The Practice of Piety, Treatise · Part 25 – Part 26
3. Of the duties which we are to perform after receiving of the holy Communion called Action or Practice.
THE duty which we are to perform after the receiving of the Lord's Supper, is called Action or Practice: without which all the rest will minister unto us no comfort.
The Action consists of Two sorts of duties: First, such as we are to perform in the Church, or else, after that we are gone home.
Those that we are to perform in the Church, are either several from our own souls: or else joyntly with the Congregation.
The several duties which thou must perform from thine own Soul, are Three: First, Thou must be careful (that forasmuch as Christ now dwelleth in thee, therefore) to entertain him in a clean heart, and with pure affections; for the *Psal. 18. 26. Sancta non nisi sanctè & sanctis.most holy will be holy with the holy: for if Joseph of Arimathea, when he had begged of Pilate his dead body, to bury it, wrapped it in sweet odours, and fine Linen, and laid it in a new Tomb; how much more shouldest thou lodge Christ in a new heart, and perfume his Rooms with the odoriferous incense of Prayers, and all pure affections? If God required Moses to provide a Pot of pure gold to keep the Manna that fell in the Wilderness: what a pure heart shouldst thou provide to receive this divine Manna, that is come down from Heaven?
And as thou camest sorrowing like Joseph and Mary, Luk. 2. 46.to seek Christ in the Temple: so now having there found him in the midst of his Word and Sacraments, be careful with joy to carry him home with thee, as they did.
And if the man that found but his lost sheep, Luk. 15. 6.rejoyced so much; how canst thou, having found the Saviour of the World, but rejoyce much more?
Secondly, Thou must offer the Sacrifice of a private thanksgiving unto God, for this inestimable grace and mercy: for as this action is common unto the whole Church; so is it applied particularly to every one of the faithful in the Church; and for this particular mercy, every soul must joyfully offer up a particular Sacrifice of Thanksgiving. For if the Wise Men rejoyced so much when they saw the Star, which conducted them unto Christ; and worshipped him so devoutly when he lay a Babe, in the Manger; and offered unto him their Gold, Myrrhe, and Frankincense: how much more shouldest thou rejoyce, now that thou hast both seen and received this Sacrament, which guideth thy soul unto him, where he sitteth at the right hand of his Father in glory? And thither lifting up thy heart, adore him, and offer up unto him the gold of a pure Faith, the Myrrhe of a mortified heart, and this or the like sweet incense of Prayer and Thanksgiving.
A Prayer to be said after the receiving of the Communion.
WHAT shall I render unto thee (O blessed Saviour) for all these blessings which thou hast so graciously bestowed upon my Soul? How can I sufficiently thank thee, when I can scarce express them? Where thou mightest have made me a Beast, thou madest me a Man after thine own Image. When by sin I had lost both thine Image, and my self, thou didst renew in me thine Image by thy Spirit, and didst redeem my Soul by thy Blood again: and now thou hast given unto me thy Seal and Pledge of my Redemtion; nay, thou hast given thy self unto me, O blessed Redeemer. Oh what an inestimable treasure of riches, and overflowing Fountain of grace hath he got who hath gained thee! No man ever touched thee by Faith, but thou didst heal him by Grace; for thou art the Author of Salvation, the remedy of all evils, the medicine of the sick, the life of the quick; and the resurrection of the dead. Seemed it a small matter unto thee to appoint thy holy Angels to attend upon so vile a Creature as I am; but that thou would'st enter thy self into my Soul, there to preserve, nourish and cherish me unto life everlasting.
