The Middle Things, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
SECT. 1. Of the two Sacraments of the New Teſtament.
THe next duty of a Chriſtian, as it hath reference onelyonly to the publike or Church-Aſſemblies, is a right receiving of the Sacraments, which are two, Baptiſm, and the Lords Supper: Baptiſm is the Sacrament of our incorporation into Chriſt, of our initiation or inveſting into the glorious ſtate of Chriſtianity; The Lords Supper is the Sacrament of our continuance in Chriſt, of our confirmation in ſpiritual life, and the power of Grace already planted within us: By Baptiſm we are waſhed, we are ſanctified, we are juſtified, in the name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the Spirit of our God: By the Lords Supper we grow in ſpiritual ſtrength, we lay better hold by the hand of Faith, upon the merits and mercies of Chriſt; we feel more ſoundly and ſenſibly the power and vertue of his blood, we ſee more clearly, and are more fully and feelingly aſcertained of the forgiveneſs of our ſins: Concerning the former, it is to little purpoſe to give any directions, becauſe infants (whom onelyonly are in our days baptized) are meerly ſubjects receptive, not active, and ſo far as concern the Parents in relation to their infants, we have diſpatch'd elſewhere.
SECT. 2. Of the duties in general, before we receive the Lords Supper.
I Shall now therefore proceed to the ſecond Sacrament, and for right receiving of the Lords Supper, there are duties of neceſſity required
before
in
after
the Sacrament.
My meaning is not to ſpeak of the habitual diſpoſitions, but of the actual diſpoſitions of the heart, in reference to which—
Before Sacrament, the duty is Self-Examination: 1 Cor. 11.28.Let a man examine himſelf, and ſo let him eat of this bread, and drink of this cup: Of this Self-Examination we have ſpoken before; but in reference to this Sacrament, we ſhall handle it more fully, and ſo conſider of it,
1. In its ſubject.
2. In its object.
1. For the ſubject matter, or the nature of this Self-Examination: Self-Examination is a holy work of the ſoul, whereby it caſts its eye, and reflects upon its ſelf, and ſo looks through it ſelf, and takes, a true ſcantling and eſtimate of its ſpiritual eſtate; for inſtance, I finde ſuch and ſuch ſins forbidden in the Word, ſuch and ſuch Graces required in the Word; whereupon, comparing my preſent condition with the Scriptures, I examine, Am not I guilty of theſe ſins? do I practice theſe duties? or am I poſſeſt of theſe graces? The conſcience being thus cloſely and ſincerely examined, it will return a true anſwer to every queſtion, whence it will be eaſie to give a true cenſure of our ſpiritual eſtate or condition.
2. For the object of our Examination, it is generally—
Our ſins.
Our graces.
Of which in order.
SECT. 3. Of the maner of examining our ſins before the Lords Supper.
FOr the right examining of our ſins, obſerve we theſe rules:—
1. Procure we a double catalogue of our ſins, the one before, and the other ſince our converſion:Ier. 3.40. Let us ſearch and try our ways (ſaith Ieremy) and then turn again to the Lord: If we will not, we may be ſure God will:Iob. 10.6. Thou inquireſt after mine iniquity (ſaith Iob) and ſearcheſt after my ſin.
2. Confeſs we our ſins: Bring we them out, as they brought the veſſels of the temple, Ezra 8.34. Levit. 16.21.by number and weight: Aaron confeſſing for the people, he was to confeſs all the iniquities of the Children of Iſrael, and all their tranſgreſſions in all their ſins. As three make All, ſo here's three Alls to make up a right confeſſion; not onelyonly muſt be confeſſed All their iniquities, and All their ſins, but All their tranſgreſſions in all their ſins; q.d. Aaron muſt number, and Aaron muſt aggravate their ſins, by laying out how many tranſgreſſions were wrapped up in their ſeveral ſins.
3. Labor we for grief and ſorrow of heart for ſin, otherwiſe all is to no purpoſe:Pſal. 38.18. I will declare mine iniquity (ſaith David) I will be ſorry for my ſin: His confeſſions were dolorous confeſſions;38.4. he felt ſin, and this wrought upon him, as an heavy burthen, they are too heavy for me; there's nothing in the world can make an heart more heavy, then when it feels the weight and heavineſs of ſin.
4. Judge we and condemn our ſelves for our ſin: This is that duty inſtanc'd in by the Apoſtle,1 Cor. 11.31. If we would judge our ſelves, we ſhould not be judged: O Lord, I am not worthy (could the Centurion ſay) that thou ſhouldſt come under my roof: But, O Lord, I am not worthy (ſhould every one of us ſay) that I ſhould come to thy table.
5. Pray for mercy, pardon and acceptance, in, for and through the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
SECT. 4. Of Examination of the wants of Graces, that ſhould be feelingly in us.
FOr the right examining of our Graces, obſerve we this threefold ſearch or ſcrutiny of
1. The wants of our Graces.
2. The truth of our Graces.
3. The growth of our Graces.
1. That we may rightly examine the wants of our Graces, practice we theſe particulars:—
1. Procure we a catalogue of Graces, ſuch as that in Gal. 5. 22, 23. Love, joy, peace, long-ſuffering, gentleneſs, goodneſs, faith, Gal. 5.22, 23. 2 Pet. 1.5, 6, 7, 8.meekneſs, temperance; or ſuch as that in 2 Pet. 1.5, 6, 7, 8. Adde to your faith, vertue; and to vertue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godlineſs; and to godlineſs, brotherly kindeneſs; and to brotherly kindeneſs, charity: if theſe things be in you, and abound, they will make you that you ſhall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
2. This Catalogue procured, ſet we the ſame before us, and conſider which of theſe graces we have, and which of theſe graces we want. I know it is a queſtion, whether all graces are not ſo connex'd and chained together, that one of them cannot be ſevered from another? But howſoever we may diſtinguiſh, quantum ad habitus, & actus; in reſpect of habit, we grant they are always connex'd and chained together, but not in reſpect of act or exerciſe: Adde grace to grace (ſaith the Apoſtle) q.d. a Chriſtian at firſt doth not exerciſe all graces; but as a man lives firſt the life of a plant, then of ſenſe, then of reaſon, though all were radically there at firſt: ſo it is in graces, there are many forms that Chriſtians go through, as Schollars at School do: The firſt form is to teach them their ſins and miſeries, and ſo they go to ſchool to the Law, and are ſet to ſtudy it; and then after they have learn'd that leſſon throughly, they are led up higher, to have their faith drawn out, and to be exerciſed about Free-grace, and about Chriſt his perſon, and union with him, and about the art and way of drawing vertue from him, and doing all in him: nay after this, though a Believer in his converſion hath the ſubſtance of all theſe taught him, yet he goes over them again throughout his whole life; and ſometimes his thoughts dwell more about the emptineſs of his own righteouſneſs, ſometimes about that fulneſs that is in Chriſt, ſometimes about the Spiritual ſtrictneſs he ought to walk in; and this is to adde grace unto grace:— Nay, there may be addition concerning one and the ſame grace, as when a mans grace and the fruits thereof grow bigger, and more plentiful, when there are new degrees of the ſame, ex. gr. for faith, when from a mans caſting himſelf on Chriſt, he comes to finde ſweetneſs in Chriſt, and from that grows up to an aſſurance of faith: So for prayer, when we finde our prayers to grow better; when more Spiritual corruptions are put into our confeſſions, and ſtronger grounds of faith are put into our deprecations, or petitions for pardon; when we have more enlargedneſs us of thankfulneſs, more zeal to pray for the Churches,Eph. 6.18. when we go to pray with all prayer and ſupplication in the Spirit: So for obedience, when we abound more and more in the work of the Lord, Rev. 2.19.as it is ſaid of the Church of Thiatira, that their laſt works were more then their firſt; when as the boughs are laden,Phil. 1.11. and we are filled with the fruits of righteouſneſs: this is to adde grace unto grace, or one degree of grace unto another. Now if in this ſenſe there be an addition of graces, or an addition of degrees, examine, what is the grace? or what is the degree of any grace that we want?
