:j: The Saints Cokdialls ; delivered in svndry Sermons at Graies-Inne, and in the Citie of Loudon. Whereunto is now added. The Saints Safety in Evill Times, Preached in Cambridge upon speciall occasions. By Richard Sibbs D.D. Late Master of Katherine-Hall in Cambridge, and Preacher at Grayes-Inne. [Woodcut here of Time with a scythe, and the motto ' Virtus retvndit sola aciem banc.'] My strength and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever, Psal. 73. 26. London, Printed by M. F. for Henry Overton, and are to be sold at the entring in of Popes Head Alley out of Lumbard street. 1637.
? The Saints Gokdiallp, Wherein We have particularly handled, The Saints safety and hiding-place, The Saints Assurance, Christs sufferings for mans sin, The Saints Refreshing, Salvation applyed, The Churches Visitation, Christ is best. The Life of Faith, The Art of self-judging and humbling, The difficulty of Salva- tion, The danger of back-sliding. The ungodlies misery. With other material things. Delivered in sundry Sermons, at Graies-Inne, in the City of London, and at Cam- bridge. By Richard Sibbs, D.D. Late Master of Katherine-Hall in Cambridge, and Preacher at Grayes-Inne. Psal. 73. 26. My strength and my heart faileth ; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. London, Printed by M. S. for Henry Cripps, and are to be sold at the entring in of Popes-Head -Alley, out of Lumbard-street, 1658.
THE RIGHT RECEIVING.
But let a man examine himself, and so Jet him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh vmvorthil ij , eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. — 1 Cor. XI. 28, 29.
In the former words the apostle had propounded to the Corinthians the first institution of the Lord's Supper, declaring the causes why our blessed Saviour appointed these ordinances, the especial end whereof was the remembrance of the Lord's death until he came ; and not only a bare remem- brance thereof, but likewise the communion of the virtues of that death — for the comfort of all Christians — imtil his coming. And fi'om the same the apostle in the verse going before draweth his conclusion : that seeing this holy supper is instituted by our blessed Saviour for such an end as this, so excellent, to be a lively representation of the crucifying of the Son of God, of the breaking of his body, and the pouring forth of his blood for our salvation ; therefore he iuferreth that all men should come with a reverend* regard thereunto, not as to a common table. Seeing the matter is thus, saith the apostle, that this is not an ordinary supper, it behoveth us not to come thither as unto an ordinary feast. We may not make any small difierence betwixt this and our common banquets; but if a man cometh unworthily, that is, unbeseemingl}-, such a man as this, instead of comfort, reapeth unto himself judgment. If we come hand over head, without pre- paration ; if we so eat, we shall be ' guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.' It sheweth that we make no reverend * account of it when we will come so unreverently unto the same, maldng no difierence betwixt this heavenly manna and our ordinary food ; and therefore, eating unworthily, — coming to partake of the body and blood here set, without due preparation, — shall be culpable of judgment.
Quest. But here some will say, How doth a man come unto the Lord's table unworthily ? Is any man worthy ? Seeing under these veils is sig- nified, and, more than that, exhibited unto us, the body and blood of Christ Jesus, is any man worthy ? It was a great thing, that the ancient people of the Jews were fed with manna. John vi. 31, ' They ate manna in the wilderness, he gave them bread from heaven to eat, and yet they died. But he that eateth the flesh of the Son of man, and drinketh his blood, hath eternal life.' Now, howsoever it be true that the body of Christ is in heaven and we upon earth, yet here is the conveyance, whereby we have interest in his body and blood ; here is the seal of the great indenture. * Qu. ' reverent ' ?— Ed.
62 THE RIGHT RECEIVIXG.
God givetli us not only the groat drauglit, -which wc arc in possession of; not only his word, that wc have an interest in his Sou ; hut also unto his deed made unto us in his word he givcth a more propriety,* even these holy sacraments, whcreinf he clappeth this hroad seal, thus tendered unto us.
Ans. I answer, then, that no man is worthy to be a guest ; but worthiness here is taken in another sense. A man is not said to be worthy in regard of any worthiness in himself, but in respect of his affection and preparation, and in regard of his lit and seemly receiving. As we use to say, the king received worthy entertainment in such a gentleman's house, not for that he was worthy to receive him, but because he omitted no compliments and service in his power fit to entertain him : even so I say, we are not worthy of Christ, that he should enter into our houses, that he should come under our roof. But, notwithstanding, we are said to be worthy when we do all things which are in our power, fit for the entertainment of him. If we come not in pride and in our rags, but with repentance, joy, comfort, and humility, then are we worthy.