1 > 
 
 ?/"■?. 1 " v 
 
 FROM THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D 
 
 BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 
 
 I -' 
 
 i 
 
SACRAMENTAL 
 
 Meditations and advices y 
 
 GR OUNDED UPON 
 
 SCRIPTURE-TEXTS, 
 
 C O M M U N I C A N T S 
 
 T O 
 
 Prepare their Hearts, excite their Affections, 
 quicken their Graces, and enliven their Devo- 
 tions on Sacramental Occasions: 
 And lifcewife ufeful 
 To promote gracious Dispositions and Resolin 
 J tion-s in Christians, at ail Times, upon thr 
 
 Remembrance of a Crucified Jesus. 
 * ' Together with 
 
 A Short Christian Directory 
 
 ConHiling of 
 
 Forty Scripture Directions, proper for all 
 Christians intending Heaven : And a Variety 
 of Scripture-Songs for Zion's Travellers L 
 their Way thither. 
 
 To which arc added (by Way of APPENDIX) 
 
 I. ALecture concerning the Inftituthn of the 
 Lord's SurpER, on i Cor, xi. 17. to the Ettd. 
 
 II. A Preparation S-rmon from Jofh. iii. 5. 
 HI. An Action Sermon from Cant, ii. 4. j 
 
 All taken from the Author's, Manufcripts, and 
 never before pubiifhed. 1* * * 
 
 - -&:/./ 
 
 By the Reverend Mr. JohnWillison late Mi ncer at Dur.dee, 
 
 EDINBURGH: 
 Printed by Samuel Williso n and Company: 
 And fold y their Printing-honfe in Craig's Clofe, and by the 
 Bookfcllers in Town and Country. M DCC LVI, 
 
Cntmfc in Stationed 5>all 
 
 B Y 
 
 Samuel Will is on, Son to the 
 Author ; (b that if any Peribns pre. 
 fume to print the fame, they will be 
 profecute in terms of Law, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 THE Eternal Son of God, when taking his Leave 
 of an ungrateful World, inflituted the Sacra- 
 ment of the Supper, as a lively Refemblance and 
 Memorial of his bloody Sufferings and Death in the 
 Room of his People; and alio to be a bright and 
 lading Evidence' of the amazing Love of Cod the Fa- 
 ther, Soil and Holy Ghoft to periming Sinners. 
 
 As God once lent his Son into the World, in a lowly 
 Habit, clothed with human Flefh to lave Sinners ; i'o 
 now he fends him in a homely Drefs, clothed with 
 the Elements of Bread and Wine, to afflueus of his 
 Love, and to engage us to come to him. — Kings ex- 
 pect that their Children will be refpeeled, tho' their 
 Officers be neglected. Surely (faith God) They wilt 
 reverence my Son; they will make him welcome and 
 ' hearken to him. 
 
 In this mod Augud Ordinance of the New Tedament 
 the Great Cod approaches very near to us, and we to 
 him ; and yet it is to be deeply regreted that many 
 who profefs to believe this, come to it with fo little 
 Thought and Preparation, and with lb much Indiffer- 
 ency and Careleihefs of Spirit. Oh, (hall we ad- 
 venture fo near the Great God, who is infinitely ho- 
 ly, in whofe Sight the Heavens are not pure, and in 
 whofe Prefence the Sun and Stars are dimm'd, and 
 the brighteft Seraphims do gather in their Wings, and 
 account themfelves as little Flies before him ! And 
 (hall we, who are Creatures lb mean and fo vile, be 
 carelefs and unconcerned, when we make the neared 
 Approach to this great and holy God, that we can. 
 make on this Side Heaven! 
 
 Ou^ht we not to go blumihg, afhamed and deeply 
 
 humbled on many Accounts, and particularly for our 
 
 Ingratitude for Redeeming Love, that Love which pif- 
 
 fetf) Knowledge ; and for our Contempt of God's un- 
 
 fpeukable Gift, the greated Sin in the World; y i, 
 
 a 2. w.e 
 
;' iv PREFACE. 
 
 we mould go wondring that we are out of Hell, for 
 m< • • ihoufands are burning there, who have not 
 £ -\ h heinoufly in making light of precious Chrift 
 as we bare done. 
 
 Moreover, Reader, confider if you go to this Or- 
 tiin.mcc unpreparedly, or with Indifference, you not 
 only make light of the Lord Jefus Chrift, hut you 
 are £;///,>• of the Body and Blood of the Lord, I Cor. 
 xi. 27. Surely that Word may caufe you to quake 
 and tremble ; Blood-gut Itinefs of any Sort is a "dread- 
 ful Sin, and eipecially to be guilty of the Blood of 
 the Lord. Mulder is a Sin that tries for Vengeance 
 on the Adtor, and gives God no Reft till he puniih it, 
 Gen. iv. 10. The Voice of thy Brother s RJ cod crklb 
 to 7ne fro?n the Earth. It ii be a crying Sin to mur- 
 der a common Perfbn, what muft it be to murder a 
 King ? Who can fl retch forth his Hand again fi the L ord ' j 
 Anointed, a?id be guiltlefsP 1 Sam. xxvi. 9. O then 
 what a Crime muft it be to murder the eternal Son 
 of God, who is thy exalted King, thy everlafting 
 Father, thy dear Redeemer, and thy God who gave 
 thee a Being. Child-murder is a heinous Crime, but 
 what Chriji -murder is, no Tongue can tell ! If on 
 him that flew Cain (that wicked Man) Vengeance 
 Ihould be taken feven-fold, what Vengeance will be 
 taken on him that crucifies afrefh the Lord of Glory ? 
 This Confideration mould make all of us afraid of 
 carelefs and unworthy Communicating. 
 
 If we could communicate worthily, we muft be 
 earneft, not only for the Life of Grace, but alfo for 
 the Livelinefs of Grace ; not only for the Truth and 
 Sincerity of Grace, but likewifc for the Activity and 
 vigorous Exercife of Grace. So that a Believer 
 himfelf doth not eat and drink worthily, unlefs the 
 Grace that is in him be excited and exercifed at 
 
 this Ordinance There muft be not only Faith in 
 
 the Truth of it, but there muft be Faith realizing, ap- 
 plying, appropriating and making ufe of ChrinVs 
 ;-,. ' .Death 
 
 sfe 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Death and Put-chafe in this Ordinance Not >nly 
 
 mult there be a Dilpofition cf Soul to be \v tibial 
 for Sin, but there muft be actual mourning an* inch- 
 ing of Heart for Sin, and for particular Sins, jrhek 
 we look on him we have pierced by them. — i>ot 
 only muft there be a Principle of Love to Chfiily 
 but alio an exciting of Love to flame out to Chrift, 
 who loved us and gave himielf for us.. 
 
 Worthy Communicating being a Work of fitch Im- 
 portance, the. following Scriptural Meditations and 
 Advices are humbly offered to Chriftians, as an Help 
 in their Preparations for it.. Reading and thinking 
 much on the Subjects here propoi'ed, may, thro' God's 
 Bleiling,, be ufeful to promote their habitual Prepa- 
 ration for the holy Supper, ChrifVs Body and 
 
 Blood herein exhibited are pure and holy Things, 
 ami mould be received in prepared and cleanled 
 Hearts. His Body never law Corruption in the 
 Grave, nor will be mixed withitin Hearts where Cor- 
 ruption is allowed. It lay in a Virgin's Womb, and 
 in a Virgin's Sepulchre, and will Hill be entertained 
 in Virgins Souls and Affections ; in Hearts purified and 
 confecrated to God.. In thefe Chrift chuies to refide, . 
 and not in thefe where Sin and the World, with the 
 Lulls thereof, are harboured.. Oh, ha* we Grace to • 
 maintain and cherifh the Fear of God, and the Love 
 of Chrift habitually in our Souls, we might, without* 
 much Pains, be prepared for coming to him at his , 
 Table. 
 
 Did we always bear in our Minds, that Sacramen- 
 tal Occalions are folemn Appointments, and Bethel- 
 meetings with God, for renewing Covenant, and en- 
 tertaining Fellowfhip and Communion with him, we 
 would guard more againft Formality creeping in up- 
 on us in our Preparations for, and in our. Attendance 
 upon this Ordinance, than alas, we do. Oh, fuch 
 Formality will provoke the Mafter of our folemn: 
 Feafts to withdraw from them, and then what poor, . 
 melancholy and Jifelefs Things will they be ? 
 <* 3 What. 
 
vi PREFACE. 
 
 What art Sacraments without Chrilt's Prcience in 
 fhem ? O let us never be fatisfied with Communion- 
 iabbaths, without Communion with Chrift in them. 
 
 On the other Hand, if we would keep up Commu- 
 nion with Chrift in thele Ordinances, let us beware 
 of relying on our previous Pains or Preparations, ei- 
 ther for our right performing of our Duty, or for our 
 Acceptance in it : For we are never more ready to 
 miicarry, and to be difappointed, than when we are 
 guilty of this refting. Sundry go to the Lord's Table 
 with great Humiliation for Sin, and yet come away 
 without Comfort : Why ? becaufe they make a Chrift 
 
 of their Sorrow O what worth can we fee in our 
 
 beft Preparations, Confellions, Prayers, Tears, Hu* 
 miliations, &c. if we compare them with the Law of 
 God ? We have more Caule to be afhamed of them, 
 than to lay any Strefs on them. Could we renounce 
 all Self-confidence, and difclaim all our Provifion in 
 point of Dependence, and call ourielves wholly on 
 Chrift for Strength, Through-bearing and Acceptance, 
 we would have better Succefs at the Lord's Table, 
 than commonly we have. 
 
 We are never more fit for this holy Table, than 
 when we are moft humbled, and moft afhamed of 
 ourfelves, becaufe of our Unfitnefs for this folemn 
 Approach ; and we are never lefs fit, than when we 
 think ourfelves moft fit and prepared for the Duty. — 
 A holy Deniednefs to all Self fufficiency, and a deep 
 Senfe of Unworthinefs and Unfitnefs, is the beft Pre- 
 paration we can attain to for this folemn Ordinance. 
 Let us make Holy David our Pattern, when going to 
 pirtake, Pfal. lxxi. id.. I will go i?i the Strength of 
 the Lord Cod: I will make mention of thy RighicouJ- 
 nefsy even of thine only... . And let us pray with the 
 Spoufe, Cant. iv. 1 6. Awake , North IVind, and 
 cowe thou South, blow upon my Garden , that the Spices 
 thereof may flow out. Amen. 
 Dundee, Auguft j 747* 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 O F 
 
 Sacramental Meditations 
 
 FROM 
 
 SCRIPTURE -TEXTS 
 
 Page 
 MEDITATION I. Heb. xi. 7. A crucified 
 ■■-*-*■ Jefus the Believer's Ark X 
 
 11.2 Pkt. ii. 4. Fallen Angels punithed, and fallen Men 
 fpared $ 
 
 III. Psal. cxlvii. 20. Britain's Gofpel-mercies Subject 
 
 of Praife 9 
 
 IV. 1 John in. 1. The amazing Love of the Father 
 
 and of the Son to us *1 
 
 V. Psal. viii. 4. The Condefcenfion of the great God 
 
 to Man admirable 1 7 
 
 VJ. 1 Cor. x. 4. Chrift our Rock, fmitten and ftream- 
 ing, highly ufeful 21 
 
 VII. ZECH.xii. 10. Chrift pierced for our Sins, a Heart- 
 arleeting Sight 25 
 
 VIII. Luke xxii. 61. Chrift *s Look to Peter melted his 
 Heart in Tears 2p 
 
 IX. Mat. xv. 27. Often Trials are fharp, where Faith 
 
 is ftrong 3 3 
 
 X. 1 Cor. xi. 24. drift's Sufferings worthy to be remem- 
 bered at his Table 3 a 
 
 XI. Phil. i. 23. Communicants oft in Straits betwixt two 
 which of them to chule 42 
 
 XII. Phil. iv. 19. Rich Supplies in Chrift for all our 
 Needs 46* 
 
 XIII Ephes. iii. 19. The Dimensions of Chrift's Love 
 pafs Knowledge $ I 
 
 XIV. Luke xxii. 44. A View of Chrift's Agony and 
 bloody Sweat jj 
 
 XV. Is a. liii. 7, The Lamb of God fileat, and ilaughter- 
 
 cd for u> 5-9 
 
 XVL 
 
'viii CONTENTS. 
 
 Medita. Page 
 
 XVI. Kph. i. 7. Amazing Things to be feen in redeem- 
 ing Blood 64 
 
 XVII. Psal. Ixxii. 6. Chrift's coining to his Church like 
 Rain on dry Ground 69 
 
 XVIII. Mat. viii. 8. The lowly Believer, or Faith a Self- 
 amazing Grace 74 
 
 XIX. 2 Cor. ix. i>-. Chriit is God's unfpeakable Gift, 
 with Murks of thefe who are thaukful for it 79 
 
 XX. Luke ix. 22. A View of the manifold Sufferings of 
 Chrift 84 
 
 XXI. John xviii. 4. Chrift's Willingnefs to fv:iTer for us 
 viewed and improven 89 
 
 XXII. John xvi. 7. The Expediency of Chrift's going a- 
 way from his Difciples confidered 94 
 
 XXIII. Hos. ii. 19. An aftoniihing Match betwixt lovely 
 Chrift and lothfome Creatures S9 
 
 XXIV. Is a. liii, 8. A View of Chrift ftricken by many 
 Hands for our many Sins 104 
 
 XXV. Gal. ii. 20. A particular and appropriating Faith 
 
 in Jefus Chrift, both our Duty and Intercft 109 
 
 XXVI. 1 John iv. 19. God's preventing Love, the Caufc 
 
 of our Love to him 114 
 
 XXVII. Psal. exxvi. j. Sowing in Tears brings a joyful 
 reaping Time 1 1$ 
 
 XXVTII. Rev. i. c. Chrift's Love in pouring out his 
 Blood for us, calls for Songs of Praife to him 123 
 
 XXIX. Luke xv. i 8. The humble Confeflions and Plead- 
 ings of a penitent returning Prodigal 127 
 
 XXX. Song i. 4. Our remembring of Chrift's Love at 
 his Table fhould fill our Souls with Wonder, Love and 
 Gratitude 130 
 
 XXXI. Isa. liii. e. Chrift's Wounds by our Sins, ftiew 
 
 the evil Nature of Sin, and call for Revenge upon it 134 
 
 XXXII. John vi. jj. Chrift crucified onr heavenly Breads 
 excells the Ijraelitcs Manna 138 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 O F 
 
 Sacramental Advices 
 
 FROM 
 
 SCRIPTURE-T EXTS. 
 
 Page 
 ADVICE I. GE*.vii. i. A Call to perifhing Sinners 
 -* * to come into the Ark of a crucified Chrift for Safety, 
 with Directions how to get into it 143 
 
 II. Rev. iii. 20. Chrift's fbnding and knocking at the 
 Door of the Heart, affords powerful Arguments for Sin- 
 ners opening to him 147 
 
 III. Rev. iii. 20. A View of the ExtenGvenefs and Solem- 
 nity of Chrift's Calls to open to him, and the blefled Pro- 
 vifion he brings in with him if I 
 
 IV. Prov. ix. 5-. Chrift the Bread of Lr'fe, excellent Soul- 
 fopd, with Directions how to come and eat it i$e 
 
 V. Qen. xlv. 4. Chrift our loving Brother typified by 
 Jofepk, with Directions how to come near him in the Sa- 
 crament I5"9 
 
 VI. Matth. xxii. 2. A Call to come and fign the Mar- 
 riage-contract with Chrift at his Table, with Directions in 
 doing it 163 
 
 VII. Lam. i. 12. A Call to v'ew Chrift' s dreadful Suf- 
 ferings under God's fierce Anger 167 
 
 VIIL.-Matth. xxvi. 22. Communicants called to be zea- 
 lous over their Hearts, to fearch out their Sins and for- 
 row for them, and to do it after a Godly Sort, with 
 Marks of it 171 
 
 IX. Heb. vi J 8. 'Chrift our only City of Refuge, with 
 Directions how to rke to it from the Avenger of Blood 17 S 
 
 X. John iii. 14. A Call to view Chrift nailed and lifted 
 
 up on the Crofs, with fuitable Thoughts and Affections 179 
 
 XI. Exodus xiv. 15-. A Call to Communicants, under 
 Doubts and Fears, to go forward to the Red Sea of 
 thrift's Blood 183 
 
 XII. John 
 
x CONTENTS. 
 
 Advice Tigc 
 
 XII. John xii. 32. Chrift lifted up on the Crofs, a noble 
 Engine for drawing Souls to him, with Directions to 
 look for his drawing Power 1 87 
 
 XIII. John xix. c. A Call to behold the Man Chrift Je- 
 
 fus under his various Suffering-; 102 
 
 XIV. Job xxxvii. 14. Directions to (land ftill and confi- 
 
 der God's wondrous Works difplayed in the Sacrament 196 
 
 XV. Rev. xxii. 2. Chrift our Tree of Life, infinitely pre- 
 ferable to Adams Tree in the earthly Paradife, with Di- 
 rections to view and make Ule of this blefied Tree 201 
 
 XVI. Isa. xxxii. 2. Chrift our only Hiding-place and Co- 
 vert from Storms of Wrath, with Directions to get into it 206 
 
 XVII. 1 Kings xix. 9. Communicants fhould be ready to 
 give Account to God of their Errand at the Lord's Table 210 
 
 XVIII. John v. 6. Communicants muft come fenfible of 
 their Di&aics, with Faith in Chrift's healing Power, and 
 Marks of a healing Faith 21 £ 
 
 XIX. Exod. xii. 14. How to improve a Communion Sab- 
 bath as a Memorial of Chrift's Death, Refurrection, and 
 Benefits obtained thereby 219 
 
 XX. Jer. iii. 19. A Sinner's taking hold of God's Cove- 
 nant, furmounts ali the Hindrances and Difficulties in the 
 Way of his Salvation 124 
 
 XXI. Luke v. 26. Communicants are to recollect and 
 confider what ftrange Things they have feen at the Sa- 
 crament, and be fuitably affected . 22 j 
 
 XXII. Luke vi. 21. The Bleflldnefs of true fpiritual 
 Hunger, with the good Things provided to fill the Hun- 
 gry 234 
 
 XXIII. Psal. cvii. 2. Redeemed Souls are under fpecial 
 Obligations to give Thanks and fing Praife to their Re- 
 deemer 2 37 
 
 I offer no particular Contents of the annexed Directory and 
 Songs, in regard the ^o Scripture Direftions are fhort, and the 
 Songs but few ; they being mofthy tranflated from the St 
 Solomon, and other notour Paflages in the Bible, particularly 
 Kew Teftament ; wherein redeeming Love, the Sufferings of 
 Chrift, and the Benefits of his. Purchafe, are fet forth in order to 
 excite our Thanksgiving andPraifes for them. Which mfr-irec 
 Matter, Chriftians are fufhciently warranted to make Vk 
 Songs. O to gee our Heart* tuned with Lovr 
 
SACRAMENTAL 
 
 MEDITATIONS 
 
 Upon Sundry 
 
 Scr i pture-Texts. 
 
 MEDITATION I. 
 
 From Heb. xi. 7. 
 
 By Faith Noah prepared an Ark to the faying 
 of his Houfe. 
 
 THO' the Flood that drowned the old 
 World was ut many Years Diftance, 
 yet Noah was moved with Fear at 
 God's warning him of it, and prepared 
 an Ark for his Safety : And (hall not 
 unconverted unbelieving Sinners, who have a far 
 more terrible Flood threatned againft them, and may- 
 be only a few Days diftant, take Warning, and pro- 
 
 vids with all Speed for their Safety? Oh! (hall 
 
 I, a wretched guilty Sinner, take Reft, while I am 
 within the Flood-mark of God's Wrath, and not a- 
 rife in Time to provide an Ark to flee to for my Safe- 
 ty ? — But O good News ! I have not the Ark to pro- 
 vide, it is prepared to my Hand : God, in his infinite 
 Wifdom and Pity, hath made ready an Ark long ago 
 for loft Sinners of Adams Race to fly to ; and now it 
 is compleatly furnifhed and finifhed, and all Things 
 are ready, fo that I have nothing to do but go and 
 take Poffeflion. 
 
 A O what 
 
A Crucified Jefus, 
 
 O what had become of me, and other periming 
 Sinners, had we the Ark to build for ourfelves? Nay, 
 the whole Creation had not been able or fumclent for 
 this Purpole. How loon would the raging Flood of 
 Divine Wrath fweep away all the Arks of Men or 
 Angels "buikfing! But Thanks be unto God for ever, 
 .for the excellent well-built Ark of God's devifing, for 
 the many fpacious Rooms and fate Lodging-places 
 within it, for the fuitable Accommodation and plenti- 
 ful Provifion laid up therein, and for the Door open- 
 ed in the Side.thereof for perilling Souls to enter by. 
 
 -The Salvation of Sinners by a Crucified Ckrijl is 
 
 a well-ordered Scheme, a beautiful Contrivance ! Blef- 
 fed be the infinitely wife Contriver for it. I fee all 
 Things in Chrift crucified necelfary for me : He is 
 made of God tolVlen, Wifdom, Right 'eoujnefi, Santti- 
 fication and Redemption. There is in him infinite 
 Wildom to guide me, a ipotlefs Righteoufnefs to co- 
 ver me, precious Blood to wain me, the Holy Spirit 
 to fan&ify me, his good Word to direct me, his ju-it 
 Laws to govern me, and his infinite Fulncls to liipply 
 all my Needs: Safe and happy then would I be, were 
 I. found in him. O that, upon Trial by Scripture- 
 marks, I could conclude. rnylelf to be withiii the Ark, 
 to wit, a Crucified Jefus ! 
 
 Can I fay, I have been warned of God, and mov- 
 ed with Fear, to fly to this Ark? Have 1 dilcoveivd 
 ■my fhelteriefs State by Nature, the \\ d Bil- 
 
 lows of Wrath wfaig and rolling agamft me.' Have I 
 ieen my own Inability to provide an Ark for myfelf, 
 and the Excellency and Fitneis of the Ark of God's 
 providing? Have I been made willing to abandon all 
 falls Aijks, and earnefrly infimifitive how to get into 
 the t me Ark? Have I been made willing to ufe all 
 .appointed Means for this End, to read, hear, medi- 
 tate, pray, repent, believe, effay to climb up the Sides 
 the Ark, and prefs to get in at the Door thereof? 
 -e I been willing to venture my All in the Ark, 
 
 3 like 
 
rs: 
 
 the Believer's Ark. 3 
 
 like Noah, notwithftanding of the Difcouragements, 
 Scoffs and Hatred of the World For io doing? Have 
 I willingly acquidted, flieltered and lodged my Soul 
 in God's Ark, and been made to fay, This is my 
 for ever , here nil/ I divcll P Come what rioted will, 
 Chrift ihall be my Ark, His Fight •ou ftiefs aloi;- 
 Refuge and Hiding-plate. 
 
 Alas! upon impartial Search, have I not Caufe to 
 fear that I ha\e not yet fled to the Ark, but am {rill 
 expoled to the devouring Flood ? and can 1 be eaiy or 
 quiet in luch a Ca!e ? Can I forbear crying, What lhall 
 I do to get into the Ark Chrift ? nay, what would I 
 not do to get into it ? Lord, what wouldft thou have 
 me to do? Wouldft thou have me to humble myieif, 
 confefs, mourn, part with Sin, dole with Chrift in all 
 his Offices? Prefcrlbe, Lord, what thou wilt, Iwii) 
 not icruple what thou enjoins me, but obey thee . 
 out Rciervc. I am refolved upon it, whatever it co'ft 
 me, that the Solicitations of the Flefh, the Tempta- 
 tions of Satan, the Scons, R epr o ache s or Persecutions 
 of the World, mail not flop me from flying to the 
 Ark ; I would break through all thefe to be found in 
 it. Lord, increase and ftrengthen my Faith for that 
 End, and help my Unbelief. 
 
 O how fui table is the Ark Chrift to my defUtute 
 
 and rrriferable Condition: In myieif I want all Things, 
 
 but I fee Supply for all my Wants in the Ark. I am 
 
 poor, but 1 ice Gold in the Ark to make me rich : I 
 
 am wounded by Sin, but I lee Balm in the Ark to heal 
 
 my Wounds : I am blind, but there is Eye-lalve in 
 
 the Ark to make me lee : I am periming with Hunger, 
 
 hut I lee Bread in the Ark to latisfy me : I am naked. 
 
 bat in the Ark there is white Raiment to clothe me: 
 
 polluted, but in the Ark there is a Fountain to 
 
 •me: I am expoled to more terrible Floods than 
 
 was, but I fee the Ark Chrift can fave me from 
 
 n ill : hoah\ Ark laved him only from a Flood of 
 
 r, but the Ark Chrift faves from a Flood of the 
 
 A 2 Curfcs 
 
4 JSLractjied J ejus, 
 
 Curfes of the Law, and the Wrath of God, which 
 will fweep away all the unbelieving World. This 
 Flood rofe, fwelled high, and dafhed furioufly agaiaft 
 our Ark; but the Ark was Proof againft it, "and fliel- 
 tered all the Elect World from the Flood, fo that not 
 
 one Drop did light on them O how excellent is 
 
 this Ark ! for it can fave me from being overwhelmed 
 or carried away with any Flood, and particularly it 
 caa fave me from being carried away with a Flood of 
 Satan's Temptations which (weeps away many, or 
 with a Flood of indwelling Corruption, with a Flood 
 of Error, with a Flood of Profanity, or with a Flood 
 of Neutrality and Fndifterency about fpiritual Con- 
 cerns j by which Floods, Multitudes are deftroyed. 
 Let me then by Faith fly to this blefled Ark, where 
 all Believers are preferved from thefe deftroying 
 Floods. Behold I run, I fly: May Jefus draw me, 
 and help me in. 
 
 Blefled for ever be the God of Heaven, for provid- 
 ing fuch an Ark fcr Bdlm Sinners upon Eerth. I de- 
 iire to count all Things but Lofs and Dung, that I 
 may be found in this Ark, among the preferved in 
 Chrift Jefus, whom no Flood can reach. However 
 this Ark be flighted by the World, I'll prize it above 
 all Things, and count them for ever happy who get 
 into it, feeing God declares it, that there is no Con- 
 demnation to them that are in Chrift Jefus The 
 
 Ark was flighted by the old World, and Noah ridicu- 
 led for preparing it for himfelf and his Houfe; but it 
 foon appeared that N&(h. was the wifefl Man that 
 then lived upon the Earth. Few there were who en- 
 tered with Noah into the Ark, and no doubt were re- 
 proached and mocked for their Singularity ; but foon 
 was the World perfwaded that they were the only 
 wife and happy Men in it. Better liirely it was to 
 have followed the eight Perfons that went into the 
 Ark, than to have joined eight Millions of theft who 
 were drowned in the Flood. Should I be fo foolilh 
 
the Bell e ver s Ark . 5 
 
 as follow theoldWorld in undervaluing the Ark, I muft 
 lay my Account to be (hut out and perifh with them 
 too: Wherefore 1 will not fear the Reproach of 
 
 for being lingular in my pfteem of glorious Chrii't 
 
 May I be numbered among that happy Company 
 (however few they be) who love the Lord Jells 
 Chi ill in Sincerity, and will biefs God eternal! \ 
 providing this Ark for drowning Men ! May I be one 
 that will ever blefs my lovely and loving Jefus, that 
 pitied me and took me in, when others were warned 
 off from the Sides of the Ark, as adhering only to it 
 by a dead and formal PrqfeffionJ May I be one that 
 will ever flng to his Praife, O amazing free Love! 
 that pitied and diftinguifhed me, when the Flood 
 came; that gracioufly drew and determined me in 
 Inch a Manner, that 1 got into the Ark and was feie, 
 when many others were warned off and periihed h;r 
 ever! 
 
 MEDITATION IL 
 
 From 2 Peter ii. 4- 
 
 God [fared not the Angels that finned, l..- 
 cafl them down to HelL 
 
 HOW admirable, free and diiYmguiihir-g is the 
 Love of God to Mankind Sinners, in p.'t. 
 them in their low and loll Eftate! O how differ. : 
 the Cafe of 'fallen Men upon the Earun from the C .c. 
 of fallen A; ageism Hell,, and that of damned 5 
 there! Manna is rained down upon us, while an t 
 nal Shower of hire and Brimltone fails down u.j 
 them. They are bound in Chains of Darkilei 
 
 i Lord, art drawing us with Cords of L 
 'thou didft not (pare Angels, nor take on their Na 
 A 3 iiiW-j 
 
6 b alien Men ptieu, 
 
 tnre; but thou haft fpared us, married our Nature, 
 
 and exalted it to the Heavens. They continue with- 
 out Hope under the Deluge of God's Wrath, while 
 the plealant Rainbow of the Sacrament appears to us, 
 as a Token of God's Covenant of Grace, and of his 
 Wiilingnefs to fecure us from that overflowing Flood, 
 by the Interpofition of his dear Son in our Nature. O 
 how welcome fhould we make that Gofpel- Rainbow ! 
 
 Lord, thy Wrath fben brake out againft the An- 
 gels that fell; thou didft punifh them immediately up- 
 on their finning againft thee. Thou didft not wait 
 for their Repentance, nor make any Offer of Mercy 
 to them; but, preiently upon their firft Offence, didft 
 condemn them to everl ailing Chains of Darkne's. O 
 how far different is thy Manner of dealing with us! 
 Long haft thou waited upon us after we have finned ; 
 yea, thou haft followed us \\ ith thy Mercy after ma- 
 ny Refufals of it, and even after our trampling the 
 precious Blood of Chrift under our Feet! Marvel- 
 lous and peculiar is thy Mercy to fallen Men in relpcct 
 of fallen Angels! Glory to lbvcreign free Mercy, that 
 thou didft not caft us off for ever without a Parley, 
 as thou didft them ; but waiu to be gracious to us, 
 Jong ftretehjng cut thy Hand, and calling us to Re- 
 pentance, faying, Turn ye > turnje; ivhy ivill ye die ? 
 
 Ag .iinir the firming Angels God was fo provoked, 
 that he refolved within himfelf, and hath kept Lis Re- 
 solution ever lince the Beginning of the World, and 
 wiil keep it to all Eternity, that he will not fb much 
 as enter into a Parley with thefc Creatures, however 
 glorious they once WwSg^ nor be reconciled to them 
 upon any Terms ; yea, that he will hear of no Terms, 
 but will revenge himlclfupon them to all Eternity. — 
 May not then the heai ing of this caufe us to quake and 
 tremble? for, why might not the Lord have dealt 
 wkh us in the fame Manner, who were far more 
 wretched and miferable Creatures than Angels? Sure- 
 ly if a Khig be fe angry with an offending Nobleman , 
 
 that 
 
was once his ipeeiai favourite, as to oanun mm 
 from Court, and afterwards hear of no Terms of -Re- 
 conciliation with him; Would not a footman, or 
 mean Servant, that had offended, when hearing of 
 this, begin to dread, and fay, O what will become 
 of me a poor Man, when the Kiog treats his Peers fo 
 fevereiy? I may finely defpair of a Remhlion or Re- 
 conciliation with him. So in like Manner, we poor 
 clay Worms, upon hearing of God's Severity to fal- 
 len Angels, might have been overwhelmed with Fear, 
 if" the Bible had not told us, that the Son of God his 
 D:!ights were with the Sons of Men ; that verily hs 
 took not on him the Nature of Angels, hut he took on 
 him the Seed of Abraham, Heh.n. 16. and that he 
 gave himlelf to be a Sin-Offering and Sacrifice for 
 Men! Aftoniihing News! Glory to Gcd for thefe 
 glad Tidings of great Joy! 
 
 O admirable Love to Adams rebellious Offspring! 
 Haft thou, Lord, part by Angels, and remembred us 
 in our low Efrate! and in thy infinite Compaiiion te- 
 eome our Surety, to appcaie Divine Juftice for our 
 heinous Sins, when no other Sacrifice could do it! O 
 what (hall we render to thee for this diftinguifhing 
 Love! Surely our Condition in Adam was no better 
 than that of the Angels who left their firft Eftate. 
 By Nature we were in a moft dreadful Cafe, lying, 
 like I/aac, bound on the Altar, to be a Sacrifice to 
 the Juftice of God, and the Sword of Juftice lift up 
 to give the killing Blow, until the Son of God disco- 
 vered himlelf as the Ram caught in the Thickets, and 
 calling to Juftice, Hold thy Lfcind, loofe them, and 
 hind me in their Room; I'll be the Sacrifice for them. 
 In choofing fallen Men, and not Angels, God gave 
 an amazing Inftance of the Sovereignty of his Grace, 
 that he would be merciful to whom he would be 
 merciful ; would pafs by the fuperior Nature, and 
 choofe the inferior; prefer VefTels of Clay to Vef- 
 fels of Gold ! What can we fay ? Nothing, but 
 wonder at God's free Grace !-— Uirfpeakable Love ! 
 
 Lord, 
 
8 Fallen Men plied, &c. 
 
 Lord, it had been much if thou hadft provid- 
 ed an Angel to mitigate our Sufferings in Kell, 
 by giving us Drops of Water to cool our Tongue;, 
 but that thou fhouldft have condefcended to come 
 and change Rooms with us, ly in Kell for us, and 
 llifFer the very Fains and Agonies due to us, is Love 
 that paffeth Knowledge. 
 
 Lord, when I coniider thy diftinguifliing Pity, and 
 low Stoop, to purchafe and recover fuch Clods of 
 Earth and Sin with thy Blood and Agonies, I am a- 
 mazed at thy Love, confounded at my own Ingrati- 
 tude, and afhamed at the Coldnefs and Harthiefs of 
 my Heart ! Oh ! was Chriit willing to change Rooms 
 with the like of me, and mail not I he willing to 
 change Rooms with him, and at his Demand to part 
 with the filthy Rags of my Sins, and take on the Robe 
 of his Righteoulheis ? O mall not this amazing Love 
 of Chriil conftrain me to love him again, and live to 
 him that died for me? mall it not conftrain me to 
 think on him ? conftrain me to clofe with and truft in 
 him? conftrain me to commend him ? conftrain me 
 to hate and avoid his Enemy, Sin ? conftrain me to 
 adhere to Chrift's Truths and Ways? to perfevcrc hi 
 Prayer, Praife, and Holy Walking ? 
 
 Are fallen Angels left, and fallen Men pitched up- 
 on to be the Monuments of tvee Grace, to fill up 
 the vacant Rooms which AngcU fell from? What 
 mall I fay to this, but, even fo, Father, for jo 
 it pkafed thee ; Let thy fbvereign free Grace be the 
 eternal Song of both Men and Angels. Not unto u.< f 
 
 ?iot unto us, but unto thy Name he the Glory. Ble r - 
 
 ieJ be God, that I hear this joyful Sound of Reconci- 
 liation with fallen Men, and of a Treaty of Peace 
 carried on with them : The Devils never heard, tad 
 
 never will hear fuch News. But Oh, if I come not 
 
 in, and accept of the Terms and Off :: s made to me 
 in the Gofpel, I'll put myfelf in a worfe Cafe than the 
 Devils: For it cannot be charged upon fallen Angels, 
 
 as 
 
Britain'/ Mercies, &c. 9 
 
 as on fallen Men, that God was willing to be reconci- 
 led to them, and they would not. Now then, when 
 the Gofpel-treaty is proclaimed, God forbid I be 
 found guilty of refuting his Terms, (coining his Offers, 
 and defying his Threatnings. hbrv Jhail I efcape, 
 if 1 negftft fo great and wonderful Salvation as is ten- 
 dered to me? Neglect it, Lord, I clare net, I will 
 not. Lo, I come, I accept, I embrace, I take hold 
 of thy Covenant, and the Seal of it tendeied to me: 
 I renounce the old Covenant, I break League this Day 
 with all thy Enemies, I proclaim War againfr them: 
 I dole with Chrift Jeius, both as my Righteouinefs 
 and my Strength: I make a full and free Surrender 
 and Refignation of mylelfunto the Loid, to be his, 
 and his only, in all I am, and in all I enjoy, to 
 be ordered and difpofed of for his Glory and Service. 
 Lord, I am thine; I will not be my own, I will not 
 be the World's, but I'll be thine, thine only, and 
 thine wholly ; thine to love thecj t'erve and obey 
 thee without Referve : Since thou wouldft have no 
 Nature but mine, I will have no Will but thine. I re- 
 nounce my own Will, and take thine for my Rule. 
 Lord, I am thine, O fave thou me; and 1 will trum- 
 pet forth the Paifes of free Grce and redeeming Love 
 for ever. Amen, 
 
 MEDITATION III, 
 
 From Pfahn cxlvii. 20. 
 He hath not dealt fo with any Nation. 
 
 r r^HE Nation of Jfrael was Angularly privileged 
 
 _1 above others ; they were taken into Covenant 
 
 with God, they had God's Word and Ordinances, 
 
 th? Mean? of Cunverfion and Solvation ; they had the 
 
 . QofpeJ 
 
io Britain'/ Gofpel-mercies 
 
 Gofpel Revelation, the Knowledge and Promifes «* 
 
 theMefiiuh But we under New-Teftament Times, 
 
 and in Britain, are yet more peculiarly privileged 
 with clearer Light and Difcoveries or* the Mejjlah than 
 the Nation of Jfrael had. They lived under a dark- 
 er and hariher Diipenfation of the Covenant of Grace 
 by Mofes, whole firfl Miracle was the turning of Wa- 
 ter into Blood'; but. we live under the clearer and 
 Tweeter Diipenfation of it by Chrijt himielf, whofe firfl 
 Miracle was the turning of Water into Wine, that 
 cheers the Heart. The Nation of J/rae/were called 
 a People near unto God ; but in Golpel-times we are 
 allowed yet nearer Accefs to God, than they had. — 
 The Children of Jfrael were not aliowed fo much as 
 to touch the Mount on which the Lord came down; 
 the Men of Bethjhemejh had not Liberty to look into 
 the Ark, the Place of his Rehdence : — But, behold, 
 we are allowed to take a near View and {ready Look 
 of a crucified Jeihs in the Sacrament, who is the Image 
 of the invifible God, the Brighinef of bis Father** Glo- 
 ry, and the exprefs Image of his P erf on. Yea, we have 
 Liberty not only to look to him, but alfo to touch 
 him, handle his Wounds, embrace his Perfon, and 
 lodge him in our Hearts. 
 
 The Advantage of a clear Revelation of a crucifi- 
 ed Chriir. in the Gofpei-oidinances, and particularly 
 in the Lord's Super, is an invaluable Privilege. If the 
 Royal Pfalmilt admired the Divine Goodnc is in catf* 
 ling the San, Moon and Stars to fhine in the Kirnu- 
 ment for Man's Behoof, and therefore crieSj >'■ bt t h 
 Man, ih.it God is thus mindful of him ? How far gi t a t - 
 er Cauie have we to fay fo, when w e obfc rve how God 
 caufes the Sun of Righteouihefs (liiue io brightly in the 
 Firmament of Gofpel-ordinances, and the Day fpring 
 from on high to z'ifit us with the Light of laving Know- 
 ledge, and of eternal Salvation thro' him? Again, 
 
 if the Pfalmift exalts God's Goodnc -Is fo much in 1 is 
 giving the Beafts of the Field, Fowls of the Air, ai?cj 
 
 Fifties 
 
Matter of Praift. II 
 
 Fifties of the Sea, to be Food for Man; WhatGround 
 have we to admire and praife God's '. (finite Mercy, 
 in giving us the Flefti and Blood of hi> own dear Son 
 to preferve the Lives of our Souls ? O what rareGof- 
 pel-kafls arc theie which God allows us in the Land 
 wherein we dwell ! And O how wonderfully are they 
 preferved and continued with us, from Time to Time, 
 by the miraculous working of God's Mercy and 
 •Power! while others are vifited with Cleannefs of 
 Teeth, and a Famine of the Word of God. He hath 
 not dealt -with every Nation as with us. 
 
 And, Lord, how diftinguilhing is thy Goodnefs un- 
 to me a moil unworthy Creature ! Bythy Mercy I 
 was born in a Valley of Vifion ; and I dwell in a 
 lightibme Goflien, when Multitudes of others, in Pa- 
 gan and Popifh Nations, are covered with Egyptian 
 Darknefs, and fit in the Region of the Shadow of 
 Death. I hear Heaven's free Market-days of Grace 
 proclaimed, when others have filent Sabbaths ; I am 
 invited to a rich Banqueting-houie, when others are 
 starving for Want of the Bread of Life. O that 1 
 -could value my Mercies aright! It is a great Privi- 
 lege that I am allowed to 1'peak to the great God in 
 Prayer, and to hear him ipeak unto me in his Word ! 
 But (till he puts a greater Honour upon me, by calling 
 me to enjoy intimate Communion and Fellowship 
 with himlelf, yea, inviting me to (it down with him 
 at his Table, and feaft upon the Fruits of Chrift's 
 Death, and Benefits of his Purchafe ! — Oh, 1 am not 
 worthy of the leait Crumb that fails from the Chil- 
 drens Table, and far Ms of being let down at the 
 Tabic with the Children to eat of their Bread, and 
 {Jiare of the Dainties provided for them by their hea- 
 venly Father. If Peter, after having teen Chrift's 
 Glory and his own Vilenefs, judged himlelf unworthy 
 to be in the fame Ship with Chrtf, and therefore 
 cried, Depart from me, for I awn a fmful Man : How 
 Jhould I, the Chief of Sinners, adventure to fit at the 
 
 fame 
 
I 2 Britain* J" Goffel-mercies 
 
 fame Table with him, and feed upon his Flefli and 
 Blood ? Amazing Condefcenfion ! 
 
 O what Dittindlion doth God make among Na- 
 tions, in lending the Golpel to them, with clear 
 Views and preiling Offers of a crucified Jefus to pe- 
 rifhing Souls ? And what Caule have we in thefe Na- 
 tions of admiring the dilHnguifhing Goodnefs of God 
 to us in this Refpect beyond others ! Would we not 
 admire his Goodnefs, if he canted the San mine only in 
 our Horizon, as he did on Gojheuy when other Na- 
 tions were covered with Darknefs, as the Land of 
 Egypt was \ yet furely the Gofpel-lun is by far a 
 greater Mercy. — The Gofpel is indeed a joyful Sound, 
 Pfat. Ixxxix. 15. ib called, with Allufion to the Sil- 
 ver-trumpets made ufe of under the Law to call Peo- 
 ple to the folemn AfTemblies, and to intimate to 
 them the Feaft of the PafTover, which reprefented 
 the Love and Sufferings of the Mejjiah. A joyful 
 Sound the Gofpel is indeed, if we compare it with the 
 Sound of the Law's Curies and Threatnings thundered 
 from Mount Sinai againft Sinners. But, behold, this 
 joyful Sound bringing Salvation comes from Heaven, 
 even to Heaven-daring Sinners, who had openly re- 
 belled againft the God of Heaven ! Glad News ! 
 Blefied are they who know this joyful Sound ; know 
 it fo, as to believe it, admire it, entertain it, and 
 comply with it, fo as to receive Chriit offered there- 
 in to loft Sinners. ... . 
 
 Lord, I make this joyful Sound welcome ; it is Mu- 
 fick to my Ear, and a Cordial to my Heart. I rec- 
 kon their Feet beautiful who bring fuch Glad-tidings 
 to my Soul. O how welcome would Men make them, 
 who* would bring them an Invention, that would fe- 
 cure their Eftates from confuming, thei; Houfes from 
 burning, or their Bodies from dying ! — But here we 
 have the lure News of an Invention that doth much 
 more for us than all this, even a Device that fecurcs 
 us from Hell, and enfures of Heaven, Ought I not 
 
 then 
 
Matter of Praife. 1 3 
 
 then chearRilly to comply with this joyful Sound, and 
 fill in with the Call thereof? God forbid that I 
 fliould flop my Ears at it ; it had been better for me 
 then never to have heard of it at all : How dreadful 
 would my Cafe be at the Judgment-day ! How would 
 Devils, Turks, Heathens, and my own Confcience, 
 upbraid me in Hell to" all Eternity for my Folly in 
 flighting this joyful Sound ! Surely God may flight 
 the mournful Sound of their Prayers in Time of Di- 
 ftrefs, who flight the joyful Sound of his Gofpel in 
 
 Time of Health. But, Lord, I blefs thee for it, I 
 
 love it, I receive it, I welcome it, I fall heartily in 
 with it, and will admire it for ever. 
 
 MEDITATION IV. 
 
 From 1 John iii. 1. 
 
 Behold ivbat Manner of Love the Father hath 
 
 be f owed upon us \ 
 
 IN the amazing Work of our Redemption, we are 
 called to behold and admire both the Love of the 
 Father, and the Love of the Son. Unfpeakabl& 
 Love of the Father ! that contrived our Redemption, 
 pitched upon and gave the Redeemer. O how readi- 
 ly accepted he of the Son's Offer to fufFer and fatisfy 
 infinite Juflice for Sin in our Room ! Upon our Fall, 
 he might juftly have faid, No,* the Soul that fins 
 ihaU die perlbnally, I'll admit of no Surety. But, 
 Glory to the bleffed Father, fuch was his Love to us, 
 that when the dear Son faid, Father, I will be the 
 Surety for Sinners of Mankind, let my Blood be fhed 
 for theirs, let the Blow light on me, let me die in 
 their Room ; fuch was the Love and Pity of the Fa- 
 ther to us, that he prefently accepted the Offer, held 
 our Redeemer at his Word, faying, Be it as thou haft 
 faid : Awake, Sword, again]} the Man, that is my 
 B Fellow; 
 
14 The afionijhing Love of 
 
 Fellow ; fmite the Shepherd, and fpare the Sheep. I'll 
 glorify my Jultice upon my own dear Son, rather 
 than upon them. AtJien, (did the blelTed Son of God : 
 I will be the Sacrifice i 
 
 O Love unipeakable, both in the Father and the 
 Son ! Human Love, angelical Love is nothing to it ! 
 O what is the Love of Creatures one to another, to 
 this Love of Goo 1 to Man ! Altoniihing Love! that 
 the eternal Son of God, intreated by no Man, but 
 hated of all Men, mould in his Love and Pity intreat 
 for Me» ; yea, undertake and die for them, when Ene- 
 mies to God and all that is good.! the Breadih, 
 the Length, the Depth, the Height of this L . 
 Chrifl, which paffeth Knowledge ! 1 may roilibly feci 
 it, but I cannot fathom it. The Love of Creatures is 
 nothing to the Love of Chriir. It was great Lo\e 
 that Jacob bore to Rachel, that he endured the Heat 
 of Summer, and Frolh of Winter for her: But all 
 that was nothing to the Winter-ltorm which-ChrHI 
 luffered for us. It was extraordinary Love thai 
 nathan had to David, that he would peril his Life to 
 avert his Father's Wrath from him: Bui vvhat was 
 that to Chnfth Love, that took on Lis .eternal Fa- 
 ther's Wrath, which was infinitely greater than Saul's, 
 and actually laid dqwn his Life. to avert that dreadful 
 Storm of Wrath from us ! What Love was it that 
 made him ft and before the Mouth of Hell Furnace, 
 and filler himfelf to be icorche-d with it, in the molt 
 terrible Manner, that he might. itop the Flame from 
 breaking out. on us! Behold him receiving -the Sword 
 of Jultice into his Bowels, to prevent its being fheath- 
 ed into our Hearts ! Behold, when the Sea of God's 
 Wrath raged and was tempeltuous, threatning to 
 fwallow us all up; Chi ilt came, and laid, like Jo- 
 nah, Spare thofc poor Sinners; take me up, and call 
 me into the Sea in their Stead, that the Storm may 
 be appealed againft them ! Chrilt was willing to be 
 r-aft into the Sea of Wrath, to be a blelfcd Plank of 
 Mercy for {hip-wrecked Souls to grip to, and be faved. 
 
 Admirable 
 
the Father and the Son* 1 5 
 
 Admirable Love of the Father of our Lord Jefas 
 Chrift, who would give his dearly beloved Son, out 
 office Love and Pity to Man, to die and fuffer Wrath 
 for him ! and would chuie rather to fee his dear Son 
 agonizing and (trngglmg under infinite Wrath for a 
 Time, than to fee an cleft World struggling in Hell 
 among Devils for ever ! O who can utter the mighty 
 A#s of the Lord ! who can ihcw forth all his Praife ! 
 O Father of Mercies, from all Eternity thou forefaw 
 our Fall and Milery, and, in thy Wifdom and Love, 
 didft contrive a noble Remedy for us : Thou even 
 clidft provide a Surety for Man before the Debt was 
 contracted, a Saviour for him before he was loft ; and 
 by this glorious Surety thou haft found out a noble 
 Way to iatisfy both the Demands "of Juftice and In- 
 teaties of Mercy, and glorify both theie Divine Per- 
 fections at once. — By this, Lord, we know thou lo- 
 veit us, that thou hail not with-held thy Son, thine 
 only Son from us, to be iacriiiced in our Room ; and 
 gracioufly calleit us to commemorate thy Love, in 
 providing this Sacrifice, at thy holy Table. — Inftead 
 of this, thou mightit juftly have called Multitudes of 
 us together, to make us a Sacrifice to thy Juftice for 
 our heinous Sins and Rebellions againft Heaven. But, 
 behold thou a ills us together to t'hy Table upon a 
 quite other Defign, even to intimate to us a Sacri- 
 fice of thy own providing, lufficient for us all ; and 
 actually to behold the bleeding Victim of the innocent 
 Lamb of God, who willingly, at his Father's Call, 
 gave himfelf to be fiain to take away the Sins of the 
 World ! Lord-, what didfi; thou fee in fuch Creatures, 
 to make thee, love us after this Manner ? Nothing, 
 but much to make thee lothc us ; yet the Time when 
 we were moft lothfome, thou mad'ft it the Time or' 
 i ! iiu-cly thy Thoughts arc not as our Thought i 9 
 • our IVaxs ! How aftoniihing was thy 
 Conduct in redeeming us when loft.? And worle arc 
 ban Devils, if we be not ravilhed with the Love 
 B 2 of 
 
1 6 The aftonijhing Loir of 
 
 ' of the Father in projecting our Redemption, and with 
 the Love of his eternal Son that made him have his 
 Glory in Heaven, and even wade thro' Hell to fa^e 
 the Dregs of the Creation. 
 
 O what Manner of Love is tins, that the Father 
 did give his eternal Son, to die for theie who delerved 
 eternal Wrath for their Rebellion and Treafon a- 
 gainft himfelf ! When Notice was frrft given in this 
 lower World> that the Son of God was coming down 
 to it from Heaven ; what could have been expected, 
 but that his Bufmefs here would be to condemn the 
 World, and haften the Execution of thofe he found 
 in Arms againfc him ? But O who can think, and not 
 wonder, that he mould have lent him to fuffer and 
 die for ilich as forfeited their Lives, and deferred to 
 be flain ; yea, for fuch as were alienated from the 
 Life of God, and full of Enmity againft him, un- 
 worthy of any Place of Abode upon Earth, and by 
 their Wickednefs fully prepared for Hell ! O how 
 furprizing it is, that God would, in this our miferable 
 State, fend the Son of his Love to die for us, to refcue 
 us from deferred Wrath, and purchafe a new Title 
 for us to Life and Glory ! Behold what Manner of 
 Love this is, that the Juft mould fuffer for the Unjulr, 
 the ju{t Prince for the unjuft Rebels thar were in Arms 
 againft him, the King of Glory for the Children of 
 Difobedience, the obedient Son for mortal Enemies! 
 O this is fuch a Manner of Loving, that the higheft 
 Tranfport of Wondering cannot reach: For fcarcciy 
 for a righteous Man ivill one dart to die ; but God ct?n- 
 viends his Love to us, in that, while we were jet Sin- 
 gers, Chrift died for us, Rom. v. 7, 8. 
 
 Oh how am I able to hear, fpeak, or think of this 
 Love, and my Heart not burn with an admiring 
 Senfe of the Freenefs and Riches of God's Grace ; and 
 with a vehement Hatred and Indignation againft my 
 Sins, which contributed to pierce and crucify my glo- 
 rious Redeemer ! Can I be but ravifhed with Love 
 
 \ 
 
Iijc Father and we Son, 1 7 
 
 to bin, when he comes to communicate his Love to 
 me at his Table, and lay, Behold how I have loved 
 you, and given myii.lt' for \ ou ! I was cut off, but ?:ct 
 for myfeif; I was wounded for jwr Travlgrefliovs, c?:d 
 kruij - r iniquities. It was for you 1 was lie* 
 
 trayed, reviled, condemned and crucified; for you 
 my Hands and Feet were nailed .to the Tree, my 
 Plead crowned with Thorns, and my Side pierced 
 with a Spear: And all this I fuffered, that you might 
 be Paved from Hell, and get Sin forgiven, and Gcd 
 reconciled to you for ever. 
 
 ME D IT AT I O N V. 
 
 From Pfiil. viii. 4. 
 IV hat is Man, that thou art mindful cf him? 
 
 WHEN David beheld the Heavens, with its glo- 
 rious Luminaries, the Sun, Moon and Stars, 
 and the mighty Works of God in the Creatiorr, and 
 considered what a mean Figure Man made among!!' 
 them ; he admires God's Condeibeniion and Goodiit.lv. 
 in his Concern and Pains about him, in his Wort- 
 Providence and Redemption. Lord, what is Man, 
 fallen Man, that thou ihouldft notice him fo much 
 a poor, vile, linrul Worm ! And yet how fmguhriy- 
 minded and honoured is he, in God the Son his under- 
 taking to be has Cautioner and Ranfom 1 Had he done 
 it for Angels, it had not been lb marvellous ; but what 
 isMan,thatGod mould viiit him inthisManncr ! mould- 
 pay him a homely Vifk in human Nature, to fee what 
 ailed him, to hear his Complaints, and know feeling- 
 ly his Wants and Miicries, that, he might the .better 
 iympathi/.e with him, relieve and fuppiy him ? 
 
 But who is this that comes to pay this Vifit to 
 Man ? even he that is King of Kings, and Lord of 
 Lords, who is infinite in Majeftv and Power, in RL- 
 B 3 
 
1 8 The ajiofijfiing Co/idefccnjiun 
 
 ches and Glory. How awful arc the Descriptions gi- 
 ven us of him in the Bible? Great is our Lord, and of 
 
 great Power, his Vnderjlandpng is infinite. He calls 
 the Stars by their Navies. Wkatfoever he plea fed, that 
 did he in Heaven and in Earth, in the Seas and all deep 
 Places. And it is faid cf his coming to Judgment, 
 Dan. vii. 10. A fiery Stream ijfued forth from before 
 mm, Thou f and Thoufands minijtred urito ht?Ji, and Ten 
 thoufand Times'Ten thou/and food before him. And 
 yet this almighty Perfon, the great God, condefcends 
 :o clothe himfelf with our Nature, and Hoops to the 
 very Ground, in the moft lowly Manner, to pay a 
 kind Vifit to his rebellious Creature, Man, even Man 
 *hat is a Worm ; and when he gets not Accds to him 
 at full, he continues to fraud and knock at his Door. 
 — O how marvellous h this, that he who was Qtm'u 
 potent, that could by a Word have annihilated fallen 
 Man, and created a more amiable Creature in all 
 Refpecls in his Room, mould ftoopfo low to him ! that 
 he who was Oftinifcieiit, and perfectly knew Man's 
 Vn worthine's, his Enmity, his Ingratitude, and what 
 unkind Returns he would make for the great eft Kind- 
 nefs, (houid court him lb earnestly ! — That the Judge 
 of Heaven mould come down from the Bench, and 
 put on the TanneVs Clothes, that he might anfwer 
 and latisfy the Law for him ! — That the great Gene- 
 ral of\he Armies of Heaven, mould put himfelf in the 
 Room of a poor condemned Dcfcrtcr to fuffer for 
 him ! — That the Creator mould ftoop to die for the 
 Creature, even the great God for a Worm, Man; 
 jls Love that fwallows up our Thoughts and Lan- 
 guage I What can we think ! what can we fay of it ! 
 it is Love that pafJeth Knowledge ! the moil pene- 
 Iring Angel cannot fathom its Height, its Depth, 
 i'.s B.cadth, or its Length 1 Why? for its Height, it 
 is infinitely higher than the higheft Heavens. For its 
 Depth, none can fee its Bottom, for it made him 
 P us low as Kcll. For its Breadth, it is as broad 
 \ as 
 
of the great God to fallen Man. 1 9 
 
 as the whole Earth, and the whole Heavens too ; it 
 comprehends all his People, even the pooreft Out- 
 caft on Earth, as well as the higheft Saint in Heaven. 
 For its Lengthy it never ends, hut continues without 
 Interruption, notwithstanding of Provocations ; nay, 
 it is drawn out parallel with the longeit Line of li- 
 te rnity. 
 
 Lord, what is Man that thou fliouldft have minded 
 him, vlfited him, and loved him ih ! a Creature moft 
 unlovely, ugly and black as Hell ; that had got the I- 
 mage or God razed out, and the Image of Satan pi- 
 ctured in its Room. — A Creature lame and impotent, 
 that could not rife but as Chrift lifted him, could not 
 ftand but as he upheld him, could not walk but as he 
 led him, nor move but as he drew him. — A Rebel, 
 that was in League with Hell, that hated Ins Sove- 
 reign, and was plotting with the Devil to pull the 
 Crown off his Head — A Creature made lothlbme by 
 Sin in God's Sight, yea more lothlbme than a new- 
 born infant wallowing in its Blood, than Job when 
 full of Boils, than Lazarus full of Sores, or a dead 
 Carcafs crawling with Worms.— A Creature that was 
 undefirous of God's Vifit or Help, and unwilling to 
 accept of it ; that faid to him, L:[>art from us y ive 
 defire not the Knowledge of thy IV ays. A Creature 
 that contemned his Love, rejected his Offers, and 
 trampled his Blood. — Who would have pitied fcch a 
 Creature? one fo poor, fo vile, fo milerable ! It had 
 been much to have given him an Alms; but for the 
 Son of God to give his Life for him, may ftrike Men 
 and Angels with aitonifhing Surprile for ever. Lord, 
 what is Mar. / a poor feeble crawling Worm, that 
 thou [Jjouldjl he mindful cfhbn after this Manner ? And 
 what are we, that we fhould ftili have the Offers of this 
 Love continued to us ? Oh, mall we ever make light 
 of this Love any more ? / hliezr ? Lcrd ? help viy Un- 
 belief 
 
 There 
 
20 The Honours and Favours 
 
 There is a parallej" Tc-:t, VfaL cxliy. a. £.<**/, 
 w^^jf ;i /!£-/; r/v// /.k.v r./icV/ Knowledge of 'hhn /" or 
 /^ £<?/; 0/ Mz/;, M*/ thou viahji Account of him? 
 What a poor little Thing is Man, that thou ihoulJil 
 make fo great Account of him, put fuch Reipecl up- 
 on him above all other Creatures, fo as to cende- 
 iceiid to ftand in a nearer Relation to him than to a- 
 ny other, as that of a Father, a Brother, a Husband, 
 a Friend, Sec. yea more, thou haft dignified this poor 
 Thing, Man, lb much as to ahume his Nature into 
 an ineligible- perfonal Union with the fecond Peribn 
 of the ever glorious Trinity, whereby the Nature of 
 Man is exalted above all the Angels ot' Heaven. It 
 is not the angelical, but the human Nature, which 
 God hath cholen to tabernacle in ; and now it is ho- 
 noured lb far, as to he fet on the Right-hand of the. 
 
 Majefry on High The great Ai count God hath of 
 
 this little Thing, Man, appears further in the great 
 Cult he hath laid out for him. Why \ God not only 
 gives his Creatures to die for Man, to yield him 
 Food, but he alio gives his Chriil to die for him, to 
 procure him eternal Life. Again, how great is the 
 Goodnefs which God hath laid up for him hereafter ? 
 Eve hath not feen : ._, Ear hath not heard it, nor hath 
 it entered into the Heart of Man to conceive how 
 great it is! O what a Favourite of Heaven mult this 
 little Creature, Man, be. 
 
 Lord, who can but wonder at the Honour thou 
 halt already put upon Man, and at the ravouis 
 thou Hill cleligns for him! Great Things hall thou 
 laid out, and great Things haft thou laid ip ftr 
 May. I admire thy low Stoop in the Vint thou 
 mad'it Man, in the Incarnation of thy dear, Son-, and 
 in thy Vifit in the Gofpel-proclamation, and Offer of 
 Pardon thro' him ! but let me itill plead for another 
 Vifit in the EfFufion of thy Holy Spi: it : This other 
 Vifit thou knovveft is "Decenary to make the former c.'- 
 feftual to my Salvation. May then thy Holy Spirit 
 work Faith in me, to fall in with thy glorious Device 
 
 for 
 
God befltivs on Alan. 21 
 
 for the Redemption of Man in all Point?, to accept 
 of thy Love-offers, and reft upon thy free Promiies of 
 Salvation thro' Jelus Chrift, and his mod perfect Righ- 
 teouiheJs. Amen* 
 
 MEDITATION VI. 
 
 From i Cor. x. ^. 
 And that Rock was Chi ft. 
 
 HOW ufeful was that Rock in the Wildernefs to 
 the Jfraetites fbjourning there, after it was 
 faiitten by Mofes his Rod : When they were ready 
 to periih in that dry Defert, the Rock lent forth 
 Streams of Water to them m great Abundance ; 
 Streams thatfbllowed them up Hill and down Hill, in 
 all their Turnings and Windings, Marches and Coun- 
 termarches thro' that weary Land. That Rock was 
 to them a lively Type cf Chrift, who being fmitten 
 by the Rod of the Law's Curies, whole Minifter Mo- 
 fes was, fends forth plentiful Supplies to his People, 
 while travelling in the Wildernefs of this World. 
 There are two principal Streams cf Bleflings which 
 he fends forth, moft uleful to us, to wit, a Stream of 
 Blood for our Jufujicaticn, and a Stream of the Spi- 
 rit for our Sanclifi cation. The Channel or Conduit* 
 pipes, for conveying theie Streams to us, are the Or- 
 dinances and Froinifes of the Gofpel ; and thro' thcic 
 Pipes, thefe blefled Streams run freely to all true Be- 
 lievers, from the Rock Chrift, which was broached 
 for them. 
 
 Oh, how coftly was our Redemption to our dear 
 Kinfman Jefiis Chrift, dear did our Souls coft him i 
 The Rock of our Salvation was cleaved a Hinder, 
 rent and pierced to the very Heart, to let out the 
 Waters of Life to us, by which only we can be pre 
 
 ferved 
 
 
22 Chrifl our Jlr earning Rock, 
 
 ferved from eternal Death, and obtain eternal Life. 
 How coftly and precious are the Streams of Chrift's 
 Blood and Spirit, his Mercy and Grace, which flow 
 from the fmitten Rock, and follow us thro' theWil- 
 dcrnefs in the free Offers of the Goipel ! They arc 
 Life-giving Streams, Fire-quenching, Heart-foftning, 
 Soul-cleanfing, healing and fructifying Streams : Wei- 
 come then mould we make thefe Streams to our Souls 
 
 in this dry and thirfly Land Likeways the Rock 
 
 was to the Ijvaelites a Shadow from the Heat, and a 
 Covert from Tempeits and Storms: So Chrifl: our 
 Rock fcreens us from the fcorching Heat of vindictive 
 Juftice, and from the Waves and Billows of Gcd's 
 
 Wrath How neceffary and ufe&l is the Rock 
 
 Chrifl to the Souls of fallen Men ! Oh, let me newr 
 Jejhumn-ltke, lightly efteem this Rock of our Salva- 
 tion. O let me never go to falie Rockc, or fiLe 
 Streams, for Shelter or Supply in Straits, when the 
 true Rock is ib near, and the laving Streams run clols 
 by my Door ; yea, follow me daily in the Channel 
 of the Word and Sacraments : Streams appointed by 
 Heaven to anfwer all the Cafes and Ailments of loft 
 Sinners. O mall God in his tender Mercy provide 
 fuch a wonderful Remedy, let the Rock a- broach for 
 me, and caule its Streams to follow me ; and fhall I 
 be fo foolilh as turn my Back upon them, and refufe 
 to apply or make ufe of them ? O lave me from fuch 
 curled Ingratitude and Madnefs ; I believe, Lord, heip 
 my Unbelief. 
 
 O how much faouid my Heart be affected at thy 
 holy Table, when I fee the Rock of my Salvation 
 fmitten by the Rod of Juftice, and behold the bloody 
 Spear pierce into his Heart ! O Rock of Ages, what 
 made thee to rend and cleave fo! O Brightness of thy 
 Father's Glory, who hath disfigured thee lb \ O Ri- 
 ver of Life, clear as Cryflal, who hath troubled thee 
 Ib ? Oh, if was my Sins, my Pride, my Pailion, my 
 Unbelief, my Worldlinefg, my Hardneis, Impcn3jten< t . 
 
mo ft profitable in all Cafes. 23 
 
 ire. Thefe w«re the Caufe of my Redeemer's Suf- 
 ferings. The Iniquities of fmful Men were laid upon 
 him. When he was pierced, it was 1 that mould 
 have been fniitten. When he groaned-*and fwate 
 Blood, I mould have howled and roared in Hell. 
 Harder than the Rock is my Heart, if I can fee my 
 dear Saviour iinitten and pierced, ami not mourn. O 
 can I fee his Side and Heart ftreammg-out Blood, and 
 mine Eyes not pour out Tears! L:\n I behold the 
 Roc]; lmitten for the Sins of Men, and not adore the 
 Holineis and Juftice-of God manifested therein? Can 
 I fee my innocent Saviour wounded and (lain for my 
 Sins, and my Soul not hate them ; yea, (hall I not 
 be filled with Horror and Trembling atTemptations 
 to Sin f 
 
 Let me, at my Saviour's Call, approach to his Ta- 
 ble, and come near to the Rock of my Salvation, 
 and hearken to the raging Billows of infinite Wrath, 
 dafhing againft the Rock for my Sins, and e\ en mak- 
 ing the Rock to groan, fweat and tremble under the 
 '.Vcillire. .O what a dreadful Hurricane of Wrath did 
 he endure, to keep the fwelfing Ocean of divine Wrath 
 from overflowing guilty Men! Surely my glorious Im- 
 ■ cl's groaning and treating Blood um-cr the 
 Strokes of God's Vengeance, is a greater Evidence 
 of the implacable Wrath and Indignation of God a- 
 gainlt Sin, than if he had hurled all the Rocks of 
 the Creation into the Midft of the Sea, yea, or a 
 thoufand Worlds of Men and Angels into Hell. O 
 that, while I am beholding this Sight, 1 may tremble 
 at Sin, come by Faith under the Shadow of this Rock, 
 and run into the Clefts of it for Safety. Here I would 
 be out of the Reach of thcLaw's Curies, andThreat- 
 nings of Wrath ; and tho' I hear the Roarings and 
 Dafhings of the Sea upon the Rock, yet a Drop of it 
 could not touch me. 
 
 O that I could imitate Mofes y when I am at the 
 Table, and finite the Rock by the Rod of Faith, that 
 
 the 
 
24 Chri ft our ft reaming Rock, 
 
 the Streams of Chrift's Blood and Spirit may flow out 
 to me. What was his Error will be my Wifdom, to 
 finite the Rock oftner than once, to put forth many 
 Adls of Faith on Jeius Chrift, fucb as the decerning, 
 allenting, approving, deriving, receiving, doling, 
 embracing, trufting, pleading, applying, and appro- 
 priating Acts of true Faith. May I, like Ifrael of 
 old, Deut. xxxii. 13. be helped by Faith to luck Ho- 
 ney out of the Rock, and Oil out of the flinty Rock : 
 Honey and Oil, Sweetnefs and Fatnefs, Quickning 
 "and Comfort. How fhall I come at this Honey and 
 Oil? Only by lacking : And how fhall I fuck, but 
 by the Mouth of Faith ? There is no fucking without 
 it. Neither can I fuck by Faith, unlefs God make 
 me do it; for it' is laid, Deut. xxxii. He made them 
 to fuck Honey out of the Rock. It i God that mult 
 give me both a Mouth and Strength to fuck, Faith in 
 the Habit, and Faith in Exercife. It is only the Blow- 
 ings of the North and South Winds on the Garden, 
 that make the Spices to flow out. Awake, North 
 Windy come thou South , blow upon my Garden ; bring 
 Faith to Life^ that I may fuck Honey from Chrifl in 
 the Sacrament. Chrift's Breafts are now full ; O let 
 not Faith be wanting, for if it be wanting, I can 
 fuck nothing : Blelfed be God, Jefus Chriic, my Re- 
 deemer, is the Author of Faith. Lord, increafe my 
 Faith, that I may luck Honey from the Rock. 2. 
 But what Honey may I expert from it ? Anfm. The 
 Honey of Pardon of Sin. O how fweet is this Ho- 
 ney !—- The Honey of Peace and Reconciliation 
 with God; — the Honey of a Law-biding Righte- 
 
 oufnefs ; the Honey of Accel's to, and Communion 
 
 with God ; — the Honey of Enlargement of Heart, 
 and loofing of Bands, &c. O let me ever fuck from 
 this Rock, the Rock that anfwers all my Needs, and 
 
 richly fupplies all my Wants. Let me alfo, under 
 
 all my Straits, fupport myfelf with the Pfalmift's 
 Cordial, Pfal. xviii. 46. The Lord livsih, and blejfed 
 
 be 
 
mojl profitable in all Cafes. 25 
 
 be ?ny Rock. Why mould Believers in Chrift droop in 
 any Condition, or look like dead Men, while their 
 Lord liveth, and their Rock ftandeth? BlefTed be 
 God, my Rock is a living and lafting Rock, my 
 Hopes may die, my Comforts die, my Frames die, 
 my Gifts, my Wealth, and my Relations, they may 
 all die ; but I rejoice in the News, that my Lord 
 will not die, nor my Rock fall. He once died for 
 me, but he is rilin again ; good News ! Now he is 
 alive, and will die no more. 
 
 MEDITATION VII. 
 
 From Zech. xii. 10 ♦ 
 
 They pall look upon me ivhom they have 
 pierced, and mourn. 
 
 THIS Promife hath a Refpect, not Only to the 
 Jews when converted, but to all Sinners when 
 brought to Repentance. We have all pierced Chrift, 
 in as much as our Sins were the Caufe of his Death ; 
 He was ttfounded for our Tranfgrejfions. Now, a be- 
 lieving Sight of a pierced Saviour, is the belt Spring 
 of Sorrow for Sin; it is Faith's Look to a crucified 
 Chrift, that will fet us a mourning after a godly Sort. 
 O that this Promife may be made good to me at this 
 Time, that I may be helped to look believingly up- 
 on Chrift as pierced for my Sins, my Pride, my Pal- 
 fion, my Unbelief, my Carnality, my Difobedience, 
 my Impenitence, my Sins of the Heart, of the Tongue, 
 and of the Life, that I may confefs and bewail them, 
 mourn and weep over them before the Lord, Oli ! 
 when (hall I mourn and weep if not now, when I 
 am called to look upon my dear Lord and Surety at 
 his Table, all red with Blood for my red and Scarlet- 
 coloured Sins f I will not now (land afar off, and 
 C look 
 
26 Cbrijl pierced by cur Sins, 
 
 look to my Saviour on the Crofs, as thefe Women 
 who followed him from Galilee, Luke xxiii. 49. No, 
 I will come clofs to him, take a near Look, .and a 
 narrow View of his Wounds and Piercings by my 
 Sins, that I may fee how wide and deep they are, 
 that my Eye may aifeclmy Heart with godly Sorrow 
 for Sin. 
 
 When I look on him, I'll confider the Dignity of 
 the Perfon pierced hy and for me; he is the Almigh- 
 ty Creator, the glorious hmnanuel, the Plant of Re- 
 nown, the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, that is 
 pierced and nailed to a Crofs, Jeremiah laments in 
 the Captivity, .that Princes were hanged up by the 
 Hands, Lam. v. 12. But what were the Princes of 
 Ifrael to the Prince of Peace, the King of Glory, 
 whom I fee hanging nailed thro' the Hands on : the 
 Crofs, and his Blood pouredout like Water upot-the 
 Earth! O it is royal Blood, the Blood of God, that 
 I lee running down to fatisfy Jufticefor my Sins ; and 
 will nt>t fuch a Sight caule me mourn for them; i Can 
 I look on my lovely Redeemer, ftript naked, mount- 
 ed up, and fixed with Nails to a tormenting Crofs-? 
 Can I fee his Head pierced with Thorny bis Back 
 pierced with Scourgings, his Hands and Feet pierced 
 with big Nails, his Side pierced with a Sp*?ar, and 
 his Heart pierced with Sorrows for my Sins, ajjyj' my 
 Heart not mourn for : them I Yet all the Piercings and 
 Wounds of his -facred Body were but fmall, to the 
 Piercings and Agonies of his Soul, when he drank the 
 Cup of the Father's Wrath for me, which made him 
 cry out, My Soul is exceeding forrowful even u7ito 
 Death; my. Cod, my God, why hajl thou forfakcn.me? 
 Can I behold this loving Jcliis, (landing in my Ream, 
 bearing the Wrath of a Deity for me, and my Heart 
 not bleed ? Can I Tee him, when the Sword of Juftice 
 was drawn to finite me, opening his Bread to receive 
 the Stroke into his Heart, and my Heart not melt 
 within mc ? Lord, grant me fuch a Sight by Faith, of 
 
 a 
 
a mojl affefling Sight. tf 
 
 * wounded bleeding Saviour, as to make me a melt- 
 ing and mourning Sinner. 
 
 How can I leave this Subject until my Heart be 
 more aiFefted ? Had I been perfonaily at Mount Calvary , 
 and with my bodily Eyes had ken my dear Redeem- 
 er racked and nailed to the Tree ! Had I feen him 
 lifted up between Heaven and Earth, that the Nati- 
 ons might behold him, with his Arms ltretched out 
 to embrace Sinners ! Had I beheld his dying Looks, 
 and heard his dying Groans ! Had I feen his precious 
 Blood for many Hours run from his wounded Hands 
 and Feet to die Earth ! Could I have {rood by 
 with dry Eyes, or an unconcerned Heart, efpecially 
 when I had thoughthewas luffering all this out ofLovts 
 to me, for my Sins, and in my Room ! — Why then 
 fnould not I be as much concerned, when I come to his 
 Table to celebrate theMemori.il of that fearful Tra- 
 gedy, and look upon the outward Signs which repre- 
 sent the fame ! Lord, give me Faith's Eye to behold 
 the Things fignified thereby, even the Bleeding, and 
 
 Dying of the g/orious ImmanueL And what 
 
 Kind of Blood is it I fee running down ! It is inno- 
 cent Blood! pr-ecious Blood! royal Blood! Heart 
 Blood ! Nay, the Blood of the eternal Son of God, 
 one Drop whereof is worth an Ocean of our Blood, 
 and is of infinite Value ; and yet behold all tins Blood 
 is Ihcd for fuch Worm* as I am! O can I think long 
 upon this Subject, and not find my Heart pained with 
 Love, and be ready, with Jofeph, to leek a lecret. 
 Place to weep in ? Had an ordinary Man been 
 
 * utcd for my Crime, it would have affected me all 
 my Days ; how much fhould it touch me to lee the 
 Son of God put to Death for me! The Sun fainted, 
 the Heavens mourned in black, the Earth quaked, 
 and the Rocks rent, when this black Tragcv , was 
 acred ; how much more mould my Heart rend and 
 mourn at the Reprefentation of it before my Eves \ 
 Surclv mv Mourning (hould be great, deep, and'bit- 
 
 C 2 ,-;,- 
 
28 Chrifl bleeding and Sinners weep tig, 
 
 ter Mourning, as in the Text, like the Mourning of 
 a Parent for the Death of an only Son ; or like the 
 Mourning of Hadadrlmmon in the Valley of Megid- 
 do! O what was the Death of King Jofiah to the 
 Death of King Jefus, the Eternal Son of God ! O my 
 dear flam Lamb, malll not mourn and weepoverthee ! 
 
 Oh! Can I fee his Blood rundown in Streams, 
 and my Eyes not pour out fome Drops ! Did Chrift. 
 iweat Blood, and weep Blood for my Sins, and fhall 
 not I weep Tears for them ? Shall I not give Drops 
 of Water for Streams of Blood ! Alas ! am I more 
 fparing of my Tears for Chrift, than Chrift was of 
 his Blood for me ! How fa ft did the Blood trickle 
 down Chrift's Cheeks in the Day he wore the Crown 
 of Thorns for me ? But how flowly do the Tears 
 fall from my Eyes when I commemorate his dying 
 Love : Can I fhed Tears in plenty for a dead Child ! 
 and have I reierved none for a (lain Saviour ? Yea 
 flain by my Sins ! How fad is it to fee fo many 
 weeping Eyes at a Funeral, and fo many dry Eyes 
 at a Communion Table ? Alas, this is a fad Sign 
 of few looking by Faith to him we have pierced! few 
 fenfible of the Evil of their Sins, that were the Ham- 
 mers which drove in the Nails into his Body. O for a 
 realizing Acl of Faith, reprefenting all that the Lamb 
 of God fuffered, in the greateft Certainty and clearcll 
 Evidence, that it is no deviled Fable. O for an ap- 
 plying and appropriating Ad: of Faith, to bring all 
 borne to myfelf, and fay, He loved me, and gave him- 
 fe/ffor me ! 
 
 What a hard Heart is this I have beyond others ! 
 Can I fee others weeping and mourning over a flain 
 Saviour, that fit at the fame Table, eat the fame 
 Bread, and drink the fame Cup with me, and cannot 
 I get one Tear ! Is God come with his Bottle wait- 
 ing for my Tears? Do others pour into it plentifully, 
 and have I not one Tear to drop into God's Bottle ? 
 Lord, what means the Hardnefs of my Heart, and 
 
 the 
 
a mo ft cifeffing Sight. 29 
 
 the Drinefs of my Eyes, at the Sight of my Saviour's 
 Bleeding and dying for my Sins ? When mould I 
 mourn and weep if not now! Was there ever inch an 
 Occafion for Tears ! Oh ! doth God intend to reicrve 
 weeping for me in Hell, where Tears (hail never be 
 dried up ! this is what 1 deierve, if I be hard-hearted 
 and dry-eyed now. But, Lord, pity my Hafdneis, 
 and give me liich a Look as thou gaveft Peter, that 
 may caufe me weep, and weep bitterly, at the Re- 
 membrance of my Sins which pierced thee. 
 
 MEDITATION VIII. 
 
 From Luke xxii. 61, 62. 
 
 The Lord looked upon Peter Jlrjti Peter 
 
 vtent out, and ivept bitterly. 
 
 LORD, fir.ee my Looks to thee are fo flight, lb 
 wavering and inconftant, that they make little. 
 or no ImpreUion upon my hard Heart, do thou vouch- 
 lafe to look upon me with Pity and with Power; for 
 thy Looks are efficacious,, and melt down the hardeft 
 Heart. O give me Rich a Look as thou gaveft Pe- 
 ter, when he denied thee, and began to curie and 
 (wear : A Look that may bring me to myfelf, and 
 caufe me weep, and weep bitterly at the Remem- 
 brance of my Sins, my Unbelief, my Pride, my Pai- 
 fion, my DHbbedience, which pierced thee, my dearcii; 
 Lord and Saviour. Lc:k thou upon me, and be ttierci- 
 rfd ;//c , Plal. cxix. t 32. Chrill's Look to back- 
 Hiding Peter was merciful, and full of Companion ; 
 his Bowels yearned for his poor Dilcipte, when ready 
 to fall into the Devil's Arms by total and final Back- 
 Hiding, and prevents him fpeedily. He would not. 
 let him ly long in that difinal State he fell into, as it 
 the very Brink of Hell, but prdently plucfcs 
 C 3 hiii? 
 
3© ChrijPs Look to Peter. 
 
 him back, and recovers him. In like Manner, Lord, 
 look on me, and recover me fpeedily when I fall into 
 Sin, left my next Step be into Hell. 
 
 Chrift's Look to Peter was a preventing Look; he 
 looked on Peter before Peter looked to his Saviour 
 for Mercy, and before he looked on himfelf, or upon 
 his Sm, and the Danger he was expofed to by it. 
 Glory to my Redeemer that watches over his People, 
 fees and minds their Danger, when they themfelves 
 are little thinking upon it ; he is more careful of them 
 than they are of themfelves. How marvelous was 
 Chrift's Love, that would be - fo concerned about Pe- 
 ter at fuch a Time, when he himfelf was amidft his 
 bloody Enemies, and upon Trial for his Life : Even 
 then, as it were, he forgets his own Danger, and 
 takes Notice of the Danger of his Servant : He, 
 being the great Shepherd of the Sheep, ventures all 
 to refcue one of his Flock out of the Mouth of the 
 Lion, and from the Paw of the Bear. O who would 
 not deGre to belong to the Flock of fuch a faithful, 
 loving and companionate Shepherd. 
 
 The Look Chrift gave Peter was a convincing 
 Look ; it laid open his Sin to him with all its Ag- 
 gravations, which made it very bitter to him. It 
 rpokefuch Language to him as this; " O Peter, what 
 " haft thou done ? Haft thou call off thy Saviour? 
 f* And haft thou laid, thou knoweft not me, who 
 " knew thee from the Womb, and am going to die 
 ** for thee ? Doft thou not know me that called thee 
 " from thy Nets, that impowered thee to preach the 
 t( Gofpel, and work Miracles; that kept thee from fink- 
 €i ing in the Waters ? Ami nothe thou faweft mining 
 4( on Mount Tabor P Even he thou faidft thou w r ouldft 
 " rather die than deny ? " O for fuch a convincing 
 Look from Chrift, that would pierce and melt my 
 Heart, and make me weep bitterly both now and at 
 his Table, for my bale Ingratitude, in difowning and 
 piercing my dear Redeemer ! 
 
 Chrift's 
 
Chrijrs Look to Yhitx. 31 
 
 Chrift's Look to Peter was a powerful and over- 
 coming Look ; it conquered his Will, looied him 
 from the World and Sin, and made him yield 
 prefently to Chrift : He was not able to hold out 
 a Moment longer, but, like Jofeph, leeks a fe- 
 cret Place to weep in. O how powerful is a Look 
 from Chrift 1 it is fufticient to bow the nioft ftubborn 
 Will, and melt the hardeft Heart ; it can turn the 
 Rock into {landing Water, and the Flint into a Foun- 
 tain of Water, Pial. cxiv. 8. How powerful was 
 the Look he gave to poor Jerufalem, when lying in 
 their Blood ; a Look that caufed them to live, Ezek. 
 xvi. 6. How powerful was the Look he gave to 
 Zaccheus on the Sycamore Tree, Luke xix. 5. O 
 for fuch a Look as would bring me prefently down, 
 in like Manner, from- the Sycamore of my Self-con- 
 < eit and Sclf-righteouGiefs, and from my befl belo- 
 ved Sins and Idols, and caufe me receive Chrift joy- 
 fully into my Heart, and go with Chearfulnefs to his 
 Table, and receive the Seal of his Covenant, faying, 
 My Lord, and my Cod! 
 
 Chrift's Look to Peter was a peculiar and diftin- 
 guifhing Look j the Power and Grace of God went 
 alongft with it to change Peter's Heart, and bring 
 him to his right Mind. Chrift looked on manyThou- 
 fands that were never the better of it. He looked 
 on Judas after he betrayed him, and when he pre- 
 fumed to kifs him", and reproved him too for his bafe 
 Treachery : But neither that Look nor Reproof melt- 
 ed his Heart. As the Beams of the fame very Sun 
 hardens Clay and foftens frozen Earth ; fo a Look 
 from the fame Jefus, the Sun of Righteoufnefs, left 
 Judas hard and impenitent, whilft it foftened Peter's 
 Heart. The one went on in his Villany, whilft the 
 other relented, and melted into Tears. Why ? he 
 looked but on the Face of Judas, but he looked on 
 the Heart of Peter, He looked upon the one with a 
 frowning judicial Look, but looked upon the other 
 with a recovering and drawing Look. Chrift 's Look 
 
 to 
 
32 ChrijVs Look to Peter. 
 
 to Peter was accompanied with the inward Influen- 
 ces of his Spirit on his Heart, othsrways it had been 
 ineffectual. Oh, if he would vouchfafe iuch a graci- 
 ous Look to my frozen. Heart, and foften it ! I would 
 fain bring my hard Heart and lay it before this blef- 
 fed Sun, and wait until he draw by the Cloud, look, 
 thro', and mine upon it. Lord, I tremble to go to 
 thy Table with this hard Heart, left thoufliouldit look 
 on me with Anger, as thou did it upon thefe, Mark 
 iii. 5. upon account of the Hardnels of their Hearts. 
 Lord, I deiire to be grieved for my Heart-hardnefs, 
 and tto look to thee whom I have pierced, by it. Give 
 fuch a Look to my Heart as thou gave to Peter's, 
 melt it down into penitential Tears, and caufeme to 
 go allele and weep bitterly.. 
 
 Chrilt-'s Look caulcd Peter to remember and think 
 upon Chrift's Words to him. It is in and by his 
 Word that he works upon Sinners Hearts. O if the 
 Spirit would bring the Word to my Mind, let it 
 powerfully home upon my Conicience, and fo give 
 the happy Turn to my Soul. Lord, help me to lay 
 up thy Words, and ponder them in my Heart ; and 
 O bring them always feafonably to my View, that 
 when I fall I may not ly long -aider Sin, nor conti- 
 nue in a State of Back Hiding from thee. May I 
 have fuch a Look from thee, as mail look all 
 my Idols oat of Countenance, and look my wan- 
 dring Heart into a right Frame for covenanting and 
 communicating Work : A Look that (hall put new 
 Life in all my drooping Graces, and kindle luch a 
 Flame of Love to Chrift in my Heart, and of Indig- 
 nation agaihft Sin, as all the Dc\ ils in Hell (hall ne- 
 ver be able to quench. A Look that fhall make me 
 weep, while I live, for piercing Chrift the Lamb. 
 
 Oh, mall others (hod Tears in plenty for Sin, and 
 
 my Eyes remain dry I Shuli others g» I their Hearts 
 
 broken, and mine co'ntinue h rd ! Lord, thy Gr 
 
 is free ; O how eafy were ic for thei to melt my 
 
 Heart, and moiften mj ftieli >f thy 
 
 £iand, 
 
The jharp Trial, &c. 33 
 
 Hand, nay one Look of thy Countenance, one Caft 
 of thine Eye is lumcient to do it. O turn unto me, 
 and give me one merciful Look ; for thy Ordinance 
 will be lifeleis, and loft unto me, if thou look not 
 on me. How can I go to thy Table to behold Jefus, 
 my Surety, all red with Blood for my red and Scar- 
 let-coloured Sins, while my Heart doth not mourn, 
 nor my Eyes run down ? Surely the Streams of my 
 Saviour's Blood deferve to be lamented with Tears 
 of Blood, and (hall I not do it, at leaft with Tears 
 of Water ? Was he wounded for my Tranfgreflions, 
 and (hall not my Heart bleed, and Eyes weep, for 
 his Wounds given him by my Sins ? 
 
 MEDITATION IX. 
 
 From Matth. xv. 27. 
 
 And fie faid, Truth, Lord, yet the Dogs eat 
 
 of the Crumbs. 
 
 THIS Woman was a Canaanite, and lived a- 
 mong Heathens, yet fhe had greater Know- 
 ledge and Faith of the Mejfiah than moft of the Jews. 
 Her Faith, Humility, Patience and Refblution, a- 
 midft the greateft Dilcouragements, are here record- 
 ed for a Pattern and Encouragement to defponding 
 Believers in all Ages. 
 
 This Woman was fo fenfible of her Mifery, that 
 fhe addrefles Chrift with great Earncitnefs for Help : 
 She doth not fpeak calmly or coldly to Chrift, but 
 fhe cried unto him, and followed hira with her Cries, 
 v. 22. 23. Surely, if I were duly affected with my 
 fpiritual Wants and Miieries, I would fpeak to God 
 in no other Language than that of Cries and Tears. 
 O vhatCaufe have I to bewail my Coldnefs and In-' 
 differency in Prayer, and the little Senfe I have of 
 
 mv 
 
34 Tbejbarp Trial of 
 
 my Dangers and Necelfities, which are great beyond 
 Exprellion I 
 
 This Woman, notwithstanding of her great Ear- 
 neftnefs and ftrong Faith, met with very great Trials 
 and Difcouragements in her AddrelTes to Chrift. 
 
 i. Her firft Trial is ChriiVs Silence to her, when 
 crying to him for Mercy, v. 23. He anfwered her not 
 a Word. Strange ! not a Word from a meek and 
 merciful Saviour, that never put a poor Sinner, feck- 
 ing Mercy, away from him before ; but ftill invited 
 all to come to him for it. That is a fore Tentation> 
 Lam. iii. 3. When I cry and jho:tt> he fhutteth out my 
 Prayer. Believers are apt to think that God fruts 
 out their Prayers in Wrath, when it is not fo. Chi VI 
 heard this Woman, accepted her, was pleafed with 
 her, and Strengthened her to hold on in Prayer, tho' 
 he did not immediately anfvver her. He entertained 
 her with Silence to draw her on to be more importu- 
 nate, and to try her Faith, Patience and Perfeve- 
 rance, and thereby to teach us to be Followers ofthefe 
 'who through Faith and Patience do now inherit the 
 Pro??iifes. Chrift keeps the Door bolted for a Time, 
 that we may knock the harder, Mat. vii. 7. Ask y 
 feeky knock. The choieeit Mercies come to us after 
 the greateit Wreftlings. Likewile I fee here, that 
 there is Love in Chrift 's Heart to wreftling Souls, e- 
 ven when Frowns appear in his Looks ; wherefore 
 let me take Encouragement from' him, tho' he flay 
 me, yet to trujl in him. 
 
 1. Another fore Trial the Woman met with, was 
 the Anfvver Chrift gave his Dilciplcs whim intercecd- 
 ing for her, whereby he fcems to exclude her out of 
 his Commiilion, v. 24. / am not fent but to the loft 
 Sheep of the Houfe of Ifrael. The Jews were called 
 Sheet), but the Gentiles, Dogs. The Jews were in- 
 deed to have the firft Offer of Chrift \s Grace and Pur 
 chale. Tho' the Woman might have taken Chnift's 
 Word^ as a plain Repulie, yet (lie ftudies to put the 
 
 belt 
 
the Woman of Canaan. 35 
 
 heft Senfe on them (he can, and contiuues her Impor- 
 tunity. Which teacheth us never to leave the Throne 
 of Grace for any Diicouragement. 
 
 3. She gets a Rcpulfe yet more (harp than the two 
 former, even after (he had come clofe up to him, and 
 fallen down at his Feet, faying, Lord, help me. Then 
 it is Chrill ranks her among the Dogs, thefe that 
 were without the Covenant, profane and unclean." 
 Now, -one might think (he is cut off by that Word, 
 and will infill no more after it. Nay, (he takes hold 
 of that Word of Reproach, and pleads upon it in the 
 Text, Truth, Lord ', lam a Dog, vile and unworthy ; 
 yet let me humbly ajktthe Dogs Room and Privilege 
 even to creep beneath the Childrens Tableland gather 
 fome Crumbs of Mercy. O how much is contained 
 here for our Inftru&ion and Imitationl 
 
 jft, What Cauie have we, O Lord, to blefs thy 
 Goodnefs, that we 6 'entiles, of Dogs are now become 
 Children, and allowed to come to thy Table! And, 
 at the fame Time to fear thy Juflice, fince the Jews, 
 of Children, are now become Z)<^;, and (hut out as 
 unclean ! If they were cut off who crucified thee in 
 thy low Eitate, what may we expeel, if, by our 
 Sins, we crucify thee in thy Glory f Let us . not be 
 high-minded, but fear. 
 
 2a ly, Chrill puts the ftrongeft Faith of his People 
 upon the llvarpell Trials : He thinks fit, for his own 
 Glory, where he gives much Grace, to try Grace 
 much. 
 
 i>dly, Thefe who are eminent in Faith are mofl 
 humble ; this Woman was fo. O how humbly did 
 (he plead with Chrill ! She threw herfelf on the 
 Ground, lay low at his Feet, and from the Dull 
 cried for Help ; (he claimed nothing, only begged 
 for Mercy. And when Chrill fpurned her from his 
 Feet, calling her a Dog, (he doth not murmur nor 
 complain of his harm Carriage, but humbly takes 
 v/ith the Charge; Truth, Lord, thou doll not mis- 
 call 
 
36 Strong Faith under /harp Trials. 
 
 call me, nor call me fo bad as lam; 1 am a Dog, 
 a mod vile and unworthy Creature, and have no 
 Right to the Childrens Bread, and muft ftarveif thou 
 haft not Mercy on me. She can bear any Thing, 
 the worft Frown or Chaftilement from Chrift, only 
 fhe can't bear being excluded from his Mercy and 
 Grace ; fhe would have fome Token of it, tho' ne- 
 ver Go fmall : She claims not a Benjamin's -Meal, nor 
 a Child's Portion, only let her have a Dog's Crumb. 
 Lord, I take patiently the Stripe from thee ; give 
 me but a Crumb after it, and I'll go away fatisfied. 
 Surely the more humble any Supplicant is at a Throne 
 of Grace, he comes ftill the better Speed ; for the 
 Lord refifls the Proud, but gives Grace to the Humble. 
 
 tyhly, God's ufual Method of dilpenfing his Mercy 
 and Grace -to Sinners, is firft to caft them down be- 
 fore he raife them up ; he firft humbles and lays them 
 low in a Senfc of their Unworthinefs and Vilenefs, 
 before he advance them to his Favour. We mult 
 firft fee ourfelves to be as Dogs, lefs than the leaf} of 
 all God's Mercies, before we are fit to be dignified 
 with the Privileges of Children. 
 
 $thly, "When Unbelief draws difmal Conclufions 
 from every Thing, and tempts us to quit our Grips 
 and Hopes, upon any dark Difpenfation, and to fay 
 with that wicked King, 2 Kings vi. 33, This Evil is 
 of the Lord: What fhould I wait for the Lord any lon- 
 ger? Behold, Faith is a valiant and importunate 
 Grace, it puts the beft Conftruclions upon all Chrift 's 
 Actions ; it is (harp-fighted, to fee and take Hold of 
 all Advantages to ftrengthen itfelf, and finds Encou- 
 ragement even in that which is difcouraging. That 
 which feemed to cut otfthis believing Woman's Hope,, 
 fhe improves it as a Ground of Hope, and an Argu- 
 ment in Prayer, Truth, Lord, yet the Dogs eat, &c. 
 q. d. Even the worthless Dogs belong to the Family, 
 and though they may not feaft with Children at the 
 Table, they may creep under it and gather Crumbs, 
 
 thefe 
 
Strong Faith under JJjarp Trials. 37 
 
 thefe Off-fallings that would be fwept to the Door, 
 this will not wrong the Children. Let me Hand in 
 Relation to Chrill, tho' in the meanefr. Station, even 
 that of his Dog; I'll be thankful for it, or for any 
 Thing, if he do not turn me out of the Houfe. • 
 
 6t/)/j; When our Difcouragcments are greateft, 
 we fhould learn from this Woman, never to give over 
 the Exercife of Faith and Prayer ; but to look on all 
 our Difappointments in the Succefs of Prayer, as Ex- 
 citements to greater Earneftnefs in Prayer. Faith 
 will not fet Limits to the Holy One ; tho' fpeedy An- 
 fwers be not given to our Prayers, it becomes us to 
 wait God's Time, who is the beft Judge of the fitteffc 
 Sealbn : He that believeth will not make hajfe ,• Why f 
 he knows his Extremity is God's fit Opportunity. 
 
