Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness

For this that Scripture is plain 1 Cor. 11128. Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. And this a man ought to do, not only once, before his first coming to this Ordinance, but constantly as oft as he shall eat that Bread or drink that Cup. The Apostle speaketh to those that had been at the Lords Supper many a time, whom nevertheless he calls upon, to practise this duty of Self-examination, as they should have opportunity for Sacramental eating and drinking. A Christian, every time that he is to come to the Lords Supper, should examine himself concerning his own spiritual estate, whether he be in Christ or no. He should examine whether he hath true Faith, having received Christ in his person as the only desirable one, and in all his Offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King, and whether he hath true Repentance, and hath turned from all sin, unto God, with his whole heart. And whether he hath a sincere love to God, and to Jesus Christ, and to ⟨p. 155⟩his Saints, and to his holy waves. He should examine himself concerning his growth in grace. Am I more humble more •oly, more weaned from the World, more meek and self-denying, then I was, when I first believed? yea, moreover, he should examine himself concerning his present actual fitness to sit down and partake at the Lords Table. What sinful failing he hath been guilty of, since he was last at a Sacrament, and whether his heart be now in a spiritual frame, fit for so near an approach unto the Holy God.

3. Exercise Grace in the time of Receiving.

A man that is asleep is a living man, yet he is not sit to eat and drink until he be awake, so must true Believers stir up and awake their Graces, or they are not fit to eat and drink at the Lords Table. Sometimes the godly do (in a great measure) lose the benefit of this Ordinance, because they do not exercise grace at the time of Receiving as they ought to do. Therefore he sure then to exercise Faith. As thou dost receive the Bread, and receive the Cup, let thy Soul at the same moment, put forth a renewed act of Faith in closing with, and taking hold on the Lord Jesus Christ: By an act of Faith appropriate Christ to thy self; and his blood with the merit and efficacy of it to thy Soul in particular, believing that thy Sins shall be pardoned, and the Plagues of thy heart mortified thereby. Also, the Grace of Repentance should be exercised at