for that Try thy self the more exactly in this point of thy love to the people of God because God is greatly dishonoured in this age for the want of it Beware of patcht up counter feit agreements and love before Communions But as thou art to labour for Communion with Christ himself so labour to the utmost of thy power for a cordial Communion of Saints that you may Feast together here in love and hope to be together in a better place and be not saying I forgive such a Christian but I desire never to see him I desire never to speak with him this will not be found forgiving from the heart as Christ requireth Matth. 18. 35. Let your love be without dissimulation Rom. 12. 9. Not in Word only but in Deed promoting the good name of one another See that ye love one another with a pure heart servently 1 Pet. 1. 22. These are the Words of God but Ah how little regarded and I fear shal not be much regarded while we continue falling from our first love to Christ love to him and his followers must revive together 4. We should also examine our Repentance because First Christ hath enjoyned it with a certification that except we repent we shal perish Luke 13. 3. How speechless will it render the impenitent perishing sinner when the Books are opened and this found that this obdured sinner was forwarned of this perishing but shut his ears and would not hearken 2. This repentance is that part of Religion which we are most averse either to act or try and therefore the greater need to oblige our selves to search if we have it For to hear of Faith and love and Love goeth more easily down the very naming of them is sweet to such as know little of them but cannot with patience hear of conviction mourning or departing from iniquity many also continue to ensnare their own souls with the conceit that they believe so well that they need not trouble themselves with repentance but they should remark Christs requiring of both Mark 1 15. Repent and believe 3. Others observing repentance to be peremptorly commanded Conclude that some repentance they must have but are satisfied with a shadow of it and are so superficial that any extorted flash of sorrowing any change any returning though not to the most High satisfieth them We find Hos 7. 16. That some return but not to the most High They think they have returned sufficiently And therefore need no more saying as Mal. 3. 7. Wherein shall we return The Lord seeth that they are yet to turn to him as in the same ver return unto me saith the Lord but they think otherwise this should make us afraid lest God do not iudge of our Repentance as we do and therefore to examine it in time It 's easie for people to think themselves sufficiently qualified for a Communion or for Heaven it self but the woe will be that it was only themselves thought so when they find God their judge of another mind 4. There is the more need to examine our Repentance in this age wherein the broken in spirit and contrite in heart are as signs and wonders as if all the broken in heart before us had been in an error and troubled themselves in vain or as if God never regarded any such Soul-exercise and wounding of Spirit though he hath expresly declared Isa 66. 2. But to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word Then it 's necessary as men would have God to look favourably upon them as ye would have a comfortable reviving look at this Table to try if ever you were wounded in heart for your sin See to it lest the searcher of hearts have it to say here is a man that to this day was never humbled Jer. 44. 10. Never pierced at the heart never at what shal I do to be saved never so wounded but he could easily cure himself no use for that mercy Psal 147. 3. He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds You will needs go to the Communion but it 's not for any great business you have to do there you have no burden of sin to take off as finding it too heavy for your selves Psal 38. 4. 5. There is the greater need to search particularly into the sincerity of our Repentance before we approach the Lords Table because some serious Christians may deprive themselves of that benefit fearing their Repentance is not sound and that because they had never such a measure of grief as others never so deeply wounded for sin as they think they should or as they have perceived by others who refused to be comforted were long in bondage of fear and ready to be swallowed up with grief and terrour To clear this alittle Consider first That trouble or terrour of mind of it self cannot prove any gracious good in a soul A Judas hath terror of mind but no grace terrour is sometimes a Judgement from God as Lev. 26. 16 I will appoint over you terrour and Deut. 28. 20. The Lord shal send upon thee vexation And some wicked persons are consumed with terrours Psal 73. 19. Therefore it 's not safe to desire such terrour of mind as some have been under for it was their plague 2. Men may have a temporary sorrowing and grieâ— which sin hath occasioned and yet their sorrowing is not for their sin nor any sanctifying grace in their mourning A Saul may lift up his voice and weep and confess others more Righteous than himself and yet still go on in his sin 1 Sam. 24. 16 17. Some may make a great noise of their repentance as he lift up his voice and wept And yet but a worldly sorrow that David was like to have the Kingdom is his greatest grief 3. Some are surprised with a sudden fear of Wrath which they cannot shake off but are as captives so far from any true and humbling sense of sin that all their trouble is for being troubled and cannot help it They are in chains and fetters not knowing for what for it seised them without any apprehension or sense of their sin This doth sometimes make a great alteration and commotion while it continueth so that they tremble under it as Felix Acts 24 25. The poor man knew not what was come on him he is frighted but getteth no good of it and therefore desires Paul to be gone I have seen severals after the same manner frighted with a sudden fear of Judgement and for any thing appeared their Religion never went a greater length yet their trouble in the time was great and made a great noise but when the fright was over their Religion was also over It is not safe then to set up such as paterns for your Repentance though the degree of their anguish might be greater than yours 4. Though the Law be our School-master to bring us unto Christ Gal. 3.
