A27107:893
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.
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.
Sixthly, when the Minister beginneth the holy Consecration of the Sacrament, then lay aside all praying, reading, and all other cogitations whatsoever; and settle thy Meditations only upon those holy actions and rites, which according to Christ's institution, are used in and about the holy Sacrament: For it hath pleased God (considering our weakness) to appoint those rites as means the better to lift up our Minds to the serious contemplation of his Heavenly Graces.
When therefore thou seest the Minister putting apart Bread and Wine on the Lord's-Table; and consecrating them by Prayers, and the rehearsal of Christ's Institution, to be a holy Sacrament of the blessed Body and Blood of Christ; then meditate how God the Father, of his mere love to Mankind, set apart, and sealed his only begotten Son, to be the all-sufficient means, and only Mediator, to redeem us from sin, and to reconcile us to his grace, and to bring us to his glory.
When thou seest the Minister break the Bread, being blessed, thou must meditate, that Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God was put to death, and his blessed ⟨p. 345⟩Soul and Body (with the sense of God's anger) broken asunder for thy sins, as verily as thou now seest the holy Sacrament to be broken before thine eyes. And withal call to mind the heinousness of thy sins, and the greatness of God's hatred against the same, seeing God's Justice could not be satisfied but by such a Sacrifice.
When the Minister hath blessed and broken the Sacrament, and is addressing himself to distribute it: then meditate,1 That the King (who is the Master of the Feast) stands at the Table to see his guests; and looketh upon thee, whether thou hast on thee thy* Wedding-Garment. Think also, that all the holy† Angels that attend upon the Elect in the Church, andb do desire to behold the celebration of these hol• mysteries, do observe thy reverence and behaviour. Let thy soul therefore, whilst the Minister bringeth the Sacrament unto thee, offer this, or the like short Soliloquy unto Christ.
When the Minister hath blessed and broken the Sacrament, and is addressing himself to distribute it: then meditate,1 That the King (who is the Master of the Feast) stands at the Table to see his guests; and looketh upon thee, whether thou hast on thee thy* Wedding-Garment. Think also, that all the holy† A•gels that attend upon the Elect in the Church, andb do desire to behold the celebration of these hol• mysteries, do observe thy reverence and behaviour. Let thy soul therefore, whilst the Minister bringeth the Sacrament unto thee, offer this, or the like short Soliloquy unto Christ.
IS it true indeed,1 that God will dwell on earth? Behold the heaven, and the heaven of heavens are not able to contain thee: how much more unable i• the soul of •uch a sinful Caitiff as I am, to receive thee?
But seeing it is thy blessed pleasure to come thus to† sup with me, and tob dwell in me: I cannot for joy but burst ⟨p. 346⟩out and say, What is man that thou art so mindful of him, and the son of man, that thou so regardest him? What favour soever thou vouchsafest me in the abundance of thy Grace, I will freely confess what I am, in the wretchedness of my Nature: I am, in a word, a carnal Creature; whose very soul isb sold under sin, a wretched man, compassed about withc a body of Death: Yet Lord, seeing thou dcallest, here I come; and seeing thou callest sinners,6 I have thrust my self in among the rest; and seeing thou callest all with their heaviest loads, I see no reason why I should stay behind. O Lord, I am sick, and whither should I go, but unto thee the Physician of my Soul? Thou hast cured many, but never didst thou meet with a more miserable Patient; for I am more leprous than Gehazi, more unclean than Magdalen, more blind in Soul than Bartimeus was in Body; for I have lived all this while, and never seen the true light of thy Word: my soul runs with a greater flux of sin, than was the Hemorrhoise Issue of blood; Mephibosheth was not more lame to go, than my Soul is to walk after thee in love; Jeroboam's Arm was not more withered to strike the Prophet, than my Hand is maimed to relieve the Poor. Cure me, O Lord, and thou shalt do as great a work as in curing them all. And though I have all their Sins and Sores; yet, ⟨p. 347⟩Lord, so abundant is thy grace, so great is thy skill, that if thou wilt, thou canst with a word, forgive the one, and heal the other: and why should I doubt of thy good will; when to save me, will cost thee now but one loving smile; who didst show thy self so willing to redeem me though it should cost thee all thy heart-blood: and now offerest so graciously unto me the assured pledge of my Redemption, by thy blood? Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my merit,
But seeing it is thy blessed pleasure to come thus to† sup with me, and tob dwell in me: I cannot for joy but burst ⟨p. 346⟩out and say, What is man that thou art so mindful of him, and the son of man, that thou so regardest him? What favour soever thou vouchsafest me in the abundance of thy Grace, I will freely confess what I am, in the wretchedness of my Nature: I am, in a word, a carnal Creature; whose very soul isb sold under sin, a wretched man, compassed about withc a body of Death: Yet Lord, seeing thou dcallest, here I come; and seeing thou callest sinners,6 I have thrust my self in among the rest; and seeing thou callest all with their heaviest loads, I see no reason why I should stay behind. O Lord, I am sick, and whither should I go, but unto thee the Physician of my Soul? Thou hast cured many, but never didst thou meet with a more miserable Patient; for I am more leprous than Gehazi, more unclean than Magdalen, more blind in Soul than Bartimeus was in Body; for I have lived all this while, and never seen the true light of thy Word: my soul runs with a greater flux of sin, than was the Hemorrhoise Issue of blood; Mephibosheth was not more lame to go, than my Soul is to walk after thee in love; Jeroboam's Arm was not more withered to strike the Prophet, than my Hand is maimed to relieve the Poor. Cure me, O Lord, and thou shalt do as great a work as in curing them all. And though I have all their Sins and Sores; yet, ⟨p. 347⟩Lord, so abundant is thy grace, so great is thy skill, that if thou wilt, thou canst with a word, forgive the one, and heal the other: and why should I doubt of thy good will; when to save me, will cost thee now but one loving smile; who didst shew thy self so willing to redeem me though it should cost thee all thy heart-blood: and now offerest so graciously unto me the assured pledge of my Redemption, by thy blood? Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my merit,7 that thou hast bought me with so dear a price? It is merely thy mercy; and I, 8O Lord, am not worthy the least of all thy mercies: much less to be partaker of this holy Sacrament, the greatest pledge of the greatest mercy, that ever thou didst bestow upon those sons of men whom thou lovest. How might I in respect of mine own unworthiness, cry out for fear at the sight of thy holy Sacrament, 9as the Philistines did, when they saw the Ark of God come into the Assembly? Wo now unto me a sinner;