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SACRAMENTAL
MEDITATIONS AND ADVICES,
GROUNDED UPON SCRIPTURE TEXTS;
PROPER FOR COMMUNICANTS,
To prepare their Hearts, excite their Affections, quicken their Graces, and enliven their Devotions, on Sacramentnl Occasions,
AND LIKEWISE USEFUL
To promote gracious Dispositions and Resolutions in Christians, at all times, upon the remembrance of a Crucified Jesus.
TOGETHER WITH
A SHORT CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY;
AND A VARIETY OF
SCRIPTURE SONGS,
FOR ZION'S TRAVELLERS. ALSO
AN APPENDIX,
Consistijig of
A LECTURE concerning the institution of the Lord's Supper: on 1 Cor. y.'\.
17— to the end.
A PREPARATION SERMON: from .Tosh. 111.5.
An ACTION SERMON : from Cant, ii.4.
To this edition is added,
THE YOUNG COMMUNICANT'S CATECHISM,
ivith A PROPOSAL FOR PUBLIC RENEWING OF THE
BAPTISMAL COVEJ\'-AKT,
BY THE REV. JOHN WILLISON.
Late Minister at Dundee.
PHILADELPHIA :
PRINTED FOR R. PATTERSON, PITTSBURG, By A. Walker, No. 24, \rch.:>treeti 1816.
RECOMMENDATIONS,
By the Rev. Dr, J. /. Janeway, the Rev. T, H.
Skinner^ and the Rev. Jus. Patterson.
Dear Sir,
Willison's "SacramentalMeditations and Ad- vices," contain a fund of most excellent theological thoughts, and a strain of evangelical piety. Any christian may read them with profit. Those whose minds are not sufficiently furnished to conduct their own meditations, would, by fre- quently perusing portions of them, find much assistance in preparing for the holy communion of our Lord's Supper.
The Catechism prepared by this pious and judicious writer, for assisting young pci'sonft in making tlieir first ap- proach to the holy supper of our Lord, is pecuiiaviv valuable. For several years I have been in the habit of recommending it to applicants for admission to that christian ordinance. Young persons should study this Catechism carefully ; and indeed it is worthy of the attentive perusal of many advanced m life, whose minds are not sufficiently informed on this im- portant subject.
Yours, Sic,
J. J. JANEWAY. Sepi. 15, 1815. Mr. A. Walker.
In the foregoing reGommendation I cordially concur.
T. H. SKINNER.
I most cordially subscribe to the above recommendations.
JAS. PATTERSON.
PREFACE.
THE eternal Son of God, -when taking his leave of an wi* grateful world, instituted the saeranpent of the Supper, as a lively resemblance and memorial of his bloody sufferings and death in the room of his people ; and also to be a bright and lasting evidence of, the- amazing love of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to perishing sinners.
As God once sent his Son into the world m a lowly habit, clothed with human flesh, to save sinners, so now he sends him in a homely dress, clothed Avith the elements of bread.and ^ine, to assure us of his love, and to engage us to come to liim. Kings expect that their children will be respected, though their officers be neglected. Surely (saith God) " They %vill reverence my^ Son ;" they will make him welcome, and hearken to him.
In this most augjist ordinance of the New Testament, the great God approaches very near to us, and we to him; and vet it is to be deeply regretted, tha.t many who profess to be- lieve this, come to it with so little thought and preparation, •.md v/ith so much indii&rence and carelessness of spirit. — ■ Oh, shall we venture so near the great God, who is infinitely liolv, in whose sight the heavens are not pure, and in whose presence the sun and stars are dimmed, and the brightest berapliiniS do gather in their wings, and account themselves as little flies before him I and shall we, who are creatures so mean and so vile, be careless and unconcerned, when we make the nearest approach to this great and holy God, that v.e can make on tliis side heaven.
Ought we not to go blushing, ashamed, and deeply humbled on many accounts, and particularly for our ingratitude for redeeming love, that *' love which passeth knowledge," and lor cur contempt of " God's unspeakable gift," the greatest sin in the world ; yea, we should go wondering that we are out of hell, for many thousands are burning there who have not sinned so heinously, in making light of preojous Christ, us we have done.