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
Advice to Communicants For necessary preparation and profitable improvement of the great and comfortable Ordinance of the Lords Supper That therein true spiritual Communion with Christ may be obtained and the eternal enjoyment of God Sealed By Robert Craghead Minister of the Gospel in L. Derry Acts 2. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayer 1 Cor 11. 28. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. verse 31. For if we would judge our seâ—ves we should not be judged EDINBVRGH Printed for William Dickie Book-seller in Glasgow and are to be sold at his Shop in the Saltmarket 1695. To the Right Honourable The Lord Provost The Bailiffs The Dean of Gild The Deacon Conveener and remnant Members of the Council of the City of Glasgow c. And all the Inhabitants thereof THe unquestionable duty of all men who cannot pay just Debt is at least to acknowledge it specially where the Debt is so great that the Debitor is not responsable when I remember the good hand of God upon me in bringing me to such a refuge as Glasgow through so many difficulties and dangers having stayed in Derry until the second day of its Siege could not get out of the Gates without great difficulty and forced to leave the half of my Family within the Walls by the violence of Souldiers and the next day was taken and Robbed by the Enemies yet coming unto you in grief for the lamentable State of this Nation and particular relations found no less affectionat tenderness and care than if I had come among so many near Relations being suffered to want nothing necessary for this life Many others also of this Nation do and have reason to remember gratefully your labour of love in their destitute condition I can see no reason why such seasonable compassions should be buried in oblivion but rather should be published according to many Scriptural precedents rendering fragrant and perpetuating the memory of such Christian Sympathy And though in point of modesty some find it difficult to commend Benefactors to their face yet find no less dissicult to be ungrate Your friendly reception of me at first was not all for after ye were pleased to call me for a season to labour in Gospel-work your acceptance of my poor labours was yet a greater comfort and the testimonies I had of affection from Magistrats Ministers and People were really surprising being conferred on so worthless a Creature and that which added yet more to render my lot comfortable at that time was the exemplary conversation of many Christians whose knowledge and experience in godliness was such as gave occasion for my own edification every day Pardon this confidence of perfixiâ—g your honourable Names to so mean a Work which I the rather hope to obtain because experience of your former indulgence hath made me thus presume to hope for acceptance of an affectionat and obliged testimony of gratitude though it be but as a mite where so many Talents are due And that ye may continue of one heart and way exemplary as hitherto in appearing for and promoting the Kingdom of Christ that your labour of love may be fruit abounding to your account that the Countenance of God may be lifted up and his face shine on your assemblies and that upon all the glory a defence may be created to continue from generation to generation is the desire of Right Honourable Your obliged Servant in the Lord ROB CRAGHEAD L. Derry Feb. 26. 1694 5 TO THE Christian Reader REason requireth that the ensueing Discourse appear with an Apology in the entry for troubling the World with any thing new on the Lords Supper by so unpolished a Pen after so many elaborate and profitable Treatises on this subject but for thy satisfaction know that though I presume not to offer any thing near so excellent as others yet having occasion to converse with many in soul-distress on the account of the Lords Supper some doubting if they should Partake others troubled because they did Partake and some afflicted because they did not Partake Finding also some objections from their own mouths that have not been usual and because they have not occurred to others are therefore not discussed by such as have written Learnedly and Piously on this Sacrament and being peculiarly concerned with some who are thus troubled found it Duty to endeavour their relief by a few particular instructions not presuming a Treatise on the Lords Supper so Divine and profound a Subject as giveth work sufficient if not more tâ— the most able and choice of men if all thingâ— be considered that natively belong to thaâ— Ordinance The Lords Supper is a largâ— and fertile Field where diligent Reapers may