1. It is the _table of the Lord, and the Lords Supper_; and
consequently the friends, and not the enemies of Christ, are thereto
invited.
2. It is an ordinance, wherein we publiquely profess communion with
Christ and his mystical body, & if he that comes, be by sin disjoyned
from Christ, he is guilty of a _sacrilegious lye against him and his
Church_, whilest he professeth himself to be a _friend_, and is
_really an enemy_.
3. It is (according to the nature of all Sacraments,) [77]a sealing
Ordinance, as is intimated in those remarkable sacramental phrases,
_This is my body, this is my blood_, denoting not only a bare
sacramental signification, but also a spiritual obsignation and
exhibition of Christs body and blood, to a worthy receiver. Now a seal
supposeth a writing to which it is annext, or else it is a meer
nullity; and certainly Christ never intended to have his Seal put to
a blank or counterfeit writing.
4. It is an ordinance appointed for the nourishment of those who are
spiritually alive, Christs body & blood being therein conveyed under
the Elements of bread & wine; which they only can eat and drink,
[78]who are alive by Faith, and not they that are dead in trespasses &
sins.
5. It is the _New Testament in the blood of Christ_, that is, _a
confirmation of the New Testament_, and of all the promises and
priviledges thereof in the blood of Christ, which belong not at all to
wicked men, [79]_Godlinesse having the promises of this life, and that
which is to come_.
By all which it appears, that it is the Will of Christ, that no
scandalous person should come to the Lords table.
[Sidenote: 2. Proposition.]
_That it is the Will of Jesus Christ, that those who are grosly
ignorant, or scandalously wicked, should be kept from the Sacrament,
(if they offer to come,) by Church-Officers._
And this is evident: