not mercifully Remembred me this day in bringing me here where I find the Bread of Life hath he not now made me taste of that Tree of Life which shal be food for ever and all by His Gracious Remembring of me and shal I not Remember His Love more than Wine no thanks to me O Lord to Remember Thee and thy Love hadst thou required me to pass through some flames of a Hell it were my part to essay it at thy Command how much more when I have nothing but Love to remember shal not I remember thy unquenchable Love who hast rescued me from unquenchable Flames I have many times VVretchedly done what I could to quench thy Love but many waters hath not done it I do remember it Lord and through thy Grace will remember it and I will do this which thou now Requirest in remembrance of Thee and Thy love giving Thee thanks for Commanding it and had I nothing else to do in this Ordinance yet by Thy grace Thy gracious Command shal be Answered though in great weakness Here also is another part of this Blessed Communion Christ requiring remembrance and the Believer cordially yielding it 10. And when thou hearest of the shewing forth of His Death which Christ is not ashamed of but will have it in this manner Published then saith the Believer that Death brought Life to my Soul that Death hath overcome Death for me that now I may say O Death where is thy Sting by this Death is the Death of Deaths Hos 13. 14. O Death I will be thy plague and 1 Cor. 15. 54. Death is swallowed up in victory Death was long my terrour and kept me in Bondage not knowing what hour the first and the second Death might surprise me together now when I must go through that Passage I hope to fear no evil Christ hath Sweetned the Passage made it no Enemy but a necessary step for puting off Corruption that I may be Cloathed with incorruption there shal be no Prints of Sin or Death seen upon me no spot or wrinkle by the shrugs of Death I shal take no stench of Death with me where I go and all this by His Death who was Slain and is Alive I will this day apply it thankfully and Solemnly shew it Forth Christ Crucified being my Glory and He who bringeth me to Glory desiring in my Soul that His Death were shewed Forth from the Rising to the Setting of the Sun Here also is a part of this Blessed Communion Christ Requiring His Death to be shew'd Forth and the Believer cordially performing it 11. VVhen the Believer heareth that the Cup is the New Testament in His Blood Considering that by the Death of the Testator the Testament is of Force Heb. 9. 16 17. The Believer Interested in the Legacy may now with Confidence expect what is bequathed for the Testament thus Confirmed cannot be Disanulled Gal. 3. 15. Then saith the Believer I will give Credit to the Tokens and Pledges devised by Himself for my Confirmation He requireth me to take them as such and so I receive them from Him who is Faithful I will from henceforth expect all the Promised Blessings that I stand in need of for in this Covenant or Testament is all my Salvation Christ hath made all sure by His Death and now He hath made all sure to me by His Seal I dare not distrust His Seal or Pledges He hath made me a Believer He hath this day given me to believe in Christ Crucified I have Received Him according to His Offer He hath given me power to become one of the Children of God His Testament therefore is for me and it's Seal sealeth me up unto the day of Redemption and here is a comfortable part of this Communion with Christ He giveth the Pledges and Seal of His Testament and the Believer joyfully receiving them as such and Rendering Him Praise the Believer resolving now to go to Death in humble confidence That the Lord hath made an everlasting Covenant with him ordered in all things and sure These are but a taste of the seasonable Meditations in the time of Partaking and a Help for preventing Impertinent wanderings of the Mind and though a Communicant reach not all such particular Meditations at one time yet one or moe suitable serious Meditations on Christ's words of Institution will be found by the Blessing of God a mean to keep the Soul at that work which God then Requireth and so prevent the wounding Reflections of many after they have Communicated for it must be supposed that every Godly Communicant will reviewe the way how his Soul was Imployed at the Lord's Table and if he find that his Meditations were not opposit to the work it cannot but make a very bitter Reflection Know also that these Meditations already hinted are but for puting some weak People in mind to keep close by the Institution lest their thoughts go off their VVork but no ways intended as any Restriction or Limiting of Communicants except from wandring for if Christ manifest Himself and entertain thee with His Loves thou will not need such Helps for He can soon Elevate thy Soul into such Meditations affections and joy by the Breathings of His Spirit as thy self cannot Express and all of them suitable to the Blessed work thou art about CHAP. VII Believers should desire to Partake of this Communion The sixth Inference THis Blessed Ordinance of the Lord's Supper being the Communion of Christ's Body and Blood then Believers are oblidged to have a sincere and an earnest desire to partake of so great a Mercy And that we should desire this great Benfit Consider First The Lord Commandeth it and therefore we should have a desire and a delight to do His will we may not chuse or refuse as our inclination leadeth which appeareth to be the Errour of many not Considering that the Lord will call to an account what Regard is testified to so Gracious a Command which is to be Lamented that so many make their Humours their Rule they have not a mind to it it 's not their present desire and so lay it aside forgetting that it should be their desire because of Christ's Merciful Command 2. Because it 's a Feast of pure Love on Christ's part therefore it should be desired it was His Love that laid it's Foundation in laying down His Life 2. It 's His Love to appoint such a Memorial of it 3. His Love the Tokens of it then to be Communicated to Believers in a special manner Can there be Love where there is no desire to meet with Love and entertain it Consider what is to be your Feast the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the World if this be believed in heart how can ye but hunger and desire to eat for such Food will not be always in your Offer give praise that ever ye had the Offer of that which will make you praise for ever and be satisfying to
