The Christian Sacrifice, Part 4 · Whitsunday
Whitſunday.
The Meditation before.
O Holy Spirit of grace! what news is this that thou bleſſeſt our ears withall? What glad tidings are theſe, that thou art come to tell us? What means the ſound of ſo many various tongues? the gifts of prophecy, of wiſdom, of knowledge, of faith and miracles: with all the reſt which thou dividedſt ſeverally to every man, as thou wouldeſt? Doth Jeſus yet live? hath he indeed conquered the grave; and is he exalted at the right hand of God; and inveſted with all power in Heaven and Earth? It is enough: I will go then, and ſee him when I die. That word is no longer dreadful to me. I am not afraid of the King of terrors: ſince Jeſus lives, and is the Lord and King of all. Witneſs the Holy Ghoſt the Comforter, which he hath ſent down from the Throne of his glory: to aſſure us that he not only lives, but reigns in Majeſty and Power; and is mindful of us, and of his promiſes. Thoſe fiery tongues that came with the noiſe as of a might ruſhing wind, tell me that he is able to tranſport us, when he pleaſes, in fiery Chariots unto Heaven. I hear them call my thoughts up thither,Heb. 2.9. and bid me ſee Jeſus who was made a little lower than the Angels, for the ſuffering of death, crowned with glory and honour: and ſcattering his royal gifts among his ſervants. I am thy ſervant, O bleſſed Jeſus;Pſal. 119.125, 135. make thy face to ſhine upon me. Let thy mercies come alſo unto me, O Lord, even thy ſalvation according to thy word. Ver. 41, 49Remember the word unto thy ſervant, upon which thou haſt cauſed me to hope. That, WHERE I AM,Joh. 12.26 THERE SHALL ALSO MY SERVANT BE. What words of grace and life are theſe? It is enough, O thou that dwelleſt in the Heavens, that I be there where thou art. Thou ſhalt guide me with thy counſel, Pſa 73.24and afterward receive me to glory.
And till I go to ſee that glory which the Father hath given thee, I will go and ſee the repreſentations thou haſt left us of thy ſelf; and receive the pawns and pledges of thy Eternal love. I will go and remember thy obedience to the death; for which cauſe thou art highly exalted and made moſt bleſſed for ever. 21.6.And O that the Holy Spirit of grace, which fell on the Apoſtles on the day of Pentecoſt, would fill my heart with a ſenſe of that love; and ſwell my Soul with a full apprehenſion of all the bleſſings that it contains: that ſo I may burſt forth into thy praiſes as they did, and ſpeak the wondrous works of God. Acts 2.11.Marvellous are thy works, O Lord, Pſ. 139.14and that my Soul knows right well. I ſee by the light of the Holy Ghoſt ſent down on them, that Jeſus indeed was the Son of God; holy and without fault: that all the fulneſs of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily: Coloſſ. 2.9.that he hath made peace by the bloud of his Croſs, and reconciled Heaven and Earth: Coloſſ. 1.20that he is aſcended up far above all Heavens, Epheſ. 4.10. Epheſ. 2.6.that he might fill all things: and that thou, O Lord, haſt raiſed us up together, and made us ſit together in heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus. I ſee what a powerful Advocate we have in the Court of Heaven:Joh. 17.2. and that thou haſt given him power over all fleſh, that he ſhould give Eternal Life to as many as thou haſt given him. I ſee that all thy promiſes in him are yea, and in him Amen: 2 Cor. 1.20, 22.by whom thou haſt alſo ſealed us, and given us the earneſt of the Spirit. One tongue is too little to ſpeak the praiſes of the Lord. I will go therefore into the Aſſemblies of thy people, that they may magnifie the Lord with