A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 239 (Question 97 cont.)
SERMON CCXXXIX.
WE have taken a general Account of the Nature of the Examination, and may proceed to conſider,
2. THE Things about which we are thus to call our ſelves to an Account. And we muſt here remember, that the enquiry is to be, both as to the being of theſe in us, and the readineſs of them for Exerciſe. And tho' this Examination is of conſtant Uſe, and we are to be at it every Day, and we can perform no ſolemn Duty of Worſhip without it as we ought; yet it is of more ſpecial Uſe in order to our coming to the Lord's Table, it being a Royal Feaſt which we are now to be entertained at, where we hope to have intimate Communion with our Lord and Saviour, and therefore ought to get our ſelves ready to meet with him in the moſt comely manner, that ſo we may ſit under his ſhadow with delight, &c. And here, leſt any ſerious and ſenſible Soul ſhould be diſcouraged, let me premiſe, that we muſt expect in a thoro' Self-ſearch, to find enough to humble us, by reaſon of ſo much Corruption that we ſhall diſcern to be ſtirring in us, and ſo much In…mity attending on all our Graces: Our firſt Care then is to enquire after the Truth and Sincerity of theſe things, and then in what degree of Activity they are. And now we may proceed to a brief Conſideration of the particulars:
1. THE firſt thing to be examined, is, Our Knowledge to diſcern the Lord's Body. The Apoſtle intimates, that without this we cannot partake worthily. …. 11.29. Such is the neceſſity of Knowledge in all acts of Religion, that without it the mind of Man cannot be good. God in all the Communion that he holds with Man, treats him as a reaſonable Creature, and applies to his rational Powers; and whatſoever true Good the Man gets by any Ordinance, it muſt paſs thro' his Underſtanding, to his will and Affections. God therefore mentions that as a ſingular Bleſſing. Jer 3.1…. And I will give you p…ſt…rs according to mine heart, which ſhall feed you with knowledge and underſtanding. Now the Knowledge that is here required is a Skill and Ability to diſ…e… the Lord's Body in the Ordinance, without which he can get no Good by it; for tho' God's Bleſſing on it, can only render it Efficacious for the End of it, yet it doth not work as a natural …ſtrument, but morally, as on a Cauſe by Counſel: And let us here peculiarly obſerve, that the Sacrament is …; there are in it Carnal Signs, but that which is aimed at in them is ſomething that is Spiritual; & except we diſcern that which is Spiritual, thro that which is Carnal, we altogether miſs of the End of it, and loſe the only true Benefit that is to be gotten by it. By the Body of the Lord is here intended Chriſt himſelf, who is exhibited under the ſhadow of theſe Signs; and we are to receive him with them by Faith, elſe we are not Profited by them: Now that we may ſo do, it is of abſolute Neceſſity that we have this Knowledge ſo to diſcern him. And there is a twofold Knowledge here required, a Literal, and a Spiritual; and tho' the former of theſe is not ſufficient without the latter; yet without ſome good meaſures of this, the other cannot be.
(1.) THERE is a Literal Knowledge; by which we are to be acquainted with theſe Truths Doctrinally, in which the great Myſtery of Man's Salvation by Chriſt is revealed to us in the Word of God. I do not here diſpute to what meaſures of this Knowledge God may pleaſe to Communicate his Grace; but it is certain, that there muſt be ſuch a meaſure of it, as may apprehend Chriſt to be a ſuitable and ſufficient Object for us to rely upon for Salvation; and we are ſure that there is an Ignorance of th…ſe things that is deſtructive to them who labour of it, Hoſ. 4.6. My people are deſtroyed for lack of knowledge. And the more diſtinct this Knowledge is, the more helpful it will be to a Chriſtian in his work, when it is ſanctified by the Spirit of God Now the things which do more peculiarly belong to this Knowledge are, an Underſtanding of the Covenant to which this Sacrament is a Seal, what are the Promiſes, and what are the Conditions, on which theſe Promiſes are ratified; for if we are ig…orant of the Covenant, how ſhall we be able to apply the Seals thereof after a right manner? what is the m…ſery befallen us by Sin, and how our recovery from that miſery is made way fo… by Chriſt, that ſo we may feel ou… need o… him, and look upon him as an Object every way ſuitable for us to apply our ſelves to for Salvation; what are the … on which … is offered to us, and we …vited to accept him, under a pr…m…e of ſa…ing us if we to do, that ſo we may know whe… her we have an Intereſt in his Purchaſe; and particularly the Nature of the Sacrament: what are the Signs which are uſed in it, a…d what is ſig…ied by them; what is the union between theſe, a…d after what manner they become Sacramentally beneficial to us. And tho' it is not to be expected that every good Chriſtian ſhould be able critically to diſcourſe of all t…e Caſes that may be moved on theſe Points, yet a neglect of being able with judgment, to put the d…fference between theſe things m…ſt needs obſtruct his ed…ication by the Ordinance: not indeed can …e without this… exert that Faith which is neceſſity to a right participation; for how can a Man Believe u…leſs he knows what he believes? for though Faith receives the D…vine Teſtimony, yet it muſt know what that Teſtimony is, elſe he cannot receive it with aſſe…t; and then much leſs can …e place his recumbe…cy on it, which is alſo eſſential to true Faith. So that where this groſs Ignorance is found, it puts a neceſſary bar to Communion, and for that reaſon …either …iants no… Naturals, no… Perſons that can give no competent account of their knowledge of theſe things, are to be admitted.
