The Christian Mans Calling, Treatise · Chapter 19

The Christian Mans Calling · Treatise · Chapter 19

p. 284CHAP. XIX. How a Chriſtian may exerciſe himſelf to godlineſs at the Table.

I Come to the ſecond particular about the Lords Supper, Secondly,and that is thy behaviour at the Table, or in the time of receiving. In reference to which I would adviſe thee, 1. To mind the ſutable ſubjects which are to be conſidered at it. 2. To obſerve the ſpecial graces which are to be exerciſed in it. There are three principal ſubjects of meditation when thou approacheſt the Table, in order to the three graces which muſt then be acted. The Subjects of meditation are Chriſts paſſion, his affection, and thy own corruptions. The three graces are Faith, Love, and godly ſorrow. Chriſts death is ſure footing for Faith. Paul never deſired better, 1 Cor. 2.2. it is not onelyonly an elect and precious, but a tried ſtone and a ſure foundation on which whoſoever beleiveth ſhall never be confounded. Iſa. 28.16. Faith picks excellent food from this heavenly carkaſs. The love of Chriſt diſplayed in his death, p. 285cauſeth and calleth forth the love of a Chriſtian. Faith bringeth the ſoul (that is like a dead coal) near to the live coals of Gods burning love, in giving his onelyonly Son, and Chriſts burning love in giving himſelf, and by theſe it is turned into fire, all in a flame of love; as the Eccho anſwereth the voice, it returneth the love it receiveth. Our own ſins meditated on, ſtit up the third grace, which is godly ſorrow. Though indeed this liquor will run from any of the three Veſſels, if they be but peirced. When Chriſt hung upon the Croſs under the weight of Gods wrath, water came out of his ſides as well as blood. Who can think of his ſufferings without ſorrow? and of his blood without tears? His love in its heat, may well thaw the moſt frozen ſpirit; but ſin the cauſe of his ſufferings will like a knife cut and prick to the heart indeed; but

Firſt, I begin with the ſubjects of meditation, and among them in the firſt place with the paſſion of Chriſt.

Firſt, Meditate now on the ſuffering of thy Saviour; the wound of Chriſt out of which came precious balſom to heal all thy ſinful ſores, ought never to be forgotten; but the remembrance of them is never ſo ſeaſonable as at a Sacrament. One end of the inſtitution of this Ordinance, was the commemoration of Chriſts death; As oft as ye eat this brrad, and drink this cup, ye ſhew forth the Lords death till he come, 1 Cor. 11.26, 27. The Sacrament is a lively crucifix, wherein Jeſus Chriſt is evidently ſet forth, crucified before thine p. 286eyes. When thou ſeeſt the bread and wine conſecrated and ſet apart, conſider how God the Father did from eternity ſet a part his onelyonly Son for his bloody paſſion, and thy bleſſed redemption. Conſider he was a Lamb ſlain before the foundation of the World. When thou ſeeſt the bread and wine upon the Table, conſider that as the Corn was ground in the Mill, to make that bread, and the grapes ſquezed to make that wine, ſo thy Saviour was beaten in the Mill, and Wine-preſs of his Fathers wrath, before he could be meat indeed, and drink indeed, to nouriſh thee unto life everlaſting. When thou ſeeſt the bread broken in peices, think how the body of Chriſt was broken for thine iniquities. It pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him (as Spice is beaten ſmall in a mortar with a Peſſel, ſo the word ſignifieth, Iſa. 53.10.) Well might he cry out, I am feeble and ſore broken, I have roared by reaſon of the diſquietneſs of my heart, Pſa. 38.8. When thou ſeeſt the Wine poured out, meditate on his precious blood, which was ſhed for many, for the remiſſion of ſins. O conſider his wounds and his words, I am poured out like water, and all my bones are ont of joynt, my heart is like Wax, it is melted in the midſt of my bowels, Pſa: 22.14. Conſider the doleful tragedy which he acted from firſt to laſt; Meditate on his incarnation. For the Son of God to become the Son of man; for him that lived from all eternity to be born in time; for him that thundereth in the clouds, to cry in the Cradle; for him that created all things, to become a creature, is a greater ſuffering, then if all the men and Angels p. 287in this and the other World were crowded into an atome, or turned into nothing. This was the firſt and greateſt ſtep of his humiliation. Conſider the manner of his birth; he was born, not of ſome great Princes, but of mean and indigent Parents; not in a Royal Palace, but in a place where Beggers and Beaſts are entertained, a Stable; he was no ſooner born, but ſought after to be butchered. He fled for his life in his very ſwadling clouts, and was an early Martyr indeed. When he grew up, though he was of ability to have ſway'd the Scepter of all the Empires in the World, to have inſtructed the greateſt Potentates and Counſellours in the myſteries of wiſdom and knowledge; though to him Adam and Solomon, yea and Angels themſelves were fools; yet he lived privately with his ſuppoſed Father many years, and ſuffered his deity to be hid as light in a Dark Lanthorn neer thirty years, ſave that once it darted a little out, when at twelve years of age he diſputed, which confuted the great Rabbies of the Jews, Luk. 2.46.

When he entred upon his publique Miniſtry, he is no ſooner aſcended the Stage, but all the Divels in Hell appear againſt him, and he is forced to fight hand to hand with them for forty days together, and when they left him, they did not take their leave, but departed onelyonly for a ſeaſon, Luk. 4.13. His whole life was a living death. How poor was he, when he was fain to work a miracle to pay his Tax! The Foxes had holes, and the Birds of the Air had Neſts, but the Son of man had not where to lay his head, though he were heir of all things, p. 288Mat. 8.20. What did he ſuffer in his name, when the worſt words in the mouths of the Jews were thought not bad enough for him? He is called the Carpenters Son, a Glutton, a Drunkard, a Blaſphemer, a friend of Publicans and ſinners, a Samaritan, a Devil, nay the Prince of Devils. What hunger, and thirſt, and wearineſs did he undergo? He that feeds others with his own fleſh, had many an hungry belly. He that gave others that water of which whoſoever drinketh ſhall thirſt no more, had his own veins ſucking and paining him for thirſt. He that is himſelf the onelyonly Ark for the weary Dove to flie too for reſt, did himſelf take many a weariſom ſtep, and travail many a tireſome journey. Well might the Prophet call him, a man of ſorrows, and acquainted with greifs, though he had ſuffered no more then what is already written, but all this was but the beginning of his ſorrows. The dregs of the cup were at the bottom. Doubtleſs many an aking heart had he (as a Woman with Child) beforehand when he thought of the bitter pangs, ſharp throws, and hard labour, which he was to ſuffer at the cloſe of his life. O Friend, Remember this Son of David and all his troubles; but to come to his end which is ſpecially repreſented in this Ordinance; I will take him in the Garden, where he felt more then I can write or think. Conſider his body there, it was all over in a goar blood; Ah what ſuffered he when he did ſweat clods of blood. To ſweat blood is againſt nature, much more in a cold ſeaſon, moſt of all when he was full of fear and terrour, then the p. 289blood retreats to the heart to guard it, and to be guarded by it.

