Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shown the connection…Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shewn the connexion…

5. Get as near to God as you can in all those visible and outward ways of Communion which He affords you the advantage and opportunity of. God hath appointed no Ordinance in vain. It is a matter of just grief to see so few of the Children of the Covenant seeking after full fellowship in all the Ordinances. I speak not this to precipitate such as are unworthy to ⟨p. 124⟩make more haste than good speed, but to rouse up the negligent, who either take no care that they may be worthy, or do withdraw and keep themselves back, notwithstanding they are hopefully prepared for these Ordinances. These are both part of the Covenant, and helps to our keeping of Covenant. I know that a form of Godliness without the power, is a Cheat to them that please themselves with it; But I know too, that if the face of a visible Church cease or be taken away from us, it will be a great and sore Judgement: And if the Children of the Covenant withdraw themselves from this burden, and content themselves without seeking it, and setting their shoulders to it, it is in great likelihood thus to go to decay. It is a great Sin, and a crying shame to see such multitudes of Christians and Professors turn their backs upon the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper: if they are unworthy it is their shame that they have no better profited under the Ordinances, and a dreadful sign it is of God's departure from such a People. If they are in some measure fit, it should grieve them that they put such a contempt and undervaluing upon the love of Christ, and the seal of the New-Covenant; for it is the least that can be said of such an act, that it is so practically and interpretatively. And let me add this, that if you rest in that, that your Children may be baptized as your selves are, and seek not after means of growth and strength; if now you have no spiritual appetite to these things, you discover a dangerous sign of much hypocrisy lodging in your hearts.

5. Get as near to God as you can in all those visible and outward wayes of Communion which He affords you the advantage and opportunity of. God hath appointed no Ordinance in vain. It is a matter of just grief to see so few of the Children of the Covenant seeking after full fellowship in all the Ordinances. I speak not this to precipitate such as are unworthy to ⟨p. 124⟩make more haste than good speed, but to rouse up the negligent, who either take no care that they may be worthy, or do withdraw and keep themselves back, notwithstanding they are hopefully prepared for these Ordinances. These are both part of the Covenant, and helps to our keeping of Covenant. I know that a form of Godliness without the power, is a Cheat to them that please themselves with it; But I know too, that if the face of a visible Church cease or be taken away from us, it will be a great and sore Judgement: And if the Children of the Covenant withdraw themselves from this burden, and content themselves without seeking it, and setting their shoulders to it, it is in great likelyhood thus to go to decay. It is a great Sin, and a crying shame to see such multitudes of Christians and Professours turn their backs upon the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper: if they are unworthy it is their shame that they have no better profited under the Ordinances, and a dreadful signe it is of God's departure from such a People. If they are in some measure fit, it should grieve them that they put such a contempt and undervaluing upon the love of Christ, and the seal of the New-Covenant; for it is the least that can be said of such an act, that it is so practically and interpretatively. And let me add this, that if you rest in that, that your Children may be baptized as your selves are, and seek not after means of growth and strength; if now you have no spiritual appetite to these things, you discover a dangerous signe of much hypocrisie lodging in your hearts.