Christianity in Short, Text 4 – Text 5
The matter of our Deſires and Prayers.
I AM not able naturally either to underſtand the myſteries of Faith, or to do the Spiritual duties, which I am bound as a Chriſtian, to believe and do. I muſt not therefore truſt to my ſelf, but by frequent, fervent and humble Prayer apply my ſelf to God, in the name of Jeſus Chriſt, for the help of his Holy Spirit to quicken my deadneſs, enlighten my ignorance, and ſtrengthen my weakneſs.
Of my ſelf I know not how to pray, or for what to pray; I muſt therefore learn of Chriſt, who hath taught me thus to Pray,
Our Father, &c.
I muſt with all Humility, as an undone ſinner, approach unto God, in a true ſenſe of his right in me, and dominion over me, as my Owner and Governour, and of his love to me as my Father, ſo far reconciled unto all men in Jeſus Chriſt, that he pitieth us, and hath as a gracious Father, provided all things needful to make us happy, and that he delighteth not in our death, but would have us turn and live as his children, happy in our Father's love and providence.
I muſt draw near unto him, as a penitent, dutiful and loving child; heartily ſorry that ever I offended him, reſtleſly longing to be reconciled unto him, reſolvedly willing to reſign and give my ſelf up unto him, to be governed wholly by him; ſtedfaſtly believing and truſting in his power to ſave and bleſs me, and his willingneſs to receive me for his own adopted child in Jeſus Chriſt.
Yet I muſt remember the greatneſs of his Divine Majeſty, and the infinite diſtance betwixt a powerful, wiſe and good God in Heaven, and me a weak, fooliſh and ſinful worm of the Earth; and ſo come with all humble reverence, falling down at his feet in a devout Adoration of his Majeſty, longing to be made more Holy and Heavenly, that I may be capable of a nearer Communion with him.
I muſt firſt heartily deſire, that all the World may give him the glory due unto his Name; That He may be more perfectedly known, and loved, and honoured by men; and that in his Perſon, his Name, his Attributes, his Word, his Day, his Ordinances, his Miniſters, and all his children. That he may be choſen, and Magnified as the ſupream good, have the chief place in our hearts and affections, and glorified in the World by our Godly lives.
I muſt next pray, that the Yoak of ſin may be broken off, and we freed from the Tyranny of Satan; that we may joyfully own, and ſubmit to the authority of God. That Chriſt's Church may flouriſh and be enlarged on earth, and that the Civil Powers may cheriſh and protect it; that the Power and malice of it's enemies may be reſtrained and fruſtrated; that Chriſt may rule by his Spirit in our hearts ſubduing our Corruptions and ruling us in the way of Godlineſs; that we may earneſtly long for, and diligently prepare for, and patiently wait for, and finally enter into God's Kingdome of glory.
I muſt in the 3 d. place pray, That men may not make the will of the devil, the Cuſtoms of the world, or their own inclinations and appetites, but the will of God alone the rule of their lives. That we may all ſincerely obey his commands, and ſubmit to his wiſdome, and reſt in his government. That we may alwaies endeavour after the perfection of duty, and as the Holy Angels of Heaven, rejoyce and delight in an Holy Obedience.
My next petition is, That I may have all things needfull to preſerve this life, till I be fitted for a better. That we may have health and Strength to ſerve God, and other outward good things, as they are expedient; that we may be free from the temptations of riches or poverty, contented with our preſent portion; and wiſe to uſe it piouſly and Charitably. That God would proſper our honeſt labours, keep us from immoderate cares and deſires, from all idleneſs and intemperance.
In the next place I pray, that God would grant us ſoft hearts, and repentance unto life, a perfect hatred of ſin, and power to leave it. That He would through Chriſt forgive all our ſins original and actual; and grant us grace in thankfulneſs to him to forgive all that offend us, and to return good for evil.
Laſtly, That God would enable us to watch againſt, and manfully to reſiſt all temptations, that they may never prevail with us to do evil; that he would fruſtrate all the malicious deſigns of the devil, and all our enemies, and protect us by his grace, that we may perſevere in obedience to our lives end.
I conclude my Prayers with aſcribing unto God the honour of all his works, acknowledging his Dominion and Soveraignty over all, and my ſelf happy in being his Subject; his infinite power, and my ſelf happy in being under his protection; I acknowledge all things to be from him, our total dependance to be upon him, and that the glory of all goodneſs is due unto him. I deſire this may by all the World be acknowledged for evermore; And with all hearty deſire, and filial confidence, to all this I ſay, Amen; So be it.
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
CHriſt Jeſus hath inſtituted the night before he was betrayed a ſolemn Sacrament, and Chriſtian Feaſt, to be celebrated by Chriſtians, even till his coming again, in remembrance of him.
The outward matter to be received, is Bread and Wine, ſignifying the Body and Blood of Chriſt, as the food and refreſhment of our Souls.
The Bread is Bleſſed-broken, and given to be received and eaten by us; The Wine likewiſe Bleſſed, poured out and given to be received and drunk by us; to ſignifie that Chriſt was Conſecrated and Crucified, his body wounded, his blood ſhed for our ſins, and that he giveth himſelf Crucified to be received and believed on as our Spiritual nouriſhment and comfort.
All that preparedly receive the Bread and Wine, do with it really receive Chriſt Crucified; and with him the pardon of their ſins, and Aſſurance of Eternal Life, ſcaled a new unto them in this Sacrament for the confirming of their Faith, and growth in Grace.
We joyn in the celebration of this Feaſt to ſignifie, that we though many, are yet Members of one Body, the Church, joyned unto one Head, Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe Death and Sacrifice we unanimouſly commemorate, with all thankfulneſs; Profeſſing that we all own the ſame Lord, the ſame Faith, the ſame Laws, and are to live in love, peace and holineſs, as the Members of the ſame body.
He that Communicateth in this Sacrament unworthily, is accounted by God, as guilty of the Body and Blood of Chriſt.
That we may avoid this guilt, we muſt examine our ſelves, whether we diſcern the Lord's Body, and underſtand what he gives there unto us, and what we there come to do.
We are alſo to examine, how we keep our Baptiſmal Covenant of Repentance, Faith and New Obedience, and if we find our ſelves truly thankful for the Bleſſing of our Redemption, by Jeſus Chriſt.
If we find our ſelves ſincere Chriſtians, reſolving to keep Covenant with God, we are there to renew our Covenant moſt ſeriouſly, praiſing God in Chriſt for this ineſtimable priviledge, rejoycing in his Salvation, and ſo go our way, and ſin no more.