A Gospel Church Described, Discourse – Title page 2
Numb. IX. 13.
But the Man that is clean, and is not in a Journey, and forbeareth to keep the Passover; even the same Soul shall be cut off from his People; because he brought not the Offering of the Lord in its Appointed Season: that Man shall bear his Sin.
GOD having, with a Powerful Arm, brought up his People out of Egypt, and led them as far as Sinai in the Wilderness; where he now Com…ands them to keep the Passover.
The Passover was first Instituted in Egypt, …s a Memorial of their present Deliverance …ut of their Egyptian Slavery; It was a Sa… ament of the Covenant of Grace, and it look…d forward, Pointing at Salvation by the …eath of Christ.
Now the Passover, in its First Institution, …e have, Exod. 12. wherein every Family, or … the Family was too small, two Families …ight joyn together; they must take a Lamb …at had no Blemish, upon the Tenth day of …e Month Abib, which was the First Month …ter the Vernal Equinox, and Answers to part … March, and part of April; This Lamb was to be kept till the Fourteenth Day, by wa… Preparation, and then to be killed, and w… a Bunch of Hyssop, to Sprinkle the Blood… on the upper Door-post, and upon the T… Side-posts of the Door; And to Roast… Whole Lamb, and then to Eat it in a Tra… ling-posture, i. e. with their Staves in th… hands, and their Loyns Guirded. They w… to eat it in Remembrance of their Deli… rance out of Egypt; And as a Sign of t… Salvation by Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, … was, in Due Time, to be Offer'd up for t…
Now the Passover was a Divine Ordin… and whoever did not make Conscience to… pare themselves for, and to Worship Go… it, were to be Cut off.
Now the Case standing thus, with Relati… the Passover, this occasions a Case to be b… to Moses, v. 6.7. Certain Men, who… defiled by the Dead Body of a Man, so… they could not keep the Passover on that… came to Moses, and said, VVe are defiled… VVherefore are we kept back that we may… fer, &c. q. d. If we forbear, we are to be… off; and if we come thus defiled, we a… be Cut off: Wha… shall we do? No… Text is part of Moses Answer; shewi… what cases a Man might be excused from… ing to the Passover.
1. In case of Legal Uncleanness, whi… by touching a Dead Body, or any U… thing, &c. these must not come to the Pas…over, till Cleansed, according to the Law.
2. If any were in a Journey, upon needful Business, forced abroad, at the Time when the Passover was Celebrated, then he was Excused; …ut otherwise, if not thus hindered, it was a …ery dangerous thing to Absent from the Pas…over; For,
1. He that Omits, or Neglects the Passo…er, he shall bear his Sin, as in the Text, i. e. The Punishment of his Sin, for so this Phrase …ignifies, Gen. 4.13. My sin is greater then I …an bear. So 'tis in the Hebrew, This neglect is a Sin, and a Sin that shall be Reward…d back in the Due Punishment of it: And if …he Question be Asked, VVhat is the Punish…ent of this Sin? 'Tis Answer'd,
2. He that Omits, or Neglects the Lord's …aessover, shall be Cut off: Now this Phrase, …o be Cut off, imports either,
1. An Exclusion from Communion with the …hurch by Excommunication, which is a Sore …udgment.
2. Rather an Untimely Death to be Inflict…d by the Hands of the Magistrate, to whom …od committed the Execution of this, as well … of other Laws.
And least any should complain of the… verity of this Law, a Reason is in the Text … ven of it, viz. Because he brought not the O… fering of the Lord in his Appointed Season, i… Because they did not appear before the Lo… and Offer such Sacrifices, and perform… Services to him in that very Season God co… manded it.
