may therefore have grace whereby I may serve thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear and be cloathed not only with the Righteousness but Humility of Christ be low and mean base and vile in my own eyes I am not worthy to be called thy Son make me as thy meanest servants the lowest room at thy Table give my sins thy pardon my soul thy grace my person and service thy acceptance in thy beloved and what thou dost convey seal to me by what I am to receive Without Knowledge the Heart Saving Knowledge the duty cannot be good but the Covenant thou hast made with thy people is they shall all know thee from the least to the greatest Oh let me come with knowledge of the nature necessity use and ends of the Ordinance Direct me how to behave my self at and meditate upon those Divine Mysteries that I may not be a blind offerer nor bring a blind offering but offer unto thee a living sacrifice holy acceptable reasonable service that I may receive with understanding discern the Lords Body look into the Mysteries of the Sacrament lest not knowing the meaning Ifeel not the comfort of it but be alienated estranged from thee through the ignorance that is in me That I may eat the Passeover with bitter herbs Godly Sorrow give me a deep sense of my own vileness and unworthiness take away this heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh that I may loath my self in my own sight for mine iniquities and for mine abominations be filled with shame and sorrow hatred and indignation against my self for my offending so good and gracious so loving and bountiful a Father Redeemer and Sanctifier That I may look upon him whom I have pierced and mourn for him with detestation and holy revenge against those my sins that cost him so dear were the cause as well as any other mens of his death and would have cost me damnation abominating them as the scourges and thorns nails and spear thar Afflicted Crucified my dearest Saviour the Lord of Glory The day of mourning for him is at hand oh that I may then slay my most beloved lusts be revenged on them for it and for their endeavouring to rob me of my spiritual Birth-right my eternal Blessedness Let me call to mind and be truly sensible of every sin and of the evil of it and of thine and my Saviour's love manifested to me in his sufferings There where he appears most Bloody let Sin oppear most deadly that I may receive abroken bleeding Christ with a broken contrite Heart a Sacrifice thou wilt not â—espise O God prepare in me that being weary and heavy laden I may be capable of his refreshment being supled in my own tears I may be fitter to be washt in his blood And seeing thou givest thy self only to thy Disciples and Friends New Obedience work in me fresh purposes of amendment that being willing and obedient I may eat the good of the Ordinance Let there be conformity that there may be Communion let me not put that new wine into an old impure but new Heart I cannot Eat the Passeover and stay in Egypt still let me do it with my loyns girt ready to march toward the Promised Land Thou confirmest thy Covenant and expectest I restipulate with thee that I cast out and execrate the old leaven Seeing the Covenant of Grace sealed let me seal a Covenant of Obedience seeing by the merit of Christs death I am purchas'd to be thine by the power of it let me be dead to sin and both receive life and change my life let me bring a wounded heart to and carry wounded sins from thy Table dye to sin seeing Christ dyed for sin let me take him by way of surety and give up my self to him by way of surrender receive him as a Saviour and submit to him as a Prince set my self apart for thee on that Feast of Dedication Let me approach with the most sincere fixed resolutions of an intire resignation and receive such grace and strength from thee as may inable me faithfully to perform them that I may find my self in the number of those to whom my Saviour allows such special manifestations of himself by lifting up the light of his countenance upon them by intimating his good will and love unto them his fulness and righteousness for them as Shows his constant abode with them Let no prophane or unseasonable Thoughts enter into my mind while I am about that Holy Solemnity Purity let me lay aside leave behind me and be kept from all carnal earthly vain Imaginations drive away all drowsiness carelesness slothfulness idle apprehensions that I may wholly contemplate upon and give up my self unto him who sacrific'd his Soul and Body for me and come before thee with such Reverential Hungering Holy Affections as is due to the hand that reacheth to the seal that secureth to the food that strengthneth that spiritual life in us without which we can never be happy O thou that callest me unto thee let thy compassion pitty my vileness let thy mercy pardon my sinfulness let thy grace cleanse my filthiness let thy wisdom enlighten my darkness let thy strength support my weakness adorn me with the wedding garment the righteousness of thy Son and holiness of thy Spirit that all my nakedness may be covered and my great deformities hid from thine eyes pardon me by thy mercy that I may receive thy grace and fit me by thy grace that I may receive thy mercy help me so to accuse my self that thou may'st acquit me so to judge and condemn my self that thou may'st absolve me so to exercise a holy revenge upon my self that thou may'st spare me Let thy Spirit be thy Harbinger to provide entertainment for thy Son in my Soul that he may find â—t swept of sin and garnisht with grace make it day in my Soul by hopes and desires before I there receive the Sun of Righteousness Faith is thy own gift as well as Christ Faith I believe Lord help my unbelief that I may besprinkle my soul and Conscience with his blood not only look upon and remember but close in with and receive him there tendred Eat his flesh and drink his blood apply him as taking on him our nature and giving it as a ransom for sin That I may not stagger at the promise through unbelief but be strong in faith giving Glory to God being fully perswaded that what thou hast promised thou wilt perform When I see Bread and Wine upon the Table let me see Christ there as a feast in token of my reconciliation with thee and on the Cross as a Sacrifice offering up his Body and blood to thee observing the Bread broken let me see Chrirst crucified for and offering himself unto me upon the Wine pouring out let me behold how his blood was poured forth for my sins As I receive Bread and Wine for bodily sustenance
so cause me to feed on digest improve his body and blood having the same expectation of Spiritual and Eternal life from him that I have of temporal life from my food Let me eat not only the Bread of the Lord but the Bread which the Lord that as by my senses I receive â—he Elements to my Corporal so by faith 〈◊〉 may receive and apply him to my Spiriâ—â—al nourishment Let the Ordinance be a â—â—vely resemblance remembrance and â—pplication of the sufferings and earnest of the Supper of the Lamb. Let Christ be 〈◊〉 lively set forth as if Crucified before by eyes dying for me that beholding â—mbracing and even putting my fingers â—nto the print of his nails and feet and â—hrusting my hand into his side so fully â—erswaded of his suffering for me that I â—â—ay not be faithless but believing saying â—y Lord and my God he loved me and â—ave himself for me my beloved is mine â—nd I am his O that I may so touch him â—s may find and feel strength peace virâ—ue come from him and be healed of all â—â—y uncleanness that they may not be â—nto death but unto the glory of thy â—ercyâ— in pardoning and grace in purifying 〈◊〉 polluted a Wretch That it may be he food the feast of my graces the poiâ—â—on the funeral of my corruptions Let â—â—e so feed on his blessed Bodie and bathe â—â—y soul in his pretious Blood that my Soul may magnifie the Lord and mâ—â— Spirit rejoyce in God my Saviour whoâ—â— having not seen I may love in whâ—â— though now I see him not yet believing 〈◊〉 may rejoyce with joy unspeakable and fuâ—â— of glory Circumcise my Heart to loâ—â— thee with all my Soul Love and witâ— all my strength Let my hearâ— be ravisht with this infinite merciâ—â— in thee to sinful miserable man in cotriving and giving so glorious a Reddeemer and Redemption to save him and now in presenting us with such special Seals of his love and admitting uâ—â—â— into so near so holy a Communion 〈◊〉 For this let me be dissolv'd into lovâ— to thee and thy Son and to man foâ— his sake and into a steadfast vow of lifâ— and death to thy service that I will give and forgive do and suffer any thing foâ— thee Let me be fill'd with holy raptures joys and hopes in so great a goodness who having done this will deâ—â— me nothing and maugre the rage and malice of hell not see my soul lost foâ— whom all this is done Oh let me meet with strong endearments of Affections melting and flowing over toâ—ards thee languishing with desires enjoy thee even turn'd into made 〈◊〉 of love for thee that I may be the â—isciple whom thou lovest and laid in â—y bosom Oh deal with me as thou â—ften dost with those that draw near to â—â—ee though I burn not with so hot a â—ame yet through thy grace I crave it â—f thee that I may participate with â—nd be numbred among such fervent â—overs If I cannot say I am sick of Love â—et am sick that I cannot love thee â—here wilt thou give me thy love â—dmission to more familiar fellowship â—earâ—r manifestation sensible feeling â—nd assurance of thy love and affectiâ—n unto me that I am beloved of â—hee Give me grace to love the Lord â—esus in sincerity let him dwell in my â—eart by Faith and Love that being â—â—oted and grounded in Love I may be â—ble to comprehend with all Saints â—hat is the breadth and length and â—epth and heighth and to know the â—ove of Christ which passes knowledge â—hat the remembrance of him may pierce â—e with grief transport me with love captivate my will engage all my affections to him and for him And let me knoâ— I am passed from death to life because love the Brethren Shed abroad thâ— love in my cold frozen heart and inflaâ—â— it with fervent affection to thee and thing While my love is burning towards thâ— self oh how can it chuse but be imparâ—â— to thy Friends who sincerely love theâ— and on whom thou hast set thy heart arâ—shed thy love thy spirit whereby the are made like unto thee They mâ—â— needs be lovely in my eyes to whoâ— Christ is pretious Oh let me not conâ—â— to this Love-feast with a bitter but chanâ—â— table spirit Purge out therefore tâ—â— old leven of malice which will sow the Ordinance to me Oh that our Fâ—ther in Heaven may look down upon 〈◊〉 children feasting together in mutual loâ—â— and delight in the remembrance of 〈◊〉 that love he hath shewn us and joyâ—â— expectation of what further he hath pâ—â—mised to us Let me not sit sad aâ— dejected Joy and Thanksgiving as if I liked 〈◊〉 the provision or though my self not welcom Maâ—â— this real magnificent solemn sumptuous Feast these Celestial Viands wherewith thou feedest thy people by thy gracious comfortable discoveries of thy self a spiritual banquet unto my soul a feast of fat things a feast of wine on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wine on the lees well refin'd Do not onely stand and knocks but open the door of my heart vouchsafe to come in and abide with me that there may be a chearful comfortable converse sup with me and let me sup with thee that I may be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house feel and find abundance of soul-satisfaction reached out to me in the Ordinance and do thou make me drink of the River of thy pleasure quench my thirst after carnal and let me be fill'd with Divine pleasures ravishments and contentments flowing from the inexhaustible fountain of Divine plentie Let my soul be satisfied as with marrow and fatness and my mouth praise thee with joyful lips Let me come before thee with thanksgiving and praise thee with my whole heart Let there be Angels work at Angels food make me joyful in thy house of prayer By and for him let me offer the Sacrifice of Praise to God the fruit of my lips giving thanks unto his Name in the great Congregation and Praise thee among much People Thou art ready to give bread to the hungry to fill them with good things Spiritual Thirst and the water of life to him that is athirst Thou art not straitned in thy self but I am straitned in my own bowels the desire and the meat the necessity and relief are all from thee Oh thou that providest Food give also a stomach bid and make me welcom say eat oh Friend drink yea drink abundantly oh Beloved Oh create and stir up in me earnest longings and a Spiritual appetite that I may come to be made partaker of the good things thou hast prepared for me with enlarged affections and longing desires after answerable to my need of the Ordinance and Christ offered in it as full nourishment for my Soul under the forms of Bread and Wine and with strong expectations to receive him and his benefits with desire let me desire to eat this Passeover
break of day and wondred we were not trimming our Lamps not decking our selves knowâ—ng with whom we were to meet to feast â—o day Our Beloved spake and said â—nto us Rise up my Love my Fair Ones and come away This is the day which the Lord hath made we will reâ—oyce and be glad in it How should we welcom it with suffcient joy thankfulness for the approach of so great a Blessing â—hat brings our Saviour so near unto us 'T is too too late I will arise and get â—e ready but where are my Cloths Oh â—ow poor how empty how naked am I Oh for the fairest sweetest robe of â—houghts and wishes out of my Fathers Wardrobe Oh for my silken golden twist of Faith to hang the Jewel of Godâ— sorrow and Humility Love and thankfulness upon I am never drest till they be on Oh where are they I saw them by me but just before I went to bed what was I then so long about but gathering tying raising them up Ah this vain World this envious Devil this evil deceitful Heart hath been ravelling stealing them out or hid them from me that now I am as far to seek as ever Oh whither shall I what shall I do to find them behold the Bridegroom cometh and I am not ready I cannot dare not go to day Now will my Lord be angry when he comes in to see his guests he looking over them will say where 's such a one was he not bidden I 'm sure I invited him If I go undrest he 'l ask how came I in not having on a Wedding Garment to either I shall be speechless Ah foolish 〈◊〉 careless heart to let Earthly so intangle thy Heavenly Thoughts thou knowest not now how to unloose them which heed and care might have prevented my horrible negligence and guiltiness makes mâ—â—tremble to go yet not dare to keep away for where should my polluted Soul be washt but in that Fountain set open for sin and for uncleanness Oh thou that wilt in no wise cast off him that cometh unto thee dis-intangle my thoughts from all things below and dress me up as pleaseth thee over-look my manifold weaknesses and imperfections in my preparation if I knew nothing by my self yet were I not thereby justified I have no Righteousness of my own and if I had I would not mention it before thee though I were Righteous and had the greatest fitness and perfection a creature is capable of yet would I not answer thee I would not plead but supplicate not stand upon my Right but petition thy Favour not expect thy Justice but crave thy pity I would make supplication to my Judge The Righteousness of man is not pleadable before a Righteous God if thou shouldest be extream to mark what is done amiss by the best men in the best actions O Lord who could stand we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousness are as filthy rags my person is loathsom and abominable my preparation and best performances carry in them matter of my own death and indictment except thou oh cover them with the Robe of Christ's Righteousness and sprinkle them with his blood they can find no acceptance with thee And Oh thou who for our sake tookest upon thee our passions and sensibilities our weaknesses and sufferings so art become a merciful High Priest and pitiful to our infirmities receive a wearied sinner an overbur-thened Conscience an afflicted polluted Soul into thy care custody and cure The humility and sorrow love and purity of any Creature is not sufficient to make me worthy to be fed with thy Body nourisht with thy Blood united to thee to dwell and be one with thee but what I cannot be of my self let me be made of thee who of God art made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption Oh weigh thine own not my merits that I may offer up an odour of a sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable well pleasing unto thee by Christ Jesus the life of them that believe and the Resurrection of the dead From him I hope for victory against my sins strength in Duty against my weakness succour in my life against temptation in my death against despair after death against damnation I presume upon thy help not because I â—ave deserv'd it for I have been an unprofitable servant but because thou hast redeemed me for thy Blood cannot be unprofitable Help me if not for my misery which I have deserved yet for thy mercies which thou hast promised for thy goodness is more ready to forgive then thy power to punish and thy Blood cries â—ouder for pardon then my sins for punishment Thou hast not yet forgiven so much as thou hast promised nor promis'd more than thou hast puchas'd Hath thy Blood satisfied for more sins than I can commit and shall it not satisfie for those 〈◊〉 have forsaken and do detest Hast thou purchased Mercy for more then repent and wilt thou not shew it on those to whom thou hast given Repentance Hast thou been so long calling that thou shouldest at last reject me so long promising Salvation that thou shouldst at last deny me I am thy Debtor for thy purchase but thou art mine for the promise 〈◊〉 could not oblige thee by my desert but thou hast obliged thy self by thy word I plead not the merit of my obedience but the mercy of the Covenant which thy Lâ—â—â— and mercy moved thee to make and thy Truth ties thee to perform Free grace made thee a promiser and thy promise hath made thee a Debtor Thou art not more Free in making promises then faithful in making them good a God that keepeth Covenant unto a thousand generations And oh that I could now laâ—â— aside my Body with my Business put off this outward man forâ— more naked The Soul Fixed inward spiritual sight that my mind might be rendred more sensible of him fit to receive 〈◊〉 deeper impression from his hand that nothing but him might enter in Away be gone ye wandring worldly vaiâ— thoughts for I am going to my God stiâ— not up nor disturb the Beloved of my Soul come not near I charge you make no noise to displease him or to call mâ— away from entertaining and enjoying oâ— him yea Lord bid them be gone and not dare to appear before thee It is the voice of my Beloved I hear him inviting me to his Table I see him coming to entertain me let all flesh therefore be silent and not be so bold as to whisper in his presence Welcom holy thoughts and pure desires Oh happy time wherein I may embrace my Saviour and solace my soul in the armes of my dearest Love Awake my Understanding Will and Affections awake my Glory and my Heart awake all ye Powers Faculties and Graces of my Soul and all that is within me be summon'd in stirred up and wholly bent to attend this service My costliest Box of Oyntment cannot be bestow'd better then on my