3. Pray we fervently for a ſupply of thoſe wants in this Ordinance: Imagine we ſaw Chriſt compaſſed with all his priviledges, and promiſes, and pardons, and mercies, and merits; imagine we heard him ſay, Come hither poor ſouls, you that are ſenſible of your wants, and of your ſpiritual poverty, there is in me bowels of compaſſions, and pardons in ſtore; it is I that am your Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification and Redemption; what is it you want? What is it you would have me do for you? ſhall not theſe ſugred words of our Savior melt your hearts, and bring you low on your knees: O Lord (ſhould the ſoul ſay) I beg of thee ſaving Knowledge, juſtifying Faith, ſincere Repentance, fervent love: O Lord, I would fain have aſſurance of pardon, ſtrength of faith, power againſt ſome ſpecial luſt, healing vertues, to lanch my bloody iſſues: O Lord, that thou wouldſt beſtow on me meekneſs, or temperance, or patience, or obedience, or quicknings in thy Spirit: Lord, that a pardon might be ſealed for all my ſins, that I might receive the vertue of thy death, the comforts of thy Spirit, the mortifying of ſuch and ſuch a luſt: Lord, that my unclean heart may be ſanctified, that I may be enabled with more ſtrength to perform ſuch a duty:—O Lord, upon this very errand, and for this very end, do I now come to thee, for help in this or that particular do I now come to thy Ordinances: And, O Chriſt, I beſeech thee, ſupply all my wants, and let me draw vertue from thee: If thus we would pray, and come to Chriſt, then would Chriſt out of his bowels and mercies, anſwer our ſouls: Receive (would he ſay) the Grace you feel want of; receive my Spirit, receive power againſt luſts, receive ſtrength to obedience, receive all the Graces of my ſpirit, for I am all in all to you.
4. Raiſe and rowze we up our ſouls, and go we to the Ordinances, with ſtrong expectations to receive the benefits and Graces we have prayed for; never any came to Chriſt to be healed, but they came with a ſtrong expectation to receive health; if a leper came, he came with expectation of cleanſing; if a blinde man came, he came with expectation of ſeeing; if a lame man came, he came with expectation of walking, and we never read that any coming with ſuch expectation, was turned empty away; the Creeple asking an alms of Peter and John, they ſaid to him,Acts 3.4. Look on us, and then (ſaith the Text) he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive ſomething of them: If we would come to the Sacrament, with our eyes on Chriſt, to his Graces and Promiſes,Iohn 1.16. Of his fulneſs (for he is full of Grace, a fountain ever-flowing, and over-flowing) we ſhould receive grace for grace; ſay then, Chriſt hath promiſed to give in the Sacrament his body and blood, the benefits of his death and precious blood-ſhed; he hath promiſed to ſeal pardons, to manifeſt himſelf, to give power againſt luſt, I will now therefore go to this Sacrament, with a particular expectation of ſuch and ſuch a bleſſing as my ſoul ſtands in need of.
SECT. 5. Examination of the truth of our Graces, and firſt of our Converſion.
OƲr ſins and want of Graces thus examined, the ſoul is in good meaſure prepared; yet becauſe the Lord Jeſus abhors to be food to nouriſh, where he was not ſeed to beget, it concerns all who deſire to taſte of the ſealing power of the ſecond Sacrament, firſt to prove the ſealing power of the former Sacrament; before they come to be nouriſhed as Saints, let them know whether they are begot and made Saints: and to that end they muſt examine further,
1. The truth of their Graces.
2. The growth of their Graces.
1. For the truth of their Graces, it is good to begin with the beginning; and firſt to examine their converſion, and ſecondly the individual companions of their converſion, as their Knowledge, and Faith, and Repentance, and Love, and Obedience, and deſires after this Ordinance.
1. For Converſion: A man may by ſuch marks as theſe, try and conſider whether he be truly and ſoundly converted or no.
Ezek. 18.5, 6, 7, 8, 9.1. If he have turned from Satan in all ſins, and turned unto God in all duties; if he have left all groſs ſins, as Lying, Swearing, Ʋſury, Drunkenneſs, Ʋncleanneſs, &c. in practice and action, and all frailties and infirmities, at leaſt in allowance and affection, ſo that with watchful reſiſtance, and earneſt groanings of Spirit, he ſtrive and pray againſt them, and be humbled and kept in awe by them, and that he perform obedience to all Gods Commandments, though not in perfection and height of degree, yet in truth and ſincerity of heart.
2. If he be willing in all his purpoſes, deſires, endeavors and actions,Pſal. 16.8. Gal. 6.16. to ſet himſelf in the preſence of God, and in them to be wholly, unreſervedly and intirely guided by his word.
1 Iohn 4.17, 18.3. If he can with an holy comfort, and humble triumph, think upon death, the Law, that great judgement, hell, and thoſe endleſs torments.
4. If he lovingly hunger and thirſt after ſpiritual nouriſhment, the growth in grace by the Word, 2 Pet 2.2.Sacraments, Chriſtian conference, ſanctifying the Sabbath, and all other godly exerciſes both publique and private.
5. If truly and heartily he love and long after the coming of Chriſt; Tit. 2 13. 1 Iohn 3.14.and love ſuch as are true Christians, and that becauſe they make conſcience of ſin, and ſerve God with ſingleneſs and ſincerity of heart.
Pſal. 1.2.— 19.10.6. If his chief delight and beſt comfort be in holy duties and heavenly things, and that he infinitely prefer them before gold, honors, pleaſures, yea the whole world.
7. If he would not change his preſent ſtation, though never ſo baſe, Heb. 11.25, 26.poor and neglected in the world (yet accompanied with the ſtate of Grace and Chriſtianity) for the moſt rich and glorious eſtate of the greatest man upon earth, where there is nothing but prophaneneſs and unregeneration; if all this whole great world about, were turned into gold, honor and pleaſures, and in reſpect of the comfort of Grace, it were dung, vanity, nothing.
8.Phil. 3.7, 8, 9. If he would not be in the ſtate and caſe he was before (though he then thought that good enough) for any worldly good, for ten thouſand worlds.