Season of their Mercy feeling their hearts to burn within them they would not part with Christ but verses 28. and 29. Albeit He made as though He would go away they constrained him to stay with them unto which He Graciously yielded approving their Diligence to have their Mercy continued Keep your selves in the love of God Jude 21. And remember that these Disciples who fell asleep presently after Communicating the next thing we hear of them was forsaking their Master 3. As thou art to begin thy work early so Engage in it Effectually and particularly to follow the Lord fully Remember before thou came to the Lord's Table when thou was Examining thy heart and Practice how many sins then appeared and how Hainous insomuch that thou thought it hard for thee to approach the Lords Table lest thou should prof me it and durst not resolve on Partaking until thou hadst resolved and Engadged against such and such particular sins as for Instance thy pride and seeking of vain glory to thy self polluting lusts over reaching of the siâ—ple wasting of time in company without necessary occasion thy being often ashamed of thy Lord's Words rather complying with than rebuking of evil thy offensive passions fretting at thy Lot thy fainting in time of Trial thy earthliness of mind thy frequent neglecting of Prayer thy lukewarmness in it thy neglect of Meditation on the state of thy Soul thy wearying of Sabbaths or the Holy Duties then required thy Ingratitude for many signal Deliverances and Mercies thy being unâ—utiful either to the Souls or Bodies of thy Relations or to the Poor the bad example thou often givest to thy Family and the like sins If all these or any such evil were wounding to thy Conscience acknowledged to God Lamented and Engadged against as in the sight of God when no Mâ—â—tal eye was witness and with this Engadgment on thy Conscience to Reform thy ways to endeavour all Duty and cast away all thy Transgressionâ— by the help of Grace if thus thou came to the Lords Table and there Solemnly Renewed thy Covenant with God avâ—ching Him that day to be the Lord thy God and to walk in his ways Deut 26. 17. And in Testimony of thy Consent to all the Articles of the Covenant of Grace didst receive the Lord's publick Gospel Seal then know that God will call thee to account for thy observation of this Covenant take care lest thou be Charged as these Psal 78. 36. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth and they lied unto him with their tongâ—es For their heart was not right with him neitheir were they stedfast in his Covenant Take heed ye be not as these who said they would not Transgress and yet are found wandring from God and playing the Harlot every where Jeremiah 2. 20. And that ye may be stedfast in your Covenant with God and faithfully performing your Vows that ye may shine more and and more bright unto the perect Day and continue that Blessed Communion with Christ which is begun Resolve on a true walk with God this honourable Walk is often mentioned and diverse ways expressed in Scripture whereby the Lord Condescendeth to our weakness for our good that we may the better understand how to manadge this Walk as First Walk in Him Col. 2. 6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him What a wonderful walk is this to walk in Christ who can understand this if it be not given from above yet they are the Words of God discovering our Duty our Priviledge and our greatest Help for this Holy Walk 1. Our Duty still to abide in Christ never to go from Him to any hand to have all our way consisting with Communion with Christ to admit willingly of nothing but that which He will admit of in fellowship with Him that so our fellowship may be continued 2. Our Priviledge in partaking of so great Happiness as to be Interested in His Favour His love and care and Blessed with such nearness as to have Him for our Habitation where we may live and walk at a Holy Liberty 3. Here is our greatest Help and the very Fountain of it if all ordinary Cisterns were dried up the Believer shal Live by the Fountain itself because Christ Lives he who is in Him shal Live also the Believer Liveth upon Christ and His Fullness there he hath Grace to make him Love this Holy walk and hold up his goings in it 2. Walk with God Micah 6. 8. Walk humbly with thy God Let none be so profane as to say are not these one to walk in Him and to walk with Him and what need is there for Expressing this walk so many ways for they are the Words of God and therefore all to be Regarded This walking with God is a Testimony and Proof of our being agreed with Him otherwise there could be no walking with Him For He putteth away all the wicked like dross Psal 119. 119. The Lord confereth this honour upon Believers that being now reconciled by the Blood of Christ they may draw near with some Holy confidence and without Presumption walk with their God though it must be Humblâ— because He is God and we but dust nor is it possible to keep up this walk without Humility for the proud in heart are an Abomination to Him and the rareness of true humility maketh this walk so rare 2. It 's to walk with God that is in His way not in our ways we must attend Him in His own ways not expecting to walk with Him in our sinful ways this is the more to be regarded because we would willingly have God to be with us in our own way to owne and countenance us in the way of our own chusing when there is little care taken to be with God in his ways but we cannot walk with Him out of His own way and as we would have Him to be with us so we should take care that we be with Him 2 Chr. 15. 2. The Lord is with you while ye be with Him 3. Walk before me Gen. 17. 1. I am God Almighty walk before Me and be thou perfect 1. To walk as being under Gods al-seeing Eye which is a great help to a Holy walk labouring to do nothing but as being content God behold it setting the Lord always before our eyes or as the Apostle expresseth it I forsaw the Lord always before my fâ—ce Acts 2. 22. Blessed is the man who frameth all his way for that Omniscient Eye 2. To walk before Him is not only to be impressed with His discerning all our ways but to set Him before our eyes as our all sufficient God and help Believing in our hearts that He can strengthen and bear us up in all the difficult steps of our walk 3. To walk before Him or before His face is to Encourage the Believer that not only God can help but that His Eyes Mercifully upon His People observing all their
thy former ways as well as present otherways there may be unpardoned Guilt upon thee for former sins Psal 79 8. Remember not against us former sins And Psal 25. 7. Forgive the sins of my youth Try what way thou hast taken for the pardon of them lest as Lam. 3 42. thou find we have transgressed thou hast not pardoned Consider also what the Lord did for thee what he wrought in thee in the days of thy youth that though thou be not now as lively as then yet thou must be excited to cry unto God as Job 29. 4. O that it were with me as in the days of my youth when the Secret of God was upon my tabernacle and though thy declinings should be bitter to thee yet try if it did convincingly ever appear thou wast the Planting of the Lord a tree of righteousness bringing forth fruit unto holiness for If it was so though the Tree appear to be cut down as Job 14. 7 There is hope of a tree if it be cut down that it will sprout again and vers 9. through the scent of water it will bud and bring forth boughs like a plant gather what thou canst safely of this nature that thou mayest yet hope to sing as in the days of thy Youth for trees of righteousness never utterly decay both root and branch 9. When thou has not only thy souls Condition and way to Examine whether advancing or backsliding from the ways of God but the very State of thy Soul whether under the Dominion of Sin or Grace and must draw some Conclusion from the whole of thy Examinations for thou art allowed to Judge 1 Cor. 11. 