, This is my Blood. Not that they are really so indeed; for you may see, and taste it to be Bread and Wine; but they are the Figures, and Representations of the Body and Blood of CHRIST. In Pictures, we say, this Picture is a Man, and this is an Angel; that is, these Pictures do represent such things. And therefore, when you see the Bread blessed, and broken by the Minister, then lift up your Heart, and imagine to your self, that you behold your dear Saviour's Body torn with Whips and Scourges, Crucified, and dying upon the Cross: And [Page 10]so likewise, when the Wine is poured forth in Consecration; think you see your Saviour's Side pierced, and His precious Blood streaming forth upon every penitent Sinner, to wash away his Stains and Corruptions: And then, think more sadly with your self, that your Sins have often done the same, and been as cruel in Crucifying the Lord of Glory, and putting him to an open shame; and be mighty Humble, and mighty Thankful.
FOR, Mat. 26.28. Luc. 22.20.this is the Blood of the New Testament, which is Shed for you, and for many, [Page 11]for the Remission of Sins. 1 Cor. 11.25. Now, this New Testament is nothing else, but the Second Covenant, confirmed to us in the Blood of JESUS, wherein GOD promises Pardon to every Sinner that truly Repents, and Grace, and Peace, in this Life, and Glory hereafter: And here it is in this Sacrament, which is call'd the Blood of the New Testament, that GOD Offers, and Seals, and Conveys to our Souls, all these Promises, and Blessings; and we by Faith do receive them, and at the same time enter into Covenant with him, to perform a Faithful, and [Page 12]Sincere Obedience to all His Commands.
NOW, from these Places of Scripture, thus Explained, and made easy for any Capacity, You may Observe, That this is the Nature and Design of the Sacrament of the LORD's Supper.
THAT it is a Feast of Mercies,☞wherein we thankfully remember the Great Love, and Bitter Sufferings of CHRIST; and firmly Believe to be a Seal of that Gracious Covenant, which GOD hath made with His Blood; and a Pledge or Earnest of all those Benefits He hath procur'd for us, by [Page 21]the Obedience of his Life and Death.
AND here then it is, my Friend, that with an humble penitent Heart, and a lively Faith working by Love, you may Expect to receive spiritual nourishment for your Soul; and such increase of Grace, as will enable you more and more for the work of your Salvation, and the Subduing of your Corruptions, and the Reparing of your Infirmities, and the exercise of a Holy Religion, till GOD shall see you meet to be partaker of His Glory.
AND therefore, here you must offer up your Self, [Page 22]your Soul and Body, as a reasonable Sacrifice, which being joyned to that Oblation of CHRIST upon the Altar is well-pleasing and acceptable unto GOD.
For you must understand that here the Minister offers up to God the Father, in the Name of all the Communicants, the Passion and Sacrifice of his dearly be loved Son, as a Sacrifice still Fresh and Powerful for our Pardon and Salvation. And as the Minister does this here, in a Sacramental way, so Christ, the true Preist, does really offer up Himself in Heaven to His Father, [Page 23]for the Remission and Expiation of all our Sins, who receive Him worthily; that is, with a true Repentance, and a lively Faith, a perfect Charity, and a great Love, Humility, and Devotion.
But as for your Preparation, you will find your self best Instructed out of your Practice of Piety, and, The Whole Duty of Man.
Only, I beseech you, my Friend, that you would be very, Extreamly careful in your Examination, at some time, when you can, with conveniency retire, in Private; [Page 24]for upon that, will depend much of the Efficacy, and Force, and Sincerity of your Repentance, and So Consequently your worthy Communicating. For which I shall desire you to look upon that Short Thing of Particulars, at the end of the Whole Duty of Man.
I commend this Form of the Explanation of the Sacrament to you, no longer, than you shall be better Provided for. I have design'd by this, to Ease your memory, and fix your Thoughts, and therefore I will trouble you no Further, but Commend [Page 25]you to these Good Books; praying, That as you doe intend to receive The LORD JESUS CHRIST, so you would walk in Him; Rooted and built up in Him, and Stablished in the Faith, wherein you have been Taught, Col. 2.6.7. abounding therein, with Thanksgiving.
A Prayer to be said before you receive the Sacrament.