 "Jthfyj A rcfolute adhering to Chrift by Faith un- 
 der Trials, is moil pleafing and acceptable to him ; 
 as when we perfevere in the Ufe of Means when Suc- 
 cefs is fmall, when we depend upon his Promile, and 
 look to his Power; when under the darken 1 : Diipen- 
 Jations we watch over our Hearts and Steps, that 
 they do not decline from his Ways, as thele in Pfaf. 
 xliv. 17, 18. And Glory to him that gives us fuch 
 Encouragement for this refolute Adherence to him, 
 as the Mcrcirulnefs of his Nature, and his Faithful- 
 nels, which allure us, there is more Good-will in 
 his Heart, than is vilible in his Dealings; and that 
 his Pro\ idence w ill never give his Word the Lie. He 
 gives in fecrct Strength to his People to adhere to 
 him, when he fcems moll oppofite to them, as he 
 did to this Woman. He loves to bring about his 
 People's Mercies by Means improbable and contrary, 
 to glorify his W T ifdom. He delights to bring Light 
 out of Darkneis. 
 
 Sth/y, Great will the Reward atlaff. be of the Be- 
 liever's Faith, Humility and Perfeverance in Prayer; 
 for, faith Chrift at length, v. 28. Woman, greet 
 is thy Faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt* 
 
 D MEDITA- 
 
38 ChrijFs dying Charge . 
 
 MEDITATION X. 
 
 From 1 Cor. \\. 24. 
 %his do in Remembrance of me. 
 
 OMy Soul, here is a folemn Ordinance inftitutecj 
 for keeping up the Remembrance of a crucified 
 Jefus; and behold it was appointed by himielf, when 
 he was jufl a-going to do more for us than all the An- 
 gels in Heaven could have done, even to make Atone- 
 ment for our Sins by his Death and Sufferings ; and he 
 twice repeats his dying Charge to us, v. 24 and 25. 
 This do , this do ye. Men ufe to regard the Commands 
 of their dying Friends, and perform their Wills re-'~ 
 ligioufly i and mall not f with Pleaiure obey the Will 
 and Command of a dying Redeemer, when the Thing 
 he requires is fo ealy and agreeable, to eat and drink 
 at his Table in Remembrance of him ? If I forget 
 thee, O Friend of Sinners, let my Right-hand forget 
 its Cunning, &c. 
 
 Our loving Redeemer well knew the Treachery of 
 our Memories, the Worldlineis of our Hearts, and In- 
 eonituncy of our Affections, that we would be ready 
 to let his Death and Love Hip out of oar Thoughts, 
 and therefore he would have the Signs of his Suffer- 
 ing': frequently prefentcd to our Eyes. Alas ! for the 
 •curled Ingratitude of my Heart, that is lb apt to for- 
 get him that rememhred me when there was none to 
 pity me ; but Giory to him that takes fuch Pains to 
 cure my Forgetfulnefs, by fetting forth Chrilt crucifi- 
 ed fo evidently before my Eyes in the broken Bread 
 and poured out Wine in the Sacrament. — I look up- 
 on this Ordinance as a vifible Repreftntation and 
 Commemoration of my Saviour's Death and Sufferings 
 for his People, which he will have continued till he 
 .come again to Judgment. It is like a Marble Pillav 
 fet up upon his Grave, with an Infciiption bearing Ac- 
 count 
 
Cbriffs- dying Charge. 
 
 count of bis glorious Atchievements and mighty 
 Deeds, his glorious Sufferings, Conflicts and Victories 
 for his People. — Wherefore, as oft as he calls me, I 
 will go thither, and put all the Honour and Refpect I 
 ran upon my kind Bentractor; I will remember his ' 
 Love, proclaim his Worth, and publifh his Praifcs. 
 lil hereby own myfelf before the World to be one of 
 his Diltiples, and a Follower of the Lamb. I'll de- 
 clare my Abhorrence of Sin that pie.ved him, and my 
 Gratitude to the Lamb for the atoning Sacrifice he 
 offered up for me upon die Crois. I'll triumph in this 
 as the only Ground of my Hope. I'll put the Crown 
 on his Head, and caft all my Crowns down at his 
 Feet, and cry, Worthy is the Land that was.flaht, and 
 has redeemed me from my Sins by his Blend ; worthy 
 Js he to receive all Honour, Power, Glory and Do&tk? 
 nkn for ever and ever. 
 
 Glory to my dear Saviour, that leeks no greater 
 Return for all his Labour of Love* than a thank- 
 ful Remembrance of it at his Table. Oh, mould I 
 grudge to give fuch a linall Return to him that fuffer- 
 ed the Pains of Death and Hell for me ! Had he bid 
 me facrinVe my Firft-bom, and give all I have to the 
 Poor, or go in Pilgrimage to the Holy Lard to viftt 
 his Sepulchre, or go to the Top of Mount CaA 
 where the Crofs flood, as a Token of Thankfu'nefs 
 for his Love, could I have refufed it ? But he puts me 
 to no fuch hard Task — Lord, thou bids me not go 
 to a bloody Scaffold to remember thee, but to a well- 
 < overed Table to do it. Thou bids me not go there 
 to bleed or burn for thee, but to eat and drink ; not 
 the Bread of Affiiilion or Water of Adverlity, but 
 theii6 the Heart, and Wine that. 
 - the. drooping Spirit, Bread and Wine which 
 
 defied for me Surely, O 
 
 Saviour, I owe my Life to thee, nay, a thorn 
 
 Lives i; ; 1 had them ; but it is not my Life, but 
 
 my Memorv and Thoughts thou art calling for ; it is 
 
 D 2 not 
 
40 Remembrlng ofChrijVs Sufferings 
 
 not to die for thee, but to remember thee. Didft thou 
 drink the Cup of Wrath on the Crofs for me, and will 
 not I drink a Cup of BleiTing at the Table for thee, 
 nay for mylelf, and for my eternal Salvation ? 
 
 Let me go then to this holy Table, with Faith, 
 Love and Thankfulnefs, to remember Chriit and his 
 dying Love, as he commands me. And while I re- 
 member him, let me alio receive and embrace him, 
 as my bleeding ?Iigh Prieit, in the Arms of my Faith, 
 and at the lame time throw my guilty Soul into his 
 wounded Arms, for laving me from Wrath — Let me 
 go and remember the Woundings and Piercings of my 
 Kedeemer, with a pierced and wounded Heart for thele 
 curled Sins which nailed and killed the Prince of Life. 
 Let me henceforth be the Death of Sin, which was the 
 Death of my dear Saviour. Oh, fh&U I fufTer Sin to 
 live any longer in me, that would not fufTer my Re- 
 deemer to live in the World ? 
 
 But let me confider my High Priefl before-hand, 
 end what of his Sufferings I mould remember at his 
 Table. — I'll remember how the glorious Heir of all 
 Things denuded himfelf of his Riches and Glory, how 
 he left his Throne of Majefty to lodge in a Virgin's 
 Womb; yea, to be born among. Beafh, and cr idled 
 In a Manger, for fuch a \Y T orm as me ! — I'll remem- 
 ber how he was attacked by the Devil, contradicted 
 by Sinners, and reproached by the World for my 
 Sake ! — 1*11 remember how forrowful his Soul was in 
 the Garden, when the bitter Cup was put in his Hand ; 
 and how "he fwate, how he prayed, how he fell to the 
 Ground, till he was quite overwhelmed with Wrath, 
 and covered with his own Blood for my Sake ! I'll re- 
 member how he was Told for a imall Price, and ba Il- 
 ly betrayed by Judas ; how he was taken by the Sol- 
 diers, tied as a Malefactor with Cords, denied by P<- 
 ter, forlaken by all his Difciplcs, and left alone a- 
 mong his cruel and infulting Enemies. I'll remember 
 
 how 
 
at his holy Tabic* 41 
 
 how he was blindfolded, mocked, fpit upon, buffeted 
 and affronted by Ruffians a whole Night, and patiettt* 
 lv lurfered all Tor my Sake ! I'll remember ho . 
 lovely Countenance was disfigured with Blows, ?nd 
 the plucking the Hair off his Cheeks ; and how the 
 fw*etefl Face ever the Sun faw, was all befmearcd 
 with Bloo^ and Spitting for my Sake. I'll remem- 
 ber how he that clothes the Lilies of the Field, \\ -as 
 himfelf flript naked, bound to a Pillar and cruelly 
 fcourged, till the Pavement of Pi/ate's Judgment-hall 
 was all bedewed with his precious Blood. I'll re- 
 member how the Crown of Thorns was plaitted with 
 the fharp Points turned inward, put upon his Head, 
 and driven into his Temples with a Reed, till they 
 pierced his Skull in many Places, and a new Shower 
 of Blood run down his blefled Neck. — I'll remember 
 how the heavy Crofs-tree was iaid upon his fcourged 
 and bleeding Shoulders, and he made to carry it thro' 
 the Streets of Jer/tja/e?//, forth of the Gates, and up 
 Mount Calvary, to the Place of Execution, until his 
 Strength wa? fpent, and he foundered under the Bur- 
 den. I'll rcrnembe-r how the Crofs-tree was laid 
 
 down, and my Saviour ltript naked and flretched out- 
 upon it as a Rack ; and how he was faftned to it with 
 four big Iron-nails thro' his Hands and Feet, and the 
 Crofs lifted up and let fall into a deep Hole digged for 
 the Foot of it, to the violent rending and widening 
 of his facred Wounds by which he hang, until ail 
 his Blood ftream'd forth it them, and he expired a- 
 midtt the moft exquifite Tortures. 
 
 I'll remember alio the Sufferings of his Soul at that 
 Time, when the Lord ran upon him as a Giai-.t, and 
 made his Soul the Butt of his envenomed Arrows, the 
 Poifon whereof drank up his Spirits, until his Strength 
 
 was dried up like a Potfherd. I'll remember how 
 
 his Soul was troubled and nonphuTed at the diftant 
 
 Project of this Cup ; and how fore amazed he was 
 
 . after when it was put into his Hand.— I'll re- 
 
 D 3 member 
 
42 The Communicant's 
 
 ir.cnber how the tilting of it caft hi:n into a bloody 
 Sweat and Agony, which dyed his Garments red, and 
 
 bedewed the Ground where he lay. I'll remember 
 
 how he was broken with Breach upon Breach, till all 
 the Sea-billows of divine Vengeance went over him, 
 and the Lion of the Tribe of JuJ.ih was made to roar 
 under the Strokes and Bruifes of the naming Sword, 
 
 Pfal. xxii. i I'll remember the dreadful Hidings of 
 
 God's Face he lay under, until he wis made to cry, 
 
 fyy God, my Gcd, why haj] thou fcr/aken vie f I'll 
 
 remember the Incs;orablenefs of divine Juilicc, that 
 would not ibare him one Stripe, bate him one Farth- 
 ing of the Debt, nor one Drop of the Cup -, lb that 
 he drank till he cried, // is finijbed, and gave \ip the 
 Ghoft. Glorv to him for his Love in BnHhing the 
 Work. 
 
 MEDITATION XL 
 
 From Philip. i. 23. 
 For I am in a Strati bchvist two — - 
 
 AS the Apoftle was in a Strait whether to chute to 
 die or to live, fo I am in a Strait whether to go 
 to the Lord':? Table or to Hay back. Now, thou 
 calleft me, Lord, to celebrate tJ>e Memorials of thy 
 Death, yea, to feaft with thee at thy holy Table, 
 and I know not what to chule; I am in a Strait be- 
 twixt two. My Heart is 10 unholy, and my Unwor- 
 rhlnei's ib great, I tremble to go forward to feaft with 
 a God (o holy, and whole Purity i s infinite ; and yet 
 my Wants are lb many, and my Necellities fo great, 
 that my Cafe is bopelefi if I itay back : Lord, I can go 
 to none elfe in all the World to fupply my Needs, but 
 to tii y ic If alone — But oh, when I think of going for- 
 ward, my Guilt llops my Mouth, and tills me with 
 Bhiftung. Lord, if the; holy £ngels, thefe pure and 
 
 unfpotted 
 
Strait betwixt Two. 43 
 
 uufpottcd Seraphims, who burn in Zeal for- thy Ser- 
 vile, mult even cover their Faces before thee; how 
 lhall I venture into thy Prefence, I whole Zeal is lb 
 languifhing, whole Love is (b cold, whole Mind is lb 
 earthly, and Prayers lb dull ? Shall I approach fo near 
 a holy God in fuch a Cafe ? But what then lhall I do ? 
 Shall I join with thefe Worldlings who were bidden 
 to the Feaft of the great King, refufe, and make my 
 Excule ? Then I fear the King will be angry, declare 
 me unworthy to tafte of his Supper, yea, fwear in his 
 Wrath that I lhall never enter into his Reft. 
 
 Lord, I abhor myfelf for my Unworthinefs and 
 Vilenels, my Guilt and Pollution ; but where (hall I 
 go to get Help and Remedy for it, but unto thee a- 
 lone ? Halt thou not bidden me come, tho' my Sins be 
 red as Crimfon ? Have not many fuch come to thee, 
 and found Relief and Help ? Surely, O Lord, thy 
 Goodnei's is greater than my Sinfulness, and thy Mer- 
 cy lurpafltth my Mifcry ; for tho' my Sins reach even. 
 to the Clouds, yet thy Mercy is above the Heavens. 
 O merciful Father, extend thy free, boundlefs Mercy 
 to a miierablc, helplefs Sinner : Surely Mifery is the 
 proper Object of Mercy. Holy God, if thou help me 
 not for the Sake of my Miieries which I have deferved, 
 yet help me for the Sake of thy Mercies which thou 
 haft promifed in Chrift thy dear Son. Wherefore I 
 plead for Chrill's Sake, that thou wilt hear the Cry 
 of my Miieries, and not the Cry of my Sins. O doth 
 not his precious Blood cry louder for Pardon, than my 
 Sins for Punifhmcnt ? Lord, hear the Cry of that 
 Blood, and let it not be as Water fpilt upon the 
 Ground. For the Sake of that prevalent Blood, pity, 
 pardon, and accept a poor unworthy Creature, that 
 defires to obey thy Call, and prepare his Heart to 
 leek thee, tho' he be not cleanfed according to the 
 Purification of the Sanctuary. 
 
 J Lord, tho' I may be alhamed to come to thee, 
 Needs arc ib prefiing and pinching that I cannot 
 
 ttay 
 
44 The Communicant 
 
 flay way. To ^komfliatl I go bui unto thee, fa 
 hajt the Words of eUrnaihife? The whole Creation 
 cannot limply my Wants. Thou only art my Su;: f 
 from whole Beams I mull receive laving Light: Thou 
 art my Head, from whom 1 mult get fpirituil Lite: 
 Thou art the Root, from which I mult derive Sup and 
 Growth : Thou art the Fountain, from which I mull 
 draw living Water : Thou art the Trea/ure, from 
 winch I mull obtain the Riches of Grace. So that 
 without thee I am nothing, I have nothing, I can do 
 nothing To thee then I mull go for all my Sup- 
 plies, and out of thy Fulneis receive Grace for Grace. 
 ——.Lord, tliDu haft enough to fupply many Worlds- 
 of needy Souls ; for the Sun is not fo full of Light, 
 nor the Sea fo run of Water, as thou art full of 
 Grace and Mercy to needy Creatures: And as thou 
 zxtfull, fo I am afTured thou art free- and willing to 
 communicate thy Fulneis. In ipite then of ail Ob- 
 jections and Difficulties, forward to thee I will go/ 
 and call myfelf down at thy Feet ; If I perijh, 1 pe- 
 rijh. Oh! did ever any pcrifli at Mercy's Door? 
 
 Lord, I have heard of thy Mercy to the verv chief 
 of Sinners, and cannot this Mercy reach the like cl 
 me ? Surely the viler Sinner I am, thou hail" the fair- 
 er Opportunity to ihew the Riches of thy Mercy, 
 the Freenefs of thy -Love, and the Efficacy of thy 
 Blood; and if 1 be allowed to (hire therein the 
 fweeter and louder will the eternal Hallelujahs be, 
 that will be lung to the Lamb of God on my Ac- 
 count. O that he would glorify his Mercy, his Love 
 and Blood, in my Relief. O where mail a poor 
 heavy laden Sinner go, but to him that ian free him 
 of his Burden ? Where lhall I go with a Multitude of 
 Sins and Miferies, but to thee who hall a Multitude 
 of tender Mercies ? Where (hall I go with my deep 
 and heinous Guilt, but to thee who haft a deep Foun- 
 tain to v/alh it away ? Behold one Depth calieth to 
 another, the Depth of my Mifery to the Depth oi 
 
 thy 
 
Strait betivixt Two. 45 
 
 thy Mercy ! My Wound is great, but thy Balm is 
 excellent ! My Sore is broad, but thy Plaiiter is an- 
 fwerable! Lord be merciful unto me, heal my Soul, 
 for I have finned aga'mjl thee. 
 
 Lord, is not the Gofpel-feait I am invited to a 
 Feaft of Chanty, to which thou called not the Rich, 
 but the Poor, maim'd, halt and blind, who cannot 
 nuke any Return for thy Bounty ? And may not fuch 
 a ruiierable Object as I am take Encouragement from 
 
 luch a free extenfive Invitation? Luke xiv. 21 
 
 My bleft Redeemer, while he was on Earth, did not 
 diidain to eat with Publicans and Sinners, nor to dine 
 with Sivzo7i a Leper. And tho' he is new exalted in 
 the highell Heavens, yet he Mill retains the Bowels 
 of a Man, and all the Pity and Charity to periming 
 Sinners he had while herein this. State of Humiliati- 
 on. Wherefore, lenfible of my Unworthinefs, loath- 
 ing myfelf for my Vilenels, and trufting to my Savi- 
 our's Companion to the Miferable, I delire to go for- 
 ward to his holy Table : O that he would direct and 
 ftrengthen me to go about fuch a weighty Work ! Let 
 not that Ordinance, which God hath instituted for 
 aBlelTing, be made a Curfeto me thro' my unworthy 
 Partaking. Lord, rebuke all unfeaibnable Thoughts 
 and Wandrings that would mar the Duty; excite 
 and adtuate in me every proper Grace, and enable me 
 to manage fo, that I may not dimonour, but glorify 
 thee; I may Hot increafe my Guilt, but augment my 
 Grace ; I may not bring more Hardnefs, but Softneis 
 into my Heart. Lord, dcicend thou into my Heart 
 by die Influences of thy Spirit, that I may aicend un- 
 to thee by the Actings of Grace ; and when the King 
 fits at his Table, let my Spikenard fend forth the 
 Smell thereof. Lord, I look to thee for Strength, 
 Conduift and Through-bearing, in every Strait. I 
 truft not is my Preparation, but in thy free Mercy, 
 for Acceptance ; I truft not in my Faith, but in thy 
 Faithfalnef . who haft jrpomii'ed to give Power to the 
 
 Faint ; 
 
46 The Communicant's Strait, &c. 
 
 Faint ; I trull not in my Repentance, but in thy free 
 pardoning Mercy; I trufl not in my Doings, but in 
 ChrihVs Doings. O take away my filthy Garments, 
 and clothe me with the belt Robe, The Lord our 
 Rightlousness. I will go in- the Strength of the 
 Lord God, I will make mention cf thy Righteoujhefs t 
 txien of thine only. Awake, jSovih-wind, and tome 
 thou South, _ b:o-jj upon my Garden, that the Spi- 
 ces may flow out. If thy I s re fence go not with me, car- 
 ry vie not up hence. 
 
 The Lord made a Breach on the Jfraeiites, for not 
 feeking him after the due Order, i Chron. xv. 13. — 
 Hefmote 50,000 niih&Bethjhemites tor an ineverent 
 Look into the Ark, which typified Chrift; and what 
 Caufe then have I to fear a Stroke, mould I raflily 
 touch the Symbols of his Body and Biocd? See- 
 ing this Ordinance is intended for doing Honour to 
 the King of 7Jo;z, O lave me from doing Indignity 
 to him, by betraying him with a Kils, or by throw- 
 ing his Picture, or Great Seal, into a Puddle,-- 
 
 May I io prepare for this Feaft, that the blefled Ma- 
 tter of it may fee I am watchful of his Eye, tender 
 of his Honour, and fearful of his Anger. Lord, 
 awake my Heart, flir up my Graces, and prepare 
 me for a Meeting with my Saviour; and let not my 
 Soul, whole only Hope is to be faved by CiriiVs 
 Blood, be lent away from his 'fable with the Guilt, 
 inftead of the Benefit, of that Blood upon it. 
 
 MEDITATION XII 
 
 Fro m Philip . i v . 19. 
 
 But my God jb.iil fupplf all \yoidr $kett\ accor- 
 ding to his Richjs in Glory, by Chrift Jtfits. 
 
 H 
 
 t 
 
 KAVKNL Y Father, out of thy rich Bounty 
 thou wail pleaied once to lav up a great Stock 
 
 for 
 
Stiffly for our Needs in Chrift. 47 
 
 for me in my Progenitors Hands, but they very foon 
 iquandered it all away, (b that I am become extreme- 
 ly poor and needy. Oh ! what can I do in this indi- 
 gent Condition, but come back to thee for Pity and 
 
 new Supplies r . For ever blelfcd be thy Name, for 
 
 the reviving News thou haft publifhed in the Gofpel ; 
 that thou haft now laid up a new Stock for Bankrupt 
 Sinners in the Hands of a Surety that cannot fail, 
 and haft erected a Throne of Grace for iuch as I 
 am to come to in Time of Need, where Chrift Je- 
 lus my Surety fits, as commiiiicncJ by thee, with 
 
 glorious Riches to liipply iny Wants. Many are 
 
 the Needs which thou thinks fit lo leave upon me, 
 that I might have the more Errands unto this Throne, 
 and that thou may'ft the oftner hear my Voice. O 
 poor out upon me a Sphit of Grace and Supplication, 
 and caufe me delight in approaching to thee, and 
 pouring out my Wants before thee. 
 
 Behold, Lord, a needy Creature, an Object: of Pi- 
 ty, approaching to a liberal Saviour whole Fulnefs 
 is infinite ! O how fuitable is it to my Wants which 
 are great and innumerable! I am flaming and have 
 no Bread ;^ 1 am naked and have no Cloathing ; I am 
 wounded and have no Cure; I am in Debt and have 
 no Money; lam polluted and have no Fountain; 
 I am burdened and have no Reft; I have deftroyed 
 
 myfolf and can find nb Help in myfclf. But yet 
 
 there is Help for me elfewhere: 1 have heard of the 
 Mercy of the King of Jfi.ie/, and of the Remedy he 
 hath pro'.ided for thefe who are helplefs, loft and'mi- 
 Jerable. Wherefore, tho' I be poor, I will not e'e- 
 ipair, for thou art the Lord of the whole World, 
 and haft opened thy Treafures to the Needy: Tho* 
 I be polluted, I will not defpond, for thou haft the 
 Fountain of Salvation : Tho' I be naked, I will 
 with Adam run from thee and hide myfelf ; na; I 
 will run to thee to cover me w ith the Wool and Fleece 
 > Lamb of God, even the fpotlefs Righteoufhete 
 
 and 
 
48 Rich Suf flies in Cbrifl 
 
 and Innocence of my Saviour : Tiro' I be hungry and 
 Harving, I'll take Encouragement from the glad 
 Tidings thou haft proclaimed in the Gofpcl of a rich 
 Feaft for the Poor and Needy. — Lord, I come to 
 thee as the Hungry to _ be fed, as the Naked to be 
 cloathed, as the Wounded to be healed, as the cold 
 ftaning Creature to the Fire, as the Unclean to be 
 warned in the Fountain that is opened not to the 
 Houfe of David only, but even to the pooreft Inha- 
 bitant in Jerufalem. Glory to God, that it is fo free 
 and open to the Poor and Needy. 
 
 Lord, I come not to thy Table becaufe I am wor- 
 thy ; but becaufe thou art rich in Mercy, and dolt 
 promife that the Needy /hall not be forgotten, and 
 the Expeclation of the Poorjhall not periff? : And that 
 •when the Poor and Needy Jeek Water, and there is none, 
 a?id their Tongue faileth for Thirft, Thou the Lord milt 
 hear them, and open Rivers in the Wildernefs, and 
 Fountains in midjl of the V allies. O come, do as thou 
 haft faid, pity a poor, needy, perifliing Creature, 
 and fill my narrow Veffel out of the Ocean of thy 
 
 Mercy, where it will not be milled Come to the 
 
 Feaft of thine own Appointment, and diiplay thy 
 Fulncfs and Liberality. C aft open the Doors of thy 
 Treafures, and allow r me Accel's to Chrift's unlearc li- 
 able Riches. Thy Word, Lord, doth aflure me, 
 
 that in all Ages thou haft bellow 'd thefe Riches upon 
 the Poor and Needy, without Money, and without 
 Price. And this doth warrant me to plead with thee 
 to come to thy Houfe, where many needy Beggars 
 are gathered, and fcatter thy Bounty among them, 
 
 and admit me to gather with them. O let not 
 
 fuch a miferable Objecl: go from thy Door without an 
 Alms, without a Crumb of the Childrens Bread, fee- 
 ing there is Bread enough in thy Houfe, and to fpare. 
 O let none return afhamed from the Fountain who 
 come expecting Water. Thou haft promifed to pour 
 Water upon the thirfty, and Floods upon the dry 
 
 Ground. 
 
for all our Needs* 49 
 
 Ground. Oh, is there -:ny more dry," more poor, 
 more needy than lam! Lord make me as thirfty as I 
 am dry, as humble as I am poor, and as fenfible as I 
 am needy. Alas, that I have fo little Senfe of my 
 Wants ! Oh, deal not with me according to my Senfe 
 of Need, which is fmall, but deal with me according 
 to my real Need, and thy Royal Bounty, which is 
 exceeding great. 
 
 O that I were poor and needy in my ow:, Eyes, 
 and truly fenfible of my own Wants; that I am 
 drown 'd in Debt to the Law and Juftice of God, owe 
 many Thoufands, and have not one Farthing to piy ; 
 that I am de(liti:te of every Thing that is good, can 
 do nothing to pleafe God, and am unworthy of the 
 leaft of his Mercies. O that I were made willing to quit 
 all Confidence in my own Righteoufhefs, Duties, 
 Frames or Attainments; and well content to go in- 
 tirely out of myfelf to Chrift, for Righteouihefs to ju- 
 ftify me, and for his Spirit and Grace to renew and 
 fa notify my Nature. 
 
 Lord, I am poor, but I fee God has treafured up 
 unlearchable Riches, and infinite Fulnefs in Jefus Chrift 
 to anfwer a.11 my Needs; — I am naked, but I fee in 
 Chrilt a Robe of Righteoufnefs, that is fufficient to 
 cover me, and a whole elect World ; — I am a ftar- 
 ving Creature, but in Chrift there is the Bread of Life, 
 and the Waters of Life for my Soul ; — I am foolifh 
 and ignorant, but Chrift hath infinite Wifdom to 
 teach me and guide me; — I am loaden with Guilt, 
 
 but Chrift 's Sacrifice is fumVient to atone for it ; ! 
 
 I have ftrong Lufts and Corruptions, but Chrift hath 
 a kingly Power to fubdue them ; — I am under much 
 
 Darknefs, but Chrift is the Light of the World ;. I am 
 
 under Fears and Difcouragements, but Chrift is the 
 Confolatioji of Ifrael ; — I am wounded and fick, but 
 Chrift, my Phyfician, hath evcellent Balm for me ; 
 — I am under a Burden of Debt, but Chrift, my Sure- 
 ty, is rich ; and fully able to pay it; — IaminPiiibn, 
 E and 
 
jo Rich Supplies in Chnft, &c. 
 
 and under Bonds, but Chrift opens Prifon-doors, and 
 looies them that are bound ; — I am fatherlefs by A- 
 dam\ Fall, but Chrilt is the everlalling Father in 
 
 •whom the F either lefs find Mercy ; • I have many E- 
 
 nemies to purfue and accule me, as Law, Juifice, 
 Safa/1, and Conicience ; but Chrill my Advocate can 
 aniwer them all :- — Therefore I flee to him for Refuge, 
 I clofe with him in all his Offices, and put my whok 
 Confidence in him. 
 
 It gives great Encouragement to my poor needy 
 Soul, that I have a Saviour fb full of Goodnefs and 
 Pity to look to, a mighty Agent in Heaven to plead 
 my Caufe, and to prelent my Bills, Petitions and Sup- 
 plications to the Father. 1 put all my Requefts and 
 Concerns in his Hand, and commit them to his Care 
 and Management ; he knows the fitteft Time to pre- 
 sent them, and to lend me an Aniwer. In the Sacra- 
 ment I (wear Allegiance to thee, as my Sovereign 
 Lord and King, over thy broken Body and ihed Blood ; 
 I engage to be. a true and faithful Soldier in thy Ar- 
 my, and to take the Field againft thy Enemies. Ma- 
 ny Pieces of Furniture do I need for this Warfare ; I 
 need the Girdle of Sincerity, the Shield of Faith, the 
 Helmet of Hope, the Sword of the Spirit,* the Brealt- 
 platc of Righteoufuefs, and to have my Feet (hod 
 with the Preparation of the Golpel of Peace. But 
 Glory to thy Name, my Redeemer and Captain of 
 Salvation hath provided a noble Armoury and Store- 
 houfe to anfwer all thefe my NeccfTities and Wants. 
 Lord, fupply all my Needs out of thy infinite Fulnefs, 
 andfuniiih me with every Thing requilite and necefia- 
 rv for the Work and Warfare thou called me unto. 
 dh, my Enemies are lively, and they are ftrong: But 
 I look to my glorious Captain, to gird me with 
 Strength for the Battle, and to teach my Hands to 
 
 MEDI- 
 
ME D IT AT I OX 
 
 From / . 19; 
 
 Love :fC HRUT, vjhi 
 
 \ V 
 
 .- . End?'] 
 
 . . - . ■ : 
 
 • : 
 Libre 
 
 I 
 
 -11, that r. 
 
 Seed of.'. 
 I 
 
 _ 
 
 Heaven t 
 
 - 
 
 of Hell, and all i< 
 H : ■ 
 
 E 2 
 
JT2 The Love of Chrift 
 
 left me to fee at the Lord's Table ! Even to fee him 
 futfering for Sin that never committed Sin ! To fee 
 him made Sin for us, who knew no Sin, that we who 
 knew no Righteoufnefs, might be made the Righteouf- 
 s nefs of Cod in him! An amazing Sight indeed ! 
 
 Lord, what is Man that thou art mindful of him! 
 
 what is he that thou fhouldit magnify and let thy 
 Heart on him ! And what am I, the worft of Men, 
 end viieft of Sinners, that thou (houldft (loop 10 low 
 to ercalt me ! That thou fhouldft endure the Poverty 
 of this World, that I might enjoy the Riches of Hea- 
 ven ! Be content to live in the Form of a Servant, 
 that I might have the Adoption of Sons ! Be willing 
 to bow thyfelf unto Death, to mile me to eternal 
 Life! Content to be numbered among T ran fgreflbrp, 
 that I might have a Room among the Bleffed ! To 
 be crown'd with Thorns, that I might be crown'd, 
 with Glory ! To be condemned before Men, that I 
 might be juftified before God ! To drink the bitter 
 Cup of Wrath, that I might drink the pure River of 
 Life? To cry out in Sorrow upon the Crofs, that 
 
 1 might triumph with Joy upon the Throne! To 
 ftand before the Mouth of Hell-furnace, to keep its 
 Hames from breaking out on me ! O Lord jefus, thy 
 Love hath overflown all B .mis, and thy Companion 
 knew no Bounds! Can I think on it, and nvy Meait 
 not burn ? Can I fpeak of it, and not be overcome, 
 lb as to feek, with Jofeph, a fecret Place to weep in ? 
 
 O Love that pafleth Knowledge! How mall I 
 think of it and not (land amazed ! that the General 
 mould die for the Soldier, the Phyfician for the Pati- 
 ent ! That the righteous Judge of Heaven fhould come 
 to the Bar, put himfclf in the Malefactor's Clothes, 
 and be condemned for him ! That the blefTed Son of 
 God mould interpofe his innocent Bicaft to receive 
 the mortal Stroke for us! That God all-fufficicnt 
 mould be expofed to Hunger and Thirft, to Grief and 
 Wcarinefs, and the viieft Reproaches and Indignities 
 
 for 
 
fajjetb unowieage. 53. 
 
 for Worms like us ! Behold the Creator of the World 
 wounded, mangled and killed, by ungrateful Crea- 
 tures whom he came to lave ! Behold his Bow els 
 yearning toward them who raked in them with their 
 bloody Hands ! Behold his Heart burning with Af- 
 fection toward them that cruelly pierced it ! Surely 
 a believing View of this Love of Chrift is iiifncient to 
 mollify a Heart more cold and frozen than Ice itlelf I 
 O Love unfathomable! Who can meafure.its Dimen- 
 flons! It hath a Height, without a Top, a Depth 
 without a Bottom, a Breadth without a Side} a 
 Length without End ! Alronifiiing Love ! that my ex- 
 alted Lord lhould ftoop fo low as become a Man; 
 nay, a poor Man, a Man of Sorrows, a delcrted 
 Man, a dying Man, and alio a dead Man, for fiich 
 a Wretch as me ! Nay, more, that he fhould ftoop 
 to be made aCurfe, and underly a dreadful Load of 
 Wrath upon his innocent Soul, infinitely more heavy 
 than what is laid upon any damned Soul 5n.HelI ! 
 
 O what a Sea of Wrath did my loving Jefus iwim 
 thro', to lave me from perifhing ! Behold how that 
 raging Sea wrought, and was tempeltuoas, roared 
 moil terribly, and thrcatned to {'wallow me up with 
 the reft of the elect World ; till once my Redeemer 
 Itept in, and undertook to be the Sacrifice for calm- 
 ing the Sea! Take me up, (faid he like Jonah) and 
 throw me into the Sea, and ye (hall be all fafc. In 
 this Rcd-lca our blclled Jonah was content to fwim 
 tor Thirty-three Years, without feekihg Deliverance, 
 till once the Sea was perfectly calm, and even elect 
 Soul out of Danger. Marvelous Lbving-kindndls ! 
 Oh that I could, with a fuitable Frame of Heart, 
 both remember and admire redeeming Love, and re- 
 niuag Blood, when I go to fit down at my Re- 
 deemer's Table. O that I may there get Faith's 
 Si^ht of the various Initances of his Love, tktit pal 
 
 \ed?e. Let me there view Chriit in the Womb, 
 Mid in the Ming ■. . in his weary Step.*; and L:.ii:lii v 
 K 3 Borwc 
 
54 UJnjrs Love fajjcth Knowledge, 
 
 Bowels ; in his Proftrations in the Garden, and clot- 
 ted Drops of bloody Sweat. Let me view his Head 
 with a Crown of Thorns, and his Face b»imeared 
 with the Soldier's Spitt. Let me \iew him in his 
 March to Calvary , and his Elevations upon a painful 
 Crofs, with his Head bowed down, and his Side 
 ftreaming Blood ! O unparalleled Love! It had been 
 wonderful Love to have fent one of the lofty Sera- 
 phims to fufter for us; but to give him whom all the 
 Seraphims fer.ve and adore, is Love that paffsth Know- 
 ledge! Let me view^ the Scripturc-defignations and 
 Titles of him that loved us, a?id gave himfeif for us, 
 trait he might waih us in his Blood. 
 
 He is our hnmanuel, the Wonderful, the Coinifellor, 
 the Mighty Cod, the Evcrlajlitig Father, the Prince cf 
 Peace, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the 
 Prince of the Kings of the Earth, the Lord of Glory, 
 the Rofe of Sharon, the Plant of Renown, the Bright- 
 ness of his Father s Glory, the exprefs Image of his 
 Perfon, the bright and Morning Star, the Sun cf 
 jRlghteoufnefs, )he Light of the World, the Head of the 
 Church, the Beginning and Firjl-born from the Dead, 
 the appointed Heir of all Things. This is he that loved 
 us, and gave himfeif to die for the Redemption of a. 
 Crew of Rebels, Grace-aburfing, and Gofpel -flighting 
 Sinners ! Oh, what am I that thou fhouldft fpare, 
 yea, ranfom and feaft me in iuch a Manner ! Long a- 
 (to m'h;;htft thou have fhaken off the Hand of thy 
 Providence fuch a Viper as I am into Fire unquench- 
 able; and there made me to know, to fad Experience , 
 what it is to abufe free Grace, by the Lofs of eternal 
 
 Glory. But, inftead of that, thou hall: pitied 
 
 me, loved me, become my Surety, to appeale ]\:.- 
 llice for my heinous Sins by thy Blood, when no o- 
 thcr Sacrifice would do. Lord, I welcome thy Lovc- 
 feafl. '; I lay my H?nd on the Head of the Sacrifice, 
 red: .upon it ; I believe, Lord, help my Unbelief. 
 Q ih.it: I Miy henceforth live under the continual 
 
 Senfe 
 
Lifjnji s ftgony in we Kaaraen. 55 
 
 Sen r e of my infinite Obligations to my glorious Sure- 
 ty, that would make his Soul an Offering for my Sin. 
 6 what Return (hall I give him for all his Soul-tra- 
 vel and Agonies for me ? O that I could fpend my 
 whole Life, and each Day of it, in magnifying his 
 Love, and living to his Piaife. Now, wffed be his 
 glorious Napiefor ever and ever ; let the whole Earth 
 'be filled with his Glory, ditten, and Amen. 
 
 ME DITATLON XIV. 
 
 From Luke xxii. 44. 
 
 And being in an Agony bis Sweat was as 
 
 it were great Drop of Blocd 
 
 OMy Soul, this Text affords thee great Subject 
 of Thoughts, when thou gocft to remem- 
 ber thy dear Saviour at his Table. Here I fee him 
 in a bloody Agony ! And firft, let me oblerve the 
 Place where his Agony began, the Garden ofCetl:- 
 JimaTte, which lay in the Valley of Jehoftaphat, on 
 the Eaft-fide ofjen/falem, at the Foot of the Mount 
 of Olives. Now, it was in the Valley of 'Jehojbaphat 
 that God did plead with the Nations in Chrift their 
 Surety, Joel iii. 2. The Word Gethfemane fignifies 
 a Mill or Prefs for Olives, as being probably the Place 
 where they preffed the Olives that grew on the 
 Mount, and there fqueczed the Oil out of them. 
 In this Place, it pleafed the Father to bruiie Chrift 
 our true Olive, that fo out of his Fulnefs the fiefh 
 Oil of his Merit and Grace might flow abundantly 
 to needy Souls. Never was there liich an Olive prefled 
 there before fince the firft Planting of that Mount ! 
 Never was there fiich precious Oilieena s Jelus's Blood! 
 O that I may partake of the Root and Fatnefs of 
 that gwlQUvi. which was prelled here, and of that 
 
jo u/vvyr s sigony ana 
 
 0//, which will make my Grace to grow, and m\ race 
 to mine ! 
 
 As it was in a Garden that Man's Sin and Mifefy 
 firft began, fo it was in a Garden that our bleffed Su- 
 rety began his laft expiatory Sufferings for Sin, which 
 call him into a fearful Agony. As the Garden of 
 Eden produced Man's Mifery ; lo the Garden of Geth- 
 feniane provided a Remedy. O that when I walk 
 and retire myfelf in a Garden, I may have Grace 
 to think ferioufly, and with fuitable Affections upon 
 the Sins of Men, and the Suffering* of my Saviour 
 for them ! and, at the fame Time, to fend up my 
 Ejaculations to God, for an Intereft in his Agony 
 and Atonement, and for the comfortable Intimati- 
 on thereof to my Soul. When my dear Redeemer 
 was in his Agony of Soul, I read of his offering 
 up Prayers and Supplications to Ged, with firohg 
 Crying and Tears, Heb. v. 7. And have I no Pray- 
 ers nor Tears to offer up to God at the Remembrance 
 of his Agony ? efpecially, when I consider how much 
 
 my Sins contributed to throw him into it. 
 
 O how ftrong and bitter were my Surety's Cries 
 at this Time, when God bruifed his Soul, and poured 
 down a Flood of his Wrath upon him ? He cried, 
 till he was fpent with Crying ; he grew hoarfe with 
 it, and his Throat fo dried, that he could cry no 
 more, PfaU lxix. 3. Now was his Soul in Travel, 
 and great Cauie had he for his ftrong Crying and 
 Tears! He was blent under all the Pains of his Bo- 
 dv, and under his Sufferings from Men ; all that. 
 Time he is dumb as a Sheep before his Shearers : But, 
 behold, when fierce Wrath from God alighted on his 
 Soul, he cries vehemently ; and he prayed mod ear- 
 xicftly and importunately for Support and Through- 
 bearing under this terrible Storm. O that, from 
 my Saviour'^ Example, I may learn, when under 
 Soul-trouble and inward Diilrefs, to make my Pray- 
 ers to God more carnclt and fervent, tad to perfeverc 
 
 without 
 
Bloody Siveat. 57 
 
 without fainting; which 1 have great Encouragement 
 to do from this, that my Saviour's fervent Prayers 
 and Tears have made W ay tor mine. 
 
 I obierve alfo in tins Paifage, that the Agony of 
 Chrift's Soul increafed lb much., that it produced a 
 Sweat of Blood over Lis Body ; yea, great Drops or 
 Clods of Blood, which, by his violent Agony, burft 
 thro' his very Clothes, and watered the Ground where 
 he lay. O what Trouble and Anguifh, Pangs and 
 Sorrows, Defertions and Struggling?, muft his Soul 
 have endured at this Time, under the Burden of God's 
 Wrath for his People's Sins, which put his facred 
 Body ar. 1 Blood into fuch a dreadful Commotion and 
 Ferment ! O what a prodigious and preternatural 
 Sweat was this ! Never was the like heard of fince 
 the World began! According to the Courle of Na- 
 ture, Chrift's lying in the open Air, in a cold Night, 
 upon the cold Ground, with the Greatncfs of his Con- 
 fternation, mould have drawn all Lis Blood inward 
 from the external Parts of his Body : But Chiift's 
 Sweating and Bleeding was altogether preternatural. 
 He fwate without external Heat, he bled without 
 external Wound. The Fire of divine Wrath, now 
 kindled in his Soul, was lb very hot and' raging, that 
 it made the Blood about his Heart to boil, and burfl 
 
 thro' both Fleih and Garments. He had received 
 
 at this Time, no Wound nor external Violence from 
 any Hand ; no Judiis t no Soldier, no Tormentor, 
 had yet attacked him ; no Spear, no Nail, no Thorn 
 or Scourge had yet touched his facred Body> and yet 
 he bleeds mofl plentifully ! Oh, but the Sword ox 
 Juitice had reached him, and made a deep Wound 
 and wide Gam in his Soul ; at which Breach a Sea 
 of Wrath brake in with fuch Violence, that it o\ c: - 
 whelmed 1 im ; made him fall full gm his Kikv , 
 and then flat on the Ground, where he lay agoni 
 and crying, till all the Waves and Billows of di 
 Vengeance went over him. Oh, what a dreadfi.! 
 
 PreuW 
 
5 8 ChriJVs Ago;/) 1 and 
 
 Preffure was my Saviour's Soul under at this Time 
 What fqueezing Anguifti had he about his Heart, that 
 made his Body to ftruggle, and iV% eat in fiich a Man- 
 ner, lb that every Pore of his Body became a bleed- 
 ing Wound ! O how awfully mould I be affedted with 
 this tragical Sight! How thankfully mould I remem- 
 ber my Redeemer's Love, when he calls me to do it 
 at his holy Table! 
 
 In my Saviour's Agony I n.ay ke. gfs in a Glafs. 
 the malignant Evil and curled Nature of Sin, that no 
 lefs could atone for it, than the Soi 1-travel and Ago- 
 ny of the dear Son of God ! Can I ever make light 
 of Sin, when I view the great Drops of Bled italic! - 
 ing above his Garments, while he lay groveling on 
 the Earth in the Anguifh of his Soul ! Shall I not 
 henceforth abhor Sin, and ftand in Awe of offending 
 a juft and holy God, feeing it is fuch a fearful Thing 
 to fall. into his Hands : If fu~h Th'mgs were done %n 
 the green Tree, what /hall be done m the dry P Was 
 the Cup of Wrath fo terrible to the innocent human 
 Nature of Chrift, when presented to him, that he 
 fhrinked and cried out ! O what will it be to guilty 
 Sinners! Here I may fee how coil'ly the Redemption 
 of Souls is; ere this could be compaffecU God muft be 
 made Man, Erernity muft fuifer Death, the Lord 
 of Angels muft weep in a Cradle, the Creator of the 
 World muft hang like a Slave ! He muft ly in a Man- 
 ger at Bethlehem, cry in an Agony at 'Gethfemane y 
 die on a Crofs at Calvary ! Lmfpotted Righteoufnefs 
 muft be made Sin, and unblemifhed Bleftednefs mv.ft 
 be made a Curfe ! O did Chrift value Souls at lb high 
 a Rate ! and (hall Men be fo foolifh as throw them 
 away for a Thing of nought ! 
 
 Here I may lee the great Difficulty of making 
 Peace with Ood, when once his Law is broken ; no 
 lefs could do it than the Blood, and Soul Agony of 
 the Son of God ; even an infinite Ranfom mult be 
 paid ere God would be reconciled to Man. O how- 
 much 
 
Bloody Sweat. 59 
 
 much am I beholden to Chrift that undertook the Re- 
 conciliation, that prevented my Ruin, by taking the 
 Cup out of my Hand ! O the Cup he drank for me 
 was mingled with Wrath and Curies, a Cup full of 
 Vengeance prefled down, heaped up, ftiaken toge- 
 ther, and running over ; a Cup, which if Men or 
 Angels had but tailed, they had reeled, ftaggered, 
 and fallen headlong into Hell : Yet, (aid Chrilr, ere 
 any of my Ele<ft Ones drink it, I will do it for them; 
 
 reach it hither to me bitter as it is. Oh how 
 
 ready was Chrift to engage for Men ! and how wil- 
 ling was he to perform! how- ready, full and free 
 was the Fountain of his Blood to warn the Defiled ! 
 Behold how freely it iflTued forth before a Wound was 
 opened ; all his Veins and Pores poured it forth, with- 
 out waiting for the Tormentors. Lord, make me 
 as willing and ready to apply it. Did Chrift wreitle 
 in an Agony to obtain the Redemption of loft Sin- 
 ners j and mall not I wreftle as in an Agony to get 
 an Intereft in this Redemption, and the Evidences 
 thereof cleared up to my Soul ! O for Faith and Fer- 
 vency in Prayer, that I may wreftle without ceafing 
 for the Allurance of his Love, that I may go with Joy 
 to his Table. 
 
 MEDITATION XV. 
 
 From I fa. liii. 7. 
 
 He openc:l not his Mouth ; he is brought as a 
 
 Lamb to the Slaughter. 
 
 1 
 
 T becomes me to read and confider thefe Words 
 ^ with great Attention, feeing they were the Occa- 
 fion of the Ethiopia?! Eunuch's Converfion ; for it was 
 while he read and thought«on thele Words, that God 
 fent Philip to join him, Atts viii. 29. O that God 
 
 would, 
 
60 The Lamb of God 
 
 would, in like Manner, fend his holy Spirit to join me 
 while I am meditating on them. 
 
 1. I oblerve that Chrifl is the great Sacrifice provi- 
 ded by God to make Atonement for our Sins : He is 
 the great Antitype and Subftance of all the Lambs and 
 Beafts that were offered up in Sacrifice under the Law, 
 and therefore he is often in the New Teftament called 
 the Lamb, the Lamb of God, a?id the Lamb Jlain. The 
 Spirit of God fee ns to have a peculiar Delight in 
 dwelling upon this Type otthe La?nb, more than in a- 
 ny other of the Old Teftament Types ; and mould not 
 I delight in it too, and often with Pleafiire make men- 
 tion of the Lamb, the worthy Lamb, that will be the 
 Objecl of the Prailes of Saints and Angels through all 
 Eternity ? 
 
 2. Chrifr is reprefented by a Lamb to point out the 
 Innocence of his Perfon, the Meeknefs of his Nature, 
 the Ufefulnefs of his Benefits, and his Patience under 
 Sufferings. How patient is the Lamb under Injuries ! 
 It is filent both before the Shearer and Butcher ; it 
 parts with its Fleece in (hearing Time, and with its 
 Life in (laughter Time, without any Noii'e or Refi- 
 ftance. Dogs and Swine howl and cry when Violence 
 is offered to them, but the Lamb is quite filent. So 
 (Thrift the Lamb of God opened not his Mouth, under 
 the greateff/Revilings, Mockings, Bufferings, Spit- 
 tings, Piercings, and the molt cruel Death, which 
 he fuffered from Men, i Pet. ii. 2;. and hence it is 
 laid in the Te\t, when he was led to the Slaughter, 
 he opened not his Mouth : He opened not his Mouth un- 
 lefs it was to blels, teach, or pray for thefe who in- 
 jured him ; yea, he not only did pray, but a]fo plead 
 anEvcufe for them, Father, forgive them, for they knoiv 
 not what they do. And af Hi? Refurreclion, how 
 ready was this meek Lamb t <give ail that wrong- 
 ed him ! When giving Orders to preach RemiHion of 
 Sins to a loft World, he bids begin at Jerufalem, Luke 
 xxiv. 46. where they mocked and pierced him, becaufe 
 
 there 
 
flau ght:red for us. 61 
 
 there they had grcateit. Need of his Blood to waft 
 them from Guilt. How meekly did our blefled Lamb 
 carry to Peter, when lie denied him in his own Hear- 
 ing.' He did not turn and frown upon Peter, as he 
 well deferved, tho' he might have frowned him into 
 Hell ; it is laid only, He turned aiid looked on Peter, 
 Luke xxii. 6 1. not with an angry Look, but with an 
 affectionate melting Look, which recovered him to a 
 penitent Frame : Neither did he afterwards upbraid 
 him with his Carriage. O meek Lamb of God ! Can 
 I remember thee at thy Table, without being filled 
 with Re norie and Grief for my Impatience under In- 
 juries, and the Proncnefs of my Heart to relent them ? 
 Shall I not be aihamed of my unchriftian Temper, 
 when I fee my meek and loving Jefas, willing to he 
 the Sport and Derifion of Men and Devils, that he 
 might be the Author of Salvation to perifhing Souls I 
 Oh, how aftcmilhing is it to fee the Creator affronted 
 by the Creature, the Potter by his Clay, the King 
 of Glory by Worms of the Earth, and yet hold his 
 Peace ! Now, is the Head f) meek and patient, and 
 fhould not the Members be fo too ! O how unfeemly 
 is it to fee a Company of fierce Lions following a 
 meek Lamb ! O that I could learn more of him that 
 is meek and lowly in Heart. 
 
 3. Here I fee the greater! Inflance of Divine Love 
 that ever the World faw. Behold an offended God 
 willing to fpare wretched Criminals ; and take Satif- 
 f i&ion from a Surety in their Room ; and he himfelf 
 finds out the Lamb to be the Sacrifice, even his eter- 
 nal Son, who willingly undertook to aflume a Body 
 for that End. 'How aftonifhing are the Lamb's 
 Words, Hcb. x. 5. Sacrifice and Offering thou wou/dft 
 not, but a Body haft thou prepared vie ? as if he had 
 faid, " Father, fincc all the legal Sacrifices are in- 
 " fufficient to fatisfy thy Juftice, atone for Sin, and 
 " ranfom precious Souls ; even take the Body thou 
 " haft prepared for me, let that be the Sacrifice to 
 f " Juftice ; 
 
6 2 Ti:e Lamb of God 
 
 
 Juilice ; it is more valuable than any other, being 
 the Tabernaele of my Divine Pciion j it will bring 
 " Glory to thy offended juilice, and fatisfy it to the 
 " full. I yield myfelf willing to be the Prifoner of 
 " Juilice, and go quietly as a Lamb to the Slaugh- 
 *' ter; not dragged to it as an Ox or Bullock, but 
 lf meekly and pleafantly like a Lamb." When ac- 
 cording to this Agreement, Juilice required the Lamb 
 to be iacrificed ; O how patient and lilent was he 
 under all the Accufations led againft him, tho* he 
 was wholly innocent ; he would lay nothing in Lis 
 ewn Defence; -at which Pilate (not knowing the 
 Caule of his Silence) marvelled greatly, having never 
 (een the like before. But our Lamb confidcred, that 
 he flood not only at Pilate's Bar, but alio at the 
 Bar of God's Juilice as our Surety, bearing our Guilt: 
 and tho* Man had nothing to lay to his Charge, ye.t 
 he knew what Divine Juilice had to-chargc upon kirn, 
 and therefore he is lilent and anfwers nothing, that 
 he might not hinder our Redemption, nor Hop the 
 Payment of our Debt. When Juilice charged him 
 with our Sins, our Unbelief, Pride, CovetoifJ;:efs, &c 
 he might have find, " O Father, theic Tranlgn ilions 
 ¥ are not mine, I never oftended thee ;" but he will 
 do nothing to refcue himfelf. Therefore w hen the 
 Jarful Charge of the whole Sins of an Klect World 
 was exhibited againil him, and the Sword of Juilice 
 drawn, ready to flrike, he opened not his Mouth, 
 but takes with the Charge, as if he had been giulty of 
 all- Glory to the lilent Lamb for ever, that would 
 not hinder our Releafe from Puniihment, but meekly 
 took the Stroke for us. 
 
 4. Behold this meek Lamb, before he was brought 
 to the Slaughter, led up and down from Place to 
 Place ; from the Garden to the High Pricfl, from the 
 High Prieft to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, from 
 Hetcdb.ick to Pilate, from Pilatr to Calvary. Be- 
 hold him mocked, abufed, and difgraccd by them, 
 
 bnfFctcd 
 
f laugh tered for us. 6 j 
 
 ted and (pit upon, crowned, fcourgcd, and pier- 
 ced, and yet never refills nor complains. He willing- 
 h' gave his Back to the Stutters, and his Cheeks to tkei& 
 U of the Hair, and hid not his Face from 
 Spitting. Now, the meek Lamb is content to be as 
 the Rim eaoght in the Thickets, to be flaughtered 
 and iacriheed in oar Room, who were lying bound, 
 like Jfaac, to have been the Sacrifice. Oh, it was 
 out Sins that piaitted the Thorns ; they, alio were the 
 Reed that drove them into his Temples, yet he open- 
 ed not his Mouth. 
 
 5. Now thio flaughtered Lamb is let before my 
 Eyes in the Sacrament, and God's Call to me is, Be- 
 hold the Lamb of God, John i. 29. Now let me be- 
 hold him with an earned and Heady Look,, with 
 Faith and Expectation, that I may get Healing to all 
 my Diieaies. ^s no flung Ifraellte got Healing from 
 the brazen Serpent, unleis they looked to it, ib none 
 c:n get Benefit from (Thrift unleis they behold him. 
 May I never look away from this Lamb, to my 
 Tears, Convictions, Prayers, Reformations, or any 
 Thing elfc ; feeing the befl of Duties will make bad 
 Saviours. If I a* peel Salvation from other Thing?, 
 I am undone, for there is no other Name given under 
 Heaven whereby Men can be laved : But if I look to 
 the Lamb of God, my Salvation is iLcurcd by his Pra- 
 r.i'iCe, ljtU xlv. 22. 
 
 6. There was no Houfe in Egyft fafe from the de- 
 ftroying Angel, but thefe who had their Doors fprink- 
 Isd with the Blood of the Pafchal Lamb : So there is 
 no Soul fafe from the Sword of revenging Juftice, but: 
 
 . who by Faith put themfelvts under the Protecti- 
 on of th-2 Blood of this (lain Lamb. Let me thereto- e 
 take the Bunch of Hyffbp, Faith, and clip it in the 
 Bafon of the new Covenant, and fprinkle this Bleed 
 on my guilty Soul, and lb I fhall be fafe. 
 
 7. How bleflcd is their Character who follow the 
 Lamb, £ez>. xiv. 4.. May. I follow him as my Phyfi- 
 
 F 2 cian- 
 
64 Redeeming Blfiod, 
 
 < ian to cure me, my Righteoufnefs to juftify me, my 
 l^ife to quicken me, my Hufband to fupply my Wants, 
 my Guide to conduct me, my Pattern to direct me in 
 my Steps. Let me learn from his Example, to be pa- 
 tient without murmuring, when I am under Affliction. 
 Let me learn Meeknefs towards Men, when I meet 
 
 with Reproaches or Injuries from them. Let me 
 
 learn a Readinefs to obey God's Call to every Duty. 
 O did Chrift go willingly to the Slaughter for us ; 
 and mall I be backward to pray, communicate, part 
 with Sin, or do any Thing he requires of me ? Let 
 me, in all Duties and Ordinances, feek after the 
 Lamb's Prefence, feeing my eternal Happinefs lies in 
 being ever with the Lamb, and to be fed and led by 
 him, Rev. vii. 16. 
 
 MEDITATION XVI. 
 
 From Efk i. 7.. 
 In zvhom zve. have Redemption thro* his Blood* 
 
 HOW difmal is our Cafe by Nature! We are 
 Slaves to Sin and Satpiu, and Prifoners to 
 the Jnftice of God, being fentenced to die, doom- 
 ed to Wrath, and referved to publick Judgment 
 and Execution. In this miferable Condition were 
 all Mankind, until Chrift came to ranfom us : And 
 O how difficult and coftly was our Redemption 
 to Chiifl ! no lefs could be the Price of it, than 
 his precious Blood. The glorious Son of God, who 
 created Heaven and Earth, muft become a Creature, 
 r>e born of a Woman, and pour out his Blood on an 
 ignominious Crofs, before we could be redeemed from 
 Sin and Wratk O how valuable mult the Blood of 
 this infinite Perfon be ! What is the Blood of earthly 
 Kings and Princes to this Blood ? fiirely one Drop of 
 it is of mere Value, than an Oce.'n of theirs ! and 
 
 yet 
 
a mo ft a fretting Si git, 6y- 
 
 yet every Drop of this Blood was poured out upon the 
 
 Ground for our Redemption. In this Elocd I fees 
 
 ilindry Things : 
 
 1. The amazing Love of Chriil, in fhedding his 
 Blood for the Redemption of fuch Creatures as I jim ; 
 Creatures moft ugly, that had loll the Image of Gc 6, 
 and got Satan s Image pictured in its Room, and 
 were thereby become black as Hell. — Creatures loth- 
 fome as dead Carcales, being dead in Trefpai r es ; and 
 yet thefe he loved fo as to ihed his Blood, and bleed 
 to Death for them. For as lovely as Sarah \v,)>, 
 while alive, yet when dead, Abraham could look *n 
 her no more, but would have her buried out of his 
 Sight. But Chriil faid not lb of his Elect Spoufe when 
 dead; no, laid he, let me bleed and die for her to 
 bring her to Life ; -tho' at the fame Time (he was 
 more lothfome than Job with his Boiis, Lazarus with 
 his Sores, or any dead Carcafs with Vermin. O what 
 Caufe could be given for the Love- of a bleeding Jefus ? 
 well might he lay, / loved you,, becaufel loved you ; 
 
 I love you freely. And O with what Sorrow,. 
 
 Pain and Agony, was his bleeding Love attended,, 
 while his dear Soul was overwhelmed with the terri- 
 ble Billows of his Father's Wrath ! Chriil: knew well 
 before Hand all thefe Sufferings, and all the Ingre- ■ 
 dients in the Cup, yet he would needs drink it for us : 
 He forefaw the Poilbn of God's Arrows that would 
 drink up his Spirits ; the burning Thrill that the Heat 
 of divine Wrath would create in him ; yet willingly did 
 he go tobleed and die, like a Lamb to the Slaught'j:\ . 
 Love that pajfeth Knowledge ! 
 
 2. In Chrift's Blood I fee the Glory of infinite Wil- 
 dom difphyed: Who could have found out a Way to 
 reconcile Juttice and Mercy, and fatisfy both their De- 
 mands about Adani.s fallen Race \ ' A general Coun- 
 cil of Angels could never have thought of the Son of 
 God his being rpade Flelh, and ihedding Blood ! How 
 ih^king wxild the S'.'.ggellion have been, if God had . 
 
 F 3 not.. 
 
66 Rede'ini/i* "Blood, 
 
 not made it ? But, behold hereby infinite Wifdtm 
 hath difcovered a Way to gratify both Jultice and 
 Mercy ; topunifh Sin, and yet pardon the Sinner ; 
 to maintain the Honour of the Law-maker, and yet 
 preferve the Life of the Lav/-breaier : Hereby Mtrcy 
 is fatisfied in fparing the Rebel, and yet Jujiice more 
 glorir.ed, and Sin rendered moie odious, than if the 
 
 Sinner himfelf had been eternally damned for it. 
 
 Nay, tho' all the Men on Earth had been caft into 
 Hell-fire for Sin, and the Angels with them, it had 
 been no fueh Instance of JufHce, as Chrift's bleeding 
 and dying for Sin : For what is the puniihing of Crea- 
 tures, to the Suffering of the Creator ! 
 
 ». This Blood being the Biood of God, hath infi- 
 nite Virtue and Efficacy j it hath pure-haled the Church 
 of God, and all Grace and Glory to her, ACrs jrx. 28. 
 it protects all who come under the Covert of it from 
 the Wrath of God, Exod. kh. 1 ". When I fee the 
 Blood, I will pafs over you, and the Plague Jhall not 
 be upon you to defray you, when I finite the Land 
 
 of Egypt. This Blood, which is the Price pf our 
 
 Redemption, hath marvellous Effecls ; it pleads for 
 the Guilty, and obtains Pardon of Sin, Peace with 
 God, Nearne's to and Communion with him. It 
 eleanfes, heals, fatisfies and beautifies perfflting Souls ; 
 it feals the New Tcfhiment, overcomes our Enemies, 
 liberates the Prifoners, open? Heaven's Gates, and 
 gives Boidncfs to enter in: The Perfon of our Re- 
 deemer being preferable to a Million of Worlds full 
 of Men and Angels, his Blood alone might well fcrve 
 for an Elect World. What Sins can be fo heinous or 
 fo numerous, but the Blood of God can warn away ? 
 Tiiis was famous Granger's Support that Day- he Jiif- 
 fered Martyrdom ; whein his heinous Sin of renoun- 
 cing the Truth flared him in the Face, and he was 
 greatly dejected for it ; he brake out, Surely God was 
 v Fhjhj and f bed his Blood, not for leffer Sins cn- 
 T^but for great Sins alfo : Thi; relieved him, and 
 ^Sv J made 
 
'Sight* 
 
 • iffe Courage. This Blood can help in 
 all Sticks, c!c all Fears, and is able to !aU 
 
 :. !t bath laved ninny who have con- 
 slvcs, and thought their Salvation im- 
 ble. it hath eaied many Conltiences, when the 
 Tenors of the Almighty ha\e Unrounded them, and 
 i is Arrows have ftnek fail in them. It hath unfting'd 
 Death, and carried many late thro' its darkeit Val- 
 lies. This Blood hath cleanfed many whofe Hearts 
 were filthy as the Mire, and whole Lives iw armed 
 with the molt abominable Lulls, l'uch as the Corin- 
 thians, i Cor. \\. ii. and Three thouiand of thefe 
 who had embrued their Hands UV wedding of it, Atfs 
 ii. 36. Nay, it is able to take away the Sins of a 
 World, John i. 29. and much more the Sins of any 
 one Soul, tho' like a Mountain for Weight, or the 
 Sand for Number. 
 
 4. I fee this redeeming Blood to be a fuitabie Re- 
 medy for alhmy Maladies ; O that I could look to it 
 by f'aith, apply it to my Sores, and plead it with 
 God: ff Lord, 1 am an unrighteous Creature, but 
 " here is juftifying Blood; my Heart is unholy, 
 <* but here fanctifying Blood ; my Soul is wounded, 
 " but here healing Blood ; my Lulls are ftrong, but 
 " here mortifying Blood; my Heart is hard, but 
 f* here foftning Blood ; my AftedHons are dead, but 
 li here quiekning Blood ; my Love is cold, but here 
 * is Heart-warming Blood. — When I am at the holy 
 " Table, I am near this btelled Remedy ; O let me 
 i( not mils a Cure when the Balm of Gi/ead is among 
 <' my Hands ; let me not perifli in my Guilt belide the 
 " open Fountain. Oh, this Blood hath healed 
 " Thousands, and (hall 1 remain under my Plagues ? 
 <( — Lord let that innocent Blood, which run from 
 '•' thy Hands, Heart and Side, drop on my guilty 
 <( Soul, and cieanle me from all Sin. O my glorious 
 ** bleeding Lamb, if thou wilt, thou canjt make ms 
 " clum. O fay to me as thou didft to the Leper, / 
 
68 Redeeming Blood y 
 
 " will, be thou clean. Surely thy Blood is more able 
 " to fave me, than my Sins are to deflroy me." 
 
 5. How juft is it that I mould commemorate the 
 fhedding of tlus Blood in the Way that Chrifl ap- 
 points \ Lord, help me to go to thy Table, and rea- 
 lize the fhedding of this Blood to mylelf, as much as 
 if I had flood by the Crols, and feen it with my Eyes 
 flowing from his Wounds. Let my Faith be the E- 
 vidence of Tilings not leen, and let it realise the fhed- 
 ding of ChrifVs Blood as evidently to me, as if I had 
 actually ken it, .Ah, I cannot fay it is fo, while my 
 Eyes are fo dry, and my Heart fo hard ; alas for my 
 flupid unconcerned Heart, that doth not burfl into 
 Love and Tears at the facramental View of this 
 Blood-fnedding ! How can I fee. thefe Hands, that 
 fway the Scepter of the Heavens, nailed to the Tree 
 of Reproach, and not mourn ? How can I fee thefe 
 Feet, that trample on the Powers of Hell, nailed to 
 a Tree,, and not weep ? Did the Earth tremble, 
 Rocks rend, Sun hide, and Heavens darken, and will 
 not my rocky Heart rend for Sin that caufed ail ? — 
 Since thou, Lord, comes to me in Streams of Blood, 
 let me go forth and meet, thee with Streams of 
 Tears. Oh ! fhail I be mere fparing of my Tear s 
 for Chrifl, . than he was of his Blood for me ? Can I 
 fee this pecious Blood run down in Streams, and my 
 Eyes not pour out fome 'Drops ? Can I refufe Drops 
 of Water for Streams of Blood ? Can I fee the Blood 
 of the King of Kings fpilt like Water on the Ground, 
 and the Earth drinking it up, and my Heart not rend 
 for fhedding it ? Oh that my Head were JVatttrs, and 
 7iune Eyes a Foiwta'm of Tears, that I migkt weep Day 
 and Night for the flain Lamb of God ! 
 
 6. How dreadful mufl the Crime be to tread this 
 Blood under Foot by Unbelief, or unworthy Com- 
 municating ! Had Zimri Peace that flew his Majler P 
 And can I have Peace if I be guilty of the Blood of 
 him that is my Mailer and Redeemer both ? How Cad 
 will my Cafe be, if that $lood ; which alone can pro- 
 cure 
 
a mo (I a feeling Sight, 69 
 
 cure my Pardon, (hall cry for my eternal Punifhment ? 
 Deliver vie from Blood Gut/fine/}, Cod — O that I 
 could value and efteem, plead, and apply this precious 
 Blood more! Lord, accept of it as a full Satisfaction 
 for all my Sins, and an all-iiifficient Price for my Soul's 
 Redemption. Is not one Drop of thy Son's Blood of 
 more Value than a Sea of mine ? My Sins, alas, have 
 ihut me out of Paradife, but O let this Blood open 
 Paradife to me again; and let me, thro' this Red- 
 fea, enter into the Heavenly Canaan ; I know I can 
 have no other Paifage to it. Lord impute not the 
 Guilt, but the Merit of this Blood to me. 
 
 M ED I TAT IO N XVII. 
 
 From Pfal, lxxii. 6. 
 He Jba II come down like Rain upon the mozvn 
 
 Grafs, as Showers that water the Earth 
 
 THIS is l'poken and promifed of Chriil, and ferves 
 to teach us, that Chrift coming to his Church 
 and People, by the gracious Influences of his holy Spi- 
 rit, is 'molt ufeful and refreihing to their Souls, like 
 Showers of Rain to the dry Ground, or a Meadow 
 newly cut to make it lpring again. — Chriftlefs Souls 
 are like the dry Ground, without the Moiflure of fa- 
 ving Grace, their Hearts are hard; neither Rods, 
 Mercies, nor Sermons, make Impreflion upon them ; 
 Why ? they are without Chriit, the Fountain of Grace, 
 and fpiritual Influences. — Before the Fall, Man's Soul 
 was like a well watered Garden, beautiful, green, 
 and fragrant ; but by his Apoftacy from God, in A- 
 dam our ririr. Head, the Springs of Grace and Holi- 
 nc'.s are quite dried up in his Soul ; and there is no cu- 
 ring of this Drought, but by the Soul's Union with a 
 new Head, to wit, Chnll wrfecoftd Adam, who has 
 
 thq 
 
70 CbrijVs coming to his Churchy 
 
 the Spirit given him without Meafure for the Ui 
 all his Members. Now, when wc are united by Fak-h 
 to Chrift, our Head ot Influences, the drj Land is 
 turned into Water Springs ; Chrift comes do Wn as the 
 Rain by his Spirit of Regeneration, and brings the 
 Springs of Grace into the SouL He is the fhlt and 
 immediate Receptacle of the Holy Spirit, and all re- 
 generating and ianc'tiryhig Influences, and out of 
 Fulnefs we mult by Faith receive them. And when at 
 any Time the Springs of Grace are interrupted in the 
 Soul by Sin or Unbelief, fo as the Ground turns dry, 
 the Plants withe::, and die Things which remain are 
 ready to die ; the Soul hath need to lock up to Jeti\> 
 Chriit to- come down with new Showers upon the 
 thirfty Ground, and decayed Plants. 
 
 I. As die Rain is the free Gift of God to the dry 
 Ground, it comes free and cheap to Poor and Rich, 
 Small and Great, and coirs them nothing : So Chrift 
 with his Bleilings is God's free Gift to a dry perifhing 
 World, for which we mould continually be thankful. ( 
 2. As nothing can flop the falling of the Rain ; fo no- 
 thing can hinder Chrift's gracious Influences, whe 
 defigns to aivake, convince, or foften a hard Heart. 
 When thefe Showers do fall on Sinners, the moil cb- 
 ftinate Will muft yield, and cry, Lord, v. hat ivi.t 
 thou have me to do P 2. As the Rain is moft neceffary 
 and fuitable to the dry Ground, and to the various 
 Plants it produceth, and alio to the different Parts of 
 every Plant or Tree ; fuch as the Root, Trunk, Bran- 
 ches, Leaves,. Flowers and Fruit: So Chrift is 
 lutely necefFary, and his Influences molt fuitable te all 
 his Peoples Souls, and to every Faculty of them, the 
 Underftaiiding, Will, Memory, and Aifcitions ; and 
 to all their different Graces, Faith, Love, Repen- 
 tance, &c. to root and eftablifh them, ftrengthen 
 and conrinn- them, cjuicken, and incrcafe them, chciiih 
 and preferve them. 4. As the Rain come down in 
 diverle Ways and Manners to the Earth, fometjmes 
 
 with 
 
compared to Rain. 7 1 
 
 with cold Winds and Tempers, Thunders and Light- 
 nings ; and at other limes with Calmnefs and 
 Warmth : So Chrift comes to Sinners, fometiincs 
 with (harp Convictions and legal Terrors, and fbme- 
 times with alluring Invitations and Promiies. 5. O 
 how pleafant are the Effects of Rain to languishing 
 Plants, to make them green and beautiful, lively and 
 ifcrong, fragrant and fruitful ? So the Effects of 
 Chrilt's Influences are raoft deniable to drooping 
 Souls, for enlightning and enlivening them, for con- 
 firming and ftrengthning them, for comforting and 
 enlarging them, for appetizing and Satisfying them, 
 transforming and be unifying them. A Shower from 
 Ghrift would loon make the Church, tho' withered, 
 turn green and beautiful, and to lend forth a Smell as 
 or a field that the Lord hath blelled ; and likewife 
 ibme Drops of this Shower, falling down upon the 
 languishing Graces of Communicants, would foon 
 make them vigorous and lively in (hewing forth their 
 ^L/iour's Death at his Table. 
 
 Here I may fee the Reafon why many Souls con- 
 tinue as dry Ground in their parched natural Condi- 
 tion, while others near them are flourifliing and fruit- 
 ful ; Chrift's Shower hath -come down upon the one, 
 and not upon the other ; one Piece is rained upon, 
 ar.d another Piece is dry and withered, according to 
 
 that Word in A/nos iv. 7. Oh, what Caufe is there 
 
 to bewail the evident Symptoms of this continuing 
 natural Drought in Multitudes of Souls ! Why ? their 
 Hearts are hard, impenetrable and unaffected with 
 the milerable State they are in by Nature, and with . 
 the woful Plagues of their Hearts. They have no 
 Senfe or Feeling of the Evil of Sin, notwithstanding 
 of all the Reproofs and Threatning* of the Word, or 
 the. Rods and Strokes it brings upon them ; or of the 
 Sufferings of Chrift for Sin. And tho* God af Hires 
 them, that the End of dry Ground is Curjing and 
 Burnings they are impenitent anil unconcerned under 
 
 all. 
 
72 Chrifl's coining to his Church, 
 
 all. — O if parched Souls \\\ their natural Eftate were 
 made lenlible of their Mifery, and brought to bewail 
 their C#fe, and fay, " Oh,' I am as the Heath ia the 
 " Delert that fees no Rain ; I am a dry Tree, if I 
 u continue in this State, I'll be cut down as cum ? 
 u bring the Ground, and made Fuel to Hell-fire. I 
 11 fee the Ax of Juftice laid to my Root, every Hour 
 *1 I am in Danger of the Blow. O if Chrilt would 
 u interpofe to fpare me, and come down upon me as 
 " the Rain, and bring the Mohture of Grace into my 
 « Soul." 
 
 How lamentable alfo is the Cafe of thole who once 
 feerned to be watered by this heavenly Rain, and now 
 are parched by a long consuming Drought and wi- 
 thering Wind ! They have loft their former Grecnncf* 
 and Moifture, their Spirituality and Livelineis, and 
 their Duties are quite dwindled away into a lifclefs 
 Care ale and a dead Formality. They have loll their 
 wonted Freedom and Enlargement in Prayer, and 
 are fallen under fad Bonds and Straitnings of Spirit, 
 which make them count holy Things a -Wearkiefs, 
 and frequently neglect, lecret Prayer. Surely fuch have 
 great Need of Chriil's coming down upon them as the 
 Rain, to make them fpring up as the Grafs, and re- 
 vive as the Corn. — Alas we have a finful Hand in 
 bringing on fuch a fpiritual Drought, by quenching 
 the Motions of the Spirit, indulging nefhly Lulls, gi- 
 ving the World Chrift's Room in the Heart, and ne- 
 glecting to live by Faith on the Son of God, who is 
 the Rain and Dew of Ifrael. 
 
 How happy are thefe who live under the Droppings 
 of this Rain ! They are like Trees planted by the 
 Waters, their Roots fpread forth, and their Leaves 
 are green, Jer. xvii. 8. Have I the Signs of fuch Per- 
 fons i " Is my Heart ready to melt at the Sight of a 
 " crucified Jefus let before me in the Sacrament . ? Do 
 " I mourn for my Sins that pierced him ? Am I ready 
 " to think worie of myfelf than any other Perfon can ? 
 
 « Is 
 
compared to Rah. y 3 
 
 * Is my Heart foft and pliable to the Will of God, 
 u both in his Precepts and Providences? Do the 
 " World's good Things bulk but little in my Eye I 
 " Is it my Defire to meet with Chi ill in every Duty 
 " and Ordinance i Do 1 ftill look on Sin as thrift's 
 " Enemy? Am I afraid of provoking him by Sin to 
 " with- hold the Showers, and make theHea\ens as 
 U Brafs to me ? Am I defirous to bring forth Fruit 
 " anfwerable to the Waterings he gracioufly allows 
 u me ?" O may I find thee Marks in my Soul. 
 
 O that I could earneftly plead for the fulfilling of 
 this Promife in the Tewt, that Cbrift would come 
 down as the Rain, that he would fend the Showers he 
 hath merited and promifed, lend them to my felf, to 
 the Church, and to the whole Land ; to the prcient 
 *\ge, and to the fifing Generation. O „* hat glorious 
 Effects would thefe Showers produce ! They would 
 beautify the Church and her Aflemblies, make both Mi- 
 niilers and Profefibrs to lhine in Holinefs, and Congre- 
 gations to be lively in Worlhip. They would open 
 Prifon Doors, loole Bonds, inlarge Hearts, revive 
 drooping Souls, turn their Water into Wine, their 
 Sorrow into Joy, their Complaints into Praifes, and 
 make them fing in the Ways of the Lord. — By thefe 
 Showers God would be glorified, the Church cement- 
 ed, and her Difrempers healed. Ordinances would 
 be fuccefsful, Communions more pleafant, the Godly 
 more valued, Religion more citeemed, and the Way 
 to Heaven more delightful. — Lord, look on the dry 
 Ground and present droughty Sealbn with Pity, open 
 the Windows of Heaven, and fend down Showers a? 
 in former Times, and as in other Parts of the World. 
 Send a Shower to young Communicants, and to thele 
 who have not fecn thy Goings in the Sanctuary : A 
 Shower to ftdby Hearts and withered Hands ; a 
 Shower to foften the Clods, loofe the Roots, and o- 
 pen the Springs. O how much Good would one of 
 thrift's Showers do to a poor dry Land ! what Won- 
 G ders 
 
74 The lowly Believer defer i bed. 
 
 ders would it work! what Prilbntrs would it ioofeJ 
 M hat cloudy Minds would it brighten, and what 
 doubting Souls would it rdblvc ! Come down Lord 
 Jefus. Amen. 
 
 MEDITATION XVIII. 
 
 From Mat. viii. 8. 
 
 Zon/, 7^7/7 not ivorthythat thou fiouldft ccnu 
 under my Roof. 
 
 A I T H and Repentance do ilill go together 
 
 F 
 
 every Believer is a true Penitent : He that puts 
 on the Lord Jefas, is alfo clothed with Humility. The 
 higher Thoughts a Man hath of Cnrift, the low er 
 Thoughts will he have of himlelf. When the Man's 
 Eyes are open to lee the Holinefs and Excellency of 
 Cnrift, he is made to own his own Nothingnefs before 
 him, and his infinite Diitance from him, and to fay, 
 like the Centurion in the Text, I am not worthy that 
 thou jhouldji come under my Roof, q. d. It is too great 
 a Honour for fuch a guilty and filthy Creature to en- 
 tertain a Saviour of infinite Purity ; my Heart is 
 more unworthy than my Houfe, I have nothing to 
 
 commend me to thee - The lowly Soul abhors 
 
 himfelfY as vile in the Sight of a holy God ; he fays, 
 I am all as an unclean Thing, and all my Righteoui- 
 nefs is as filthy Rags ; in me dwells no good Thing ; 
 I am inefficient of myielf to do any Thing that is good, 
 or even to think a good Thought: It is God that 
 muft work in me, both to will and to do, of his good 
 Pleafure. He is under no Obligation to pity or help 
 me, it will be abfolute free Mercy in him if he do it, — 
 The lowly Man hath undervaluing Thoughts of him- 
 felf, and of all his own Doings and Attainments: 
 He renounceth all Confidence in his own Righteoul- 
 
 nefs, 
 
The loivly Believer defcrihed. 75 
 
 nefs, and humbly fubmits to the Rightcoufnefs of Gcd 
 by Faith : He is content to be ilript of all bis own 
 Garments that Chrift may be' his Cloathing. He 
 looks not to his own Performances to recommend 
 him to God, but only to Chrift his Surety. He is 
 willing to go out of himfelf, and live wholly upon 
 borrowed Rightcoufnefs and borrowed Strength, e- 
 \en to live upon Chrift crucified, and to derive 
 daily and hourly from him Strength, both for Du- 
 ty and Difficulty, for Work and Warfare? — 
 
 The Man that is lowly m Heart, fubmits to the Will 
 or" God in all his Difpcnfations, is content with every 
 Condition he thinks bell: for him ; he is patient in At- 
 iiicrion, and Gfent under God's Rod without aniwer- 
 ing again. He is ierriible that he juilly delervelh 
 Hell, and therefore .is very thankful for the leaft Mer- 
 cy ; like the Woman of Canaan, he owns himlelf 
 unworthy as a Dog, atid will be thankful for the 
 Crumbs that fall from the Childrens Table. He will 
 be thankful for a Word from Chrift, for a Look, for a 
 Smile, for the leaft Token of his Favour, or the 
 ffflaiteft Influence of his Spirits 
 
 Wherever Faith is in Exercife, it is a Soul-humbling 
 and Self-emptying Grace, and lays the Soul very low 
 before Gcd j and God always hath Refpedt to liich 
 Faith, and to fuch Lowlinefs, Pfal. exxxviii. 6. 
 Chrift put great Refpecl upon the lowly Centurion t 
 v. 10, 13. / have ■not found fo great Faith, no, not in 
 Ifrael ; go thy Way, and as thou haft believed,, fo be it 
 done unto thee. He alfo put great ReipecT. on the 
 humble/ Publican, Luke xviii. 13, 14. and declared 
 him justified ; for (faith he) He that humbkth himfelf 
 (hall be exalted. Ke put great Plonour on the hum - 
 ble Woman of Canaan, that owned herfelf vile as 
 a Dog, Mat: xv. 27, 28. Woman, great is thy 
 '•, (f i;d he) be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And 
 he faith of himielf, J/a. Ivii. 15. though he be ihi 
 Fftgh and Lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity , yet hi 
 G 2 
 
76 Faith in Jefus Chrifl is 
 
 divelleth with the humble Spirit: And thus he fets him- 
 felf before us, as the gre.it Pattern of Humility, and 
 bids us learn it of him. When he appeared unto Mo- 
 fes y it was not in a lofty Cedar, but in a low, mean, 
 humble Bujb. And when he would appear in our 
 Nature, it was not a great exalted Woman he takes 
 up with, but a low humble Virgin, as Mary herfelf 
 obferves, Luke i. 48, 52. May I be helped then to 
 appear before him at his holy Table, with a humble 
 Spirit, and lowly Frame, that lie may vouchiafe to 
 dwell and hold Communion with me. 
 
 O that I had the Marks of a lowly Heart, and 
 could (ay, that I blufh, and am alhamed before God 
 in Prayer, becaule of my Sinfulntfs and Pollution ! 
 that I am made to wonder at free Grace in fparing 
 inch a vile unthankful Wretch, in keeping me out of 
 Hell, in offering mc Chrifl and Pardon through his 
 
 Blood, and calling me to his Table. That I 
 
 oi'claim all Rightecufnels by the Law, and expeel 
 nothing but Wrath and Ruin from that Airth ; that 
 I look only to Chrifl, and have admiring Thoughts 
 
 of him and his Law-biding Righteouiheis. 
 
 That I have a deep Senle of indwelling Sin, and of 
 the Coi ruptions of my Heart, and think more mean- 
 ly of" my (elf than any other Perfon can That 
 
 I am jealous of my wicked Heart, and afraid left I 
 betray or wound the Son of God, and contract Blood - 
 guiltineis ; and therefore I adventure to his Table 
 with m uch Fear and Trembling. Lord, bellow up- 
 on me fuch a humble Heart. 
 
 O can fuch an ill-deferving Creature appear before 
 God, and expeil Mercy, who have fo long abufed 
 Mercy! Lord, inftead of ftretching forth a Sceptre 
 of Mercy to invite mc to thy Table, thou minted, 
 with the Rod of thy Juilice, juftly dafli me in Pieces 
 as a Potter's Velfel. Inllead of entertaining mc with 
 the Bread of Life, and the Cup of Bkfling, thou 
 jn*ghteit give me the Bread and Water of Affliction ; 
 
 vea, 
 
^elf-abajing Grace. JJ 
 
 yea, cad me into that Pit, where I mould cry in vain 
 
 tor a Drop of Water to cool my Tongue. O (hall 
 ilich a wretched Dog as I preiiime to come to thy 
 Tabic, and cat of the Chiidrens Bread, who am not 
 worthy to gather the Crumbs that fall from it ! But 
 I have heard of the Mercy of the King of Ifrael, that 
 he delights to (hew it to the unworthy that humble 
 themselves before him. Oh, I am vile, and unfit lo 
 appear before thee ; but, fiirely they are undone that 
 keep away from thee. I am come to thee, not be- 
 caufe I am fit or worthy, but becaufe thou art rich 
 in Mercy ; and hail contrived a Way for laving th« 
 like of me. Lord, I am not worthy to come with- 
 in Sight of thee, but far lcfs that thou fhouldft come 
 under my Roof to lodge with me ! Will Ccd In very 
 Deed come and dwell with Men! This is a Wonder, 
 tho' all Men were as innocent and righteous as once 
 Adavi was ! But will he lodge or feait with me that 
 am a Leper ? W r ill he come under the Roof of my 
 Soul, a Houfe fo ruinous, fmoaky and defiled, where 
 he has not a fit Place to lay his Head ? But, O my 
 humble, condescending Sa\ iour, did not diidain to 
 ly in a Manger among Beai'ts, nor to dine with «S7- 
 mon a Leper ! O Lord Jelus, come in thyfelf and fur- 
 sift the Houfe, prepare an upper Room in my Soul, 
 large, fwept and garnimed, and there abide, and keep 
 the PafTover with me. 
 
 Lord, I am not worthy to eat the Crumbs that 
 fall from my own Table, much lcfs thofe that fall 
 from thine. I delerVe not a Room to (land among 
 thy Servants, far lefs to fit down with thy Children. 
 1 am unworthy of my daily Bread from thee, and 
 (hall I be allowed to eat of the Bread of Life ? Shall 
 I, who defervc not the Bread of Men, be admitted 
 to eat the Bread of Angels ? Shall I fit down with 
 h.m, at whole Feet they fall ? If Jokn the Ba^tift 
 (one of the greatefl that was born of Women, who 
 was filled with the Holy Ghofl from the Womb) 
 G 3 thought 
 
78 Faith in Jefus Chnft, &c. 
 
 thought himfelf not worthy to loofe Chriit's Shoes, 
 ho .v unworthy am J, the meaneft of Creatures, a 
 Tranfgreflbr from the Womb, to be admitted to 
 touch, nay feed upon Chriit's broken Body and died 
 Blood ! l( Piter, after feeing Chriit's Glory, and his 
 own ViLenefs, judged himielf unworthy to be in the 
 Ci ne Ship with Chrift, and cried, Depart from pte, 
 for lam a finful Man: How lhall I, the chief of 
 Sinn? s, adventure to lit down at the fame Table 
 with aim in a familiar Way ! If the 'Woman with the 
 bloody Iilue was afraid to come and touch flic Hem 
 o: Chriit's Garment, how much more may I, who am 
 fill of the running IiTues of Sin, fear to touch the 
 Symbols of his Body and Blood, or put my Hand in- 
 to his Side ? If the pureft Angels mult cover their 
 Faces when before him, how ihall I, who am fo im- 
 pure, appear openly in his Prcfence ? But Glory to 
 God for the blelled Covering provided for my guilty 
 So.:l, under which I may appear and be accepted. I 
 come to thee wrapt in it, Lord, accept of me. 
 
 O how dhtinguifhing are thy Favours to me an un- 
 worthy Creature ! Thou mighteft juftly have put in 
 my Hand a Cup of Trembling and unmixed Wrath, 
 a Cup filled with Horror of Confcience and tearful 
 De pair : But, inftead thereof, thou givefl me die 
 Cup of BlelTing, filled with the Hope of Pardon and 
 eternal Life. I might have been in Hell drinking the 
 Damned's Cup of Wrath, into which Juftice is hull 
 pouring in as fait as they drink out : But Glory to 
 free Grace, thou ealleft me t o drink the Cup of Sal- 
 vation, which my Saviour hath purchafed with his 
 Blood, and fweetned with his BlelTing. Thanks be 
 to God for it for ever. 
 
 MEDITA- 
 
Chrifi the Gift of God to Man. 79 
 
 MEDITATION XIX. 
 
 From 2 Cor. ix. 15. 
 
 Thanks be unto God for his unffeakable Gift, 
 
 MA N Y give Thanks to God for Meat and 
 Drink to their Bodies, which indeed is the 
 Duty of all ; but aks, few give Thanks to God for 
 Jefus Chiifl the only Food of precious Souls, and 
 God's unlpeakable G : ift to Men 1 Many are fond or" 
 temporal Gifts and earthly Riches, \Jhich are nothing 
 but Vanity ; but ah, they are ealy about this Pearl 
 of great Price, this matchlefs Gift, whole Value no 
 Tongue can expreis, nor open up what is contained 
 in it. The Apoftle tells us a great Truth, Epb. i. ;. 
 that God b lefts us •with all fpiritnal Blejjings in Chrijl. 
 In this Gift of God, we have innumerable Gifts be- 
 llowed on thefe who believe on him, fuch as the Gifts 
 of ipiritual Illumination, Pardon of Sin, a Law-biding 
 Righteoufiiefs, Reconciliation with God, Adoption 
 into his Family, reftoring o( his Image, fanclifying 
 Influences, Ipiritual Strength for Work and Warfare, 
 loofing of Bonds, Witnef lings of the Spirit, unfting- 
 ing of Death, Conduct thro' the dark Valley, and a 
 Title to the Manfions of Glory, and the eternal En- 
 joyment of God. Chrift is the moll neceflary and 
 moft enriching Gift ever was given to the World. 
 God gave him to be a Plank of Mercy , to fave our 
 Souls when fhip-wreck'd. He gave him to be our 
 P By fie tan and Balm, to heal us when our Wounds 
 feemed incurable. He gave him to he the Lord our 
 Righteoufiiefs, when we had no Righteoufiiefs. He 
 gave him to be our Advocate to plead for us, when 
 we had many Accufers, and none to take our Part. 
 He gave him to us to be JVifdom, Righteoufiiefs, San. 
 edification and Redemption. In this Gift there is in- 
 finite 
 
8o C6rip thh Gift of God h Man, 
 
 finite Fidnefs, and unfearchable Riches. Well in k 
 the Spoufe call Chrift a B;ind,c of Myrrh, anfl a I 
 fler of Camphire #Can,t. i. i;, 14. becaufe fo many 
 
 Gifts and Bleifings- are bundled up in this one Gilt. 
 Oh, what can I conceive, or what can I exprefs of 
 this Gil t ! He that would defcrfbfe or (peak of this 
 Gift, would need to have his Tongue dipt in Heaven. 
 Should an Angel cotx down from it to tell us of this 
 Gift, he would outfpeak all the Men on Earth. ; yet 
 when he had laid all he could, the Gift would be far 
 above his Expreffion : Why ? becaufe he is unfpeakr 
 able. 
 
 Thanks be unto God that gave us not a Serva:;v 
 not an Angel, not a t rknd, but his Sc;:. Not an ad- 
 opted Son, but his own Son by eternal Gcr.crat! 
 A Son -eeho if the Brightuefs oj ? h'is Father 's dory, and 
 the exfrefs Image of his Per/c;:. Yea, he gave us his 
 only Son, to die as a Sacrifice in our Room i How 
 bitterly did Jacob bewail the parting with one Son. 
 when he had eleven behind ! But God gave his onlj 
 begotten Son, and the Son of Ida Love for us ! It i^ 
 recorded as an admirable I2 fiance of Abraham's Obe- 
 dience, that he was willing to pait with his only 
 Son at God's Command, Gen. xxii. 12. jSfow 1 L : . c w 
 that thou feareft God, feeing thou haft noi-with-hcld thy 
 Sou, thine only Son, from ise. But what w as Alra- 
 ha/usSon to God's eternal Son, the fecond Porfon of 
 the Glorious Trinity.! a Son that was his Equal! a 
 Son in whom his Soul delighted ! a Son that never dif- 
 pleafed him at any Time ! How bitterly did David 
 mourn at parting with a rebellious Son ! C'.Ablalorr, 
 my Son, my Son, would to God I had died for ■ thee, 
 &c. But what are all the Sons of Men, or Ten 
 thoufand Worlds full of Men, or as many Heavens 
 full of Angels, to the beloved Son of God, whom all 
 the Angels worfhip and adore ! And yet tins is the 
 Gift that God gives us. In giving this Gift, Divine 
 Bounty hath ftretched itfclf to the uttermofl : He 
 
 coul d 
 
an unffeakable Gift. 8 1 
 
 could have treated a Million of Heavens more bright, 
 and Millions of Angels more glorious for us; but a 
 more Gloiious Son he had not, nor could have; a 
 greater Girt he had net in all his Treafures, than his 
 own Co-eternal and Con-fubltantialSon,yet he makes 
 a free Gift of him to us ! O who would not give 
 Thanks unto God for this his uifpeakable Gift ! And 
 who would not part with all the World to have an 
 Jntcrell in this Gift iealed tohim at the Lord'sTable? 
 This is the Gift that lweetens all other Gifts, and 
 without which nothing in a World hath any Sweet- 
 ness in it. 
 
 This Gift of God is moft free ; it was impoflible 
 that the World could have Chriit any other Way 
 than as a free Gift. A Man like old "Jacob may be 
 bereaved of his Children, but it was not poilible that 
 God could be bereaved of his dear Son. Neither 
 could we have him by Piuchale ; wc were lb poor, 
 we had not wherewith to purchafe the leaft BlelUng. 
 And what tho' all the Riches of the World had been 
 ours, tho' all its Mountains had been Gold, Pearls or 
 Diamonds, they would not have been fufficient to 
 purchafe one Sight of this Gift, far lefs a Right to it. 
 Nor could ever any Motive be found out for bellow- 
 ing this Gift, but the mere free Love of God, John 
 iii. 1 6. Cod Jo loved the World y that he gave his only 
 begotten Sw : As if he had laid, iince the World hath 
 no Merit, nor Price, Worth nor Motive, to ootain 
 this Blelling, I juft make a free Gift of hiin to the 
 World : Take him freely, poor Beggars of iaw's 
 Family ; take him, and he will enrich you all ! And O 
 how leafonably and unexpectedly was thisGift given? 
 Adam, when he came trembling before God after his 
 Fall, looking for his final Doom, dFd little expect 
 iuch a Gift, until God himielf, to the Aftonifhment 
 of Angels and Men, promil'ed the Seed of the Wo- 
 man. Who could have thought that the Great God 
 would have gifted his clear Son to fueb vile Wretches, 
 
 Signers 
 
8z fvho are tpankful for this Gijt. 
 