(2.) THERE is a Spiritual Knowledge or diſcerning that is here requiſite. A…d without this the other will not render the Perſon ſit or worthy, but will aggravate their guilt. And this peculiarly belongs to the Man's own I…quiſitio…. Others may be Judges of the former, but this is more ſecret between God and his own Soul. And this may be wanting where there are the greateſt meaſures of diſcurſive knowledge, which may be gained by the improvement of the natural Faculty, and is but a common Gift of the Spirit. We read of a Spiritual diſcerning, to which the natural Man is a ſtranger, let him be of never ſo pe…e…ating underſtanding in other reſpects. 1 Cor. 2.14. There is a great difference between the bare knowing of the Truth, and knowing it as it is in Jeſus. By this knowledge we diſcern the inamorating Excellency, Beauty and Glory which there is in Divine Truths, which creates an high value for them in the Soul. The Church therefore ſays of her Spouſe, Cant. …. ult. He is altogether …ovel…. And for this there muſt he a gracious Illumination, to open the eyes of the mind, which are in themſelves blind. And for this reaſon David prays for it, Pſal. 119.18. And this is the knowledge of …hich Chriſt pu…s that …omium, Joh. 1….3. And this is lif… eternal, that they wig…t know thee the only tru… God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom thou haſt ſent. And except we have ſuch a fight and diſcovery of Chriſt, we cannot entertain him worthily.
2. THE next Enquiry is to be made about our Faith to feed upon Chriſt. This alſo is a Grace indiſpenſibly requiſite for our worthy partaking: We muſt therefore have it in the Habit, elſe we cannot Exerciſe it; and we muſt have it in a readineſs, that we may Exerciſe it at the Ordinance, elſe we cannot receive the Elements Sacramentally; and the reaſon of this is expreſt in the Uſe that is to be made of it, viz that we may feed upon him. It is not enough for us to feed upon the outward Element, for the Fleſh prof…teth not; but we muſt feed upon Chriſt, who is there ſet before us as the Bread of Life. Now in order to ou… ſo feeding on him, it is requiſite that we have thoſe Organs which are accommodated for our ſo doing. Now as this Food is Spiritual, ſo muſt the Organs be by which we apply it to the Uſe and End of it; and this cannot be done by thoſe that are Corporeal. Our Graces ſtand in need of being nouriſhed, both to keep them alive, and to add growth and en…reaſe to them: This Nouriſhment is laid up in Chriſt, and is ſet before us and off red to us at this Table; and that we may derive this Good from them to our Souls, we muſt ſuck & draw the Vertue from them; they muſt be as it were incorporated in us: Now the great Inſtrument by which this is to be done, is Faith, by which alone we can receive Chriſt, and live upon him, ſo that the want of this, and that alſo in actual Exerciſe, will inevitably prevent our deriving of this great Benefit from him, and leave our Souls withering and ſtarving. Unbelief puts Chriſt away; it ſhuts the mouth of the Soul againſt him, and ſtops the entercourſe between Chriſt and our Souls, by which only we can thrive in Grace.