mine first in claim and title then in fruition and comfort no juice or sap from the Vine except a branch in it no grace is there improved but what I have along with me I must prove my right to the purchase ere I can take possession 'T is high Treason to annex the Kings Broad Seal to forged Writings no receiving the benefit without showing the condition and my interest in the Covenant that 's sealed to them only that come up to the terms of it Now this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel â—aith the Lord I will put Jer. 31.31 c. my Law in their inward Heb. 8.10 c. parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people and they shall know me from the least unto the greatest and I will forgive their iniquities and remember their sins no more And Oh my Soul have I an inward right an actual interest in this Covenant Is the Law of God writ in my Heart A permanent that no Time Temptation Tribulation can obliterate universal counterpane answerable conformity legible by others in my Conversation and by my self in my Constitution of Soul strongly inclined disposed and perswaded to all cordial sincere entire chearful spiritual obedience out of a principle of love to God and to glorifie and enjoy him delighting meditating in it day and nights being renew'd according to his Image in Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness Have I a Covenant-Relation to and Interest in God Am I one of his people by Federal profession not ashamed of but openly declaring and avouching my self to be his rejoycing and glorying therein as my great priviledge and happiness In all Covenant-Relations to God and Christ Do I fear love obey submit to depend upon him for direction provision and protection am I wholly at his dispose as my only wise faithful loving Father Do I forsake all other Corrivals and Competitors cleave only to him in all conjugal love and faithfulness Do I delight in am I unsatisfied without his presence as my Husband Do I purifie and keep clean his Temple demean my self towards him as my Inhabitant Esteem live upon and rest fully contented with him as my portion Am I his by Federal Appropriation not sin's Satan's the World's my own but entirely his In all I am Body and Soul are my Eyes his to behold his wonderful works my Ears to hear his Heavenly saving Word my taste and smell his to relish his surpassing sweetness in the Creatures my Tongue to proclaim and Triumph in his praise my Hands to work that which is good my Feet to walk in his ways all my senses and members abilities and faculties instruments of righteousness Is my understanding his to know discern contemplate upon him my Memory to treasure up and retain his councels and covenants promises and dispensations my Conscience his Deputy to accuse or excuse under him my Will his to will or nill in subordination to him my grief hatred and detestation to mourn for abhor and flie every thing offensive to him or obstructive of my delightful enjoyment of him my desire love and delight his to long for embrace acquiesce fully and contentedly in him Am I his in all I have Do I approve my self his in all my relations and stations inward qualifications and endowments outward goods and possessions In all I can do or procure undergo or endure for him Am I willing and ready to give my self to and for him taking up my Cross daily and following him rejoycing I am accounted worthy to suffer for his name Have I a sanctified knowledge of God as to his Essence Attributes Personal distinctions Word and Works of Man in his Creation Corruption Restauration and Perfection of Christ in his person Offices Estates of the Covenant of Grace and the Lords Supper in its efficient material formal and final cause And is this my Knowledge experimental heart purifying and humbling communicative growing affectionate efficatious and obediential Are mine iniquities forgiven and forgotten by God Do I groan under them as my greatest evil and heaviest burthen forsake them in affection and commission Have I sincerely confessed bewailed loathed them and my self for them unfeignedly striving against and desiring to be freed from the filth power dominion as well as the guilt and punishment of sin from a love and sence of Gods kindness and goodness to me Is my heart calmed and quieted through Faith in Christ being thereby at peace with God enlarged to bless him for pardon Am I earnest with him more and more for assurance of it purity of heart establishment in his ways Is there in me a hearty sincere disposition inclination and propensity to pardon the offences of others pitying and lamenting meekly reproving proving and covering their infirmities a readiness to help them rejoycing in their welfare as my own especially the demeanest Saints in whom is all my light Christ is not to be receiv'd of all comers (a) John 1.12 nor entertain'd by every guest (b) Can. 3.4 nor touched by every hand (c) Mat. 9.21.22 nor found by every enquiry (d) Can. 5.6 He is offered in the Gospel to all but gives himself here and is receiv'd by such alone as have and have I a spiritual hunger and thirst after him (e) Mat. 5.6 An ear to hear him (f) Mat. 13.9 An eye to see him (g) 1 Cor. 11.29 A foot to come to him (h) Mat. 11.28 A hand to take him (i) 1 Cor. 11.24 Arms to embrace him (k) Can. 3.4 A mouth and taste to eat and drink relish and digest him (l) Can. 2.3 Mat. 26.26 A breast to retain him (m) Eph. 3.17 Bowels of affection towards him and his members A Heart to mourn for my piercing of him to be truely thankful for and above all to prize him Are not these Infallible Scriptural Characters of Christs Disciples Can I appeal to God and say Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest it is thus with me or am I willing to venture my eternal condition my last gasp upon my present hopes Have I a solid ground of confidence when I shall appear naked before Gods Bar when the secrets of hearts shall be manifest will these pleas find acceptance in that day when all the world must be saved or damned by him Oh my Soul make nothing the foundation of thy peace but what God hath made the condition of thy Salvation let nothing satisfie us now but what will save us then for if our hearts condemn us God is greater then our hearts and knoweth all things but if our hearts condemn us not then have we confidence towards God Deep Humiliation BEfore I go for a full discharge I must narrowly look into the Book of my Conscience cast up my accounts and see how infinitely I am indebted to my God view my self in the glass of his Law and Gospel
Spiritual life from him that I have of Temporal life from my â—ood and so eat his Body and drink his Blood receive digest and improve â—eed upon and Spiritually apply Christ â—s incarnate and in his sufferings that 〈◊〉 may find refreshment and sweetness â—uickening strength and life from him and may live by him and in him and he in me Oh that by the power of thy spirit accompanying the Ordinance I may partake yet more and more of a new and divine nature that I may find strength and vigour diffused through my whole man and receive some communication of that light and life which Christ came into the world that his People might have and that they might have it more abundantly Oh that his Death and Resurrection may have their power and efficacie upon me crucifying my lusts and passions and raising me up to all the acts of the Spiritual life Oh that something may be done this day against my pride and passion worldliness and carnalitie hipocrisie and uncharitableness doubtings and unbelief distrustful fears and discontents backwardness and indisposition to listlesness dulness and distraction in Dutie Oh that I may find my heart thereby drawn nearer to and carried out with more unweariedness and chearfulness in thy Service Let me come from thence with my pardon sealed my corruptions subdued my graces quickened strengthened and confirmed my heart enlarged my soul refreshed and encouraged to run the waies of thy Commandments and so inseparablie united to thee that no Temptation may be ever able to dissolve the â—union but that being begun here in grace â—it may be perfected in glorie How painful and intoâ—â—erable is the obscuring and interrupting of our Vnion and Communion with Christ our Heaven upon Earth To maintain and increase evidence and enjoy Union and Communion with Christ and him crucified Therein we enjoy his person and all sweet Relations to it his death and all the saving fruits priviledges and influences of it To maintain and encrease evidence and enjoy it I receive the Cup of Blessing which we bless the Communion of the Blood of Christ and the Bread which we break the Communion of the Bodie of Christ to my soul my Faith yea even to my outward Senses signifies seals and instrumentally exhibits my Spiritual Communion with Christ and his Death Thereby I partake of and am strengthned in this Fellowship with him as really as I partake of that Bread and Cup. Oh that he being united to me in these holy Mysteries may comfort rule and direct me in all my ways and his Spirit turn me into the same quality and likeliness Oh that I may there find him whom my soul loveth There are the signs but where the body and blood of my Saviour the Lamb for a sacrifice I go not for the bread and wine but to see Jesus What are the Elements without thy presence Oh what wilt thoâ— give me if I go from thy Table Christless Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth afford expressions of his tender affection and reconciliation to my soul for thy love is better then wine If we forsake Communion with our Fellow-members To maintain and increase Spiritual Union and Communion with Christs Members how can we maintain it with ouâ— Head What need theâ— have I especially noâ— when so many divisions and disagreements of and to that end I come to the Ordinance which tends so much to uniâ—â— and knit together the disjoynted Members of Christ for we being many aâ—â— one Bread and one Body for we aâ—â— partakers of that one Bread and hereby profess to be one and to walk as Fellow-members in Christ with all christian love and tenderness towards one another Oh let my heart be enlarged towards them my delight in them for their relation to thee and thy Image upon them sympathize with have a fellow-feeling of interest my self in their several states and occasions rejoycing with those that rejoyce and weeping with those that weep Seeing thou hast so loved us let me be perfectly reconciled to every man and every spark of anger envy and malice be utterly extinguished remembering he that comes in hatred is a Judas to Christ and a Cain to his Brother Through the death of Christ my sins are pardoned To Commemorate Christs death my reconciliation with God obtained his curse removed the Enemies of my Salvation subdued my eternal Salvation and Inheritance my deliverance from worse then Egyptian Bondage procured the new Covenant established all my mercies purchased conveyed and sanctified yet how unthankful for insensible forgetful of it am I so greatly ungrateful as to burie in oblivion the greatest expression of his infinite love in honour of him to make a solemn rehearsal of his famous Acts to speak of the glorious honour oâ— His Majestie and to talk of his Power I come unto this lasting Monument and Memorial to shew forth his death till he come Oh let me celebrate it with an affectionate fiducial thankful obediential remembrance with a ravished heart filled with a gracious composition of joy and sorrow love and admiration with such resentments as befit so strange an object that I may desire rejoyce mourn and tremble be in such a mixture of passions as may even imitate the confusion that was in the world at his sufferings make such deep and lasting impressions thereof on my soul as if this was the very day he suffered Let me not conclude I have received Christ till I have remembred him so as to affect my heart with love to him desire after him faith and joy in him sorrow for my sins the cause of his suffering Let me think of it as an history to beget my knowledge as a Gospel to beget my Faith as an example to provoke my patience as a benefit to procure my happiness Oh that I may so remember him at his Table on his Cross that he may not forget me on his Throne in his Kingdom Lift up my mind from the contemplation of him as he hung upon the Tree to him as he sits now in Glorie at thy right hand making intercession for me presenting to thee the invaluable merits of his death to appease thee for the sins I commit daily against thee Oh set me as a seal upon thy heart as a seal upon thy arm that I may be never forgotten always remembred preserved kept safely by thee and let me set thee as a seal upon my heart as a seal on my arm receive thy image and impression of thy love keep it thankfully continually on my heart and testifie it in my life By reason of my infirmities carelesness sins To have my personal claim and title to the new Covenant cleared how apt am I to doubt the pardon of them and my interest in thy love The streams of corruption rising up in me interrupt the light and lustre of my future possession and suggest matter of diffidence and anxietie that my hopes hitherto have been
