The Fountain of Life Opened

First, The saving knowledge of him. We cannot be said to remember what we never knew; nor to remember savingly, what we never knew savingly. There have been many previous, sweet, and gracious transactions, dealings, and intimacies betwixt Christ and his people, from the time of their first happy acquaintance with him; much of that sweetness they have had in former considerations of him, and hours of communion with him, are lost, and gone. For nothing is more volatile, hazardous, and inconstant than our Spiritual comforts: but now, at the Table, there our old acquaintance is renewed, and the remembrance of his goodness and Love refreshed and revived. We will remember thy Love more than wine, the upright Love thee, Cant. 1.4.

First, The saving knowledge of him. We cannot be said to remember what we never knew; nor to remember savingly, what we never knew savingly. There have been many previous, sweet, and gratious transactions, dealings, and intimacies betwixt Christ and his people, from the time of their first happy acquaintance with him; much of that sweetness they have had in former considerations of him, and hours of communion with him, are lost, and gone. For nothing is more volatile, hazardous, and inconstant than our Spiritual comforts: but now, at the Table, there our old acquintance is renewed, and the remembrance of his goodness and Love refreshed and revived. We will remember thy Love more than wine, the upright Love thee, Cant. 1.4.

Secondly, Such a remembrance of Christ includes faith in it. Without discerning Christ at a Sacrament there is no remembrance of him; and without faith, no discerning Christ there. But when the precious eye of faith, hath espied Christ under that veil; it presently calls up the affections, saying, come see the Lord. These are the wounds he received for me. This is he that Loved me, and gave himself for me. This is his flesh, and that his blood; sic Occulos, sic ille Manus, &c. so his Arms were stretched out upon the Cross, to embrace me. So his blessed Head hung down, to kiss me. Awake my Love, rouse up my Hope, flame out my Desires; come forth O all ye powers and affections of my soul; come see the Lord.