A27107:886
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
London: printed for Edward Brewster, 1695
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
This Exercise of spiritual Meditation consist in divers Points.
THis Exercise of spiritual Meditation consist in divers Points.
First when the Sermon is ended, and the Banquet of the Lord's Supper begins to be celebrated, meditate with thy self how thou art invited by Christ to be a Guest at his Holy Table, and how lovingly ⟨p. 340⟩he inviteth thee;* Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters of life, &c. Come, buy wine and milk, without money, and without price: eat ye that which is good, let your soul delight it self in fatness. bTake ye, eat ye: This is my body, which was broken for you; drink ye all of this: for this is my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins. What greater honour can be vouchsafed than to be admitted to sit at the Lord• own Table; What better fare can be afforded, than to feed on the Lord's own Body and Blood? If David thought it to be the greatest favour that he could show unto good Barzillai, 3for all the kindness that he showed unto him in his Troubles, to offer him, that he should feed with him at his own Table in Jerusalem: how much greater favour ought we to account it, When Christ doth indeed feed us in the Church at his own Table, and that with his own most holy Body and Blood?
First when the Sermon is ended, and the Banquet of the Lord's Supper begins to be celebrated, meditate with thy self how thou art invited by Christ to be a Guest at his Holy Table, and how lovingly ⟨p. 340⟩he inviteth thee;* Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters of life, &c. Come, buy wine and milk, without money, and without price: eat ye that which is good, let your soul delight it self in fatness. bTake ye, eat ye: This is my body, which was broken for you; drink ye all of this: for this is my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins. What greater honour can be vouchsafed than to be admitted to sit at the Lord• own Table; What better fare can be afforded, than to feed on the Lord's own Body and Blood? If David thought it to be the greatest favour that he could shew unto good Barzillai, 3for all the kindness that he shewed unto him in his Troubles, to offer him, that he should feed with him at his own Table in Jerusalem: how much greater favour ought we to account it, When Christ doth indeed feed us in the Church at his own Table, and that with his own most holy Body and Blood?
Secondly,1 As Abraham, when he went up to the mount, to sacrifice Isaac his Son, left his Servants beneath in the Valley: so when thou comest to the spiritual sacrifice of the Lord's Supper, lay aside all earthly thoughts and cogitations; that thou mayest wholly contemplate of Christ, and offer up thy Soul unto him, who sacrificed both his Soul and Body for thee.
Secondly,1 As Abraham, when he went up to the mount, to sacrifice Isaac his Son, left his Servants beneath in the Valley: so when thou comest to the spiritual sacrifice of the Lord's Supper, lay aside all earthly thoughts and cogitations; that thou maiest wholly contemplate of Christ, and offer up thy Soul unto him, who sacrificed both his Soul and Body for thee.
Thirdly, Meditate with thy self, how precious and venerable is the Body and Blood of the Son of God, who is the Ruler ⟨p. 341⟩of Heaven and Earth, the Lord, at whose beck the Angels tremble, and by whom both the quick and dead shall be judged at the last day, and thou among the •est. And how that it is he, who having been crucified for thy sins, offereth now to be received by faith into thy s•ul. On the other side, consider how sinful a Creature thou art: how altogether unworthy of so holy a Guest: how ill deserving to taste of such sacred food, having been conceived in filthiness, and wallowing ever since in the mire of iniquity: bearing the Name of a Christian, but doing the works of the Devil; adoring Christ with an* Ave Rex in thy mouth, but spitting Oaths in his face, and crucifying him anew with thy graceless actions.
