A94156:642
The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…
The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature and necessity of it is discovered. : As also the Christian directed how he may perform it in [brace] religious duties, natural actions, his particular vocation, his family directions, and his own recreations. / By George Swinnock ...
London: printed for T.P., 1662
Treatise › Chapter 19: How a Christian may exercise himself to godliness at the Table.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Friend, when thou art at the Sacrament, think of these sufferings, and believe it, they will make work among thy sins. When thou takest the cup of wine, do not forget the cup of Worm-wood, which thy Saviour drunk for thy sake; he drank of the Brook in the way, he drank the cup of his Fathers wrath infinitely embittered with the curse of the law, that thou mightest drink the cup of blessing. At the Table obey his own command, Do this in remembrance of me.
Friend, when thou art at the Sacrament, think of these sufferings, and beleive it, they will make work among thy sins. When thou takest the cup of wine, do not forget the cup of Worm-wood, which thy Saviour drunk for thy sake; he drank of the Brook in the way, he drank the cup of his Fathers wrath infinitely imbittered with the curse of the law, that thou mightest drink the cup of blessing. At the Table obey his own command, Do this in remembrance of me.
Secondly, Meditate on the affection of Christ. We will remember thy love more then wine, saith the Spouse, when thou seest the wine; think of that love which is better then wine. Believe it, if ever there were a love-feast, this is it. Men testify their love in bestowing food on their hungry friends, but ah what love was that which gave his blessed body and precious blood to feed his starving enemies. He that considereth what Christ suffered, and for whom, may well think he was little else, but a ⟨p. 294⟩lump of love; His compassion is infinitely visible in his passion. What love was that which moved him to lay down his life for thee! Friend, if ever thou hadst hard thoughts of Christ, take a view of him in the former subject of meditation, and consider whether his heart be not set upon sinners, when he shed his heart blood for their souls. The redness of the fire discovers its heat. O how did the redness of this Rose of Sharon, the blood which issued from his head, and back, and hands, and feet, and heart, and whole body, speak his burning, his fiery love! Well might the Apostle John join and pair those Turtle-Doves; Who hath loved us and washed us in his blood,