31. For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged Then take care that rash Judgment proceed not look to God that thy Sentence come from before him it being of great moment what thou mayest safely judge of thy self and particularly for clearing thy Right to the Lords Table Delusions being the Ruine of most men The fourth thing to be considered is what we are to Try and Examine and the things that I conceive to be the most necessary are 1. Our knowledge 2. Our Faith 3. Our Love 4. Our Repentance and 5. Our Obedience As to our Knowledge 1. It 's necessary we have some measure of Knowledge of the Lord Himself 2. His Covenant 3. Of the Sacrament it self particularly how to Discern the Lords Body Ye are first to Try your Knowledge of God in Christ for though it be a small Portion of him we can know yet we must know or perish 2 Thess 1. 8. Christ is coming to render Vengeance to them who know not God This Knowledge of God we must have by Jesus Christ for the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God is in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 6. We cannot transact with him in this Ordinance if we be Ignorant of him 1 John 1. 6. For if we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie Therefore some competency of Saving Knowledge we must have lest we be found Children of Darkness yet 2. In Examining this think not to find a Knowledge unto Perfection for that which is Perfect is to come 1 Cor. 13. 10. And when that is come all that is in that Infinite Divine Majestie can never be be known by us or finite Creatures We are apt vainly and some times Presumptously to desire such a knowledge as is Gods peculiar Prerogative perfectly to know himself and too often more curious to know what we cannot know than what we should and may know how silencing to all flesh should be Exod. 3. 14. I AM and though all Creatures be incapable of a comprehensive knowledge of that Glorious Immense being yet 3. Great shal be our mercy to apprehend aright of him if your conceptions of him be suitable to the Revelations he hath given of himself in his VVord content thy self with these lest thou wander in thy Imaginations and lose thy self in Aspiring further 4. Do not conclude thou knowest nothing of him because thou knowest not as thou wouldest or knowest not as thou a Believer shalt hereafter 5. Yet try if thou art sure that though weakly yet it is certainly the Lord himself thou knowest this is a greater attainment and mercy then many think to have the Soul delivered from fear of delusion in it's apprehensions of God These words Jer. 24. 7. are of great Consideration I will give them a heart to know me that I am the Lord. These people had long professed the Knowledge of God and yet need to know that he is the Lord. 6. To be sure of thy knowledge try what Impressions have the Divine Attributes made on thy Soul what effects attend thy knowledge Psa 9. 10. They that know thy name will put their trust in thee Try also if thy practice can prove thy knowledge Jer. 22. 15. 16. Thy father did judgment and justice he judged the cause of the poor then it was well with him was not this to know me saith the Lord v. 7. In a special manner try if Christ hath manifested himself to thee if thereby thou has been enabled to Behold him and in Beholding transformed into the same Image 2 Cor. 3. 18. Be particular with thy Conscience to have an account wherein that Blessed Image doth appear 2. VVe must try what knowledge we have of the Covenant of Grace Because First This Ordinance of the Lords Supper is one of it's Seals for here we have the New Testament in his Blood and this blood is the Blood of the Covenant Heb. 13. 20. The blood of the everlasting Covenant therefore the Seal shal be profained if there be no knowledge of that gracious Transaction and Covenant unto which it is a Seal 2. VVe are obliged actually to renew our Covenant with the Lord when we partake of this Ordinance for we are to embrace Christ according to the Terms of his Covenant Receiving of Christ and joyning our selves to the Lord is the very Substance of the VVork which cannot be performed if we be Ignorant of the Covenant for who can take hold or joyn in a Covenant whereof he is utterly Ignorant and the man who taketh not hold of the Covenant cannot have a right to the Seal try then particularly First If ye know the chief Articles of the Covenant if ye know the Difference betwixt doing as the Condition of the Covenant of VVorks and believing as the Condition of the Covenant of Grace try if you believe this great Gospel truth in your heart that whosoever believeth shall not perish â—ohn 3. 16. 2. And that the Covenant of Grace requireth perfection though sincerity be accepted Matth. 5. 48. 3. And that all sincere believing hath gracious Fruits and VVorks attending it for we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works Eph. 2. 10. 4. Do ye know him who is surety of this better testament Heb. 7. 22. In whom all the
Rom. 6. 16. Know ye not that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness This therefore should be carefully tried if the course of our life he serious to the Lord if we be indeed his Servants he will make us eat but others shal be hungry his Servants shal eat of the hidden Manna ye shal have his Company when others are far from any Fellowship with him John 12. 26. And where I am there shall also my servant be If any man serve me him will my Father honour As ye would enjoy all these the verie choisest of Mercies 1. To eat the best of Soul Foodâ— 2. To be accepted into near Communion with Christâ— 3. The Father to put honour upon you 4. As ye would Sing for Joy when others houl for vexation of Spirit and 5. As ye would at length serve him and see his Face together Rev. 22. 3. 4. Labour to have it Secured that ye are entred into his service and let it not Discourage you from this search into your serving and obeying of him that ye find great failings for he whose servant ye desire to be hath the tongue of the learned and is able to furnish you with such distinctions as that ye may be found faithful though not perfect Servants he saw it necessary to have that recorded for encouraging all the sincere in heart Matth. 26. 41. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak And that some persons of many failings yet their heart was perfect all their days as Asa 2 Chron. 15. 17. The Lord knoweth how to manage his own peoples heart so as these condescensions shal not be perverted into a Latitude for sinning but only to strengthen when they are under fears that their Service is not accepted this the Apostle Paul Comforteth himself that though he found a Law hindring him from the good he would yet he delighted in the Law of God after the inward man Rom. 7. 22. nor was this Comfort only Paul's but remaineth to be a great Encouragment to every Christian who can say without delusion or dissimulation that he findeth his heart inclined and set upon Obedience to God in all things Psal 119. 112. I have inclined my heart to perform thy Statutes always even unto the end 3. The Lords Table should be approached in obedience to his Command A Communicant should be engadged to that Ordinance not only because of the rich benefites he may expect there if he be seâ—king Christ but because of his Command Do this in remembrance of me and therfore should Examine if a Principle of Obedience â—eadeth â—â—m to that work and for your help to find out the sincerity of your Obedience Examine First if thou seekest the Lords precepts that not only thou endeavourest to perform what thou already knowest but lest any Duty be omitted thou searchest for thy Duty this was a comfort to the man of God Psal 119. 