21. by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Q. To what end were the Scriptutes written A. To Teach Instuct Convince Correct and Comfort All scripture is given by inspiration of 2 Tim. 3. 16. God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness That the man of God may be perfect Ver. 17. throughly furnished unto all good works Rom. 15. 4 Q. What doth the Scripturs especially teach us A. The saving Knowledge of God and Jesus Christ And this is life eternal that they might Joh. 17. 3. know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Search the scriptures for in them ye Joh. 5. 39. think ye have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me Q. What doth the Scripture teach thee concerning God A. It Teacheth me and I verily Believe it and am perswaded that there is a God as is proved For the invisible things of him that Rom. 1. 20. Act. 14. 17. is his Eternal Power and Godhead are seen by the Creation of the World being considered in his Works to the intent they should be without excuse Who is an Essence or Spiritual Substance And God said to Moses I am that Exod. 3. 14. I am God is a Spirit and must be worshipped Jâ—h 4. 24. in spirit and truth Q. How many Gods be there A. Only One and no more Unto us there is but one God which is 1 Cor. 8. 6. the Father Unto thee it was shewed that thou Deut. 4. 35. mightest know that the Lord he is God and that there is none but he alone Q. How is this One God to be conceived of us A. Not by framing any Image of him in our Minds Take good heed therefore that ye corrupt â—t 4. 15 16. not your selves and make you a graven image or representation of any figure whether it be the likeness of male or female neither can we conceive him in his glorious Nature Why askest thou thus after my name Judg. 13. 18. which is secret but we are to conceive God as he hath revealed himself in his Word by his Properties and Works Q. What are the chief Properties of God A. He is most Wise O the depth of the riches both of the Rom. 11. 33. wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements and his ways past finding out Most Holy Holy holy holy is the Lord God of Isa 6. 3. Hosts the whole earth is full of his glory Righteous The Lord is righteous in all his ways Psal 145. 17. and holy in all his works Just God is true and without wickedness Deut. 32. 4. just and righteous is he Merciful The Lord the Lord God merciful and Exod. 34. 6 7. gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquities transgressions and sin True and Unchangeable My covenant will I not break nor Psal 89. 34. alter the things that is gone out of my mouth Heaven and earth shall pass away but Mat. 24. my words shall not pass Present in all Places O Lord thou hast tried me and known Psal 139. 1 2 3 4. me thou knowest my sitting and rising thou understandest my thoughts afar off Thou compasseth my path and my lying Jer. 23. 13. down and art acquainted with all my ways for there is not a word in my tongue but lo O Lord thou knowest it altogether Almighty And the Lord said I am God Almighty Gen. 17. 1. Walk before me Eternal I the Lord am the first and with the Isa 41. 4. last I am the same Infinite in Presence Am I a God at hand saith the Lord Jer. 23. 23. and not a God afar off Can any hide himself in secret plaâ—es Ver. 21. that I shall not see him Do not I fill heaven and earth saith the Lord. Ininite in Power For the Lord your God is God of gods Deut. 10. 17. and Lord of lords a great God mighty and terrible being able to be what soever he will Psal 115 3. Q. What are the Works of God by which we are to conceive him A. They are Two principally Creation and Preservation How are we to conceive God in respect of Creation A. That he is the most Mighty Creator of the World and of every Thing that hath a Being in the World O Lord thou art the God which hast Act. 4. 24. made the heavens and the earth the sea and all things that are in them Q. There be many Evils and hurtful Things in the World as venomous and poysonous Beasts Herbs and such like Did God create them A. Yea God did create all these things as in Gen. 1. 25. But we must understand that God made not poysonous Creatures so at the first but they became so by the Fall of Man and are now for the Correction and Punishment of Man for Sin which should not have been so if Man had not fallen Cursed be the earth for thy sake Gen. 3. 