A27107:918
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please…
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
A27107:918
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.
THE duty which we are to perform after the receiving of the Lord's Supper, is called Action or Practice: without which all the rest will minister unto us no comfort.
The 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.
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 perform in the Church, are either several from our own souls: or else joyntly with 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; for the *most holy will be holy with the holy: for if Joseph of Arimathea, 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 ⟨p. 354⟩with the odoriferous incense of Prayers, and all pure affections? If God required Moses to provide a Pot of pure gold to keep the Manna that fell in the Wilderness: what a pure heart shouldst thou provide to receive this divine Manna, that is come down from Heaven?
And as thou camest sorrowing like Joseph and Mary, 1to seek Christ in the Temple: so now having there found him in the midst of his Word and Sacraments, be careful with joy to carry him home with thee, as they did.
Secondly, Thou must offer the Sacrifice of a private thanksgiving 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 Thanksgiving. 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, which guideth thy soul unto ⟨p. 355⟩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 Thanksgiving.
Secondly, Thou must offer the Sacrifice of a private thanksgiving 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 Thanksgiving. For if the Wise Men rejoyced 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, Myrrhe, and Frankincense: how much more shouldest thou rejoyce, now that thou hast both seen and received this Sacrament, which guideth thy soul unto ⟨p. 355⟩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 Myrrhe of a mortified heart, and this or the like sweet incense of Prayer and Thanksgiving.
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? 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 didst 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 overflowing 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 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 ⟨p. 356⟩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 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? 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 didst redeem my Soul by thy Blood again: and now thou hast given unto me thy Seal and Pledge of my Redemtion; nay, thou hast given thy self unto me, O blessed Redeemer. Oh what an inestimable treasure of riches, and overflowing 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 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 ⟨p. 356⟩thy holy Angels to attend upon so vile a Creature as I am; but that thou would'st enter thy self into my Soul, there to preserve, nourish and cherish me unto life everlasting.
If the carcass of the dead Prophet could1 revive a dead man that touched it; how much more shall the living body of the Lord of all Prophets, quicken the faithful, in whose heart he dwelleth? And if thou wilt raise my body at the last day out of the dust; how much more wilt thou now revive my Soul which thou hast sanctified with thy Spirit, and purified with thy blood? O Lord, what could I more desire, or what couldest thou more bestow upon me, than to give me thy body for meat, thy blood for drink, and to lay down thy Soul for the price of my Redemption? Thou Lord enduredst the pain, and I do reap the profit: I received pardon, and thou didst bear the punishment. Thy tears were my bath, thy wounds my weal▪ and the injustice done to thee, satisfied for the Judgment which was due to me. Thus by thy birth thou art become my Brother, by thy death my ransom, by thy mercy my reward, and by thy Sacrament my nourishment. O divine •ood, by which the sons of men are transformed into the sons of God: so that man's nature dieth, and God's nature liveth and ruleth in us. Indeed, all Creatures wondered that the Creator would be enclosed nine Months in the Virgins Womb; ⟨p. 357⟩(though her Womb being replenished with the Holy Ghost, was more splendid than the Starry Firmament:) but that thou shouldest thus humble thy self to dwell for ever in my heart, which thou foundest more unclean than a Dunghill, it is able to make all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth to stand amazed. But seeing it is thy free Grace and mere pleasure thus to enter and to dwell in my heart, I would to God, that I had so pure a heart as my heart could wish, to entertain thee. And who is fit to entertain Christ? or who, though invited, would not choose with Mary rather to kneel at thy feet, than presume to sit with thee at thy Table? Though I want a pure heart for thee to dwell in, yet weeping eyes shall never be wanting to wash thy blessed feet, and to lament my filthy sins. And albeit I cannot weep so many tears as may suffice to wash thy holy feet; yet, Lord, it is sufficient that thou hast shed Blood enough to cleanse my sinful So•l. And I am fully (O Lord) assured, that all the […] ▪ fare wherewith the disdainful Pharisee entertained thee at his Table, did not so much please thee, as those tears which penitent Mary poured under the ble.