45. I will walk at Liberty because I seek thy precepts Thus we find the man of God so often praying that he would teach him his Law and not hide Commandments from him Psal 119. 19. 2. When Duty is discovered to you and that it 's the present season for such a Duty Dare ye not deferr it conferring with flesh and blood to darken a clear Duty as many do who have no minde to obedience taking pains that it may appear no Duty which once was made clear Disputing their Light into darkness whch becometh a snare to their Souls putting Light for Darkness and darkness for Light Isai 5. 20. But if the Laws of God be so written in thy heart that thou makes haste and delayes not to keep his Commandments as Psal 119. 60. Then thou art in the way to the same Comfort expressed verse 57. Thou art my portion O Lord. 3. Is it not the desire of thy Soul to be always in some obedience to God Psal 119. 44. I will keep thy Law continually art thou afraid to be out of path of Duty at any time never thinking thy self safe but when thou art obeying God even in thy worldly concerns or whatever thou hast to do And canst thou go from one Duty to another willingly as the Lord directeth though thou be engadged in a Duty very pleasant to thee yet if the Lord call thee to another thou goest not grudgingly to it not wishing in thy heart that God had not Commanded it but judging all his Commandments to be Right Psal 119. 128 Thou dare not carve out thy own work thou dare not be wiser than thy Lord saying such a piece of work would do better than that he requires for to be a follower of God is sufficient to thee this is the Principle of his children as Eph. 5. 1. 4. Hath God made thee serious and frequent in Prayer that he would teach thee to do his will not only to know it but do it Psal 143. 10. Teach me to do thy will Dost thou improve the Promise of the new Covenant for new Obedience I will write my Laws in their heart Heb. 8. 10. and drawest grace out of Christs fulness for doing of his will John 1. 16. Go then and get more where he Offereth himself 5. Is it the Rejoycing of thy heart when God helpeth thee to obey with Spiritual cheerful Gospel obedience when he maketh thy feet as Hinds Psal 18. 33. So that thou runnest and dost not weary and if thou find thou hast not Obeyed God from the heart in any Duty though men should give thee applause and be saying God appeared in such a performance yet thy heart is heavy and ready to sink within thee for want of the Testimony of a good Conscience knowing thou didst not serve God in Spirit Dost thou frame thy duties for Gods Eye and not for mans Is pleasing of him thy Study canst thou safely averr it with any confidence in the sight of God that notwithstanding of many failings yet it is thy constant endeavour to please him then thou mayest have Confidence toward God 1 Joh. 3. 21 22. Beloved if our heart condemne us not then have we confidence toward God And whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight And for thy Comfort whom God hath made sincere compare this with the words of the same Apostle 1 John 1. 8. If we say that we have nâ— sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us Here you may see how these 2. Things consist in the same persons 1 The sense of remaining sin and imperfections and yet 2. The certainty of doing these things that please God whereupon the Conscience is comforted and Holy Confidence ariseth but let that still be remembred that what we do can only be acceptable and our selves accepted in the Beloved 6. Dost thou take care not to be ashamed of thy
appointed to an eternity mind where it shall be whither with Christ or with Devils a little more time will discover it and time is precious on this very account that we are as yet called into fellowship with the Son of God and may have hope of such a beginning of it here as nothing present or to come shall separat 1 Cor. 1. 9. Blessed Jesus Christ hath opened a door for it by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the Vail that is to say his flesh Heb. 10. 10. He hath opened his door and standeth knocking knocking at our doors for this fellowship He hath a desire to use his Followers as Friends and to admit them unto a comfortable Communion with him Joh. 15. 15. Henceforth I call you not servants for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth but I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you Which is not so to be understood as if they were no more to serve him for when they are at their best his servants shall serve him and see his face Rev. 22. 3. and well may it serve the best of them at their best But the matter is that Believers are admitted to more than the ordinary priviledge of Servants which is to have great Mysteries and Secrets communicated to them for so our Lord explaineth it the servant knoweth not what his Lord doth but I have made known to you c. He sometimes openeth the very secret counsel of God to them the Father himself loveth you Joh. 16. 27. and Psal 25. 14. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him This leadeth me to the second thing proposed That Believers are made active in entertaining this communion wherein Christ and the Believer do intimatly converse together as Friends tho' with a due distance on their part this communion is the very life of a Believer Gal. 2. 20. I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me this only maketh the Believer fruitful Joh 16. 4. Abide in me and I in you As the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the vine for the better understanding of this actual fellowship with Christ I shall premit these few things First That tho' the Infinite and Immense Divine Majesty be not far from every one of us For in him we live and move and have our being Act. 17. 28. Yet as to his gracious presence some are said to be far off Ps 73. 27. They that are far from thee shall perish and we are required to draw nigh to him Jam. 4. 8. and these who were far off are made nigh Eph. 2 13. So that these Expressions of being near unto or far from God are Scriptural and therefore should not be mistaken or stumbled at by any on the account that God is every where present 2. There is no special and gracious communion with Christ where there is not first union with him by faith some wonder they have not that communion with Christ that they read and hear of but consider not the reason that they are not agreed and so cannot walk together How confidently and I fear ignorantly do some speak of communion with God as if it were due to them who as yet are uncapable of it until they be reconciled to God there being no entering into the holiest but by the blood of Jesus 3. After a poor sinner is united to Christ by faith he is never altogether deprived of some communion with him Joh. 14. 19. Because I live ye shall live also and Christ dieth no more and vers 23. We will make our abode with him And he that believeth shall never die Joh. 11. 26. 4. Yet every Believer is not admitted to the same degree of nearness as to the manifestations of Gods gracious presence every believer getteth not his face to shine with that glory as Moses Exod. 34. 