yet find more and more for the gathering both for the comfort of Believers anâ— seasonable warning to the presumptuous As for Believers First There is an appointed meeting between Christ and them the desire of all Nations is there to be received He who is our all the one peaâ—â— for which when the richest of men sell theiâ— Earthly all yet have him freely and for nothing the light and glory of Heaven cometh down to us to be the hope of Glory in us He cometh with Garments rolled in Blood to make us know what we cost him and through these Garments Eternal and overcoming love shineth warmeth and attracteth the hearts of Believers 2. Christ cometh in this Ordinance to give Believers a hearty taste of that intimate Communion which shall hereafter be the fulness of their joy their Crown and their Glory and though now they see him but darkly yet they know it to be himself and not another and when he and they shall meet again in another manner when he shal come to receive them without a Vail on his glorious Face they shall know it 's the same blessed Face which they beheld before but as in a Glass How sweet to think on that meeting with Hope Where the hope is sure as an Anchor already entred within the vail at the first Celebration Christ willed the Communicants to raise up their hearts to the Meditations and joyful Expectations of that blessed Communion to come by putting them in mind that he and they shal drink together of the new Wine in his Fathers Kingdom 3. Believers admitted to true Communion with him in this Ordinance receive with himself grace to love his fellowship grace to hate what offereth to separat grace to love the means of its continuance grace to long for its perfection when he who is full of grace and truth comes near to a poor sinner the savour of his Oyntments goeth to the poor mans heart Christ bringeth him near not that he may look at him and get nothing but look and be saved behold and be transformed into the same image eat and be satisfied Christ's fulness of Grace overfloweth yielding
Christ fearing also to go to the Lords Table on the same account then Consider First all the true knowledge thou canst have of Christ and the Doctrine of Salvation by him is supernatural thou canst not dig it out of thy self None knoweth the Son but he to whom it 's revealed Matth. 11. 27. And when Peter giveth an account of his knowledge of Christ he is told Matth. 16. 17. flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee Then thy work is to pray for this knowledge what ever other means thou use thou must have it as a free Gift 1 Joh. 5. 20. He hath given us an understanding to know him that is true it 's also given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom Matth. 13. 11. despond not though this day thou art very ignorant of Christ and the mysteries of his Kingdom it may be thou has too much depended on thy own understanding and not prayed for a given understanding the neglect of this keepeth many in ignorance for though we sometimes grieve because we are ignorant yet we are naturally so proud that we had rather have it of our selves than take it as a free gift of God but take his counsel who saith If any man lack wisdom let him ask it of God who giveth liberally Jam. 1. 5. Blessed Jesus Christ is sent to open the eyes of the blind Isa 42. 7. Let him have his work beseech him to open thy eyes he will not fail to perform what he came for if thou wilt sincerely acknowledge thy blindness remember what he saith John 9. 41. if you were blind ye should have no sin take it then as a great mercy to be sensible of thy blindness it being the surest way to the best light 2. Consider also that there are degrees both of knowledge and faith though thou come not up to the first Worthies yet thou may'st be no unworthy Communicant if Christ has so manifested himself unto thee that thou canst not live contentedly without him If what thou hast discovered of him hath captivated thy Soul If thou lovest all thou knowest of him And followest on to know more Though thou seest not him flying in that glorious brightness that some did on the Mount yet Christ will come and meet with thee waiting for him though at the foot of the Mount he will come down to thee when thou canst not go up to him and he will be as good as his word in manifesting himself to all who love him and keep his words though he do not manifest himself in a like manner to all we must be glad to see him though thorow a lates's if so be we are sure it 's he the very Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world any sure knowledge of him any manner of his manifesting himself should be highly valued for where he manifesteth himself there will he come and make an abode Joh. 14. 