 Sinners that were not ieeking him ! Nay, who 
 Mankind could have dciired inch a Girt ? Indeed, 
 when we had been perilhing, we might have looked 
 up, and cried, O God have Mercy upon us: But 
 who would have laid, O give the Son of thy Love to 
 bear the Wrath due to us ! We neither delerved, nor 
 defired this Gift, but God gave it molt freely and fur- 
 prifingly ! When Adam broke God's Covenant, he 
 was puriued with a Cry, Adam, when art- thou /' 
 Doubtlefs, Adam expected a terrible Blow from the 
 Sword of Jjfli :e ; but, behoMj he is perilled with 
 a Cry, and the unfpealcable Gift in the Crier's H,. 
 
 how furpriftng was this to poor, tV^mblinj . 
 Adam! WhatCaufe liad he to cry, 2 
 
 Cod for his wijpiakle Gift! What jhaii I rih 
 Lord for filth a Gift P And the lame Cauie h 
 
 O wonderful Lo/e! fehis free Gift is oiFered fiv. 
 to the poorett Creature of Adam's Family; ib that 
 (uch an One as I, am warranted to accept and em- 
 brace it, and make lure my lntereil in it ; Lc 
 believe, heip thou my Unbaif. Many covet other 
 Gifts, but I covet this belt Gift, this enriching Gift; 
 this is a lawful Covetou!i:efs : I receive this Gift of 
 God into my Bofom, into my very Heart. O that 
 
 1 had the Marks of thefe who polfefs this Gift, and 
 are truly thankful for it ! Can I fay, that this Gift 
 is truly precious in my Eyes, and that I eileem it far 
 above all temporal Gifts whatfomever: That I am 
 oft thinking upon his matchlels Excellency, his low 
 Step and condefcending Love ; and do I frequently 
 break out with the Pfalmift, Whom have I in hen* 
 ven hut thee P and there is no fie upon Earth I deft re be- 
 
 fides thee Have I low Thoughts of myfclf, as 
 
 unworthy that Chrift mould come under rny Roof, 
 reckoning myielF, with Paul, the leaf of 'Saints, 
 chief of Sinners f Do I renounce al! ChriiVs Rivals 
 and Competitors, fuchns my beloved Lu'fts, and be- 
 loved Righteoufncfs ? Do I count all my Doings and 
 
 Duties 
 
Who arc thankful for this Gift. 83 
 
 Duties but Lofs and Dung for the Rightcoufnefs of 
 Chiiii ? Do 1 take the Crown off e\eryHead, and 
 put it upon Chriit's Head, and give him all the Glo- 
 ry of ray Salvation, and fay, that in the Lord jefus 
 only I h4v? fijghteoufticfs avdfitrengfb* Am I care- 
 ful to avoid every Thing that would . lihonour Chriil? 
 and do I lay to every temptation that oifers, Hew 
 I do th'n fV'n . -id (in dgabfp Cod, or 
 
 brtog a Retroach {)•.■ i iit : nd his W ays ? "Do I 
 rejoice when Chrilt is honouied* his Throne railed, 
 lis Glory advanced, ami hi^Subjecls increalcd; and 
 when Strangers and young Ones are drawn to love 
 add admire him? Am I often faying, What Jhall I 
 fender to the Lord for his unfpcakab.e Gift? I am at a 
 Lofs how to cxprefs my Thankfulneis : I have no- 
 thing to give him ; but I'll render ail I have to him, 
 my Soul, my Body, my Love, my Prailes, my Time, 
 my Talei.b, my Walk and Com erfation. Lord, ac- 
 cept of my two poor Mites, Sou/ and Body, in To- 
 ken of my Gratitude for God's redeeming Love and 
 free Gift i and make me fit for giving -thee Thanks 
 eternally for this unfpcakable Gift:* O that I could 
 apply thefe blefled Marks to myfelf. 
 
 And O what Thanks do I owe to my dear Savi- 
 our, that fubmitted willingly to be Heaven's Gift 
 to the Children of Men ; yea, frankly offered, and 
 gave himielf to be a Sacrifice for tUm, to drink of 
 the Brook in the Way, even the Cup of God's 
 Wrath, that we might drink the Cup of God's Blef- 
 fin-g ! O how low was our Fall, that nothing could 
 raile us up again but the low Abafement of the Son 
 of God! And O how low was the Step that he be- 
 hoved to make to recover us ! The Son of God mufl 
 be tread upon as a Worm ! The Almighty Phyfician 
 mult come from Heaven, and let his Heart be pier- 
 ced, to prepare a Medicine to cure our Dileale ! He 
 that i he ug hi 'it no Robbery to be. cguai with Gcd, mufl 
 be made equal to Robbers and Murderers ! He mult 
 
 not 
 
84 The manifold Suffering 
 
 not only fuffer Death, but Defertion alfb, from God, 
 from Man, and the whole Creation ! He gave bim- 
 felf not only to fuffer the Pangs of Death, but the 
 Pains of Hell; not only the Sorrows of dying Men, 
 but the Sorrows of damned Souls! O unfpeakable 
 Gift ! 
 
 MEDITATION XX. 
 
 From Luke ix. 22. 
 
 The Son of Man tnufl fuffer many Things. 
 ,UR Lord oft fpoke of his Sufferings to his Dif- 
 
 o 
 
 ciples, bccautehe would have them deeply im- 
 printed upon the Hearts of all his People, that they 
 might always think upon them, and carry about with 
 them the dying of the Lord Jelus. As Chrirt fore- 
 told his Sufferings before-hand, io they came e.xaclly 
 to pais. He laid he mull fuffer Many Things for his 
 People, and accordingly he did fo : Let me view his 
 Sufferings before I go to commemorate them at his 
 Tabic. 
 
 I. 1 muft confidei him that fuffercd many Things 
 for us ; the Spirit of God requires us to confider the 
 High Priefty who he is, Hcb. iii. 1. Tho' he calls 
 himfelf in the Text the Son of Man, as to his hu- 
 man Nature; yet he is aifo the Son of Cod as to his 
 divine Nature ; yea, God equal with the Father, the 
 great God our Saviour: This God-man, the WON- 
 DERFUL, is our High Prieft, that luffered many 
 Things for us. He is our glorious Immanucl, the 
 innocent and immaculate Lamb of God, that had not 
 
 the leaft Spot or Crime of his own to fufler for 
 
 He is the Brightnefs of his Father's Glory, the ex- 
 prefs Image of his Perfon ; he is the King of Kings 
 and Lord of Lords. He that fuffercd is he that 
 went always about doing goodtoPerfons of all Sorts, 
 
 and 
 
of Jefus C/:njh 8y 
 
 and defcrved well of thofe who perfecuted and cru- 
 cified him. He is the great Lover of Mankind, and 
 Friend of Sinners, our glorious Benefactor, who re- 
 membered us in our low Eftate ; one that comes un- 
 der the mod endearing Characters to us, as that of 
 our Father, our Hufband, our Brother, Mailer, Phy- 
 tic ian, Ranibmer, ixc. Now, will not a Son be fen- 
 iible of the Sufferings of his Father, or a Wife of the 
 Sufferings of her Hufband \ Or one Brother be touch- 
 ed v% ith the Sufferings of another ? This is the great 
 Hi^h Pricft that fuffered many Things for us. 
 
 2. I am to confider the many Things he differed* 
 Ah, they are fo great, lb various, and manifold, I 
 can't recount nor comprehend them ! I may fay, he 
 fuffered in both Natures : Tho' hfs Godhead could not 
 properly luffer Grief or Pain, yet it fuffered an E- 
 clipfe for 33 Years, except a fhort Time it ihone forth 
 
 on Mount Tabor. He fuffered many Things in his 
 
 human Nature, both in Soul and Body ; hewasper- 
 fjcuted, tempted, calumniated, betrayed, bound, 
 mocked, fpit on, buffeted, fcouiged, wounded, 
 
 c-rown'd with Thorns, and crucified He fuffered 
 
 in all his Office^ ; he was mocked as a Prophet, and hid 
 prophefy who fmote him ? as a Prieft, he was bid fave 
 himfelf, feeing he pretended to fave others ; as a 
 King f he was mocked with an old purple Robe and 
 thorny Crown. He fuffered in his Honour and Re- 
 putation, being difgraced and reproached by Men , 
 called a Samaritan, one polfeffed of the Devil, a BlaL 
 phemer, a Glutton, a Drunkard, a Seducer, &'c. He 
 was even overwhelmed with Calumny. He fuffer- 
 ed as a Blafphemer againft God, as a Traitor to Car-. 
 Car, and an Enemy to Mofes Law, tho' he was 
 
 entirely free of them all. He was wounded and 
 
 pierced in all Parts of his Body, in his Head, Hands 
 and Feet ; in his Cheeks, Back and Side He fuf- 
 fered in his outward Goods, being fpoiled of all 
 Things, and even ftript of bis Clothes to his vcrv 
 H Skir, 
 
36 The manifold Sufferings 
 
 Skin, and nailed to the Crofs naked He differed 
 
 in all his five Senies; his Sight , with the fpiteful Car- 
 riage of thofe that pafled by, wagging their Heads ; 
 his Hearing, with their blafphemous Talk ; his Smelly 
 with the noifoirie Savour of the Sculls of the Dead ; his 
 Ta'Je, with Vinegar and Gail ; his Feeling, with Thorns 
 and Nails piercing his Head, Hands and Feet- He 
 (uffered in the molt tender and fmewy Parts of his Bo- 
 dy by the tormenting Nails, especially being violently 
 ilretched out, and probably disjointed, to make them 
 reach to the Holes; therefore he faith, Pfal. xxii. 
 1 6, II. They have diggd my Hands and my Feet, I 
 iuay tell all my Bones, they look a uR flare upon ?ue. — 
 He furTered moll of all in his Soul, and its noble Fa- 
 culties : How great was the Agony and Travel of his 
 Soul, when he fwate Blood in the Garden thro' all 
 the Pores of his Body ! O how great was the An- 
 guifh of his Mind upon his Heavenly Father's defcrt- 
 ing him, which made him fend forth a dreadful Cry 
 to Heaven for Relief, I\Jy Cod, my Cod, why hajl thou 
 forfaken me P Then it was he cried and groaned un- 
 xier his PrelTure, but no Relief appeared ; there was 
 none to anlwer, every Door was fnut againft him : 
 For at this Time his own Son, his own Heaven, his 
 own Father, his own Godhead, did all hide their Fa- 
 ces and Conlblations from him! O the many Things 
 he fufTered for us, they cannot be numbered ! 
 
 q. I am to confider from whom the Son of Man 
 ■fufFercd. He fufTered from all Hands, from Earth, 
 from Hell, from Heaven; from Men, from Devils, 
 from infinite Juftice. He furTered from all Sorts of 
 Men, from King Herod and his Men of War, who 
 mocked him and fet him at nought ; from the Jewi/k 
 A^riejh and Rulers, who cruelly ufed and profecutc 
 him to Death ; from Governor Pilate , who feourged . 
 and condemned him to be crucified : He furTered 
 ; from the Jews and from the Romans, from the Clergy • 
 and from X^t Lawyers, from Soldiers and Servants, 
 
 from 
 
of J e fits drift . 2/ 
 
 from great Ones and Commons, and even from thefe 
 
 he had done much Good unto. He furfered from 
 
 thele whom he came to favC and wafli by his Blood ; 
 for there were :ooo of thefe who crucified him, or 
 w ei e active in his Sufferings, that were converted to 
 him by Peter's Sermon, Airs ii. He fuffered not only 
 fro a Enemies, but from profciTed Friends and Dii- 
 cipleb ; one or* thefe betrayed and fold him, anol 
 of them denied and abjured him, and ail the reft fbr- 
 fook him, and left him alone to fuffcr in the midil of 
 
 Devils and Ruffians infulting over him He fuffered 
 
 from the Devils, and all the Pov. ers of Hell ; thefe 
 Dogs and Bulls of Bajhan were all let ltiofe to tear 
 and gore him in his lait Sufferings ; [or this (he faid) 
 was their Hour and Power ofDarknefs. — But, which 
 was worit of all, he furfered alio from Heaven; for 
 he being fubltituted in the Room of Sinners, a juft 
 and holy God acted as an inexorable Judge towards 
 him, he frowned terribly upon him, {'mote him with 
 the Sword of Jufrice, and withdrew all the Feeling 
 of his Lo\ ing-kindneis from him, and ail thefe divine 
 Influences which might any Way refrefh his troubled 
 Soul in the Hour of his greatcft Need : And thus he 
 fell a Sacrifice to incenied Juftice for our heinous Guilt 
 and Provocations. At this Time a fearful black Cloud 
 was fpread over the glorious Sun of Righteoufnefs, ne- 
 ver was there any iuch Ecliple i'cen or heard of as 
 this ! For a Caudle to be put out is no great Matter, 
 but for the .S.v// to be daikned is very uncommon : 
 But tho' Sun, Moon and Stars had ail been blown 
 oat at once, it would be nowiie ib amazing as the 
 darkning of the eternal Sun of Righteoufhels upon 
 the Crois ! A ilrange and marvellous Sight ! What 
 meant the Heat of this great Anger ? Muft even the 
 Creator himself iufFer for the Creature's Sins? Muft he 
 (uifer fuch a Load of Wrath, as make him cry out to. 
 nt of Angels and Men ? 
 
 H 2 4-1 
 
tftf The mam] old Sufferings 
 
 4. I am to confidcr the High Prieft, and for whom 
 it was he fuffered thefe great and many Things. He 
 fuffered not for himfelf, for he never offended either 
 againft God or Man, and deierved no Punilhment • 
 He fuffered none for fallen Angels, they ffiuft all fuf- 
 fcr for thcmfelves : It was only for Men of Adam\ 
 Race, that were Debtors to Juftice and Prifoners 
 of Wrath; he fuffered for Creatures moll undeic-n nig, 
 for Rebels, and for many that were his greateft E- 
 nemies ; and even for thefe who were his Murderers 
 and Executioners, for he both prayed and was heard 
 for them, when they were pouring out his Blood. 
 
 5. Let me confider with what Affection he fuffered 
 all thefe Things for us. It was with ardent Love to 
 perifhing Souls, which many Waters could not 
 
 quench ; with fervent Wifhes and Longings for the 
 
 Hour of his PafTicn, / have a Baptifm to be baptized 
 with, and how am I jlraitned until it be accomplijhed ? 
 
 with great Liberality: It is not the Blood of his 
 
 Finger, or a Part of his Blood, that he would filed 
 for us; no, he would needs pour out all his Blood, 
 and even his Heart-blood too, and with that he pour- 
 ed out his Soul alfo, If a. liii. Why would he be fo li- 
 bsral ? that with him there might be plenteous Redem- 
 ption, Pfal.cxxx. 7. He fuffered with great Meek- 
 
 iiefs, Patience and Refignation ; when he fuffered, he 
 threatned not, but was led as a Sheep to the Slaugh- 
 ter, dumb, not opening his Mouth : With great 
 
 Humility and Self-denial, content to be as a Worm 
 and no Man, to bring Glory to his Father: — -With 
 a thirfty Zeal for the Salvation of Souls, and for com- 
 pleating the Work of our Redemption ; and hence it 
 was, he cried on the Oofs, Ithirjt, and glad when he 
 could fay, // is finijhed. 
 
 O what Caufe have I to obey his dying Cnarge, to 
 go to his Memorial Feaft, and to think upon and 
 wonder at the matchlcfsLove of Chrifl, that made 
 him willing to fuifer fo many Things for fuch wretch- 
 ed 
 
of Jefus Chrijl. 89 
 
 ed Creatures as I am* He knew well enough before- 
 hand what our Salvation would coil him, yet he wil- 
 lingly undertook it, faying upon the very nrft M< 
 of it, Lo J com?. But faith God to him, If you 
 will engage -in this Work, you muft underly my 
 Wrath, and be handled as if you were the Smiiei m 
 Law: Well, faith Chrift, / cwpe to do thy Wh 
 Cod ; I am fatisfied with the Terms : Let the Cup be 
 never- lb bitter, I'll drink it, ere thefe miferable Crea- 
 tures do it. O loving High Prieit, how ihall I think 
 of thy Sufferings without Raptures of Love and Ad- 
 miration ! 1 had been in Hell if ihou had ft not been 
 in an Agony here ; I had forever been {torched there, 
 if thou hadlt not fwate here; yea, net only I, but all 
 the Pofterity of Adam had perilhed if thou hadft not 
 lufTered thefe many Things for them : Surely the Weight 
 of Wrath which made thee heavy, and cauied thee 
 fall to the Ground, fweat, groan and cry, would 
 
 have funk all Mankind into Hell forever. O what 
 
 Ingratitude mult it be to refuie Chriit's Offers and 
 Terms of Salvation, after v. hat he has fufTercd to 
 purchafe it ! Was he at lb much Pains to obtain Re- 
 demption for us, and will we be at no Pains to get an 
 Intel eft in it ? Did he fhed Blood, and will net I drop 
 Tears? Lord pity this Heart of mine. 
 
 MEDITATION XXI, 
 
 From John xviii. 4, 
 
 Jefus knowing all Things that jloulu conic 
 upon him , went forth % 6cc. 
 
 CHRIST foreknew all his Sufferings, with all 
 their Ingredients, before they came upen him; 
 yet he willingly and rerJutely went forth to meet 
 them. He will not flee, nor hide himieif from his 
 H 3 IV-:\- 
 
90 LhnjVs fvilhiigncfs 
 
 Perlecutors, but c"aft himfelf in their Way. He law 
 the Cup of Wrath mixed and ready for him, and now 
 as it were, he reaches forth his Hand to take it. 
 When the People would have forced him to a Crown, 
 he hid him felf from them, John vi. 15. But when 
 they would force him to a Crofs, he offered himfelf 
 to them, knowing that his Hour was come to fulfil 
 his Suretifhip for us, and compleat our Redemption. 
 Upon this Account he made his Sufferings welcome, 
 md the Paflbver that introduced them, Luke xxii. 
 . With Defire have I de fired to eat this Fkijfover. 
 ] . abhorred all Counfels that tended to hinder him, 
 .1 rebuked Pe*er as fmartly for diimading him from 
 ing, as he would have done Satan himfelf, Mat. 
 Kvi, 2% And tho' all his Dikiples would ha\e dii- 
 folded him, John xi. 8. lie marched with great For- 
 wardnefs to Jerujalem, where he foretold the blood) 
 Tragedy was to be acted ; he ha lined to the r ield of 
 Battle, and Place of Suffering : Yea, he went lb rait 
 to it, that his Diftiplcs were amazed at it, ard afraid 
 to follow him, Mat. xx. 18. Mark. x. 32, The} 
 were behind him, and would have fallen behind alto- 
 gether, had it not been for Shame, and let him go 
 alone ; they were amazed to lee a Man hafr.cn lb fall 
 to a bloody Death : But he would not Hop, though 
 they had all left him, as the} did afterwards. And 
 when his Time was come to he apprehended, he will 
 neither let Peter defend him, nor Angels refcue him, 
 tho 1 there were twelve Legions at his Call : One 
 Angel would have been lufficient to do it, or one 
 Word from his own Mouth ; but, faith he, The Cup 
 my Father hath given me to drink) Jhall I not drink 
 
 it P Wherefore, when they acculed him of Blaf- 
 
 phemy againfr God, and of Enmity to Cxfar and Mo- 
 fes\ Law, and Things he was perfectly innocent of, 
 he would make no legal Defence to lave his Life be- 
 fore Pilate, but held his Peace, in fo much that Pilate 
 veiled greatly. He might think it was cafy for 
 aim. to anfwer all they laid, but he. knew not the 
 
 Realba 
 
to fi/fflr for us. 91 
 
 Reafon of our Lord's Silence, viz. that he would do 
 nothing to hinder the ElecYs Redemption, which he 
 had undertaken And, as he was iilcnt before Pi- 
 late, lb was he before divine Juftice, and would do 
 nothing to divert the Stroke : Soon might he have 
 relcued himfelf when Juftice drew the Sword, by fay- 
 ing, Father, thefe Sins are not mine : No, he is iilcnt, 
 and takes with the Charge, as if he had committed 
 them all. On me, faith he, be the Curfe ; I will be 
 the Sacrifice for thefe lolt Sheep. O Love unlpeakable ! 
 
 The Reafons of my Saviour's Willingnefs to fuffer 
 are obvious j he knew it was his Father's Will he 
 ihouk! (uffer, and therefore be faid, Pfc.L xl. 1 delight 
 to do thy Will, ?jiy God. He knew it would greatly 
 difpiay the Glory of the Divine Attributes, that was 
 tallied by our Sins ; it would highly magnify his 
 Love to his Sheep, John >;. I lay down my Life j or ??iy 
 Sheep ; I do it of myfelf, freely, without Compulfi- 
 on: It was necefTary to make his Sacrifice acceptable 
 and wcll-plcafing unto God. The Heathens would 
 not offer a Sacrifice to their gods that came ftruggling 
 to the Altar ; fo every Sacrifice offered to the true 
 God muff, be a Free-will Offering, as we would have 
 it of a fweet fmelling Savour unto him. This Chrifl 
 hath taught us by his Example, and upon this Ac- 
 count God hath twice proclaimed from Heaven, This 
 is my beloved Son, in whom I a?n well pleafed. 
 
 O, was Chrift's Willingnefs to fufTer for Sinners Co 
 well pleating to the Father, and lhali it not render 
 him mod amiable and lovely to us ? Surely the Me- 
 diator's frank and cheerful undertaking to fufTer lb 
 much for us, when unrequired by us, is a Favour in- 
 finitely kind and obliging, and doth command Rap- 
 tures of Love and Praife from us when we celebrate 
 his holy Supper. What a moving Sight is it to the 
 Eye of Faith, to behold our glorious lmmanuel volun- 
 tarily dating himfelf in our Law-room, without the 
 lbliciting of any Creature, and engaging cheerfully to 
 
92 Chrift s fVUUngnefs 
 
 go through Satau's Bufferings, Death's Pangs, and 
 Hell's Flames for us ! WitK what elevated Thoughts 
 and railed Affections, mould we admire, love and 
 praife a crucified Jefus, who did all this willingly and 
 unrequired for us! Oh, he never had lb goodwill 
 to eat when hungry, as he had to luffer and fatisfy 
 Juftice for us ! Hence he faid, My Meat is to do the 
 IVill ofhbn that fent vie, and to finifh his Work, John 
 iv. 34. Here is Food moft delicious for Faith to feed 
 
 upon at the Redeemer's Table Again, from this 
 
 Willingnefs of Chrift to fuffer for us, I have good 
 Ground to conclude his Willingnefs to receive us, 
 when we come to him by Faith to partake of the 
 Fruits of his Sufferings. O how can any Believer, or 
 fenfible Sinner, queftion or doubt of Chrift's Willing- 
 nefs to help and fave them, who was lb willing to. 
 offer him !c If a Sacrifice to Juitice for them r Surely he 
 is far more willing to lave, than any Sinner is to re- 
 pent or -believe. And from this I'll take my Encou- 
 ragement to come to him : Since my loving Jefus 
 came willingly as a Lamb to the Slaughter for Sin- 
 ners, I'll venture, with humble Confidence, to go to 
 this meek, companionate, fweet-naturcd Lamb, for 
 Pity and Help in the Time of my Need, trufling he 
 will not reject me, nor any that comes to him upon 
 his Call in theGolpel. I believe. Lord, help my Unbelief.. 
 O, did Chrift fufler the Pains of Death and Hell lb 
 willingly for us, and fhall not we be willing to fuffer 
 the Reproaches or Revilings of Men, or any other 
 Perfecution for him ? And when any fuch Injuries are 
 done us, fhall we not bear them with Meeknefs and 
 Pnience after Chrift's Example, who Submitted cheer- 
 fully to every Thing he knew to be his Father's 
 Will? Tho' he was perfectly innocent, and met with 
 the greateft Provocations from wicked Men, yet he 
 patiently bore them ; taking all as out of his Father's 
 Hand, who had mingled the Cup for him. There- 
 fore, when he was reviled, he reviled not again ; he 
 
 could 
 
to J ufer for us. 93 
 
 could have told Pilate, Cai.qha;, and his other Per- 
 fecutors, what Sort of Men they were, yet he opened 
 not his Mouth, but went \\ illingly as a Lamb to the 
 Slaughter. O that v. e could imitate the ?r'!eeknels, 
 Patience and Willingnefs of the Lamb of God in all 
 the Sufferings he calls us to. 
 
 O ciid Chrilt delight to do his Father's Will, and 
 go willingly thro' the molt hard and difficult Talk 
 or' iu eating, bleeding ar.d d)ing for us ? and (hall we 
 find lb little Delight in doing his Will, and perform- 
 ing the Duties which lead to Communion and Fel- 
 lowship with him, as Prayer, Praile, reading, hear- 
 ing or communicating ? Did Chrilt come lb cheer- 
 fully to die for us, and (hall we go lb back ward - 
 ly and unwillingly to his Table to enjoy Felloe (hip 
 with him, when he invites us to it ? O what a fhame- 
 ful Requital is this! May not Chi ill: fay, Is this thy 
 Kindnefs to thy Friend? When the Father called me 
 to fuffer, and drink the Cup of Trembling for thee, 
 how readily did I echo back, J come, lo I ccvie, to 
 do thy Will I take Delight! But when I call thee to 
 pray or communicate, how backward and dead- 
 hearted art thou in that Work! I did not weary lb 
 foon in the Garden, as thou doft in the Church I I 
 did not fo foon wear) on the Crofs, as thou doft in 
 thy Ciofet! I was longer in my Agony, wreftling un- 
 der the Wrath of God for thee, than ever thou waft 
 in wreftling in Prayer for thy Soul. 
 
 Did Chrilt offer his Sacrifice fo willingly for v,s, O 
 then let me go to God my Saviour, with the Sacri- 
 fice of myfelf and my Untie:, with a ready and 
 cheerful Heart:- Cod loveth a cheerful Giver. As A- 
 ntaziah offered hivife If willingly unto the Lord, 2Chro/i. 
 xv ii. 16. and David faith, Accept cf the Free-will 
 Offerings of my Mouth, Pfal. cxix. 10S. O that with 
 like Willingnefs I could offer myfelf, my Heart, and 
 my Sacrifices of Prayer and Prailes unto the Lord : And 
 when I feel any Reluclancy and Backwardnefs of Spi- 
 
94 J " e EsXpeaieiicy oj ^nriji s 
 
 rit to Duty, let me ftill call to Mind how willingly 
 Chrift offered himfelf a Sacrifice to God for us, and 
 
 chide my Heart for its Unwillingnefs. Surely 
 
 it is much for the Honour of God, and the Credit of 
 Religion, as it is mod juft and reafonable in itielf, to 
 ierve God with Joyfulnefs, who has willingly given 
 us the unfpeakable Gift of his dear Son to die for us. 
 The wicked and profane are ready to reproach Reli- 
 gion as a four and melancholy Thing, when we 
 lerve God in a dead-hearted Manner ; and God him- 
 felf is highly difplealed with us for it, as -is evident 
 from that long and terrible Chapter, the 28th Deu- 
 teronomy, that is full of Curies and threatned Judg- 
 ments, ver. 47. where the Caufe of all is given, Be- 
 caufe thou fervedft not the Lord thy Cod ivith Joyful- 
 nefs and Gladuefs of Heart. Since the Sacrament is 
 called the Eucharif or Thankfgiving, let me go to 
 it with a joyful and thankful Heart, blefling God for 
 Chrift. Thanks be to Cod for his tmfpeakable 
 Gift. Amen. 
 
 MEDITATION XXII. 
 
 From John xvi. 7. 
 It is expedient for you that 1 go vwiy. 
 
 NO Wonder that Sorrow filled the Difciples 
 Hearts at the Intimation of Chrilt's Departure 
 from them ; They had enjoyed a fweet Time with 
 him at the Communion-table ; his Prefence with them 
 was their Heaven, and they cannot think of parting 
 with him : They are greatly troubled, that he will 
 neither flay ftill with them, nor take them away with 
 him ; neverthe/efs, faith he, it is expedient for you thai 
 I go away. — Lord, faith the Soul, how is it expedient 
 for me to be left behind thee in a State of Corruption, 
 with indwelling Sin that darkens my Mind, deadens 
 
 my 
 
leaving the Difcifles on Earth, 9^ 
 
 my Heart, diforders my Affections, and indifpofes me 
 for Ipiritual Work ? — How fliall I flay behind thee, 
 amidft Satan's Temptations and fiery Darts, flying 
 thick about me ? Mull I abide in the Place where that 
 Enemy hath his Circuit, and flill rangeth about de- 
 vouring many Thoufands ! Could I win away with 
 Chriil, I would be quite out of the Reach of his Shot. 
 Lord, either flay with me, or take me up to thee. 
 — -Oh, mufl I flay behind thee amidft the infectious 
 Defilements and enfnaring Examples of an ungodly 
 World ! When I open my Eyes here, what will 
 meet them but Multitudes wallowing in Pride, Sen- 
 iiiaiity, Covetoufnels, Injuftice, Malice, Envy, Drun- 
 kenneis, Gluttony, Uncleannefs, Contempt of God and 
 Religion ? Mull I fray to fee this horrible Sight, the 
 whole World lying in Wickednefs ! Mufl I flay to 
 hear God daily dishonoured by the Tongues of the 
 Ungodly ? Mufl I flay to fee Chrifl flighted, wounded, 
 and crucified afrefli by wicked Men ? O what Danger 
 will I be in of being infected by their Examples \ But, 
 Lord, if I could win away with thee, I would be 
 quite out of Hazard, and out of Sight of the Wicked- 
 nefs of the World — How fliall I (lay- behind thee in 
 fuch an earthly Tabernacle, to be burdened with bo- 
 dily Diftrefles, Sicknefs, Pains, and manifold Com- 
 plaints; and 'amidft innumerable Lofles, Crofles and 
 Difappointments from the Creature ? How fliall I flay- 
 to fee fuch melancholy Divifions, Contentions, De- 
 bates and Separations, as fall out among the People 
 of God in Chrifl's Abfence ? Mufl I flay behind thee 
 to fufler Injuries, Reproaches, cruel Mockings, bad 
 Ufafce and Perfections, both from the Tongues and 
 Hands of Men ? and fometimes to be torn as with the 
 Teeth of wild Beafls ? Hence this World is called a 
 />// of Lions and Mountain of Leopards, Cant. iv. 8. 
 Oh, could I win away to Heaven with Chrifl, I 
 would fee no Lion nor Leopard there. There is none 
 to hurt or deftroy in all God's holy Mountain abo\c. 
 
 Have 
 
96 The Expediency ofChrijfs 
 
 Have I feen the King in his Beauty, and mult I be 
 left behind him ? Hath the Communion-table l^een 
 like Mount Tabor, where he was transfigured before 
 my Eyes, with his Countenance mining, and his Rai- 
 ment white as Light? And mult I go down from the 
 Mount again to a Land of Darknefs, of Drought, and 
 of perplexing Doubts and Fears, where I mail fome- 
 times go mourning without the Sun ; yea neither Sun 
 nor Stars appearing to me for many Days ? Mud I 
 be put to walk without the Light of- God's Counte- 
 nance, and without the Food of my Soul, Covtmunion 
 ivlih my God P After I have been lifted up, mult I 
 lay my Account with being calt down again, perhaps 
 into Depths like thefe of Afaph, Pial. lxxvii. or like 
 thefe of Hem in, Pfal. Ixxxviii. with Fears of finking 
 in them, and of falling Ihort of Heaven for ever ? 
 Could I win away with Chriit, I would be at once de- 
 livered fro-r? all thefe Fears. Here my Knowledge 
 
 of God is fmall, and oft obfeured with Darknefs ; my 
 Faith is weak, and oft in Hazard of being overwhelm- 
 ed with Unbelief; here my Love is cold, and oft like 
 to be chilled with Froft-winds from Satan and the 
 World ; my Prayers oft are formal and wandring, 
 my Praifes low and flat ; here my belt Wifhes are at- 
 tended with many Shortcomings and Defects : But O 
 if I could win to Heaven with Chriit, where Grace 
 and Holinefs are in Perfection, I would praife him 
 without wandering, and ferve him without Sin for e- 
 vcr ! Here Sin Hill cleaves to my Nature, mixes it- 
 fclf with my Services, and defiles my belt Duties. 
 Here I Itill carry about with me a deceitful and trea- 
 cherous Heart, whereby I ain in Hazard of backflid- 
 iag from God, and miicarrying for ever, fliould I be 
 left to it : But O were I with Chrift, I would he free 
 of ail thefe anxious Thoughts and Fears. Lord, ftay 
 here with me, or take me up to thee. 
 
 But thou fayeft, It is expedient for me to ftay he- 
 hind for a Time. Why, Lord ? Mult I ftay that my 
 
 travelling 
 
leaving the Dlfcifles on Earth, 97 
 
 travelling Graces, my Faith, Hope and Patience, 
 may be tried and exerciled here below, and thereby 
 gradually ftrengthned and ripened for the perfect State J 
 Mult I ltay that I may be conformed to my Head both 
 in ferviog and differing ; and that thy Wifdom, Power 
 and Mercy may be glorified in conducting and prefer- 
 ring me thro' ail the Dirliculties and Dangers of this 
 WiTdernefs \ Thy Will, Lord, be done, only leave me 
 not alone ; but for thy Name's Sake lead 7ne and guide 
 ?n ;,-J3r> is it thy Pleafure to fufpend my Heaven for 
 a white, that I may promote thy Glory on Earth, be 
 ufcful to the Souls of others, and recommend my dear 
 Redeemer to thcic who know him not, which is a 
 Work I cannot do in Heaven ? O fit me for it by thy 
 Grace, and fill me with Zeal for thy Glory. O let 
 thy Kingdom come upon Earth, that the Kingdom of 
 Glory may be haftened. 
 
 Thou fay'ft, it is expedient for thee ix ~o away. 
 Why I Lord ; muft thou thyfelf be thy People's Fore- 
 runner to carry Tidings to Heaven of their compleat 
 Redemption, and of their coming after thee in their 
 feveral Generations ! Muft thou go to open the Paf- 
 facre and pave the Way for Accefs to their Perfbns and 
 Duties, and prepare Rooms and Lodgings for them 
 arainft the Time they come home ? — Muft thou go 
 away to be a publick Agent and Interceflbr for thy 
 People under all their Trials and Toflings here below, 
 and likewite to provide and furnifh a rich and glorious 
 Communion-table for them in thy Father's Houfe a- 
 bove ? Lord, fend thy holy Spirit to fit and prepare 
 me and many others for that bleffed Entertainment. 
 
 Lord, when thou iaidll, It is expedient for you that 
 
 J (to aivay \ thou didft add, for if I go not aivay, the 
 Comforter ivill not come unto you I Why ! it was fo a- 
 preed in the Council of the Trinity, that the fending 
 of the Spirit in his plentiful Eftufion, which was to be 
 the Purchafe of Chrift's Death, fhould be given in an ' 
 Anfwer to his Interceflion, when he entered within 
 I the 
 
93 7 be Expediency ofCkriji'j 
 
 the Vail, John xiv. 16. And the Spirit was to i. 
 ufe of it as an Argument for convincing the World of 
 the Perfection and Acceptablenefs of Chrift's Sacrifice, 
 that Chrifl was now received and welcomed into 
 Heaven. Like wile the Spirit was to be given only 
 upon Chrift's Alcenfion to fupply the Want of his bo- 
 dily Prefence to the Church, as being far better for 
 the n, feeing Chrift's bodily Prefence could be in one 
 •Place only at once, but the Spirit is in every Place to 
 animate and put Life in Ordinances. May the Church 
 have this Fruit of Chrift's Albeniion ftiil more and 
 more. 
 
 Lord, tho' thou Haft gone a Vv ay for neceflary 
 Ends, yctthy Marriage-contract with thy People and 
 the Love-tokens thou-giveft them in the Sacrament, 
 are a lure Pledge of thy returning to pay them a com- 
 fortable Vifit at laft, according to that fwcet Word, 
 John xiv. 3- tf I g° (VJ d prepare a Place for yo*, 1 
 will come again y and receive you to ?uy/e/f, fh.it wfore 
 J Wit) there j ou may be aljo. O that I may be one of 
 ■thefe to whom Chrift's Vifit at his fecond Coming 
 will be joyful and comfortable. Let me examine iny- 
 feif after the Sacrament, if 1 have the Marks of fut'h. 
 
 Am I efpouled to Chrift ? Have I a high Efteem of 
 
 the Bridegroom ? Have I fubferibed the Marriage-con- 
 tract and gone into Chrift's Terms r Do I heartily ap- 
 prove the whole Contrivance of Redemption, thro' 
 the Surctimip and Righteoufnefs of Chrift ? Have I re- 
 nounce, l mv own Righteoufnefs, my beloved Sins, and 
 
 all Chrift V Enemies \ Do I mourn for the Injuries 
 
 done. to Chrift by myfelf and others, and rejoice when 
 his Intcreit and Kingdom profper in the World \ Do 
 I mourn for Chrift's Departure and the withdrawing 
 of his Spirit from Ordinances, or from my own Soul ? 
 Do I thirit for more Holincfs in Heart and Life, and 
 for greater Conformity and Likenefs to the glorious 
 Bridegroom ? Then I may expect his ViGt and Return 
 will be comfortable to me, and I may rejoice in the 
 
 View 
 
leaving the Difcif/es on Earth. . 99 
 
 View and Expectation of it, and anfwer thrift when 
 lie faith .Rev. xxii. 20. Surely I come quickly ; Ainev y 
 
 even fo come Lord Jefus. Is my forerunner noy/ 
 
 gone away ? Let me follow him as eloiely and ineedi- 
 ly as I can; let me follow hun in the Way of faith, 
 in the Way of Obedience, in the Way of inhering, in 
 the Way of Patience, Prayer, Refignation, Denied- 
 nels to the World, Heavenly-mindednefs, &c. 
 
 M EDITATION XXIII. 
 
 From Hof, ii. 19, 
 / will betroth thee unto me for ever, ■ 
 
 ABiga'il thought herfelf highly honoured, by Da* 
 *^-* vid's propoiing to match with her : But much 
 more honoured are we, apoftate Sinners of Adam's r'a- 
 milv, by the eternal Son of God his propoiing to 
 match with us, -and courting us fo earnefUy ; when 
 he neglected Angels that feemed to be a fitter Match 
 for him in refpect of the lupcrior Dignity of their Na- 
 ture. Yet all thefe he would pais by, and match with 
 Worms ! — O how amazing is this Step ! that the 
 enly Bridegroom, whole Kingdom is mighty, his 
 Riches infinite, and his Beauty iurpaffing ; that he 
 Should chuie a Bride naturally polluted, deformed, un- 
 comely and black as Hell i and that he iliould leek her 
 thro' a Sea of Blood, thro' the Pains of Death, the 
 Horrors of the Grave, and Torments of Hell ! And 
 after many Slights and Refufak, that he mould follow 
 her in her Wandrings thro' the Wilderr.e.'s of Sin, 
 with his charm'ng Invitations, and alluiing OMeis in 
 the Gofpcl, p denting h< : with the Rings and Brace- 
 lets of his precii Confolaticns ; 
 
 and all to win - Heart and gain her Conicnt to 
 hijnj — How aflonilhing is it to lee this glorious Perfon 
 I 2 coming 
 
loo The Match betwixt lovely J ejus 
 
 coming over all Objeflions froi^ the Blacknefs, Guilt, 
 Poverty, and Unworthinefs of the Bride, laying, tho' 
 me be black, I'll make her comely thro' my Comeli- 
 nefs put upon her ! Tho' ihe be mean, I'll make her 
 noble! Tho' a Slave, I'll make her free ! Tho' a 
 Fool, I'll make her wife ! Thc5' Bankrupt, I'll pay 
 all her Debt I Come here Law, Juftice, and all her 
 Creditors, here full Satisfaction of all that is due to 
 you, take it and write her Difcharge ! Now, who can 
 lay any Thing to the Charge of Cod's EleCl, Chriil's 
 Bride ? — Behold God difplaying his free Love here to 
 the utmoft ! He never dilplayed his other Attributes 
 to the utmoft, infinite Wifdom could have contrived • 
 ten Thoufand Worlds more beautiful than this, and 
 infinite Power could have produced them. But here 
 infinite Love and Mercy hath gone to the utmoit; a 
 greater Demonstration of his Love Chri'l could not 
 give, than by leaving Heaven, alfuming a Body, and 
 giving his Life for the Bride, nay wading thro' Hell 
 for her, and in Face oL' all Diicouragements courting 
 and betrothing her to himielf for ever ! 
 
 Alter many Meeting, Treaties, and broken Try lis 
 with fome, the Bridegroom is come again to court a 
 Bride, and has fent his Friends in his Name to de- 
 mand her Confent, faying as they did to Rebekah y 
 Gen. xxiv. 58. Wilt thou go with this Man P Poor 
 Woman, Lad, Lafs, wilt thou yield to this glorious 
 hnmanuei ; many former Treaties have been broke 
 off by the Devil, the World, Unbelief, and an ill 
 Heart! Oh, will not the long fpoken of Match hold 
 at length ! Minifters, the Bridegroom's Friends, arc 
 doing their bed to draw on another Meeting between 
 Parties. Chrift, I fee, is content to hold another, 
 and it may be the Iaft Tryft he will let with many. 
 To (hew his Earneftnels, he hath conveened his 
 Friends, Angels, Saints, and Ambafladors to witntfs 
 the Sincerity of Parties ; he hath tit on his Scarlet 
 Robes, his Garments dipt in Blood, to win Sinners 
 
 Hearts j 
 
and iothfome Sinners. ioi 
 
 Hdrts; he hath brought the Marriage Contrael: 
 and fpread it before them, laying, " What think 
 " ye of its Articles and Terms? Are }e pleafed 
 " with them? Are ye content to break, with Si» 
 " and all my Enemies . ? to renounce the World, 
 u Self-righteouiheis, ' and all other Loveis ? to 
 " fall iii with the Self denying Way of Salva- 
 € * tion thro' a borrowed Righteoulheis ? to accept 
 (i of me in all my Offices ? to live .wholly upon your 
 " Husband, borrow ail from him, and be an eternal 
 " Debtor to him ? to make a Surrender of your Soul 
 "■ and Body to him, and leal a Covenant with him 
 '* at his Table ? Are you reiolved to be faithful to 
 " your Husband, cleave to him all the Days of your 
 <( Life, and be oft looking out for his lecond Com- 
 <( ing ? And in the mean Time to be oft commemo- 
 <( rating his Sufferings, Conflids, Conquefts and At- 
 "■ chievments, and for that End to be frequently 
 " lodking on his Picture in the Sacrament with a be-- 
 *.< lieving, penitent and thankful Heart I Now, what. 
 " is your Anfwer ? Lay your Hand to your Heart." 
 Lord, unworthy as I am, I defire to go forward 
 thro' all Difficulties, Impediments and Difcourage- 
 meuts, and fay with Rcbekah, when called to an- 
 tu er, / will go with the- Man : And with EJlhcr, I 
 will go in to the King : Tho' I be not worthy of him, 
 yet he is worthy to be obeyed that calls me : Tho' 
 he hath no Need of me, yet I have great Need of 
 him : Tho my Diilance be great, he allows me to 
 creep nearer to him : Tho' I cannot move of mylelf r 
 yet he is able to draw me, be my Clogs never i'o 
 great-- Tho'- my Motion be imall, yet I will not 
 turn back, but keep my Face toward him, and fix: 
 my Eye on him. As a Look hath brought Healing, 
 fo a Look hath brought Strength ; yea, though he 
 Ihould ftem to frown on me, and chide me away 
 from him ; yet, l'ke Jonah, I will look again towards 
 his ho!)' Te?.>2N: ; Tho' I have no \Vorthinels in my- 
 
 i 3 mt\ 
 
102 Tae Match betwixt lovely J ejus 
 
 J elf, yet he hath Worthinels enough for* me : Tho* 
 I be a black and uncomely Bride, my glorious Hus- 
 band caii beautify me with his perfect Comelinefs put 
 upon me. Therefore I do, with all my Heart, ac- 
 cept of him as my Lord and Husband : Lord 1 make 
 choice of thee, and all that is thine ; for richer, for 
 poorer; for better, for worie ; for well, for wo 5 
 for Prolperity, for Adverfity : I make choice of thee 
 for all Times and Conditions, to love, honour and o- 
 bev thee above all. I renounce all other btords 
 md Lovers, and will have none but Chrift r I rc- 
 noe my own Will, and take thy Will for c?y Law. 
 eteem thy Precepts concerning all Things to be 
 right, and will hate every falfe Way : I lubmit to all 
 thy Providences and Dealings with me, and am con- 
 tent to take up thy Crofs and follow thee, whither- 
 foever thou gotft': I take thy Spirit for my Guide, 
 thy Word for my Rule, thy Glory for my Scope, 
 thy Teltimonies for my Councilors, thy Promi'e^ for 
 my Encouragement, thy Sabbaths for my Delight, 
 thy People for my Companions : Lord jeiits, I take 
 these for my Life, Hoiineis for my Way, and Heaven 
 
 for my Home. And as I accept of thee, and all 
 
 thit is thine ; lb I give up mylelf to thee, and all 
 that is mine, Soul and Body, with all my Faculties 
 ami Aifcfiions, Senles and Members, to be thy Agents 
 and Inftruments ;*with all my Enjoyments to be em- 
 ployed for thy Ufe and Service. 
 
 / will- go with the Man> tho' I fee him all over 
 wounded, mangled and bleeding, and his'Viiage mar- 
 red with the Wounds," Stripes and Blofcys which he 
 got from Men and Devils. Nay, I • fee him even in 
 this mangted Condition, to be fairer than all the Sons 
 ot Men, and all the Sons of God too ; for I fee him 
 nvemded for my TranCgrcflions, and bruifed for my hit- 
 q 'n 'ties, that by his Stripes 1 might be healed : I lee him 
 a Match every Way fuit.ible for me, that can fupply 
 all my Needs : I am a poor dying Worm, but he is 
 
 ■ a 
 
ana tuf/yvrntr aji/j/wij. i ug 
 
 a li\ ing Heacr" that can make me li\ e for ever : 1 am 
 a needy Creature all made up of \\ ants, but in him 
 doth all Manner of Fulneis dwell : 1 want Grace, 
 but he hath all Fulnefs of Grace fuitable for me : 
 I want Grace to believe, but he is the Author of 
 Faith : I want Grace to repent, but he is a Prince and 
 Saviour exalted to give Repentance: I want Grace to 
 pray, to hear, to communicate, to moitify Sin, bear 
 the Oofs,- refift Temptation, &c. but my Husband 
 ha*tb all Grace to bellow. O let me be ilrong in the 
 Grace that is in Chrilt Jefus. 
 
 C) tint I had the true Marks of tbefe who are di- 
 vorced' fom the Law, and married to Chrift as their 
 HusbanH ; that I could fay, I look upon all my Do- 
 ings in point of Acceptance with God as old Rags; 
 I 11 .e wholly and freely upon my Husband, and take 
 ail I want from him tor nothing,/ I clothe mylelf 
 with his Righteoufnefs, and eilay the Performance of 
 every Duty in his Strength ; I defire to live entirely 
 upon his Coil. — I have a Heart-love to my Husband, 
 and every Thing that belongs to him, and a Heart- 
 hatred to Sin, and Averiion to every Thing that is 
 'injurious to him : I am defirous to pleale him in all 
 Things ; and out of Regard to his dying Command, 
 1 go to his Table to remember his dying Love, and 
 i enew my Marriage Vows : I delight in my Husband's 
 Company, and prefs for Communion with him in all 
 Ordinances. His Honour is always dear to me, and 
 I am eai'y about my own Honour and Interefl in re- 
 lpect of his ; Let i?ie decreafe y but let him increafe. 
 And in regard the Devil reigns here, Sin abounds, Er- 
 ror and Corruption prevail ; I am well plealed with 
 the Thoughts of Chrift 's fecond Coming to pull down 
 Satan's Kingdom, and to confummate the Marriage 
 with me, and all that are efpoufed to him, and lay, 
 Why tarry the Wheels of his Chariot P Make hajls my 
 Beloved, even fo come Lord Jefus. O that all the 
 World would love him, exalt him, and fubmit to him. 
 Many hi different Places admire him, and fee match- 
 
 lef s 
 
1 04 Umjt jtn cken for our Si /is . 
 
 lefs Charms in him, his Name to them is as Ointment 
 poured forth, his Garments fmell of Aloes, Myrrh 
 and CalTia, they have beheld his ihitely Goings in the 
 Sandtuary : O that all the World might lb admire 
 him, and fubmit to him alio. 
 
 MEDITATION XXIV, 
 
 From I fa. liiL 8. 
 
 For the Tranfgrejfion of my People ivas 
 
 he ftricken, 
 
 OUR Sins and Tranfgreflions are great and vari- 
 ous, and therefore our Surety's Sufferings for 
 them were heavy and manifold ; be endured many 
 Wounds, Bruiles, Chaftifements and Stripes, which 
 mould ftill endear him the more unto us ; for he was 
 wounded for our Trent /grej/ions, he was brut fed for our 
 Iniquities ; the Chaftifement of our Peace wen upon him, 
 and with his Stripes we are healed, ver. c. O who 
 can think on that Verfe without Sorrow, or fpeak 
 of it without Tears ! He was wounded and bruifed to 
 Death, to fave us from deadly Wounds and Bruifes : 
 And when dying, he left us his Portraiture, with 
 the Marks of his Wounds, that we might look upon 
 it at his Table, and mourn for our Sins which gave 
 him thefe Wounds. Oh, can I lee my dear Saviour 
 all wounded and mangled by my Sins, and not be 
 deeply affected for the Tranfgreflions for which my 
 dear Jefus was ftricken ! Stricken he was many Ways, 
 by many Hands, by many Rods, by many Stripes : 
 He was ftricken by the Hand of God, by the Hand 
 of Men, by the Hand of Devils: Stricken by the Rod 
 oFMofes, the Rod of Juftice, the Rod of the Jews, 
 &c. O how early was he ftricken by the ill Uiage 
 he met with from Men, being tbruft out, to be born 
 
 ill 
 
Ckrifl ftricke?i many Ways. lo5 
 
 in a foul Stable and laid in a Manger; and foon after 
 was he ftricken by the Rod of Perfecution and Banifh- 
 ment, being made to flee his native Country for Safe- 
 ty from Herod. All this he fuifered for us, bccaufe 
 we deferred to be deprived of all earthly Accommo- 
 dations and Comforts, and to be banimed from God 
 and Heaven for ever. 
 
 He wits Jl He ken by the Rod of Poverty, and pinch- 
 ing Straits. Tho' he was the King of the Univerfe, 
 and ppflefled all the Riches in it, yet for cur Sakes he 
 became poor, that we through his Poverty might become 
 rich, i Cor. viii. 5. He was not born of a rich Em- 
 prefs, but of a poor Virgin ; not in his own Houfe, 
 but in another Man's : Hs had no Houfe nor Fox>t 
 of Ground of his own to live or lodge in : Tho' the 
 Foxes had Holes, and the Birds /vr//, yet he that 
 created them, had not where to lay his Head. His 
 Diet was oft a-feeking, and commonly very mean, 
 Barley-bread and fmall Fifties. He had no Money 
 to pay his Tax, but muft borrow it from a Fifh of 
 the Sea. He travelled frill on Foot, except once he 
 rode to Jcrufaiem to fulfil a Prophecy ; and then he 
 had neither riorfe nor Afs of his own, but mud bor- 
 row another Man's Afs. He had no fine Mount- 
 ing, but the Clothes of them that followed him : He 
 had no Burial Place of his own, but was laid in an- 
 other Man's ; and all this he Submitted to for our 
 
 Sakes. He was alio jlricken by the Rod of fore 
 
 Labour and Toil, by working at a mechanick Trade, 
 until he was thirty Years of Age ; therefore they laid 
 Mark vi. 9'. Is not this the Carpenter ? Man having 
 eaten the forbidden Fruit, was doom'd to fore Labour, 
 that he fhould eat his Bread with the Sweat of his 
 Brow, Gen. iii. 19. and to this Doom our Surety lub- 
 initted for us. Man broke God's Covenant by eating 
 of the Tree, therefore his Surety muft die on a Tree. 
 Man idolized a Tree, and preferred its Fruit to God's 
 Favour: therefore his Surety muft labour in cutting 
 
 and 
 
ioo t^nriji jtncKen many w ays 
 
 and hewing Trees mod of his Time Man lived a 
 
 Life of finning, and therefore Chrift mull live a Life 
 of Labour and Sorrow ; he even became a Man of 
 Sorrows, Jfa. liii. 3. that we might obtain everlalting 
 Joy and Coniblation. 
 
 He was Jiricken by Mens reproachful Tongues, 
 Scoffs and Mockeries, being called a Glutto/:, li'iiw- 
 biber, Deceiver, Samaritan, Biajpnemer, a Devil ; 
 and one in compact with Beelzebub, ike prince of Di~ 
 vi/s. They derided him in all his Offices ; as a Pro- 
 phet, by bidding him prophei'y who linote him ; as a 
 Prieji, bidding him lave himfelf, fmce he pretended 
 to lave others ; as a King, by putting on him a Pur- 
 ple Robe, a Crown of Thorns, and giving h; 
 mock Sceptre. Yea, he endured the molt cruel 
 Mockings, and that in the midlt of his lharr.cli. Suffer- 
 ings and Soul Agonies, when he cried out en t;.u 
 bloody Crols, Eli, Eli, &c% O, fay they, this Mai: 
 calls for EJias, playing on the Word Eli. It was not 
 out of Ignorance or Miilake they laid fo, but out of 
 Malice and Derifion ; for they underllood the Hek'tew 
 Language well enough, and knew he called on God. 
 and that Eli fignified, My Cod, But, in their Spite, 
 they would reprelent him as an Idolater ; and, when 
 dying, that he prayed not to God, but to Saints for 
 
 Help. He was Jiricken by the moll open Affronts 
 
 and Indignities from Men, by fpitting in his Face, 
 condemning him to die for Blafphemy againil God, 
 and Treafon againfl Cafar : By preferring Bar^bbas, 
 a Murderer, before him, and polling him between 
 two Tnieves. Thus the King of Glory was defpiled 
 and rejected of Men for us, I/a, liii. 3. 
 
 He was Jiricken by the Scourges of plaited Cords 
 on his Back, and with the Thorns they drove into his 
 Head : That thorny Crown was dchgned for Tor- 
 ture, as well as Derifion; for, if it had been only to 
 mock him, a Crown of Straw would have ferved the 
 Purpofe as well as one of Thorns — He was Jiricken 
 
 by 
 
for our manifold Sins, 1 07 
 
 by the Pincers that pluckt the Hair off his Cheeks ; 
 and by the heavy Crofs-tree laid on his bleeding 
 Shoulders, which he mull carry to Calvary. — He was 
 firicken with four big Iron Nails thro' his Hands and 
 'at ; on which his whole Weight mull hang — He 
 was firicken with a burning Heat and Thirft, which 
 the Wrath of God, for our Sins, created in him, and 
 dried him up like a Potfheard: This made him cry 
 out, I thirft; yet no Wine, no fountain, no Crea- 
 ture that he made muft relieve him at this Time — He 
 was (tricked by a Spear thurft into his Side to let out 
 his Heart-blood, to be lure that no Life remained. 
 Well, (laid our dying Lamb) let my dearefl Biood, 
 my Heart- blood, go for theie loll Sinners, that their 
 Souls may live and fing for ever. 
 
 He was firicken by the ungrateful Behaviour of his 
 own Difciples to him : By Judas his betraying and 
 Jelling him for a fmall Sum, the Price of a Slave : By 
 Peter's denying him, and i\\ earing he knew him not, at 
 the Temptation of a poorDamfcl : By all of them fbr- 
 f iking him, and leaving him in the Mid ft o^his Ene- 
 mies. — Behdes all this, he was firicken in his Soul, by 
 the terrible glittering Sword of Juftice, by th" Curies 
 of the Law, by Defertion from God, by the Vials of 
 his Wrath poured out on him, which made fearful 
 Bruifes, deep Wounds, and wide Games in his Soul. 
 — Oh, our dear Surety was firicken till he fell co the 
 Ground; was overwhelmed with Wrath, and covered 
 with Blood. With theie Strokes our mighty Redeem- 
 er was thrown down, and broken with Breach upon 
 Breach, till all the Sea-billows of Divine Vengeance 
 went over him. Oh, never was there any Sorrow 
 like my dear Saviour's Sorrow, which he fuffered 
 when ftricken for my Sins ! 
 
 Lord, I am afliamcd of the Hardncfs and Uncon- 
 cernednefs of my Heart at this moving Spectacle ! Oh, 
 did the dead Earth tremble, the hard Rocks rend, the 
 Graves open, the Heavens -turn black at the Sight of 
 
 a 
 
Io8 Ckrijt ftricken many Ways. 
 
 a dying Jefus, ftricken by the Sword of Juftice ? And 
 (hall not my rocky Heart tremble and quake, rend 
 and melt for my Sins, that were the Caufe of it ? 
 Shall the Hiftory oijofeph in the Pit move me more 
 than that of Chrift upon the CroC I Shall the News 
 of the tragical Death of a Friend, or the Sufferings of 
 an Acquaintance among the Turks, move me more 
 than the Death and Sufferings of the innocent Son of 
 God on my Account ? Alas, my Heart of Stone will 
 neither break nor melt, till Chrift turn and look on 
 me, as he did on backfliding Peter. Lord, one Look 
 from thee can turn the Rock into /landing Water, and 
 the Flint into a Fountain if Water. One Blink of the 
 Sun of Righteoufhefs can melt the moft frozen and icy 
 Heart in the World. 
 
 O how lovely is my ftricken and bleeding Jefus ! E- 
 ven when bleeding and mangled by my Sins, I fee him 
 to be white and ruddy, and the Chiefeji among Ten 
 Thoufand. Every Wound and Stroke he got doth 
 ftill beautify him the more to me, and make my Soul 
 to cry, O my loving and lovely Jefus ! O how can I 
 lee him fubftituting himfelf in my Room, and making 
 himfelf the Butt of the envenomed Arrows of Juftice, 
 and not be raviflied with his Love to me, and with 
 the warmeft Affection to him ! And at the fame time 
 filled with Sorrow for my Sins, which brought on all 
 his Strokes and Wounds? Oh my Sins were the 
 Thorns that pierced his Head, the Nails which pier- 
 ced his Hands, and the Spear that pierced his Heart. 
 My Sins prcfled him down, and made him fweat Blood 
 tn the Garden. My Soul being exceeding finful, 
 made his Soul exceeding forrowful. May I always 
 hate Sin, and forrow for it. 
 
 MEDITA- 
 
An appropriating Faith y 6cc. 109 
 
 MEDITATION XXV, 
 
 From CaL ii. 20. 
 
 / live by the Faith of the Son of God, who lo- 
 ved me, And gave bimfelffot me, 
 
 OHow deferable an Attainment is the Exercife 
 of true Faith upon the great Saviour Jefus 
 Chrift, with an appropriating Perftafion, or fpecial 
 Application, to a Alan himfelf, lb as to lay, (i I be- 
 " lieve and admire his Love to the Eleft in general, 
 " and to me in particular ; I truft him with my Soul, 
 " and my eternal Silvation ; I embrace him, and 
 *■< put my whole Confidence in him, •mh* lov?d me and 
 u gave himfelf for, • <•/" Surely this is the Faith, that 
 every one that delires to obey that great Command- 
 ment, 1 John iii. 23. mould aim at, and prefs for, as 
 a Thing of die laft Moment and Confluence ; 
 Lord, I believe, help thou my Unbelief. 
 
 Lord, I will not reft in a general Belief and Per- 
 flation of the Mercy of God in Chrift, and of Chrift's 
 Ability and Willingnefs to fave all that come unto 
 him ; but I will apply his Blood and Righteoulhefs to 
 myfclf in particular, and reft on him as one that lo- 
 ved me, and gave himfelf for me. This appropriat- 
 ing Faith is neceflary to my Justification ; for everv 
 jjaftified Perfon applies Chrift's Righteoulhefs to him- 
 felf, faying, as in I fa. xlv. 24. Surely, in the Lord 
 have I Right eoufnefi. As the Church in general calls 
 him the Lord our Righteoufnefs ; lb I, in particular., 
 call him the Lord my Righteoufnefs. I make it my 
 daily Praclke to wrap up my naked Soul in this Robe, 
 and lively Faith upon it, 1 make perfonal and pai> 
 tieular Application of the Remedy to my Soul's Ma- 
 ladies, and draw Virtue from it This particular 
 
 Appropriation in the Actings of Faith, is mo£ neeqful 
 K for 
 
I lo An appropriating Faith 
 
 for clearing up a Believer's Evidences, and for filling 
 the Soul with Joy and Peace in Believing ; for over- 
 coming the Fears of Death, and giving Comfort at a 
 dying Hour. And particularly, it contributes great- 
 ly to the Soul's comfortable Approach to the Holy 
 Table of the Lord, when it can lay, <( I receive a 
 <l crucified (Thrift as my Saviour; I go to him as one 
 " who loved me y and gave himfelf for vie ; I take the 
 " Symbols, and feed upon his Body as broken for 
 il me, and on his Blood as filed for me ; and I ac- 
 c< cept of theie as an Earned and Pledge of my living 
 " and feafting with my Saviour for ever." 
 
 A crucified Chrift, with all his Purchafe, is offered 
 to all the Hearers of the Gofpcl : For Chrift in the 
 Word, and by his Minifters in the Gofpel-offer, 
 fpeaks to ill and every one of them ; yea, ipcaks to 
 every Sinner, Man and Woman in particular, as tho' 
 he called them by Name and Sirname. Ami every 
 Man is bound to take the Call and Offer home to 
 himfelf, as if he were fo named, and believe that 
 Chriil ftands at his Door and knocks, laying, If you, 
 or any Man, will open to mc, I will come in. The 
 Promife is to you, and to all that are afar off ; even to 
 all the Ends of the Earth, and to the Stout-hearted ; 
 to all the Sons of Men, to every Creature, to them 
 that have no Money, to the poor, maimed, blind, 
 naked, wretched and miferable, and to whofoevcr 
 will come ; To you is the Word of this Salvation f - 1. 
 Chrift doth beleech you to be reconciled, and to be- 
 ware of coming fhort of the Promife, by Unbelief; 
 luch a Promife as that, Whofoever believefh in the Son 
 foal I not perifh, but have eternal Life : And that, 
 'jf'un that cometh to me, I -will in no Ways cafl out : Be- 
 fides many others; Johnm. 16. — vi. 37. Rev. iii. 
 17,18,20. — xxii. 17. Prov. viii. 4. I/a. xlv. 22. 
 
 x lvi. 12. — lv. 1. Mark x\i. 15. Lukexiv. cr, 
 
 22, 23. Ads ii. 39 — iii. 26 — Niii. 26, 47. 2 Cor. 
 v., 30. Heb. iv. I. 
 
 Now, 
 
our Duty and I /iter eft. Ill 
 
 Now, feeing the Gofpel-call and Offer is given to 
 every one, Faith which is the Echo of the Gofpel- 
 call, m-alt needs receive an offered Chriit, and Salva- 
 tion thro* him, with particular Application to the 
 Soul that believes. As Chriit offers himielf, and his 
 Puvchatt, to every $oul in particular; fo Faith ap- 
 propriates thrift to the Seal itfeif in particular. And 
 indeed, the Lire and Swcetneis of Faith lies in this ap- 
 propriation arid appl;catory Ail, when the Soul is help- 
 ed to fay with Tho?:ui'. Thou art ?nj Lord, a?id my 
 God ; and with the Spoufe, My Beloved h pane, and I 
 am his ; and with David, Thcu art my Rock, and the 
 
 God of my Salvation. Unbelief would tempt me to 
 
 put away thcGofpcl-offer from me, laying, it doth not 
 belong to me, I am not elected, nor defigned to fharc 
 of Chriil's Purchafe j he did not love me, nor die for 
 me — But in regard fecret Things belong to God, my 
 Salvation is at the Stake, my Need of a Saviour is 
 unfpeakable, and the Offer is made tome; I have no 
 Time to lofe In difputing with the Devil and Unbe]ief» 
 but I will go to Chrift: on the Ground I have. He 
 tells me he came to fave Sinners, I am line that is my 
 Name ; he loved Enemies; that is my Name ; he re- 
 ceived Gifts for the Rebellious, that is my Name; and 
 now I hear the Mailer calling and inviting me in par- 
 ticular : Therefore, in fpite of the Devil and Unbelief, 
 and all my Guilt, I'll go forward, and accept cf 
 Chrift as my Saviour and my King; I'll trull him with 
 my Salvation, and believe he loved :n>, and gave him- 
 ielf for ?ne, vile and guilty as J am. — This Effay to 
 believe, Lord, I make in thy Strength, and in Obe- 
 bience to thy Command : But, Oh, my Mints are 
 weak and fecklefs ! It is only thy Spirit enlightning 
 my Mind, and opening up the Gofpel-call and Pro- 
 mile to me, laying, To you is the JVord of this Salva- 
 tion feat ; that determines me to makeparticular Ap- 
 plication of thy Love-offer, by an acccptabe appro- 
 priating Faith : Let mv Help come from thee. 
 
 K 2 6 
 
112 sin appropriating Faith 
 
 O Lord, my Sins are great and numerous ; but, 
 fhould I add to them tK~ Sin of refuting the Remedy, 
 and putting away Chrilrs Love and Blood offered to me 
 in the Gofpcl, this would be greater than all the reft ; 
 for fo I would bring not only my own Blood, but the 
 Guilt of the Blood of God upon my Head. This I 
 dare not do; now my Soul is at the Stake, now the 
 Remedy is in my Offer, my Need of it is great, I 
 cannot delay clofing with it, yet a little while and 
 rny Opportunity is gone, and I mud change my 
 Dwelling for ever; and how can I go any where 
 without my Saviour? Cbrift I muft have to teach me, 
 juftify and fanclify me, none elle can do it, on him 
 all my Help is laid. How fhall I go to a Communion- 
 table without him ? How will I go to Death without 
 him ? How will I go to a Judgment-feat without 
 him ? Lord, my Cafe is defperate without thee ; 
 wherefore I accept of thy Offer, I believe thy Love, 
 I trull: in rhy Merits, I apply thy Blood, I appro- 
 priate thy Purchafe, and cry, My Lord, and my Cod. 
 I confide in a Sin-pardoning God, and reft on his Pro- 
 mife to me, thro* ChrifVs Blood and Merit, for Life 
 and Salvation. And tho' Clouds arife, and he mould 
 threaten even to flay me, yet will I truft in him, as 
 one that loved me, and gave him/elf for me. 
 
 ObjeCt. But doth not the calling Sinners to fuch 
 appropriating Afts of Faith, encourage the prefum- 
 ptuous Confidence of Hypocrites to call God their 
 God, like Balaam, Num. xxii. t8. and to continue 
 in Sin ? Anpjo. No ; thele Gofpcl-calls do encourage 
 Sinners to love God, to repent and leave thtir Sins; 
 for till we believe, and tafte fomething of God's Love 
 to us, we cannot love him, nor turn to him, I John 
 IV, 19. We love him, becaufe he firjt loved us. And 
 the Abufe or Preemption of Hypocrites mufl not hin- 
 der the publilhing of free Gofpel-offcrs and Promifes, 
 Again, the appropriating Faith of Believers hum- 
 bles the Creature, deftroys Self-confidence, puiifics 
 
 the 
 
our Duty and Interejt. \?? 
 
 the Heart, draws forth the Soul in Love to God, and 
 Hatred to Sin ; whereas the Preemption of Hypocrites 
 hath no fueh EfFecTs. 
 
 It is the Duty then of every Man, that hathChrift's 
 Love-offers tendered to him, to repent and believe the. 
 Gofpel, to ice his loll: State in Adam, and his Need 
 of Chrift, to be wcllplealed with this Gofpei-devicc, 
 receive Chrift in all his Offices, to trufl in him as his 
 Saviour, and thereupon believe that his Sins are for- 
 given thro' Chriil's Blood ; and lb perfuade and al- 
 fiire himfelf that Clirht is his, that he died for him, 
 and that he mall have Lire and Salvation thro' him. 
 This Perfuafion and Aflurance being moft neceflary to 
 the lpiritual Life, it is the great Duty of every one 
 to prefs forwards in the Acls of Faith, until they at- 
 tain it, Faith being itill weak and lame without it. 
 But feeing many Believers have it not always, through 
 prevailing Doubts and Unbelief, it muft fitreiy belong 
 more to the Perfection of Faith, than to the EJlenee 
 of it: Their Cale is like that of afhipwreck'd Man 
 that hath got hold of a Plank, he believes the Plank 
 is fumcient to bear him up, and keep him from fink- 
 ing, but the blowing Storm, and his own Weaknels, 
 make him doubt if his Grip be \\\\\ enough to hold bv 
 
 it Indeed, Lord, if thou didlt not take falter 
 
 Grips of me than I do of thee, my weak and flippery- 
 finger'd Faith would Toon let thee go - t but I truft not 
 in my Faith, but in thy Faithfulness,; I truft not in 
 my Promifes to thee, but in thine to me ; that thou 
 wilt never leave me, nor forfake me. Lord, do as 
 thou hail laid ; be it to me according to thy Word , 
 
 K 3 MEDI T 
 
114 CJ>rtJl's Love tue Laufe of %,ur Love. 
 
 MEDITATION XXVI. 
 
 From i 'John iv. 19. 
 IV e love him, becaufe he fir (I hied jtt, 
 
 NO Reaibn can he given why God loved anv of 
 Adcwi\ Race, but only becaufe he loved us : 
 But good Realbns can he given why we love God, 
 both becaufe he is infinitely lovely in himfelf, and Be- 
 caufe hefirll loved us, and before we had an\ Thoughts 
 
 of Love to him O what is our Love, but a lmall 
 
 Stream that flows from and returns again to the O- 
 ccan of his Love ! God's Love to us is the Source, the 
 Incentive, the Motive, and moral Caufe of our Love 
 to ];im. We can never love God, until fome Rays 
 of his cverlafting Love break out to us; for Conic i- 
 ence of Guilt, and Fears of Wrath, do rather incline 
 us to hate him, and fiee from him as an Enemy, thaif 
 to k>ve him, and draw near to him : But the break- 
 ing out of the Beams of God's ancient and prevent- 
 ing Love to us in Jefus Chrift, makes Way for break- 
 ing the Enmity of our Hearts, and bringing in the 
 heavenly Fire of Love to him. The ferious Confi- 
 deratinn of God's eternal fiee Love to us, poor, 
 wretched and unlovely Creatures, and his loving us 
 at fiich a R ate, as to feek and court our Love at the 
 Expence of his Son's Blood, is ihemoft powerful Mo- 
 tive in the A'ovid to engage and draw out our Love 
 to him ; and the more we have of the Faith or Feel- 
 ing of this Love, the warmer {fill will our Love to 
 him be. God's redeeming Love displayed to Men 
 doth ohfeure all the leeming Glories of this World, 
 as much as the Meridian Sun doth darken Candles or 
 IhviHer Fires ; and foon convinces us that there is 
 nothing that deferves our Affections butGod andChrilh 
 No Man that ever tailed theSwectuefs of God's Love, 
 
 but 
 
Ujr/j t IQVl rig us pr\i l I j> 
 
 but finds his Heart warmed with Love to him again. 
 A forgiven Soi.i cannot read his Pardon but with Tears 
 or' Love and Joy, and {till there is much Love where 
 much is forgiven. We love him, becaufc hefirji loved 
 us. 
 
 Lord, at thy Call, I go to thy Table to admire 
 and give Thanks for God's preventing Love vented 
 to Man in the Council of Peace, the Covenant of Re- 
 demption, in the Incarnation, the Death, the Blood 
 and Righteoulhcfs of our God-Redeemer. O amaz- 
 ing Love! I admire it in the Antiquity of it; God's 
 Love is from all Eternity ; his Thoughts were long 
 let upon Man before he had a Being. I admire the 
 Freenefs and Unddervednefs of this Love i there was 
 nothing in Man to engage his Love; he law nothing 
 in him but Poverty, Debt, Impotciuy, and Defor- 
 mity , yea, Man was lb far from delerving any y 
 from God, that he deferved all Hatred, as being 
 iothibme and full of Enmity; having razed out the 
 Image of God, and got Satan's let up in its Room 1 
 Yet, even then, God loved him fo, as to give his dear* 
 iy beloved Son to die for him. O, did God love Man 
 when utterly unworthy of his Love ? and fhall not 
 we love God, who infinitely deferves all our Affection,, 
 as being in himfelf entirely amiable, and altogether 
 lovely; and likeways as affectionate to us, as he is 
 
 lovely in himfelf! * \ Lord Jefus, I admire the 
 
 Strength and Ardency of thy Love! Many Waters of 
 Affliction did not quench ^t, and the Floods of Wrath 
 that went over thee could not drown it ! Strong was 
 that Love that made thee engage, and carried thee 
 through in fuffering the Pains both of the firft and fe- 
 cond Death in our {read ! Oh, I am afbamed and af- 
 flicted for my little Love to thee! 1 marvel at the 
 
 Co?ijtancy and Stedfaftnefs of thy Love, that it con- 
 tinues firm to thy People from everlafting to everlaft- 
 ing ; and that it is never altered by all the unkind Re- 
 turns; Provocations; and Ingratitude thou meets with 
 
 from 
 
from them.— 1 wonder at the Fruits and Effects of 
 
 thy Love! O how great! howiwetl! how nume- 
 rous ! Who can value or let them forth ? Such as, 
 " Quenching the" Fire of Juftjce, difarming the Law 
 " or* its Curies, bruifing the Serpent's Head, paying 
 " Believers Debt, obtaining for them Regeneration, 
 tc Pardon of Sin, Peace with God, Peace with Con- 
 '*' icience, Peace with Angels, Adoption into God's 
 f Family, Juftification, Sandtificatioii, all the Gra- 
 "' ces of the Spirit, Audience of Prayer, Growth in 
 <( Grace, Comfort in Affliction, a Blclfing on all Pro- 
 " vidences, Perl'everance in Holinefs, the Miniilry of 
 " Angels, Victory over Death, a happy Refurrecli- 
 " on, Acquittance at the Tribunal, the beatitick 
 4t Villon, and everlafting Life !" Who can declare 
 the Loving Kindncis of the Lord ? Who can utter 
 his mighty Acts? Who can (hew forth all his Praife I 
 I may fooncr fathom the Depth of the Sea, the 
 Breadth of the Earth, or the Height of Heaven, than, 
 meafure the Love of God in Chrilt ; For it palleth 
 Knowledge! 
 
 Oh, how little do we love him, that loved us hi ft, 
 and loved us at fuch a Rate ! Nay, how unthankful 
 are we for all the Inltances and Fruits of his match- 
 lefs Love! How unkind are the Returns we make to 
 him for it ! Be aj}oniJ}?ed ye Heavens at ihls, and 
 be horribly afraid at the Ingratitude of Men ! How 
 little do we think on redeeming Love, and upon the 
 Propitiation provided by God foi our Sins! How 
 little do we fpeak of this Love, or recommend it to 
 thefe who know it not ! How do the fmall Trifles, 
 and little Nothings of this World. oet more Room 
 iiri our Hearts, than Chi id's gh viou$ Purchase! How 
 little Pains are we at to 'ecure an filtered in the blel- 
 fed Fruits of his Love! Ho / unwilling are we to go 
 into the Terms of redeeming Love, to renounce a 
 Covenant of. Works, Seif-righteou'hefs, darling Sins, 
 beloved Idols ! <b?c. How averfe are we to renounce 
 
 the 
 
Chrtfl loving us firfi, &cc. 117 
 
 the World, deny Self, and to be Debtors wholly to 
 free Grace! How inclinable are we to fatisfy Confci- 
 ence after Commilllon of Sin, by ©ur own Doings, 
 Confeifions, Mournings^ Refolutions, <&rc. without 
 going to the Propitiation provided by the Love of 
 God ! How great is the liking we have to Sin that 
 killed the Lamb of God ! How can we fay, we love 
 God that loved us firir, when we hugg his Enemy in 
 our Bofom ! that my Head were Waters, and my 
 Eyes a Fountain of Tears, that I might weep and 
 mourn Day and Night for the ungrateful Requitals of 
 the Sons of Men for the preventing Love of God in 
 Chrift, and the amazing hiftances of it ! 
 
 O that I could lay on good Ground, and from the 
 Bottom of my Heart, I love him that firft loved me. 
 Surely a lincereLove to God and Chrift would be a lure 
 Evidence of God's eternal Love to me ! O that I had 
 the Marks of this Love, and could fay, My Medita- 
 tions of hi?n are fweet : I place my Happinefs in his 
 Favour, and the Comfort of all Ordinances in his 
 Prefence : I rejoice in the flourifhing of his Kingdom, 
 and abhor every Thing that is injurious to him : I 
 efteem Chrift the Mediator, and Gift of God, as moll: 
 precioLS, with every Thing that belongs to him : I 
 I fall heartily in with the Device of redeeming Love 
 for favino^inners, and ftudy the Life of Faith on the 
 
 Son of (Jhd 1 renounce my own Righteoufnefs 
 
 and Strength, and defire always to fay, In the Lord 
 Jffes have I my Righteoufnefs and Strength. Were 
 this the Language of my Heart, I might appeal to 
 himfelf, and fay, Thou that knovjeft all Things, know- 
 eft that I love thee, and delire to render thee Love for 
 Love. 
 
 It would be a great Shame for Believers, if they 
 did not love him that firft loved them, when they 
 were Enemies to him ! Surely they cannot be Believ- 
 ers without Love to him. O for greater and warmer 
 Love to him that firft loved us"!- Love is the great 
 
 Qualifi. 
 
1 1 3 Swain r in T.-.:rs 
 
 Qualification of the Saints above ; the more Love we 
 have, the likcr Heaven we are, and the meeter to 
 dwell in it. Were it pcilible there could be a * 
 in Heaven without Love, he would reckon the Place 
 a Hell, and the Work a Torment to him. It is 
 Love that mal il and heavenly Work de- 
 
 tful ? hence Lo to be the fulfilling of the 
 
 Law. . It the Love of God be in the Heart, the 1 
 of God is >, and the Soui is inclined to all 
 
 holy Obedience. O may the Love of God in Chritt 
 
 conftrain me tc lied for me 
 
 Hive I ieen the aftontfhing Love of God in parting 
 his dear Son to fave me f O let that Love con- 
 l me to part with all i for 
 
 him." Have I leen the dear Son's amazing Lo\e 
 
 in bleeding to Death on the curfed Tree, to fa' - me 
 from lying in Hell for ever ? O let me ne . 
 
 v. ittingly walk in the Road that leads to it i . 
 
 I feen hLn itruggling in an Agony to open Hea-. 
 Gates for me ? O let me never turn my Back on Hea- 
 ven, and tell him thereby he might have faved his 
 Labour. O let his boundlefs Love warm my Heart 
 more and more with Love to him ! May the Charms 
 of his Love triumph over all the Charms of Sin's Plea- 
 fures and Satan\ Devices, and kindle fuch a Fire of 
 Love in my Heart, as will burn up all my Luft. 
 Stubble. Amen. 
 
 MED 1TATIO N XXVII. 
 
 From Pfal. exxvi. 5. 
 They that fiw in Tears, Jfjall reap in j. 
 
 THE fowing Time of God's People is all here, 
 but their reaping Time is but partly h> are, and 
 far : 
 
 in 
 
brings reaping in Joy. 1 1 9 
 
 in Tears; there is Need for it : This Seed-time is the 
 moil promiiing or* any. Men love a dry Seed-time, 
 but God loves wet Seed-times belt: A wet lowing 
 Time doth promifc a Harveft of Joy, whereas a dry 
 one portends a Harvelt of Sorrow. Wo to them that 
 laugh noiv, they Jhall weep. . If Men do not begin 
 with Tears, they (hail end with them ; if they weep 
 not now, they in all weep and wail, and gnafh their 
 
 Teeth hereafter. Godly weeping is a good Sign 
 
 of lpiritual Life. If a Child, when born, was heard 
 crv, it is reckoned a legal Proof of its living ; but if 
 not, it is accounted itill-born or dead. Alas, the 
 Number of Itill-born Children in the Church is great ! 
 few are heard cry or leen weep, in a godly Sort, if 
 
 compared with theie who do not There be many 
 
 -who pour out Tears on worldly Occaficns, but few 
 -on fpiritual Accounts. If a Child die, we can mourn 
 and weep over him, but who mourns for Chrift as 
 for an only Son? Who weeps for Sin that pier- 
 ced him ? Oh, how little are we afFecled with 
 the Sufferings of our dear Redeemer ! Our Ears are 
 fo accuftomed to the hearing of ChriiVs Love, his 
 Agonies, his Wounds, his Blood, his Death, that 
 they are become Words of a common Sound, and 
 make little Impreilion -on us, tho' they be the molt 
 awful and moving Things that ever the World heard 
 of. T hou, Lord, art prefent at Sacraments, 
 
 thou obferveft our Tears, and comeff. with thy Bottle 
 to receive and preferve them ; but, oh, how empty 
 is it of Tears, for the molt Part, of Gofpel -hearers ! 
 ami how few are the Tears which are dropt in it by 
 Communicants -thcmlelvcs ! 
 
 Lord, I am afhamed of the Hardnefs and Uncorr- 
 cernednefs of my Heart, and the woful Drvnefs of my 
 Eyes! Shall the Rocks about Jeru/alem rend fooner' 
 at ChriiVs Sufferings than my rocky Heart ? Shall 
 others weep and fow in Tears, when Chrift 's Wounds 
 and Blood are let before them, and I continue itupid 
 
 and 
 
120 Sowing in Tears 
 
 and hardned ? Shall the Hiftory of Jofeph in the Pit 
 move my Heart more than that of Chrfll upon the 
 Crofs ? Lord, look upon my ftony Heart with Pity, 
 look it into Streams of penitential Tears, give me 
 fuch a Look as thou gaveft Peter when he denied 
 thee ; a Look that may caule me weep, and weep 
 bitterly at the Remembrance of my Sins that pierced 
 thee. If I have not openly denied my Saviour, lurely 
 I have fhamefully forgot him, and forfaken him in 
 my Heart : I have had a deep Hand in all his Suffer- 
 ings. When my dear Lord was in the Garden treat- 
 ing Blood, neither Jew nor Gentile, Judas nor Pilate , 
 were there to caufe it ; but oh my Unbelief, my Pride, 
 my Carnality, my Hypocrify, my finful Words and 
 Adions were there, and with their Weight prefled 
 him to the Ground, and brought that fearfjl Agony 
 and Sweat upon him. My DiiTimulation was the 
 Traitor's Kifs, my Ambition the thorny Crown, my 
 drinking up Iniquity like Water, the Potion of Gall 
 an<f Vinegar ; my Want of Tears caufcd him fired 
 both Tears and Blood ; my forfaking God made him 
 to be forfaken of God ; my Soul's being exceeding 
 guilty, made his Soul exceeding heavy ! Oh, what 
 means then the Hardneis of my Heart, and Dryncfs 
 of my Eyes, when thefe Things are fet before me ! 
 Is it that weeping is defigned for me hereafter, where 
 Tears (hall never be dried up ! Lord, lave me, for 
 ChrihVs Sake, from Hell's Tears, and give Grace to 
 prevent them by fowing in Tears now in the proper 
 Seafon. 
 
 So long as I am in the Valley of Tears, there are 
 many Reafons for fowing the Seed of Tears. I fee 
 many Grounds for them, may a Glance of them be 
 the Means of melting my Heart, and filling ray Eyes 
 
 with Tears. Tears for my woful Apofiacy from 
 
 God in Alam, whereby I am banifhed from God, 
 have loft his Image and Countenance, and am fallen 
 
 under his Wrath and Curfe Tears for the woful 
 
 , Cor- 
 
brings reaping in Joy. 1 2 1 
 
 Corruption of my Nature, my Enmity againft God, 
 and the manifold Plagues of my Heart, as Aiheifm^ 
 Ignorance, Pride, Unbelief, Hardncfs, Hypccrify, ~For- 
 
 mality, &c Tears for the Sins of my Lite, open 
 
 and iecret, of Omillion and CommuTion, of Light 
 and Ignorance, which are more in Number than the 
 Hairs of my Head, and many of them very heinous 
 becaufc of fevcral Aggravations ; of all which I may 
 have an affecting View, by reading our Larger Cate* 
 
 chifm upon the ten Commandments. Tears upon 
 
 the Remembrance of Chrift's Love, in fuffering and 
 eying in my Room, to warn away my Sins and lave 
 me from Hell. Surely the Thoughts of this Love 
 may inflame the coldeft Brcait, melt the hardefl 
 Heart, and make the drieft Conftitution run down 
 with Tears. It was this that made Mary Magda- 
 ten's Eyes gufh out fo plentifully with Tears of Love 
 
 and Joy, as were enough to wafli her Saviour's Feet 
 
 Tear; for the Abuie of God's Fatherly Goodncfs, Mer- 
 • y, and Patienee towards me a (infill Hell-deferving 
 Creature. This Confideration melted the Prodigal's 
 Heart, and made him cry, Father, I have finned a- 
 ga'mfi Heave7i y and in thy Sight, and am no more wor- 
 thy to be called thy §cn. David's undeferved Kindnefs 
 made even a hard-hearted Saul to lift up his Voice 
 and weep, and will not God's Kindnefs, which is in- 
 finitely greater and freer, make me drop fome filent 
 
 Tears at his holy Table? Tears, becaufe of the 
 
 Frowns of my heavenly Father, the Tokens of his 
 Difplealiire, his Chaitifements, and even his Chidings 
 and making the Rod at me : Thefe will melt the 
 Heart of a Child whole Nature is kindly and ingenu- 
 ous, while the Stubborn will Hand it againft many 
 Strokes. David, tho' a Alan of the greateft Valour 
 againft his Enemies ; yet when he law God was an- 
 gry with him in dbfalpm\ Rebellion, he wept like a 
 Child before the Knemy while going up Olivet, 1 Sa?n. 
 
 xr, 30. and Itemed to hare no Com age at all 
 
 L Again, 
 
12 2 So wing 
 
 in y cars 
 
 Again,. I ought to low in Tears for the Difhonour* 
 done to God by the Sins of others ; and especially 
 when damnable Herefies and Blafphemies are vented 
 againft God. And like wife Tears for the Miieries 
 and perifhing Condition of others. And efpecially 
 Tears of Sympathy with God's People in Affliction. 
 For I read of Chrift himfelf, David, Hezekiak, Jofi- 
 ah y Jeremiah, and other Saints lowing fuch Tears. 
 Well then may this World be called a Valley of 
 Tears. . 
 
 Betides all tbcfe, it is well plcafing to God when 
 Chriftians low Tears of Tendernefs in renewing Co- 
 venant with him, in Prayer, in hearing the Word, 
 in communicating and commemorating the Death 
 and Sufferings of Chrift for their Sins. This laft is 
 a fpecial Sealbn for fowing Tears, according toZech. 
 > ii. 10. O (hall Chriftians be more fparing of their 
 Tears for Chrift, than Chrift was of his Blood for 
 them? We cry out againft the Jems and Romans as 
 hard-hearted Men for piercing Chrift, and being un- 
 concerned at his Sufferings. But what fofter are our 
 Hearts, if we can fee how our Sins put him to Death, 
 and not be grieved nor weep ? Lord, (end thy Spirit 
 to touch my Heart, and then it will melt into a 
 Stream of Tears for Sin, that curfed Thing that but- 
 chered the Lamb of God. O let this be my weeping 
 Time, and Seed Time of Tears, that hereafter I may 
 reap in Joy. Alas, my Seed Time is (crimp and in- 
 fignificant, O let not my Harveft be proportioned to 
 it. — Lord, tho' I have not Tears enough with Mary 
 to wafli thy Feet, yet thou haft Blood enough to warn 
 my Feet, my Heart, my Hands, my Tears, and all 
 my Duties, and to make me and them acceptable and 
 favoury to God, fb that I may reap in Joy with his 
 , ,-» People above, and ft and there as a Monument of free 
 race for ever. 
 
 Many after fowing the precious Seed of Tears at 
 Communion Seaibns, have even had their reaping 
 
 Times 
 
 G, 
 
brings reaping in Joy. I #3 
 
 Times here below, as an Earneft and firft Fruits of the 
 full Harvefl above. Lord, make me acquaint both 
 with the lowing and reaping of penitent Believers in 
 this World, that I may have good Hope, through 
 Grace, of iharinc* w ith them in the Harveft of Glory- 
 hereafter, even tnc full Enjoyment of God in Heaven, 
 eternal Communion with the gloriotK TVinity, with 
 the Saints and holy Angels. Let me know what it 
 is, after a Seed Time of Tears, to reap even in Or- 
 dinances here below, the clearing cf my Evidences of 
 Grace, and the Evidence-: of my Intereil in Chin;, 
 and in the well ordered Covenant. Let me reap the 
 lifting up of the Light of thy Countenance upon me, 
 which will put more Joy in my Heart than World- 
 lings have when they reap Corn and Wine in the 
 greateft Plenty. Let me fee my Name written in 
 Heaven before I go thither, that my Paifage may be 
 
 joyful in the midft of Tears Let me reap even 
 
 here new Supplies of Grace, Strength to bear Crofles, 
 and refill Temptations ; give me gracious Returns of 
 prayer, and Victory over my Corruptions, that I 
 may fing with the Pfalmift, Pfai. exxxviii. 3. In the 
 Day -juhen I cried, thou anfiveredft me ; and Jlrength- 
 nedji me krith Strength in my Soul. 
 
 MEDITATION XXVIII. 
 
 From Rev. i. 5. 
 
 Unto him that loved us, and wafhed us from 
 our Sins in hit swn Blood, 
 
 THE Love of Chrift in becoming Man, and (hed- 
 ding his Blood to ranfom and fave Sinners of 
 rind will be the eternal Song of the Redeemed 
 i'hove, and why lhould they not begin this Song here 
 
 l-elow ! Nc . ■<-:■ was there fuch Matter for Sonps 
 
 L 2 of 
 
I 24 Chrtjvs jree Love m 
 
 of Praife as the unfathomable Love ofjefus. His Name 
 is Love ; and therefore it is to me as Ointment pour- 
 ed forth. I'll remember his Love more than Wine. 
 His Nature is Love; his Words nnd Actions were 
 Love; he preached and praclifed Love ; he lived in 
 
 Love, was lick of Love, and died for Love O what 
 
 Thoughts lhould I have of this free and undefined 
 Love of the glorious Son of God, who was intreated 
 by no Man, and even hated of all Men ; yet in his 
 free Love intreats and undertakes for Man, laying, 
 Tho' he be my Enemy, I'll be boih his Surety and Sacri- 
 fice, I'll drink the Cup of Wrath, be made Sin and a 
 Carle for him, I'll pour out all my Blood and die for 
 him. — O how {hall I ipcak of this aftonifhing Love to 
 thy Enemies! To have fparcd our Lives had been 
 great Mercy, but to give thy Life for ours is Love 
 unfpeakable ! — Oh ! Lord, thou halt found me in my 
 Enmity, and yet loved me i When my Hand was 
 lifted up againil thee, thy Arms were open to em- 
 brace me! Nay, thou halt opened thy loving Heart 
 to (belter Rebels who trode thee under Foot ! Thy 
 Heart burned with Love to them who cruelly pierced 
 it ! Thy Bowels yearned towards thefe that raked in 
 them, with Bloody Hands ! Surely Eternity itlelf will 
 be ihort enough to celebrate .the Praiies of our glo- 
 rious Immanuel, who loved us, and walhed us from 
 our Sins in his own Blood. Worthy is our flam bleed- 
 ing Lamb of eternal Hallelujahs from Men and An- 
 gels. Lord fit my Heart for thefe new Songs. 
 
 O never was there iuth a Miracle of condelcendiug 
 Love to the Sons of Men, as this of the eternal Son 
 of God, his becoming Man to fuffer Hell for them, and 
 pour out his Blood to warn them from Sin that kindles 
 Hell-fire againil them. Glory to the Lamb for his 
 Fire-quenching Blood, and for his preventing Love 
 that kept me from feeling of this Fire ! O how would 
 this Love have affected me, if Juftice had lent me to 
 Hell ; and kept me there one Year, or one Month, or but 
 
 one 
 
fie d ding bis Blood for us. \ 25 
 
 one Day ! Surely, one Day in Hell wou'd have made 
 me prize and praife redeeming Love and redeeming 
 Blood at another Rate than now I do. — Or had 1 
 leen the Damned in their Milery defpairing and with- 
 out Hope ! Or had 1 leen my agonizing Saviour in the 
 Garden fweating Blood for me ; or feen him dying on 
 the Crots, pouring it out at five big Wounds to the 
 very lait Drop to wafh away Sin ! O would not 1 then 
 have valued the greit Remedy and Salvation he npw 
 tenders to me ! — And is not ail this which now I hear 
 in the Word, and fee reprefented in the Sacrament, 
 as true, as real and certain, as if I had feen it with 
 my Eyes ? 
 
 And now when I go to behold Cl^-ifl dying and 
 bleeding in this holy Reprefentation, even the Lamb 
 of God facrificed and flaughtcrcd for my Sins; Lord, 
 touch my Heart that it may be Suitably afiecaed with 
 the Sight, fo as intenlely to love my blefled Saviour, 
 and to hate my curled Sins.— O how mould I, at this 
 Occafion be covered with Shame and lothemyfelfjwho 
 have both procured the Death of Chriit by Sin, and 
 tinned againit his Death, by flighting his Blocd and 
 neglecting his great Salvation — Oh! I am chargeable 
 both with die Guilt of (Thrift's Blood, and bf murder- 
 ing my own Soul. — O pardon and deliver me frovi 
 Blood-guiltinefs, Cod, thou Cod of my Sdhafioii. 
 
 My Sins have indeed fried the Blood of Chrift, but 
 Lord, impute not the Guilt, but the Merit, of this 
 
 Blood to me. Lord, what Profit is there in my 
 
 Blood r Surely the leaft Drop of thy dear Son's Blood 
 is of more Value than a Sea of mine. A whole Sea 
 of it can't wafiVaway one Sin, but Lord thou tallcfl 
 me £0 look unto the Lamb's Blood that takes away 
 the Sins of a World. — Oh, is not this. Blood more 
 powerful to wafh me, than my Sins aie to defile me : 
 Is not its Virtue as frefh ftill as when it dropped from 
 his Wounds on the Tree, or in the Day when it 
 cleanied 5000 at once ? Is not thy Scn'i Blood a fuf- 
 L $■ £uent 
 
126 drift's free Love, &cc. 
 
 ficient Satisfaction for all my Sins, a fall Price for rcy 
 Redemption ? — O my Soul, thou art now near the 
 bleiTed Remedy for thy Guilt and Pollution, this is 
 the only Well of Salvation and Fountain of Life ! O 
 canil thou tee Chriik's Blood running, and not defire 
 to.be bathed in it! Now the cleaniing and healing 
 Streams run on both Sides of the Table ; now let me 
 apply and live, let me bring all my Sores and Plagues 
 to the Streams, my blind Eyes, my deaf Ears, my. 
 weak Hands, my feeble Knees, my hard Heart, my 
 cold Affections, my unbelieving and doubting Mind,, 
 my leprous and unclean Soul. Lord, this Blood has 
 warned away the Plagues, Spots and Stains of many 
 Thoufands, who are now prajfing the Lamb for it ; 
 Oh, let me be joined to the Number, tfrat I may ail > 
 fiog to him that loved and warned me. 
 