But behold, Reader, thy Saviour for thy ſake, and under the weight of thy ſins, did ſweat blood in a cold night, when he was exceedingly afraid: Ah, who would not love ſuch a Saviour; and who would not loath ſin! But the ſufferings of his body were nothing, to the ſufferings of his ſoul; theſe were the ſoul of his ſufferings. Obſerve his expreſſion, My ſoul is exceeding ſorrowful: My ſoul is ſorrowful unto death. Ʋnto death; not onelyonly Extenſively, ſeventeen or eighteen hours, till death ended his life; but chiefly Intenſively, ſuch ſorrow as the pangs of death bring, ſurely far greater. Again, Father, if it be poſſible, let this cup paſs from me: Wiſe and valiant men do not complain of nothing. Ah, how bitter was that cup which Valour and Reſolution it ſelf ſeemed unwilling to drink! The two moſt tormenting paſſions which are, Fear and Grief, did now ſeize upon him in the higheſt degree: He began to be ſorrowful, and very heavy, ſaith Matthew, Chap. 26. verſ. 37. He began to be ſore amazed, and very heavy, ſaith Mark, Chap. 14. verſ. 33.

Reader, follow him farther; One Diſciple ſelleth him at the price of a Slave; another Diſciple forſweareth him; all of them for ſake him, and fly; the greedy Wolves lay hold on this innocent Lamb; the bloody Jews apprehend him, binde his hands like a Thief, and hale him away to the High-Prieſt; then they hire perſons to belye Truth it ſelf: But when their teſtimony was inſufficient, upon his p. 290own moſt holy confeſſion, a ſentence of condemnation is paſt upon him. Conſider now how the ſervants ſmite his bleſſed cheeks with their fiſts, and ſpit on that beautiful face with their mouths, which Angels counted their honor to behold; the Maſters flout him with their ſcornful carriage, and mock him with their petulant language: He muſt be the ſink into which they fling all their ſilth. Afterwards they carry him to Pilate; he ſendeth him to Herod; Herod with ſome ſcorns and ſcoffs ſendeth him back: Thus is he, like a foot-bal, ſpurned up and down between thoſe inhumane wretches: Pilate tears his fleſh with wounds and wails, and preſenteth him to the people with a crown of Thorns on his head, to move pity; the people thirſting after his blood, can by no words be perſwaded, by no means be prevailed with, to let this innocent Dove eſcape. Though he be put in competition with a Murtherer, yet the Murtherer is preferred before him; and as the worſt of the two, he is at laſt condemned as a ſeditious perſon, and a Traytor againſt Caeſars Crown and Dignity, to be crucified without the gate, leſt the City ſhould be polluted with his blood. Now, Reader, come along like the beloved Diſciple, and behold thy Saviour bearing his own Croſs, and going to the place of execution, to dye the death of a Slave; for no Freeman was ever crucified; therefore Julian in deriſion called him, The ſtaked God. He is no ſooner come to the diſmal place of dead mens skulls, but they tear off his cloathes (and ſome think skin and all) glued to his back with p. 291their bloody ſcourgings. Now they ſtretch his body, as cloth with tenters, and rack it ſo that his bones ſtart out of his skin: (I may tell all my bones, Pſal. 22.17.) in nailing his two hands to the two horns, and his feet (thoſe parts ſo full of nerves and ſinews, and ſo the moſt ſenſible of any parts of the body) to the ſtump of the Croſs: (They digged my hands and my feet:) and hang him up between two Thieves, as the moſt notorious Malefactor of the three: He was numbred among the Trangreſſors. His bloody, watching, faſting, ſcorched, wracked body, is oppreſſed with exquiſite pain, and his anguiſh ſo vehement, that he cryeth out, I thirſt; to quench which, they give him vinegar and gall, and ſpice it with a ſcoff to make it relliſh the better; Let us ſee whether Elias will come and ſave him. But Oh! who can imagine what he ſuffered in his ſoul, when he hung under the weight of mens revenge, Devils rage, the Laws curſe, and the Lords wrath! Men revile him, wagging their heads, and ſaying, Thou that deſtroyeſt the Temple, and buildeſt it in three days, ſave they ſelf: He ſaved others, himſelf he cannot ſave: To him that was afflicted, pity ſhould have been ſhewn; but they added affliction to the afflicted, and forſook the fear of the Almighty. All the Devils in Hell were now putting forth their utmoſt power and policy (for this was their hour, and the power of darkneſs) to encreaſe his ſufferings, that if poſſible, they might provoke him to ſin, thereby to have ſeparated his Humane nature from his Divine, that it might have periſhed eternally, and all mankinde with it; but the ſting of his death is yet p. 292behind. The head of that arrow which pierced his heart indeed, was the frown of his Father: That his Kinſmen, the Jews, whom he came to ſanctifie and redeem; (for he was the glory of his people Iſrael) ſhould deliver him up to be crucified, was not a ſmall aggravation of his miſery: That his Apoſtles that had been eye-witneſſes of his miracles, and earwitneſſes of his Oracles (to whom he had ſpoken ſo pathetically, Will ye alſo forſake me? and who had told him ſo reſolutely, We will go with thee into priſon, and to death, Luke 22.33. Mat. 26.35.) ſhould now in his greateſt extremity turn their backs upon him, added ſome more gall to his bitter cap: That his Mother ſhould ſtand by the Croſs weeping, and have her ſoul pierced through with the ſword of his ſufferings, was far from being an allay to his ſorrows; but that his Father, of whom he had often boaſted, It is my Father that honoreth me, My Father loveth me, I and my Father are one, ſhould now in his low eſtate, in his day of adverſity, in his critical hour, not onelyonly not help him, and leave him alone, as an harmleſs Dove, amongſt ſo many ravenous Vultures, to conteſt with all the fury of Earth and Hell; but alſo pour out the Vials of his own Wrath upon him, and (though the Union was not diſſolved, yet) ſuffer the beams, the influences to be reſtrained, that he might fully bear the curſe of the Law, and feel the weight of ſin; this was the hotteſt fire in which the Paſchal Lamb was roaſted; this cauſed that Heart-breaking, Soulcutting, Heaven-piercing expreſſion, My God, My God, why haſt thou forſaken me! O how! how juſtly p. 293might he have cryed out with Joh. Have pity upon me my friend, have pity upon me, for the hand (not onelyonly of my Enemies and my friends, of multitudes of men, and of Legions of Divels, but the hand) of God hath touched me. How truely might the Husband have taken up his Spouſes lamentation. Is it nothing to you, all ye that paſs by? Behold and ſee, if there be any ſorrow like unto my ſorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me, in the day of his fierce anger. Ah who can write or read ſuch a tragedy with dry eyes.

