Sacramental meditations upon divers select places of scripture

See to the exercise and activity, as well as to the truth and sincerity of thy grace. Even a Believer himself doth not eat and drink worthily, unless the grace that is in him be excited and exercised at this Ordinance. It is not Faith inhering, but Faith realizing, applying and powerfully working. It is not a disposition to humiliation for sin, but the actual ⟨image 4⟩thawing and melting of the heart for sin, whilst thou lookest on him whom thou hast pierced, and mournest for him, as one that mourneth for his only Son, for his First-born. Nor is it a disposition or principal of love to Christ that is only required, but the stirring up of that fire of love, the exciting of it into a vehement flame.

See to the exercise and activity, as well as to the truth and sincerity of thy grace. Even a Believer himself doth not eat and drink worthily, unless the grace that is in him be excited and exercised at this Ordinance. It is not Faith inhereing, but Faith realizing, applying and powerfully working. It is not a disposition to humiliation for sin, but the actual ⟨image 4⟩thawing and melting of the heart for sin, whilst thou lookest on him whom thou hast pierced, and mournest for him, as one that mourneth for his only Son, for his First-born. Nor is it a disposition or principal of love to Christ that is only required, but the stirring up of that fire of love, the exciting of it into a vehement flame.

I know the excitations and exercises of grace are attended with great difficulties. They are not things within our command, and at our beck. O! 'tis hard 'tis hard indeed, Reader, even after God hath taken the heart of stone out of thee, and given thee an heart of flesh, to mourn actually for sin, even when so great an occasion and call is given thee to that work at the Lords Table; for the same power is requisite to excite the act that was required to plant the habit. Gratia gratiam postulat.