 O bleeding Lamb, if thou mi/t, thou canfi ;u..-:. 
 clean; O let that Blood which gulhcd from thy 
 Heart and Side, but drop on my Soul, and it will 
 cleanfe me from all Sin* — And when thou art pleafed 
 to come to me in the Sacrament in Streams of Blood, 
 O raiic me up, that I may meet thee with Streams of 
 Tears, Tears of Repentance, L.ove and Gratitude, 
 O let me not be more (paring of my Tears for Chrift,. 
 than he was of his Blood for me. David's Kindneis 
 made even a hard hearted Saul lift up his Voice and 
 weep, and will not Chrilt^s Kindnefs, which is infi- 
 nitely greater, make me drop at lealt fomc lilent Tears ? 
 
 O how dreadful a Thing mult it be to reject this 
 Remedy! Surely Juftice will not fpare them that 
 trample under Foot the Blood of the Son of God: If 
 Juftjce was inexorable when he himlelf prayed, if it be 
 potfible, let this Cup pafs ; how will he lpare me, or 
 hear the Cry of thefe who reject his Blood and Sacri- 
 fice ? How is it poiTible that the Cup of Wrath can 
 pals from them who do it ? No, they muft drink it for 
 fever themfelves! Lord lave me from rejecting this 
 Blood. I believe, Lord, help my Unbelief. 
 
 MKDITA- 
 
'The '-penitent Prodigal, &tc. 127 
 
 MEDITATION XXIX. 
 
 From Luke xv. 18, 19. 
 
 Father, I have finned again ft Heaven, and 
 before thee, and am no more worthy to be 
 called thy Son, make me as one, <kc , 
 
 I]?Atiier ; Ah, I may be afhamed to call thee Co, 
 confide ring what a dilbbedient and unthankful 
 Child I have been, I am a moil wretched Prodigal, 
 1 left tli) Houfe and Pretence and went into a far 
 Country ; far from thee, my Blifs and Happincis. 
 But now, Father, behold me defiring to come back 
 as a poor penitent, mourning and returning Prodigal. 
 I come from a far Country indeed, T come from tic 
 Land of Sin and Darknefs ; I come from the Frontiers 
 of Hell, from the very Borders of the binning Lake ' 
 Ah, foolim Creature that I am, How have I forfaken 
 thee the Fountain of living Waters! How fond have 
 I been of broken Cilterns, and in love with filthy 
 Puddles I O the Baienefs* the Difmgenuity, the In- 
 gratitude that I have been guilty of. I have refilled 
 thy Power, defpifed thy Wifdom, undervalued thy 
 Goodnefs ! Father of Mercies, I now fee what an e- 
 \il Thing and bitter it is to forfake the Lord. Holy- 
 Lord Ji/hs, I now fee what Indignities I have done 
 againll thee! Thy blefTed Body was dreadfully torn 
 with Nails upon the Crofs, and thy precious Blood in- 
 humanly fpilt by thy Crucifiers ! But Oh! have not 
 I occalioned more Grief and Sorrow to thee by my 
 manifold Sins againft Light and Love ? They crucifi- 
 ed thee but once, but I have crucified thee Day after 
 Day ! They crucified thee becaufe they knew thee 
 not ; but I have known thee what thou art in thyfelf, 
 the Lord of Glory ; and what thou art to me, a ten- 
 der and merciful Father ; yet I have continued to cru- 
 cify 
 
I 28 The fenitDit Prodigal, 
 
 dry thcc afrefh. — O holy Sj irit, I have refilled thy 
 Strivings, quenched thy Motion?, demoliflied thy 
 Work, and put thee away grieved. But, Lord, I 
 condemn my Folly, and lee my Mifery. Oh, what 
 have I gained by offending thee ? nothing but Shame 
 and Confufion, Fear, Trembling and Horror ! O 
 what Fruit had I in thefe Things whereof I am now 
 afhamed ! 
 
 But, Father, I havejieard of thy Companions to 
 the guilty when they confeis and forfake and turn to 
 thee: Wherefore tho' I am afhamed like the Publican 
 to lift up my Eyes to Heaven ; yet let me v\ ith humble 
 Magdalene come behind thee weeping, and wafh thy 
 Feet with my Tears, and kik them. And let me hear, 
 the News of Pardon from thy Mouth. Thou earned, 
 Lord, not to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Re- 
 pentance ; and of theie I am chief. — Lord, 1 am full 
 of Dileafes, full of Wounds, full of Plague-fores, full 
 of Weaknels and Infirmities, full of Sins and Pollu- 
 tions. Here, Lord, is Work for thy ftrong Hand, 
 work for thy Wonder-working Blood, O ft retch out 
 
 thy Hand and lave. Father, J am no more vorthy 
 
 to be called thy Son, make rue as one of thy hired Set - 
 vants ; and thou knowefl no Hire, no Wages will la- 
 risfy me but thyfelf ; Lord, give me thylelf, be thou 
 my exceeding great Reward. 
 
 Lord, I am lb vile a Creature, that I may fear to 
 come and prefent a Petition to thee upon the Knee, 
 and far more to come and fit down with thee at thy 
 holy Table : tf John Bapti'f, a Saint of the firit Mag- 
 nitude, thought himlelf not worthy to (coop down 
 and loofe the Latchct of thy Shoes, (hall I, who am 
 loaden with Sins, adventure to that holy Fealt, where 
 
 Angels wait as minifhing Spr. its r But, Lord, in 
 
 thy Compaffion receive me, that comes not to excuie, 
 but to accuie myfelf, with Eyes caft down, Siting on 
 my Bread with the Publi fa. Lord, be merciful to me 
 a Sinner. Thou elidft graciouily accept of the Publi- 
 can' 
 
his humble Can fs fan* I 29 
 
 can's Prayer, of Alary Magdalene' $> Tears, the Faith 
 of the Thief on the Crol's, the Repentance of Peter, 
 and of thefe that crucified thee. By thefe Infhmces cf 
 thy Mercy, I am encouraged to draw near to thee; 
 C) lend me not away empty, left 1 faint by the Way ; 
 but latisfy my needy Soul with the Food of thy hea- 
 venly Banquet, that 1 may receive fpiritual Strength 
 and Nourilhment to eternal Life. 
 
 Lord, hear my Cry, and hide not thy Face from nu : 
 When MaMtffeh cried to thee, thou hadft reject to ! is 
 Prayer: Vv hen the Nhihites humbled thcmlcives be- 
 fore thee, thou wall intreated ; yea, thou inviteit tie 
 1110ft crimibn and icarlct coloured Sinners, to come 
 and realbn with thee, and allures them, thou v. ilt 
 
 cult out none that come. Many Thoulands, who 
 
 have experienced the Truth of thy Word, are, at 
 this Hour, finging thy Fraiies, and exalting thy free 
 Grace. Lord, do thou make me alio a Monument 
 of thy free Grace to all Eternity. 
 
 Ah, I maybe afhamed to fpeak of Mercy and Grace, 
 who have fo long abufed thy Grace, and trampled on 
 the Blood that mould fave me. O that I could mourn 
 and weep all my Life for it. Oh, what mall I do 
 with my ftony Heart that will not break and melt 
 for abufing God's Mercy, and trampling ChriiFs 
 Blood ! Oh, (hall I mourn and weep for a deadCorpfe, 
 or departed Friend, and not mourn for a dead Heart, 
 or for God's departing from me! Shall the dear Son 
 of God weep, iweat, and bleed for us; and we not 
 weep for ourielves, or for our Sins that pierced his 
 Head with Thorns, his Hands with Nails, and his 
 Side with a Spear, and his Heart with Sorrows. 
 Lord Jefus, I look to thee for a penitent Heart, lec- 
 ing thou tells me, thou art exalted for this very End. 
 to give Repentance to Jfrael. 
 
 Lord, what is Man that thou art mindful of him .-'■ 
 and what am I, the unworthieft of Men, that thou 
 fhouldft call me to fit with thy Children at thy Ta- 
 ble, 
 
130 i ne nemenwrance oj u.'jnji s i^ove 
 
 ble, who am unworthy as a Dog to creep under it ; 
 yea, called me to eat the Bread of Angels, who am 
 not. worthy to eat the Bread of Men ? Amaz- 
 ing Love! that God mould court thofe to Obedience, 
 whom he can peremptorily command to it ; and, in 
 cafe of Dilbbedience, punifh inftantly in Hell ; that 
 he mould take poor Slaves, condemned to the Piiibn 
 of Hell, and make them crowned Kings in Heaven ; 
 that he mould not only be willing to dwell in Flelh, 
 but alfo to give us this Flelh for our Food; that he 
 mould not only lave us from Hell, bitt even leave 
 his Throne in Heaven, and lofe his Life on Earth, 
 to enthrone us in his Kingdom ! Thefe are Prodigies 
 of Love, which (hould engage us^to love our Sa\iour, 
 
 and mourn for Sin while we live. Lord Jefus, pity 
 
 a relenting, returning Prodigal, take him home, and 
 rr/ake him thy Servant forever. It is highly juit, 
 that I mould offer up myielf a living Sacrifice to my 
 Redeemer, who orlered up himielf a dying Sacrifice 
 for my Redemption. 
 
 MEDITATION XXX. 
 
 From Song i. 4. 
 We z^ili remember thy Love. 
 
 I Go, blefled Jefus, at thy Call to remember thy 
 Love at thy holy Table; thy Words have an 
 awful Sound in my Ears, Do this hi Remembrance cf 
 me. I fee much in them, in Obedience to them I'll 
 do this in Remembrance of thy dwelling in Flelh ; iu 
 Memory of thy Love that carried thee to the Man- 
 ger, to the Garden, and to the Oofs for me; in Me- 
 mory of the infinite Price of thy Blood which thou 
 didlt fhed; in Memory of the Victory obtained by it 
 over the Enemies of rny Soul ; in Memory of the De- 
 liverance 
 
Jljou/d affcfi, our Hearts. 131 
 
 Hvcrance from Wrath, and the immortal Glory thou 
 haft: purchafed by it for me : Tho' thou didft die and 
 lve in the Grave, yet thy Love mail ever live in my 
 Heart. Glory to thee, thou art now alive in Hea- 
 ven; O come and live with me ; let never thy Love 
 be one Moment out of my View. I blefs thee for 
 tins lading Memorial or* thy Love. 
 
 I look on this Sacrament as no real or proper Sa- 
 crifice, as many do, but only as a Reprefentation or 
 Commemoration of the real Sacrifice Chrift: offered on 
 the Crofs. I do no more at the Lord's Table, than 
 what Chrift: did at it : Since he offered no Sacrifice at 
 the Table, neither do I : He only did commemorate 
 that Sacrifice he was going to offer, and the fame, and 
 no more do I. If any fhould fay that Chrift offered a 
 ren' Sacrifice, when he inftituted this Sacrament, then 
 the Oblation on the Crofs would have been fuperflu- 
 •ous, becauie Sinners would have been redeemed by 
 that of trre Supper which went before. 
 
 Now is the Time for a lblemn Commemoration of 
 thy Love: Oh, mail I be unmindful of thy Love at 
 this Feafl, when thou waft fo mindful of me at it, 
 made thy Teftament, put me in it, and left me pre- 
 ^ ious Legacies to caufe me remember thee, fuch as 
 Life and Light, Pardon and Peace, Righteoufnefs and 
 
 Strength, Grace and Glory O how heroick, how 
 
 generous and free is thy Love to finful Worms ! We 
 had done nothing to oblige thee ; nothing fa welt thou 
 in us to engage thy Love to us ; but much didft thou 
 fee in us to incenfc thee againfl us. When we were 
 without Strength, ungodly Sinners, and Enemies, 
 thou lovedil us, and diedfl for us. Greater Love 
 hath no Man tha;i this, to lay doivi: his Life for his 
 Friends ; but far greater Love hath God-man, 
 who laid down his Life for his Enemies! O what 
 fliail I think of this Love! It had been wonderful 
 Love in an Angel to have {looped to be united to 
 a Lump of Earth, and' therein lunercd for us, tho' 
 
 it 
 
i 3 2 The Remembrance of Chris's Love 
 
 it could not have paid our Debt. But, O my Sou!, 
 here is one more valuable than all the Angels in 
 Heaven, that has (looped to do it ! The Word -was 
 made Flejb and dwelt aviong us! When I was like 
 Jfaac bound on the Altar, he freely offered himlelf 
 to be made a Sacrifice to fatisfy Juirice for me, Fa- 
 ther ; laid he, lo I come , to do thy Will I take Delight J 
 
 Remember this Love, O my Soul, the Son of God 
 is become the Son of Man for thee, that thou mightdt 
 be raifed to the Dignity of a Son of God! He that 
 was infinitely rich, for my Sake became poor, that I, 
 a poor naked Creature, might become rich and well 
 clothed. How can I look on the Incarnation and 
 Birth of my Redeemer, and not icmember his Love 
 with Wonder! Can Ibehold the Manger his Bed, and 
 not adore the Love that brought him to ly in it I O 
 how low were the Circumltances of the Heir of Hea- 
 ven, when he came to fojourn on Earth, who had 
 neither a Houfe to live in, nor an Eftate to live upon, 
 hut muft be fubiided by the Hofpitality of others, and 
 frequently his Fare was very mean! Amazing Prodi- 
 gy of Divine Love ! God {loops to dwell in Flefh, 
 and gives us his Flefh to feed upon in the Sacrament ! 
 He not only pardons our Sins, and laves us from Hell ; 
 but leaves his Throne in Heaven, lofes his Life on 
 Earth, and wades thro' Hell to enthrone us in his 
 
 Kingdom, and make us crowned Kings for ever 
 
 BlelTed be the Lord that gives me a Communion-Sab- 
 bath to remember this Love ! What (hall I render to 
 thee for it ? A Day of glad Tidings ! Thou haft of- 
 ten,' on fuch a Day, vifited the Earth and watered 
 it, and made it rich with thy Showers! May thy 
 Grace and Spirit drop on us this Day, like Rain on 
 the mown Grafs. 
 
 Lord, I am not worthy to touch the Thrcihold of 
 thy Houfe, and yet thou called me to thy Table ! 
 Not worthy to Hand among thy Servants, and yet 
 thou wouldft have me fit with my Redeemer! Not 
 
 worthy 
 
foot! Id a fell our Hearts. I 33 
 
 worthy to ly at thy Footftool, and yet thou wouldft 
 make my Heart thy Throne! Not worthy to eat the 
 Bread of Men, and yet thou called mc to eat the 
 Bread of Angels ! O Love worthy to be remembred 
 to all Generations! Lord enlighten my Eyes, and 
 give me a clearer View of thy Love, than ever I got ; 
 and while I am muling on it, let the Fire burn; O 
 make my Heart burn within me with Love to him 
 that loved us. 
 
 O ray Soul, confider the Greatnefs of (Thrift's Love 
 
 iri the Cup he drankTbr thee ! How legible is it in his 
 
 Tears and Prayers, his Groans and Cries, his x^gony 
 
 vn\ Sweat, his Wounds and Blood, and all for us? 
 
 * let thi< matehlefs Love beget in me the warmed 
 
 Love and Affection to him that loved us! O let 
 
 the Fire of Ghrift's Love burn up my Lulls and world- 
 
 ly Love like Stubble ; and remove the Coldnefs of my 
 
 Heart to him ! Oh that I could weep bitterly that 
 
 cannot bring this vile Heart of mine to love the 
 
 >rd feiusmore! Oh, mall 1 throw away my Afte- 
 crions upon every worthless Object, and yet have none 
 tor the lo\ elicit Object of the whole Creation of God ; 
 and yet One that would needs die for me, to become 
 libm, Sacrifice and Atonement! Is it the 
 Character of thele who are Chrift's Spouie ? Is it die 
 Character of the whole Army of Martyrs, and of eve- 
 ry Believer, to love (Thrift, and (hall not I love him 
 too? — Ob, the Virgins love thee, the Upright Jove 
 thee ; and every one of them cry, thou ivhovi wy 
 Soul lovsth ; and mall not I join thefe chalte Lovers ? 
 
 Or mall I be expoled to the terrible Fate of thele 
 
 who want Love to C'hrift ? 1 Cor. xvi. 22. If any 
 Man hue not the Lord Jtfus Ckrift, let him be Anathe- 
 
 ma f Maranatha O that I could evprefs my Love 
 
 to him in Adorations and Praifes, in defiring his Pre- 
 tence, loving his Members, promoting his Kingdom 
 en Earth, and longing to be with him for ever. 
 
 M MEDITA- 
 
134 G&fijPs Wounds made 
 
 MEDITATION XXXL 
 
 From I fa. liii. 5. 
 
 He iv as tuoimded for our Tranfgrejfions, 
 
 HOW amazing is the Love of God to fallen Mac, 
 111 taking a Body to he pierced and wounded for 
 him! Man did cafl oiF the Image of his Maker, and 
 became a Rebel and Run-away from God: And, be- 
 hold, his Maker takes on him Man's Image to reftore 
 him again to Favour: Yea, he allumes our Nature, 
 when at the lowed, that fo he might figh, groan, 
 grieve, weep, forrow, fweat, bleed and die for un- 
 done Man ; and be did this, to raife him from his mi- 
 serable State, rto a happier Condition than he was in 
 
 before his Fall. Had not God become Man, wc 
 
 could not have enjoyed him lb nearly, i^o familiarly 
 as we may do now. The Enjoyment of God as a 
 Redeemer, a Husband, a Brother, is another Man- 
 jier of Enjoyment of him than of God as a Creator. 
 Tho' we ruined ourfelvcs, and fell under Wrath, yet 
 Gcd, by the Incarnation has recovered us, and made 
 us up far above all we had to lofe. But, ere this be 
 done, he muft not only be Man, but he mull be 
 wounded for and by Man's Sins; yea, wounded to 
 Death, and crucified, before Man could be railed up 
 to live with God. 
 
 Many, yea innumerable, were the Wounds my 
 God Redeemer received for me ; as, by the Thorns 
 that pricked his Head, by the Pincers that plucked 
 his Hair, by the Scourge that tore and furrowed his 
 Back ; befides the five big Wounds made in his 
 H ands and Feet by the four Nails, and in his Side by 
 the Spear; and the many Wounds given his Soul by 
 the Curfes of the Law. Now, all thcie Wounds are 
 opened as fo many Mouths to call us to lice into them 
 
 for Safety from the Sword of Juftice Now thefe 
 
 Wounds 
 
our cur fed Sins. 1 35 
 
 \Y ounds were unfpeakably painful, being envenomed 
 by our Sins. Crucifying, in itielf, was an exceeding 
 painful Death ; the four big Nails whereon the Body- 
 hung, pierced the moll linewy and nervous Parts of 
 the Body, and conlequently moll ienfible of Pain : 
 And hence the Romans expreffed Torment by a Word 
 borrowed from the Oofs ; and make Cruciate fignify 
 to Tormenti Thus was our innocent Saviour wound- 
 ed on the Q-ofs, cruciate or tormented, and all to 
 faVe us from eternal Torments. 
 
 *Aftoni(hing Sight ! The eternal Son of God, whom 
 all the Angels worfhip, wounded to Death, hung by 
 Nails on a Crofs, tortured and racked for feveral 
 Hours; and, in the mean time, loaded with Reproach 
 and -Scorn from thefe he died for! Never fuch a Sight 
 as this ! It flruck Terror in the whole Creation. 
 The Sun hid its Face, and could not bcholdit, the 
 Vail of the Temple rent in twain, the Earth quaked,, 
 the Rocks rent, the Dead were moved, and then- 
 Graves opened : And even his Enemies were (truck 
 with Amazement, and made to mrink, and fay, Truly 
 this was a righteous Perfo/z; this was the Sen of God, 
 O my Soul, imploy all thy Faculties, all thy 
 Thoughts, to (ludy, pore, and penetrate into this 
 awful Subject, it deferves the profoundefr. Regard and 
 clofelt Attention : Hence the great Apofrle determin- 
 ed to fludy and know nothing but it. 
 
 This amazing Tragedy ought to create in me the 
 greateft Abhorrence of Sin, the Caufe of it. Never 
 can Sin appear more exceeding fmful, and hateful, 
 than in the wounding and crucifying of the Son of 
 God. Our TranfgrefTions were the Nails and Spear 
 that wounded his i'acred Body, and the Sword that 
 pierced his Soul. Thefe were the Judas that betray- 
 ed him, the Soldiers that bound him, blindfolded arid 
 mocked him, the Pilate that condemned him, the Ex~ 
 ecutiomrs C\it nailed him to the curled Tree : It was 
 »brS&5 that put the Sword in his Enemies Hands. He 
 M 2 became. 
 
1 3 6 Chrifts IVounds pew 
 
 became a Curfe for us. All the Derifion, Mockery, 
 and Contempt; all the Pain, Suffering and Sorrow he 
 endured, did proceed from our Sins; thefe brought him 
 
 to the Crofs, and to the Grave. Let us then turn 
 
 our Hatred, and difcharge our fiercest Indignation a- 
 gainft our Sins, let them be our Averfion and Dread 
 for ever; let me always look on Sin, that crucified 
 Chrift, with Horror and Trembling. Never Inch an 
 Inftanceof the Strictnefs and Severity of God's Juftice, 
 and of his Abhorrence of Sin as here! He would not 
 ipare his dear Son, when he flood in the Room of 
 Sinners, not Ipare him one Stripe or Wound, when he 
 cried; but let him bleed, and die, till Sin was fully 
 atoned for ! Can I fee this^nd not cry, O curled Sm ! 
 Murderer of the Son of God ; away with it, away 
 with it ; crucify it, crucify it. 
 
 Oh my Soul, fee the Evil of Sin in the Glafs o£ 
 Chriit's Wounds, and Sufferings in his Body and Soul ! 
 Say, O Sin, what haft thou done ! Thou haft pro- 
 voked the God of Heaven to fiery Indignation! 
 Thou haft killed the Prince of Life, turned Angels in- 
 to Devils, filled the Earth with Troubles, and Hell 
 with precious Souls ! If any Body had killed my Fa- 
 ther, would I embrace the Murderer, or love the 
 Dagger that was befmeared with his Blood ? But what 
 are all my Relations to my Lord, my Lovs ihat was 
 erucified ! O that my Eyes were Fountains of Tears, 
 that I might weep Day and Night for my Sins that 
 flaw my Saviour! Oh, ftony Heart, for Shame, be- 
 come now like Wax, and be melted in tb:* Midft of 
 my Bowels ! W r oe's me, that I can grieve no more for 
 my Sins. Let me at leift revenge my Saviour's 
 Death upon my Sins, and fuffer them no longer to live 
 in me. 
 
 How dreadful mufl: the Guilt of the'e be who wil- 
 lingly harbour Sin, and delight in the lNjunjer of our 
 Lord ! It is no lefs than to kifs the Nails, or to hug 
 the Spear that pierced him. They nuke that their 
 
l::e grc.it £, v// if Si n . 1 3 7 
 
 Joy winch made Chrift a Man of Sorrow ! They make 
 light of that which "made his Soui heavy unto Death. 
 Oh, have I lecn my Saviour bleeding to Death by Sin, 
 and (hall I live any longer in Sin that wounded him ? 
 When a Temptation to Sin is presented, (hall I ever 
 difpute any more, whether Chrilt or Bar abbas (hall be 
 preferred ? My Lufts denied, or my Lord crucified r 
 Whether thele Sins (hall be forfaken by me, that made 
 Chrift to be forfaken of God? Whether that mall be 
 fweet to me, that was fo bitter and deadly to him ? 
 Oh, was my lovely Jefus*a Man of Sorrows all his 
 Lire, and fometimes made to fay, My Soul is exceed- 
 ing Jbrnmful ; and mall not I be lorry for, and ab- 
 hor thefe Sins that caufed all his Sorrows? 
 
 O may the believing View of Chrift's Wounds and 
 Sufferings which he endured for my Sins, and to lave 
 me from that Wrath/which they deierved; kindle the 
 
 Fire of Love in my Soul to Chrift. Lord, thou art 
 
 the God that wont to anfwer thy People by Fire, O 
 pity me, and anfwer my Meditations and Prayers, by. 
 kindling the holy Fire of Love in my Heart, and let 
 that Fire put out the impure Fire of my Lufts and Cor- 
 ruptions, and injpire me with holy Zeal and Activity in 
 thy Service. O did Chrift freely give himJeif to be a. 
 Sin-offering for me; and fhall not I give myfelf a 
 Thank-offering to him ? Surely it is highly reaibnablc 
 that I fhouid offer up myfelf a living Sacrifice to my 
 Redeemer, who offered up himfelf a dying Sacrifice 
 tor my Redemption, 
 
 M -3 MEDIT A- 
 
138 A crucified drift h 
 
 MEDITATION XXXII. 
 
 From John vi. 5*1. 
 
 / am the living Bread that came do~vn from 
 Heaven : If any Man eat of this Breacl } 
 he full live for ever, 
 
 CHRIST crucified is our Manna, or heaven I y 
 Bread that preiervcj the Life of the Soul, and 
 
 it is only by Faith it muft be received and eaten 
 
 Bread is a comprehenfive Word, including all Things 
 Oeccflary for this Life; lb Chriit, our fciritual Bread, 
 is a molt comprehenfive BlelEng, including all we. 
 want, feting he is made of God to uP } IVifiioM, Right e- 
 
 biifnefs f SavMificaiion and Redeviptktu ■— Agairj, 
 
 Bread is the moft necefTary Thing for our Life, ard 
 the Want of it brings the greateit Miiery ; fo Chrifi 
 is the molt necefTary BlefTing to the Soul, and the 
 Want of him makes a Man miserable in Time, and 
 thro' Eternity. It is a greater Miiery to have no 
 Saviour for the Soul, than to have no Bread for the 
 Body. Chriit alone is the Bread that preferves us 
 from Soul-famine, and nouriiheth us to eternal Life ; 
 lie is the Bread of Life, the living Bread. Lord, give 
 js evermore this Bread. 
 
 Bread is called the Staff and Stay of Man's Life ; 
 lb Chnlt is the StafTand Stay of our fpiritual Life, he 
 upholds our Souls in Life. He is the Staff that raint 
 And weary Souls mull lean to, in going up thro' this 
 Wildernefs: Yea, Chriit our living Bread is a Staff 
 to defend us, and to beat off our Enemies, and to put 
 ill the hellim Holts to Flight. That was a ftrange 
 D' - eam of one of the Midianites, Judg. vii. 13. Be* 
 hold, a Qnke of Barley Bread came tumbling into the 
 tfojl cf Midi in, and fmote a Tent. Strange! a Piece 
 of Bicvi to overturn a Tent! Behold this Dream 
 
 made 
 
qu> heavenly Manna, J 39 
 
 i vi. L- rood in the Sacraimftit. The Bread there 
 which reprefents Chrift, when received with Faith 
 upon him, will tumble into the Kofi & Satan and 
 
 his Lulls, thefc Mdianites who vex us with their 
 Wilc^ {hike drown their Tents, and put them all 
 to Flight. 
 
 thrift is the Bread that came down from Heaven, 
 of which the I rdetifei Manna, that God lent niiracu- 
 loufly from Heaven, was an eminent Type. That 
 Manna was God's the Gift to the murmuring and re- 
 bellious Ifraelites, to prderve them from ftarving in 
 the DeJartS where Dread could not be had : This 
 
 . . ■ :.( was a curious Grain, that made fine Bread, 
 With which God furniihed them plentifully evrvy Mor- 
 ning from the Clouds, Sufficient to latisfy 6oc,cco 
 Men. But Chrill, our fpritual Mamfa, doth, far 
 excel theirs, tho' he was rambled by theirs in fome 
 Things. Manna was firll grinded and beaten, and 
 baken in 0\ ens, before it was made Bread to them ; 
 and fo the Grain which makes our ordinary Bread 
 mult be threihed, and grinded betwixt two Mill- 
 Hones, and baken by the Force of Fire, berbre we 
 eat it : So Chrift, the Antitype, was threihed and 
 b: uifed, and grinded betwixt the Millftones of Di- 
 vine Juitice and our Sins, and alio rcfted by the Fire 
 of Wrath, that he might be lit Bread for laving the 
 Lives of our Souls; and all this we (hould call to 
 Mind, when we lee and make Ufe of the Bread in the 
 holy Supptr. 
 
 '1 lie Jfraelites Manna came do\* n to them with the 
 Dew j lb Chrift, with the Benefits of his Purchale, 
 comes to us by the Dews and Influences of the holy 
 
 Spirit. Their Manna fell round about their Tents, 
 
 and every Man was free to gather it ; fo every Man 
 
 is at Freedom to gather our heavenly Manr.a 
 
 The Ifraelites behoved to go out of their Tents to 
 gather theirs ; lb God will have us to go forth, and 
 be at Pains to get pur fpiritual Food God, who 
 
 rained 
 
\qc si crucified Ckrifl is 
 
 rained Mamn about their Tents, could have rained it 
 into their Mouths ; but he loves not to encourage 
 Sloth in his People, but would have them at all Pain, 
 to make fure of Chriit for their Portion. As the //- 
 raeliies gathered daily, fo we muft be daily going to 
 Chriit, and making Ufc of him. As they gathered 
 early in the Morning, fo God would have us feeking 
 after Chrift in the Morning of our Lives. 
 
 O how far doth our heavenly Manna excel that of 
 the Ifrael'itci ! Theirs but fed the Body, and could 
 not prefene them from Death at laft; but our Man- 
 na feeds the Soul, and nouriihes to eternal Life, and 
 
 preferves all that eat of it from eternal Death. 
 
 Theirs fell not on the Sabbath-day j nor durlt they 
 go to leek it on that Day ; but ours falls every Day, 
 and double on the Sabbath ; and therefore God calls 
 us to double our Diligence, in gathering it on the 
 
 Sabbath. Their Manna continued only in the \\ il- 
 
 dern efs, and ceafed when they came to Canaan ; but 
 ours continued! for ever, and our fulled Enjoyment 
 of it is in the heavenly Canaan ; and therefore all true 
 Jfraelites long to be there. 
 
 O how lamentable is their Folly, who fpend all 
 their Time and Thoughts in feeking Bread to their 
 Bodies, and are carelefs and indifferent about the 
 Bread of Life to their Souls ! All their Care is to fup- 
 port the Clay Houfe, but let the Soul ftarve that in- 
 habits it. Oh, it is but fhort Time they can. enjoy 
 the Bread they are fo concerned for; the Bodies they 
 mind lb much, muft foon be Meat for Worms, and 
 the Souls they neglect a Prey for Devils ! 
 
 But, whatever others do, may I be wile to provide 
 the living Bread for my Soul, and learn to eat it, 
 and make Vic of it by Faith, and efpecially when I 
 go to the Lord's Table ; for without Faith we can 
 get no Nourishment, no Life, nor Strength from tins 
 heavenly Bread: Faith is the Mouth that eats the 
 Bread of Life, and fucks Honey out of the Rock. 
 
 Now, 
 
ou> . 1 4 1 
 
 : c ills Fait 
 
 Sweetnds and Ex* 
 i Chrift, and i 
 
 II and lis • 
 
 Stal ire ; !<> b; 
 Lieving dur Soul: '..row in Grace and ipiritual 
 
 to run in God' s As by eating, the B 
 
 inc< . i - one with us | fo by our n- 
 
 ceivi . g CI. rift's broken Body by Faith, 
 
 he is made one with us, and we one with Kim. 
 
 As by eating Bread, Men live upon it, ar.«. 
 port and S for working or jour; 
 
 rs by looking to, and trotting wholly in tie 
 
 befi of Chrilt, and the Merit or' has Blood, 
 
 '' receive Ipiritual Nomii'.u-.iut, and 
 
 ugth for their Work aiul \\ arraxe, and io make 
 
 in their Journey to '■ 
 
 that I hid a ipiritual Hunger and (harp Appetite 
 for this Bread of Lire, and were dchring and longing 
 for it, for the Support and Nouriftiment of m) ooul, 
 more than a hungry Man doth for Bread to 1 is Body. 
 A hungry Man perifliing for Want of Bread, would 
 prefer a Piece o before mai >i Gold, if 
 both were let before him, and he allowed to make 
 bii Choice j fo the awakned Soul, that fees his Need 
 of Chrilt, prefers him to I whole World; give hkn 
 never fo much of the World's Comforts, 1 e is (till 
 
 Chrilt, and lays, What will all 
 Things avail me, if my starving Soul rcrifh 
 without Chrift t! e Bread of Life? 
 
 1 have many Arguments to plead with Cod for this 
 - ! . Lord, do not thy free Calls and PromHirs 
 thee to give me it ? Thou haft (aid, The Ni 
 
 •cottm. El not Chi iit, the Bread 
 
 ■ Gift of God to perking So 
 doft t!.«> i not invite theie to come and cat of it 
 
 Price to give rcr it : Lord, 
 
 on the Hodi^ of Men > 
 
1 42 A crucified Can jl is, &cc. 
 
 they had no Bread to eat, and didft provide Bread 
 for 5000 of them by a Miracle ; and haft thou not 
 as much CornpafRon to ftarving Souls that are far 
 more precious? Lord, thou giveft natural Affe- 
 ctions to earthly Parents, and makes them pitiful to 
 their Children, when they cry for Bread, fo that 
 they cannot ihut up their Bowels againft them when 
 hungry, nor will they give them a Stone inftcad oi' 
 Bread : And will my heavenly Father, who is infi- 
 nitely more companionate than the nioft tender Pa- 
 rents, refuie the Bread of Life to ftarving Souls who 
 cry carneftly for it ? Lord, I truft in thy Mercy, and 
 depend on thy Promile, I believe thou wilt'ft not let 
 a poor hungry Beggar ftarve and fall down at thy 
 Door, when there is Bread enough in thy Houfe, and 
 to fpare. O caufe me to fing with the Pialmifir, Pfaf. 
 xSi. 5. But I have trufledin thy Mercy, my Heart ft all 
 rejoice in thy Salvation. 
 
 SACK A- 
 
M3 
 
 SACRAMENTAL 
 
 ADVICES 
 
 FROM 
 
 Various Scripture Texts. 
 
 A D VICE I. 
 
 From Gen. vii. i . 
 Come thou and all thy Houfe into the Ark. 
 
 AS God in Lis Mercy called Noah to come into 
 the Ark prepared for him and his Houlhold, 
 to five him from drowning in the great De- 
 luge 5 , To God, by the Golpel, culls you, O Man, to 
 come into the Ark, Chrift crucified, which he hath 
 provided for pei idling Sinners, to fave them from the 
 Deluge of Wrath that is coming. God hath long 
 forewarned you of it; nay, the Flood is beginning to 
 rife, it is Time for thee to flee to this Ark ; believe 
 it, there is no other Way for thy Safety : The Ark 
 of thy Prayers, or ofthv Tears, Convictions or Re- 
 formations, will not lave thee from it; nothing will 
 do it but the Ark Chrift'. 
 
 As all who were out ofNoxh's Ark perimed in the 
 
 Flood, fo will all pcrifh who are out of Chrift. 
 
 Thele of the* old World, who only came near to the 
 Ark, or touched the Outfide of it, they peiifhed if 
 they did hot enter into it; lb in like Maimer will 
 thcie perilh, who only come near Chrift by an out- 
 ward Pi nd are not found in Kim by a true 
 >h. 
 
 As 
 
I 44 Chrifl crucified 
 
 As the Ark gave a good Account of all that en- 
 tered into it, not one of them was loft in the Flood ; 
 i'o will Chrifl give a good Account at the laft Day of 
 all that fly to him by Faith: None fliall pluck them 
 out of his Hand, not one of them fhali periih in the 
 Deluge of Wrath ; Chriit will prefeat them all fafe 
 to his Father, Behold here am I, and the Children thou 
 baft given me. 
 
 As Noah's Ark was acccifible, and had a Door in 
 It for People to enter ; lb in a crucified jefas thuc is 
 a Door of'Accefs opened, even a Door of 'Faith, where- 
 by poor Sinners of the Gentiles may have Accefs to 
 Chrifl, and to God in him, Ads xiv. 27. As Paid 
 and Barnabas rehearied it as glad Tidings to the 
 Church, that God had opened a Door of Faith unto 
 the Gentiles ; lb we Gentile Sinners fhould gladly re- 
 ceive the News. Glory to God in the higheft for o- 
 pening this Door of Faith, and keeping it ltill open 
 to periihing Sinners. 
 
 Come then, Gentile Sinner, enter in by this Door 
 to the Ark, and lodge thy Soul within it, that thou 
 mayll be fafe from the Flood of Wrath that is com- 
 ing upon the ungodly World. God forbid vou be 
 found hovering without the Ark, until the Fl< 
 come and wafh you off from the very Sides of it. O 
 how difmal and cutting will the Thought he to you 
 through all Eternity, that you was i'o near Chrifl, 
 and within a Step of the Ark, and fometimes touch- 
 ing it, and yet never entered into it! How fad wi!l 
 it be to perifh, like the Thief upon the Crofs, with a 
 Saviour at your Side, and to fink into Hell betwixt 
 the Arms of Mercy ftretched forth tofave you! Now, 
 poor Soul, the Ark is near you, flee to it with fpced ; 
 behold, for vo«r Encouragement, there is a Window 
 opened in the Side of the Ark, and Mercy's Hand is 
 put forth to tnkc in fheltcrlefs Doves who come to 
 . the Time to beltir yourfelf, to come in- 
 to 
 
the Sinner's sfrk. 1 45 
 
 to the Ark without Delay, and fo prevent your pe- 
 riihing in the Flood for ever. 
 
 £K What (hall 1 do to get into the Ark, to wit, 
 a crucified JefusJ? 
 
 /]. 1. Be like Noah's Dove which he fent forth, 
 fee that you find no Reft for the Sole of your Foot 
 any where ellc; turn your Back upon all other Arks 
 of Men's deviling, they are all infufficient to lave 
 you from the Flood : Make not an Ark of the abfo- 
 lute Mercy of God out of Chrift, feeing he declares a 
 
 crucified J^fjs to be the only Channel of his Mercy 
 
 Make not an Ark of Church-privileges, as your good 
 Education, Admifriou to fealing Ordinances, ire. for 
 the Ark did not lave Shi, oh, nor the A.tar 's Hon:- 
 
 live Joab, nor the Tnnpie lave Jeru/a/em. Make 
 
 r.ot an Ark of your Gifts, Knowledge, Prayers, Du- 
 ties, "moral Honefty, or Self-righteouihefs, for the 
 Flood, whtn it comes, will dam all thefe in Pieces, 
 of the old World had built other Ships 
 ike the Ark as pofTible, or had fled to high Tow c:s 
 >f their own contriving, the Deluge would have de- 
 ftroyed them all ; there was no Safety for them but 
 vein's Ark alone. So whatever Arks you devife 
 t fare you from Wrath, if a crucified Chrift, the 
 Ark of God's building, be flighted, the Flood will 
 fweep away all your own Arks, as the Refifge oj Lies 
 Ifa. xxviii. 17. 
 
 2fl7>, Labour to be thoroughly convinced of your 
 Mitery while out of the Ark; and, in a deep Senfe of 
 your Neceflity of getting into it, break prefently o- 
 ver all the Bars and Hindrances which the Devil carts 
 kl your Way to (top your Entry into the Ark, as Un- 
 belief, finful Pleafures, worldly Carcj, pclumptu- 
 ous Hopes, carnal Company, Diverfions, ire. break 
 refolutely through all thefe to the Ark, as David's 
 three mighty Men brake through the Hoft of the Phi- 
 liftfa-cs'to the Well of Beth'.chem ; furely your Arm*. 
 ments fordoing it are far ftronger than theirs 
 N 
 
146 Chrifl crucified 
 
 $d/}>, Approve heartily the whole Contrivance of 
 God's Ark in all its Rooms and Stories : Approve 
 Chrifl crucified in his Perfon, Natures, Officts and 
 Relations, in his States of Humiliation and Exaltati- 
 on: Accept of him in them all, fublcribe to the 
 whole New-Covenant Scheme, as a Device worthy 
 of God and of infinite Wiidom ; Content to the great 
 End and Deiign of it, namely, that Self be debafed, 
 and free Grace eternally magnified. 
 
 4fhfy 9 Be frequently effaying Faith's Flight unto 
 the Ark, and to the Window in the Side of it ; make 
 earned Mints, like Noah's reftlefs Dove, to get in ; 
 lay oft like David, Pfal. iv. 6. thgt 1 had Wings 
 like a Dove, for then I would fly away and he at Fefl. 
 I would haften my Efcape from the Flood, and lodge 
 my Soul this Minute in one of the Rooms of the Ark. 
 Believing is a Work you fhould he often cilaying, and 
 tho' you cannot believe with laving Faith, yet believe 
 as you can, looking to God for more Strength. You 
 cannot pray, praile, or fanclify the Sabbath aright, 
 yet you aim at thefe Duties as you can, fo in like 
 Manner make honelt Mints at believing and flying to 
 Chrift; and aim in his Strength to apply his Blood, 
 every Man to his own Soul in particular, by an ap- 
 propriating Faith (correfponding to the free Goij cl- 
 orTer) and taking heme the Remedy as his own; de- 
 pending ftill upon the Spirit's Grace, who will not 
 fail thefe who truft in him, but alTiil them in making 
 faving Application. 
 
 Sthly, Be willing to part with every Thing that 
 would compete with God's Ark, however fpecious or 
 plaufible a Shew it may have. Renounce the Old 
 Covenant, and all lurking Places about Mount Sinai, 
 for in none of thefe you can find Safety. Abhor your 
 own Righteoufnefs for an Ark, whatever Shape it ap- 
 pear in ; and embrace him alone for it, who is the 
 Lord our Righteoufnefs. Plis Righteoufnefs only is 
 ipotlcfs, perfect and Law-biding- 
 
 Mfo 
 
the Sinner's Ark. 1 47 
 
 Uhly> Make a Surrender of yourfelf, and all you 
 have, to Jeius Chrift, to be dilpofed of by him as he 
 pleaieth : Be willing to fufTer the Lois of all Things 
 for him, yea, count all Tilings Lois and Dung that 
 you may win to the Ark, and be found therein when 
 the Flood cometh. 
 
 ADVICE II. 
 
 From Rev. iii. 20. 
 Behold I ft and at the Door and knock, . > 
 
 LOST Sinner, I bring you good Tidings ; the 
 eternal Son of God hath undertaken a long 
 Journey, and endured great Sufferings to purchaie 
 Salvation for thee ! A dear Purchaie it is, dear hath it 
 coll him to obtain it ! And now he hath brought it 
 the Length of thy Door, and there, O Man, Chrifl 
 is (landing knocking, and faying, This Da) Salvation 
 
 is come to this Houfe Door, open and take it in. 
 
 Now can you refufc, O Sinner, to take in Chrift'* 
 purchafed Salvation, when Chrifl hath come with it 
 to thy very Door, even the Door of thy Heart ? Be- 
 hold he ftands at it, and knocks for Entrance ! O- 
 pen, open, ire. 
 
 The Arguments for your opening are (Irong and 
 many; 
 
 1 . Consider at whofe Door Chrift doth fland, e- 
 ven at the Door of & Creature infinitely below r him— 
 Oh ! it is at a Beggar s Door, that hath nothing^ 
 to entertain CtuHt with when he enters ! yet faith he, 
 Open to me, and I will bring in Provifion with me, 
 and make thee a rich Feail. — It is at the Door of a 
 poor Lazarus, that is all full of Ulcers and Sores ; 
 yet, faith Chrifl, open, and I will bring in the Balm 
 of Gi/ead, a Plaifter of my Blood for healing all 
 , Sores, and for as coftly as it is, it fliall coft you 
 N 2 nothing.—— 
 
148 Chrifl knocking 
 
 nothing. — It is even at the Door of an Enemy, a 
 
 mortal Enemy, that Chrift ftands ; you have {poke 
 111 of him, thought 111 of him, and done 111 to his:: ; 
 you have affronted him, wounded him, and lodged 
 his Traitors and Murderers ; yet, faith Chrift, Open, 
 and hearken to the Offers and Terms of Reconcilia- 
 tion which I have purchafed for you with my Blood ; 
 they are moft furprifing and iafe, eafy and honoura- 
 ble.— --— -It is at the Door of Satan's Slaves thatChrift 
 ftanc&> thefe who have been long drudging at his 
 Work and feeding upon his Hulks ; yet, faith (Thrift, 
 Open to me, and I will let you at Liberty, and make 
 you God's free Men and Children. Why then will 
 you not open and receive him joyfully ? O Sinner,-, 
 ftand^amazed at Ch rift's condelccnding Goodnefs, in 
 ftandhlg at the Door of fuch a fmoky Cottage, lb ill 
 iwept, and out of Order ! Good Reafon have you to 
 €ry out, Lord, I am not worthy thou Jbouldjl coi?ie un- 
 der viy Roof ; but, feeing thou humblcft thyfelf to vi- 
 lli the Unworthy in fach a Manner, come in, and but 
 ipeak the Word, and the Houfe lhall be cleanfed,Di- 
 feafes healed, Grievances redrelfed, and the Soul made 
 happy. It is highly your Intereft then to open the 
 Door, and welcome in your Saviour, who ftands and 
 knocks for Accefs. 
 
 2. Again, confider who it is that ftands at your 
 Door: — It is even the King cf CIory y a King of in- 
 finite Power and Majefty ! And will not you lift up 
 the Gates of your Souls to this King ? Were it but 
 an earthly King that knocked at your Door, you 
 would foon open and receive him, yea, count it a 
 great Honour that you had fuch a Perfon in your 
 Houfe; but what are Clay Kings to the King of Glo- 
 ry P To the Prince of the Kings of the Earth f> To our 
 great Jmmanuel, the glorious plant of Renown, the 
 Head of the elect World ? Who then would not call 
 the Gates wide open to fuch a gloiious King ?— Again, 
 tenths ever I a fling father, and the Father of all Be- 
 lievers, 
 
at the Door of cur Hearts. 1 49 
 
 lievers, that ftands and knocks ! A Father full of Pi- 
 ty, that follows after his prodig tl Children, and in- 
 vites them to return to him! /ind will not a Child 
 open the Door to his Father ? Can yo 1 find in your 
 Heart to keep your companionate Father ftandin at 
 
 vour Door? Nay, further, it is your Husband' 
 
 that knocks, a loving Hufband, that hath fufrered 
 much for yourCaule: And will not an affectionate 
 Spoufe open and let in her Huiband ? — Moreover it 
 is your phyfictan that knocks, who brings healing Me- 
 dicines for all your Difeales, by which he hath cured 
 manyThoufands before now ! And will not a fick and 
 dying Man let in &ch a Phyfician . ? Open, O Sinner,, 
 why will vou die I 
 
 3. Coniider ChrijFs Patience and Long-fuffering 
 at your Door, he doth not knock and then go away 
 as one indifferent whether you open or not ; no, he 
 knocks and ftands (till ; he ftands and knocks again, 
 and that after many Rcpulfes ! No Beggar wanting 
 an Alms would ftand lb long at our Doors, as Chrift 
 ftands at a Beggar's Door, not leeking to take from 
 
 him, but wanting to give unto him. O wonder at 
 
 his Goodnefs and Long-patience! Behold hethat hath 
 a Throne of Glory to fit on, and Ten thoufand 
 Times Ten thoufand to bow before him, is willing, 
 O Sinner, to ftand at thy Door! yea, he Hands whilit. 
 thou do'ft ly in the Boibm of thy Lufts. — He ftands 
 without, whilft his Enemies are let in and allowed 
 
 to poifels the beft Seats! He ftands at the Door 
 
 while Satan is let in, and gets the eaiy Choir! O 
 wonderful Patience ! That Chrift after ib .many Af- 
 fronts and Repullcs, and after feeing Enemies pre- 
 ferred before him, mould continue to ftand at your 
 Door and knock ! But, O Sinner, do not try his Pa- 
 tience too much, nor provoke him too long; for, ob- 
 ilivc the Le t, he now ftands, he is on his Feet rea- 
 dy to go away ; the Knock will be given that v 
 prove the la ft, and thou knoweft not but the pri 
 N 3 Kn< 
 
15© Chnjl knocking, 5cc, 
 
 Knock may be it, do not then delay to open one 
 Moment longer. 
 
 IV. Coniider Cbrifi'j earneji Def.re to be let into 
 your Heirt, he not only ftanda at the Door, but he 
 knocks; yea, knocks loud and knocks often, to con- 
 vince you of his Earneflnefs. Many a loud Knock 
 doth he gi. e, by his Calls and Invitations in his Word, 
 Com: unto mc, open unto me, look unto me. Many a. 
 Knock gives he by his Proviifes to you, I will come 
 in, 1 will fup with you, I will eale you, heal )ou, 
 
 enlighten you, manifell myfelf to you, ire. Many 
 
 a Knock gives he by his Threatmngs of* Wrath and 
 Vengeance againft theic who Ihut their Doors againft 
 him. Many a Knock gives he by your own Ccu/ci- 
 efft&j and by his own Spirit railing Convictions, In- 
 clinations, Defires and Purpofes within your Heart to 
 
 bring you to a Saviour.- And many a Rap and 
 
 Knock doth he give at j our Door on Sacrament Oc- 
 eafions. Then it is he knocks aloud with his nailed 
 Hands and pierced Feet, and ftands at your Door 
 with his Wounds epen, his Blood ftreaming, and his 
 G irments dyed with Blood : And all this to mew his 
 
 Eameftnels to be let into your Heart. Open then 
 
 to Chrift, O Sinner, while he is knocking, be allured 
 he will not knock always, this may pollibly be the 
 lail Day of the Spirit's Knocks and Strivings with 
 thee ; lb that if you refuie to open at this prefenr. 
 Knock, God may llrike you dead and (enfeleis all 
 your Life, clap a Seal on the Door that it fliall never 
 open ; you may hear Minillers knock after this, but 
 ne\cr hear God's Spirit knock again ; and Wo unto 
 
 you if Jie depart from jou Remember, O Man, 
 
 for as many Knocks as God gives at your Door, he 
 keeps an exact Account of them all, and will reckon 
 them all up to you at the Judgment Seat. And can 
 you think he will open Heaven to you then, who will 
 not open your Heart to him now ! No, no ; 1 is Ear 
 wiii be as deaf to you hcreafter ; as yours is to hira 
 
 now a. 
 
Cbrtp willing to corns ni, &c. 151 
 
 now. Read and believe that terrible Word, Prov. 
 i. 24. ire. 
 
 ADVICE III. 
 
 From Rev. iii. 20. 
 
 //' any Man hear my Voice, and open the Door, I 
 will come in and fuf with hint. 
 
 GR EAT and precious are the Promifes which 
 Chi ill makes to them who hearken to his 
 Voice in the Gofpel-offers, and open their Hearts to 
 receive him, as offered to them in all his Offices; I 
 x\ 111 come in, and bring all the Benefits of my Pur- 
 chafe with me to entertain and feaft that Soul, even 
 Pardon, Peace, Light, Life, Grace and Glory. 
 I. Obferve, the Duty called for, U to hear Chrijis 
 ', and open the Door to him, that is, to accept 
 and embrace his free Gofpel-offers, and heartily to 
 acquieice in the Gofpel-method of a Sinner's Recon- 
 ciliation and Juitification thro' the Righteoufhefs of 
 our Glorious Immanuel, and willingly receive and 
 fubmit to him as our Prophet, Prieft and King. What 
 is the preaching of the Gofpel, but Cbrift's charming 
 
 Voice calling loit Sinners home to himfelf ? 
 
 What is it, but Chrht's following them with Invita- 
 tions and Intreaties to come to him and live \ This 
 is Chrift's Voice which he would have Sinners to hear, 
 come and live ; tho' they generally refufe to do it ! 
 Oh, what condemned Malefactor would refufe to hear 
 the Voice of his Sovereign offering him his Life, as 
 condemned Sinners do ? John v. 40, Te vjill not come 
 to ms that ye might have Life. Yet behold, after ma- 
 ny Refufals, he follows his Offers with Arguments, 
 ftrong Arguments to prevail with Sinners, and after 
 the greateft Obftinacy he is loth to break off his Trea- 
 ty with them, Hof. .\i. 8. How Jhall J give thee up 
 
 Ephrahn p 
 
1 52 Chrift willing to come lit 
 
 FphralmP Why will ye die P What Reafon can you 
 givzfcr refuflrtg Life, or for chufing Death P ■' 
 
 II. Oblerve, who it is that Chrift calls to hear hh 
 Foieee- and open their Doors to him ; it is not this or 
 that Man only, or any particular Sort of Men; it, is 
 any Man, every Man that Fits under the Gofpel. If 
 any Man will hear my Voice, and open the Door, faith 
 Chrift, I will come in. If 'any Man will open, be he 
 old Man or young Man, i will come in. If the great- 
 eft Sinner, the moll crimfon-coloured Sinner will 
 open, I will come in. day Man; if the Swearer 
 will open, if the Sabbath-breaker, if the Murderer, 
 if the Drunkard, if the Unclean, if the Thief, if the 
 Cheat, if the Liar, if the Mocker, if the prayerlefs 
 Man, if the Man that hates God and Godlineis v. ill 
 open to mc, / will come in and J up with him. O 
 what Encouragement doth this Word, If 'any Man, 
 give to every Sinner to fiy to Chrift ! If any Man, 
 whoever he be, whatever he hath done, if he will 
 welcome mc, receive me in the Golpcl- offers, I will 
 come in to him. 
 
 III. Obferve, Chrift requires Sinners to open the 
 Door, that he may come in to teach them ; however 
 unable they be, this is their Duty, they mult mint, 
 and ufc all Means to do it, and look up to him for 
 Strength. He will have the Sinners Conient, and 
 the Soul made willing to receive him. O then caft 
 open the Door, open it wide, receive Chrift v holly, 
 receive him without Referve, open before him the 
 two- le aired Gates, not the Wicket, or one Leaf only, 
 but both Leaves of the Door. Let Chrift have the 
 full and free Conient of the Soul, and abundant En- 
 trance into it. There are Come refoiving to open the 
 Door to Chrift, others perhips arc beginning to open 
 it, O let them not halt in doing. With fonic the 
 Door is half open, and theie they flop. They are 
 alm-jf, but not altogethe r Qhriltians. O almoji Chri- 
 fian, why do you halt? W.hy would you lofe all the 
 Fains you have been at ? A little more would caft 
 
 the 
 
to all who open to htm. 153 
 
 the Door wide open, and make you an altogether 
 Chrijlian. Go then a little further- O Sinner, to 
 fave your Soul. Open to Chrift all the Powers and 
 Faculties of your Soul. Open to him fully here, as 
 you would have him to open freely to you hereafter. 
 Oh, what mean you to open to Chi ill only by Halves \ 
 Alas, the half open Door will be ready to go to a- 
 gain, and if lb, it may never open for the future. 
 Let it be your Concern then to go a little further 
 than the almoft Chrijlian, and reft not in fair Be- 
 ginnings. 
 
 . IV. Ohferve, how great the Advantage is of open.- 
 ing the Door to Chrilt ; Why ? I will come in to the 
 Houfe, faith he, even the Friend of Sinners, the King 
 of Glory will come in, the beft Gueft that ever came 
 in to a poor Man's Houfe: How honourable, how 
 profitable, how happy and blefled mult fuch a Vifit 
 
 be! £K For what End will Chrift come in ? 
 
 A. He will come in to enlighten the Houfe; for the 
 Soul is a dark Dungeon while Chrift is fhut out : He 
 will come in to adorn ar.d enrich the Soul with the 
 Ornaments and Treafures of his Grace : He will come 
 in to reign in the Soul, and pull down the Tyrant that 
 hath long oppreft you: As in the Text, he will come 
 in and iiip with you, and caufe you to fup with him : 
 And becaufe you have no fitting Provision in the 
 Houle, he will bring it with him. And O how rare 
 are Chrift's Dainties, his hidden Manna, the Fruits 
 of the Tree of Life, the Grapes of Canaan, the Bread 
 that comes down from Heaven f How excellent is 
 the Water of Life ? One Drop of it would be an ever- 
 lafting Spring in thy Soul, that would keep thee from 
 thirfting after the Creature any more. What a rich 
 Feaft are the Graces of the Spirit tpuickned to a lively 
 Exerciie! What a bleft Feaft is Pardon of Sin, Peace 
 with Juftice, Peace w ith the Law, an Intereft in 
 Chrift's Purchafe, Intimations of Chrift's Love, Gof- 
 pel-promiles applied, Communion with God, Views 
 
 of 
 
15*4 ^ e Blejfings which Chrifl brings in, 
 
 of eternal Life, well grounded Hopes of immortal 
 Glory ! ire. O how precious and delicate are thele 
 Goipel-rarities which are let before you on the Com- 
 munion-table, and freely tendered tojsvery one that 
 opens the Door to Chrift! Who would not welcome 
 fuch a Gueft that brings fuch glorious Proviiion with 
 him ? Had poor Sinners ipiritual Appetites fharpened 
 for Chrift's Feaft, there would not be io many (hut 
 Doors againft him. 
 
 V. Obierve, how folemnly Chrift offers thele Gofpel 
 Blellings to you, with a behold I ft and, &c. Chrifl; 
 takes Witneiles upon it, Witneiks againft the Refu- 
 fers : Behold ye Angels, and witnefs for me how kind 
 and bountiful my Offers are to Adavfs rebellious 
 Children ! Behold ye Minifters, and witnels againft 
 'thele who lhut me out! Behold ye Stones and Timber 
 of the Houfe, ye Elements and Communion-tables, 
 bear Witnels for me and againft them ! Behold ye 
 Fellow-communicants and Hearers, bear Witnels one 
 againft another that I knocked, I called, I knocked 
 loud, I knocked long, but ye kept your Doo»;s bolted 
 
 againft me. It is a melancholy Thought for thele 
 
 who are Minifters to entertain, that they will one 
 Day be brought in as WitnefTes againft thole who fliut 
 out their Saviour j but when called, they muft wit- 
 nels againft fuch, tho' never lb dear to them now, that 
 Chriit called, but they refufed ; he made kind and 
 large Offers, but they regarded them not. O then 
 let every Soul fet about fwceping and wafting all the 
 Rooms, and caft open all the Doors, as wide as they 
 can, to the King of Glory, and receive him with Accla- 
 mation and Praiie. Take the Crown off the Head of 
 St/fj and put it on the Head of Chrift, afcribing all 
 the Glory of your Salvation to him, and nothing to 
 Free-will, or your own Doings. 
 
 ADVICE 
 
Chrift crucified, the Bread of Life. 1 55 
 ADVICE IV, 
 
 From Prov. ix. 5. 
 €'j?/ie, eat of vty Bread, and dnnk of the Wine, &c. 
 
 C^Hrift is the JFi/dom of Cod, who hath made rich 
 j Proviiion for entertaining his People, and hath 
 fetit before them in the Ordinance of the Lord's Sup- 
 per ; even Chrift crucified with all the Fruits of his 
 Purchaie. His Flefh is Meat indeed, and his Blood 
 Drink, indeed. The Fruits we lead: upon are Pardon 
 and Peace, Righteoujnejs and Grace, the ^ifurance of 
 Cod's Love, the Confoiations oj his Spirit, the Frwufes 
 of the Gofpel, and all the Earnefts and Pledges of e- 
 ternal Life. To this Feaft ftarving Souls are invited, 
 to feed by Faith upon thele Provifions Chrift hath 
 prepared for them, applying them to themfelves, and 
 taking the Comfort of them. 
 
 Bread and Wine are choien as fit Refemblanccs of 
 his ipiritual Feaft. As Bread and Wine ferve to pre- 
 ferve oar natural Life, and to ftrcngthen and cheer 
 us when weak or fainting; lb Chi ill crucified, appre- 
 hended by Faith, prelerves our ipiritual Life, and 
 procures eternal Life, ftrengthens weak Believers, and 
 cheers drooping Souls. x^s Bread and Wine incor- 
 porate with our Bodies; fo Chrift by his Spiiit dwells 
 in us, and we by Faith and Love dwell in him. — As 
 Bread and Wine fatisfy our Hunger and Thirft ; fo 
 thele, who by Faith lay hold and partake of Chrift'.. 
 Flelh and Blood, (hall no more hunger or thirft after 
 earthly Things. — Bread is the molt neceflary Thing 
 in the World, iiencc called the Staff of Bread, it up- 
 holds our Lives; fo Chrift is the Mercy of Mercies, 
 the moll ufc-ful and necellary Blcffing to preferye our 
 
 ftarving Souls Chrift is the Staff of Bread indeed 
 
 to believing Communicants, a Start that fupports you, 
 a Stiff that defends you, a Staff that will beat oft all 
 your Enemies: If you take hold of this Staff by Faith, 
 
 it 
 
I $6 Our heavenly Manna 
 
 it will rout and put all your Foes to Flight. There 
 is no Bread like this ! / a?n the Bread of Life, faith 
 Chrift. 
 
 We read, fudges vii. 13. of a Dream of one of the 
 Midianitifh Hoft, he dreamed when Gideon was com- 
 ing upon them, that a Cake of Barley-bread came 
 tumbling into the Hoft of Midian, and fmotc a Tent 
 that it fell to the Ground. Strange ! a Piece of 
 Bread overturn a Tent! Behold Che Interpretation of 
 that Dream, in the holy Sacrament ! Here a Piece of 
 Bread, if eaten by Faith, that will invade the Midia- 
 nitifh Hoft of the Devil, and the Lulls of the Flefh, 
 ftrike down all their Tents, and put them to Flight. 
 Come then, eat of this Bread bclievingly, and take 
 Faith's View of Chrift *s Body reprefented by it, as 
 bruifed and broken by your Sins ; this will weaken 
 their Power, and turn your Heart againft them, and 
 make you refolve that thefe Enemies of Chrift (hall 
 not live in your Soul. If the Sight of Co-far s bloody 
 Robe incenied the Rodmans againft the Murderers who 
 flew him ; much more a Sight of Chrift 's Wounds and 
 Bruifes in the Sacrament, mould excite you to hate 
 and kill Sin, and revenge drift's Death upon this 
 cruel Murderer. 
 
 Again, would you have Strength for your Wilder- 
 nefs journey, and for the Temptations anCS Trials 
 you meet with, before you have Occafion of another 
 Sacrament? Come eat of this Bread that ftrengthneth 
 
 the Hearts of Men. Here is Food more fubftantial, 
 
 durable and noui ifhing, than Elijah's Cake baken on 
 the Coals, ind his Crufe of Water provided for him 
 by the Angel; and yet it is faid, he went in the 
 Strength of that Meat 40 Days and 40 Nights, until he 
 came to Horeb the Mount of God. 1 Kings six* 7> 8- 
 There we find Elijah twice wakned by the Angel, 
 that he might take a double Meal, drife and cat, for 
 thy Journey is long : So God may be faying to thee, 
 O Chriftian-traveler, Arifc and eat, awake O Faith, 
 
 awake 
 
is to be eaten by Faith. 157 
 
 awake O fpiritual Appetite, thy Journey may be long; 
 tike a good Meal, you know not what Hills you 
 have to climb, what Winds and Storms may blow in 
 thy Face, before another Occafion of this Sort : §a~ 
 tan's Storm may blow, and Death's Storm may blow, 
 10 that you may not fee another Table like this, till 
 
 you come to the Mount of God above This is the 
 
 lame Bread the glorified Saints do feed on in Heaven. 
 Ghrift is the Manna that came down from Heaven to 
 feed perrihing Souls. The Ifraelites Manna was a 
 Type of Chrift, and hence called fpiritual Bread, 
 I Cor x. 4. 
 
 The Manna was fi eely given to them, and fell e- 
 very Morning round their Tents, and all of them were 
 at Freedom to gather it, and there was enough for 
 the whole Camp ; Co Chrift is God's tree Gift, and in 
 him is a Kulnefs of Grace for the whole believing 
 World, and every Gofpel bearer is free to gather it, 
 tho' indeed the Morning of oc- Lives is the mofb pro- 
 pcr gathering Time. There was a Memorial of this 
 Manna preserved in the Ark ; fo is there of Chrift in 
 
 the Lord*5 Supper, as the Food of our Souls Manila 
 
 was ground in a Mill, or beaten in a Mortar, and 
 D in an Oven, before it was fit for Food ; fo 
 Child was bruifed and ground by his Sufferings, and 
 fcorched in the fiery Oven of his Father's Wrath, 
 that he might become a fit Saviour and fit Food for 
 our Souls. 
 
 But Chrift crucified infinitely excels the Jfraelitc* 
 Manna: Theirs was peculiar to themfelves; but Chrift 
 is free to hoth'Jews and Gentiles: Theirs ceaied when 
 they came to Canaan ; but ours continues for ever, and" 
 is enjoyed mod fully in the Canaan above : Theirs on- 
 ly prelerved a natural Life j but ours gives a fpiritual 
 and eternal Life. — O come then, eat of this heavtr.lv 
 Bread, when let before you in Plenty, with Hunger 
 and Defire, blefting God for it, laying, Lord, tpcr- 
 rz:re give us this Bread : Come with fpritual Appe- 
 O tetea 
 
J 53 Our heavenly Manna, &c. 
 
 tites and purified Hearts. The Ifraelites Manna v. as 
 laid up in the Ark, and kept in a pure golden Po£, to 
 teach you to cleanfe your Hearts from Sin and Cor- 
 ruption, that they may be fit to lodge Jelus Chrifl our 
 heavenly Manna. If the Veflels which contain the 
 facramental Bread, were foul or polluted, you would 
 cenfure it as moil indecent; but much more unbecom- 
 ing is it, to receive Chrift into a foul Heart. 
 
 Come to this Table with Humility, and a deep 
 Senfe of your lll-defervings, acknowledging, that the 
 leaft Crumb of this Bread will be a great Mercy to fuch 
 an unworthy Creature ! Truth, Lord, I am a Dcg y vile 
 and polluted, yet the Dogs eat of the Crumbs which 
 fall from the Childrcns Table ! May I plead for a 
 Crumb for thy free Mercies Sake. — Oh, I am unwor- 
 thy of the common Bread that is let upon my own 
 Table, much more of the heavenly Bread that is let 
 upon thine! Inftead of Bread thou niayll give me a 
 Stone i inftead of a Smile, a Frown; inftead of the 
 Cup of the New Teftamcnt, thou may If put a Cup 
 of Wrath and Trembling in my Hand : But thy fireje 
 Grace, and large Offers, encourage me to wait and 
 hope, that the Needy Jhall not be forgotten, end the 
 EvpeClatio,; of the Fcor Jhall not perijh. 
 
 Come with a lively Faith to receive and eat, not 
 only of the Bread of Life, but alfo to receive the 
 Bread, the Lord ; your hnmanuel in Perlbn, arid 
 
 » make ufe of him in all his Offices Come eat with 
 
 J-,ove and Thankfulnefs, to him that was willing to 
 &e beaten, bruifed, ground and {torched, that he 
 might be Bread for nourifliing of if arving Souls. Re- 
 ceive this Bread of Heaven thankfully as a diftinguifli- 
 ing Blefling, which is not granted to all indifferently ; 
 for as God rained down Manna from Heaven upon 
 th'i Ifraelites ; lb he rained down Fire and Brim- 
 ftr.ne on Sodom and Gomorrah* 
 
 ADVICE 
 
Jofeph a Type of dm ft. 1 59 
 
 ADVICE V. 
 
 From Gen. xlv. 4. 
 
 Come near to me, I am Jofeph your Brother , 
 
 whom you fold. 
 
 JOseph was an eminent Type of Chrift; tho' he 
 was hated, fold, and cruelly ufed by his Brethren; 
 yet he ftill loved them, forgave them, and laid out 
 
 himielf for their Prefer vation and~Happinefs. Tho* 
 
 (Thrift be Lord of Heaven and Earth ; yet, O believ- 
 ing Communicants, he owns himielf as your Brother, 
 Bone of your Bone, and FleJJj of your Flefb ; nay, he 
 is not afhamed to call you Brethren, Go tell my Bre- 
 thren, laid he, to Mary, Mat. xxviii. 10. Tho' you 
 be mean and low, and Chrill highly raifed, yet his 
 Exaltation doth not caufe him forget his poor Friends 
 below; he Hill owns them as his Brethren. He is 
 indeed the elder Brother, and Heir of all Things ; 
 yet he is pleafed to adopt his younger Brethren into 
 his Right, and make them joint Heirs with him of the 
 Inheritance above. As Jofeph was moil condefcend- 
 ing to his poor Brethren, tho' he was Lord over all 
 the Land; ib is Chrift. As they did not know Jo. 
 fepb, until he told them I am Jofeph your Brother ; 
 i'o neither do we know Chrift, until he dilcover him- 
 feif to us. As Jofeph feemed to deal roughly with his 
 Brethren at firft, to make them remember the Injuries 
 they did him ; yet in the mean time he loved them, 
 give them Food, and afterwards (poke kindly to 
 them : So Chrift at firft takes Ways to humble his 
 People, and make them ienfible of their Sin; yet at 
 the fame time he fecrctly fupports them, and at length 
 brings La Confolation to them, laying, / am Jefus 
 your Brother, it is I, be not afraid. Come near to me, 
 fful Jofeph in a kind and familiar Way to his Bre- 
 thren ; ib Chrift faith to von, Draw near to me with 
 O 2 a 
 
2 60 How to come near Chrift 
 
 a fincere Heart, and I will mamfeft myfelf unto you, 
 as a loving Brother. 
 
 But if you would have the gracious Intimations of 
 his Favour, you muft firit be humbled for the Wrongs 
 you have done him. You have dealt treacheroufly 
 and inhumanely with Chriit, as Jacob's Sons did with 
 their Brother Jofeph ; Thele fold their Brother for 
 Twenty Pieces of Silver ; but, Ah! have not fome of 
 you fold Jefus, your Brother, for left, even for lonie 
 vile Luft or filthy Pleafure ? Nay, have you not mur- 
 dered him by your Sins? As C;/'/; (lew his innocent 
 Brother openly in the Field ; fo your Sins ha\c open- 
 ly nailed Jefus to the Crois, in the Fields without Je- 
 fufelem, and fhed his Blood like Water on the 
 Ground. O how can you anfwer for fuch horrid 
 Cruelty to your innocent Brother ? How can you 
 look him in the Face, after all you have done againft 
 him? What Feeling have you of the Injuries you have 
 done him? Are you deeply humbled, and heartily 
 grieved for them ? Then I have good News to tell 
 you, you have to do with a mod loving and forgiving 
 Brother; tho' you have betrayed him, fold him, 
 wounded him, murdered him ; yet he is willing to 
 forget and forgive all to the humble Penitent: Cunc 
 near to me, faith he, Jam Jofeph your Brother, ftand not 
 at a Diftance, but come near me by Faith and Pray- 
 er, embrace me in the Sacrament, and I will give you 
 a iealed Pardon of all your Crimes; I will give you 
 all the good Things of the Land, far excelling die 
 jicheft Fruits of Egypt, even my own Body and Blood, 
 with all the fpiritual and eternal Blcilings purchaled 
 thereby. 
 
 ObjeCr. But alas, I have dealt fo bafely and tic 1- 
 cheroufly with my Brother Jofeph, I have no Confi- 
 dence to go and meet him, I am afraid he frown on 
 me. Anf. He has indeed good Ground to do it, but 
 he is full of Bowels, Tenderneis and Pity to Penitents, 
 and molt ready to forgive. Let me advile you to 
 
 imitate 
 
with Prefects. 161 
 
 imitate fac$i when going to meet his Brother Efau, 
 whole Wrath he very much dreaded : He carried Pre- 
 fents alongft with him to his Brother. In like Man- 
 ner do you take Prefents with you, fuch as, i. A 
 broken, contrite and humbled Heart, a broken Heart 
 
 he will Hot defpife. 2. Take Faith with you, and 
 
 the ftronger it is, it will be the more agreeable Pre- 
 fent to Chrift ; put a firm Truft and Confidence in his 
 Blood and Bowels, bode and threap Kindncfs on him^ 
 like the Woman of Canaan, Truth, Lord, I am a 
 IsQgy but Dog as I am, I may plead for a Crumby 
 ieeing thy faithful Word warrants me to do it ; this 
 Prelent from that poor Creature was fo acceptable to 
 Chrift, that he immediately aniwered, Wpmdn % 
 great is thy Faith ; be it unto thee even as thou wilt, 
 Matth. xv. 28. 3. Take with you a firm Purpole 
 and Refolution, in the Strength of your Brother, not 
 to betray or wound him any more, and feal a Cove* 
 nant with him upon thele Terms. 4. Take with you 
 a fincere Heart and Purpofe of imitating your Bro- 
 ther, and ftudying Conformity to him. Learn of me, 
 faith he, for I am meek and loioly in Heart. Thefe 
 Prefents would be moft acceptable to your grieved 
 and offended Brother. But ieeing you have nothing 
 of your own, cry, Lord, give them firft to me, and 
 I'll offer them unto thee. 
 
 What Condefcenhon is this, that Chrift, the King 
 of Kings, ihould fay to all Believers, Ye are my Bre- 
 thren and Sifters ! who would not defire to ftand in 
 this honourable Relation to an earthly King, and far 
 more to the King of Glory ! Would we hav e him then, 
 for our Brother to own us, fuccour and iympathize 
 with us in all our Troubles ; let us forthwith embrace 
 and clofe with him by Faith, as he is tendered to u; 
 in the rich, large and free Offers of the Gofpel, and 
 then the Relation is prefently made up. O how in- 
 viting and alluring is that Word, I am Jefus your 
 Brother ! It ihould conquer the moft ftubborn Will, 
 O 3 and 
 
l6z Chrijl our loving Brother. 
 
 and make every unbelieving Heart to receive him like 
 Thomas, and lay, My Lord and my Cod. 
 
 Let every Believer in Diitreis come like the Bee, 
 and luck Honey from this Flower, I am Jells your 
 Brother, Be not afraid, 'it is I. Do not millakc me 
 for an Enemy in any of my Dealings with you ; It is 
 I your Brother, that means you no Harm. It is I 
 that loves you, and4aid down my Life for you ; it is 
 I, who by my Blood purchafed landiiied Afflictions 
 to you, to work for your Good. It is I that doth 
 all Things well, and have infinite Wi'dom and Lo\e 
 to order and direcl: every Difpenlktioft for your Intc- 
 reit and Benefit. It was I that fwate Blood for you 
 in the Garden, was ipit on and buffeted in the High 
 Prieft's Hall, and nailed for you to the Crols, and all 
 to puichale eternal Hapumcfs and Glory for my af- 
 flicted Brethren. I am jo-s your Brother, Behold 
 ■my Hands and my Feet. It i,s I that died and role 
 again for you, and have aiccnaed to my Father and 
 your Father, to my God and your God; and have 
 gone^up to prepare a Place for you. It is I that fits 
 at the Helm, and all Power given to me. It is I 
 that am faithful and true, I have the lame tender 
 Heart and yearning Bowels for you I had on Earth. 
 It is I that never failed any that trailed in me. It is 
 Jellis your Brother who am It ill the lame Yeiterday, 
 to Day and for ever. Be not afraid in Trouble, it 
 is I your dear Friend and Brother ; come near to me 
 hi the daily Exercife of Faith. Come near and dole 
 to me at my.Tablc, and take a narrow Look to my 
 fivebig Wounds,and draw Conlblation from them. Be- 
 hold the twoWound.sinmvrHands, and the two Wound* 
 in my Feet, which were made to bring you back from 
 Hell :o Heiven. Behold a iifth Wound in my Side, 
 and look into my Heart, and fee it panting with 
 .Love, and do not '}uc(lion your Brother's Love to you 
 am more. 
 
 ADYICl 
 
The Man fate betwixt a ike. lu 
 
 o 
 
 ADVICE VI. 
 
 From Mat. x:ui. 2. 
 A certain King made a Marriage for bit Sou. 
 
 TH E Gofpel-covenant, or Covenant of Grate, 
 is a Marriage-covenant betwixt Chrift and be- 
 lievers; a finrprifing Marriage this is, and yet a Mar- 
 riage of God s making. Wonderful! the great God 
 
 is content to give his dear Son in Marriage to fallen 
 Adam* Daughter, that was become a Slave to the 
 Devil/ Yea, he hath drawn up the Contrail, and 
 all tU Ankles of it. Chrift the Bridegroom hath 
 cheerfully fubicribed the Contract, he dipt the Pen m 
 his own Blood on the Crofs, and put his Hand to it 
 in the View of God, Angels, Men, and all the World. 
 Now the Bridegroom wants your Conlent to the 
 Marriage-contract, and he hath long been courting 
 you to fubferibe it : Some of you have often been 
 purpofed to do it, yea, taken the Pen in your Hand, 
 but, upon fome fmall Temptation, have itopt and 
 thrown by the Pen. This Day Chrift hath let a Try ft 
 with you to conclude the Bargain, and his Ambalfa- 
 dors -are come, in his Name, to fpread the Contract 
 before you with all its Articles. Well then, Will 
 you go with this Mau ? Will you put your Hand to 
 the Contract ? 
 
 O Sinners, you have no Reafon to be ihy in this 
 Matter, you have nothing to be vain of^ you are 
 mean born, of low Extract; you are lothlbme Le- 
 pers, you are deformed, black, and have no Beq^ity ; 
 you are Cripples, cannot walk, unlefs Chrift lift you; 
 you arc drowned in Debt, many old Scores hath 
 Chrift to clear for you, if he match with you. O 
 who would make Love to fuch a wretched Creature i 
 Yet, behold, here is one that is fairer than the Sens 
 of Men, of the Blood-royal of Heaven, the Heir of 
 
 ail 
 
164 Th$ Mmf&ge betwixt 
 
 all Things courting you! Be aftonifhed, O ye Hea- 
 vens, at this Match! One infinitely rich with a Beg- 
 gar, the Heir of Heaven with the Heir of Hell, the 
 Beauty of Heaven and Earth with a deformed Negro ! 
 But if the Bridegroom be ^ontent, why mould you 
 flick? Can you give any Reafon for your Refulal or 
 Delay? Now the God of Heaven is letting Tryit 
 with you to conclude this bleffcd Bargain with you 
 at his Table, and calling you there to figii and leal 
 a Man-iage-contradt with his Son, and that before 
 all the Perfons of the glorious Trinity, before the 
 elect Angels, before (Thrift's Ambaffadors, an., before 
 all the Congregation, Witness thereto. There ha\ e 
 been many Meetings heretofore, about this grand 
 Affair, to no Effect : The World, Satan, and tfce 
 . Flcfn, hare formerly broke off the Treaty ; forbid 
 it, Lord, that they do it this Day. O that the long 
 fpokc of Match betwixt a crucified JefV.s and loft Souls 
 may hold at laft. This may be the laft Tryft, the 
 laft Offer Chrift will make ; it may be now or never 
 with you. Lay your Hand to your Heart then, and 
 conlider well before you refufe. 
 
 Come take another View of this beautiful Bride- 
 groom that is in your Offer. Ben old how delicate 
 his Complexion is, He is whfte'aud ruddy ; 'white in 
 regard of his Innocence, and ruddy in his bloody Pai- 
 fion. O how peerlefs is his Perfon! How ravifhing 
 {lis Beauty ! How charming his Voice 1 How (lately 
 his Goings ! How fragrant are his Garments ! They 
 (mell of Allocs, Myrrh and CafTia ! Search all the 
 World, yon cannot find his Equal. One Glimpfe 
 of h;:n is enough to ravifh Men and Angels ; His Locks 
 are black a?id bu/Jjy as the Raven, his Lips are like Li- 
 lies dropping fweet /welling Myrrh, his Legs as Pillars 
 of Marble fet upon Sockets of fine Gold ; his Counte- 
 nance is as Lebanon, excellent as the Cedars ; yea, he 
 is altogether lovely/ Now, can you refufe fuch a love- 
 ly Perfop ; efpecially when you think how he loved 
 
 you, 
 
Chrift and 'Sinners, 1 65 
 
 you, ib as to fuffer a cruel and bloody Death for you, 
 and to lend his Portraiture with the Marks of his 
 Wounds to be put in your Hands at his holy Table, 
 and all to win your Heart! Come view, and remem- 
 ber the many Wounds he received for you, by the 
 Thorns which pierced his Head, by the Pincers that 
 pluck 't his Hair, by the Scourges that tore his Back, 
 by the Nails that pierced his Hands and Feet, and by 
 the Spear that opened his Side ! Surely thefe Wounds 
 do not mar his Beauty to the Eye of Faith ; nay, 
 tho' he be all over wounded, mangled and bleeding, 
 yet to a Belies er he is ftiil white and ruddy, the chief- 
 ejl among ten thoafands, fairer than alt the Sons of 
 Men, nay, and all the Sons of God too. 
 
 Certainly the Bridegroom muft be in eainelt, when 
 he comes in his Marriage-robes to win backward 
 Hearts, when he puts on his dyed Garments, and is 
 red in his Apparel; when lie dilplays his Glory, brings 
 the Marriage-contract in his Hand, ipreads it on the 
 Communion-table, and calls all who love him to 
 fign it. O that many were made willing, in a Day 
 of his Power, to go into all the Articles of this Marri- 
 age-covenant, faying, My Heart is new content to 
 go with the Man Chrift, that wonderful Man ; I 
 confent to all his Terms, he is my Lord and my God, 
 Oiy glorious hjmOHueti ?ny Beloved is mine, and I 
 am his. QueJL 1 would know particularly what he 
 requires on my Part of the Contract, that I may 
 diftinetly dole with him? Ar.f. He would have you, 
 
 1. Convinced of your linking and periming State, 
 while you Itand upon the old Bottom of a Covenant 
 of Works; and willing to leave it, and leap from it, 
 and cleave to a Covenant of Grace, and a borrowed 
 Rightcoulhcls for all the Ground of your Hope.. 
 
 2. He would have you humbled and grieved for your 
 leg flighting his kind Oilers by your Unbelief, and 
 
 for your preferring Satan's Drudgery to his Sen ice. 
 
 J, Give up with ail other Lovers, and theie that 
 
 would 
 
1 66 The Marriage betivixt 
 
 would rival it with Chrift, fuch as Sin, the World, 
 or the Law ; Self-righteouihels muft be renounced and 
 parted with; you mull break League with all Chrift *s 
 
 Enemies. 4. Accept of Jeliis Chrift as vour Hul- 
 
 band, receive him in all his Offices, reft and depend 
 on him alone for Righteouihefs, Strength, and Sal- 
 vation. 5. Give away yourielves, Soul and Body 
 
 to Chrift, refign your Will to his Will, and furren- 
 
 der all you have to his Diipofal. 6. Refolve and 
 
 vow, in Chrift's Strength, to crucify Sin, and walk 
 
 with him in all the Ways of new Obedience. 
 
 7. Engage to be true and faithful to your Hufband, 
 and never to retraft. — 8. Keep up the Remembrance 
 of your Hufband's coming at the laft Day to lblem- 
 nize the Marriage, and take you home to himlelf, 
 and be always in Readinefs to go forth to meet him. 
 The Bridegroom is ready long fince, and will foon 
 rend thefe Clouds to meet you in the Air, and fend 
 his Angels to bring you up to him ; Therefore be ye 
 alfo ready. 
 
 O why doth he delay his Coming ? What flops the 
 Wheels of his Chariot ? Surely it is not becaufe he 
 is unready, but becaufe you are not ready. All the 
 Elecl are not yet brought in to him, and he is deter- 
 mined not to want one of them. O then be provid- 
 ing for the Marriage -day all proper Furniture, Robes, 
 Jewels, Rings and Ornaments, againft the Time that 
 Chrift and you take up Houie together in Heaven. 
 Be lure to go to Chrift for every Bit of your Plenifli- 
 ing, for Righteoufnefs, and for all the Grr.ces ef 
 
 Spirit. In the mean time, take home with you the 
 
 Marriage-contract; the precious Promifes which Chrift 
 hath flihlcribed with his Blood. Be often looking in- 
 to it, and viewing your Bridegroom's Hand-wi it and 
 Engagement, His Writing is fair and beautiful ; let 
 not Satum or Unbelief call: Blots upon it to deface it ; 
 keep it fair and legible, Gftd draw c!l your Comforts 
 
 iron: 
 
Chrijl and Sinners. 1 67 
 
 from it; yourHufband is faithful, and will keep his 
 Word. 
 
 ADVICE VII. 
 
 From Laity i. 12. 
 
 Behold and fee, the herd hath afflided me in the Day 
 of his fierce Auger. 
 
 WITH far better Ground may Chrift make ufe 
 of thele \Vo:ds of his Church, and call us 
 to behold his Sufferings for us under the fierce Anger 
 of God, in the Day when it t> leafed the Lord to bruife 
 him, and put him to Grief in our Stead, Ifa. tiii. 10. 
 Many Things did he uifTer from Men and Devils ; but 
 his Afflictions and Bruiics from the immediate Hand 
 of God, taking Vengeance for the Elects Sins, were 
 far more heavy. His Soul-iafTerings were the moft 
 afflicting of all others. Let every Communicant be- 
 hold, lee, and confider thefe with luitable Affections. 
 Behold not only the Buffeting*, Sccurgings, Womu 
 dings, and cruel Mockings your lovely Jeius endured 
 from Men, the Inftruments of God's Juftice ; but c- 
 fpecially what he fuffered in his Soul by the Defertion, 
 or Dereliction of God the Father, whereby the gra- 
 cious Influences and Comforts from the Diwne to the 
 Human Nature of Chrift were fufpended for a Time, 
 and a black Cloud of Wrath overwhelmed him, fo 
 that no Light appeared to him ; which made him cry- 
 out, My Cod, my God, why hall thou for/a ken me P — • 
 Nay, at this Time he had a Torrent of Wrath flow- 
 ing in upon his Soul, and the moft dreadful Imprefli- 
 ons of his Father's Anger, and the Law's Curfe, which 
 fell upon him for Man's Sin, when he was made a 
 Curfe for us, that it call him into a Fit of fore Amaze- 
 ment, Coniternition and terrible Agony, and into a 
 S-.rcat of Blood. The Fire of Wrath raging in his 
 
 Soul 
 
I 68 Chrift fufering 
 
 Soul affected his Body fo, that it dried up hib Strength 
 and Moilture as a Potfherd, and made his Tongut 
 cleave to his Jaws. He held his Peace under all his 
 Sufferings from Men, and opened not his Mouth; but 
 when God's immediate Wrath fell heavily on him, 
 then he cried out : It is laid, He put up Prayers and 
 Supplications , with Jlrong Crying and Tears, Heb. v. 
 7. Yet God would not fpare him, nor abate him 
 one Stripe or Farthing of the Debt ; let him cry ne- 
 ver fo loud, Juftice was inexorable ; he mult fatisfy to 
 the Full. 
 
 O can you fee the Great hmnanuei fubftitute in your 
 Room or Stead ; God acling againlt him as an inex- 
 orable Judge ; Jehovah running upon him as a Giant, 
 not only withdrawing his Countenance, and all Feel- 
 ing of his Loving-kindnefs from him, but making him 
 the Butt of his envenom'd Arrows; and not be filled 
 with Admiration at (Thrift's Love, and Sorrow for 
 your Sins, which brought fuch a Storm of Wrath up- 
 on him ! O how fad were the Bruifes ! How deep 
 
 were the Wounds ! How wide the Gaflies ! and how 
 heavy the Blows he got from the Sword of Juftice for 
 our Sins ! The Sword was not dull nor fleepy, but 
 furbifhed and awakened by Juftice to the Execution. 
 
 . O how heavy were the Blows our Surety got 
 
 from this awakened Sword in the Garden ofGethje- 
 mane, which made his Soul exceeding forrowful, and 
 
 puf: him in a dreadful Agony and bloody Sweat ! 
 
 Behold and fee how patiently he drank the bitter Cup 
 of God's Wrath for you, the Poifon whereof drank 
 up his Spirits, and made his Blood to boil in his Veins, 
 and burft thro' his Body, Clothes and all ! He fwate 
 without any outward Fire or Heat, and bled without 
 any external Wound ! — Behold his Garments dyed red, 
 and the Ground and Grafs where he lay all bedew- 
 ed with his precious Blood ! Behold him broken 
 
 with Breach upon Breach, till all the Sea-billows of 
 Divine Vengeance went over him; ib that he fell to 
 
 the 
 
under God's fierce Anger. 1 6 9 
 
 the Ground, was covered with Blood, and over- 
 whelmed with Wrath ! Behold and fee, if there be 
 anv Sorrow like his Sorrows ! 
 
 It is laid Mark xiv. 33. He began to before amazed 
 and very heavy! Which (hews what a Load and Pref- 
 ilire of Wrath his Soul lay under, that put him in an 
 Agony that ftill increaied more and more, like the 
 Waters in Ezekie/'s Vifion, ftill deeper and deeper, 
 from the Ancles to the Knees, till they became Wa- 
 ters to fvvim in, yea fwelled into an Ocean that 
 would have overwhelmed the whole Elect World. 
 Into this Ocean our bleffcd Jonah was willing to be 
 thrown for our fake, and in it he continued to iwim 
 
 until he brought every Elecl Soul fafe afhore. 
 
 It is recorded of Abraham, when offering his Sacri- 
 fice, Gen. xv. 12. That in the Evening to an Horror of 
 areat Darknefsfell upon him. This was verified much 
 more of Chrift in the Evening before'his Pailion in 
 the Garden : There a terrible Horror of great Dark- 
 nefi fell upon Chrift's Soul, which made him exceed- 
 ing heavy, and fore amazed, at the Proijrecl of the 
 Sea of Wrath that was coming rolling upon him, 
 while the Father was hiding his Face from him. O 
 how great was the Anguifh of Chrift's Mind at this 
 Time, when he found himfclf prefled and bruifed be- 
 twixt the Milftone of God's Juftice and our Sins ? 
 Which Preffure made him fweat without Heat, and 
 bleed without Wound ! Ah ! the Fire, the Heat, the 
 Wounds were inward, even in his Soul ! O Commu- 
 nicants, behold and fee Chrift's Sorrows for you, no- 
 thing can be more acceptable to Chrift than often 
 to meditate thereon with Admiration and Love. If 
 any of you had loft a Hand, or even a Finger, in 
 defending or refcuing your Friend from an Enemy, 
 you would expect he would be ever mindful of the 
 Favour, and never forget you. But O what is 
 that to the Sufferings of the Son of God for you ? 
 He hath loft not a Hand, but his Heart Blood, yea, 
 P the 
 
* 70 Cbrifl fuffering 
 
 the Favour and Countenance of God For you for ■ 
 Time. He left his glorious Throne in Heaven, and 
 ftocped to become a Man, a poor Man, a Man of 
 Sorrows, a dclertcd Man, and a dead Man for von. 
 Nay he was willing to be made a Curie for you, and 
 to take on a -dreadful Load of Wrath upon his inno- 
 cent Soul, yea infinitely more than any damned Soul 
 in Hell can bear; and to fwim long in a Sea of Wrath 
 to fave you from perilhing in it. Let the furprizing 
 Love of Chrift fill your Soul with Wonder, and kin^ 
 die a Flame of Love in your Soul to him. 
 
 Again, meditate on Chrift Y Sorrows, with deep 
 Sorrow for Sin the Caufe thereof. Relieve that ami*. 
 ipgWord, Jfa* liii. 6. He was -a:Gn.r.dc d far ourTru;//- 
 grejfiotis, he was bruifed for our Iniquities. Let the 
 Sound of it never go out of your Ears ; fay, Oh I 
 my Sins were the Thorns which pierced his Head, the 
 Nails which pierced his Hands, and the Spear which 
 pierced his Side. My curled Sins put the Loid of 
 Life to a cruel Death, they wounded him more than 
 all his other Enemies. When my dear Lord was in 
 the Garden, no Judas , no Pilate, no Jew v.ovC en- 
 tile was there, to caule his amazing Horror of Soul, 
 and his fearful Sweat of Blood ; but, Oh, my Un- 
 belief, my Pride, my Carnality, my Hypocrify, and 
 other Sins were there, and w th their Weight pref- 
 fed him to the Ground, and brought that Agony and 
 , Sweat upon him. Oh, that my Head were Waters, 
 that I .might weep a Flood of Tears tor my Sins ! 
 
 LaJI/v, Abhor Sin as the greateft Evil, and never 
 have flight Thoughts of it any more; Can you be- 
 hold your agonizing Saviour under a Burden of Wrath, 
 and hear him complaining of the burning Heat and 
 Thirft which the Fire of Juftice created within him ! 
 Can you fee the great Drops of Blood Handing above 
 his Garments ! Can you hear his Cries and Roarings 
 ■under the Bruilcs and Angujlli of his Soul, and not 
 ;be convinced of the Evil and Demerit of Sin ! Can 
 
 that 
 
wider God's fierce Anger. 171 
 
 that fit light upon your Soul which fat fo heavy up- 
 on Chrift's Soul ? O what defperate Malignity muft 
 there be in that, which could not be expiated with- 
 out fuch a coftly Sacrifice ! Look on them as Fools 
 who make a Sport of Sin, which coft the Son of God 
 ib much Soul Travail and inward Horror : Never 
 yield any more to the Temptations of Sin, which 
 coil fo dear before it could be forgiven. 
 
 ADVICE VIII. 
 
 From Mat. xxvi. 22. 
 