Friend, when thou art at the Sacrament, think of theſe ſufferings, and beleive it, they will make work among thy ſins. When thou takeſt the cup of wine, do not forget the cup of Worm-wood, which thy Saviour drunk for thy ſake; he drank of the Brook in the way, he drank the cup of his Fathers wrath infinitely imbittered with the curſe of the law, that thou mighteſt drink the cup of bleſſing. At the Table obey his own command, Do this in remembrance of me.

Secondly, Meditate on the affection of Chriſt. We will remember thy love more then wine, ſaith the Spouſe, when thou ſeeſt the wine; think of that love which is better then wine. Belevie it, if ever there were a love-feaſt, this is it. Men teſtifie their love in beſtowing food on their hungry friends, but ah what love was that which gave his bleſſed body and precious blood to feed his ſtarving enemies. He that conſidereth what Chriſt ſuffered, and for whom, may well think he was little elſe, but a p. 294lump of love; His compaſſion is infinitely viſible in his paſſion. What love was that which moved him to lay down his life for thee! Friend, if ever thou hadſt hard thoughs of Chriſt, take a view of him in the former ſubject of meditation, and conſider whether his heart be not ſet upon ſinners, when he ſhed his heart blood for their ſouls. The redneſs of the fire diſcovers its heat. O how did the redneſs of this Roſe of Sharon, the blood which iſſued from his head, and back, and hands, and feet, and heart, and whole body, ſpeak his burning, his fiery love! Well might the Apoſtle John joyn and pair thoſe Turtle-Doves; Who hath loved us and waſhed us in his blood, Rev. 1.5. In every drop of his blood there is an Ocean of love. Well might the Apoſtle Paul p…oduce this as an undeniable teſtimony of the truth of his love, Who loved me, and gave himſelf for me, Gal. 2.20. His bleeding paſſion was ſuch a full demonſtration of his deareſt affection, as the whole World never ſaw the like before, nor ever ſhall again. In it his love was diſſected and ript up; you may tell all its bones. Judas gave him to the Jews, out of love to money; The Jews gave him to Pilate to becondemned, out of love to envy; Pilate gives him to the Souldiers to be Crucified, out of love to ſelf intereſt; but Chriſt gave himſelf out of pure love to ſave ſouls. The great and glorious God doth things that are ſingularly eminent for the manifeſtation of his attributes. When he would evidence his power, he produceth with a word the whole creation out of the barren Womb of nothing; He did p. 295but will it, and the whole world preſently ſtarted into a being. By this he often proves his deity, Iſa. 45.12. Iſa. 43.11. As ſhadows repreſent the figure of thoſe bodies from whence they are derived, ſo do the creatures manifeſt the power of their Maker.

When he would manifeſt his Juſtice, he layeth the dark vault of Hell, and layeth in, and ſtoreth it with fire, and brimſtone, and chains, and blackneſs of darkneſs, and gnawing wormes, and pure wrath, and Devils, and all the inſtruments of eternal death, Rom. 9.22. When he would make known his wiſdom, he findeth out a fit Mediatour, and thereby reconcileth thoſe attributes which before were at ods, his juſtice and his mercy. When man was fallen, juſtice pleaded for his deſerved damnation, according to the threatnings of the law; mercy pleadeth for his gracious ſalvation, he being deluded by the Devil. Now it would have non-pluſt the heads of all the men and Angels in the World, had they been united in a conſultation, to have found out a way to ſatisfie both the demands of juſtice, and the intreaties of mercy; but God did it; he cauſeth mercy and juſtice to meet together, pity and righteouſneſs to kiſs each other; therefore the Mediatour is called the Wiſdom of God, 1 Cor. 1.14 and the finding out this way is called the manifold wiſdom of God, or the embroydered Wiſdom of God, Eph. 3.10. Its an alluſion to a curious peice of Needle-work, wherein there are various expreſſions of Art. So in this way of mans recovery, there are various p. 296and curious expreſſions of divine wiſdom. But when God would proclaim his love, that attribute which like Oyl ſwimmeth at the top of them all, which is moſt in favour, which he delighteth ſo exceedingly in, what will he do? Why, he layeth down his life, greater love then this hath no man, then that a man lay down his life for his friends. Joh. 15.13. Jacob ſhewed his love to Rachel by enduring the heat of the day, and the cold of the night for her. But Jeſus ſhewed his love to his beautiful Spouſe, by undergoing the curſed, painful, and ſhameful death of the Croſs for her. O what love was that? It is ſtoried of the Pelican, that when her young ones are ſtung with ſome poiſonous Serpent, ſhe beats her breaſt with her beak, till the warm blood guſheth out, which they ſuck and recover. We were all ſtung mortally by the Old Serpent the Devil, but behold the love of this heavenly Pelican, he lets out his heart blood to recover us. In his birth and life he manifeſted his love, the midſt of that Chariot in which he drew his Spouſe before, was paved with love; but his death wrot his love in the greateſt Print, in the largeſt Character, though all in red letters, for his whole body was the book, his precious blood was the ink, the nails were the pens, the contents of it from the beginning to the end are Love, Love. There is nothing elſe to be read, but Love, Love in this was manifeſt the Love of God (ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 John 4.9.) His love before was glorious, yet hid as the Sun under a cloud, but at his death it did ſhine forth in its Meridian Splendor, in p. 297its noon-day brightneſs, with ſuch hot beams and refreſhing rays, that every one muſt needs take notice of it. The Jews ſay of Eſdras, that if the Lamp of Love were quite extinct, it might be lighted again at his brain: How true is this of Chriſt? If Love were quite loſt amongſt all the Creatures, all might be found in Jeſus Chriſt: His name is love, his nature is love, all his expreſſions were love, all his actions were love, he brought love, he bought love, he preached love, his lips dropt love; he practiſed love, he lived in love, he was ſick of love, nay he dyed for love; 'twas love that took upon him our natures, 'twas love that walked in our fleſh, 'twas love that went up and down doing good, 'twas love that took our infirmities; 'twas love that gave ſight to the blinde, ſpeech to the dumb, ears to the deaf, life to the dead; 'twas love that was hungry, and thirſty, and weary; 'twas love that was in a bloody agony; 'twas love that was ſorrowful unto his own death, and my life; 'twas love that was betrayed, apprehended, derided, ſcourged, condemned, and crucified; 'twas love that had his head pierced with thorns, his back with cords, his hands and feet with nails, and his ſide with a ſpear; 'twas love that cryed out, Weep not for me, weep for your ſelves: Father, forgive them, they know not what they do: Love left a glorious Crown, and love climbed a ſhameful Croſs: O deareſt Saviour, whither did thy love carry thee!

