The Christian Sacrifice, Part 4 · August
Auguſt.
The Meditation before.
DOTH it not ſeem long, my ſoul, ſince thou waſt at the Table of the Lord? With what thoughts, with what affections then, doſt thou receive this new invitation to it? See what joy, what delight it raiſes in thy heart, that thou mayſt know, whether indeed thou loveſt him or no. His love is ſo great, that one would think it ſhould never ſlip out of thy mind. Our Lord hath done ſuch great things for us, that we may be tempted ſooner not to believe them, than to forget them. But this is one piece of the greatneſs of that love, that it hath taken care it ſhould be alway remembered. He hath not thought it enough to die for us, but he hath left us a repreſentation of it; and a command to ſhew forth his death until he come. What doſt thou think of that command? Is it a burden to thee to yield obedience to it? Doſt thou unwillingly hear the motion to go and do this in remembrance of him? What? Is it a ſad thing to think of declaring the goodneſs of the Lord? To magnifie the love of God our Saviour? To celebrate his praiſes? To profeſs our ſelves his ſervants, and to ingage to him our fidelity? Doth it make thee ſigh to think of going to receive the tokens of his love? To repreſent the death and ſatisfaction of Chriſt Jeſus for thy ſins? To wait on God for the pardon of them? And to be put in aſſured hope of immortal life? Thou art not ſuch a ſtranger, ſure, to thy own happineſs; but knoweſt better things; even things that accompany ſalvation. Give glory therefore to the Lord that he calls thee again ſo graciouſly to ſhew forth his death: Let him know that thou meaneſt to obey him; (to attend him at his holy Table,) and thank him too. But with what bluſhing ſhould we look there upon that love, which we have ſometime ſlighted? With what hatred, upon thoſe ſins which murdered the Lord of life? With what joy ſhould we think of the hope there is, that they may be pardoned? And how ſhould we ſtand admiring at that wiſe goodneſs, which made that blood, which ſinners ſhed, to be the expiation for their ſins? Sure we do not believe theſe things: or elſe we ſhall begin already to feel our heart burn with love to him; and ready to offer it ſelf in Sacrifice, before we come to his Altar. Excite thy Faith; that it may ſtir up thy Love: and that may carry all the paſſions of thy heart along with it to him. Shew him that the deſire of thy heart is to the remembrance of his Name; that thy care is to pleaſe him; thy fear to offend him; thy joy to do his will; and thy ſorrow that thou canſt do no more for him. Let it be a great comfort to thee, that he knows thy ſincerity, and ſees into the very ſecrets of thy heart: how affectionately thou ſtudieſt to be like him; what a pleaſure it is when thou canſt ſtedfaſtly think of him; how it grieves thee when thy thoughts are broken, thy affections heavy and dull, and thy power falls ſo ſhort of thy will and deſires. And be aſſured that he pitties thee; that notwithſtanding this he will kindly entertain thee; and receive the pooreſt oblation thou art able to make him at his Table. Eat and be ſatisfied, and bleſs the name of the Lord. He hath invited thee; he expects thee; he loves to ſee thee there; and will make thee know that he loves thee, and delights to do thee good.
Let us go, my ſoul, and declare before Angels and men that we are Chriſtians; and mean to live and die in his holy Religion. And let us now take ſhame to our ſelves that we have at any time contradicted our belief. Let us acknowledg the breach of that Faith into which we were baptized: and declare before we go how great a trouble it is to us, that we love him no more; and how deſirous we are and fully reſolved to love him better and better.
The Prayer before.
O Eternal God, the Lord of life, of grace, peace and all our comforts. It is of thy great mercies alone that I am not conſumed; or that I lie not now groaning on a bed of ſickneſs: but am invited to feaſt at thy holy Table. I might have diſtaſted and loathed even the ordinary food of my body; and thou continueſt an opportunity, and ſome appetite to receive the pretious food of my ſoul. The grave might have been my dwelling, the worms my companions, and I been turned into rottenneſs and corruption: but now I am going to thy houſe, to be the companion of thy people, and to communicate with thee and my bleſſed Saviour; that I may be nouriſhed to a bleſſed immortality. This is nothing elſe but thy marvellous Mercy, and becauſe thy compaſſions fail not: For I have too many ways violated thy holy Laws, broken thy covenant, reſiſted thy grace, and unvalued thy eternal life. Thou haſt adopted me early for thy child, ſown the immortal ſeed of thy word in my heart, ſent thy holy Spirit to further its growth and increaſe to that never dying happineſs and bliſs. But how little have I recovered of thy image in wiſdom, righteouſneſs and holineſs, which hath been miſerably defaced? How coldly have I ſometimes entertained the motions of thy holy Spirit? And been barren and unfruitful in the knowledg of Jeſus Chriſt? How often have I heard of that great and dreadful day of reckoning; and been prone to follow the little pleaſures of this life, as if I lookt neither for joy nor miſery in the other world? That Faith which ſhould ſave me, might juſtly condemn me: and Jeſus my moſt compaſſionate Redeemer, without infinite mercy, become only a ſevere Judge towards me.