 They luere exceeding forr awful, and began every one to 
 fay, Lord, is it IP 
 
 IT was a commendable Exercife of (Thrift's Difci- 
 plts, before partaking of the Holy Supper, to be 
 learching themiclves, and looking inward with a ho- 
 ly Sufpicion upon their own Hearts, efpecially when 
 Chrift had told them, there was a Traitor among 
 them, and at the fame Time looking up to him that 
 is Omnilcicnt, to aflift them in the Search, faying, Lord, 
 L it I? Am I the Traitor? Will I betray my dear 
 Lord and Saviour? Ah ! every one of us have within 
 us traiterous Hearts to Jefus Chrift, and have Rea- 
 lbn to fufpect ourfelves as they did, and acknowledge 
 we have many Enemies of Chrift lodged in our J3o- 
 fbms, fuch as Unbelief Hypocrify, Pride, Malice, En- 
 vy, Ambition, World I'niefs, Alheifm, Wandrings from 
 God, Backwarduefs to Duty, &c. by which we have 
 
 betrayed Jefus Chrift. And as the Dilciples when 
 
 fearching themfelves were exceeding forroixful ; i'o 
 ought we before we partake : And good Reaibn have 
 we for it, when we reflect upon our former Guilt and 
 treacherous dealing with God, and when we eonfider 
 the preieat Deceitfulucfs, and deiperate Wickednefs 
 of ow Hearts, and that they are as ready to betray 
 P 2 Chrift 
 
172 Searching and for rowing for Sin, 
 
 Chrift as ever; yea, that there is Hypocrily and 
 Treachery in our Hearts againft Chrift which we 
 have not yet dilcovered. Upon all which Accounts, 
 we have Ground with the Diiciples to be exceeding 
 forrvnifuL 
 
 Now is the Time, O Communicants, to fearch and 
 examine yourfelves, and to be exceeding lorrowful 
 tor the many traiterous Wounds you have given Chrift, 
 by breaking both Tables of the Law, and every 
 Command thereof; by finning again!! Light and 
 Conilience, againft Mercies and Judgments, Warn- 
 ings and Reproofs, Confellions and Prayers, By Un- 
 thankrulnefs for redeeming Love, neglecling Golpel- 
 ofFers, not loving and retting upon a crucified Jefus, 
 not accounting all Things Lofs and Dung for him ; 
 not delighting in attending bis Ordinances, and in 
 
 remembring his Love in the holy Supper. O how 
 
 treacherous have your Hearts been to Chrift ! how 
 blood -thirfty have your Sins been againft him, in 
 preiling him down in the Garden, in nailing him to 
 the curled Tree! How are you able to look to Geth- 
 ;hna?:e or Golgotha, with unconcerned Hearts or dry 
 Eyes ! Were not your Sins the principal Actors in that 
 horrid Tragedy ? Thele, to be fare, were the Trai- 
 tors, which by the Hands of Judas , delivered up Je- 
 fus to be crucified : What were Pilate, the Jews or 
 Romans, but the Executioners of your Sins ? Who 
 put the Sword in Juflice Hands ? Who railed the 
 Tempeit of Wrath againft your Surety ? Oh ! it was 
 your Sins. Blame none fo much as them ; they were 
 the Judas that betrayed him, the Herod that mocked 
 him, the Pilate that condemned him, and the Soldier 
 that pierecd him ; will you not then be exceeding for' 
 roivful for your traiterous Hearts and bloody Sins ? 
 Could they ever been guilty of a more horrid Crime 
 than murdering the Lord of Glory ? O mail the Rocks 
 about Jcrufalem rend afunder, the Earth tremble and 
 {hake, the Sun vail its Face, and the whole Heavens 
 
 put 
 
Searching and forrowi ng for Snu 173 
 
 put on a mourning Habit, when Chrift. fufFered for 
 your Sins ? And mall you the Criminals, who defer- 
 red all this Puniftiment, ftand unaffected ? O what 
 ftupid Hearts mud you have, if they do not mourn 
 for your Sins which brought on fuch Agonies upon the 
 Son of God, before they could be expiated. Had 
 you in your PaiTion given a deadly Wound to any 
 poor innocent Man, your Hearts would have bled 
 for it all your Days; and will not your Hearts much 
 more relent for Slaughtering the innocent Lamb of 
 God! One that never WTonged you, but was always 
 fnterpofing for you, and doing you good ! 
 
 Remember what David faid to the Lord, when ho 
 few the People deltroyed for his Sin, 2 Sam xxiv. I 7. 
 ho, I have finned and done wickedly j but as for thefe 
 Sheep, what have they done r In like Manner lay you, 
 Lord, I have finned, I have done wickedly; but as 
 for this fpotlefs Lamb, what hath he done i I have 
 eaten the four Grapes, but his Teeth were fet on Edge. 
 O when will yom- Heart melt, and your Eyes weep, 
 if not now? Never was there fuch a moving Sight 
 let before your Eyes, as the Lord of Glory pierced 
 and llain by your Sins. Now it is, that Deep calleth 
 unto Deep, deep Sufferings m Chrift. for deep Sorrow 
 in thee. 
 
 O faith one, I defire to be grieved for my Hypocri- 
 fy and treacherous dealing with Chrift, and for Siir 
 that crucified him, but how mail I know if my Sor- 
 row be of the right Sort ? Anf. Examine it by fuch 
 Marks as thefe, 1. Godly Sorrow is accompanied with 
 fome View of the Mercy of God in Chrift, which 
 fupports the Soul, and keeps it from Dcfpair. Judas 
 Sorrow, however deep it was, wanted this necefTary" 
 
 Ingredient 2. If true, it will be univerfal, both 
 
 for your own Sins, and the Sins of others ; for the 
 Sins of the Place where you live, and for thefe of the 
 
 whole Land 5. If it be right Sorrow, it will 
 
 bring you to confider the Aggravations and heinous. 
 P 3 Circum-- : 
 
1 74 The Marks and Efeils 
 
 Circumftances of your Sins, as being againft Light, 
 againft Love, and againll iblemn Engagements and 
 ProfelTions of Friendfhip, fo as to mourn and cry, 
 -How traiterous hath my Heart been to fo kind a 
 jVIafter ! 4- It will produce thefe fevcn happy Ef- 
 fects mentioned, 2 Cor. vii. 11. There it is laid, 
 godly Sorrow for Sin works, 1. 'Carefulnefs, that is, 
 a Care to recover Peace with God for what is paft, 
 and to pieafe God for the Time to come, by amend- 
 ing what is amifs, and avoiding all Temptations and 
 
 Occ&fions fcbat lead to Sin. 2. Clearing of your- 
 
 [elves y by mourning over the Sins' of other Men, dif- 
 ienting from them, and (hewing your Deteftation 
 of them. 3. Indignation againft Sin, as the abo- 
 minable Thing which God hates. The Heart of a 
 true Penitent riles, fwells, and boils againft Sin. 
 Then it is you are angry and fin not, when you arc 
 angry at Sin, and at yourielves for Sin. — 4. Fear, 
 The true Penitent fears to offend God as he hath, 
 done ; and that he may not do it, he nourifheth a 
 holy Fear and awful Imprellion of the Holinefs of 
 God ; and alio a Fear of holy Jealcufy and IVatch- 
 fulnejs over himfelf, left Sin mrprife him at any 
 Time. — ■ 5. Vehement De fire, to wit, after Re- 
 conciliation with God thro' Chrift, and after Refor- 
 mation of every Tiling amifs, and. to be entirely 
 id of all Sin.— —.6. Godly Sorrow produccth Zeal y 
 which is an Affection or Grace compounded of Love 
 and Anger, to wit. Love to God and Duty, and 
 Anger againft Sin and every Thing oppofitetoGod. — 
 7. Revenge, by feeking the utter Extirpation of Sin, 
 by falling, mortifying the Flefh, and denying your- 
 felves in fbme Things lawful for a Time. A good 
 Way to execute this Revenge againft Sin, is for 
 Penitents to take frequent Views of the deep and 
 bloody Wounds which Sin hath given to your dear 
 Redeemer. It is written of the Emperor Julius C<c- 
 ptr f that after he was murdered In the Senate, they 
 
 brought 
 
oj true sorrow . ijj 
 
 brought forth his Robe all beiineared with his Blood 
 to the Market-place, and expoied it to open View, 
 in order to awaken his Friends to take Revenge 
 upon his Enemies. This is furely one Defign of the 
 holy Sacrament, to awaken your Zeal againft Sin, 
 
 which murdered the Lord of Glory. LaJUy, 
 
 Godly Sorrow for Sin, will drive you to Chrift for 
 Help againft Sin ; it will make you flee to Chrift 
 for Deliverance from an ill Heart, as well as from 
 the Wrath that Sin defervethj hence theApoflle cried, 
 wretched Man thai I am, who JJiai! deliver 7jie fron 
 the P.odj of this Death! Rom. vii. 24. 
 
 ADVICE IX. 
 
 From Heb. vi. 18. 
 
 — ^ IV he have fie 'd for Refuge, to lay hold upon the 
 
 Hope jet before us. 
 
 WE have here a Two- fold Description of true 
 Believers, which come to one; 1. They are 
 fuch as have fled to Chrift as the true City of Refuge, 
 
 to fheltcr them from avenging Juftice. 2. They are 
 
 fuch as have by Faith laid hold on Chrift fet before 
 them in the Gofpel-Promife, as their only Hope of 
 Salvation. 
 
 Chrift is our Refuge-city from the Curfes of the 
 Law which hang over us, from the Avenger of Blood, 
 Divine Jujtice that purfues us, and from the Devils 
 
 which ly in wait for us The Cities of Refuge under 
 
 the Law were fix, but under the Gofpel we have one 
 better than them all. Theirs only protected the Bo- 
 dy from the Wrath of Man; but ours doth protect 
 both Soul and Body from the Wrath of an angry 
 God. The Way to it is made plain and patent, Pil- 
 1 irs are let up, Chrift's Minifters to direct Sinners in 
 theWay to it. In this blcfled City there is Protecti- 
 on. 
 
176 Flying to Chrijl 
 
 on, Inftrucftioii, Provifion and Fulnefs for all that flee 
 to it. Here is all our Hope of Salvation, and it is is 
 vain to hope for Safety any where elfe. Now Com- 
 municants, this blefled Hope is fet before you, come 
 lay hold on it, and cleave fait to it. Now the City 
 is fet on a Hill, the Way to it prepared, and the 
 Gates open: The Golpel-trumpet is. founded, and 
 Proclamation made, whofoever flees to the City, be 
 his Cale what it will, (hall in no wile be call out. 
 
 Under the Law, he that faw his Danger, and fled 
 to the City of Refuge, did firmly believe there was 
 Sifety and Security for him by publick Authority in, 
 that privileged Place, if he could but get into it in 
 time before the Avenger of Blood did overtake him : 
 Therefore he earnellly delired to be once within the 
 Gates of it, and for that End put forth his utmoft 
 Vigour in running. He did not linger, halt, nor fit 
 down by the Way ; nor would he turn ailde to any 
 crooked By-path that might lead him about, but 
 keep the flraight and nearelt Way to the City, as the 
 Pillars fet up directed him. No Perfualion of any 
 Man could make him look or flee to any other City, 
 Caftle, or hiding Place for Safety, but to the City 
 authorized by Law. In like Manner let every con- 
 vinced Sinner, learn from this to flee to Jcfus Chrift our 
 Safety from Wrath, as the only Refuge appointed by 
 God for him. Look, defire and pant earneftly to be 
 within the Gates. O Sinner, run with Speed, now 
 the Gates are wide open in the Word and in the Sacra- 
 ment. Put forth your utmoft Vigour, and efcape for 
 your Life: Do not linger nor delay, but flee as one 
 that fees Jufticeclofe at your Heels. Avoid all other 
 Shelters and By-ways for Relief; away with carnal 
 Company, finful Pleafures, worldly Mirth or Diver- 
 fions : Nay, take no Shelter in your own Duties and 
 Performances; believe that none of thefe can skreen 
 or protect you from the Sword of Juftice, and that 
 
 noiie 
 
177 
 none ehe can, but he who is the I 
 
 Or" 
 the C 
 
 t him, o: 
 
 _ yourHo;.;.. ; mrGardei , L :.:.... a-. 
 
 City 2nd fperfi your Days? He would haw I 
 
 rt y,ith all t\ part 
 
 with 
 
 you all behind. s let .. . • i ed K 
 
 the 
 World's Prot:~. Si renients, 
 
 and 
 
 . . i 
 der me from Chiift. My Sa I are 
 
 more precious to me :r . take all 
 
 zreat 
 f, one of . ; : .; ers, his Lc.e to 
 
 /aid, 
 u If my Father were weeping on his 
 " me, cv 
 " me, my Brethrei 
 " even.- Side to ret; 
 M my Mother to the G 
 " snd dc 
 
 up to ChrL:." 
 O 
 
 • 
 to be a R. ad calls a- 
 
 lov.d to thee to come ..: d flee : je, 
 
 e rlee for 
 
 1 
 . Doble Opportunity, \ I 
 
178 Flying to Cprift, &c. 
 
 Clefts of Chrift's Wounds (land open, and the blejfed 
 Hope is fet before you in the Sacrament, and Chriit 
 ftretching out his Hand and waiting to fee who will 
 rife and flee to him ! O to lee Souls riling in Flocks, 
 and flying as Doves to their Windows i What a pica- 
 fan t Sight would this be ! 
 
 O, faith one, I can't rife, ray Wings are dipt, 
 my Soul clogg'd, I can't mount up. Anfw* If you 
 can't mount up as with Eagles Wings, fee if you can 
 run to Chriit, and kneel before him, like that young 
 Man, Mark x. 17 Objeft. I find mylelffo burden- 
 ed and heavy laden, that I cannot run. Anfw. Then 
 (hew a Willingnefs to run to Chriit j and cry, Draw 
 ?ne y and I will run after thee ; even a Dciire to run 
 
 will be accepted, as of thole in Nehetv. i. 11. 
 
 Objecl. But, faith one, My Heart is fo dead and fliig- 
 gilh, I have neither Strength nor Will to run to 
 Chriit. Anfw. If you cannot run, then fee if you 
 can but go towards him; for we read in Jer. ii. 2. 
 Theie who went after him in the Wildernefs, were ac- 
 cepted of him Objeft. Alas, faith one, I am lb 
 
 weak and feeble, I cannot go. Anjw. Then endea- 
 vour to creep and move towards him as you can. 
 
 Objecl. But I am fo lame and impotent both in Hands 
 and Feet, that I can't creep nor move. Anfw. It 
 you cannot move to Chrift, then look to him as the 
 Jfraelites did when (lung with fiery Serpents. Chriit 
 calls every feeble Soul to do it, Ifa. xlv. 22. Look 
 unto me, and be ye faved, all the Ends of the Earth ; 
 and would you have Chrift come any lower than a 
 Look ? O look up to Jefus as lifted up upon the Pok 
 of the Crofs, for all Nations to behold him. — Objeft. 
 My Eyes are dim, the Crofs far off; Jerufalem, where 
 it was fet up, is out of Sight. Anfw. The Pole of 
 the Gofpel and of the Sacrament, on which Chrift is 
 now lifted up, is near Hand ; look up to him thei eon, 
 
 and be faved Objecl. Saith one, I am fo burdened 
 
 with Guilt, I can't lift up mine Eyes Anfw. Then 
 
 1'-' 
 
C&rift nailed to the Crofs, £cc. 179 
 
 ly low before him like the humble Publican, who was 
 lb burdened that he was afhamed to lift up his Eyes to 
 Heaven, and under a deep Senle of his Vilencfs cried, 
 Cod be merciful to me a Sinner, and lb doing was 
 accepted : In like Manner humble yourlelf before a 
 merciful Redeemer, and plead his Promiie, Mattb. xi. 
 28. Truft his Word for Eaie and Reft to your bur- 
 dened Soul. 
 
 T 
 
 ADVICE X. 
 
 From John hi. 14. 
 
 — Even Jo mufl the Sou of Man be lifted up. 
 
 H E lifting up of the brazen Serper.t upon a 
 Pole, to heal S^rpent-ltung Iftaeiites, was 
 a Type of the lifting up of Chrilt on the Crofs, to 
 
 heal convinced Sinners of their Wounds by Sin. 
 
 As there was but one brazen Serpent for healing the 
 whole Camp ofjfrael; lb Chrilt crucified is the only 
 
 Remedy, and Saviour for a loft World He 
 
 viujl be' .lifted up ; his dying on the Crols was necel- 
 lary to fulfil his Engagements from Eternity to be 
 our Surety ; he mult be offered up as a Sacrifice to 
 latisfy divine Jultice for the Sins of Men, feeing no- 
 thing ellc could do it. Tho' Chrilt's Engagement 
 to fufFer for us was entirely voluntary at firlt ; vet 
 ha\ingonce undertaken, it became necelTary for him 
 to be lifted up. And Glory to him that would not 
 go back from his Word, however great his Suffer- 
 ings were. 
 
 Come then, O Communicants, behold and confi- 
 der, with lhitahie Thoughts and Affections, your 
 lifted up Jefus dying on the Crols. After he "had 
 born the heavy Crofs on his bleeding Shoulders up 
 Mount Calvary, this Crofi muft next bear him upon 
 the Top of the Mount, being firft nailed to it, and 
 
 lifted 
 
1 8o Cbrift nailed to the Crofs 
 
 lifted up with it.— —-Come, fee how this was done ; 
 Behold the Crofs-tree laid down upon the Ground, 
 and the Lord Jefus flript naked, laid on his Back, 
 with Hands and Feet itretched out upon the Tree, 
 that they might take the Meafure of his Body, and 
 mark the Holes for the Nails ! and lo, they take the 
 Meafure longer than the Truth, that they might both 
 crucify and rack him at once, till his Bones mould 
 go out of Joint : So the Crofs was a Rack as well as 
 
 a Death. Our firft Parents ftretched forth their 
 
 guilty Hands to take the forbidden Fruit from the Tree ; 
 therefore our glorious Saviour did willingly ftretch 
 forth his innocent Hands to be nailed to the Tree, to 
 
 fatisfy for their Guilt Come feel-bur big Nails 
 
 driven into his Hands and Feet, .the moll fmewy and 
 fenlible Parts of his Body, and faftned to the Tree ; ap- 
 * ply your" Ear, and hear the hideous Sound of the Ham- 
 mers knocking in thefe Nails ! Oh, your Sins were 
 the Hammers that did it, mourn for them. 
 
 Come next and fee the Lord of Glory, when nailed 
 faft to the Tree, lift up with it on high, and made to 
 Hand upright to the View of all the World ! And 
 then the Foot of the Tree let fall down with Vio- 
 lence into the deep Hole they had digged to fallen it, 
 which Fall did unfpeakably increafe his Torments, 
 and rend the four Wounds made by the Nails. Thus 
 his own Weight became his Torture, (till widening 
 the Wounds more and more, till all his precious 
 
 Blood ftream'd out at them. Behold your great 
 
 Jm?nanuel lift up on a Crofs betwixt Heaven and 
 Earth, as if he had been unworthy of a Place in ei- 
 ther, hanging betwixt two Thieves, as if he had been 
 the greateft Malefactor of the Three ! O what a Spe- 
 ctacle was your Redeemer to both Heaven and Earth 
 when thus lifted up! An Aftonifhment to Angels ! 
 A Derifion to the Wicked ! Compunction to Belie- 
 vers ! but a Sacrifice acceptable to the Jufticc of his 
 eternal Father ! Look on this moving Specta- 
 cle, 
 
lift up and bleeding to Death. i 8 1 
 
 cle with deep Sorrow for Sin that faftned him to the 
 Tree, and made him hang on thefe tormenting Nails 
 for federal Hours without Comfort inward or out- 
 ward ! No Way could he turn for Eafe, being fix'd 
 to the Tree ; if he ftirred his blefled Body at all, he 
 was tormented afVefti by the Wounds of his Hands 
 and Feet, on which the whole Weight of his Body 
 did hang; If he moved his Head, which had the 
 Crown of Thorns on it, the Thorns would but pierce 
 into it the deeper; yet for all this he complained 
 not ; no Groan nor Sigh was heard from him, but 
 what he offered up to God for your Sins ! 
 
 When the Son of Man was thus lifted up, obferve 
 how the Streams of his precious Blood run down to 
 the Ground, and ltood in a little Pool at the Foot 
 of the Crols, until the Earth drank it up. Let this 
 Sight arfecl: your Hearts, and open all the Springs 
 of Sorrow for Sin that pierced him. Sit down at the 
 Foot of the Crois, and receive this (acred Blood, as 
 it falls, upon your hard Hearts; let it drop on them, 
 until it make them as loft as the Ground it fell on* 
 Let it drop on all the Sores and Wounds of your 
 
 Souls, for it is the Balm that muff heal them/ 
 
 Obferve aifo the great Extent of ChrifTs Sufferings 
 at this Time, they reached to all die Parts of his 
 Bo«(y, and to all the Powers of his Soul : He fufTered 
 in all his Senfes ; his Seeing, with the (cornful Gc- 
 ftures of Enemies ; his Hearing, with their Scoffs and 
 Blafphemies; his Smell, with the noifome Stench of 
 Golgotha; his Tajle, with Gall and Vinegar ; his 
 Feeling, with the piercing Nails and Thorns. Behold 
 his Hands that were ftill bellowing Bleflings, now 
 fixed with Nails ; his Feet that walked in God's Ways 
 now digged thro' ; his Bowels that yearned for Sin- 
 ners, now fhrunk and dried up ; his Lips, that fpoke 
 as never Man fpoke, now fwollen with Blows. Now 
 he fufTered on the Crols till his Strength wac dried up 
 like a Pot flier J, and his Tc?tgiie cleaved to his Irr,-^ ■ 
 
1 82 Chrifl nailed to the Crofs 
 
 the Fire of God's Wrath fcorched him inwardly, 
 which made him cry out, 1 1 for ft. His Enemies min- 
 gled, at this Time, a Cup of Vinegar and Gall to 
 him, which he refufed ; but, Glory to him, he refu- 
 ted not the Cup which his Father mingled to him, tho* 
 filled with Wrath and Curfes: This he drank for us, 
 tho' it filled his whole Soul with Anguifli, and made: 
 him roar and complain of his Father's deferring him : 
 The Arrows of the Almighty were within rim, t'r.j 
 Poifon ivherzoj drank up his Spirit. Amidft theie fear- 
 ful Sufferings, our lifted up Jefus expired, willingly 
 offering up himfelf, on the Crofs, a propitiatory Sa- 
 crifice for us, 
 
 O Believers, did Chrifl: lift up himfelf as a willing 
 Sacrifice for you on the Crofs; lee then to lift up the 
 Gates of your Souls to receive in this Saviour j let him 
 have a joyful Welcome into your Souls, and give him 
 the beft Entertainment, the belt Affcclions, and the 
 
 befl Service. Did he willingly ftretch out his Arms 
 
 to be nailed to the Crofs for you I Then he not un- 
 willing to ftretch out the Arms of Faith to embrace 
 Turn ; but fee to embrace him wholly in all his Ojjices % 
 •of Prophet, Prieft and King; be willing to be taught, 
 laved, and ruled by him. Was Cbrift lifted up on 
 the Crofs (as the brazen Serpent was Lift up in the 
 Wildernefs) for healing all the Stings and Wounds gi- 
 ven us by Sin and Satan ? O then look up to him with 
 the Eye of Faith for healing. This is the great Remedy 
 of God's contriving and providing, put ftrong Con- 
 fidence in it, and look to it with Hope and Expecta- 
 tion ! Never miftruft the Virtue of God's Remedy, 
 nordefpairof Healing from it, however deep your 
 Stings, or large your Wounds be: For Chrifl: was 
 lifted up to be a Remedy for the Chief of Sinners, 
 T 77?//. i. 15. and none ever perilhed that looked to 
 
 him, Was Chrifl willing to be lift up to fufler for 
 
 you ? Then let your Hearts be lift up to fervc and 
 obey him, like King Jsho/baphat, whole Heart was lift 
 
 up 
 
lift up and bleeding to Death. 1 83 
 
 up In the Whys of the Lord, 2 Chron. xvii. 6. Lift 
 ujtwour Heart with your Voice in his Praife ; fpeak 
 or' the glorious Honour of his Majefty, and make 
 known his mighty Adls : Obey his Commands, and 
 particularly his dying Command ; to remember him 
 at his Table, with Activity and Delight: Go with 
 lift up Hearts to a Communion-table to remember 
 him, that went lb willingly to be lift up on a bloody 
 Crofsfor you. The antient Exhortation to Commu- 
 nicants was, SURSUM COR DA, Lift up 
 ) our Hearts to meet with a lift up Je/uf. 
 
 ADVICE XL 
 
 From Exod. ?dv. 15. 
 Speak unto the Children of Ifrael, that they 
 
 go forward. - 
 
 THIS is the Anfwer ofMofts's Prayer for Ifraei\ 
 when in a great Strait at the Red-fea. It is 
 faicj, He cried to God, yet we read not of one Word 
 helpake: He only lift up his Heart to Gdcl, who 
 well uaderftands the Language of the Heart. Mofes\ 
 iilent Prayers of Faith prevailed more with God, 
 than Ijrae/'s loud Outcries of Fear. A believing 
 Communicant may, in a Strait, cry to God, in Pray- 
 er, without ipeaking a Word, fo did Mofes here for 
 • tinting Ifrael. When they came out of the Land 
 of Bondage, and fled from Pharaoh's Tyranny, the 
 Lord ordered them to march toward the Sea ; but 
 now when they are near to it, and fee Pharaoh's mighty 
 Army purfuing, and cloic at their Heels, they are in 
 .' great Strait what Couiie to take; they think cer- 
 duly they muft turn either to the Right or Left 
 Hand to m. ike their Eicape from Pharaoh; No, foith 
 God, (peak to them to go jlill forward, as ftreigltl 
 towahb the Sea, as if they law a Fleet of Tranfport 
 £>,3 Ship;' 
 
184 Co forward to the 
 
 Ships there waiting to take them in. O might they 
 think, " This is a hard Command, Co forward, when 
 u we lee nothing but the deep devouring Sea before 
 i( us; as good go back to the Egyptians, or {land It i L 1 
 " until they come up and put us to the Swcrd, as go 
 u forward into the Sea and be drowned : Will the 
 " deep Sea have anv more Mercy on us, than the 
 
 " cruel Egyptian* ? " But, faith the Lord, Make 
 
 no Obje^rions, afk no Qucftions, let the People go 
 jhfutarcf, obey my Command, and trull me with their 
 Liveg. 
 
 Obferve here, O timorous Communicant, O doubt- 
 ing Believer, when you are in Feats and Straits vuth 
 retpe<3 to the Management or Succels of your Duty," 
 you are to let yourieives to obey God's Command, 
 go forward m the Ule of Means, with a fincere Heart, 
 and leave the Event to God. You may pollibly, at 
 this Time, be brought to the ftraitning Cafe of the 
 Children of If r as!, when at the Brink of the Red-fea, 
 and their Hearts in great Perplexity, ready to fink 
 within them for Fear. Some may be faying within 
 themfelves, How mall fuch a vile black unworthy 
 Creaftfce go forward to the Red-fea of Chi id's Blood, 
 who have both fpilt it and defpifed it ? How mail J, 
 utter ail venture to go forward, to walli or bath my 
 unclean Soul in it ? Well, it is God's plain Command 
 to you to go forward to it, however heavy loaden you 
 be with Guilt, fee 1 Juh?:m. 2% Mui. \\. 28. John 
 i. 29. others as vile and black have obeyed his Com- 
 mand, have gone forward to this Red-lea, and been 
 wafhed in it, lee 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10, 11. yea, we read, 
 Afts ii. 36. of three Thouiand of thcie who actually 
 embrued their Hands in this Blood, who were wafh- 
 ed by it. How wonderful is its Virtue ! It is able to 
 take away the Sins of a whole World, and much 
 more the Sins of a few ; therefore do not, O Sinner, 
 rebel againft God's Command any longer. 
 
Rcd-fea of Ckifs Blood. f 8y 
 
 Again, conlider what is God's ipecial Command 
 to thee at this Tims, namely, Do this in Remembrance 
 of me i his Precept is plain and exprels to keep up 
 the Memory of his Love to loft Men. Can you think 
 to look on his Face with Comfort at the laft Day, if 
 you have no Pleafure to remember him now: Surely 
 his Prelence will be terrible then to thofe, to whom 
 His Memory is not delightful now. But you may 
 hive Straits and Difficulties about this Duty. O, faith 
 one, " ?yjy Strait is great, I know not what to do; 
 " whether to ft ;y back from God's holy Table, or 
 u go prward : If 1 ftay back, I diibbey my dying 
 64 Saviour's Command, to (hew forth his Death in 
 u tliis Manners W I go forward unworthily, Ic'oh- 
 " trad the Guilt of his Body and Blood, and eat 
 " and drink my own Damnation. Alas, what mall 
 u I do ? my Need ofChriit and his Blood is 16 great, 
 " I cannot think of (laying back ; and yet my Pre* 
 " paratiori is fo lie tie, I know not how to go for-- 
 
 Ah! my Unworthinefs is great, how 
 
 " mall I go to the Table of fo great a King in the 
 " State and Cafe I am in, fo vile, fo fmful, lb indii- 
 " poled, fo hard-hearted ? If the Woman that had 
 u the bloody Ilfue feared (b much to come and touch 
 u the Kem of Chrift's Garment; how much more 
 " may I, who am rail of the running fOues of Sin, 
 w fear to go forward to touch the ficred Symbols of 
 " his Body and Blood, and «put my Hand into his 
 " V/ounds, and feel the Print of the Nails?" Come 
 then, unworthy as you are, obey Chilli's Command, 
 and venture your Soul in his Hand: Co forward with 
 all the Preparation you can attain to, deeply fen fi bio 
 of your own Vilchefs, and humbled for your Short- 
 comings, trufting in the Wortkinefs of the Lamb that 
 was /lain toanfwer for your Ujiworthbtcfs, in his Blood 
 to wafh away your Pollution, and in his Strength to 
 help your Weaknefe. Venture forward, lining, li'.e 
 Jch'jfhaphat, " Lord, I ha\e no Ability, no Might For 
 U.3 **• this 
 
1 86 Co forward to the 
 
 " this great Ordinance, neitherknowl what toclo; but 
 H my Eyes are unto thee, it is in thy Name, in thy 
 " Strength, and at thy Command, that I go forward 
 ** to remember a dying Jefus at his holy Table. Lord 
 " put on me the Wedding Garment, prepare, re- 
 *? ceive, and welcome me." 
 
 Objeti. Some may lay, They are only the Children 
 of Jfrael, who, in the Text, are bid go forward ; and 
 
 we are afraid we are none of thefe. Anf* All are 
 
 bidden, without Exception, come to Chriit ; yea, e- 
 \en the fhnt-hcarted are called to go to him. Now, 
 if you come to Chriit, it will be a lure Proof of your 
 being IfraeTs Children, and among thefe who are bid 
 go forward. Minifters indeed have a fpecial Commit 
 lion to 1'peak to the Children of Ifrael, that they 
 go forward to this Table ; whoever flay back, they 
 ought not. 
 
 Qtlejl. Who are thefe that may be numbered a- 
 mong Ifrael" s Children, or the Seed of Jacob P Anf. 
 The Children of Jacob or Ifrael, if they be of the 
 true Kind, wiil be like their Father, paiticularly in 
 thefe Things ; I.Jacob was a great Wreflitr with 
 God in Prayer, and hence he got the Name of Jfrael, 
 he wept and made Supplications at Bethel, and pre- 
 vailed as a Prince with Cod, which is the Meaning of 
 the Name IpaeL Now, if you be Wreftlers with 
 God, you are Jfrael' s Children, and called to go for- 
 ward. 2. Jacob was a plain Man ; lb he is called, 
 
 Gen. xxv. 27. that is, a fingle hearted Man : It was 
 by this Character that Chrift defcribes a true Jfraelite > 
 John i. 47. Behold an Jfraeliie indeed, in whom is 
 no Guile. Now, if you iludy godly Sincerity, and 
 plain dealing in your Behaviour both to God and 
 Man, you are 1 frail's Children, and called to go for- 
 ward. 1. Jacob had Faith in Chrift, and believing 
 
 Views of him as the glorious Shilch ; he waited for 
 his Coming, drew his Comfort from it^ and rejoiced 
 in the gathering of the People to him : If it be fo 
 
 vith you, then we bid you go forward**- 4. If- 
 
 rait 
 
Re I fea of drift's Eked. I 87 > 
 
 rael and his Children were God's covenanted People; 
 they chufed God for their God, and gave themfelves, 
 up to him : If it be fo with you, you are Ifraefs Chil- 
 dren, Go forward. 5. Jacob was zealous for Re- 
 formation, both with refpeel to himfelf and his ra- 
 milv, and caufed them put away all their Idols, 
 cleanfe themfelves, and change their Garments, when 
 going to renew Covenant with God, Gen. xxxv. 2. 
 Now, if you ftudy fmcerely to follow his Example, 
 you are among the Children of Jj "rael, to whom God 
 warrants Minifters to Ipeak, and bid them go f or ' 
 ward to his Table. Now, if you have any of the 
 foreiaid five Characters, in Chrift's Name we can pro- 
 mile you welcome to his Table. Go forward to it 
 then with Hearts burning with Love to Chrift and to 
 bis People ; go with Thankfulnefs and Praife to God 
 for providing luch a Saviour and fpiritual Feaft for 
 you ; and go with Hunger and Thiril to partake of 
 it. Go forward with Humility and Self-denial, re- 
 nouncing all Confidence in your Preparations and Per- 
 formances, and depending only upon Chrifl's Media- 
 tion for Acceptance with God. 
 
 ADVICE XII. 
 
 From John xii. 32*. 
 
 And /, if I he lifted up from the Earth, 'will draw alt 
 Men unto me. 
 
 AS the Sacrifices under the Law were heaved and 
 lifted up before the Lord ; fo Chrift the Anti- 
 type mult be lifted up on the Crols as the atoning Sa- 
 crifice for our Sins. The Jews were not more wil- 
 ling to lift him up, than he was to lift up himfelf; he 
 readily undertook to be lift up, Lo, I come > faid he ; 
 he willingly carried his Crols to the Place, that be 
 snight be lift up on. it. He di/Tuades the Women to 
 
 weep 
 
Itfd A lijt up j ejus dying, and 
 
 weep for him. Why ' Becaufe 1 am going to be /iff up 
 a Sacrifice to Juitice for your bins, and to ih aw your 
 Souls unto me. 
 
 Quell. But how doth he draw all Men, when Sa- 
 tan keeps many ftill fait in his Grips ? Anjw. Chrift 
 was lifted up to obtain drawing Offers and Invitati- 
 ons to all Men without Exception, and accordingly 
 gives drawing Calls to all Men in his Word ; and if 
 they be not drawn to him it is their own Fault. But 
 tho' many be called, and Multitudes flock to tie 
 Word ; yet there are none effectually draw n to Chrift 
 but the Elett ; and t'hefe may be called ail Men, as 
 they are gathered out of all Nations, Kindreds and. 
 Languages, Ages, Se\es and Qualities. M Men, 
 Gentiles as weli as Jews : All Sorts of Men, Sinners 
 of all Sizes, greater as Well as lefler. Qi<ejl. But 
 how doth the lifting up of Chrift draw Sinners effectu- 
 ally to him ? slnjhv. By the-Merit of his lift up Sa- 
 crifice he obtained the Removal of all Hinderances of 
 their coming to him, fuch as the Guilt of their Sins, 
 the Enmity of their Natures, the Power of their Cor- 
 ruptions, their Unbelief, Hardnels, Biindnd's and dif- 
 couraging Fears. And likewife by it he purchased all 
 the Means requifite for drawing Men to him, fuch as 
 the preaching of the Goipel, fanclined Rods, the 
 Grace of Faith, and, above all, the powerful Influ- 
 ences of the holy Spirit. As Chrift was lifted up on 
 the Crofs, fo he muft be alio lift up on the Pole of the 
 Goipel, for drawing Sinners to him. Thus the bra- 
 zen Serpent was lift up in the \\ ildernefs, for draw- 
 ing the (lung Jjraelites about it, and it pro\cd moll 
 effectual for that End ; fo a crucified Jefus held out, 
 and evidently fet forth in the Gofpel, as he was lift- 
 ed up on a bloody Crcfj, with his pierced Hands 
 ftretched out to embrace loft Sinners, is Purely the 
 molt attractive and drawing Sight in the World. 
 This wonderful LoadJ'onc hath drawn Thoufands of 
 hard Iron Hearts to it at once. A natural Loadftone, 
 
 tboT 
 
drawing sinners to btm, 109 
 
 tho' it draw Iron to it ; yet it may be drawn away 
 iVom it again : But a crucified Chi lit draws the Heart 
 ib powerfully and ciolely to him,- that they can ne- 
 ver be l'tparated again. Never was there ihch a draw- 
 ing Engine in the World as this ! A lift up ^ta?idard 
 or Eniign draws Numbers of icattercd Soldieis unto 
 it, but it is lien by few : But a crucified Jcfus lift up in 
 theGolpel is an Enfign to draw great Multitudes indif- 
 ferent Nations under the Banner of his Love, Jfa. >i. 
 10. The firft Experiment that was made of its Vir- 
 tue in Jerufalem by the Apoftle Peter, :coo Souls 
 were drawn to Chriit at once, and after that many 
 Nations that knew him not. did run unto him. Come 
 then, O Sinners, admire and experience the Power 
 of this lift up Eniign ; let your Iron Hearts be drawn 
 by this Loadftone ; it hath loft nothing of its Viitue 
 to this Day. Thoufands of Hearts in other Places do 
 Mill feel its Power: We are fomctimes refrefhed v. ith 
 the welcome News of their being drawn oti from the 
 Vanities of Time, and the Love of Sin, to glorious 
 Chriit : Why then don't your Hearts alio yield to 
 the Power of this bielfed Loadftone, Chiift crucified 
 lift up in the Word and Sacrament? It hath the fame 
 Virtue here as eifewhere, were but the Eyes of Faith 
 opened to behold it, according to that alluiing Call, 
 Ija. xlv. 22. 
 
 When Chriit. was lift up on the Crofs, his Face 
 wus turned to the Gentiles, for the Jews out of Ma- 
 lice (as feveral write) would have him crucified with 
 his Face toward the V/efr, as reckoning him unwor- 
 thy to look to the Temple and holy City that flood 
 on the Ealt Side of Mount Calvary s but Chrift had a 
 lo v ing Delign in it to us Gentiles , and to accomplish 
 th it Word, PfaL Uvi. 7. His Eyes behold the Nati- 
 ons. Behold, O Sinners, Chriit turned his Face to 
 you on the Crois to draw you unto him ; there he 
 bowed his Head toward you to draw you ; there he 
 l'J a Cleft hi his Side to draw you ; there Blood 
 
 and 
 
and Water flowed from his Heart to draw you to 
 him ! And now he hath lent his Word and Spirit to 
 draw you ; now he difplays his Blood and Wounds 
 in the Sacrament to draw you -, now he is calling his 
 Cords of Love about your Hearts to draw you to 
 him; now the Devil is holding and Chrift drawing ; , 
 Chrift and the Devil are now ftruggling for your 
 Hearts ; the Eyes of many are on you, the Eyes 
 of the glorious Trinity, the Eyes of Angels, the Eyes 
 of Minifters and Saints are on you, to lee what the 
 lifue of the Combat mall be, which of them (hall 
 gain the Prize. Satan indeed is the ftrong Man, but 
 Glory to God, Chrift is ftronger than he. O that he 
 may prevail, the Heart is his by Right, furrender it 
 to him without Delay. He will not enter without 
 your Confent ^ his People mull all be made willing 
 m the Day of his Power. Oh, if the Will were once 
 conquered^ the Day were ChriiVs, and the Field were 
 won for ever. 
 
 Would you then have Satan defeat, your biaflcd 
 Will overcome, and your Souls favingly brought to 
 Chrift, O look up and cry for a Draught of Chrift' s 
 Power, You have neither Strength nor Will to $ome 
 to a crucified Chrift, unlefs he draw you. Ordinances 
 or Providences cannot draw you, the Word or Sacra- 
 ments cannot draw you, Judgments or Mercies can- 
 not do it ; yea neither Minifters nor Angels can draw 
 your dead and heavy Hearts. O then look beyond 
 them all to a Lift-up hnmanuel, Draw me, Ltrd, and 
 I will run after thee. The Ordinance you have in 
 view can never be a drawing Ordinance, if Chrift put 
 not forth his Virtue with it; the Sacrament will be 
 lifelcfs, and the Adminiftrators lifelefs, if Chrift draw 
 you not. The moft powerful Sermons, the mod al- 
 luring Calls will all be loft, tf he draw not, YWH 
 lit f\ ill in the Sodom of a natural and Wratl nil 
 State, if he draw not; you'll die in your Sir.:., ir be 
 draw not ; you'll be eternally damned, ir C hi lit draw 
 
 \ 014 
 
you not to him. You can never overcome the ftrong 
 and l'ubtile Temptations Satan cafts in your Way ; you 
 can never deny Self, forfake beloved Lulls, renounce 
 Juftification by Works, quit all Confidence in your 
 own Doings, go naked and empty to Chrift, be con- 
 tent to live wholly upon his Righteoufnefs, and receive 
 Grace, Lite, Strength and Glory as a free Gift from 
 Chrift, without the drawing Virtue of a Lift-up Sa- 
 viour. Oh, If you were once acquainted with this 
 drawing Power, you might go with Comfort to his 
 Table, and feed upon his Purchafe. 
 
 Que ft. How (hall I know, if I have yet been drawn 
 effectually to a Lift-up Jefus ? 
 
 Anf. Try it by thefe Marks : Have you dilcovered 
 bis matchlefs Excellency lb as to draw off your Heart 
 from Sin and the perifhing Things of the World ? 
 Have you felt the Cords of his Love about your Heart 
 and Will, conftraining you to yield yourlelf wholly 
 to him ? Is your Heart drawn out in Love and Affe- 
 ction to a crucilied Chrift above all Things, fo that 
 the Delire of your Soul is to him and the Remem- 
 brance of his Name ? — Are you growing full liker to 
 him, more holy, more humble, meek, and heavenly- 
 minded ? Ncarncfs will breed hikenefs. Are you 
 
 troubled for Diftancc from Chrift, when at any Time 
 \ our are drawn off him by Sin, Satan, or the World's 
 Allurements? — Are you drawn to Duty with a View 
 of enjoying his Prelence therein ? In the mean time 
 are you drawn off from relHng on Duties, or putting 
 any Attainments in Chrift's Room ? Then you may 
 conclude your Heart is effectually drawn by a lift-up 
 Saviour ; and fo may, with holy Confidence and Joy, 
 draw near to him in the facramental Tryfting-place, 
 and hold Communion with him there. 
 
 ADVICE 
 
192 Behold the Lamb. 
 
 ADVICE XIII. 
 
 From John i. 36 xix. 5. 
 
 Behold the Lamb of God. Behold the Mai;. 
 
 O Communicants, both John and Pilate call you 
 to behold Chrift fufFering and facrinced for 
 you, and which is more, the Spirit of God calls you 
 to this Duty alio. Let each one of you then fay with 
 Mofes, Exod. iii. 3. 1 will now turn a fide, and fee this 
 great Sight. A great Sight indeed ! For tho' he be 
 called a La?nb, and a Man, he is alio God, God in 
 human Nature fufFering, bleeding and dying, a great 
 and a wonderful Sight ! All the Perfons of the glorious' 
 Trinity call you to behold it, Jfa. xlii. t. — xlv. 22. 
 John i. 29. Draw then asmeir as poiTible, that you 
 may get a good View of it ; ftand not at a Diitance 
 like thefe who followed him from Galilee to the Crols, 
 of whom it is faid Luke xxiii. 49. They food afar 
 of beholding thefe Things. Do not now (land afar 
 off, nor ta!:e a* far off Look of a crucified Chrift, but 
 come clofe to him by Faith and take a near and lav- 
 ing Look of him, as he calls you, Jfa. xlv. 22. Look 
 unto vie and be favcd; 1 am God, and there is no Sa- 
 viour be fide me. O then turn not your Back or Shoul- 
 der to him, look not afquint to him, look not by him 
 toother Things; but look with a broad, flraight 
 and fteady Look unto him. The Man Chrift Jefus 
 is the Lamb of God, appointed by him to be 
 facrinced to mike Atonement for our Sins, and to 
 purchafe Pardon, Life and Salvation to us : And 
 looking to him by Faith is the great Mean of iecuring 
 and applying the Blo'Tings of his Purchafe to us.; And 
 ;,< a fpecial Manner he calls us to look unto him in his 
 offerings for u§. Behold me y Behold me! 
 Behold the' Suffering l\lin, a Man of Sorrows in- 
 deed ! And particularly behold him cntring u^on that 
 fearful Scene in the Garden of Gefhfemaue, when he 
 
 began 
 
Behold the Man. 193 
 
 began to fear, turn forrowful, and very heavy; when 
 he was lore amazed, fell into an Agony and bloody 
 Sweat, and cried out, My Set// is exceeding forrowful 
 even unto Death ! O what was it that made your Sa- 
 viour lb heavy, but the dead Weight of the EletVs 
 Sins, with the Laws heavy Curies annexed to them ? 
 Oh, your Souls were exceeding guilty, which made 
 his Soul exceeding heavy. Behold and fee your for- 
 rowful Redeemer railing into a fearful Agony, and, 
 while m it, falling down fometimes on his Knees, 
 and fometimes on his Kacc, praying once, pra)ing a- 
 gain, and praying the third Time, until he is quite 
 overwhelmed with Wrath and covered with his own 
 Blood ! Behoid the fit rowful Man with the great 
 Drops of Blood (landing above his Garments for your 
 Sins, and bedewing the Ground! See Jeho\ ah now 
 acVing againft him, as an inexorable Judge, running 
 on him as a Giant, and making him the Butt of his 
 
 envenomed Arrows ! Behold him in this Agony 
 
 making his Moan to his Dilcipies, who could make no 
 help to him ; for neither they nor the Angels in Hea- 
 ven durfl touch his Load, nor tafte his Cup : Yea, he- 
 got not fo much as Sympathy from his Diicirles, they 
 fell afleep when he v/as at the worft, and left him in 
 his Agony to ftruggle and tread out the Winc-prck 
 alone ! O be not idle Spectators of your Saviour's A- 
 gony, but let your Souls be exceedingly affected with 
 Chrift's Soul-iufFerings for your Souls Sins. 
 
 Behold the Man Chrift betrayed and fold for a little 
 Money, apprehended and bound with Cords like a 
 Thief, and bound faft, as Judas bade, yea fo fall (as 
 fome lay) that the Blood burft out of his tender 
 Hands! O can your Heart or Eyes hold to fee thole 
 Hands that made the Heavens, wrung together and 
 broiled with hard Cords \ To lee him bound as a Pi i~ 
 loner, that came to let the Prifoners free. But had no: 
 the Cords of your Redeemer's Love held him falter 
 than the Cords of his Enemies, tho' they had been 
 * Cables 
 
X 94 Behold the Man, 
 
 Cables or Chains, they could not have kept him ; but 
 his Love to you made him a willing Priibner! — Behold 
 the Man blindfolded, mocked, buffeted and abnfed for 
 you! Behold him ftript naked and icourged ! Behold 
 him that clothes the Lilies of the Field, that made 
 Coats of Skins to clothe our full Parents, now itript 
 and uncloatked himfelf ! He is itript naked, that you 
 might not be found naked at God's Bar ! Lie is ftript 
 of his Robes, that he might pro\ uie a Kobe or Righ- 
 
 teoufnels to cover your Nakednefc Behold the ivian 
 
 icourged by Pilate , and that above Meaiiue, thinking 
 thereby to favc his Life ; but as the Jews were not ta- 
 tisfied therewith, lb neither was infinite Jul: ice falls- 
 iicd; lb that his Life muff go, and the AL:;> Child is 
 .willing it mould : Willingly did he give his Back to 
 the Smiters, that you might be freed from the cvei - 
 1 ailing Lames of God's Wrath in Hell ! Behold every 
 Part of his blefled Body torn and wounded by Scourg- 
 ings, becaule every Part of you was wounded by Sii: ; 
 and his Stripes were the only Cure for your Woi'ix!.-. 
 Behold the J) la;; with & plaited Crown of Thorns 
 on his bleiied Head, with the (harp Points turned in- 
 ward, and thele beat into his Head with a Staff, till 
 all his Head is but as one Wound, from. whence a new 
 Shower of Blood ran down his Neck lor you ! You 
 may be ready to cry, Fy on the Jews, or fy on the 
 Soldiers that ufed our Saviour lb; but rather cry, Fy 
 on your Sins that did worfe to him, thele plaited the 
 Crown of Thorns and crucified him too. Behold the 
 Lam!) of Cod now willingly caught in the Thickets, 
 like the Ram, to be facrificed in your Room, when 
 yotj were bound like Ifaac for that End. Behold him 
 willing to wear a Crown of Pain and Ignominy, that 
 ^you might wear a Crown of Glory and Runown : 
 Willing to be difgraced and affronted, that you niisjit 
 be honoured and exalted : Willing to let a Barabbas> 
 the vileft Malefactor in all "Jeryfetem, be preferred be- 
 fore him, that you might be preferred to a Room a- 
 
Behold the Ma). 1 95 
 
 mong God's Children. Behold ihs Man, after all 
 
 thele Sufferings, put to bear the heavy Crofs on his 
 lore wounded Shoulders, a heavy Load indeed with 
 the Elect's Sins and Law's Curfes faftned to it j yet 
 lie bears without Complaint till his Strength is ijpent, 
 and he is ready to faint under the Burden, fe that an- 
 other mull heip ! Ch, it was not the Weight of the 
 Tree that made him faint, he had a greater Burden to 
 bear than ten Thoufand Worlds, even the infinite 
 Wrath of God due to the Elect's Sins ! O can you be- 
 hold this Sight with dry Eyes ! 
 
 Behold the IS'lan brought to Co'gctha, nailed to the 
 Tree, lifted up, and drinking out the bitter Dregs of 
 the Cup of Wrath thereon, till at length he yielded 
 himfelf Priibner to Death, by bowing his Head, giv- 
 ing Death his Orders to execute his CommhTion, and 
 carry him ofF the Stage ! Behold and wonder at the 
 Sight, the Lord of Lite Death's takcji Prilbner ! — O 
 Man, can'fl thou {land and fee the Lamb cf Gcd (lain 
 in thy Room, and for thy Sins, and not be afTeclcd ! 
 Write that Man a Bead, a Stone, a Lump of Earth, 
 that can be fenielels, irupid and unconcerned at fuch a 
 Sight! Oblufh and be afhamed, O Man, at thy Stu 
 pidity, when the dead Earth and Rocks about Jeru- 
 salem quaked and rent at the Sufferings you now be- 
 hold reprefented in the Sacrament. O curled Sin 
 (which many make light of) that could not be ex- 
 piated by any other Sacrifice, than that of our Emma- 
 nuel, the Lamb of God, the Man Chrift Jefus? O 
 Behold the Man, and tremble at Sin, the accurfed 
 Thing that murdered the Son of God, the Man that 
 is God's Fellow, the Man that is infinitely preferable 
 to a Million of Worlds full of Men and Angels too. 
 O that Men would always look on Sin in the Glatt 
 of the Agonies and Sufferings of the Man Chrift, that 
 they might be filled with Horror at it, as at Hell it- 
 felf ! Nay, in feveral Refpects Sin is a greater Evil 
 than Hell. 
 
 R 2 Let 
 
190 vana juu ana jee 
 
 Let every Communicant, every Chriftian come and 
 behold the glorious Son of God, with the greateft 
 Love and Admiration, who for our Sakes was willing 
 to become a Man, and God's Lamb to be facrificed 
 for the Sins of Men. O let his Name Jefus.be always 
 to you as precious Ointment poured forth, and let 
 the Remembrance of his Love inflame your Souls with 
 a vehement Indignation againft Sin, and a burning 
 Affection to the Lamb of God, the Man ChriJK that 
 was willing to ftruggle in bloody Agonies, and bleed 
 to Death on the cur fed Tree to deliver you from ly- 
 ing in Hell for ever ! O what can v\ e render to him 
 for his free Love, amazing and unlpeakable Love ! O 
 that we could fpend our whole Lives in admiring his 
 Love, and contemplating his Beauty, and were there- 
 by made meet in fome Meaiure for the Excrciie of the 
 Redeemed above. Amen. 
 
 ADVICE XIV. 
 
 From Job xxxvii. 14. 
 Stand jlill, and conflict the v:cnJ:cu< Works of Cod. 
 
 THE Works of God, being wondrous, do well 
 deferve our mod ferious Conhderaticn ; but fo 
 wavering arc our Minds, wc cannot confider them a- 
 right* unlefs we ftand dill and compofe ouriclves for 
 that End. This Advice doth Elihu give to Jok in the 
 Text, and Ttlofes give to the Children of Ifraet, Exod. 
 
 yiv. 1 1 All God's Works are wondrous and highly 
 
 worthy of our Obfervation, as his Works of Creation 
 and Providence; and more especially bis Works of 
 Redemption and of Grace, as they are made known to 
 us in the Gofpel-dilpenfation, and particularly in the 
 
 Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Here God calls 
 
 you to ftand itill, and confider his wondrou* Work 
 of redeeming WiUlom and Mercy, in laving fallen 
 
 Sinners, 
 
God s wondrous IVorks. I 97 
 
 Sinners. — The Work of Creation is indeed moil: won- 
 derful and (hipendous; but his Work of Redemption 
 is far more coftly and iurprizing: The one coft him 
 but a Word of his Power, but the other coft him the 
 Death of his Son : The one is but the Work of his 
 Fingers, P/al. \iii. 3. the other is the Work of his 
 Arm,. Luke 1. 51. Much of the divine Wiidom and 
 Power is dilplayed in making us Men, but much more 
 in making us Saints; by the one we have but a fhort 
 mortal Life, but by the other a#etcrnal and immor- 
 tal Life. God's Works of Redemption and of Grace 
 will be the Admiration of Saints and Angels to all E- 
 ternity, Rev. v. 12. — xv. "\ 
 
 Come then, and heboid thc-fe Works of the Lord, 
 as they are let forth before you in the Word and Sa- 
 crament ! Come and fee God from all Eternity paf- 
 iing by Angels, and pitching his Love upon poor ruin- 
 ed Sinners of Adam's Family, and contriving their 
 Redemption by the Incarnation and Death of his dear 
 Son, while he pailed by the Angels that fell ! — Come 
 and Ice the glorious Son of God undertaking, in the 
 Council of Peace, to become Surety to pay our Debt, 
 and latisfy Jufticc for the Injury our Sins did to God's 
 
 Glory! Behold and confider the Device of infinite 
 
 Wifdom for reconciling Juftice and Merry about guil- 
 ty Men, and fatisfying the Demands of' them both, 
 by puniihing Sin Jeverely, and yet pardoning the Pcr- 
 fons guilty ! — Stand fiilt atidfee the wondrous Work of 
 making the Word Flefh to dwell among us; of the 
 Creator's leaving his Throne of Glory, to lodge \\\ ai 
 Virgin^s Womb, and a Bead's Manger ; of the An* 
 cient of Days becoming a Child of a Day old, learning- 
 to {peak and go, and iubjecling himfelf to his own 
 
 Law in the Koom of Rehel-fmners ! Behold C 
 
 wondrous Work in fcttiug up a Court and Thvoi- 
 Grace among the Prilbners of jufiice,. and cat/ 
 Grace fit as Queen on the Throne, with a Scenter of 
 Mercy in her Hand, and thence to LTue forth Proda- 
 K 3 
 
I9o btiind Jhlt ami Jee 
 
 mations of Grace to poor, wretched, blind, mUera- 
 ble and naked Sinners ; proclaiming Pardon to the 
 condemned, Liberty to the Captives, and Life to the 
 Dead: Yea, feeGrace laying Siege to the Hearts of 
 Rebels, fummoning them by the Gofpel- trumpet to 
 fprrender, and ufing the mpft prevailing Arguments 
 with them to do it, taken from the Mediation, buf- 
 ferings, Blood, Righteouihels and Satisfaction of the 
 >S'on of God. 
 
 Behold and confitft the wondrous Work cf God in 
 furniihing and fitting the Mediator for our miferablc 
 Circumftances, joining the dr. ine and human Nature 
 in one Perlon for our Relief! Oblerve how well ho 
 fuits our Exigencies ; he is ISTati, that he might die for 
 us; and Cod, that he might overcome Death ! M 
 that he might combat the Devil; and Cod, that he 
 might vanquifh him ! Man, that he might take on 
 our Guilt and Puniihment ; and God, that he might 
 fupport under it ! Mat:, that he might offer a Sacri- 
 fice for us; and God, to make it infinitely- merito- 
 rious ! Man, that he might fympathize with*us in 
 Trouble ; and God, that he might deliver us ! ' vj. 
 wondrous Work indeed ! Again, oblerve the Me- 
 diator's Fulnefs, how exactly it fuits our Miferics and 
 Wants ! In our wonderful bnmanuel there is Life for 
 our Deidnefs, Light for our Darknels, Beauty for 
 our Deformity, Strength for our Wcaknels, Health 
 for our Sicknel?, Balm for our Wounds, Raiment for 
 our Nakednefs, Riches for our Poverty, Merit for our 
 Guiltincfs, Righteoufnefs for our Jufrification, a Foun- 
 tain for our Pollution, Grace for our SancVification, 
 Bread for our Hunger, Water for our Thirlt, and 
 deep Mercies for our deep Miferics ! a wonderful 
 Work, to make one Depth fb exactly to anfwer ano- 
 ther D pth ! This is the Doing of the Lord, and won* 
 drons in ar/r I yes. 
 
 Stand fill, and fee God's -wondrous Works, in fend- 
 ing our ivwianuel, tl\ 1 r;nc: of the Kings cf the 
 
 Ecrth, 
 
uoa s TvoffurGW vr oras, jyt; 
 
 Earth, to go up and down the Wilderncfs ft eking af- 
 ter the loft Sheep, calling and inviting them in the 
 molt tender Manner to come unto him for Life and 
 Salvation, willingLy fubmitting to be buffeted by Sa- 
 tan, contradicted by Sinners, tofuffer^l Manner of 
 Indigr.kjes, a curled Death, and the Wrath of God, 
 ihat he might he a Sacrifice to fitisfy Juftice 
 for our Sins : And after he had Submitted to Death 
 and the Grave for a Time, be conquered them and 
 role again • and gave CommhTicn to his AmbafTadors 
 to go thro' all the Earth, and call periming Sinners 
 to come unto him, and offer them Salvation in his 
 Name ; and having done lb, he afcended into Heaven 
 to intereccci for them. Now, it is incumbent upon 
 all Communicants to n member thefe amazing Works 
 of God, at his holy Table, with Wonder, Thank - 
 rulnefs and iYai'.e. 
 
 Come here, and fee the Fountain of the great Depths 
 of infinite Love broken up, and Streams of tie Wa- 
 ter of life running freely therefrom to the Sons of 
 
 Men". Come, lee Jacob's Ladder let up, that 
 
 reaches from Earth to Heaven, and God the Father 
 at the Top of it calling you to climb to Keaven by 
 the Steps of it, viz. Chriil's Wounds, Offices and Pro- 
 
 miles i Come, fee the Manna coming down in 
 
 plentiful Showers, and falling about your Tents, and 
 
 every Man invited to gather Come, fee the Rock 
 
 broach'd in the Wildernefs, to fupply the NeceiTi- 
 ties of your Souls ; lee the Rock (mitten by the Rod 
 of Moj'eSy and bearing the Curfes of the Law for 
 
 you ! Come, lee the City of Refuge opened for 
 
 poor Manflayers, that Sinners, who have fkin their 
 Souls by Sin, may flee to it for Shelter, O then flee 
 
 for your Lives, and do not linger by the Way ! 
 
 Come, fee God bringing his Righteouj'nefs near you 
 who are guilty Criminals, and bidding you put it on 
 for your Safety in Judgment, it is a Robe that will 
 
 fit every one of you! -Come, fee the Fruits and 
 
 Leave \ 
 
2 oo ZbMnci \im and jce 7 etc. 
 
 Leaves ot the Tree of Life r (haken and (tattered among 
 ftarving wounded Souls : Gather and feed on theFrutfs 
 of his Purchafe for your Nourilhment ; apply the 
 
 Leaves of his Promifesfor your Healing. Come 
 
 fee the Well of Salvation opened, bring the Chain 
 and Bucket of Faith, and draw Water. The great 
 Medicine-well is here, come with all yourDifelfes and 
 Ailments to it, come with your hard Hearts, blind 
 Eyes, ijeak Hands, feeble Knees, lame Feet and cold 
 
 Affections to get them healed. Come,, lee CkrijV s 
 
 Tefiament opened, and every Man allowed to put in 
 for a Shire of the Legacies therein contained. This 
 you are to do by believing, claiming, laying hold 
 
 and embracing the Promiies! Come, fee flray- 
 
 ing Prodigals returning to their Father's Houfe, and 
 fee their Father embracing them, and the whole 
 Family rejoicing at their Return : See their filthy 
 Rags taken off, and the white Robe of the Son 
 of God put on them, and the fatted Calf killed for 
 
 them Come, fee the King of Glory entering in at 
 
 the everlafting Gates of Men's Souls, dethroning Sin 
 and Self, taking PolTelTion of their Hearts, and let- 
 ting up his Throne and Kingdom in them. Come,* 
 
 fee King Solomon both crowned and married in one 
 Day ! An aftonifhing Match concluded between the 
 Prince of Life and the Heir of Hell! All the Daugh- 
 ters of Zion are called forth to behold this Sight, 
 
 Cant. lv. 11. All thcie are great and wondrous 
 
 Works of God to be feen in the Word and Sacra- 
 ment, which all Communicants ought to fland Mill 
 and confides.. 
 
 Confider thefe marvelous Works fo as to be fuit- 
 ably affected with them, make them the Subject of 
 your Meditation ; entertain high and admiring 
 Thoughts of God, and of his infinite Love and \\ U- 
 dom manifefted in them. Give firm Credit to the 
 Record and Tcftimony God hath given us oi' I 
 wondrous Works, and glorify the s/.c t Author of 
 them with jour He .uts, Tongues and Lives. Em- 
 brace 
 
Chrift J e fits, &c. 201 
 
 brace theGofpel-offer, and be afraid of offending that 
 God who has humbled himlelf Co low for our Sakes, 
 and has wrought fuch great and wondrous Works for 
 us. Be careful to lerve him and pleaie him in all 
 Things, and abhor Sin his grand Enemy. 
 
 ADVICE XV. 
 
 From Rev. xxii. 2. 
 
 In mid ft of the Street was the Tree of Life. 
 
 IT was a fad Day to Mankind, when God banifh- 
 ed Ada?ii from the earthly Paradi'e, and from 
 the Tree of Life that grew therein, and alio {hut the 
 Entry to it! But behold God, in his fiee Mercy, is 
 now opening an Entry, and inviting Adamz baniih- 
 ed Poiiei y back again to a better Paradf'e, where 
 there are purer Delights, and neither Sin nor Satan 
 can enter ; and where there is 3. Tree of Life, Jefus 
 Chrift, infinitely preferable to that in Adam's Para- 
 diie. This 'Tree of Life far excells that in its Leaves, 
 Shadow, Fruit and Virtues ; it animates, yea, re- 
 {tor^s and preferves Life for ever; neither is there any 
 flaming Sword to hinder our Accefo to it. Adam's 
 Tree endured but a fliort Time, but ours lafts for e- 
 ver. Other Trees decay, fade and wither; but Je- 
 fus Chrijl is the fame Te/ferdaj, to Day, and for ever. 
 O come then, lit down under the Shadow of this 
 Tree, eat of it£ Fruit and live for ever. Tho' the 
 Tree be now planted in the heavenly Paraftife, yet its 
 Branches, Shadow and Fruit extend to every Believer 
 on Earth, as well as to the Saints above. Thoufands 
 of Communicants at the Lower Table have fat down 
 under his Shadow with great. Delight, and found his 
 Fruit fwcet to their Tafte. Chriil is a Tree that bears 
 Fruit at all Times, every Month, and even in the 
 fturpeft Winter Months of Sioknels and Death. 
 
 There 
 
20 2 Lhnji J ejus our 
 
 There are ibme very uieful Trees in the World, 
 that afford all Necefiaiies to Men, fuch as Meat, 
 Drink, Phyfick and Clothing. Behold, Gcd hath 
 provided fuch a Tree for us. Jefus Chriil affords us 
 all thefe. i. Meat: He tells us, That his Fiejh h 
 Meat indeed ; that is, his Flefh wounded and dying, 
 yields flrengthening Food for the Soul, in refpecl of 
 its Fruits and Effects. It is Food well prepared; the 
 Holy Trinity ipent a whole Eternity in preparing it. 
 It is Meat well feafoned; it is feafoned with the Love 
 of God, fauced with the Blood of Chrift, andffiiced 
 
 with the Graees of the Spirit. 2. Drink: Chrift's 
 
 Blood is alio Drink indeed to the Soul, in reipect of 
 its comfortable Effects ; fuch as Pardon, Peace, Light, 
 Life, Strength, &c. Theie Streams from the Rock 
 are molt refrelhing, cordial and favoury Drink ; fa- 
 voury to Cod, favoury to Angels , and molt favoury 
 to every Soul that hath tailed it. It is a fweet Cap 
 that is to be put in your Hand, if you have Faith ; 
 but it is poifonous to an unworthy Communicant that 
 wants Faith: But, if you be worthy, the Drink will 
 poifon Sin, quicken Grace, and refrelh the Soul. Fear 
 not, O Believer, to take a good Draught ; Faith 
 will make the Cup medicinal and reftorative to thy 
 
 Soul, and it will only kill and deflroy the Lulls; 
 
 3. Phyfick : The Leaves of this Tree are for healing 
 of the Nations : Chrift hath many healing Promiies, 
 which, when applied by Faith, are moil uieful to 
 purge out Sin and Corruption, and to heal ail the 
 
 Soul's Wounds and Dileafes. 4. This Tree affords 
 
 Clothing aljb. Poor fallen Adam, when naked, went 
 to the Fig-tree for its Leaves to cover him ; but, C) 
 let his Poitcrity go to the Tree of Life, where thjsv 
 fhill get infinitely better Clothing, even Chriil's per* 
 feft Right U'oufnefs, which is fpotleis and Law -biding. 
 Behold a rich Robe, let with the Pearls and Diamonds 
 
 of Heaven A large Robe y lb broad as to cow 
 
 whole elect World. It alio covers all the Spots and 
 
 Infirmities 
 
Tree of Life, 203 
 
 Infirmities of Believers ; lb that not one of them is to 
 be leen. This Robe is as broad as the Law, which 
 we are told is exceeding broad. And it is juil as beau- 
 tiful as broad ; tor it makes every elect Soul amiable 
 
 and acceptable to God.- -Never then was there 
 
 ilich a Tree, either in the earthly or the heavenly Pa- 
 radife, as our glorious Tree of Life, Jefus Chrift. O 
 hungry Souls, here is Meat.' O thiilty Souls, here is 
 Drink I O difeafed Souls, here is Medicine J O naked 
 Souis, here is Clothing! O come then to this Tree of 
 Life, and you have all Things nee effary for you. 
 
 O Communicants, you are called to take a View 
 of this biejjed Tree, as it was hewn, mangled, and 
 cut down by the Ax of Juftice, when he died upon the 
 Crois for you. Even in this his mangled Condition, 
 he is a molt beautiful and engaging Sight to the Eye 
 of Faith ! O Believer, behold your princely Jefus lift- 
 ed up on a bloody Crofs, on the Top of Mount 'Cat* 
 . for all Nations to fee him, and gather to him 
 feu- Food and Healing. Since that Mount was firft 
 created, it never produced fijeh a Tree, or fuch pre- 
 cious Fruit, as the Lord of Glory hanging on the 
 Tree of theCrofs, that was planted there ibme Hours : 
 ChriM's hanging on it changed its Nature from a cur- 
 ied to a bleiled Tree, a Tree of Life and Salvation. 
 This Tree of Life made Mount Calvary a fwcet and 
 lovely Paradife that Day, (notwithstanding of all 
 the Malefactors Bones that lay icattered upon it) and 
 the Fruit growing on it that Day hath enriched both 
 Heaven and Earth, and will fill Heaven with eternal 
 Songs of Praife. 
 
 You are likewife called, at thisTime, to draw near 
 a crucified Chrift* the Tree of Life, that is always 
 loaden with Fruit : Come as near as poilible you can 
 win, make the Tree by Faith, and gather as much 
 Fruit as you can ; eat, and lay up for after Times ; 
 
 yea, gather and lay up for Eternity The Fruits 
 
 of this Tree are durable and lading, plentiful and en- 
 riching 
 
204 Chrijl Jefus our 
 
 riching, fweet and fatisfying, manifold and various, 
 Rev. xxii. twelve Manner of Fruits every Month , 
 which is 144 Crops in the Year. Likewiie they an 
 moil fciitabie to the Wants and Necellirics of your 
 Souls. What can be more fuitable to the Guilt) than 
 Pardon ? to the Dead than Life ? to the Hungry than 
 Bread? to the Thirdly than Drink? to the Wounded 
 than Balm ? to the Blind than Eye-lalve? to the Na- 
 ked than Clothing ? to the Impotent than Strength? 
 to the We iry than Relt ? to the Captive than Liber- 
 ty? to the Diilurbed than Peace? to the Bewilde'r'd 
 than Light? to the Warrior th in Victory ? All thefe, 
 and innumerable more, are the Tweet and fuitable 
 Fruits of the Tree of Life. 
 
 O then, give all Diligence to lecure and clear up 
 your Interit in this blelled Tree of Life and its Fruits, 
 which are now offered to you freely, without Money 
 or Price. Abandon and reject the four and uniavou- 
 ry Fruits of Sin, the World, and your own Rightc- 
 ouihefs ; and embrace the Tree of Life in the Arms of 
 Faith, and all its Fruits are yours. Come, ft down 
 under his Shadow, at his Table, and believingly re- 
 ceive and feed on thefe delicious Fruits. O how de- 
 lightful and refrefhing is the Shadow and Shelter of 
 Chrifl's Righteoufnefs to the Soul, that hath been 
 fcorched with a Senie of divine Dilpleafure for Sin. 
 This Shadow lkreens and protects him from the Heat 
 of God's Wrath, from the Curies of a fiery Law, and 
 from the flavilh Fears of Death, and Wrath-like Dif- 
 
 penfations.. Then let every weary and fcorched 
 
 Soul come at Chrift's Call, and fit down under his 
 Shadow: Give firm Credit to theGofpel Report con- 
 cerning Chrift's Suretyship, his fufficient Rightcouf- 
 aels and free Offers : Acquiefce heartily in this bleiled 
 Contrivance of Shelter and Safety, and put all your 
 Tmft.and Confidence in his Righteoufnefs alone; and 
 abide contentedly under its Shadow, without wander- 
 ing from it, or going from Tree to Tree, as many 
 
 do, 
 
Tree of Life: 205 
 
 Jo, feeking Rell or Shelter. Surely all who leave 
 Chrifl, and wander after the Shadow of Creature- 
 comforts, or their own Doings for Relief, will dif- 
 cjuiet thcmfelves in vain' ; for there is no Safety or 
 Kelt anywhere, but under the Shadow of the Tree of 
 Life. Here only you will find Protection and Provi- 
 sion : This made the Spoufe fay, Cant. ii. 3. 1 fat 
 down under his Shadow with great Delight, and his 
 Fruit was fweet to my Tafie. 
 
 Let all theie, who have experienced the Safety and 
 Sweetnefs of drift's Shadow and Fruit, bleis God 
 that gave them Couniel, and drew them to this Hap- 
 pinels. See that you abide clofe under this Shadow, 
 and make it your continual Refort. Chrift (peaks 
 to you, as David to Abiathar, when he fled to him 
 from Saul's Cruelty, Abide thou with me, fear not, 
 for be that fee keth ray L'fe, feeketh thy Life, but tvi*b 
 
 me thou fh alt be in Safeguard Likewile pity 
 
 and pray for them who flight the Tree of Life, and 
 are going thro* all the Trees of the Wood rbr Kelr and 
 Satisfaction, but cannot find it. O commend this 
 blefled Tree to them, and invite them to come and 
 fit down under the Shadow of it, where they will 
 find all Things. Say to them as Philip to Nathaniel, 
 
 Come and fee. Be alio looking out, and longing 
 
 for the full Enjoyment of the Tree of Life in the Pa- 
 radife above, where you (hail eternally fmg among 
 the Branches of it, meet with all your Friends, and 
 eat the Fruits with a far better Appetite and Reli/h. 
 than ever any did here below. 
 
 ADVICE 
 
2G6 Lhriji crucified 
 
 ADVICE XVI. 
 
 From If a. xxxii. 2. 
 
 A Man fiall be a Hiding-place from the Wind, and 
 a Covert from the Tempejr. 
 
 WHATEVER Storms or Tempefts Believers 
 are evpofed to here^ Chrift is an excellent 
 Shelter and Hiding-place from them. Before Adam\ 
 Fall, that Sin entered into the World, all was calm 
 and ferene ; but fince that, the World is become a 
 weary Wildernefs, full of Tempefts ; and aifoon as 
 one is laid, another is ready to blow. There arc 
 Storms of outward Afflictions, Sicknete, LofTes and 
 Difappointments, and many Wrath-like Difpenlations 
 of Providence; there areStorms of Temptations from 
 Satan, Challenges from Conscience, Thundrings from 
 Mount Sinai, Defertions from God, Reproaches and 
 Perfecutions from the World : And yet all theic 
 Storms here are but like Drops before the Shower, if 
 compared with the terrible Storm of Wrath to come, 
 which is abiding the Ungodly and Unbelieving. But 
 Glory to infinite Wifdom and free Love, for finding 
 out a proper Hiding-place for loft Sinners amidft their 
 Storms, to which we are called to turn, Zech. \\. \i. 
 Turn ye to the Strong-hold, ye Pa/otters of Hope. The 
 Man Chrift is an excellent Strong-hold and Hiding- 
 place againft all Storms whatfoever ; in him there is 
 furhcicnt Room and Accommodation for us, his 
 Wounds are wide, his Mercy large, his Merits infinite, 
 his Offers free, his Calls moil gracious and extenfive, 
 Jfa.:<lv. 22. Look to me, and beyefaved, all the Ends 
 of the Earth. The Accefs is declared free, and the 
 Way patent, to all who turn to this Strong-hold 
 for Shelter, and never was any excluded that turned 
 to it. 
 
 A eru- 
 
our Hidr>ig-p/acf. 207 
 
 A crucified Jefus, O Communicants, rcprefented to 
 you in the Sacrament, is the Strong-hold and Hiding- 
 place, to which you are called to turn by Faith for 
 Shelter and Safety, from the Sword of Juftice. In 
 him there are excellent Clefts for Shelter, Cant. ii. 
 14. and which you ought to be well acquainted with. 
 There are the Clefts of his Wounds and Merits, which 
 all GhriJFs'Dove.s flee to when Storms arife. There 
 is alio the Cleft of hisPvdtet^ the Cleft of his Wifdo??>, 
 the Cleft q£nis Love, and the Cleft of his Faithful- 
 nefs ; many a Storm have they efcaped in thefe 
 
 Clefts. In this Hiding-place there are alio Cham* 
 
 bers of Safety, to which you may retire when the- 
 Temped blows, 7/G. xxvi. 20. There are the Cha?n- 
 bers of ChrilVs Oflccs and fweet Relations, which he 
 hath alfumed for the Safety and Comfort of Believers ; 
 in each of thefe many of them have found Shelter when 
 ru have blown. There is alfo the pleafant 
 . •'•:-• ^efhis Covenant, with the Clofets ofitsPr&* 
 viifcs, which afford fweet retii ing Places in tempefhious 
 Times. O ftudy to be acquainted with them. David 
 was well acquainted with the well-crclered Covenant 
 and its Promifes, and had his^Recourfe thereto in 
 troublous Times, and particularly when he was 
 threatned with the Storm of Death, 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. 
 ./Jitro' mj Houfe be not fourth Gorf, yethe hath made with 
 ins an eveflajiing Covenant, ordered in all Things and 
 fare ; this . Salvation. And he pleads the Pro- 
 
 mires of this Covenant for his Safety", Pfal. cxix. 49. 
 tember the Word to thy Servant, upon which 
 thou haft cattfeJ ms to hope. Come then by the Ex- 
 - if Faith, and (hut yourfelves up in thele fweet 
 Chambers at the Lord's Table, and take Complacen- 
 cy in viewing and walking thro' them. 
 
 Chrift crucified is a Covert and Hiding-place to 
 
 Believers, and to every Thing that belongs to them: 
 
 He is even a Covert to their Bodies in Time of Dan- 
 
 1 to his Difciples.when the Storm was 
 
 S 2 breaking 
 
2o8 Cbrifl crucified 
 
 breaking upon himfelf, John xviii. 8. If ye feek vie, 
 let the fe go their Way. But more efpecially he is a 
 Covert to their Souls, thefe he accounts precious as 
 hiz Jewels ; he hides them in his Wounds, and keeps 
 them by his Power, thro 1 Faith, unto Salvation. He 
 is alio a Covert to their Ci aces, and keeps them in 
 Life when ready to die, and laves them from being o- 
 -verwhelmed in the Day of Temper! . What had be- 
 come of David and of Peter's Grace, under \iolent 
 Storms of Temptation, if he had not been a Covert 
 to them. Many a Time hath he preferved the fmoak- 
 hig Flax, and the bruifed Reed, under the moil dan- 
 gerous Storms. Likewife Chrift is a Covert to their 
 
 Evidences and Marks of Grace ; he preferves them, 
 and keeps them legible, after many Blots which Sin 
 and Satan do call upon them : He hath the blefTed 
 Art of recovering and clearing up their Evidences, 
 when they are frequently given up for loft in Times of 
 Backflidmg. 
 
 Let all confider how miferable they arc who have 
 no Intereft in this Hiding-place ,• you that are out of 
 Chrift, have no Covert from the Tempeft, you can 
 neither have Safety nor Comfort in Times of Trouble, 
 Nay, when any Storm blows from without a gain ft 
 you, a guilty Conference will be ready to raile a Storm 
 within ; and alio (hew you a more terrible Storm ga- 
 thering againft you, even the Wrath that is to come; 
 Wrath ftill coming, but never all come ; a Storm 
 - will dill be blowing, but never will blow over — 
 O what will become of you, if Death come upon yon 
 in this fhelterlefs State, while out of Chrift the only 
 Hiding-place! to be fare then Hell will follow the pate 
 Horfe. To whom then will ye flee for Help or Shel- 
 ter ? The Rocks or Hills will not be a Hiding-place 
 to you, if Chrift do not hide you : No Creature will 
 fkreen or pity you, if Chrift do it not : All the Crea- 
 tures will take Part with their Creator againft you, 
 and inftcad of hiding you, they will be ready to di- 
 vulge 
 
our Hiding-place. 2c v > 
 
 \ulge an J accuse you to the Purfuer, the Juflla 
 
 Cod. If you cry to the Heavens, O cannot the valt 
 
 expanded Heavens afford me a Hiding-place horn the 
 Temped ? No, will they fay, there is no Refuge, 
 no Entrance here for the Slighters of Chilli ; v e'll 
 open only to rain Fire and Brimftone, and furious 
 
 Storms upon their Heads. lr you lock to the Air, 
 
 and fey, h there no Hiding-place thro' the vaft Re- 
 gions of the Atr for me ? No, the jfir is transparent, 
 and will dilcovcr the Criminal, and will raife a Whirl- 
 wind of Wrath to blow you into Hell. If you cry 
 
 to the Sea, Is there no Hiding-place in all the Depths 
 of the (paciotis Sea to (belter r;e from the Lajnb*s 
 Wrath : No, the Sea will give up her Dead to be 
 
 judged, and will rage ftnioufly againft you. 
 
 vou look to the Earth y Is there no Cave nor Pit in all 
 the Earth to hide me from the dreadful Storm ? No, 
 the Earth, ioftead of hiding you, will open its Mouth, 
 and let you go quick down to Hell, for flighting the 
 Wounds of Chriit, that were opened to fnelter you. . 
 
 O let every Sinner then fiee now, while it is Time, 
 to the!e blefled Wounds ofjeius for Safety: Be of 
 goad Comfort, O Sinner, rife, he caileth thee j rife and 
 come, for there is yet Room ; forfake all falie Shel- 
 ters and lying Refuges. Abfolute Mercy, a 
 Walk, Convictions, Reflations, Prayers, Tears, 0;- 
 dinances, , will not he a Hiding-place to 
 
 you, if Chrift be neglected. Nothing can fetisfy Ju- 
 itice, nor fkreen from Wrath, but the Wounds and 
 Blood of the Redeemer ; therefore fee to make thcie 
 enly your Covert and Hiding-place. 
 
 It concerns all to try it they have got into this 
 Hiding-place, and if they he among ChrjnVs hidden 
 Ones; lb Believers are called, PJaL lxxxiii. r. If yen 
 be among thtit hidden Oves, you will have a hidden Life, 
 and be acquainted with a Life of fecret Prayer and 
 Correfpondcnce with Heaven, and a Life of Faith and 
 leaningupon the Son of God ; you'll have hid. 
 
 s 5 i; 
 
21 o . The Communicant* s Errands. 
 
 the World knows not of, the hid Manna of Com- 
 munion witjjGod. — \ ou'll have hiddenQlpathing, and 
 
 be acquaint with putting off your own Rags, and put- 
 ting on the hidden Garment of Chili's Rightecufneis. 
 — You'll have hidden Strength, and be acquaint with 
 Borrowing Strength from Chrift both for Work and 
 Y/arfare. — You'll live upon hidden Supports in dark 
 and calamitous Times, and draw Comfort from the 
 Pro miles, and make thefe the Ground of your Hope. 
 — If you be in Chriil as your Hiding place, you'll be 
 among Chrift's poor and needy Ones, for it is to luch 
 he is a Refuge, Ifa. xxv. 4. Do you lee your own 
 Emptinefs, lll-defcrvings, and Infafficicncy, and de- 
 pend upon free Mercy tor every Crumb ? Are you {till 
 begging at a Throne of Grace, and inclining to exalt 
 free Grace ? Saying, Not unto us, but to Chrijl he the 
 Glory ,• he is all our Salvation and all our Defrre. 
 Happy are they who can lay claim to thcie Marks. 
 
 ADVICE XVJI. 
 
 From 1 Kings xix. 9. 
 The Lord /aid unto him, What do ft thou here, Elijah ? 
 
 IT is the Concern of every Man, to be always in 
 Cale to give Account to God of his Errand and 
 Defign in every Piece of Work he is imployed in; and 
 fo ought Communicants at the Lord's Table, when 
 God or his Miniiters ask them, as the Lord did Elijah, 
 IV hat dojl thou here, Communicant ? What is your Bu- 
 
 finefs and Errand at this Table? Can you fay, I 
 
 have many Errands here; I come, upon my Saviour's 
 Call, to celebrate the Memorial of his dying Love, 
 that his Name may be remembrcd to all Genera- 
 tions \ And worthy is the Lamb that was (lain to be 
 
 admired, adored, and praifed for ever. 1 come alio 
 
 to fubiuibe and-ical a Maniage- contract with him in 
 
 the 
 
The Communicant's En rands. 211 
 
 the molt folemn Maimer, befor* all the Perfons of the 
 
 glorious Trinity, before the elect Angels, and before 
 ail the Congregation. Seeing Chriit doth once more 
 call me to it, after many a broken Try ft, and hath 
 put on his Marriage-robes, his dyed Garments, to 
 win and engage my Heart, I come to join Hands 
 with him before God, Angels, and Men, and take 
 them all Witnefles to the Bargain. Surely this is a 
 good Errand: O that the long ipoken of Match may 
 now hold. 
 
 Can you fry, I am come to a rich and liberal Sa- 
 viour, to limply my Needs out of his Fulnefs. I come 
 on a good Day, when he ufes to deal bountifully to 
 the Poor and Needy, and to fay to them, as the 
 King to Efiher } IV hat is thy petition? and what is thy 
 
 kequefi? Wtli, is thy Petition ready? Dolt thou 
 
 come with the Publican's Petition, Cod be merciful to 
 me a Sinner ? Or with David's Petition, Lord be 
 merciful to me ; heal my Soul, for I have firmed again/1 
 tr-ef Or with that Petition, Purge vie with Byjjop, 
 and I jhall be clean ; waff? me, and 1 Jhall be whiter 
 than the Snow P Or with that, Let my Soul live/ and 
 it J}? all praife thee. Or do you come with the 
 Spoule's Petitions and Requefts, Draw me, and we 
 will run after thee. Awake North Wind ; and come 
 thou South ; blow upon my Garden, that the Spices 
 thereof 'may flow out! Surely thefe Petitions are agree- 
 able to your Redeemer ; lee that you inlift upon 
 them, and prefs for an Anivver. Study to have a 
 
 lively Feeling at this Time of all your Wants 
 
 Would you have them all fupplied at once? Then 
 come and embrace a crucified Jefus in the Arms of 
 Faith, and he will fully anfwer them all. Would you 
 have all your five Seufes fatisfied at once ? -Behold 
 Chrift invites you to come to him to get it done. . 
 Would you have the Senie of Seeing (atisfied ? Then 
 he fays to you, Look to me, and be ye javed. — Behold 
 me, be ho LI me! Behold King Solomon with the Crown 
 on his Plead ! —Would you have, the Sepfe of Bearing 
 
 fatisfied ? 
 
212 fVfo are the invitjd Guj { h. 
 
 fatisfied \ Then faith he, Incline thine Ear ; hearken 
 
 to me ; give Ear to my Voice. Would you have the 
 
 Senfe of Tajling fatisfied ? He faith, tafie and fee 
 
 ikat God is good. Would you have the Senfe of 
 
 Touching fatisfied ? He faith, Reach hither thy Hand, 
 thrujl it into my Side ; feel the Wounds made by the 
 Spear and the Nails. — Would you have the Seine of 
 Smelting fatisfied ? Come then to Chrift, whole l\ 
 is as Ointment poured forth ; and whole Gam:enis 
 of Aloes, Myrrh, and Cajfia. — Come here and get all 
 your fpiritual Senfes fatisfied at Chrift's full Feait. 
 
 Objecr. But I am afraid I am not among thefe in- 
 vited Giiefts that Chrift will make welcome. A 
 Have ycu any of the Scripture-characters of thefe that 
 Chrili invites ? Are you among his FrisJidsP Do you 
 wilh well to his Cauie and Iatereft ? Then Chrift laith 
 
 to you, Eat Friends, Cant, v, I.- Is your Heart 
 
 open to Chrift's Offers, and willing to accept him in 
 all his Oifices : Then he faith to fuch, he will come 
 
 and pup with them, Rev. iii. 20 Doth your Heart 
 
 love him ? Then he faith, Hewi// manifeji blmfeif to 
 fuch, John xiv. 21. — Are you poor and needy I Then 
 he faith, The Needy /hall not he forgotten,' Pfal. ix. 
 
 1 8. Do you fee yourfelf a loji Sinner P Then he 
 
 faith, He is come to feck and call fuch, Luke xix. io. 
 Mat, ix. I 3* — Do you feel Sin to be a heavy Bur de?: P 
 Then he bids the heavy laden come to hi?n, Mat. xi. 
 28. — Are you fick, and much diftrelfed ? Then Chrift 
 chufes to entertain and converfe with fuch, Mat. ix. 
 12 — Do you hunger and ihirft for Chrift ? He laith, 
 
 He fills the Hungry with goodTh'mgs, Luke i. 5; 
 
 Are you fenfible of BackJJidings P He invites fuch to 
 come to him, Jer. iii. 14. — Are you defirous to put 
 on the Wedding-garment of imputed Righteoufnefs P 
 Then, to be fure, you lhall neither be excluded, nor 
 
 neglected Do you earneftly feek for his holy Spirit P 
 
 He allures you, he is more willing to give the Spirit to 
 them that ask it, than lov'uig Parents are to give Bread 
 to their hungry Children? What is Mens Companion 
 
 to 
 
The Communicant's Errand. 213 
 
 t© their Children, in Companion of Chrift to his ? 
 Well then, you may reft on Chriit's Word ; for he 
 is not more free in making Pi omiies, than faithful in 
 making them good. He is a God that keeps Covenant 
 to a Thoufand G 'mirations. Venture then upon his 
 Word, and come to his Table with Hope and Expe- 
 ctation to get all your Wants fupplkd. 
 
 Let me again ask you, as God did Elijah, What 
 dofl thou here, Communicant P Can you fay., that you 
 are come to get a Heart- aire cling Sight of the Blood 
 and Wounds of the glorious Redeemer, fo as you may 
 love Chrift., and hate Sin more than ever? That is a 
 good Errand, and what God -will furely approve. 
 Come then, draw near, as it were, to the Foot of 
 the Crols, and take a narrow and clofe View of his 
 Wounds, and of the Blood that ftreams from them. 
 Obierve how fad the Blood runs down from his 
 Hands to the Ground, fatter than ever Tears run 
 down from your Eyes for Sin, that cauied the fhed- 
 ding of his Blood ! Chrift is not fparing of his Blood 
 for you, however (paring you be of your Tears for 
 him — 1 — Draw yet nearer, and lay your Ear to his 
 Wounds, elpecially his five big Wounds in Lis Hands, 
 Feet, and Side; which like i'o many Mouths, are 
 wide opened to lpeak to believing Communicants. 
 Liflen and hear what they fay; What is the lan- 
 guage of the two Wounds in his Hands ? Come tc me, 
 and c aft your guilty Sou! into my bleeding out- J: retched 
 
 Ar?ns, and I'll five yon from the Sword of Juftice 
 
 Lay your Ear to the two Wounds in his Feet, and 
 hear what they fay, Run to me, and cajl yourjelf 
 down at my Feet, and I'll protect you from the Aven- 
 ger of Blood. — Hearken to the deep Wound in his 
 Side, faying, Flee to me, O trembling Dove, and Til 
 jhelicrtha in this Cleft of the Feck: Thou haft now 
 free AcceJs to the Ark, behold the Window opened in 
 -the Side of it ; look in at it, and fee my Heart burn- 
 ing with Lo\e: Yea, thru It in thy Hand to my S, 
 
 unbelieving 
 
2 1 4 The Communicant's Errand. 
 
 unbelieving Thomas, and feci ray blsedbig Heart how 
 warm it is to you, and be ?io more faitk/e/s, but be* 
 
 O Communicant, can you come to the Foot of 
 Chrift's Crois, and fee his Wounds, and hear fuch 
 Language, and your Heart not be affected with Love 
 to Chrift, and Hatred to Sin . ? Can you behold Chriit 
 thus cruelly ufed, nailed to the Tree, bleeding and 
 d}ing in your Room ! Can you lee the Heavens turn- 
 ing black, the Sun drawing in its Head, the Earth 
 quaking, and the Rocks rending at the Sufferings of 
 the Son of God, and your Heart not quake for Sin, 
 that awakened the Sword of Juftice againfl him as our 
 Surety ! — O what Caufe have you to be afhamed of 
 the Hardnels and Unconcernednefs of your Heart at 
 fuch a Sight, and to cry to God that the Heart of Stone 
 may be changed into an Heart of Fleih, and that the 
 Fire of Chrift's Love may delcend and kindle fuch a 
 Flame in your Soul, as may melt your frozen Affections, 
 and coniumc the Stubble of your Lulls and Corruptions. 
 Of old the Lord ufed to anfwer his People's Prayers 
 and Sacrifices by Fire from Heaven : Pray that he 
 may anfwer your's in like Manner, by kindling a holy 
 Fire in your Soul, as he did in the Hearts of the tivo 
 Difciplei going to Emmaus ; even a twofold Fire, to 
 wit, a Fire of Loz'e to Chrilt, and a Fire cf Jndigj/a- 
 t':m againli Sin. O love the Lord Jefus as your Trea- 
 fure and Portion; let your Thoughts be mainly upon 
 him, and your Soul's Breathings after him. Be much 
 concerned for his Intereft and Caule, snd for the 
 fpreading of his Kingdom and Glory in the World. 
 And be looking out, and longing for the full and yer- 
 fecl Enjoyment of him. — Likewile keep up a (bong 
 Averfion to Sin, and to what is oppofite to Chrifl, 
 and injurious to his Intereft and Kingdom ; look al- 
 ways upon Sin as the Grand Enemy and Murderer of 
 Chrifl; and therefore do not (pare it. 
 
 ADVK [ 
 
Chrift will have us, cxc . 215 
 
 ADVICE XVIII. 
 
 From John v. 6. 
 
 J -'/us faith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole P 
 
 ^"|~^HIS miraculous healing Pool of Bethefda, at 
 j which the impotent Man had lien thirty-eight 
 Years, was a Type of the M&ffiab, and the Fountain of 
 his Blood opened and let forth in Gofpel-Ordinances, 
 for healing all our fpiritual Diieafes. And ChrirVs 
 Method or" healing this Man teaches us, That, if we 
 would be healed, we muft be willing to wait at the 
 Pool of Ordinances, till the Spirit come to ftir the 
 Waters, apply the Blood, and effect the Cure. And, 
 in the mean time, we muft he fenfible of our Difeafe, 
 and look up to Chrift our great Phyfician, with ear- 
 neft Defires for healing. This is imported in ChrirVs 
 Qpcition, Wilt thou be -mads while F 
 
 O Communicants, you are difeafed by Sin, and the 
 Plagues of your Hearts; thefe have blalled the primi- 
 tive Beauty of the Soul, and brought on it a ghaftly 
 Deformity, with much Pain and Weaknefs. Your 
 Diieafes are manifold ; Atheiftical Thoughts, Misbelief, 
 end Ignorance of God's Truths, are woful Plagues; 
 H.irdnefs of Heart, and Earthly- mindednefs, Formal:- 
 ty, and Hsart-wandrings in Duty, trufiing to your own 
 Right eou fiefs, Ingratitude, and Backjlidings from 
 Cod ; thefe are Diieafes you ought all to be feniible of. 
 God would hare every Man to know the Plague of his 
 own Heart, 1 Kings viii. 38. in order to his being 
 made whole. Thefe are the Sick that Chrift is ready 
 to come to heal, Mat. ix. 12. Chrift nrft makes 
 Men fick and. fenfible before he makes them whole. 
 Have you then any Acquaintance with this healthful, 
 preparatory Sicknefs ? Have you been made fenfible 
 of the dangerous Nature of your Difeafe, and thought- 
 rid and follicitous about the Iflue of it? Have you 
 
 been 
 
216 Chrijl will have us 
 
 been made to groan and moan under the Burden of 
 your Difeafe, laying, / am troubled a?id bowed down 
 greatly, I go mourning all the Day long? Have you 
 ieen there is no Healing in yourlehes, or in your Con- 
 viclions, Prayers, Tears, or Reformations ? and that 
 it is only in Chrilr, who hath an infinite Fulnefs of 
 Merit and Spirit to fuit your defperate Malady ? Are 
 you willing to lubmit to the Piiyiician's Prefcriptions for 
 healing ? Be die Pill or Portion never fo bitter, you will 
 {'wallow it : Is it your Cry, Lord, what wilt thou have me 
 to do ? Thefe are Tokens of a right preparatory Sick- 
 nefs. May the holy Spirit work them in you. 
 
 The great meritorious Means of your healing is the 
 Blood of Jefuj Chrijl, which is fet before you in the 
 Sacrament, for you to look to and apply by Faith. 
 As the Ifraelites were made fenfible of their Stings be- 
 fore they looked to the Brazen Serpent for Healing ; 
 fo muft ye, in order to your prizing of Chair, and 
 booking to his Blood for healing your fpiritual Plagues. 
 Now the Fountain is open, and the healing Streams 
 run freely on both Sides of the Table; Come then, 
 with a Feeling of your Dileales, and bathe in them 
 for curing your hard Hearts, your blind Eyes, your 
 iveak Hands, your feeble Knees, your lame Feet, and 
 
 cold AffeElions. O impotent Man, are you lying at 
 
 the Side of the Pool while the Waters are ftirring ? 
 Have you no Strength to move forward, and is there 
 none to put you in ! O then look up to Chrift, that 
 healed the impotent Man after many Years waiting : 
 Look to him by Faith, as he calls you, If a. xlv. 22. 
 hook unto me, and be ye faved, all the Ends of the 
 Earth. As I offer myfelf to every difeafed Soul in par- 
 ticular, as well as to all in general; fo let every Soul 
 embrace me as his Saviour, and apply my Blood to 
 his particular Difeafes. Faith is a healing Grace, not 
 only its Touches, but its xcryLcoks are healing; hence 
 Chrilt faid to fevcrals who were healed, Thy Faith 
 
 hath 
 
its Nature- and Effech. 2 I 7 
 
 hath made thee v)hole. O ice then if you have got this 
 healing Faith. 
 
