the Person When the Person coming is Unworthy that 's not here meant for so none is Worthy can merit or deserve this honourable Privilege 2. Of the Action When we come in an undue unworthy and unprepared Manner when Men care not with what Minds nor in what Manner they come to the Lord's Supper but rush hand-over-head upon the Ordinance There are Three sorts who Receive Unworthily 1. The Ignorant 2. The Superstitious 3. The Profane and Ungodly Ones 1st Such as are Ignorant That come out of Custom rather than Conscience for Shame of the World because 't is counted a Disparagement not to be admitted to that Ordinance rather than out of any Sense Apprehension or Desire of the Benefit accruing by this Ordinance Such as discern not the Lord's Body are not able to look farther than that which they see with their Eyes They indeed behold Bread broken and Wine poured forth but what the Meaning and Signification of those things are they know not They behold the Ceremony but understand not the Mystery They talk of the Sacrament but know not what it is who instituted it why it was ordained to what End and Use it serves and therefore their Receiving cannot be 〈◊〉 a Rational and Intelligible Rom. 12. 1. Service and so is not acceptable to God 2dly The Superstitiously Conceited that attribute more to the Outward Elements and External Administration than is meet The Papists lead the Van in this Brigade who pervert the simplicity of this Ordinance turning the whole business into a Tragedy or Stage-Play by their abominable ridiculous and absurd Gestures and Actions to the high Dishonour of God and grand Abuse of this Sacred and Holy Institution And next unto these follow many Ignorant and Superstitious Protestants who have many fond Conceits and fantastical Opinions of this Ordinance resting in the Opus operatum or Work done thinking that the bare Outward Actions and Elements are able to sanctifie them That if they go Fasting they have the more if having Eaten somewhat the less Benefit by coming That even the very Receiving of the Elements is of great virtue to a sick Man Or That whosoever Receives upon his Death-bed must needs be saved and go to Heaven 3dly Such as are Ungodly and Profane Proud Covetous Voluptuous Drunkards Swearers Neglecters and Despisers of God's Service Scoffers and Jeerers at the Profession of Religion Envious Malicious False-hearted Deceitful Dissembling Wretches that so they may carry it fair toward the World regard not Inward Sanctity Holiness and Integrity at all such as come in the guilt of these Sins unrepented of unbewailed unresolved against these are Spots in our holy Feasts as St. Jude Ver. 12. speaks Bloaches Stains and Reproaches to our Christian Assemblies and such as give great Occasion of such Multitudes separating and withdrawing themselves from our Congregations many profaneâ— ungodly Persons there are in these days who will be railing and inveighing against Separatists and Independents when they themselves give occasion to the being of such Secondly Here 's the Quality of this Sin It 's very heinous and they that commit it are guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ One would think this were a very hard â—ensure of a Fault that seems not to be very great That coming unworthily to the Sacrament should be Murther and Blood-guiltiness nay Guiltiness of the Blood of the only begotten Son of God and so as heinous a Sin as that which Judas and Pilate and the Jews were guilty of in Crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ the Prince of Glory But the Quality of Sin is not to be measured by ours but by God's Judgment of it God calls it such here and we must believe it to be such But how are they guilty Not as principal Actors and Doers in the business for so the Jews were only guilty but as Accessaries and Abettors For 1. 'T is a slighting of Christ's Death a not laying of it to heart in a due manner It implies that we in the secret of our Souls conceive the putting of Christ to Death was no such heinous Offence whenas we can behold the visible Representation of it in the Sacrament without being at all affected with it as if Christ had been a guilty Person deserving to be used as he was and the Jews had done an Act of Justice in Crucifying him 2. 'T is an Injury and Abuse that reflects upon the Person of Christ as he that shall violate the Picture Seal or Arms of a King offers an Indignity to the King himself and shall be punish'd accordingly so he that unworthily useth this Sacrament or Memorial of Christ's Death doth offer Contempt unto the Death it self 3. 'T is a sign we do not lay to heart the Sin of our Nature which was the occasion of Christ's Dying If Man had not sinned Christ had not died And therefore the Prophet Isaiah tells us That he was wounded for our Chap. 53. 5 transgressions and bruised for our iniquities All we like sheep have gone astray 6. and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Hence it is that in the Sacrament we should exercise Repentance we should look upon him whom Zech. 12. 10. we have pierced and mourn for him as one mourns for his only son 'T is a Tradition That if the guilty Murtherer be brought to the sight of the Party murthered or touch his Body he 'll presently fall a bleedingâ— The Sight of Christ crucified whom we have murthered by our Sins and Transgressions should cause our Hearts within us to mourn and bleed We should undo that by Repentance which we have done by Sin But thus do not such as Receive unworthily and so remain guilty of the Body and Blood i. e. of the Death of Christ 4. 'T is a frustrating of the End of Christ's Death and as to their particular a shedding of the Blood of Christ in vain Christ gave his Body to be crucified and suffered his Blood to be shed that he might nourish and preserve the Souls of the Faithful unto Everlasting Life Hence it is that he says that his Flesh is Meat indeed and his Joh. 6. 55. Blood is Drink indeed But to whom is it such To those that feed on him by Faith This was the End why Christ gave himself that he might become the Bread of Life But so cannot unworthy Receivers and therefore the End of Christ's giving himself as to them is utterly frustrated and disappointed and so they become guilty of the Body and Blood i. e. of the Death of Christ are interpretatively and in effect Christ's Murtherers and Destroyers Now 't is a fearful thing to be guilty of any Man's Blood yea of a wicked Man's Blood how much more to be guilty of the Blood of the Son of God! of the Blood of God! Deliver me O God from bloodguiltiness says David It was a Sin the guilt whereof Psal 51. lay exceeding heavy yea like a