I would therefore wish with Jeremiah, that my head were a fountain of tears: that seeing I can by no means yield sufficient thanks for thy love to me; yet I might by continual Tears, testify my love unto thee. And ⟨p. 358⟩though no man is worthy of so infinite a grace: yet this is my comfort, That he is worthy whom thou in favour accountest worthy. And seeing that now of thy mere grace thou hast counted me (among others thy chosen) worthy of this unspeakable favour, and sealed by thy Sacrament the assurance of thy love, and the forgiveness of my sins: O Lord, confirm thy favour unto thy Servant: and say of me as Isaac did of Jacob, I have blessed him, 1therefore he shall be blessed. And that I may say unto thee with David, 2Thou, O Lord, hast blessed my Soul, and made it thy house, and it shall be blessed for ever And seeing it pleased thee to bless the house of Obed-edom and all his 3household whilst the Ark of the Lord remained in his house: I doubt not but thou wilt much more bless my soul and body, and all that do belong unto me, now that it hath pleased thy Majesty of thine own good will to enter under my roof, and to dwell for ever in my poor cottage. Bless me, O Lord, so, that my sins, may wholly be remitted by thy Blood, my conscience sanctified by thy Spirit, my mind enlightened by thy Truth, my Heart guided by thy Spirit and my Will, in all things, subdued, to thy blessed Will and Pleasure. Bless me with all graces which I want, and increase in me those good gifts which thou hast already bestowed upon me. And seeing that I hold thee not by the arms, as Jacob ⟨p. 359⟩wrestling without me; but inwardly dwelling by Faith within me: surely, Lord,4 I will never let thee go, except thou bless me, and give me a new name, a new heart, a new spirit, and strength by the power of God to prevail over sin and Satan. And I beseech thee, O Lord, desire not to depart from me, as thou didst from Jacob, because the day breaketh, and thy grace beginneth to dawn and appear: But I from my soul, humbly with the Emmavites, entreat thee. O sweet Jesus, to abide with me, because it draweth towards night. For the night of temptation, the night of tribulation; yea, my last long night of death approacheth, O blessed Saviour, stay with me therefore now and ever.
And if thy presence go not home with me, carry me not from hence Go with me, and live with me, and let neither death nor life separate me from thee. Drive me from my self, draw me unto thee. Let me be sick, but sound in thee; and in my weakness let thy strength appear. Let me seem as dead, that thou alone mayest be seen to live in me: so that all my members may be but instruments to act thy motions. 1Set me as a seal upon thine heart; and let thy zeal be settled upon mine, that I may be out of love with all, that I may be only in love with thee. And grant, O Lord, that as thou now vouchsafest me this favour to sit at thy Table, to receive this Sacrament in thy house of grace: so I may hereafter through ⟨p. 360⟩thy mercy,2 be received to • eat and drink at thy Table in thy kingdom of Glory. And for thy mercy, I do here with the four beasts, and twenty four Elders, cast my self down before thy Throne of Grace; acknowledging, that it is thou that hasta redeemed with thy blood, and that salvation cometh only from thee. And therefore unto thee bI do yield all praise, and glory, and wisdom, and thanks, and honour, and power, and might, and Majesty, O my Lord, and my God, for evermore. Amen.
And if thy presence go not home with me, carry me not from hence Go with me, and live with me, and let neither death nor life separate me from thee. Drive me from my self, draw me unto thee. Let me be sick, but sound in thee; and in my weakness let thy strength appear. Let me seem as dead, that thou alone mayest be seen to live in me: so that all my members may be but instruments to act thy motions. 1Set me as a seal upon thine heart; and let thy zeal be setled upon mine, that I may be out of love with all, that I may be only in love with thee. And grant, O Lord, that as thou now vouchsafest me this favour to sit at thy Table, to receive this Sacrament in thy house of grace: so I may hereafter through
Thirdly, Seeing Christ hath sacrificed himself for thee (and all that thou canst give, is too little) therefore thou must offer thy self to be a living, 1holy, and acceptable sacrifice unto God; by serving him in* righteousness and holiness all thy days. Thus Jertullian witnesseth, that in his time a Christian was known from another man, only by the holiness and uprightness of his life.
Thirdly, Seeing Christ hath sacrificed himself for thee (and all that thou canst give, is too little) therefore thou must offer thy self to be a living, 1holy, and acceptable sacrifice unto God; by serving him in* righteousness and holiness all thy days. Thus Iertullian witnesseth, that in his time a Christian was known from another man, only by the holiness and uprightness of his life.