23. 3. It deserveth a special remark that though the Disciples continued long weak in their Knowledge confessing their ignorance that they knew not the way John 14. 5 and sometimes that they knew not what he said Joh. 16 18. And as yet they knew not the Scripture that he must rise again Joh. 20. 9. They were not so fully confirmed as afterward yet as to the state of their souls Christ declareth them clean Joh. 15. 3. and admitted them to his Table yea and giveth a comfortable account of them to his Father Joh. 17. 25 and these have known that thou hast sent me and vers 6. they have kept thy Word O! the depth of his love and faithfulness First to open the eyes of the blind and reveal his Father unto them and then though they see but darkly to give this comfortable account of them father they have known What piercing eyes hath Christ to observe the good as well as the evil of his people and to bring forth aâ—â—â—tâ—e of his own fine Gold from under vast rubbish and make it shine before his Father as fruit of the travel of his Soul Let not the Reader mistake in making a bad use of this to his own hurt in presuming without some competent knowledge for by Christ's testimony it 's evident the Disciples had knowledge only Christs condescensions must not be concealed in allowing his Table to such as were but weak that others in succeeding generations grieved for their weakness might not despond since it is not the altogether perfect that Christ expecteth at this lower Table but at the higher where that unknown that reserved new wine may be drunk without danger Matth. 26. 29 I might here also add that believers sometimes have a real knowledge of these Gospel mysteries which themselves think they know not As for instance Joh. 14. 4. and whither I go ye know but in the next verse Thomas denieth both saying we know not whither thou goest and how can we know the way This contradicteth what Christ had said he saying ye know and â—homas saying we know not Now what Christ said is inâ—allibly true and needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man Joh. 2. 25. And it was very ill manners in the good Man to contradict his Master and little better than give him the lie in his face Who would bear such things as meek Jesus doth The man should have well pâ—ndered the words spoken by Christ as certainly true because he spoke them and â—hould have rendered praise for his discovering that in himself and others which they could not observe and thereby allowing them comfort as to their knowledge but as he so some Christians yet take a sinful liberty to deny the goodness of God to their souls by a mismanaged I will not say pretended kind of humility when some reflect on their knowledge and find it mixt with darkness and indistinct How ready are they to conclude and say they have no knowledge Whereas Christ may have other thoughts of them for his thoughts are not their thoughts Isa 55. 8. Fifthly Yet by all means study to grow in grace and knowledge the hand of the diligent maketh rich It 's very observable that some Christians are more obnoxious to doubts than others and find them a great hinderance to their Spiritual advancement yet when they set themselves to Diligence in observing Christs Works in them and for them and the sweet harmony betwixt his Word and Works do often get their doubts cleared their Fetters fall off and then they run and not weary knowing they run not in vain When the Disciples attend diligently to Christs Words then they come to say chearfully Now we believe and are sure Joh. 16. 30. Sixthly Be diligent to practise what ye know John 7. 17. If any man will do his Will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self Hearken carefully to this counsel as thou would be confirmed in the truth for our not practising what
received there he dwelleth no wonder Faith be called precious seing thereby we are brought into this inestimable benefit of having Christ the hope of glory dwelling in us not for any intrinsick worth of our Faith but according to Rom. 4. 16. Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace free grace began it free grace carrieth it on free grace will perfect this Communion in placeing the Believer there whence he shal go no more out but be for ever with the Lord and where it began there must its eternal center be Even the praise of the glory of his grace Eph. 1. 6. The 3d thing is to know more particularly wherein this Communion with Christ doth consist and how we partake it which we are to consider these two ways First As Believers are receivers only of Communications from Christ 2. As they are made active themselves in entertaining this Communion For the First Believers are said to be partakers of Christ himself Heb. 3. 