Reader, I could loſe my ſelf in this pleaſant Maze of Chriſts love: Methinks thy heart ſhould p. 298be raviſhed with the ſenſe of this love. The truth is, it is a bottomleſs love, none can ſound it; the Apoſtle might well call it, A known unknown love, Epheſ. 3.19. It is well thou canſt finde it, but I am ſure thou canſt not fadom it. One Diſciple may ſhew his love to another, by giving a cup of cold water; but the Maſter ſhewed his love to his Diſciples, by broaching his heart to give them a cup of warm blood. The Sacraments, as Calvin obſerveth, did flow out of the ſides of Chriſt: When the Souldier pierced his ſide, there came out Water (for Baptiſm) and Blood for the Supper.

Reader, when thou beholdeſt the broken bread, and remembreſt the bruiſed body of Chriſt, do not forget his love, which is the beſt ſauce to thy meat. I muſt tell thee, though there be never ſo many diſhes at the Table, this love is the Banquet. Conſider his willingneſs to be wounded for thee, becauſe his heart was ſo deeply wounded with love to thee. Thou haſt heard of ſuch indignities and injuries offered to him, as the Sun himſelf was aſhamed to behold, and hid himſelf from them; yet Chriſt was ready for them, and willing to them: The Lamb of God did not ſtruggle, when he was led to the ſlaughter, but did bear his own Croſs: He was his own Prieſt, as well as his own Sacrifice and Altar. His death was violent, in regard of others; but voluntary, in regard of himſelf: He cryed to his Father, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God, Heb. 10.4. When his ſinleſs nature had a reluctancy againſt it (though when he was in a bloody p. 299ſweat) he ſoon corrects it with, Not my will, but thy will be done. He went to the place which Judas knew, John 18.2. He ſtruck them (that came to apprehend him) down, to ſhew that he could, if he had pleaſed, have ſtruck them dead. Rather then they ſhall want proof for his condemnation, he will confeſs himſelf guilty of the charge: He might (if he had liſted) have commiſſionated twelve Legions of Angels for his Life-guard, but he forbore it: He laid down his life, he gave himſelf: He gave up the Ghoſt: He had a Baptiſm to be baptized with, and he longed to have it accompliſhed. But Friend, what thinkeſt thou was the lump of ſugar which did ſo ſweeten this cup (notwithſtanding all its bitter ingredients) to make it go down ſo glib and pleaſant? truly nothing but love. Love to Dinah made Sechem willing to be circumciſed; love to Chriſtians, made Chriſt willing to bleed, and be buffeted, and crucified. The Mother can toil and moil all day with her childe, and count it a pleaſure (when another had rather go to plough all day;) but what's the reaſon? nothing but her love. Jeſus Chriſt delighted in the work of mans Redemption; I delight to do thy will, O God, which would have broke the backs of the very Angels; and why? becauſe of his love.

It is obſerved, the myrrhe which is let out by the inciſion of the tree, is precious; but that which floweth of its own accord, is moſt choice and precious. Chriſts veins were indeed opened by others inciſion, when Pilat ſcourged his back, and the nails his hands and feet; but one drop of this blood p. 300is more worth then millions of World; for even at theſe times he bled voluntarily, as well as in the Garden, when the myrrhe of his blood dropt of its own accord: O, of vvhat infinite value is his blood! O, hovv much did he love his, vvhen the very oyl vvhichwhich conſecrated him to thoſe unknovvn ſorrovvs, vvas the oyl of gladneſs to him! Remember this love more then vvine:

Thirdly, Meditate on thy corruptions: As his love vvas the invvard moving cauſe; ſo thy ſins vvere the outvvard procuring cauſe of his ſufferings: He was wounded for thy tranſgreſſions, he was bruiſed for thine iniquities, the chaſtiſement of thy peace was upon him, Iſa. 53.5. When thou art at the Sacrament, vvhichwhich fitly repreſenteth Chriſts ſufferings, conſider vvith thy ſelf, What vvas that vvhichwhich brought the bleſſed Saviour into ſuch a bleeding condition! It vvas my ſin, I vvas the Judas vvhichwhich betrayed him, the Jew vvhichwhich apprehended him, the Pilate that condemned him, and the Gentile vvhichwhich crucified him: My ſins vvere the thorns vvhichwhich pierced his head, the nails vvhichwhich pierced his hands, and the ſpear vvhichwhich pierced his heart: 'Tvvas! that put to death the Lord of life: He dyed for my ſins; He was made ſin for me, who knew no ſin; his blood, is my balm; his Golgatha, is my Gilead. O vvhat a ſubject is here for meditation! He ſuffered in my ſtead, he bore my ſins in his body on the tree, he took that loathſome purging phyſick for the diſeaſes of my ſoul: When he was in the Garden in his bloody agony, groveling on the ground, there was no Judas, no Pilate, no Jew, no Gentile there, p. 301to cauſe that unnatural ſweat, or to make his ſoul ſorrowful unto death, but my pride, my unbeleif, my hypocriſie, my atheiſm, my blaſphemy, my unthankfulneſs, my carnal-mindedneſs, they were there and cauſed his inward bleeding ſorrows, and outward bloody ſufferings, (Ah what an heavy weight was my ſin to cauſe ſuch a bloody ſweat in a froſty night!) My diſſimulation was the trayterous kiſs; My ambition the thorny crown. My drinking iniquities like water made him drink Gall and Vineger; My want of tears cauſed him to bleed; My forſaking my Maker, made him to be forſaken of his Father. Becauſe the members of my body were inſtruments of iniquity, therefore the members of his body were objects of ſuch cruelty; becauſe my ſoul was ſo unholy, therefore his ſoul was ſo exceeding heavy. O my ſoul what haſt thou done!