me, Pſal. 34.3.and we may exalt his name together. I will declare the exceeding greatneſs of his love; and the ſuperlative bounty of Heaven, in ſending him to die for us. Yea, My Soul ſhall make her boaſt in the Lord, Pſal. 34.2.and glory in his holy Name. Let the wiſe man, if he pleaſe, glory in his wiſdom, and the rich man glory in his riches, and the mighty man in his great ſtrength: But I will glory in this, that I underſtand and know thee, that thou art the Lord, the God and Father of Jeſus Chriſt,Jer. 9.23, 24. which exerciſes loving kindneſs, judgment and righteouſneſs in the Earth: for in theſe things are thy delight. I will glory in this, that I am the Diſciple and Heir of the crucified Jeſus: that I know the power of his Reſurrection, Phil. 3.10.and the fellowſhip of his Sufferings: that he hath made a new Covenant with us of grace, mercy and peace: that we have received the Spirit of Adoption, Rom. 8.15.whereby we call him Father: and that I am taken into the fellowſhip of the Saints, and have hope to be numbered with them in glory everlaſting. I will ſend up my heart to Heaven, where he is, in holy love: and engage my ſelf to be ever mindful of his Covenant; eſpecially of that new Commandment, to love one another, even as he hath loved us. By this ſhall all men know that I am his Diſciple, becauſe I love the Brethren.Epheſ. 4.4, 5, 6, 7, 8, &c. For there is one Body, and one Spirit, even as we are called in one hope of our calling; one Lord, one Faith, one Baptiſm, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all. Who gave to every one grace according to the meaſure of the gift of Chriſt. Wherefore he ſaith, when he aſcended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. And he gave ſome, Apoſtles: (bleſſed be his bounteous goodneſs) and ſome, Prophets: and ſome, Evangeliſts: and ſome, Paſtors and Teachers; for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Miniſtry, for the edifying of the body of Chriſt: till we all come in the unity of the Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the meaſure of the fulneſs of Chriſt. From whom the whole body fitly joyned together, and co…acted by that which every joynt ſupplieth, according to the effectual working in the meaſure of every part, maketh encreaſe of the body, unto the edifying of it ſelf in love.
The Prayer before.
O Lord, who liveſt for ever and changeſt not. Whoſe power made me and all the world: before whom the whole world is as a little grain of a ballance, Wiſ. 11.22.or a drop of the morning dew that falleth on the Earth. Whoſe wiſdom governs and orders all things both in heaven and earth; whoſe goodneſs and bounty provides conſtantly for their comfortable ſupport; under whoſe Soveraign and everlaſting dominion we live; and unto whom we owe all homage, ſervice and fidelity, which ought moſt readily and heartily to be paid by every one of us. I adore thee in the humbleſt reverence of my Soul and body. I acknowledge my dependance on thee, and ſubjection to thee. I deſire above all things to live in thy fear, and in thy love and obedience as long, as I have any being. Bleſſed be thy goodneſs that I may love thee, and that I am alive to worſhip and acknowledg thee. Bleſſed be thy goodneſs; that thou haſt not been provoked to cut me off in my forgetfulneſs of thee; nor now to open the gates of death for me, and command me to dwell in ſilence: but the doors of thy houſe, that I may enter in and praiſe thy holy Name. To thee belongs all bleſſing, honour, worſhip and ſervice: to me nothing but ſhame and confuſion of face; which ought to cover me when I approach thy preſence.