14. They have him he is theirs a great interest a great gift Shal he not with him freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. A large Inheritance broader than the Earth larger than the utmost Heaven of Heavens the light and glory of the best and purest Heaven what thought of the Worm man can apprehend aright of this Wonder That that one may be said to be ours Cant. 2. 16. He is mine and I am his Believers partake of Christ as to both his natures 2 Pet. 1. 4. We are made partakers of the Divine Nature they partake of his love and favour and thereby admitted to a gracious access Eph 3 12. In whom we have boldness and access 2. They have the benefit of his Divine Attributes Omnipotency Wisdom Holiness Mercy c. Ezek. 36 9. For behold I am for you The Believer also hath the benefit of his humane Nature Heb. 4. 15. For we have not an High-priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are and yet without sin This sweetneth and strengthneth our Communion as the words of the following ver sheweth Let us therefore come with boldness to the throne of grace 2. Believers have Communion with Christ in his Offices as to his Priestly Office he is our Passeover Sacrificed for us 1 Cor. 5. 7. The Believer is blessed for ever by that one Offering Heb. 10. 4. As to this prophetical Office Christ is the great Prophet Deut. 18. 18. Whom we are to hear Who is made of God unto us wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30. Thus we have that benefit of an understanding to know him that is true 1 John 5. 20. Here also our debt by partaking of Christ is deep for we were blind and had remained so for ever if he did not open the eyes of the blind So also as he is King in Zion Psal 2. 6. And King of Saints Rev. 15. 3. Thus he maketh a blessed conquest of us unto himself making us a willing people by his power Psal 110. 3. There is no more to do when he pleaseth but arise and follow me and it 's done Matth. 9. 9. Thus he ruleth in Believers Subduing their iniquities Thus his people are commanded to rejoyce greatly because of their King Zech 9 9. Here also Believers share deep in Communion with Christ bearing them through the throng of enemies within without safely to Heaven and making themselves Kings and Priests unto their God Rev 5. 9. 3. Our Blessed surety and Redeemer not only died to bring us to God but to secure this Communion carrieth the Believer still along with him for in his Resurrection he hath them together with him they are quickned together with Christ Eph 2 5. And raised up together ver 6. That very act of power that raised him from the Dead raiseth all his They were dead in Sins and while such they were incapable of Communion with God but by vertue of Christs Resurrection they are quickened and qualified for converse with the Living God So that there also the allowance is large and the Communion near being raised up together with Christ 4. In his ascension he doth not leave them as to Spiritual Communion with them for when he is ascended and the World seeth him not yet Believers by Faith see him Joh. 14. 19. The World seeth me no more but ye see me and wheresoever he go because he liveth they shall live also then their Communion with him still holdeth the influences of Life continuing upon Believers they live with him and see him when the World cannot see him 5. And when he is set down at the right hand of God yet there they are not forgot for he appeareth in the presence of God for them Heb. 9. 24. And continueth his Intercession for perfecting of this blessed Communion he ever liveth to make Intercession the Believer hath Communion with him as his Advocat to plead his cause before the Father 1 Joh. 2. 1. He hath not turned off his people on Earth when he is exalted himself O happy Interest in Christs love that nothing can separate no increated inconceiveable pleasure and glory in the high and lofty Place causing any forgetfulness of the poor weary Travellers longing to be with him but what ever they have to do there he is ready and will appear their Advocat and do their work so that when they have finished their course they shall have no more to do but enter into peace all being friends where they go and all this by him 6. And when he cometh again accompanied with his mighty Angels to judge the World yet Believers must still be near him therefore they are set on his right hand Matth. 25. 33. But this is not all for they shall be set on Thrones also judging the twelve tribes of Israel Matth. 19. 