We do not ſay the Executioner kils a man for theft or murder; but his theft or murder, they hang him; ſo in this caſe, it was not ſo much the Jews, or Souldiers (for they were the Executioners) that put Chriſt to death, as our thefts and murders, and breaches of Gods Law, which were imputed and laid to his charge.

There is a ſtory of a King of France named ladoveyus, that when he was converted to Chriſtianity, one day hearing Remigius the Biſhop reading the Goſpel of our Saviours paſſion, he preſently fell into this paſſionate expreſſion, O that I had been but there with my French-men, I would have cut all their throats; little conſidering that his and others iniquities were Chriſts greateſt and moſt p. 302cruel enemies. Reader when thou art at the Table, think of thoſe ſins which cauſed ſuch ſufferings. Conſider the deepneſs of that ſtain, which the blood onelyonly of God could waſh out. Ah what a ſickneſs is ſin, when nothing leſs then the blood of the Son of God can heal it!

Secondly, as at the Table ſome Subjects muſt be conſidered, ſo ſome graces muſt be exerciſed; A Sacrament is a ſpecial ſeaſon, a ſpring time for thoſe trees of Gods own planting, to bud, bloſſom, and put forth their fruit. Now Reader, if ever, rouſe up thy ſpirit, and ſtir up the gifts of God which are in thee. Call aloud to thy graces which may poſſibly be ſleeping, as David. Pſa. 57.8. Awake my glory, awake Pſaltery and Harp, I my ſelf will awake early. Awake my graces, can ye not watch with my deareſt Saviour one hour? Awake my faith, love, and Repentance, I my ſelf will awake preſently. It is not the Ha…wk which ſitteth hood-winkt on the fiſt, but the ſeeing, flying Hawk which doth the ſervice, The Clock which ſtandeth ſtill, is of no uſe; it is the going, moving Clock which attains its end: Grace acted will now do thee eminent ſervice, and help thee to attain the end of the Sacrament.

Firſt, Act faith; Dormit fides & dormit Chriſtus, ſaith Auſtin; If faith ſleepeth, Chriſt ſleepeth. Call forth firſt that Commander in chief, and then the private Souldiers, the other graces will all follow. Faith muſt be the eye whereby thou ſeeſt Chriſt, Zach 12.10. They ſhall ſee him whom they have peirced, and mourn; Faith is the mouth by p. 303which thou feedeſt on Chriſt, John 6.53. Faith is the feet by which thou goeſt to Chriſt, John 6.35. Faith may ſay to thee as Chriſt did, Without me thou canſt do nothing; without me thou canſt do nothing for thy own welfare, nothing for Gods honour at this ordinance; It is ſaid of the Indian Gymnoſophiſts that they will lye all day upon their backs gazing on the beauty of the natural Sun. Friend, at this Ordinance if at any time of thy life, view the beauty of this true Sun. As Pilate when he had ſcourged him in ſuch a bloody, barbarous manner, brings him forth to the Jews, with, Behold the man. So when thou conſidereſt the bread and wine, Behold the man; Behold the broken bruiſed Saviour. A man without faith, like the unbeleiving lord, ſeeth the plenty, but doth not eat of it.

There is a threefold act of Faith to be put forth at a Sacrament. Firſt, Faith muſt look out for Chriſt. Secondly, Faith muſt look up to Chriſt for grace. Thirdly, Faith muſt take Chriſt down or receive him and grace.

1. Faith muſt look out for Chriſt: Conſider that Jeſus Chriſt is the very ſoul of the Sacrament; without him it is but the carcaſs of an Ordinance. Chriſt and the Scripture bring comfort; Chriſt and prayer cauſe ſpiritual profit; Accedat Chriſtus ad elementum, & fiet Sacramentum. Chriſt and the elements make a Sacrament. Chriſt and the Sacrament make a rare feaſt. Therefore be ſure thou look out for Chriſt; Reſt not in the bread and wine, but look farther. When thou ſitteſt at the Table, let p. 304the ſpeech of thine heart be, Saw ye him whom my ſoul loveth? Turn to God and ſay as they to Philip, Sir, I would fain ſee Jeſus; Lord I would fain ſee Jeſus Chriſt. Let neither word nor prayer nor elements, nor all things content thee without Chriſt. As Iſaac told his Father; Father, behold here is the wood and the fire, but where is the Lamb for a burnt offering? So do thou look up to thy Heavenly Father; Father, behold here is the Preacher, and here is the Scripture, here is the bread and here is the wine, but where is the body and blood of my Saviour? Lord where is the Lamb for a Sacrifice? Father, Father, Where is the Lamb of God that takes away the ſins of the World? If the Angels that are preſent at the Sacrament, ſhould ſpeak to thee, give them occaſion for the ſame language, which they gave the Woman at the Sepulchre, We know whom thou ſeekeſt, thou ſeekeſt Jeſus which was Crucified: come ſee the place where the Lord lay. Come ſee the promiſe, ſee the elements in which the Lord lyeth, Mat. 28.5, 6.

If the Spirit of God ſeeing thee ſo eager and earneſt for a ſight of Chriſt, ſhould put by the hangings, behind which the Lord Jeſus hid himſelf, (purpoſely to be ſought) and preſent him to thee with his glorious retinue of graces and comforts, with the precious fruits of his grievous paſſion, and beſpeak thee thus, Chear up poor Chriſtian, behold the Lamb of God; Behold King Jeſus with the Crown of thorns, wherewith his foes crowned him in the day that he was a man of ſorrows, and acquainted with greifs. Behold King Solomon with p. 305the crown wherewith his Father crowned him, in the d… of his Eſpouſals, and in the day of the gladneſs of his heart. O Friend, what would ſuch a ſight be worth to thee? I am confident thou wouldſt value it above all the ſilver in the World. Well, be of good comfort, do but look for him, and he will look after thee; Say to him as the Spouſe, Make haſte my Beloved, be thou like the Hart and Roe upon the Mountains of Spices: Make no tarrying, O my God; and doubt not but he will anſwer thee almoſt as he doth his Spouſe (in a ſenſe of mercy, not of judgement) Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to thee according to thy faith.

