A05817:900
The practise of piety directing a Christian how to walk that he may please God.The practise of pietie directing a Christian how to walke that he may please God.
London: printed for John Hodgets, 1613London: printed for Iohn Hodgets, 1613
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
When thou seest the wine brought unto thee apart from the bread: then remember that the blood of Jesus Christ was as verily separated from his body upon the Cross for the remission of thy sins. And that this is the seal of that new covenant which GOD hath made to forgive all the sins of all ⟨p. 764⟩penitent sinners that believe the merits of his blood•heding. For the wine is not a Sacrament of Christs blood contained in his •eines: but as it was shed out of his body upon the Cross for the remission of the sins of all that believe in him.1
When thou seest the wine brought vnto thee apart from the bread: then remember that the bloud of Iesus Christ was as verily separated from his body vpon the Crosse for the remission of thy sinnes. And that this is the seale of that new couenant which GOD hath made to forgiue all the sinnes of al ⟨p. 764⟩penitent sinners that beleeue the merits of his blood•heding. For the wine is not a Sacrament of Christs blood contained in his •eines: but as it was shed out of his body vpon the Crosse for the remission of the sinnes of all that beleeue in him.1
As thou drinkest the wine, and pourest it out of the Cup into thy stomach; meditate and believe that by the merits of that blood which Christ shed upon the Cross, all thy sins are as verily forgiven, as thou hast now drunk this Sacramental Wine, and hast it in thy stomach. And in the instant of drinking settle thy meditation upon Christ▪ as he hanged upon the Cross: as if ⟨p. 765⟩like Mary and John, thou did see him nailed, and his blood running down his blessed side out of that ghastful wound which the Spear made in his innocent heart: wishing thy mouth closed to his side, that thou mightest receive that precious blood before it fell to the dusty earth. And yet the actual drinking of that real blood with thy mouth; would be nothing so *effectual, as this Sacramental drinking of that blood, spiritually by Faith. For one of the Soldiers might have drunk that, and been still a reprobate: but whosoever drinketh it spiritually by Faith in the Sacrament, shall surely have the Remission of his sins, ⟨p. 766⟩and Life everlasting.
As thou drinkest the wine, and pourest it out of the Cup into thy stomacke; meditate and beleeue that by the merits of that bloud vvhich Christ shed vpon the Crosse, all thy sinnes are as verely forgiuen, as thou hast now drunke this Sacramentall Wine, and hast it in thy stomach. And in the instant of drinking settle thy meditation vpon Christ▪ as he hanged vpon the Crosse: as if ⟨p. 765⟩like Mary and Iohn, thou did see him nailed, and his bloud running downe his blessed side out of that gastfull wound vvhich the Speare made in his innocent heart: wishing thy mouth closed to his side, that thou mightest receiue that precious bloud before it fell to the dustie earth. And yet the actuall drinking of that reall bloud with thy mouth; vvould be nothing so *effectuall, as this Sacramentall drinking of that bloud, spiritually by Faith. For one of the Souldiers might haue drunke that, and beene still a reprobate: but vvhosoeuer drinketh it spiritually by Faith in the Sacrament, shall surely haue the Remission of his sinnes, ⟨p. 766⟩and Life euerlasting.
As thou feelest the Sacramental Wine which thou hast drunk, warming thy cold stomach: so endeavour to feel the Holy Ghost cherishing thy soul in the joyful assurance of the forgiveness of all thy sins, by the merits of the blood of Christ. And to this end God giveth every faithful soul together with the Sacramental blood, the holy Ghost to drink. We are all made to drink into one Spirit. 1And so lift up thy mind from the contemplation of Christ, as he was crucified upon the Cross:2 to consider how he now sits in glory at the right hand of his Father, making intercession for thee: by presenting ⟨p. 767⟩to his Father, the unvaluable merits of his death, which he once suffered for thee: to appease his Justice for the sins which thou dost daily commit against him.
As thou feelest the Sacramentall Wine vvhich thou hast drunke, warming thy cold stomach: so endeuour to feele the Holy Ghost cherishing thy soule in the ioyfull assurance of the forgiuenesse of all thy sinnes, by the merits of the bloud of Christ. And to this end God giueth euery faithfull soule together with the Sacramentall bloud, the holy Ghost to drinke. Wee are all made to drinke into one Spirit. 1And so lift vp thy minde from the contemplation of Christ, as hee vvas crucified vpon the Crosse:2 to consider how hee now sits in glory at the right hand of his Father, making intercession for thee: by presenting ⟨p. 767⟩to his Father, the vnualuable me•its of his death, which hee once suffered for thee: to appease his Iustice for the sins which thou dost daily commit against him.