28. They cordially consenting to his judging and what Sentence he shall pass neither is this all but more is yet coming with what humility Reverence Sobriety and Admiration should we think on these words following Joh. 17. 22. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one and Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant tosit with me in my Throne He only who spake these words can give us to understand them for our good and comfort without erring by proud vain and dangerous imaginations but let us observe these two things 1. That the glory of the Believer is still to be near Christ 2. That he who before time had his delight with the sons of men continueth his love untill he set them down in heavenly places together with himself so that this blessed Communion was eternally designed and shall be eternally enjoyed And now in time is the season to have it secured before we enter into that eternity what pains can be sufficient for a pledg of being for ever with the Lord Oh that so few of men
there is just cause of fear that such persons have not known the shining of his Face as on the other hand these who diligently observe the Lords withdrawing from their souls and are forthwith pained and wounded for his absence do thereby testifie their acquaintance with the blessings of his presence especially if their grief be that they have provoked him to withdraw that his withdrawing is not only as to comfort but as to the measure of strengthning Grace formercy allowed them the very fear of the Lords deserting doth often mix water in the best of their wine that until Christ and they be at home in their Fathers Kingdom their brightest and most serene days are often overcast with clouds and therefore when they do enjoy his gracious presence fearing some alteration though not of their fixed gracious estate yet of their present blessings cry out Stir not up nor awake my love till c. Cant. 2. 7. O that he would stay and not leave my soul destitute and when the Cloud covereth them O what a damp it giveth then Darkness Jealousies Fears arise as Job 29. 1. O that I were as in moneths past when his candle shined on my head ver 2 3 4. As I was in the days of my youth when the secret of God was upon my Tabernacle when the Almighty was yet with me This godly mans desires were fulfilled for Job 4. 2. So the Lord turned the captivity of Job and ver 12. blessed his latter end more than his beginning But many now come to old age are almost hopless that they shal ever in this life be as in the days of their youth and decline so far that they tempt themselves to doubt if ever the Almighty was with them and his secret on their Tabernacle 8. Where true Communion with God is there its perfection is desired not only to have that measure continued which is here allowed but to be for ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 18. Here their Fellowship is but as seeing through a Glass there it 's often interrupted as to its comforts here a body of sin is still pressing them downward to this Earth that they get not their Affections staid and fixed on things Above here they are surrounded with snares and temptations such as have made strong Cedars to shake And therefore having already the first fruits of a better Countrey they desire to be where he is who hath taken up their hearts to himself For to be with Christ they sincerely think best of all and Heb. 11. 16. But now they desire a better countrey that is an heavenly It 's not some extraordinary persons only who are of this mind but all true Believers for Rev. 22 17. The spirit and the bride say Come Christ saith I come quickly and they agree even so come Lord Jesus The crown of righteousness is laid up for all who love his appearing 2 Tim. 4. 8. So that it 's dangerous for a Christian to want desires of this nature for they are consistent with submission to his appointed time but since the Crown is laid up for such as love his appearing every Christian is concerned to try whether the meditations of that day be his terrour or delight these being a few of the great blessings found in Communion with God there remaineth yet one difficulty which perplexeth some serious souls that is how to have this blessed Communion ordinary so as they may be said to walk with God knowing that this walking with him is more than to perform some stated Duties of VVorship the grounds whence this difficulty ariseth are First They hear and read of abideing in Christ Joh. 15. 4. Setting the Lord always before our eyes Psal 16. 8. of waiting on God continually Hos 12. 6. of resorting continually unto him Psal 71 3 When they think on such Scriptures and withal the regard God hath to such as remember him in his ways Isa 64. 