being begun on earth we must according to the measure given aim at the celebration of the glory of this love in the manner required by himself who hath instituted this Sacrament of the Lords Supper for a memorial of his love in humbling himself unto death requiring this his death to be shewed forth until he come again and allowing his people such Communion with himself in this Ordinance as shal be to them a Seal for their eternal Enjoyment of him when he cometh again to receive them to himself The Blessings of this Ordinance are so great that it 's our mercy we have it's institution it 's several Parts the signification of each Part the Manner of acting on our part the Benefits to the believing Receiver All particularly recorded And in the words of this Text we have all these blessings summed up in our obtaining Communion with Christ for he being ours all is ours The Connexion of this verse with the words immediately proceeding is not so very obvious as the Scope will make it appear for what end the Lords Supper is here mentioned The Apostle is giving seasonable warning to these believing Corinthians now eminent for Gifts to take heed lest they fall verse 12. For which end he gives them to understand that the people of God of old were priviledged above all other People with signal testimonies of Gods peculiar favour they were under the cloud miraculously carried through the red sea did eat the same spiritual meat and drink the same spiritual drink And all these mercies by Christ the Rock that followed them Yet with many of them God was not well pleased And among other evils whereby God was provoked their early Idolatry was most provoking Therefore saith the Apostle flee from Idolatry ver 14. and proposeth this Text as an Argument against Participation with Idolaters in their idolatrous service For saith he ye have solemnly professed Christ and Communion with him in the Sacrament of his Supper and therefore must renounce all Worship that 's inconsistent with the said Profession and Communion such as the Sacrifices of the Gentiles being but Sacrifices of Devils c. And ye cannot drink of the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Devils ver 21. Now that this Ordinance is such a solemn professed Communion with Christ he asserteth as undenyable by this interrogation is it not c. Making the Affirmative strong being such as themselves could not deny In the words we have these four things First the general nature of this holy Sacrament that is the signs of Divine Institution and the promised Blessing thereto Appertaining 2. Both the signs distinctly discribed and both to be made use of by Believers 3. The special and great benefit of Communion with Christ represented by these Symbols 4. That in order to a Believers participation of Christs Body and Blood these visible signs must be blessed and set apart for that holy use the Apostle here beginneth with the Cup where we are to consider four things First what is understood by the Cup Secondly How it 's called a Cup of Blessing Thirdly How it 's said to be the Cup which we bless Fourthly That the Cup Blessed is the Communion of the blood of Christ For the First the Cup signifieth the Wine in the Cup and the Wine representeth Christs Blood and therefore evidently a figurative speech Mat. 26. 27. And he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink ye all of it for this is my blood of the New Testament c. and Luke 22. 20. This Cup is the New Testament in my blood So that by the Cup is set forth the precious blood of Christ the price of our Redemption Ephes 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood and 1 Cor. 6. 20. Ye are bought with a price Secondly It 's the Cup of Blessing being indeed a Cup of Salvation full of blessings to the believing Receiver being blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Eph. 1. 3. The cursed made blessed the guilty made righteous Next It 's the cup of Blessings or Praises the word also signifying giving thanks for hereby the blessings of many ready to perish come upon the Redeemer who loved and gave himself for them Thirdly It 's the Cup which we bless the cup must be blessed and set apart for representing of that precious blood Therefore we find that Christ blessed it He took the cup and gave thanks the benefit of which is yet to be expected by Believers Secondly and his servants by Office who in his Name administer this Ordinance and give the Cup pray for this blessing and in his Name bless and set apart the Cup for this sacred use that it may be to the partakers by Christs blessing the Communion of his Blood which is The fourth thing to be considered The Communion of his Blood The word signifieth Common or Communicable to others giving and receiving as 1 Tim. 6. 18. willing to Communicate It 's the same word So there is giving on Christs part and receiving by the Believer which is this Communion of his Blood so the same word is translated fellowship 1 Cor. 1. 9 You are called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Believers having most intimate fellowship with Christ they in him and Christ dwelling in their hearts by Faith So the word is also translated Partaking 2 Pet 1. 4. That by these you might be partakers of the Divine nature that is to have Communion with the Divine nature and possibly it had been as safe to have translated its Communion or Fellowship as partaking for some weak people have mistaken that Expression partaking of the Divine nature and over-stretched it to whom fellowship with the Divine Nature had been more plain as the word is translated 1 John 1 3. Our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ The Cup here is said to be the Communion of his blood that is the Cup being blessed according to Divine Institution and made use of by the believing Receiver he partakes of the benefit of Christ's blood his Death and Purchase he hath Communion with Christ crucified his Death being for him and in his stead he is said to be crucified with Christ Gal. 2. 20 satisfying the Justice of God in and by Christ crucified and so hath the Communion of his blood The next visible sign is the Bread where these three things are to be noted first that it's bread Secondly Bread broken and Thirdly that this Bread broken is the Communion of Christs Body For the first Bread is made use of by our Redeemer as that which is necessary for preserving the life of man and therefore fit to signifie and represent the Bread of life Christ is our spiritual food his flesh meat indeed John 6 55 Secondly It 's not any bread but this bread blessed and set apart for this representation Mat. 26 26 As they were eating Jesus
Promises are yea and Amen Do ye know that all your Interest in this Covenant is by Jesus Christ who is given a Covenant for the people Isa 42. 6. 5. Do ye know that all your Salvation and all that ye should desire is in this Covenant 2 Sam. 23. 5. That it 's Ordered in all things for your good and sure hath the Lord showen you his Covenant Psal 25. 14. Do ye in heart believe it to be sure 6. VVere ye ever taught of God how to take hold of this Covenant and how to Subscribe your selves the Lords Isa 44. 5. One shall say I am the Lords and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord If ye know nothing of it ye cannot perform it and if not performed the Seal is not yours for ye have not Subscribed to the Deed. Remember Christian thou hast no other Charter for thy part of Heaven but this Covenant of Grace and if thou art a Christian indeed it will be to the as a Fountain of Joys that he hath made with thee an everlasting Covenant thou wilt never think thy self safe till thou know thou art Savingly in it and therefore it will be the great concern of thy Soul how to Joyn thy self to the Lord especially before thou partake of it's Seal blessed is that hour wherein a man may say now I subscribed my self the Lords I have given my self to him and he hath received me graciously what has thou to do from thy Birth to thy Grave like this which can make thee sing in the face of Death 3. Try thy Knowledge of the Sacrament it self specially if thou canst Spiritually and believingly Discern the Lords Body for if thou Discernest no more than Bread and VVine thou wilt Receive no more and if thou Receivest no more thou hast not Received the Sacrament of Christs Institution thou hast but a shadow for the Substance besides the Guilt of profaning that Holy Ordinance The words of the Holy Ghost are carefully to be remarked 1 Cor. 11. 29. he eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself not discerning the Lords Body This Discerning of his Body is a Discerning Spiritually Christ himself as Crucified and if this one thing be wanting the Communicant will surely Eat and Drink unworthily Therefore put such Questions as these to thy self First I am perswaded that the Son of God did take unto him our nature and in due time did shed his Blood for the Remission of the sins of many 2. That this our Blessed Saviour did Institute this Ordinance of the Lords Supper to be Celebrated in Remembrance of him 3. That the Bread and VVine there presented and Blessed doth Represent his Body and Blood 4. That Christ who Offered himself to his Father doth in this Ordinance Offer himself to be Received by Believers 5. That in Offering himself to be Received by them he Offereth unto them also the Benefits purchased by his Death 6. That every partaker must so Discern him by Faith 7. And every Partaker is Obliged by Faith to Receive himself with all his Benefits when he Receiveth that Bread which Christ Requireth to take and eat and that no person should presume to eat of that Bread or drink of that Cup but with a full purpose of heart thankfully to Receive himself seek to be established in these before thou go to the Lords Table that thou mayest partake in Faith and not by eating and Doubting or Eating and Ignorant what thou art about many Souls are Guilty before God for taking so little pains to prevent their being Guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord and some not of the very worst obstruct their own Comfort by indistinct Communicating there being no action under the heavens that Requireth more fixed ripe and distinct apprehensions than partaking at the Lords Table Secondly Our Faith must be Examined before we go to the Lords Table Consider first the Reasons why this must be done And 2. How to find out Saving Faith The Reasons 1. Christ himself is to be Received at his Table and this Receiving of him is Believing as is plain by John 1. 12. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his Name Therefore Christ cannot be Received without Faith and if he be not Received the Sacrament is profaned The Communicant should be a believing Believer having Faith not onlie in Habit but in Act. 3. Our Faith must be Examined because we are VVarned that there are manie sorts of Faith and yet but one kind of Faith Is Saving whereby the man is Justified we Read of a Believing which Devils have James 2. 19. Some wicked men also are said to Believe yet remaining in the bond of Iniquitie Acts 8. 13. VVe have an account also that some Believed for a while Luke 8. 13. It 's Lamentable that men stand not in awe of such Scriptures and so few moved with fear least their Faith be no better we Read also of some mens Faith raised so high as thereby to work Miracles and yet their last Sentence Depart from me Matth. 7. 21 22. It appears these men did mistake true Saving faith thinking such as they had would cary them to Heaven for they make it a plea for their Admissions did we not cast out Devils in thy Name doubtless this made them Christians of great Fame in the VVorld but how easie is it even for men of great Gifts to mistake Faith and go to Death without a Discovery of that Mysterie VVe are warned also of a dead faith James 2. 17. Such a faith as found men and leaveth them dead in their sins It cannot therefore be safe after such warnings for any man to Conclude that because in the general he belleveth therefore he shal be Saved and hath a Right to the Lords Supper except the nature of his faith be instructed and made out to be such as thereby he is united to Christ and so shal be Justified 4. This Danger of mistaking Faith being so great it 's our Mercy that there is a particular Command to Examine our Faith as we would be Secured we are not Reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. So that if this be still neglected we not only endanger our Souls by Delusion but shal be found sinfully disobedient to a merciful Command 5. That which is said Heb. 11. 6. That without faith it 's impossible to please God should of it's self engage us to Examine our Faith what Regard can we have to God and be contentedly in that State wherein it 's impossible to please him or be ignorant whether in that State or not can ye look up to God and think it not worth the while to enquire whether ye be pleasing or displeasing to him Dare ye sit down at his Table not knowing but it may be said of you in particular it 's impossible for this man to be pleasing to me and no wonder he cannot be accepted as not