NOW in our enquiry after this Faith, we muſt ſee that it is not meerly an Hiſtorical, but a true and living Faith; and accordingly examine ourſelves about the proper Characters of it. And here we muſt try,
(1.) WHETHER we have been effectually perſwaded to receive the Teſtimony of God concerning him: That there is Salvation in no other but him; and that he is able to ſave us to the uttermoſt; that all they are Bleſſed that put their truſt in him; that he hath fully ſatisfied the demands of Juſtice for the Sins of his People, and purchaſed the Eternal Inheritance for them; that all ſuch as have him, have Life; and that the fulneſs of the God-head dwells in him; and whatſoever is needful to make us Bleſſed here and hereafter, is treaſured in him: For, except we have this Faith we can never go to him for Life, inaſmuch as this is the very Reaſon and Motive of our ſo coming to him: And this Faith is ever built upon the Teſtimony which the Father hath given of his Son; tho' it is farther confirmed upon the experience of his having been ſo to us: And this is wrought by the irreſiſtible energy of the Spirit of God, who hath perſwaded us thus to believe; for it is his Gift.
2. WHETHER we have been perſwaded by this Teſtimony to adventure our ſelves upon him, and place our affiance in him. And this evermore follows upon the former, if it be right and genuine; and it is a vain thing for any to plead that, if it hath not produced this effect in them. And herein properly conſiſts the true Bleſſedneſs of Believers: For we are told, Pſal. 2.12. Bleſſ…d are all they that put their truſt in him. And if we have thus believed in him, we have utterly renounced all our reliance upon every other Object in which we before had placed our Co…idence; for they who truſt in Chriſt, do truſt in him alo…e, and join no other with him, Pſal. 62.3, 6. We have abjured our own Righteouſneſs, as inſufficient to ſtand for our Juſtification before God, and count it as filthy r…gs, Iſal. …4.6. And ſeek it in him alone, Pſal. 3.9. We dare to do nothing in our own ſtrength, but rely on him only for all that influence from him, whereby we may ſerve God acceptably; and rely on his Merits, and nor our own worthineſs for acceptance with God, …ſh. 1.6. And we have taken him in the offer and promiſe of the Goſpel, and reſolvedly adventured our ſelves upon him, with full purpoſe to go no whether elſe, but if we periſh, to periſh here.
3. ANOTHER thing about which our Self-Examination is to be employed, is, our Repentance. Repentance is another of the Graces of the Spirit, and always inſeparable from true Faith, and is therefore to be enquired after, in order to our being able to prove our Faith to be unfeigned; for an Impenitent Believer, is a manifeſt inconſiſtency; and let Men make never ſo fair a Profeſſion of their truſting in Chriſt, and reliance upon Chriſt, and confident expectation of Salvation from him; yet if they remain Impenitent they deceive themſelves; for he hath ſaid, Luke 13.3. But except ye repent ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh. Now there is a peculiar Reaſon why we ſhould Examine our ſelves about our Repentance, not only in order to our firſt coming to this Ordinance, but to renew it every time we thus approach to Chriſt. For,
1. IF ever we have Repented of any Sin, we have received the Grace of Repentance, from which the Acts of Repentance do proceed. And this is a gift of God: Hence that in Acts 11.18. Then hath God alſo to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. And it is neceſſary in order to obtaining Forgiveneſs. Acts 2.38. Repent and be baptized for the Remiſſion of Sins. So that if we would be ſatisfied about the reality of it, we muſt follow it to this root, elſe we may be impoſed on. For,
2. EVERY Repentance that Men may plead for, is not this ſaving Repentance, or carries in is the witneſs of our true Converſion. There is a Legal as well as an Evangelical Repentance; and too many miſtake one for the other. We read of Ju… that he Repented, and yet it pr…it…d him not; but precipitated him into his own Deſtruction. Seal alſo Repented, but he ſtill remained in the ga…l of bitterneſs. We had need therefore to enquire not only whether we have Repented, but whether in hath been after a Godly ſort.
3. WE have often the continued …lis to renew … Repentance after …ur firſt Converſion. For, tho a true Penitent ſhall never fall out from Grace, yet he doth often wound his own Peace, and grieve the holy Spirit: and it is by Repentance that he is to be renewed; all Sin is to be Repented of; and in this way we are to recover the teſtimonies of God's Favour and Love to us. And beſides the Sins of ordinary incurſion, which attend the beſt Actions that we do, there are thoſe of a deeper die, which call us to a more ſoaking Repentance; and till the Peace be made, we cannot expect that true and comfortable Fellowſhip with Chriſt at his Table, which is to be expected and deſired by us.