Now the Passover being the Second S… ment of the Covenant of Grace, and the G… Thing therein Signified, and Represented,… ing Jesus Christ, and Redemption by his De…
I shall hence take occasion to speak of… Second Sacrament of the Covenant, as it… stands, viz. the Lord's Supper; being, in S… stance, the same with the Passover; for,… Passover-Lamb was Christ, John 1.29. B… the Lamb of God! As the Paschal Lamb … to be without Blemish, in this it was a Ty… Christ, 1 Pet. 1.19. Christ was a Lamb… out Blemish and without Spot: The Apostle … presly calls Christ, Our Passover, 1 Cor. 5… Christ, our Passover, is Sacrificed for us. q… Though the Feast of the Jewish Passo… ceased; yet Christ, who was Typified,… Signified thereby, is come, and hath Off… up himself a Sacrifice for us; and we are b… to Commemorate his Death in that way… hath appointed: Now, tho' Circumcision … the Passover were taken down together,… the Mosaical Ceremonies; yet the Covena… Grace, of which they were Seals, is not… down, but stands firm for ever: Therefore …r Lord Jesus Christ, the Head and King of …s Church, hath Instituted Baptism, and the …ord's Supper in stead of them; Baptism being …e same to us, which Circumcision was to …em; and the Lord's Supper being, in Sub…ance, the same with the Passover.
Now, as the Gospel is more Excellent then …e Law, so it does not loose the Reins, and … us at Liberty to Obey or not. But Chri…ans lye under an higher Obligation, to sub…it to all Gospel-Ordinances now, then the …ws did to obey and submit to the Ritual Or…nances of that Dispensation.
Doct. Such as causelesly forbear coming to …e Lord's-Table, do incurr great Guilt; and …ovoke God to inflict upon them grievous …nishments.
In speaking to this Doctrin, I shall do these …hree things,
I. Shew you the Nature and End of the …ord's Supper.
II. That Christians have not only an Equal, …t a greater obligation to attend on and ob…eve duly the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper, …en the Jews had to observe the Ordinance of …e Passover.
III. That a careless and causeless Negle… of this Blessed Ordinance of the Lord's Supp… is a great Sin, producing sad Effects.
I. Let us consider the Nature and E… the Lord's Supper.
The Lord's Supper is the Second Sacram… of the New Testament, or Covenant of Gra… instituted by Jesus Christ, in the Room… Place of the Passover, now taken do… wherein by Bread and Wine set apart and… ceived, according to Christs Institution;… Death and Sufferings, together with all t… Benefits Believers receive from Christ,… therein shew'd forth and sealed to such a… a right manner receive it; as also the wo… Communicant does hereby Solemnly r… his Baptismal Covenant, and engage him… to Christ and his Church for ever. Here… serve,
1. Jesus Christ is the Author of this Sac… ment, Mat. 26.26. And, as they were eat… Jesus took Bread, and Blessed it, &c.
2. It is the Second Sacrament of the… Testament, or Covenant of Grace; Baptis… the first, and to be first Administred:… are to Receive the Lord's Supper, that are… first Baptized. And it's a Sacrament of… New Testament, or Covenant of Grace;… Tenure whereof is, Believe on the Lord Jesus …rist, and thou shalt be saved and thy House, …cts 16.31.
3. The Lord's Supper comes in the Room …d Place of the Passover, 1 Cor. 5.7. Christ … Passover is sacrificed for us: both of them …rected to Christ for Salvation, but, with this …ference, the Passover looked at Christ to …me; the Lord's Supper a Memorial of Christ …eady Come and Crucified.
4. The External and Visible Elements in …e Lord's Supper are Bread and VVine, set apart … a lawful Minister of the Gospel, Mat. 26.…, 27.
Bread is the Stay and Staff of Life; VVine …e of the greatest Cordials, and therefore the …est to Represent Christ, and the Benefits of … Death.
5. The End of this Sacrament is, to shew …th the Death of Christ, with the Benefits …reof to Believers, 1 Cor. 11.24. Take, eat, … is my Body, which is broken for you; i. e. a …ramental Sign of my Crucified Body, v. 26. …oft as you eat of this Bread, and drink of this …, you shew forth the Lord's Death; and so …ewise all the Benefits of Christ's Death, as …don, Peace, Spiritual Life, and Increase of …ce, &c. 1 Cor. 10.16.