Fourthly, Ponder then with what face darest thou offer to touch so holy a Body with such defiled hands? or to drink such precious blood with so lewd and lying a mouth? or to lodge so blessed a Guest in so uncle an a stable? For if the Bethshemites were slain, for but looking irreverently into the Ark of the old Testament, what Judgment mayest thou justly expect, who with such impure Eyes and Heart, art come to see and receive the Ark of the New Testament, in which dwelleth all the fullness of the God-head, bodily?1
Fourthly, Ponder then with what face darest thou offer to touch so holy a Body with such defiled hands? or to drink such precious blood with so lewd and lying a mouth? or to lodge so blessed a Guest in so uncle an a stable? For if the Bethshemites were slain, for but looking irreverently into the Ark of the old Testament, what Judgment maist thou justly expect, who with such impure Eyes and Heart, art come to see and receive the Ark of the New Testament, in which dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head, bodily?1
If Uzzah for but touching (though not without zeal) the Ark of the Covenant, was stricken with sudden death; 1what ⟨p. 342⟩stroke of divine Judgment mayst thou not fear, that so rudely, with unclean hands, dost presume to handle the Ark of the Eternal Testament; wherein are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
If Vzzah for but touching (though not without zeal) the Ark of the Covenant, was stricken with sudden death; 1what ⟨p. 342⟩stroke of divine Judgment mayst thou not fear, that so rudely, with unclean hands, dost presume to handle the Ark of the Eternal Testament; wherein are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
If John Baptist (the holiest man that was born of a Woman) thought himself unworthy to bear his shoes;1 O Lord, how unworthy is such a Profane Wretch, as thou art, to eat his holy Flesh, and to drink his precious Blood.
If John Baptist (the holiest man that was born of a Woman) thought himself unworthy to bear his shooes;1 O Lord, how unworthy is such a Prophane Wretch, as thou art, to eat his holy Flesh, and to drink his precious Blood.
If the blessed Apostle Saint Peter, seeing but a glimpse of Christ's Almighty Power, thought himself unworthy to stand in the same Boat with him; how unworthy art thou to sit with Christ at the same Table, where thou mayest behold the infiniteness of his Grace and Mercy displayed?
If the Blood-issued sick Woman feared to touch the hem of his garment; how shouldest thou tremble to eat his flesh, and to drink his all-healing Blood?
If the Blood-issued sick Woman feared to touch the hem of his garment; how should'st thou tremble to eat his flesh, and to drink his all-healing Blood?
Yet if thou comest humbly, in Faith, Repentance, and Charity, abhorring thy sins past, and purposing unfeignedly to amend thy life henceforth, let not thy former sins affright thee, for they shall never be laid unto thy charge; and this Sacrament shall seal unto thy Soul ⟨p. 343⟩that all thy sins, and the Judgments due unto them, are fully pardoned, a•d clean washed away by the Blood of Christ. For this Sacrament was not ordained for them who are perfect, but to help penitent sinners unto perfection. 1Christ came not to call the righteous, 2but sinners to repentance. And he saith, that the whole need not the Physician, but they that are sick. Those hath Christ called; and when they came, them hath he ever helped. Witness the whole Gospel, which testifieth, that not one Sinner who came to Christ for mercy, went ever away without his errand. Bathe thou likewise thy sick Soul in this fountain of Christ's Blood, and doubtless, according to his promise, Zach. 13. 1. thou shalt be healed of thy sins and uncleanness. Not Sinners therefore, but they who are unwilling to repent of their sins, are debarred this Sacrament.
Fifthly, Meditate, that Christ left this Sacrament unto us as the chief token and pledge of his love, not when we would have made him a King, John 6. 15, (which might have seemed a requital of kindness) but when Judas and the High-Priests were conspiring his Death (therefore wholly of his mere favour.) When Nathan would show David how entirely the poor man loved his sheep that was killed by the rich man, He gave her (saith he) to eat of his own Morsels, and of his own Cup to drink, 2 Sam. 12. 3. and must not then the love of Christ to his Church be unspeakable, ⟨p. 344⟩when he gives her his own flesh to eat, and his own blood to drink, for her spiritual and eternal nourishment? If then there be any love in thine heart, take the Cup of Salvation into thy hand, and pledge his love with love again, Psal. 116. 11.
Fifthly, Meditate, that Christ left this Sacrament unto us as the chief token and pledge of his love, not when we would have made him a King, John 6. 15, (which might have seemed a requital of kindness) but when Judas and the High-Priests were conspiring his Death (therefore wholly of his mere favour.) When Nathan would shew David how intirely the poor man loved his sheep that was killed by the rich man, He gave her (saith he) to eat of his own Morsels, and of his own Cup to drink, 2 Sam. 12. 3. and must not then the love of Christ to his Church be unspeakable, ⟨p. 344⟩when he gives her his own flesh to eat, and his own blood to drink, for her spiritual and eternal nourishment? If then there be any love in thine heart, take the Cup of Salvation into thy hand, and pledge his love with love again, Psal. 116. 11.