Reader, act Maries part, and thou ſhalt meet with Maries portion. When Mary went to the Sepulchre, John 20.13. ſhe looketh into it, ſeeth the linnen, but not the Lord, and preſently falleth a weeping: O, ſaith ſhe, they have taken away my Lord! They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. Jeſus Chriſt could now no longer abſent himſelf; he heard the voice of her weeping, and gave her a gracious meeting: Mary, ſaith Chriſt; Rabboni, ſaith Mary. Now her heart cleaves to him, and her hands claſp about him; and ſhe hears that golden Meſſage, Go to my brethren, and tell them, I go to my Father, and your Father: So when thou comeſt to the Table, and ſeeſt the linnen, and not the Lord Jeſus, be not ſatisfied; O dart up thy complaints to Heaven, Lord, I came not to ſee the linnen, I came not for the bread and wine, I came to ſee Jeſus Chriſt: O Lord! what p. 306ſhall I do? they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where to finde him: Ah Lord, wh… is the Word to me without Chriſt, but as a conduit without water? and what is the element to me without Chriſt, but as a cup without wine? O, what wilt thou give me, if I go from thy Table Chriſtleſs! Thou mighteſt be confident that Jeſus Chriſt would hear ſuch ſighs, and would haſten away to bleſs and kiſs thee.

2. Faith muſt look up to Chriſt for grace: Look up to Chriſt as a Treaſury of grace, for the ſupply of all thy neceſſities, and put thy hand of faith into this Treaſury, and thou ſhalt take out unſearchable riches. Auſtin puts the queſtion, how a Chriſtian may put out a long arm to reach Chriſt in Heaven? and anſwers, Crede & tenuiſti; Believe, and thou haſt taken hold of him. Chriſt is a full breaſt, faith is the mouth which draweth and ſucketh the breaſt, and getteth ſpiritual nouriſhment out of it. The bleſſed Saviour is a precious and deep mine; but faith is the inſtrument whereby we dig the gold out of it. As the Spaniſh Ambaſſador ſaid of his Maſters Treaſury, in compariſon of that Treaſury of S. Mark in Venice, In this, among other things, my Maſters Treaſury differeth from yours, in that my Maſters Treaſury (alluding to his Indian Mines) hath no bottom, as I ſee yours to have: For thy comfort know, that the riches in Chriſt are inexhauſtible, and his bags are bottomleſs: He can ſupply all thy needs, Philip. 4.13.

When thou art at this Ordinance, look on p. 307Chriſt as a Fountain running over with the Water of Life; and the Sacrament as a Channel cut out by Chriſt himſelf to convey Living Water to thy ſoul. Thou art diſeaſed; go in this Ordinance to Chriſt as a Phyſician to heal thee. Thou art an indigent beggar go to Chriſts Door, I mean the Sacrament, with an expectation of a large dole. Do not ſit down in deſpondency (as the Patriarchs in a ſcarcity of food;) but ſince thou haſt heard there is corn in Egypt, bread enough in thy Fathers houſe, ſufficiency of grace in Jeſus Chriſt, go make haſte to this ſon of Joſeph, who is Lord of the Countrey, and hath the command of all the ſtore houſes in the Land, and will load thee with more then thou canſt deſire. Are thy wants many? he hath infinite wealth. Haſt thou no Money to buy, no Merits to offer? why, he ſelleth without money, and without price: They that bring Money, have it returned back in their ſacks, for he takes none: Whoſoever will, may drink of the Water of Life freely, Revel. 22.17.

The Sacrament is as a Conduit, which receiveth water from the River; therefore when thou haſt brought the Veſſel of thy ſoul to the Conduit, thy work muſt be by faith to turn the Cock, and then it will run freely, and fill thy Veſſel; be ſure that thou minde the promiſe, This is my Body: This Cup is the New Teſtament in my Blood. Thy faith will be celeſtial fire to extract the quinteſſence and ſpirits of the Promiſe.

p. 3083. Faith muſt receive Chriſt, and apply him to thy ſoul; When thou putteſt forth the hand of thy body to take the bread and wine, do thou put forth the hand of faith to receive the body and blood of Chriſt. This is one principal act of Faith, like Joſeph of Arimathea, to take Jeſus down from his Croſs, and lay him in the new Tomb of thine heart; Like Thomas, put thy finger of faith into his ſide, and cry out, My Lord, and my God; Be not diſcour aged O penitent ſoul. Are thy ſins many? His mercy is free. Are thy ſins weighty? His merits are full. Thou comeſt for bread, and will thy Saviour give thee a ſtone? He took notice of thy ferious preparation for this Ordinance, and will he fruſtrate thine expectation at it? Did he ever ſend hungry ſoul empty away? The law of man provides for the poor in purſe, and will not the Goſpel of Chriſt provide for the poor in ſpirit? Is not his commiſſion to bind up the broken hearted? and can he be unfaithful? Why ſhouldſt thou miſtruſt truth it ſelf? Let me ſay to thee, as the Diſciples to the blind man, Be of good chear, he calleth for thee. See how he caſteth his eyes upon thee (with a look of love) as once upon Peter. Obſerve he ſtretcheth out his Armes wide to embrace thee. He boweth down his head to kiſs thee. He cryeth to thee as to Zacheus, I must abide at thy houſe, in thy heart to day. O make haſte to receive him, and make him a feaſt by opening the doors of thy ſoul, that the King of Glory may enter in. Say to Chriſt, Lord, though I am unworthy that thou ſhouldſt come under my roof, yet p. 309thou art ſo gracious as to knock at the door of my heart, and to promiſe if I open, that thou wilt come in and ſup with me, (and then call to him as Laban to Abrahams Steward) Come in thou bleſſed of the Lord, why ſtandeſt thou without? I have prepared lodging for thee. Gen. 24.