6. Our Engagement to be the Lord's;… herein Solemnly Renew our Baptismal Cov… nant, and Engage our selves to Christ and hi… Church for ever, 1 Cor. 10.16, 17. The… of Blessing, &c. Is it not the Communion,… Communication of the Blood of Christ? &c.
II. That Christians have not only an… qual, but a greater obligation to attend… and observe duly the Ordinance of the L… Supper, then the Jews had to observe the O… dinance of the Passover. The Reasons are,
1. The Passover was instituted by M…s… but the Lord's Supper by Jesus Christ; M… was a Servant in God's House, Christ wa… Son; Moses was a faithful Servant, so th… there was a great deal of Respect due… Moses, but much more to Jesus Christ, … was Lord and Head of the House, Heb. 3… For this Man (i. e. Christ) was acco… worthy of more glory then Moses, forasmuch he who hath built the House hath more glory… the House. Moses was a Servant, a Ste… in the House; Jesus Christ a Son, the H… Lord, and Builder of the House, which is Church; so that there is a Veneration,… dience, and Respect due to Christ, and t… Institutions he gave his Church, above M… Hence we are exhorted to give the… earnest heed to Gospel-Institutions, He… 1, 2, 3.
2. Because the Lord's Supper more clearly Reveals Christ, and Salvation by him, then the …assover did. Polanus well observes, That …e Sacraments of the New Testament do more …early Reveal Christ, then those of the Old: Tis true, the Death of Christ, and Salvation hereby, was the chief thing represented in …e Passover; yet the Death of Christ and the …enefits thereof are more clearly held out in …e Lord's Supper. The Bread very aptly sets …rth Christs Body and his Crucifixion in its …reaking, and our Eating it very aptly Repre…nts our Union with Christ, and Spiritual Par…cipation of him: So the Wine very aptly …epresents the Blood and Death of Christ, …d our being Justified and Redeemed there…, Mat. 26.26, 27.
3. The Lord's Supper is an Ordinance under … Gospel, the last and brightest dispensati…, and therefore, as the Gospel is more ex…ent then the Law, so it calls for the more …nest Regard, Heb. 2.1, 2, 3. Heb. 10.28, … A New Testament-Ordinance is the …hest and purest degree of Gospel-Wor…; so 'tis evident that the obligations of …ristians are so m…t the greater, by how …ch more excellent the Ordinances are, to …at they were under the Law.
4. Because our Preparations for the L… Supper is to be more Solemn, and our atte… ance more frequent then theirs was at and… the Passover; For,
1. Our Preparation for the Lord's Su… was to be more Solemn then theirs was… the Passover. The Preparation for the P… over consisted chiefly in certain External Ri… as putting away Leaven out of their Hous… External Purifications and Cleansings acco… ing to the Law of Moses. I deny not… grant that all these Legal Cerimonial Cle… ings had a particular Respect to the He… and so the Consciencious Israelites underst… them, as is evident, Psal. 51.7, 8, 10.
But now under the Gospel these Ceri… al Washings and Cleansings being laid a… our Preparation consists principally in… paring our Hearts, to offer up Spiritual S… fices to God, J…h. 4.24. God is a Spirit,… they that worship him must worship him in… and Truth. 'Tis the Spiritual Uncleanne… our Hearts, the Leaven of Hypocrisie tha… are to put away.
2. Our Attendance on Christ in this… dinance must be more frequent; to the… over they were requir'd to come but o… Year, but to the Lord's Table we are to… …, 1 Cor. 11.26. As often as you … …c. Intimating we should come often to the …ord's Table.