9.Ier. 31.19. If he be truly humbled with conſideration of the long time of his prophaneneſs, and impenitency, and very ſorry he began no ſooner, nor made greater haſte into the royal and glorious ſtate of Chriſtianity.
10. If thoſe ſinful pleaſures and vanities be moſt tedious, Rom. 6.21.irkſom and diſtaſteful unto him, which formerly he purſued with greedineſs and delight.
11. If he mourn for the abomination of the times: Grieve at the wicked courſes of others, Pſal. 119.136 2 Pet. 2.7.and be very glad and heartily joyful, when godlineſs and ſincerity gets the upper hand, and when any one is converted.
12. If to the power of his gifts at all occaſions, he be ſtill plotting,Ezek. 18.30.32. working and laboring the converſion of others with zeal and ſincerity, eſpecially thoſe that are neareſt about him, any ways depend upon him, and belong to his charge.
SECT. 6. Examination of Knowledge.
NOw for the individual companions of ſound converſion: We muſt inquire within our ſelves, for theſe Graces of Knowledge, Faith, Repentance, &c.
The firſt of theſe Graces, which every worthy and fit receiver muſt neceſſarily finde in himſelf, is Knowledge; and by ſuch marks as theſe, he may try and conſider, whether his knowledge be a ſaving and ſanctifying knowledge or no.
1. If it beget humility and lowlineſs of minde; if the ſight of Gods purity, majeſty, juſt indignation and vengeance againſt ſin; if the ſenſe of his own blindeneſs, vanity, inward filthineſs, and natural corruption, makes him willingly entertain humility, and a lowly conceit of his own ſelf.
Deut. 4.6. Pſal. 111.10. Iohn 8.55.2. If it be drawn into practice, and joyned with converſion of the heart from ſin unto God, and with reformation of life from evil to good, otherwiſe knowledge without practice will increaſe the guilt of Conſcience, and the damnation in hell.
3. If it be edged and eneagred with a longing deſire and inſatiable thirſt after more of thoſe rich and ſaving treaſures: There iſſues from out the ſanctuary Waters of Life (ſee their increaſe) firſt to the ancles,Ezek. 47. then to the knees, then to the loyns, afterwards a river that no man could paſs: If we have once taſted how ſweet the Lord is, 1 Pet. 2.2, 3.there will be a deſire to increaſe more and more.
4. If it be diffuſive and communicative of it ſelf, if it ſhine round about, and work all the good it can in all places: The lips of the righteous feed many: Prov. 10 21. and 15.7.—The lips of the wiſe diſperſe knowledge, but the heart of the fooliſh doth not ſo: It is as new wine in veſſels, deſirous to vent; not to purchaſe a little vain-glory, or prophane praiſes, but to work ſpiritual good, and for the converſion of others.
Ier. 9.14. Pſal. 119.97, 98. Phil. 3.8.5. If it beget reverence of that great majeſty and love, to that holy truth it knows and apprehends in the Word, and an holy eſtimation of it above all poſſeſſions, Counting all things but loſs, for the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus our Lord.
Iohn 17.8. Phil. 3.10.6. If by it the ſoul knows God in Chriſt, and knows Chriſt as his own Savior, and knows the power of his reſurrection, and the fellowſhip of his ſufferings, being made conformable unto his death.
Iohn 14.17. 2 Cor. 13.5.7. If by it the ſoul knows the things given it of God, and eſpecially the inhabitation of the Spirit of Chriſt.
8. If it extinguiſh or greatly dull the ſavor of earthly things, and makes the ſoul heavenly minded,2 Cor. 2.14. ſavoring of ſpiritual things.
SECT. 7. Examination of Faith.
A Second Grace which every worthy receiver muſt finde in himſelf, is Faith; and by ſuch marks as theſe, he may try whether his faith be a true and juſtifying faith.
1.Rom 10.14. If it ſprung in the heart by the publike Miniſtery of Gods holy word; if the heart was broken, and bruiſed, and brought to an holy deſperation, whereby it wholly renounced, diſclaimed, Gal 3.24.and diſavowed it ſelf, as unworthy of life, of breath, or being: if then it began to lift up its eyes upon the precious promiſes of Salvation, revealed in the Goſpel, and ſhining gloriouſly in the face of Chriſt: And if laſtly it perceived ſome glimpſes of comfort, hopes of pardon in the blood of Chriſt, whence aroſe an hungring deſire, and longing thirſt after the mercies of God, and merits of Chriſt Jeſus; and ſo it caſts it ſelf with ſtrong cryes and prayers into the arms of Chriſt his bleſſed Redeemer.
2. If it grow, and daily ſpring up towards height of aſſurance,Rom. 8.38. and fulneſs of perſwaſion: Ordinarily faith is weak at firſt, full of many doubts and diſtractions, fears and tremblings, but after long experience of our own ſincerity, godly life, and good conſcience, it grows up in time, and by leiſure to be a ſtrong faith.Rom. 4.20, 21. Acts 15.9.
3. If it purifie the heart: Formaliſts may watch over their open outward actions, but true believers ſet themſelves with ſpecial care, and all good conſcience, to bridle and bring under all wicked ſtirrings of the heart.Prov. 11.23. The deſire of the righteous is onelyonly good (i.) the main ſtreams of his deſires, the courſe and current of his heart, is to godlineſs and goodneſs, though ſometimes his corrupt Nature, and Satans boyſterous temptations, do unawares and violently carry his thoughts another way, for which he ſends out many a prayer for pardon and purging.
4. If it bring forth a true and through Evangelical Repentance: Where Gods comfortable favor ſhines,Zech. 12.10.…1 and is ſhed into the heart, it immediately melts and reſolves into tears of ſorrow and grief for former rebellions, and makes unfeined and reſolute vows, for ever after, by Gods grace, to throw out of his heart and life, thoſe ſins which have grieved ſo good a God.
5. If it beget in him whom it poſſeſſeth,2 Cor. 1.12. a ſanctification of all parts, both in ſoul and body, though not in perfection; if the underſtanding be enlightned with knowledge in the great myſteries of godlineſs; if the will be bent with the beſt things; if the memory be a ſtore-houſe of heavenly treaſures; if the ſtream of our affections be turned from the world towards Gods glory and good cauſes; if the heart be weaned from luſts, and faln in love with eternal pleaſures and heavenly things; if the Conſcience be watchful to diſcover, and ſenſible to feel the approach and prickings of the leaſt ſin, &c.
Gal. 5.6.6. If it work by love, firſt towards God and Chriſt, in that all his ſins are remitted, and he is eternally beloved of God in Chriſt:Pſa. 16.3. Secondly, towards Chriſtians, in that the ſaving graces of Gods Spirit ſhine in them: Thirdly, towards himſelf, with relation unto God,1 Iohn 3.14. and reſervation of his glory: Fourthly, towards kindred, friends, not ſo much becauſe they are of the ſame blood, as becauſe of the mutual intereſt they have in the blood of Chriſt: Fifthly, towards enemies, becauſe of the precious Command of Chriſt.Mat. 5.44.