29. Yet he manifesteth himself to all who firmly love him Joh 14. 23. 5. The best of Believers obtain not in this life that degree of nearness which sometimes they desire when Moses got his face to shine yet was he covered with the hand of God and did see but his back-parts after he had beseeched God to shew him his glory Exod. 33. 18 22 23. 6. Nor doth one and the same Believer enjoy the same degree of this nearness at all times Moses had fellowship with God before that time his face did shine so the Disciples who were on the Mount must come down and take share with other Believers of that which was ordinary you may be sitting under Christs shaddow with great delight this day and in a little time crying out saw ye him whom my soul loveth my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone Cant. 5. 6. 7. Sometimes Believers do not discern in the very time how near they are unto God and he to them Gen. 28. 18. Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not And sometimes he maketh them know distinctly that they have fellowship with him Cant. 5. 1. and and themselves can give an account of their fellowship Cant. 3. 4. I found him whom my soul loveth I held him c. 8. There is sometimes strengthning communion with Christ when their comfort is not so great as at other times Psal 138. 3. In the day when I cryed thou answeredst me and strengthnedst me with strength in my soul Here is prayer and an answer to it which is blessed communion with God and is made out by the strengthning of the soul so Paul 2 Cor. 12. 8. He besought the Lord thrice and obtaineth a strengthning answer vers 9. My grace is sufficient for thee this the Lord said to him giving it him as his answer this also was true communion and sometimes there is great delight in this fellowship the Lord is free to dispose of it as he will Cant. 2. 3. I sat under his shaddow with great delight Ps 63. 7. Because thou hast been my help therefore in the shaddow of thy wings will I rejoyce Who can but rejoyce when they know they are admitted to such an habitation the wings of the Almighty spread about them It s also seriously to be observed that when the Children of God make mention of their great joy in communion with him they are found usually clearing the soundness of their joy by the gracious help that their souls partake of so in this Scripture because thou hast been my help I find it was true communion I had by the help I got and therefore it is allowed joy Psal 28. 7. My heart trusted in him and I am helped therefore my heart greatly rejoyceth Here is communion with the Lord for his heart trusted and the Lord helped and finding this help he greatly rejoyceth It s necessary for the people of God to try any joy they have in holy dutiâ—s whence it ariseth because some may have delight
there is just cause of fear that such persons have not known the shining of his Face as on the other hand these who diligently observe the Lords withdrawing from their souls and are forthwith pained and wounded for his absence do thereby testifie their acquaintance with the blessings of his presence especially if their grief be that they have provoked him to withdraw that his withdrawing is not only as to comfort but as to the measure of strengthning Grace formercy allowed them the very fear of the Lords deserting doth often mix water in the best of their wine that until Christ and they be at home in their Fathers Kingdom their brightest and most serene days are often overcast with clouds and therefore when they do enjoy his gracious presence fearing some alteration though not of their fixed gracious estate yet of their present blessings cry out Stir not up nor awake my love till c. Cant. 2. 7. O that he would stay and not leave my soul destitute and when the Cloud covereth them O what a damp it giveth then Darkness Jealousies Fears arise as Job 29. 1. O that I were as in moneths past when his candle shined on my head ver 2 3 4. As I was in the days of my youth when the secret of God was upon my Tabernacle when the Almighty was yet with me This godly mans desires were fulfilled for Job 4. 2. So the Lord turned the captivity of Job and ver 12. blessed his latter end more than his beginning But many now come to old age are almost hopless that they shal ever in this life be as in the days of their youth and decline so far that they tempt themselves to doubt if ever the Almighty was with them and his secret on their Tabernacle 8. Where true Communion with God is there its perfection is desired not only to have that measure continued which is here allowed but to be for ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 18. Here their Fellowship is but as seeing through a Glass there it 's often interrupted as to its comforts here a body of sin is still pressing them downward to this Earth that they get not their Affections staid and fixed on things Above here they are surrounded with snares and temptations such as have made strong Cedars to shake And therefore having already the first fruits of a better Countrey they desire to be where he is who hath taken up their hearts to himself For to be with Christ they sincerely think best of all and Heb. 11. 16. But now they desire a better countrey that is an heavenly It 's not some extraordinary persons only who are of this mind but all true Believers for Rev. 22 17. The spirit and the bride say Come Christ saith I come quickly and they agree even so come Lord Jesus The crown of righteousness is laid up for all who love his appearing 2 Tim. 4. 8. So that it 's dangerous for a Christian to want desires of this nature for they are consistent with submission to his appointed time but since the Crown is laid up for such as love his appearing every Christian is concerned to try whether the meditations of that day be his terrour or delight these being a few of the great blessings found in Communion with God there remaineth yet one difficulty which perplexeth some serious souls that is how to have this blessed Communion ordinary so as they may be said to walk with God knowing that this walking with him is more than to perform some stated Duties of VVorship the grounds whence this difficulty ariseth are First They hear and read of abideing in Christ Joh. 15. 4. Setting the Lord always before our eyes Psal 16. 8. of waiting on God continually Hos 12. 6. of resorting continually unto him Psal 71 3 When they think on such Scriptures and withal the regard God hath to such as remember him in his ways Isa 64. 5. And such as thought on his Name Mal. 3 16. And his Indignation against these who forget God Psal 50. 