17 18. thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee Q. Did God make Sin Sickness Diseases and Death or no A. No these be no Creatures of God Sin is no Creatures of God but the Destruction of God's Image which is a Creature and Sicknesses Diseases and Death came into the World by Sin and follow Sin As by one man sin entred into the Rom. 5. 12. World and death by sin so death went over all men forasmuch as all men have sinned Q. What is the Work of Creation A. It is the Making of all Things in their several Kinds of Nothing by the mighty Power of God in the first Six Days of the World For in six days the Lord made heaven Exod. 20. 11. and earth the sea and all that in them is And are not made of things which did Heb. 11. 3. appear Q. In what Form and Manner were all Things created A. In an excellent Order and exceeding Good And God saw all that he had made Gen. 1. 31. and lo it was exceeding good Q. For what End did God make all Things A. For the Praise of his Power Goodnese Wisdom Perfection and Freedom The Lord hath made all things for his Prov. 16. 4. own sake yea the wicked for the day of evil Rev. 4. 11. Q. What is the Second Work whereby we are to conceive God in our Minds A. We are to conceive him in our Minds as the most Wise and Mighty Preserver of all Things created God is a faithful Creator He did not only 1 Pet. 4. 19. make Heaven and Earth and all Things in them and so leave them but he by his wise Providence and mighty Power doth preserve and govern the same Q. What is that Preservation or Providence of all things A. The Alimighty Power of God every
the Dispensation of the Work To the Holy Ghost Vertue and Power and Efficacy of Operation In a Word God the Father in the Son by the Holy Ghost worketh all things By the word of the Lord were the heavens Psal 33. 6. made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth Of all visible Creatures which is the Chiefest A. Man For in Man above all other Visible Creatures the Lord sets forth the Glory of his Wisdom Power and Goodness Q. What was the State and Condition of Man at the first by Creation A. It was an holy and happly Condition a State of Innocency and a State of Life Q. Wherein stood that holy Condition of Man A. In that he was free from Sin and created after God's own Image and Likeness And God said Let us make man in our Gen. 1. 26. image according to our likeness Q. What was that Image of God in which Man was at first created A. It was a Conformity of Man to God even a Conformity of all the Power of the Soul of Man to the Will of God standing in Wisdom and Holiness Put on the new man which after God Eph. 4. 24. Col. 3. 10. is created in righteousness and true holiness Q. What was that Wisdom that was in Man at the first A. A perfect Knowledge of God his Creator and of his Will to be obeyed and of his Wisdom and Will touching the particular Creatures for Adam named them according to their Natures Q. What was that Holiness that was in Man at the first A. It was a Conformity of the Will and Affections and the whole Disposion of Man in Body and Soul to the Will of God his Creator Q. Wherein stood that happy Condition of Man in his first Creation A. In Three things 1st In a blessed Estate which was in Communion which Man had with the True God with whom he had daily and as it were familiar Conversation 2dly In Dominion over the Creatures Gen. 1. 28. An Example whereof is when all Creatures presented themselves before him to receive their Names from Ver. 29. him 3dly In a Body endued with Beauty Strength and Immortality And that his Body was Immortal there is no question seeing Death came in by Sin Q. Man being in this happy Estate what Employment had he A. Twofold 1st Particular and Outward To Till Chap. 2. 15. and Dress the Garden 2dly General and Spiritual To Worship and serve his Creator Every one shall be called by my name Isa 43. 7. for I created him for my glory Q. How was be fitted and enabled for this Service A. He was fitted of God with Freedom of Will and Ability for perfect Obedience Being manifestly proved from the Perfection of the Image of God in which Man was created Also he having the Moral Law written in his Heart by Nature Q. How doth that appear A. 1st By the Effect of his Law in his Heart For Man having sinned the Guilt Gâ—n 3. 8. of his Conscience forced him to hide himself from God's Presence 2dly By the Remainders of the Law of God in all Mankind who having not the Law of God are a Law unto Rom. 2. 