7. If it cauſe a forſaking the world: No man can do this (if it be his ſweet ſin) until his ſoul have received by the hand of faith from the Spirit of God,Heb. 11.24. 1 Iohn 5.4, 5. an aſſurance of an immortal Crown in the heavens, ſealed unto him by the blood of Chriſt: but then how willingly doth he bid the world farewel? how reſolutely doth he caſt out of his affections all greedy thoughts, and exceſſive deſires of earth and earthly treaſures?
Rom. 5.1. Acts 5.41. 2 Tim. 1.12. Rom. 8.18. 1 Pet. 1.7.8. If it ſpeak comfort in diſtreſs, joy in tribulation, glorying in afflictions: Faith teacheth that God caſts us in the fire, not to burn us, but to refine us, and make us more orient in his ſight: This is the beaten path to heaven (cryes faith) which all the glorious Saints have trodden before us.
9. If it will maintain a Chriſtian in ſome meaſure of ſufficiency and contentment in all eſtates:Gal. 2.20. The juſt ſhall live by faith, not by friends, money, earthly hopes, or helps, &c. if it makes a man lay hold on Gods promiſes, and work an inward truſt in Gods never-failing providence, ſo as he will leave the ſucceſs of all his labors to the Lord.
SECT. 8. Examination of Repentance.
A Third grace which every worthy Receiver muſt finde in himſelf, is Repentance; and by ſuch marks as theſe he may try whether his Repentance be a ſound and ſincere Repentance.
1. If it be aſhamed of ſin: not as a Thief is aſhamed,Ier. 31.19. Ezek. 16.61, 63. Ezra 9 6. Zeph. 3.5. Ier. 6.15.— 8.12. which ſhame ariſeth from the effect of ſin, as puniſhment or diſgrace, but as a Son is aſhamed (whence it is called a filial ſhame) out of a ſight of the filth and loathſomneſs of ſin; the impenitent glory in their ſhame, but the truly penitent are aſhamed of ſuch glorying, as of every ſin.
2. If it mourn for ſin: Pſa 51.3, 4. 2 Sam. 24.10, 17. Pſal. 42.3. Iſa. 63.17.Thus David mourned (not for the puniſhment, he is willing to bear it, but) for ſin, as it was ſin. I deny not but ſorrow may be godly, even for Judgements, and then our tryal will be, if we can mourn rather for Spiritual Judgements, then for Temporal; and eſpecially if we can feel and bewail hardneſs of heart, mourning becauſe we cannot mourn as we ought.
3. If it cauſe a great mourning, at leaſt ſo great as our mourning would be for outward loſſes: Thus Zachary inſtanceth,Zech. 12.10, 11. the Spirit of God ſhould cauſe them to mourn, as in the family one would mourn for the loſs of their onelyonly Son, or as in the Commonweal the Subjects would mourn for the loſs of a moſt worthy Prince.
4. If it reſt not without cleanneſs: True Repentance is not water, but waſhing, nor every waſhing, but ſuch as maketh clean; Iſa. 1.16. Iob 34.32.could a man weep his eyes out, yet if he weep not his ſins out, what is he better? Sorrowing after a godly ſort, what carefulneſs, 2 Cor. 7.11.what chearing hath it wrought? If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more.
5. If it bring forth fruits meet for Repentance: Mat. 3 8. Acts 26.20.This was the ſum, as of Johns, ſo of Pauls preaching, that Jew and Gentile ſhould repent, and turn to God, and do works worthy amendment of life: nay, it is the very ſum of the Goſpel, To mourn, Iſa. 61.3.to be comforted, that they might be called Trees of Righteouſneſs, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
6. If it be ſtirred up by the ſenſe of Gods goodneſs: So that nothing more fires a man to abaſe himſelf in the ſenſe of his own vileneſs, then to feel and finde the gracious goodneſs and readineſs of God in Chriſt, to ſhew him mercy;Hoſea 3.5. He feareth the Lord and his goodneſs.
7. If the ſame Spiritual means aſſwage it, that firſt raiſed it in the heart: Repentance that can be heal…d by ſports, merry company, &c. was never ſound; It is the voyce of the Church, Come, Hoſea 6.1, 2.and let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torn, and he will heal us, he hath ſmitten, and he will binde us up.
8. If it be joyned with a ſecret truſt in the acceptation of God in Chriſt: If no miſery can beat thy ſoul from inward affiance,Pſal. 38.9. or hope of mercy; if in the very diſquietneſs of the heart, the deſire of the ſoul be to the Lord; if he be never ſo much caſt down, Pſal. 42.5, 11.yet he waits upon God for the help of his countenance, and in ſome meaſure condemns the unbelief of his own heart, and ſupports himſelf with the hope of the never failing compaſſions of God in Chriſt, wherein it differs from the Repentance of Cain and Judas.
SECT. 9. Examination of love to the Brethren.
A Fourth grace which every worthy Receiver muſt finde in himſelf, is Love to the Brethren: and by ſuch marks as theſe, he may try whether his love be a true love.
1. If it be to the Saints as Saints; not becauſe they are rich, learned, wiſe, but meerly becauſe they have Gods image upon them:1 Pet. 1.22. Love one another with a pure heart, love muſt be pure, not mixt, and then it is pure, when it ſprings from no other fountain but grace, and holineſs, and love of God in Chriſt.
1 Pet. 2.17.2. If it be to the Saints above others: Others may have love and honor, according to their relations, qualities, worths; but true love beſtows its Benjamins portion (the ſpecialty and choyce of its affections) upon the Saints.Rom. 12.10.
Philem. 5.3. If it be to all the Saints: if it love grace in rags, as well as in Robes; if it love the abſent, as well as preſent; if it love for the truths ſake thoſe he never ſaw, yet this hinders not the difference of degrees of love, which by the ſpecial providence of God ſome Chriſtians may have to others, in ſome ſpecial eminency of reſpects.
4. If it extends as to all Saints, ſo to all times, as well in adverſity, diſgrace, temptation, ſickneſs, &c. as in proſperity, health, good eſtimation, &c.
Pſal. 16.3.5. If it delight in the fellowſhip of Saints: Such as finde no need of, nor delight in the ſociety of Saints,Pſal. 119 63. may doubt their condition, and be humbled for it.
6. If it cauſe forbearance of one another,Col 3.13, 14. Forgiveneſs of one another: if in caſe the perſon injuring deſires no reconciliation, yet the perſon injured is willing to let fall all wrath, malice, or deſire of revenge.
7. If it make a ſoul to honor them that fear the Lord: Pſal. 15.4.This honor hath in it—
1. An eſtimation of them,Pſal. 16.3. as the onelyonly excellent people in the world.
2.3 Iohn 6. A free acknowledgement of their juſt praiſes in all places for their grace.
3. A willing propoſing of them as examples to imitate.1 Theſſ. 1.7, 8
4. An holy endeavor to cover their infirmities,1 Pet. 4.8. taking things in the beſt part and ſenſe.
5. An apology for them, againſt the reproaches and ſcorns of the world.
SECT. 10. Examination of Obedience.