Adored be thy patience and long-ſuffering to ſinners. For ever magnified be that Grace, which gives me the leaſt hope in thee: and preſents me with another opportunity of humbling my ſelf before thee; of intreating thy favour; of deprecating thy diſpleaſure; and vowing my ſelf again to thy ſervice which I have covenanted to pay thee. O merciful God, have mercy upon me; have mercy upon me: according to the multitude of thy mercies, in Chriſt Jeſus, blot out all my iniquities. I have not offended thee beyond the heighth, and depth, and length and breadth of thine incomprehenſible love in him declared to us. And there is ſtill remaining in my heart ſome eſteem of that love, and an inclination to love thee above all things; with an hearty deſire to be purified and ſanctified throughout both in body and in ſoul and ſpirit. Though not by works of righteouſneſs which I have done, yet by thy mercy I hope to be ſaved, through the waſhing of regeneration, and more perfect renewing of the holy-Ghoſt. That renewing vertue from above I moſt humbly wait for, and earneſtly deſire to be more abundantly poured on me. Deal with me according to my unfeigned reſolutions to ſtudy to purifie my ſelf, even as thou art pure: to walk before thee hereafter in all ſobriety, righteouſneſs, humility, meekneſs, peaceableneſs, charity; indeavouring to perfect holineſs in thy fear. Vouchſafe me ſome earneſts of this grace, when I preſent my ſelf before thee, to commemorate the death of thy Son Jeſus; who was wounded for our iniquities, and bruiſed for our tranſgreſſions. That my heart may be deeply wounded with a ſenſe of ſin; and hate the very thought of every evil way; and chuſe to endure any miſery, rather than offend thy deareſt love again. O that I might then feel my thoughts carried away from this world: that I could think then of nothing but thee; and the dying love of my ſweeteſt Saviour; and the greatneſs of that love which I owe to him, that died for me. Repleniſh my ſoul with holy thoughts; lift me up in heavenly meditations; and fill me with a multitude of devout affections: that I may be able hereafter to do and ſuffer all things for his ſake; and never forget how good he is, and how good I have reſolved to be. Without thee, I cannot aſcend up unto thee: and therefore I look for thy holy inſpirations to accompany me in all my Meditations, and prayers and praiſes, and thankſgivings, and reſolutions. That attending upon this ſacred ſervice, with love, and zeal, and delight and devotion of ſpirit; there may be an happy meeting between me and my Saviour: and ſuch an inſeparable Union contracted, as may be at laſt conſummated in eternal Love and Joy in his heavenly Kingdom. To which I humbly hope to be brought by thy infinite Mercies in him, who hath taught me to call thee Father; and to ſay, when I pray; Our Father, which art in, &c.
The Meditation afterward.