4. THE Sacrament is a Seal of the Covenant: And one great End of it is, to Seal up to us the Good held forth in the Promiſe: And this is to confirm and eſtabliſh our Faith, by which we may ſuck out the ſweetneſs of it, and derive more Life and Vigour from it. Now there are Covenant Promiſes which are thus ſetled; and conſequently they are connected with the Precept, which directs us the way wherein we are to partake in this Good. And one of theſe Benefits which we are to wait for in this Ordinance, is the Sealing up to us the Pardon of our Sins; and in order to our obtaining this Pardon, God requires of us Repentance, as hath formerly been accounted for, under the D…ine of Repentance. Now there are two things that we are carefully to enquire after, in this part of our Self-Examination;
1. WHETHER we did ever truly Repent of Sin; or, Whether we are in a ſtate of Repentance. And the rather ought we to be accurate in this matter, becauſe there are not a few that deceive themſelves on this account; and the way for our right coming at this, is to bring our ſelves to the Teſt of thoſe Characteriſtical Notes which were …r…erly given of this Grace: And for our help in this, I ſhall briefly to … ſ…me of the Principal; and let us put them to our own hearts, and ask our ſelves:
(1.) HAVE we been truly ſorrowful for our Sin, and … …r ſelves …r…t b…re God? There is a Worldly and there is a Godly Sorrow; the … w…ks t… Death, the other to Life; …. 10. We may truly ſay, that we have been …ry, and w…l…ed in ſackcloth, ſo did …: But whence is our Grief, is it only becauſe … are ter…ed with Wrath? Or is it becauſe we have ſinn…d againſt God, and fallen ſhore o… … Glory by … …o we mourn becauſe we have diſhonoured God, and hurt our own Souls? Is it becauſe we find Sin to be an evil and bi…er thing … And is it no only for our Actual Sins, but the Sin of our Natures? Is the Body of Death burdenſome, and makes us cry, Rom. 7.24. O wret…hed … that I am, why … deliver we from the b…dy of this death? And do we thus confeſs and bewail it before God, as it is again…t him? So did he, Pſal. 51.4. Againſt thee, …ee only have I ſinned, and … evil in thy ſight.
(2.) HAVE we …uly ba…hed Sin, and our ſelves for it? Hatred of Sin as Sin, is the root of tr…e Repentance; and this proceeds not meerly from a moral Principle in us, which makes many a Man to entertain a deteſtation of theſe and thoſe Sins; but from a gracious Principle, which hat…s Sin from a reſentment of the Vileneſs of it, as it is Sin; and conſequently it extends to all Sin, Pſal. 118.10…. I hate every falſe way. And that not becauſe it hurts us in its conſequent, but in that it is in it ſelf the greateſt Evil. And this is ever accompanied with a Self loathing on the account of …. When Job once comes to that ſenſe, Job 40.4. I a… vile; he ſoon proceeds to that, Chap. 42.6 I abhor my ſelf. The very ſ…ain and pollution of it, makes us odious to our ſelves.
(3.) HAVE … turned from all Sin to God? Theſe are the Terms of trae Repentance: Confeſſion is not ſufficient without forſaking, Prov. 28.13. That Man hath never repented of his Sin, who hath not ab…ured it; nor hath he truly renounced it, unleſs he hath returned to God; and that on a deliberate Choice: Hence that, Pſal. 119.…9. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. He that leaves one Sin, and takes up with another, hath not repented, but only traverſeth his ways; and therefore together with hating of his Sin, he loves the ways of God, and delights himſelf in the Command; and he who once tho't the Command grievous, now counts it to be Holy, Juſt and Good.
(4.) DO we maintain a c…ntinual Warfare againſt the remaining Sin in us? It is God's holy Pleaſure that his own Children ſhall be moleſted with the relicks of Concupiſcence; they carry about with them the old man which hath it's corrupt Luſts, and theſe will always endeavour to lead them into Captivity. But where the Grace of Repentance is, it will withſtand it and war againſt it: See, Gal. 5 17. For the fleſh laſteth againſt the ſpirit, and the ſpirit against the fleſh. This will put them upon the great work of Mortification: Hence that advice, Col. 3.5. Mortify therefore year members which are upon earth. And they will be ever bringing their Luſt to the Croſs of Chriſt. But this brings to the ſecond enquiry, viz.