I thank thee moſt humbly for the good news thou haſt ſent us, that thou art in thy Son Chriſt,2 Cor. 5.19 reconciling the world to thy ſelf. I rejoyce in thy love, who haſt delivered him up for our offences, Rom. 4.25and raiſed him from the dead for our juſtification; that we may know thou haſt accepted of his death as a ſufficient ſatisfaction for us, and believe that all his words are faithful and true, and that we ſhall be accepted in thy beloved. I thank thee O God, that thou haſt exalted him to ſit in thy throne of glory; that he may be able to perform his own promiſes, and enable us to obey his Commands. That thou haſt given us ſuch good hope in thee, by patient continuance in well doing, to come to the reſurrection of the dead, and to be made partakers of life immortal. Bleſſed be the Lord for the aſſurance we have of this: that we ſee Jeſus crowned with glory and honour, by the deſcent of the Holy Ghoſt; which is the earneſt of that eternal bliſs: that thou haſt ſent thine Apoſtles to preach the Goſpel to every creature; and that when they went forth thou wroughteſt with them, Mark 16. ult.confirming their word with ſigns following: and that I my ſelf have felt the effects of his royal power in the heavens, by the breathings of thy holy Spirit in my heart, perſwading me to love thee and thy Son Jeſus; who hath ſhown all long-ſuffering towards me, and waited with great patience upon me, that I might return to thee and live. I thank thee, O Lord, and deſire to be admitted to thy holy Table, that I may thank thee better; and renew my acknowledgments to thee in the moſt ſolemn manner: laying my ſelf at thy feet to tender thee my hearty ſervice; reſigning my ſelf to thy will; recommending Soul and body to thy wiſdom; ſubmitting to thy government; approving all thy laws, and devoting my ſelf to the conſtant obſervance of them. I hope thou wilt mercifully accept and own me in all theſe acts; and ſtand by me to guide, aſſiſt, and encourage me; and to work in me whatſoever is well pleaſing in thy ſight. That I may be ſuch an one as thou canſt love, and delight in, and reward: and I deſire nothing elſe in heaven, or in earth. I do moſt freely give my ſelf up to the conduct of the Holy Ghoſt; and ſtedfaſtly depend on thee for its continual preſence with me: to poſſeſs my mind with ſuch a ſtrong ſenſe of theſe things which it hath revealed unto us; that they may operate powerfully on my will and affections, and make them conformable unto Chriſt. O that by walking in love and ſhewing all meekneſs to all men; by patience and peaceableneſs; gentleneſs and goodneſs; uprightneſs and fidelity; temperance and moderation; contentedneſs and joy in every ſtate and condition; and by all other fruits of the ſpirit I may ſo reſemble my bleſſed Lord and Maſter Jeſus; that I may nothing doubt to bear the image of his glory in heaven, as I bear the image of his holineſs here on earth.
O that the eyes of my underſtanding may be opened more and more, to ſee the wondrous things which thou haſt written to us in thy Goſpel: that apprehending and believing and following the wiſdom given to us by thine Apoſtles through the inſpiration of the holy Ghoſt; I may have the comfort of knowing that I am ſtill led and moved by it: and living and walking in the Spirit, may go on joyfully to the poſſeſſion of that immortal inheritance, which it hath ſealed to us.
Now the God of hope fill us all with joy and peace in believing, Rom. 15.13, 14. Col. 1.28.that we may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghoſt: being full of all goodneſs and knowledg, and able alſo to admoniſh one another; till we come to be preſented perfect in Chriſt Jeſus. By whom I am incouraged to make theſe addreſſes unto the throne of grace, and to recommend my ſuits unto thee in his holy words; ſaying, as he hath bidden us.
Our Father which art, &c.
The Meditation afterward.
THou haſt now ſeen the completion of all the myſtery of our redemption; how that Jeſus who learned obedience by the things which he ſuffered, H b. 5.8, 9.being made perfect; became the author of eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him. Canſt thou doubt of it when thou remembreſt the princely gifts, which he hath already beſtowed on his Church? Did not the ſpirit poured out, as on this day, bear witneſs that all thoſe who obediently believed on Jeſus, were the children of God?Rom. 8.16, 17, 18. And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joynt-heirs with Chriſt. How couldſt thou refrain, my ſoul, from rejoycing in theſe thoughts, ſhouldſt thou be in the midſt of their tribulations? For I reckon, that the ſufferings of this preſent time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which ſhall be revealed in us. Be not ſo dull then now, that he giveth thee alſo a number of other good things ſo richly to enjoy. But ſtir up thy ſelf, and be exceeding glad in the comfort of that light which ſhines from heaven upon us; ſhewing us thoſe things which in other ages were not made known to the ſons of men, …. 2.5.as they are now revealed unto his holy Apoſtles and Prophets by the Spirit. And is it poſſible to know Jeſus, and not to learn obedience of him? What was it that he deſigned from firſt to laſt but to form to himſelf an obedient, holy people zealous of good works?