16. 6. I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood Live I die for thee that thou mayest not die I am come that thou mayest have Life then the Blessing of these who were ready to perish are poured out upon the Ransomer Then as Mic. 7. 18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity The deeper thy Sense of Guilt be being joyn'd with some hope of Mercy thou art in the surer way for the rich Consolations of God they that Sowe in Tears shal reap in Joy the Lord hath appointed the Garment of Praise after the spirit of Heaviness Isai 61. 3. 6 And though thou has no fear of Wrath having ground to hope that thou art Reconciled to God by the Blood of Christ Yet come humbly because thy sins are against such Streams of Mercy runing upon thee and passing by others thou knowest that thou hast never lived Suitable to the Greatness of thy Mercy never fully payed thy Vows never Glorified God in body and spirit as it became one not his own but Bought with a Price much is required of thee because much is given thee let the Sense of this go deeper in thy heart for if hope of Pardon make thy sin easie thou has cause to suspect both thy self and thy hope There are no Convictions should be more humbling than foolish requiting of the Lord and no Grief more grieving than grieving of his Spirit who minded our griefs and knew our Souls in adversities Thou will not want Matter of humbling to take with thee to the Lords Table and need of Renewed Application of that Precious Blood If thou open thine eyes to see thy way Jer. 2. 23. 7. Come humbly in the Sense of thy sin that thou mayest value the least of Mercy and the very Crumbs that fall from his Table and if such a full Cup of Consolation be not poured out to thee as to others or as at other times to thy self yet to Justifie God in thy heart not thinking thou hast hard measure not wondering if he hide his face from thee but rather wondring if it shine upon thee considering thy Provocations This true Sense of thy unworthiness will make thee think O that I may have a Cup of Salvation when I go to his Table whether it be a Cup of present Consolation or not And that thou may'st approach with some humbling sense of thy sin Consider that there must be some more deadly poison in sin than we do apprehend when no less doth expiate the guilt than that Blood which is called the Blood of God that no other Sacrifice nor Offering could avail Study O Christian to know more of the demerit of sin the greatness of the Justice of God that would accept of no other Atonement and the greatness of thy deliverance if thou art now a Believer that the weight of wrath is not come upon thee And think with thy self thou by thy sins pierced him thou brought blessed Jesus to sweat these drops of Blood thou pressed on him with the weight of thy sins until he cryeth out My GOD my GOD why hast thou forsaken me Canst thou want a humbling sense of sin and think this was for thee Canst thou yet mind it and not mourn What hateful hearts have we that are not more pierced with the piercing of Christ and a wonder if many of us find an interest in that Death wherewith we are so little concerned 2. Be Particular and Impartial in searching out the Aggravations of thy Sin from thy Youth up and when convictions arise in thy Conscience choke them not but intertain them as a Mercy until they be ripened for gracious humbling Thou may'st soon lay aside thy convictions but not so soon take them up again it may be God gave thee the mercy of many Convictions but thy love to sin has mastered them all that now thy Conscience lets thee sin with ease being seared and thy heart hardned and no wonder for many wakenings of Conscience that still end in security makes our hearts as the Iron many heats and many cools makes the Iron harder 3. But when none of thy Meditations or Convictions can soften thy heart but thou can behold thy sin and not grieve and often confess it yet canst not mourn never get thy heart poured out to God except some weight of Affliction press thee and then thou wilt pour out a prayer when the Lord is chastening thee and when thy affliction is over the pouring out of thy heart is at an end I say when nothing prevaileth with thy obdured heart yet bless God that there is a promised spirit of mourning Zech. 12. 10. They shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shal mourn Cry to God for this help that thou may'st go to this blessed Ordinance as is expressed Jer. 50. 4. going and weeping and verse 5. joyn thy self to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant CHAP. V. Communion with Christ should be known before Partaking The fourth Inference IF that the worthy Receiver at the Lords Table obtain the Communion of his Body and Blood then Communicants are obliged to understand what that is which is called Communion with Christ before they Partake lest they be found ignorant of it when they Partake Consider then that true Communion with Christ being the happiness and honour of all who obtain it meriteth the greatest seriousness to know how sinful Mortals partake of it And though it be wonderful yet the exceeding riches of free Grace hath made it sure for Believers have the priviledge of entering into the holiest by the blood of Jesus and so obtain a more gracious nearness to God than those who remain only in the outer Court and that this may appear for the incouragement of those who still retain a value for it but fears that this fellowship is reserved wholly for a better life I shal by the help of God shew first that Believers in this life partake a peculiar and intimate fellowship with Christ Secondly It 's preparatory Antecedents whereby they are brought unto it And Thirdly Wherein it consisteth and the way how it 's enjoyed so far as God giveth to understand it I can promise the Reader no more For the First This blessed Communion with the Lord is not only Commanded both in the Old and New Testament Micah 6. 8 walk humbly with thy God Joh. 15. 4. Abide in me I in you so is made the plain Duty of the People of God to seek after it but is also promised Psal 140. 13. The upright shall dwell in thy presence Joh. 14. 23. We will come unto him and make our abode with him So that Believers may expect success to their Prayers and endeavâ—urs after Communion with God For faithful is he who hath promised Heb 10. 23. Secondly The near Union that is between Christ and Believers doth undeniably prove this Communion he being the Head and Believers the Body supplied in every part by the Head
showers of Blessings to the dry and parched Ground we cannot so much as touch him by Faith but vertue proceedeth for healing the poor sinner 4. Here also is the Seal of Christ's Testament securing the Believer he shal be preserved unto the Heavenly Kingdom and be forever witb the Lord he hath given himself to them and they bave received him Therefore now no Sin no Death no Devil no ensnaring World nothing present or to come shall separate from his Love The believing Receiver may and should conclude this because the honour and regard that is due to Christ's Seal and therefore together with dependance on the Spirits sealing the Believer is not to be idle waiting only if assurance will drop down upon him but is to endeavour the assuring of his own heart by the Seal of God On the other hand the danger is great if this Ordinance be profaned for the more of Christ's Love shine in any Ordinance the nearer he cometh with the offers of his Love the more heinous is the profanation Now of all Gospel Ordinances Christ offereth to come nearest to us in the Lords Supper preaching is to bring us near to Christ but in the Lords Supper the Believer directly acteth Communion with Christ and therefore this Ordinance doth in a peculiar manner bear this name of Communion There is no cause then of judging it great severity when it 's said he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh Damnation or Judgement to himself some are ready to say these were monsters of men who imbrued their vile hands in that precious Blood they would not have been guilty of it for all the Kingdoms of the Earth who yet forget that the Lord chargeth the same guilt on themselves for profaneing that holy Ordinance being thereby guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. The danger of this hath made me insist the more largely on that head of Self-examination before partaking at the Lords Table which perhaps some may think tedious but if it may conduce as a mean to prevent the guilt of one poor soul I shall not think any pains too much as for others who find no need of so many and particular Examinations they may pass them by and leave them to others Some may be apt to Object the same against so long discoursing on Communion with God but whosoever Objecteth this let him Consider First That Communion with Christ is the very Text and Subject in haâ—d 2. If Men know nothing of the Nature and Way of Communion with God how shall they seek after it in the Sacrament 3. If true Communion with Christ be obtained at the Lord ' s Table then it ought to be Cherished and Entertained in a Believers Walk for Christ being Received we are to Walk in Him It were great Ignorance if not Ir-religious profaneness to say that Communion with Christ being Obtained at His Table we are to be no more concerned with it until the next Communion for such as are of this Opinion have just cause of Fear they never yet had Communion with Christ any where 4 The very Happiness of men consisting in Communion with God this being the Believers only help and Comfort it's interruptions his great loss grief disquiet finding that without it he is as nothing for nothing but evil I therefore wish this little hint of it may be serviceable were it for no more but to excite others better Qualified Blessed with more experience to write on this Subject of Communion with God by it self in a more full and particular manner than I have yet seen or such a weak Person as I am able to perform Some also will probally Object against the many Objections here Published especially these Temptations mentioned that it might be Prudence rather to conceal some of them To which I answered First That many Horrid Temptations are Recorded in the Holy Scriptures as also the Mercy of God's delivering from them Published to His Glory Therefore His Gracious support under such Temptations and granting frequently a Comfortable Victorie is not to be concealed 2. It 's necessary that People be Warned and Armed for the worst of Temptations that so they may be fixed by the Armour of God before they be assaulted 3. Many conceal their Temptations too long until they are ready to sink and are sâ—ill silent for this very Reason that they hear so little of the Temptations of others and therefore think there is no sorrow like theirs which addeth to their Affliction whereas some particulâ—ar Instructions Pertinent to their distressed Case ready at hand might by the Blessing of God be Vseful especially in the beginning of their Temptations 4. This requireth the more Publick consideration because such distressed Souls under grievous Temptations and Suggestions are more Numerous than is commonly Apprehended and these not only of our Perswassion for I can give Instances of several sober Persons now living and of another Perswassion Afflicted in like manner 5. Let it be Considered that their is nothing in the following Discourse for Indulging any manner of Temptations but what is said is to resist them in a Christian manner The last thing I am to acquaint thee with is that this little Treatise being wholy practical and designed only to for help to the weaker sort of Christians it 's stile is fitted for the meanest for though Controversies cannot be Mannaged without words dificult to the Ignorant yet it hath sometimes grieved Me to see some Excellent practical Books Thrown away by some Readers for no other Reason but that the Words were above their reach which I Humbly Conceive should be conscientiously prevented for knowing Readers can understand the plainest but the Ignorant cannot understand words for which they had no Education That this Essay notwithstanding it 's Manifold Imperfections may Obtain thy candide reception and that it may prove by the Blessing of God in some Measure Servicable to to thy Souls great Interest is the desire of Thy Souls well wisher and Servant for Christ's sake R. C. CHAP. I. 1 Corinthians 10. 16. The Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ the Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ COmmunion with God is justly the wonder of all that obtain it who can do little more while here but wonder not understanding it's value untill the shaddows flee away and they see His Face in a greater brightness This dignity and mercy must be exceeding great seing the blood of him who is God was shed for it's Purchase The just suffering for the unjust to bring us to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. But when his servants shal serve him and see his Face and thereby themselves be made to shine in their Fathers Kingdom then shal the glory of that love which contrived and the glory of that love which purchased this Communion be celebrated in another manner Yet this Communion
