A30585:327
Gospel-worship, or, The right manner of sanctifying the name of God in general and…
Gospel-worship, or, The right manner of sanctifying the name of God in general and particularly in these three great ordinances, viz. [brace] 1. hearing of the Word, 2. receiving the Lords Supper, 3. prayer / by Jeremiah Burroughs ; being the second of the seven volumes lately published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]Gospel-worship, or, The right manner of sanctifying the name of God in general and particularly in these three great ordinances, viz. [brace] 1. hearing of the Word, 2. receiving the Lords Supper, 3. prayer / by Jeremiah Burroughs ; being the second of the seven volumns lately published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1653
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.
Secondly, It should make me to come with a heart sensible of the need of this mercy; O Lord, I have had my heart let out to other vain things heretofore, but now Lord, thy mercy it is that my soul comes for, as that wherein my chief and only good consists.
Thirdly, It should make me come with expectation of great things from God; do not come unto God as unto an empty Vine, but as unto a full Vine, and the more thy faith is raised to expect great things from God, the more acceptable art thou to God: Certainly the higher any ones faith is raised when they come into his presence, to expect the greatest things, the more acceptable. It is otherwise with God than men, if you come to men to beg a little thing, you may be welcome, but if you come to ask a great matter, they will look askew upon you: but the truth is, the greater the things are that we come to God for, the more welcome are we into Gods presence; and those that are acquainted with God they know it, and therefore they come the more fully. When they come to ask Jesus Christ himself and his Spirit that is more worth than ten thousand worlds, they come with more freedom of Spirit than when they come to ask their healths, and the like.
Fourthly, It will be likewise another means of sanctifying this Attribute of God; when thou comest to him: If thou ⟨p. 101⟩doest come with a merciful heart towards thy brethren: Take heed whensoever you come to worship God, that you come not with a rugged and cruel heart towards any of your brethren; therefore you find that Christ lays this upon you, in teaching how to pray, you most say, Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive our brethren that trespass against us: And you find it repeated again, If you forgive, then your Heavenly Father will forgive, and not otherwise. As if Christ should say, When you come to beg mercy, be sure you bring merciful hearts.