After thou hast eaten and drunk both the Bread and Wine: labour that as those Sacramental Signs do turn to the nourishment of thy body, and by the digestion of heat become one with thy substance: so by the operation of Faith and the Holy Ghost thou mayest become one with Christ, and Christ with thee: and so mayest feel thy Communion with Christ confirmed and increased daily more and more. That as it is unpossible to separate the Bread and Wine digested ⟨p. 768⟩into the blood and substance of thy body: so it may be more unpossible to part Christ from thy Soul, or thy Soul from Christ.
After thou hast eaten and drunke both the Bread and Wine: labour that as those Sacramentall Signes do turne to the nourishment of thy body, and by the digestion of heate become one with thy substance: so by the operation of Faith and the Holy Ghost thou maist become one vvith Christ, and Christ with thee: and so maist feele thy Communion with Christ confirmed and encreased daily more and more. That as it is vnpossible to separate the Bread and Wine digested ⟨p. 768⟩into the bloud and substance of thy body: so it may be more vnpossible to part Christ from thy Soule, or thy Soule from Christ.
1Lastly, as the Bread of the Sacrament, though confected of many grains; yet makes but one Bread: so must thou remember, that though all the faithful are many: yet are they all but one Mystical Body, whereof Christ is Head. And therefore thou must love every Christian as thy self, and a member of thy body.
1Lastly, as the Bread of the Sacrament, though confected of many graines; yet makes but one Bread: so must thou remember, that though all the faithfull are many: yet are they all but one Mysticall Body, whereof Christ is Head. And therefore thou must loue euery Christian as thy selfe, and a member of thy body.
Thus far of the duties to be done at the receiving of the holy Sacrament, called Meditation.
Thus farre of the duties to be done at the receiuing of the holy Sacrament, called Meditation.
The duty which we are to perform after the receiving of the L•rds Supper, is called Action or Practise: without which all the rest will minister unto us no comfort.
THe duetie vvhich vvee are to performe after the receiuing of the L•rds Supper, is called Action or Practise: without vvhich all the rest will minister vnto vs no comfort.
This Action consists of two sorts of duties: first, such as we are to perform in the Church: or else, after that we are gone home.
This Action consists of two sorts of duties: first, such as wee are to performe in the Church: or else, after that we are gone home.
Those that we are to perform in the Church, are either several, from our own souls: or else, jointly, with the Congregation.
Those that we are to performe in the Church, are either seuerall, from our owne soules: or else, ioyntly, vvith the Congregation.
The several duties which thou must perform from thine own Soul are three: first, thou must be careful (that forasmuch as Christ now dwelleth in thee, therefore) to entertain him in a clean heart, and with pure affections;1 for, the most holy will be holy with the holy:2 for if Joseph of Arimathia when he had begged of Pilate his dead body to bury it, wrapped it in sweet odours, and fine linen, and laid it in a new Tomb: how much more shouldest thou lodge Christ in a new heart, and perfume his rooms with the odoriferous Incense of Prayers, and all pure affections. If God required Moses to provide a pot of pure ⟨p. 771⟩gold to keep the Manna that fell in the Wilderness: what a pure heart shouldest thou provide to retain this divine Manna that is come down from Heaven.
The seuerall duties which thou must performe from thine owne Soule are three: first, thou must be carefull (that forasmuch as Christ now dwelleth in thee, therefore) to entertaine him in a cleane heart, and with pure affections;1 for, the most holy will be holy with the holy:2 for if Ioseph of Arimathia when hee had begged of Pilate his dead body to burie it, vvrapped it in sweete odours, and fine linnen, and laid it in a new Tombe: how much more shouldest thou lodge Christ in a new heart, and perfume his roomes vvith the odoriferous Incense of Prayers, and all pure affections. If God required Moses to prouide a pot of pure ⟨p. 771⟩gold to keepe the Manna that fell in the Wildernesse: what a pure heart shouldest thou prouide to retaine this diuine Manna that is come downe from Heauen.
And as thou camest sorrowing like Joseph and Mary to seek Christ in the Temple, 1so now having there found him in the middest of his Word and Sacraments, be careful with joy to carry him home with thee as they did.