took bread and blessed it Thirdly after it 's blessed it remaineth still bread the Apostle doth not say the Body which we break but the Bread which we break now the Bread is not broken before but after it 's blessed for he took bread and blessed it and brake and the Apostle saith expresly it's Bread which is broken but if after the blessing or consecration the bread were transubstantiated into the natural Body of Christ then the Apostle had said the Body which we break sure the Apostle knew what name to give it having received of the Lord what he delivereth and what can be more plain than that it 's still Bread when it 's broken which is after it's consecration this breaking of the bread is so material a part of the institution that the whole of the Sacrament bears its name called the breaking of bread Acts 2. 42. The breaking of Christs precious Body being thereby signified Christ requireth this discerning of his Body broken saying this is my body which is broken for you 1 Cor. 11 24 and the breaking of the bread must be Sacramentally and publlckly performed in sight of the Communicants for their instruction as in the first Celebration And in the last place the sincere Believer in eating of this bread according to Christ's institution doth by Faith receive himself hath special Communion with him and partakes the benefits and purchase made through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all Heb 10 10 This is the Sacrifice he came to give when no other could do and therefore it's memorial should be always fragrant Many pertinent Doctrines may be here observed both from the scope and words of this Text but I shal name only this one Doct. The worthy receiver at the Lords Table hath Communion with Christ in partaking the benefit of his precious blood and broken Body From this great and comfortable truth these ten inferences following appear native which shal be the subject matter of the ensuing Discourse First inference the celebration of the Lords Supper being an holy transaction between Christ and Believers wherein they have the Communion of his Body and blood then the Doctrine of Christ concerning himself what he is what he hath done and suffered should be firmly believed as a foundation for our partaking of this blessed Communion 2. Inference the Lords Supper being the Communion of Christs body and blood to the believer then all who partake are obliged to prepare for so great a blessing particularly to examine themselves before they eat 3. This blessed Ordinance of Christ being the Communion of his body and blood Then Communicants are to approach it with a humble sense of their sin as needing the vertue of that precious blood 4. The worthy Receiver obtaining the Communion of Christs body and blood Then Communicants are obliged to understand what that is which is called Communion with Christ before they partake 5. Seing such blessed near Communion with Christ may be obtained at the Lords Table then Communicants should prepare for entertaining communion with him in the very time of that Solemnity 6. This blessed Ordinance of the Lords Supper being the communion of Christs body and blood then believers are obliged to have a sincere desire to partake of so great a mercy 7. This holy Ordinance being the Communion of Christ body and blood Then believers should approach it with Faith and expectation of this blessed Communion with Christ 8. Seing so great a benefit as the Communion of Christs body and blood may be had in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Then Christians are obliged to endeavour the removal of all objections and stumbling blocks that stand in the way to obstruct their partaking of this benefit 9. This holy Sacrament being the Communion of Christ's body and blood Then after partaking Communicants are obliged to try if they have obtained that blessed Communion 10. This holy Ordinance being the Communion of Christ's body and blood Then Communicants are obliged to live suitable to so great a benefit and testifie their gratitude by an holy walk and conversation CHAP. II. The Doctrine of Christ Crucified must be believed by Communicants The first Inference THe celebration of the Lords Supper being an holy transaction between Christ and Believers wherein they have the Communion of his body and blood then the Doctrine of Christ concerning himself what he is what he hath done and suffered should be firmly believed as a foundation for our partaking of this blessed Communion For if the Doctrine unto which this Sacrament belongeth and whereupon it dependeth be doubted such also will our partaking be not in faith but doubting therefore all concerned who have a due value for their Souls are to labour for fixedness in the great Gospel truths concerning Christ and the way of obtaining Communion with him I shal God willing make this appear in this Chapter and conclude it with a few words of advice to such Communicants as have most need of greater establishment in the truth Consider first that mens professing of Gospel truths is not sufficient proof that they believe these truths for many profess that which they do not believe having no firm perswasion of these truths in their own minds but stand yet in need of being taught which be the first principles of the oracles of God even after such profession and opportunities of knowledge that they might have been teachers of others Heb. 5 12. 2. Nor is want of doubts concerning these truths sufficient evidence that they are firmly believed for the want of doubts doth not always proceed from fixedness in Faith but sometimes from being unconcerned whether the Doctrine be true or false not being so serious as either to believe or doubt 3. Nor is it sufficient that people have an implicite Faith in what concerneth their Salvation because their teachers instruct them so and they so receive having nothing against it because men may be easily shaken out of that sort of Faith and therefore we are to receive the Doctrine of Christ 1 Thes 2 13 not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God Particularly first if we do not believe there was and is a Christ we cannot converse with him for who can seek Communion with one of whose very being they doubt Would to God all professed Christians believed in heart firmly that there is a Christ as our merciful God hath given us full evidence for our belief 2. If we do not believe that he is God and man God manifest in the flesh we cannot have Communion with him as such and if we have not Communion with him as such then we have not Communion with the true Christ the Mediator and sent Saviour of the World 3. If we do not believe that he really died then we can have no Communion of his Body and Blood Not believing that his Blood was shed 4. If we do not believe that this his Death
and offering himself a Sacrifice to the justice of God for these who were given him of his Father was accepted of God then we cannot lay the burden of our sins upon and trust our Souls to that Sacrifice 5 If we do not believe that God hath provided a way for our partaking of that Sacrifice and the benefits thereby purchased then we cannot believe a Participation and Fellowship of his Sufferings 6. And if we know nothing of that appointed way viz. by Faith then we cannot make application of his Death and so shal not have the Communion of his Body and Blood And that the necessity of firm believing the Doctrine of Christ may appear Consider First that we may see with grief how many turn Apostates Athiests Blasphemers who were professed Christians and appeared to have no doubt of what they professed for many years yet by frequent Apâ—stacy mens Souls are ruined Religion reproached Satans kingdom advanced 2. It 's found also that others of a better stamp who do not precipitate themselves into such Gulfs of Apostacy improving the benefit of a good Education their practice being in some measure according to their knowledge yet in progress of years when they come to be more deeply concerned with their eternal state and to know on what grounds they can warrantably expect to be no worse but better when this life hath its period searching into these grounds do often find such difficulties to believe the truths whereof they doubted nothing in their younger years that their souls are cast into deep disquiet and sometimes are made to bless God who hath kept them alive and under means of knowledge that they may yet be confirmed in some important truths which nearly concern their very Salvation And notwithstanding that conscientious Christians are cautious and sparing in uttering their Doubts specially when they are such as might prove stumbling to others Yet where the benefit of cordial Sympathy is obtained many are found under distressing conflicts of this nature in so much that if their gracious God did not relieve they could not stand long in their profession but would be noticed to their grief as fainting Such temptations have not yet left this World in vain I have washen my hands in innocency Psal 73. 13. 3. It 's also too evidently found that some by reason of not being fixed in the great Gospel truths concerning Christ and Salvation are retarded in their whole Christian progress for the foundation not being firmly laid they cannot go on to perfection this is no charge against the foundation which God hath laid for that is still sure and unmoveable 1 Cor. 3. 11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ For which we are to bless God but it 's mens not being fixed upon and cemented with the true foundation and whether men will or not this hath a Secret strong influence to deaden all their religious practice when they doubt but all their pains may be in vain at last and that they have been but beating the air 1 Cor. 9. 26. 4. Some are assaulted with violent temptations tempting them to doubt of many truths at once and such as are of great consequence and then their weakness appeareth then they smart bitterly for not being established in the truth having no solid answer for repelling of such temptations then they are tossed to and fro with any wind of Doctrine yea many woes are at hand then they are ready to call good evil and evil good and put darkness for light then they are ready to run down the stream and yield all were it not that God knoweth how to deliver his own out of temptation 2 Pet. 2. 9. 5. Known instances may be given of some who in their day shined to the glory of God and Edification of many who yet not long before their great change found it their greatest tryal and difficulty to be fixed in believing even as to the object of their Faith which should be remarked as a warning to weaker persons to spend more of our time and seriousness for rooting in the truth that we may know whom we have believed which was the Apostles great rejoycing 2 Tim. 1. 12. 6. It 's also to be observed that especially at Communions Doubts do arise in many of the People of God when they are examining their Faith and Knowledge and Satan always going about to resist good labouring to obstruct the best works whereof self-examination is one instead of questioning their own weakness in knowledge or slowness to believe he tempteth them to doubt of the object of their Faith and if not fixed they are at least so disturbed in their Souls and cast down that they have no confidence for going to the Lords Table and supposing they were not afflicted with such temptations yet if fundamentals Gospel-truths be not understood nor a judicious assent of the mind yielded to them then there can be no consent An assent of the mind may be to the truth without consent but we cannot chuse and consent to that which the mind doth not believe to be truth So then you cannot consent to receive Christ at his Table except ye believe the report and testimony that God hath given of him 1 John 5. 10. Therefore spare no pains for knowledge dig for it as for hid treasures account the knowledge of Christ excellent knowledge as others did who knew him better than you who did look upon other things as but loss and dung Phil. 3. 8. Thou hast none to know like him nor any knowledge so necessary as to know him 1 Cor. 1. 30. Who is made of God unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification Redemption be not too easily satisfied with thy knowledge of Christ as many in this age are Let it be an exercise of thy Soul by it self how to know Christ lest thy first knowledge of him be as of a Judge to give out Sentence Depart I know you not lay this to heart though thou had not the Lords Table to go to but if thou wilt go to it ignorant of him ignorance it self will render thee an unworthy Communicant as I sear it doth too many in our times who yet cannot be judicially debarred what if thy own conscience should rise upon thee when thou art going to his Table and accuse thee of presumption for attempting a Communion with him to whom thou art a meer stranger not so much as believing the record God hath given of his Son Can such a person be accepted of him Labour then to be acquainted with him in time Job 22. 21. Acquaint thy self with him rendering praise to God that thou has yet a season for it and if thou dost not affect ignorance but art one who longest for the knowledge of the Holy fearing thou art the very person that has not that knowledge Prov. 30. 3. Fearing the danger of thy Soul were it for nothing else but thy ignorance of