If the carcase of the dead Prophet could2 Kin. 13. 21. revive a dead man that touched it; how much more shall the living body of the Lord of all Prophets, quicken the faithful, in whose heart he dwelleth? And if thou wilt raise my body at the last day out of the dust; how much more wilt thou now revive my Soul which thou hast sanctified with thy Spirit, and purified with thy blood? O Lord, what could I more desire, or what couldest thou more bestow upon me, than to give me thy body for meat, thy blood for drink, and to lay down thy Soul for the price of my Redemption? Thou Lord enduredst the pain, and I do reap the profit: I received pardon, and thou didst bear the punishment. Thy tears were my bath, thy wounds my weal▪ and the injustice done to thee, satisfied for the Judgment which was due to me. Thus by thy birth thou art become my Brother, by thy death my ransom, by thy mercy my reward, and by thy Sacrament my nourishment. O divine …ood, by which the sons of men are transformed into the sons of God: so that man's nature dieth, and God's nature liveth and ruleth in us. Indeed, all Creatures wondred that the Creator would be inclosed nine Months in the Virgins Womb; (though her Womb being replenished with the Holy Ghost, was more splendid than the Starry Firmament:) but that thou should'st thus humble thy self to dwell for ever in my heart, which thou foundest more unclean than a Dunghill, it is able to make all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth to stand amazed. But seeing it is thy free Grace and meer pleasure thus to enter and to dwell in my heart, I would to God, that I had so pure a heart as my heart could wish, to entertain thee. And who is fit to entertain Christ? or who, though invited, would not chuse with Mary rather to kneel at thy feet, than presume to sit with thee at thy Table? Though I want a pure heart for thee to dwell in, yet weeping eyes shall never be wanting to wash thy blessed feet, and to lament my filthy sins. And albeit I cannot weep so many tears as may suffice to wash thy holy feet; yet, Lord, it is sufficient that thou hast shed Blood enough to cleanse my sinful So…l. And I am fully (O Lord) assured, that all the … ▪ fare wherewith the disdainfull Pha…isee entertained thee at his Table, did not so much please thee, as those tears which penitent Mary poured under the …ble. I would therefore wish with Jeremy, that my head were a fountain of tears: that seeing I can by no means yield sufficient thanks for thy love to me; yet I might by continual Tears, testifie my love unto thee. And though no man is worthy of so infinite a grace: yet this is my comfort, That he is worthy whom thou in favour accountest worthy. And seeing that now of thy mere grace thou hast counted me (among others thy chosen) worthy of this unspeakable favour, and sealed by thy Sacrament the assurance of thy love, and the forgiveness of my sins: O Lord, confirm thy favour unto thy Servant: and say of me as Isaac did of Jacob, I have blessed him, Gen. 27. 33.therefore he shall be blessed. And that I may say unto thee with David, 1 Chron. 17. 27.Thou, O Lord, hast blessed my Soul, and made it thy house, and it shall be blessed for ever And seeing it pleased thee to bless the house of Obed-edom and all his 2 Sam. 6. 11, 12.houshold whilest the Ark of the Lord remained in his house: I doubt not but thou wilt much more bless my soul and body, and all that do belong unto me, now that it hath pleased thy Majesty of thine own good will to enter under my roof, and to dwell for ever in my poor cottage. Bless me, O Lord, so, that my sins, may wholly be remitted by thy Blood, my conscience sanctified by thy Spirit, my mind enlightned by thy Truth, my Heart guided by thy Spirit and my Will, in all things, subdued, to thy blessed Will and Pleasure. Bless me with all graces which I want, and increase in me those good gifts which thou hast already bestowed upon me. And seeing that I hold thee not by the arms, as Jacob wrestling without me; but inwardly dwelling by Faith within me: surely, Lord,Gen. 32. 24, &c. I will never let thee go, except thou bless me, and give me a new name, a new heart, a new spirit, and strength by the power of God to prevail over sin and Satan. And I beseech thee, O Lord, desire not to depart from me, as thou didst from Jacob, because the day breaketh, and thy grace beginneth to dawn and appear: But I from my soul, humbly with the Emmauites, intreat thee. O sweet Jesus, to abide with me, because it draweth towards night. For the night of temptation, the night of tribulation; yea, my last long night of death approacheth, O blessed Saviour, stay with me therefore now and ever.Exod. 33. 14 And if thy presence go not home with me, carry me not from hence Go with me, and live with me, and let neither death nor life separate me from thee. Drive me from my self, draw me unto thee. Let me be sick, but sound in thee; and in my weakness let thy strength appear. Let me seem as dead, that thou alone mayest be seen to live in me: so that all my members may be but instruments to act thy motions. Cant. 8. 6.Set me as a seal upon thine heart; and let thy zeal be setled upon mine, that I may be out of love with all, that I may be only in love with thee. And grant, O Lord, that as thou now vouchsafest me this favour to sit at thy Table, to receive this Sacrament in thy house of grace: so I may hereafter through thy mercy,Luk. 22. 30. be received to … eat and drink at thy Table in thy kingdom of Glory. And for thy mercy, I do here with the four beasts, and twenty four Elders, cast my self down before thy Throne of Grace; acknowledging, that it is thou that hastaRev. 5. 9. redeemed with thy blood, and that salvation cometh only from thee. And therefore unto thee bChap. 7. 10, 11, 12.I do yield all praise, and glory, and wisdom, and thanks, and honour, and power, and might, and Majesty, O my Lord, and my God, for evermore. Amen.