5. The Threatnings for the Neglect of …f the Passover were Temporal Judgments, …e Soul that refused to come was to be cut …ff by the Civil Magistrate; but the Judg…ents now Threatned are more Spiritual, a …uch sorer Doom is Pronounced against the …users or slighters of Gospel Ordinances then …hose of the Law, Heb. 10.29. A Punishment …uch more bitter than Death, that has even …ell and Eternal Damnation in it, 1 Cor. 11.29. He that Eateth and Drinketh unworthily Eateth and Drinketh Damnation: And an un…orthy coming and Careless neglect are alike …ainous and displeasing to God; 'tis a dis…ising the Gospel, a slighting the last, best …d Purest Dispensation the Church ever …ad.
III. That a careless and causeless neglect …f the Lord's Supper is a great Sin, producing …d Effects. Now here I shall do these Three …hings,
I. Shew what may be a just Excuse to keep …ersons from the Lord's Table.
II. That a Careless and Causeless Neglect a great Sin.
III. What those sad Effects are that… Coreless and Causeless Neglect are likely to produce.
1. What may be a sufficient Excuse to kee… Persons from the Lord's Table.
1. When the Providence of God has c… our Lot in such a Place where we can… (tho' we desire) receive this Ordinanc… God doth not require Impossibilities at o… hands. This was Josephs case in Egypt, D… vids case among the Philistians, and is t… day the case of Thousands in Pagan Co… tries.
2. When the state of the Church wh… we live is so Polluted, and this Ordinance… mongst others so defiled, that we cannot… to it without Sin, nor have any toller… hopes of getting any good by it, then we… be Excused, as the Church of Rome at… day. True, 'tis not every Corruption i… Church that will warrant our Separation f… this Ordinance; but when the Mixture… Corruptions are so great that we cannot… to get any good, God will make up the… of it in another way.
3. When the Lords Hand is upon us in… Bodily Disease, that renders us unable or… capable, either in Body or Minde, this will Ex…e us.
4. When Works of Charity or Mercy re…re it, &c.
But now setting these, or what other things …y amount to a just excuse as…de, 'tis a very …ful and dangerous thing to keep away from … Lord's Table.
1. None ought to stay away upon any Pre…ice of Worldly Business, Luk. 14.18, 19, …. And he sent his servants at supper time, to … to them that were bidden come: And they all …h one consent began to make excuse, &c. One …d bought a Piece of Ground, another a …ke of Oxen, another had Married a Wife, ….
2. Nor do any ought to keep off from the …rd's Table for any unworthiness in your …ves, this is indeed what many plead, I dare …t come, I am unworthy, but this is no just …se. For,
1. Either you see your own unworthiness, …d are made sensible of the Plague of your …n Hearts, and so are sick of Sin, weary of … your Hearts being melted and broken for …; if so, this is your Gospel worthiness …d you are the Persons Christ invites, Mat. …. 28. Come to me you that are weary and heavy laden, &c. This is all the worthi… Christ requires of us, that we see our own… worthiness, that we are sick of Sin, and w… ing to come to Christ as to our Spiri… Physician.
2. Or this is only a formal Hypocri… Plea, when you think rightly you have… right to this Ordinance, but are in the… of Bitterness and Bond of Iniquity, under… Power and Dominion of your Lusts; a… stranger to any Gracious renewing W… upon your Souls by the Gospel; and not… ing willing to part with your Sin, you… use this Plea of unworthiness to prevent… formation, which you know must be in o… to your being admitted to the Lord's Ta… you must not indeed come to the Lord's Ta… in your Sins, but you must Reform, put… all Sin, Isa. 55.7. Let the wicked forsake… way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts,… turn unto the Lord, and he will have mercy… him. So Isa. 1.16, 17, 18.