him a seal to the promise of pardon and eternal life though he did not testifie it by giving in extraordinary joys He looks not so much at fits of passion as at the steady bent and tenour of the Soul The truest Communion with God is to enjoy the Communication of his Graces whereby we are made conformable to him we may enjoy the saving influences of his Spirit when we cannot feel his more abundant consolations Though this Ordinance be not at present joyous yet may afterwards yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to those that are conversant therein It cannot be well known what Grace we have received further measures of which are the holy Spirits accompanying those means being the great benefit we are apt to expect till we come to the exercise of it in duty and against temptation But oh how much cause have I to rejoyce in his love and goodness to render him hearty thanks who might have left me as well as others to my self for his quickning and refreshment for his satisfying me so abundantly with the fatness of his house and making me drink of the river of his pleasure especially now I find and oh that I could more and more such real benefit received by it my soul more deeply broken and humbled under the sense of sin and that become more loathsom hateful burdensom to me My heart truely thankful for what I have enjoyed and sorrowful I have enjoyed no more more strongly engaged and resolved to inward and universal holiness my Faith in Christ more encreased and setled my love to him more inflamed my Soul strengthned and emboldned to undergo any thing for him my spiritual delight and joy in him raised and lessened to other things my esteem and valuation of the Ordinance heightned my Graces in it exercised my desires after full enjoyment of God and Christ in Glory more enlarged If he were pleased to kill me he would not have received a burnt-offering and a Meat-offering at my hands neither would he have shewed me all these things nor as at this time have given me to experience such things as these Oh that I may always retain a thankful sense of all his benefits Oh how much am I beholden to thee my God I have been praising of thee but nothing to what I ought or what thou deserv'st Oh how can I cease to magnifie thee for what I am and have for the use of thy creatures and thy blessing with them for every crum much more for Christ that foundation mercy that hath all mercies folded up in him and entail'd unto him that sweetens and sanctifies every mercy for this Feast on his Body and Blood for the joys of thy house and the viands of heaven for any measure of life and affection raisedness and comfort grace and goodness Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy name While I live I will praise thee I will sing praise unto my God while I have a being and what is here wanting in thy due praise I will pay hereafter in everlasting Hallelujahs Rest not in the work done though done never so well Beware lest by spiritual pride and future negligence thou lose the things thou hast wrought Had I done all as well as was commanded me I would say I am an unprofitable servant I had done but my duty but O how short come I of it Oh let not the Lord lay to my charge my want of due preparation my coldness and indifferency distraction and unbelief my so many failings before and at the Ordinance that my heart was in no better frame that I took no more paines with it to fit it for thy self that it was no more broken for my sins when the Minister broke the Bread that when I took it I was so dull so dead and did no better reach forth the hand of Faith to lay hold on and apply Christ and his benefits so play'd the hypocrite before thee and my fellow Communicants that when the Wine was poured forth and I saw how Christ shed his Blood for sinners I scarce dropt a tear for the cause from a heart sensible of my sins and his love unto my Soul when I took and drank the Cup I did not remember him as I ought that my heart was not so seriously intent and reverent so deeply affected sutable to the importance and excellency of the duty and the Majesty of him with whom I had to do Spend some time in strengthning and confirming thy holy purposes and resolutions O that some fruit may be seen of this day till the solemnity return that the thoughts and meditations I had there may be so strongly so deeply fixed and rooted in the bottom of my heart that nothing may be able to pluck them up that I may be so sensibly possest with the perswasions that Christ is in and united to me that when a Temptation comes and knocks for enterance I may readily naturally say I am not he that I was before the property of the house is quite changed I live yet not I but Christ in me I was indeed a common Inne to entertain all-Comers but now I am become the sole Habitation of the High and Holy One he expects to be honourably treated like unto himself he will have no competitors or unclean thing in his house I cannot arise and open to you Oh how shall I treat him who hath taken up his abode with me shall I take the members of Christ and make them the members of an Harlot defile that body wherein he hath chosen to reside force him out of his habitation by any impurity offend him by any noysom thoughts or unsavoury breath out of my mouth shall those hands that have received the sacred Elements work deceit those Eyes that have been filled with tears at the Lords Table be fill'd with envy those teeth that have eaten Holy Bread â—grind the face of the poor those lips that have touched the Sacramental Cup salute an Harlot the mouth that hath drunk consecrated wine be full of rotten discourse shall I be so greedy of the World as to forget to retire to converse with my Saviour shall I so perplex my self in business as to omit to pray to meditate to sing praises unto thee No I am not at my own dispose I have sworn and I will perform that I will keep thy righteous judgments and often consider how deeply I am obliged to him that hath paid my debt Oh I can never parallel his love yet let me shew my self thankful I can do nothing satisfactory but let me do something gratulatory He gave himself a sin-offering for me let me give my self a thank-offering to him offer up my self a living facrifice unto my Redeemer who offered up himself a dying Sacrifice for my Redemption Beware of Crucifying Christ afresh To them that believe he is precious now I have begun to celebrate the Marriage oh let me never throw off the
unto and be a companion of all those that fear the Lord make the liveliest of them my most intimates and upon all occasions improve their fellowship to the best advantage O that I may henceforth behave my self as a stone of the same Building as a branch of the same Vine as a servant of the same Familie as a member of the same Body as a Son of the same Father oh merciful Eternal high Priest let that Sacrifice thou once offeredst on the Cross for the sins of the world which thou doest now and ever represent in Heaven to thy Father by thy never-ceasing intercession which this day hath been exhibited Sacramentally on hy holy Table obtain Mercy and Peace Faith and Love Truth and Unity Safety and establishment Grace Glory and all good things to thy whole Church and let not the gates of Hell ever prevail against it Chear up and comfort thy self against all discouragements Have I worthily received the Lords Supper whatsoever my miseries are this cannot but be a reviving cordial yet my sins are pardoned How little should I be dismayed at any inward or outward troubles let me be fed all my days with the bread and water of affliction I have another bread and cup to sweeten both let her not say she is sick her sins are forgiven I have received an all-sufficient Saviour and seek for nothing in but renounce my self having so much in him How can I any more walk dejectedly that am interested in the New Covenant which with all its promises and priviledges is ratified and confirmed to me what ever I need is to be had here health and recovery from sickness a competant maintenance and support peace deliverance from our enemies content and patience liberty and joy sanctified riches or a chearful poverty and whatsoever is a blessing is purchased for and secured to us And oh that this in all my troubles difficulties addresses to God may quiet me and strengthen my Faith to apprehend him as in Covenant with me that hath engaged himself to be with me in all estates and conditions and to order all things for my advantage I have resigned up my self to him let him do with me what seemeth him good He cannot deny himself all his words are oaths for their certaintie and all his promises the sure mercies of David This Sacrament is that to my particular person which it is in it self and by design to all the world If I receive worthily I shall receive any of those blessings according as God shall chuse for me which shall be not onely with more wisdom but more affection then I can for my self Let me but be void of all care but onely to preserve my Fathers love and I cannot want He whom Almighty Wisdom and Goodness takes a Fatherly care of engages to feed cannot but have enough All things are yours and you are Christ's and Christ is God's Nothing is excluded where he is included Keep up earnest longings after this and the eternal Supper of the Lamb. Oh when will the opportunitie return when shall I come again and appear before God when shall I see his power and his glory taste his love and goodness as I have in the Sacrament O that I may still be feasting my Soul on those Heavenly Dainties those spiritual Viands those satisfying pleasures at his Table I think the time long to that day of gladness and rejoycing The King of Glory hath now espoused me to himself by Proxy by his Embassadour the day is hastening when the Marriage shall be publickly triumphantly solemnized and compleated Mount up my Soul and ever stand wishly looking for his appearance never slack thy Watch nor let thy Expectation cool till he take thee to himself where we shall be gathered together where the Bodie is and his Glory presented without an umbrage where he shall lay aside his veil and his amiable countenance be chequer'd with no intermingled frowns intervening clouds or obscure mediums where mysteries shall be turned into revelations the translation into the original commemoration into vision espousal into mutual fruition and embraces sighs and tears into nuptial songs and festivities transient glances into the direct beams of the ever radiant Sun of Righteousness a moments work into an eternity of rest where is satiety without nauseating perfect happiness without care or incumbrance envy or successor alteration or end for every chain a ray of light every tear a pearl every prison a palace every loss the purchase of a Kingdom every affront in Gods Service an eternal honour every hour of sorrow a thousand years of comfort multiplyed with a never ceasing Numeration Where Jobâ— that sate on the Dunghil sits among the Angels Lazarus that lay among the Dogs is lodged in Abrahams bosom the Saints heretofore among the pots walk in white where are riches and pleasures truâ— and real adequate and sutable solid and satisfying lasting and durable where I shall see thee oh infinite Sweetness and Delight without a Veil and live upon thee without a Figure where I shall have not a Sacramental but a Beatificalâ— Communion not wear thy ring but see thy face not remember but behold thee not in Faith but clear and full Fruition Come Love come Lord and that long day For which I languish come away When this dry Soul those Eyes shall see And drink the unseal'd source of thee When Glory's Sun Faith's shade shall chace Then for thy Veil give me thy Face AN APPENDIX TO THE Devout Communicant CONTAINING More particular Directions and Meditations for the time of Receiving with a Prayer before and after A Prayer at home before the Sacrament ETernally Blessed and infinitely Glorious Lord God! Thou art greatly to be feared in the Assembly of thy Saints and to be had in reverence of all that draw nigh unto thee Look down from Heaven the habitation of thy Holiness and Glory in much mercy pity and tender compassion upon me A vile sinful despicable Creature prostrate at thy Footstool unworthy to look up unto thy Throne or to receive any thing at thy hands but thy wrath and severe displeasure I am less then the least of all thy Mercies and liable to the severest of thy Judgments by reason of the pollution and sinfulness of my Nature Heart and Life I am of the degenerate Posterity of fallen Adam and have all the powers faculties and members of my Soul and Body defiled with sin I have sinned in every Age in every Relation in every Condition in every imployment of my Life I have distrusted thy Word disregarded thy Calls slighted thy Judgments abused thy Mercies turned thy Grace into Wantonness rejected the tenders of thy Love resisted the motions of thy Holy Spirit the checks of my own Conscience and followed the motions of my own evil Heart I have dishonoured thy Name prophaned thy Sabbaths polluted thy Ordinances been unthankful for thy Benefits impatient under Afflictions unfaithful to my promises mis-spent my time neglected
love and kindness towards one another Let there be no strife or differences between us or any of Thy people for we are Brethren Supply all the necessities of our Souls and Bodies Provide for us as Thou knowest best for us Let us be still fully satisfied and delighted under all thy Dispensations towards us and let all be in love and mercy unto us Mortifie all our inordinate affections and desires Draw thine Image more and more lively upon our Souls Let our chiefest pleasure consist in serving and pleasing of Thee Let nothing disturb or displease us but Thy dishonour Send Thy Gospel where it is not preached make it very successful where it is Let all who enjoy it walk worthy of it and let them be taken care of preserved and defended by Thee Forgive unto us whatever Thou hast seen amiss in us what is ours graciously pardon what is Thine own graciously accept Bless this Ordinance Thou hast ordained for Thy Church accompany it with the Influences of that Spirit which Thou hast promised to powre upon all Flesh That thereby the World Thy Church our Souls and Bodies may glorifie Thee now and ever Father Son and Holy Ghost Amen A Thanksgiving and Prayer at home after the Sacrament I Adore and magnifie thee most gracious God and merciful Father for what thou art in thy self and unto all thy Creatures for thy infinite Wisdom Power and Goodness and for any discoveries of the same in and by thy Word and Works that thou hast so wonderfully made so plentifully provided for every Creature especially Man their Lord thy Image and Glory But how can we sufficiently admire thy inexpressible Condescention and Love in taking notice of us except to punish us in becoming so nigh unto us when we lay in our blood and had made our selves worse then the Beasts that perish And dost thou open thine eye upon such an one and bringest me into fellowship with thee Is it pleasing to thee to look upon abominable filthy Man or gain unto thee to serve me to give thy self to and for me to purchase such a clod of Earth and Sin with thy own Blood Oh when I consider the Rock whence I was hewen and that on which thou hast set me from what I was fallen and to what thou hast exalted me where I had been and where I shall be I am amazed at thy Love I am confounded at my ingratitude VVhat shall I return unto thee that humblest thy self to behold the things that are in Heaven and Earth for the innumerable instances of thy peculiar care and special love for chusing me out of the World that I might not be condemned with it for making a Child of VVrath the Object of thy Love for opening to me a door of Mercy whilst I was shutting it against my self thinking towards me thoughts of peace whilst mine were only evil and enmity against Thee for so many occasions and opportunities of praising thee and that I have not sinn'd away all into an incapacity of praising thee for striking a Conjugal Covenant with me whose Person is ugliness and deformity whose Parentage base and beggarly whose portion nothing but Diseases and Miserie for feeding me this day with thy Word and Sacrament with thy own Flesh and Blood who mightest long ago shook off the hand of thy Providence such a Viper as I into fire unquenchable and made me there sadly experience what it is to abuse Grace by the loss of Glory for any heart endeavours or assistance any signs of thy acceptance any liveliness of affection in commemorating the All-sufficient Sacrifice of my ever-prevailing Mediator in stead of being made a Sacrifice to thy Justice for ever and ever That I have been pledging thee in a Cup of Love while others drink the Dregs of thy Wrath in any measure discharging my duty whilest others are suffering the insupportable punishment of their neglects that thou hast assured me of forgiveness and all other benefits purchased by thy Passion while so many millions are sealed up under wrath in the prison of thy Furie Not unto me O Lord not unto me but unto thy Name be the praise O my God to these and all thy mercies deny not this A thankful heart for all thy mercies and grace to make them incentives to more chearful and sincere Obedience Mind me alwaies of and enable me faithfully to perform the Vows and Promises now upon me confirm and strengthen them that they may stand as fast as thy everlasting Covenant Let me not falsifie with thee or depart from thee or defile that place thou hast chosen for thy Temple but dedicate it wholly to thee Let the fruit of the Ordinance be found to the praise of thy Grace the support and encouragement comfort and advantage of my own Soul Let me always remember thee and my duty unto thee let nothing separate me from the love of thee let me rather die then deny or dishonour thee Make me sensible how much my Saviour loved me by his ardent desire to be an offering for me and remembred by me Let me not spare my darling sins for thy sake who sparedst not thy beloved Son for mine Let me alwayes look upon that with horror and hatred which procured to him so much ignominy and torment Let not those lusts please and delight my Phansie which were nailes and thorns in his hands and side Seeing I now profess to abide in him enable me to walk even as he walked in lowliness and humility meekness and patience contempt of the World heavenliness and zeal for thy Glory temperance and moderation tenderness and compassion love and charity innocency and usefulness obedience resignation and submission to thee Charge not upon me my unpreparedness for unaffectedness wanderings unbelief at that solemn ordinance this dayes iniquity of my holy things but upon our great high Priest who offered up himself to hear our sins And Oh that we who have now been celebrating his Love and Passion may with all thy people love one another as he hath loved us have strength to resist and overcome constancy to suffer and persevere may breath earnestly after thee be pardoned and accepted supplied owned blessed by thee keep close unto thee and reign with thee to all eternity through our ever blessed Redeemer who was delivered for our Offences and raised again for our Justification in whose holy Name and words I further pray unto thee saying Our Father c FINIS
