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

3. Faith must receive Christ, and apply him to thy soul; When thou puttest forth the hand of thy body to take the bread and wine, do thou put forth the hand of faith to receive the body and blood of Christ. This is one principal act of Faith, like Joseph of Arimathea, to take Jesus down from his Cross, and lay him in the new Tomb of thine heart; Like Thomas, put thy finger of faith into his side, and cry out, My Lord, and my God; Be not discour aged O penitent soul. Are thy sins many? His mercy is free. Are thy sins weighty? His merits are full. Thou comest for bread, and will thy Saviour give thee a stone? He took notice of thy serious preparation for this Ordinance, and will he frustrate thine expectation at it? Did he ever send hungry soul empty away? The law of man provides for the poor in purse, and will not the Gospel of Christ provide for the poor in spirit? Is not his commission to bind up the broken hearted? and can he be unfaithful? Why shouldst thou mistrust truth it self? Let me say to thee, as the Disciples to the blind man, Be of good cheer, he calleth for thee. See how he casteth his eyes upon thee (with a look of love) as once upon Peter. Observe he stretcheth out his Arms wide to embrace thee. He boweth down his head to kiss thee. He crieth to thee as to Zacheus, I must abide at thy house, in thy heart to day. O make haste to receive him, and make him a feast by opening the doors of thy soul, that the King of Glory may enter in. Say to Christ, Lord, though I am unworthy that thou shouldst come under my roof, yet ⟨p. 309⟩thou art so gracious as to knock at the door of my heart, and to promise if I open, that thou wilt come in and sup with me, (and then call to him as Laban to Abraham's Steward) Come in thou blessed of the Lord, why standest thou without? I have prepared lodging for thee. Gen. 24.

3. Faith must receive Christ, and apply him to thy soul; When thou puttest forth the hand of thy body to take the bread and wine, do thou put forth the hand of faith to receive the body and blood of Christ. This is one principal act of Faith, like Joseph of Arimathea, to take Jesus down from his Cross, and lay him in the new Tomb of thine heart; Like Thomas, put thy finger of faith into his side, and cry out, My Lord, and my God; Be not discour aged O penitent soul. Are thy sins many? His mercy is free. Are thy sins weighty? His merits are full. Thou comest for bread, and will thy Saviour give thee a stone? He took notice of thy ferious preparation for this Ordinance, and will he frustrate thine expectation at it? Did he ever send hungry soul empty away? The law of man provides for the poor in purse, and will not the Gospel of Christ provide for the poor in spirit? Is not his commission to bind up the broken hearted? and can he be unfaithful? Why shouldst thou mistrust truth it self? Let me say to thee, as the Disciples to the blind man, Be of good chear, he calleth for thee. See how he casteth his eyes upon thee (with a look of love) as once upon Peter. Observe he stretcheth out his Armes wide to embrace thee. He boweth down his head to kiss thee. He cryeth to thee as to Zacheus, I must abide at thy house, in thy heart to day. O make haste to receive him, and make him a feast by opening the doors of thy soul, that the King of Glory may enter in. Say to Christ, Lord, though I am unworthy that thou shouldst come under my roof, yet