5. And such as thought on his Name Mal. 3 16. And his Indignation against these who forget God Psal 50. 22. These and the like passages being laid to heart they think that God should be always actually remembred some few find great disquiet if any considerable portion of time be spent without thoughts of God On the other hand they find themselves concerned in worldly affairs or Reading Studying c. Which cannot be managed without serious and suitable thoughts to the work they are about God clearly calleth them to these other things it were sin in them to ruine their families and neglect the duties of their station some of which duties may require a considerable portion of time and seriousness in that time now their strait is how to manage these external necessary Duties without sinful forgetting of God Answ 1. Whatever weakness may be found in this difficulty yet it appears to flow from a good root of love to God and fellowship with him it 's a savoury kind of trouble yet 2. It 's not safe for a Christian to arraign himself for a forgetter of God when he is serving God in the duties of his station but 3. It will be found that the bitterest ingredient of this accusation is when there is opportunity for remembring God without obstructing any other duty that these opportunities are not improved and for the help of such who find trouble of this nature as I know some for many years afflicted with it I shal propose but these 4 things leaving their usefulness to the blessing of God 1. The continued exercise of the love of God 2. Performing our external Duties as obedience to God 3. Frequent retirements to God and 4. many ejaculations For the First The lively exercise of the love of God makes the remembrance of him delectable a Christian hath a great advantage when the desire of his soul goes to it for then he is so far from grudging that God have his affectionat thoughts that he cannot be easily kept from them this being one of the strong constraints of Love to think on the object Beloved you may observe the Spouse in the Book of Canticles cannot be kept long from the thoughts of her Beloved either seeking after him or delighting in his Fellowship or commending him to others Christs love is the surest Bond on the soul to prevent sinful forgetting and if it decay your thoughts and meditations will decay with it but vigorous love will make you both embrace and seek for opportunities of converse with him and the meditations of him sweet Psal 104. 34. For the 2d Even our external duties should be performed as obedience to God Therefore 1. Take nothing in hand but what is Duty 2. And present Duty for God hath appointed a season for every Work Eccl. 3. 4. 3. Do what is Duty because it 's Duty because God requireth it For a man may do that which upon the matter is Duty and yet not to do it because God requireth it and then he cannot
Communion with Christ and that the Lord himself hath brought you into the Banqueting-house Cant. 2. 4. He brought me to the Banqueting-house This is Comfortable when a Communicant is so far cleared that the Lord hath brought him there begin it with hope of a Comfortable meeting with Christ it 's a feast of Love wherein thou a Believer and lover of him mayest find his Banner of Love spread over thee and himself a covert from the Tempest of all Temptations that may assault thee 4. When thou art to Partake that thy Meditations may be Pertinent and suitable to this Holy Action labour to have thy thoughts agreeable to the Institution it self considering the Elements and what they Represent and pondering the very Words of the Institution because these Words of Christ's Institution point out thy present work and what should be the nature of thy Meditations nor canst thou partake aright if thy mind be not Exercised with what Christ speaketh in that Action besides that this will be the Blessing of God an hedge in the way to keep thee from Impertinent excursions and unseasonable thoughts but no hedge to the Breathings of God's Spirit or Limiting of him for thou art to expect most of the Spirit 's help when thou art closs at thy Duty and this is the present Duty to Meditate on the Words of Christ spoken by him at the Celebration of this Ordinance and to be suitably affected with them 5. And more particularly when thou seest the Bread broken and readest or hearest that word this is my Body which is broken then thou art to Meditate on Christ Crucisied his Blessed broken Body and Bleeding Wounds and so to Behold him as in exquisite pain Crying out of being Forsaken Mocked and Tempted by the Wicked to come out of that pain and relinquish the work Mat. 27. 