for me but to forbid thy Memory to Dye in me O thou loving and Blessed above all Beloveds when thy passion is engraven by thy own hand in an Holy Mysterie for my mind to wear shall not I keep this memorial Shall I not wear thy Ring who am so ready to wear a Death's-head to preserve alive the memory of a dead Friend O that I may ever keep this Manna that came down from Heaven not in a Leaden but Golden pot not in a dull barren bareley contemplative but humble tender active pretious memory which moves all good affections to thee and promoves all good abilities for thee Such a memory will mind and do all Duty admire and love thee obey endure do and suffer for thee establish Faith excite Repentance inflame Love maintain Constancy I cannot but repent believe and love to the end if thou be in my mind If I fail payment of any duty to thee or man it is because I do not remember thee Of me Of my Death and your redemption by it This Sacrament then is an obelisk to the eternal memory of thy passion so oft as I neglect it what do I but pull down this Pyramid of everlasting date set up in the Church for a solemn memorial of thy death and bury thee and thy Merits as the Jews did thy Body but in a worser grave not in a Garden but Desart a grave of Oblivion Wretch am I that have need of such an help to my memory and spur to my Duty as both a Command and a Sacrament it casts reproach on me O Saviour that thou shouldst give thy Body for me and I scarce give my mind to thee that I should have so great a room in thy heart and thou so hardly get any in mine that thou shouldst be more ready to bleed for me then I to think of thee Dear Jesus thou didst empty all thy veins for me shall not I find a vessel to preserve thy precious Blood Do I not spill what thou shed if I let it run out of my memory yet art thou put to it to find me both blood and mind and when thou hast done all that out of remembrance of me lest it should be forgotten ordain'st a Sanction and Sacrament saying Do this in remembrance of me But more wretch I if I do not so do for Lord if I do thee honour dost thou not do me favour for it If I give thee glory is it more my duty then felicity to do it If thy Sacrament is it not my benefit Receive I not great honour in it Reap I not good benefits by it conveys it not the Blood Royal of Heaven into me Am I not related to Brother of Christ Heir and Prince of Heaven by vertue of that Blood Is not the Godhead bodily in him and is not this Body mystically in me and I near allyed to God by the Communion of that Body And can he want Demeans that is such a Prince Is not the Earth thy gift and Heaven in thy power O thou Son and Heir of all And have I not thy Spirit thy flesh to pledge for all the conveyance sealed in thy Blood and thy Merits made over and assured in thy Body O Lord I am so much concern'd in honour and estate to do what thou commandest that if I consider my self I shall do it to thy memory in remembrance of me as well as thee Wherever God hath bestow'd a vital principle Faith whereby the Just live he affords nourishment to sustain it and an inclination and attractive faculty towards it Christ Crucified is as the cause of our new birth so the food which sustains and preserves us in it unto whose Body and Blood there must needs be as proportionable an appetite in a new Christian as to Milk in an Infant that being more nourishable then milk and Faith more vital to desire it then Nature Oh! I know not what grace and comfort I have lost that others have found in the Consciencious use of this If there be any thing in the lively discoveries of the evil and desert of sin the wrath and love of God the cordials of the Gospel by frequenting it might it not have been much better with me in my Spiritual condition is not this great Hypecrisie and Dissimulation to complain of the hardness of my heart and not apply the Blood of Christ to soften it of the prevalencie of corruptions and not bring them to his Cross to subdue them of my timerous spirit and not come where God secures me and gives evidence for the discharge of his covenant and promise that God is departing when I stand at a distance and will not come nigh him is withdrawn from my Soul when I withdraw from my Dutie that I am a stranger to spiritual joy when I will not come to draw water out of the wells of Salvation of die weakness of grace and not use of all means of strengthening it can I refuse my food yet be nourished grow in grace and neglect the means not grow and be guiltless live in a known sin by neglecting a plain commanded Dutie and expect the rewards of obedience may not partial obedience to Gods commands well increase my doubts of his favour Is not this to slight and disesteem a firm conveyance of all Christs purchased benefits here offered and assured to Believers and then think not much Soul if thou go without them for ever who art also so unwilling to bind thy self to thankfulness and obedience for them Meals which are for nourishment must be often 't is not told me how often I should eat or drink the sense and feeling of the wants of my food directs me to makes me do it often Am I not apt to grow dull lukewarm cold to and in duty to contract guilt blot my evidences disturb my peace to forget him and his matchless love Is he so much in my serious thoughts as he deserves Is it enough to have some accasional thoughts of him Do I not complain that I love and think of him no more can apply him no better have so little of him am so insenble of his kindness and affection to his members Is it not a sin and shame I no more solemnly dwell in meditation upon him am no more in praising of rejoycing in him Do I not often need so great an help to soften my heart to renew my repentance to strengthen and confirm my Faith Hope and Resolutions to increase inflame my love and thankfulness fix my thoughts more solemnly upon him apply him get and maintain more intimate communion with him closer knit my soul to him and his members Is it not a sad sign I perform no Duties as and to those ends I ought but out of custom without expecting therefore without finding any great advantage from them Are the consolations of God small unto me is it not a sign when I was there I miss'd of the benefit Have I not cause to repent of
my former receiving when it left not earnest breathings for the like opportunity was it possible for me to meet with God to taste the sweetness the fulness of Christ to experience the reachings forth of my love and desires the pleasures of acting grace and not long for another meeting By thy grace I will therefore communicate with more devotion repent with greater contrition walk with more caution pray more earnestly receive with more reverence and I doubt not but I shall find my affections encrease together with the Spiritual benefit The frequent solemn exercise of our graces must needs dispose strongly to Habitual ones and hugely promote the Interest of Religion It cannot be that the Sacrament be undervalued by frequent repetitions without great unworthiness of the person setting light by and loathing spiritual Manna and an unworthy Communication for he that receives worthily encreases in the love of God and of Religion and the fires of the Altar are apt to kindle into a flame and when our Lord enters into us and we grow weary of him or less fond of his frequent entrance and perpetual cohabitation 't is an infallible sign we have or are ready to let in his Enemy no Secular object hath any pleasure in it long beyond the hope of it for the possession and enjoyment is found so empty that we grow weary of it but whatsoever is spiritual is less before we have it but in the fruition swells our desires enlarges the Appetite and makes us more receptive and forward in the Entertainment Nor is it likely they will suffer for who refuse to banquet with him They proclaim they have no portion in David no inheritance in the Son of God Oh he qualms of undesirous Communicants should justly stir up the faithful to loath it in themselves Habitual Preparation THe death of Christ in regard of his intent was a Sacrifice to God but of the Jews the greatest crueltie and murder When a prophane person comes he sheds the blood of Christ which a Believer receives and by Faith feeding on it being one with Christ makes as great satisfaction to God as if he had suffered to Eternitie This new wine must not be put into an old vessel else the wine will be spilt and the vessel perish Christ and Belial cannot cohabit he will not enter through a besmear'd door nor dwell in a nasty house Feet that walk in filthy paths are not to tread his holy place nor a heart full of rancour hatred uncharitableness to sit down at this feast of love Hands dipt in blood polluted with unlawful gains stain'd with spots of the flesh or stretched out to injure him in his members are most unfit to be reached forth to receive him in the Sacraments to handle those holy mysteries Those Teeth that grind the face of the poor to eat the bread of Angels the Mouth that 's full of rotten corrupt communication evil speaking reviling or that thirsts after the blood of our neighbour to drink the Blood of Christ Eyes gazing on vanity to look on Jesus Oh how pure ought I to keep those doors of my Soul at which the King of Glory so often enters Shall I kiss his hand with filthy lips put hallowed bread and wine into a noysom sink go to that Table as Swine to their trough in my pollution ravish contemn the grace and mercy of God tear them asunder from the conditions he hath annexed to them He will not be one with an Harlot nor seen with the same eyes His Body never saw Corruption nor will be mixed with it It lay in a Virgin Womb and Sepulchre and still resides only in Virgin Souls Devoted Consecrated set apart to his use and service His glorified body is no more capable of dishonour nor will enter into an earthly soul Unclean birds receive nothing but the Carcass of the Ordinance the Bread without the Body the Wine without the Blood both without the blessing the Elements but not the Sacraments such are guilty of his Body and Blood for reaching out their hand with purpose to receive him into a polluted soul though he withdraw himself that they cannot partake of him They disgrace their Prince by shewing it to his Statue erected for his honour and remembrance are guilty of Treason by offering Indignity to his Seal and Picture dishonour done to the Image and representation reflects upon the Original he is personally in Heaven and will be no where Sacramentally but in the Heavenly part of man he finds no rest in a heart full of vain vitious thoughts it stinks like the lake of Sodom he retires thence vexed with the unclean Conversation of the impure Inhabitants When he approaches to a soul and finds it a Cage of unclean Birds he flyes with the wings of a Dove to cleaner and whiter Habitations But if we avoid hate and have no fondness of affection for them and with complacency entertain the contrary then Christ hath washed our feet and then he invites us to his Supper The unavoidable infirmities of our lives against which we daily strive and for which we never have any kindness or affection are not spots in these feasts of Charitie but instruments of Humility and stronger invitations to come to Rites ordain'd for corroboratives gainst infirmities and for growth in the inner man But remanent affection to a sin enmitie with neighbours secular avocations to the height of care and trouble excuse not but increase mens sin and secure their misery 'T is just they graze with Goats that refuse to wash their hands that they may come to the Supper of the Lamb. The excuses wherewith they palliate their neglects of waiting upon our Lord and accepting his kindness all grow upon this bitter root of an unholy careless life loving the world and the lusts thereof the only reason is they have a mind to live as strangers to him and not to be his houshold servants and domesticks for then they might always come unto him They think they must not come so oft because to prepare themselves costs them so much time but would they spare so much as to lead a holy life and be at so much trouble as to please God in other things they would not find it so laborious to please him in this Kept they always a fear of God in their Souls they would without much pains be fit to approach with fear and reverence into his presence would they fear to do what God hath forbidden they would not fear to do what he hath commanded but while they refuse to obey him in one thing no wonder they do in another Religion concerns not our actions only but the frame and disposition of our hearts and minds and the same habitual graces are to be daily exercis'd though in a lower measure and degree Every day is to be holy to the Lord though every action in the day be not equally holy When we labour conscienciously to stand to our first Promise and
open my mouth wide that thou may'st fill it As the Hart panteth after the water-brook so let ray soul pant after thee O God The Evening Close AND now oh gracious God leave me not to the dulness the deadness the hardness the impenitency the unbelief â—he barrenness the earthliness the impoâ—â—ency the distraction of my own Heart Oh enrich the Ordinance with thy own â—resence While the King sitteth at his Taâ—le let my Spikenard send forth the smell â—hereof Descend into my heart by the exâ—â—tations of thy grace and influences of thy by and let me ascend unto thee by the exâ—â—cise of grace pious addresses Awake â—â—ou North wind and come thou South â—ow upon my Garden that the Spices â—â—ereof may flow out Make every grace 〈◊〉 my soul lively active fragrant by the â—eathings inspirations of thy Holy Spiâ—â—t O abide with me because it draweth â—wards the time of receiving what do I there thou be not there If thy presence go not â—â—ong with me carry me not hence Let Christ â—â—pear unto and be known of me in breaking of Bread let me carry away not only Bread but Light Life and Health that with open face beholding as in a glass the glory the love the mercy and goodness of the Lord I may be changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. O let me remember and do thou remember what thy Son hath suffered that I may be thankful and thou so sensibly gracious unto me that I maâ— taste and see how good the Lord is I am altogether unworthy of my desires 〈◊〉 but what thou dost for any is not becausâ— they are worthy but because it pleaseth thâ—â— to do for thine what they ask of thee according to thy will With what confidence go we to Market with money in our hand we doubt not returning withouâ— our errand Oh we would come as confidently expecting the giving out of gracâ— to us as if we were able to putchase it for thou hast bid us come buy Wine anâ— Milk without money and without price and hast promis'd and art more willing 〈◊〉 give the spirit to them that ask it thâ—â— Parents Bread to their Children whiâ—â— they cannot deny whatever shift thâ—â— make for it our love to our Children 〈◊〉 but hatred our compassion hardness our bowels rocks in comparison of thine to thine why then wilt thou not hear me Turnest thou a deaf ear to me Canst thou deny me Did any of the seed of Jacob seek thy face in vain Who ever approacht to this over-flowing Fountain of sweetness but carried away some drops â—or sat by so great a flame and receiv'd not some warmth from it why then lyes my Soul so cold so frozen so dead before thee O wilt thou not relieve a hungry beggar wilt thou not grant the request of an â—mportunate Petitioner Shall I go away â—mpty from an inexhaustible Treasure Hungry from a Feast Dry from a Fountain Cold from the Sun Sad and comâ—ortless from a Feast of Love Oh! â—ake it a type and earnest of our Eternal â—anquet Feed me to that by Faith and Love and seal me to it in Spirit and Conâ—ience let me enjoy thy lightsom reviâ—â—ng company in this state of absence and â—bscurity Away my Soul from this â—â—rk deceitful vexing world love not â—â—y Disease thy Fetters thy Calamities â—yn not with those that take up their rest 〈◊〉 this side Heaven saying it is good to be here Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar that I remain in this sinful polluting place among a strange people and am kept so long from my Fathers House Oh that I had wings like a Dove then would I slie away and be at rest lo then would I wander far off as legs and