A Fifth grace which every worthy Receiver muſt finde in himſelf, is Obedience: and by ſuch marks as theſe he may try whether his Obedience be true:
1. If it ariſe out of love to God in Chriſt Jeſus; Iohn 14.15.if it be voluntary and not conſtrained; if the heart be inflamed with the ſenſe of Gods love in Chriſt;Ioſh. 22.5. and if it be humbled when it hath done its beſt, that it can bring no more glory to God.
2. If it be in all things,Pſa. 119.128. Iohn 15.14. Gen. 6.9. with all reſpect to all Gods Commandments; if as Noah, we walk with God (i.) if in a ſetled even courſe of obedience, we keep cloſe to him all the days of our life.
3. If it ſubmit againſt profit, pleaſure, credit, liberty, eaſe, &c.Heb. 11.8. Acts 5.29. Mat. 16.25. if it prefer Gods Commandments above all things, yea above life it ſelf.
4. If it obey the Commandments of faith, as well as life, Rom. 16.26. Rom. 10.16.ſubmitting to the Lord by believing, as by doing, yielding to the Goſpel as to the law.
SECT. 11. Examination of our deſires after this Ordinance.
A Sixth grace which every worthy receiver muſt finde in himſelf, is Holy deſires after this holy Ordinance; and by ſuch marks as theſe he may try whether his deſires be holy.
Pſal 42.1, 2. Iohn 7.37, 381. If they carry the ſoul after Chriſt, fellowſhip with Chriſt, communion with Chriſt, a fruition of Chriſt and his benefits.
2. If they ſpring from any ſenſe of the want of Chriſt, or from ſenſe of former ſweetneſs or goodneſs in Chriſt, found in the uſe of the Ordinances.
Pſal. 42.2.3. If there accompany them an holy kinde of impatience in the want of the Ordinance: When ſhall I come and appear before God?
4. If nothing but Chriſt will content the ſoul: If Chriſt be deſired for himſelf, and not for any baſe ends; If the ſoul be content with Chriſt, though he be caſt into priſon and baniſhment.
5. If there follow a great and ſweet contentment in the uſe of the Ordinances;Iudg. 15.19. Pſal. 63.5. Ier. 31.25. if (as it was with Sampſon drinking of the water that God ſent him out of the hollow of the jaw) our ſpirits come again and revive upon it; ſo that ſometimes the heart is filled with ſtrange extaſies, with exceſs of ſpiritual pleaſures, with an heavenly kinde of ſatisfaction, contentation and delight.
Pſal. 63.4, 5. Iſa. 44.3. 1 Pet. 2.2.6. If there follow after the Ordinance holy vows and wiſhes of infinite and eternal thankfulneſs; as alſo a growth and ſpringing up as among the graſs, or as willows by the water courſes.
SECT. 12. Examination of the growth of Graces.
THe truth of Graces thus found out; In the laſt place, examine we the growth of Graces: Mark 4.27.True grace is ever growing grace, and if a man grow, it will appear by theſe ſigns:
1. By his outward appearance; not that any man can ſee him grow, but that we may diſcern him (as the corn that ſprings and grows up) after ſome time, when he is grown in Knowledge and Faith, &c.
2. By his appetite to his ſpiritual food: Yong men have better ſtomacks then old men, becauſe they are growing;2 Pet. 2.1, 2 and a gracious ſpirit hath ever an appetite or deſire after Spiritual dainties.
3. By his ſpiritual ſtrength; a Chriſtian is at firſt weak, Rom. 14.1.but if he grow, he is ſtronger and ſtronger, till at laſt he can wreſtle with a ſpiritual enemy, with luſts and corruptions, Powers and Principalities, and get the maſtery over them.Eph. 6.12. To this duty of Examination, others adde Excitation, as thus,—There muſt be a new exciting of Faith, and Repentance, and Love, and of deſires after the Ordinances; but of that more fully in the Ordinance it ſelf.
SECT. 13. Of the duties in Sacrament, of the exerciſe of Repentance.
THus far of the duties before Sacrament: now follow the duties in the time of the Sacrament; viz. The exerciſe of our Graces, I mean ſuch Graces as are ſuitable to the quality and nature of the Sacrament, as Repentance, and Faith, and Thanksgiving, and Love, and Charity.
The firſt of theſe Graces, which muſt be ſtirred up or exerciſed, is Repentance: And this will be actuated, if we conſider Gods love in Chriſt, and Chriſts ſorrows and ſufferings for ſin: There are many things in the Ordinance, which if but looked upon with the eye of faith, will open all the ſprings of true ſpiritual ſorrow, or Repentance in the ſoul, but we name onelyonly theſe two particulars:
1. Here is a diſcovery of the love and ſweetneſs of God, in giving his Son to dye for us: So God loved the world, Iohn 3.16.that he gave his onelyonly begotten Son, &c. enough to cauſe us to mourn that ever we offended: O that God ſhould be more tender to us, then to his Son, not sparing his Son, that he might spare us; give him to dye, that we might live; pour the curſe upon him, that the bleſsing might be poured upon us: Who can think on this, and withhold from tears!
2. Here is preſented to us the ſufferings and breakings of Chriſt, enough to break our hardeſt hearts:—Conſider them—
1. In themſelves: What breakings, woundings, ſcourges, crownings, piercings, did he endure in his body? what conflicts, ſtruglings with the wrath of God, terrors of hell? what weight, burthen, wrath, did he undergo, when his ſoul was heavy unto death, when he drank that bitter cup, that cup mingled with curſes, which if man or Angel had but ſipt of, it would have ſunk them into Hell? nay, it made him who was God as well as man, ſanctified with the Spirit, ſupported with the Deity, comforted by Angels, ſwet ſuch a ſweat, as never man ſwet, drops, very clods of blood?
2. In the meriting cauſe of all our good, the procurers of all our peace, ſalvation: He was wounded, that we might be healed; ſcourged, Dan. 9.16. Iſa. 53.5, ….that we might be ſolaced; He was ſlain, but not for himſelf: —He was wounded for our tranſgreſsions, broken for our iniquities, the chaſtiſement of our peace was upon him, and with his ſtripes we are healed.