3. Nor are we to keep away from… Lord's Table under a pretence of the… worthiness of others; thus some will… come because they are affraid all that… have not Grace. But,
1. Either these Persons you dislike… openly Scandalous, they have the very… … Unregeneracy upon them, and if so you …e directed by Christ what to do in this case, …at. 18.15, 16, 17. Go and tell him of it, …y his Sin before him in the Spirit of Meek…ss; and if the first Reproof gain him not, … it a second time, and if that succeed not, …ll it the Church, i. e. the Rulers and Officers … the Church, in whose hands the Discipline … lodg'd, that they may deal with him. Or,
2. You only suspect them to be Hypocrites, …d yet can prove nothing against them; Oh …ke heed of being too Censorious of Judging …nothers Heart, when you find it so difficult … know your own; how much of this would … cured if we always put the best Constructi… upon the Words and Actions of others, …at. 7.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Judge not that ye be not …dged. Why beholdest thou the Mote that is in …y brothers eye, but considerest not the Beam that … in thy own eye.
4. Nor is it warrantable to keep off from …e Lord's Supper, because we are first to give … account to the Guides of the Church con…rning our knowledge and fittness for the …crament; this is what some pretend, they …ould come, might they come hand over …ead, and give no account of their fittness for …is Ordinance. But let such consider,
1. This is nothing but what you your sel… are willing to do in another case; Are not… desirous when you are sick to let the Phys… know your case? you are then willing to… swer such questions as he shall ask you… lating to the state of your Bodies, you do… think that one that knows not your case… administer what is fit and proper for y… And is it not most true and reasonable… the case of your Souls; the Ordinance of… Lord's Supper is not a Converting Ordinan… but only for Converted Believers, i. e. S… as in the Judgment of Charity we hope… so; and is it possible for us to judge wh… you have any Title or fittness for it when… will not come at us.
2. What is that we require of you b… credible Profession of Religion, a Compe… knowledge of the Doctrins of the Gospel,… Regular well-ordered Conversation?
5. Nor ought any to keep away because… the frequent return of the Sacrament.… an ill sign when Persons begin to be sick… Oppertunities for their Souls, to loath th… Spiritual Manna; we are to lay hold o… Oppertunities, and when we grow slack… weary of them 'tis a sad sign we got little… no good by them.
II. A Careless and Causless Neglect of this …inance is a great Sin.
It's a slighting an Ordinance of God, … that's very dangerous. All God's Ordi…ces are to be own'd and honour'd; and … being a part of God's Instituted Wor… and God commands you to come often, … you never come, or very seldom, this must …s be a great Sin, Mat. 22.1, and 13.
'Tis a Sin not to come to the Lord's Ta… because 'tis a slighting Jesus Christ himself: … at a Sin was it in the Jews, to slight Ca…, that was a Type of Heaven? Psal. 106. …ut much more to slight Christ, Heb. 2.3. … shall we escape if we neglect so great salvati… In this Ordinance Jesus Christ his Death …ufferings is Represented to us; now, to … the Death, and trample under foot the … of Christ, must needs be a great Sin.
Because the Neglect of this Ordinance … great Stupidity and Unacquaintance …ur own Hearts.
But what are those sad Effects produ… … a Careless and Causeless Neglect of the … Supper.
Such a Neglect brings Temporal Judg…; such, as a Blast upon our Affairs, Sickness, and Death it self: and this not only the Ʋngodly, but the Saints themselves; God threatens, Psal. 89.32. When they si… will visit their Iniquities with a Rod. Th… was with the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 11.29, 3… foreign, it signifies any kind of Judgment,… Punishment, either Temporal, Spiritual,… Eternal, in this Life, or that to come:… Corinthians were Sick, and many Dead, a… was for Contempt of the Lord's Supper; … these are too often over-looked; but,
2. Such a Careless Neglect of the… Supper is oft attended with Spiritual… ments; as,
1. For such Neglect God oft takes… the Means of Grace from them, as A… 10, 11, 12. 'Tis a Prophecy of the Ca… of the Ten Tribes, for their Despising… dinances of God, they slighted the… and behold they shall search the Whole… for a Prophet, but shall find none.
2. For such Neglect God leaves th… a Spirit of Giddiness, to be led away… Error of the Wicked; or, they settle… their Lees again, lose their First Lo… because Luke-warm, lose their Hearts i… tual Things, as Rev. 2.4. Rev. 3.1.… 16, 17, 18.