Truly Reader, ſhouldſt thou having mourned unfeignedly for thy ſins, now by unbeleif hang off from thy Saviour, thou woulſt much diſhonour him, and diſadvantage thy ſelf. Chriſts greater things are for them that beleive: If thou wilt now beleive, thou ſhalt ſee the glory of God. I am very conſident, if thou hadſt been by the Croſs (broken heart) when thy Saviour ſuffered, and ſhouldſt have kneeled down before him, and ſaid, Deareſt Saviour, Why art thou now wraſtling with the wrath of Heaven, and rage of Hell? He would have anſwered, To ſatisfie (poor ſoul) for thy ſins. Again, Why doſt thou dye ſuch a curſed death? He would have ſaid, To take the curſe of the law from thy back, that ſo thou mighteſt inherit the bleſſing. Once more, Let not my Lord be angry, and I will ſpeak this once; Bleſſed Redeemer, Why didſt thou cry out I thirſt, and drink Gall and Vinegar? Thou mighteſt have heard ſuch a reply, To aſſure thee, Thirſty ſinner, that I am ſenſible of thy thirſt, being ſcorched with that fury which is due to thy ſins, and that thou mighteſt drink of that love which is better then Wine. But ſtay O weary, thirſty ſoul but a while, and by and by thou ſhalt ſee this ſide opened, and blood iſſuing out to quench thy thirſt. O put the mouth of faith to that wound, and what p. 310thou ſhalt ſuck thence, ſhall do thee good for ever. Reader, I have read that the Souldier who peirced Chriſts ſide, was blind, and that the blood flying out upon him recovered his ſight. Sure I am, that this blood ſprinkled on thy conſcience, will purge it from dead works, to ſerve the living God. O therefore bathe thy ſoul in this blood; when thou art at the Sacrament, ſay to God as the Eunuch to Philip; Here is water, what hindereth but I may be Baptized? Lord, here is blood, here is a fountain, what hindereth but I may waſh in it? Rom. 3.24. 1 Joh. 1.7, Heb. 9.14, Gal. 6.14. Heb. 12.13.Rom 3:241 John 1:7Heb 9:14Gal 6:14Heb 12:13True Lord, my perſon is unrighteous, but thy blood is juſtifying blood. My heart is polluted, but O Chriſt, thy blood is ſanctifying blood. My luſts are many and ſtrong, but thy blood is mortifying blood. My ſoul is loſt, but ſweeteſt Saviour thy blood is ſaving blood. This Juſtifying, Sanctifying, Saving blood, I drink, I apply for theſe ends. O let this blood be upon me and my children for ever.

AWay deſpair, my gracious Lord doth hear,

Though Winds and Wave aſſault my keel,

He doth preſerve it, Herbert the baghe doth ſteer;

Ev'n when the Boat ſeems moſt to reel.

Storms are the Triumph of his Art,

Well may he cloſe his eyes, but not his heart.

Haſt thou not heard what my Lord Jeſus did?

Then let me tell thee a ſtrange ſtory?

The God of power, as he did ride

In his Majeſtick robes of glory,

Reſolv'd to light, and ſo one day,

He did deſcend, undreſſing all the way.

p. 311The Stars his tire of light, and rings obtain'd,

The Clouds his bow, the fire his ſpear,

The Skie his Azure mantle gain'd,

And when they ask'd what he would wear,

He ſmil'd and ſaid as he did go,

He had new cloaths a making here below.

When he was come, as travellers are wont,

He did repair unto an Inn;

Both then and after, many a brunt

He did endure to cancel ſin,

And having giv'n the reſt before,

Here he gave up his life to pay our ſcore.

But as he was returning, there came one

Who ran upon him with a Spear;

He who came hither all alone,

Bringing no man, nor armes nor fear,

Recio'd the blow upon his ſide,

And ſtraight he turn'd, and to his Brethren cryd,

If ye have any thing to ſend or write,

(I have no bag, but here is room)

Ʋnto my Fathers hands and ſight

(Beleive me) it ſhall ſafely come;

That I ſhall mind what you impart,

Look you may lay it very near my heart.

Or if hereafter any of my friends

Will uſe me in this kind, the door

Shall ſtill be open; what he ſends

I will preſent, and ſomewhat more,

Not to his hurt; ſighs will convey

Any thing to me. Heart-deſpair away.

p. 3122. The ſecond Grace to be called forth is love: And truly if thou haſt acted thy faith in his Paſſion for, and affection to thy ſoul, I ſhall not in the leaſt doubt but thy love to him will play its part. The Creatures (ſome tell us) follow the Panther, being drawn after her by her ſweet odours: When Jeſus Chriſt, out of infinite love, offered up himſelf a Sacrifice for thy ſins, ſurely the ſweet ſavour thereof may draw thy heart after him: Becauſe of the ſavour of thy good oyntments, therefore the Virgins love thee, Cant. 1.4. There is nothing in Chriſt, but what may well command thy love: He is the faireſt of ten thouſand: He is altogether lovely. But his bloody ſufferings for thee, and his bleſſed love to thee (one would think) are ſuch Loadſtones, that if thou wert as cold and hard as ſteel, would draw thy ſoul both to deſire him, and to delight in him: Meditate a little more on his love to thee. Publicans and ſinners love their friends who love them; and wilt thou be worſe then Publicans and ſinners? Conſider ſeriouſly, Jeſus Chriſt loved thee when thou waſt in a loathſome eſtate, Ezek. 16. when thou waſt wallowing in thy blood, when no eye pitied thee, then was his time of love; he paſſed by thee, and ſaid unto thee, Live: yea, when thou waſt in thy blood, he ſaid unto thee, Live: And wilt thou not love him?