If the carcase of the dead Prophet could1 revive a dead man that touched it; how much more shall the living body of the Lord of all Prophets, quicken the faithful, in whose heart he dwelleth? And if thou wilt raise my body at the last day out of the dust; how much more wilt thou now revive my Soul which thou hast sanctified with thy Spirit, and purified with thy blood? O Lord, what could I more desire, or what couldest thou more bestow upon me, than to give me thy body for meat, thy blood for drink, and to lay down thy Soul for the price of my Redemption? Thou Lord enduredst the pain, and I do reap the profit: I received pardon, and thou didst bear the punishment. Thy tears were my bath, thy wounds my weal▪ and the injustice done to thee, satisfied for the Judgment which was due to me. Thus by thy birth thou art become my Brother, by thy death my ransom, by thy mercy my reward, and by thy Sacrament my nourishment. O divine •ood, by which the sons of men are transformed into the sons of God: so that man's nature dieth, and God's nature liveth and ruleth in us. Indeed, all Creatures wondred that the Creator would be inclosed nine Months in the Virgins Womb; ⟨p. 357⟩(though her Womb being replenished with the Holy Ghost, was more splendid than the Starry Firmament:) but that thou should'st thus humble thy self to dwell for ever in my heart, which thou foundest more unclean than a Dunghill, it is able to make all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth to stand amazed. But seeing it is thy free Grace and meer pleasure thus to enter and to dwell in my heart, I would to God, that I had so pure a heart as my heart could wish, to entertain thee. And who is fit to entertain Christ? or who, though invited, would not chuse with Mary rather to kneel at thy feet, than presume to sit with thee at thy Table? Though I want a pure heart for thee to dwell in, yet weeping eyes shall never be wanting to wash thy blessed feet, and to lament my filthy sins. And albeit I cannot weep so many tears as may suffice to wash thy holy feet; yet, Lord, it is sufficient that thou hast shed Blood enough to cleanse my sinful So•l. And I am fully (O Lord) assured, that all the 〈…〉 ▪ fare wherewith the disdainfull Pha•isee entertained thee at his Table, did not so much please thee, as those tears which penitent Mary poured under the ••ble.
I would therefore wish with Jeremy, that my head were a fountain of tears: that seeing I can by no means yield sufficient thanks for thy love to me; yet I might by continual Tears, testifie my love unto thee. And ⟨p. 358⟩though no man is worthy of so infinite a grace: yet this is my comfort, That he is worthy whom thou in favour accountest worthy. And seeing that now of thy mere grace thou hast counted me (among others thy chosen) worthy of this unspeakable favour, and sealed by thy Sacrament the assurance of thy love, and the forgiveness of my sins: O Lord, confirm thy favour unto thy Servant: and say of me as Isaac did of Jacob, I have blessed him, 1therefore he shall be blessed. And that I may say unto thee with David, 2Thou, O Lord, hast blessed my Soul, and made it thy house, and it shall be blessed for ever And seeing it pleased thee to bless the house of Obed-edom and all his 3houshold whilest the Ark of the Lord remained in his house: I doubt not but thou wilt much more bless my soul and body, and all that do belong unto me, now that it hath pleased thy Majesty of thine own good will to enter under my roof, and to dwell for ever in my poor cottage. Bless me, O Lord, so, that my sins, may wholly be remitted by thy Blood, my conscience sanctified by thy Spirit, my mind enlightned by thy Truth, my Heart guided by thy Spirit and my Will, in all things, subdued, to thy blessed Will and Pleasure. Bless me with all graces which I want, and increase in me those good gifts which thou hast already bestowed upon me. And seeing that I hold thee not by the arms, as Jacob ⟨p. 359⟩wrestling without me; but inwardly dwelling by Faith within me: surely, Lord,4 I will never let thee go, except thou bless me, and give me a new name, a new heart, a new spirit, and strength by the power of God to prevail over sin and Satan. And I beseech thee, O Lord, desire not to depart from me, as thou didst from Jacob, because the day breaketh, and thy grace beginneth to dawn and appear: But I from my soul, humbly with the Emmauites, intreat thee. O sweet Jesus, to abide with me, because it draweth towards night. For the night of temptation, the night of tribulation; yea, my last long night of death approacheth, O blessed Saviour, stay with me therefore now and ever.5