The Christian Sacrifice, Part 4 · October
October.
The Meditation before.
HOw long is it ſince thou thoughteſt of the beſt friend thou haſt in the whole world? And what were thy laſt thoughts of him? Didſt thou not a very little while ago long for his company; and wiſh the time would come wherein thou mighteſt again enjoy him? Didſt thou not count the days till that happy time, when he promiſed to return or to ſend unto thee? And ſuppoſe he be dead; with what paſſion doſt thou follow his memory? How art thou moved with the mention of his dear name? How glad to poſſeſs any relique of him, though it be but his ſhadow? Or how oft doſt thou look upon the lively picture of him, which is drawn in thy own imagination? And doſt thou think it could fail to put thee in mind, of what he left thee in charge when he departed this world? Couldſt thou forget the legacies he left thee, or the inheritance he bequeathed to thee, as the heir of his love?
O how long then is it, my ſoul, ſince Jeſus was in thy thoughts? Canſt thou not tell? Was there ever ſuch a Friend as he, that dyed to ſave thee? Can any one pretend ſo much to thy love, or merit of thee ſo kind a remembrance? Who is there that ever died for the ſake of his enemies? O how pretious, how dear, ſhould the Name of Jeſus be unto thee! with what joy ſhouldſt thou receive the news, that he is coming to viſit thee? How welcome muſt this invitation be from thy bleſſed Saviour, whom if thou loveſt thou canſt not but long to ſee? It is the voice of thy well-beloved, that calls unto thee, and ſaith; come and feaſt with me. Come, and ſee by theſe ſenſible ſigns, which I have left to repreſent me, how much my love hath made me ſuffer for thee. Behold the lively figure of my Body and Blood, which was broken and ſhed to redeem thee. I have cauſed it to be made on purpoſe, that thou mighteſt not forget me.
What doſt thou anſwer to him? Canſt thou ſay, thou haſt looked for this day? That thou thoughteſt it long, till thou mighteſt go to his houſe? or at leaſt waſt deſirous to go, and ſee him ſet forth crucified before thine eyes? Why? What good did the laſt ſight of him do thee? What pangs of love didſt thou feel in thy heart? what pleaſure, what joy in the remembrance of his kindneſs? Did it call all his Commands to mind, and recommend them effectually to thy love? Did it ſtir thee up to do his will, and make thee more zealous ever ſince in working that which is pleaſing in his ſight? What didſt thou think of the inheritance he hath given thee? An inheritance incorruptible, 1 Pet. 1.4.and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reſerved in heaven for thee? Didſt thou believe his word;Col. 3.24. and verily expect to receive the reward of this inheritance? How did that faith then work in thy heart? Did it give thee extreme content? Having hope to ſee him, did it make thee purifie thy ſelf, 1 Joh. 3.3.even as he is pure? Go then now as a friend of his, and do the ſame again. Renew thy remembrance of him. Shew him the belief thou haſt in him: the love thou beareſt to his name and word: how reſolved thou art never to forget him: and how happy thou thinkeſt thy ſelf, in the portion he hath given thee in his grace and love. Profeſs to him, that his Commandments are dearer to thee than thy life: and that thou wilt ſooner part with it, than not perform his holy will in every thing. Vow to him again that thou wilt be true and faithful to him. Embrace all thy Brethren there aſſembled with a kind affection, becauſe they are his friends and followers. Deſire that all the world ſhould know him and be acquainted with him; and that a perpetual memory of him may be preſerved, by doing this, as long as the Sun and Moon endure. And canſt thou do it without thoſe paſſions, which the thoughts of a Friend are wont to raiſe up in thy heart? None of them, ſure, will be abſent upon this occaſion. They will all attend thee in this holy action: and thou wilt feel the greateſt gratitude to thy Saviour, who hath done ſo much to deſerve thy love, which is ſo little worth to him.
