N00254:296
Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness
Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness: wherein several important duties, are urged, and the evil of divers common sins, is evinced; delivered in sundry sermons. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in New-England. ; [Ten lines of Scripture texts]
printed by Samuel Green upon assignment of Samuel Sewall, 1682
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.
Ans. 1. If thou art in thy sins, thou art not a sit Guest to sit down at the Lords Table. If thou art a profane person, thou hast nothing to do, to meddle with the Seal of Gods holy Covenant Psal. 50. 16. or, if thou art in a natural unconverted Estate, this Ordinance belongs not to thee; you have heard, that holy things are for holy persons. If men with profane hands or hearts shall eat thereof, they endanger their Souls. There is an awful Scripture to this purpose, L V. 720. The soul that eats of the flesh of the Sacrifice of Peace-offerings, (and so doth be do that partaketh at the Lords Table) having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off.
2. If thou art not fit to have communion with Christ at his Table here, thou are not fit for Communion with him in Heaven. If indeed thou art in a state of Unfitness for the Lords Supper, thy case is lamentable. What, to live under the Gospel for so long a time, and yet to remain in a Christless estate? how canst thou sleep one night in thy present condition, if thou knowest that to be thy case? for if death should find thee out of Christ, it had been better for thee, that thou hadst never been born.
3. A man may be a fit subject to partake at the Lords Supper, and yet himself not know that he is so. True Believers, are many times full of doubts and fears concerning their spiritual estates. A child of light, may walk in darkness ⟨p. 148⟩and have no light, Isai. 50 10. And in that case it concerns men both diligently to try themselves and also to put themselves upon the trial of others, whether they be not duly qualified to partake of the Lords Supper. It is not necessary that a man or woman should have Assurance before they come to this Ordinance since partaking thereof is a blessed means for the obining of Assurance. How many Believers are there, that never had Assurance until they came to the Lords Table, and then God manifested himself to them, shedding abroad his love into their hearts by the Holy Ghost, wailest they have been there?