wings could carry me and remain in the wilderness I would live in the solitariest place of the Earth for my greater freedom from sin and enjoyment of my God This flattering vexing world should soon see me quit it my base heart should soon be 〈◊〉 of me rather than undergo their uncessant troubles I would hasten my escapâ— from the windy storm and tempest Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death 〈◊〉 Which so oft troubles grieves and over-clouds me distracts hinders me allureâ— and intangles me When shall I have done trifling and dallying roving and repining fretting and disputing Wheâ—â— shall I onely talk and walk with thee be composed and fixed Spiritual anâ— Heavenly love chuse and obey thee delight rejoyce joy and glory in thee Oh when wilt thou unloose the cords of this tottering Tent When shall this Mud-wall crumble into dust When shall my earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved When shall I be carried to those eternal mansions Why is his Chariot so long in coming Why tarry the wheels of his Chariot Hath he not sped Hath he not divided his gifts Hath he not obtained his purchase Hath he not prepared a place for me Shall I ever be at home in the bodie and absent from the Lord Make haste O thou whom my soul loveth and come in glorie as thou first camest in humilitie and conform them to thy self in glorie whom thou makest conformable to thy sufferings and humility Keep up our faith our hope and our love by the exercise of them let us have our Conversation with thee in Heaven and daily vouchsafe us some beams of thy directing consolatorie light in this our darkness and be not as a stranger to thy scattered Flock thy disconsolate Spouse in this distant state this desolate Wilderness O shew thy self more clearly to us testifie to our Souls that thou art our Head and Saviour that we abide in thee by the Spirit which thou hast given us abiding and overcoming in us and as thy Agent preparing us for eternal Life Let not our darkness nor thy strangeness feed our odious unbelief nor my corrupt habits choak or smother my new resolutions and sweet meditations These weak wavering thoughts these faint desires these sickly affections in my Soul will not live a night unless my gracious God interpose his Power preserve and cherish them Oh seeing thou hast given me to bestow some small pains on my Heart and to conceive some good hopes let them not be dasht in pieces in so short a moment spread the wings of thy goodness over me and maintain that which not I but thy Spirit hath wrought in me let me find all when I awake let me still be with thee O blessed Trinity to whom be ascribed Kingdom Power and Glory now and for ever Amen The Communion Morning Dress AH where am I what do I all the Children of the Bride-chamber are â—p and ready and I slumbring in my Bed Tell me ye Fairest what made you up so early and drest so soon Aâ—â—as our Lord was up before us all â—e call'd us up by
Saviour my greatest care and caution love and labour then in his service And inflamed with Love And how shall I put my heart into a flame of love a frame to meet him better then by considering the wonder of his love unto me Oh how free unmerited disinterested preventing not onely our desires but our knowledge surpassing our wishes as well as our deserts He loved us first Had we deplor'd our Apostacie implor'd his Grace reform'd our Ways return'd before invited made the first overtures of Reconciliation with him this had carried something of inducement for procuring his love but that he who had receive the injury should address himself to him that did it that the offended party should pray and beseech the offender to be reconciled that he whose right was to punish should first offer terms of grace and pardon to them that had done him all the wrong and make Compensation of it to himself Herein is love not that we loved him but that he loved us first even before we had a Being so little could we deserve it that our felicitie in his Decrees preceded our existence in the world His goodness is so entirely its own principle and motive that even out Creation since which alone we can pretend to merit it is the effect of it as well as our Redemption When no eye pittyed no person interceded no hand could relieve he visited and redeemed us unable to add to or diminish his essential happiness If thou sinnest what doest thou unto him if thou be righteous what givest thou him our best services are dues not tributes not to advantage him but to discharge our selves as acknowledgments we have all from him He doth us good not because we are but he liberally so The fire we kindle on God's Altar warms and enlightens us but not Heaven at so distant a remove not is wanted in the Regions of this Sun which shines upon us Dunghils not out of any invitation his Beams find there but because 't is his Nature to be freely obligingly diffusive nor is disturbed or loses its light but we by turning away our eyes or sending up the black and noysom vapours of our lusts I cannot but stand amazed at the low stoop of thy Sacred Majesty in matching with so mean so base so stain'd a Family Thou tookst not on thee the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham They are bound in chains of darkness whilest thou art drawing us with cords of Love thou spared not them and spared not thy Son for us What admiration and astonishment can answer thy boundless condeseension that thou who hadst married infinitely below thy self if with the most spotless antientest honourablest House of thy Creatures should take polluted dust and ashes into thy bosom yea thou passest by all others as Nettles and Thorns while thy Church is in thy eye as the Rose of Sharon and the Lillie of the Vallies He loved us when Enemies not only when we were not at all incapable of being a motive in his love but worthy of his detestation To have spared our lives had been an unexpected undeserved mercy who finds his enemy and slays him not was ever eye enamored on deformity or love set upon filthiness and putrefaction But behold I running away from him hating of him he loving me following of me intreating my return I undoing he pitying my soul finding his arms open to embrace me against whom I was lifting up my hand for when we were without strength Christ dyed for the ungodly and as foul as ugly as loathsom as forlorn as sin could make me espoused me to himself opened his Heart to lodge in it his profest Enemy that trod him under foot his Bowels yearned toward those who raked into them with their bloody hands his Heart burnt with affection to those that cruelly pierced it when we were fighting he was dying when we had the weapons in our hand he had the spear in his side Herein God commended his love to us in that while we were sinners Christ dyed for us shewed as great love and kindness to the greatest Enemy as could be shewen to the greatest Friend and receiv'd me not to mercy only but to the Endearment of a Son That the General should dye for the Souldier the Physitian for the Patient the Workman for the Work the Pastor for the Flock the Master for the Servant the Just for the Vnjust the Innocent for the Guilty the Shepherd for the Sheep the Prince for the Rebel the Lord of Glory for the Children of Disobedience he that was without all sin for him that was without all Righteousness God for Man to wound a Darling to stanch the Blood of a Traytor for the Judge to pardon and put himself into the Malefactor's cloaths and stead and suffer for him to dye for those that killed him and bleed to wash his own blood from their hands that spilt it with the kind Balsom Tree whose healing wounds weep soveraign Balsom to cure those that made them that he should interpose his own Breast to receive in those arrows of vengeance aim'd at us and that while professing our selves his Enemies and proclaiming War against him to spare our lives lose his own that he should so love us as to give himself for us is such a so loving us as makes the highest Hyperbole dwindle into a Meiosis He loved us unto death No sooner born then persecuted nor circumcised then design'd for the slaughter Behold the God of Heaven flying in a womans arms from the rage of a weak Man the God of Israel driven to be nursed out of the bosom of his Church He that made the Heaven of Heavens subject to if not busily working in the homely trade of a poor Foster-father The owner of all possessing nothing but the punishment due unto our fins He that commands the Devils to their chains transported and tempted by that presumptuous Spirit God all-sufficient exposed to hunger and thirst weariness and danger grief and contempt reproaches affronts and calumnies blasphemed of those whose God he had always been in a peculiar manner streightned in the womb vexed in the world abased from the Cratch to the Cross rejected by Churls persecuted by Wretches tempted by Reprobates and yet the Son of Man must suffer many things be sold and caught â—ound and drag'd arraign'd and condemâ—ed stript and scourged revil'd and beâ—mear'd pierc'd and gor'd and then it is â—â—nished Thou seemest now O Blessed Reâ—eemer to have finished in thy passion what thou hadst continually suffered in the whole course of thy life How many slaves â—nder the vassalage of an enemy fare better â—hen thou from ungrateful Man whom â—hou camest to save Thy whole life was but a continual passion thy birth and death but one protracted act Christmas Day and Good Friday but the evening and mornâ—ng of thy passion thou foundest a Golgoâ—ha even in Bethlehem others die Martyrs but thou born one among beasts and â—iv'd
ungrounded my Faith Presumption my claim to and propriety in Christ uncertain if not quite desperate But he hath shed his blood meritoriously to procure it and I go to the Ordinance as thou hast appointed it to have my pardon and interest in his Blood sealed and assured unto me and to renew my engagements and resolutions that I may be tyed faster to thee with new cords of thy love and that it may be more impossible for me to unloose my self from thy service O let me therefore receive it as a sign and seal from thee to me representing and exhibiting thy self and benefits and from me to thee a sign to separate me from sinners a seal to oblige me to all faithfulness and thankfulness required on my part Oh make the Ordinance effectual to all those blessed ends and purposes for which thou hast appointed it Let it be not only a sign to represent but an instrument to convey Christ with the power and virtue of his death unto me and a seal to assure me of my Interest in the Covenant that in those holy Mysteries I may not onely Commemorate but effectually receive my blessed Saviour thou mayest communicate to me thy self and all the benefits of his passion and have not onely a representation but a participation of him in the Sacrament to the outward Administration of it joyn the inward Seal of thy Spirit Thou knowest all my corruptions and temptations wants weaknesses and imperfections poverty and nakedness troubles and dangers how often I am tempted and defiled grieved and indisposed what strong corruptions to be subdued and mortified languishing graces to be quickened and strengthened faint purposes and resolutions to be enlarged and confirmed In confidence of thy great goodness faithfulness and mercy I thy creature come unto thee my Creator thy son unto thee my Father thy servant unto thee my Lord in danger unto thee my Saviour needy unto thee the Possessor of Heaven and Earth diseased unto thee the only Physician unclean unto thee the Fountain of grace and mercy desolate unto the God of all consolation guilty blind lifeless unto thee the Author the Father of pardon light life and Salvation Oh heal me of the guilt of my sins by the merit of thy blood of the power and corruption of my sins by the efficacy of thy Spirit Inflame my coldness with the fire of thy love soften my hardness with the dew of thy grace enlighten my blindness with 〈◊〉 beam of light from heaven anoint the eye of my soul with eye-salve that I may see clear up spiritual things to my apprehension heal all the distempers ease all the pains supplie all the necessities of my soul Make me more humble holie heavenlie confident and believing fill thy house with thy own glorie Stand not at a distance behind the wall shew thy self through the Lettice of the Ordinance let me see the outgoings of my God and my King in his Sanctuary Let me not come unto thee nor go from thee without thee Oh take this season of coming in upon my soul bestow more of thy self upon me Change me into thy likeness lift up my heart unto thee in Heaven turn all earthlie things unto me to bitterness contempt and oblivion Be thou my meat and drink my hope and strength my shield and portion my honour and glorie my love and joy my delight and solace only sweet unto my taste from henceforth and for ever These are the mercies thou hast promised to thy people hast bidden them to ask art wont to convey by thy Ordinance These are the legacies left me by my Saviours Will whereof thou art Executor his prayer promise and blessing this Institution is ingaged to procure them for all believing Receivers for these things therefore which thou then granted him do I come unto and wait upon thee this day With no lower aims go I to thy Table with such precious things is the Lord Jesus wont to feast his Guests and of his infinite fulness it is that I hope to participate through him to be strengthened with might in the inner man even to be made strong by the grace that is in Christ Jesus Thou hast provided for my soul as well as body shall there be bread enough in my Fathers house and I here perish for hunger Pertains it not to thee to keep in repair that habitation thou hast made so for thy self Will it tend to thy Honour who hast begun to build to leave the workmanship of thine own hands as if not able to finish must not the food and Author of our Spiritual life nourish and cherish redress the decays uphold the frame of it in us Oh! will the head let a member perish shall a branch wither for want of juyce he is the true vine we the branches thou art the husbandman haft ordained him to be the root fountain and support of all Spiritual furniture grace and fruitfulness to those implanted in him Oh of his fulness of Grace communicate to me for without him I can do nothing acceptable to thee Art not thou as willing to bestow the fruit of thy Blood upon us as to shed it for us Hast not thou who once so readily healed diseases cured all that came unto thee as much mercy to Soul as Body Art thou not as merciful as tender as able as willing to help as ever If as I hope thou wilt thou canst make me clean and supply my wants outward means without thee cannot yet here thou hast bid I attend waiting for the descent of thy Holy Spirit oh say unto me be it unto thee even as thou wilt yea even as thou wilt who art ever readily strongly inclin'd to do thy people good Oh let me be so refresht and strengthen'd with that spiritual banquet that I may chearfully walk on my way to glory through him who is both Sacrifice and Priest the Feast and Master of it invites us to and feeds us by himself to whom with thy Blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be ascribed all Honour Glory and Praise now and for ever Amen Going to Church COme away my Soul let us go oh that I may See how he loved us how dear we are unto him how nearly related he is unto us Let us go die with and for him disclaim whatsoever is against him renew our Covenant with him consecrate our selves wholly to him that we will never leave nor forsake him We were unworthy he should speak to us or look upon us he comes unto us dwells with us in our nature unworthy of the crums that fall from the Table he hath spread for all creatures and behold he calls us to one furnished with the richest of his blessings Oh that I may find him whom my soul loveth oh that he would speak comfortably savingly effectually sensiblie unto me that my heart may burn within me while he talketh with me and openeth unto me his love and affection those holie misteries and my understanding His sweat