22. These and the like passages being laid to heart they think that God should be always actually remembred some few find great disquiet if any considerable portion of time be spent without thoughts of God On the other hand they find themselves concerned in worldly affairs or Reading Studying c. Which cannot be managed without serious and suitable thoughts to the work they are about God clearly calleth them to these other things it were sin in them to ruine their families and neglect the duties of their station some of which duties may require a considerable portion of time and seriousness in that time now their strait is how to manage these external necessary Duties without sinful forgetting of God Answ 1. Whatever weakness may be found in this difficulty yet it appears to flow from a good root of love to God and fellowship with him it 's a savoury kind of trouble yet 2. It 's not safe for a Christian to arraign himself for a forgetter of God when he is serving God in the duties of his station but 3. It will be found that the bitterest ingredient of this accusation is when there is opportunity for remembring God without obstructing any other duty that these opportunities are not improved and for the help of such who find trouble of this nature as I know some for many years afflicted with it I shal propose but these 4 things leaving their usefulness to the blessing of God 1. The continued exercise of the love of God 2. Performing our external Duties as obedience to God 3. Frequent retirements to God and 4. many ejaculations For the First The lively exercise of the love of God makes the remembrance of him delectable a Christian hath a great advantage when the desire of his soul goes to it for then he is so far from grudging that God have his affectionat thoughts that he cannot be easily kept from them this being one of the strong constraints of Love to think on the object Beloved you may observe the Spouse in the Book of Canticles cannot be kept long from the thoughts of her Beloved either seeking after him or delighting in his Fellowship or commending him to others Christs love is the surest Bond on the soul to prevent sinful forgetting and if it decay your thoughts and meditations will decay with it but vigorous love will make you both embrace and seek for opportunities of converse with him and the meditations of him sweet Psal 104. 34. For the 2d Even our external duties should be performed as obedience to God Therefore 1. Take nothing in hand but what is Duty 2. And present Duty for God hath appointed a season for every Work Eccl. 3. 4. 3. Do what is Duty because it 's Duty because God requireth it For a man may do that which upon the matter is Duty and yet not to do it because God requireth it and then he cannot
Duty must be performed immediately Nehemiah must now speak there was no Deferring of his Answer but he appeareth Self Deemed not daring to Trust his own Understanding and therefore must needs go to God with it what shall I speak he had been at this time an accomplished Courteour and Favourite and admitted near the King's Person yet he will not Trust his Parts or Elocution but he will Trust his God here also is another profitable Example that when men are clearly called to speak either before few or many and have not time to premeditate yet there ought to be a serious humble looking up to God for his Assistance what ever be mens Station in the World no doubt Humility is a Mother of many Prayers and if this Example were followed how Blessed a Help would it be for frequent Remembring God these are but a taste of the many Occasions we have for these short Ejaculatory Prayers which will do hurt to no mans other concerns in the World but are a great Help to Communion with God CHAP. VI. Pertinent Meditations in the time of Communicating The fifth Inference SEing such Blessed and near Communion with Christ may be obtained at the Lord's Table then Communicants should prepare for entertaining Communion with him in the time of that Solemnity after serious preparation great Diligence is necessary that this Holy Ordinance be managed on our part in an acceptable manner that we may find it a true Communion with Christ suitable to it's name and of all Communicants they have the most peculiar advantage who are acquainted with Communion with God before they come to the Lord's Table for except there be some admirable work of power and Mercy men will surely profane the Sacrament who have their Fellowship with Christ then to begin not knowing how to receive Christ when they receive these Sacred signs or how to Feed upon him I say without some great work of God's Mercy for we must still leave place for Soveraign Power and Mercy who can not only Confirm such as have doubted of their Fellowship with God but even then give it a Beeing which had no Beeing before and in one day or hour give both Faith and Fellowship with God yet this is no Warrant for any to presume without endeavouring both Faith and Fellowship before they come to the Lord's Table It should also be remarked that many godly persons find themselves at a great loss when they come to the Lord's Table by not knowing how to act their part distinctly in Communicating and though they have made some Conscience of Preparation before yet complains they act but confusedly in the very time of the Solemn Action which doth much obstruct their Peace and Comfort yea though they dare not Charge themselves with Hypocrisie as to their desires for Communion with Christ or that they were altogether inconcern'd in Partaking yet not knowing what Meditations were most suitable in the time of Partaking and wandring from one thought to another without fixing on that which was most proper for the work do often fall into impertinecies alien to the great work in hand which being Reflected upon giveth such a Wound to their Conscience that the day or hour which should have been the time of their great Joy is turned into Grief and Complaints and that which will appear strange unto Strangers to these things that some find more dificulty to be Composed in their minds in the very time of that Solemnity than they found before they came to it whereby they are Surprised and fall into great Consternation that when the Soul should have been most United Fixed and elevated for Communion with Christ that than their thoughts should be a gathering though possibly the things they were thinking of were Pious and Good in themselves but altogether unseasonable such would Consider that Feeding on Christ is so excellent and profitable for the Soul and so Destructive for Satan's Interest that no Devices or Temptations will be wanting to frustrat that Profite and therefore should be Guarded against not onely to Resist Temptations in the time or any thing Impertinent to the Work in hand but withall before we come to Partake this should have a peculiar Consideration how we should Act in the time of that Solemn Action and who knoweth but the Neglect of this part of Preparation may provock God to let us find our own Weakness to our Grief if we be so proud as to think we can Act the Most Solemn part of the Work of our selves without any Preparation therefore it will be found our Duty both to Pray and Meditate before hand how to be Employed in the time of Receiving and such are in a special manner concerned to notice this who have Smarted already for it's Neglect complaining that God had Deserted them for no other reason but because of their Impertinent wandring at the Lord's Table And for your help in this part of the Work how to Act your part of this Holy Communion I shall propose by the Lord's help a few things to your Consideration I say how to Act lest any should say there 's no Acting required of us but only Receiving but such would Consider that our Receiving of Christ is the Acting of Faith as is clear from John 1. 