Doſt thou not ſee how early he went himſelf about his Fathers buſineſs? Luke 2.49.51.How dutiful and obedient he was to his earthly parents? How humbly he condiſcended to be baptized by a meaner perſon than himſelf, becauſe he would fulfil all righteouſneſs? Mat. 3.15.And what did he do immediately after he was baptized,Mark 1.12. but enter into a combate with the Devil, and vanquiſh thoſe very temptations which foiled our firſt parents? O how gloriouſly did he then triumph over pride, ambition,Matth. 4.1, 2, &c. eager appetite of meat and drink, and all perſwaſions to preſumption, or diſtruſt of God! Conſider, my ſoul, what was the firſt thing he preached after this, but that men ſhould repent and believe the Goſpel? Mat. 4.17. Mar. 1 15.And his Sermon that preſently followed on the Mountain, what leſſons doth it teach, but poverty of ſpirit, mourning, meekneſs, mercifulneſs, purity, peaceableneſs,Matth. 5.3, 4, &c. and ſuch like heavenly vertues; without which, he tells us in the concluſion of his diſcourſe,7 26, 27. we may as diſcreetly build an houſe upon the ſand as hope to go to heaven? And was not his whole life, a continual comment upon this text? Whither tended all his promiſes, his exceeding great and pretious promiſes;2 Pet. 1.4. but that by theſe we might be made partakers of a divine nature, having eſcaped the corruption that is in the world through luſt? O God! that we ſhould be no more moved by ſuch promiſes to purifie our ſelvs! what miracle will work upon thoſe hearts, whom theſe will not prevail withal to be obedient? And yet his miracles I ſee alſo had the ſame deſign, to win men to a better life. I hear him admoniſhing the impotent man whom he had cured,Joh. 5.14. Behold, (mark what I ſay) thou art made whole: Sin no more, leſt a worſe thing come unto thee. So had his death alſo; for he gave himſelf for our ſins, Gal. 1.4.that he might deliver us from this preſent evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: & that he might ſanctifie and cleanſe his Church with the waſhing of water by the word; that he might preſent it to himſelf glorious, Eph. 5.26, 27.not having ſpot or wrinkle, or any ſuch thing; but that it ſhould be holy and without blemiſh. For this cauſe likewiſe he roſe again, as well as died, that we ſhould not henceforth live unto our ſelves but unto him; 2 Cor. 5.15. Act. 3.26.and that he might bleſs us in turning us from our iniquities. For which end he aſcended into heaven, and was exalted with Gods right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, Acts 5.31.for to give repentance to Iſrael, and forgiveneſs of ſins. This is the intent of his eternal Prieſthood, that we ſhould be incouraged to draw near to God with a true heart, in full aſſurance of faith, Heb. 10.21, 22.having our hearts ſprinkled from an evil conſcience, and our bodies waſhed with pure water. And for this purpoſe he ſent the Holy Ghoſt, to make the Gentiles obedient, Rom. 15 18, 19.by word and deed, through mighty ſigns and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. With this commiſſion he ſent his Apoſtles, that they ſhould go to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, Acts 26.18that they might receive forgiveneſs of ſins, and inheritance among them which are ſanctified by faith that is in Chriſt. And this they preached with the greateſt fervency and teſtified in the Lord, that they who believed in him, ſhould not henceforth walk as other Gentiles did in the vanity of their minds, Eph. 4.17.5.6.&c. for they pronounced the wrath of God would come upon the children of diſobedience: but to them, Rom. 2.7who by patient continuance in well-doing, ſought for glory, and honour, and immortality; eternal life. Of this the Holy Ghoſt was the Earneſt; the Advocate of Chriſt Jeſus here, as He is ours with the Father; the Witneſs of his reſurrection and glory, the Proof and Demonſtration of his Religion; the Comforter of all thoſe that live according to it. It bids them hope that he who hath ſo advanced humane nature (as was moſt apparent on this day) in wiſdom, power and charity; can and will change us into his glorious image, and make us meet for the inheritance of the Saints in Light. It bids us ask what we will in his name,Joh. 16.23 Rom. 8.32 and it ſhall be given us: for he that hath given us his Son, and ſent his holy Spirit; how ſhall he not then give us all things?