O Most merciful God, Who hast in thy great goodness prepared this spiritual feast for sick and famished souls, make my desires and gasping after it, answerable to my needs of it. I have, with the prodigal, wasted that portion of grace thou bestowedst upon me; and therefore do infinitely want a supply out of this treasury: But, O Lord, how shall such a wretch as I dare to approach this holy Table? I am a Dog, how shall I presume to take the Childrens bread? Or how shall this spiritual Manna, this food of Angels, be given to one who hath chosen to feed on husks with swine? Nay, to one who hath already so often trampled these precio [...] [...]hings under foot, either carelesly neglecting, or unworthily receiving these holy mysteries? O Lord, my horrible guiltiness makes [Page 27]me tremble to come, and yet makes me not dare to keep away: for where, O Lord, shall my polluted Soul be washed, if not in this fountain which thou hast opened for sin and for uncleanness, Hither therefore I come, and thou hast promised, that him that cometh to thee, thou wilt in no wise cast out: This is, O Lord, the blood of the New Testament; grant me so to receive it, that it may be to me for remission of sins, and though I have so often and so wretchedly broken my part of that Covenant, whereof this Sacrament is a Seal, yet be thou graciously pleased to make good thine; to be merciful to my unrighteousness, and to remember my sins and my iniquities no more; and not only so, but to put thy laws into my heart, and to write them in my mind, and by the Power of thy grace dispose my Soul to such a sincere and constant obedience, that I may never again provoke thee. Lord, grant, that in [Page 28]these holy mysteries I may not only commemorate, but effectually receive my blessed Saviour, and all the benifits of his Passion: and to that end give me such a preparation of soul as may qualifie me for it, give me a deep sense of my sins and unworthiness, that being weary and heavy laden, I may be capable of his refreshings, & by being suppled in my own tears. I may be fitter to be washed in his Blood; raise up my dull and earthly mind from grovelling here below, and inspire it with a holy zeal, that I may with Spiritual Affection, approach this spiritual feast. And let, O Lord, that infinite love of Christ in dying for so wretched a sinner, inflame my frozen benummed Soul▪ and kindle in me that sacred fire of love to him, and that so vehement, that no waters may quench, no floods drown it, such as may burn up all dross, not leave one unmortified lust in my soul, and such as may also extend it self [Page 29]to all whom thou hast given me command and example to love, even enemies as well as friends. Finally, O Lord, I beseech thee to clothe me in thy wedding garment, and make me, though of my self most unworthy, yet by thy mercy an acceptable guest at this holy Table, that I may not eat and drink my own condemnation, but may have my pardon sealed, and my weakness repaired, my corruptions subdued and my soul so inseparably united to thee, that no temptations may ever be able to dissolve the Union; but that being begun here in grace, it may be consummated in glory. Grant this O Lord, for thy dear Sons sake, Jesus Christ.
Ejaculations to be used at the LORD's Table.
LORD, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under [...] roof.
I have sinned: What shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men?
[Here recollect some of thy greatest Sins.]
If thou, Lord, shouldst be extream to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it.
But with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous Redemption.
Behold, O Lord, thy beloved Son, in whom thou art well pleased. Hearken to the cry of his blood, which speaketh better things then that of Abel.
By his Agony and bloody Sweat, by his Cross and Passion, good Lord deliver me.
O Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world, grant me thy Peace.
O Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon me.
Immediately before Receiving.
THou hast said that he that eateth thy Flesh, and drinketh thy Blood, hath eternal Life.
Behold the servant of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy Word.
At the Receiving of the Bread.
BY thy Crucified Body deliver me from this body of death.
At the Receiving of the Cup.
O Let this blood of thine purge my Conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
O touch me, and say, I will, be thou clean.
After Receiving.
WHat shall I render unto the Lord for all the benefits he hath done unto me?
I will take the Cup of Salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Therefore blessing, honour, glory and power be to him that sitteth upon the Throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen.
I have sworn, and am stedfastly purposed to keep thy righteous judgments.
O hold thou up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
A Thanksgiving after the Receiving of the Sacrament.
O Thou Fountain of all goodness, from whom every [Page 33]good and Perfect gift cometh, and to whom all honour and glory should be returned. I desire with all the most fervent and inflamed affections of a grateful heart, to bless and praise thee for those inestimable mercies thou hast vouchsafed me. Lord, what is man that thou shouldest so regard him as to send thy beloved Son to suffer such bitter things for him; But Lord, what am I, the worst of men, that I should have any part in this attonement, who have so often despised him, and his sufferings? O the height and depth of this mercy of thine, that art pleased to admit me to the renewing of that Covenant with thee, which I have so often, and so diversly broken! That I, who am not worthy of that daily bread which sustains the body, should be made partaker of this bread of life, which nourisheth the soul; and O Lord God, suffer me no [Page 34]more, I beseech thee, to turn thy grace into wantonness, to make thy mercy an occasion of security, but let this unspeakable love of thine constrain me to obedience; that since my blessed Lord hath died for me, I may no longer live up to my self, but to him: O Lord, I know there is no concord between Christ and Belial, since he hath now been pleased to enter my heart, O let me never permit any lust to chase him thence, but let him that so dearly lov'd me, still keep possession of me, and let nothing ever take me out of his hand. To this end be thou graciously pleased to watch over me, and defend me from all my assaults of my spiritual enemies, but especially deliver me from my self, from the treachery of mine own heart, which is too willing to yield it self up a prey: And where thou seest I am either by nature or custom most weak, [Page 35]there do I beseech thee, magnify thy power in my preservation. (Here mention thy most dangerous temptations.) And, Lord, let my Saviour's sufferings for my sins, and the Vows I have now made against them, never depart from my mind, but let the remembrance of the one enable me to perform the other, that I may never make truce with those lusts which nailed his hands, pierced his side, and made his soul heavy to the death. But that having now new listed, my self under a new banner, I may fight manfully, and follow the Captain of my Salvation, even thrô a sea of blood. Lord, lift up my hands that hang down, and my feeble knees, that I faint not in this warfare; O be thou my strength, who am not able of my self to struggle with the slightest temptations. How often have I turned my back in the day of battel? How many of these Sacramental vows have I violated? And Lord, [Page 36]I have still the same unconstant deceitful heart to betray me to the breach of this. O thou, who art Yea, and Amen, in whom there is no shadow of change, communicate to me, I beseech thee, such a stability of mind, that I may no more thus start aside like a broken bow, but that having my heart whole with thee, I may continue stedfast in thy Covenant, that not one good purpose which thy Spirit hath raised in me this day may vanish, as so many have formerly done, but that they may bring forth fruit unto life eternal. Grant this, O merciful Father, thrô the merits and mediations of my Crucified Saviour, Amen.
London, Printed and Sold by Benj. Harris, at the corner of Grace church-street next Corn-hill.