Then thou wilt hear him, as good as, ſay unto thee, Son, be of good chear, thy ſins are forgiven thee. All that I have is thine. I will be an everlaſting friend to thee, and make thee inherit all things. It is my Fathers good pleaſure, to give thee a kingdom: and here I give thee the earneſt of that purchaſed poſſeſſion. What reaſon haſt thou to doubt of the injoyment; if thou art my friend, by doing whatſoever I command thee? Do not friends partake in each others goods? My power which I have over all things in Heaven and earth ſhall aſſiſt thee. My Angels ſhall be thy guardians. My ſpirit ſhall be thy guide and director. My comforts ſhall incourage and ſupport thee. Becauſe I live, Joh. 14.19.10.10.thou ſhalt live alſo. For I came that my ſheep might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The Prayer before.
O Moſt holy and eternal God; who art good and doſt good: the whole earth is full of thy goodneſs. Thy mercy reacheth unto the Heavens, and thy faithfulneſs unto the Clouds. Thou art great in power, wiſdom, and all other perfections: and therefore greatly to be feared, honoured and loved by all underſtanding creatures. When I conſider how much thou haſt done for me, or how much I have often promiſed to do for thee; I am on both hands confounded and aſhamed in my own thoughts. Thou art my Creator, my Father, my Saviour, deliverer, and conſtant Benefactor: the God of my life, of my health, of all my preſent comforts and future hopes. I have promiſed often to be thy faithful ſervant, and thy dutiful child: to honour and glorifie thee both with body and ſoul, and all the good things thou haſt beſtowed on me. In my Baptiſm I was dedicated unto thee; and have many times confirmed that gift, and renewed my engagements to continue in thy obedience. In my promiſes, proteſtations and vows I have been very liberal: but how ſparing in performance, thou, who art acquainted with all my ways, knoweſt. And I my ſelf know ſo much of my negligence, that I may juſtly wonder, thou ſtill retaineſt me in thy family, and letteſt me enjoy the priviledg of thy children. Adored be thy great long ſuffering and patience, towards me and all mankind. Thanks be to the name of the Lord, who after our abuſe of ſo many bleſſings, hath added the gift of his dear Son, and ſent him to pay a ranſome for us. O the unconceivable greatneſs of that love, which hath ſo much befriended the moſt ungrateful enemies. I humbly mention the blood of his Croſs, as a ſufficient ſacrifice, oblation and ſatisfaction, not only for my ſins, but the ſins of the whole world. I lift up my hands unto thee in his name, to receive that gracious pardon, which he hath purchaſed for me: hopeing thorough him, that thou wilt ſtill continue thy love unto me, who am ſtedfaſtly reſolved to love thee above all things. Far be it from me to think that the love of our Lord ſhould maintain me in any rebellion againſt thee, or countenance my contempt of thy holy Laws. No, love me ſo much, good Lord, as to change my will, and renew my nature into thy own likeneſs; that I may be truly a friend of God. I wiſh for no greater happineſs, than to feel my ſoul at peace and friendſhip with thee, by an intire and unchangeable love to all righteouſneſs, goodneſs and truth. And I am going to remember his dying love; that with the heartieſt affection I may devote my ſelf wholly to thy love and ſervice. I do as unfeignedly deſire that all my ſins may die; as I am glad that Chriſt died to be a propitiation for them. And I as ſincerely offer up my ſelf, my underſtanding, my will, my deſires and paſſions, and all that I have, unto thee; as I really believe that he offered up himſelf for me. O that the power of the holy Ghoſt may accompany me: and unite my thoughts and affections to make a moſt thankful commemoration of his loving kindneſs. Repreſent unto my mind moſt feelingly all that Jeſus hath done and endured for our ſake. Fix my mind and heart upon the ineſtimable benefits, he hath obtained to me. That I may not only behold the outward figures of him: but receive thoſe pledges of his love, with the humbleſt reverence, with ſuch a lively faith, and vehement love, and ready ſubmiſſion of my will to him; that Chriſt Jeſus may be inwardly formed in me. I long for the happineſs of knowing aſſuredly that I am a friend of his, by my delighting greatly in his Commandments, and truſting my ſelf and all my concerns intirely in his hands, and contenting my ſelf in his love and good will toward me, and rejoycing in the Soveraign Dominion, power and glory which thou haſt given him; with moſt earneſt deſires that all the world may love and obey him. Amen.
Our Father which art, &c.
The Meditation afterward.