14 themselves Q. Did Man continue in that happy State in which he was created A. No But hearkning to the poysned Gen. 3. Suggestions of the wicked Serpent and by obeying his Perswasions he lost his Free-Will and Perfection and fell from Righteousness to Sin Q. How was it that Man lost his first State and fell from Righteousness to Sin A. God suffering Satan to tempt him and leaving him to the mutability and liberty of his own Will he fell into Sin eating of the forbidden Fruit. Q. How did Man yield to Temptation being created Good A. Being left of God to the liberty Chap. 3. 6. and mutability of their own Will they voluntary enclined to that Evil whereunto they were tempted Q. What is the State of Man being fallen from his first Estate in which he was created A. It is a State of Corruption and Misery Q. What is the State of Corruption following the Fall of Man A. It is the Loss of the Image of God in which Man was created at first and the Image of Satan succeeding in the place of it so that Man in that State can do nothing but sin And this the Scripture calls the Old Man the Flesh And Adam begat a child in his own Gen. 5. 3. likeness after his image Cast ye off concerning the conversation Eph. 4. 22. in time past the old Man which is corrupt through the deceivable lusts Q. What is Sin A. Sin is any swerving from the Law of God though it be in the least want of that which the Law requireth Whosoever sinneth transgresseth the law 1 Joh. 3. 4. for sin is the transgression of the law I had not known lust except the law Rom. 7. 7. had said Thou shalt not lust Q. How many sorts of Sin be there A. Two Original and Actual Sin is either the Corruption of Nature or the evil Actions that proceed from thence as the Fruits of it Q. What is the Corruption of Man's Nature A. It is that Corruption that is deriv'd from our first Parents by Natural Generation called Lust or Concupisence But sin took an occasion by the commandment Rom. 7. 8. and wrought in me all manner of concupisence Q. Wherein standeth that corruption A. In Two things 1st In an utter Disability and Enmity to that which is good I know that in me that is in my flesh Chap. 7. 18. dwelleth no good things The wisdom of the flesh is enmity against Chap. 8. 7. God 2dly In a Proness to all manner of Evil. The law is spiritual but I am carnal Chap. 7. 14. sold under sin Q. In whom is that Corruption of Nature found A. In all Men and Women none excepted descending from Adam by Natural Generation For there is no difference for all have Chap. 3. 23. sinned and are deprived of the glory of God Q. How is it that all Men and Women are deflied with the Corruption of Nature A. Through the Infidelity and Disobedience of our first Parents in Eating the Forbidden Fruit all Men being guilty of that Sin Wherefore as by one man sin entered Rom. 5. 12. into the world and death by sin and so death went over all men forasmuch as all men have sinned Q. How are all Men Guilty of that Sin A. 1st Because they were in the Heb. 7. 9. Loins of our first Parents from whom they should by course of Nature descend 2dly Because our first Parents were by God's Appointment to stand or fall not as singular Persons only but also as Heads and Roots of all Mankind and as publick Persons representing all Mankind So that every one naturally descending of Adam is Guilty of Adam's Sin it being imputed to him as St. Paul manifesteth As in
Flesh and Blood of the Virgin Mary For he in no sort took the Angels but Heb. 2. 16. he took the seed of Abraham When the fulness of time was come Gal. 4. 4. God sent forth his Son made of a woman By the working of the Holy Ghost The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee Luk. 1. 35. and the power of the most high shall over-shadow thee That withal he might be the true Seed of David Concerning Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 1. 3. which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh Like unto his Brethren in all things Wherefore in all things it became him Heb. 2. 17. to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be merciful and a faithful high priest in things concerning God Sin excepted But was in all sort in the like manner Heb. 4. 15. tempted yet without sin Q. What Profit is there by Christ's holy Nativity and Conception A. Hereby our Faith is confirmed that he is the True Mediator For he cannot be a Mediator between God and Men who is not by Nature True God and True Man For such an high priest it became us to Chap. 7. 