remitteth Sins and Trespasses unto another as concerning the Pardoning of the Private Offence Q. Whether is Remission of Sins freely given A. Albeit God remitteth not our Sins unto us except a most sufficient Price or Punishment be first paid for them yet he remitteth them freely unto us for Christ's sake Q. But Christ did Merit Remission therefore Remission is not Free A. It was God's Free Grace to give Christ unto us and therefore whatsoever cometh by Christ cometh freely Q. For what is Remission of Sins given A. Besides the Free Mercy of God Remission of Sins is granted by the Vertue Passion and Intercession of Christ Behold the Lamb of God that taketh Joh. 1. 29. away the sins of the world Christ hath once suffered for our sins 1 Pet. 3. 18. the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God The blood of Christ cleanseth us from 1 Joh. 1. 7. all sin It pleased the Father that in Christ Col. 1. 19 20. should all fulness dwell and by him to reconcile all things to himself and to set at peace through the blood of his cross both the things in earth and things in heaven Ye are come to Jesus the Mediator of Heb. 12. 24. the New-Testament and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel By Christ we have redemption through Eph. 1. 7. his â—â—ood even the forgiveness of sins Q. How could it stand with the Iustice of God to punish Christ for us A. Christ was willing to be punished for our Sins yea he offered himself freely for us Walk in love as Christ hath loved us Eph. 5. 2. and hath given himself for us to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savour to God Christ loved the Church and gave himself Chap. 5. 25. for it that he might sanctifie it He gave himself for us that he might Tit. 2. 14. redeem us from all iniquity Q. Doth not Christ as well deliver us from the Punishment as the Guilt of Sin A. Yes as plainly appeareth And therefore what Judgments are executed upon the Elect after Justification are not properly Punishments but Fatherly Corrections and of Love Being justified by faith we have peace Rom. 5. 1. with God Even Jesus which delivered us from â— Thes 1. 10. wrath to come The END of the Catechism A Preparatory SERMON For the Worthy Receiving of the Holy Sacrament OF THE Lord's Supper As it was Preach'd in SERJEANTS-INN-CHAPPEL IN Fleet-street London By JAMES CLIFFORD M. A. Chaplain to the Honourable SOCIETY Psal xxvi 6. I will wash mine hands in innocency O Lord and compass thine Altar LONDON Printed for J. Deacon at the Angel in Gilt-spur-street without Newgate 1694. And are to be Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster A PRAYER PRevent us O Lord in all our doings with thy most gracious favour and further us with thy continual help that in all our works begun continued and ended in thee we may glorifie thy holy Name and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us pray for the whole State of Christ's Catholick Church dispers'd over the face of the whole Earth That it may please God to govern it universally in the right way Let us pray for the Lord 's Anointed King WILLIAM and Queen MARY of England Scotland France and Ireland Defenders of the Faith c. For Catherine the Queen Dowager Princess Anne of Denmark and all the Royal Family Let us pray for all the Lords of Their Majesties most Honourable Privy Council all the Nobility Judges Gentry and Commons of this Land * If Sitting more-especially for the Honourable High Court of Parliament now assembled Les us pray for the whole Body of the Clergy whether Archbishops Bishops or other inferiour Priests and Deacons And for a Supply of their Mortality water with the Dew of thy Blessing the Two Famous Universities Oxford and Cambridge and especially for this Honourable Society of Law and Equity Lastly O Lord we return unto thee for a Blessing upon our selves here met together O Lord be present both with Speaker and Hearer bless me O Lord that am to speak bless these thy People that are to hear open unto me the Door of Utterance that I may deliver thy Word plainly powerfully and profitably open we pray thee not only the Ears but the Hearts of these thy People that they may receive the Word not as the Word of sinful Men but as the Word of thee the ever Living God which is able to save their Souls Grant good God that they may hear it attentively conceive it readily apply it wisely lay it up in their Memories faithfully meditate and practice it in their Lives and Conversations conscionably so that it may prove to none of us the savour of Death unto Death but unto every Soul here present the savour of Life unto Life that hereby our Understandings may be enlightned our Hearts purified our Consciences pacified our sinful Lives reformed and our precious Souls eternally saved at the Day of the Lord Jesus These and all other needful Mercies we beg at thy hands for the sake and worthiness of Jesus Christ the Righteous the Son of thy Love in whom thou art well pleased in whose Name and Words we call upon thee Our Father c. 1 COR. xi 27 28 29. Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body THE Apostle having declared the true Institution of the Sacrament and the right End to be observed in the Celebration of it viz. The perpetual Commemoration of Christ's Death in the fore-going Words In the next place he shew the great Danger Men run into by an undue and unworthy Participation of this Ordinance They commit a great Sin which draws upon them great Judgments both Temporal and Eternal unless by a diligent Examination of themselves the Sin be prevented and the Punishment warded off In these Words we have I. The Sin of Unworthy Receiving Ver. 27. II. The Means to avoid this Sin Ver. 28. which is careful Examination of one's self before the Sacrament III. The Punishment which they Ver. 29. incurr who Commit the Sin and Neglect the Means and that is Judgment or Damnation First Here 's the Sin of Unworthy Ver. 27. Receiving laid down Whoso shall eat this bread and drink the cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 1. In which Words we may take notice 1. Of the Sin it self 2. Of the Quality of this Sin First Here 's the Sin it self Unworthy Receiving There 's a Twofold Unworthiness 1. Of
Talent of Lead upon his Spirit 'T is an heavy thing to have an hand in Man's Blood nay in a wicked Man's Blood What a fearful Imprecation was that upon Joab for the Blood of Abner who was none of the best Let the blood of Abner the 2 Sam. 3. 28 son of Ner rest on the head of Joab and on all his fathers house and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue or is a leper or that leaneth on a staff or that falls on the sword or that lacks bread Yea but what is it then to have an hand in the shedding of Christ's Blood The Apostle says That the blood of Christ speaketh better Heb. 12. 24. things than the blood of Abel But if we make our selves guilty of it by coming unworthily and unpreparedly to the Sacrament it speaks no better things than the Blood of Abel It then speaks and cries as Abel's Blood did for Justice and Vengeance Now woe be to him for whom Christ's Blood speaks not but wo a thousand times more to him against whom Christ's Blood cries Thus you see it is a very dangerous Sin to come unworthily and unpreparedly to the Lord's Table APPLICATION First Exhortation Let us take heed how we come unworthily to the Participation of this Ordinance Let us look to our Feet when we come to God on this Errand as the Preacher speaks i. e. seriously ponder and consider of what Consequence and Concernment the Business whereabout we go therein is how much Comfort Benefit and Advantage we shall have by a due worthy and prepared Coming but how exceeding mischievous and prejudicial an unprepared Coming will prove But what Means will you ask may be prescribed for the avoiding of this Sin for the preventing of this Danger The Apostle doth this Let a man Ver. 28. examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. Here is prescribed a diligent Examination of a Man's self before he come unto the Sacrament 1. Here 's a Duty commanded and that is Examination of a Man's self But let a man examine himself c. Ver. 28. 