Thirdly, Seeing Christ hath sacrificed himself for thee (and all that thou canst give, is too little) therefore thou must offer thy self to be a living, Rom. 12. 1.holy, and acceptable sacrifice unto God; by serving him in*Luk. 1. 75. righteousness and holiness all thy days. Thus Iertullian witnesseth, that in his time a Christian was known from another man, only by the holiness and uprightness of his life.
2. Of the duties which we are to do after the Communion joyntly with the Congregation.
THE duties to be performed joyntly with the Church, are Three. First, publick thanksgiving, both by Prayers, and aMat. 26. 30. Which is probable to have …een the 123. Psal.singing of Psalms; Thus Christ himself and his Apostles did. Secondly, joining with the Church, b1 Cor. 16. 1. Rom. 15. 25. Qui c…piosio…es sunt & volunt pro arbitrio quisque suo quod visum est contrib…nt: & quod it… o…igitur apud pr…positum deponitur, atque inde ille opitulatur pupills & vi…is, & qui propter mo…bum aut aliquam aliam causam egent, &c. Justin, Martyr. Apolog. 2.in giving (every man according to his ability) towards the relief of the poor. This was the manner of the Primitive Churches, to make Collections and*foreign, Lucrum est pietatis nomine facere sumptum. Tert. Apol. adv. Gen. c. 39. Love Feasts after the Lord's Supper, for the relief of the poor Christians. Thirdly, when thanks and praise is ended, then with all reverence to stand up, and to receive the blessing of God, by the mouth of his Minister; and to receive it, as if thou didst hear God himself pronouncing it unto thee from Heaven. For by their blessing, Num. 6. 23, 27.God doth bless his people.
Thus far of the Duties to be practised in the Church.
The Duties which thou art to practise after that thou art departed home, are three. First, to observe diligently, whether thou hast truly received Christ in the Sacrament. Which thou maist thus easily perceive: for seeing his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed, Joh. 6. 55.and that he is so full of grace, that no man ever touched him by faith, but he received virtue from him; it cannot possibly be, that if thou hast eaten his flesh, or drunk his blood, but thou shalt receive grace and power to be cleansed from thy sins and filthiness. For if the Hemorrhoise that did but touch his garment, Mark. 5. 29.had her bloody issue that continued so long, forthwith stanched; how much more will the bloody issue of thy sin be stanched, if thou then hast truly eaten and drunk the very flesh and blood of Christ? But if thy issue still runneth, thou maist justly suspect thou hast never yet truly touched Christ?
Secondly, seeing thou hast now reconciled thy self to God, and renewed thy Covenant, and vowed newness and amendment of life; thou must therefore have a special care, that thou dost not yield to commit thy former sins any more: knowing that the*Matth. 12. 43, &c. unclean spirit, if ever he can get into thy Soul again, after that it is swept and garnished: he will enter forcible possession with seven other devils worse than himself: So that the end of that man shall be worse than his beginning. Be ye not therefore like the Dog †2 Pet. 2. 22.that returns to his vomit, or the washed Sow that walloweth in the mire again. And return not to thy malice, like to the Adder, who laying aside her poyson while she drinks, takes it up again when she hath done. But when either the devil or thy flesh shall offer to tempt and move thee to relapse into thy former sins, answer them as the Spouse doth in the Canticles, aCant. 5. 3.I have put off my coat (of my former corruption) how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them again?