26. have which is holy blameless undefiled separate from sinners And that he doth cover with his Innocency and perfect Holiness my Sins in which I was conceived that they might not come in the sight of God He is made unto us of God wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30. righteousness sanctification and redemption Christ hath suffered for our sins the 1 Pet. 3. 18. just for the unjust that he might bring us to God Q. Which is the Fourth Article A. Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified Dead and Buried he descended into Hell Q. What Believest thou when thou sayest he Suffered A. I Believe That Christ all the time of his Life which he led in the Earth especially at the End thereof sustaineth the Wrath of God doth in Body and Soul against the Sin of all Mankind Surely he hath borne our infirmities Isa 53. 4 and carried our sorrows we did judge him as plagued and smitten of God and humbled Who his own self bare our sins in his 5. body on the tree by whose stripes ye were healed That he might by his Passion as the only Propitiatory Sacrifice deliver our Body and Soul from Everlasting Damnation Yet the Lord would break him and Ver. 10. make him subject to infirmities when he shall make his soul an offering for sin Who hath delivered us from the power Col. 1. 13. of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son Christ hath redeemed us from the Gal. 3. 13. curse And purchased unto us the Favour of God Righteousness and Everlasting Life He hath made him to be sin for us 2 Cor. 5. 21. which knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Q. What is meant by this He Suffered under Pontius Pilate being as his Iudge A. That he being Innocent and Condemned before a Civil Judge might deliver us from the severe Judgment of God which remained for all Men For he hath borne our infirmities and Isa 53. 4 carried our sorrows And he was wounded for our transgressions 5. he was broken for our iniquities Q. But is there any thing more in it that he was fastned to the Cross than if he had suffered any other kind of Death A. There is more For by this I am assured That he took upon himself the Curse which did lie on me For Christ hath redeemed us from the Gal. 3. 13. curse For the Death of the Cross was accursed of God His body shall not remain all night Deut. 21. 23. upon the tree for the curse of God is upon him that is hanged Q. What is it then to Believe in Christ Crucified A. It is not only to Believe That Christ suffered such a kind of Death but also by virtue of this Death I am crucified to God and my Sins pardoned and the Curse of the Law is taken away from me yea That by virtue of the Cross of Christ my Sins are mortified and crucified God forbid that I should rejoice but in Gal. 6. 14. the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ whereby the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world Q. Why was it necessary for Christ to humble himself unto Death A. Because the Justice and Truth of God who said Whensoever thou eatest of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt die the death could by no other means be satisfied for our Sins but by the very Death of the Son of God For God sending his own Son in the Rom. 8. 3. similitude of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh That he might destroy through death Heb. 2. 14. him that had the power of death that is the devil Q. But Death is the wages of sin Rom. 6. 23 1 Pet. 2. 22. and Christ was without sin and therefore How could Death have any Power at at all over Him A. Christ indeed was free from the the Commission of Sin in his own Person but he was made sin for us 2 Cor. 5. 21. And by the means of our Sins Death seized upon him For he was delivered to death for our Rom. 4. 25. sins God spared not his own Son but gave Chap. 8. 32. him for us all to death Q. Did Christ die for All according to the Testimony of Scriptures 1 Tim. 2. 6. where it is said He gave himself a ransom for all men A. No certainly he died not for All but for Many as is proved by Scripture I pray not for the world but for those Joh. 17. which thou hast given me for they are thine Christ was once offered to take away Heb. 9. 28. the sins of many Thou shalt call his name Jesus for Mat. 1. 26. he shall save his people srom their sins So that it is manifest that Christ died and offered up himself only for Many for his Elect for his Church and peculiar People Q. Now is Christ said to have died for all Men and not to have died for all Men A. 1st Christ died for all Men Absolutely and without Exception as touching the Sufficiency which he paid in Price 2dly Christ died not for all Men but for the Elect only and the Faithful as touching the Application Participation and Efficacy of his Merit and Passion Q. What Benefit doth the Church of God and every true Believer receive by the virtue of Christ's Death A. 1st Not only those Articles before-mentioned do declare and shew those Benefits which we receive by the Death of Christ but also we are assured of the freedom from the Sting of Death But thanks be to God which hath 1 Cor. 15. 57. given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 2dly Death it self is turned into a