and blood oh my soul drowned not his affections to us his Compassion brake through his passion in the same night which was so full of anguish and dolor to his Soul wherein he was betray'd when death was in sight and all those unspeakable fears and sorrows terrors and sufferings were ready to invade him when his Disciples were readie to betray forsake deny him injuries from men readie to load him and the Justice of God upon sin to be demonstrated on him he then even forgot his own misereies to remember and dispense his meries to us and provide this Banquet for us continually to present himself to us lest after he had endured so much for us we should forget or distrust his love unto us Oh how was he burned between two fires the fire of his Affections to us and that of his Afflictions for us At that time wherein men were designing the greatest cruelty against him was he bestowing the greatest courtesie and gift on us himself leaving us a Legacie a pledge at parting of his dearest love stronger then death that held him on the cross to finish our Salvation when death could not hold him in the grave Before he gave himself to be crucified for us he provides an ordinance the means of his communicating himself to us he gives us in the Sacrament what he did and gave prepared and purchased for us on the cross Oh the infinite love of God that he would give his own Son and of Christ that he would so graciously come and save us and leave us those remembrances and tokens of his love that he should die for us when he was on earth be so mindful of and nourish us with himself now he is in Heaven Oh wonderful misterie that the Bodie of Christ now reigning in Heaven should be laid upon the Table that the Author of life should become the Bread of life that under the broken form of bread and wine whole Christ should be conveyed to everie Believer His Personal Union is with the single nature but his Mystical with every Believer This Sacrament is the representative of the Substance the sign of a Covenant the seal of a Purchase the figure of a Body the witness of our Faith the earnest of our Hope the presence of things distant the sight of things absent the taste of things unconceivable the knowledge of things that are past knowledge a seal of our Saviours engraving whose superscription is Christ's loving us whose Image is Christ dying for us whose deed is Christs New Testament confirmed to us in the sign we have the Image in the seal the benefit of Christ's Body in the sign we see in the seal we by Faith receive him The Bread and Wine are but the dishes in which this Feast not of the belly but mind is served up not the Feast it self Faith eats not the Bread but the breaking of it drinks not the Wine but the pouring of it forth The eating Christs flesh and drinking his blood is nothing else but an act of Faith terminated upon him as our Mediator and Redeemer The participation of his Body and Blood for strength and refreshment sweet to Faith as meat and drink is to hunger could not be better shadow'd forth then by the staff of Bread and Wine comprising all sorts of Spiritual provision for our inner man and Faith is to the Soul what Natural hear is to the body by virtue of which the Nutritive Faculty turns the food into nourishment They present and confirm Christ to us as the most needful beneficial and perfect nourishment of the New man as Bread and Wine are such unto the Body i. e. that Christ crucified preserves us from Eternal death and is unto us the Fountain of Spiritual and Eternal life Believe and thou hast eaten Christ is present with but not in the Bread and Wine but to the faithful Receiver not in the Elements but to the Communicants not water but washing with it is Baptism not Bread and wine on the Table are a Sacrament but eating and drinking them which if they be acts of Faith the hand and mouth of the soul the Bread and Wine as really convey and unite whole Christ with the vital influences that proceed from him to the Soul as the hand doth them to the mouth or the mouth to the stomach Whatsoever we may expect of bodily strength or reparation from Bread and Wine we may expect from Christ for our Soul life maintained grace quickened deadness enlivened resolutions enabled hope erected faith strengthened lusts subdued which is consequent upon our union with Christ and interest in the Covenant renewed and ratified to his people by Christs death and sealed to them in the Sacrament In the Word we have a promise here a pawn or pledge of him Lift up your heads therefore O ye gates of my Soul and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors and the King of Glorie shall come in And be assured such additions of grace as thou art fitted for and Infinite Wisdom sees meet to deal out shall be conferred upon thee Fear not I charge thee do not faint let not thy weakness thy povertie thy inabilitie discourage thee all have not Talents alike a Faith richly embroidered with love and delight is not given to all and expected onely from those to whom it is given Be thy attire whole sincere clean and white free from spots of the flesh and Spirit though not so perfumed with heaven as thy Brethren thou wilt be welcome Thy God and Saviour will not ask How camest thou hither not having on a Wedding-garment he knows thy heart and sees thou hast it He will not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoking Flax till he send forth judgment unto victorys What manner of guests were those he commanded to be brought in to the Wedding Supper but such as were found in the streets and lanes the Hedges and high wayes the poor and the maimed the lame the halt and the blind hunger-starved forlorn undone lost wretches Oh blessed is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approach unto thee that they may dwell in thy Courts We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy House even of thy holy Temple At the Lords Table WHat shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits I will take the cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto him now in the presence of all his people Come forth oh my graces stir up your selves stand ye lively and active before the Lord. Awake my Faith and see the Attonement of my sins in the broken body of my Saviour the price paying the ransom laid down the thing in doing Awake Repentance and hear the strong cries and see the doleful Agonies of him that bore our chastisements Awake my Memory and call to mind that Egypt wherein I was and the Blood of the Passover which removed the Destroying Angel from my Soul Now
let the Altar smoke with the sacrifice of a loving heart inflamed with the holy fire of Gods love to me Flame oh Love come ye warm Desires and break with longing Let Fear with all veneration do its obeisance Come up ye Daughters of Musick and all that is within me bless his holy Name Now the wax is warm Oh let the seal be stamped fair that I may see the impression ever after Now that God shews forth to me the death of his Son for me let me shew it forth to God again as that which I stick unto and abide by for my Righteousness and Peace with him Having liberty and access with boldness unto the Throne of Grace by the Blood of Jesus the High Priest of our Profession let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water O thou that providest food for all creatures and hast given all creatures to be food for Mans body and for his soul not only thy holy Word but the blessed Body and Bloud of thy Son cause all our hearts to burn with desires after thee who art so full of love to us Prepare every one by a full digestion of thy heavenly word to receive likewise this Divine nourishment Make it through the lively operation of thy Holy Spirit the Bread of Spiritual life and Wine of Spritual comfort to all our Souls Cause us to long after relish and savour the things of God Let this be the constant language of our Souls Lord ever more give us this Bread Call in compose and spiritualize all our thoughts at this solemn Ordinance Pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek thee though he be not cleansed according to the Purification of the Sanctuarie And O thou that made us upright pitie the degeneracy of mankind despise not the price of thy Sons blood let it not be as water spilt upon the ground convert direct unite provide for take care of support and comfort all of them let us take a mutual charge of one another make us all up more and more into the mystical bodie of thy Son that we may keep the unitie of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Afford us thy Gospel in its power and puritie libertie and efficacie so long as the Sun and Moon endureth Let us never want Magistrates and Pastors after thy own heart which shall protect encourage thy people and feed them with knowledge and understanding See my Soul thy Saviour set down with what a handful of his Disciples On the Communicants separated from the Congregation that lay in common with the rest of the world by nature children of wrath even as others born in the same state of distance from thee and with the same principles of enmitie against thee Oh! what is this that is come to pass how is it that thou manifestest thy self to us and not unto the world what moved thee to make a difference where thou foundest none Why â—vere we not made a Prey of Divine revenge and perished not in our enmitie against thee Why wert thou not provoked by our obstinacie malice and unbelief beyond the possibilitie of an Attonement Why hast thou so long suffered our injurious disrespects and unkind repulses of a merciful Saviour and perswaded till thou overcame and made â—us yield Why hast thou not cut off all our hopes of a blessed immortalitie who have paid so great bountie with contempt so manie benefits with ingratitude so inexpressible love with oblivion neglect and hatred Oh what hast thou done What hast thou not done and suffered for us why wouldest thou buy sinful dust with thy own blood Redeem our shame by the shameful death of Glorie and immortalitie it self put thy self that got nothing by making the world to more charge then all of it is worth to redeem the worst part of it fallen man Who can conceive whether we had precipitated our selves and to what thou haft exalted us to be spectacles even grateful to God who were monsters of horrour laid in his bosom who were in the arms of the Devil worthy his imbracements who were unworthy of his eye crowned Kings of Heaven who were slaves condemned to the Prison of Hell He not onely pardons our sins but relinquished his Throne lost his life to inthrone us in his Kingdom bestows on us his greatest mercies unworthy of the least sets us down as sons at his Table with his children who are unworthy as dogs do creep under it courts us to obedience who might not onely command us to it but instantly punish our disobedience promises a reward to such who are so far from deserving it that they are still provoking him glory to such who are more apt to be ashamed of their duties then offences Oh! how ought we to be transported with love and thankfulness considering who hath chosen us when why whom from and to what how long and how few his peculiar care of and kindness unto us How should the remembrance of this dear love of our Lord make us â—urn with ardent affections towards one â—nother How shall we offend one of â—hose for whom Christ dyed or deny â—ur selves to them to whom he hath giâ—en himself Shall we hate be envious â—nd uncharitable where thou art so loâ—ing so liberal condemn or despise the â—eanest when thou distributest thy self â—o all Oh now we see thy love to â—nemies let all ours find us friends Let â—o malice heart-burning or uncharitableâ—ess enter in or any more rancour my â—oul With all thy prople let me interâ—st my self and own them in all their conterments pity them in all their miseries â—e ready to relieve them in all their â—ants to comfort them in all their diâ—tresses to counsel them in all their doubts to delight in their society bear their infirmities pardon all their miscarâ—iages study their welfare do all the good 〈◊〉 can to Soul and Body Now I see the Minister at the Table to consecrate the Bread and Wine by Prayer â—nd the words of Christs Instiâ—ution The Minister at the Table with joy and admiration think my Soul how Christ was ordained and accomplished for the Office of a Mediator whom the Father sanctified and senâ— into the world and for this cause he sanctified himself as Priest Altar and Sacrifice for our Redemption Spiritual nourishment and Eternal salvation The Eternal Wisdom of God Incarnate tâ—â— reveal and communicate his Will hiâ— Love his Spirit his Glory to sinful miserable Man Oh the immensitie of his Mercy and unutterable treasures of hiâ— Grace which neither the provocation of our sins nor the infinite exactness oâ— his own Justice could any way overcomâ— or restrain to despise the works of his owâ— hand or not to compassionate the wretchedness of his Creatures though it coâ—â— the Humiliation and Exinanition of thâ— Son of God! Oh how great how amiable appears his Love and goodness iâ—
of his Cross by â—im to reconcile all things to himself we â—â—at were sometimes Aliens and Enemies â—ow thou hast reconril'd in the body of his â—â—esh through death to present us holy unâ—â—lameable unreproveable in thy sight â—e who sometimes were far off are made â—igh by the blood of Christ for he is our â—eace our peace-maker who hath made â—oth one broken down the middle wall â—f partition betwen us by whom we have â—â—so now received the Attonement Lord I am in worse than Egyptian â—ondage a captive to Satan a slave 〈◊〉 my Lusts destitute of grace and eveâ—â— good thing But is not here a sufâ—cient price laid down for my ransom â—nd all things pertaining to life and godliâ—ess hath he not obtained eternal reâ—emption for us who came to give who â—â—ve himself a ransom for many for all Hath he not delivered redeemed bought me quite out of the hands-of Justice out of the power of Sin and Satan If while we were yet sinners Christ died for us much more then being now justified by hiâ— Blood shall we be saved from wratâ— through him For Sin he condemned siâ— in the flesh overcame death and destroyed him that had the power of death eveâ— the Devil I beg of thee and rely upon theâ—â—for supplies of my soul-pressing wants grace and peace comfort more love untâ— thee and fear of thee and. I ask no morâ— then what he hath bought for me who hatâ— not onely purchased me with his owâ— blood but all good things by the redundancy of his Merit after satisfactioâ— made unto thee for our debt I have no righteousness of my own but what is as filthy rags but thou haâ— made him to be sin for us who knew 〈◊〉 sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him we are clothed witâ— him and appear in thy sight as parts anâ— portions of himself the fulness of him thâ—â— filleth all in all Oh! impute not thâ— guilt but the merit of his blood unto mâ—â— behold me in him whom thou hast appointed between thee and sinners whose righteousness in every point answers thy Justice and whose sufferings are sufficient to satisfie the penalty of all my sins Oh ballance them against mine iniquities and the excess and proportion of virtue in his obedience against the malignity and unpleasingness of my disobedience they will so far exceed in weight and worth that thou wilt in justice rather pour forth thy mercy upon me and accept me into favour for the one then hold me still in displeasure for the other And oh thou who without grudging bore my burthen when thou stoodst at the Bar of Accusation when thou shalt sit in the seat of Judgment wilt thou stick to seal my pardon Where thy self hath paid the debt thy justice cannot deny to sign the Acquittance nor thy tender love suffer thee to condemn or reject a member of thy body a part of thy self Thou that sufferedst for me here and pleadest for me now cannot forget to be gracious to me then The Law Satan and my sins no only stop my mouth that I cannot plead my own Cause but they plead against me and cry unto thee for vengeance Buâ— is not this Blood as a visible prayer iâ— every wound as so many mouths opeâ— interceding to thee for pardon and mercy for me saying behold the travel 〈◊〉 my Soul the purchase of my blood thâ— fruit of my Agonies for him I wepâ— and sweat bled and dyed he hath sinned but I have satisfied he departeâ— for a season that thou shouldest receive him for ever not as a servant only buâ— brother unto me both in the flesh and in the Lord for mine and thy own sake therefore if thou account me thy beloved Son receive him as my self in whom thou art well-pleased if he have wronged thee or owes thee ought put it on my account I will repay it I will answer for him I Jesus have ratified and confirmed it with my own Blood his surety came not out of Prison untill he had paid the uttermost farthing Behold Oh Lord the bleeding wounds of thy own Son remember how his body was broken think upon his precious blood shed for us let us dye if he hath not made a full satisfaction we desire not to be pardoned if he hath not paid our debt But canst thou behold him and not be well-pleased with us canst thou look upon his body and blood which we present to thee and turn thy face from us Oh let us prevail in the vertue of his Sacrifice for the Graces and Blessings we need Take pity have mercy upon us for his sake whom we now desire to hold up between thy anger and our Souls and hide not thy self from us unless thou canst from him whom we bring with us unto thee While we are remembring him at his Table he is remembring us at his Father's right hand I am not only guilty but polluted sin hath as well defiled as it would damn me But oh remember who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood of virtue and Spirit to purifie me as value and merit to pacifie thee To this Fountain which thou hast set open I bring my polluted Soul and what hinders but that I may wash and be clean be purged from the filth as well as pardon'd for and saved from the guilt of all my sins for the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sins Oh how often is my Soul cast down within me my omissions and Commissions my sins and duties as I perform them discomfort me I am ashamed of and blush to see them my petitions for pardon stand in need of pardon my tears of washing my best performances are provocations and help to fill up the measure of my sins but for the Priest that offers the Altar that sanctifies all my services the sweet incense he offers with our prayers His Priesthood is for ever available and effectual for us Here is wine sweetned with the love of God perfumed with the divine nature that chears the heart of God by way of satisfaction and the heart of Man by way of pacification that makes peace in Heaven and within us and all our Sacrifices wellpleasing unto thee who dealst not with us according to our frailties but state in our Advocate who when he had by himself purged our sins sate down on the Right hand of the Majesty on high and ever lives to make intercession for us If thy grace prevented us before Repentance that we might return shall it not much more prevent Repenting sinners that we may not perish how canst thou but love them that love thee seeing thou loved us when we hated thee Oh my stony unrelenting heart how unaffected am I with my own vileness and thy goodness the evil of sin and excellency of grace the worth of my Soul and death of my Saviour but the blood of Christ is able to soften and