we know clearly provoketh God to give us no more light since we improve not what we have CHAP. 3. Self-examination required of all before Partaking THe second inference is that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper being the Communion of Christâ— Body and Blood to the believer then all whoâ— partake are oblidged to prepare for so great a Blessing particularly to examine themselves before they eat I shall therefore by the Lords help First Givâ— some reasons why this Examining a mans self must noâ— be omitted 2. Answer some objections made against it 3 Shew the manner how it ought to be performed And in the last place Point at these heads wherein we are chiefly to examine our selves before we partake For the First The reasons why every man should examine before he eat are these First It 's expresly Commanded 1 Cor. 11. 28. Let a man examine himself and so let him eat Here is no exception of one by another and therefore we should make none It 's not said let a poor ignorant man examine himself but men of knowledge need not it 's not said let a man examine himself the first time he receives only but whensoever he is to eat let him examine himself Therefore the neglect of this one Duty will render a man guilty before God take care how ye enter the work if ye go out of the road in the beginning of the way you shal not easily know where to fall into it again 2. The transaction betwixt Christ and partakers of the Lords Supper is of the greatest importance for a mans soul for either he shal be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord by unworthy receiving or be blessed with the Seal of God for his eternal happiness if he truly receive Christ Therefore previous examination is most necessary 3 It 's Gods great mercy to our souls that he requireth this Duty of examining our selves and therefore should not be lookt upon as a burden but a mean for preventing our ruine for if after examination you find your selves in the bond of iniquity and in the broad way to the Pit It 's your mercy to know it before you feel it Can you in cold blood think it adviseable that the Pit be your first wakening When the unquenchable flames of Gods wrath are about you are ye resolved to understand the state of your soul no other way Can this be the way of Wisdom Can you approve it And if you cannot in your own conscience approve it but knows it to be a sinful and dangerous neglect Why then will you take a young Hell in your breast to the old Why do you prepare such a gnawing Worm as this will be That here is a man who never had so much regard to Heaven or fear of Hell as to enquire which of them he was going to On the other hand if after examination ye shal find any thing of true Grace the least grain of that fine Gold tried in the Fire though covered with much rubbish if any love of Christ and holiness though but as a smoaking Flax would not the comfort aboundantly compense thy pains canst thou deny it If Christ hath given thee grace is it not worth the looking on that thou mayest at least give him thanks for it Search therefore diligently for thou knowest not the many blessings that may attend a conscientious Examination Psal 119. 59. I thought upon my ways and turned my feet to thy testimonies 4. We are naturally inclined to flatter our selves in our iniquity Psal 36. 2. He flattereth himself in his own eyes And if we could to deceive and flatter God with our lips And therefore are obliged to make a diligent search lest we vainly think we stand in need of nothing when we are wretched and naked Rev. 3. 17. We may think that we live and have a name that we live and yet God find us Dead Rev. 3. 1. What woe of woes what a costly delusion to the poor Soul if still among the Dead and at last under the second Death and the poor man has no more to say but I thought I was alive in my Soul and many others thought so of me I thought that I might be as welcome to the Lords Table as any Christian was there I thought my self more upright than many of them my heart said so to me I many times thought their many Prayers Whinings Groanings Doubts and examining themselves was either but Hypocrisie or vain Labour But now iniquity hath found me out cannot now have one hour for the Work I despised night is come I cannot now see how to work Night is come without hope of a Morning Be wise then as to your latter End for the time is at hand when men will need no Examinations you will be all at a point in a few Years and eternally fixed in your Lot 5. If people will not be at pains to examine themselves before a Communion they will easily neglect it at other times and so are apt to live out of this Duty while they live when men become so impudent as to face the Lords Table not observing his Direction and the manner how to approach it the Direction being perremptory But let a man examine himself So that albeit there be a reluctancy to this profitable Duty yet this should constrain to it as we would not profane the holy things of God and when people make Conscience of it though the Sacrament be in its own nature a confirming Ordinance yet this previous examination hath been signally blessed of God being the very time and mean of awakening many out of their secure sleep in their Sins I know many at this day now exemplary in Holiness who can declare that preparation for Communions in their younger years was the very time their hearts were first engaged to Christ and his ways 6. Some without due examination take up an opinion that they have no grace no Title to Christ or his Table and so deprive themselves of that benefit This opinion was not the result of serious Examination but rather a temptation to obstruct both their Duty and Mercy and this becometh both a Sin and snare to them a Sin because they have not followed Gods Directions in knowing the very state of their Souls and a snaâ—e being thereby barred up from their spiritual good therefore this Self examination is most necessary every way Notwithstanding of the many clear and ponderous Reasons for this examining before Partaking of the Lords Supper yet some object against it as First I know my souls condition so well already that I am resolved not to Communicat anâ— therefore it would be to me but an unprofitable toil and therefore I will leave that Work to such as intend to receive Answ By what Rule can or dare ye resolve not to partake before ye take the way of Gods appointment to examine first and then determine Is it not just with God to leave you to your own
Lords words but Confessest him before men then take comfort from what Christ saith Mat. 10. 32. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven and mind what followeth in the next verse But whosoever shall deny me before men him will I also deny and though we have not often the occasion of such publick confessions as many Blessed witnesses had before us yet while we converse with men on Earth we shal still be found either confessing Christ his words and true godliness or ashamed and fainting great may be their Comfort who a vow Holiness in all companies This is the more to be adverted because if some Christians be permitted to keep their chambers or much retired from Converse with men then they obtain some measure of comfortable exactness in their Practice but no sooner engadged in Company but some fainting appears shrinking from their former exactness and failing of the Duties required in all company sinfully forgeting God whereby they often return with loss to their Souls and a condemning Conscience Therefore let the fear of being Denied by Christ still influence thy deportment more than fear of mens displeasure 7. When thou art helped in some sincerity to Obey thy Lord having a respect to all his Commands endeavouring to act all thy obedience by Grace out of Christs Fulness and taking delight to do his will yet art thou not of the same mind that Christ requireth Luke 17. 10. When ye shal have done all these things which are Commanded you say we are unprofitable servants though ye take comfort in obeying from the heart as an evidence of Gods grace and Favour yet dare not trust to it as a procuring Cause of the least of your Mercies thou thinkest in heart there is no more cause to boast of the best of thy performances than if a man should declare himself a fool by boasting of filthy rags then the Grace that helpeth thee to obey maketh thee also humble and of the poor in spirit who are rich and Blessed in Christs account CHAP. IV. Sense of sin necessary before Partaking The third Inference THis Blessed Ordinance of Christ being the Communion of his Body and Blood Then Communicants are to approach it with a humble sense of their sin as needing the Vertue of that Precious Blood And that this is necessary Consider First That if ye have not the Sense of your sin you cannot duely regard a Crucified Christ and so may mistake the whole work despising his Death as of no great use for you and so cannot and will not apply his Blood for purging away of Sin and Guilt for thou art not sensible of Guilt This of it self were there nothing else will make thee eat and drink Unworthily undervaluing that Life-giving Death for the Communicants work is humbly and thankfully to receive a Crucified Christ Represented in that Ordinance as knowing they perish without him 2. If there be no humbling Sense of sin thou shalt Partake as an hypocrite pretending before God and men that thou comest to Embrace Christ as the onely propitiation for thy sins and yet there 's no such thing on thy heart Thou doest not Judge thy self so Guilty or that ever thou provocked God to such wrath but that less might have served Thou felt no such a Burden of thy sin but such as thy self could bear with great ease thou wonderest there should be such a stirr in the World about sin thou never committed any sin but thou hadst a Covering of thy own to cast over it Thou couldest at any time after thy greatest abominations with the whorish Woman Prov. 30. 20. Wipe thy mouth and say I have done no wickedness If thus thou comest to the Lords Table thou wilt but receive Bread and Wine finding need of no more 3. If thy sin do nothing smart and wound thee thou wants the very best Qualification of a Communicant which is hungring after the Bread of Life For he satisfieth the longing soul Psal 107. 9. The Lord hath his Eye upon such more than all others â—sai 66. 2. But to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit he findeth out such when others are passed by such as are so sensible of their Guilt that they wonder that he should look upon them any other way but to Consume them such as are ashamed to look up to him because of their Iniquities Psal 40. 12. And yet are Longing for a Favourable Look They cannot look up and yet cannot but look up necessity constraineth them to hang upon him for Mercy knowing they perish without him such as these will be Graciously Visited and Received Isai 57. 15. He will revive the spirit of the Humble and revive the heart of the Contrite ones But thou a Stranger to these Contritions of heart will be a Stranger also to these Revivings and no wonder for thou feelest no need of them and therefore Consider 4. That it 's the way of God first to wound and then to Heal Deut. 32. 39. I wound and I heal If thou didst never know any Wounding of heart for sin what Healing canst thou either expect or value for no wounding and no healing no casting down and no raising up no sickness and no Physician For the whole need not the Physician but the Sick Thou hast no use for his coming with Healing under his Wings Thou has nothing to Heal he may spare his Visit until thou has more need of him and keep his Medicines for others Thus thou mayest sit down at the Lords Table with the Best but Christ and thy Soul have no Merciful meeting When the poor and needy are drawing out of Christs fulness getting their Diseases Healed and their Souls Restored Thou art sent away Empty neither art thou Disappointed for thou sought after no more Thou canst not complain of Christ for he Refused thee nothing thou sought Thou art like these Rev 3 17. I have need of nothing 5. Consider also that of all the meetings between Christ and poor sinners on this Earth this is the most Endearing and Comfortable when Sense of deep Guilt and deep Mercy meet together some times the poor sinner is ready to sink under the weight of Guilt it 's a Burden they cannot bear the Fear of Gods Wrath and Separation from him being intollerable The Soul chusing rather if possible to be Reduced to nothing and some times ready to Cry out O happy no Beings being compared with me they shal have no Anguish but my Anguish I can neither bear nor escape no Mountains can cover me from my Judge no Death will extinguish my Pain but if I die in my sins my pain shal never Die Death will flee from me when thus the the poor sinner is Bruised and can stand no longer how Gracious is that Message as Job 33. 24 Deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransom And Ezek.
