A treatise of self-judging, in order to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper.…

To such an humbled soul I say, Because these things are a burden to thee, thou desirest these mountains might be levelled, and these valleys raised; therefore ⟨p. 137⟩thy soul is in some preparedness and fitness, though not so much as thou wouldst be: the more empty and lowly in thy own eyes, the more welcome to Christ: Besides as these make thee in some sort fit to come, so they put thee in a necessity of coming. Eat of this honey, that thy eyes may be enlightened; draw nigh to this Ordinance that thou mayest have more of Christ, and his graces: the more thou keepest from this pool, as it were, the less healing thou canst expect. Among many things that may be said to convince and encourage ⟨p. 138⟩such a tempted person, I would chiefly propound this, Thou art afraid to come to the Sacrament; Art thou also afraid to come to Christ? Darest thou not lay hold on a promise, what! all the while thou keepest from a Sacrament, wouldst thou also keep from Christ, and the Promise? Surely thou wilt return a negative to this; but consider, those that may come to Christ, may come to Sacraments; those that may by Faith lay hold on him, may also draw nigh to this Feast: As Christ saith, Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden, and I will ease you: ⟨p. 139⟩Thus doth the Sacrament, as it were speak, Come unto me ye burdened sinners, and Christ in the use of his means will give rest to you; thou art greatly deceived, if thou thinkest thou mayest lay hold on a promise, and not come to the Sacrament at that time; for a Promise and a Sacrament are the same things; the Sacrament is nothing but a visible promise, appointed by God to assure thee of his love, and to be an help against thy infirmities: It is true in some cases of relapses and repentings of them, there the party though believing in ⟨p. 140⟩Christ is yet to abstain that he may give satisfaction to the Church, because it is not only a Sacrament of Communion with Christ, but also with one another; here he may believe, and lay hold on the Promise, when yet in respect of Christs order, he is to forbear the Sacrament; but this public satisfaction, is not to be delayed, he is to take his first opportunity, and then the Church is bound [Greek or Hebrew],