2. The Time or particular Occasion that requires it and that is before he come to the Sacrament It is the Duty of all such as desire to be made Partakers of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ to prepare themselves by serious and solemn Examination Sanctifie your 1 Sam. 16. 5. selves and come with me to the sacrifice The Jews were to prepare themselves 2 Chron. 35. 6. Exod. 12. 3 6. before they eat of the Passover So kill the Passover and sanctifie your selves and prepare your brethren And the Paschal Lamb was to be separate and set a-part four days What was this Separation but a standing Sermon of Preparation When invited to our Neighbour's Table how do we spruce up our selves Shall we not dress our Souls against we come to the Lord's Table REASONS 1st We come to meet God in the Sacrament And prepare thy self to Amos 4. 12. meet thy God O Israel 2dly According to our Preparation 2 Cor. 9. 6. shall be our Profit and Benefit He that soâ—s sparingly shall reap sparingly To slight the Preparation is a small Gen 44. 1. Benefit Fill the mens sacks with food as much as they can carry More Sacks and the bigger the Sacks the more Corn. A prepared Heart is a Vessel that shall be filled at the Sacrament◠〈◊〉 such Mens Hearts with spiritual Blessings with Vertue from Christ with the Comforts of the Holy Ghost with Encrease of Grace says the Lord at the Sacrament Fill them with spiritual Food as full as they can hold let them have as much as they can carry The larger our Preparation the larger our Vessel the larger our Vessel the larger our Comfort and Benefit 3dly None can come so worthily as he should when we have prepar'd our selves the best we can but alas what a deal of Deadness and Dulness of Spirit and Hardness of Heart will come along with us Nay though a Man may have many Wants and come far short of what he should be yet if the Lord sees that a Man sets himself seriously to prepare himself and that he â—akes Pains in the Duty that he may seek God sincerely in the Use of the Sacrament he will wink at Failings and pass by many Infirmities so that they shall be no hindrance to his profitable and comfortable Receiving Consider For a 2 Chron. 30. 18 multitude of the people even many of Ephraim and Manasseh Issachar and Zebulun had not cleansed themselves yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written but Hezekiah prayed for them saying The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to 19 seek God the Lord God of his fathers though he be not cleansed according to the â—urification of the sanctuary And the 20 Lord hearkened to Hezekiah and healed the people And the children of Israel that 21. were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness and the Levites and the Priests praised the Lord day by day â—nging with loud Instruments unto the Lord. Hezekiah knew that Faith and Sinâ—â—erity of Heart was more agreeable â—o God than the Observation of these Ceremonies and therefore he prayed â—nto God to pardon this Fault unto â—he People which did not offend of Malice but of Ignorance i. e. did â—ccept them as purified They could not keep Viz. Although Numb 9. 6. there were no express Law which should exclude such Persons from the Passover nevertheless there was a manifest Scruple grounded upon that God in any religious and sacred Actâ— required Purity in the Person acting or participating Came before Viz. Because the 2 Chron 30 18. Practice of the Law Numb 5. 2. to put such Persons out of the Camp was not yet brought in Of the Sanctuary A Request which Ver. 19. every one made who came into the Temple being all to come there at the Feasts Lev. 15. 31. Healed That is to say held them Ver. 20. as purified through his Grace and by his gracious Pardon and preserved them from such Diseases and Plagues as such a Disobedience was accustomed to provoke and bring upon them Exod. 15. 26. Unto the Lord. Ital. Of the Glory of Ver. 21. the Lord Hebr. Of the Strength These two Words in the Hebrew being often taken one for another as much as to say by which Instruments he is glorified and his Power and Strength exalted Again Not to come preparedly as we are commanded Let a man examine himself c. 1st A Matter of Shame 2dly Of Danger 1. Of Shame A Shame for a Man to come to a Great Man's Table in filthy Rags and Tatters And is it not a shame to come rudely unpreparedly and unbeseemingly to the Lord's Table 2 Chron. 30. 15. The Priests and the
Levites were ashamed and sanctified themselves as before A shame if foul Vessels at the Sacrament dirty Cloth foul Napkin foul Cup. Is it a shame that the Vessels and Linnen should not in their kind be handsomly fitted and decently prepared And is it not a shame not to have our Hearts and Souls prepared Is it a shame to have a foul Cup and is it not a shame to have a foul and filthy Heart â—hall precious Liquor be put into musty and unclean Vessels Shall filthy â—nhallowed unclean Souls be filled with spiritual Comfort 2. Of Danger To partake of the Passover unworthily a very dangerous thing and that made Hezekiah â—pray so earnestly 2 Chron. 30. A dangerous Business to come to the Sacrament a Matter of Life and Death Tremendum Mysterium Holy Judgment 1st Danger He that eats and drinks 1 Cor. 11. 27. unworthily is guilty of the body and blood of Christ Instead of Drinkers of Christ's Blood are Shedders of his Blood instead of remembring of Christ's Death they put Christ to Deathâ— An unworthy and unprepared Receiver becomes guilty of Christ's Blood How so Because he doth as if he shed his Blood he doth so as the Shedders of Christ's Blood did For look as they that crucified and pierced Christ poured not forth his Blood that they might drink it but only that they might pour it â—orth and shed it so he that doth unworthily and unpreparedly drink his Blood receiving thereby no Profit or Benefit he hath rashly and in vain shed his Blood Now what a fearful thing it is to be guilty of Christ's Blood Deliver me from blood-guiltiness saith the Psalmist Woe be to him that Christ's Blood speaks not for but ten thousand times woe to him that Christ's Blood â—peaketh against 2d Danger He that comes unworthily and unpreparedly not only receives no Good but a great deal of Hurt Good he receive's none a vain Sacrament Ordinance blasted and not only so but a great deal of Hurt 1. Instead of receiving Christ receives the Devil The Devil enter'd into Judas after the Sop. Satan fills their Hearts worse than before ten times more Children of Wrath than before 2. Instead of receiving that which may further Salvation receives that which furthers Condemnation The Zech. 12. 