not mercifully Remembred me this day in bringing me here where I find the Bread of Life hath he not now made me taste of that Tree of Life which shal be food for ever and all by His Gracious Remembring of me and shal I not Remember His Love more than Wine no thanks to me O Lord to Remember Thee and thy Love hadst thou required me to pass through some flames of a Hell it were my part to essay it at thy Command how much more when I have nothing but Love to remember shal not I remember thy unquenchable Love who hast rescued me from unquenchable Flames I have many times VVretchedly done what I could to quench thy Love but many waters hath not done it I do remember it Lord and through thy Grace will remember it and I will do this which thou now Requirest in remembrance of Thee and Thy love giving Thee thanks for Commanding it and had I nothing else to do in this Ordinance yet by Thy grace Thy gracious Command shal be Answered though in great weakness Here also is another part of this Blessed Communion Christ requiring remembrance and the Believer cordially yielding it 10. And when thou hearest of the shewing forth of His Death which Christ is not ashamed of but will have it in this manner Published then saith the Believer that Death brought Life to my Soul that Death hath overcome Death for me that now I may say O Death where is thy Sting by this Death is the Death of Deaths Hos 13. 14. O Death I will be thy plague and 1 Cor. 15. 54. Death is swallowed up in victory Death was long my terrour and kept me in Bondage not knowing what hour the first and the second Death might surprise me together now when I must go through that Passage I hope to fear no evil Christ hath Sweetned the Passage made it no Enemy but a necessary step for puting off Corruption that I may be Cloathed with incorruption there shal be no Prints of Sin or Death seen upon me no spot or wrinkle by the shrugs of Death I shal take no stench of Death with me where I go and all this by His Death who was Slain and is Alive I will this day apply it thankfully and Solemnly shew it Forth Christ Crucified being my Glory and He who bringeth me to Glory desiring in my Soul that His Death were shewed Forth from the Rising to the Setting of the Sun Here also is a part of this Blessed Communion Christ Requiring His Death to be shew'd Forth and the Believer cordially performing it 11. VVhen the Believer heareth that the Cup is the New Testament in His Blood Considering that by the Death of the Testator the Testament is of Force Heb. 9. 16 17. The Believer Interested in the Legacy may now with Confidence expect what is bequathed for the Testament thus Confirmed cannot be Disanulled Gal. 3. 15. Then saith the Believer I will give Credit to the Tokens and Pledges devised by Himself for my Confirmation He requireth me to take them as such and so I receive them from Him who is Faithful I will from henceforth expect all the Promised Blessings that I stand in need of for in this Covenant or Testament is all my Salvation Christ hath made all sure by His Death and now He hath made all sure to me by His Seal I dare not distrust His Seal or Pledges He hath made me a Believer He hath this day given me to believe in Christ Crucified I have Received Him according to His Offer He hath given me power to become one of the Children of God His Testament therefore is for me and it's Seal sealeth me up unto the day of Redemption and here is a comfortable part of this Communion with Christ He giveth the Pledges and Seal of His Testament and the Believer joyfully receiving them as such and Rendering Him Praise the Believer resolving now to go to Death in humble confidence That the Lord hath made an everlasting Covenant with him ordered in all things and sure These are but a taste of the seasonable Meditations in the time of Partaking and a Help for preventing Impertinent wanderings of the Mind and though a Communicant reach not all such particular Meditations at one time yet one or moe suitable serious Meditations on Christ's words of Institution will be found by the Blessing of God a mean to keep the Soul at that work which God then Requireth and so prevent the wounding Reflections of many after they have Communicated for it must be supposed that every Godly Communicant will reviewe the way how his Soul was Imployed at the Lord's Table and if he find that his Meditations were not opposit to the work it cannot but make a very bitter Reflection Know also that these Meditations already hinted are but for puting some weak People in mind to keep close by the Institution lest their thoughts go off their VVork but no ways intended as any Restriction or Limiting of Communicants except from wandring for if Christ manifest Himself and entertain thee with His Loves thou will not need such Helps for He can soon Elevate thy Soul into such Meditations affections and joy by the Breathings of His Spirit as thy self cannot Express and all of them suitable to the Blessed work thou art about CHAP. VII Believers should desire to Partake of this Communion The sixth Inference THis Blessed Ordinance of the Lord's Supper being the Communion of Christ's Body and Blood then Believers are oblidged to have a sincere and an earnest desire to partake of so great a Mercy And that we should desire this great Benfit Consider First The Lord Commandeth it and therefore we should have a desire and a delight to do His will we may not chuse or refuse as our inclination leadeth which appeareth to be the Errour of many not Considering that the Lord will call to an account what Regard is testified to so Gracious a Command which is to be Lamented that so many make their Humours their Rule they have not a mind to it it 's not their present desire and so lay it aside forgetting that it should be their desire because of Christ's Merciful Command 2. Because it 's a Feast of pure Love on Christ's part therefore it should be desired it was His Love that laid it's Foundation in laying down His Life 2. It 's His Love to appoint such a Memorial of it 3. His Love the Tokens of it then to be Communicated to Believers in a special manner Can there be Love where there is no desire to meet with Love and entertain it Consider what is to be your Feast the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the World if this be believed in heart how can ye but hunger and desire to eat for such Food will not be always in your Offer give praise that ever ye had the Offer of that which will make you praise for ever and be satisfying to
thy Soul when all other things fail thee Psal 22. 26. The meek shal eat and be satisfied Can ye with peace keep your selves out of the way where such an Offer is made know ye not that the Receiving of Christ is your begun Eternal happiness which neither Death nor any thing else shal deprive you of if thou say thou hast received Him already in another manner dost hope to be Blessed in Him for ever though thou never Receive Him at the Lord's Table I would Answer that thou art the more Ingrate who doest not desire to Receive Him afresh in the manner He hath appointed Art thou weary of Receiving Him didst thou get such a fill of Him before that thou desirest to Receive Him no more this is ground sufficient to make thee suspect thou didst never yet Receive Him if thou be wearied of it for thy heart should be still open to Christ 3. Is it not Communion with Christ thou art dayly Praying for and if thou prayest in sincerity then it should Elevate thy heart to hear of His appointments for obtaining it when he saith in such an Ordinance I am to be present in a peculiar manner allowing you a most intimate fellowship as near as you can expect in this Life there thou mayest expect the return of thy Prayers and if thou hast no regard to it thou rendrest thy self and Prayers suspicable of meer Hypocrisie wilt thou not be ashamed to call thy self a praying Christian for fellowship with Christ and yet have no desire to be there where thou mayest meet Him and have Him dost thou not often say O that I knew where I might find him Job 23. 3. He answereth in this Ordinance I will be present giving my Self and my Loves if thou regard not this and yet has no desire to be where He is what can thy self judge of thy Prayers but as words of course and flattering God with thy lips beware of bewraying thy estrangement to Christ as one that has never seen Him in any part of His Beauty lest thou be of these who say as Isai 53. 2. There is no beauty that we should desire him 4. The Love we owe to the Glory of our Blessed Redeemer oblidgeth to this desire of shewing it forth in the manner He hath appointed yet on this account also many are Guilty by the neglect of this Ordinance for these Dangerous mistakes are too much rooted in many thinking because they receive Christ at any time when they Believe therefore they need not be solicitous for Receiving Him at His Table and because they may Render Him Glory at other times for His Love in Dying therefore they need not go to the Lords Supper to perform it but these thoughts involve you in great Guilt for however frequent thy praises be at other times why would thou presume to wiser than thy Lord who hath appointed this Publick Solemn manner of performing it Darest thou say in His face Lord I think this way of shewing forth thy Death needless I think a more privat way may serve wilt thou Impudently advance thy own wisdom as above His whether doth He or thou know best which way He is to be Glorified whether art thou to give Him Rules or to be Ruled by Him if thou wilt be so arrogant as to plead that thou knowest better how to do thy Duty than he can teach thee it 's no wonder thou have no desire for the Lords Supper but rather if thou canst regard any Gospel Ordinance since thou art wise enough to teach thy self Think with thy self I must once compear before my Judge the same blesed Redeemer who requires his Death to be shewed forth what shal I answer when thus charged by him the just died for the unjust I submitted to agony in my soul and torments in my body to relieve poor sinners from eternal torments thus my Death was the reconciliation of the whole Elect World who thereby now stand upright in Judgement I required that this my Death should be shewed forth unto this day that I am come again But here is a man that thought it not necessary to render me that publick honour What can be thy answer but speechless consternation Think also with thy self if I expect reconciliation with God by that precious Death how can I refuse Nay should I not rejoyce to publish that love especially in so comfortable a manner as in Communion with Christ and his Saints on earth and contribute my mite to keep its memory fresh and fragrant in the world It 's great ingratitude to have no longings for this Ordinance yet it appears that if some were placed in such circumstances as no occasion offered it would be no great grief of heart to them or if occasion offer but it may be at some distance occasioning bodily trouble in attending they can easily forego it though perhaps performing longer journeys at the same time to other places or if opportunity offer in the place of their residence yet it cometh undesired and a very triffle shal detain some from partaking and all this because there is no love and desire of soul after it I speak not this of all but it 's shameful to be found in any professing Christian and so much the more because our blessed Redeemer testified so great regard to this Ordinance that when he was immediately to engage his deepest sufferings yet even then he would have this Feast of Love celebrated and fixed for after generations Shal our Saviour testifie so great desire for our good and we have no desire to receive it Shal we so undervalue that Love which can neither be overvalued nor duely valued Luke 22. 15. And he said unto them with desire have I desired to eat this passeover with you before I suffer Appointing this Communion of his Body and Blood to continue until he come again 5ly If thou be a Christian indeed then thou art duely praying for grace to strengthen thee for the Duties thou must perform for Strength against thy secret or open sins for strength against Temptations from thy own heart or from Satan and his Instruments for strength to bear thy afflictions and grace to carry Christianly under thy trials therefore thou should desire to be there where he is to be received who shal be the strength of thy heart Art thou not often fainting both in thy Duty and Trials Then believe in thine heart that Christ is that true bread of life Joh. 6. 48. Hereby thou shal be strengthned for Duties far above thy own strength hereby thou shalt be enabled to cut thy way through the greatest difficulties Thy Redeemer is thy strength Psal 19. 14. Thou art to receive that which will make thee a lively Christian for the honour of thy Lord. refusing nothing he commandeth and sinking under no burden he layeth on thy back Great is the mercy to believe this strength and great is the loss of our souls when that strength is but thought
