A Communicant Instructed, Part 3
III. Directions touching our Christian Conversation, suitable to the Lords Supper, after we have Communicated.
When the Lords Supper is ended all the worthy Communi…ant's work is not ended. Nay, he hath stronger obligations upon him unto all Christian duties then before. For the Lords Supper is not onelyonly on Christs part a pledge and Seal of his benefits to us: but also on our part a bond and obligation of our duties towards him, It's not enough, that we duely Prepare before: Worthily Act in: but we must also Suitably walk, after Communicating.
How are we to converse and walk suitably to the Lords Supper after we have Communicated? Answ. We should carefully order our conversation, as followeth, viz.
1. Rest not in the work done. Think not that Sacraments will work like Physick: such a Receit will have such an effect, whether we wake or sleep, &c. The bare act of Receiving doth not confirm or convey Grace: but the right Receiving, with Gods blessing. Rest not therefore in the bare work done. Nay, rest not in the work done, though done never so well: Applaud not, flatter not thy self therein through a secret pang of spiritual pride. If thy heart be lifted up hereby, take heed thou y2 Joh. 8.losest not all that thou hast wrought, zLuk. 17.10.When thou hast done all say, I am an unprofitable servant, I have done no more then was my duty: nay, I have come far short of duty. How many wayes have I failed before, and at the Lords Supper? O let not the Lord lay to my charge the iniquity of my holy things. Oh I can no way answer him for all my Sacramentsins.
2. Ab…ndon and crucifie all sin more then ever. At the Lords Table thou hast beheld, as it were,aMat. 26.26, 27, 28.Christs body broken, and his blood shed for thy Sins. Return not therefore after the Sacrament to thy sins and lusts afresh, to thy cursing, swearing, Sabbath-breaking, adultery, uncleannesse, injustice, drunkennesse, &c. like the dog to the vomit, or the Sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire. But hate thy sins, for which Christ was hated: deny thy sins, for which Christ was denied: crucifie thy sins, for which Christ was crucified. Shall Christ bleed and die for thy drunkenness, &c. and wilt thou wallow and live in thy drunkenness, &c? Hast thou received the Lords Supper as a Seal of the remission of thy sins: and dost thou after the Lords Supper fall afresh to the commission of the same sins? Is not this to prophane the blood of the Covenant as an unholy thing? What? Is the Lords Supper a Protection or Toleration for thy sins? Rather contrariwise, As it is a Memorial of Christ crucified: so let it be a Remembrancer to thee for hating, abhorring and crucifying all thy corruptions, and abstaining from all appearance of evil, for which Christ was crucified.
3. Walk on in the strength of this Spiritual food continually, till thou comest to perfection. Grow stronger and stronger in all Grace, and exacter in all gracious exercises. This is stiled b1 Cor 11.20.The Lords Supper, therefore a Feast able through the Lords blessing to nourish, sustain, and strengthen the Lords people▪ both in habits and acts, both in graces and duties, and with all might both in the inward man, and outward life: That the weak may become as the house of David, and the house of David, as the Angel of the Lord. Therefore, 1. Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, in the inward man. Labour after growth in every Grace after this Sacrament: That Faith may be more strong and lively, Hope more full of expectation, Love more ardent and affectionate, Patience, more able to endure; Integrity, more upright; Humil…ty, more humble; and every Grace more gracious. 2. Be more active and exact in all spiritual duties and performances. As corporal food makes the body able and active for all corporal imployments: So should this Sacramental Spiritual food make the Soul strong and active for all Spiritual exercises. After thou hast been at the Lords Table, Hear the Word more heedfully, Pray more fervently, Keep the Sabbaths more exactly, Watch over thine own heart and wayes more diligently, &c. In a word, shew thy self more holy & pious towards God, more just and righteous towards man, more sober, and temperate in thy self. Improve thy times more profitably, imploy thy Talents more fruitfully, Give up thy self, soul and body more cheerfully unto God as a living Sacrifice in all Christian obedience. Think nothing too dear for him, that thought not the onelyonly Son of his love too dear for thee. But walk worthy of Christ, of the Co…enant, of t…e Sacrament, of the Kingdom, Gospel and Grace of God unto all well-pleasing.
4. Maintain and cherish Dear Communion with Christ crucified. In the Lords Supper thou hadst c1 Cor. 10.10.Communion with Christ crucified and all the blessed fruits of his Death signified, sealed and exhibited to thee: Walk on in this Communion from day to day. Endear thine heart and affections unto him more and more: and draw vertue and benefits from him and his death more and more. He bare thy diseases: Take thou his healing. He endured thy wounds: drink thou the Spiritual balsome that sprang out of his wounds. He took upon him thy sins: clothe thou thy self with his righteousness. He endured thy pains and torments: come thou to him, and take his rest to thy soul. He embraced thy Curse and condemnation: do thou embrace his blessing, justification and salvation. Let there be a reciprocal communication of affairs betwixt Christ and thee. This Communion with Christ, is the Saints Heaven on Earth. It's good for thee to be here. Delight still to be sitting under his shadow, still to be tasting his sweet fruites, still to be eating hidden Mannah, still to be drinking the water of life from this Rock, still to be solacing thy self in his banquetting-house and Galleries of love, and still to be lodging in his bosome of dearest love: If he hide his face by desertions; rest not till thou findest him: If thou findest him, hold him fast, let him not go, disturb him not out of thine heart by thy corruptions. Highly prize his presence, deeply lament his absence▪ joyfully entertain his return, and speedily open to him at every knock at the door of thine heart. He lives like a worthy Communicant, that thus maintains Communion with Christ.
