The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

so say thou, The days of mourning for the death of my dear Saviour, and everlasting father are come, and now I will slay my most beloved lusts; now will I be revenged of them for their endeavour to rob me of my spiritual birthright, to wrong me of my eternal blessing.

This repentance exercised before the Sacrament, would prepare thy stomach for the Feast, it would cleanse it, and cause it to savour the dainties there; It would make the hungry, and hunger is the best sauce. Artaxerxes flying for his life, fed on barley bread, and a few dried figs, and said, It was the best meal that ever he made.

This repentance exercised before the Sacrament, would prepare thy stomach for the Feast, it would cleanse it, and cause it to savour the dainties there; It would make the hungry, and hunger is the best sauce. Artaxerxes flying for his life, fed on barly bread, and a few dryed figs, and said, It was the best meal that ever he made.

When thou hast thus prepared thy stomach for this heavenly Banquet, take heed of relying upon thy pains, and preparation, either for a right performance of the duty, or for thine acceptance in the Ordinance. Many a poor creature I am persuaded goeth with much humiliation for sin, and cometh away without any consolation, because they made a Saviour of their sorrow. Praise thy Physician, if he have made the sensible of thy sickness, but do not provoke him by making thy pain to be the plaster for thy cure. Alas, thy preparation it self needeth much pardon; if God should deal strictly with thee, thy prayers would be found dung, thy sighs unsavoury breath, thy very ⟨p. 282⟩tears puddle water. Reflect on them thy self, and compare them with the Law of God, and thou wilt find cause to pray over thy prayers, to weep over thy tears, to be ashamed of thy shame, and to abhor thy self for thy self abhorrency.