The Revival of Grace, Part 2 · Chapter 5 · Section 10
CAP. V. Sect. 10. Sorrow for unſerviceableneſs to Chriſt Improved, on Chriſt's Dying a Teſtator.
10. THE tenth Sacramental grace I mentioned as befitting us at the Lords Supper, was Sorrow for doing ſo little for him, with grief that we have done ſo much againſt him. This temper of mind is highly improveable by pondering what Chriſt hath as a Teſtator done for us. I know there are many other motives to Repentance which may be ſeaſonably thought on at the Sacrament: there are alſo in this ſufficient inducements to that Godly ſorrow which becometh the memorials of our Dying Lord, and loving Friend.
1. Firſt the Chriſtian as he is a man, as he is principled and ſwayed with the affections of Humane Nature, cannot but reflect with greif upon his carriages and deportment towards a Friend who loved him intirely, who was recompenced with the diſingenuous returnes of ſcorn; neglect, and hatred. When we have unadviſedly, or unwittingly ſleighted any Friend we dearly loved, or ſhould have loved, we cannot remember it without ſhame, ſorrow, confeſſing, praying pardon, and excuſe, with promiſe to be more heedful, more reſpectful for future. There is no love ſo tender and apt to diſtil into tears, as that which is won by a worthy, excellent, perſon conquering ungrounded prejudices, unreaſonable neglects, and unjuſtifiable contempts; ſuch affronted love, when it prevails at laſt, doth kindle the ſtrongeſt fires, and heapeth up the coals which melt the hardeſt, and moſt ſtubborn metal. Many a hard heart hath by ſuch flame been melted down to tenderneſs; Saul grew warm by it, 1 Sam. 24.17, 18, 19. And in the 1 Sam. 26.21. It breaketh out into a flame of affection toward David, and againſt himſelf, for his unreaſonable uſages toward David. Saul accuſeth himſelf, but acquitteth David; he confeſſeth his ſin, his folly and great errour in deſigning evil againſt one who did ſo well deſerve his love. Though Saul were diſingenuous (more than enough) againſt his Son David, yet the reflection of his thoughts on David's kindneſs, drew him into tears, 1 Sam. 24.16. Wilt thou be more diſingenuous to thy Lord than Saul to David? how long didſt thou directly oppoſe, bitterly hate, ſcornfully reproach, and unreaſonably reaſon againſt Chriſt's Law, ordinances, waies and followers? what kind of life didſt thou in the days of unregeneracy live? if thou waſt not a violent perſecutor, yet thou didſt long think hardly of Chriſt and the Goſpel, yet then Chriſt did not cut thee off, nor leave thee to periſh in thy contempt of ſalvation; wilt thou not ſay thou haſt erred greatly? done fooliſhly? and ſinned? canſt thou do leſs than weep over the thoughts hereof? In the Sacrament thou commemorateſt the moſt unparalleld love, and beneficence, triumphing over unkindneſs, and unthankfulneſs, a Teſtator bequeathing grace, comfort, glory and ſalvation to thee, and others like thee who undervalued, oppoſed, hated, and perſecuted him. Canſt thou remember this and not grieve? canſt thou review it and not be diſpleaſed with thy ſelf? and condemn thy folly?
2. The Chriſtian Sorrow is moſt highly Ingenuous and excellently tempered, and therefore the Remembrance of ſuch unkindneſs to ſuch a Friend will work a deep impreſſion of Sorrow and grief upon the heart of the Remembrancer. The Scripture tells us the People of God are a willing People, foreignor a People of Ingenuities indeed. foreign& foreign Pſal. 51.12.Grace reneweth nature to ſome degrees of created and primitive generouſneſs. Hence it is, Cant. 6.12. the Church is ſtiled Aminadib. God calls them my willing People, and Iſaiah doth very particularly deſcribe this frame of mind, and how it is wrought, Iſa. 32.1, 2, 3, 4. & 5. By the power of Chriſt in the Goſpel. Now where ſuch a ſweet, generous temper of mind is, there will be reflections of diſlike, grief and Sorrow, or repentance for any unſeemly carriage towards one that deſerved better. The ſpouſe, Cant. 5.2, 3. In drouſy and careleſs fit neglected her beloved, but when ſhe was throughly awakned, ſhe diſcovereth a moſt deep ſenſe of her neglect; ſhe fell into a deep ſick fit of love, ver. 8. her heart failed her when ſhe remembred what ſhe had done: ſuch like workings of this Chriſtian, ſpiritual, and renewed, ingenuity you may obſerve 2 Cor. 7.11. in that ſevenfold operation which conviction and remembrance of their fault wrought in them. Carefulneſs, or readineſs to amend the errour, clearing themſelves, or duly apologizing for themſelves, indignation againſt the offence and offender, fear leaſt the like ſhould be committed, or this not ſufficiently taken away; vehement deſire of firm reconciliation, Zeal for the injured, and revenge (ſuch as becometh a Goſpel repentance) againſt the offence, and againſt themſelves for it. Either thou art not well acquainted with what Chriſt hath done for thee in his laſt Will and Teſtament; or thou haſt not yet obſerved how little love, ſervice, and honour thou haſt returned him for his love; or if thou knoweſt, and obſerveſt both theſe, they work in thee a readineſs of mind to correct thine errours, a defence for Chriſt, and blame of thy ſelf with indignation againſt thy former folly; fear of being ſo fooliſh any more, earneſt deſire (to be one with Chriſt) and Zeal for his glory, with revenge on thy ſins which eclipſed it. Whereſoever Chriſtian ingenuity ſprings from a renewed heart, renewed Sorrow for unkindneſſes will put forth it ſelf, and ſpring from that ingenuity. Say then, whatever the common ingenuity of a man, whatever the enhanced generouſneſs of a Chriſtian ſhould work in the reflections on its own unhanſome carriages towards a ſleighted friend, all that ſhould the renewed memory of my Lord Dying a Teſtator, (and by his Teſtament enriching me), produce in me, viz. all common and ordinary effects of hearty ſorrow; yea all eſpecial and extraordinary effects of Chriſtian repentance. Of which I need ſay no more, of which I dare not longer treat, becauſe I muſt not exceed bounds to much.