3. As the effects of our ſin, as thoſe things our ſins brought upon him, and needs muſt this melt and thaw our icy ſtony hearts: It was I (ſhould the ſoul ſay) who was the Traytor, Murtherer, Judas, Herod, Pilate; they were my ſins which were the bloody inſtruments, to ſlay the Lord of glory: Lord, I have ſinned, and thou ſufferedſt, 'twas I that eat the ſowre grapes, and thy teeth were ſet on edge: This conſideration muſt needs fill the heart with ſorrow: They ſhall look upon him whom they have pierced; Zech. 12.10.and how then? They ſhall mourn, and be in bitterneſs of ſoul, as one in bitterneſs for their firſt born: O how ſhould we look upon Chriſt as wounded, ſcourged, pierced for us, and not be affected with, afflicted for our ſins, the cauſe of it? If thou wilt be conformable to Chriſt (ſaith Bernard) as thou beholdeſt here a broken bleeding Chriſt, ſo labor to behold him with a broken bleeding heart: O who can with the eye of faith look upon a broken Chriſt, but with a broken heart? a wounded Chriſt, but with a wounded ſpirit? a bleeding Chriſt, but with a bleeding ſoul: God hath made in nature the ſame organ for ſeeing and weeping; and in grace he who ſees clearly, weeps throughly; The eye will affect the heart: O Chriſt, Lam. 3.5.that my eye would affect my heart; that whiles I behold Chriſt ſhedding his blood for my ſins, my heart would melt out at my eyes, and ſhed tears for thoſe ſins for which I ſee Chriſt ſhed his blood: That I could turn the Sacrament of the Supper into a Baptiſm of tears, that I could waſh and baptize my ſelf with tears of Repentance.
SECT. 14. Of the exerciſe of Faith.
THe ſecond Grace, which in time of Sacrament muſt be actuated and exerciſed, is Faith; then ſhould a communicant ſpeak to his Faith, as Deborah to her ſoul, Awake, awake, Iudg. 5.12.Deborah, awake, awake, utter a ſong: ſo awake, awake, O my Faith, beſtir and rowze up thy ſelf, to receive Chriſt in this Sacrament.
But how, or in what maner is Faith to be actuated, and ſet on work in the uſe of the Sacrament?
In the Sacrament we muſt conſider three things: 1. Sacramental repreſentations. 2. Sacramental offers. 3. Sacramental promiſes; all which are in the words of inſtitution:Mat 26.26. Mark 14 22. Luke 22.19. 1 Cor. 11.23, 24. In the night that he was betrayed, he took bread and brake it:—He took the cup, and gave it, ſaying,—Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you:—And drink ye all of this, for this is my blood of the New-Teſtament, which is ſhed for you, and for many, for the remiſsion of ſins. 1. He took the bread, and brake it, and cup, and gave it,] there is the Repreſentation. 2. He bade, Take, and eat, drink of this,] there is the offer. 3. He ſaid, This is my body, which is given for you: This is my blood, which is ſhed for many for the remiſſion of ſins,] there is the promiſe: Now upon every of theſe muſt our Faith be buſied and ſet on work: As thus in order;—
For Sacramental Repreſentations:
1. In the breaking of bread, and pouring out of the wine, there is a repreſentation of Chriſts death and paſſion, both of his body broken and wounded, and his blood poured and ſhed.
1. Of his body broken and wounded:Iſa. 53.5. He was wounded for our tranſgreſſions,—And with his ſtripes we are healed: What ſweet comfort may faith fetch hence? Look now upon the wounds of Chriſt, as healing wounds, as a City of refuge, whither thy purſued ſoul by the avenger of blood, may fly for ſafety and ſanctuary: Indeed I am a grievous ſinner, I have wounded my conſcience with my tranſgreſsions, but behold my Savior here wounded for my tranſgreſsions: I may well have a troubled conſcience for the wounds my tranſgreſsions have made therein; yet my conſcience needs not ſink in a deſpondency of ſpirit, whiles I look at the wounds of Chriſt: Here are wounds for wounds, healing wounds for ſtabbing wounds, curing wounds for killing wounds: O what comfort is here for faith in the wounds of Chriſt crucified, the nails, the ſpear, the wounds, all preach unto faith a reconciled God, that God is in Chriſt, reconciling the world to himſelf: The Lords bowels are laid open by theſe wounds, ſo as throughout them we may ſee the tender bowels of his mercy, and ſo as through them, mercy flows from thoſe bowels unto us:Cant. 2.14.—O my dove, that art in the clefts or holes of the rock! Some of the Ancients underſtood by theſe clefts of the rock, the wounds of Chriſt, in which the dove, the Church, lies and ſhelters her ſelf: This is one work of Faith in the Sacrament, when it ſees theſe clefts of the rock opened, like a dove to betake her ſelf thereunto for ſhelter ſecurity, againſt all fears that wrath and guilt may put their Conſcience to: Do any fears of wrath trouble thee? doth any guilt of Conſcience diſquiet thee? why now for thy comfort, behold the holes in the rock, where thou mayeſt ſhelter:Ier 48.28. Dwell now in the rock, and be like the dove that makes her neſt in the ſides of the holes mouth; ſee, and fully believe thy peace to be with God through Chriſt, and look upon him broken and wounded for thy tranſgreſſions: Faith thus actuated, cannot but ſend the ſoul from the Sacrament with much comfort.
2. Of the blood poured and ſhed; and what is to be done now when I ſee this blood in the Sacrament, but to actuate my faith, and apply this blood to my ſelf? Christs blood is a reconciling blood, Rom. 3.25.Rom. 3.25. and 5.9. A juſtifying blood, Rom. 5.9. A pacifying blood, Coloſſ. 1.20.Col. 1.20. A pardoning blood, Epheſ. 1.7.Epheſ. 1.7. A ſanctifying blood, Heb. 13.12.Heb. 13.12. and 9.14. A purging blood from dead works, Heb. 9.14. A cleanſing blood, 1 John 1.7.1 John 1.7. A mortifying, crucifying blood, Gal. 6.14.Gal. 6.14. A blood that ſets priſoners free, Zech. 9.11.Zech 9.11. A blood that makes men Kings and Prieſts, Rev. 1.5, 6.Rev. 1.5, 6. A ſoftning, mollifying blood, that makes the heart tender, a fleſhy heart, Zech. 12.10.Zech. 12.10. Goats blood (ſome ſay) breaks the Adamant, which neither iron nor fire can do; but ſurely the blood of this Lamb breaks the Adamant-heart of a man, which nothing elſe can break: It is a quickning blood, that brings life and ſtrength with it; it is life-blood, blood full of ſpirit, that fills the ſoul with excellent vigor to holy performances, Heb. 13.20, 21.Heb. 13.20, 21.—Now what a deal of comfort may faith draw from all this? True, my perſon is unrighteous, but, O Chriſt, thy blood is juſtifying blood; my heart is unclean, but thy blood is is a ſanctifying blood; my luſts are many and mighty, but thy blood is mortifying blood; my heart is wondrous hard, but thy blood is ſoftning blood; my heart is exceeding dead, but thy blood is quickning blood: In this blood of thine I believe, this blood of thine I thirſtily drink down, this blood of thine I heartily apply, with a comfortable expectation of all theſe bleſſed benefits: Be of good chear, O my ſoul, here is pardoning blood againſt thy guilt, ſanctifying blood againſt the pollutions of thy nature, crucifying blood againſt thy luſts, ſoftning blood againſt thy hardneſs, quickning blood to help thee againſt thy deadneſs.