account of their soundness in the Faith nor declare a consent to receive Christ as Redeemer and Lord or Thirdly Are of such ungodly conversation that they testify themselves to be strangers to Christ and the power of his grace these persons while they continue such could not but profane the Lords Supper and therefore should consider that they deprive themselves of that benefit For Ministers must not transgress the Laws of Christ to humour men nor must they be partakers of other mens Sins who would precipitate themselves into that heinous guilt of the Body and Blood of the Lord. 7ly And these who are thus debarred should not take this censure as if they were totally rejected but rather for their present good to prevent the guilt of eating and drinking unworthily and for the time to come should pray and endeavour to be qualified for partaking with others in that holy Ordinance CHAP. VIII Believers should come to the Lords Supper with Faith and Expectation The seventh Inference THis holy Ordinance being the Communion of Christs Body and Blood then Believers should approach it with Faith and Expectation of this blessed Communion And that the Believer is obliged to this Faith and Expectation Consider First I hat Believers must render unto Christ the honour due to his faithfulness since he maketh an offer of himself saying take eat then we are to believe in our hearts he will be present making good his offer to the believing Receiver otherwise we dishonour him as if what he saith and offereth were not to be trusted which would run us unto deep guilt besides that it would render the whole transaction on our part Faithless Void and Unprofitable this therefore should be carefully adverted that there be no suspition of the truth of Christs offer or his faithfulness lest we profane that holy Name who will not suffer his faithfulness to fail Psal 89. 33. This his honour should be most dear to thee who was so dear to him as to make his soul an offering for thy sin and now offereth himself to be thine Come therefore believingly to the Lords Table trusting him who is truth it self Joh. 14. 6. Secondly The whole of this holy work must be managed by Faith for we have no other way of seeing him with whom we are to have Communion but by Faith though now we see him not yet we believe 1 Pet. 1 8. Faith is now our eye to behold him ye go to the Lords Supper in Faith of a Divine Institution ye go to it believit's your duty by Christs Command ye go to it believing he was slain and is alive ye go to it believing he hath provided a way for Interest in his Body and Blood and are to go to it actually believing in him for your personal partaking of this Communion so that Faith is required in all the parts of it and grounds laid down for the Believers comfortable Expectation 3ly Come to it with Expectation for herein thou art about thy Lord and Masters service which he requireth thou needest not fear it to be said who hath required this at thine hâ—â—d for himself hath required it and ther 's still good to be expected in doing of his Will Rev. 22. 14. Your labour shal not be in vain for ye serve the Lord Christ Col. 3. 24. Blessed are all his attendants whose care is to serve him For Christ saith Where I am there shall also my servant be Joh. 12. 26. Thou mayest expect he will be with thee at his Table who art his servant in sincerity 4ly Come in Faith and Hope for the promise is to him that believeth Gal. 3. 22. Believing is the only sure way for this blessed Fellowship and your seeing the glory of God in his power and mercy toward you Consider your need of the Lords appearing for your good and do not obstruct your mercy by mischief remember what is said Mat. 13. 58. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief If he shal say according to thy Faith so be it unto thee and thou hast no Faith then blame thy self if no mighty works be done for thee for he will not humour thy misbelief Labour then not only to have some actings of Faith but being strong in it giving glory to God devise liberally of thy God seek that he will deal bountifully with thee and remember what is said Mat. 15. 28. O woman great is thy saith be it unto thee even as thou wilt 5ly If thou comest not to this Ordinance with Expectation thou wilt be ready to think the matter is not great whether thou partake or not for thou expectest no great benefit by it and so any trivial excuse will prevail to let it alone for our natural corruption is so strong and our grace commonly so weak that pure Duty of it self doth not always engage us without some prospect of advantage but when our own good appeareth in the work then we have an argument from our own souls to resist obstructions standing in the way of this profit and if thou should go forward and partake yet thy expectations being languide thy seriousness will too readily be proportioned to thy hope and languid also but remember that proclamed gracious Name Exod. 34. 6. Is in a peculiar manner recorded in this Ordinance and having recorded his Name he will come and bless his people Exod. 20. 24. 6ly Endeavour to approach the Lords Table with expectation of good that ye may be able to encourage others to the same Duty many of you will have the occasion to see and speak with one another before ye partake and out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth will be speaking for which cause ye should observe where there is need of strengthning the hands of weak and doubting persons and purposely let something fall which may be gathered by others for their encouragement as in thy own Family when thou art considering who of thy children or servants may be most ripened for that holy Ordinance who had never yet the confidence to presume it yet drop words of encouragement by shewing the excellent things to be there obtained the happiness of those who indeed receive Christ the dignity and mercy of being solemnly engaged to Christ the comfort of having a Pledge of his love the mercy of being admitted unto such near communion with him thus a word may be blessed for engaging others in that Duty which may be their blessing for ever Whereas on the other hand if thy mouth be filled with complaints and others hear thee saying thou hast no great benefit by Communions thou questions whether thou wilt go to the Lords Table or not especially if thou be a person noted for Religion these who hear such Discourse being weak will be tempted to think what a fool am I to take in any thoughts of communicating when such an eminent Christian speaketh so meanly of it as if little or no profit were to be had I
will give it over and thus some poor tender smoaking Flax may be quenched by your means and if compassionate Iesus be tender of them as no doubt he will yet no thanks to you who are guilty by casting water on their little coal which could have quench't it if a better friend had not kept it in life It may not be amiss to consider in this place what may be the reasons that so few professing Christians go to the Lords Supper with this necessary believing expectation seing its dishonourable to our blessed Redeemer obstructeth our own good and is often found prejudicial to others Ans First It will be found that the seeds of Atheism and unbelief of Gods Word and Promise hath a deep hand in this wo. Ah! few Christians by profession are established in the truth men do not will not lay this to heart tho' they often hear it and I fear are disgusted because they so often hear it proud Nature taking it heavily to be charged with unfixedness in the Faith and these disrelishing such warnings most who have most need of them I wish the Reader concerned in this retire to his own Conscience and put the question closly home do I firmly believe the history of Christs Passion And that Salvation is by no other Name I speak not now of mens perswasion that Christ hath loved them and washed them in his own Blood but mens perswasion that he was dead and is alive Iâ— ye will not try your unfixedness in fundamental Truths in season you may soon come to know your misbelief by experience to your grief in an hour of temptation or at the hour of death try therefore in time what ye believe and on what grounds seek to be fixed in the faith of Christ and his truth otherways your expectations will still be faint Nor do I speak here of such perswasion and fixedness in the truth as is inconsistent with any degree of doubting for here we know but in part but that which I speak is against that dangerous unfixedness that hath no degree of perswasion under which too many are perishing Secondly But some others are not so much discouraged by misbelief of this nature as by their fears that Christ will have no regard to them that he will never honour them with such communion with himself others they grant may have it but for themselves they look for nothing but a dry Fleece when others are wet they have deserved no better and expect no better Ans If our mercies be dispensed according to deserving then we may all stop together and proceed no further But blessed be God that our expectations depend on free gree grace I will freely love them Hos 14. 4. 