48. If thou be the Son of God come down from the Cross Thus we are to Behold him and Mourn for the deep hand we had In all his Sufferings we having Pierced him are oblidged to Look and Mourn and this mourning with Admiration of that Love that provided so Costly a Remedy for us and leaning to him who made his Soul an Offering for sin is a part of our acting this Blessed Communion with Christ 6. When thou hearest that Blessed Word take and that by taking the Bread thou art to take Christ himself here thou art to Meditate on the Great Offer made to thee and to Believe in thine heart that now the Redeemer and Saviour of the World Offereth Himself to thee and requireth thee to take Him as He gave Himself for thee so now He giveth himself unto thee this giving and thy Receiving is the very Acting of this Blessed Communion He giveth Himself to be thine for ever and so thou Receives He gives Himself intirely with all His Purchase and so thou by Faith Receives thou comest with the Sense of thy Sin and Guilt and He giveth the Benefit of His Blood to Cleanse thee from all Sin Thou comest with the Sense of thy Diseases and thy Sins often prevailing against thee and out of His fulness thou receivest Grace by Receiving Him thou hast a Right to all the Blessings purchased as thy need Requires here and a Right to Glory which in due time thou shalt Possess setting thee down together with Him in Heavenly places Eph. 2. 6. O Blessed Communion begun here on Earth and shortly to be perfected in that Eternal Communion where there shal be no more paining distance 7. When thou hearest that Word eat and thereby Christ saying take me into thy heart eat and be Satisfied now fill thy hungry Soul eat abundantly make Room open for me I will come in and sup with thee and the Meat shal be my Flesh Meat indeed What a pain is it sometimes to a Believer that he cannot duely value this Love even when he valueth it most and therefore will Eat and Wonder and VVonder and Eat but dare not for all his wondering say Lord it 's too Good for me I dare not touch or eat it no no saith the Believer my Life is in it I cannot want it let His gifts be like Himself though I be still like my self meer nought I find Him saying if I eat not His Flesh I have no Life in me John 6. 53. Therefore I will choose Life and Eat and whatever may be said of eating of Christ's Flesh when a man believeth yet I will eat in this manner because he Requireth it He hath opened my heart and prepared His place in my Soul O let him come and Possess His own Conquest and since he alloweth to take and eat I will do it I will take Him into my very heart that I may Live and Live to Him for ever and I do Request Him to take deep Possession of all the Powers of my Soul by the Graces of his Spirit and animate them all for His Service as meat is diffused through the Body for it's service Here is intimate Communion with Christ in His Ordinance 8. VVhen that overcoming word is heard for you broken for you Christ Himself making Application of the great Sacrifice to thee as this goeth deepest into the heart so it raiseth the greatest Admiration that it was for me even for me who was not only worthless but a Rebel and dishonourer of Him this cutteth through the heart giving it a deep Loves wound was I then in His thoughts and upon his heart and did He thus Suffer for me who acted against Him for so many years and resisted as I could His Love when pursued by it what shal I now render to the Lord what can I render what have I to render but what is His own and that same I often keep back how good is it that by what I now receive I shal be qualified to Extoll His Love in another manner and in a better place though my Praises cannot through Eternity recompense His Love for He is above our Blessing and praise only I shal take pleasure to Sound out His Praises before Angels and men when I am taught the Song of the Lamb I am this day deep Debitour to His Love and shal be so for ever I shal Glory in it and spend but cannot out-spend Eternity in acknowledging this Debt that His Precious Body was Broken for me and Himself allowing me now to Believe it This is also a part of the Believers Communion with Christ at His Table 9. VVhen thou hearest these words This do in Remembrance of Me. I Consider who Requireth this is it not He who Remembred me in my low estate wallowing in my Blood and no eye to pity me but His Remembring me when I was not remembring my self nor come to my self to consider my forlorn estate when my wretched self and all the World about me would let me Sink into the Pit whence there is no Redemption no man caring for my Soul is not this He who Remembreth me still hath He
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