remitteth Sins and Trespasses unto another as concerning the Pardoning of the Private Offence Q. Whether is Remission of Sins freely given A. Albeit God remitteth not our Sins unto us except a most sufficient Price or Punishment be first paid for them yet he remitteth them freely unto us for Christ's sake Q. But Christ did Merit Remission therefore Remission is not Free A. It was God's Free Grace to give Christ unto us and therefore whatsoever cometh by Christ cometh freely Q. For what is Remission of Sins given A. Besides the Free Mercy of God Remission of Sins is granted by the Vertue Passion and Intercession of Christ Behold the Lamb of God that taketh Joh. 1. 29. away the sins of the world Christ hath once suffered for our sins 1 Pet. 3. 18. the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God The blood of Christ cleanseth us from 1 Joh. 1. 7. all sin It pleased the Father that in Christ Col. 1. 19 20. should all fulness dwell and by him to reconcile all things to himself and to set at peace through the blood of his cross both the things in earth and things in heaven Ye are come to Jesus the Mediator of Heb. 12. 24. the New-Testament and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel By Christ we have redemption through Eph. 1. 7. his â—â—ood even the forgiveness of sins Q. How could it stand with the Iustice of God to punish Christ for us A. Christ was willing to be punished for our Sins yea he offered himself freely for us Walk in love as Christ hath loved us Eph. 5. 2. and hath given himself for us to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savour to God Christ loved the Church and gave himself Chap. 5. 25. for it that he might sanctifie it He gave himself for us that he might Tit. 2. 14. redeem us from all iniquity Q. Doth not Christ as well deliver us from the Punishment as the Guilt of Sin A. Yes as plainly appeareth And therefore what Judgments are executed upon the Elect after Justification are not properly Punishments but Fatherly Corrections and of Love Being justified by faith we have peace Rom. 5. 1. with God Even Jesus which delivered us from â— Thes 1. 10. wrath to come The END of the Catechism A Preparatory SERMON For the Worthy Receiving of the Holy Sacrament OF THE Lord's Supper As it was Preach'd in SERJEANTS-INN-CHAPPEL IN Fleet-street London By JAMES CLIFFORD M. A. Chaplain to the Honourable SOCIETY Psal xxvi 6. I will wash mine hands in innocency O Lord and compass thine Altar LONDON Printed for J. Deacon at the Angel in Gilt-spur-street without Newgate 1694. And are to be Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster A PRAYER PRevent us O Lord in all our doings with thy most gracious favour and further us with thy continual help that in all our works begun continued and ended in thee we may glorifie thy holy Name and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us pray for the whole State of Christ's Catholick Church dispers'd over the face of the whole Earth That it may please God to govern it universally in the right way Let us pray for the Lord 's Anointed King WILLIAM and Queen MARY of England Scotland France and Ireland Defenders of the Faith c. For Catherine the Queen Dowager Princess Anne of Denmark and all the Royal Family Let us pray for all the Lords of Their Majesties most Honourable Privy Council all the Nobility Judges Gentry and Commons of this Land * If Sitting more-especially for the Honourable High Court of Parliament now assembled Les us pray for the whole Body of the Clergy whether Archbishops Bishops or other inferiour Priests and Deacons And for a Supply of their Mortality water with the Dew of thy Blessing the Two Famous Universities Oxford and Cambridge and especially for this Honourable Society of Law and Equity Lastly O Lord we return unto thee for a Blessing upon our selves here met together O Lord be present both