PREFACE. MJ
Moreover, reader, consider if you go to this ordinance un- preparedly, or with indifference, you not only make light of the Lord Jesus Christ, but you are " guilty of the body and blood of the Lord," 1 Cor. xi. 27. Surely that word may cause you to quake and tremble ; blood -guiltiness of any sort is a dreadful sin, and especially to be guilty of the "blood of the Lord." Murder is a sin that cries for vengeance on the actor, and gives God no rest till he punish it. Gen. iv. 10. "The voice of thy brother's blood crieth to me from the earth." If it be a crying sin to murder a common person, what must it be to murder a king ? " Who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and he guiltless?" 1 Sara. xxvi. 9. O then, what a crime must it be to murder the eternal Son of God, who is thy exalted King, thy everlasting Father, thy dear Redeemer, and thy God who gave thee a being. Child-murder is a heinous crime, but what Christ- murder is, no tongue can tell ! If on him that slew Cain, (that wicked man) vengeance should be taken sevenfold, what vengeance will betaken on him that crucifies afresh the Lord ■of glory ? This consideration should make all of us afraid of careless and unworthy communicating.
If we would communicate worthily, we must be earnest, not only for the life of grace, but also for the liveliness of grace ; not only for the truth and sincerity of grace, but likewise for the activity and vigorous exercise of grace. So that the be- liever himself doth not eat and drink worthily, unless the grace that is in him be excited and exercised at this ordi- nance. There must be not only faith in the truth of it, but there must be faith realizing, applying, appropriating, and making use of Christ's death and purchase in this ordinance. Not only must there be a disposition of soul to be humbled for sin, but there must be actual mourning and melting of heart for sin, and for particular sins, when we look on him we have pierced by them. Not only must there be a principle of love to Christ, but also an exciting of love to flame out to Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us.
Worthy communicating being a work of such importance, tl\e following Scriptural Meditations and Advices are humbly offered to Christians, as an help in their preparation for it. — Reading and thinking much on the subjects here proposed, may through God's blessing be useful to promote their habi- tual preparation for the holy supper. Christ's body and blood herein exhibited are pure and holy things, and should be re- ceived in prepared and cleansed hearts. His body never saw corruption in the grave, nor will be mixed with it in hearts where corruption is allowed. It lay in a virgin's womb, and in a virgin sepulchre, and will still be entertained in virgin souls and affections ; in hearts purified and conse- crated to God. In these Christ chooses to reside, and not in those where sin and the world, with the lusts thereof, are
X PREFACE.
harboured. Oh, had we grace to maintain and cherish the fear of God, and the love of Christ habitually in our souls, we might, without much pains, be prepared for coming to him at his table.
Did we always bear in our minds, that sacramental occa~ sions are solemn appointments, and Bethel meetings with God, for renewing covenant, and entertaining fellowship and communion with him, we would guard more against for- mality creeping in upon us in our preparations for, and in. our attendance upon this ordinance, than, alas, we do. Oh; such formality will provoke the Master of our solemn feasts to withdraw from them, and then what poor, dry, melan- choly, and lifeless things they will be ? What are sacraments without Christ's presence in thfim ? O let us never be satis- fied with communion Sabbaths, without communion with Christ in them.
On the other hand, if we would keep up communion with Christ in these ordinances, let us beware of relying on our previous pains or preparations, either for our right perform- ing of our duty, or for our acceptance in it : For we are never more ready to miscarry, and to be disappointed, than when we are guilty of this resting. Many go to the Lord's table with great liumiliation for sin, and yet come away with- out comfort : Why ? because they make a Christ of their sorrow. O v/hat worth can we see in our best preparations, confessions, prayers, tears, humiliations, £cc. if we compare them with the lav/ of God ? We have more cause to be ashamed of them, than to lay any stress on them. Could we renounce all self-coniidersce, and disclaim all our provision in point of dependence, and cast ourselves v;holly on Christ for strength, through-bearing, and acceptance, we would have better success at the Lord's table, than commonly we have.