SEeing it hath pleaſed my Lord to tye me to himſelf, by one bond more; and I have added a new reſolution to all the reſt, and made choice of him again for my only Maſter; how careful ought I to be that I prove not a falſe Diſciple? Haſt thou never read or heard of an holy man, who never uſed the name of Jeſus, but he immediately added, not without the appearance of ſingular pleaſure, MY MASTER? This was his glory; this he thought the higheſt honour on Earth, that he ſerved ſuch a Maſter. Let this be one of thy thoughts every day: Let it work in thy mind, till the ſenſe of theſe words be ingraven on thy heart, My Maſter JESƲS. Conſider that when thou waſt baptized, thou waſt dedicated to his holy ſervice. That if thou haſt owned & confirmed that Sacred Covenant, thou haſt renounced all other Maſters, the Devil, the World, and the Fleſh; and profeſſed thou wouldſt be a Servant of Jeſus. And every time thou haſt been at his Table, thou haſt done this over again; and proteſted thou wilt have no other Maſter, but only him. Is there any cauſe doſt thou think, to repent of thy choice of following his ſervice? Is it not a great preferment to be one of his family, who is Lord of Heaven and Earth, the Heir of all things, the Prince of all the Kings of the Earth, the Lord of Life, and the King of Glory? Doſt thou not profeſs in thy daily Prayers, that his ſervice is perfect freedom? Can any reward their ſervants, like to the bleſſed and only Potentate, who only hath immortality? Do any ſervants in the world ſerve in ſuch hopes, or enjoy ſuch promiſes, or receive ſuch earneſts, as he is pleaſed to beſtow on his? Is not death the wages of ſin; but the gift of God eternal life? What ſervants are admitted to ſuch familiarity with their Lord, as thou art at his Table? Who are entertained with ſuch a Feaſt, or live upon ſuch delights, as they that receive his Body and Bloud? And yet how zealous, how diligent, how forward are they to do their Maſters will, who ſerve only for the wages of unrighteouſneſs? How proud is a man of the honour to follow the Court of an Earthly Prince? But if he ſhould be advanced to eat continually at his Table, the world would envy his too great happineſs. What a ſhame will it prove then, if thou art not fervent in ſpirit ſerving the Lord? If thou doſt not think thy ſelf honoured enough, and art not well contented in any condition, who followeſt ſuch a glorious Maſter? Thou wilt not pardon thy ſelf, if thou art unfaithful to him; or diſgraceſt his ſervice by murmuring, repining, dejection of ſpirit; or any other unworthy behaviour toward him. For what Maſter ever merited ſo much at his Servants hands? We have heard of Servants, that have died for their Maſters; but where did we ever read or hear of a Maſter that freely died, even for his rebellious Servants? The buſineſs was, Jeſus would purchaſe us to himſelf by his own Bloud: and make us, if we have but any good nature in us, to be moſt entirely devoted to his chearful obedience. Ask thy ſelf therefore every morning, whoſe Servant am I? What did I promiſe my Maſter ſuch a day? If I call him Lord and Maſter, why do not I do the things that he ſaith? And ſhall I go about my Maſters buſineſs with a drooping countenance, and an heavy heart? Shall I ſigh when I hear his voice, though he bid me deny my ſelf, and take up my Croſs and follow him? Shall any of his Commandments ſeem grievous to me, after ſo many, ſo ſolemn profeſſions of love to him? God forbid that I ſhould caſt ſuch reproach upon him. I have not ſo learned Chriſt Jeſus, whoſe I am, and whom I ſerve: who hath ſaid,Joh. 12.26. If any man ſerve me, him will my Father honour. Can there be words of greater grace than theſe? God be thanked, Rom. 6.17, 18.that I was the ſervant of ſin, but have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered me. It is a favour to be the ſervant of righteouſneſs. I ought to account it an honour to receive his commands: and to ſtudy to do his will on Earth, as it is done in Heaven. How comfortably then ſhall I live? how comfortably ſhall I die? How will it make my heart leap for joy, to hear that voice of his;Matth. 25.21. Well done thou good and faithful ſervant: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Here you may reſolve to meditate all this Month, how our Lord and Maſter himſelf took upon him the form of a SERVANT; and being found in faſhion like one of us, became obedient unto Death, Phil. 2.7, 8.even the Death of the Croſs. That abſolute OBEDIENCE of his you ſhould ſet always before your eyes for a pattern: that you may not live as if you were aſhamed of his ſervice, or thought any thing below you, or too mean to ſubmit unto, which he requires at your hands. Never ſuffer your reputation, your eaſe, your wealth, no nor life it ſelf to ſtand in competition with his commands: But preſently remember, that though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience, by the things which he ſuffered: Heb. 5.8, 9.And being made perfect, he became the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him. And remember again, that The Diſciple is not above his Maſter: Luk. 6.40but every one that is perfect ſhall be as his Maſter.
The Thankſgiving and Prayer afterward.