 Queft. How may I know if my Faith be of this 
 Kind ? Anfw. A healing Faith will make the Soul 
 heartily approve the Gofpel-method of Salvation, 
 embrace God's Tertimony, and dole with his Gofpei- 
 offer in all Refpecls. And it hath in it, an appropri* 
 aiivg Trujt ami Confidence in the Merit and Virtue of 
 Chriii's Blood, offered to the Sinner in particular for 
 his Pardon and Healing ; which makes him reft upon 
 Chrift as his Saviour, and venture his Soul and Salva- 
 tion upon his Merit and Promifc. In this healing 
 Faith of a diieafed Sinner, there is a particular Accep- 
 tance oC f and Confidence in a crucified Chrift, correfpon- 
 ding to that free Golpel-ofFcr which he makes of him- 
 
 felr to the dirlrclTed Soul This Faith brings him 
 
 to a fixed Refolutiou to ly at the Phyfician's Door, 
 and depend upon him alone for Healing. And it 
 makes him call open all the Doors and Rooms of his 
 Soul to receive and entertain his Phyfkian. Now C) 
 poor impotent Soul, if there be fuch a Faith as this 
 wrought in thee, then thy Faith in Chrifl makes thee 
 whole. The healing Balm is applied, the Cure be- 
 gun, and mail fliortly be perfected. Be of good 
 Cheer, thy Shu are forgiven thee ; Jefus Chrift rhaketh 
 thee whole. 
 
 It concerns you alio, to try if the happy Fruits and 
 Kffects of this healing Faith appear in you, whereby 
 you may conclude, that the Strength of your Difeale 
 is broken, by Virtue of the Blood of Chrift; and that 
 you have got it applied for curing your Wnwt-Athcifm 
 Hnrdnefs, Unbelief Pride, Carnality, and particular- 
 ly your Weabiejs of Hands and Feeble?iefs of Knees : 
 So that, tho' formerly they were lb weak and feeble 
 that you could not lift up the one, nor bow down the 
 other in Prayer with any Fervency and Livelineis ; 
 yet now it is otherwife: Tien this is a good Token 
 the Strength of the Dileaic is broken, Chrifl lias taken 
 1 * you 
 
2 1 8 A healing Faith, 
 
 you into his Holpkal, and has you under Cure, by the 
 daily Application of his Blood and Spirit, and you are 
 
 on the Way of Recovery Can you fay further, 
 
 That your Drought is greatly abated, youv'Thirj, af- 
 ter Sin and the World; and that your Appetite for 
 Soul -food, Communion with Chrifi in Ordinances, is 
 happily mcreafed ? Can you bear the Light better than 
 before? Do you love learching Serjmoaas? Ail thelc 
 
 are good Signs. -Have you a high Eileem of your 
 
 Phylician, and do you entertain him kindly when he 
 vilitsyou; Have you recovered more Strength and 
 , Willingnefs to fei ve him in the Way of commanded 
 Dutie6? And have you a holy Fear and Jealoufy of 
 every Thing that might bring on a Rclaple into your 
 old Diftempers ? Then there is good Hope, thro 
 trrace, that your Faith is a healing Faith, the Work 
 of healing is begun, and lb far carried on. Chrift is 
 our Rock, and his Work is perfect. 
 
 O then itudy to be thankful to your great Ph\ firi- 
 an, faying, What Jhali 1 render to the Lord for all 
 his Benefits towards me P Biefs the Lord \ my Seal, 
 and forget not all his Benefits: Who forgiveth all 
 thine Iniquities, heaicth all. thy Difcales, and redeem- 
 eth thy Soul from Dejlrucliou ,• who rcnewetb thy Xouih 
 like the Eag.es, maketb thee run and not %veaty 9 walk 
 
 and not faint. -Blcjfed be the Cod and Father ffottr 
 
 Lord Je/us Chrifi, who, according to his abundant Mer- 
 cy, hath begotten us again to a lively Hope, by the Re- 
 jhrreclion of Jttfus Chrifi from the Dead, to an Inhe- 
 ritance incorruptible and uudefiled, and that fadeth not 
 away, referred in Heaven for us. Then the Cure 
 mail be fully perfected, and we fhall dwell always 
 befide our Phyfician, and enjoy perfecl and uninter- 
 rupted Health for ever and ever.— Evprefs your Thnnk- 
 , fjlnefs while you arc here, by being VVitnciles for 
 .Chrift, Jhining as Lights before others, commending 
 Chrift an 1 his Ways to them, hating all Sin, abfluin- 
 ingfrom.it. j reproving Sin in others, and teftifying 
 
 again It 
 
/// Nature and Effects. 219 
 
 againft it. Be meek and lowly in your Carriage ; 
 deal uprightly with all Men; love all that bear Chrift's 
 Image ; be zealous for Family -religion, for fandtify- 
 ing the Sabbath, and attending God's Ordinances. 
 Pray eurneftly for the coming of Chrifts Kingdom up- 
 on the Earth, and do all you can to promote it. 
 
 Watch and pray againit Backflidings and Relaples 
 into old Diitempers, and for that End be humble and 
 Self- diffident, be denied to your own Strength and 
 Conduct, and be always jealous of your corrupt: and 
 deceitful Hearts. Live by Faith upon the Son of God, 
 looking to him both for Righteouihefs and Strength. 
 And becaufe you are invironed with Enemies, put on 
 the iv hole An?iour of God, that you may be able to 
 jland againjl the Wiles of the Devil. It is not the Ar- 
 mour of your own Refolutions, it is the Amiour of 
 God, even the Graces of his Spirit. It is not fome 
 Graces or Parts of that Armour, it is the whole Ar- 
 mour, all the Chriftian Graces. It is not enough to 
 have the Armcttr in the Hcufe, or Grace in the Ha- 
 bit ; no, it mult be put on, daily worn and exercis- 
 ed. God hath provided different Pieces of Armour 
 for you, the Sword of the Spirit, the Shield of Faith, 
 the Helmet of Hope, the Breaft-plate of Righteouf- 
 nefs ; but there is nothing for the Back, for God dif- 
 ovvns Runaways, Heb. x. 38. If any Man draiv bask* 
 Sic. 
 
 ADVICE XIX 
 
 From Exod. xii. 14. 
 And this Bay fljall be unto ycu for a Memona, . 
 
 AS the PalTover-fcaft was a Memorial both of th 3 
 Deli, erance from Egypt, and the Redemption 
 by Chrifl: ; fo a C?:wn"nlo:-Sabbxth~ is a Memorial 
 of RiH^ry remarkable Tninrs, and ought to be held 
 T.2. 
 
220 A Lommunton-babbattfc* 
 
 as a moll memorable Day by every Believer, as it 
 brings to our Remembrance the greateft Events and 
 Blellings. 
 
 I. \"Co?n-,n:ink;i-Sabbath is a lively Memorial cf 
 QbrifPs Death , for the Sacrament adminiihed thdt 
 Day by bre iking of Bread, and pouring out of Wine, 
 is a viiible Representation of Chrift's Death, by the 
 breaking of Chrifr'a Body, and pouring forth his 
 Blood on the Crois ; an Event which God will have 
 re.nembred to the End of the World, and thro' all 
 Eternity. Why? Becaule by it God's Perfections 
 are highly glorified, and the Elect World redeemed 
 from Hell. Chrilt did inftitute the Ordinance to be 
 a (landing Monument or* his Death while the World 
 ltands, i Cor. si. 26. As often as ye eat this Bread, 
 and drink this Cup, ys do Jbe'jj the Lord's Death tilt he 
 cc/)u\ And a Monument of the wonderful Love of 
 God in giving his Son, and of the Son in giving him- 
 ltlf to be a Sacrifice for our Sins, who were utterly 
 unv/orthy of his Love. By this Memorial God would 
 1 each us the ineftimable Value of Chrift's Death, as 
 the greateil Obligation that ever he put upon the 
 World, and that we ought to declare our Gratitude 
 to God for the Favour in the moft open and publiek 
 Manner, and rely upon Chrift's Death and Sacrifice 
 as the Foundation of all our Hopes of Pardon and 
 
 Salvation. The Death of Jefus Chrilt is the moft 
 
 worthy Subject of the Dillourie and Praife both of the 
 •Redeemed on Earth, and the Glorified in Heaven, ac- 
 cording to Rev. i. 5 v. 9. 12. Hence it was 
 
 that Mofes and Elias when they came from Heaven 
 to Mount Tabor to wait upon their Lord when tranf- 
 figured, they made Choice of Chrift's Death for the 
 Subject of their Converfation, Luke IX* 31, And good 
 Reafon, for Chrift's Death was the Spring and Caule 
 of all their Glory in Heaven ; neither JMo/es nor IT- 
 lias hadihined there, if it had not been for Chrift's 
 Death. 
 
 2. \ 
 
a Mzinoridl* 221 
 
 2. AClhfimi/nibn SiMaih is a (pedal Memorial to us 
 of Chrift's Refhrrt&ion from the Grave, which, was 
 on thefirft Day of the Week, and hence called the 
 Lord's Day, it being the moft honourable Day to our 
 Lord Rithemer, and the in oft joyful Day to all the 
 Redeemed ; as if gave a clear Proof of the Perfecti- 
 on of Chrift's Sacrifice he offered to Divine Juftkc, 
 and that oui Surety's Satisfaelfcii was accepted for 
 our compleat Jaftitication and Absolution. Hereby 
 it appeared that the EledVs Debt was discharged, 
 their Redemption fihifhed, and their Cautioner libe- 
 rate fro. n Prilbn. This Day Chrift was declared to. 
 
 ■ Soy cf God with Tower. As his Desth did fiiew 
 him to be truly Man, fo his R efurrecuon did manifeffc 
 him to be truly Cod, and the great Redeemer of the 
 
 World. This was the Day of Chrift's Viftory and 
 
 Triumph, in which he foiemnly appeared to be tire 
 Capta\ki of oui n, and obtained a' glorious: 
 Viclofy over all his and the Church's Enemies. This 
 Day he triumphed over the Grave,Death and Hell, 
 and over Sin, Satan and wicked Men. Nov/ Death 
 was imftinged, the Grave loft its Purchafe, the Ser- 
 pent's Head was bruifed, the Powers of Hell vanquish- 
 ed, and they were all 'wallowed up in Victory 
 
 Likewiie Chrift by his Reibrreclion, as the Head of 
 the Church, gave to all the Members of his Body a 
 fhre Pledge and Earned: of their Refurrecricn from 
 the Grave at the laft Day, to Immortality and eter- 
 nal Lire. And on this Day he refted from all his 
 Works of Suffering and Redemption, and rejoiced in 
 the Review of them with infinite Delight and Com- 
 p.hicency. Now a Communion Sabbath is a bright 
 Memorial of this glorious Day, which is to be had 
 "-lilting Remembrance. O Believer, remem- 
 ber it with Th.inkfulnefs and Joy. 
 
 3, This Day is a Memorial of yodrfpiritttal Re- 
 .! ion and new Birth, as it declares your Rece;:- 
 
 'to God's Family, and fea's -your Title to 
 
 T 3 . Privilege* 
 
2-2 2 ~d Lt.mmuiUQn Oduvath 
 
 Privileges of his Children, thai you are born Heirs cf 
 Cod, and joint Heirs -auth Chrijt or* the heav enly In- 
 heritance. And tho' the Lord's Supper be.not a con- 
 verting Ordinance in its own Nature, yet the Preach - 
 ing of a crucified Chrili this Day, has been the Mfcajos 
 of converting many Thoufands, and, in many others, 
 cf beginning the IJangs and forerunners of the >w- 
 bii tli, to wit, Saving Couviclions of S'ni, and £,;- 
 quh Us after- Chrijl, and Salvation thro' him, which 
 have landed in their Converfion. O pray that it may 
 be fifch a Day to you and many others. 
 
 4. This Day is a Memorial of your Marriage Day ; 
 becaufe on it you enter into, or renew your Marriage 
 Covenant with Chrift, the Bridegroom of the Church. 
 Mini Iters, by the Go lpel- offers, court your Souls to 
 ChriftJ faying, as thefe did to Rebekah, Co:. x\iv. 5?. 
 Will you go with the Man Chrijl ? On the Communion- 
 Day, you folemnly give your Aniwer as fhe did, We 
 will go ; and at the Lord's Table you leal your En- 
 gagement to him. Likewife this Day is a Memorial 
 of the Confummation of your Marriage with Chrilt at 
 the great Day, when he will come to receive home 
 his efpoufed Bride, and conduct her to the King's Pa- 
 l.ice with Joy and Triumph. O prepare and long 
 for that Day. 
 
 5. The Communion Sabbath is a Memorial of your 
 crucifying S'dj, which was the Cauie of your Redeem- 
 er's Death. At this Ordinance you draw Virtue from 
 the Death of Chrilt, to kill Sin and mortify ftrong 
 Lulls. Many wreftling Believers have been enabled, 
 at this Occafion, to give a Death's Wound to thefe 
 Lulls and Idols they had been long Rruggling againll 
 before. Refolve then, in Chrift's Strength, that Sin 
 mall not out-live this Day ; it is moll jull to revenge 
 rhe Death of Chrifl upon it. 
 
 6. A Communion Sabbath is a Memorial oS Guilt's 
 t&nquefl and Coronation : For on this Day Chrilt fie- 
 otientlv receives the Fruit uid Reward of the Travel 
 
 of 
 
a Memorial. 223 
 
 of las Soul and his bitter Agonies, by overcoming 
 Hearts, depoftng Satan from his Throne, and deliver- 
 ing Souls from his Thraldom, and translating them in- 
 to his own Kingdom. And, at this Occafion, all worthy 
 Communicants do, as it were, put a Crown of Glory • 
 and Honour upon ChruVs Head, by renouncing Sin, 
 Sai. ., and all that had e?*ercned Dominion over them 
 before, and giving their full and hearty Conient^that 
 Chrift alone fhall reign over them for ever. Chrift is 
 fo delighted \\ ith this, that he efteems it as his Coro- 
 nation Day, Cant. iii. 11. O come then and yield 
 \ our Hearts to Chrift, and pray that the Communi- 
 on Day may be a Day of his Coronation and Con- 
 quest, when Sinners ihall give their free and willing 
 Content to the dethroning of Satan, and enthroning 
 oflvingjclus; come under ChruVs Sceptre and Go- 
 vernment, and abandon ail his Enemies ; for he hath 
 belt Right to the Throne, and the jufteft Title to reign 
 over you. 
 
 7. A Communion Sabbath is a lively Memorial and 
 Emblem of the everlajVmg Sabbath above, and the 
 heavenly Feaft there that ihall never end, which Chrift 
 hath purchafed and promiled to his People. Why I 
 becaule on a Communion Sabbath here, there is an af- 
 fcmbling of God's People to give Thanks for redeem- 
 ing Love, and to feed upon Chrift and his Purchafe, 
 with Satisfaction and Songs of Praife. In like Man- 
 ner A in the heavenly Sabbath, there will be a great 
 Gathering of all the Saints thro' all the World, to 
 admire and praife God for redeeming Goodnefs, and 
 to lit down and feaft with Chrift for ever, upon the 
 Benefits of hi6 Purchale. O how great is the Plenty, 
 Variety, the Fulnefs of Provifion and Satisfaction 
 which is at the upper Table ! there they feed upon e- 
 ternal Redemption from Hell and Wrath, perfect 
 Freedom from Sin and Satan, and from all Afflictions 
 and Complaints : They feed upon the glorious Pre- 
 l'ence of God in human Nature, the conftant Shin- 
 
 ing s 
 
224 Taking hold of Cod's Conexant t 
 
 ings of his Face, and Intimations of his Love : tl.<r 
 bright Emcoveries of the Works of God in Creation 
 and Providence, and especially in the Redemption oi' 
 Men by Chrift. And in this Feftival they have perfect 
 Satisfaction, joined with eternal Songs ofPraife, But 
 O how far will the Communion Sabbath above excel 
 thefe we have here below! Here we are oft put to 
 rial* our Praiies with Mourning and Ten is, becauie 
 of Sin prevailing, or the Spirit withdrawing. Here 
 Juthifes, and unworthy Guefts thruft in among the 
 Diiciples; but at the higher Table there is no fuch Mix- 
 ture, all is pure and holy, and there is nought to al- 
 lay their Joy Here our Communion Sabbaths 
 
 are foon over, and have Nights, Week Days, and 
 Trials to fucceed them ; but the Communion Sabbath, 
 above, the Feail, Mufick, and Aflembly are everl ail- 
 ing, without Interruption or Uneafinefsof any Sort — - 
 O then improve thefe fhort Sabbaths, as Memorials 
 and Means to prepare you for this everlaliing Sabbath ; 
 and in ail Ordinances here, keep your Eye upon the 
 heavenly Feftival. 
 
 ADVICE XX. 
 
 From Je-rem. hi. 19. 
 
 nowjbaf/ I put thee ai^png the Children P Thou Jkalt 
 
 call me my Father. 
 
 THO' there be great Mountains of Difficulties 
 Ifi the Way of Sinners Salvation, yet God, in 
 his free Mercy, hath found out an Expedient to get 
 over them ; even by making Choice of God as our 
 God and Father in Chrift — i — That you may admire 
 his Grace the more, take a View of the Difficulties 
 that ly in die Way. God might fay, How fhall J 
 put thee among the Children of my Family, who are 
 
 the 
 
funnowits all Difficulties. 225 
 
 the Offspring of apoltate and rebellious Parents, who 
 ungratefully departed from God without any Provo- 
 cation, fold themleives to the Devil to do his Drudge- 
 ry, and rebelled againit: a moft gracious God, and 
 loving Fathei ? And how ihall I put you, that have 
 fmned after the Similitude of Adam, among my Chil- 
 dren ? How ihall I be reconciled to inch treacherous 
 
 Dealers? Again he might lay, Hvm jlalt 1 put 
 
 you among my Ghildrtn x who are condemned Rebels in 
 the Hands of my infinite Juitice, and whom I am en- 
 gaged by my Truth to ueitroy, having laid, The Soul 
 that finneth Jhall die. Here is a burning Mountain of 
 ft/jttce in the Way of your Salvation ; how (hail 
 
 Mercy get over it to help you? How Jhall 1 put 
 
 you among my Children, whole Hearts are'full of En- 
 mity againit me, and ha\e all ) our Days been plot- 
 ting with the Desi!, and aihTting htm to fight againit 
 
 me, and pull the Crown offmy Head? how jhall 
 
 J put you among my Children, who aic 10 cefoimed, 
 polluted and lothlbme Creatures, as black as Hell 
 can make you, who have all your Days been wallow- 
 ing in the Mire, and drenched in the Puddle of Sin ? — 
 How Jhall I put you among my Children, who have 
 been all your Days Satan's Vaflals, drudging at his 
 Work, grinding in his Priion, and ierving divers Lufts 
 
 and Pleafures ? How J)?all J put you among my 
 
 Children, who are impotent and lame, cannot run my 
 Errands, nor move one Step in my Service, nor do 
 
 any Thing to pleaie or glorify me ? How Jhall I 
 
 put you among my Children, who hate my Children 
 and my Image in them, and have preferred the De- 
 vil's Children to mine ? Hovjjhalt J put jou atnong 
 
 my Children, that hate my Childrens Bread, and 
 
 chule rather to feed on Hulks with the Swine? 
 
 How Jhall I put you among my Children, that never 
 liked my Childrens Work, never loved Prayer, Praife, 
 
 nor any fpiritual Employment ? How Jhall I put 
 
 g myChildrcriy who are Sir.ners in Zion, have 
 
 fitten 
 
2zu i a King mia oj u-oa s ^oveuaru, 
 
 fitten many Years under Goi'pel Offers and Calls to 
 come to Chrift, and have flighted them all, and bolt- 
 ed the Door againft my dear Son, and quenched the 
 
 Motions of my Spirit ? Hovj Jhail I put you among 
 
 my Children, who have been fo impenitent and hard- 
 hearted ail your Days, as never to drop one Tear for 
 any of all the black and heinous Sins you have com- 
 mitted againit me X Hoiv jbali I put you among 
 
 the Childre?j 9 who have never kept on* Word to mc, 
 but have broke ail your baptiiinal Engagements, and 
 gone over to the Devil's Camp, and harboured my. 
 Enemies ? O how is it that God can come over thele 
 Mountains, to put luch as you among the Children, 
 and allow you to fit down at the Children! Table 
 and eat of their Bread ? how is this confiftent with 
 the Honour and Hoiinels of God I 
 
 BlefTed be God who hath found out a Way for his 
 Mercy to come over all thefe Mountains, by provid- 
 ing a Mediator and Surety to fatisfy juftice for oiu' 
 Sins, and proclaiming a new Covenant, that whofo- 
 ever accepts of the Mediator, and makes Choice of 
 God as his God and Father in him, mail be taken in- 
 to God's Family, and be numbered among his Chil- 
 dren, notwithftanding cf all you have done to pro- 
 voke him to cad you off. Thou JJialt call >nc my Fa- 
 ther. Wonderful Condsfcenfion, that lie fhould al- 
 low fuch Prodigals and Run-aways at all to fpeak to 
 him, and far more that he mould put Words in their 
 Mouths, and fach kindly Words, as my Father/ ama- 
 zing Goodneis ! 
 
 If you would make, this Addreis aright, and take 
 hold of his Covenant, fo as you may be taken in a- 
 mong the Children of God, and allowed to come to 
 his Table and eat of their Bread ; you mud be trill) 
 grieved for your long rebelling againft your heavenly 
 Father, and flighting his Offers of Mercy ai^d Pardon 
 thro' Chrift ; you mult be deeply humbled before him, 
 and faU in with the C : olpc!-:2icthod ef Accefs to him 
 
furmounts all Difficulties. 227 
 
 by a Mediator ; you inuft quit all Dependence on your 
 own Righteoulhefs, and hreak with all your Father's 
 Enemies, you mult make a free and hearty Choice of 
 God, as your Gcd and Father in ChrHt, refling whol- 
 ly upon Chrift's Mediation and Righteoulhels for Ac- 
 ceptance with God ; — you mult make a Surrender of 
 yourlelves, and all you have to him, and engage in 
 Chrift's Strength to lerve him, as obedient Children, 
 defirous to pleale your Father in all Things. 
 
 O come then, enter into Covenant with God, and 
 make choice of him as your Father in Chrift ; this is 
 the only Expedient lor removing the Difficulties in the 
 Way of your Salvation, and for taking youintoGod's 
 Family, and numbering you among his Children j unlefs 
 you fall in with it, you can have no Right to the 
 Childrens Bread, you'll be unworthy Communicants 
 and eat and drink Judgment to yourfclves. O then 
 prevent it, by entering into Covenant with God, that 
 you may be taken in among the Children. — O young 
 Perions, Let me put the Matter home to you, "as Jo- 
 jhua did to. the Ifraelitts, Chufe you this Day whom 
 jou will ferv'e! Chui'e you whom you will take for 
 your Father, whether God or the Devil! Both are 
 courting your Hearts; Which of them will you yield 
 to ? is there any fo fooliPn as to halt betwixt two O- 
 pinions in this Cafe? Is there any lb mad as ftand in 
 Doubt whether to dwell with Chrilt or the Devil for 
 
 ever ? Now Michael and his Angels, and the Dra- 
 
 gon and his Angels, are ftruggling for your Hearts; 
 a cunning Devil is holding, and a dying Saviour \z 
 drawing; now call the Balance, and (hew which of 
 them you incline to : The Eyes of the holy Trinity- 
 are on you, the Eyes of Angels and Men are on you, 
 to fee what the IfTue will be. O then be wife and 
 come prcfently, and make a Surrender of your Hearts 
 to God in Chi ill:. There is no Mufick ^q melodious 
 in God's Ears, as the Voice of young Perfons Weep- 
 ing and Covenanting with God. "The Seafbn of 
 
 Youth 
 
228 Taking hold of God's Covenant, &c 
 
 Youth is the Male in your Flock, it belongs to God, 
 let him hive it, they are curled who deny it to him, 
 and referve the Blind and Lam* to God, fuch as the 
 Dregs of old Age, or Siekneis, Mai. i. 7. 
 
 O Communicants, lee always to bring Chrift alongft 
 with you in your Covenanting with God; never 
 think of Covenanting with him but by Sacrifice; bring 
 the Sacrifice of* Chrift's Death to atone for the Breach of 
 the firir. Covenant, and bring his Surety/bip to anfwer 
 f or your Faithfulnefs in the lecond, otherwiie you can 
 never call God your Father, nor be taken in among his 
 
 Children. 'Remember you are all engaged in this 
 
 Covenant by your Parents undertaking for you in 
 Baptifm ; but allbon as you are capable, God will 
 have you to renew it perlbnally and explicitely, and 
 to come fenfible of your breaking this Covenant, in 
 running away from Chrift \s Colours, and in going o- 
 ver to the Devil's Camp; and deeplj fenfible of your 
 Folly in delaying and Handing out io loug againft 
 Chrift's gracious Calls and free Offers. O come, as 
 penitent Prodigals and mourning Backfiiders, with 
 your Faces Ziou-ward, weeping as ye go^ willing to 
 enter into God's Covenant, and give vourleh cs aw ay 
 unto the Lord, who is your rightful Owner. Since 
 Chrift comes to you at this Occafion, as in Streams of 
 Blood, it is furely proper that you meet him with 
 Streams of Tears for Sin, that caufed his Blood to be 
 poured forth as Water ; and that you come prefently 
 to an open Rupture with all his Enemies, and parti- 
 cularly with your Unbelief, your Pride, your Paflion, 
 your Hypocrify, and other Sins that have pierced 
 him. Break with them all, and come to him with 
 the appropriating Acts of Faith, faying, My Father, 
 my L ord, and my Cod. 
 
 ADVICE 
 
Strange Sights to be feen, &cc. 229 
 
 ADVICE XXI. 
 
 From Luke v. 26. 
 
 They glorified God, faying, We have feen ft range 
 Things To-day. 
 
 THESE, who have been attending Ordinances, 
 ought to recoiled what they have been feeing, 
 doing and hearing, and to be fuitably affected there- 
 with. Self-Examination is needful after coromunk at- 
 ing, as well as before it. Had you the Eyes of] tl 
 ooen to lee and obferye the Goings of our God and 
 King in his Sanctuary ; you may then lay on the Evening 
 of a Communion Sabbath, We have feen ft range and 
 marvellous Things To-day. Yon have feen the bloody 
 Tragedy of Chrift's Sufferings reprefented and readied ; 
 Chrilt with Garments dipt in Blood fighting a bloody- 
 Battle for us; in which the Glory of the Divine Attri- 
 butes are wonderfully difplayed: Behold the free Love 
 and Mercy of God, who was highly offended with us, 
 yet contriving our Redemption, and giving the Son of 
 his Love to die for us, who were his Enemies ; and 
 for this End creating a new Thing in the Earth, the 
 Incarnation of an infinite Perfon, making a Woman, a 
 Virgin, to be Mother of him that created her ! God in- 
 carnate is a World's Wonder, Jer. xxxi. 22. A ftrange 
 Thing! The Son of God contents thus to humble 
 himfelf and die for condemned Criminals ; rather than 
 he would fee ElecT: Sinners plunged into thebottomlcfs 
 Gulf of eternal Miiery, in his Love and Pity he would 
 put himfelf into it to keep them out ! = Here in- 
 finite Wifdom difplayed in finding out a Way to fa. 
 tisfy Juffcice in punifhing Sin feverely> and at the 
 fame Time to gratify Mercy in pardoning *he Sinner 
 freely! A ftrange Device! Juftics and Mercy are 
 reconciled, and kifi one another in Man's Redemption 
 by Chrihr's Death, the Demands of both arc anfvered, 
 and the Glory of both equally difcovered ! — Here is 
 
2 30 Strang; Sights to be fee ft- 
 
 feen the' Severity of Juftice and Fiercenefs of God's 
 Wratli againft Sin, in not fparing his innocent Son 
 when he became our Surety, nor abating him one 
 Farthing of the Debt ! Nay, he awaked the Sword of 
 Juftice againft him, and poured out the Vials of his 
 Wrath upon him, which kindled a Fire in his Soul, 
 made him i'weat and fall to the Ground ; and there, 
 he that made the Heavens lay grovelling in the An- 
 guiih. of his Spirit, and fweating Clods of Blood ! O 
 how heavy was the Burden of Guilt that preiled his 
 Soul at this Time ! 
 
 You have iecn a flrange Thing, Blood flreamng 
 forth of marvellous Virtue, that can foften Hearts, 
 tho' harder than a Stone; that can heal all the 
 Wounds given yon by the old Serpent ; that can waih. 
 away the deeped Stains of Guilt, and make Creatures 
 black as Hell, whiter than Snow ! and tho' many 
 Thoufands have been cleanfed by it, yet the Stream is 
 nowife defiled ; but flill is pure and clear as CryftaJ ! 
 You have feen the amazing Humiliation of the Son of 
 God for vile Worms ! a ftrange Thing ! he was made 
 a Worm, a Clod of Duft ; yea, made Sin for us ! 
 ftrange ! that he who thunders in the Heavens, fhould 
 be brought to ly in the Manger, and cry in the Cra- 
 dle ! That he who framed the Heavens, fhould work 
 with a Carpenter in his Trade ! That the great Judge 
 of all the World, fhould be brought to the Bar, ac- 
 cufed as a Malefactor, condemned and crucified be- 
 twixt two Thieves, that fuch Criminals as you might 
 have a Room among the Blefled ! You have feen the 
 Lord of Life deprived of Life, to purchafe Life for you! 
 fpotlels Holinefs made Sin, and eternal Blejfednefs 
 made a Curie to redeem you from Sin, and the Curie 
 due to it ! A flrange Thing ! for the Holy One of God 
 to make fuch an Exchange with you, to take i.e. 
 Curfc, to give you the Bleding ! to take Shame, to 
 give you Glory ! to take Death, to give you Life ! to 
 «take your Sins, to give you Ins Rightcouihefs ! A 
 
 ftrang-e 
 
iii the Sacrament. 231 
 
 Orange Thing ! to fee the RtghUoufnefs of one Man, 
 a Robe large enough, and furTident, to cover many 
 Thoulimds, lb as not one Spot of Guilt can be leen iri 
 
 them by the Eye of infinite juftice ! A ftrange 
 
 Thing 1 to fee Chrift willing to have his Side opt ncd> 
 to fatisfy doubting Souls of the Reality of his Love, 
 that you might look into his Heart, and ice it panting 
 with Love to you, and hear him faying, as to Tho- 
 mas, Be no 7/iore faiihlefs, but believing! Strange! 
 to fee him bowing his Head on the Crofs^ to whilper 
 Comfort into your Ear, faying, Now it is finijhed ; 
 I have drunk the Brook in the Way, even the whole 
 River of God's Wrath, fb that there is not one Drop 
 
 left for you; every Believer's Debt is paid! A 
 
 ftrange Thing! to behold the Father pleafed to fee 
 the Bruifes, Agonies, and Sufferings of his dear Sen, 
 that his Enemies might be eternally freed from them ! 
 A ftrange Thing ! to fee Death conceding Death; 
 the Death of Chrift conquering all his and our Ene • 
 mies ! If any had ieen Chrift entering the Lifts with 
 Death and Hell, Law and Juftice, he might have 
 flood amazed, and laid, O what \\ ill come of this 
 Champion that is engaged with fuch ftrong Enemies r 
 But ft ay a little, and you (hall fee him lead Captivity 
 captive, triumphing over them all, and fetch all he. 
 came for, out of the Hand of the Devil ? When 
 Chrift was brought to the Crofs, one might have 
 thought that Devils, wicked Men, and Death, were 
 triumphing over him ; but the Word'faith, that on the 
 Crofs he fpoiled Principalities and Povjers ,• and viade a 
 /hew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. A 
 ftrange Myftery ! while Enemies were (coffing and 
 infultin^ him, Chrift is triumphing over them ! A glo- 
 rious Conqueft Chrift's was, for he not only ihbdued 
 his Enemies, but conquered them fo far, as to mr.ke 
 them ufeful and lervkcable to him and his People 1 
 Let us admire the Conqucft and the Conqueror; tho* 
 he wasdefpiied by Men, yet, like Da- V id, he (lori- 
 V 2 ouflv 
 
232 Stra?ige Sights to be fee n 
 
 oufly fubdued Goliath, that defied the Armies of the 
 God of Ifraeii Ke crufhed the Head of the old Ser- 
 pent that had bruiied his Heel, and enflaved his Elecl ; 
 and he put all his other* Eneminies to flight ! 
 
 A flrange Sight ! you have feen To-day God com- 
 ing over the greateit Mountains of Difficulties, to 
 pardon and fave Sinners! taking Rebels to be his 
 Children and Favourites ; and exalting them abov e 
 Angels that never finned ! You have feen the King of 
 Glory courting poor Slaves, black Ethiopians, and in- 
 viting them with outM retched Arms to come and 
 match with him, and fealing the Marriage Covenant 
 with his Blood I You have feen him make a rich Feaft 
 to them, and welcome them to feed en a crucified 
 Chrift, and all his Purchase ! Behold the heavenly Pe- 
 lican, that feeds his young Ones with his Bloo^k! How 
 amazing is the Sight, that God mould not only feaft, 
 but feal a Marriage-covenant with you, whole De- 
 icent is bafe, whofe Perfon is ugly, whofe Portion is 
 nothing but Difeafes and Mifery ! O what ftrange 
 Sights have you feen To-day ! you have feen the Love 
 of Chrift, the Worth of Souls, the Price of Pardon, 
 an Emblem of the higher Table, to which many of 
 your Friends and Acquaintances are gone, where the 
 Feaft will never end ! 
 
 You have feen, To-day, a Orange AcT of Mercy to 
 guilty and ill deferving Creatures, who have ate and 
 drunk before the Lord, and yet on them he hath not 
 laid his Hand ; he hath made no Breach upon an/, as 
 on Uzzah, Nadab, Abihu, or the Man oi Bet JIj erne Jh ! 
 He hath not ftruck any dead with the Bread in their 
 Mouths, or Cup in their Hands; nor fent any from 
 'he Table to Hell, tho' you muft acknowledge you 
 *!. ferved rather to have had a Cup of Wrath put in 
 
 your Hand, than a Cup of Blefling. —A ftrange 
 
 Sight ! that Gofpel Offers are yet continued to thefe 
 who have abufed many Sacraments, and Sermons ! 
 that Chrift mould be ftretching out the Sceptre of 
 
 Grace, 
 
in the Sacrament* 233 
 
 Grace, and offering Pardon and Mercy to thefe who 
 have crucified him afrefh, and trampled his Bicod un- 
 der root. 
 
 Have you feen Evidences of gracious Changes 
 wrought on Hearts and Wills by the Word, fecure 
 Souls awakned, blind Eyes opened, proud Creatures 
 humbled, carelels Sinners made to cry, Away with 
 the World, and give me Chrift : None but Chrift. I 
 count all Things but Loft and Dung in Companion 
 of Chrift and his Rightcoulheis. TheJe are ftrange 
 Sights, with which you mould be mich affected, Va as 
 to hate Sin, love Chrift, Blefs God and glorify him 
 with your Hearts, Tongues and Lives. It is the 
 of all God's Works that we ftiould glorify him — Oh ! 
 the bed have Realbn to lament that they are To little 
 affeclejJkXvith'thc marvellous Things let before them 
 in the Word and Sacrament! Surely when you com- 
 pare the Rock whence you are hewn, and that on 
 which God lets you ! and when you coniider the low 
 Stoop Chrift has made to purchafe lien Clods of Earth 
 and Sins with his Blood, you have Came to be ama:> 
 ev! at his Love, and confounded at your own Ingrati- 
 tude, in being fo little affected with his marvellous 
 loving Kindneis, or melted for Sin that was the Caufe 
 
 of all his Sufferings \ O let the ftrange and won~ 
 
 derful Tokens of Chrift's Love, you have been feeing 
 and (baring of in the Sacrament, engage you to more 
 Thankfulneis in Heart and Life. Have you been warn- 
 ing your Robes white in the Blood of the Lamb ? be. 
 careful to keep them clean, and do not defile them a- 
 gain in the Mire of Sin ; remember your Vows, and 
 keep your Face f til 1 towards your Father's Houfe, 
 which 4 s a pure and undefiled Dwelling ; you cannot 
 take filthy Hands or Feet thither, for no unclean 
 Thing enters there, Pfal. xciii. 5. Holhtefs becometh 
 thine Houfe t Lord, for ever, 
 
 U 3 
 
 AD VICE. 
 
234 Hungry souls who they are. 
 
 ADVICE XXII. ' 
 
 From Luke vi. 21. 
 Ble'J'l are ye that hunger now, for ye fl?all be filled. 
 
 IN Scripture, Hunger and Th'irjl, when applied to 
 fphitual Things, imports the fame Thing, to wit, 
 a ftrong Defire after fpiritual and heavenly good 
 Things ; which Defire implies fpiritual Life, a feeling 
 Senfe of Want, and a longing for Food to the Soul, 
 together with the Ufe of all proper Means to obtain 
 it. Now, the main Object of this Hunger or Thirft 
 
 is Jejus Chrift, or God in Chrifl, Pfai. xlii. 1. 2. 
 
 Jxiii. 1. — . — Now there are many Things in (Thrift 
 which the hungry Soul doth defire ; as 1. Chrifl's 
 Blood, as the Soul's Ranfom and cleanfmg Fountain. -- 
 2. Chrift's Spirit, as the Soul's Qu.ickner, Comforter 
 
 and Guide. 3. Chrilt's Righteoulhefs, as the Soul's 
 
 Clothing and Protection. 4. Chrifl's Word, as 
 
 the Soul's daily Food and Cordials 5. Chrifl's Sup- 
 per, as the Soul's Feaft and Pledge of Heaven. 
 
 6. Chrift's Graces, as the Soul's Riches and Orna- 
 ments. — 7. Chrift's Way, or Holinefs in Heart and 
 
 "Life, as the Soul's Path to Heaven. 8. Chrift's 
 
 Day, as the Soul's weekly Market-day for getting in 
 Provifions neceifary for working, journeying, fight- 
 ing, ire: 9. Chrift's Manfions above, as the Soul's 
 
 dwelling Place for eternal Communion with God and 
 
 his Saints. Now, if ye would be truly bleffed, ye 
 
 m id hunger and third for thefe Things, firmly be- 
 lie ing that in thefe your true Happinefs doth ly, and 
 not in the World or fenfual Tilings. 
 
 Again, fee that your Hunger be of the right Kind, 
 thit it be infatiable, ib that nothing can put it off or 
 fatisfy it but Chrift ; the truly hungry Soul will not 
 be pleafed with the beft Duties, Ordinances, Mini- 
 ftors, Sermons, Sacraments, or any Thing without 
 
 Chriit 
 
The Hungry are plica. 235 
 
 Chrift The hungry Soul will adventure on the 
 
 greateft Difficulties for Chrift ; he will part with any 
 Thing for him : All the Treafures, Honours, Mufick, 
 or Comforts of Life, cannot fatisfy him, none but 
 Chrift the Soul's Food. True Hunger will put him 
 upon the Ule of all Means, and make him content to 
 take Chrift on any Terms, and put a Blank in his 
 Hand, and fay, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do P 
 I'll iubfcribe to any Thing, only give me Chrift, give 
 me Food to my ftarving Soul. 
 
 Such hungry Souls are blefted, becaufe he hath pro- 
 mifed to latisfy and fill them. It is God that creates 
 the Appetite, and excites the Hunger, and therefore 
 he will fatisfy it. The Hungry are the moft earneft 
 and importunate Beggars at the Throne of Grace ; 
 and fuch he has promiied to hear, Luke ii. 9. The 
 Hungry will wait at God's Door for an Alms, and he 
 promifes that thefe who wait for him J}) all not be a- 
 jbamed, Ifa. xlix. 23. The Proud, the Rich, the 
 Full and Self-righteous will go away, if the Door be 
 not prefentiy opened, but the Hungry will aik, feek, 
 knock, 2nd knock again, and wait till God think fit 
 to open, and grant an Alms. Thefe God is bound 
 by his Word to fatisfy. He is their Father, and hath 
 the Bowels of a Father to pity his Children. He 
 hears the Ravens and young I ions when they cry, and 
 feeds them, and will he not hear his own Children, and 
 fill their hungry Souls ? Yes, he hath promifed it. 
 
 But what is that Fill he promiles to the Hungry I 
 Anf. He fills them with d'roUie Difcoveries, as with 
 the Knowledge of God's Great nefs and Majefty, fo as 
 to make them fenfible of their own Nothingnefs ; and 
 with the Knowledge of God's Good nefs and free Love 
 to Sinners in Chrift, lo as to make them fall into Rap- 
 tures of Admiration, and cry, Who is a God like unto 
 
 thee, that pardoneth Iniquity, Micah vii. 18 He 
 
 fills them with a Dfcovery of the Excellency of th? 
 Gofpel-rcmedy for perifhing Souls, fo as to make them 
 
 fay 
 
230 nungry sows wtjo xney are. 
 
 fay it is a Device every Way worthy of God, Chrift 's 
 mediatory Offices, his Covenant, his Righteoufnefs, 
 his Blood, his Purcbafe and Fulnefs, do nobly anfwer 
 all our Souls Wants and Necellities ; they deliver us 
 from Sin and Miiery, and they bring us Grace and 
 
 Glory. He fills his hungry People with Gofpel- 
 
 promijl's, by letting them fee their Name in them, 
 and giving them Faith to take Hold of them and ap- 
 ply them. Many a fweet Fill do they get from fuch 
 Promifes as thefe, Jer. xxxii. 40. Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 
 28. Jer, iii. 22. 1 John ii. 1. Rem. xvi. 20. Heb, 
 
 xiii. 5. He fills them with the Intimations of the 
 
 Pardon of their Sins, and with Peace and Joy in be- 
 lieving, Rom. xv. 13. ib as to banilh their Doubts 
 and Fears. What a fweet Fill doth Chrift's Voice 
 give them, fuch as that in Mat. ix. 2. Luke xxiv. ~6, 
 
 38. John xiv. 27. Rom. viii. 1. He fills them with 
 
 Refclution and Strength to conquer Sin, perform Du- 
 ties, refill Temptations, and bear Arrlidions ; when 
 he fpeaks to them as to Paul, 2 Cor. xii. 9. or as in 
 
 Ifa. xli. 10. and xliii. 2. He fills them by giving 
 
 them fweet Returns of Prayer, djfu ranee of his Love, 
 
 and of his gracious Prefence with them. He fills 
 
 them by making over Chrift's Fuinefs and Purchafe to 
 them, and by giving them Pijgah Views of the pro- 
 mifed Land, and will at lad fill them with Glory. 
 
 It is only the Hungry that fhall be filled, the Needy, 
 the Humble and Self-denied, for the Rich are fent 
 empty away, Luke i. 5'-?. the Rich, that is thefe who 
 are rilled with a Concc-t of their own Strength and 
 Sufficiency, their Gifts and Performances, and go a- 
 bout to eftablifli a Righteoufnefs of their own, and fee 
 not their Need of Chrift : Thefe fhall go empty away, 
 for they do not prize Chrift, nor are willing to come 
 up to his Terms. They go away empty of Chrift 
 and his Riches ; but alas, they go away filled with 
 Pride and Self-conceit, filled with Love to Sin ; Love 
 
 to 
 
The Redeemed jhould be thankful. 237 
 
 to the World, and Love to their own Righteoufnefs. 
 Oh this is a miferable Fill ! 
 
 O hungry Souls, blefs God that gives you this Ap- 
 petite, when others are rich and full in their own 
 Conceit, labour to prelerve this Appetite and wait a- 
 boiit God's Houfe and Table, w T here Soul-food is to 
 be had ; and blefs him even for the imalleft Crumbs, 
 as when he gi\es you a greater Hatred of Sin, a high- 
 er Efterm of Chrift, a greater Defire after Heart-ho- 
 linefs, a Reftlelfnefs without Chrift, a Willingnefs to 
 part with all for Chrift, or ftronger Refolutions to 
 cleave to Chrift and Duty. Thefe Crumbs are wor- 
 thy of Thanks, tho' ye be not filled with Joy and 
 Pe ice in believing. Wait on the Lord, and wait for 
 him in every Ordinance and Duty of bis Appointment, 
 'believing him to be faithful who hath laid, They JJmil 
 not be ajbameA who wait for me. 
 
 Ob j eft. Some may fay, We have waited long, and 
 have not got a Crumb. Anf. Llome eminent Saints 
 have been put to cVy, How long wut thou forget me, 
 Lord, fhall it be for ever, Plal. ' iii. But they muft 
 wait in the Ufe of Means until God's Time come, and 
 adore the Sovereignty of God in his Dealing? with 
 them. His People have refigned themfelves to the 
 Care and WHHom of God, who knows what is beft 
 for them ; believing there is a Time coming when God 
 will make up all their Loffes. O Believers, there is 
 a Fill remaining for you above, that will foon make 
 you forget all your Days of Scarcity here below. 
 
 ADVICE XXIII. 
 
 From Tfal. cvii. 2. 
 
 Let ike Redeemed of the Lord fay fo.— 
 
 HAT is it fueh Perfons mould fay ? Let them 
 both fay and fing of God's Goodnefs and Mer- 
 cy 
 
 w 
 
238 The Redeemed of the Lord 
 
 cy to them ; for (of all Men) the Redeemed of the 
 Lord have moil Reafon to be thankful for Chrift's 
 diftinguifhing Mercy in freeing them from the Law's 
 Curies and Satan s Power, from the Guilt, Domini- 
 011, and Punifhment of Sin ; from the Sting of Death, 
 and the Wrath to come. Believers are redeemed both 
 from Sin and liell. 
 
 Q. How may I know if I be among thefe happy 
 Ones, the Redeemed of the Lord ? A. Take theie 
 Marks Did you ever fee your Slavery and Bon- 
 dage by Nature, ib that no lefs than an infinite Price 
 
 and Power could ranfom and liberate you ? Was 
 
 you fo convinced and humbled with the Sight of your 
 Mifery, as to be content of Freedom from it on any 
 
 Terms? Have you ventured your Soul on Chrift's 
 
 Merit and Mercy, conform to Gofpel-ofTers, being 
 well pleafed with the Frame of the New-covenant, 
 and the Self-denying Way of faying Souls by Chriit's 
 
 imputed Righteoufhefs ? Are you content with 
 
 Chrift to be your King and Ruler, as well as your 
 
 Priefl and Saviour? Have you given up yourfelf 
 
 to the Lord to live for him, defirous that his Love 
 may always conftrain you to do his Will ? O then, 
 you may conclude, you are among the Redeemed of 
 the. Lord, and that his blefled Body was broke, and 
 his Blood (lied to ranfom you. 
 
 Peculiar Reafons have you to extol his Goodnefs 
 and Mercy above others. Why ? he hath opened 
 your Eyes to fee the Beauty of your Redeemer, and 
 the Ways of Holinefs, when others remain in Blind- 
 nefs ! 1 He hath opened your Ears to hear the joy- 
 ful Sound, an:! fall in w ith it, when others are deaf 
 
 to it! He hath looled your Tongues to pray and 
 
 praife, when others arc dumb and Tongue-tied ! — He 
 hath opened your Hearts to entertain Chrift crucified, 
 
 when others fhut him out! He hath brought you 
 
 to a Feeling or* the K\ll and Burden of Sip, whefi o- 
 thers are without Keeling ! He hath given jsoq 
 
JJjouId fing his Praife. 239 
 
 appetites for fpiritual Food, when others relifh no- 
 thing but Things earthly ! He hath given you 
 
 the Promife and Hopes of compleat Redemption from 
 Sin and Milery above, when others live without 
 Chrift and without Hope ! Let the Redeemed of ths 
 herd thenfing and praiie above all others. 
 
 O believing Communicants, Redeemed of the Lord, 
 give him Thanks, and exprcls your Thankful neis by 
 your Thoughts and Actions, as well as your Words j 
 namely, by your high Eiteem of your Redeemer, and 
 of his Blood and Righteoufneis that purchafed all for 
 
 vou. By avoiding every Thing that difhonours 
 
 him, and flying from the Sins that are common and 
 
 fafhionable where you live. By commending yoir 
 
 Redeemer to thefe who know him not. By Hand- 
 ing up as IVituejfes for him, and for his Truths and 
 Ways, in the Midft of a Chrift defpifing Generation. — 
 By ltrkftry obferving the Lord's Day, as being a week- 
 ly Memorial of Redeeming Love. By longing for 
 
 the enlarging of Chiift's Kingdom, and rejoicing at 
 the Ne\y,s of it : And by putting Honour on all the 
 the Friends and Lovers of the Redeemer. 
 
 Laftly, Shew your Thankful nefs, by fingmg Pfaims, 
 Hymns , and fpiritual Songs in Praiie of redeeming 
 Love, and of the Redeemer 's Perfon, Offices and Suf- 
 ferings ; a Subject that can never be exhaufted. Sing 
 Praifes to the CreatGod, that humbled himjelf to leave 
 his high Throne, and come down to dwell in Flefli, 
 and die for us ; and to rife again, and afcend to Hea- 
 ven, to take PoflelTion of the Inheritance, and make 
 Accommodations for us there. On this A.ccount the 
 Spirit calls us four Times to fingPraifes in one Breath, 
 . xlvii. 6. Cod is gone up v/tth a Shout ; fing 
 fes to Cod, fing Praife s ; fing Praifes unto our 
 g, fing Praifes. This finging is moil acceptable 
 '■. God, and profitable to ourfelves. As God makes 
 it the eternal Work of Heaven, Co he would have us 
 [uentty employed in it on Earth. But Oh ! how- 
 do 
 
240 The Redeemed of the Lord, &c. 
 
 do we fail here! Reformed Churches abroad do far 
 exceed us in the Frequency of this Duty, as they do 
 in the Variety and Sweetnefs of their Tunes. 
 
 What is Singing, but a Kind of reading with Medi- 
 tation and Deliberation, in order to give the more free 
 Vent to the Thoughts and Affections to breathe and 
 afcend Heavenwards. The wife God inrtitutes Sing- 
 ing in his P' aife, .bee aire the Melody of the Voice 
 helps to affect the Be&rt, and raile the Thoughts ; 
 for he knoweth our Pr&me. And indeed, it is only 
 • when the Heart correfpbnds with the Voice, that the 
 Mufick is pleafant to God : To this Purpole one faith 
 well ; 
 
 ■Sweet Melody the Hymn affords, 
 V/hen with the Lines the Heart accords. 
 
 let- the RedeeiJted fing Praife, and give Thanks 
 to God for his unfpeakable Gift, both now and for 
 evermore. Amen. 
 
 1 (hall add no more Sacramental Advices in the 
 preceeding Method, but fliall fhut up all with a du- 
 ller of fhort Scripture Directions, proper not only 
 for Communicants, but for all Chriftians travelling 
 Heavenward. 
 
C 241 ] 
 
 A SHORT 
 
 Christian Directory 
 
 CONSISTING OF 
 
 Forty Scripture Directions, pro- 
 per for all Christians intending 
 Heaven. 
 
 IT ought to be the great Concern or all baptized 
 Perfons to renew their ii>aptifmal Covenant be- 
 times, and, by a private TranficUon with '.jod, 
 to take the Baptiimal Engagements upon themlelves, 
 nid thereby become Chiiitians by their own penoual 
 Content and Surrender, as well as by their Pa. jfs 
 Dedication ; and afterwards go and leal this Tranik- 
 ction publickly, by partaking of the Lord's Supper. 
 Concerning this, I have given Directions in The younP 
 
 Communicant' s Gateckifm. Only I would entreat 
 
 all my Readers, for Chriit's Sake, and their own 
 Souls Sake, to beware of going &bout this Work in 
 a fupcrficial or formal Manner, and of reRing upon 
 
 Lip-labour, and the external Part of Duty. O 
 
 never be eify until you inwardly and heartily dole 
 with Chrift, according to the gracious Golpel-oifer 
 which God makes unto you, lake no Reft till you 
 get your Souls united to Chrift by a true' Faith, and 
 lavingly renewed and changed from Nature to Grace 
 by the efficacious Working of the holy Spirit in Re- 
 generation. And as you are to clofe with Chrift by 
 Faith in your firft Converfion, jo you mult ftody to 
 live all your Days a Life of Faith on the Son "f God, 
 always making uleofhim, and leading on him for 
 X Rifihteoulheis 
 
242 Scripture Directions 
 
 RighxeouJhefe and Strength. I mall fay no more by 
 Way of Preface, but proceed to branch forth the 
 Christian's Work and Exercile in this lower World, 
 in the following Scripture-precepts and DhecTions. 
 
 Direction I. Let never the IVorld come in Cod's 
 Room* Beware of the Love of the World ; often 
 think upon that awakening Word, 1 JohnVt* 15. 
 Love not the World, neither the Things that are in the 
 World; if any Man love the IT or Id, the Love of the 
 Father is not in him. Oh, this is the ruining Sin of 
 Multitudes, their Love to, and Complacency in, the 
 Things of the World. Nay the molt Pa; t of Men 
 are damned for loving the World too much, and lov- 
 ing God too little. Remember the filter Grips ye 
 
 take of .the World, the looler are your Grips or" 
 Chrift ; and the more you get of the World, ye have 
 the greater Account to make to him that gives it, and 
 has made you the Steward oi it ; therefore ui'e your 
 Money and Goods for his Service and Honour: Yoa 
 mull anfwer for your Riches, but your Riches can- 
 not anfwer for you. . Alio, remember if ye let 
 
 your Hearts on the World, it will be all that you 
 will get ; to have a competent Portion of Things 
 earthly is a Mercy, but to have earthly Things for 
 our Portion is a dreadful Milcry. Wherefore, while 
 vour Hand is in this World, let your Heart be in 
 Heaven. Let the Bufmefs of your Soul be the Bufi- 
 nefs of your Life. 
 
 Direct. II. Keep up the fame -Opinion now of the 
 Things of the World, that you will have when you come 
 to die. You fee what a low Price Men fet upon the 
 Riches, Pomp and Glory of the World when they 
 are dying: Had you the fame Thoughts of thele 
 Things now, I am furc you would not venture the 
 Lofs of your Souls, the Lois of God's Favour, the 
 Lofs of a good Conlcience, and the Lofs of eternal 
 <Glory, for a whole World ; far Wis for a I'm all Trifle 
 
 of 
 
to Christians intending Heave. i. 243 
 
 of it, as many now do. Think much upon that 
 Text, Malik, xvi. 26. 
 
 Direfr. III. Be not Strangers to youtfe/ves, but of- 
 mmum with your own Hearts ; as directed Pfal. 
 iv. 4. When others are ccnfuiing and back -biting 
 iheir Neighbours, be you iearching and cenfuring your- 
 fclves, Self-examination is a moil necefTary Duty. 
 Kxamine yourielves after every Ordinance, what 
 '..•■. -od you got by it, what Entertainment you gavc- 
 your Saviour : Afk how were yoiur Hearts affected by 
 fuch a Word, isre. Commune with your Hearts a- 
 bout your Title to Heaven: Judge of your eternal 
 State by your fpiritual State, and judge of your Spi- 
 rit ual Sta'te by the delightful and cuftomary Action*? 
 of your Lives.' Judge of it by your Hatred of Si;;, 
 and Love to Chiiit, and by the Confcience you make 
 ufiecret Prayer, and reading God's Word. In com- 
 muning with yoar Hearts, among other Things, afk 
 yourielves, What are likelieft to be your Death-bed 
 Thoughts and Wifhes ? Will they not be fuch as 
 thefe ? O that I had loved Chrift more, and the 
 World lefs! O that I had improven Goipel-opportu- 
 nities better ! O that I had accepted Chrift's Calls 
 and Offers more readily ! O that I had ipent mort 
 Time in Prayer and fearchmg ti e Scriptures! O that 
 I had been more fpiritual and fervent in every Duty ! 
 
 Afk yourfeives, What are thefe Sins or Practice 
 
 which will be moil: frightful to look back on, when 
 ye fee yourfclvts juft within aStep of God's Tribunal ? 
 riady always to keep up Death-bed Thoughts of 
 
 Things. Commune with your Hearts about thefe 
 
 Things upon ycur Bed, and alio before you go to Bed. 
 l-ct Conicicnce bring in the Accounts of every Day 
 before you ly down; mourn over the Sins of every 
 Day, and apply the Biood of Chrift for warning 
 them away. Thus keep fhort Reckonings with God 
 and Conicicnce, that you may not have old Scores 
 to clear when yoa come to a Death-bed. Likewife 
 X 2 at 
 
mq scripture uireaions 
 
 at thefe Communings, let every Man afk biinlelf, 
 What is my prefent State and Condition? Would I 
 be willing to ly down and die in the Frame and 
 Difpofition I am in juir. now ? And I know not but I 
 may be as near Death this Moment, as if my Friends 
 were looking on me itruggling with the Pangs or' 
 Death on my Bet], 
 
 Direct. IV. Begin early in the Service of Cod, and 
 give him the Days of Youth, Eccl. xii. i. Thefe 
 v/ho are young ennnot begin their Service to God 
 too foon ; God defires it, to (hew God's Delight in 
 early Piety, We fee the Scripture commends young 
 Ones for it ; it is recorded with Honour, that the 
 Child Samuel miniitred to the Lord, i S.m. ii. 18. 
 Jojiah is commended for his tender Heart for God in 
 his tender Years, 2 Kings x.vii. 19. Chrift was well 
 pleafed with the Hofannahs of the Children that at- 
 tended him, Matih. 21. 15, 16. When Solomon in 
 his Youth fought God for Wifdom, it is laid, the 
 Speech pleafed the Lord, 1 Kings hi. 10. So Timo- 
 thy is commended for his early Piety, 2 Thn. iii. 15. 
 And God fays to 1/rael, I remember the K;;dne s of thy 
 Youth, Jer. ii. 2. And he recommends to every one 
 to begin foon, Eccl. xii. 1. ' The young Dilciple was 
 mod beloved, and leaned on ChrilVs Bofom. — Now 
 is the proper Time, O young People, for making 
 your Acquaintance with God, and for laying a good 
 Foundation for the Time to come. Kepentance is 
 cafieft in younger Years ; Sm is then lefs rooted, Sa- 
 tak's Grips lei's fattened, Gofpel offers are not ib flight- 
 ed, *the Spirit is-not lb much quenched, the Conici- 
 ence not to hardened ; the Heart is then more eafily 
 melted and broke. God fceks the Male of the Flock, 
 the heft of your Time, O then let him have it. If 
 you forget God when young, it is juft with God to 
 forget and negledt you when old. 
 
 Direcl. V. Shun the Company that fjjuus Cod, and 
 keep the Company that Cod keeps, Pfaf. cxis, 6;, T15. 
 
 Prov. 
 
to Christians intending Heaven. 245 
 
 Prov. xiii.,20. Look on the Society of the Carnal 
 or Prophane as infectious; but reckon ierious praying 
 Perfons the excellent Ones of the Earth. Such win 
 fcrve to quicken you when dead, and warm you when 
 cold. Make the lh elicit of God's People your greats. 
 eft: Intimates; and fee that then' Love and Likenels 
 to Chrift be the <n*eat Motive of your Love to them, 
 more than their Love or Likenels to you. It is not 
 true Chriltian Love, but Party Love, to love only 
 tfcefe who are of your Sentiments in all Things. Yea, 
 tho' they (hould differ from you in lome Things, if 
 you fee God's Image on them, and that they have 
 FeUowfhip with the Head, you ought to \o\e them, 
 and have Feliowfhip with them : Keep up the Com- 
 munion of Saints, for it is one of the Articles of our 
 Creed. Chriltian Conference and focial Prayer have 
 been bleffed of God to preferve the Life of ReJigion 
 in many Places, therefore let theie who fear the Lord 
 (peak often one to another, Tvhzl. iii. 16. 
 
 Direfr, VI. Put a high Value upon precious Time r 
 iofi none of it by Sloth, Eph. v. 16. Efleem Time 
 rib thefe do who are at the Point of Death ; and al- 
 ways remember that it is impollible to call Time a- 
 gain. Look upon the Lofs of Time as a greater Loi s 
 than the Lofs of your Money, or any worldly Thing* 
 and therefore fhun Time-wafting Game?, unprofitable 
 
 Diverfions, and idle Talking. Especially value the 
 
 moft precious Part of your Time, filch as the Morn- 
 ing of Youth, the Morning of every Day, and par- 
 ticularly the precious Time of the Lord's Day. Look 
 en the Lord's Day as a Tryft-day with Heaven ; 
 lole not any Part of it, but carefully improve it 
 for God and the Good of Souls, both your own and 
 others. It is Want of Thought, not Want of 
 Work, that makes any fay, they have Time to 
 fpare. 
 
 Direil. VII. Allva> a little Tans every Daj 
 :.t(n JStirtifyh Confider the Import of theft 
 
 X 3 cvcrlajiing 
 
240 scripture Directions 
 
 ever lap ing Piniifhment, and Life eternal, Matth. 
 xxv. 46. O Eternity, Eternity, that is never near- 
 er an End, but always, as it were, but beginning ! 
 One feriaus Thought of Eternity is enough to (Hike 
 a earelefs iioul to the Heart. Why ? he lbmls every 
 Hour at the Door of Eternity, and if he ftep in while 
 out of Chrifl-, he is eternally undone; eternally in 
 
 Defpair. O the fwift River Time is carrying every 
 
 one of us into the Ocean of Eternity, an Ocean that 
 hath neither Bank nor Bottom, and what each c£ 
 us mult (bon lanch forth into. What an awful 
 Thought is this! Every one of us is within a Step 
 of being eternally blel r cd, or eternally curled ! Eter- 
 nally laved or eternally damned ! O if every one 
 would beiieve and coniider this, and be wile, i'o as 
 to pray as for Eternity, repent as for Eternity, hear 
 as for Eternity, live as for Eternity, obey and do e- 
 very Thing as for Eternity. 
 
 Direll. VIII. Throughout your whole Lift', be mind- 
 ful of the chief Bufinefs of Life, Phil. ii. 12. Now 
 the Bufmels of Life is to make it lure that Chrifl is 
 your Life; it is to think much on the End of your 
 Life, and provide for it ; it is to lay hold on eter- 
 nal Life, and keep (fill Sight of it : So that when 
 Chrijl who is your Life fhali appear^ ye may alfo ap- 
 pear with hint in Glory, Col. hi. 4. Let not Religion 
 be your Diverfion, but your Bufmels ; mind it as the 
 one Thing needful; give all Diligence to make your 
 Calling and Election lure. Make fure your Calling, 
 and thus you make fure your Election. If you would 
 make fure your Calling, make it Hire that you are 
 united to Chrifl: by Faith, and that Chrifl: is the Life 
 of your Souls. Do not reft in Convictions, nor in 
 Tears, or Prayers or Duties, nor in any Thing flioi t 
 of Chrifl:. Prefs both for an Intereft in Chrifl:, and 
 for the AfTurance of it. AfTurance is attainable, and 
 acl'i illy attained by many ; and it is moll neceflary 
 for chsarful Obedience, for bearing the Croft, rejoic- 
 
to Chrifiia/hf intending Heaven. 247 
 
 ing in the Lord, giving Thanks for redeeming Love, 
 and for performing many other Duties of Chriili- 
 anity. 
 
 Dire/f. IX. Let the rational Soul govern, and the 
 Body befibfirvtent to it, 1 Cor. ix. 27. Alas, ma- 
 ny on the contrary make their Souls.Di.udges to their 
 Bodies, and employ their noble Faculties wholly in 
 deviling how to pieafe the Flcfh. Ah, what Fools 
 are they who mind nothing but their Bodies ! Why ? 
 they arc the greater! Enemies to their Bodies, for by 
 lo doing, they forfeit the eternal Happinefs of 
 their Bodies, as well as of their Souls. Where- 
 as thefe who prefer their Souls, and mind them chief- 
 ly, they conialt the Happinefs of their Bodies, as well 
 as or their Souls ; for the Body is never ib well as in 
 Heaven; when fafhioned like ChrihY's glorious Body, 
 then it is in perfect and eternal Health. 
 
 DircSL X. Study both to live and die in theExer* 
 c't/e of Repentance and godly Mourning for Sin, Mat. 
 v. 4. Some may think Repentance a melancholy 
 Word, but it is one of the fweeteft Words in all the 
 Book of God: It is a Gofpel-duty, for the Law or 
 Covenant of Works admitted no Repentance; it is 
 the Effect of God's free Love in and thro' Chrift, to 
 open the Door of Repentance to fallen Sinners ; it 
 colt ChrilV. his Blood to obtain it for us, and it is his 
 free Gift to us, Acls v. 31. Surely it is good News 
 to hear that our Sovereign bids poor condemned 
 Criminals, that were brought to the Place of Exe- 
 cution, repent, and throw themielves down at his 
 Feet, and they mall get Pardon. It was the Sum 
 both of Johns and Chrift's Preaching, Repent, for 
 the Kingdom of Cod is at Hand- It was the Saying of 
 a godly Minilter, " That if he were to diem the 
 '* Pulpit, he would wilh to die preaching Repen- 
 " tance ; and if out of the Pulpit, he would wiffi 
 "to die praclifmg Repentance." Auguftine faith, 
 " Repentance is the fittelt Difpofitionboth for dy- 
 
 « ing 
 
itfi Scripture uireBhns 
 
 " ing Chriltians and Miniilcrs." And it is written; 
 of himfelf, that he died with Tears in his Eyes,, 
 -weeping for Sin. This is a Duty never out of Sea- 
 fon; therfore ftudy daily to keep up a tender and 
 mourning Frame, maintain Contrition of Heart and 
 Abhorrence of Sin, and for that End take every Day 
 a Turn upon Mount Calvary. Many think it' a fad- 
 Thing to be. repenting on Earth, but it is a far lad- 
 der Thing to be repenting in Hell. Seek Repen- 
 tance from God for Chrift *s Sake; lay with Ephrah', 
 Jer. xxxi. i3. Turn lha:> me and 1 fball be tut 
 for thou artt ! :: Lord my God. 
 
 Direa. XL While' you mind th 
 Holinefs or inherent Righteoufnefs % let it never take 
 the Place of. imputed Righteoufnefs > Ron:. :•:. _: . PfaL 
 lxxi. 16. Inherent Righteoulheis indeed is to be lo- 
 ved, but imputed Righteoufnefs only is to be trufred -, 
 for tho' inherent Righteoufnets or Hoiinels be a nc- 
 celfary Qualitkation for Heaven and Salvation, ana 
 our Evidence for it ; yet it is imputed Righteoumefs 
 only that is the Foundation of it, and our Title to it. 
 Let (Thrift's Name be dear to you, The Lord our 
 Righteoufnefs. 
 
 Direff. XII. Imploy Chrift as your Surety in all 
 Cafes, and in every Strait go to him for Relief, PfaL 
 cxix. 122. If?, xxxviii. 14. Study therefore to be 
 well acquainted with your Surety, and live near him. 
 When the Law demands Payment of Debt, and 
 threatens you with Prifbn, look to Chrift, and cry, 
 
 Lord, be Surety for me , Lord, undertake for me. 
 
 When you are called to perform Duties, bear Affli- 
 ctions, refift Temptations, ftruggle with Corruptions, 
 engage with Enemies, &c. Look ftill to Chrift to 
 be your Surety, and to undertake for you ; plead 
 with him to make out that Promife to ^you, Deut. 
 xxxiii. 25. As thy Days, lb (hall thy Strength be. 
 
 Direct. XIII. As you live with Chrift in 
 
 Heaven, ftudy to live tv Chili ' Eerth, 2 Cor, v. 15 
 
 PhiU 
 
to Christians intending Heaven. 249 
 
 Phil. i. 21. If you would live to Chrift here, then you 
 muft make Chrift's Honour and Glory your ultimate 
 End in all your Dehgns and Actions ; and make your 
 moll valuable lntcreih iiibiervient to his Intereft and 
 Glory. Study an univerfal Conformity to-Chrift's holy 
 Laws and Precepts, and make it your great Bufmcfs 
 to approve yourlthes to Chrift in all Things: Chule 
 the Things that plcaie him, and carefully avoid eve- 
 ry Thing that is diipleaiing to him, Pjal. cxix. ^0. 
 Jfa. lvi. 4. 
 
 Direct. XIV. Cleave fafl to Chrift, and the IV ay of 
 Holinefe, whatever it may coft you, Acts xi. 2£. 2 Tim. 
 hi. 12. Think not the worle of Chi ill and his Ways, 
 that they are perfecuted or reproached, and that lew 
 do own them. Chrift foretold this, and faith, His 
 Way is a narrow Way that few walk in. join with 
 the little Flock to whom the Kingdom is promiied, 
 which will abundantly compensate all your Sufferings 
 for Chrift. Never follow a Multitude to do Evil, but 
 cleave to Chrift however few join you. 
 
 Direci. XV. Seek the approbation of Cod above that 
 of Men, 2 Cor. x. 18. What is the Applaufe of 
 Worms to the Smiles of the God of Heaven ? What 
 would it avail us. to have poor Men like ourfelves to 
 commend us, when the great God that made us doth 
 condemn us? no Matter tho' Men cenfure or condemn 
 our Actions, if God approve and commend them. It 
 is a very fmall Thing to be judged of Man's Judgment , 
 but he that judgeth i-s is the Lord, I Cor. iv. g. 4. 
 
 Direct. XV i. Be ?nuch e?nployed in admiring God's 
 redeeming Love, and Chrift's Surety/hip for us, r John 
 iii. 1, 16. This is the Employment of the redeemed to 
 all Eternity, Rev. v. 9. And all who go to Heaven 
 muft be acquaint with their Work while here, Rev.'i. 
 5. O what Matter of eternal Wonder and Praile is 
 there in God's giving his dear Son to. be our Surety 
 and Sacrifice, and in the Son's voluntary undertaking 
 it! 
 
 DircCt. ' 
 
250 Scripture Directions 
 
 Direct. XVII. Delight much in thinking and /peak- 
 ing cfChri]}, and particularly of his Death and Suffer- 
 ings for us, Luke i;. 3*. Rev. v. 9, 12. Oh, did 
 he wade through a Sea of Wrath, a Sea ofBfood, a 
 Sea of Sorrows and Sufferings, to bring Redemption 
 to us ? And will we ever forget him ! The great Gou 
 takes great Pleafare in the Work of our Redemption, 
 and is well pleafed with our Redemer who undertook 
 it. God repented that he made Man, but ne/er re- 
 pented hit redeeming Man. Now, what God delights 
 in, we mould delight in, elpecially iir.ee we reap the 
 
 Benefit.. We fee, from Luke k. Rep. v. that the 
 
 Subject of Chrifl's Death is Matter of Diicourie and 
 Prahe to the glorified Society above. When Mofes 
 and Elias came from Heaven to Mount Tabor to wait 
 upon their tranfigured Lord, they thole Chrifl's Death 
 for the Subject of their Converfation : Why ? Cfcrift's 
 Death was the Spring and Caufe of all their Glory in 
 Heaven: Neither Mofes or Elias had mined there, 
 had it not been for Chrifl's Death. And (hall not we, 
 here below, delight in thinking, fpeaking and finging 
 of this noble Subject, which is the Ground of all the 
 Happinefs we either have, or hope for ? 
 
 Direct. XVIII. Treat Objections raifed againfl your 
 cloftng with Chrift, as Suggejlions of the Enemy, that 
 is feek'mg the Ruin of your Soul's. Reject them, as 
 Chrift did Peter's Counfel, Mat. xvi. 23. Get thee behind 
 me, Satan. As Satan would have hindered Chrifl's dy- 
 ing for us ; fo he would hinder us from relying on 
 
 Chrifl's Death Oh, faith one, I am unworthy of any 
 
 Share in Chrift's Death. Anfw. If you will have no- 
 thing but what you are worthy of, you mud have no- 
 thing but Hell. What was Abraham, Paul, Mag. 
 dalene, the Thief on the Crofs, the Idolatrous Corin- 
 thians worthy of, before the Lord called them ? 
 Whatever be your Unworthinefs, are you willing to 
 apply Chrifl's Blood ? Then fee what Chrift faith to 
 you, Rev. xxii. 1 7. Whomever will, let hi, . 
 
 the 
 
/; Chrijliant intending Heaven. 251 
 
 ■■: JVc.ter of Life freely. O but, faith another, my 
 
 Sins are heinous, rinf. Canft thou be more guilty, 
 than Chriit is gracious ? Dotii he not promife to warn 
 away Sins that are like Scarlet and Crimfon, Jfa. i. 18. 
 and tells you, i John i. 7. That his Blcod cteanfeth us 
 from ail Sin P O blei's him tor that Word All. — Do 
 not then believe Satan, who would tempt thee to 
 think that God hath call thee offj but, in Spite of all 
 lie can fay, itiil believe God's faithful Word, that 
 there is Mercy enough in God, Merit enough in Chriit, 
 Power enough in the Spirit, and Room enough in the 
 Golpcl-ofFers and Promiles to you. Believe that 
 Word, Lam. iii. 25. The Lord is good to them that 
 wait for him, to the Soul that fee keth him. Say to thy 
 Soul, " Can this Word of God fail ? Has God made 
 " thee willing to wait and feek for him, and is he 
 " not willing to be found of thee ? O my Soul, doft 
 il thou not lee an infinite Perfection in Chrift's Righ- 
 " teoufnefs, in Chrill's Blood and Merits." We may 
 fee an End of all earthly Perfection, but M e can fee no 
 End of Chrill's Perfection, which is infinite. 
 
 Dire ft. XIX. Study much thefe great Gofpel-Leflbns 
 of denying y our f elves, and exalting God's free Grace, 
 Mat. \vi. 24. i Cor. i. 31. The Dihgn of the Goi- 
 pel is to call down Self, and all Idols, that God alone 
 may be exalted ; it is to make Self Nothing, and God 
 All, in Point of Wifdom, Strength, RighteoufneC 
 and Glory • it is to take Man wholly off himfelf, and 
 caft him cm Chriit for the Whole of his Salvation. It 
 is a good Sign of a laving Change upon the Heart, 
 when a Man is thus humbled, and caft into the Gof- 
 pel Mould, when Self-loving is turned into Self-loath- 
 ing, Self-admiring into Self abhorring, Self-excufbrq 
 into Self. accufmg, and Self-feeking into Self-denying. 
 DirecJ. XX. Draiv all jour Strength fcr Work and 
 Warfare from Ghrift ,and prefent all y our Duties to God 
 thrift's Name, -li'i. xlv. 24. Col. iii. 17. Chrift 
 'himfelf tells us, Thit without him we can do nothing , 
 John xv. 5. that is, nothing aright, or nothing that 
 
252 Scripture Directions 
 
 is acceptable to God. All our Duties, if acceptable, 
 mult be done in Chriit's Strength, and covered with 
 his Righteoufnels. The Apollle owns that cf himf'elf 
 he could not Jo much as think a good Thought , 2 Cor. 
 iii. 5. but he could do all Things through Chrijl that 
 jirengthened him, Philip. iv. 13. And hence he exhorts 
 us to be fro?ig in the Lord, and in the Power of his 
 Might, Eph. vi. to. Let us think, before we go to 
 Duty, from whence our Strength for it mull come, 
 and itudy to fetch it in by Faith, and believing Ejacu- 
 lations ; and when we are afliited, let us aflribe the 
 
 Glory to Jefus. Be allured of this alio, that your 
 
 moft coftly Sacrifices are unlav oury, if they be not 
 perfumed with the fragrant Incenfe of Chi -ill's Merits 
 and Interceffion ; and that your faireft Righteoufnefs 
 is but as filthy Rags in God's Sight, if Chrift's Righte- 
 oufnels do not cover it. Let it therefore be your con- 
 itant Language, /// the Lord Jefus have I RighteouJ- 
 nefs and Strength, Ifa. xlv. 24. 
 
 'Dire St. XXI. In all the Attions of your Life, fet 
 the Lord fill before you, Pial. xvi. 8. — xxv. ijT. Ac- 
 knowledge him in all your Undertakings, and by Faith 
 and Prayer commit your Way to him, look to him 
 for Direction and Succefs, and depend on him as the 
 Father of your Mercies, the Sum of your Blifs, the 
 Strength of your Life, the Staff of your Bread, the 
 Breath of your Noftrils, and the Length of your Days. 
 Set the Lord always before you as your Almighty 
 Creator, your loving Redeemer, your Rightful Own- 
 er, your careful Preferver, your Alliufficient Portion, 
 your holy Pattern, you Obferving Witnels, and your 
 awful Judge. Undertake and perform all your 
 Actions under a Senfe of God's All-feeing Eye, and of 
 your being accountable to him for all you do. 
 
 Direct. XXII. Whether ye eat, or drink, or ivhat- 
 foeverye do, do all to the Glory of Cod, 1 Cor. x. 31. 
 We eat and drink to God's Glory, when we do it for 
 the End that our Bodies may be fitted to lerve our 
 
 Souls , 
 
to Chrijlians intending Heaven, 253 
 
 Souls in honouring and ferving God 5 and when we 
 receive thefe Mercies with Thankfulnefs from the 
 Hand of God, and depend upon God's BleiTing to 
 make them nourilhing to us ; and when we remember 
 we are but Stewards of what we pofiefs, and are ac- 
 countable to God the Proprietor how we improve 
 
 thefe earthly Bleflings to his Honour and Service. 
 
 You mud alio apply the Bufinefs of your Callings to 
 God's Glory, and this you do, when you depend on 
 God to blefs you in it, and to profper the Work of 
 your Hinds, and to arm you againft all the Sins, 
 Snares and Temptations, which your Bufinefs may 
 give Occafion to. You ought alfo to pay and receive 
 Vifits, and attend Company with an Eye to God's 
 Glory, by blefling God for giving you Friends and 
 earthly Accommodations, and looking to God for 
 Wifdom to behave yourfelves fo, as ye may do no 
 Hum to thefe ye converfe with, nor get any Harm 
 from them : But on the contrary, may be helped to 
 do them good, and get Benefit from them. — You are 
 alfo to undertake Journies for God's Glory, to look to 
 him for Protection by the Way, and for Direction, 
 Through -bearing and Succefs. 
 
 Dirsft. XXIII. Spend as much Time as poffible in 
 fecret Prayer and Converfe lutth God, j ThefT. v. 1 7, 
 And that ye may do this with Delight, endeavour to 
 keep your Hearts always in a ferious praying Frame, 
 with an abiding Impreflion of God upon your Spirits. 
 There is a great Difference betwixt a ferious Fit and a 
 ferious Frame. Ahab, Saul, Fel ; x, and others, had 
 their ferious Fits, but religious Perfons only keep their 
 Souls in a ferious Frame, and ftndy to he /';/ the fear of 
 the Lord all the Day lo?ig, as God enjoins us, Prov. 
 xxiii. 17. Prayer, that is acceptable to God, mud 
 be performed with Faith, Delight and Liveliness, and 
 not with Deadnefs and Wearineis, as if it were a Task 
 or Burden. A Life without Prayer, or a Prayer 
 without Life, are both hateful 1o the God of our Life. 
 He is the living God whom we worfhip, and hath no 
 
5^4 Scripture Directions 
 
 Pleafure in dead Performances : But they who delight 
 themfelves in Duty, fliall have the Deiires of their 
 Hearts granted them, PfaL xxxvii. 4. Surely they 
 >vho fpend their Days in Faith and Prayer, (hall end 
 their Days in Peace and Comfort. 
 
 Dire it. XXIV. Make Conference of Family Religi- 
 on, as w ell as of C/ofet Duties, Joih. km v.. 1$. 2 Sa?n. 
 vi. 20. Neglect not Family-prayer and Prailes, read- 
 ing the Word, eatechifing Children and Servants, 
 ianctifying the Sabbath, exhorting to Duty, reproving" 
 and curbing Sin. Religion and Reformation muft be- 
 gin in Families, if we would w iih it to be national 
 and univerial. God is the Author and Founder of 
 Families, and therefore mould have Homage from 
 Families, as fiich, by the Morning and Evening Sa- 
 crifice of Prayer and Pra'i'e. Go to him to bkis Fa- 
 mily-mercies, ilrpply Family-wants, fanctify Family- 
 
 trials, and redrels Family-grievances.— Early train 
 
 up Children in the Way they mould go, pray much 
 for them, and for God's BlelTmg on the Means o{' 
 their Education. 
 
 Diretf. XXV. Begin and end every Day with God, 
 
 Pfai. v. 3. iv. 8. Let Prayer be the Key to open 
 
 the Heart to God in the Morning, and lock it againft 
 all his Enemies at Night. Let no Chriitian lay he 
 cannot pray ; for Prayer is as neceflary to him as 
 Breath, Lnn. iii. 56. Let none lay, thev have not 
 Time for it ; better take Time from Sleep, than want 
 Time for Prayer. Think it not enough to fay your 
 Prayers, but mind you mult pray your Prayers, pray 
 with Sincerity and Fervour. Think with yourielf, 
 this Morning may be my kill Morning, or this Night 
 my Uft Night ; for certainly that Morning cometh 
 of which you will never fee the Night, dr that Night 
 of which you will never lee the Morning. Let the 
 Conclufion of every Day put you in Mind of thcCon- 
 ciufion of all your Days, by the long Night of Death, 
 that will put an End to all vourWork, and bring yon 
 Jo count and reckon with your Ciiv.it Mailer about 
 
to Chrifiians intending Hesven. 2$$ 
 
 your Work. O to lye down every Night reconciled 
 with him ! O that we could lye down and leave OUl 
 Hearts with (Thrift, and compole our Spirits io, as if 
 we were not to awake till the Heavens are no more. 
 
 Direct. XXVI. Seeing none kuevietk what a Day 
 ■ ring fo>thy fpend every Day ai it were to be 
 your A://, Prov. xxvii. :. Look on yourielves as 
 itinding every Day at the Door of Eternity, and 
 Hundreds of Diieaies and Accidents ready to open the 
 Door to let you in. No doubt you have ibmetimes 
 apprehended yourielves nearer Death than you think 
 yourielves juft now -, yet it is certain that Death was 
 never fo near you, nor Judgment never [o near you 
 as they are at prelect. We, who (rand every Hour 
 at the Door of Eternity, mould lpend our precious 
 Hours with the greater: Frugality, feeing the Work 
 we have in Hand is Soul-work, and Work on which 
 Eternity depends ; and the Time we have to work 
 it in, is very thort, and cannot be recalled. This 
 fhort Life being only a PafTage to Eternity, it fhould 
 be ipent as a continual Preparation for Eternity. 
 Surely thefe who have immortal Souls fb near Eter- 
 nity, have other Work to do than trifle away Time 
 m Tippling, idle Talking, Gaming, and fuch Diver- 
 lions. 
 
 Dirsn. XXVII. Sojourn in ibis World as Travel* 
 Urif keeping jl loofe from the World, as to be able to 
 pack up and be gone from it upon fhort Warning, I Pet. 
 i. 17. 1 Cor. vii. 29. ;i. We have no continuing 
 City nor certain Abode here ; therefore let us always 
 be ready to ariie and depart. And if we would be 
 • Travellers towards Zion above, we mult have 
 ift in our Hearts, Heaven in our Eye, and the 
 World under our Feet We rnuif. take God's Spi- 
 rit [or our Guide, God's Word for our Rule, God's 
 r our End, God's Fear for our Guard, God's 
 People for our Companions, God's Praife for our Re- 
 ere tfion, ■■ v.,l ( rod's Promiies for cur Cordials. We 
 V 2 muft 
 
25& Scripture Directions for ■ 
 
 muft make Religion our Bufinefs, Prayer our Delight, 
 
 Holinefs our Way, and Heaven our Home. O 
 
 Zion's Travel lers, diftinguifb yourielves from the Men 
 that dwell upon the Earth ; let Chrift always be pre- 
 cious to you, the Word fweet, Sin bitter, the World 
 
 a. Wilderneis, and Death welcome —Let Chriit\ 
 
 Will be your Will, Chriit's Dimonour your AfRi&ion, 
 Chriit's Caule your Concern, Chriit's Succefs your Joy, 
 ChrhVs Day your Delight, Chriit's Crofs your Glory, 
 Chriit's Sufferings your Meditation, Chriit's Wounds 
 your Refuge, Chriit's Blood your Balm, Chriit's 
 Righteoufnefs your Cloathing, and Chriit's Prefence 
 
 your Heaven While travelling here, let your 
 
 Hearts bum with Love to Chrift, Love to think of 
 Chrift, Love to hear of Chrift, Love to read of 
 Chriit, Love to fpeak of drift, Love to fpeak for 
 Chrift, Love to fpeak to Chrift. 
 
 DirscJ. XXVIII. Keep, up a lively Senfe of Sacra- 
 mental Vows and Engagement!, and walk anfwerably 
 thereto, Pfal. lvi. 12, 13. You arc under a Sacramen- 
 tal Oath to be true and faithful Soldiers to the Cap- 
 tain of your Saltation, fee that you fight his Battles 
 againit his and your Enemies, the Devil, the World 
 and the Flefli. Remember what your Captain has 
 done and fufFered for you, let his Love, as well as 
 your Oath, con (I rain you to abide by his Standard. 
 Never go over to his Enemies Camp, nor keep Ccr- 
 
 refpondence with them Your glorious Captain 
 
 gives you choice Feaits at his Table to ftrengthen and 
 encourage you both for Work and Warfare ; walk 
 on in Strength of thefe fpiritual Meals, and grow 
 ftrongcr in Grace, and more lively in all fpiritual Du- 
 ties, pray more fervently, hear more attentively, 
 meditate more frequently, partake more believingly, 
 keep Sabbaths more delightfully, and walk worthy 
 of the Lord to all well pleifmg. Your fpiritual Meals 
 are defigned for your Nouriihment, Strength, and 
 Grov/th. Therefore prow in Grace. O Believers, 
 
 if 
 
iflians intending Heave;:. 257 
 
 if you would lay up a Treafore of Glory for your£ 
 ielves hereafter, lay up a Treafiire of Grace in your 
 Hearts jull now ; increaie Faith, Love, Heart-purity 
 and Humility. Whoever is rich in Grace now, will 
 bench in Glory hereafter : For what is Grace hut 
 Glory begun, and what is Glory but Grace perfected ? 
 Who then would not love Grace, feeing it is begun 
 Glory, and a certain Pledge of cOmpleat Glory. 
 
 D;recl. XXIX. Improve the Ta;e?;ts God gives you 
 for his Service a nd Glory K Luke >is:. 13. Remember, 
 you were not made For youilelves only, but for tV.e 
 Society and Benefit of others ; therefore employ your 
 Girls, Subftance, and whatever God has bellowed, 
 for the Good of others ; teach the Ignorant, relieve 
 the Poor, ftrengthen the Weak, comfort thefe that 
 are call down, Cell them your Experiences, commend 
 Chrift as a choice Maitef and a lovely Sat iour, and 
 invite them to cava* i fee that he is good; pity 
 
 fehele.who are Stranger's to him; and pray tor them. 
 Be uier'ul to others while you li\e, which will make 
 Jtdur Memory favoury when you die ; many, alas, 
 *re (b unprofitable in their Lives, that when they 
 come to die, Neighbours lcar.ee think their Life worth 
 a Prayer, or their Death worth a Tear; but publick 
 
 fpiritcd and uiefT Perl'ons are much lamented Let 
 
 every one in their Stations be active, and occupy their 
 Talents for Gcd. He allured, the more you do for 
 God in this World, the more God v. ill do for you in 
 the World to come. If the Saints w ere capable of 
 Grief in Heaven, it would be for their doing lb little 
 for God on Earth* 
 
 DircCt. XXX. Let all Believers he thankful toGbti 
 for hit dijlinguijb'mg Favours a;:d Mercies to them* 
 Pial. cwi. 8,' 12. A Life of Praiic doth highly .be- 
 come the Proofs of God's Love to you. Fall dona 
 humbly before God, and alciibe all to his free tl 
 ferved Grace ! For who is it that waketh thee to d._ •', • 
 from another ? What haft thou > but what thou haft. re- 
 ceived in a Way cf free Gift r Owe:. frea 
 *-3 
 
258 Scripture Direflioffs for 
 
 Love, that has diftinguifhcd you from others ! has 
 done that for you, that he has not done for Thou- 
 fands, for Myriads, for Millions ! nor for thefe who 
 fit in the fame Affembly, or dwell in the fame Houfe 
 with you ! O blefs God who fent his dear Son to ran- 
 fotu you, and bring you out of Priibn, when others 
 are left in Bondage ! Who fent his holy Spirit to open 
 your Eyes, when others are left blind ; to open your 
 Ears, when others are left deaf; to open your Hearts 
 when others are left fliut ; to open your Mouths to 
 praiie free diltinguifhing Love, when others are left 
 dumb. Employ your Tongues then to commend his 
 Love, and ling his Praiie, 
 
 Direft. XXXI. Since God diftinguijhks you from 
 ethers, in his Mercies to you, fee that you dijiinguijb 
 yourfehes froin others, in your Service to him, Mat. v. 
 47. Are yo i ChrijHans indeed ? You are under llrong- 
 cr Obligations to live and a<5r forChrifl, than others: 
 Why ? you have both your new Name and new Na- 
 ture from Chrilt, which others have not ; you are 
 more nearly related to Chriil than others ; you are 
 engaged to adt for him, by more frequent and folemn 
 Vows than others; you have greater Mercies beftow- 
 ed on you than others ; others have but common 
 Mercies, but you have Covenant Mercies, Mercies 
 
 that accompany Salvation. /fou have Ipiritual 
 
 Life within you, and divine Influences, which others 
 want ; not only the World, but Chi ill himfclf ex- 
 pects more from you than others; all which are pow- 
 erful Engagements on you, to do more for God than 
 
 others. You know more of the Things of God 
 
 th:n others ; you talk more of them, you profels 
 more, you promife and engage to do more than o- 
 thers ; yea, God has done unlpeakably more for you 
 than others, and he may juftly expeci more from you 
 than others ; and put that Queftion to you, What do 
 ye for me more than others? Mat. v. 47- 
 
 Queft. Wherein mould Believers diftinguifli them- 
 fclves, and do more for God than others.' JnJ\v . 
 
 You 
 
Chnjtuiis intending Heaven. 259 
 
 You fliould be Witaeffes for God, and teftify againft 
 what is difhonouring to him, by abltaining from all 
 known Sin, and from thcfe Sins which are common 
 
 ancTfalhionable, and little thought of by others. 
 
 By reproving Sin in others, and endeavouring to pluck 
 them out of the Fire By keeping up family-re- 
 ligion even in Midft of Buiinels, and banilhing all 
 known Vice from your Dwellings, even minc'd 
 Oaths, ram uftng of God's Name, idle walking or 
 talking on the Lord's Day, Backbitings, evil Willies, 
 revengeful Actions, imnecelTary drinking or tippling, 
 
 Lottery-games and Paftimes of bad Report, ire. 
 
 Be zealous for Sabbath-holinels. Be meek and lowly 
 in your Carriage ; commend thrift to others ; fpeak 
 for the Honour of Religion before thefe who disregard 
 it ; (hew fpecial Regard to thole who are {tamped 
 with God's 'Image, tho* mean or deipiled ; be ready- 
 to forgive Wrongs, and render Good for Evil; deal 
 honeltly and juftly with all Men ; be ibber and tem- 
 perate in eating, drinking, Sleep, Apparel, &c. 
 Guard againft Pride, Pallion, hafty and unguarded 
 Words ; put great Reipedt upon God's Word and Or- 
 dinances ; be concerned for the enlarging of ChriiVs 
 Kingdom ; never venture upon any known Sin for the 
 Sake of worldly Gain ; make Confcience of relative 
 and ftational Duties, as to be good Hurbands, good 
 Wives, good Parents, good Children, good Mafters, 
 good Servants, good Neighbours, &c. In fuch 
 Things as theie, you are to, do more for God than 
 others. 
 
 Direct. XXXII. Be not content with a fair Profef- 
 jion of Religion, or ivith a Form of Godlinefs, and a 
 Name to live among Men, Tit. i. 16. 2 7im. iii. c. 
 But endeavour to know and feel the Power of Godli- 
 nefs in your Hearts, and to have your Practice in all 
 Refpecls correfponding to your Profeffion. If your 
 Practice be not anfwerable to what you profefs, you 
 fin againft great Light, you diicredit Religion, and 
 tempt Men to think it all Hypccrify. If a Man live 
 
 and 
 
200 a a i pure Uirecii MS J or 
 
 and die a mecr Profeflbr, it had been better for hi.n 
 he had lived and died a meer Heat* en. 
 
 DireSL XXXlil. Keep a/w#) I a ll'atch on the Door 
 of your L : /><, Pi'al. cxli. r. feeing tbe Tongue hath a. 
 World of Iniquity ill it, Jam. iii. 6. Keep it as with 
 a Bridle, VfaL. xxxi*. I. and beg the Lord's Help to 
 ke#p it, and that he himielf may let a Watch upon 
 your Mouths, as the Pfalmht prays, Pful. cxK. as 
 knowing that no WatcbFulnels or Kefolution of our 
 own is furncient ror the governing of" our Tongues,, 
 without God's Ibecial Grace, without this the molt 
 wake-rife Watchman watcheth in vain. Eameftly 
 leek, for Chrift's Sake, God's fpecial Grace to govern 
 this unruly Member, that it may net be lurlercd to utter 
 -Words winch may tend to the Dilhonour of God, or 
 to the Hart of Men. Study to govern your Tongues 
 hy ullng God's Name with Reverence, fpeaking al- 
 Ways what is Truth and what is feaibnable, uierul and. 
 edifying, guarding carefully againit lying, c\iilj- cak- 
 ing, pall ion ate, proud and ieir-cxalting Words, and 
 againit all rafli Ccnfiires; You have need of great. 
 Caution in fpeaking, and to take heed either how ye 
 commend vourlelves, or condemn others. 
 
 Direct. XXXIV. Walk cheerfully and contentedly 
 in every Condition, Acts v iii. 39. Philip, iv. 11. Such 
 a Walk as this doth bring great Credit to Religion 
 and the Service of our Redeemer. What tho' a Be- 
 liever be fed with the Bread and Water of Affliction 
 the moft of his Life, he hath other Bread and another 
 Cup to iwecten both ; the Forgivencfi of Sin is a reviv- 
 ing Cordial in every Cafe. Have no Will of your 
 own diftinct from God's Will, but be rcfigned to 
 God's difpoling Will in every Thing, and let God's 
 Will and Choice be always yours. If you cannot 
 bring your Condition to your Mind, then you niuft 
 labour to bring your Mind to your Condition, believ- 
 ing that the Will of your heavenly Father is always 
 belt for you. Still remember that he hath engaged 
 himielf to be with y 011 in all States and Conditions, 
 
 and 
 
Chri^ians intending Heaven. 261 
 
 and to order all Things for your Advantage: Be fure 
 then he cannot deny himfelf, all his Words are Oaths 
 for their Certainty, and all his Promiles are the fure 
 Mercies of David* Be content in every Cafe ; for fince 
 Chi ill is yours, ail Things are joufs. Well then, let 
 your covenanted Godchi:fe out your Lot for you; for 
 you may trull that it (hall be done with more Wif- 
 dorn, and with more Affection, than you can chufe 
 for yovrlelf. 
 