What ſhall we ask, O my ſoul? I only bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Eph. 3.14, 15, &c.of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant me according to the riches of his glory, to be ſtrengthned with might, by his ſpirit in the inner man; that Chriſt may dwell in my heart by faith; that I being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledg, that I may be filled with all the fulneſs of God. Amen.
The Thanksgiving and Prayer afterward.
O Lord, the fulleſt and moſt bountiful good: who art rich in mercy to all that call upon thee; never weary of our importunities; nor weary of importuning us to diſpoſe our ſelves to receive thy bleſſings.Ecclu…. 2. ult. Thy power is the beginning of righteouſneſs; and is guided by the greateſt wiſdom, and the greateſt love. As is thy Majeſty, Wiſd. 12.16.ſo is thy mercy: and becauſe thou art the Lord of all, it maketh thee to be gracious unto all. Thou loveſt all things that are, 11.24, 25, 26.and abhorreſt nothing which thou haſt made; for never wouldeſt thou have made any thing, if thou hadſt hated it. And how could any thing have endured, if it had not been thy will? or been preſerved, if not called by thee? But thou ſpareſt all: for they are thine, O Lord, thou lover of Souls. It is of thy mere goodneſs that I am not conſumed, Lam. 3.22.and becauſe thy compaſsions fail not. That I have ſo much liberty as to recount thy mercies, which keep me in life, and let it not be as wretched and miſerable, baſe and vile, ſickly and uneaſie, troubleſome and tedious, as it might have been according to my deſervings; is for ever to be remembred with moſt humble thankfulneſs. I cannot forget, unleſs I caſt away all care and conſideration of my ſelf, from how many dangers thou haſt delivered me, in what extremities thou haſt ſuccoured and relieved me, and what friends, lovers and kind acquaintances thou haſt beſtowed on me. But the greateſt of thy mercies are thoſe, which thou haſt expreſſed to us in the Lord Jeſus; without which all the reſt might have made our life in the next world, to have proved more miſerable and intolerable to us. Thou haſt ſent him in the tendereſt and moſt endearing manner in our own fleſh: with the moſt moving and compaſſionate entreaties; and the ſtrongeſt and moſt obliging arguments, to ſurrender our ſelves to thy obedience, to whom of right we belong. And he hath laid down his life (ſo great was his love) the juſt for the unjuſt, 1 Pet. 3.18.that he might bring us to thee our God. And thou haſt rewarded his obedience to the death, with a glorious Reſurrection; and ſet him at thine own right hand; and given him the promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, Acts 2.33.which he hath ſhed abundantly on his Apoſtles to guide them into all truth: Joh. 16.13that they might go and Teach all Nations, and Baptize them into his Religion:Matth. 28.19, 20. and teach them to obſerve all things that he hath commanded. I remember, with moſt grateful acknowledgments, the manifold gifts which thou beſtowedſt on thy Church to confirm the faith of Chriſt, and propagate it in the world; till it came to theſe Regions where I live. Bleſſed be thy goodneſs, that I was born of Chriſtian Parents; and without my knowledge, very early, by their care, dedicated unto thee. Bleſſed be thy goodneſs, that ever ſince I have been thy care; and that thou haſt brought me up to the knowledge of thy holy Goſpel: wherein I read this ſtory of thy marvellous love; and am inſtructed in my duty towards thee and towards men; and encouraged by exceeding great and precious promiſes; being put in hope of immortal life, the pledges of which thou haſt ordered and appointed thy Miniſters to provide for me, and give unto me. I have now by thy goodneſs received them; and taſted that the Lord is gracious, full of compaſſion, and of great pity: not deſiring the death of a ſinner, but that he ſhould return and live. This raiſes thy mercy to the greateſt height that thou haſt done all this, for thoſe who are ſo dull and inſenſible; cold and careleſs; inconſtant and uncertain; apt too ſoon to forget theſe benefits and great obligations, which thou layeſt on them. But thou haſt done all this, and continueſt thy kindneſs to make us better. Which is the thing, O Lord, that I moſt heartily deſire and labour after: and