A. First, we must give hearty thanks unto the Lord for this inestimable benefit, 1which we have received in being partakers of the Lords Supper.
Secondly, we must carefully mark how we speed, and what success we find, and if the Lord afford us present comfort, we must be much more thankful, and endeavour by all good means to nourish and cherish the same, and if we miss of it for that time, we must notwithstanding give God the glory of his truth, in making good his Covenant and every part thereof, and therefore with confidence and constancy wait and pray for the blessing: resolving with our selves (every one in his own soul) that as sure as God is true, and faithful in his promises, we shall in the fittest season reap fruit and profit by his ordinance, which in conscience and obedience unto him, we have been partakers of. In which regard every particular believer may boldly speak, in this, or the like manner unto his own soul: I have with as great uprightness as I could, communicated at the Lords table, ⟨image 17⟩and there received the seal of the everlasting covenant of grace, and therefore it shall assuredly be performed unto me: and albeit my faith, and assurance of Gods favour be but weak, it shall be strengthened, and whatsoever Satan, or mine own deluded conscience tell me, all mine iniquities are pardoned and covered, and I am at this very instant, as free from sin in Gods account, as Adam was before 2his fall, and as the Saints and Angels are now in heaven; yea, as Christ Jesus himself is, I being a member of his mystical body.
And for sanctification, though I be tainted with much ignorance, with many errors, with bad affections and evil actions, yet the Lord according to his Covenant, will reform all, and give me a mind to know him, and his will, and a memory to hold fast what I know: he will give me a heart to love him, to fear him, and to obey his Commandments. I shall have Christ his power to strengthen and uphold me, his wisdom to instruct and direct me, and his Spirit to work all needful graces in me, so that all the powers of hell shall never be able to prevail ⟨image 17⟩against me, much less shall the afflictions of this World be able to separate me from Christ Jesus, I need not fear any evil:
A. First, wée must giue hearty thanks vnto the Lord for this inestimable benefite, 1which wée haue receiued in being partakers of the Lords Supper.
Secondly, wèe must carefully marke how wée spéed, and what successe we find, and if the Lord aff•ord vs present comfort, we must be much more thankefull, and endeauor by all good meanes to nourish and cherish the same, and if wée misse of it for that time, wée must notwithstanding giue God the glory of his truth, in making good his Couenant and euery part thereof, and therefore with confidence and constancy waite and pray for the blessing: resoluing with our selues (euery one in his owne soule) that as sure as God is true, and faithfull in his promises, wée shall in the fittest season reape fruit and profit by his ordinance, which in conscience and obedience vnto him, wée haue béene partakers of. In which regard euery particular beléeuer may boldly speake, in this, or the like manner vnto his owne soule: I haue with as great vprightnesse as I could, communicated at the Lords table, ⟨image 17⟩and there receiued the seale of the euerlasting couenant of grace, and therefore it shall assuredly be performed vnto me: and albeit my faith, and assurance of Gods fauour bée but weake, it shall bée strengthened, and whatsoeuer Sathan, or mine owne deluded conscience tell me, all mine iniquities are pardoned and couered, and I am at this very instant, as frée from sin in Gods account, as Adam was before 2his fall, and as the Saints and Angels are now in heauen; yea, as Christ Iesus himselfe is, I being a member of his mysticall body.
And for sanctification, though I bée tainted with much ignorance, with many errours, with bad affections and euill actions, yet the Lord according to his Couenant, will reforme all, and giue me a mind to know him, and his will, and a memory to hold fast what I know: hée will giue mée a heart to loue him, to feare him, and to obey his Commandements. I shall haue Christ his power to strengthen and vphold mée, his wisdome to instruct and direct mée, and his Spirit to worke all néedfull graces in mée, so that all the powers of hell shall neuer bée able to preuaile ⟨image 17⟩against mée, much lesse shall the afflictions of this World be able to separate mée from Christ Iesus, I néede not feare any euill:
- 13 What to be done after our receiving.3 What to bee done after our receiuing.
- 2Psal. 32.