2. Hath he not regarded thee already in opening thine eyes to see thy wretchedness which thou didst not see before Doth he not discover Diseases in order to a remedy If he had no regard to thee he could have suffered thee to run on in presumption and sit down at his Table without ever minding a wedding Garment and made thy rising thy terrour but now he preventeth it by making thee consider what thou art about Therefore 3. If thou would be regarded at his Table and accepted know that a garment of Salvation will cover all thy spots give praise that this Garment is ready for the putting on give praise that its not only provided for the putting it on but himself puteth it on Isa 61 10. He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation Give praise that ever any poor sinners were secured of these garments and render praise that there is a minut of time left thee to beg these garments that fine Linnen of the Saints under which covering thou canst not be despised noâ— thy holy Expectation disappointed Thirdly Others faint in their expectations because tho' they have been often at the Lords Table yet they never get great profit Ans and whose fault was this If thy misbelief deprived the of the communications of grace where wilt thou leave thy complaint For he warned thee that mighty works were not to be expected where unbelief had the dominion thou mayest go to a hundred Communions and never be the better if thou dost not believe nor draw out of the Wells of salvation therefore if thou hast a sincere value for Communion with Christ if thou would not always carry away a bad report of that enriching Ordinance if thou would'st prevent a contempt of it in thy own soul consider seriously what hath been thy manner of communicating formerly see thy way wherein thy particular defects have been thy neglect of preparation thy hypocrisie thy lukewarmness in the whole of the work and thy misbelief at the work repent of these evils that thou mayest not say thou had a hard Master but an hard heart Fourthly Others are discouraged in their expectations because they observe not others who frequent Communions much bettered in their conversations This I grant is for a lamentation that so few appear like communion with Christ yet it is not so with all and tho' they were but few as Isa 17. 6. a few berries in the utmost fruitful branches Its Gods great mercy when some are preserved as Witnesses against a declining generation who not only are made suitable to a publick solemn Communion but such as rarely any thing can be discovered in their practice that is not consistent with present fellowship with God tho' possibly ye discern it not as being ignorant of walking with God your selves 2. If this be thy regrate that that thou seest so few fruitful Christians after Communions then labour to add one to the number of these few lest others be discouraged by thy practice also Thirdly However it be as to partakers tho many prove very unfruitful yet this is never occasioned by want of provision being allowed to eat and drind abundantly and the hungry are filled with good things and many have found their souls made as a watered Garden in attending this holy Ordinance O that we were stirring up our selves and stirring up one another to pray down such showers of Blessings as hath been found at Communions in the days of old CHAP. IX Objections of doubting Christians answered The eighth Inference THe eighth Inference from the words is That seing so great a benefit as the Communion of Christs Body and Blood may be had in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper then Christians are obliged to endeavour the removal of all Objections and stumbling Blocks that stand in the way to obstruct their partaking of this Benefit Before the particular Objections be mentioned I shall premit these few things First That all professed Christians should make conscience not to pretend Scruples and Objections where there is none for where the Conscience is not really burdened with some difficulty it s but hypocrisie to frame Objections against peoples partaking of the Lords Supper that they may appear more serious than others the heart of man is
every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed 2ly It 's also clear that Satan who is called the tempter Matth. 4. 3. Doth work upon mens own corruptions and promoteth the wickedness of them so that the lusts of wicked men are said to be the lusts of the Devil Joh 8. 44. And the lusts of your father ye will do So he Improveth the prevalent Sins that men have the greatest propension unto as the covetousness of Judas and the excesses of mens passions as grief to have them swallowed up with overmuch grief 2 Cor. 2. 7. Lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow and ver 11. Lest satan should get an advantage of us for we are not ignorant of his devices And melancholy souls darkened with their own Imaginations give great advantage to the Rulers of the darkness of this World 3ly But Temptations do sometimes arise only from Satan as to their first original and therefore he is called the tempter Matth. 4. 3. Because it 's his work to tempt and therefore tempted where there could be no hope of prevailing as appeared in his tempting of Christ 4ly And because of our depraved natures we are in danger of infection by these Temptations that hath their source and first rise from Satan 5ly All Temptations to Evil should be resisted whether we know the first spring from whence these Temptations flow or not our work is to reject them whether they be our own or mixt with Satans Temptations or his only 6ly Some of these Temptations that are immediately from Satan are called the fiery Darts of the wicked One Eph. 6. 16. So that the Dart cometh from the Devil and not from the mans heart they are called fiery Darts being suddenly thrown in for setting all on Fire in the Soul whereby there is such an unusual disturbance and surprising terrour as if all were in a Flame it being as death to them finding such suggestions against God and their own Salvation as they never found before and these so rageing that they know not where or how to hide themselves from the fury of the Flame these will be charged on Satans account Considering First That upon their very first appearing and assault thou meetest them with hatred indignation and horrour 2ly Though they continue sometime yet they are no more welcome than if Fireballs were thrown into thy House to burn thee and it up together thou givest no consent to them 3ly As thou canst thou resistest them 4ly Thou lookest up to God to deliver thee 5ly If they remove thou rejoycest 6ly Thou art so far from cherishing of them that their returning is thy great fear 7ly And any wicked suggestion against the honour of God is paining to thy soul These may help thee to understand that such hellish blasphemous Temptations are the Darts and Sins of Satan Object Some say they dare no more presume to go to the Lords Table because when they did partake they are perswaded that they did eat and drink unworthily so that it 's not only an unsuitable deportment that they have to bemoan as to their practice afterward but conclude that when they did Receive they did eat and drink Judgment to themselves and therefore wish they had never Received I heard some say that they thought their Communicating was the greatest Sin they ever committed in their Life-time but then they were overwhelmed with other temptations so that this was said in an hour of Darkness Answ Who can say that they eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup so worthily but that their failings are great in the very time of Receiving for which if God would enter into Judgement they could not stand What humble man dare say his apprehensions of a crucified Christ were so distinct as ought to have been Or that his Faith and Love were acted to that degree required Shal therefore the best of men on Earth conclude that they did eat and drink unworthily and so are guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord and leave his Table always with Anguish rather than rejoycing in God their Saviour do you not see this a Temptation tending to the utter rejection of that blessed Ordinance of Christ 2ly Some of you who make this Objection cannot deny but that you did make Conscience of serious Preparation that you desired with reverence love to Receive Christ himself when you did receive the visible Signs only ye had not that measure of Faith and Love which you desired the worst you have to charge your self with was your weakness not Contempt nor was it Ignorance as to the discerning of Christ's Body but because your graces were not so lively as they ought I grant it 's necessary to bemoan our Failings but this is not the place of our perfection when that cometh we shal not need to Partake in such a manner as now but while we are here we must apply that precious Blood for purging away the guilt we contract in our best actings yea in the very time of Communicating we must apply Christ's Blood for the pardon of our Failings in Communicating so that your better way were to go again to the Lords Table and when you Receive learn and practise that way of applying that precious Blood that cleanseth from all Sin to cleanse you particularly from any sin you are guilty of by your weakness in Communicating 3ly And know that there is a necessity of distinguishing between Sins of Infirmity and Sins allowed The Apostle Paul was constrain'd to make use of this distinction for his own comfort when he saith Rom. 7. 15 For that which I do I allow not 4ly But supposing it were as you Object that you did once eat and drink unworthily it doth not follow that eternal Judgement shal be inevitable albeit the Sin be repented of for the clearing of this alittle Consider First That it 's granted every sin deserveth Judgment yea eternal Judgment and therefore 2ly This Sin of unworthy Communicating deserveth that Judgement 3ly The Apostle by Judgement here doth not understand only Eternal Judgement for he speaketh plainly of temporal Judgments inflicted for profanation of the Lords Supper ver 30. For this cause many are weak and Sickly among you and many sleep therefore he understandeth not only Eternal Judgment 4ly Some Partake of these temporal Judgments as chastenings that they should not be condemned with the World ver 32. Yet these chastenings are for their sinful Communicating then it followeth that some who are sinful in their manner of Communicating yet many obtain pardon the Lord chastening them for not Communicating aright that they may not be condemned with the World Though they deserved Eternal Judgment by profaneing that holy Ordinance yet by free grace they are forgiven God in his tender mercy reserving room for Repentance Consider also that the Passeover was a Seal of the same Covenant of Grace and great Sanctifying Preparation
