Furthermore, we see that when Christ was about to enter into this difficult field of Temptation, he first received the Sacrament of Baptism, to fulfil all righteousness, no other Gospel Sacrament being yet instituted. Federal Sacramental Communion with God, doth greatly strengthen Faith. We see also that when Jesus Christ was entering into the field of Death, he first exercised sacramental Communion with God, yea double sacramental communion with God: He first eat the Passover, and then instituted and celebrated the Lords Supper, & then entered upon his garden conflict and Agony, & all the suffering that followed even to his Death. By these Examples of Jesus Christ, when Gods people are to enter upon any great design, especially when they go upon hazard of their life, they will, if they can orderly and regularly receive the Sacrament before they enter upon their design. Get as near to God as you can. True it is that many do this superstitiously, & regard not the regular receiving the Sacrament in the Communion of the Church, but minister it in private, or in a sick mans chamber; but consider, that these errors and abuses cannot frustrate the effect of Gods institution regularly attended unto: Mans lye doth not make Gods Truth of none effect. Rom. 3.3, 4. Jesus Christ his thus arming and fitting himself, when he was entering upon his greatest Temptation, and upon his last conflict with Death it self, is ground sufficient for our regular attending upon the Lord in our great concernments in like manner as he did. Our covenant communion with God, sealed with a divine instituted Seal, regularly administered, is to be numbered among the greatest external means of Grace, for the confirmation of our Faith. The evidences of our Faith have the broad Seal of h•aven affixed to them: And that is also set on by the efficacy of the Spirit, who sitteth in his Sealing-Office, in the administration of the Sacrament, and ratifieth the application of the public Instituted Seal, unto the Soul in particular; unto which act of the Spirit in the administration of the Sacraments, when a poor doubting trembling Soul doth reverently attend, he shall find such an efficacy of the sealing Spirit in his Soul, as shall enable him to go away as Hannah did, when she received Ely his blessing, 1 Sam. 1.18. so the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
Furthermore, we see that when Christ was about to enter into this difficult field of Temptation, he first received the Sacrament of Baptism, to fulfill all righteousness, no other Gospel Sacrament being yet instituted. Federal Sacram•ntal Communion with God, doth greatly strengthen Faith. We see also that when Jesus Christ was entering into the field of Death, he first exercised sacramental Communion with God, yea double sacramental communion with God: He first eat the Passover, and then instituted and celebrated the Lords Supper, & then entred upon his garden conflict and Agony, & all the suffering that followed even to his Death. By these Examples of Jesus Christ, when Gods people are to enter upon any great design, especially when they goe upon hazzard of their life, they will, if they can orderly and regularly receive the Sacrament before they enter upon their design. Get as near to God as you can. True it is that many doe this superstitiously, & regard not the regular receiving the Sacrament in the Communion of the Church, but minister it in private, or in a sick mans chamber; but consider, that these errors and abuses cannot frustrate the effect of Gods institution regularly attended unto: Mans lye doth not make Gods Truth of none effect. Rom. 3.3, 4. Jesus Christ his thus arming and fitting himself, when he was entering upon his greatest Temptation, and upon his last conflict with Death it self, is ground sufficient for our regular attending upon the Lord in our great concernments in like manner as he did. Our co•enant communion with God, sealed with a divine instituted Seal, regularly admini•tred, is to be numbred among the greatest external means of Grace, for the confirmation of our Faith. The evidences of our Faith have the broad Seal of h•aven affixed to them: And that is also set on by the efficacy of the Spirit, who sitteth in his Sealing-Office, in the administration of the Sacrament, and ratifieth the application of the publick Instituted Seal, unto the Soul in particular; unto which act of the Spirit in the administration of the Sacraments, when a poor doubting trembling Soul doth reverently attend, he shall find such an efficacy of the sealing Spirit in his Soul, as shall inable him to go away as Hannah did, when she received Ely his blessing, 1 Sam. 1.18. so the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