FOr ever hallowed be thy great Name, O Father of mercies, the God of love, the fountain of all good and bleſſedneſs. All the heavenly hoſt delight continually to praiſe thee. They never ceaſe to aſcribe wiſdom power, dominion, riches, honour and glory unto thee who liveſt for ever. O how great is thy goodneſs, who inviteſt us, that dwell in houſes of clay, to bear them company in their praiſes and thankſgivings? They can add nothing at all unto thy fulneſs: but it is our happineſs to ſpend our days here, in loving thee, in ſpeaking good of thy Name, in doing thee honour and ſervice; and to paſs the life of the other world, in the perfection of admiration, love, thankſgiving and obedience to thee:Pſal. 126.3. who haſt done ſuch great things for us, of which we are glad. Bleſſed be the Name of God our Father, who hath raiſed us out of Nothing; and hath not appointed us unto wrath; 1 Theſſ. 5.9but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And of God our Saviour, who hath redeemed us from the hands of all our enemies; and purchaſed us with a great price unto himſelf. And of God our Sanctifier, ſtrength and aſſiſter, the God of our Salvation, who keeps us every moment from ruine and deſtruction. I thank thee, O Lord of Heaven and Earth, for that liberal portion which thou haſt given me, thine unworthy ſervant, in thy grace and favour. For the knowledge of thy holy Goſpel, which hath brought life and immortality to light: For all the good inſtructions I have received from thy Miniſters [and the tender care,*You may mention theſe and others, if you have had this benefit. religious education of my Parents, Tutors and Governours:] For all ſeaſonable reproofs, wholſom counſels, good admonitions, and every truth I have received from my Friends or Enemies: For the pious examples and good converſation of any of my Neighbours; for all holy opportunities, and the leiſure I have to attend upon this heavenly employment: For thy merciful chaſtiſements, and thy wonderful deliverances: For all the good Books thou haſt brought to my hands; and the good advice which I have any way received: For all my Benefactors; all thoſe that love me and pray for me: And above all for thy gracious inſpirations from above, the holy thoughts thou haſt put into my mind, and the pious deſires and purpoſes thou haſt ſtirr'd up in my heart; with all the furtherances, helps and aſſiſtances thou haſt vouchſafed me in my way to Heaven: particularly now at this holy Feaſt, where thou haſt made me know and feel how good thou art, beyond the compaſs of all our thoughts.
What ſhall I return unto thee for all thy love? What ſhall I give unto my Lord, who hath given himſelf for me? I have given thee my whole ſelf, and now devoted all the powers of my ſoul and body to thy ſervice: that all my thoughts, my words, my deſires, my paſſions, and actions may be diſpoſed according to thy will and not my own. And I think my ſelf happy, O bleſſed Jeſus, in the choice I have made of thee for my Lord and Maſter. I rejoyce in the diſpoſal I have made of my ſelf to thy ſervice and obedience. For a world I would not revoke my conſent to be abſolutely ruled and governed by thee, as long as I live. Sin ſhall not reign in my mortal body, Rom. 6.12that I ſhould obey it in the luſts thereof. But here I come again to yield my ſelf unto thee my God, and to profeſs thy ſervice to be the moſt perfect freedom, and the nobleſt employment. To beſeech thy pardon for all mine unfaithfulneſs; and the conſtant power of thy Holy Spirit to aſſiſt me in the doing thy will here on Earth, as it is done in Heaven: that all my reſolutions may be perſevering, my endeavours ſucceſsful, and my obedience perfect and compleat in all things. Lord Jeſus do what thou pleaſeſt in me, and what thou pleaſeſt with me. Truly I am thy ſervant, I am thy ſervant: and I will make my boaſt continually in this, that I ſerve the Lord Chriſt. May I but ever love thee, and ſtedfaſtly cleave unto thee, and chearfully obey thee, and faithfully live to honour thee. I deſire nothing elſe. Come proſperity, or adverſity; come ſickneſs, or health, life or death; ſo that I may but glorifie thee, and be made conformable to thee, and bear thine image in holineſs here, and in glory hereafter.
And let all the Earth ſtand in awe of thee, thou Lord and Ruler of the whole world. Let the hearts of all people ſubmit themſelves to thy Kingdom and Authority.Pſal. 45.3, 4. In thy Majeſty ride on proſperouſly, O thou moſt mighty, becauſe of truth, and meekneſs, and righteouſneſs: till all thine enemies fall under thee, and think themſelves happy in thy moſt juſt and merciful government. I commend thine own family to thy gracious and powerful protection: and this part of it eſpecially in theſe Kingdoms. That we thy ſervants being hurt by no perſecutions, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church, and triumph in thy praiſe; ſaying,Pſal. 48.14. This God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even unto Death.
Now unto him that loved us, and waſhed us from our ſins in his own Bloud, and hath made us Kings and Prieſts unto God and his Father; Rev. 1.5, 6to him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever. Amen.