3. Eternal Judgments, 1 Cor. 11.29. Dam…on for him that eats and drinks unworthily: …d may we not say, he that slights and …lects, also incurs Eternal Damnation.
Application.
…S this so, that such as Carelesly neglect … coming to the Lord's Table, incur great …lt, and Provoke God to Inflict upon them …e Punishments?
…. Ʋse. Shall be of Reproof to Four sorts … Persons.
…irst. This Reproves those which look up… the Sacraments of the New Testament, to … Old Antiquated Ordinances, and of no use … to Christians: Are there not some who …e thrown away both the New Testament …aments, under pretence of More Spiritual …ainments? Some will have no Baptism but …iritual Baptism; nor no Supper, but a Feast …hin. 'Tis indeed strange, what such can … to say against Plain Gospel Commands: …st saith, Go, Baptize, Mat. 28.20. These …, No Baptism, but that of the Spirit: and that Holy Apostle, Paul, must be brought… Pleading for them, 1 Cor. 14.15, 17. C… sent menot to Baptize, but to Preach, &c. S… Paul did Baptize; and, had it not been a… vine Ordinance, he would not have done… at all: But Baptism was not his Main his Pri… pal Work, but to Preach the Gospel, &c.
And then, as to the Lord's Supper; the … postle tells us, 1 Cor. 11.26. That it is to… forth the Lord's Death till he come; not ti… come in the Spirit, as the Day of Pentec… some have weakly pretended; but, till he… in the Clouds of Heaven, to Judge the Quic… the Dead at the Last Day.
Secondly. This Reproves those which… and confess it to be an Ordinance of C… yet seldom or never come at it, nor Wo… God in it: What have such to say for t… selves? they will own, that Christ Insti… this Ordinance, and that it's a Duty to… on Christ in it, and yet never come at it… never take take any care to Prepare… selves for it: Are not these Persons very… ty, and even self condemned? Read b… Text, and Heb. 2.3. How shall we escape neglect so great salvation.
Thirdly. This Reproves those, who they do come, do it seldom, rarely,… …ar, or twice a Year, serves their turns: …e Apostle saith, We must come often, 1 Cor. … 26. and … come seldom, very seldom; …s Neglect is a great Sin.
Fourthly. This Reproves those who come, … come as oft as the Table is Furnish'd, but …e in a Careless …ner; without Humble, …o…s, and Solemn Preparation: O let such … and hear what the Apostle saith, 1 Cor. 11. … He that …at… and drinks unworthily, eates … drinks Damnation.
II. Ʋse of Exhortation.
…et me now speak, in the Name of God, to …y one of you; If you have any desire to …ake of the Blessings of the Gospel, or to a… the Judgments the Contempt of God's …nances will bring; then I beseech you … this as a Serious Call from God to every … of you, to set about Serious and Solemn …ntance, and Hearty Refermation; and, as …ves, Consider,
Without Serious Repentance, and Re…ation, the sad effect produced by Sin, and, …rticular, this Sin of Carelesly Neglecting …ord's Supper, can never be removed, Isa. … Let the wicked forsake his way, and the …teous Man his thoughts, and turn to the Lord, &c. Without this there can be no… of Mercy: You must Repent, and bed… Hubled for every Sin; and, in particular… this Sin of slighting this Blessed Supper, 1… 11.31. If we would judge our selves, i. e.… mine, Accuse, Condemn, Find our Sin… Condemn our Selves for it; and for eve… all Iniquity far from us, Psal. 119.113.… 12.10, 11.
2. You that Carelesly Neglect this… nance of the Lord's Supper, you neglect… as well as this, this is not all you have to… your selves with; you dare not come… Lord's Table, because you Hear seldom,… seldom; or do, what you do in Religion… lesly; not Hating Sin, not Examining… own Souls.
3. Your Neglect of this Ordinanc… sad Sign there are some Sins you Love, a… not willing to part with; you have so… Sense, as to know, if you come to this… nance, you must Reform; therefore it's… to your Darling Lusts, that keeps yo… the Lord's Table.