ſhall ever account it the greateſt bleſſing when I am overcome by thy merciful kindneſs; and am willing to part with my ſelf and all my own deſires, to gain thee and thy love; by being led and ruled in all things according to thy will. To that I unfeignedly again ſubmit my ſelf; and humbly vow all the powers of Soul and Body to thy obedience. I own thy bleſſed Goſpel, for the rule and direction of my life; and thy Son Chriſt Jeſus, for my pattern and example; and thy good Spirit for my guide and governour: in whoſe holy comforts I rejoyce, more than in any thing in this world. For ever magnified be thy love, that thou haſt exalted one mighty to ſave: and haſt ſent him not only with a pardon, but with the power of the Holy Ghoſt, to renew, ſanctifie and advance our Nature, by changing it into the likeneſs of thine own. I hope in thee, O Lord, for the continued influences thereof, to quicken my Faith, and render it more and more effectual in all the actions of an holy life. That I may have high and adoring thoughts of thee, and humble thoughts of my ſelf: overlook the little things here below, and labour for thoſe above: do good with what I have, and lay up treaſures in Heaven: be contented with my portion, and ſober and diſcreet in the uſe of it: live peaceably with all men, but not be partaker in their ſins: and that it may alway be part of my employment in this World thus to worſhip thee, and reflect upon thy goodneſs; and the reſt may be to live according to my prayers and acknowledgments. Amen, and Amen.
O that all Nations whom thou haſt made would come and worſhip before thee, Pſal. 86.9, 10.in Spirit and in Truth. Joh. 4.23.O that they would glorifie thy Name; for thou art great and doſt wondrous things; thou art God alone. But let all Chriſtians eſpecially,1 Cor. 12.13. who by one Spirit are all baptized into one Body, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit, glorifie the Name of their Lord;Epheſ. 4.3. by keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, and agreeing together in Godly love. And do thou, O Lord, the God of Peace, direct their hearts into the more excellent way: that though tongues, and prophecies, and miracles are ceaſed, yet that humble, kind, meek and long-ſuffering Charity may remain and abound more and more, which will bring us all to live in endleſs love and peace, and joy together in the Heavens.
The grace of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Cor. 13. ult.and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghoſt, be with me, and with all my Friends, and all thy Servants every where. Amen.
THus, by the help of God, I have brought this Treatiſe to a Concluſion: which I hope will not be unwelcome to thoſe that love our Lord Jeſus Chriſt in ſincerity. Epheſ. 6. ult.And I moſt humbly beſeech the Divine Majeſty graciouſly to accept my weak endeavours therein to ſerve this Church, and ſtir up every Member of it with hearty love, to offer up themſelves to him in its Publick Service. Which ſo gravely and pathetically expreſſes the ſenſe of pious hearts at the Holy Communion; that theſe Private Prayers which I have compoſed to wait upon it, can only ſerve to excite thoſe who will make uſe of them, to joyn with more fervour in the Common Devotions: and to continue thoſe holy diſpoſitions which they declare to be in their hearts if they ſincerely unite them with theſe words,*In the Prayer after the Communion. And here we offer and preſent unto thee, O Lord, our Selves, our Souls and Bodies, to be a reaſonable, holy, and lively Sacrifice unto thee.
Which that we may ever be; we cannot, in a few words, better implore the Divine aſſiſtance, than in thoſe of that incomparable Prayer at the end of our Communion-Service.
PRevent us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy moſt gracious favour; and further us with thy continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorifie thy holy Name, and finally by thy mercy obtain Everlaſting Life, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
THE END.
ERRATA.
PAge 53. line 19. read, went away: p. 179. l. 1. r. heart: l. 2. r. mouth: p. 320. l. 27. 1. have received: p. 357 l. 12. r. Lord Jeſus: p. 362. l. ult. r. a member: p. 383. l. 10. r. and growth: p. 396. l. 13. r. earneſts.
End of the text · Simon Patrick, The Christian Sacrifice (1671)