passion, forbearance, and gentleness of your con versation. (3.) Be temperate in all things. In the world, that its anxious cares and concerns do not engage you immoderately. In your body, that you deny its cravings, making no provision for the flesh, by sloth, drunkenness, gluttony or pleasure, to fulfil the lusts thereof: They that are Christ's, have both crucified the world and the flesh with its affections and lusts. A worldly covetous communicant, a drunken intemperate communicant, a lewd and carnal communicant, what can be so monstrous a thing? Can we receive the body of Christ in one hand, whilst we grasp the world in the other? Can the same eyes that have looked upon a crucified Saviour, indulge wantonness or be greedy of gain? Cau these hearts that have been made the temples of the Holy Ghost, erect the altar of Mammon there, or entertain those vile affections which must defile the sacred place? Let it appear then that you are now no longer debtors to the flesh, to live after the flesh; that the world is crucified unto you, and you unto the world; that you have higher enjoyments than flesh or sense, and nobler prospects than earth can give you; and this may well make you dead to the love of worldly things, and temperate in the use of them. (4.) Shew forth your love to your brethren. As good stewards of the manifold gifts of God, according as God hath given to every one, let him minister the same to him that lacketh, Do we abound in riches, let us abound also in liberality? have we but little, let us shew our diligence to give of that little? The trifle we contribute at the table, should be as the first-fruits, to sanctify our other gifts, in token that we do them all in Christ's name, and for his sake, But Have we there are other and far greater demonstrations of love, which we are called to exercise towards our brethren, than the relief of their poverty, such as bearing the infirmities of the weak, condescending to the meanest, ready to help them with our presence, advice or influence, where any or all of these may be necessary; counting none beneath our notice or regard; seeing the unspeakable condescensions of Christ to us, who, though he was in the form of God, and thought it no robbery to be equal with God, yet humbled himself, and made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant. really seen him come not to be ministered unto, but to minister? have we seen his love in giving his life a ransom for us? how ought we then to love one another, yea, to be ready to lay down, if need be, our lives for the brethren? for how dear ought those bodies to be to us, for which Christ's body was given? how precious ought those souls to be in our eyes, for which Christ's soul was sorrowful, even unto death? This universal love to all, but especially to those who are of the houshold of faith, we must go forth to exercise, that so all men may know we are Christ's disciples, by that unfeigned affection we bear one towards another. (5.) Our conversation after this ordinance should be more heavenly. What hath a christian any longer to do among the tombs of this world, who is come from remembering a living, dying, risen and ascended Saviour? Our conversation, says St. Paul, is in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Have we there remembered his coming again? what have we then to do but to make ready for it, that our affections being set on things in heaven, not on things on earth, we may wel See come the day of his appearance and glory.Here is the grand evidence of a christian. Others direct all their aims, pursuits and designs after the things which are seen, and are temporal; he seeks always the things above, the things which are unseen to others, but realized by faith to him, and most important, because eternal. that this be your experience, that every time you communicate, you find the effects of it thus evident, in lifting up your hearts after Christ in the heavens; in quickening your preparation to meet him in the clouds, and continually making you more ready and disposed for that inheritance among the saints in light, which in the ordinance was sealed to you, and to which you were called.. Such should be our conversation after every sacramental occasion, that all who see us may take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus; and behold from our walk the brightness of the grace communicated to us, making us shine as lights in the world, like Moses' face when he came down from the mount of vision. I would to God this was more the case; and that all that were joined to the Lord in bonds of outward communion with him, were thus one spirit with him; walked more as Christ walked. I am very sure it is the great grief of every truly christian heart, whenever they behold the contrary, and see these spots at our feasts feasting themselves without fear, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. May you and I fear for ourselves, and give greater diligence to make our calling and election sure, continuing to walk thus as persons professing godliness. In order to which, we shall find the following means most highly conducive; and I pray God you may have such desires thus to give up your hearts to God, as heartily to exercise yourselves unto godliness in all the ways the Spirit points out to you; and these are chiefly, 1. Watchfulness. 2. Prayer. 3. The word. 4. The company of lively christians. 1. To walk as becometh your christian profession, you must be watchful. The enemies whom you renounce are mightier than you, wise, watchful and ensnaring. The devil continually spreads his toils, and is never perhaps busier with us than after such a season, when the fervour of devotion being somewhat abated, our hearts are more exposed to his attacks; then he would step in, tempt us to return unto folly, follow his insinuations with somé bait laid in our way, and so work upon the remainder of corruption within us, in order to betray us into his hands. Thus after the sop, Satan entered into Judas. As not ignorant therefore of his devices, we should especially beware of security. Let not him that putteth on the armour, boast as he who taketh it off. When the cold turf covers our head, then the wicked will cease from troubling, and the weary have perfect rest; but here every step we take we are among lions, and must stand on our watch-tower, fearing always, and working out our salvation with that trembling and care which can only secure it. A holy jealousy is the great. preservative against falling away. The moment. we begin to slumber, our watchful adversary is ready to take advantage against us: but blessed is the man whom his Lord when he cometh shall find watching. 2. Prayer is the greatest means of preserving. the influence of this ordinance upon our hearts. This is closely connected with the former, watch fulness and prayer go together; we must pray that we may watch, and continue watching unto prayer. It is not enough once to draw nigh unto God, but we should daily be keeping near to him, and upon our knees in our closets acting over again that surrender which we have made at the table. Prayer is the breath of the divine nature, of the new creation begun in us, and by it we should be offering up our souls daily to him, from whom cometh our salvation. By prayer we should seek to maintain an holy frame of spirit, appearing solemnly and frequently in secret in God's presence, that we may habitually walk under the sense of it. Whoever hath any experience of divine things, will find his constant need, and the gracious influence of earnest and importunate prayer; such an one cannot but pray, all his soul depends upon it, he knows he shall quickly grow careless the moment he becomes prayerless; and therefore he remarks the smallest decays in private prayer, stirs up his soul to the lively exercise of it, and pleads for the Spirit to blow up the fire of all holy graces in his heart. To neglect prayer, or to perform it with an habitual negligence and formality, is a most suspicious sign that all approaches to God at his table were mere matters of form, the work of a day, not the spiritual exercises of the heart, desiring nearness to and communion with God; for where this is the case in one ordinance, it must be so in another: they who long to see Christ at his table, are daily setting him before them, when they bow their knees at his footstool; and this both prepares the way before, and keeps alive the sense of what they have found at Christ's communion afterwards. Pray therefore, I beseech you, without ceasing, as you hope to stand fast, as you would be true to your en |