2. Cup of Trembling Some poysoned by Poyson put into Wine Mors in Olla Stone instead of Bread a Scorpion instead of a Fish 3d. Danger Bodily Danger 4. It is a very dangerous thing not to come to the Sacrament to neglect God's Ordinance in an unfrequent Use thereof or utter Disrespect of it He that neglected Circumcision was to be cut off Gen. 17. 14. And we see that God would have killed Moâ—es for neglecting his Child's Circumcision Exod. 4. 24. And see the place Numb 9. 13. And we know the Severity of this Punishment that neglected to come to that Supper of the King Mat. 25. 5 7. And to be without the Sacrament and without Christ and without God in the World are joyned together Eph. 2. 11 12. Whil'st they were called Uncircumcision i. e. without God's Sacraments they were without Christ and without God in the World And the Necessity of the Use of the Sacraments appears by this That before the Israelites must enter into Canaan they must be circumcised and eat the Passover Josh 5. 7 10. To teach That all that will enter into the heavenly Canaan must of necessity in Obedience to God's Commandment be Partakers of his Sacraments It is very dangerous therefore to neglect the Sacraments And yet as dangerous as it is not to come to the Sacrament yet it is no less dangerous to come if we come unpreparedly Unprepared coming is as dangerous as not coming at all It is with this Supper in the Sacrament as it was with that Supper of the King 's in the Parable Mat. 22. They that neglected to come and absented themselves they smarted But ver 13. there was one that came to the Supper and yet he seems to be more severely punish'd than those that came not Now shall Men be punish'd for not coming and for coming too this seems to be an hard case I am in a very great Streight may many a poor Creature say that begins to be convinced of the greatness of the Sin of neglecting so holy and useful an Ordinance of God and of the unworthy and unprepared coming to it Yes surely if Men come not as they should their coming will not serve the turn Mark that Question Friend how camest thou in hither Mat. 22. 12. He doth not say Friend how â—atest thou down but how camest thou hither This shews us that his Sin was not some Indisposition that had overtaken him in sitting down but that he did not look to sit and prepare himself before he came in So it is in the Supper of the Lord A Man commits as great a Sin in an unprepared coming as in a profane not coming at all He may expose himself to as great a danger by coming as by not coming There is no Man that comes to the Sacrament but God hath an Eye upon him 〈◊〉 God's all-seeing and all-piercing Eye is upon him God takes special notice of him to see how he comes prepared If he comes unworthily he is like to hear of it to his sorrow We come to the Sacrament to enquire of God to seek his Face and Favour to receive Comfort and Consolation from him But whosoever comes unpreparedly instead of a gracious Answer shall meet with an angry Question Friend how camest thou in hither A Question that put thoroughly home to the Conscience of Men will so astonish and affright 'em that they shall not be able to say a Word for themselves People generally will not endure that their Minister should Catechise them and Question with them to prepare them the better for the Holy Sacrament But let such know God Himself will Catechise them and put such a Question to them as shall strike them dumb and speechless Now is it thus That it is the Duty of all such as desire to be made Partakers of the Holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ are solemnly to sit and prepare themselves for it by Examination and that such as come unpreparedly come unworthily Oh! the great Abuse of that Holy and Sacred Ordinance that hath been â—ound among us in admitting unworthy and unpreparedâ— Persons to the Participation of it Surely one Reason and why the Sword this day drinks up so much Blood and devours so much of our Flesh is because we have been guilty of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in our unworthy Receiving of the Holy Sacrament I beseech you therefore for the sake of the ever Blessed and Adorable Jesus who so freely laid down his Precious Life for you and as you prize the Everlasting Happiness of your own Immortal Souls that you would make it your utmost Care and Diligence so to direct your Lives and
Adam all die By the offence of one the fault came on Rom. 5. 18. all men to condemnation By one mans disobedience many were Ver. 19. made sinners Q. Is Original Corruption found in every one equally A. Yes it is for that which is born of Natural Generation is nothing but Corruption For as St. John saith That which is born of flesh is flesh Joh. 3. 6. Q. Doth this Corruption of Nature break forth and shew it self equally and in all Men alike A. No Though Original Corruption be found equally and alike in all Men naturally yet doth God for the Good of Humane Society limit Man's Corruption and restrain Man from notorious Crimes y their Natural Temper by Fear of Shame and Punishment Desire of Honour and Reward and such like Q. Now what is Actual Sin A. It is a Fruit of Original Corruption and it is a Particular and Actual Breach of God's Law For out of the heart come evil thoughts Mat. 15. 19. murders adulteries fornications thefts and such like When lust hath conceived it bringeth Jam. 1. 15. forth sin Q. How is Actual Sin distinguished A. Into Inward and Outward It is either the Inward Faculties of the Soul as the Mind or Will and Affections or in the Outward Members of the Body Q. What is the Actual Sin of the Mind Will and Affections A. It is the evil Thought or Intent of the Mind which comes either by the Conceiving of the Mind it self or by Satan's Suggestion The Lord saw that the wickedness of Gen. 6. 5. man was great in the earth and all the imaginations of his heart were only evil continually And Satan stood up against Israel and 1 Chron. â—1 1. provoked David to number Israel Also it is every Motion and Lust and Desire stirring in the Heart contrary to God's Law For the flesh lusteth against the spirit Gal. 5. 17. and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to the other Q. What is Outward Actual Sin in the Outward Members of the Body A. It is that which is committed by the Members of the Body carrying with it the Faculties of the Soul Q. How is Actual Sin effected A. Two ways Either by Omission or Commission either by omitting that which ought to be done or by committing that Evil that is forbidden and ought not to be done whether it be inwardly in the Mind Will or Affections or outwardly in Word or Deed. Q. What is the State of Misery following the Fall of Man A. It is a continual Subjection to the Curse of God whereby Man by the just Sentence of God is continually subject and liable to God's Curse for Sin Cursed is every one that continueth not Gal. 3. 10. in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them And that in this Life both in Body and outward Estate The Lord shall make the pestilence cleave Deut. 28. 