2. For Sacramental offers, in the words, Take, eat, drink,] Chriſt himſelf is offered with all his benefits: Here then muſt faith actuate it ſelf, and ſet it ſelf on work, ſtriving with all its might to take Chriſt, to eat and drink Chriſt offered: When Chriſt is offered to us, the act of faith then is that of the Pſalmiſt, Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, Pſal. 24.7.ye everlaſting doors; and why muſt theſe gates and doors be lift up? that the King of glory may come in: Chriſt makes offer to come into our hearts, and therefore we muſt open the gates, we muſt lift them up, even from off the hooks, that fair and foul way may be made for ready entrance. If a great man, eſpecially a King, comes to a mans houſe, he will not onelyonly open the ſmall wicket, his little door, but he ſets open his great gates, he throws them wide open, to make ſpacious way for his entrance; ſo if thus it be, that Chriſt in the Sacrament offers himſelf to come to us, let our faith buſily beſtir it ſelf in widening the paſſage, and opening our hearts to make Chriſt way, let us ſtrive with might and page missing ſo that Chriſt is full, and ever ſhall be full to the brim; there is in him a fulneſs of merit, for our juſtification, and a fulneſs of ſpirit, and habitual Graces for our ſanctification: In him are hid all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge (i.) vaſt heaps,Col. 2.3. for ſome pieces of ſilver and gold, are not treaſures; all the treaſures, all the heaps of Knowledge and wiſdom that are in the world, all are in him; he is all in all.
2. Faith caſts its eye on the promiſe, for the conveyance of Chriſt, and of Grace from Chriſt: Faith works by vertue of the promiſe; where there is no promiſe, there can be no faith, and therefore faith diſcovers the promiſe, That of his fulneſs we ſhall receive grace for grace; Iohn 1.16.That his body is given for us; That his blood is ſhed for us, and for many, for the remiſsion of ſins: Hence the ſchools admit of a double fulneſs (i.) Of abundance and redundance: The promiſe ſpeaks not onelyonly of the fulneſs of abundance in Chriſt, whereby he is ſufficiently full in himſelf, but alſo of a fulneſs of redundance, by which he overflows and fills all his Saints: He is the well-head or fountain, which is not onelyonly full it ſelf, but ſprings and flows over to the filling of the ſtreams below it.
3. Faith looks upon this Ordinance, as an inſtrument, a means which God hath ſet up for the conveying of Chriſt, and nouriſhment from Chriſt: in Zachary we finde mention of two olive branches, Zech. 4.12.which through two golden pipes, emptied the golden oyl out of themſelves: We may thus interpret, Chriſt is the olive branch, and the olive tree, and from whom comes all the golden oyl of Grace and ſpiritual comfort, and he it is that empties it out of himſelf, into our hearts; but how? it is by his Ordinances, they be the golden pipes, by which this golden oyl is conveyed unto us: Chriſt doth not immediately empty the oyl into our hearts, but firſt into the golden pipes of his Ordinances, and ſo through them into us.
4. Faith being ſteeled by ſuch conſiderations as theſe, it goes over to Chriſt, and by vertue of the promiſe, draws down his body and blood into the ſoul; this therefore is the main work, to awaken, and to actuate our faith, to ſet it on work upon Chriſt, and ſo to draw forth the efficacy of Chriſt in the Sacrament: Lord, I believe that thy body was given for me, thy blood ſhed for me, and for the remiſſion of many ſins: Lord, I chearfully and gladly believe that I am now partaker of thy body and blood, and that my ſins are pardoned in thy blood: I believe that Chriſt is mine, his death is mine, his reſurrection is mine, remiſſion of ſins is mine, pardon and heaven are mine: Lord, I accept, I believe this ſealed pardon of my ſin: Lord, I believe that all Chriſt, whole Chriſt is mine, from top to toe: Lord, I believe his perſon is mine, his Godhead is mine, his Manhood is mine: Lord, I believe his merit is mine, his vertue is mine, his benefits both of Grace and Glory are mine: Lord, I believe that in Chriſt all fulneſs dwells, and that of his fulneſs I ſhall receive grace for grace: Lord, I believe that through this golden pipe of the Lords Supper, I ſhall receive the golden oyl of Grace from Chriſt, now be it to me according to my faith: Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief: O come down into my ſoul, and fill it full of the Lord Chriſt, of the body and blood of Chriſt. In this maner, as one ſaid of the tree of Chriſts aſcention, though the fruit were high, and above our reach, yet if we touch him by the hand of faith, and tongue of prayer, all will fall down upon us: So here, if we can but touch him with the hand of faith, though a palſie hand, though a weak and trembling hand, if we can but go to him with a praying heart, Chriſt can withhold nothing from us.
By the way, this may diſcover to us where the fault is; when we return home, our faith never the more ſtretched, our hearts never the more warmed, our Graces never the more nouriſhed, our corruptions never the more weakned, our aſſurance never the more heightned, it is a ſhrewd ſign faith did not play its part in the Mount: Faith was intruſted in this imployment, to go over to Chriſt for theſe and the like benefits, but thy faith did fail in the undertaking; therefore God, ſuſpends the beſtowing of theſe benefits, becauſe thou ſuſpendeſt thy faith:—Well then, if thou ſee not the fruit and benefit thou expectedſt, to come into thy ſoul in the uſe of this Ordinance, charge thy faith with it, and bewail the weakneſs of it; and for the future, put it to its burthen, let it have its full and perfect work, and thou wilt then finde the comfort and fruit of it: Never did faith touch Chriſt in any Ordinance, but vertue came from him.
SECT. 15. Of the exerciſe of Thankſgiving.
THe heart being warmed, and growing hot with the ſenſe of Gods goodneſs, a man ſhould then break out, and give vent to his heart, in magnifying the mercy of God for the death of Chriſt, and the fruit thereof communicated to us. Now this duty of Praiſe and Thanksgiving is actuated—
Pſal. 103.1, 2.1. By our private ejaculations: Our ſouls ſhould praiſe him, and all that is within us ſhould praiſe his holy name; eſpecially our affections of joy and love ſhould taſte largely of God. We ſhould to this purpoſe now and then caſt up ſuch a dart as this to heaven, We praiſe thee, O God, we acknowledge thee to be the Lord, &c.
2. By our publike and joynt praiſes: Miniſter and people ſhould both lift up their voyces, with Glory to God on high, on earth peace, good will towards men.
3. By our ſinging of Pſalms: Thus Chriſt and his Apoſtles, after the celebration of the Lords Supper, they ſung an hymn or pſalm; and ſome ſay, it was one of Davids Pſalms, which was to preſent purpoſe (the Jews at their Paſſover uſed theſe Pſalms, Pſalm 113. to 119. which they called the great Alleluiah) but others ſay, it was a Pſalm compoſed by Chriſt himſelf, containing the myſtery of his Paſſion: howſoever, we learn our duty, as at other times, ſo at this eſpecially, to ſing unto God a great Alleluiah.
4. By our obedience, by devoting, and giving up our ſelves to Chriſt, to be at the will of him, who is our ſoveraign Lord. The proof and life of Thankſgiving, is Thanks-doing; the life of thankfulneſs, is the good life of the thankful: Do we praiſe God for his excellency? that ſtrictly is the object of praiſe: or do we thank God for his goodneſs? that ſtrictly is the object of thankſgiving: O then let it appear, that we acknowledge God in Chriſt to be ſuch a one as we ſay in our praiſes; and that we ſtand bound and beholding to him indeed, as we ſay in our thanks. Let us carry our ſelves in our life towards him, as to God, who onelyonly is excellent, who onelyonly is God, our God, the God of our life and ſalvation.