with Speaker and Hearer bless me O Lord that am to speak bless these thy People that are to hear open unto me the Door of Utterance that I may deliver thy Word plainly powerfully and profitably open we pray thee not only the Ears but the Hearts of these thy People that they may receive the Word not as the Word of sinful Men but as the Word of thee the ever Living God which is able to save their Souls Grant good God that they may hear it attentively conceive it readily apply it wisely lay it up in their Memories faithfully meditate and practice it in their Lives and Conversations conscionably so that it may prove to none of us the savour of Death unto Death but unto every Soul here present the savour of Life unto Life that hereby our Understandings may be enlightned our Hearts purified our Consciences pacified our sinful Lives reformed and our precious Souls eternally saved at the Day of the Lord Jesus These and all other needful Mercies we beg at thy hands for the sake and worthiness of Jesus Christ the Righteous the Son of thy Love in whom thou art well pleased in whose Name and Words we call upon thee Our Father c. 1 COR. xi 27 28 29. Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body THE Apostle having declared the true Institution of the Sacrament and the right End to be observed in the Celebration of it viz. The perpetual Commemoration of Christ's Death in the fore-going Words In the next place he shew the great Danger Men run into by an undue and unworthy Participation of this Ordinance They commit a great Sin which draws upon them great Judgments both Temporal and Eternal unless by a diligent Examination of themselves the Sin be prevented and the Punishment warded off In these Words we have I. The Sin of Unworthy Receiving Ver. 27. II. The Means to avoid this Sin Ver. 28. which is careful Examination of one's self before the Sacrament III. The Punishment which they Ver. 29. incurr who Commit the Sin and Neglect the Means and that is Judgment or Damnation First Here 's the Sin of Unworthy Ver. 27. Receiving laid down Whoso shall eat this bread and drink the cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 1. In which Words we may take notice 1. Of the Sin it self 2. Of the Quality of this Sin First Here 's the Sin it self Unworthy Receiving There 's a Twofold Unworthiness 1. Of
Meditation upon Christ's Death and the Benefits thereof The Bread and Wine separated by Consecration to this holy Use should re-mind us of Christ's being fore-ordained and set a-part by God from all Eternity to the work of Man's Redemption The Breaking of the Bread and the Pouring forth of the Wine should bring to our remembrance how Christ was torn in his Body with Wounds and Stripes and toâ—tur'd in his Soul with the sense of his Father's Wrath and Indignation and that for our Sins and Transgressions When the Minister offers to thee the Bread and Wine think of Christ given to thee of God freely and freely giving himself to thee if thou wilt receive him When thou receivest and eatest those Elements think on Christ the living Bread that gives Life to thy Soul and by his Merits preserve it from Eternal Death Let thy Heart cleave unto him by Faith throw thy self into his Arms wash thy Soul in his Blood hide thy self in the Holes and Clefts of this Rock from the stormy Tempest of God's Wrath. This is the Life of this holy Sacrament without which Spiritual Applications all is but a dead and empty Ceremony Now of the Affections that must be excited and stirred up in thiâ— Ordinance 1. Our Hearts must be drawn to a firm relying and dependance upon Christ as an All-sufficient Saviour having paid the utmost Farthing and trod the Wine-press defeated all the Powers of Darkness and purchased for us a Kingdom that cannot be shaken Let not greatness and difficulty of the Work of Redemption terrifie us Christ hath finished 2. The sight of Christ Crucified should beget in us a godly Sorrow for our Sins that were the Judasses Pilates Zech. 12. 