21. unto thee until he have consumed thee from off the land whither thou goest to possess it The Lord shall smite thee with a consumption Ver. 22 c. and with a fever and with an inflammation and with an extreme burning and with the sword and with blasting and with mildew and they shall pursue thee till thou perish c. And also in Soul and that with Blindness of Mind Hardness and Astonishment of Heart Horrour of Conscinece and such like And the Lord shall smite thee with Deut. 28. 28. madness and with blindness and with astonishment of heart And not only in this Life but also in the End of this Life and that is the Power of Corporal Death the Death of the Body whereby the Soul is severed from the Body And also after this Life is ended And that by Eternal Death of Body and Soul in Hell Fire called the Second Death which is a final Separation from the comfortable Presence of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost and a sense and feeling of God's Wrath in that Separation whenas it shall be said to them I never knew you Depart from me Mat. 7. 23. ye that work iniquity Depart from me into everlasting fire Chap. 25. 41. which is prepared for the devil and his angels Q. Seeing then by the just Iudgment of God we are subject both to Temporal and Eternal Punishment Is there yet any Way or Means remaining whereby we may be delivered from these Punishments and be reconciled to God A. God will have his Justice satisfied Wherefore it is necessary that we satisfie either by our selves or by another For The soul that sinneth it shall â—ie Exod. 18. 4. Q. Are we able to satisfie our selves A. Not a whit Nay rather we do every Day encrease our Debt For If thou O Lord shouldest mark our Psal 130. 3. iniquities O Lord who should stand Q. Is there any Creature which only is a Creature in Heaven or Earth able to satisfie for us A. None For first God will not punish that Sin in any other Creature which Man hath committed For The soul that sinneth it shall die Exod. 18. Neither can that which is nothing but a Creature sustain the Wrath of God against Sin and deliver others from it Who can stand before his wrath or Nah. 1. 6. who can abide in the fierceness of his wrath Q. What manner of Mediator then and Deliverer must we seek for A. Such a one verily as is very Man For since by man came death by man 1 Cor. 15. 21. came also the resurrection of the dead And perfectly Just For such an high priest it became us to Heb. 7. 26. have which is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners Q. Wherefore is it necessary that he be very Man A. 1st That he might die and suffer the Punishment due to Sin which the Godhead could not do Forasmuch then as the children were Chap. 2. 14. partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part with them that he might destroy through death him that had the power of death that is the devil 2dly Because the Justice of God requireth that the same Humane Nature which sinned do it self likewise make Recompence for Sin The righteousness of the righteous shall Exod. 18. 20. be upon him and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself Q. Why also must he be very God A That he might by his Godhead sustain in his Flesh the burthen of God's Wrath For the Lord thy God is a consuming Deut. 4. 24. fire and a jealous God And might recover and restore unto us that Righteousness which we had lost He was wounded for our transgressions Isa 53. 5. he was broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed Yet the Lord would break him and Ver. 10. make him subject to infirmities when he shall make his soul an offering for sin
Q. And who is that Mediator which is both very God and perfectly Iust Man A. Even our Lord Jesus Christ who is made to us of God Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption There is one Mediator between God and 1 Tim. 2. 5. Man which is the man Jesus Christ Ye are of him in Jesus Christ who is 1 Cor. 1. 30. made of God unto us wisdom righteteousness sanctification and redemption Q. But what are we to Know and Believe touching the Distinction of the two Natures in Christ his Godhead and his Manhood A. That there is a real Distinction of Mat. 26. 39. Joh. 10. 17 18. Act. 3. 21. those two Natures without any Mixture the one with the other and without any Conversion or turning of the one into the other and that the Essential Properties and Actions of both Natures remain distinct one from the other Q. What are we to Believe and Know touching the Union of Christ's two Natures his Godhead and his Manhood A. That they are united by Personal Union that the Godhead and Manhood in Christ make but One Person Q. What is that Personal Union A. It is the assuming of the Humane Nature into the Person of the Son of God so as the Manhood being not a Person in it self is received into Unity of Person with the Second Person in Trinity and doth usually and only subsist in the same This is a Mystery of Godliness And the word was made flesh and Joh. 1. 14. dwelt among us full of grace and truth Great is the mystery of Godliness which 1 Tim. 3. 16. is God is manifested in the flesh justified in the spirit c. Q. What is the Office of Iesus Christ being God and Man in One Person A. It is his Mediatorship to be the only Mediator and Advocate between God and Man There is one mediator between God and 1 Tim. 2. 5. man Q. What is meant by a Mediator or Advocate A. A Mediator or Advocate is a third Person that takes upon him to agree and reconcile two that be at variance As Christ being both God and Man did set at one God and Man who before were separated by Sin I the Lord have called thee in righteousness Isa 42. 6. and will hold thine hand and I will keep thee and give thee for a covenant of the people and for a light of the Gentiles Q. How did he that A. By the Satisfying of God's Justice by his Death By Praying and Intreating for the Guilty And By applying forcibly and effectually his Merit through Faith on them that Believe and regenerating them by his holy Spirit effecting that they cease from sinning And lastly Hearing their Groans and Petitions when they call upon him For thus it becometh him who was our Mat. 3. 15. faithful high priest to fulfil all righteousness Q. What be the several Functions and Offices of Christ as he is Mediator A. They are Three namely his Prophetical Office Priestly Kingly Christ was anointed of his Father to be the Prophet King and Priest of his Church For Moses truly said unto the fathers A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of our brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Wherefore in all things it behoved him Heb. 2. 17. to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou Psal 110. 1. at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool Q. What is the Prophetical Office of Christ A. It is the Office of Revealing the Will of God and the Means of Salvation to his Church in all Ages As No man hath seen God at any time Joh. 1. 18. the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him Which Office Christ performs Two ways 1st Outwardly By the Ministry of his Word Christ was put to death concerning the 1 Pet. 3. 