We are never more fit for this holy table, than when we are most humbled, and most ashamed of ourselves, because of our unfitness for this solemn approach ; and we are never less fit, than when we think ourselves most fit and prepared for the duty. A holy deniedness to all self-sufficiency, and a deep sense of unworthiness and unfitness, is the best prepa- ration we can a.ttain to for this solemn ordinance. Let us make holy David our pattern, when going to partake, PsaJ. Ixxii. 16." I will go in the strength of the Lord God : I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only." And let us pray with the spouse. Cant. iv. 16. " Awake, O north wind, and' come, thou south, blow upon my garden, that the spicesthereof flow out." Amen.
Dundee, August, 1747o
CONTENTS.
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.
MEDITATION Page
1st Heb. xi, 7. A crucified Jesus the Believer's Ark 13
2d 2 tet. ii. 4. Fallen Angels punished, and Fallen Men spared 16
3d I'sal. cxivii. 20. Britain's Gospel mercies Subject of Praise 18
4th 1 John iii. 1. The amazing Love of the Father and of the Son to us 21
Stn > sal. viii. 4. The condescension of the Great God to Man admirable 23
6th 1 Cor. X. 4 Christ our Rock, smitten and streaming, highly useful 26
7th Zech. xii. 10. Christ pierced for out Sins, a Heart affecting Sight 28
8ta Luke xxii. 61, 62. Christ's Look to ' eter melted his heart in Tears 31
9th Mcitth. XV. 27. Often trials are sharp where Faith is strong 33
loth 1 Cor. ii, 24. Christ's sufferings worthy to be remembered at his table 36
11th Phil. i. 23. Communicants ott in straits betwixt two^ which of
them to choose 39
12th Phil, iv. 19 Rich Supplies in Christ fdr all our Needs 42
I3th Eph. iii. 19. The Dimensions of Christ's Love pass knowledge 45
14th Luke xxii.44. A view of Christ's Agony and Bloody Sweat 47
15th Isa. liii. 7. The Lamb of God silent, and slaughtered for us 50
16th Eph. i. 7. Amazing things to be seen in Redeeming Blood 53
17th Psal Ixxii 6. Christ's coming to his Ghurch like tain on dry ground 56
18th Matth. viii. 8. -The lowlv Believer, or Faith a Self abasing Grace 59
Wth 3 Cor. ix. 15 Christ is God's unspeakable gift, with Marks of those
who are thankful for it 63
SOth Luke ix. 22. A view of the manifold Sufferings of Christ _ 66
31st Johnxviii.4. Christ's willingness to suffer for us viewed and im-
proven *9 22d Johnxvi. 7. The Expediency of Christ's going away from his Dis- ciples considered 73 23d Hos, ii. 19. An astonishing match betwixt lovely Christ and loath- some creatures 76
24th Isa. liii. 8. A view of Christ stricken by many hands for our many
Sins 79
25th Gal. ii. 20, A particular and appropriating Faith in Jesus Christ
both our duty and interest 82
26th 1 John iv. 19. God's preventing Love the Cause of our Love to him 85
27th Psal. cxxvi 5. Sowing in Tears brings a joyful Reaping Time 83
28th Rev. i 5. _ Christ's Love in pouring out his Blood for us, calls for
Songs of Praise to him 91 'SWh Luke XV. 18. 19. The Humble Confessions and Pleadings of a peni- tent returning Prodigal 93
3Cth Song i, 4, Our remembering of Christ's Love at his Table should
fill our souls with wonder, love, and gratitude 96
31st -Isa. liii. 5. Christ's Wounds by our Sins shew the evil Nature of
Sill, and call for Revenge u^Kin it gs 32d — -John vi. 51, Christ crucified our heavenly Bread, excels the Israel- ites' Manna 100
Xll CONTENTS.
SACRAMENTAL ADVICES.
ADVICE Pai!.
