without a blessing; according to the promise, that where two or three are agreed together con-cerning any thing they should ask in Christ's name, it should be given them. 8. We should approach with a lively sense of the transaction itself. Christ, crucified before our eyes, should pierce our hearts with shame for our sins. His love should awaken our most lively affections; his unspeakable gift draw out our warmest gratitude; and all our souls, melted into self-loathing, humble joy, and holy delight, should testify how highly we esteem this most solemn ordinance. These views dwelling upon our minds, will greatly contribute to render our devotions before we communicate, fervent, humble and joyous; (and surely our hearts must be hard indeed, if on our knees there before the Lord, we find not some gracious relentings, some delightful enlargements of soul towards Jesus Christ) nor is a lively, sensible experience of these things, at any time more desirable or more proper than now, considering where we are, what: we remember, and how we are interested in it. These are the things which will shew our frame of spirit to be sacramental. Not that I would mean to say, that though we should come short in one or other or all of these, we should therefore be unfit for the ordinance; no: but we should labour after these, be humbled: for our great defectiveness and low advancements, whilst the higher measures we attain of these things, the more comfortable will the communion be, as well as more profitable. II. Having thus improved the short time be fore the Lord's supper, when we come to the ta-ble, we must mind the grand business we have: to do there, which is to receive Christ's pledge,, in token that he hath received us, and to make a solemn surrender of our souls to him; so that henceforth our Maker is our husband, and we are no longer our own, but his. Whilst the minister then is about to put the elements into our hands and to make his prayer over us, this surrender should be made in the following way. 1. Deliberately. Having counted the cost, on one hand we see a merciful and all-sufficient Saviour, who hath all grace to pardon, and all power to renew, promising us to undertake for us, to bless, preserve and comfort us; yet withal, we being corrupt and fallen creatures, this cannot be done without a course of self-denial and mortification of our members upon earth, though to encourage us to it, this be most intimately connected with eternal glory. On the other hand, we see the indulgences of flesh and sense, the pleasures of sin for a season, but withal the curse of God in time and in eternity: we are therefore through grace fully disposed to renounce the one, and chuse the other. This cannot be done too clearly and coolly. Before at our devotions, we cannot be too lively and fervent in spirit, here we cannot be too deliberate. Chusing Christ as our best portion, whatever mortification and self-denial, whatever reproach, whatever difficulties may attend his service, that so we may not in a fit of devotion swear we will go with him to prison and to death; and then by and by, when corruptions strive, and Satan tempts, or tribulation comes, be offended, and go back from our engagements; but so simply and steadily set our hands to the plough, as never to look back, but be faithful unto death, that we may receive the crown of life. 2. Humbly. We may not be confident, but in the Lord and the power of his might. We are promising things, the least of which is above our strength. God must work in us to do, as he hath wrought in us to will; and it is with this view we must surrender up ourselves to him, humbly sensible that we are not in any wise sufficient of ourselves, but we commit our souls into his hands as a faithful Creator. The sense of our own nothingness should especially lie upon our hearts, when we are admitted to this awful covenant, and receive the seals of it into our hands. All is from the Lord; he alone that hath begun his work in us can perfect the same, and enable us to abide faithful to the vows which are upon us. 3. Chearfully. We are a willing people; we give up our souls to Christ, and all we have, and are to be for ever his; not so much because we are bound to do it, as because we delight to do it. We are a free-will offering; drawn, not driven; hearty, not reserved; love fixes our choice, and Christ is to us all in all. We wish we had a thousand hearts to give him, we would not hesitate to part with any thing he calls for, we would delight in that which he commands. With a willing mind we take his easy yoke and light burden, and are pleased with every opportunity of renewing our bonds, that we may thereby be united closer to the Lord our head. 4. Sincerely. This indeed is the life of the whole. A double heart, a reserved surrender, is an abomination before God. If our eye pities, or our hearts spare one evil temper, one sin, if we should dissemble with our lips, aud flatter him with our tongue, wo unto us; he that seeth our thoughts afar off, would condemn us even on our knees at the table. Though we should deceive ourselves by our hypocrisy, God caunot be mocked. We must be sincere before him, qur naked souls should be exposed to his view, and an honest appeal to our hearts, that God himself knows we desire to make no reserve. See to this, that you make no partial surrender; God must have all our hearts, or none; if we divide them, by fixing one part on the world, if we would plead for ever so little of its sinful indulgencies, if we want to reconcile the services of God and mammon, allowing part of our affections to the pleasures, vanities, interests, or gain of this present evil world, and think God will be satisfied with the remainder, we are utterly mistaken. The true surrender is to give up all, and to take Christ as Lord of all, our King to reign over us, as well as our propitiation and atonement. This is sincerity, much talked of, little known. that it be your own case; without it the strongest promises, the greatest outward reformation, the most lively pangs of devotion, a torrent of tears, or the most solemn remorse, will but de-ceive you. Coolly, humbly, chearfully and wholly, without partiality and without hypocrisy, desire to give up your soul to Christ; that so you may be able to adopt the words of an excellent christian, and testify as he did : "But if I might make some reserve, "And duty did not call; "I love my Lord with such a love, See It will be a blessed ordinance indeed, if you. can see such to be the frame of your heart at Christ's table, and seal it by the solemn pledges of the body and blood of Christ, which are put into your hands. Here then you will see, at the first view, the absurdity and ignorance it betrays, to be coming up to the Lord's table reading some book of ucvotion, and in a formal dull. you way to be supplying the want of spirituality by such a lifeless repetition of a number of words. Surely if you come to give up your heart to Christ, if feel the obligations lying upon you to do so, you can never need to read it out of a book; your eye should be on your heart, not the paper; and you should be looking to the dear Saviour, whom you are remembering, and calling forth this heartiness, simplicity, and sincerity of soul, with which you chuse the Lord for your portion. Thus you may know how to behave at the Lord's table. And then, III. When you depart from thence, I suppose the following things will be a proper exercise for you. 1. You should retire to your place, and there begin with an Amen to all that hath passed; renewing before God the solemn renunciation of sin, and choice of Christ, which you have made, and the hearty purpose you have of abiding by it. You should there offer again your earnest supplications for grace to be faithful, and that you may really be enabled to receive the Lord Jesus, as a master to serve, as well as a portion to enjoy; that so this God may be your God for ever and ever, and you may be his even unto death. 2. You should depart with admiration of the condescension and grace you have experienced: That ever the God of glory should stoop to look upon you; that ever Jesus Christ should admit you to his table; that ever the Holy Ghost should make your heart his dwelling; that ever such great and precious promises should be made to you; that ever you should be permitted to receive the seals of the covenant, established with the high and holy One that inhabiteth e |