18. flesh but was quickened in the spirit By which spirit he went and preached Ver. 19. unto the spirits that were in prison 2dly Inwardly By the Operation and Teaching of his holy Spirit As by the Example of Lydia Whose heart the Lord opened that she Act. 16. 14. attended unto the things which Paul spake Q. VVhat is the Priestly Office of Christ A. It is that whereby Christ hath and doth reconcile God to his Elect He performing all those things to God for them whereby they may come to Eternal Life But this man because he endureth for Heb. 7. 24. ever hath an everlasting priesthood Wherefore he is able also perfectly to Ver. 25. save them that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Which Priestly Office Christ performs Three ways for God chosen First In fulfilling the Law of God and performing perfect Righteousness for them Which Perfection He is made unto us of God wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30. righteousness sanctification and redemption standeth in Two things 1st In the Purity of his Humane Nature he being conceived and born Pure and Holy void of all Sin 2dly In the Obedience of his whole Life he doing all that the Law required of him for God's Chosen Who did no sin neither was there any 1 Pet. 2. 22. Isa 53. 9. guile found in his mouth Secondly As he was Man consisting of Body and Soul Yet the Lord would break him and Isa 53 10. make him subject to infirmities when he shall make his soul an offering for sin Offering of himself unto God his Father a sacrifice without spot thereby appeasing his Wrath for all their Sins How much more shall the blood of Heb. 9. 14. Christ which through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God But now in the end of the world hath Ver. 26. he appeared once to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself Thirdly His entring into Heaven and there appearing before his Father continually making Intercession for all the Faithful Who shall condemn It is Christ who Rom. 8. 34. also is at the right hand of God and maketh request for us Q. After what manner doth Christ make Intercession in Heaven for the Faithful A. Not by Prostrating himself and uttering Words to his Father or by putting up a Prayer or Supplication to him But by presenting himself and the Sacrifice of himself once offered upon the Cross and the infinite and unvaluable Merit of that Sacrifice before the Eyes of his Father willing as he is God and Man and desiring as he is Man that his Father would accept of his perfect Satisfaction for all that are given unto him For Christ is not enter'd into the holy Heb. 9. 24. places that are made with hands which are similitudes of the true sanctuary but
make us understand how much he detesteth Sin that so also we might detest it and withal he tameth the Rebellion of our Flesh and daily more and more teacheth us Obedience It is good for me that I was afflicted Psal 119. 71. that I might learn thy statutes 3dly God worketh in us that we should learn to pity such as be in distress for no Man hath Compassion or suffereth with another who himself hath not suffered before For We have not an high priest which cannot Heb. 4. 15. be touched with our infirmities but such an one as was in all things tempted in the like sort yet without sin 4thly By Afflictions the Lord shaketh off our Deadness and Drowsiness and doth stir us up the more earnestly to come and call upon him by fervent and hearty Prayer Call upon me in the time of thy trouble Psal 50. 15. and I will hear thee 5thly By them the Lord maketh tryal of our Faith for they do either Consume the Wicked through Impatience or else Harden them through Despair On the other side they Soften the Hearts of the Godly to make them call upon God and to trust the more upon him Blessed is the man that endureth temptation Jam. 1. 12. for when he hath been tryed he shall receive the Crown of life 6thly By Afflictions God doth call our minds away from these Earthly things that we may the more earnestly desire the Life to come Seeing then there is so many Comforts by Affliction My son despise not the chastning of the Heb. 12. 5 Lord neither faint when thou art corrected of him For whom he loveth he chasteneth 6. Q. Why is he said to be Almighty A. Because he is able to do whatsoever he will Whatsoever pleased the Lord that did Psal 135. 6. he in heaven in earth in the sea and in all the depths Yea he is able to do more than he will For I say unto you God is able of these Mat. 3. 9. stones to raise up children to Abraham Q. What Comfort is there in that God is said to be Almighty A. It strengthneth me in my Prayer to him assuring me that he can make good whatever Promises he hath made unto me in his Word Being fully assured that he which Rom. 4. 21. had promised was also able to do it And though I be weak and unable to resist mine Enemies bodily or spiritual and no way able to help or provide for my self yet my heavenly Father is of all Majesty and Power guiding and over-ruling continually Men Angels and Devils and all Creatures to serve for his own Glory and the Good of his Children Yea though I should walk through the Psal 23. 4. valley of the shadow of death I will fear none evil for thou art with me When the ways of man please the Lord Prov. 16. 7. he will make his enemies to be at peace with him Q. What is meant in saying He was Maker of Heaven and Earth A. That he formed and framed this whole World and all the Creatures that are therein only by the Power of his Word and Commandment even of Nothing By the word of the Lord were the heavens Psal 33. 6. made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth Q. What Comfort cometh by this A. That although through Adam I had lost the Right both of Heaven and Earth and of every Creature so as I could have no Comfort in the Use of them yet through my Saviour the Second Adam since I truly Believed in him I am restored to a far better Estate being made in him a right Heir of all and all the Creatures are blessed and sanctified to me that I may have a holy Use of them For if we be children we are also Rom. 8. 17. heirs even the heirs of God and heirs annexed with Christ 2dly All the Creatures in Heaven and Earth are at league with me to help for my Good so far as may stand with his Glory For the stones of the field shall be in Job 5. 23. Hos 2. 18. 1 Cor. 3. 21. league with thee and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee Q. Declare unto me the Second Part of the Creed concerning Faith in God the Son Which is the Second Article A. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. Q. What is signified by that Word JESUS A. This Word signifieth a Saviour Thou shalt call his name Jesus for Mat. 1. 21. he shall call his people from their sins Q. Why is the Son of God called Jesus that is a Saviour A. Because he saveth us from all our Sins Therefore he is able also perfectly to Heb. â— 25. save them that come unto God by him Neither ought any Safety to be sought for from any other nor can elsewhere be found Neither is there salvation in any other Act. 4. 12. name â—â—der heaven whereby we must be saved I even I am the Lord and beside me Isa 43. 