 Diretl. XXXV. If you would manifeit yourfelves 
 to be truly religious both before God and Man, keep 
 always the firp and fecond Table of the Law joined to- 
 gether, and make Conference of both , Matth. xxii. 37. 
 ire. Love both God and your Neighbour, be juil and 
 upright in all your Dealings with Men, acting always 
 under a Senle of the all-ieeing Eye of your heavenly 
 Father, who enjoins you to do the fame to oiherr, as 
 yc would have them doing to you. Let a mora/ Man 
 try his Religion by the Duties of the firft Table of the 
 Law, and a Profeffor his by the Duties of the fecond 
 Table of the Law. See that ye love God above all 
 Things, and prefer his Wormip and Service to every 
 Thing. Love God for himfelf, and love Men princi- 
 pally for what is Cod-like in them. 
 
 Direct. XXXVI. Carefully guard again/I Jpofa- 
 fy and Backfltding from Cod and his Ways, Heb. x. 
 ;8, ;o. Be always jealous of your deceitful and 
 treacherous Hearts, knowing that they are bent to 
 Backfltding. A holy Fear of departing from God, is a 
 good Means to keep us from departing from God. 
 Therefore endeavour to preferve always a watchful 
 and tender Frame of Heart, and be afraid of falling 
 away, according to that Word, Heb. iv. r. If ye 
 would preferve yourfelves from total Apoftafy, rile 
 fpeedily after every Fall by found Repentance, and 
 Recourfe to the Blood of Chriir. Lie not one Day in 
 any Sin, but rife out of the Puddle immediately, and 
 go to th( cleanfipg Fountain, and renew your Cove- 
 nant 
 
262 Scripture Directions for 
 
 nant with God. and beg more Strength, and Faith 
 to derive continual Supplies from Chrift your Head- 
 13e biting calling your Souls to Account, and asking 
 your Hearts, What is become of the good Frames, 
 the melting Senfe of Sin, the himgring Dchres, the 
 delightful Taftes, the heavenly Longings, the warm 
 Affeftions to Chrift, that they ibmetinies hax!. When 
 ye attain to thefe, or to any of them, fee that ye 
 commit them to Chrift's keeping, faying with the 
 Pfalmiil, Lord be Surety for thy Servant for Good. 
 Laftly, comlder the dreadful Cafe of an Apoftate as 
 deicribed by our Lord and his Apoftle, Mat. xii. 43. 
 44. 2 Pet. ii. 20, 2i. That Man's Cafe becomes far 
 more mile-able than it was at firft. What a fad Cafe 
 is it for a Soul to fail back into Kell, after it had 
 climbed near the Gates of Heaven ? None fails lo 
 deep into Heii as thcih, who fall, backward into it. 
 
 Dire a. X X XVII; Be watchful again Ji all Sin, and 
 particularly your darting or confiitutional Sift, the Sin 
 that mofi eafiiy befets you, Pfal. xviii. 23. Heb. xii. 1. 
 Our Adverfary the Devil well knows this Sin, and on 
 what Side we may be attacked with the greateft 
 Succefs ; and to be fore he will bring his flrongell 
 Temptations thither, and employ his mod kbtiie 
 Wiles and Devices that Way to enfnare us. It were 
 happy for us if we were fliil watching againfi him, 
 a»d could fay with the Apoftle, ire are riot ignorant of 
 his Devices. You are likewile to watch againft all Sin 
 whatfoiftever, Sins of Omilllon, as well as of Com- 
 million. Grofs Out-breakings make Confluence to 
 dart at fch< . ir Appearance, but it is not fo alarmed 
 with the Neglect of Duties But if Confcience be a- 
 wakned, Sins of O million will ly heavy as well as 
 Sins of Commiilion. Some eminent Chriftians who 
 have lived the moil circumfpect Lives, when they have 
 come to die and reflect upon their by pall Time, . 
 been put to cry, Lord in f pedal forgive my Sins of 0- 
 ■>■. Venture not to live in any Frame, Courle or 
 
 Practice 
 
Chrijlians intending Heavem 263 
 
 Practice that you would not adventure to die in, fee- 
 ing you know not but your next Step may be into the 
 Grave. Guard againlt all theie Sins and Evils now in 
 the Time of your Health, that may put Thorns in 
 your Pillow when Sicknefs and the Harbingers of 
 JJeath approach, fuch as fmfpending of precious, Time, 
 Negiefi of Prayer or reading of the Scriptures, Forma- 
 lity and Lnkewarmne/s in Religion, Earthly-minded" 
 nefs, UnihaukfulneJ's for Mercies, and ' mij carrying after 
 than. Neglscl of improving Chriji, quenching the Spi- 
 rit, Ncgletl ofCouviSiious, breaking of Vows, faUikg 
 from your fir jl Love, returning to otd Sins you had 
 mourned over, finning hga'mji Light, and after Affli- 
 ctions, &c. 
 
 Di'recL XXXVIII. Be heartily concerned for the 
 Coming and Enlargement of Chriji 's Kingdom in the 
 World, Mat. \i. 10. Pial. lxxii. 19. Bewail it that his 
 Flock is fo little, his Subjects fo few, when Satan's are 
 fo numerous. Bewail the Unfuccefsfulnefs of theGof- 
 pel, the lleitraint of the Spirit, the Dhi'ior.s among 
 Chriilians, and the many Hindrances of the P^ogrefs 
 of Chrillianity. Lament the Wrongs and Dishonours 
 done to God by others, cry and wrcftle for the Out- 
 pouring of the Spirit, both at home and abroad ; pray 
 for the Revival of God's Work in thele Lands, amicHl 
 tlvfe declining Years ; and in enquiring after public k 
 News, have a View to this, be concerned for the In- 
 Bereft and Welfare of Chi ill's Kingdom thro' the 
 World, for the Accompliihment of God's Promiic ; 
 concerning the Dellruction of AntichriM, Bab-, 
 Downfal, the inbringing of the Jeivs, and the iubdu- 
 ing of the Nations. And when you hear of any Ap- 
 pearance of God's arnins to countenance his Word, 
 ; nd conquer Sinners Hearts to himiclf, whether at 
 home or abroad j rejoice at the News, reckon them 
 .1 Tidings of peat Joy, and bkis the Lord foi 
 them with all your Hearts It is moil plcafing and 
 acceptable to God; to lee his People heartilv concern- 
 ed for the Profperitv of ' Jcrulalem. 
 
 DireSi. 
 
264 Scripture Diretlions for, &c. 
 
 J)ireB, XXXIX. Be ttffy laying up a Stock for 
 a Sick-bed or Death-bed, vjh-en all the Comforts of 
 Life will be tajielefs to you, 1 Tim. vi. 19. Lay- 
 up a Stack of Faith and Patience, a Stock of E- 
 vidences of divine Love, and of your Intereft in Chrift ; 
 a Stock of divine Promifes and Experiences of God's 
 Loving-kindnefs, which may be lupporting to you in 
 the Day of (harp Trials. When Mariners go to Sea, 
 they victual the Ship, and provide for a Storm. And 
 ought nat we to forefee the Storms of Affliction, of 
 Sicknefs and Death, and provide and lay up for them ? 
 It will be fad, if, when the Bridegroom is come, we 
 have our Oil then to buy, when the Market is over. 
 Now is the Time for providing Oil ; now is the Mar- 
 ket of Grace; now is the acceptable Time; now i> 
 the Day of Salvation. 
 
 Dirctf. XL. Be looking and hng'mg for the eternal 
 Supper of the Lamb, Philip, i. 2?. Rev. xi\. q. Hun- 
 gry Souls who have tailed the Love of Jci'us, long for 
 the Lamb's Supper below, that they may enjoy Com- 
 munion with him here, and this makes them cry. 
 When (hall the Opportunity return ? When OkiII I 
 come and'appear before God ? When (hall I again fee 
 his Power and Glory in the Sanctuary ? When mall I 
 again tafle his Love and Goodnefs in the Sacrament ? 
 and yet thele are but fmall Foretaft.es of the Lamb's 
 Supper above ? What is our drinking of the Fruit of 
 the Vine here, to our drinking it new with Chrift in 
 
 his Father's Kingdom ? Therefore look out, and 
 
 long for the Time when the Day fiiall break, and the 
 Shadows flee away, and the Marriage of the Lamb 
 fliall be triumphantly folemnized, and compleated 
 with the Church his cfpouied Bride, whom he will 
 then lead into the King's Palace, where their txanfi- 
 cnt Glances fliall be changed into immediate Viiion, 
 and their fhort Taltcs into cvcrl ailing Feafling and 
 Fulnefs. bletfed are they for ever who arc called to 
 the Marring: Supper of the Lamb ; Thefe are the tr, 
 
 zrr/ag 
 [j of( 
 
 Spying* of Cod, I believe, Lord help my Unbelief. 
 
SCRIPTURE-SONGS 
 
 FOR 
 
 Z ION's TRAVELLERS, 
 
 In their Way to H E a v e n. 
 
 Ifa. x'-:\*v. IO. 7"fo Ran/owed of the Lord Jh all return, 
 and come to Zion with Songs. 
 
 Pfal. csxKvm. 5. 7^ #*# #& ' in the Ways of the 
 Lord. 
 
 SONG I. 
 
 The Primitive Communicants. 
 
 1 f> HRIST's Friends at ftrft oft broke his Bread, 
 V^ Infpir'd with Love Divine; 
 
 They drank the Spirit of their Head, 
 As Well's the facred Wine. 
 
 2 They (hew 'd his Death with Heart and Soul, 
 
 And feafted on his Love ; 
 His Blood and Wounds they did extol, 
 And fung like Saints above. 
 
 3 Lord grant us Part of that Love-flame, 
 
 Which in their Hearts abode; 
 That made them witnefs for the Lamb, 
 And fuffer for their God. 
 
 4 Warm Show'rs from Heaven fend down on u*, 
 
 That frozen Hearts may yield, 
 And turn us from a Wildcrnefs 
 Into a fruiful Field. „ 
 
 5 Thy People^ Lord, lament for thee, 
 
 And fore thy Abfence mourn ; 
 They long thy Face again to fee ; 
 To Gofpel Feafts return. 
 
266 Serif hire Songs 
 
 6 Come to thy Ta"ble, with us fit, 
 
 Our Grudges all remove, 
 Unite our Hearts, and make us fit 
 To keep the.Keaft of Love. 
 
 7 Caufe Streams of living Waters flow 
 
 In Channels of thy Grace ; 
 And let the North and South Wind blow, 
 Our Straitnings to releafe. 
 
 8 Thy Spirit's Temple make our Hearts, 
 
 And with us ftill abide ; 
 Make his Convictions pierce like Darts, 
 Let us no more backside. 
 
 9 Thy Hidings are a bitter Cup, 
 
 Like Flowers we fade and mourn; 
 We droop, we grieve, and can't look up, 
 Till thou, our Sun, return. 
 
 10 Lord, charge not on us former Guilt, 
 
 Let all thine Anger ceale ; 
 Look to the Blood on Ci'.lvry foil t, 
 ' And bid us go in Peace. 
 
 SONG II. 
 
 The Holy Sp&aT'/fcftosjbr ttotibzi Taei :e. 
 
 1 ^~x Father of our d\ing Lord, 
 
 \^ / Hear thy Son's fpeaking Blood, 
 Fulfil to us his gracious Word ; 
 Send dov n the heavenly Food. 
 
 2 Thy Spii it grant, for which he pray'd, 
 
 To glorify thy Son ; 
 His promis'd Influences fhed, 
 That Wonders may be done. 
 
 3 Glad we'll his Death commemorate, 
 
 Ay till he come again ; 
 Blefs both the Word and Sacrament, 
 Take thy great Power and reign. 
 
 4 Chrift's T:ble now (lands furnifhed 
 
 With Blellincs of beft Kinds j 
 
 Pardon 
 
for Zbn'-r Travellers \ 267 
 
 Pardon and Peace bought with his Blood, 
 Choice Food for troubled Minds. 
 
 5 Give Faith to feed and view his Love, 
 
 His Stripes and Wounds each one, 
 How he was jeer'd that's fear'd above, 
 Blafphem'd and lpit upon. 
 
 6 In's Hands and Feet we fee the Nails ♦ 
 
 Piercing his tender Veins ; 
 For us each Wound the blaming Ground, • 
 With Blood infinite (tains. 
 
 7 Black Clouds for us o'erwhelm'd his Soul,- ' 
 
 Sore was his Agonie ; 
 When he cry'd, My God, my God, why 
 Haji thou for faken me P 
 
 8 Thy matchlels Love we'll praife aloud, 
 
 Our Souls it doth conftrain 
 To love and live to thee our God, 
 Who for ouf Sins Was flain. 
 
 9 May I no more to Prayer' be drigg'd, 
 
 To ferve thee let me run ; 
 May I in Duties keep my Courie, 
 Like to the rifing Sun. 
 
 10 Unto the Lamb that once was flain, 
 
 Be Praile and Glory given , 
 By all that dwell upon the Earth, 
 And all the- Hods of Heav'n. 
 
 SONG III. 
 
 CHRIST'S Sacrifice the only Foundation of ojtr 
 Trust. 
 
 1 QO great's the Guilt of fallen Man, 
 ^3 None could his Pardon buy ; 
 Great mult it be, when God himfelf 
 
 Mull for his Creature dy-! 
 
 2 Slain Beads for Sin could not atone, 
 
 Such Offerings ail were vain, 
 
 Z 2 Had. 
 
268 Scripture Songs 
 
 Had not the Father giv n his Sun 
 For Sinners to be flain. 
 3 Had the whole Church been ofFer'd up, 
 As one burnt Sacrifice ; 
 Our (mailed Debt this could not pix, 
 Creatures could not fumce. 
 But Mercy in this hopekis Cafe, 
 A Sacrifice prepares : 
 A Lamb of all-iufficient Worth, 
 Which diilipates our Fear*. 
 
 5 This Sacrifice more precious 
 
 Than all created Things, 
 To us eternal Kappinefs 
 In Soul and Body brir;;^. 
 
 6 This is thefure Foundation-ftone, 
 
 Which God in Ziur. lavs, 
 For Men to build their Hopes upon, 
 Be*s hhfi lLa cr. ii Jiays. 
 
 7 Tho* Earth's Foundations be remov'd, 
 
 This Rock flill fhandeth faft, 
 By Storms unmov'd, on this alone 
 My Anchor I will call. 
 
 8 The Lamb, our Rock, for us did die, 
 
 For us roTe from the Dead, 
 For us he did a'cend on high, 
 For us his Blood doth plead. 
 o O bleeding Lamb, mew me my Name 
 Writ in thy Book of Life i 
 Then I will long to be with thee, 
 Out of this Land of Strife. 
 10 To worihip with the heav 'nly Hoft, 
 Jehovah One in Three, 
 The Father, Soil, and Holy Ghoft, 
 To all Eternity. 
 
 SONG 
 
for Zion'j* Travellers*. i6g 
 
 SONG IV. 
 
 The Distressed Soul looking to the Lamb for Pity* 
 
 i f^\ OM E fee my Cafe, O bleeding Lamb, 
 \^j In Mercy take me as I am, 
 Quite naked, and put Clothing on 
 A Stranger, and make me a Son. 
 
 2 Burden'd with Guilt, and give me Eafe, 
 A Bond-man, and my Soul releaie, 
 
 All vile, not fit to join thy Saints ; 
 A Creature all made up of Wants. 
 
 3 Bv Nature I have nothing good, 
 
 All mult be bought me by thy Blood ; 
 But fince thy Wounds are open'd wide, 
 I'll hope in Jefus crucify'd. 
 
 4 Thy Blood Men's forefl Plagues doth cure, 
 Thy Wounds their backward Hearts allure, 
 Thy Blood itrange Changes works in Men, 
 For wondrous Works the Lamb was flain ? 
 
 5 Thy Bible doth thy Pity mew, 
 
 I reft on thy Words fweet and true, 
 
 Souls come to me, and no more doubt, t 
 
 For him that comes V 11 ?iot cafl out. 
 
 6 Renew my Soul, plant Grace this Day, 
 Give me a Heart to mourn and pray, 
 O kill in me this Rebel Sin, 
 
 Reflore thy Image me within. 
 
 7 For thefe Things I to thee do come; 
 Cart me not out, fmce there is Room, 
 Make good thy Words, and hear my Cries, 
 For on thy Truth my Soul relies. 
 
 8 O dcareft Lamb, didft thou not bleed, 
 To purchafe every Thing we need ? 
 Doth not thy Blood Hill run to heal 
 Diitreifed Souls, their Plagues who feel'? 
 
 o We feel our Sores, Lord, heal us foon, 
 And hi us let thy Will be done; - - 
 
 Z s Prs 
 
xyo Serif tare Songs 
 
 Praife Father, Son and Holy Ghoil, 
 O ie God in Chiift, that laves the Loft. 
 
 SONG V. 
 
 A Call to wondgr at Christ's Sufferings, fro?/* 
 Love to us. 
 
 1 TOEHOLD Chiift in a bloody Sweat, 
 J^J Which all his Garment ftains ! 
 
 See four wide Wounds in's Hands and Feet, 
 When big Nails piere'd his Veins! 
 
 2 Behold his Soul oppreffed lore, 
 
 And in the greateit Pain ! 
 How heavy was the Wrath he bore, 
 Of which he did complain ? 
 
 3 Yet, Lord, whilft our Sins fhTd to thee 
 
 . This bitter wrathful Cup ; 
 A blefled Feaft thou mad'ft, that we 
 Might at thy Table fop! 
 
 4 O Friends of Chrift, draw near his Throne, 
 
 To him Thank-off 'rings bring, 
 For in his Temple ev'ry one 
 Should of his Glory (mg. 
 
 5 Let Men him love, and Sib abhor, 
 
 \Vhich caus'd him Grief and Pain, 
 Let all the Angels ftill adore 
 The Lamb for Sinners (lain ! 
 
 6 W T ith warm Affection let us blefs 
 
 Our great high Prieft above, 
 
 And every Day admire and praife 
 
 The Wonders of his Love! 
 
 7 From Love he left his Throne on high, 
 
 Lodg'd in a Virgin's Womb ! 
 Love brought him to the Cjofs to die, 
 Love lair! Mm in a Tomb ! 
 
 8 Love rais'd-him up, and took him back, 
 
 To Heaven to make us Room ! 
 
 From 
 
for Zion's Travellers^ 27 1 
 
 From thence return he'll for our fake, 
 In Love to bring us home ! 
 
 9 From Love he wearies not to plead, 
 
 And fhew his bleeding Hands, 
 Since he hath Juftice fatisfy'd, 
 Our Freedom he demands. 
 
 10 Thy Blood hath done all Things for me, 
 
 I'll glory in thy Cro.'s ; 
 My bed Things I'll give up for thee, 
 I count thein all but Lois. 
 
 SONG VI. 
 
 From 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. 7. 
 
 Being* Prophecy of Christ, and King David *s 
 Swam Song in V ictus of Death. 
 
 1 A Ruler jufl: o'er Men (hall rife 
 i\ In God's Fear rule (hall he, 
 
 As Morning Light fprings from the Skies, 
 So welcome mail he be : 
 
 2 Like riling Sun he fcatters all 
 
 The black Shades of the Night, 
 No Clouds this Morning darken mail, 
 Refrefhing is its Light. 
 
 3 He mall the frozen Earth folace, 
 
 Like Sun-fhine after Rain, 
 Whofe warming Beams revive the Grafs, 
 And make all fpring again. 
 
 4 I'm griev'd, all prove not good and juit, 
 
 Who from my Loins do fpring j 
 But glad to fee he fprings from me, 
 That's Zion's blelTed King. 
 
 5 A King that faves us from our Foes 
 
 In Hearts rules by his Might ; 
 With his jufl: Laws let all Men clofe, 
 Obey him, it's his Right. 
 
 6 Although 
 
272 Scripture Songs 
 
 6 .Although my Houfe be not with God 
 
 Such as it ought to be ; 
 Yet he hath thro' Meflia's Blood, 
 A Cov'nant made with me : 
 
 7 A Covenant which Life doth bring, 
 
 And evermore endure, 
 Well ordered in cv'ry Thing, 
 With Promiies moft lure : 
 
 8 My Heart's Defire is towards it, 
 
 'Tis my Salvation, 
 Altho' he doth not come as yet 
 For to redrefs what's wrong. 
 
 9 But Belial's Sons who are his Foes, 
 
 Gou (mite them will in ire, 
 He'll them coniume M ho him oppofe, 
 Like Thorns burnt up with Fire. 
 
 SONG VII. 
 
 The S.ihits Triumph over Death. From Jobxix. 25. 
 drc. I Cor. xv. 43, 53. Philip, iii. 21. Ezck. xvi. 14. 
 
 Hough on me heavy Trials come, 
 And Death's Stroke on me fall, 
 My Faith and Hope mall not fuccumb, 
 But triumph o'er them all. 
 3 I know that my Redeemer lives, 
 Who pleads my Caule with God, 
 To fave each Soul that him believes, 
 He comes to fhed his Blood. 
 
 3 Then for a while, he'll go away, 
 
 But will return again, 
 And on the Earth, at Latter Day, 
 Stand with a glorious Train. 
 
 4 Though in the Grave my Body fall, 
 
 And Worms do it conilime, 
 Ev'n Skin and Flefh, Blood, Bones and all, 
 Yet Death I'll overcome. 
 
 5 Mf 
 
fir Zion's Travellers. 273 
 
 5 My Lord will raife me from the Duft, 
 
 He'll clothe my Bones with Flefn, 
 I'll lee my God whom now I truit, 
 Which will my Soul refrefh. 
 
 6 That Fieih which all confumed was, 
 
 The very fame {hall rife ; 
 Yea, I will iee Chris's lovely Face, 
 With thole my very Eyes. 
 
 7 Though for a Time my Daft be loath'd, 
 
 Moft beautiful I'll be, 
 My mortal Body mail be cloath'd 
 With Immortality. 
 
 8 Like (Thrift's own Body will I mine, 
 
 With Raiment while as Light. 
 His Comelinefs is ever mine : 
 This ev'ry Saint makes bright. 
 
 song vm. 
 
 CHRIST'S Eternal Love to Mankind: From 
 Prov. viii. 27. to the End, 
 
 1 CT 7HE N the Creation was begun 
 V V By God's Almighty Hand, 
 
 Then I, his own Eternal Son, 
 Concurr'd in the. Command. 
 
 2 I joined in his Counfels wife 
 
 Loft Mankind to redeem ; 
 I was my Father's chief Delight, 
 And I rejoie'd in him. 
 
 3 And in the Earth when it for Man 
 
 Was fram'd with divine Art ; 
 With Plealure I foreiaw the Church, 
 Its habitable Part. 
 
 4 Before the Light was made to mine, 
 
 My Heart was fet on Man j 
 My Thoughts, from all Eternity, 
 On his Salvation ran. 
 
 5 The 
 
274 Sen pure Songs 
 
 5 The Forefight" of Man's Mifery, 
 
 Made me engage for them 
 To be their Help ; for my Delights 
 Were with the Sons of Men. 
 
 6 O Children, then to me give ear ; 
 
 They're bleft my Ways that chufe : 
 . Be wife and my Instruction hear, 
 They're Fools who it refuie. 
 
 7 Bleft is the Man that hears my Word, 
 
 And doth attend my Gates j 
 Who watchfully look's for the Lord, 
 And at his Door Pofts waits. 
 
 8 Bleft is the Man that findeth me, 
 
 With me he'll live above, 
 And have, thro' all Eternity, 
 God's Favour and his Love. 
 
 9 But his own Soul he doth injure. 
 
 Who flights my Offers free ; 
 And thefe who hate my Precepts pure, 
 Court Death eternally. 
 
 SONG IX. 
 
 From Solomon's Song, Chap. i. Being a Dialogic bi* 
 twixt Christ and the Spouse. 
 
 Spouse. 
 
 1 T IKE fweeteft Ointment fmells thy Name., 
 J A Dear Jesus, unto me. 
 
 Hence Virgin Souls fend out a Flame 
 Of holy Love to thee. 
 
 2 O draw me, and we'll run to thee ; 
 
 Bleft King, thou didft me bring- 
 Into thy Chambers, hence will we 
 In thee rejoice and fing. 
 ; More than theTafte of richeft Wine, 
 Thy Love think on we will j 
 
 Mofi 
 
 ■■* 
 
for Zion's Travellers. T]$ 
 
 Mod coftly was thy Love-defign ; 
 The Upright love thee ft ill. 
 
 4 Tell me, good Shepherd, whom I love, 
 
 Where thy dear Sheep are fed ; 
 Shew me the Paths wherein they move, 
 And where they find a Shade. 
 
 5 Leave me not in a wand'ring Courie, 
 
 Like thofe who lofe their W;y : 
 With Flocks of thy Competitors 
 Let me not go aftray. 
 
 Christ. 
 
 6 Art thou hewild 'red my fair One, 
 
 And canft not find thy Reft ? 
 Come, follow my Direction, 
 I'll (hew thee what is beft. 
 
 7 In Footfteps of my Flock go on, 
 
 The Shepherds Tents keep nigh ; 
 Thy Kids and Young-ones bring along. 
 So thou {halt meet with me. 
 Spouse. 
 3 While at his Table fits the King, 
 My Spikenard fmelleth fweet : 
 My Graces languifhing do fpring, 
 With this Sun's quickning Heat. 
 9 Dear Jesus, as a Bunch of Myrrh, 
 Shall in my Bofom ly. 
 To lodge with me he'll not demur, 
 While nightly Shades do ftay. 
 
 SONG X. 
 
 From Song ii. I, to 9. 
 
 Christ. 
 
 I Am the Rofe of Sharon's Field, 
 The Lily of the Vale; 
 I Sweetnefs and Delight do yield, 
 When earthly Glories fail. 
 
276 Scripture Songs 
 
 2 As Lilies mine amidit the Thorns, 
 
 So doth my Love the Bride ; 
 The Daughters want what her adorns, 
 Tho' they live her befide. 
 Spouse. 
 
 3 As th' Apple-tree doth far e>:cel 
 
 The Foreft's barren Growth ; 
 
 So my Love outfhines Mortals all, 
 
 Tho' in their blooming Youth. 
 
 4 Under his Shade with great Delight, 
 
 I fat down for to reft : 
 I found Solace, his heavenly Fruit 
 Was fvveet unto my Tafte. 
 
 5 He brought me £0 his Houle of Wine 
 
 My Fainting? to allay ; 
 The Banner of h;s Love Divine 
 O'er me he did difplay- 
 
 6 Bring ftrength'ning Flaggons unto me, 
 
 With Cordials from above ; 
 Fetch me fweet Apples from the Tree, 
 For I am lick of Love. 
 
 7 When thus my fainting Soul did cry 
 
 For Grace me to uphold, 
 My tender hearted Lord drew nigh, 
 His Arms me did infold. 
 
 8 All Things without me and within, 
 
 I charge to ftand in awe, 
 To wake or grieve my Love with Sin, 
 Left from me he withdraw. 
 o Tho' griev'd, he doth return to me, 
 For lo ! his Voice I hear, 
 O'er Hills of Guilt him leap I fee, 
 My mourning Soul to chear. 
 10 He haftcs to me like Hart or Roc, 
 Our dark Walls he makes light ; 
 Thro' LattefTes himfelf doth mow, 
 With Comclinefs rnoft bright. 
 
 SONG 
 
for Zion's Travellers, 279 
 
 SONG XI. 
 
 From Song ii. 10. to the End. 
 
 Christ. 
 
 1 TT> I S E up, laid Chrift, my faired One, 
 J]\_ Come thou away to me ; 
 
 The Winter Storms of Wrath are gone, 
 I bore them all for thee. 
 
 2 From barren Ground the Flowers do (pring, 
 
 Men hear the Turtle's Voice j 
 The drooping Birds begin to ling, 
 
 And lad Hearts to rejoice. 
 i Young Figs and Grapes do now appear, 
 
 And yield a fweet Perfame ; 
 The heav'nly Vine faint Hearts doth cheer, 
 
 Rife up, my Love, and come. 
 't My Dove that lodgeft in the Rock, 
 
 In Clefts of my deep Wounds ; 
 x^iid doll to me in fee ret look, 
 
 When in thee Grief abounds : 
 $ Lift up thy Face and Voice to me ; 
 
 Thefe pleafe mine Eye and Ear ; 
 Thy Graces all I love to fee, 
 
 Thy Voice of Prayer to hear. 
 
 6 Take us, the Foxes, whofe Defigns 
 
 Are Vineyards to annoy, 
 The little Foxes, which the Vines 
 And tender Grapes deftroy. 
 Spouse. 
 
 7 My Love is mine, my Soul's Delight, 
 
 And I am alfo his ; 
 Among his Saints, thefe Lilies white, 
 His Place of feeding is : 
 
 8 There he abides, till Break of Day, 
 
 When Shadows all (hall flee ; 
 Till the.., come like a Hart or Roe, 
 O'er B ether Hills to me. 
 
 A a SONG 
 
2 8o v Scripture Songs 
 
 SONG XII. 
 
 Trom Song iii. i, 2, 3, 4, S , ji. 
 
 1 A LL's dark when Jefus hides his Face, 
 Jt\ Night Shades fall me upon ; 
 Defertion is a weary Cafe, 
 
 When Chrifl my Lee is gone. 
 
 2 I on my Bed my Lois did mind, 
 
 I fought him thus alone ; 
 My drowzy Search him did not find, 
 Vain was my flothful Moan. 
 
 3 I'll rife, and round the City go, 
 
 Thro' Streets, Broad-ways, and Lanes; 
 This Way I fought my Love, but lo ! 
 Succefslefs were my Pains. 
 
 4 The City Watchmen found me out, 
 
 Their Doclrine touch'd my Cafe : 
 Ah, where's he ! Can ye lblve my Doubt I 
 None of them brought me Eafe. 
 
 5 When Means and Duties prov'd lb weak, 
 
 Beyond them all I paft : 
 WheiijI fome Steps from them did make, 
 I found my Love at lafr. 
 
 6 I him embrae'd, and held him faft, 
 
 Till once 1 got him brought 
 Into my Mother's Dwellings wafle, 
 To ftrengthen what he wrought. 
 
 7 Since he's come in, I do you charge, 
 
 Who Salem's Daughters are, 
 By Roes and Hinds which run at large, 
 Our Joys you do not mar. 
 
 8 Let Sin or Earth no Motion make, 
 
 For to difturb his Reft ; 
 Let none prefume my Love to wake, 
 Until it pleafe him bell. 
 
 9 O, 7ion\ Daughters, all go forth, 
 
 Behold King Solwioji, 
 
 Ev'ji 
 
for Zion'j" Travellers. r8l 
 
 Ev'n Chrift our King, of higher Worth, 
 
 Wearing his glorious Crown ; 
 10 Wherewith his Mother crown'd his Head, 
 
 On his Elpoufal Day, 
 That Day on which his Heart was glad. 
 
 Him love and praife for ay. 
 
 SONG XIII. 
 
 From Song iv. 7, 8, o, 10, 11, 12, 16. 
 
 Christ. 
 
 1 r I ^Hou art all fair when in thy Drefs, 
 
 JL My Love, thou'rt fair to me ; 
 When clothed with my Rightfcoufnefs, 
 No Spot is feen in thee. 
 
 2 My Spoufe come off from Lebanon, 
 
 And Mounts of Vanitie: 
 Let ail the World's Deceits alone, 
 And come alongtr. with me. 
 
 3 By Faith look from Amana\ Top, 
 
 Shenir and Her mot: fair ; 
 From Dens of Prey, behold with Hope 
 The Land beyond compare. 
 
 4 My Spoule, thou doft my Love enhance, 
 
 And draw'fl my Heart to thee, 
 With thy Neck-chains, and with a Glance 
 Of thy believing Eye. 
 
 5 Thy Love to me more grateful is, 
 
 Than Wine of any Kind ; 
 Thy Graces more than fragrant Spice 
 Acceptance with me find. 
 
 6 Thy Lips drop fweet ; and from thy Tongue 
 
 Do Milk and Honey "flow : 
 Thy Garments l'meil as Lebanon, 
 Which on thee I bellow. 
 
 7 A Garden fair, inclos'd by Grace, 
 
 Spou!e thou art to me ; 
 A a 2 
 
282 Serif tu re S&rigs 
 
 I chus'd dice from the Wildernefs, 
 With fine Springs furnifli'd thee. 
 Spouse. 
 
 8 Ifl thy Garden be, O Lord, 
 
 Caufe Heaven's Wind awake, 
 Sweet quick 'ning Gales to me afford, 
 My Graces lively make. 
 
 9 Sharp Northern Blafts i'end to convince., 
 
 And caufe the South Winds blow j 
 With Breathings warm afiift my Mints, 
 And make my Spices flow. 
 
 10 Then let my Love his Preience iwcet 
 
 Unto his Garden grant, 
 That he may eat his pkmfant Fruit, 
 Which he himielf did pi art. 
 
 SONG XIV. 
 
 From Song v. 1, 2, 3, 4. 
 
 Christ. 
 1 "ft /%Y Spoufe, to anfwer thee I'm come 
 X VJL I nto m y Garden fair ; 
 My ?vlyrrh and Spice of fweet Perfume, 
 With Pleafure I do mare. 
 1 On Honey, Wine, and Milk I feaft ; 
 All Friends, come eat with me, 
 And drink my Wine of beav'nly Tafte, 
 Yea, drink abundantiie. 
 Spouse- 
 
 3 While Chrift invites, my Sloth prevails, 
 
 Yet fomething wakes in me, 
 To hearken to Chrift's Knocks and Calls, 
 His Voice fpeaks-preiTinglie. 
 Christ. 
 
 4 Open to me, my Father's Child ; 
 
 Open to me, my Love ; 
 
 Open to me, my UndcnTd; 
 
 Open to me, my Dove- 
 
 5 
 
for ZionV Travellers. 283 
 
 5 From Love I'm (landing at thy Door, 
 Thy Heart call open loon ; 
 A midnight Shower of Wrath I bore, 
 To lave thee when undone. 
 Spouse. 
 4 I am undreis'd, and Reft is fvveet, 
 From Bed I cannot rile ; 
 How mall 1 now defile my Feet ? 
 Thus Sloth did me entice. 
 -7 By the Key-hole, my Well-belov'd 
 His Hand of Pow'r put in j 
 So that my Bowels all were mov'd, 
 For being ungrate to him. 
 
 8 When I rou/Al up, obey'd his Knock, 
 
 My Hands dropt pleaiantly 
 With Oil of Myrrh, left on the Lock . 
 Which made the Bolt to fly. 
 
 9 To my Belov'd I open'd fail, 
 
 Who, to my Grief was gone : 
 I tainted, when his Speeches pail 
 I mournfully thought on. 
 
 10 I fought him then with Carefulnefs > 
 
 But found he could not be : 
 I call'd on him in this Diftrefs, 
 He did not anfwer me. 
 
 1 1 The Watchmen who do go their Round?, 
 
 And keep the City- wall, 
 Abu&'d me, and did give me Wounds,, 
 And tore away my VaiL 
 
 SONG XV. 
 
 .'Dialogue betivixt the Spouse WDauchters 
 of Jcrufalem, from Song v. 8*. to the End, 
 
 Spousr.. 
 
 O Salem's Race, if you HIM find, 
 I charge you tell my Cafe ; 
 
 A a 3 I'm 
 
4 - Scritture Songs 
 
 I'm Tick of Love, lore paiiV*<d in Mind, 
 He only can me eaie. 
 
 DAU G il T ERS. 
 
 O faireil One, we fain would know 
 
 The Object of thy Love ; 
 What Chaims he hath, that thou doft fo 
 
 Prize hint all Men above. 
 Spouse. 
 My Love is white and ruddv too, 
 
 The chief of Thoufands Ten ; 
 His Innocence and Sufferings do 
 
 Him- beautify to Men. 
 \ His biefied Head doth far excel 
 
 The'G'old that is moft fine 
 His Locks are black and curled well. 
 
 They Raven like do fhine. 
 His Eyes arc like the Eyes of Doves, 
 
 When they in Flocks are met 
 Near Water-ftreams, which they do love, 
 
 Pviilk-waihM and fitly let. 
 
 > His Cheeks arc like the fweetelt Flow'rs, 
 
 And Beds where Spices grow ; 
 His Lips like Lilies are, from whence 
 Swect-fmelling Myrrh doth flow. 
 1 As Rings of Gold with Beryl kt P 
 So do his Hands appear; 
 His Belly bright as Ivory 
 
 O'erlaid with Sapphires clear. 
 t His Legs like Marble Pillars are, 
 Which on Gold Sockets went ; 
 Like Lebanon his Face is fair, 
 A- Cedars excellent. 
 
 > His Mouth that makes fweet Promise*, 
 
 To ev'ry Saint is fweet : 
 Yea, he all o/er lovely is, 
 
 View him from Head to Feet. 
 : o Da lighters of jjferufa 'i m t 
 i J ;is is my Loyc and Friend, 
 
 For 
 
for Zion's Travellers, 285 
 
 For whom none can devife a Name, 
 Or proper Emblems find. 
 
 SONG XVI. 
 
 The Dialogue continued* Song vi. Chap. 
 
 Daughters. 
 
 1 (~\ Faired Bride, we fain would know, 
 V_y Where's thy Beloved gone \ 
 
 Tell us that with thee we may go, 
 To leek this matchlcfs One. 
 Spouse. 
 
 2 My Love is gone to Heav'n above, 
 
 Yet doth he condelcend 
 To come into his Garden here, 
 And Beds of Spice attend. 
 
 3 In Meetings of his Saints he's found, 
 
 Thele Gardens of Delight, 
 He's there to bring them rich Supplies, 
 And gather Lilies white. 
 
 4 Tomy Beloved I belong, 
 
 And my Belov'd to me ; 
 To feed among the Lily Flow'rs, 
 Great Pleafure taketh he. 
 Ch r 1 ST. 
 
 5 O who is fhe that looketh forth, 
 
 Like to the Morning Light ? 
 
 When it darts out to chale away 
 
 The Darkneis of fhe Night. 
 
 6 Fair as the Moon, clear as the Sun, 
 
 With dazzling Beams array 'd ; 
 Yet like an Army terrible, 
 
 With Banners'all difplay'd *. * Chap. vi..jo, 
 
 7 She comes up from the Wildernefs, 
 
 She walks and always leans 
 On her Beloved ; for her Heart 
 
 From all Things elAs flic weans, 
 
 SONG 
 
286 Sen fture Songs 
 
 SONG XVII. 
 
 Christ' J Sufferings for tis. Fro?n Ifa. liii. 
 
 1 Y T 7Ho hath believ'd the faithful Word, 
 
 V V Which we to Men declare ? 
 Who feels the Arm of God the Lond 
 Dilplayed and made bare \ 
 
 2 Melfiah, like a weal: Plant, grows, 
 
 A Root from Ground that's dry, 
 No outward Beauty he aifumes, 
 To draw the carnal Eye. 
 
 3 Rejected and defpis'd is he, 
 
 Thro' Sinners Unbelief; 
 A Man of Sorrows all his Days, 
 And well acquaint with Grief. 
 
 4 We hid our Faces when he came, 
 
 To take our wrathful Lot, 
 Defpis'd he was and put to Shame, 
 And we efteem'd him not. 
 
 5 Of Griefs and Sorrows all his Time, 
 
 For us he bore the Load j 
 But ah, we judg'd that for his Crime, 
 He fmitten was of God. 
 
 6 But he for our TranfgreiTions 
 
 Was wounded and abus'd, 
 His Soul for our Iniquities 
 Molt grievoufly was bruised. 
 
 7 On him was laid our Chaftifement, 
 
 By which our Peace he feal'd ; 
 Sharp bloody Stripes he underwent, 
 Whereby our Wounds are heal'd. 
 3 All we like Sheep from God have ftray'd, 
 And did our own Ways chule ; 
 And thele our Sins God on him laid, 
 Whu-h Jove would not refufe. 
 9 Opprei's'd and wrong'd our Surety flood, 
 Accufed of Untiuthi 
 
 To 
 
for Zion's Travellers. 287" 
 
 To Slaughter went he as a Lamb, 
 And opeh'd not his Mouth, 
 
 10 Before the Shearers, like a Sheep, 
 
 ; dumb and filent lyes; 
 He meekly goes thro' Waters deep, 
 Without repining Cries. 
 
 1 1 His Soul in trav'ling Anguifh lies, 
 
 His Pains were multiply *d ; 
 But when the bleiled Fruit he Tees, 
 He is well fatisfy'd. 
 
 SONG XVIII. 
 
 4 T H & n k s g i v i n g fir R e r f. e m i n g L o v e : From 
 Kom. v. end Heb. xiii. 
 
 7 T T 7 Hen we were deftitute of Strength, 
 V V Ourfelves to help and lave ; 
 For the Ungodly Chriifc at length, 
 His Life a Kanibm gave. 
 
 2 Scarce any for a righteous Man 
 
 Will dare his Life to Itake ; 
 And for a good Man it were much- 
 Such an Exchange to make, 
 
 3 But God bis matcnlels Love commends, 
 
 When his molt glorious Son 
 Dy'd for us while unrighteous, 
 Vile Sinners and undone. 
 
 4 Since by his Blood Chriit us from Sin 
 
 Doth juftify and free. 
 Then finely from the Wrath to come, 
 We ever iafe mail be. 
 
 5 If Chriit for Enemies to God 
 
 Did die, to end the Strife ; 
 Much more when reconciled thus, 
 He'll fave us by his Life. 
 
 6 Yea, more than lo, we joy in God, 
 
 Thro' Jtius Chrift our Lord ; 
 
 The 
 
288 Scripture Songs 
 
 The great Atonement we receive, 
 And Co obey his Word. 
 7 Now he that's Lord of quick and dead, 
 The God of Love and Peace, 
 That from the Grave brought Chrifr our Head, 
 And him to Life did raife ; 
 3 Who, as the Shepherd great and good, 
 His Life for us did grant, 
 And did eftablim, with his Blood, 
 Th* eternal Covenant ; 
 9 May he in us his Work fulfil, 
 Till us he perfect make, 
 Still ftrengthning us to do his Will 
 For our Redeemer's Sake; 
 io And work in us what his Word fays, 
 Is pleafing him before; 
 Thro' Jefus Chrift, to whom be Praiie 
 And Glory evermore. 
 
 SONG XIX, 
 
 Matchless Love in the Gift of CHRIST : From 
 John iii. 14. to 17. 
 
 1 f~^\ Wondrous Divine Love to Men ! 
 %^_y When Wrath 'gainft us did fwclj 
 God took our Nature, bore our Guilt, 
 
 To fave our Souls from Hell. 
 
 2 As Mofes in the Wildernefs, 
 
 Did lift high on a Pole 
 A brazen Serpent for ftung Men 
 To view and be made whole ; 
 
 3 So Jefus Chrift the Antitype, 
 
 Was lifted up on high 
 Upon the Crofs, that wounded Souls 
 Might look and healed be. 
 
 4 And there, he lays, who'er believes 
 
 In him unfeienedlv, 
 
 1 • Shall 
 
for Zion's Travellers. 289 
 
 Shall never periih in their Sins, 
 B t live eternally. 
 
 5 God lov'd the World fo, as to give 
 
 His Son to dwell in Clay, 
 And die, that all who in him truft, 
 Might live with God for ay. 
 
 6 Good News! that Chrift there twice declares, 
 
 All who in him believe 
 Are (are from Hell, and ever (hall 
 With God in Heaven live; 
 
 7 And that his Son God did not fend 
 
 A loft World to condemn ; 
 But by his Blood he did intend 
 To fave condemned Men. 
 
 8 Believers all with Chrift live mail. 
 
 And ne'er condemned be; 
 The broken Law he fatisfy'd, 
 Them for to juftify. 
 
 9 But Vengeance juft for ever lies 
 
 On all the Rebel Race, 
 Who God's Eternal Son defpife, 
 
 And (corn his offer'd Grace, 
 jo Obey Chriit's Call who laves the loft, 
 
 Serve God that's One in Three ; 
 To Father, Son and Holy Ghoft, 
 
 Give Praiie eternally. 
 
 SONG XX, 
 
 GOD's Love in CHRIST unalterable : From Rom. 
 villi 31. to the End. 
 
 1/^ OD'f Love in Chrift tranfcends our Thoughts, 
 V_ J In Giving Men from Woe ; 
 If God's for us, and (lands our Friend, 
 Who then can be our Foe . ? 
 2 Since God for us ipar'd not his Son, 
 But gave him up to die; 
 
 Hw 
 
290 Scripture Songs 
 
 His letter Gifts he'll not rerufe, 
 Nor. ought that's Good deny. 
 
 3 Who shall God's elect Ones arraign, 
 
 Whom God hath juftify'd i 
 Or who will dare thole to condemn, 
 For whom this Surety dy'd ? 
 
 4 Chrift dy'd for us ; yea, in his Love, 
 
 He roie up for our Sake, 
 And doth at God's Right Hand for us 
 Still Interceffion make. 
 
 5 Who from Chrift's Love (hall us divide ? 
 
 Shall Trouble or Diitrefs ? 
 Shall Periecution or the Sword, 
 
 Famine or Nakednefs ? 
 7 Nay, o'er all thefe we triumph (hall, 
 
 With the celeftial Pow'rs ; 
 Thro' Jefus Chrift's victorious Love, 
 
 We're more than Conquerors. 
 
 7 I am peiibaded Death, nor Life, 
 
 Nor Principalities ; 
 Nor finite Powers, nor prefent Things, 
 Nor yet Futurities: 
 
 8 No Height, no Depth, no Creature mail 
 
 Diflblve the twilled Cord 
 Of mutual Love 'twixt God and us, 
 
 In Jelus Chrift our Lord. 
 a Unchangeable is Love divine, 
 
 Time makes it not decay ; 
 For thefe whom once the Lord doth love, 
 
 He them doth love for ay. 
 10 From Love, great Mercies us thou giv'ft, 
 
 But One we'll fing of Mill ; 
 Eternal Thanks to God for Chrift, 
 
 His Gift unfpeakablc ! 
 
 Song 
 
for Zion'j- Travellers 289 
 
 SONG XXI. 
 
 Thanksgiving for GOD\r free Love in and thro* 
 CHRIST, from Eph. i. 3, &c. Eph. ill. 18, 6r. 
 
 1 T5 LEST be (Thrift's God, and Father dear, 
 J3 F° r all our heavenly Fare; 
 
 In Chrilt he hath enriched us, 
 With ipYitual BleiTings rare. 
 
 2 In Love he chofe us in his Son, 
 
 Before the World he made, 
 To make us blamelefs holy Men, 
 Like Chrilt our holy Head. 
 5 Predeftinate us of his Grace, 
 By Jefus Chrilt did he, 
 To be adopted Children all, 
 In his own Familie ; 
 
 4 That all the Praiie might (till redound 
 
 To glorious Grace alone ; 
 The Lord hath us accepted made, 
 In his beloved Son: 
 
 5 In whom, thro' his moft precious Blood, 
 
 We have Redemption free. 
 Even full RemilTIon of our Sins, 
 That rich Grace all might fee. 
 , 6 In Wifdom God makes Grace to us 
 Flow out abundantly, 
 That Grace may be our lafting Song, 
 To all Eternity. 
 
 7 May we be grafping with the Saints, 
 
 Chrift's Love to comprehend, 
 Whofe Breadth and Length, and Depth and 
 Do boundlefsly extend ; (Height 
 
 8 And prels to know that wondrous Love 
 
 Which Knowledge all exceeds, 
 That from his Fulnefs we may have 
 Supply to all our Needs. 
 o Now unto God who can do more, 
 Than we can afk or think, 
 
 B b ( According 
 
-9° Scripture Songs 
 
 According to his mighty Power, 
 That took us from Heli's Brink, 
 lo All Glory in the Church by Chrift, 
 To him be rendered then, 
 
 Thro' Ages all for evermore ; 
 Let all Men fay Am:r. 
 
 SONG XXII. 
 
 Our Hope is in CKRIST's Righteousness, audit: 
 being with him: From Philip, in. 7, -ire. 2 Cor. v. 
 I, isre. 
 
 1 r R >HESE Things I heretofore thought Gain, 
 
 \ And of them made my Bodt, 
 For Chriit that doth me juftify, 
 T gave them up for loft. 
 
 2 Yea, doubtlefs, 'tis my fixt Refolve, 
 
 To count all Things but loft, 
 That I the Excellence may know, 
 Of jefus and his Crofs. 
 
 3 All worldly Things for him I've loft, 
 
 I them as Dungefteem, 
 That I may Chrift my Trealure win, 
 And fafe be found in him. 
 
 4 My Righteonfnefs as Rags I quite, 
 
 I plead what Chrift hath done; 
 This Righteoufncfs which God ordains, 
 By Faith I take alone. 
 
 5 May I know Jefus in that Power, 
 
 Which rais'd him from the Grate, 
 That with him in his Sufferings, 
 I Fellowship may have ; 
 
 6 And being conform'd to his Death, 
 
 By dying unto Sin : 
 A Refurrecrion bleft from Death, 
 I may obtain thro* him. 
 
 7 Yea, now we know if this Clay Houfe 
 
 DhTolv'd were off the Field, 
 
 An 
 
for ZionV Travellers . 2 9 1 
 
 An heavenly Houfe we have on high, 
 Which God himfelf doth build. 
 
 8 With ftrong Dehres we therefore gionc, 
 
 That to us it were giv'n, 
 To know that Bttls, and be new clothM 
 With our pure Houfe in Heav'n. 
 
 9 We walk by Faith, and not by Sight, 
 
 And hence we often fay, 
 Content we would the Body leave, 
 And dwell with Chrift for ay. 
 
 10 Faith's Views of Chrift prompt us to leek, 
 
 And make it ftill our Care, 
 Tiiat whether here, or with our Lord, 
 Of his Love we may fhare. 
 
 SONG XXIII. 
 
 A Thanksgiving for the Fruits 0/ CHRISTs 
 
 Resurrection: from 1 Pet. i. 3, 4, 4jg* 
 1 XT* OR ever blefTed be the God, 
 JP And Father of our Lord, 
 Whole Mercy doth to us abound, 
 According to his Word : 
 2 Who hath begotten us again 
 Unto a lively Hope, 
 By Chrift his riling from the Dead, 
 Of Faith the blelled Prop. 
 ■; For by it we are well fccur'd 
 Of an Inheritance, 
 That's not corrupted nor defil'd, 
 Nor fades by any Chance ; 
 
 4 Which is for us in Heaven refer v'd, 
 
 And we are kept for it, 
 By the Almighty Power of God, 
 Thro* Faith, till we be fit. 
 
 5 For that Salvation glorious, 
 
 To be icvcai'd at la ft, 
 
 Bb 2 Of 
 
292 • Scripture Songs 
 
 Of which we wait to be pofleft, 
 When Time and Days are pafh 
 
 6 In this bleft Hope we do rejoice, 
 
 Tho' for a Time we need, 
 Here to be kept in Heavinefs, 
 Thro' Trials multiplied. 
 
 7 Our Faith more precious than Gold, 
 
 By Fire is tried here, 
 That unto Praile it may be found, 
 When Jefus doth appear. 
 
 8 This Jefus, tho' unfeen, we love, 
 
 In him believing (till ; 
 Which yields us Joy unfpeakable, 
 
 That is of Glory full. 
 When Jeiiis comes, we (hall receive 
 
 The bleft End of our Faith ; 
 Even the Salvation of our Souls, 
 
 Procur'd us by his Death. 
 
 B' 
 
 SONG XXIV. 
 
 The Sons of GOD mamfifted: From i John iii< 
 I, 2. ire. 
 
 Ehold how matchlefs is that Love ! 
 The Father hath befrow'd 
 On Men, that we mould be adopt, 
 And call'd the Sons of God ! 
 
 2 His Image he makes us to bear, 
 As Sons of heavenly Birth ; 
 
 This Dignity exalts us far 
 Above the Kings on Earth. 
 
 3 Though now the World us doth not .know, 
 As Chrift it never knew ; 
 
 Yet God doth own us as his Sons, 
 We're chang'd and born anew. - 
 
 4 And what we (ball hereafter be, 
 It doth not yet appear ; 
 
 But this we know, when Chrift fhall come, 
 Wc (hall his Likenefs bear: For 
 
fir Zion s Travellers.. 2% 
 
 5 For we ft ill fee him as he is, 
 
 And like him mine full bright : 
 We then come near our glorious Sun, 
 From whom we have our Light. 
 
 6 As Chrift is holy, fo mull we ; 
 
 All who hope for that Hour, 
 Themfelves will alio purifie, 
 As he the Lord is pure. 
 
 7 Let's here, as Strangers, follow Peace, 
 
 And walk with one Accord, 
 And always ftudy Holinefs, 
 As we would lee the Lord. 
 S No Eye hath feen, no Ear hath heard, 
 No Heart can Things above 
 Conceive, which Jefus hath prepar'd 
 For them who him do love. 
 
 SONG XXV. 
 
 the glorious TRINITY adored, arid CHRIST'S 
 Love extoll\i: From Rev. i. 4, 5, be. Rev. iv. 
 
 8, ire. 
 
 1 A yf AY we have Grace and Peace from God, 
 IVX The glorious One in Three, 
 
 Who us created and redeem 'd, 
 And us doth ianclific-: 
 
 2 Ev'n from the Father who frill was, 
 
 Who is, and ftill (hall be, 
 And from the Sev'nfold working Sp'i it, 
 Before his Throne on high ; 
 
 3 From Je(u§ Chrift the Witncis true, 
 
 And firft-born from the Dead, 
 Who of all earthly Kings and Powers 
 Is Prince and ruling Head ; 
 
 4 To this great Lord, that lb lov'd Men, 
 
 Such lothfome Men as we, 
 As warn us in his precious Blood, 
 Our Souls from Sin to free, 
 
 B h 3 To 
 
94 Scripture Songs 
 
 5 To him, who made us Kings and Priefts, 
 
 To God his Father high ; 
 Be Glory and Dominion 
 Thro' all Eternity. 
 
 6 Behold he comes with flying Clouds, 
 
 Him every Eye mall lee, 
 And Unbelievers who him pierc'd, 
 Shall wail molt bitterlie. 
 
 7 But let Believers lift their Heads 
 
 With Joy, to fee and hear, 
 For then compleat Redemption 
 To them is very near. 
 
 8 The Hofts above their Homage pay, 
 
 And Crowns call on the Ground, 
 They never ceafe by Night nor Day, 
 
 Thefe Prailes to refound ; 
 o " O holy, holy, holy Lord, 
 
 il Almighty God alone, 
 " Who ever was, and alio is, 
 
 i( And ever is to come ! 
 io Glory, Power, and Honour (till, 
 
 Thou'rt worthy to receive ; 
 All Things were made to pleafe thy Will, - 
 
 And by thy Plealure live. 
 ,, M..^ ' |T j j Lamb, art thou, they ling, 
 
 To be adored thus; 
 Let with thy Praife Heav'n's Manfions ring, 
 
 For thou waft /lain for us. 
 
 SONG XXVI. 
 
 The LA MB that was /lain eternally exalted : From 
 Rev. v. 
 
 J r-r^HEheiv'nly Hofts and Elders join, 
 X. To bow before the Lamb, 
 With golden Harps and fwceteft Tunes, 
 They trumpet forth his Fame. 
 
 2 They 
 
for Z,ion s travellers . 295 
 
 1 They'cry, " O Father, who (hall look 
 " Into thy fecret Will \ 
 " Worthy the Lamb to take the Book, 
 " And open ev'ry Seal. 
 
 3 " Thou'rt tit God's MyhViies to reveal, 
 
 " For thou wait flain for us, 
 " And thy Blood purchased us to God, 
 " Which thou fhedft en the Oofs. 
 
 4 <( From ev'ry Nation, Kindred, Tongue, 
 
 i( Thy precious Blood us bought ; 
 '^ Well thou deferv'ft our praifing Songs, 
 '.* Who us Salvation brought. 
 
 5 " Unto the Lamb that once was flain, 
 
 " Be endlefs Praiies giv'n, 
 " By all that dwell upon the Earth, 
 " And all the Hods of Heav'n. 
 
 6 i( Thou haft us ranfbm'd with thy Blood, 
 
 " And let us Pris'ners free; 
 M Thou mak'ft us Kings and Priefts to God, 
 " And we mail reign with thee." 
 
 7 Let's join, while here, our chearful Songs, 
 
 With Hofts around the Throne, 
 Ten thouiand Thouiands are their Tongues, 
 Yet all agree in one. 
 
 8 " Worthy the Lamb that dy'd, they cry, 
 
 " To be exalted thus, 
 " Worthy the Lamb,* let us reply, 
 
 " For he was flain for us. 
 o " The Lamb is worthy to receive 
 
 u Strength, Wifdom, Riches, Might; 
 " Eternal Honours we afcribe 
 
 u . To him, for 'tis his Right. 
 10 " Let Heav'n and Earth unite in one, 
 
 " To praife the glorious Name 
 i< Of him that fits upon the Throne, 
 
 « And to adore the Lamb.'' 
 
 SONG 
 
296 Scripture Songs 
 
 SONG XXVII. 
 
 4 View &f the Saints and Martyrs in Heaven 
 From Rev. vii. 
 
 1 T" ET's view by Faith the Saints above,. 
 
 J j Redeem'd from Sin by Jefus 5 Love; 
 
 Their various Tribes, their fweet Employ, 
 In Raptures of eternal Joy. 
 
 2 The Patriarchs, with Jacob's Race, 
 Rais'd up to Heav'n by God's free Grace! 
 With Songs they praife their Father's God,. 
 Who led them home the heav'nly Road. 
 
 3 Next, fee a num'rous Multitude, 
 Redeem'd from Hell by Jefus' Blood, 
 From zv'ry Nation, Kindred, Tongue, 
 Who ling an everlairing Song. 
 
 4 In white Robes cleath'd they all do ftand, 
 With Palms of Triumph in their Hand : 
 
 " Salvation to God on the Throne, 
 " They cry, and to the Lamb his Son." 
 > Next theie, come Angels, and fall down, 
 Humbly adoring Three in One ; 
 " They cry, Amen, give Glory, Pow'r, 
 u And Thanks to God for evermore." 
 
 6 But whence come thele in white who fhine 
 All cloath'd with Righteoufnefs Divine ? 
 Theie come from Sufferings great to God, 
 Their Robes they walh'd in the Lamb's Blood, 
 
 7 The Martyrs Trials now are o 4 er, 
 They fee God's Face for evermore \ 
 
 The Lamb makes lure their heav'nly BIHs, 
 They've faid, He's ours, and we are his, 
 
 8 No more the Heat (hall them torment 
 Of {torching Sun they've no Complaint; 
 The Lamb, who mines amidft the Throne, 
 Shall be their everlafting Sun. 
 
 o To Father, Son and Holy Ghoft, 
 One God ; who laved us when Joft, 
 
 B', 
 
J or ZionV Jravellers. 297 
 
 Be everlafting Glory giv'n, 
 
 By all on Earth, and all in Heaven. 
 
 SONG XXVIII. 
 
 Christ's Vifiory and Babylon'/ Dtmnfah Frwj 
 Rev. xviii. and Rev. xv. ixc. 
 
 1 TIEhold, an Angel doth defcend, 
 JD With Power and Glory great; 
 1 o Earth he comes, for a good End, 
 
 Blell Tidings to relate ! 
 
 2 " Great Babylon that did enthral, 
 
 " The Kingdoms of the Earth, 
 " The Time is come for her to fall, 
 " Which calls for holy JVlirth. 
 
 3 u Let Heav'ns be glad, with all the Saints, 
 
 " Let Prophets all rejoice ; 
 " God doth avenge your long Complaints ; 
 " With Praife lift up your Voice. 
 
 4 « A Milftone's call by Gabriel, 
 
 " And in the Sea is drown'd ! 
 " Thus terribly (hall Babel fall, 
 M And never more be found." 
 $ Upon the Sea of Glafs they ftand, 
 T'oe. Beaft who overcome, 
 With Harps of God into their Hand, 
 To celebrateher Doom. 
 
 6 Thele Conquerors do meet in Throngs, 
 
 And to Jehovah's Name, 
 They pleaiantlv unite the Songs 
 Of Mo/es and the Lamb. 
 
 7 By Mo/es' Hand, the Enemie 
 
 Did fink deep in the Flood; 
 So drown'd our Sins are in the Sea 
 Of Jefus' precious Blood. 
 
 8 The Conquerors with fluent Tongues, 
 
 CI lilt's Honour will proclaim, 
 
 In 
 
yo Kiirtpiui e songs 
 
 In fweetcr Notes thin Mopes" Songs, 
 They'll tune thole of the Lamb. 
 .9 All Nations (hall to thee bow down, 
 And worfhip rev'rently, 
 When once thy Judgments are made known, 
 Againft thine Enemy. 
 TO The Holts of God with one Confent, 
 Shall Hallelujah's fing ; 
 When the Lord God Omnipotent, 
 Takes his great Pow'r to reign. 
 11 At length will end the Devil's Reign, 
 Over the Sons of Men ; 
 Let Heav'n and Earth rejoice and fing, 
 With all that dwell in them. 
 
 SONG XXIX. 
 
 the Good News of the Ransom 0/ Christ's 
 Blood. 
 
 1 <T^\ 
 
 Reat Pity God fhews 
 To Gentiles and Jews ; 
 He fent them his Gofpel to bring them good News. 
 Good News to the Loft, 
 With racking Fears tofs'd, 
 That found is a Ranfom, in which they may boaft, 
 
 2 A Ranfom of Blood, 
 That runs like a Flood, 
 
 Their Sins off to. carry, who God's Law withftflod. 
 News ! that Chrifl: was kind, 
 When Hell's Powers combin'd, 
 
 To rout them, he freely his dear Life reiign'd. 
 
 3 Blood ftream'd from his Side, 
 T' atone for our Pride ; 
 
 Sin was the Tormentor that hirn crucify'd. 
 
 When we have him view'd, 
 
 With his Blood imbru'd, 
 May we by this Profr>cc"r get all Sin fubdu'd. 
 
 4 Whai 
 
for Zion'j- Travellers. 299 
 
 4 What Sight do we fee ? 
 
 Chi id (tretch'd on the Tree, 
 For Rebels as we are, mod willing to die! 
 
 Pains dreadful he felt, 
 
 O let our Hearts melt 
 For Sin that did pierce him, when he bore our Guilt. 
 
 5 Since for Sins of Men, 
 
 ■ God's dear Lamb was (lain, 
 Hard muit the Man's Heart be, that yet feels no Pain. 
 
 When the Sun did faint, 
 
 And harucft Rocks rent, 
 Shall we be lb ftubborn, as never relent ! 
 
 6 Our glorious Head, 
 Our Victim was made, 
 
 To heal us when wounded, his Blood all he fhed. 
 
 In our Place he flood, 
 
 And pour'd out his Blood, 
 Yea, gives us free Accefs to that healing Flood. - 
 
 7 Chrift 's Feaft we'll attend, 
 And his Love commend, 
 
 We'll think on liis Sufferings till our Hearts do rend. 
 
 His Wounds I'll not view, 
 
 Like a harden'd Jew. 
 But when let before me, my Grief I'll renew. 
 
 SONG XXX. 
 
 The News of Christ Is Pierc'd Fest: 'From 
 
 Ilk. lii. 7. 
 1 T TOW beautiful upon the Mount ! 
 
 Jt~X Were Chrift's Feet pierc'd on our Account, 
 
 Where he was crucify 'd ! 
 His Feet, tho' nailed to the Tree, 
 Swift Tidings bring to you and me, 
 
 Cod's Wrath is pacify V. 
 1 Tidings that Chrift has purchas'd Peace, 
 With Trealures full of needful Grace, 
 To fupply ail our Wants. 
 
 Good 
 
2 00 Scripture Songs 
 
 Good News ! that he hath purchas'd Room, 
 For ev'ry needy Soul to come, 
 
 To fit and fe aft with Saints. 
 
 3 Were Men at God's Bar ftriclly try'd, 
 None living could be juftify'd, 
 
 All would be guilty found. 
 From Juftice Throne we Sinners fly, 
 To Chrift our bleeding Prieft on high, 
 
 Where Mercy doth abound. 
 
 4 In thrift's the proper Mercy-feat, 
 Where we with God may humbly treat, 
 
 In him God's iatisfy'd. 
 His Blo®d hath Juftice reconcil'd, 
 Its flaming Sword hath quit the Field, 
 
 Juftice is on our Side. 
 
 5 Now God his Friendlinefs to prove, 
 Invites us to a Feaft of Love, 
 
 A rich and coftly Feaft : 
 To partake of the rareft Food, 
 Pardon and Peace thro' his Son's Blood, 
 
 Which Angels ne'er did tafte. 
 
 6 Lord, Sin, the Murderer here ftands, 
 
 That pierc'd thy Heart, thy Feet and Hands ; 
 
 < For which I mourn and grie\e. 
 
 Lord, give a ftrong couragious Faith, 
 To doom each darling Lull to Death, 
 Sin (hall no longer live. 
 
 7 This Foe my Saviour betray'd, 
 
 It bound and hawl'd him to be try d, 
 
 And rais'd the furious Cry, 
 To crucify the Lord our Head: 
 But, good News ! he rofc from the Dead, 
 And pleads for us on high. 
 
 SONG 
 
^ 
 
 for Zion's Travellers. goi 
 
 T 
 
 SONG XXXI. 
 
 ' LAMB's Rattle and Victory. 
 HE Lamb fought for me, 
 My Foes vanquiuYd he ; 
 The Lion he conquer'd, when n-ail'd to the Tree. 
 The Lamb when he fought, 
 Great Victory brought ; 
 Our Freedom from Bondage to Safari he wrought, 
 
 2 The Lamb for us dy'd, 
 He was crucify 'd ; 
 
 Yet, when at the loweft, Hell's Powers he dcfyW. 
 
 He lay in the Grave, 
 
 Our loft Souls to fave ; 
 Vet rofe as our Champion, mod valiant and brave. 
 
 3 He fought and he fell, 
 Yet overcame Hell ; 
 
 He conquer'd and triumph 'd, for fuch as rebel.. 
 
 He role for our Sake ; 
 
 And did the Earth make, 
 The Devils and Keepers to tremble did make. 
 
 4 Then Rocks they did rend ; 
 Him Angels attend, 
 
 He taught his Difciples, till he did afcend. 
 
 He went up in Might, 
 
 With Chariots of Light ; 
 A Cloud him received, out of his Friends Sight. 
 
 5 Above he did land, 
 
 Sits on God's Right-hand, 
 
 Our High-prieft and Sovereign, all Things to corn- 
 There he pleads on high, (mand. 
 Loud Jothhis Blood cry, 
 
 For Pardon to Sinners, who to him do fly. 
 
 6 The Lamb's Judge of all, 
 The Dead lie will call, 
 
 All muft ftand before him, be they great or fmall. 
 
 His Mercy is great, 
 
 His Blood paid our Debt, 
 He will then abfolve us, when Judgment is let. 
 
 C c y Of 
 
- 
 
 - - 
 
 ' - - Z. _ " °* 
 
 . 
 
 " — -"-- - 
 
 : . :- 
 
 
 
 _ 
 
 v 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 
 
 mxt. 
 
for Zion's Traveller^ 303 
 
 Strict Trial this can well endure. 
 For it is infinitely pure, 
 
 No Flaw is found therein. 
 Thou, wr*en on Earth the Sick didft heal, 
 And to the Hungry Hread didft deal, 
 
 Our Souls when ftarving feed : 
 Njjore precious they are than Clay; 
 Lord Jefus, pity Souls this Day, 
 
 And fatisfy our Need. 
 Believers by thee arc beloved ; 
 A Kingdom, ne'er to he remov'd, 
 
 Shall unto them be gi; 'n. 
 Rich Crowns on them thou wilt bellow, 
 No Muter what they want below, 
 
 They'll he made up in Heav'n. 
 
 SONG XXXIII. 
 
 1 *np] 
 
 CHRlST's Great Sufferings bring Great Be- 
 nefit to us, 
 'FIE Lamb filent flood, 
 While Men fhed his Blood ! 
 Himfelf he gave freely, to be our Soul 3 Food. 
 Crown'd was he wkh Thorn, 
 Us'd with Spite and Scorn, 
 Yet patiently bore it, to lave thee forlorn. 
 
 2 Expofed he (lands. 
 
 With nail'd Feet and Hands, 
 Deep piercec^ long bleeding, to pay Law's Demands, 
 
 No Man's Tongue can tell, 
 
 What Grief him befel, 
 In f&vtng loll Sinners, from finking to Hell. 
 
 3 He was doom'd to die, 
 On Mount Calvary, 
 
 Sore prefs'd he did utter his lafl bitter Cry. 
 Our Guilt which he bore, 
 Squeezed Blood from each Pore, 
 s his.SouTs Torture, that made him to roar. 
 C c 2 4 His 
 
304 Scripture $Qiigs 
 
 4 His Wounds bring us Peace, 
 His Pains give us Eafe, 
 
 From Sins Pow'r and Bondage they do us> releaie. 
 
 Chrifl llraying Souls ibught, 
 
 Their Pardon he bought, 
 From Satan's vile Slavery their Freedom he wrought. 
 
 5 Lord, thy Love's divine, 
 It doth kindle mine, 
 
 O 1st it caule in me all Graces to mine. 
 
 Dead Souls to revive, 
 
 When they Life derive, 
 From thy Wounds the Fountain, that makes Men all * e . 
 
 6 I'm finful and vile, 
 
 My Heart's full of Guile, 
 It will be free Mercy, if on me thou fmile. 
 
 Lord, do not delpile, 
 
 My Soul's feeble Cries, 
 Receive a loft Sinner that to thy Blood flies. 
 
 7 This Blood faves from Hell, 
 And Fears doth difpel, 
 
 The Thunders of Si?iai y the Lamb's Blood doth quell. 
 
 I plead thy free Grace, 
 
 One Smile of thy Face, 
 Or Word to me ipoken, would fill me with Peace. 
 
 I N I S. 
 
 J 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Co NTAINING 
 
 LA Lectu re on i Cor. xL 17. to 
 
 the End. 
 11. A Preparation .Sermon, from J of. 
 
 iii. 5. 
 UI An A c t 1 o N S e R M o n from Cant. 
 
 ii. 4 
 
 All" taken from the A u t h o r *s Manufcripts, and 
 never before published. 
 
 A Lectu r.e on 1 Cor. xi. 17. to the 
 End, concerning the Inftitution of the 
 Lord's Supper. 
 
 VcrCe 17. Now in this that I declare unto j oj/,' I praifc 
 u net y that you cotn'e together, not for the better 
 
 but for the zcorfe. 
 1$. For firjl of all, when ye come together in fie 
 
 Church, I hear that there be Divrfions 'among joi'; 
 
 and 1 partly believe it. 
 iy. For ihcrc tnufi be a/fb herefies among you, that they 
 
 which are approved, may be made mahifeft among 
 
 you, 
 
 iN this Palfage the Apoitle takes Occafibri to re- 
 prove the great Dilorders and Abufcs crept in 
 among them in adminiHrating and partaking cf* 
 the Lord* Supper; which (as the Antients tell us) 
 was commonly administrate with a Love-feait an- 
 nexed to it, which gave Occalion to the Icandalous 
 Diforders here reprehended. 
 
 Verfe 17. We have the Marine? of his introducing 
 
 charge, Now m thit that J declare unto you, I 
 
 C c 3 pi-aij'j 
 
[ 3° 6 ] 
 
 p-alfi you not, &c. Which (hews his WiHingnefs to 
 commend them fo far as he could. But iuch icanda- 
 lous Dilbrders as they were guilty or" in fo lacred an 
 Inflitution, he could not pafs without a fharp Reproof, 
 Why ? they inverted the very End and Delign of the 
 Ordinance, which was intended to make them bet- 
 ter, or to promote their fpiritual Interefts, but it 
 really made them worfe. Wherefore he fays, they 
 cans together ?iot for the better but for the worfe. 
 
 Obferve i. That Chilli's Ordinances, if they do 
 not make us better, they are apt to make us worie. — 
 If they do us no Good, they may Jo us Harm ; if 
 they do not melt and mend, they will harden; and 
 that Corruptions will be confirmed in us, if the pro- 
 per Means do not work a Cure of them. 2. It con- 
 <erns us all to enquire into the Succefs of Ordinances 
 and fojemrj Meetings. O 'tis fad, if our Meetings 
 tend to the Increafe of our Sin, inftead of the In- 
 crcafc of our Grace. Let us all earneftly deprecate 
 this. 
 
 Verfe 18. For fir -ft of all, when ye come together in 
 the Church, 1 hear there be Divifions among you, fee. 
 They fell into Divifions, Sects, Parties and Faclidns, 
 in their celebrating of this Ordinance; they fell a 
 quarrelling one with another about Meats and Drinks 
 in the Lovc-feafts, orabout the Order of their down- 
 iitting, or the Time when they mould begin, or did 
 v-ot flay till they all came up. The whole Church 
 did not join together, but they eat it ieparately ; there 
 was alio Uncharitablenefs, Alienation of Affecti- 
 ons, Diicord and Contentions among them, which 
 very much marred their Edification, and Succefs of 
 tfce Gofpel. 
 
 Qgeft* Seeing Schilins are mentioned here, what 
 is meant thereby ? Who are guilty of Schiim, and 
 -vho arc Schifmaticks ? Anfiv. In Scripture the Word 
 Is varioufly taken; I. 'Tis taken for a Difference in 
 Opinion and Sentiments about fome Points, when 
 
 there 
 
C 3°7 ] 
 
 there ib no Heat of Contention, or Breach of Com- 
 munion. Such a Division or Schifm was among .the 
 Pbarifees, about Chrilt's curing the blind Man, John 
 ix. 16. '\\< laid u there was a Diviiion among them," 
 originally y\<rp&. And fuch Schifms may be a- 
 mong Orthodox Divines about leller Points, and yet 
 managed without giving Offence. 2. The general 
 Senle of the Word is, a dividing and breaking off 
 from the Communion of the Church in publick Ordi- 
 nances, without Caule, like thete Hcb. 10. 2>. Not 
 for faking the afemhiing of ourj elves together, as the 
 Manner of fctme is. And in this Senle the Antients 
 take Schifm as diltinguilbed from Kerdy. Augufme_ 
 faith, &:'■:> fmaticos facit non diver fa fides, fed communi* 
 on! s dijhtpta focietas. 5. In this Place, and com- 
 monly in other Places of Scripture, as 1 Cor. i. 10. 
 T Cor. iii. 4. I Cor. xii. 25. the Word ^o-y.a. is 
 taken for uncharitable, contentious and divilive r%i- 
 cticcs among the ProfefTors of the Gofpel, without 
 breaking off. from the Communion of the Church ; 
 when People are chargeable with uncharitable Con- 
 tentions and Dilcords, and Alienation of Affections 
 trom their Brethren ; for here they came together, 
 and yet were Schifmaticks. 
 
 OJfervs. There may be Schifm, wherc\ there is no 
 Separation of Communion. Pei ions may attend Ordi- 
 nances together, and fit together at the Lord'sTable, 
 and yet be Schilinaticks inScripture Senle, by Reafon of 
 their uncharitable Contentions,, and Alienation of Af- 
 fections: Whereas Chriltians may feparate from one 
 anothers Communion, and yet be charitable towards 
 one another ; and this is not lb much Schifm in Scrip-* 
 turc Senle, as to be uncharitable and contentious. 
 
 The Apollle had had a Report of thefe Divifions, 
 which he did the more eafily believe ; becaufe he 
 knew there behoved not only to be Divifiom butlfe- 
 refies alfo, that is, falfe Doctrines, more dangerous 
 tiaaa ScJafos i for Here&s arc corrupt Opinions which 
 
 ftrikc 
 
[ 3o8 ] 
 
 ftrikc at the Fundamentals of Chriltianity and all 
 (bund Religion. Herej) } according to the modern 
 Senie ot' the Word, id an Error in the Fundamen- 
 tals of Religion maintained with Obitinacy ; tho' we 
 cannot lay the Word necelfarly imports fuch a ftrong 
 Senfe in this Place, Herely and Schiim fometimes be- 
 ing fynonymous Terms. 
 
 Obferve I. We have no Caufe to wonder that there 
 fnould be Breaches or" ChrHlian Love in the Church, 
 when we know ftich Offences will come as (hall rnaka 
 Shipwreck of Faith and a good Conicience. 
 
 QnsjL How lays the Apoftle, Herat/hi vm]i ::■■ 
 What Neceility is there for the: n ? .-//{fa. There is 
 no Neceifity of Force upon any Man to broach them, 
 any further than his own Corruption, Pwde, vaiir 
 Glory, Envy or contentious Spirit^ or Satan's Tem- 
 ptation prompts bun to it. But the Exeat is certain} 
 becau'e of God's Decree permitting them, who by 
 his Wifdom orders them for wile Ends, that tkc\ 
 •who are approve J y may he made ma/ufeji f by their 
 conftant adhering to the Truth againlt all the Tem- 
 ptations of Seducers. 
 
 Obferve 2. A Time of Temptation and Seduction 
 is a Time of Trial and Diicovery, who are iincero 
 and conltant Adherers to the Ti uths and Ways of 
 God, and who not. 
 
 Obferve ?. It is a Plcafure to God to fee the Faith 
 and Conftancy of his upright Ones diicovend to the 
 World. 
 
 Obferve 4. The Wifdom of God can make the Er- 
 rors and Wickednels of others a Foil to the Piety 
 and Integrity of the Saints. 
 
 Verle 20. When ye ccme together therefore into 9t?t 
 Place, this is not to eat the Lord's Supper. 
 
 2 1 . For in eating every one taketh before other hfc 
 eivn Supper; and one is hungry, and another is 
 ■drunken. 
 
 The 
 
[ 3°9 J 
 
 The Heathens uled to eat and chiiik plentifully at 
 their Feafts upon their Sacrifices ; and this profane 
 Cuftom was creeping in among the wealthier Corin- 
 thians. Many think the Apoftle was pointing here 
 at their \\yu.irx^ or Lotm Feafts, that in thete 
 Times either nreceeded or followed the Lord's^Sup- 
 per; and they are called jLo&e Feajis, becaufe they 
 were defigned to manifeft their Love to their Fellow 
 Ciiriftians, both Poor and Rich, and tLe Poor carri- 
 ed away what was left at them : And alio they had 
 them to represent our Lord's laft Supper, in which 
 he eat the Pailha! Lamb, before he inftituted that 
 Ordinance now called the Lord's Supper. Thefe 
 Love Feafts were founded on no Command of Chrift, 
 but came in by Cuftom, and by the Jews who became 
 Chriftians. Thefe would needs have an Appendix or 
 Appurtenance of the Lord's Supper; and in Imitati- 
 on of Chrift 's eating the Pafchal Lamb before the 
 Lord's Supper, would have a Feaft or Supper of their 
 own to preceed the Lord's Supper; and having pro- 
 vided it at home, would needs bring it to the Place 
 where the Church met. To this Feaft all the Poor 
 were invited at the Charges of the Rich, as an Ex- 
 preiTion of their perfect Love and Charity one to- 
 wards another. But in this Church great Abules 
 crept in, in this Practice ; the poor Chriftians were 
 neglecled and defpifed. The Rich did either not invite 
 them, or did not wait foi them : But the Rich halted 
 to eat what they had brought with them, and fome 
 of them eat and drank to Exccfs, fo that one was 
 hungry^ another was drunken. The Apoftle inveighs 
 agiinft this Practice, as turning a Feaft of Charity 
 into a Debauch, and as that which made them inca- 
 pable to partake of the Lord's Supper. This was a 
 icandalous Irregularity, a profaning a facred Inftitu- 
 tion, and corrupting a Divine Ordinance to the laft 
 Degree. Whatfhouid have been a Bend of mutual 
 
 Amity 
 
L 3 l ° J 
 
 Amity and Atfcetion, was made an Inftrument of 
 Diicord and Difunion. 
 
 Obferve i. Duties not done as they ought, are 
 not done at all in Chi ill's Account. — Or a carek-li 
 eating and drinking of the Lord's Supper is -is good 
 as none, yea vvorie than no eating. So Prayers why 
 be made, yet nc t made ; Sacraments received, yci 
 not received; Alms given, yet not given, bcr u j« 
 not done in the Manner and Form required by God. 
 
 Obferve 2. A- (ulcere Soul mud and will look not- 
 only to the Matter of the Duty, but alio to tht 
 Manner of performing it. 
 
 Obfetve 3. It is a heinous Evil for Ci.riliians ;■ 
 treat their Fellow Chriftians with Contempt and Info - 
 lcnce, especially at the Lord's Table : For the Rich 
 todefpilc the Poor, this is a great Evil. 
 
 Obj\ 4. That even in the apoflolical and primitive 
 Times, great Diforders and Irregularities had crept into 
 the Church ; and that there is no Church without 
 Spot in this imperfect State. 
 
 Obf. 5. That the Apoille, notwithstanding of thefe, 
 doth not direct the one Part of the Curtnkh'usm to le- 
 parate from the other ; but he only reproves and 
 rectifies their Abufes. He doth not lay, Withdraw 
 from fuch Pcrlbns, for they will pollute the Ordi- 
 nance to you. No, if they be polluted, it is to 
 thcmfelves, and not to others. He eats and drinks 
 Damnation to hhn r elf. Etfgry Man (hall bear his 
 own Burden. Wherefore, fays he, Let a Man exa- 
 mine himfclfy not his Neighbour. The Apoille doth 
 not encourage Separation upon that Ground, that 
 there were fcandalous Pcrlbns admitted in Corinth, 
 even Ibme drunk about the Time of partaking, which 
 might be the Occalion of their divined Way of com- 
 municating. But he reproves their divided Communi- 
 cating, and charges them to come together to the 
 Lord's Supper, and tarry for one another. He in- 
 deed fharply reproves their fcandalor.s Practice ; and 
 
 teHs 
 
[ 3<i 3 
 
 tells them that it was moil hazardful to themfelves 
 to communicate unworthily, but Ipeaks of no gan- 
 ger to others. He commands them to examine t 
 themlei.es, and lb to eat, but not to examine their 
 Fellow Communicants, which certainly he had done, 
 it* their joining with them had made them Partakers 
 of their Sin and Danger. 
 
 Verfc 22. Wh.it, have ye not ffou/es to eat and to 
 drink in? or defpife ys the Church of Co J, and flame 
 them that have 'not ? IV hat Jhali 1 jay to you? jhall 
 I prafe you m this? I praife you not. 
 
 The ApolUe here doth condemn both the Abules of 
 ihoie Feifts, and alio their keeping them in the 
 \ y \.±cc where the Church met. Some underftand the 
 Churchy of the Houfe wherein the Church met, and 
 call their fealting there, a profaning or unhal- 
 lowing the Place let apart for divine Worfhip. O- 
 ther^; undcrltand it of the People or poor Members 
 there met. Why do ye delpile them ? by exclud- 
 ing them from your Company, becaufe of their Po- 
 v.jit) ; and lb ye put them to Shame, whom God 
 has adopted, and admitted into his Family. This 
 Kealjt was originally defigned for the Poor's Relief, 
 jnd ye exclude them from it. 
 
 Obf I. The defpiling of the poor Members of 
 the Church, is a defpiling of the Church itfelf, yea, 
 Chrift the Head of the Church, as he that pincheth 
 the little Toe, paineth the whole Body, and the 
 Head too. 
 
 Obf. 2. With what Lenity and Miidnels the A- 
 poftle reproves theie great Dilbrders, Shall I praife 
 \ou P It was the firft Time he had told them of their 
 Faults, in Hopes of Amendment, and therefore doth 
 it gently ; and fomc think this gentle Way of Re- 
 proof had the due Effect, becaufe no Fault is taxed 
 in the iecond Epiitle that was reproved in the firft. 
 I erfe 2 ft . For I have received of the Lc> d, that which 
 J alfo delivered unto you\ That th? Lord Jefus, the 
 
 fame 
 
C 3's 3 
 
 fame Night in which he was betrayed, took Bread. 
 
 24. And when he had given Thanhs, he brake it, 
 and /aid, Take, eat; this is my Body , which is bro- 
 ken for you ; This do in Remembrance of me. 
 
 25. Jfter the fame Manner alfo he took the Cup, 
 when he hadfupped, faying, This Cup is the new Te- 
 Jja??ient in my Blood ; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, 
 in Remembrance of me : 
 
 iS. For as often as ye cat this Bread, and drink 
 this Cup, ye do'jhew the Lord's Death till he con . 
 
 After reproving their Dilbrders, he reduces them 
 to the primitive Inftitution, and tells them, how he 
 came by the Knowledge of it, feeing he was not a- 
 mong the Apoftles at the "firft Inftitution. Jt was 
 by Revelation from Gbrift ; and what he had rccched' 
 of the Lord, he communicated to them without va- 
 rying from the Truth in the ieaft, without adding 
 or diminifhing. As if he had laid, " As for thcl'c 
 u Love Feafts preceeding the Lord's Supper, I re- 
 u ceived nothing from the Lord ; you" have borrowed 
 " them from Jews or Heathens : But all that I rc- 
 ¥ ceived from the Lord concerning the Lord's Sup- 
 ft per, I here fet before you." And indeed he give-- 
 a more particular Account of the Inftitution than 
 we meet with eliewherc. 
 
 1. -We have the Author of it, the Lord JefusChriff. 
 Obf. 'Tis an Aft of Chrift's royal Power and Autho- 
 rity, as King and Head of the Church, to inftitute 
 Sacraments. The Church has no Power to appoint 
 fuch, but only to execute and adminifter what Chrift 
 appoints: And as it is Chrift's Ordinance, we mould 
 have a fpecial Regard to it, and not profane or ne- 
 glect it. 
 
 2. We have the Time of the Inftitution, the fame 
 Night in which he was betrayed ; when he was enter- 
 ing on his Soul Sufferings in the Garden, and going 
 next Day to the Crofs j a Night much to be remern- 
 bred; being the laft Night before Chrift's Death ; 
 
 the 
 
[ 3*3 J 
 
 the Night wherein he began his bitter Agonies, and 
 f watc the bloody Sweat for us ; a Night, wherein lie 
 faw Heaven, Earth and Hell, even Jultice, Men and 
 Devils,dra\vn up in Battle-array againft him. A won- 
 drous Inltance of his Love, infpendingfo much of that 
 little Time he had in the World (when he feemcd 
 to have more Need to mind himfelf ) in fettling an 
 Ordinance for the Confirmation and Confolation of 
 his People, to the End of the "World. Whatever 
 
 come of himfelf, his People mud not be forgot. 
 
 Cfbfervs riom the Time of the Inftitution, the Night 
 before his fuffering, that it is very ncceifary when Suf- 
 ferings arc approaching, to have Recoui fe to the 
 . Lord's Table, which affords both an Antidote againlt 
 Kear, and a Reflorative and Cordial to Faith. Where- 
 fore Chrift, for our Example, communicated with 
 hisDifciples the Night before he fuffered. 
 
 v We have the Sacramental Elements, or die me- 
 liorative, fignificativc and infrru&ive Signs, Bread 
 and Wine* 
 
 4. The Things fignified thereby, the Body and 
 Blood of Chrift, his Body broke and Blood fiied, to- 
 gether with all the Benefits which flow from His 
 Death and Sacrifice. 
 
 Obferve i. There is no Tranfubftantiation, as the 
 Papifts abfurdly imagine. Why ? Tumi calls that 
 which is eaten Bread five Times over in this Paflafre, 
 and even after what the Papifts call Confecration. 
 A plain Argument that the Apoftle knew nothing 'of 
 their monftrous DocTrine, which makes the Breaci by 
 the Words of Confecration to be changed into the 
 Subftance of Chrift's Body, only the Accidents of 
 Bread remaining ; which affronts and deftroys the 
 Nature of a Sacrament, and gives the Lie t-> o.urSen- 
 fes. 'Tis called his Body, becaufe it was a Sign nnd 
 Reprefentation of it, not his real Body to be Pure ; 
 for then it would follow that Chrift eat Iiis own Body- 
 while alive, and that his Difciplcs did the fame; yea, 
 D d thai 
 
[ 3i4 3 
 
 tlut they devoured that Body over Night which hung 
 upon the Oofs next Morning, with a Thoufand flich 
 like Abilirdities. But whether the Papilts will or 
 not, they mud admit of a figurative ExpreiTion in this 
 Paiiage : For when Chrift fays, This Cup is the JSleiv- 
 ieft anient in my Blood, they mult mean th at which 
 was in the Cup, and not the VefTel that held it j 
 and this is the ordinary Sacramental Dialect, con- 
 cerning Circumcifion and the Pallbver. Circumcihon 
 is called Cod's Covenant, Gen. xvii. 18. /. e. the 
 Sign of it. Alio the Lamb is called the Pujfover, 
 Exod. xii. it. /. e. the Sign of it. 'Tis true the 
 Heathens laid it to the Charge of the primitive 
 Chiiftians, that they eat human Flefh; but EJfly, 
 as appears by the Apology made for the primitive 
 Chriftians, by Tertui/iau*'<ind others; which Apolo- 
 gy had been falfe, had they daily eaten the Flefh of 
 Chrift ill the Sacrament. It hath been always rec- 
 koned a molt deteitable Thing to eat human Flefh, 
 and much more is it to eat the God weworihap, and 
 devour him whom we pretend to adore. 
 
 £/>/.' 2. That both,Bread and Cup are ufed together, 
 which fnews the unwarrantable Ufarpation of the Pa- 
 piits in depriving the Laity of the Cup. It is direct- 
 ly contrary to Chritt's Institution ; for our Saviour, 
 (as it were) forcfeeing the Papifts Encroachment in 
 this Matter, is more expre's in his Injunction concer- 
 ning the Cup, ttan die Bread, in thefe Words, Mat. 
 xxvi. 27. Drink ye ail of it ; and their Obedience is 
 recorded of the Cup, and not of the Bread, Mark 
 xiv. 27. And they all drank of it. Now, why is 
 Chrift fo exprefs in*this ? Surely it was, becaufe he 
 forcfliw in After-ages this Ordinance would be dif- 
 membred, by the Prohibition of the Cup to the Laity, 
 and that by the Popiih Councils' and Canons, with an 
 expr* iflants to the Command of Chrift. 
 
 5. We have die ficramcntal Actions, both on the 
 Minifter'sand Peoples Part. 
 
 Fur thefirft, Our Lord CQoJk the Bread, lie bl'cfled 
 
C 3"tjf ] 
 
 it, he brake it, he gave it to his Di&riples. I. The 
 Tak'Vg of Bread iignifies God's chufmg, letting a- 
 part, and appointing Chrifl to be a Surety and Sacri- 
 fice, and laying on him the Sins of his People. 2. The 
 Btejfing fignifies his qualifying and furnifhing Chrift 
 with ail Gifts and Graces needful Tor the Diicharge 
 of his mediatory Offices, and for aniwering his 
 •pie's Exigencies. 3. The Brcak:>:^ fignifies all 
 drift's Breakings, Brokings and Woundings, both in 
 Soul and Body, which were for our Sins, in order to 
 fatisfy divine Juilice, and procure Salvation for us. 
 4. The Giving iignifies his offering, giving, and ac- 
 tually bellowing Chrift and all his Benefits on us. 
 There is no Promise referred, no Bleflings excepted 
 or kept back ; all is theirs. 
 
 2.^7, The Ac-ions on the Communicants Part are 
 
 to take, to est, and drink in Remembrance of Chrift. 
 
 QueJL What is meant by taking this Bread, sbif. 
 
 It is the accepting of Chriit as he is offered to us ; a 
 
 receiving the Atonement, approving of it, confenting 
 
 to it, coming up to the Terms on which the Benefit 
 
 is propoicd to us. It is an accepting of Child's Grace, 
 
 and lubmitting to his Government. Believing on 
 
 Chrift is exprefled by taking or receiving of him. Well 
 
 then, when we are bid take this Bread, we are bid 
 
 Chrift and all the Benefits of his Pui chafe ; and 
 
 that fincerely and honeftly without Diilimulation ; 
 
 intirely, fully, and without Exception ; with dole and 
 
 particular Application, faying, M) Lord, and my Cod ; 
 
 . id Pra lie forfuch a gloi ions Surety, 
 
 fuch a rich Pui chafe, llich aiieeCo/enant, and fuchfuit- 
 
 able Promiies; with Humility and Self-denial, renoun- 
 
 in our own Preparations, or Qua- 
 
 -t, faying, /;; the Lord only have I 
 
 trength; and with full AiTurance 
 
 ing on the Bread, as the Lord's Seal 
 
 ■ur Intereft in, and Title to the Blef- 
 
 mt ; and>«s a Token from Chrift 
 
 D d 2 thai 
 
I 3' 6 J 
 
 that his Body was broken for us ; believing that 
 Chrift and ail the BleiLngs of the Covenant are here- 
 with given to us, as really as Chrift gives the Bread 
 into our Hands. 
 
 QueJL What is meant by eating this Bread ? Anf. 
 It ftgnifies our feeding by Faith erpon Chrift and his 
 Benefits, which is done by our believing the Report 
 concerning Chrift and his Purchafe, and making a 
 particular Application of Chrift and his Benefits unto 
 our Souls, and their various NeceiTities and Exigen- 
 ces. And particularly this Eating {ignifies, 1 . Our 
 Union with Chrift. 2. Our Sati.<-f icYion and Compla- 
 cency in him. 3, Our receiving Strength and Increale 
 of Grace from Chrift. 4. Our taking Infcftment and 
 PoffeiRon of Chrift and Lis Pure afe as our Inhei kance, 
 and recei.ing this outward Sign as a Pledge of the 
 whole. 
 
 As to the Words concerning the Cup, This Cup 
 is the Nov) Teftament in inyBlcod y Jhed for many, fcr 
 the Bem'jfiGn of Sins ; it is a figurative Speech, fig- 
 nifving that the Wine in the Cup, as representing the 
 medding of Chrift's Blood, is a Sign and Seal of Chrift's 
 Teftamcnt or Covenant of Grace, confirmed by his 
 Blood. — From which we may obferve, 1. That every 
 worthy Communicant doth here get a Copy of Chrift's 
 Teftament put into his Hands with all the Legacies 
 and Bleilings it contains, fuch as Pardon of Sin, Peace 
 with God, Wifdom, Righteoufhe's, Santfification, 
 Redemption, Grace and Glory. Which Teftament 
 if we take hold of, and acquiefce in the Method of 
 Salvation contained in it, and can prove our Relation 
 to the Teftator by Faith and Regeneration, we are 
 
 Children and Heirs, and have an Intereft therein. 
 
 ObJ\ 2. What it was that purchafed the New Tefta- 
 ment to us, even Chrift's Blood ; there's never a Line 
 we read or hear of the New Teftament, but we 
 mould mind the Blood of Chrift, Had it not been 
 for the Blood of Chrift, we had never had the New 
 
 Teftament 
 
[ 3'7 ] 
 
 Tegument written, and had it not been for the New 
 Tell anient, we had never known the Meaning of 
 Chrifl's Blood Hied. 
 