5. Delight thy self in spiritual fellowship with his members. The Lords Supper is not onelyonly a Seal of the Saints fellowship with Christ, but also of their d1 Cor. 10.17.Communion with one another. They are stones of the same building, branches of the same vine, members of the same body, spiritual children of the same father. Therefore they should mutually love one another: care for one another, sympathize with one another in joyes and sorrows; help, instruct, exhort, admonish and comfort one another: that thus by mutual edification they may help one another on unto salvation. Thus the Primitive Christians eAct. 4.32. & 2.46, 47were of one heart and soul, and worshipped the Lord with one accord. David professeth himself to be a fPsal. 119.63.Companion to all them that fear God and keep his Commandments: And, that gPsal. 16.23.n the Saints, the excellent ones on earth was all his Delight. hI…al. 133.1, &c.Oh, how good and pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! &c. Now the Lords Supper seals up, strengthens and quickens this fellowship of Saints; Enlinks their hearts to one another, and all to Christ. Let thine affections therefore towards Gods people be incited by this feasting together at the Lords Table. Shake off all carnal ungodly Society, and make the liveliest Saints thy most intimate contenting companions. And upon all occasions improve their fellowship … the best spiritual ad…antages.
6. Chear up and comfort thy spirit against all thy discouragements, temptations & corruptions, upon consideration of the Cordials applied in the Lords Supper. Especially 1. VponUpon the pardon of sin in Christs blood seated in this Ordinance. iMat. 26.27, 28.This is my blood of the New Testament shed for many for remission of sins. Sins unpardoned are the heaviest burthen upon the Conscience: Christs blood alone can procure Sins pardon: The Lords Supper most peculiarly and particularly seals unto us Christs blood and the vertue thereof, beyond all outward Ordinances. Hast thou duly received the Lords Supper? then thou hast spiritually received the Lords blood for washing away, and remission of, thy sins. As the Red Sea overwhelmed all Israels enemies the Egyptians, so the blood of Christ hath overwhelmed and drowned all thy corruptions. Sit thou down with Israel, and sing praises: Comfort, O Comfort thy soul in this Salvation. What ever be thy miseries, this will be a Cordial reviving, when thou canst say, Yet my sins are pardoned. 2. VponUpon thine Interest in the New Testament confirmed. In the Lords Supper the New Testament in Christs blood is ratified to thee, that thou hast part and property in it, and in all the Priviledges, promises, Comforts and Benefits of it. Glorious advantages! The New Testament is the Churches Great Charter for her happy state in this …nd the world to come. The k2 Pet. 1.4.Promises thereof are most great and precious. The benefits and priviledges thereof, are such l1 Cor. 2.9.as carnal eye hath not seen▪ ear heard, or heart of man conceived. And all these are assured to thee as thine in the Lord… Supper. Consider now why walkest thou dejectedly, uncomfortably in respect of sin, temptation or tribulation? In the New Testament are plentiful Cordials for all thy faintings, abundant remedies for all t…y maladies: thou canst not have that sore, but here's a salve for it. Be of good chear therefore in this behalf. As truly as the Sacrament, and the Blood of Christ is thine: so truely the New Testament with all its Promises and Priviledges are thine.
7. Finally, After the Lords Supper is done, long for new refreshments of thy Spirit by renued Sacraments. Hath the Lord made bare his face to thee at his Table: bidden the welcome fil…ed thy soul as with marrow and farne…s: staid thee with fl…ggons, feed the with hidden Mannah. bread of life, and water of life: assur'd thee of thy sins pardon in his blood: and …olac'd thy soul with Communion with him? Then let the…e tastes of his sweetnesse and pleasantnesse, make thee pant after like opportunities. Thinke with thy …elf, When will the Lords Supper come? When shall I come and appear before the Lord? When shall I see his power and glory? taste his love and grace, as sometimes in the Sacrament? Lord evermore give me this bread. I think the time long betwixt Sacrament and Sacrament. Oh that I might still be feasting my soul with the…e heavenly dainties! Thus fill thine heart with longing desires after Sacraments till they come; so shalt thou make way for more satisfying delights therein when they come, But e…pecially thirst and cry out for compleat enjoyment of Jesus Christ in heaven face to face, which is beyond all Sacraments and all Ordinances. For if a little glimpse and taste of Christ in these darksome Ordinances be so sweet: how sweet and ravishing will the full Vision and immediate fruition of Christ be in the Highest heavens? Say therefore in thine heart, Lord Jesus, thy word is sweet, thy Sacraments sweet, and all thine Ordinances are sweet through thy sweetness, yet they satisfie not fully. Thou art more sweet and soul-…atisfying then all. Therefore m2 Tim. 4.8.I love th…ne appearing, I long for thy coming. Thou hast …aid. nRev. 22.20, 2….Behold, I come quickly; And mine heart echo's, Even so come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
FINIS.