A Light from Christ Leading Unto Christ, Classis 22
The two and twentieth Claſsis, or company of Queſtions.
Queſtion 1.
YOu have in ſome good meaſure declared theſe four Graces in the Wedding garment, Divine knowledge, lively Faith, Evangelical Repentance, and Chriſtian love and charity: Now is there no more required but the habits of theſe Graces to fit us for the comfortable partaking of the Lords Supper, and to fit us in our walking with Chriſt in the whole courſe of our lives? What light is there for Chriſtians for direction herein?
Anſ. Yes, we ought to wait on Chriſt in all good means, that theſe graces may be enlivened, actuated, awakened, as a man from ſleep, yea, ſtrengthned and lively,2 Tim i.6. Rev. 3.2. ſtirred up and quickned by the quickning vertue and power of Chriſt, that we may more ſweetly meet Chriſt, and gain ſoul-cheriſhing vertue from Chriſt in that holy ordinance, and walk with Chriſt to eternal glory. As man may have an habit of ſight, yet except awakened he cannot ſee;Eph. 5.14. ſo we in habits of Grace muſt be awakened and quickned by Chriſt.
Queſt. 2. What helps or meant are there to be uſed, in which we ſhould wait on Chriſt for the quickning of theſe Graces, and our further preparation for the Lords Table, and walking with Chriſt in our lives? And what light have you from Chriſt, to direct in this particular?
Anſ. Theſe helps are chiefly of three ſorts, revealed by Chriſt unto us:2 Chron. 30.3, &c. Lev. 23.27, &c 1 Cor. 11.17, &c.
Firſt, Publike preparation in the Miniſtery of the Word, Prayer, Catechizing, confeſſion or profeſſion of theſe graces of Knowledge, Faith, Repentance, and love, eſpecially in a day ſet apart for preparation, for the meeting of Chriſt in this Ordinance, that a man or woman may be approved of by the Miniſters and Elders of the Church, as being not onelyonly in ſome competent meaſure freed from ignorance, and without ſcandal, but alſo endued with truth of grace, as far as may be diſcerned in judgment of charity, and ſo ſuch as are to be admitted to joyn in communion with the Saints, and partake with comfort in this this holy communion, at the Table of the Lord.
Queſt 3. But is it fit that men or women ſhould willingly make profeſſion of their graces, and approve themſelves to the Church, as well as examine themſelves in ſecret, before they preſume to come to the Lords Supper?
Anſ. Howſoever, it is not neceſſary that every one ſhould make this profeſſion every time he or ſhe comes to the Sacrament; yet it is certain, that every one ought to make this profeſſion, or be known to be ſuch a one, until he or ſhe be approved of by the Church, as fit members to be admitted; as children baptized, when they come to age of diſcretion ought to profeſſe the Faith in Chriſt.
2 Cor. 2.5, &c. 1 Cor. 5.3, &c.2. And if any fall into open ſin, after profeſſion and admiſſion, it is fit they ſhould declare their Repentance before they preſume to come, or be re-admitted to this feaſt of the Lord.
Queſt. 4. What ground have you for this in holy Scriptures, or what light from Chriſt to diſcover this Truth?
Anſ. Becauſe if we muſt be alwayes ready to give an Anſwer to every one that asketh you a reaſon of the hope that is in us, with meekneſſe and fear,1 Pet. 3.15. and 5.1. &c. Iud. 20.21, &c. as is noted in the firſt Claſſis, much more to the Church, or to the Miniſters of Chriſt, or Elders ſet over the Congregation; deſiring (not as Lord to tyrannize over our conſciences) or to ſhame us for our weakneſſe in knowledge, Faith, and other Grace: But as Miniſters of Chriſt, Fathers, or Brethren, in all love, humility, and tenderneſſe of compaſſion, to help and further our preparation, to meet Chriſt with comfort in this bleſſed Sacrament.
Queſt. 5. What is a ſecond help for the quickning of theſe graces to the glory of God in our lives, and ſpecially before we draw near to the Lords Table, and what light from Chriſt for this to your ſoul?
Anſ. There may be a private lawful day, or time of preparation in our Families, or with ſome Chriſtian friends, joyning in conference and prayer, and reading of the Scriptures (ſo there be no neglect of publike places, and times of worſhip, nor diſquiet of the ſtate, nor contempt of the lawful and good orders of the Church) the better to fit us to meet Chriſt, not reſting on the thing done, or the duty performed, but waiting in theſe or the like duties until Chriſt be pleaſed to reveal Himſelf,Zach. 12.10, &c. Luk. 15.5, 6, 9. Act. 12.5.12. 1 Pet. 3.7 Ier. 10.15 and communicate his vertue to our ſouls, for our more comfortable enjoying of Chriſt in his holy Ordinance. As we may call in neighbours to rejoyce and praiſe God with us: So to pray with us.
Queſt. 6. What is the third help or means in which we ſhould wait on Chriſt, for his quickening vertue, to honour God in his Ordinances, and in our whole life what light from Chriſt for this end?
Anſ. This is a waiting on Chriſt in ſecret duties, between God and our own ſouls: And for this I conceive I may wait on Chriſt in ſix ſeverall helps.
Queſt. 7. What are theſe ſeveral helps in particular?
Anſ. Firſt, I may ſet ſome time a part from all other imployments, onelyonly to attend Chriſt in ſecret, for the obtaining of this grace, as Iſaac did, Gen. 24.28.
2. As day a of Atonement of old.Lev. 23.27, 28.
3. Or as Chriſt himſelf, and Peter, and other Saints,Mat. 14.23. Acts 10.9. have ſet times apart for ſecret communion with God in Chriſt Ieſus: And ſo I may wait on Chriſt in a time convenient for this work.
