The Puritans on the Lord's Supper

by Edmund Calamy, Edmund Calamy, Richard Vines

“Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”―1 Corinthians 11:24 Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper as a sign and seal of His finished work for His people. Yet, many Christians do not know how to benefit from this sacred meal. In this collection of short essays, the Puritans help us understand the significance of this gracious ordinance. Read The Puritans on the Lord’s Supper to receive encouragement to partake with reverence and joy. Works included in this volume: • The Passover by Richard Vines • The Lord’s Supper Is a Federal Ordinance by Edmund Calamy • The Express Renewal of Our Christian Vows by Edmund Calamy • The Duty to Partake of the Lord’s Supper by William Wadsworth • Self-Examination by Joseph Alleine • The Fruit and Benefit of Worthy Receiving by Richard Vines • The Mystery of the Lord’s Supper by Thomas Watson “If a child were to ask you what the Lord’s Supper means and why you take it, how well prepared are you to give an answer? With their typical thoroughness, the Puritans open the Bible to teach us the significance of the Supper.” ―Paul M. Smalley, coeditor of Feasting with Christ: Meditations on the Lord’s Supper “The Puritans on. . .” collects timeless wisdom from the Puritans on topics that remain relevant for the Church today. Learn about everything from evangelism to spiritual disciplines with eminent saints like Thomas Watson, John Preston, and more. Learn about everything from evangelism to spiritual disciplines with eminent saints like Thomas Watson, John Preston, and more. Each volume includes updated versions of Puritan works that will help you grow your faith!

Genres: Theology

191 pages, Paperback

Published February 16, 2023

About the author

Edmund Calamy was an English Presbyterian church leader and divine. Known as "the elder", he was the first of four generations of nonconformist ministers bearing the same name.

Reviews

[John David Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, where to begin? This book is such a wonderful exposition of many of the ins and outs of the sacrament of communion. One of the main points of this book is that communion is something that practically, weekly, and mysteriously points us to Jesus. The word “communion” derives from the Greek word εὐχαριστία, which quite literally translates to “thanksgiving.” This is what the Puritans were about: to partake in the blessed means of grace and to taste and feed upon Christ through the preaching of his Word, and the only natural implication must be to then feed upon him in the sacraments.

Christians ought to partake in this wonderful meal. The first reason for this is that they are commanded to do so by Christ, as he says, “Do this as often as you remember me.” Jesus Christ is the bread of life sent down from heaven to feed the souls of his sheep. Like the Israelites stranded in the wilderness, God gives his people manna from heaven to satisfy them for today. God’s mercy is new every morning, and his grace is available to you today, namely Jesus Christ.

This meal is another way that the Lord extends to us mercy and grace on the Lord’s Day. In the supper, we take to him our anxieties and cares and cast them upon the cross of Christ, asking him to hide us in the shadow of his wings. And what we receive in exchange is Christ himself. Yes, the bread remains bread and the wine remains wine. Nothing magical happens at the table, but something marvelous does. For when you come to the table by faith, you truly taste and see that the Lord is good.

[Jonathan Jang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad as a primer to puritan thought on the supper. Mostly not anything special or unique, maybe some good pastoral thoughts in there. The best was definitely Watson’s excerpt, I thought William Wadsworth’s excerpt was not bad as well. Otherwise what you’d expect puritan reformed theology.