A treatise concerning the Lords Supper

First, Meditate and dwell in thy thoughts upon the Love of God in the great work of Mans Redemption. Consider that thou wast in a fallen and miserable estate, under the Curse of the Law, liable to the wrath of God, the Torments of Hell; under the power of thy lusts, and the bondage of the Devil; and couldst not help thy self, nor recover thy self to the Happiness from which thou didst fall: then get thy heart affected with the Love of God, who in the eternal project of his Counsel, hath contrived a way for thy Salvation: And here, if thy heart be not yet affected.

First, Meditate and dwell in thy thoughts upon the Love of God in the great work of Mans Redemption. Consider that thou wast in a fallen and miserable estate, under the Curse of the Law, liable to the wrath of God, the Torments of Hell; under the power of thy lusts, and the bondage of the Devil; and couldst not help thy self, nor recover thy self to the Happiness from which thou didst fall: then get thy heart affected with the Love of God, who in the eternal project of his Councel, hath contrived a way for thy Salvation: And here, if thy heart be not yet affected.

1. Urge it with the freeness of this love▪ Consider, O my Soul! it was free love, that God would send his Son to die fo• fallen Man, and not for fallen Angels; to take upon him not the nature of Angels, b•• the seed of Abraham. But yet consider, O• my Soul! the freeness of this love to thee, who hath ordained thee to Salvation by the death of Christ, when thousands of others are passed by, and suffered to perish in their sins! God might have Passed thee by, and applied it unto others, whereas he hath passe• many others by, and applied it unto thee; i• may be thy nearest Relations have no share nor saving benefit by this Redemption, whe• there was no more in thee to move God unto this love, than there was in them: Yea, a much in thee to oppose, and resist the application of this Redemption, as was in th heart of the vilest of the Children of me Surely some believing thoughts of the freeness of Gods love to thee in particular, wi warm thy heart before thou approachest to the Table of the Lord, and fill thee with desires to be there, and the more inflame thine heart when thou art there. If yet th heart be dull, do but ask it this one quston, What wouldst thou have done, O my Soul and where shouldst thou have for ever been if God had not loved thee, freely loved thee?