Queſt. 8. What is a ſecond help?
Anſ. To chuſe a convenient place where I may be quiet in the ſweet and ſecret ſoliloquies,Mat. 6.6. & 14.23. Acts 10.9. or ſoul-conferences with God and my own heart and conſcience.
Queſt. 9 What is a third?
Anſ. Examination of my ſelf,1 Cor. ii.28. 2 Cor. 13.5. and of the Graces before mentioned, Knowledge, Faith, Repentance and Love.
Queſt. 10. What is a fourth help to this enlivening of Graces, and preparation for the Sacrament, by the vertue of Chriſt?
Anſ. Meditation both of God,Luke 2.19. Pſal. 4.4. and my ſelf, and of Chriſt, and the Sacrament, and all theſe graces, that they may be quickned to my own ſoul by the mighty power of Jeſus Chriſt.
Queſt. 11. What is a fifth help in Chriſt for this renewing of grace?
Anſ. Application of all rightly to my ſelf,Ioh. 20.28. Iob. 10.25, 26. Gal. …2.20. Pſal. 110.1. by vertue of the life of Chriſt in my ſoul, that all graces may be more enlivened in me, and I may meet Chriſt with more cheerfulneſſe, and be enlivened by him, for my more profitable enjoyment of Chriſt in the Ordinances.
Queſt. 12. What is a ſixth help or means? And what light further from Chriſt, to ſtrengthen and direct our ſouls in this particular?Gen. 32.10, &c. Ezek. 46.37. Luke 17.5. Rom. 8.26, 27. Mark 9.24. Eph. 3.16, &c. Acts 4.31.
Anſ. Prayer to God in the name of Chriſt, in which I may wait on God in Chriſt, for the enlivening of the graces of God in me, and right preparation to meet Chriſt in this Sacrament, till God give a return of my prayer, to my great joy in Chriſt Jeſus, as Jacob, till an anſwer be given to my ſoul.
Queſt. 13. What is the firſt of theſe graces, by theſe or the like helps to be enlivened by Chriſt and our ſpirit to our ſouls?
Anſ. Divine knowledge of God, and of our ſelves, and of Chriſt, and of the Sacrament.
Queſt. 14. In what manner ſhould we wait on Chriſt, to enliven in us our knowledge of God?
Anſ. Firſt, Having ſet a fit time apart. And,
Secondly,Gen. 24.63. Gen. 32.2…, &c. Dan 6.10. Mat. 14.23. Acts 1….9. 2 Cor. 13.5. Mat. 13.51. & 16.13.15. Acts 8.30. 1 Pet. 3.15. Made choice of a fit place to be ſeparated from all worldly thoughts, and to be devoted wholly to this work by the ſpirit of Chriſt, that my ſoul may be in love with God.
Thirdly, To Catechize and examine, and queſtion my ſelf, concerning my knowledge of God, according as he is held forth unto me in this Catechiſm before, or as far as I am enlightned with the knowledge of God, what God is in himſelf, in his excellent Nature, Divine being, and Eſſential properties, perfections, word and works, eſpecially the great work of mans ſalvation; and I may examine my knowledge, and ſee how able I am in Gods preſence, or before the Saints (if need were) to make a ſolemn profeſſion of this my knowledge, to the comfort of my ſelf, and edification of others.
Queſt. 14. How elſe ſhould a Chriſtian, or you in particular, wait on Chriſt, to enliven this knowledge, or have it enlivened by Chriſts ſpirit in his or her ſoul; or in ſoul be fit to meet Chriſt?
Anſ. Fourthly, As a Chriſtian man or woman, ſo I may meditate, think, ruminate, and ponder of my knowledge of God in my heart,Gen. 24.63. Pſal. 104.33, 34. Luke 2.19. Pſal. 42.1, 2, 3, 4. and endeavour to fix the eye of faith in my ſoul upon God in all theſe reſpects, by the power of Chriſt, until my ſoul be raviſhed with a glorious delight in God, in his excellency, fulneſſe, and all-ſufficiency, until that my ſoul and ſpirits by the ſpirit of Chriſt, be drawn up into a holy and admirable union and communion of life, with this bleſſed God, now at one with me in Ieſus Chriſt.
Queſt. 15. What or how thirdly may this be done?
Iſa. 64.7. 2 Tim. 1.6, 7. 2 Pet. 1.13Anſ. Thirdly, I may labour by the power of the ſpirit of Chriſt, to improve my intereſt in this great and good God, by ſtirring up, and exerciſing the grace of Faith in the ſpecial application of God and his goodneſſe (as my God in Chriſt) with joy and gladneſſe to my own ſoul in particular. So it is meet we ſtir up our ſelves and Graces in us.
Queſt. 16. What or in what manner laſtly, may you enliven this knowledge of God in your ſoul?
Anſ. In powring out of my ſoul by the ſtrength of Chriſts ſpirit unto God, in prayer, to bleſſe this my ſeeking out of union and communion with God in Knowledge,Sam. 1.15 Rom. 8.26, 27. Phi. 30.8, 9. Exo. 34.29, 30. 2 Cor. 4.6, 7. 1 Pet. 1.7, 8. waiting on Chriſt till I finde the enlivening vertue of Chriſts ſpirit, quickening and making alive my knowledge, and till the face of my ſoul ſhine and be glorified with thoſe glorious apprehenſions of God, in the face of Jeſus Chriſt, which are accompanied with joy unſpeakable and full of glory.