mollifie the most obdurate sinner Oh that I could feel the vertue and power of it dissolving this rock into a fountain of tears a relenting frame a heart of flesh My lusts and Corruptions are many and mighty too strong for me but not for thy self As in the first Adam's sin man died legally so in the second Adam's death sin died virtually He suffered to save his people from their sins that himself and not sin should have dominion over us Shall not that blood mortifie my pride worldliness inordinate affections which shall subdue the whole body of sin shall I reproach or make void his death unto my own Soul or by continuance in sin that brought so great a punishment on so great a person be a greater enemy to him then the Jews were How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein knowing this that our Old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Oh that I may henceforth find and reckon my self to be dead unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord Oh how am I tempted and assaulted that I am sometimes ready to say I shall one day fall by my spiritual enemies but Faith gives us a share in the victories of Christ having spoyled all Principalities and Powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them as our enemies in on the Cross his triumphant Chariot took away from them all possibility to hurt though they assault us still we are assured of an absolute victory The accuser of the Brethren is cast down which accused them before God day and night and they overcome by the Blood of the Lamb that hath quenched the flames of divine fury and all our enemies are reconciled or subdued Ah my Lord how often doth sin and the world deadden my heart and affections towards thee O how dull how indisposed that I cannot pray with life nor be lively in thy service but this blood was shed to set Prisoners free and is the life of all our duties graces and comforts Oh that its power and efficacy may quicken and enliven me may put vivacity and activity in me that I may pray and hear receive meditate and discourse of spiritual things with freedom and liberty liveliness and chearfulness Oh that I may no more as I have too too often disbelieve or question the promises of this life or that to come For this Blood ratifies and confirms the Covenant of grace not only purchased but assures us of all good things Christ's Will and Testament wherein he hath bequeathed such precious legacies to his people is now of force for a Testament is of force after the Testator is dead Oh how ought it to affect me for the betraying of innocent Blood he was holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners in his hands no wickedness in his heart no sin no guile found in his mouth I and my brethren are guilty but for this spotless Lamb what hath he done and where there is no sin thou inflictest no punishment But he was numbred with the Transgressors surely then the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all for the transgression of my people was he smitten by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities Oh! I take thee at thy word and do believe all my sins with all thine Elects were imputed to our surety and the wages of sin inflicted on him that we might be fully acquitted and discharged I am guilty of many aggravated sins and am the greatest of sinners but with thee is plenteous redemption through Christ Jesus who shed his Blood not because we were Righteous but to make us So of infinite vertue and merit as sufficient for me as if none else were justified or saved by it He is able to save to the utmost all that come unto thee by him Oh how small how imperfect are my Graces how cold my Love how weak my Faith How faint my desires after thee but the least degree of Grace is the fruit of this Blood Oh that I may find it's efficacy perfecting that good work thou hast begun in me from strengh to strength till grace be consummated â—n Glory Through the Blood of the Eternal Covenant make me perfect in every good work to do thy will working in me that which is well-pleasing in thy sight Oh what trifles disturb my charitable affections how interrupted and inconstant my love to those who by one spirit are all baptized into one body but Christ hath reconciled us in one body by the Cross having slain the enmity thereby Oh that henceforth I may be of one heart with his Disciples and love them as he hath loved us Our God is a Consuming Fire which I cannot but dread having so much fuel about me and within me but in thy Son I see flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone who gave himself for us And shall the sentence of thy judgment disannul the merit of his sufferings of his satisfaction Didst thou not punish him that thou mightest spare us is it not as great a necessity of thy Satisfied Justice to spare the sinner as it was of thy offended Justice to punish the sin Thou art not only reconcilable but desirous to become our friend Oh how comfortable are those words of thine to my guilty Soul the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son his first coming was in the flesh when he took on him our nature his second in the spirit when he imparted unto us of his spirit his third will be in power when he shall communicate to us his glory his first was to redeem his second to comfort his third will be to reward us If we be careful not to offend he will not be extreme to mark what we do amiss He will proceed not according to the Law which requires an absolute obedience without sin and will condemn all that have been guilty of any sin but according to the Gospel which admits of repentance for the forgiveness of sin and will condemn none but the unbelieving and impenitent sinner Damnation is denounced not for breaking the Law but rejecting the Gospel He is faithful because he hath promised and just because his Son hath purchas'd forgiveness The same sentence shall be pronounced as is past already in the Gospel Whosoever be-believes in him shall not perish but have ever-everlasting life Sin hath shut us out of paradise but â—e blood of Christ hath opened the Kingâ—om of Heaven to all believers It gives us â—ere a right and hereafter an admission â—â—rough this Red Sea we enter into the â—eavenly Canaan and for this cause he 〈◊〉 the Mediator of the New Testament â—hat by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under â—he first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance And he that
holes in his side Oh what fight a fire a flame of love did I see in his blessed Heart and my self pourtray'd upon it my name among the rest oh with what joy and comfort to my Soul he hath set me as a Seal upon his Heart love is strong as death many waters of affliction cannot quench it nor the floods of trouble or persecution drown it might all the pleasures profits honours of the world be given for it it would be utterly despised Oh how easie find I his yoke how light his burthen methinks I could watch or pray do or suffer more believingly more couragiously than ever It was the voice of my Beloved that knocked saying open unto me my Sister my Love my Dove my Undefiled he put in his hands by the holes of the door and my bowels were moved for him my Soul failed when he spake I sought him in every part of the Ordinance and he was found of me I called him and he gave me answer I sate under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste He brought me to the Banqueting house and his Banner over me was Love His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me A bundle of Myrrh is my Beloved unto me he shall lye all night betwixt my Breasts he shall be still in my heart by affection and Faith I will make him my continual joy comfort and refreshment and solace my self in him in all estates Oh that his name may be graven upon my heart and his Image remain fair and lively upon my Soul Oh that I may find a kind of unwillingness to admit of any other company when I come to converse with other things let me still be looking towards him as my only desire good and happiness let my heart be so filled with him that other objects may not come near or make any strong impression on me Oh that some lively coles of that holy fire kindled at the Ordinances may be still glowing in my Soul that the savour and tincture of it may be never done away Oh how can any other pleasure seem any more pleasant to me Can I desire the husks the Swine do eat when there is such Bread in my Fathers house no man having drunk old wine straightway desireth new for he saith the old is better Sure he hath been little affected nor had any taste of Gods sweetness presently to relish worldly things to wash off his palate the savour of spiritual with sensual or secular thoughts Abrupt chopings off from Holy Duties is such a quenching of the spirit as tends much to hardning the heart such sudden quenchings of spiritual heat got in an Ordinance cannot be without much danger to the Soul motions so quite opposite are as prejudicial as unbecoming Is it fit or seemly to leave the company of our Lord so soon as we have let him in and divert to other occasions associate our selves to other persons now we have newly given him our Faith and taken him as the Bridegroom of our Souls and not rather delight in the presence of our new love and keep our heart from cooling by laying on new fuel turning the remainder of this day into an after supper a second Communion In reviewing and being humbled for our coldness distractions miscarriages In blessing God for the liberty and opportunity of a Sacrament and the priviledges thereby confer'd upon us in ruminating on and retaining the savor of those pleasant things we have been entertained with exceedingly gladded in the sense of that love we have been tasting and celebrating in the belief of that pardon we have received in the hopes of that Grace and Glory that hath been assured to us In considering the obligations we have laid on our selves In heavenly discourses with our beloved in expressions of our love and affection towards him acts of desire after inseparable union with and greater likeness unto him in vows and promises we will alwayes be faithful and loyal to him in entertaining him with acts of love and delight thanks and praise with the best chear we are able to make our new our beloved guest in commending his beauty praising him for his kindness and favours extolling his riches admiring his perfections and graces talking with him about the affairs of our Soul in opening to him every room in it leading him into the most private recesses of our heart shewing him all the secrets of it acquainting him with all our wants and weaknesses spreading before him all our desires and fears hopes and griefs In praying for help and assistance to be steadfast in his Covenant interceding with him for all mankind especiall our Fellow Communicants In telling him again all we have is his in tying a new knot upon the band of the Covenant between us craving him pardon for our follies desiring him not to be offended at the dark and noisome hole into which we have brought him entreating him with all loves that he will not take exception at his poor entertainment even charming him to stay and dwell with us by all the songs of praise and thankfulness we can devise Subsequent Duties after the Sacrament AND now my utmost care and diligence is required to express the power and efficacy of the Ordinance in living more fruitfully religiously watchfully in making good my vows and promises at the Sacrament That heart and life therefore may be sutable to my Sacramentall obligations and may witness the good received in and by it oh my Soul Make a solemn reflection on thy self and entertainment How was my heart and behaviour before God what welcom did he give me Reflection is necessary after every duty what good have I got what warmth of affection what more love to desire after delight and confidence in God what greater ability and love to discharge duty to bear affliction to resist temptation to walk in Gods ways so especially after the Sacrament was my Heart hard dull indisposed I must then suspect my miscarriage in preparation or performance and labour to find out be truely sensible of greatly bewaile and humble judge and condemn my self and beg pardon for the cause earnestly importune him that he would now help me by Prayer and Humiliation to recover the benefit of the Ordinance that I may by an after act do that which I should have done before Sorrow for and sense of our senslesness is one fruit of Christs death we undoubtedly receiv'd in the Ordinance We may not judge of our gain by and profit in duty by our present feeling or that the only evidences of Communion and acceptance with God are our Souls lifted up and ravished with sensible joys our uprightness and sincerity in the performance of our duties and in our covenanting with God and continuing stedfast therein may administer most ground of comfort when we reflect upon it for we were then really acceptable to him that look'd down upon us and received from
my Duty walked unanswerable to those multiplied obligations laid upon me broken all thy holy Commandments by many and great transgressions made and judged my self unworthy of everlasting life * Here mention your particular failings so that nothing might remain unto me but a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation to devour me But thou delightest in mercy and not in the death of a sinner art not willing any should perish but that all should come to repentance Oh take not counsel of thy just indignation but of thy native goodness thy satisfi'd justice Wilt thou destroy him that presents himself to be punished and thy Son to have satisfied that desires not to live unless it be by the benefit of thy mercy and his sufferings Wilt thou not spare me for thy Son who sparedst not thy Son for me Is there not enough in his Merits and Sacrifice to expiate all my sins and to justifie my person in thy sight O suffer not thy self to be deprived of the glory of my forgiveness and salvation as well as of my creation and redemption Save me whom thou hast hitherto spared and forgive me eternal death which I have so often merited by my great offences Bury them all in the bottomless Ocean of thy own Mercy and forgetfulness and my Saviours Blood lay them upon him who is able to bear them and cloath me with his righteousness that is able to cover me Oh free me from the guilt and stain the power and penalty the reign and dominion of sin that nothing may separate me from thy love nor from the sensible discoveries of it at thy Table That I may be a meet and worthy Receiver accept me into thy favour let thy mercy pardon my sins thy grace sanctifie my soul thy goodness supply my wants thy merits inrich my poverty thy precious blood wash away all my spots thy Holy Spirit prepare and direct and assist me Take away my filthy garments my spiritual filthiness and cloath me with the best robe the Lord our righteousness Oh think me worthy for his sake and make me worthy for thy mercy-sake Deal not with me according to my deserts but thy great goodness and my great necessity Let me so remember my sins that thou mayest forget them set them so before my face that thou mayest cast them behind thy back Give me such a lively steadfast Faith in Christ for forgiveness that thou mayest seal it up unto my soul Let me love him and all his members with a pure heart fervently at thy holy Communion and ever after without dissimulation So enlarge my Soul with spiritual affections and desires that it may even break for the longings it hath unto that Ordinance and unto thy Testimonies at all times Remove far from me all blindness of mind hardness of heart unrelenting affections