11. there is no saviour Q. Whom doth he save A. He saveth all and only the Elect and Believers which have been are or shall be even from the Beginning to the End of the World God so loved the world that he gave Joh. 3. 16. his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Q. What Evils doth he deliver his Elect from A. From all Sin So the Angel testifieth He shall save his people from their Mat. 1. 21. sins The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us 1 Joh. 1. 7. from all sin And also from the Punishment of Sin For the Cause being taken away which is Sin the Effect is taken away which is Punishment Now then there is no condemnation to Rom. 8. 1. them that are in Christ Jesus I give unto them eternal life Q. How doth Christ save his Elect 1st He saveth us by his Merit or Satisfaction Because by his Obedience Passion Death and Intercession he hath merited for us Remission of Sins Reconciliation with God and Everlasting Life The blood of Jesus Christ his Son 1 Joh. 1. 7. cleanseth as from all sin By the obedience of one many shall be Rom. 5. 19. made righteous He was wounded for our transgressions Isa 53. 5. he was broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed He hath made him to be sin for us 2 Cor. 5. 21. which knew no sin that we should be made the righteousness of God in him Christ hath redeemed us from the curse Gal. 3. 13. of the law 2dly He saveth us by his Efficacy Power and Operation Because he not only obtaineth by his Meriting for us Remission of Sins and that Life which we had lost but also applieth effectually unto us by virtue of his Spirit through Faith the whole Benefit of our
Redemption For what Benefits he merited by his Death he doth not retain them unto himself but bestoweth them on us Q. What is it therefore to Believe in Iesus A. It is not only to Believe that he is able to save and that he is the only Means to obtain Salvation by but also that he is my Saviour My spirit doth rejoyce in God my Saviour Luk. 1. 47. The Lord is my light and my strength Psal 27. 1. And that I rely wholly upon him and none but him for the Salvation of my Soul Lord to whom shall we go thou hast Joh. 6. 68. the words of eternal life Q. What Comfort hast thou by this A. That though I am guilty of innumerable Sins both Original and Actual even the Breach of the whole Law and so am worthy to be damned and have all the Plagues of God due to my Sin cast upon me yea though I were a Bond-Slave to Sin and Satan yet I Believe that Jesus is my Saviour and that he hath delivered me from all my Sins both the Guilt and the stisfactory Punishment of them and also from the Power of Sin and Satan The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me that I should preach the gospel to the poor heal the broken-hearted preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind that I should set at liberty them that are bruised Q. What is signified by the Word CHRIST A. Christ signifieth Anointed Q. Why is he called Christ that is Anointed A. Because he was Ordained of the Father and Anointed of the Holy Ghost the Chief Prophet and Doctour The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet like unto me Deut. 18. 15. who hath opened unto us the secret Counsle and all the Will of his Father concerning our Redemption For all things that I have heard of Joh. 15. 15. my Father have I made known unto you And the High-Priest who with that one only Sacrifice of his Body hath redeemed us So Christ was once offered to take Heb. 9. 28. away the sins of many And doth continually make Intercession to his Father for us Who shall condemn It is Christ which Rom. 8. 34. is dead yea which is risen again who is also at the right-hand of God and maketh request for us And a King who ruleth us by his Word and Spirit and defendeth and maintaineth that Salvation which he hath purchased for us And he shall reign over the hous of Luk. 1. 33. Jacob for ever and of his kingdom shall be none end And I will give unto them eternal Joh. 10 28. life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand Q. What Benefit hast thou by this A. That both I and all the Elect of God are made spiritual Kings Priests and Prophets And from Jesus Christ which hath made us kings and priests unto God even his Father Kings in bearing rule over our Hearts and mastering our rebellious Thoughs Wills and Affections Let not sin reign therefore in your mortal Rom. 6. 12. bodies that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof Priests in offering up to God our Spiritual Sacrifices And ye as lively stones be made a 1 Pet. 2. 5. spiritual house and a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Of Prayer Let my prayer be directed in thy sight Psal 141. 2. as incense and the lifting up of mine hands as an evening sacrifice Of Thanksgiving Let us therefore hy him offer the sacrifices Heb. 13. 15. of praise always to God Of Alms To do good and to distribute forget Ver. 16. not for with such sacrifice God is well-pleased Of a Contrite Heart The sacrifices of God are a contrite Psal 51. 17. heart a contrite and a broken heart O Lord thou wilt not despise Of our whole Souls and Bodies for the Service of God I bescech you therefore brethren that Rom. 12. 1. ye give up your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God And Prophets in applying that Knowledge we have to the Benefit and Good of others When thou are converted strengthen Luk. 23. 32. thy brethren Q. Now shew me why this Iesus Christ is called the only Son of God seeing we also are said to be the Sons of God A. Christ is called God's only Son because he alone is the Co-eternal and Natural Son of the Eternal Father And the word was made flesh and Joh. 1. 14. dwelt among us and we saw the glory thereof as the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father Thou art my Son this day begat I Heb. 1. 5. thee I will be his Father and he shall be my Son The Angels also and Adam before his Fall are his Sons by Creation But we are Sons adopted of the Father by Grace for his sake Who hath predestinated us t be adopted Eph. 1. 5. through Jesus Christ unto himself As many as received him to them Joh. 1. 12. gave he power to be the sons of God even to them that believe in his name Q. What Comfort cometh by this A. It sheweth the wonderful Love and great Mercy of God to me that when I was by Nature the Child of Wrath and Perdition he spared not to give his only Son for me to make me his Child and Hell by the Grace of Adoption But God so loved the world that he Joh. 3. 16. gave his only begotten Son that whoseever believeth in him shall not perish but have eternal life Q. Wherefore is he called Our Lord A. Because he redeeming and ransoming both our Body and Soul from Sin not with Gold and Silver but with his precious Blood and delivering us from all the Power of the Devil hath set us free to serve him Knowing that ye were not redeemed 1 Pet. 1. 18 with corruptible things as silver and gold But with the preceious blood of Christ 19 That ye should shew forth the vertues Chap. 2. 9. of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light Q. What is the Comfort of this A. That Christ being my Lord and I living under his Dominion I need not fear what Enemies whether Devil or wicked Men can do unto me If God be on our side who can be against us And though I was under the Prince of Darkness having Satan my Lord until I believed in Christ yet finde I am Christ's and he is my only Lord and that by Purchase with his Blood by Gift from his Father and by Marriage contracted to be consummate at his Appearing Q. Which is the Third Article A. Which was Conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary Q. What Believest thou in this Article A. I Believe That the Son of God who is and continueth True and Everlasting God took the very Nature of Man of the
