1. With a fixedness of thought....2. With an easiness and calmness of affection....3. With a holy awe and reverence of the Divine Majesty....4. With a holy jealousy over our- selves, and a humble sense of our own unworthiness, sus- pecting ourselves, and'abasing ourselves....5. With a graci ous confidence as children to a father....6. With earnest desires towards God....7. With raised expectations....8. With rejoicing and thanksgiving; two things, matter of joy....9. In charity with all men, and a sincere affection 1. In general, Come and see the Lamb that had been slain, ........ 1. The pardon and forgiveness of our sins-a renewed par- Helps for the exciting of those pious and devout af- fections which should be working in us while we 1. Here we must be sorry for sin three things here to ex- in his promise....3. Delighting in God: three things to be thought of with pleasure....4. Admiring the mysteries and miracles of redeeming love: seven things instanced as mar- Directions concerning the solemn vows we are to make to God in this Ordinance, .. Page 196 Four reasons why at the Lord's Supper we must make vows: 1. We must, by solemn vows, bind ourselves up from all sin; largely opened in five things....2. We must bind our- selves up to all duty-to the duties of religion in general; opened in four things-To some duties of religion espe cially opened in four things-Duties which we have most neglected...which we have experienced most bene- ........ 1. We must come from this ordinance admiring the condes- cension of the divine grace to us-considering our mean- ness by nature, and our vileness by sin....2 Lamenting our manifold defects, either trembling, or at least blushing....3. Rejoicing in Christ, and the great love wherewith he has loved us-expressing itself in praises to God and encourage- ment to ourselves....4. Much quickening to every good work....5. With a watchful fear of Satan's wiles, and a firm resolution to stand our ground against them: let us therefore fear, and therefore fix....6. Praying that God will fulfil his promises to us, and enable us to fulfil ours to him....7. With a charitable disposition to love our fellow- christians, to give to the poor, and forgive injuries....8. ........ An exhortation to order the conversation aright after In general we must live so as, 1. To adorn our profession forts we have tasted....5. To evidence our communion with God-In particular, we must be, 1. Sincerely devout and pious....2. Conscientiously just and honest....3. Re- ligiously meek and peaceable....4. Strictly sober and chaste....5. Abundantly charitable and beneficent....6. Some words of comfort which this Ordinance speaks to serious Christians, Four things premised: this ordinance may comfort us, 1. THE COMMUNICANT'S COMPANION: OR INSTRUCTIONS AND HELPS FOR THE RIGHT RECEIVING OF THE Lord's Supper. CHAPTER I. The names by which this Ordinance is usually called. IN discoursing of this great and solemn ordinance, which every serious Christian looks upon with a peculiar regard and veneration, (because I purpose, as God shall enable me, to open as well the doctrine as the duty of it,) it will be proper enough, and I hope, profitable, to take some notice of the several names by which it is known. First....We call it the sacrament: this is the name we commonly give it, but improperly, because it doth not distinguish from the ordinance of baptism, which is as much a sacrament as this; a sacrament which we have all received...are all bound by, and are concerned to improve, and live up to. But when we call this ordinance the sacrament, we ought to remind ourselves that it is a sacrament; that is, it is a sign, and it is an oath. 1. It is a sign, an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace: for such sacraments are designed to be. It is a parable to the eye; and in it God uses similitudes, as he did of old by his servants, the prophets.... Hos. xii. 10. In it Christ tells us earth❤ ly things, (John iii. 12.) that thereby we may come to be more familiarly acquainted, and more warmly affected with spiritual and heavenly things. In it |