 6. We have the Ends of the Inftitution, i. To 
 keep up \\vz Rcvjjmbrcincc of Chrift. Chriff knew 
 how apt our bale Hearts would be to forget him a- 
 irridf! a Throng ©ffentible Objects as we here converTe 
 with; and how much our FOrgetfulnefs of Ch rift 
 would be to our Prejudice and Difadvantage ; and 
 therefore he appoints this Ordinance; to bring Chrift, 
 liis Death and Love to our believing, affectionate and 
 thankful Remembrance, 2.T0 Jh <cw 'forth bis Death, i. e. 
 to declare, publUh and proclaim it. It is not barely in 
 Remembrance of Chill:, of whalhchath done and iht- 
 fiYC<\, but alio to celebrate, publifh and proclaim his 
 glorious Condefcenfiqn, Ins Love and Favour toloft Sin- 
 ners. Vv r e declare his De ath to be our Lffe.and the Spring 
 of all our Comforts and Hopes* We glory in tins 
 At mement and Sacrifice, and ipread it before God as 
 our only ftanlbm. Wc let it in the View of our Faith 
 for our Quickning and Comfort. We own it before 
 trie World, as the only Ground of our Hope ; and 
 that we are the Diicipl.es of a crucified Chrifr, who- 
 trull in him alone for Salvation and Acceptance with 
 God. 
 
 7. We have a Mandate or Charge given for the Ce- 
 lebration of this Ordinance, and fordoing it frequently. 
 Our Lord's Command is twice repeated for Security, 
 This do ; this do ye. It was our. Lord's Will that we 
 mould celebrate the Memorial of his Death jv.C Paf~ 
 fion. It is the Will of our fovercign Lord and Law- 
 giver, the exprefs Command oPa Saviour, yea of ,1 
 dying Saviour. — A Command of Love ; and it is fuch 
 a Command, as if we duly obfervc it, will be a blef- 
 ied Means to enable us to obferve all the Commands 
 of God the better. It is fuch a Command, as who- 
 loever lives in the wilful Neglect of it, cannot be cal- 
 led a Chrillian, but will be treated by Chrift at the 
 [Great D*y as an Enemy, and Uefpi'er of his dying 
 
 Dd a L 
 
 ove 
 
L 3»8 J 
 
 Love. Wherefore 'tis our Duty not only to com* 
 inunicate and partake of this Ordinance, but we mult 
 do it often. We cannot maintain bodily Health and 
 Strength without frequent Meals, fo neither' can 
 we maintain Soul-1 ealth and Strength without this 
 fpiritual Diet frepently taken and received. The 
 antient Churches celebrated this Ordinance every 
 Lord's Day. Let us be thankful that we have this 
 fpiritual Meal more frequently tendered to us than 
 formerly. O for fliarpened Appetites for our Food ! 
 8. We have the Perpetuity of the Ordinance. 
 It is to be celebrated till the Lord come the iccond 
 Time, without Sin, for the Salvation of them that 
 
 believe, and to judge the World Obferve i. That 
 
 the Lord's Supper is not a temporary, but a {land- 
 ing -and perpetual Ordinance. 2. That there is no 
 Need of Sacraments in Heaven; for Ch rift is there 
 
 bodilv pre'.ent. Faith is then changed into Villon, 
 
 and Hope into Fruition. Here we hold Communi- 
 on with him by Signs and Symbols ; but above, we 
 will fee him as he is, and enjoy him perfectly. "The 
 Dav then will break, and all the Shadows v ill Hce 
 away. 
 
 VeiTe 27. Wherefore, who/sever fbatl eat this Bread, 
 pjit'dri/ik this Cup of the Lord unworthily, /hall be 
 guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. 
 
 2S. But let a Man examine hhn/hf, and fo let him 
 eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. 
 
 29. For he that eateih and drinkeih unworthily, cat- 
 tth and, drinketh Damnation to h'wifelf, not dijeeming 
 the Lord's Body. 
 
 The Apoftle having declared the original Inftituti- 
 011 of the Lord'sSupper ; he comes now to inftrufl the 
 Corinthians in the right UJe of it, and to beware of 
 prof ring and abufingthisOrciiiunce,as thcyhaddone, 
 Obftrv: I. The Sin which lie warns them of, viz. 
 gating and D unworthily. Quef. What is 
 
 thib \ Anf. It is not a weak Faith, or Weakncfs in 
 
 Know- 
 
[ 3'9 J 
 
 Knowledge, or Want of perfect Holinefs or Free- 
 dom from Sin, that will denominate a Perlcn an un- 
 worthy Receiver ; for this Ordinance was not infti- 
 tutcd for Angels, but for Men who are hnperfecl: and 
 (infill : But it is to come ignorant, without due 
 Preparation, without Faith, without Repentance, 
 Self-examination ; without Resolution againft Sin, 
 and without Reconciliation to God, or to our Neigh- 
 bour. 
 
 Obfcrve 2- The Guilt and Heinoufnefs of this Sin ; 
 they are guilty of the Body ana Bleed of the Lord, 
 /. e. It is an Acccfllon to the Guilt of Ihedding the 
 innocent Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. 
 
 It is an implicite Approbation of the Jews A.ft. in 
 
 crucifying Chrift, It is a trampling Chrift's Blood 
 
 under our Feet. It is a crucifying Chrift afreih, 
 
 and harbouring the Traitors and Enemies of Chrift in 
 our Bofbm. 
 
 Obferae o. The Danger of it, eating and drinking 
 Damnation to ourfclvesj i. e. They provoke God to 
 inflict fore judgments on them, temporal and fpiritual 
 
 Judgments here, and eternal Judgment hereafter. 
 
 The. Meaning is not, that this Sin i* unpardonable, 
 but that it defer; es Damnation, and will bring it on, 
 without Repentance, and flying to the Blood of 
 Chrift for clemfing. Every Sin is in its own Nature 
 damning, and therefore fuch a heinous Sin, as profa- 
 ning this holy Ordinance, muft iurely be 16. But ti- 
 morous and fearful Believers mould not be dikouraged 
 from attending this holy Ordinance by the Sound of 
 this Word, as if they hound upon themfelves the Sen- 
 tence of Damnation, by coming to the Lord's Table 
 unprepared. For hearing and praying unworthily in- 
 curs Damnation, as well as communicating unworthi- 
 ly. But this Sin, as well as others, leaves. Room 
 for Forgivencfs upon Repentance. 
 
 Obferve 4. That unworthy Receivers of the Lord's 
 Supper do contract great Guilt, and incur great Dan- 
 ger 
 
L 3 2 ° J 
 
 pjtt to themfeives. And therefore they mould re 
 much concerned to guard againft this heinous ar.d d:.n- 
 serous Sin ; and cry with the Pialmift, Lcrd deliver 
 us from Bi o oJ-guiltiuefs. 
 
 Gbferve 5. It is only Judgment to hindclf, it is not 
 to another that receives with him. For it a wicked 
 Man's Prefence at the Sacrament mould pollute the 
 Ordinance to a worthy Receiver; then Chrift and his 
 eleven Apoftles were defiled by the Company or Ju- 
 das at the Panover, at winch, lie certainly was, and, 
 as many think, at the Lord's Supper alio. Which is 
 
 have in Vrrfe 2°th, the Duty required for 
 preventing the Sin and Danger of unworthy Com- 
 rfrunicating, and that is the great and neceffary Duly 
 
 of Self-Exayduation. It is a Metaphor taken from 
 
 Goldiiniihs, who try the Truth of their Gold by tl e 
 Tquchftone, the Purity of their Gold by the Fire, 
 and the Weight of it by the Scale. We have here, 
 I.. The Perlbn examining, Let a Man examine. 2. 
 The Peribn examined, it is k?mfe/f; he is to call him- 
 felf to the Bar of Conicier.ee, and put Queftions to 
 himfelf, I. Concerning his State, whether he has a 
 Right to come or not. 2. His Sins and Shortcomings. 
 3. His Wants and Necellities. 4. His Ends and De- 
 ligns; whether it be to obey the Charge of his dying 
 Saviour, to (hew forth his Death, renew and feal his 
 Covenant with God, get Nearnefs and Communion 
 with him, Nourishment to his Soul, and Supply to hij 
 Wants. And 5. Concerning his Graces and Qualifi- 
 cations, particularly as to Knowledge, Faith, Repen- 
 tance, Fear, Lcve, Thankfulnefs, Holy Defires, and 
 new Obedience. 
 
 Objerve. 1. It is not enough that a Minifter exa- 
 mine us before Partaking. We muft examine cur- 
 ie Kes, for we only can try bur own Hearts and 
 Thoughts, Which a Minifter cannot. 
 
 Obfervc 2. 
 
[ 3 2i ] 
 
 Ob/ltrve 2. Our main Concern before partaking is 
 
 about ourfelves. It is not about examining others, 
 
 but about examining ourfelves that we are to be em- 
 ployed. It is not what he or lhe is that is to commu- 
 nicate with us; but what I am myfelf. 
 
 Obfervt 3. It foould therefore be our lingular Care 
 before Communicating, to examine ouriclves, and 
 commune with our own Hearts, as to our Right to, 
 and Fitnefi for the Lord's Table. 
 
 We have in Vcrj'c 29th, the true Caufe of unworthy 
 Communicating, Not difcemingthe Lord" 1 s Body\ i. e. 
 not making a Diftinctitn between this Bread and 
 common bread; betwixt the Lord's Body and the 
 
 Body of a mere Man; not prizing nor eftecming 
 
 the Body of a crucified Jelus, as the meritorious 
 Ground of our Jultification. 
 
 Verfe 30. For this Caufe many are weak and tick* 
 ly amtngyoitj and ?natiy jleep. 
 
 Some were punifhed with Sicknefs and Weaknefi, 
 and fome with Death, for their Irreverence in ap- 
 proaching to the Lord's Table. 
 
 Obferve 1. That carelefs and irreverent Partaking 
 biings on temporal Judgments, as well as fpiritual 
 and eternal. 
 
 Obferve 2. That God may punilh his own People 
 with temporal Judgments: For feverals of thefe i'o 
 punifhed, were in a State of Favour with God, as ap- 
 pears from the Word /kef, the Death of the Wick- 
 ed being hardly called Sleep in any Place of Scrip- 
 ture; and from P erfe 52. ihey were chajiened cf the 
 Lord, that they might not be conde?nned with the World* 
 Now, divine Chaftcning is a Sign of divine Love. 
 
 Obferve :. That the Holineis of an Ordinance, or 
 the habitual Holineis of a Perlbn will not exempt him 
 from God's Diipleaiure and the Infliction of temporal 
 Judgments here in this Life, if he do not by actual 
 Preparation fineTify the Name of God. fa the Duty 
 and Ordinances of his Worfhlp, 
 
 Obferve 4. 
 
Obferve 4. That God punjihes his People now, to 
 prevent their eternal Woe. 
 
 Verfe 3 1 . For if we would judge our/elves, wt 
 Jhould not he judged. 
 
 If we would examine, try,c«nfure and fentence onr- 
 felves, and fo come to the Lord's Table, we vt 
 elcape the fcaftigatory PunHhment, and condemnatory 
 Sentence of Goc .— ; . That as it is our Dl;- 
 
 ty often to examine and j.uJge ourfelves, lb ielr-'udg- 
 ing will preierve us from the Condemnation and Judg- 
 ment of God. 2. That thefe who through Weak- 
 nels of Underftandirig are not capable to examine 
 themielves, are by no Means fit to partake of thisOr- 
 dinance. 
 
 Verfe '2. But when we are judged } ive are chaj 
 ed of the Lord, that we Jhould not be condemned with 
 the IVorld. 
 
 The Nature of thefe Judgments, or afflictive Evils, 
 which do befel the Children of God in this Life, they 
 are Chaitenings, i:c are chafrened of the Lord. To be 
 chaftened has a double Alpecl, firft upon our Privi- 
 lege, it denotes our Relation, as Children to God 
 our Father. Chaitenings are a Part of his Chiidrens 
 Portion ; yet in that we are chaftened, it taxes us 
 with Weaknefs ; we are foolilh and unruly, and there- 
 fore ib long as we are here, mutt always go with a 
 Rod at our Back. Chrift who was alio a Son, was 
 chaftened, The Chafiifement of oar Peace was upon 
 him; but his were judiciary Chaftiiements, not as a 
 Child, hut as an Enemy, a Malefactor, in our Stead. 
 Obferve, The merciful Defign of God in chafiening 
 his Children, is to prevent their Condemnation. 
 When therefore at any Time we are under Chaftrie- 
 ment, let u:> juftify God, and condemn ourL 
 leeing his Chaftiiements are defign ed to prevent our 
 
 Cr> ' >n . 
 
 •4. Wherefore 
 
 ioeat. tarr.yi one for anoth r. . 
 
 J 
 
[ 3 2 3 3 
 
 Man hunger, let him eat at Ho?ne ; that ye come not 
 -together unto Condemnation. And the rcjt win 1 Jet in 
 Order ivhen J com:. 
 
 Tne Apjltle doles all with a Caution to beware 
 or* the Irregularities they had been guilty of, and to 
 rectify them, that they come not together to Con- 
 demn ition. Ohferve i. That our holy Duties thro' 
 
 our own Abuie may prove Matter of Condemnation. 
 Chriitians may keen Sabbaths, hear Sermons, per- 
 i Prayers, attend Sacraments, and only aggra- 
 vate their Guilt, and bring on a heavier Doom on 
 themfelves — Obfcrve 2 We have great Need to fee 
 that we come to God in due Order. 
 
 Laftly, he tells them, that as to other Points. of 
 Church Order, he would determine them, when he 
 came among them. : The rift will J f'et in Order when 
 f come. Such unchriftian Diforders may arife in the 
 the Church r as will require the Prefence and Coming 
 of an Apoftle* to correct and reform them. 
 
 PREPARATION SERMON 
 
 before the Sacrament. 
 
 Jofliua iii. 5. SaaBify yoiirfehet, fior To- 
 morrow the Lord will do fVonaerj among 
 you, 
 
 IN tins Chapter we have the Hiftory of IfraeTs pal- 
 ling thro' Jordan to Canaan ; and a very memo- 
 rable Hiftory it is ; for long after they are bid to re- 
 member m hat God did for them between Shitthn and 
 Cilga/, Micih vi. >. that tkeytuay know the Righie* 
 :'/} of the Lord. Shittim was the Place where 
 they decamped, and GUgaJ where they next pitched. 
 
 Sec 
 
C 3 2 4 1. 
 
 See Jofhua iii. I. compared with Joftiua it. 19. 
 He orders them to march up to the River-fide, where 
 they came and lodged, tho' they were unprovided of 
 Means to pafs it in the ordmary Way. Tho' they 
 had neither Boats nor Bridges, yet they go forward 
 in Faith, trufting God's Power and Promife. It was 
 told them, Jofhua i. 1 r . that they jhould pafs it. 
 We mud go on in the Way of our Duty, tho' we 
 forefee Dirficuities, trufting God to help us thro' them 
 when we come to them. ■■The People are direct- 
 ed to follow the Ark, v. 2. when born by the Pricfts 
 and LevlteSy to teach us clofely to attend Ordinances, 
 if we would have the Marks of God's Favour and 
 fpeciai Prefence. 
 
 In the Text we have two Things, 1. A Com- 
 mand. 2. Reafons given for it. 
 
 As to the firft, Sanffify yourfelves. The Word 
 fanttify has divers Acceptations in Scripture. Some- 
 times it is applied to God, we are commanded to 
 fanttify the Lord, i. e. to think and fpeak reverently 
 of him, or humbly to worfhip him. At other Times 
 we are commanded to fanCi'ify ourfehes, and then it 
 imports feveral Things; 1. Our feparating or fetting 
 ourfelves apart to fome bply Ufe. 2. Our cleanfing 
 ourlelves from all ceremonial Pollution. 3. Our pre- 
 paring ourfelves for fome folemn or facred A&ion, by 
 the Ufe of fome facred Rites, or Ceremonies, Juch as 
 legal Warning, &c. 4. Our putting ourfelves in a 
 fuitable Frame for attending on God's Worfhip. 5. 
 Our purifying ourfelves inwardly from Sin, and ad- 
 orning ourlelves withHolinefs. I might cite Scripture 
 for all the Significations of theWord, zsExod. xix.22. 
 Jo/)?, vii. 13. 1 Chron.xx. 12. 2 Chron. v. 11. xxix. 
 5. xxx. 3. &c. I (hall take it here as comprehend- 
 ing fomething of all thefc Senfes, efpecially the Peo- 
 ple's preparing themfelves to attend the Ark, and 
 the discovering of God's Power, Glory, and Good- 
 
 nefsj 
 
C I 2 ? 1 
 
 nefs, witli a fuitable Sorrow and awful Frame of Spi- 
 rit, befitting fuch a great Occafion. 
 
 II. We have the Reaibns for it, For To-morrow the 
 Lord wilt do Wonders among you. See how magni- 
 ficently he (peaks of God's Works, he calls them 
 Wonders ; and indeed thefe were fo, the dividing of 
 the Waters of Jordan, and making them to (land 
 upon a Heap, and then to run back, turning Fluids 
 into Solids, and caufing the Ifraelites to walk thro' 
 the rapid River upon folid dry Ground. Ail thefe 
 were great Wonders of God's Power and Goodnefo' 
 towards Ifrael. Now, fays Jojhua, fince God is 
 about 4 to give you fuch uncommon Inflaruces of his 
 Power and Favouiy fanftify your/elves^ compoleyour 
 Minds by Meditation, Prayer, and Abftradtednefe 
 from the World, that ye may be in Cafe for a care- 
 ful and religious Obiervation of his wonderful Woiks, 
 and to receive the Difcovery of his Glory, and the 
 Communications of his Goodne's, that fo ye may 
 give God all the Glory, and take to yourfelves the 
 Comfort of his wondrous Works and gracious Ap- 
 pearances. 
 
 Doctrine. "When God is about to make wonderful 
 Diicoveries of his Glory and'IGoodnefs to lis People, 
 then they fiiould make "folemn Preparation for oblerv- 
 lng and recehing of the fame. For Confirmation 
 whereof, fee Exod. xix. 10, u. And the Lord /aid 
 unto Mofes, Co unto the People, andfanft.fy the?n To- 
 day and To-morrow, and tet tfom wajh their C/othes; 
 and be ready again/f the third Day « fir the third Day 
 the Lord will come down in the Sight of all the People, 
 upon Mount Sinai. Or 2dly, When God Jets Try ft 
 with a People, they mould prepare thcmfelvcs to at- 
 tend him, i Sam. xvi. 4, 5. And Samuel did that 
 which the Lord J pake, and came to Bethlehem; and 
 the Elders of the Town trembled at his corning, and 
 
 ifaid, Comejt thou peaceably P And he f aid peaceably : 
 lain 
 E e 
 
[ 3^ ] 
 
 lam come to facrificeunto the Lord; Sanilify your hives, 
 and coihe with vie to the Sacrifice. 
 
 Method I. When it is that the Lord makes fuch 
 wonderful Difcoveries of himfelf to his People. 
 
 JI. Wherein the Preparation for waiting on this 
 wonder-working God doth by. 
 
 III. The Properties of this Preparation. 
 
 IV. The Neceflity of it. 
 
 V. And laftly, I fliall make Application. 
 
 I. As to the fu (t Head, When it is that the Lord 
 makes glorious and wondrous Dilcoveries of himfelf 
 to a People. I. When, notwithftanding of grievous 
 Sins and Provocations, lie averts threatned and im- 
 pending Judgments, and comes to them in a Way N , 
 of Mercy ; as when he threatens Famine and Scarci- 
 ty, he fends fruitful Seaibns and plenty of Bread ; 
 when he threatens the noiibme Peftilence, he removes 
 it and lends Health ; when he threatens a bloody 
 Sword, he (heaths it up, and lends Pejce and Safety. 
 2. When he is pleated to quell the Church's Enemies 
 and Perlecutors, to deliver his People from their Op- 
 jnrefTion, and give them the Freedom of their Aflem- 
 felies, and of obferving God's inltitutions in Purity. 
 
 3. When he pours out a Spirit of Reformation on 
 all Ranks and Degres, lb that People generally turn 
 to the Lord, prize Ordinances, Prayer, Family Wor- 
 ihin, and appear againft Vice. 
 
 4. When God pours out his Spirit on the Aflem- 
 blies of his People, fo that the preaching of the 
 Golpel is attended with Life, Power and Succefs, to 
 the melting of Hearts^ and converting Souls. 
 
 5. When he dilcovers a Redeemer to a loft linking 
 Soul; when a poor felf-condemned Sinner, that was 
 at his WitVend, gets a Sight of the Pollibility of Sal- 
 vation thro' the Satisfaction of Chrift. 
 
 6. When he lets forth Chrift crucified before ourEyes 
 in the Sacrament ; when he dilpl iyji therein the Wif- 
 
 dom, 
 
t 5=7 j 
 
 dom, Juftice, Love and Goodnefs of God to Sinners 
 in a moft lively Manner. 
 
 7. When he returns and makes his People's Sky 
 break after a long Night of Defertion ; when he; 
 makes Light to arile and fhine to them that were in 
 Darknefs, and opens the Door of his PreJence Cha-m- 
 ber. 
 
 8. When he gives them the Victory over Satan's 
 Temptations and Aifaults, after long Sufferings and 
 Conflicts, and (peaks to them as to Paul, 2 Ccr. xii. 
 9. My Grace is fujhcient fir thec - fir my Strength is 
 made per feci inJVeakr.efs. 
 
 9. When he meets with thtm in Ordinances, loofes 
 their Bonds, frees them from their Straitnirgs in Du- 
 
 *\y, and enlarges their Hearts, in Prayer, and enables 
 them to pour forth their Complaints and Recjueits 
 before the Lord. 
 
 10. When he comes with a Return to their Pray- 
 ers ; particularly, 1. By lifting on them the Light of 
 his Countenance ; or, 2. By giving them a View of 
 their Covenant-relation to Gcd ; a well grounded 
 Hope of Heaven ; and new Strength to grapple with 
 Sin, perform Duties, and bear Trials. 
 
 1 1 . When he comes and gi /es a glorious Difcovery 
 of his Greatnefs and Majefty, ib as to fill them with 
 awful Fear and Reverence of God, and makes them 
 cry, Lord, uuAat is Nan, that then art ?mridful of 
 him? O, the unspeakable Di'tance that is between 
 God and us! God is glorious, and the Creature is 
 nothing. 
 
 12. When he comes and gives the Soul a glorious 
 Dileovery of the Holinefs and Purity of God, in his 
 Nature, his Law and his Works, as he did to Job s 
 making him cry, Behold, I am vile ; and to Ifaiah, 
 li'o is me, for 1 am undone, becauje I am a IS'hin of 
 unclean Lips. 
 
 13. When he gises a glorious Difcovery of the 
 Goodnels and Mercy of God, particuhrlv'in thele 
 
 £ e 2 In- 
 
I 3*8 ] 
 
 Inftances, I. The glorious Contrivance of our Re- 
 demption, by fending (Thrift to iave us. 2. In par- 
 doning guilty Sinners ib many Crimes, and making 
 them cry, as Micah vii. 18. IV ho is a Cod like unto 
 thee, that pardoneth Iniquity, and pa[feth by the Tranf- 
 greffion of the Ramiav.t of his Heritage? he retazueth 
 not his Anger for ever, bccaufe he de light eth in Mercy. 
 
 3. In taking rebellious Traitors and Enemies to God, 
 to be Children of God, and Favourites of Heaven. 
 
 4. In exalting them above Angels that never finned, 
 and providing glorious Man lions for them. 
 
 14. When he comes in the Ordinances, and quic- 
 kens the dead and languiming Graces of his People j 
 as, I. When lie melts their hard Hearts into the Ex- 
 ercife of Repentance and mourning for Sin. 2. When 
 he comes and actuates their Faith, enables the weak 
 ?mner io gc su* to Chriih calf his Soul and lay his 
 Burden on him, and wholly to look to him, and lean 
 on him for Pardon and Salvation. 3. When he 
 comes and makes their Hearts burn with Lc\ e to him* 
 iilf, and to precious Chrift: the Mediator, while he 
 ialks to them and opens up the Scriptures. 4. When 
 he draws out the Defires and Pantings of the Soul to- 
 wards himfelf. 5. When he quickens the Spirit of 
 Prayer, and elevates the Heart for Praile, and en- 
 ables the Soul for every Duty. 
 
 II. As to the fecond Head, Wherein this Prepara- 
 tion and fanclifying of the Heart for waiting on God 
 in Ordinances, doth lye. Firjt, It fuppofes, i.That 
 we are naturally unfit and unprepared for approach- 
 ing to God. 2. It fuppofes a Work of God's Grace 
 and Spirit on the Heart ; he only fits the Soul for fpi- 
 ritual Things. It is Cod that ivorketh in us both to 
 mill and do of his good Pica fare. The Preparation 
 of the Heart in Man, and the AnJ-uer of the Tongue 
 Is from the Lord, Prov. xvi. i. 
 
 Secondly, It directly imports thefe Things ; T. 
 The Soul's being in a gracious State, translated from 
 
 Nature 
 
[ 3 2 9 1 
 
 Nature to Grace by the Spirit of God, and that the 
 Soul is reconciled to God by the Blood of Chrift, and 
 a Work of Sanelification begun ; without this we 
 cannot be accepted. 
 
 2. It lies in bringing our Hearts v. ith as, and en- 
 gaging all the Powers and Faculties of our Souls to 
 attend God in Duty, Pfdim lxxxvi. u. Unite my 
 Heart to fear thy Name ; and, Pfutm csix. 10. With 
 my whole Heart have 1 J ought thee. 
 
 ■\. It lies in our having right Thoughts ai:d Uptak- 
 ings of that gracious God whom we approach to ; 
 i. That we believe that God is, and is a Rewarder 
 of them that diligent!* leek him. 2. That he is 
 incomprehensibly great and glorious, fills the Hea- 
 vens and Earth with his Pretence, and that great Fear 
 and Reverence is due to him. 3. That he is glorious 
 in Holiuels, and of purer Eyes than that he fan be- 
 hold Iniquity. 4. That he is ipotlefs in Juftice, and 
 will by no Means clear the guilty. 5. That he is 
 omnipotent in Power, for protecting his People, and 
 deftroying his Enemies. 6. That he is matchlds in 
 Clemency and Mercy, eafy to be intreated, and rea- 
 dy to forgive thro* Chrift. 7. That he is faithful, 
 andjeeeps Covenant forever. 
 
 4. It iics in having humble and low Thoughts of 
 ourielves, as unworthy to approach to God, or re- 
 ceive any Token of his Favour. The Soul that is fan-- 
 clified and prepared for approaching to God, hat]; a 
 deep Sen'e of former Sins and Mi'carriages, vrofiders 
 at God's Paticr.ee, that the Earth has not opened if; 
 Mouth to rwallow it up ere now. 
 
 5. It lies in cleaning and purifying ourfelves, by 
 fcarching for and throwing out all thefe Sins and L- 
 vils that unlit us for Convene with God. If we would 
 have God to accept us, we rnuft regard no Ink- 
 in our Hearts; particularly, 1. We mutt caft 
 Pride and Self-conceit. If we have a good Or 
 
 of ourielves, our Duties and Performances, Ge\l 
 E e 3 
 
I 33° 3 
 
 not accept us, we mutt count all but Lofs and Dung 
 for Chrilt. 2. Worldlinefs, and Thoughts about 
 earthly Things. 3. Unbelief and Doublings con- 
 cerning the Truths of God. 4. Malice and Revenge. 
 5. Vain and wandering Thoughts, and leek to have 
 our Heaits fixed, Pfatm. Ivi. 
 
 6. It lies in our Retirednefs and Abftraclednefs from 
 the World and earthly Thoughts. In the Temple > 
 for as much Flefli as was ufed there for the Sacrifices, 
 not one Fly was feen ftirring ; which teacheth us to 
 drive away the Flies of worldly Thoughts in God's 
 Prefence, that they do not fpoil or corrupt the Sa- 
 crifice, as that grievous Swr.rm of Flies did every 
 Thing in th© Land of Egyft, Exod. viii. 24. Do as 
 Abraham, when he went: to approach God and do 
 Sacrifice on Mount Mor'uih, Gen. xxii. 4, 5. When 
 he faw the Place afar off, he faid to his young Men y 
 Abide you here with the Afs, and I and the Lad will 
 go yonder and tv$*Jbi/>. He knew, that if they had 
 gone along with him, they would fo diftracl him with 
 their Clamour, that he could not offer Sacrifice with 
 that Freedom and Tranquillity of Spirit requifite. 
 
 7. It lies in examining the Principles from which you 
 aft, and Ends to which you move in Duty. JThe 
 Principles mud be Faith and Love ; the Belief of 
 God's Command, and the Love of Chrift, mult con- 
 ftrain you to Duty. Your Ends mult be to glorify 
 God and enjoy him ; not as the Fhari/ees, to be (ecn 
 of Men; not legal Ends, to get a Reward. Selfifh 
 and legal Ends are as a dead Fly to fpoil the Oint- 
 ment, and make Duties unlavoury to God. O for 
 right Principles, pure and fpiritual Ends! 
 
 8. It confiits in labouring to get the Heart in a 
 fuitablc Frame for Converfe with God ; as, 1. In a 
 humble and (elf-denied Frame. 2. In a fpiritual and 
 heavenly Frame. 3. In a fixed and Hayed Frame, 
 calling in all ll raying and wanderingThoughts, breath- 
 ing out that Prayer, PfaL lxxxvi. 11. 4* In a lov* 
 
 ing 
 
C 331 ] 
 
 ing and affectionate Frame ; for God is Love, and 
 Love is the Cement between God and the Soul in 
 Duty. 5. In a cautious and watching Frame ; 
 guarding always againft every Thing that may creep 
 in, to indiipofe you for Communion with God, and 
 mar your Acceis to him. 6. In an active and lively 
 Frame ; all the Spices mould flow out, all the Gra- 
 ces fhould be in Exerciie. 
 
 9. It lies in wakening our Souls which are natu- 
 rally dull and drowfy, to Activity, and Livelinefs in 
 Duty, as David, Pfal. l\ii. 8. Awake up my Glory, 
 awake Pj alt cry and Harp : I my f elf 11 ill awake early. 
 rial. ciii. 1. Blefs the Lord, my Soul; and all that 
 is within me blej's his holy Name. Be furred up all 
 that is within me ; there muft be a ftirring up our 
 Souls to take hold of God, If. lxiv. 7. Put forth 
 your ipiritual Strength to the utmoft ; pray with 
 the moll fervent Importunity ; praife with Ipiritual 
 Elevation of Heart ; love God with the mofl fublime 
 ArFcctions, and do all in fome Proportion to the 
 Greatnefs of that God with whom you have to do, 
 as Pfal. cl. 2. Praife him according to his excellent 
 Great fiefs. 
 
 io. It lies in our earned Prayers to God to fanctify 
 us ; for we muft put it back on him, and pray for 
 the fanctifying Influences of his Spirit, for the lubduing 
 of Sin, quickning Grace, and perfecting Holinefs in 
 the Fear of God. 
 
 III. As to the third Head, the Properties of this 
 Preparation; 1. It muft be timeous Preparation. The 
 Jews took Time to prepare for approaching God in 
 the Paflbver, they had the Lamb four Days before in 
 their Houfes, tied to their Bed-pofts, that hearing 
 conftantly its bleating, they might look back to £- 
 gypt, and remember the Sorrows and Bondage they 
 endured there, and be thankful for their Redemption ; 
 and efpecially for their Deliverance from thedeitroy- 
 ing Angel that Night he paifed over their Houfes 
 
 which 
 
C 332 ] 
 
 which were fprinkled with the Blood of the Lamb ; 
 and that they might look forward to the Mejflafi, 
 and remember the bitter Agonies and Sufferings he 
 was to endure for their Sins. 
 
 2. Inward Preparation. It mufl ly mainly in the 
 Heart ; a grave decent Carriage is needful indeed, 
 but God looks to more than the outward Appearance, 
 even to the Heart. 
 
 3. Conicientious Preparation, doing all as in the 
 Sight of God, before whom all Things are naked and 
 bare. Study to have iingle Ends and Aims, to glo- 
 rify God, and obey our Lord and Saviour's Call. 
 
 4. Diligent Preparation, not dealing with a flack 
 Hand, but applying your Souls with the greateft Acti- 
 vity to the Work in Hand, believing that your Sal- 
 vation depends on it. 
 
 5. Humble and felf-denied Preparation, trufting in 
 nothing in yourielves, but in Chriit. ; depending on 
 God that he v, ould lit and prepare your Hearts, and 
 accept gracioufiy for Chrift's Sake. 
 
 6. Univerfal Preparation ; be mindful of all the 
 Parts of it, efpecially of examining yourielves with 
 relpecl to your State, your Sins, your Wants, your 
 Knowledge, Faith, Repentance, Love and new O- 
 bedience. 
 
 IV. As to the Fourth Head, The NecefTity of this 
 Preparation; 1. Becauie of theFallenefs, Sluggi/hneis 
 and Deceitfulnels of our Hearts; they love to wander 
 from God, and are bent to backflidc in Duty, as the- 
 wile Man fays, Ecclef. x. 10. If the Iron be blunt, and 
 he do not whet the Edge, then mufl he put to more Strength. 
 Labour to heat the Iron, feeing a blunt Iron, if hot, 
 will pierce more ealily than a fharper, if cold. Warm 
 your Hearts with the Love and Sufferings of Chrift. 
 
 2. Becaufe it is the Heart Kofi mainly leeks in Du- 
 ty, Prov. wiii. 26. My Sen five me thine Heart \ he 
 fays as Jofiph concerning Benjamin, Except your 
 Brother be with you, I iviil not fee jour face. If the 
 
 Heart 
 
C 333 3 
 
 Heart be not brought to him, there can be no Ac- 
 ceptance. 
 
 3. Becaufe God is well pleafed with them that do 
 fo, as with Jthofapbat, 2 Chrcn. 19. 3. Nevertheless 
 there are good Things found in ihce, that thou haft ta- 
 ken a^rav the Groves out of the Land, and haf prepar- 
 ed thine Heart to feek Cod. And he is highly difpleaf- 
 ed with thefe that do it not, as with Rehoboayn, 
 2 Chron. xii. 14. And he did Evil, becaufe he prepared 
 ?:ct his Heart to feek Cod. 
 
 4. Becaufe God, whom we approach to, is an in- 
 finitely holy and pure Spirit, and will be worshipped 
 in Spirit and in Truth. 
 
 IMPROVEMENT. 
 
 Inference I. See hence the Cauie why lb few 7 , get 
 Pilcoverics or* God's Glory, and Wonders of Mercy, 
 in the Ordinances, but meet with a hiding God, they 
 do &ot i'anctify themfelves, and prepare their Hearts 
 in a fuitable Manner. 
 
 II. Ufe of Reproof to feverals ; 1. To thefe wh« 
 approach God under the Power of wandering and ro- 
 ving Thoughts, their Minds are not fixed, fanctified 
 and prepared. 2. To thele whole Minds are going 
 after their Covetouihefs, when their Bodies only arc 
 prefentcd before God. 3. To thefe who are hypocri- 
 tical and formal in their Approaches to God. 4. To 
 thofe whole Hearts are dull and drowfy in God's 
 Sen ice. 
 
 III. Ufe of 'Trial. It concerns you upon this Oc- 
 cafion to examine if your Hearts be fanctified and pre- 
 pared for approaching God To-morrow. It is high- 
 ly necelfary now to examine your Souls, Let a Man 
 examine himfelf and fo let him eat. I fear there are 
 many unfancritied and unprepared Hearts among us. 
 And in order to afftft you therein, I (hall give fome 
 Marks, both negatively and positively, 
 
 I. Nc- 
 
C 334 ] 
 
 I. Negatively, Marks of unfandiified Hearts. I 
 The ignorant Heart that knows not Chrift, nor h*s 
 any uptaking of the Way of Salvation thro' his 
 Righteouiheis. Such unprepared, and incapable of 
 gracious Communion with God. See how the Pro- 
 mile runs, Jer. xxiv. 7. 1 will give them an Heart tc 
 know me, that I am the Lord, and they JhalL be ?ny 
 People, and I will be their Cod j for they Jhall return 
 unto me with their whole Heart. 2. The unbelieving 
 Heart is unprepared. 3. The impenitent Heart. 
 4. The Heart that harbours Chrilt's Enemy. 5. 
 The Heart that hath no Love to Chrift. 6. No Love 
 to the Friends of Chi HI. 7. No hungring and thirft- 
 ing after Chrift and his Righteoufnefs. 8. That hath 
 flight Thoughts of his Ordinances. 9. Indifference 
 about the Succefs of the Ordinances, io. That re- 
 fills the Motions of the Spirit, u. The Heart that 
 is drowfy, and at ne Pains to waken itlelf. 12. That 
 is a Stranger to itlelf, and to Self-examination. Such 
 Hearts are unfanclified and unprepared for approach- 
 ing to God To-morrow. 
 
 II. Pofitive Marks of Hearts in fome Meafure fan- 
 clified and prepared. 1. Hearts lenfible of their De* 
 pravity and Sinfulnefs. 2. That are fenfible of their 
 
 1 Need of Chrift. ^. Hearts filled with Revenge a- 
 gainft Sin. 4. That are humble and lowly. 5. 
 T Iearts troubled for Heart Plagues and Sins. 6. 
 Hearts that confent to the well ordered Covenant in 
 all its Articles. 7. Hearts that aim at Communion 
 and Fellowlhip with God in every Duty. 8. Hearts 
 that hold on in clofe Puriuit after Chrift, notwith- 
 ftanding Difcouragements and Difappointments, as 
 Mary Magdalene , who would not leave the Sepulchre, 
 when others left it. 9. Hearts that are unfatisfied 
 with the belt Means and Ordinances, if God be not 
 found in them. 10. Hearts that are applying them- 
 felves to every Duty, in Chrift's Strength, faying. 
 Without Chriftl cull do nothing. 11. Hearts that 
 
 arc 
 
C us 3 
 
 arc troubled when they drive heavily in Duty, and arc 
 weary of their Remiilhefs. 12. Hearts tender of the 
 Peace of God, afraid of Sin, and grieving the Spirit. 
 
 13. Hearts concerned about the Succeis of this Ordi- 
 nance, both with refpeel to iHemfelvei and others. 
 
 14. Hearts concerned for want of iafficient Prepara- 
 tion, praving, with Hezekiab, for Pardon and Ac- 
 ceptmce/tho' notcleanted according to the Purifica- 
 tion of the Sanctuary, 2 Chron xxx. 18. 19. 
 
 'IV. XJfi of Exhortation, O Communicants fanclify 
 yourfelves againft: To-morrow, that the Lord may 
 come down and do Wonders among you, Wonders 
 of Mercy for your Souls. 
 
 Motives. I. Confider that the near Approach you 
 are to make to God at his Table To-morrow, is the 
 neareft Approach you can pollibly make on this Side 
 of Death. Confider what Preparation God required 
 of the J/raelites for receiving the fi y Law at Mount 
 Sinai, Exod. xix. 10. 11. Cod commanded them to 
 fanclify ihsmfehes, wajh their Cloaths, and he rea- 
 dy againj} the third Da) , for upon that Day the 
 Lord rjou/d co?ne down upon Mount Sinai, /';/ Sight of 
 all the People. What awful Fear and Trembling do 
 vou imagine was there among them, when God came 
 down in a thick Cloud, when the Trumpet began to 
 found, the Thunder to crack, the Mountain to lmoke, 
 and the Earth to tremble under the Weight of the 
 
 Great God defending on it Well, you mould be 
 
 under the fame Awe of God in this folemn Ordinance 
 as they were. It is true, he comes not down with 
 fuch Terror, to give a fiery Law as on Mount Sinai, 
 but to deliver the Gofpel of Peace from Mount Zion. 
 But mind, 'tis the fame God that lpeaks, hath the 
 lame Majefry, the fame Authority ; and therefore you 
 mould prepare as carefully, and be as humble before 
 him, as the Jfraelites were. Were God to come 
 down among you To-morrow in terrible Majefty, 
 ilvnild a thick Cloud fill this Houfe, and Lightning 
 
 break 
 
C 336 ] 
 
 break out, and mould you hear the Thunder of his 
 Voice, / am the Lord, thou flmlt have 710 other Gods 
 before me, certainly fuch a dreadful Glory would make 
 your Hearts tremble within you, and the Earth trem- 
 ble beneath you. Well then, God is come down as 
 really among you as among the lfraslites, hear him 
 with the fame Reverence, and be as intent upon Ado- 
 ration as they were. Let not his gracious and fami- 
 liar Way of condefcending to deal with you, tempt 
 you to come with leis Preparation and Reverence. 
 II. Confider the Nature of that God you are to ap- 
 proach to. 1. A great and mighty God, PfaL lxxxix. 
 7, 8. Cod is greatly to be feared in the .-.ffwbly of the 
 Saints ; and to be had in Reverence of all them that are 
 about him. Lord, God of Hops, who is a Jlrong 
 Lord like unto thee, or to thy Faithfulnefs round about 
 thee P Would we feaft with a great King with filthy 
 Hands and Garm nits \ Jofeph prepared himielf, by 
 {having himielf and changing his Raiment, before he 
 went in to Pharaoh ; and wilt thou not prepare thyfelf, 
 by putting thy Soul in the holieft Drefs and humbleft 
 Pofture, when thou art to go to the King of Heaven and 
 Earth ? 2. He is a jealous and omnifcientGod, moll jea- 
 lous of his Honour, and will come in to fee the Gueib, 
 Matth. xxii. II. and then he'll fpy every unprepared 
 and unfanclified Gueft; he notices the State of your 
 
 /Souls, the Frame of your Hearts, the Ends of your 
 communicating, and your Preparation before hand. 
 O then fanftify yourfelves, before you come to the 
 
 F ea ft. 3. He is a pure and holy God ; he cannot 
 
 hold Communion with unholy Perfons, he will be 
 fincVified in them that come nigh him, Lev. x. 3. he 
 will be attended as a holy God, in a holy Manner. 
 Did a holy Angel fet Trylt with you at a certain 
 Place, againft fuch an Hour, would you not prepare 
 with all Serioufnefs and Solemnity to attend him ? 
 Oh! but it is the God of Angels that tryfts with you 
 
 here, 
 
C 337 ] 
 
 here, even the God before whom theAngels adore, and 
 cover their Faces and Feet with their Wings, and cry, 
 Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. If the Linen 
 on the Communion Table, or VefTels that hold the 
 Elements were foul, ye would be ready to exclaim a* 
 gainlt it ; and no doubt there ought to be obferved an 
 outward Decency in this refpect ; Chrift would have 
 the very Room in good Order where he was to eat 
 the PaiTover. But O it is a final 1 Crime to have a 
 foul Cloth or Y r cfiel for outward Elements, in relpedr 
 of what it is to have a foul Heart, or an unprepared 
 Soul to entertain a holv God, and receive the Body 
 and Blood of Chrift. 
 
 3. Confider that God's People ufed always great 
 Preparation before folemn approaching to God, Get:. 
 
 xxw. 1 5. Where we fee how folcmnly Jacob 
 
 prepircd himfclf and his Family, when by God's 
 Command he \v^ going up to Bethel to lacrifice unto 
 the Lord. " They change their Garments, wajh and 
 make thcmielves clean, and put away their ftrange 
 gods." How much more ought we to prepare, when 
 we go not only to Bcthel y God's Houfe, but to God's 
 Table, by changing our Garments of Sin, and put- 
 ting on Chrift's Righteoulhefs by Faith, and putting 
 away and mortifying our Lulls and Idols of Jealouiv I 
 We fee alio the PfalniifVs Preparation for approach- 
 ing to God, Pfalm xxvi. 6. Pll luaff? my Ha?ids m 
 Innoceiicy, fo ivill I cowpafs thine Altar, Lord. The 
 Jews had great Preparation for the Paflbver, and fo 
 Ihould we for the Lord's Supper that is come in it.; 
 Room. Wherefore we find the primitive ChriftiaHs ufcil 
 to fit up whole Nights at Prayer before the Lord's 
 Supper, which they called Vigili*. 
 
 4. Confider that die Matter of this Sacrament re- 
 quires folemn Preparation. Solomo?i directs us, when 
 we are to eat with a Ruler, to confider what is fet 
 before us, Prov. xxiii. I. There are here the Sym- 
 bols of drift's Body and Blood, rare Food! It is a 
 
 f f great 
 
[ 338 ] 
 
 great Sin to abufe common Meat and Drink, or te 
 partake of thefe without iomc ferious Thoughts be- 
 fore hand. We would have Veflels clean to hold 
 our ordinary Food : But here is Soul-food, Heaven's 
 Dainties, the Jewel of Heaven. Churl's Body in 
 the Sacrament mult be wrapt in a clean Soul, as well 
 as his Body by Jofiph of j&rimafhea was wrapt in 
 clean Linen, and laid in a new Tomb. 
 
 5. TheDutics to be performed at the Lord's Table 
 require Preparation, viz. Covenanting with God, 
 renewing our baptilinal Vow, expieiling our Love to 
 Chrift., feafling on a broken Chritt. 
 
 6. You are naturally unlit for this Ordinance; 
 naturally you have neither habitual nor actual Pre- 
 paration, being dead in Sins and Trefpaiks, leprous, 
 
 i'lotnfome, carnal, and earthly ' minded. Where- 
 fore we mult be quiekned and purified, before we can 
 hold Communion with a holy God. 
 
 7. Becaufe Communion with God would be alto- 
 gether difagreeable to an uhfandtified Soul, he would 
 weary of it, and take no Plcafure in it. 
 
 8. Becaufe of the great Advantage of this Prepa- 
 ration, God will come To-morrow, and work Won- 
 ders of Mercy for luch as finccrely aim at Preparation. 
 O then fantfify yourfehes. Q^e/L What are thefe 
 Wonders of Mercy? Anfrc. 1. He will raiie dead 
 Souls out of the Grave, and put Life in them. 2. He^ 
 will warm cold Hearts, and put fpiritual Heat in 
 them. 2. He will foften hard rocky Hearts, and 
 make them, tender and fenfible. : 4. He will cleave 
 the Rock and make Waters gufh out of it, the Wa- 
 ters of penitential Tears. 5. He will cure the pa- 
 ralytick trembling Hand, that could hardly be ftretch- 
 ed out, or grip to any Thing. He w ill enable the 
 weak Soul to grip fall to Chrilt; and fubferibe his 
 Name to the Marriage Contract. 6. Hewill ftrength- 
 en the feeble Knees and lame Feet, and make the 
 Soul to run in the Way of his Commandments with 
 
 .enlaavd 
 
[ 339 3 
 
 enlarged Heart. 7. He will kill flrong Goliaths and 
 Lulls, that defied the Armies of the God of Jfrael. 8. 
 He will fix a wandring Heart, and fix it on God and 
 Things above. 9. He will heal a v. ounded Conlcience 
 by the Balm of Gtlead. 10. He will brighten a dark 
 cloudy Mind, and refolve all the Doubts and Fears 
 of a Believer. 11. He wilj give a Sight of the King 
 in his Beautv, a View of the Smiles of Chrift's lovely 
 Face. 12. He will give a Seal of the Pardon of all 
 your Sips. 1;. He will give a Pifg.ah View ofj&fy 
 uaau, a Sight of the promifed Land. 14. He will 
 fealt the Hungry, and till them with the Dainties of 
 Heaven. — O thefe are rare Wonders of Grace, that 
 Chrift will work for the prepared Soul. O Prepara- 
 tion is your Seed Time, Receiving is your Haryeft. 
 Now, as a Man ibweth, lo (hall he reap ; be 
 foweth fparingly t /hall reap fpavlngly, and he which 
 fimeth bountifully , jh all reap a IJi bountifully, 2 Cor. 
 k. 6. It is in the Duty of partaking, as in the 
 Duty of praying j the more prepared a.S&sfc'a Heart 
 is to pray, the greater is his Return from Heaven, 
 Pfal. x. 17. Then wit prepare their Hearts, thou 
 wilt caufe' thine Ear to hear. So it may be laid m the 
 Cafe of receiving, Thou wilt prepare the Heart, thou 
 wilt caufe thine Hand to give. When God prepares 
 a Man's Heart for Duty, it is a Token he hath a 
 Hand prepared for Mercy. Hence the Lord makes 
 that gracious Promiie, Pfal. Ixxm. 10. Open thy 
 Mouth wide, and I will fill it, q. d. I'll enlarge my 
 Hand, as you enlarge your Heart. He faith, as Jo- . 
 ftph to his Steward, Gen, xliv. I. Fill the Mens Sacks 
 as ?nuch as they can carry. So as Jof'eph's Brethren 
 prepared Sacks in Number and Largcnels, lb did they 
 1 irrv Corn away : And as you bring prepared Hearts 
 to the Ordinance, fo mail you reap Benefit thereby. 
 9. Becaufe of the great Danger in coming unpre- 
 I. Ifyoudo not lanciify and prepare yourfelves, 
 Q&d will come and do wonders of Judgment, Won- 
 tf f 3 ders . 
 
C 34° ] 
 
 ders of Wrath, among you. r. He may inflict bo- 
 dily Dileafes, as 1 6V. xi. :o. 2. He may fend un- 
 timely Death. 3. He may fmite with Delertion 
 •from God. 4. He may fend Darkneis on the Mind. 5. 
 He may finite with Deadncfs and Impcnitency on the 
 Heart. 6. With decaying and withering on the 
 < J-ifts and Graces. 7. He may lend Leanneis and 
 Barrenncfs on the Sou!. ?,. He may finite with r or- 
 iv. tty and Lifelelhefs in Duty. 9. With Searcdriefs 
 an the Conference, lb as it fhall challenge for no Sin. 
 IC. He may fend Horror and Tenor on the Conici- 
 ence, fo as to make it a Magor Mijfubw. it. He 
 may let Satan loole againft you with Temptations, 
 atbeiiiical and blafphetnous" Thoughts. 12. He may 
 'end you to Hell from the Communion Table, as 
 StLitth. xxii. 12, I". And he faith unto hhn, Friend \ 
 no jo came ft thou in hither, net having a Wedding-gar- 
 mentP And he was fpeech/efs. Then f aid the King to 
 the Servant;, Bind him Hand and Foot, and take him 
 aivay, z~d erf! hi™ into outer uartficfs, 
 
 OiteJI, How (hall 1 get my Heart fanclified and 
 prepared, lb as I may expect the Lord will come and 
 do Wonders of Grace for me To-morrow. A?if. 
 There is a two-fold Preparation, habitual and actual; 
 you mult ftudy both, and habitual Preparation in the 
 firft Place. Quejl. What is habitual Preparation f Anf. 
 It hath leveral Ingredients in it. I. A Covenant- 
 relation to God in Chrift. 2. A Principle of fpiritual 
 Life. 3. A State of Peace with God. 4. The Im- 
 putation of ChriiVs Righteoufhefs. 5. An univerfal 
 Change by regenerating Grace. 6. The Inhabitation 
 of the Spirit. 7. A holy Converiation. 8. The 
 Lamp of a ProfeiTion. Quefl. 2. What is actual 
 Preparation for the Lord's Supper? Anf. 1. Seque- 
 itrating ourfelves from the World. 2. Self-examina- 
 tion. ;. Humiliation for Sin. 4. Renewing of our 
 •perfonai Covenant with God in Chrift.. 5. Reforma- 
 tion of what is amifs. 6. Exciting of all the Graces 
 
 to 
 
L 34 1 J 
 
 to a lively Exercife. 7. Meditation on the Death 
 and Sufferings of Chiift, 8. Earneft Prayer to God 
 for Preparation and Ailiftance in the Work. — And 
 after your utmoil Preparation, you mud lay no 
 Strefs thereon, but call yourlelf wholly on Chiiil 
 for Afliftance, faying, It is only in the Lord J 
 Right eottfne/s and Strength. We ought to be denied 
 to ourfelves, and to look with David to the Lord 
 both for Ailiftance and Acceptance, P/al. lxxi. t6. 
 I will go in the Strength of the Lord y Iwi/i make 
 MoUion of thy Bightequfnefiy even ef thine, only. 
 You ought to imitate King s/fa, \vho,.tho' he had 
 a great Army to fight againlt the Ethiopians, yet 
 dried to the Lord, and trufted in him alone for Help, 
 .is you have it. recorded, 2 Chron. xiv. n. And Afa 
 tried unto the Lord his Cod, and f aid, Lord, it is nothing 
 with thee to help, whether with many, or with then: 
 that have no Power; help us, Q Lvrd our God; for 
 we rejl on thee, and in thy Name go out againjl this 
 Multitude. So let every Communicant fay, " Lord, 
 u all my Strength and Preparations are nought, I 
 u have no Power for celebrating this Feail, help inc., 
 " O Lord my God, for 1 reft on thee, and in thy 
 u Name I go to this great and weighty Ordinance. 
 And if you come forward To-morrow in this Self- 
 denied and fanctified Frame, you have Ground to ex- 
 pect that the Lord will do Wonders of Grace and 
 Mercy for you.. 
 
 ACTION SE\RMON, 
 
 From" Canticles ii. 4. 
 
 He brought me tq the banqueting rloufe, and 
 
 bis Banner ocer vie ivas Love, 
 
 THE whole of this Song is an allegorical Defcrip- 
 tion of the myfterious Union and Communion 
 - F. f 3 betwixt 
 
L 34^ J 
 
 betwixt Chrift and his Church, under the Perfons of 
 a. Bridegroom and Bride, which is a frequent Meta- 
 phor made ule of in Scripture. The Forty-fifth Pfalm 
 
 is an. Abridgment of this Song In this Chapter 
 
 Chi ill and the Church leem to ftrive, who {hall out- 
 ' vie each other in their Commendations. Chrift fir ft 
 commends the Church, and then the Church extols 
 Chrift. S! e compares him to the Apple Tree among 
 the Trees of the Wood, Verfe 3. Chrift is a Fruit- 
 bearing Tree ; but the Children of Men are barren 
 Trees. And O but his Shadow is ref/cAiing, and 
 his Fruit fweet to a Believer. But as if the Shadow 
 and Fruits of an xA.pple Tree were too low a Simile,^ 
 to let forth his Excellency and Goodnefs, fhe tells us 
 of the Entertainment he gives her in the banqueting 
 Houle, in the Te.xt. 
 
 Where we have, 1. The Place which the Spoufe 
 was brought to, the banqueting HouJ'e, or Houle of 
 "Wine, i.e. of feafting., becaufe Wine is a principal 
 Part of Feafts ; by which we are to underftand the Or- 
 der, or Means, whereby Chrift conveys his Graces and 
 BielTings to Believers; and there is none of all the Ordi- 
 nances of the Golpel that may be more fitly called 
 the banqueting or feafting Houie, than this of the 
 Lord's Supper, which is the great GofpelFeaft where- 
 with Chrift entertains, his People on Earth. Ordi- 
 nances are called his banqueting Houfe, becaufe of the 
 great Plenty, Variety and Riches of the BleiTmgs he 
 thereby communicates to his People. 
 
 2. We have the Perfon that brings her into this 
 banqueting Houle, and that is Chrift, HE brought vie ;- 
 which (hews, I. Our Want of Right to theie BlelTings, 
 of ourfelvcs. All our Right ii in Chrift. 2. Our Inr 
 potency to come to the feafting Houle ; he mult both 
 give us Strength and Preparation of Soul. p.. The. 
 Frcenefs of his Grutc in beftowing thefc Blcflmgs on 
 
 3* The 
 
C 343 3 
 
 ;. The Maimer how (he is brought in, and that is 
 under a Banner, Standard or Enfign. It is a military 
 Rod ; Banners or Eufigns are uied In Camps and Ar- 
 mies, Pfal. xx. 5. We will rejoice in thy Salvation, 
 and in the Name of cur God will Jet up our Banners*^ 
 Her March or Entry into this feafting Houfe was joy- 
 ful and triumphant, fr.ch as that of People under a 
 dilplayed Banner ? or Colours lifted up. Colours are 
 ufeful to draw, invite, engage, and lead People after 
 their Captain; and the lifting up and difplaying of 
 Colours is a Sign to invite and direct thole of fuch a 
 Party or Side, to come to fuch a Place, or march 
 Rich a Way. Now, what is the Device or Motto of 
 Chrilt's Banner ; not like thofe of other Generals, a 
 Lion, an Eagle, ire. but LOVE. The Love of a 
 crucified Jelus is like a Bannner lifted up and diiplayed 
 in the Goipel for inviting and engaging Sinners to 
 come to him. Love is the Banner that Chrift: lifts 
 up and difplays this Day, to engage you to come to 
 him, and lift yourielves under his Banner. Love is • 
 that- which leads to the banqueting Houfe, and fur- 
 niihes Provision and Entertainment for us there. 
 
 Obferve I. That. Chrift has rich Feafts in the Ordi- 
 nances for entertaining his People's Souls. 
 
 II. That the Banner which Chrift: diiplays for 
 drawing us to him, is Love. 
 
 As to the Firft, I ihall ihew, 1. That Chrift in the 
 Ordinances doth provide Feafts for his People's Souls, 
 2. That the Lord's Supper in particular is one princi- 
 pal Feaft that he prepares for them. 3. Why he 
 prepares fuch a Feaft. 4. Shall apply. 
 
 As to the Firft, it is evident, 1. From God's Pro- 
 mife to his People, Pfal. xxxvi. 8. They Jhall be a- 
 bundantly fatisfied with the FatneJ's of thy Houfe; a?id 
 thou flialt make them drink of the River of thy Plea- 
 fures. Ifaiah xxv. 6. slr.d in this Mountain Jhall the 
 Lord of Hofls make unto all People, a Feajl of fat 
 Things y a. feaf} of Wines an the tees } of fat Things 
 
 full 
 
[ 344 J 
 
 full of Marrow, of Wives on the Lees veil refined. 
 This Promiie is concerning the Goipcl Times — From 
 Prov. ix. 2. where Wijdorn, i. e. Chrift, is laid to 
 .have lulled her Beajis, mingled her Wine, and fur- 
 j&jhed her 7 'able* — And, to name no more, from Luke 
 xv. where the Father prepares the fatted Calf for 
 his penitent Prodigal. 
 
 2. From the Experience of God's People, a? of 
 David, Pfal. iv. 6. lxiii. 5. and lx\ . 4. and particu- 
 larly from the Experience of the Church in the Text. 
 God's People can let to their Seal to this Truth. 
 
 As to thfc Second Head, That the Lord's Supp 
 one principal Feall, which the Lord prepares fcoi 
 People. Wherefore it is call cci the Tahfo of the Lord, 
 I Cor. x. 21. It is called a i 7 eali on the Sacrifii . 
 Chrijl, 1 Cor. v. 7, 8. a Wedding FeajK.Matth. xxk. 
 4. In theie Places the Lord's Supper is principally 
 
 pointed at. 1 mail here (hew wherein the Lord's- 
 
 Sapper refembles a Feafl ; yea, it is not an ordinary 
 Feall, it is a rich, royal and magnificent Feafl. 
 
 1. At a Feall there is rich and nohle Provifion. 
 So here there is more than Bread and Wine, even the 
 Body and Blood of Chrifl,. My Flejh is Meat indeed, 
 and ?ny Blood is Drink indeed, John vi. 55. What 
 Bread and Wine afford to the Body, viz. Strength, 
 Comfort and Nouriinment, the fame doth the Body 
 and Blood of Chriit, received by Faith, yield to the 
 Soul—Here is Ipiritual Food to the hungry Soul, 
 Bread that itrengthens Man's Heart, and W ine that 
 cheers the fainting Spirits. Behold here is Wiidom's 
 Gates, and Wiidom's Feafl. It is ^ood for us to he 
 
 here, good to wait at her Door Ports Here the 
 
 Brealls of Confoiation are drawn forth, here we may 
 fack and be fotisfied - - T Tcre the Foantain of Life, and 
 the Wells of Salvation are opened, the Stone rolled 
 
 from the Well's Mouth. Here is the hidden Martr 
 
 na, Is Food, Bread from Heaven, \- the 
 
 F ' : n iviidft 
 
 of 
 
C 345 j 
 
 of the Paradifc of God.- Here is the Water of Life 
 
 that fprings from beneath the Throne of God and tic 
 Lamb, clear as Chryftal; if you get but one Drop 
 of it, it lhall be an everlafting Spring in your Soui, 
 fo that you need not thirft after carnal Comforts and 
 
 Enjoyments* Here arc the Grapes of Canaan, the 
 
 Fruits that grow in the Land of Promife; yea Clu- 
 tters of thefe Grapes are at this Feaft, the firft Fruits 
 
 of He u en In a Word, there is at this ij'iritual 
 
 Feaft for the Soul to feci on, (Thrift crucified, and 
 all his Benefits and Purchale : And are there not ma- 
 ny Dimes and Delicacies here ? 
 
 1. Here is Pardon of Sin iealed to a Believer. O 
 is not this a rare Feaft and excellent Cheer, Matth. 
 \\. 2. Be of goad Cheer, thy Sins are forgiven thee. 
 Here you get Chriit's Blood, which was Hud for 
 many, for the Remiilion of Sins. Here we ciafp a- 
 bout a crucified Chrift as the great propitiatory Sa- 
 crifice for our Sin*:, and accept of him as the Loid 
 our Righteouihefs ; and thus we receive the Remiilion 
 of Sins. Here God faith to a Believer, zs Nathan to 
 D-ividj 2 Sam, xii. is. The Lord hath put away thy 
 Sins, thou /halt not die. Here we hear the Voice of 
 Joy and Gladnels, which hath made many a broken 
 Bone to rejoice. Is there any Thing more iwcet 
 than Pardon to a condemned Man near the Place 
 of Execution ? And what can give more Joy, than a 
 free Diicharge to a Sinner arrefted by Juftice, and 
 drawn to Hell's Door to be caft into that Prifon for 
 Debt, out of which there is no Redemption. 
 
 2, We have Peace and Friendfhip with God ; O rare 
 Dim ! not only to be freed of a Burden of Debt, that 
 would have weighed us down to Hell; and for which 
 Millions already have been carried thither, and aie 
 roaring under it without Hope ; but alio to be re- 
 ceived into fpecial Favour with God : For in this Sa- 
 crament a Covenant of Peace and Friend/hip is feal- 
 ed and conf-imui. O mud i: not be a ftveet Cordial, 
 
 for 
 
L 34° J 
 
 £>r an Enemy, a Rebel, to be owned as a fpetial Fa- 
 vourite of the King of Heaven, io that the Soul may 
 iend a Challenge to Hell and Earth, and bid Defiance 
 to Men and Devils, Rom. viii. 32, 34. JVho /hall lay- 
 any Thing to the Charge of Cod's Eleft ? It is Cod that 
 jujlifieth. Who is he that co,:de??v:eth P It is Chrift that 
 died, yea rather, that is ripen again ^ who is even' at 
 the right Hand of God, who a.'fo viaketh Jnierct 
 for us. And you may fay with David, Pfal. iv. 8.. 
 / will both lay me down in F-:acc, andjleep : for thon, 
 Lord*, only makejl me to dwell in Safety. Come Lire, 
 <:ome Death, I am (lite ; my Coii!cience is difburden- 
 ed, and I am at Eaie. 
 
 3. Adoption is another of the Dimes at this Feaft. 
 You are not only made a Friend, but a Son and Heir ; 
 and in this Sacrament you get Safmc and Infeftment 
 of the Childrens Pri .'ileges, Relation and Inheritance. 
 
 And here God faith, I will be a Father to thee ; 
 
 and, Son, thou malt be ever with me, and all that 
 I have is thine. Thou ihalt have my Bleffing and 
 Love, the Smiles of my Face, theKifles of my Mouth, 
 and the Arms of my Grace to iiapport and prefcrve 
 thee. Thou lhalt have my Son for thy elder Bro- 
 ther, thy Pried and Advocate ; my Angels to be thy 
 Guards ; my Providence to be thy Protector and 
 Manager : Thou (halt have Manna m the Wilder- 
 nefs, and Water out of the Rock. Thou (halt be 
 my Heir, and joint Heir with my eternal Son and 
 Firft-born. Thou malt have Heaven for thy Home, 
 Chrift's Throne for thy Seat, and a Kingdom for thy 
 Portion; a honourable Maintenance while here, and 
 an incorruptible Inheritance hereafter. 
 
 4. Another Difh Is Peace of Conscience. Tins is 
 one of the precious Legacies which Chriit leaves in 
 his Teftament, which is here felled, John >iv. 27. 
 It is here Chrift fpeaks Peace to his People and to his 
 Saints, here he breathes Peace upon them, as in Laki 
 tfxiv, ;6, Do Do tie within you, 
 
 that 
 
C 347 3 
 
 that hinders you to believe the good News, as with 
 the Difcioles ; To there is that hi this Sacrament which 
 may check all theie Fears. Luke xxiv. ;8, 39. 
 Why arc yc troubled, and why do Thoughts arife in your 
 Hearts P Behold ?ny Hands and ray Feet, that it is I 
 tnyfslf; handle me and fee, Sec. O but the Prints of 
 the Nails may calm the doubting Confcience, and 
 quiet thy Fears. 
 
 5. Supplies and Strength to our weak and decay- 
 ed Graces. Here Chriil's Store-houie is opened, and 
 We may get Grace for Grace out of his Fulnefs ; here 
 the lino iking Flax -pay be kindled into a Flame, and 
 the bruiied Reed find Support ; here you may get 
 weak Faith ftrengthened, cold Love inflamed, weak 
 Deiires kindled, Repentance renewed, Hope made 
 lively, the Soul fitted and fortified for Trials and Suf. 
 ferings, and prepared for parting thro' the Valley of 
 the Shadow of Death : Yea, in a Word, you may 
 get all your Wants iupplied, all your Grievances re- 
 drefled, and Maladies remedied. Here you may get 
 a Meal that will both latisfy, and beget a Stomach 
 in you, that will prove Life to your Souls, and 
 Death to your Sins; Strength to your Graces, and 
 Poifon to your Lulls. It is here the empty Soul is 
 filled, the ltar\ing Creature fa.\ t the poor Beggar 
 enriched, the hard Heart foftened, the cold Heart 
 ,:ned, the dead- Soul quickned, the paralytick 
 Hand cured, the blind Eye enlightened, the thirfty 
 Heart fatisfied, the feeble Knees ftrengthened, the 
 ftraitned Heart enlarged, the wandering Heart fixed, 
 the creeping Deiires elevated, the cloudy Soul bright- 
 ned, and the doubting Soul refolved. r e not 
 theie gracious and blelted Changes ! Here you may 
 get Strength againft your ftrong Lulls and Tempta- 
 tions, and Furniture for every Duty, fo as yc may 
 pray with Enlargement, hear with Comfort, praife 
 with Elevation or' Mind, and meditate with Delight. 
 
 6. Here 
 
r 348 ] 
 
 6. Here ib Chrift's gracious Prefence, and a Sight 
 of his Countenance; that is a rare Delicate in this 
 Feaft, that iiatisries the Soul, Pfab?i xvi. ult. hi thy 
 Prefence is Fv.lnefs of Joy, that was the Pfahm/ih 
 Heaven upon Earth. It is here Chrift tryfts with his 
 People, here he walks with them, and is held by them 
 in the Galleries ; here he vifits them, and holds Com- 
 munion with them, intimates his Love, and kifles 
 them with the Kiiles of his Mouth. Here they lcc 
 the King in his Beauty, here the Saints have beheld 
 the Beauty of the Lord, PfaL xxvii. 4. O this is 
 worth our while. O let it be our Errand this Day 
 to meet with Chrift, and ice his bleiTed Face. God's 
 People in all Ages have placed their Happinefs here. 
 Abrahain rejoiced in a Sight of Chrift, tho' afar o^ r , 
 at T900 Years Diftance. The wile Men thought it 
 worth their while, to undertake a long Jounrney from 
 the Eaft to fee him, tho' but new born. Old Siv:eon 
 clefires to fee no more on E-.rth, after he gets a Sight 
 of him, tho' a Child. Zaccheus ran and climbed up a 
 
 Tree to fee him, though defpifed of Men. O now 
 
 he is fiiining in Glory, (hall not wc defire a Sight of 
 him ? / David delired it as his ofie Thing, PfaL xxvii. 
 though he then wanted his Throne and Kingdom. 
 The Spo Life leeks it as her one Thing, Cant. iii. 3. 
 Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth P O but a Sight 
 of him would make your Face to mine, a Sight of 
 him in his Love, in his dyed Garments, treading out 
 the Wine Prcfs alone. 
 
 7. Another Difh is the Comfort of his Spirit, and 
 the clearing up your Intereft in Chrift: and Glory, a 
 Sight of Heaven, and your Names written in the 
 Book of Life, fo that all your Fears may be fcatter- 
 ed, Objections anfivered, Doubts rcfolved ; and like- 
 ways the Evidences of your Graces cleared up to you, 
 fo that tho' you doubted before if you had Faith, yet 
 now you may be enabled to fiy with the poor Man, 
 Lord, I believe. You doubted before of your Love, 
 
 but 
 
C 349 3 
 
 but now you may fay with Peter, Lord, thou that 
 knowe\l all Things, knewcft that I love thee. You 
 doubted before of your Intereft in (Thrift, but now 
 you can lay with Tho?nas, My Lord x and my Cod ; 
 with Job, J h 'iow that my Redeemer liveth; and with 
 Paul, I know in whom I have believed. 
 
 Thus I have fhewn you fbme of the rich Provifion 
 and noble Entertainment prepared in this Banquet 
 before you : Yea, you fee it is not only rich Provifi- 
 on, but there are choice Rarities here, hidden Manna, 
 Angels Food ; yea, not only choice, but Plenty and 
 Variety, Food adapted to our Souls Nature and Fa- 
 culties ; Food to nourifh, ftrengthen, delight and 
 refreih the Soul. Here is Food fuitable to all the 
 Faculties, Light to the Mind, Peace to the Conlci- 
 cr.ee, Satisfaction to the Will, and Food for all the 
 AfFeclions. Here Love may iatisfy itfelf in embracing 
 the Chief among Ten thoulands. Defire may fatisfy 
 itfelf in clafping the Defire of all Nations. Delight 
 may here bathe itfelf in the River of Pleafure. In a 
 Word, what can the Soul need but is here f for Chrift 
 is made of God to us Wiidom, Righteoufnefs, Sancti- 
 fication and Redemption. Here is precious Blood to 
 purge away our deep Guilt ; here is perfecl Righte- 
 oufnefs to cover our naked Soul ; here are Riches, and 
 unfearchable Riches in Chrft, Righteoufnefs for our 
 Juflitication, and Grace for our Sanctification ; here 
 all Things are given us richly to enjoy ; here Hope 
 may feed on the great and precious Promifes. 
 
 2dly, At f'eafh there ufcd to be Lavers for the 
 Guefts to wafii in, as at the Marriage-feail: in Cava 
 of Galilee, where were fix Water-pots ftt for Purifi- 
 cation, John ii. 6. Doth Senfe of Defilement fear 
 you from partaking ? Behold, here is a Fountain ope- 
 ned, Zcch. xiii. i. O come, and wafh in it, that 
 ye may be fit to compais God's Altar, and fit down 
 at his Table. 
 
 idly. At Banquets there ufes to be Mirth and 
 C hearfulnefs ; fo here, when prodigal Sinners firit 
 
L 350 ] 
 
 return to their Father, he hath Mirth and Mufick to 
 entertain them. See Luke xv. 24. The Tidings of 
 Chrift's Purchafe, and the Promiies, are tlje beft Mu- 
 fick and Melody in the World ; the News of what 
 he hath done and fuffered, ought to fill your Hearts 
 and Lips with die high Praiies of God, and thank-' 
 fal Admiration of ChrHl and redeeming Love- O 
 Believers, confider you are not to come like Mour- 
 ners to a Funeral, but like Children to your Father's 
 tfeaft, a royal Feafl. VII bring them to my holy 
 Mountain, and make them joyful in my bloufc ojTray- 
 er, faith the Lord-. So that ye may eat this Bread 
 with Joy, and drink this Wine with a merry Heart, 
 in Hopes of God's accepting you and your Sacrifice, 
 Ecsle/'. ix> 7. 
 
 At'hly, At Feafts there is the Mailer of the Fea ft, 
 to bid the Guelts welcome, as ready as the Father to 
 welcome the prodigal Child. Chrilt is the Mailer of 
 this Feafl ; he hath lent forth his Servants to call 
 and invite you to the Feafl, and now -he is to come 
 to the Table to bid you welcome, as in Cant. \. 1. 
 Eat Friends, drink, yea drink abundantly, Be. t 
 
 Sth/y, At Feails there are Servants to attend the 
 Guefls ; here the Minifters are Stewards and Servants 
 to attend Chriit's Guefts at this Feafl:; and their 
 Work is to direct you to the Table, and to give every 
 one their Portion of Meat in due Scafon. God grant 
 we give not the Childrcns Bread to Dogs, and them 
 that have no Right to it. We know not the Heart, 
 ye all have profclled yourfelves to be Children, O do . 
 not mock God and his Servants. 
 
 6thly, Here is a Blelfing craved by the Mailer of 
 this Feafl ; yea, he has commanded, and will com- 
 mand the BlelTiug, and his Servants are to pray for 
 the Virtue of that Blelling to this Table. 
 
 fthly, At a Feafl there is good Company. O 
 .there is rare Company at this Feafl. The King fits 
 at hisTakte, Cant. i. 12. even the King of Glory;. 
 
 Chrjit 
 
C 3*i 3 . 
 
 Chrift himfelf is there prefent, and the Father alfo ; 
 tor in this Feaft we have Fellowship with the Father 
 and the Son, thro* the holy Spirit. .Here the Chil- 
 dren of God, yea the glorious Saints above fit at 
 this Table, and (hare with us in this Feaft. It is 
 true, they lit at the upper End or the Table, ^nd 
 
 we at the lower End They have better Appetites, 
 
 better Mufkk; they feed on a naked Chrift, we by- 
 Signs and Symbols ; but we have all the fame Cheer. 
 O what great and good Company is here ! — We read 
 of Belfljazzar that made a Feaft for a Thoufand of 
 his Lords, Dan. v. i. But here is a Feaft for many 
 Thoufands, yea, to all Believers, Jevjs and Gentiles, 
 an open free Feaft, 'I/a. xxv. And we read that 
 Ahafuevus made a Feaft to all his Princes and Servants 
 which lafted One hundred and eighty Days, Efik. i. 
 4. But here is a Feaft which lafts to all Eternity. 
 III. As to the third Head, Why he prepares fuch 
 a Feaft for his People ? Anf. 1 . To be a folemn Me- 
 morial of his Love to Sinners, in fullering and dy- 
 ing for them ; and this Memorial is to be kept up 
 thro' all Generations till Chrift's fecond Coming. 
 Juft fo the Paflbver was a commemorating Feaft to 
 the Israelites of their Protection and Deliverance from 
 the Bondage of Egypt. 
 
 2. To difcover his infinite Riches and Goodnefs to 
 poor Sinners. So Ahafuerus, Efther i. 3, 4. made 
 a Feaji to all his Princes and Servants, to fhew them 
 the Rich 2 s of his excellent Majejly. 
 
 3. To exprefs the Joy and Satisfaction he hath in 
 the Believer's coming to him. The Father of the 
 Prodigal evidenced his Joy for the Return of his 
 Son \yjf;o was dead and no-.v alive, lojl and now found} 
 by a Feaft and Mufick. O Believers, this is the Day 
 of the Gla chiefs of Chrift's Heart; glad is he to fee 
 hisProdig ils returning^ and thisFc ill is the Welcome 
 borate. 
 
 G g 2 4. To- 
 
C 31* ] 
 
 4. To exprefs his Love to Believers, and that he 
 might have Opportunity of nearer Communion and 
 Fellowfhip with them. At Feafts People have great 
 Freedom and Familiarity with one another, mutual 
 £xpref!ions of Kindnefs, communicating of Secrets, 
 rejoicing in one another. O but many a poor Soul 
 has been raviuYd with ChrihVs Lo\e here, and with 
 the Wine of his Coniblation ; he has made rare Dii- 
 coveries of his Love to them. 
 
 5. To ratify and confirm the Covenant between 
 Gcd and us. It was uiiial in the Eaitern Countries 
 to ratify Contracts and Covenants by eating and 
 drinking together. So it was in the Covenant made 
 between Ifaac and Abimeicch, fee Gen. xx\ i. 28, 20. 
 And Co it was a federal Rite between Labar. and Ja- 
 cob, Gen. xxxi. 46. between the Jfideiites and Gibe- 
 c?rit:s,Jojhua\x. 14. between £W A-/ and Abner y 2 Sam, 
 iii. 20. Confider then, this is a covenanting Feafl, 
 here a (blemn Bargain between God and us is iealed 
 and ratified. What is the Bargain? See the Tenor 
 of the Covenant, Afts xvi. 31. Believe on the Lord 
 Jefus Chrifty and tkouflialt be fared. Here we engage 
 to believe in Chrift, and Chrift engages to lave us. 
 Here God promiles to be to us a God, and we pro - 
 
 niife to be to him a People. Here God promifes 
 
 and feals the Benefits of the Covenant on his Part, 
 and we promife and feal the Duties of the Covenant 
 
 on our Part. Here God's giving the Signs is a 
 
 Seal on his Part, and our taking them is a Seal on 
 ours..- Here Chrift gives us his Soul and Body to 
 lave us, and we give our Souls and Bodies to ferve 
 
 him. Here God binds himfeif to be faithful, and 
 
 we bind ourfelves to be conftant. Yea, we here 
 
 fwear Allegiance to Chrifl; over his broken Body and 
 ihed Blood. 
 
 6. To be a Cordial to his poor fainting Ones, and 
 for ftrengthening the weak and feeble of his People. — 
 Many of his People arc fore calt down, and have 
 
 dwelt 
 
[ 353 ] 
 
 dwelt long with Fears and Horrors ; and this is a 
 Relief to them, here Chrift fmiles, and fpeaks Peace. 
 
 Others are weak in Grace, here he brings them 
 
 Supplies ; here the Decayed have renewed their 
 Strength; here the Lame have been made to leap 
 zs an Hart j and the Tongue of the Dumb to fing. 
 7. To fortify and encourage againft all Difficul- 
 ties, and Trials we may meet with in Chrift's Ser- 
 vice. Wc arc to look forjleproaches and Perfecti- 
 ons, if we hold raft by Chi ill. Satan and the World 
 will not be idle, fee Hcb. x. p2. Here is a Meal 
 and Cordial to hearten us for it ; and fome have 
 met with that in this Feaft which hath made them 
 cheufully venture on Sufferings, and refolve never 
 to leav e Chrift. An Hour of fealing animates the 
 Soul for an Hour of Suffering. If the Redeemer 
 fmile on us, and his Love be fried abroad in our 
 Hearts, wc can bear any Thing, fufTer any Thing, 
 lofe any Thing, and not be dilcouraged. O then 
 come, and take in Provifion againft the evil Day, for 
 ye have a Wildcrnefs to go thro'. Elijah was ex- 
 cited to take a double Meal, for his Journey was long. 
 So if you would have Strength for your Journey, 
 here you may have it, here is Food more fubilftmg, 
 durable and nouriihing than Elijah's Cake and Cruilo 
 of Water, of'which he cat and drank, and in the 
 Strength of that Meal went forty Days and forty 
 Nights, unto Horeb the Mount of God, i Kings six. 
 
 6, 8. What Bread and Wire afford lo the Body, 
 
 the fame doth Chrift's Body and Blood in the Sacra- 
 ment received by Faith, afford to the Soul, viz. 
 ftrengthening, comforting Nourimment. And who 
 but a Madman would be lb cruel to himfelf, as to 
 deny his faint Body its Hated Meals and Relief? O 
 may it not hearten you, that whatever your Straits, 
 bodily Wants or NecelTities are, and however you 
 may be defphed, you have a great King that honor.!* 
 you, owns you, takes you to feaft with himfelf here, 
 G g 3 and 
 
C 354 3 
 
 and will fhortly call you to the Marriage-fupper of 
 the Lamb above. 
 
 8. To wean you "from the vain Pleafures and 
 Comforts of the World, and from icnlual Delights; 
 and to make you long for that glorious and full Feait 
 above. This is a Foretafte of it, and fhould ftir 
 up a Hunger for it s for this Feail is the Firft-fruits 
 of Heaven. 
 
 Improvement I. I infer what a horrid Calumny it 
 is, that is railed againfr. the Ways of Chrifl by the 
 Devil and the World, that they are fad and melan- 
 choly, of purpofe to fright Men from them. No, 
 you fee Chriit has royal Fealh for his People, the 
 World knows little of. A Believer would not give 
 a Crumb of this fpiritual Feail for many Days of 
 worldly Feafts. 
 
 II. Admire his Corrdeleenfion, that the Lord of 
 Glory mould make fuch a Feafl: for Beggars, fee Luke 
 ::iv. 21. Poor Worms, vile Sinners, will he call us, 
 that deferve not a Dog's Crumb beneath the Table I 
 to come and fit down with the Children at the Table? 
 O what are we that he fhould deal fo with us, Sin- 
 ners vile as the Mire, and black as Hell. You have 
 far greater Caufe to wonder at this Privilege than 
 Mephibofheth, 2 Sam. ix. 7. David j aid to. him, I will 
 furcly fheiv thee Kindnefs for Jonathan thy Father's 
 Saiiy and will rcjlcre thee all the Land of Saul thy 
 Father, and thou /halt eat Bread at my Table conti- 
 nually. Obferve his Anl'wer, IV hat is thy Servant, 
 that thou fhould ft look upon fuch a dead Dog as lam P 
 
 III. How unexcufable are they who flight thisFeaft, 
 that lias cofl Chrift lb dear, more than ten Thoufand 
 Kingdoms. He has made all Things ready, and has 
 been calling Sinners to come. Confidcr how grie- 
 youfly the King took it, when he made his Marriage 
 Supper, and thole that were bidden would not conic, 
 Luke jriv. 24. 
 
 IV Ex- 
 
[ 355 ] 
 
 IV: Exhortation, O Communicants who have been 
 preparing for this Eeall, come away to the Marriage, 
 all Things are ready on Chrift's Part. Obj. But how 
 ihall J get Acceis to the Banqueting-houle ? Anfix* Em- 
 ploy Chrilt to bring you in. It is he alone that brings 
 his Spoule in. You may come to the Table, and get 
 the outward Elements, but unlels Chrilt bring you 
 in to the Banqueting-houfe, ye will not be taken in. 
 It is only Chrilt can give you Appetites, and clothe 
 you with the Wedding-Garment; 'tis only he that 
 can quicken the dead Soul, and ftrengthen the Wck, 
 do all Things t u ro' Chrift flrengthening me, faith 
 Paul, He only can lend the Comtprter, the North 
 and South Gales of the Spirit. He only can remove 
 the Burden of Sin, and take away the Heart of Stone, 
 diflblve Doubts and fcatter Clouds. O look and long 
 for him then to bring you in, and fay with thefe in 
 John xi. 56. What think ye > will he come to the Feafi f 
 will he bring me in to the Banqueting-houle, will he 
 touch my Heart and take me by the Hand ? Poor 
 Sinner, I'll tell you whom he will bring in. 'Tis 
 true, it is not every one, many come thronging to 
 the Feaft that have no Ground to expeft to be taken 
 in. But there are fome he will bring in, and they are 
 thefe ; 1 . The hungry and thirfty Sinner that is long- 
 ing for a Meeting with Chrift, fenfible of his Needs 
 and Wants, and crying, O a Crumb from bis Hand, 
 a Drop from his Wounds, a Seal of Pardon from that 
 Table, elfe I die. Thefe have a Promife to be filled. 
 2. The poor, broken-hearted, humbled Soul, that 
 has a deep Senfe of his own Nothingnefs and Umvor- 
 thinefs, faying, I am not worthy that Chrift mould 
 come under my Roof, and far lefs worthy that I 
 mould come under Chrift 's Roof, my Sins are fo ma- 
 ny and great. Is there any (landing afar off with 
 the Publican, afraid to come to the holy Table, fay- 
 ing, Cod be merciful to me a Sinner, Chrift will come 
 to fuch, Ifaieh Ivii. 15. He will revive the Spirit of 
 
 m 
 
[ 356 ] 
 
 arid the Heart tfthe contrite Ones. 3. The 
 poor praying and wrellling Soul, that has been putting 
 up many a Petition, ! i o h and Groan forAccefi, laying, 
 that I knew where to find him P O when wilt thou 
 come unto me, how long wilt thou hide thy Face ? 
 
 have ye been florming Heaven with your Cries lafl 
 Week, lafl Night, and this Morning : Have ye been 
 knocking for the Opening of the Door of the Banque- 
 ting-houle? he will come and bring fuch in. 4. All 
 the Friends and Lovers of Chriil will be taken in. O 
 Sinner, art thou Rich, fee thy Warrant and thy .Wei- 
 come, Cant. v. 1. O fay fbme, I can't be a Friend 
 to Chriil; but 1 wifli him well, and his People and 
 Intereft. I can't, fay I am a true Lover of Chrift ; but 
 
 1 find my Heart glowing and warming with Defire to 
 him, and I would give all the World I had thele 
 Glpwings kindled into a Flame. Take Courage, poor 
 Soul, Chriil: will not quench the fmoaking Fla.\, he 
 will blow it up into a Flame, and tike thee in. 5. 
 All fincere covenanting Souls, that have been Yefter- 
 r.ight and this Morning boneflly confentingto the Bar- 
 gain offered in the Goipel, content to clofe with 
 Chriil as he offers himfelf, to renounce their Idols and 
 Lulls, and to give Chriil their Hearts. Is there any 
 Soul willing to open to Chriil ; O then he will take 
 you in. Rev. iii. 20. If any Man open the Door, J will 
 ,;ome in to hhu, and will flip with him, and he with me. 
 O poor Sinners, that never opened your Hearts to 
 Chriil, be perfuaded to open to a bountiful Lord; o- 
 pen your Hearts to him, and he n\ ill open his Ban- 
 queting-houfe to you. O Sinner, haft thou no need 
 of Chrifl's Dainties; art thou not a poor, pcrifhing, 
 ftarving Soul, a famifhed Prodigal, and needed thou 
 not the Bread of Life ? Chriil is at the Door with Va- 
 riety of Bleilings, and ready to open Lis Banqueting- 
 houfe to you, O will ye open to him I Confider that 
 if ye do not accept of Chriil, he may pais inch a Sen- 
 tence againfl you, as in Luke xiv. 24. For I fay unto 
 
 \ou } that none of thefe Men which were bidden fh alt 
 
 tajlc 
 
C 357 ] 
 
 tafte of my Supper, O will it not be dreadful to fee 
 the Saints fitting at the Royal Feaft in Heaven, and 
 you yourfelves (hut out, like a Company of ftarving 
 beggars ftanding about the Doors where the Marriage 
 Supper is kept; they fee the Lights, and behold the 
 rich Diines carried up, they hear the Mirth and Mu- 
 iick of the Guefts, but not a Bit comes to their Share. 
 
 But as for you that are content to accept of Chi ill 
 on his own Terms, come away to the Marriage Sup- 
 per, Chrift the Mafter of the Feaft invites you, and 
 will make you welcome. And in coming to this Feaft 
 obierve the following Directions: 
 
 i. Come with holy Awe and Reverence of God, 
 the Mafter and Maker of this Feaft. If yc were go- 
 ing to a Prince's Table, you would have fome Awe 
 upon your Spirits; mind the Mafter of this Feaft is a 
 glorious, holy and jealous God, that will not be 
 mocked. 
 
 2. Come with a pure Heart and clean Hands ; wafli 
 your Hearts in the Tears of true Repentance, purge 
 them of ail Filth, thro' the Elood of Jefus, which 
 cleanfeth from all Sin, otherways you'll affront the 
 Mafler of this Feaft. Should a Beggar that has been 
 wallowing in a Puddle, intrude himfelf in that Coa- 
 dition into a Prince's Company, fit down at his Ta- 
 ble, and dip his belineared Hand? into the fame Dim 
 with him, How would he take it ? O come not with 
 filthy Rags and filthy Hands to this holy Table, but 
 repent of every Sin, renounce every Sin, and refolve 
 againil every Sin. 
 
 3. Come with a holy Fear and Jealoufy over your- 
 felves, fear'd that you be not ready. Cry, Lord, 
 let me not wrong Chrift or my own Soul this Day ; 
 O let me not betray the Son of God with a Kifs; O 
 let me not murder Chrift or my own Soul, contract 
 Blood, guiltinefs, or drink Damnation. O what if I 
 want the Wedding-Garment when the King comes 
 in to view the GueftsJ 
 
 a. Come 
 
C 358 ] 
 
 4. Come with a broken and bleeding Heart to view 
 the (lain Lamb. O will not the dying Groans and 
 bleeding Wounds of Chrift move you ? When you fee 
 him ftretched out and nailed, will ye not cry, O be- 
 hold my Saviour that was nailed for me, dying with 
 Love in his Heart and Smiles in his Faces O it was 
 my Sins drove in theie Nails. Remember, the Sun 
 vailed his Face in Time of Chrift's Sufferings, fainted 
 at the Sight, and could not look; O vail yours, re- 
 tire inwardly, and take amends of Sin the Caule or 
 his Sufferings. 
 
 5. Hive on the Wedding Garment, viz* Faith in 
 a Redeemer's Right ecnnels. Come relying on him 
 for Acceptance, and look to him for Strength and ' 
 Furniture; Look up to him, O dead Soul, for Lire 
 and Quickening. How unleemly will it be to fee a 
 Company of dead Corpfes fet down to the Feaft of the 
 living God ? O be acting Faith in a lively Manner on 
 Chrift, for Faith is the Life of all ; O come, reach 
 hither thy Finger, and behold Chrift's Hands, reach 
 hither thy Hand, and feel the Prints of the Najis, and 
 Mark of the Spear, and cry with Thomas, My Lord 
 and my God; here Vll reft, arid here V 11 ft ay. In the 
 Clefts of his Wounds my Soul (hall take Shelter, where 
 Juftice fhall not reach me. 
 
 6. Come with Love, for it is a Love-feaft. O 
 love Chriii, that is both the Matter, the Maker 
 and Matter of the Feaft. Chrift's Heart is burn- 
 ing and bleeding with Love to you, O let yours do lb 
 to him. Without Loye ye have nothing to do here. 
 
 . Come alio with Love and Charity to all Men, be 
 
 ready to forgive every one, as ye woukl have God to , 
 forgive you. 
 
 7. Come with panting and thirfting Defires, to 
 fee and meet with Chrift, faying, I care not who he 
 here, if Chi ill be abient. O the Dcfire of my Soul is 
 
 . u> him and the Remembrance of his Name. 
 
 8. Com* 
 
C 359 J 
 
 8. Come with Expectation, depending only on 
 Chrift's Merits, God's Promiles, and f.ee Mercy in 
 Chrift, greedily e.tjpecling fumething from Chrift this 
 Day; as the poor cripple Man did from Peter anS* 
 John, Afrs iii. 4, 5. And Peter fctjiening his Eyes upon 
 kinty with John, fa'id, Look on in. And he gave heed 
 unto them, ex peeling to receive foviething of thevi. 
 We ordinarily receive little, becaule we expert little. 
 O raife your Defires and Expectation?, for ye come 
 to a merciful and liberal God, that will not let the 
 Expectation of the poor perifh, Pjal. is:. iR. 
 
 9. Come religning yourieh cs toChiift. Give up 
 your Hearts to Chrift, laying, Lord, I have no Sa- 
 crifice to bring but my Heart, O that it were a thou- 
 iand Times better than it is, it mould be thine ; Lord, 
 accept of this poor Sacrifice. 
 
 to. Come with Admiration and Fraife. O the 
 high Praiies of God mould be in our Mouths : Won- 
 der and praife God for the Contrivance of our Re- 
 demption, and for making Choice of fuch a Redeemer. 
 O wonder and praile our Redeemer for leaving his 
 Throne of Glory for a Manger; yea, for a Crols 
 and a Grave, and all for the Sake of us. Say, 
 u Lord, what am I, that thou (houldft part with thy 
 " Glory, yea with thy Blood and Life for fuch a 
 H Wretch as I am ? O how am I amamed, that 
 " I love thee no more ; my Heart is cold, my^^ 
 14 Tongue is flow, I cannot love, I cannot pruilo*^( 
 * O let Heaven and Earth, Angels and Men, join 
 '' and extol his free Grace and wondrous Lpve." If 
 ye come in fuch a Frame, you will be taken into the 
 Banqueting-houfe, and his Banner over you will be 
 Love. And this leads me to fpeak a Word to the 
 Banner of Love. 
 
 Chrift upon the Crofs hath lifted up a banner of 
 Love ; he hath declared himfelf willing to receive e- 
 rery Soul that will come under his Banner, and lift 
 bimlelf to fight under his Colours. As ye are profef- 
 
 fine 
 
C 360 ] 
 
 fing to leave the Devil's Standard, and come to 
 Chrift, by Laking your Sacrament, ( . hicii ufed to be 
 a military Oath among the Romcms) anci bearing 
 Allegiance r. Chrifr ; G mind ye aic ^ot to draw 
 back, but to follow the Captain of your Salvation, 
 and nght again: f ne Devil tre \Y orld and the Flefh. 
 If y f* jure yc r ves, and return to your old Ways, 
 faying, Welcome dmnken Cups, bloody Oaths, lying, 
 ve will incur all the Curies of the Law, and 
 Vengeance of the Gofpel alfo. O ye will fink deeper 
 into Hell than others, and ye will be made to cry. 
 Would to God I had been the Son of a Pagan or Ma- 
 hometan. Wherefore own and (land by the Banner 
 of Chrift; and to encourage you to Stcdfaftnefs, keep 
 in Mind that you have' t. A noble General, who hath 
 already conquered, and is ready to join you in the 
 Fight. 2. A noble Caufe ; 'tis the Lord's Battle, 
 they arc God's Enemies, and Enemies to your Souls 
 alfo. 3. You have noble Weapons, the Shield of 
 Faith, Sword of the Spirit, ire, they are impenetrable 
 and full Proof. 4. Noble Pay, a white Stone, a 
 Crown and a new Name, Grace here, and Glory 
 hereafter. 5. Ye are lure of Victory, if ye fight 
 valiantly, for Chrift will fairly bring you out of the 
 Field at length. 
 
 A Banner is a Sign of Union ; it fignifies that 
 U who refort to it, kxe united in one Company, 
 loder iiich a Captain : O then ftudy Union among 
 yourfelves. Let the Confideration of Chrift's Love 
 move you all to be unite, and to 'love one an- 
 other. O fhun Divifion, Difcord, fiandering and 
 backbiting ; ye are Soldiers of one Company, and 
 under one Captain, and if you divide, Enemies will 
 
 Advantage? Again, a Banner is a Sign of 
 
 Protection, and Love is the Banner that engages 
 Chrift to.-protect his People ; as long as Chrilt loves 
 his People, he will protect and defend them. O then 
 mind your Work in evil Times, flee to Chrift's Love, 
 
 >nd 
 

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