holy Duties cannot be without much Danger to the Soul A Second thing to be look'd into is A great care to make good and perform that Vow of New Obedience which we have renewed with God in the Sacrament Our Hearts are very sâ—ippery like a Bullock unaccustom'd to the Yoke and Satan is very subtle to draw us speedily to a breach and therefore it concerns us to be watchful The Devil is exceeding desirous to go in and go down after a Sacramental Sop. No sooner was Christ Baptized Luk. 3. but Luk. 4. presently after the Sacrament receiv'd he sets â—iercely upon Christ with all his might strength and skill in his Temptations so he lies upon the catch to tempt us immediately after we come from the Ordinance And therefore we must have a special care to keep our Covenants and to express the Power of God's Ordinance in the Holâ—ness and Obedience of our Lives We must have a care to walk closely with God to forsake all former Sins to perform all Duties of Obedience formerly neglected Elias after he was fed by God went in the strength of that Food 1 King 19. 8. Forty Days and Forty Nights together So should we walk in the strength of our Sacramental Food many Days and shew that indeed we have received Strength from it and by it by keeping our Covenants with God of Holiness and Righteousness Novus Dies Novos Mores Now God requires we should take up new Thoughts Resolutions Endeavours that we should lead new Lives It should be with us after our Communion with God in the Sacrament as it was with Jacob after his Communion with God in Bethâ—l Then Jacob lifted up his feet and Gen. 19. 1. came into the land of the people of the East He lift up his Feet went with Strength Spirit and Chearfulness So when we have had Fellowship with God in the Sacrament in the Strength of the heavenly Food we should lift up our Feet and go on chearfully in God's Ways 'T is said That Jesus returned from Luk. 4. 1. his Baptism in Jordan full of the Holy Ghost to be tempted of the Devilâ— He went from the Sacrament full of the Holy Ghost and full of Power against the filthy Ghost So should we rise from the Sacrament full of the Holy Ghost full of Power and spiritual Strength Tanquam Leones Ignem spirantes Like Lions breathing Fire as St. Chrysostome speaks that so we may be Terrible to Satan and Powerful against our Lusts That which St. Paul speaks must Eph. 4. 28. be especially remembred Let him that stole steal no more Let him that swore swear no more that used to lye be drunk unclean c. Eccl. 5. 4. do so be so no more We do interpretatively and in effect Vow this in the Sacrament Reason thus with thy self therefore I have been at the Sacrament I have there vowed and taken the Sacrament upon it That I will forsake my Sins become a New Man And with this stop the Mouth of the Devil when he shall tempt thee to Evil either by himself or Instruments Christiana sum Many come to the Sacrament and there vow New Obedience and yet when once the Action is over O! how soon are their Vows forgotten 'T is said That the people sate down Exod. 32. 6. to eat and drink and rose up to play How many sit down to eat and drink the Sacramental Elements and that done rise up to play To what play To play the Beasts the Swine the Wantons the Wretches and so make themselves by such Receiving two-fold more the Children of the Devil than they were before The Abassines after the Receiving of the Sacrament think it not lawful for 'em to Spit on that Day till the Setting of the Sun This is Superstition and yet such Superstition as shall condemn the Profaneness of many among us They that hold it unlawful so much as to Spit that Day would they out of Excess of Drunkenness Spue that Day They that will not Spit that Day would they endure the hâ—llish Drivel of ungodly Oaths and unsavoury rotten Communication to fall from their Mouths that Day They that would not Spit that Day would they in that Day spit in God's Face as our common Swearers and Blasphemers do The Rock followed the Israelites 1 Cor. 10. 4. The Water issued out of the Rock according to some followed them as they journeyed and streamed after them in their removes so should we have a care that the Vertue and Efficacy of the Sacrament should follow us and stream after us all the while we are travelling in the Wilderness of this World Unless it be thus with us we horribly pollute and take God's Name in vain aâ—d make our selves guilty of Spiritual Perjury in the sight of God And woe be to that Man that breaks Covenant with the Great God of Heaven and Earth who will not be moâ—ked 〈◊〉 will not be baffled who will be a swift Witness against all such as grosâ—ly take his glorious Name in vain and so â—oully pollute his Holy Ordinance You see then how much iâ— concerns us to walk Holily Circumspectly Faithfully after our Participation of this Blessed and Holy Ordinance Doct. It is a necessary Duty required of every one before he come to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper That he examine himself diligently and carefully Quest Wherein dâ—th this Examination consist Resp In a diligent Enquiry Whether we have those Graces or not which are requisite to be found in every one that would come Worthily to this Ordinance They are Three Faith Repentance and Charity Without Faith we cannot â—eed on Christ or drink his Blood Without Repentance we cannot mourn over Christ whom we have pierced by our Sins and crucified by our Transgressions which is a Duty to be exercised in the Sacrament And without Love we have neither Union with Christ the Head nor yet with the Faithful who are the Members of Christ's Mystical Body First therefore we are to examine our selves in Point of Faith Now we may judge of the Truth of this Grace by taking into our serious Consideration 1st How it is Wrought 2dly How it Works 'T is wrought by the Ministry of Rom. 10. 17. the Word Faith cometh by hearing 1. Convincing us of our Misery and Wretchedness by reason of Sin Original and Actual the Sin of our Nature and the Sins of our Lives 2. Terrifying us with the Threats of the Curse Internal External Eternal 4. Humbling us and laying of us low in the sight of God 4. Revealing unto us the Lord Jesus Christ in his Fulness and All-sufficiency to Save in his Willingness and Readiness to Embrace poor contrite broken-hearted Sinners 5. Working the Heart to an insatiable Hunger and Thirst after him to a Willingness to accept of him upon any Terms to a Contentedness to do or be any thing so we may but have him 6. To a Recumbency and Relying upon him alone for Lifâ—