2. WHETHER we have Repented of thoſe Sins that have evertaken us ſince our firſt Converſions? It is awfully evident that Godly Men do ſometimes fall into the mire and defile themſelves: How many inſtances for this have we on record in holy Writ? and theſe are ſometimes more groſs, and grieve the holy Spirit, and are ſcandalous to the holy Profeſſion which they make: It is therefore ſaid, 2 Sam. 11. ult. But the thing that David had done diſpleaſed the Lord. And, Row 2.24. Now when it is ſo, God expects that a peculiar and ſpecial Repentance be exerciſed about ſuch Sins, if ever we would receive the favourable ſmiles of his Countenance upon us. There muſt be a new Pardon ſought, if ever we would enjoy that familiar Communion with him, and ſit under his ſhadow with delight: For, tho… every Penitent Believer is in a Pardoned State, and there is now no more Condemnation abides for him; yet there is a Guilt contracted by that Sin, and there moſt a new act of Forgiveneſs paſs upon him, in order to his recovering of Peace with Conſciences; and the way to obtain this muſt be by renewed Repentance, and till that be put in practice, he may well expect to be under intolierable remorces; but in this way he may hope to find his broken Bone healed, and a Pardon applied to him: Thus we find it was with David, after his great Tranſgreſſion, Pſal. 32.3 4, 5. Here then we are to examine our ſelves;
1. BY ſearching for Sin; to ſee whether there have been no ſ…ch a Breach made between God & us. And for this we are to reflect, and call ever our thoughts, o…r words and our actions, and bring them to the Word of God, and … them thereby: We muſt know our Sins in order to our P…pe…ting; and this inquiſitiveneſs is a ſi…n of a P…itent diſpoſition; this is the thinking on … …ys, which is the way to turn from Sin by Repentance; and they that will not do this, are far from the other. And here not only the more groſs Scandals are to be ſought for, but our vain Carriages, our paſſionate ungoverned Behaviours, and neglect of Duty, are to be thought of.
2. BY affecting our ſelves with the proper Aggravations of ſuch Sins. We are not to ſeek covers for them, but to look to the bottom of them, and to charge our ſelves with the Circumſtances, which may make them the more vile and bitter to us; tho' we Conf…ſs our Sins, yet if we ſeek ex…ati…ns, and that which may make us the more eaſy in our reſentments of them; this is from a root of Impenitence: David tells us he did not hide his, Pſal. 32.5. We cannot give to God his due Glory by our Repentance, unleſs we put it's own colours upon the Sin which we recognize: How doth the Prophet expreſs this? D…. 9.5. We have ſinned and committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelli… by departing from thy precepts, and from thy judgments.
3. BY an humble and hearty bemoaning our ſelves before God for that very Sin. As we … to ſeek a Pardon for it in particular, ſo to bewail our ſelves diſtinctly on the account of it; and ſeek of God his Grace to ſubdue that Luſt in us, that it may no more have ſuch power over us; but that we may be made more watchful againſt it, … he helped with more power over it, that it may not ſo eaſily draw us away after it; and crying out to God as ſuch who are diſtreſs…d with the ſenſe of it, for his healing of us, as the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 41.4. I ſaid, Lord be merciful unto me, heal my ſoul, for I have ſinned againſt the….
4. BY getting into a penitent frame, in order to our coming an his Table The ſenſe of ſuch Sins ought not to drive us from him; not, if ever we find help and relief, it muſt be from him: But if under a deep ſenſe of our folly, and grieving for our Sin, we come before him, acknow…edging our Guilt and Unworthineſs, and p…ace our whole hope in his Mercy; we have now a Promiſe in the Covenant of Grace, that ſuch as ſo do ſhall experience his Pity, and bowels of Companion extended to them; and entertain them as the Father did his Prodigal returning Son; and give all the tokens of his Reconciledneſs to them. Our buſineſs therefore is to examine our ſelves about this; and if we find it to be ſo with us thro' his Grace, he will take us from the ground, and beſtow on us his endeared Embraces.