deadness and indisposedness earthliness and distraction irreverence unbecoming apprehensions whatsoever may hinder the blessing and efficacy of that soul-nourishing refreshing Ordinance thy gracious presence my eternal salvation Create in me an understanding heavenly clean heart O God and renew an humble contrite right spirit within me prepared for thee Oh be not as a stranger unto me hide not thy self from me lift up the light of thy countenance upon me Let me feel the comfortable breathings of thy Holie Spirit in my Soul at thy Ordinance sanctifie it to me and me to receive it acceptably with due preparation and apprehensions reverence and humility repentance and faith love and charity joy and thankfulness a deep sense of thy inexpressible love and my own unworthiness And oh that all of us who this day approach thy Table may so eat his flesh which he hath given for the life of the World that we may live for ever and so drink his blood that it may be to us for remission of sins Meet us not in our selves in thy justice as a consuming fire but a reconciled Father in thy righteous and beloved Son whom thou gavest who gave himself for us when we were thy enemies Let us depart thence more under the power of thy love and grace and under greater resolutions and abilities to do thee faithful service all our dayes through Jesus Christ our Sacrifice and Redemption Hope and Confidence Surety and Advocate the Food and Health the Life and Salvation of our Souls who hath taught us when we pray to say Our Father c. As soon as ever the Sermon is ended look towards the Lords Table and say within your selves THis Sacrament I am going to is a standing Memorial of my Saviour's Passion wherein he once offered up Himself to God and a Sign of that nourishing and strengthning Grace which he now offers to me under the notion of Food It is the true meanes and instrument of conveying on me those Blessings and signifies that which by its proper Institution it represents In the making and ordering of those Elements see consider O my Soul the heavy Blows and Bruises the Pressures Piercings Pains and Sufferings of thy Saviour from his Father and wicked men The malice and violence of his Murderers crucified Him as a Malefactor and the fierie wrath of God made him a Burnt Sacrifice and under both these Sufferings He is become to me Meat indeed and Drink indeed the stay and support the comfort refreshment and life of my Soul nourishing and preserving it to eternal life That Bread and Wine could never sustain and nourish me if the one had not fallen into the Earth under the Sickle the Flail the Mill-stone and the Fire the other under the Hook and the Press of the Husbandman nothing less then the Cross the Wounds the Death of my Lord my God of his dearest Son made me a Saviour and by this Sacrament assures me I shall be kept up and fed with a supplie of all necessarie Blessings as certainlie as he gives me to taste that Bread and Wine the ordinarie meanes for preserving my life and strength Whilest we condemned Creatures were passing on to our Execution the Son of God looked upon us and took our Condemnation upon Himself and under it died in our stead Thus by the death and satisfaction of this Sacrifice Justice gave way to my Release God the Father forgave my Sin and God the Son procured my Life Then fall upon your Knees with all imaginable Reverence and say LEt the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my Redeemer Most gracious God who of thy great goodness hast ordained this Ordinance for a continual Remembrance ofâ— hat ever prevailing Sacrifice which thy infinite Wisdom and Love hast appointed and accepted upon the Cross for us vile helpless wretched Sinners make us truely sensible of all our offences against thee and of his Love and Sufferings for us and accept us in Him to the Praise of thy Grace Rebuke all unseasonable thoughts and imaginations stir up and act in us
every grace of thy Holy Spirit and graciously entertain us and grant we may now so behave our selves that we may not provoke but glorifie thee be savingly partakers of the Redemption we now commemorate and be found and kept in the number of thy Redeemed Ones for ever BLessed Lord who revivest by this sacred Banquet the memory of thy inexpressible Love and of my Saviour's Sufferings inable me by Faith so to apply his Passion that healing strength and saving vertue may proceed from it the strength and sweet odour of whose Oblation is a fragrant as savingly efficatious as when first offered up unto thee Inlighten my Understanding prepare my Heart Help O help me that I may now abate nothing of those affections that are due unto Thee and my ever blessed Redeemer And let me obtain the fruits and Benefits of his Death and Passion even the remission of all my Sins and the fulness of all thy Graces O bless me and thine own institution unto me and grant that I may not increase my guilt by abusing of what thou offerest me but may receive a blessing from Thee HOly righteous Father who seest nothing in me that is truly mine but dust and ashes and which is worse sinful Flesh polluted Blood O look upon some few resemblances of thine Image some raies and beams of thy Spirit some small beginnings of thy Grace which are from thee in me and supply the defects with thy Mercy Merits and Sacrifice of thy Son Turn thine Eyes O merciful Father to his Satisfaction and Intercession who now sits at thy right Hand to the Seales of thy Covenant which lie before thee upon thy Table and to all the wants and distresses which thou seest in my Soul and take this opportunity of glorifying thy Mercy thy Son and thy Grace towards me and upon me BLessed Jesus so dispose me by thy grace and Holy Spirit to feed spiritually and really upon that Sacrifice which thou offeredst without the Gate and which this Sacrament sets before me here in thy Court that I may be admitted into that holy place which thy Sacrifice hath opened and this Sacrament invites me to And help me so to drink of this fruit of the Vine that I may drink it new in my Father's Kingdom where I shall be delighted and refreshed and converse with thee withou these tipical shadows and adumbrations When the Minister is confessing sin and praying for the efficacy of the Ordinance let your Heart concur with him and put in your particular failings with their aggravations and the mercies you in special need which he omits Prostrate your Souls in the sence of your own vileness and necessities joyn with all earnestness in his confessions and Petitions as one that knows the evil of sin and the need and worth of the Blessings he Requests And let the solemn consecration of the Bread and Wine mind thee how thy Saviour was consecrated and set apart for thy Salvation And say HOw wonderful is thy wisdom and Love O God in our Recovery and Redemption How justly mightest thou have dealt with us as with the fallen Angels and left us to perish without a Remedy Howstrangely dost thou glorifie thy Mercy over those Sins that gave thee the advantage and occasion to glorifie thy Justice Even thou our God whom we have offended and provoked eternally to ruine us hast out of thine own Treasure satisfied thine own Justice and given us a Saviour by such a Miracle of Wisdom Love and Condescension as Men and Angels shall never be able fully to comprehend So didst thou love the sinful World as to give thy onely begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life When you see the breaking of the Bread and powring out of the Wine say O Hateful Sin O wonderful Love O dreadful Justice O precious Sacrifice O merciful Saviour How gracious Lord hast thou been to Sinners How severe unto thy Son How cruel have we been unto thee and our selves How small a matter hath tempted me to that which cost so dear before it was forgiven I Cannot but here observe something very like the Sacrifice and Passion of my Dear Redeemer Thus the Bread of Life was broken Thus the Lamb of God was slain Thus his precious Blood was shed Thus his Father gave Him once to die and gives still the vertue of his Death to bless and save every one that comes unfeignedly to Him While the Minister and others are Receiving before you say WHo can sufficiently admire and adore Thee most gracious God for reconciling us unto thy self Vile sinners the Off-spring of sinful Parents thou treatest as familiar Friends as dear Children Thou mightest have brought us together hither for a Sacrifice to Thy Justice and behold one of Thine own making for us the Son of Thy Love We are unworthie of the least crum of our dailie Bread unworthie to tread upon thy Earth to breath in thy Air to lift up our Eyes to Heaven and Thou givest us Bread from Heaven libertie to tread thy Courts Thy Spirit to breath in our Hearts leave to breath ouâ— our Requests unto Thee O compassionate Father And now Since Love will chuse such unworthy Guests and Mercy be honoured upon such Sin and Misery let that Mercy that invites us makes us acceptable and graciously entertain us O Author of my Salvation and of these Mysteries that express it Object and Truth of what I am now going to receive Thou art as able to perfect me with thy Blessings out of thy Throne as thou wert to redeem me by thy Sacrifice on thy Cross O perform in me by thy Sufferings what thou doest exhibit and present By this thy Body broken give also nourishment and maintenance unto eternal life Look upon a poor Sinner at Thy Table as Thou didst on him that hung by Thy Cross and remember me now Thou art in Thy Kingdom I Am unworthy that Thou shouldst enter under my Roof much less come and sup and dwell with me but seeing it is Thy good pleasure to vouchsafe me this favour cleanse me from all my Sins that I may entertain Thee in a pure and Sanctified Heart Make this unclean Habitation that is so unfit to receive Thee a Temple for thy Self to dwell in Strengthen my Faith assist me by Thy Grace and Spirit that I may fully rely upon Thee apply Thy Sufferings unto me worthily receive Thee When the Minister gives you the Bread Think you hear Christ say to you in particular Take eat this is my Body which is broken for Thee this do in remembrance of me MY Lord and my God didst Thou offer up thy Self for me despicable forlorn wretched Sinner as well as for any other and dost Thou now give Thy Self unto me and bid me remember Thee the Redeemer of my Soul the Author the Object and Truth of this Sacrament I humbly and thankfully receive Thee with a troubled Heart that I can no better receive Thee
entertain Thee love Thee remember Thee serve Thee express my gratitude towards Thee and that I have so often offended Thee Now I know thou lovest me seeing thou hast not with-held thy Son thine onely Son from me By his Merits and bloody Sacrifice I hope to be received into the Communion of his Sufferings here and hereafter into the Communion of his Glorie THis is the Sacrifice the Righteousness in which I trust and by which I am justified and saved from the Curse of Thy violated Law As Thou hast accepted it O Father for the World upon the Cross behold it still on the behalf of Sinners and hear his Blood that cries unto Thee for mercie to the miserable and for his sake pardon us and accept us 〈◊〉 thy reconciled Children This was my doing It was I â—nd such other Sinners that deserv'd to bear the punishment who were guilty of the Sin And can a Murderer of Christ be a small Offender Shall I ever have a dull a lifeless apprehension of Thy Love or a favourable thought of Sin more O that I may sufficiently detest and never more commit those Offences that delivered my Redeemer to Death that pierced my Saviours Handâ— and side that Crowned his Head with Thorns and filled his Souâ— with Grief O Thou who in thine anger revenged our Sins upon thy Son in thy merce correct and destroy them also in me And bestoâ— upon me such a measure of thâ— Spirit through which He offereâ— Himself without Spot unto Thee as may sanctifie for ever the Bodâ— and Soul which now I offer uâ— unto Thee and help me to discharge the Service I promise unto Thee O Blessed Lord Jesus who hast ordained this mystery for a communion of thy Body for a means of advancement and proficiency in Holiness and for an infallible Pledge of eternal Salvation which Thou hast purchased by thy Sufferings and preparest Thy people for by Thy Grace make this Ordinance of a true sign an effectual means of the same that it may be efficatious to settle me in the communion of Thy Sufferings which it sheweth forth to feed me with that living Bread which it presents and to sanctifie me for that eternal happiness which it promises and secures Take the Cup from the Minister as from Christ saying This is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for Thee for the remission of Thy Sins O The depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! How unsearchable is his Goodness and his Love past finding out How hast Thou surpassed all Humane Apprehensions What a matchless Gift is this and unto what unworthy Sinners Will God stoop so low to Man And come so near him and thus reconcile his provoking Enemy Will He freely pardon all I have done and take me into His Family and Love and feed me with the Flesh and Blood of his Son Such a guilty Soul might expect the destroying Angel that Thou wouldst have charg'd upon me all my Sin and Folly But while I condemned my self Thou hast justified me and given me the Seal of my Pardon in the blood of Thy gracious Covenant and surprised me with the surest Tokens and Pledges the sweetest Embracements of Thy Love O The unmerited the distinguishing goodness of the great and holy God of Heaven and Earth in making me a reasonable Creature his Servant his Son In providing so plentifully for my Body and my Soul temporal and spiritual bread to eat and Rayment to put on In giving me a heart in any measure to discharge my Duty unto Thee whilst others are neglecting Thee or expressing their enmity against Thee Innumerable are thy Creatures that cannot take notice of thy Benefits Yea how great a part of mankind made at first after thine Image live and die in Darkness and perish for want of Vision That cannot or will not enjoy these happy Opportunities are unavoidably kept from them or wilfully sinfully separate and exclude themselves How few of those that draw near to Thee sincerely wait upon Thee faithfully serve Thee are graciously accepted by Thee With what an unvaluable price hast Thou Redeemed a worthless Sinner that deserved Thy everlasting Vengeance with how precious a Feast entertainest Thou me that deserves to be cast out with the Workers of Iniquitie into the ever-flaming Pit in that I have been so careless of serving Thee so wilfully offended Thee so often preferred things displeasing unto Thee before Thee and provoked Thee to call back thy goodness and mercie from me HOw dearly hast Thou purchas'd my Love How strangely hast Thou deserved and sought it O what shall I say unto Thee or do or suffer for thee which way shall I express my gratitude towards thee O what an addition an answerable Heart would be to thy Love and Mercie and Invitation Make O make such deep and lasting Impressions upon my Soul of Thy care and kindness and condescention towards me that I may alwaies affectionatelie remember Thee faithfully serve Thee never offend Thee eternally enjoy Thee O That I could love thee as much as I should as I would as I shall love Thee when I shall do nothing else but praise Thee and serve Thee and love Thee without ever offending Thee or doubting of thy Love unto me In the mean time O that it may be the delight of my Soul to think of Thee and thy loving-kindness to reverence and worship Thee to pray unto Thee and praise Thee to wait upon Thee in Thine Ordinances at Thy Table to be ordered and guided by Thee I Offer up unto Thee my Soul and Body all I am and have to he ruled and disposed of by thee O that I may be full of zeal to follow Thee and rejoyce in being loved of Thee and humbly confide in Thee and absolutely resign my self unto Thee and be filled with constant devotion towards Thee and earnest breathings after Thee O Father of everlasting compassion forsake not in this Wilderness a feeble Israelite whom Thou hast brought thus far out of Egypt and let not the Soul Thou hast blessed with some desires and helped thus far with some tendency towards eternal happiness ever faint or fall from the right way O Son of God and Life of those that believe quench not but cherish and inflame the smoaking Flax break not but support and strengthen the bruised Reed Feed with thy Divine Influences this tender Branch this weak Member of Thine which without thee cannot but wither cannot but die cannot but perish Despise not the slender beginnings of Grace in me but carry it on with power until Thou hast made me meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Life Blessed Spirit of all Grace cleanse me from all my Sins keep and set forward in me notwithstanding all my Infirmities Thine own Work and carry it on unto Perfection Seal up unto me the Covenant of Pardon which is sealed and delivered to me in this Ordinance FIll our Hearts most gracious God with