A treatise concerning the Lords Supper

Seventhly, For want of this reflection after the Sacrament, you will be less experienced, and less acquainted with the workings of […] own hearts. If you reflect upon what your heart did promise when you were there, and how you have come short of your promise, how your heart did work in hatred unto sin, and how afterwards (if it be not strictly watched) it will be ready to consent and yield unto it: if you thus compare your self, what you are at the Sacrament, and what your heart would be if not heedfully observed afterwards, you would be more acquainted with the deceitfulness of your own heart.

Seventhly, For want of this reflection after the Sacrament, you will be less experienced, and less acquainted with the workings of 〈…〉 own hearts. If you r•flect upon what your heart did promise when you were there, and how you have come short of your promise, how your heart did work in hatred unto sin, and how afterwards (if it be not strictly watched) it will be ready to consent and yield unto it: if you thus compare your self, what you are at the Sacrament, and what your heart would be if not heedfully observed afterwards, you would be more acquainted with the deceitfulness of your own heart.

Eighthly, For want of this reflection after the Sacrament, you will be fuller of doubts, and more empty of comforts, than else you would be. Sometimes God did so powerfully work upon your heart when you were at his Table, in drawing forth your love to him, your hatred to, and sorrow for your sins, that you could not deny that you had grace: But at another time you might lose the sense of this, when it might not be so with you, and then the Devil doth assault you, to persuade you that you have no grace, because now you do not feel the workings of it; but if you would reflect how it was with you such a time at the Sacrament, you might repel this temptation: Tho' I do not now find the lively workings of my love to God, yet at such a time in the Sacrament ⟨p. 138⟩I did; though now I do not find my heart to bek, but is dull and ou of frame, yet such a day in the Sacrament did: Th I found my sins my burden, and the breaing of my heart: Then I did feel my heart to burn in love to God and Christ; and this will help to resolve your present doubts, and to expel your present fears, and to resist his temptation of the Devil: But if you do not reflect, you might lose so good an evidence of the truth o your grace.