10. Jews Mourn over him 3. Thankfulness Because by Christ's Death is purchased for us the greatest Blessing that ever was Pardon Reconciliation Grace Glory 2. On our part the greatest Undesert that might be 3. Infinite Disproportion betwixt Christ and us the Just for the Unjust the Prince of Glory for Vassals of Baseness 4. Love unto Christ How should we love Christ that loved us and gave himself for us 1. A Man must Examine himself after he is come from the Sacrament to consider what Comfort and Encrease of Grace he hath received what quickning Vertue and Refreshment he hath found to flow out of Christ into his Soul Now upon such Examination a Man shall find that it hath â—een well with him at the Sacrament oâ— that it hath not and so accordingly he is to proceed First then If a Man hath found no Joy Comfort or Enlargement but upon Examination finds that he hath been unfruitful dead and dull then two things are to be done 1. Suspect thy self that thou hast been â—ailing either in thy Preparation to or Performance of the Duty Labour therefore to find out what it was that hinder'd the Efficacy of the Sacrament and be seriously humbled for it Yea if we can but be sensible of our Senselessness of Heart that holy Duty and truly mourn for it we need noâ—â—e much disheaâ—tned because this is one Fruit of the â—ife of Christ which was undoubtedly received in the Sacrament 2. Endeavour by after Pains and Humiliation to quicken and awaken tâ—e Efficacy of the Sacrament For we must know Sacraments do not always work for the present but the Efficacy may come afterwards The first Sacrament of the Supper the Disciples receiv'd it 's like they found not the Efficacy of it for the present for then they understood nothing of Christ's Death neither could it sink into their Heads that He should die but yet afterwards when they came more clearly to understand the Mysteries of Redemption and the whole â—octrine of Christ â—o question but they reaped the Benefit of that Ordinance which then they fully understood not 'T is with the Sacrament as with the Word Many a Man hears the Word and in some measure minds it but for the present it hath no Effect at all It 's possible it may work many Years after A Sermon preach'd seven Years before may prove the Means of a Man's Conversion seven Years after We have an Example in that kind All thingâ— that John spake Joh. 10. 41 42. of this man were true And many believed on him there This is written of some of John's Hearers John had preach'd Christ before They did not thereupon believe in Christ when he preach'd John was dead and gone but now when Christ comes among them they upon John's former Sermons preach'd a great while before do now believe John was dead but not his Word that works while he lies in his Grave Thus also may it be with the Sacrament it doth not always presently work it may and doth work with some a long time afterwards when a Communicant humbled for his Unprofitableness in the Duty endeavours by after-Diligence and Humility to quicken and put Life into it Though we have miscarried in our Preparations to the Sacrament and Disposition in the Sacrament yet may the Vertue Efficacy and Comfort of it be recovered by after-Diligence and after-Humiliation But if when the business is once over Men shall never look back nor reflect upon it more so as to be humbled for their Deadness Hardness and Indisposition in the Duty and have no care to make up that by after-Diligence which was wanting in the present Performance no marvel though they receive no Benefit or Advantage by it But Secondly If upon after-Examination and a Review of the Business we find that we were refreshed our Hearts comforted and enlarged that we had Vertue from and Communion with Christ 1. Let us bless God with our whole Soul for his Mercy and Goodness to us and with all thankfulness acknowledge his gracious dealing with us 2. Let us be careful to keep up and maintain that graciouâ— and holy frame of Spirit which we brought from the Sacrament Pray we as David did for the People when he saw them in a good frame of Spirit and that they offered willingly and freely towards the Building of God an House O Lord 1 Chron. 29. 18. keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people So when we find a good frame of Heart wrought in us at the Sacrament we should pray and endeavour that this frame of Heart might be still upheld and continued in us We should endeavour to keep alive as long as may be that holy fire that was kindled in our Hearts in the Use of the Sacrament It 's a great fault in us when we come from the Sacrament that we have no care to keep our Hearts in good frame by Prayer Meditation or good Conference but presently fall a discoursing about secular Business or foolish idle and unprofitable Matters This is a dangerous quenching of the Spirit and tends to the hardening of the Heart as thrusting red-hot Iron into Water makes it harder Such sudden coolings and dampings of spiritual heats got in