WIth what unwillingneſs, are we wont to leave the company of a Friend in whom we delight? How doth the remembrance of him ſtick unto our mind? How often do we think of the kind words we heard from his mouth, and view the tokens he hath left with us of his love? Do we not uſe to caſt our eyes behind us when we go from him, and look after him as long as he is in ſight? Are we not glad to ſee but his back, when we cannot behold his face? O ſweet Jeſus (then ſhouldſt thou ſay to thy ſelf) who can be content to part with the thoughts of thee, when he ſees the love thou beareſt to us; and all the bleſſings thou imparteſt to thy friends and followers? What heart can endure to loſe the ſight of ſuch happineſs; or ſuffer thy remembrance to die out of its mind? I ſhould look as far as heaven, rather than ſuffer thee to go out of my thoughts: and always be caſting mine eyes to thy dwelling place; that I may behold, at this diſtance, though never ſo little of thy moſt excellent glory.
So one would think in reaſon: But this dull fleſh begins to complain, that it is tired and cannot thus follow thee any further. It makes me ſigh to think, that I muſt loſe this clear and lively ſight which I have of thee. And yet, as heavy as it is, I will not ceaſe to be often looking after my Saviour. What though I cannot always ſee him, ſo as I have now ſeen him in the ſanctuary; yet I will never forget him. And the darkeſt apprehenſions of his love and favour, ſhall ever be dearer to me, than any object in this world. Bleſſed be his goodneſs, which hath given me ſuch pledges of it, as engage me to remember him. I will he ever mindful to keep the Covenant, I have made with him, and remember his Commandments to do them. Pſal. 103.18.And as long as I do his will (though I cannot always lift up my thoughts and affections as I would unto him) I hope I am his friend. O ſweet words which I have heard from the mouth of my Saviour; whoſoever ſhall do the will of God, Mark ….35.the ſame is my Brother, and my Siſter, and my Mother. I have no other will, O Lord, but thine. And I will prove continually, what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of thine; that we may be eternal friends, by the conſtant union of our wills in one. Let my Lord command what he pleaſes, it ſhall be obeyed. Let him do what he thinks good; my will ſhall be done, as well as his.
Pſal. 16.2, 3.O my ſoul, thou haſt ſaid unto the Lord, thou art my Lord: but my goodneſs extendeth not unto him; but to the Saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight. They are his friends, and what thou doſt to them, he accounts it as done unto himſelf. Think thy ſelf happy, that thou wilt never want him, whilſt thou enjoyeſt them. Thou feedeſt him, when thou feedeſt them. Thou goeſt to ſee him, when thou viſiteſt them in their need and miſery. Verily I ſay unto you (they are the words of thy Lord) in as much as ye have done it unto one of the leaſt of theſe my Brethren, Matth. 25.40.ye have done it unto me.
Reſolve therefore all this Month to endeavour to excite BROTHERLY KINDNESS, which is the fountain of Charity. And look on it as a great part of the riches of the divine grace, that he is not only content to love us himſelf; but hath contrived wayes and means that all men elſe may love us, and commands them ſo to do, as they hope to be ſaved. Begin this Brotherly kindneſs then thy ſelf, that ſo thou mayſt be able to ſay every day. O how great is thy mercy O Lord! that thou loveſt me thy ſelf, and wouldſt have all the world to love me. O how great is thy goodneſs, that thou not only chargeſt them ſo to do; but ingageſt them to love me, by thy love. Yea, to love me ſo, as thou haſt loved me and them; and ſo, as they love themſelves. How full, how incomprehenſible is the love of my God, who would have me hated by none: but every man to be my friend, if I am in need, every man to do me good? How can I want who have ſuch a Father, who hath made all men to be my Brethren? How happy would he make me, who labours to ſet all hearts open to me; that as many men as I ſee, ſo many lovers I may behold? Thou dwelleſt, O God, in love: and wouldſt have me to do ſo too, by loving and being beloved of all. What returns ſhall I make to the Lord for his love? He tells me, that it is love. Love thy Brethren, love them with a pure heart fervently. This is the thing, which I would have thee do. And this will make thee bleſſed for ever: by loving me and all others, and by being beloved of me, and of all men elſe that love me.
The Thankſgiving and Prayer afterward.