Ponder the heat of his love; poſſibly the greatneſs of that fire may warm thy heart, and thou mayeſt reflect ſome heat back again; for indeed, love is a Diamond, which muſt be written upon p. 313with its own duſt. He loveth thee as a ſervant, ſurely this is a favour; for he hath thouſands of glorious Angels, who count it their honor and happineſs to ſerve him: To be made one of his hired ſervants, was the great priviledge deſired by the Prodigal; Ye call me Lord and Maſter, and ye ſay well, for ſo I am, John 13.13. but though this may be ſomewhat, it is not enough for him. He loveth thee as a friend: Ye are my friends, John 15.15. I have not called you ſervants, but friends. Friends love entirely, witneſs Jonathan and David: Jonanathan loved David as his own ſoul. Friendſhip is one ſoul in two bodies, ſaith the Philoſopher: This is much; but his love to thee is more then ſo; he loveth thee as his Brother: He is not aſhamed to call them brethren: I will declare thy name unto my brethren, Heb. 2.11. Some Brethren are knit very cloſe in the bond of love. Camh. Brit.In Queen Elizabeths Reign, in a fight between the Earl of Kildare, and Earl of Ter Owen, two of the Earl of Kildares Brethren were ſlain, which he took ſo heavily, that he dyed ſhortly. Some write, that there is no ſuch love in the World, as between Foſter-Brethren in Ireland: This love is great, but his love is greater. He loveth thee as his childe; the ſtream of love deſcendeth moſt ſwiftly from Parents to their children: He ſhall ſee his Seed, Iſa. 53.10. How tender is the Mother of her childe: Can the Mother forget her childe that ſucketh her breaſt? The Mothers bowels will yern towards her childe; the Mothers breaſts will (put her to pain, if not drawn, and thereby) minde her of her childe: But though p. 314the Mother may prove a Monſter, and like the Oſtrich, leave her young to be deſtroyed; yet will I not forget thee, ſaith the Lord: Thou art engraven upon the palms of my hands, thy walls are ever before me, Iſa. 49.13, 14, 15. Children, have you any meat? If not, lo here is my body. Thou mayſt ſay of Chriſts love to thee, as David of Jonathans, Thy love to me is wonderful, it far ſurpaſſes the love of women; for he loveth thee as his Spouſe: Men do, or at leaſt ſhould love their wives above all relations; For this cauſe ſhall a man leave Father and Mother, and cleave to his wife. But who can conceive Chriſts love to his Spouſe? Thou art all fair my love, thou haſt raviſhed my heart, my Siſter, my Spouſe: How fair is thy love my Siſter, my Spouſe! Cant. 4.8, 9, 10. The neareſt affinity is Spouſe, and the neareſt conſanguinity is Siſter; to ſhew that his affection is like that of the neareſt relations. If this be not enough, Reader, he loveth thee as himſelf, nay above himſelf; he did, as it were, hate himſelf out of love to thee. He denied himſelf, diſpleaſed himſelf, and gave himſelf to be buffeted, ſcourged, condemned, wracked, crucified, and to be a ſacrifice for thy ſins. Well, is it poſſible for thee to read of this infinite love without love! When wood hath been laid a ſunning, it takes fire preſently: Haſt not thou been ſo fitted by the warm hot beams of this Sun, that now upon the very thoughts of Chriſt, thou art all in a flame! Truly it would be as great a miracle for thee to be in ſuch a furnace of love, and not fired with love to him, as for the three Worthies in Daniel to be p. 315in the midſt of the fiery furnace and not burnt. Chriſt loved thee ſo unſpeakably as thou haſt read, as a ſervant, as a friend, as a brother, as a childe, as a wife, as himſelf, nay above himſelf, & all this when thon waſt a ſinner, without ſtrength, yea his enemy (which threefold gradation the holy Ghoſt taketh ſpecial notice of, Rom. 5.6, 8, 10.) and wilt thou ever give him cauſe to complain of thee, as Paul of his Corinthians, the more I love, the leſs I am beloved! Love him dearly, love him entirely, love him above all, love him more then all; ſay with the Spouſe, Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am ſick of love; and with holy Brandford, ſprinckle thy trencher, thy food with tears, that thou canſt love ſo loving and ſo lovely a Saviour no more.

3. When thou art at the Table, Exerciſe repentance; what ſorrow for, and anger againſt thy ſins ſhould the ſight of a crucified Saviour cauſe? Some tell us that if the murderer be brought near and touch the body ſlain by him, it bleeds afreſh. O when thou (who art indeed the murderer of the Son of God) doſt touch and taſte his body and blood, ſhouldſt not thou fall a bleeding, a weeping a freſh; Behold his broken, bleeding body with an eye of faith, and thine eye cannot but affect thine heart with grief: I am confident thou canſt not ſee it with dry eyes. Was his ſoul exceeding ſorrowful, heavy even unto death for thy ſake, and is not thine, friend for thy ſins? Did he drop ſo much blood, and canſt thou drop never a tear? the very rocks were rent at his ſufferings, and is thy heart harder then thoſe ſtones? Is it poſſible for the head to be ſo p. 316pained and peirced, and the members not be affected with it? ſurely, Deep calleth unto Deep. Deep ſufferings in Chriſt, for deep ſorrow in thee, O Chriſtian. If his body were broken to let his blood out, thy ſoul may well be broken to let it in. They ſhall ſee him whom they have peirced, and mourn for him as one that mourneth for his onelyonly Son. Zach. 10.12.

His love may make (as Davids kindneſs) even a Saul to lift up his voice and weep. It is ſo great and ſo hot a fire, that (one would think) it would diſtil water out of thee, wert thou never ſo dry an herb; When Chriſt ſat at Supper in the Phariſees houſe, Mary waſhed his feet with her tears. When Chriſt and thy ſoul are ſupping together, thou mayſt well weep in remembrance of thy unkindneſs and wickedneſs.

But the cheifeſt reaſon why I mention repentance now to be exerciſed, is not ſo much for thy contrition or ſorrow for ſin (though when the ſweet ſauce is a little ſharp with Vinegar, the meat will relliſh the better for it) as for thine indignation and anger againſt ſin; When thou conſidereſt that thy deareſt Saviour in a cold night lay groveling on the ground all over in a bloody ſweat, that thy beſt friend in the World was ſo inhumanely uſed, ſo barbarouſly but chered, thou ſhouldſt cry out (as David) in a holy paſſion, As the Lord liveth, the (man, the) ſin that hath done this thing ſhall ſurely be put to death. When Antonius (after Caeſar was Murdered in the Senate houſe) brought forth his Coat all bloody, cut, and mangled, p. 317and laying it open to the view of the people, ſaid, Look here is your Emperors Coat; and as the bloody-minded Conſpirators have dealt by it, ſo have they dealt with Caeſars body; Upon this they were in an uprore, and cryed out to ſlay the Murderers, and took Brands, and ran to the Houſes of the Conſpirators, and burnt them down to the ground, and as they apprehended the Murderers put them to death. Reader, thou ſeeſt at the Sacrament, the wounds and blood of thy bleſſed Redeemer, the dreadful painful death which thy Soveraign underwent. O what canſt thou do leſs then vow to be revenged on his Murderers, thy corruptions; and in an holy anger, endeavour their ſpeedy execution: if thou wouldſt have a full ſight of ſins filth and ſinfulneſs, go to Mount Calvary, and behold thy Saviour hanging upon the Croſs, and good Lord what thoughts wilt thou have of thy luſts! Phyſitians in unſeemly convulſions, adviſe their Patients to look into a glaſs, that beholding their deformity, they may ſtrive the more againſt it. The world never had ſuch a glaſs as the ſufferings of Jeſus Chriſt, for the diſcovery of ſins loathſom, ugly features, and its horrid, hideous, helliſh face; now how ſhould this light provoke thee to loath and hate ſin! O what Child would not abhor thoſe weapons which murdered his deareſt Father!

It was the glory of Alexander, that as ſoon as ever he had opportunity, he ſlew the Murderers of his Father, upon his fathers Tomb. Truely Reader a Sacrament day is a ſpecial opportunity, and thou p. 318wilt ſhew but little love to thine everlaſting Father, if thou doſt not now put his Murderers to death, upon thoſe Monuments of his paſſion. Now thou art at the Table, think of thy unthankfulneſs, ambition, hypocriſie, covetouſneſs, irreligion, and infidelity, and the reſt, how theſe crucified the Lord of glory, and reſolve through the ſtrength of Chriſt, that theſe Hamans ſhall be all hanged, that theſe ſins ſhall be condemned and crucified.