Lastly, If ever thou hast found either joy or comfort in receiving the holy Sacrament; let it appear by the eager desire of receiving it†Scio Romae hanc esse consuetudinem, ut fideles semper Christi corpus accipiant. Hier. Apol. adv. Jovin. Quotidie communionem Eucharistiae percipere non laudo, nec reprehendo. Omnibus Dominicis diebus communicandum suadeo & hortor, si mens sine affectu peccandi sit. Aug. (vel potius Gennadius) lib. de Ec. Dogm. c. 53. often again. For the Body of Christ as it was bPsal. 45. 7. Heb. 1. 9.anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows; so doth it yield a sweeter savour than all the ointments of the world: The fragrant smell whereof allureth all Souls who have once tasted the sweetness thereof, ever after to desire oftner to taste thereof again.cCant. 1. 3. Because of the savour of thy good Ointments, therefore do the Virgins love thee. OdPsal. 34. 8. taste therefore often, and see how good the Lord is, saith David. This is the Commandment of Christ himself, Do this in remembrance of me; and in doing this, thou shalt shew thy self best mindful and thankful for his death. For as oft as ye shall eat this bread and drink this cup, ye shall shew the Lord's death until he came. And let this be the chief end whereunto both thy receiving and living tendeth:Tit. 2. 12, 14 that thou maist be a holy Christian, zelous of good works, purged from sin, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; that thou mayst be acceptable to God, profitable to thy brethren, and comfortable unto thine own soul.
Thus far of the manner of glorifying God in thy life.
Now followeth the Practice of Piety in glorifying God in the time of sickness, and when thou art called to die in the Lord.
AS soon as thou perceivest thy self to be visited with any sickness, meditate with thy self.
1. That misery cometh not forth of the dust; Job. 5. 6.neither doth affliction spring out of the earth. 1 Sam. 6. 9.Sickness comes not by hap or chance (as the Philistines supposed that their Mice and Emrods came,) but from mans wickedness, which as sparkles breaketh out. Man suffereth (saithaLam. 3. 39. Jeremy) for his sins. Fools (saithbPsal. 107. 17. David) by reason of their transgressions, and because of their iniquities are afflicted. As therefore Solomon adviseth a man to carry himself towards an earthly Prince;Eceles. 10. 4. If the Spirit of him that ruleth, rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness pacifieth great sins: so counsel I thee to deal with the Prince of Princes: If the spirit of him that ruleth heaven and earth, rise up against thee, let not thy heart despair, for repentance pacifieth great sins.2 Chron. 15. 4. And who soever returneth in his affliction to the Lord God of Israel, and seeks him, he will be found of him.
2.cMat. 6. 6. Shut to thy Chamber door; dPsal. 4. 4.Examine thine own heart upon thy bed; eLam. 3. 40.search and try thy ways. Search as diligently for thy capital sin, asfJoshua 7. 16, &c. Joshua did for Achan, till thou findest it: For albeit God, when he beginneth to chasten his Children, hath respect to all their sins: yet when his anger is incensed, he chiefly taketh occasion to chasten, and enter with them into judgment, for some one grievous sin, wherein they have lived without Repentance.
3. When thou hast thus considered all thy sins, put thy self before the Judgment-Seat of God, as a Felon or Murtherer, standing at the Bar of an earthly Judge: and with grief and sorrow of heart confess unto God all thy known sins, especially thy Capital Offences, wherewith God is chiefly displeased. Lay them open, with all the circumstances of the time, place, and manner how they were committed, as may most serve to aggravate the hainousness of thy sins, and to shew the contrition of thy heart for the same. Lift up thine hand, and acknowledge thy self before the righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth, guilty of eternal death and damnation, for those thy hainous sins and transgressions. And having thus accused and judged thy self: cast down thy self before the†Psal. …9. 5. …b. 4. 16. Fcotstool of his Throne of grace: assuring thy self, that whatsoever the*1 King. 20. 31. Kings of Israel be, yet the God of Israel is a merciful God: And cry unto him from a penitent and faithful heart, for mercy and forgiveness, as eagerly and earnestly, as ever thou knewest a malefactor, being to receive his sentence, crying unto the Judge for favour and pardon; vowing amendment of life, and (by the assistance of his grace) never to commit the like sin any more. All which thou maist do in these or the like words.