12â— Wherein also Love to our Blessed Redeemer must be Acted so that we must Act our part in this Holy Communion if we expect the Benefite for which also we should be active in Praises First Then when we are to enter on this Blessed Duty we should humbly request for the Lord's Asistance and Presence with us that our hearts may be Established by his Grace and kept closs to the Work this should be done were there never so many about you 2. It 's necessary also that what the Lord sendeth by his Messengers for clearing the Nature of the Sacrament be Diligently hearkened unto and I do the rather mind you of this because some do then shut their ears from attending to any thing spoken being wholly taken up with thoughts of their own I am not yet speaking of the very Instant of Receiving for at that time People must be exercised with their own Meditations and should not be diverted with many Words but that which I say is that before the Sacred Action be engaged some take a liberty to Neglect all they hear attending only to their own secret thoughts and debates but this is not the seasonable Work for if it be Ministers Duty to Preach and open up the Nature of the Sacrament and teach the Duty of communicants then it 's the Peoples Duty to hearken not knowing but the Lord will Direct that unto them which may either clear their present Doubts or set them on some more seasonable Work than that wherewith they are at present Exercised 3. When ye are entering the Work labour to come to it cheerfully and thankfully Blessing God you have so Blessed a Work to go to as actual Solemn
will give it over and thus some poor tender smoaking Flax may be quenched by your means and if compassionate Iesus be tender of them as no doubt he will yet no thanks to you who are guilty by casting water on their little coal which could have quench't it if a better friend had not kept it in life It may not be amiss to consider in this place what may be the reasons that so few professing Christians go to the Lords Supper with this necessary believing expectation seing its dishonourable to our blessed Redeemer obstructeth our own good and is often found prejudicial to others Ans First It will be found that the seeds of Atheism and unbelief of Gods Word and Promise hath a deep hand in this wo. Ah! few Christians by profession are established in the truth men do not will not lay this to heart tho' they often hear it and I fear are disgusted because they so often hear it proud Nature taking it heavily to be charged with unfixedness in the Faith and these disrelishing such warnings most who have most need of them I wish the Reader concerned in this retire to his own Conscience and put the question closly home do I firmly believe the history of Christs Passion And that Salvation is by no other Name I speak not now of mens perswasion that Christ hath loved them and washed them in his own Blood but mens perswasion that he was dead and is alive Iâ— ye will not try your unfixedness in fundamental Truths in season you may soon come to know your misbelief by experience to your grief in an hour of temptation or at the hour of death try therefore in time what ye believe and on what grounds seek to be fixed in the faith of Christ and his truth otherways your expectations will still be faint Nor do I speak here of such perswasion and fixedness in the truth as is inconsistent with any degree of doubting for here we know but in part but that which I speak is against that dangerous unfixedness that hath no degree of perswasion under which too many are perishing Secondly But some others are not so much discouraged by misbelief of this nature as by their fears that Christ will have no regard to them that he will never honour them with such communion with himself others they grant may have it but for themselves they look for nothing but a dry Fleece when others are wet they have deserved no better and expect no better Ans If our mercies be dispensed according to deserving then we may all stop together and proceed no further But blessed be God that our expectations depend on free gree grace I will freely love them Hos 14. 4. 2. Hath he not regarded thee already in opening thine eyes to see thy wretchedness which thou didst not see before Doth he not discover Diseases in order to a remedy If he had no regard to thee he could have suffered thee to run on in presumption and sit down at his Table without ever minding a wedding Garment and made thy rising thy terrour but now he preventeth it by making thee consider what thou art about Therefore 3. If thou would be regarded at his Table and accepted know that a garment of Salvation will cover all thy spots give praise that this Garment is ready for the putting on give praise that its not only provided for the putting it on but himself puteth it on Isa 61 10. He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation Give praise that ever any poor sinners were secured of these garments and render praise that there is a minut of time left thee to beg these garments that fine Linnen of the Saints under which covering thou canst not be despised noâ— thy holy Expectation disappointed Thirdly Others faint in their expectations because tho' they have been often at the Lords Table yet they never get great profit Ans and whose fault was this If thy misbelief deprived the of the communications of grace where wilt thou leave thy complaint For he warned thee that mighty works were not to be expected where unbelief had the dominion thou mayest go to a hundred Communions and never be the better if thou dost not believe nor draw out of the Wells of salvation therefore if thou hast a sincere value for Communion with Christ if thou would not always carry away a bad report of that enriching Ordinance if thou would'st prevent a contempt of it in thy own soul consider seriously what hath been thy manner of communicating formerly see thy way wherein thy particular defects have been thy neglect of preparation thy hypocrisie thy lukewarmness in the whole of the work and thy misbelief at the work repent of these evils that thou mayest not say thou had a hard Master but an hard heart Fourthly Others are discouraged in their expectations because they observe not others who frequent Communions much bettered in their conversations This I grant is for a lamentation that so few appear like communion with Christ yet it is not so with all and tho' they were but few as Isa 17. 6. a few berries in the utmost fruitful branches Its Gods great mercy when some are preserved as Witnesses against a declining generation who not only are made suitable to a publick solemn Communion but such as rarely any thing can be discovered in their practice that is not consistent with present fellowship with God tho' possibly ye discern it not as being ignorant of walking with God your selves 2. If this be thy regrate that that thou seest so few fruitful Christians after Communions then labour to add one to the number of these few lest others be discouraged by thy practice also Thirdly However it be as to partakers tho many prove very unfruitful yet this is never occasioned by want of provision being allowed to eat and drind abundantly and the hungry are filled with good things and many have found their souls made as a watered Garden in attending this holy Ordinance O that we were stirring up our selves and stirring up one another to pray down such showers of Blessings as hath been found at Communions in the days of old CHAP. IX Objections of doubting Christians answered The eighth Inference THe eighth Inference from the words is That seing so great a benefit as the Communion of Christs Body and Blood may be had in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper then Christians are obliged to endeavour the removal of all Objections and stumbling Blocks that stand in the way to obstruct their partaking of this Benefit Before the particular Objections be mentioned I shall premit these few things First That all professed Christians should make conscience not to pretend Scruples and Objections where there is none for where the Conscience is not really burdened with some difficulty it s but hypocrisie to frame Objections against peoples partaking of the Lords Supper that they may appear more serious than others the heart of man is