required for its Celebration for every Partaker was to be sanctified unto the Lord 2 Chron. 30. 17. But some had not cleansed themselves yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it was written ver 18. But Hezekiah prayed for them that the Lord would pardon such as prepared their hearts to seek God though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary ver 19. And the Lord hearkned to Hezekiah and healed the people ver 20 Whereby we may see that sins of that Nature are pardoned when sincerely acknowledged and application made unto the tender mercies of God The knowledge of this is necessary for some who fear their condemnation is inevitable because of their not Communicating aright but by these Scriptures ye may see that all shall not be condemned who have been guilty by sins of that nature where Repentance is there is remission of sins by Christ giving both together Acts 5. 31. CHAP. X. Communicants obliged to review their Communicating The 9th Inference THis Ordinance being the Communion of Christ's Body and Blood then after Partaking Communicants are obliged to try if they have obtained that blessed Communion Consider 1 The Reasons why this should be tried and 2. A few helps how to perform it All Communicants should seriously examine the way of their own hearts when they did Partake because First It was our blessed Redeemer's way after the first Celebration of this Sacrament to set the Communicants in this Road of searching themselves whether they did then believe or not Joh. 16. 31. Do ye now believe This was demanded of them when they had but lately risen from the Lord's Table and therefore is a question that Communicants ought to put to themselves and obliged to have a ready Answer as these Communicants had which is the more to be noticed that after they had declared their Faith ver 30. Yet ver 31. Christ urgeth it again that they may be deliberat and know well what they say when they say they believe Secondly Our Communicating should be carefully reviewed lest we did eat and drink unworthily otherwise we shal be found despisers of that important warning 1 Cor. 11. 27. That such as eat and drink unworthily are guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Men have neither a due fear of the anger of God nor regard to their own souls who having partaken think there is no more to be done not so much as to enquire whether they came from the Lords Table guilty of his Body and Blood or not for the best of men should take notice of the great regard God hath to Sealing Ordinances The First thing we find Godly Hezekiah considering after the Celebration of the Passeover 2 Chron. 30. 18. Is the transgression of the people who did eat the Passeover otherwise than it was Written for whom he prayed and the Lord mercifully answered his prayer Thirdly If the pains thou did take in preparation before Partaking was sincere that thou might have a blessed meeting with Christ then the same principle will lead thee to enquire if he did meet with thy Soul for no man can be said to be earnest for that which he will not so much as observe if it be found if Communion with Christ was the desire of thy Soul then it will be thy desire now to be secured of it that thou may'st say I sought and found him whom my soul loveth Cant. 3 4. Fourthly If thou shalt find after searching that thou did obtain real spiritual Communion with Christ this will make thy Thanksgivings sincere this will be a mean to endear thy soul to Him and increase thy Love which thou knowest hath need to be encreased when thou has it to say he came and manifested himself to thy Soul did draw the in to his Fellowship fed thee with the hidden Manna whereby thy Soul was revived canst thou then but Love and seek to have thy heart enlarged for more Love This will also endear thy heart to this holy Ordinance wherein thou found Him this will make thee forward in seeking occasions for it hereafter because there the Lord appeared unto thee This will help thee to be a good example to others who are negligent in seeking after it this will be a mean to endear to thee the Promises to thee the Lord promised to come and bless his people where he recorded his Name thou has found it even as he hath said his Words be true now thou knowest it to be a meer Temptation to doubt of his Promise or think that it faileth now thou canst say I will no more distrust any offer that Christ maketh of himself to a poor Sinner for as he offered so I did embrace and am not disappointed now thou canst Sing by experience as Psal 33. 21. For our heart shall rejoyce in him because we have trusted in his holy Name Be perswaded then of the clearness and necessity of this Duty to review thy work at the Lord's Table that thou may'st know what to conclude of thy self whether thou may'st safely take comfort to thy Soul as a sincere and accepted Communicant or not for a mistake here is dangerous if on the one hand thou judge thy self a worthy Communicant and thy self but a stranger to Christ this will harden thy heart in Sin and render thee obstinate against all necessary admonition and reproof and thus you may go on adding to your guilt at every Communion and remain impenitent ye thinking it improper for you to repent for any sinful Communicating on the other hand it 's also dangerous for you to conclude your selves unworthy Communicants without sure grounds or ever searching into the matter for thus you may deny the grace freely given you and belie the operations of the holy Ghost and thus ye may deny God the glory due to him for his mercies and cast your own souls into perplexing diquiet and bondage therefore there is much need to be guided of God in this Search And for the clearing of this a little we are to Consider both how it was with our Souls in the time of Communicating and with what impressions and help we come from that work as for our work in the time of that Solemnity albeit by the Word of God it may be declared how Communicants should act and if they have so acted then they are not unworthy Communicants yet no man can discover the internal acts of other mens souls whether they have acted as they should or not none can know that but God and mens own consciences Therefore when ye are to try your sincerity at the Lords Table the Word of God must be your Rule the spirit of God your Guide and your own Conscience a Witness for the utmost that can be said by men is Conditional that is if you have acted suitable to the nature of the Work if you have embraced Christ c. Then you are accepted and not unworthy Communicants 2. VVhen Communicants are
eye to see it No wonder the Lord be sparing of His comforts to some people who so dote upon them that the help of Grace is not so much valued if they want Comfort be not so proud as to think ye deserve Comfort nor so ignorant as to think the Lord is not free to dispense Consolations when He seeth fit but not when ye think it fit and learn to value the help of Grace more than Comfort by it self joy without Grace will deceive thee therefore search yet if any sincerity can be found in thy Communicating that thou mayest humbly and thankfully acknowledge it to His Praise Secondly If after thou hast again tryed it yet thou canst find no Faith in thy Communicating thou art then to try if ever before that time thou didst sincerely Believe in Christ receiving Him as thy Redeemer and Lord for if it was so the Union then made can never be Disolved For he that Believeth hath everlasting Life John 3. 36. And by this Union thou has an Interest in Grace to make thee Repent for sinful Communicating Acts 5. 31. Thirdly If neither before Partaking nor in the time thou couldst say thou ever Believed Yet if thou shalt now Believe thou shalt be Saved Acts 16. 31. VVhat ever hath been thy Guilt the Blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin CHAP. XI Communicants should Live suitable to such Holy Communion The tenth Inference THIS Holy Ordinance being the Communion of Christ's Body and Blood then Communicants are Oblidged to Live suitable to so great a Benefit and testifie their Gratitude by a Holy Walk and Conversation The last thing to be Considered is that after Examination of our way in Communicating if we did truely Partake the Communion of Christ's Body and Blood we are to endeavour a Practice suitable thereunto in order to this Holiness of heart and Conversation I shal put you in mind of these four things First A brief hint of that Conversation required 2. That our performance should be early begun 3. That Engagments and Vows be particularly performed 4. That for Strengthening to the whole Work required our begun Communion with God be cherished and continued in that Holy walk which God hath Prescribed For the first the Conversation required of us is First To be blameless in all things Phil. 2. 15. That ye may be blameless and harmless the sons of God without rebuke Stains on Communicants doth much obstruct the Progress of Religion and true Godliness it should grieve us much to be a Comfort to the wicked in their wickedness Ezekiel 16. 54 2. In a particular manner our Conversation should be Just and Conscientious Israelites indeed in whom is no guile 1 Thessalonians 4. 6. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter It 's true Godly men will be reproached by the wicked carry as they will but then be sure their Accusations be false that so they may be ashamed 1 Peter 3. 16. It 's a most wounding reflection on Religion if an ordinary communicant shal be found in unjust Practices 3. Our Conversation should be meek and lowly this being a Bright Ray of Christ's Image which He requires us to learn of Him Matth. 11. 29. It 's the very best Ornament of a Christian that all should be clothed with though it be most difficult to proud nature yet must be Learned otherwise God will look upon us afar off but He dwelleth with the humble Isaiah 57. 15. His dwelling with such should suffice to make us Love it 4. Believers must walk Circumspectly and be watchful in all things Ephesians 5. 15. Sins within us and temptations from without are never wanting move where we will in this World Therefore we must be always on our Guard which was Christ's Solemn Counsel Mark 13. 37. What I say unto you I say unto you all Watch. We cannot spend a Day nor an hour of a day without sin and loss to our Souls if this Direction be not followed our unwatchful hours being many woes for many days which we cannot shake off but the watchful Christian is the Blessed Servant in Christs account Luke 12. 37. 5. Our Conversation should be ordered and designed for Edification Rom. 15. 2. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification We must not say with Cain am I my brothers keeper we are required to do good to all men as we have Opportunity Galatians 6. 10. What a bitter farewell to the World shal that man have who when he must go hence hath that to take to the grave with him Here is a man leaving the World who never did good but hurt to the Souls of men whom he leaveth behind him 6. Our Conversation should savour of Communion with God and Spiritual heavenly things Phil. 3. 20. Our Conversation is in Heaven VVe should learn to be more as Strangers on Earth thinking and speaking more of our Better Countrey and Comforting one another with the Hope of it 1 Thessalonians 4. 18. we have no cause to be ashamed of our Countrey it 's well if it be not ashamed of us yet many of us now a days appear ashamed to speak of Heaven or heavenly things lest we be thought either too Religious or Hypocrites but the matter is that Heavenly Meditations and Affections abound not in our hearts and therefore the mouth speaketh so little of them 7. Our walk should be suitable to Gospel Promises and Priviledges that the VVorld may see neither our Hope nor Portion is in this Life the Believers Inheritance shall be for ever Psal 37. 18. And therefore ought not to be cast down with worldly Losses but learn to be Content in every State knowing how to be abassed and how to abound the Believer should Rejoyce in Hope of the Glory of God knowing that he shal be shortly above all the griefs and Comforts that this VVorld can give and therefore should go through his Journey cheerfully in Hope that he shal soon Rest from his Labours and desire nothing but what he shal Possess Hebrews 4. 3. These are a part of the ways that thou art Engadged to walk in having taken the Seal of God's Covenant thou art in a special manner bound to all the Duties therein required but thy Comfort is that the same Covenant alloweth thee help to perform and He whom thou hast Received hath all the fulness of the God-head in him Colossiaans 2. 9. John 1. 16. 2. Enter thy work early to pay thy Vows lest thou forget them and so render thy Guilt great lest the present sense of thy Obligations go off thy heart defer not a day for many Christians come to loss after Communions by triffling away time until the Edge go off and their hearts are coolled again and so much cooled that they are nothing like what they were when their hearts burned within them in Communion with Christ these Disciples mentioned Luke 24. 32. were wise in this that they Improved the