SECT. 16. Of the exerciſe of Love and Mercy.
OUr love muſt be actuated—
1. In reſpect of all men, not onelyonly by doing them good,Gal. 6.10. as we have opportunity, but if they be wicked, by pitying their ſouls, and by unfeignedly deſiring (even at this Sacrament) the converſion of them.
2. In reſpect of our enemies; by forgiving, Col. 3.13. Mat. 5.44.and forgetting all injuries, by praying for them, as Chriſt hath commanded.
3. In reſpect of the Saints, by delighting in them, as the moſt excellent of the earth, the onelyonly true worthies of the world, Pſal. 16.3.worthy for ever of the flower, and fervency, and dearneſs of our moſt melting affections and intimate love, by ſimpathizing with them in their felicities and miſeries, Rejoyce with them that rejoyce, Rom. 12.15.and mourn with them that mourn.
Our mercy muſt be exerciſed to the poor, according to their neceſſities, and our abilities; onelyonly with this caveat, That we give in faith, and chearfulneſs, and ſpiritual diſcretion, in preferring the Saints.
SECT. 17. Of Examination after Sacrament, and the reſult, if not a good day.
THus far of the Duties both before, and at the time of the Lords Supper: Now follows the Duties after Sacrament, and they are theſe,—
Examination.
Thankfulneſs.
Obedience.
1. A man is ſeriouſly and faithfully to conſider, after he hath been at the Lords Supper, what entertainment and welcom God hath given him? what comfort? what encreaſing of Faith and Grace? what quickning? what refreſhment? what aſſurance? what friendſhip, and what communion with Chriſt? what vertue he hath found to flow out of Chriſt into his ſoul?
Now if upon ſuch examination, a man have found no joy, no comfort, no enlargement, no communion with, nor anſwer from Chriſt; but on the contrary, his heart full of deadneſs, hardneſs, dulneſs, unfruitfulneſs, then two things are to be done:—
1. Let ſuch a one ſuſpect himſelf, that ſome miſcarriage hath been in him, either in his preparation to, or in his performance of the Duty; and let him labor. to finde out where the fail was; what it was that hindred the efficacy of that Bleſſed Sacrament: and having found out what hindred, let him judge himſelf for it, and be ſeriouſly humbled therefore: If he can but do thus, he needs not be overmuch diſmaid, becauſe this is one fruit of the life of Chriſt, which was undoubtedly received in the Sacrament; if he have not that which he would have, yet he hath that which was worth the going for: Let him conſtrue this Humiliation as a fruit of going to the Sacrament, and be thankful for that.
2. Let him endeavor by after-pains in prayer and humiliation, to quicken and awaken the efficacy of the Sacrament: Sacraments do not always work for the preſent, but the efficacy may come afterwards; the actions of God are of eternal efficacy, though he put forth that efficacy in ſuch times and ſeaſons as he ſees good. Phyſick doth not always work when it is taken, but ſometimes afterward: Thus alſo it may be with the Sacrament, when a Communicant humbled for his unprofitableneſs in the Duty, endeavors by after-diligence and humiliation, to quicken and put life into it, it may work then. What hinders but it may be in the caſe of the Lords Supper, as in the Sacrament of Baptiſm? the efficacy and force of Baptiſm doth not preſently appear, no not preſently upon the years of diſcretion: many a one lives viciouſly in a ſinful courſe, a Swearer, Adulterer, &c. yet afterwards when God gives a man the heart to be touched with the ſenſe of ſin, and he begins to beſtir himſelf, to ſeek God by faith and repentance, the Lord then quickens his Baptiſm, and makes it as powerful and efficacious, as if it had been adminiſtred that very day: So in this caſe poſſibly a man hath been at the Lords Table, and hath more then once been an unworrhy receiver, yet if he ſhall once come to be humbled for that unworthineſs, God will make Sacraments ſo often received unprofitably, to become efficacious unto him: If then we have miſcarried in our preparations and diſpoſitions, ſo as we have found no benefit, no comfort, yet here is a remedy and help. Take this courſe by after-diligence, and after-humiliation, to fetch life into the Ordinance in which we were dead, and which was dead unto us.
SECT. 18. Of Thankfulneſs, if a good day.
IF upon examination we finde that we were refreſhed, had our hearts enlarged, had vertue from, and communion with Chriſt, then muſt follow
Thankfulneſs.
Obedience.
1. Thankfulneſs: Return home now, as with thy heart full of benefits of the Lord, ſo with thy heart full of praiſes to the Lord: Angels employments are moſt ſuitable to Angels food; Shall we bleſs God for a crumb, and not for a Chriſt? other mercies are but crumbs, in compariſon of this rich mercy, and ſhall our hearts ſavor them ſo much, and not reliſh theſe? what's corn and wine to this? This is a mercy, in which all other mercies are folded up: Chriſt doth eminently contain all other mercies, and in the want of all, Chriſt enjoyed is exceeding great reward; nay, all mercies are not onelyonly folded up in him, and intailed to him, but he ſweetens and ſanctifies every mercy: let us then return home, as full of the bleſſing from on high, ſo full of praiſes to the moſt high: Thankfulneſs is the great grace to be excerciſed in, and Thankfulneſs is the great grace to be exerciſed after; and therefore while the preſent ſenſe of this mercy warms our hearts, let the heat of it burſt forth into Thankfulneſs toward God; it is the moſt ſuitable ſervice, and the moſt ſuitable time to return it.
SECT. 19. Of obedience and fruitfulneſs in our lives.
THe ſecond thing required in ſuch a caſe, is Obedience. 1. Get we our hearts now further ſet againſt ſin, let our ſouls ſay, Hath God been ſo gracious to renew and confirm my pardon, and ſhall I again diſhonor him? Hath he wiped off my former ſcores, and ſhall I run on afreſh to offend him? Hath he taken off my former burthen, and caſt it on the back of his dear Son, and ſhall I again lay more load on him? Hath he ſpoken peace to me in his Ordinance, and ſhall I again return to folly? No, far be it from me: I have waſhed my feet, how ſhall I again defile them? I have put off my coat, how ſhall I again put it on?
2. Get we our hearts further ſtrengthned to ſervice: In this Ordinance is a mutual ſealing of Covenants between God and us; he ſeals to the firſt part of the Covenant, Pardon, Mercy, Grace, and we muſt ſeal to the ſecond part of it, Service, Subjection, Obedience. God gives Chriſt to us, and we are to give our ſelves back again to Chriſt. As there is matter of Bounty from God to us, ſo there is matter of Duty from us to God: There was never any ſoul, to whom God ſaid in this Ordinance, I am thine, whoſe heart did not eccho again to the ſame God, Lord, I am thine. Let us then labor to get our hearts further ſtrengthned to ſervice. And thus much concerning our duties before, in, and after the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.