4. A Constant and Careless Neglect… Lord's Supper, proves you, in a great… strangers to the state of your Souls. D… know your Sins and your Wants, you… dare, from time to time, to turn your …s on this Ordinance.
…his makes it too evident, that you … great Love to Religion, nor to Jesus …, if you had, you durst not from time …ime Carelesly Neglect that Ordinance, …ein the Death and Satisfaction of Christ …ther with his great Love in Dying for …ers, is Represented and held out to us.
Nor do you ever Seal to your Baptism, you come to the Lord's Table; In Baptism, …nter into Covenant, and, at the Lord's …e we renew that Covenant; now, to keep …rom the Lord's Supper from time to time, …s, as if we did Repent of our first entring … Covenant, and refuse to Renew our …enant with God.
…nd therefore let me earnestly perswade …, to prepare your selves in an Humble, …ous manner, for the Lord's Table; mistake …ot, I am not perswading you to come … over head, to come in your Sins; but, to …are to come, to labour to fit your selves this Ordinance; and that you may come …he Lord's Table Comfortably,
…xamin your selves, 1 Cor. 11.28. Let a …n examin himself, and so let him eat of that …d, and drink of that cup. Now there are Five Things we must carefully Exam… selves about, and labour to find in our… in order to our Comfortable Coming… Lord's Table.
1. We must have Knowledge to… the Lord's Body, 1 Cor. 11.29. W… know the Nature, End and Use of… cramental Elements; and how Jesus … and the Benefits of his Death, is H… Represented, and Sealed thereby.
2. We must Examine our Faith; … ther we Believe in Christ, and, by… Feed on him, 2 Cor. 15. Examine… whether you be in the Faith, &c. A… not a bare Beliefe of the Article of… That Christ is the Son of God, the Savi… World: Devils and Ungodly Sinners… that; but, it must be such a Faith as… fies the Heart, Acts 15.9. and… Love.
3. We must Examine our selves… ing our Repentance; A Loathing of S… our Selves for it, Zech. 12.10. T… … pentance is a Mourning for Sin; A… ing of Sin, and a Turning from all… God, Isa. 55.1.
4. Another Thing to be Enquired… order to your Coming to the Lord's Ta… is, Whether you Truly and Sincerely …e God, Jesus Christ, and God's Peo…, Cant. 1.1. Shew me, O thou whom my … loveth, Acts 2.46, 47. 1 Cor. 10. …, 17.
5. New and Sincere Obedience to the …spel, 1 Cor. 6.7, 8. Purge out therefore … Old Leven, that you may be a New Lump, …c.
This is what you are earnestly to beg of …od to give, and when you find your Hearts …d Lives thus prepared, as that you can but …y, in Sincerity, That you hate all Sin, and …e willing to leave it; And you do Sincere… desire to Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, …ngering and Thirsting after Union, Com…union, and Likeness with him, and to him, …a 55.1. Mat. 5.6. When you can Love …ur Enemies heartily, Forgive, and Patient… Forbear Injuries, Mat. 5.23, 24. Mourn…g for Secret Sins, Vain Thoughts, Dead…ess, Lukewarmness, and Indifferency in …eligion; and Resolving to Live the rest … your Days to the Honour and Glory of …od, then may you come Comfortably to …e Lord's Table.
This you are to do Speedily, Delays are Dangerous; you are not to keep off… the Lord's Table because you are Si… but do as Commanded, Isa. 55.1: L… Wicked forsake his way, and the Ʋnrig… Man his thoughts, and turn to the Lord.
PART III.
CONTAINING XII. Divine Hymns: Composed for the LORD's TABLE, AND THE LORD's DAY.
By Michael Harrison in Potters-Pury.
LONDON: Printed, and Sold by T. Pasham in Northampton, and M. Conyers in Newport-Pagnel, Booksellers. 1700.