my soul out of prison that I may praise thy Name 9ly Mind also that thine Adversary is still in Chains and cannot go beyond Divine permission They are in chains of darkness 2 Pet. 2. 4. so also Jude ver 6. They are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day And so we see nothing could be done by Satan against godly Job but as Divine power ordered and over-ruled Job 1. 12. And the Lord said unto satan behold all that he hath is in thy power only upon himself put not forth thine hand Chapter 2 ver 6. And the Lord said unto satan behold he is in thine hand but save his life So thou art not at thy worst absolutely under his Dominion he is never out of the Chain thou art still under the absolute Dominion of thy God not an hair shal fall from thy head in this conflict without a Divine Providence keep the impression of this upon thy heart for it is a grand design of the Tempter to have thee thinking thou art now wholly in his hand without remedy he will tempt thee to think that God taketh no care of thee hath no pity on thee and never regardeth thee that so he may draw thee either to some dislike of God as merciless or to deny that there is any Providence of God and so carry thee on if he can to doubt if there be any God but himself if he can drive thee to this then his hellish design is far ripened then he tempts thee to think thou must obey him thou art wholly in his hand I have heard some acknowledge this was their Temptation but when Satan did drive hardest he made but fools haste for that Temptation became so frightning that they were helped to hearken the less to any of his temptations and so the Devils malice over-run his policy the Lord discovering the wickedness of his devices for when poor tempted souls are at the very brink of ruine knows not what to do but yield all to the Tempter yet The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of Temptations 2 Pet. 2 9. 10ly Know also that though thy Temptations be very dreadful yet while God helpeth thee to continue resisting them as an hateful burden under which thou groans then thou standest yet on God's side against his Enemy thou fightest against these Temptations as God's Enemies thine then God will be for thee I am for thee Ezek. 36. 9 Faint not in his Service he will not leave you alone Hag. 2. 4. Be strong for I am with thee He will not see thee perish in his own cause fighting against his Enemies he will send from above and draw thee out of these depths though thine Adversary hath thrust sore at thee that thou mightest fall yet thou shal have it to say But the Lord helped me Psal 118. 13. And though thou be sore wounded in the time yet he will tenderly bind up these wounds Psal 147. 3. Hold on the fight and the Lord will teach thee to fight Psal 144. 1. He teacheth my fingers to fight and ye shal fight because the Lord is with you Zechariah 10. 5. Yielding is thy greatest danger 11ly Do not gratifie Temptations by allowing time to attend them since thou art to pray that thou be not led into Temptation then do not cast thy self into it by idleness neglecting the Duties of thy Calling set about thy Work whether thy Station lead thee to employment of the Mind or Body thou hast thy God and his service to wait upon and has no time allowed thee to attend his enemies and their service if thou give the tempter time he will give thee Work he will strive to have thee so far engaged as to draw back from thy Duty to God and man and attend what he hath to say if thou yield to this he has too great Advantage I know you are ready to retire from all company and your ordinary Affairs and say ye are not capable of business but see that many of your retirements be not rather to talk with the Tempter than to talk with God I acknowledge frequent Retirements for Prayer are most necessary but then take care that the time be not worse spent advert to this especially in the beginning of thy Temptations that thou enter not the conflict with present sinning by omitting of plain Duties to God relations or others 12ly And that thou may'st have the benefit of Christ's coming to destroy the works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. 8. And the comfortable hope that Satan who hath so bruised thee shal be shortly trampled under thy feet Rom. 16. 20. Essay yet once more to believe and in believing thou shalt see the glory of God Joh. 11. 40. When thou hast toiled and outwearied thy self seeking rest yet thou shalt find it no where but in Christ who inviteth thee to come and get rest to thy Soul which he promiseth to give Matth. 11. 29. Here must be the end and conclusion If thou desirest and expectest to enter into rest for Heb. 4. 3. We which have believed do enter into rest Labour then through the throng of all opposition difficulties to adventure on believing in Christ as himself commandeth Joh. 14. 1. Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me Here is the true cure for a troubled heart adventure on Christ's counsel keep still by his Word for it 's the Sword of the Spirit I know some who were almost crushed under violent and most dangerous Temptations in so much that friends were dejected both because the Temptations were so strong that they could hardly be concealed and a recovery more and more hopless but one day that person by the tender mercy of God begun to think that ther 's no mention in all the Scriptures of Christ's rejecting any poor Sinner coming to him for relief whereupon forthwith that person resolved to Essay believing in Christ whatsoever should follow the Essay was no sooner made but instantly the God of mercy gave a comfortable victory over all these Temptations with encrease of Grace and great joy attending the healing of these wounds and yet continues of a Gospel becoming conversation free of all these afflicting Bonds This I can attest for truth from the persons own mouth the next day after God had broken these Bars of Brass and Iron And judge it Duty to publish it for the encouragement of poor tempted souls that they may consider how signally our gracious God doth countenance such as in the very throng of Temptations cast themselves and their burden upon the Lord. Quest But may I take any comfort in the hope that these frighting Suggestions and Temptations are not originally from my self it 's grievous that they should be in my thought at all but much more if I be the Author of them Answ 1. It 's certain that our selves are the Authors of many Temptations Jam. 1. 14. But