And as thou camest sorrowing like Ioseph and Mary to seeke Christ in the Temple, 1so now hauing there found him in the middest of his Word and Sacraments, be carefull with ioy to carry him home with thee as they did.
Secondly, thou must offer the Sacrifice of a private ⟨p. 772⟩thanks-giving unto God for this inestimable grace and mercy: for as this action is common unto the whole Church: so is it applied particularly to every one of the faithful in the Church, and for this particular mercy, every Soul must joyfully offer up a particular Sacrifice of Thanks-giving. For if the Wise-men rejoiced so much when they saw the Star which conducted them unto Christ; and worshipped him so devoutly when he lay, a Babe, in the Manger, and offered unto him their Gold, Myrrh, and Frankincense: how much more shouldest thou rejoice now that thou hast both seen and received this Sacrament, ⟨p. 773⟩which guideth thy Soul unto him, where he sitteth at the right hand of his father in glory? And thither lifting up thy heart, adore him, and offer up unto him the Gold of a pure Faith, the Myrrh of a mortified heart, and this or the like sweet Incense of Prayer and Thanks-giving.
Secondly, thou must offer the Sacrifice of a priuate ⟨p. 772⟩thankes-giuing vnto God for this inestimable grace and mercy: for as this action is common vnto the whole Church: so is it applyed particularly to euery one of the faithfull in the Church, and for this particular mercy, euery Soule must ioyfully offer vp a particular Sacrifice of Thankes-giuing. For if the Wise-men reioyced so much when they saw the Star which conducted them vnto Christ; and worshipped him so deuoutly vvhen hee lay, a Babe, in the Manger, and offered vnto him their Gold, Myrrhe, and Frankinsence: how much more shouldest thou reioyce now that thou hast both seene and receiued this Sacrament, ⟨p. 773⟩vvhich guideth thy Soule vnto him, where hee sitteth at the right hand of his father in glory? And thither lifting vp thy heart, adore him, and offer vp vnto him the Gold of a pure Faith, the Myrrhe of a mortified heart, and this or the like sweete Incense of Prayer and Thankes-giuing.
What shall I render unto thee (O blessed Saviour) for all these blessings, which thou hast so graciously bestowed upon my Soul? how can I sufficiently thank thee, when I can scarce express them? ⟨p. 774⟩Where thou mightest have made me a Beast, thou madest me a man after thine own Image. When by sin I had lost both thine Image, and my self: thou didst renew in me thine Image by thy Spirit: and diddest redeem my Soul by thy blood again: and now thou hast given unto me thy Seal and pledge of my Redemption; nay, thou hast given thy self unto me O blessed Redeemer. Oh what an inestimable treasure of riches, and over-flowing Fountain of grace hath he got who hath gained thee! No man ever touched thee by Faith, but thou didst heal him by Grace, for thou art the Author of Salvation, the remedy ⟨p. 775⟩of all evils, the medicine of the sick, the life of the quick, and the resurrection of the dead. Seemed it a small matter unto thee to appoint thy holy Angels to attend upon so vile a Creature as I am; but that thou wouldest enter thy self into my Soul, there to preserve, nourish and cherish me unto life everlasting?
WHat shall I render vnto thee (O blessed Sauiour) for all these blessings, which thou hast so graciously bestowed vpon my Soule? how can I sufficiently thanke thee, vvhen I can scarse expresse them? ⟨p. 774⟩Where thou mightest haue made mee a Beast, thou madest mee a man after thine owne Image. When by sinne I had lost both thine Image, and my selfe: thou didst renew in mee thine Image by thy Spirit: and diddest redeeme my Soule by thy bloud againe: and now thou hast giuen vnto mee thy Seale and pledge of my Redemption; nay, thou hast giuen thy selfe vnto mee O blessed Redeemer. Oh what an inestimable treasure of riches, and ouer-flowing Fountaine of grace hath hee got vvho hath gained thee! No man euer touched thee by Faith, but thou didst heale him by Grace, for thou art the Author of Saluation, the remedy ⟨p. 775⟩of all euils, the medicine of the sicke, the life of the quicke, and the resurrection of the dead. Seemed it a small matter vnto thee to appoint thy holy Angels to attend vpon so vile a Creature as I am; but that thou wouldest enter thy selfe into my Soule, there to preserue, nourish and cherish mee vnto life euerlasting?