O Lord God Almighty, which is, which was, and is to come. Who art the happineſs of men and Angels: and haſt an innumerable company of beautiful Creatures always beholding thy glories, ſatisfied with thy love, delighting themſelves in thy praiſes; and to eternity can deſire no higher pleaſure, than to be thy Friends and Servants. I caſt down my ſelf before thee, to joyn, as well as I am able, together with all that Heavenly Hoſt, in lauding and magnifying thy great and holy Name; and rejoycing in thee with thankſgiving.
Thou haſt created all things, and for thy pleaſure they are, and were created. Thou haſt redeemed mankind by the Bloud of thy Son; and raiſed us out of the duſt, that we might ſit with him in Heavenly places. Thou haſt ſent the Holy Ghoſt the Comforter, in ſigns and wonders, and divers Miracles; in gifts of knowledge, wiſdom and prophecie; and in abundance of thy grace, to renew and ſanctifie the hearts of thy faithful people. The Apoſtles and Miniſters of reconciliation were thy gift; by whom thou haſt brought the glad tidings of Salvation into theſe parts of the world. The Sun of righteouſneſs, praiſed be thy goodneſs, hath inlightened our eyes, who ſat in darkneſs, and in the ſhadow of death. I have been thy conſtant care from my firſt conception and entrance into the world, until this moment. Innumerable bleſſings thou haſt beſtowed on me; and ſtill I hear the voice of joy and gladneſs. I behold my guides and inſtructors: and have the liberty to go into thy houſe: and I ſee my Saviour himſelf in the remembrances and pledges he hath left me of his dying love. I will never ceaſe to adore and extol thy mercy: who haſt kept me from going down into the pit, and ſaved my Soul from the nethermoſt Hell. Bleſſed be thy goodneſs for the conſtant proviſion of thy Houſe; the comforts of thy Holy Spirit; the ſociety of thy children; the hopes of Heaven; and the taſtes thou haſt given me of immortal joys, in this holy Feaſt with my Saviour. As thou haſt begun, good Lord, out of thine own undeſerved love to make me happy, ſo continue thy loving kindneſs to me, till it be finiſhed in perfect friendſhip with thee. Preſerve in me, though never ſo weak, yet, a conſtant and prevailing ſenſe of thy goodneſs; that I may moſt willingly obey thee, and chearfully do thy will in all things. That the very ſame mind may be in me, which was alſo in Chriſt Jeſus: Whoſe meat it was to do thy will, Joh. 4.34.and finiſh the work of thee that ſent him. O that God would count me worthy of this calling, 2 Theſſ. 3.11, 12.and fulfil in me all the good pleaſure of his goodneſs, and the work of Faith with power. Coloſſ 4.12That I may ſtand perfect and compleat in all the will of God: and the name of the Lord Jeſus may be glorified in me, and I in him; according to the grace of our God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. I have given my ſelf now again unto thee, and profeſſed the ſtricteſt friendſhip with thee: Lord, help me to keep it without ſpot, and unrebukeable until the appearing of the Jeſus. That both body and Soul being preſerved pure and undefiled, as the Temples of the Holy Ghoſt; it may be my conſtant guide, ſtrength and comfort: and lead me ſafely through all the difficulties and dangers of this world, the enticements of the fleſh, and the crafts and ſubtilties of the Devil; to a place of peace and ſafety in the regions above, where I may for ever dwell in thy love, and ſing thy praiſe. O that all the people did praiſe thee, O God; that all the people did praiſe thee. That the whole Earth were filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea: and all thoſe that know thee, did walk worthy of thee; as children of the light and of the day, having no fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of darkneſs. Bleſs thy Church planted in theſe Iſlands; that we may not receive in vain that grace bringing Salvation, 2 Cor. 6.1.Tit. 2.11, 12.which hath appeared to us, teaching us, that denying ungodlineſs, and worldly luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world: But from the higheſt to the loweſt have grace, Heb. 12.28whereby we may ſerve thee acceptably, with reverence and godly fear. Comfort all my Friends; forgive all my Enemies; relieve thoſe that are in any miſery; draw all ſinners to repentance; and help all good men to perfect holineſs in thy fear: that at laſt with one conſent, we may all unite our hearts and tongues in thy everlaſting praiſes.
Now the Grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the love of God, 2 Cor. 13. ult.and the Communion of the Holy Ghoſt, be with us all. Amen.