1st Gen. vi. 1. A Call to perishing Sinners to come into the Ark of a
crucified Christ for safety, with Directions how to get into it 104
2d Rev. iii. 20. Christ's standing and knocking ai the door of the Heart,
affords powerful arguments for Sinners opening to him lOS
3d Rev iii. 20. A view of the Extensiveness and Solemnity of Christ's
calls to open to him, and the blessed f revision he brings in with him 109 4th Prov. ix. 5. Christ the Bread of Lifr, excellent soul-food, with di- rections how to come and eat it 111 5th— — Gen. xlv. 4, Christ our loving Brother typified by Joseph, with di- rections how to come near him in the Sacrament 114 6th Matth. xxii. 2. A Call to come and sign the Marriage Contract with
Christ at his table, with directions in doing it 117
7th Lam. i. 12. A Call to view Christ's dreadful sufferings under God's
fierce anger 119
8th Matth. xxvi 22. Communicants called to be jealous over their Hearts,
to search out their Sins, and sorrow for them, and to do it after a godly
sort, with marks of it 122
9th Heb. vi. IS. Christ our only City of Refuge, with directions how to
flee to it from the Avenger of Blood 125
10th John iii. 14. A Call to view Christ nailed and lifted up on the Cross,
with suital)le thoughts and affections 127
llth— Exod. xiv. 15. A Call to Communicants, under doubts and fears, to
J o forwaid to the Red Sea of Christ's Blood 130
12t^«_l_John xii.32 Christ lifted up on the Cross, a noble Engine for draw-
ing souls to him, with directions to took for his drawing power 133
13th John i, 36 xix. 5. A Call to behold the Man Christ Jesus under
various sufferings 135
14t;h Job xxxvii. 14. Directions to stand still and consider God's won- drous Works displayed in the Sacrament 138 15th— —Rev. xxii. 2. Christ our Tree of Life, infinitely preferable to Adam's
tree in the earthly Paradise, with directions to view and make use of
this blessed Tree 141
15th Isa. xxxii. 2. Christ our only Hiding place and Covert from storms
of wrath, with directions to get into it I44
17th 1 Kings xix. 9. Communicants should be ready to account to God of
their errand at the Lord's Table I47
18th John V. 6. Commrnicants must come sensible of their Diseases,
with Faith in Christ's heaiing Power, and Ma-ks of a healing Faith 150 l9th Exod. xii. 14. How to improve a Communion Sabbath as a Memorial
of Christ's Death, Resurrection, and Benefits obtained thereby 153
20th Jer. iii. 19. A Sinner's taking boid of God's Covenant, surmounts
all the Hindrances and Difficulties in the Way of his Salvation 15§
21st Luke V. 26. Communicants are to recollect and consider what strange
rhings they have seen at the Sacrament, and be suitably affected 159
22d Luke vi. 21. The Blessedness of true spiritual Hunger, with the good
things provided to fill the Hungry jg^
23d Psal. cvii. 2. Redeemed Souls are under special Obligations to give
thanks and sing praise to their Redeemer jg^
A short Christian Directory; consisting of forty Scripture Directions^ proper
for all Christians intending Heaven Igg
Scripture Songs for Zion's Travellers lg4
APPENDIX.
A Lecture concerning the Institution of the Lord's Supper 215
A Preparation Sermon 227
An Action Sermon 240
The Young Communicant's Catechism 253
SJCRAMEjVTJL
MEDITATIONS
MEDITATION I.
From Hcb. xi. 7, By fLiith Noah prepared an Ark to the saving of his House.
THOUGH the flood that drowned the old world was at many years distance, yet Noah was moved with fear at God's warning him of it, and prepared an Ark for his safety : and shall not unconverted, unbelieving sinners, who have a far more terrible flood threatened against them, and may only be a few days distant, take warning, and provide with all speed for their safety ? Oh ! shall I, a wretched guilty sinner, take rest, while I am within the flood-mark of God's wrath, and not arise in time to provide an Ark to flee to for my safety I — But, O good news, I have not the Ark to provide, it is prepared to my hand; God, in his infinite wisdom and pity, hath made ready an Ark long ago for lost sinners of Adam's race to flee to, and now is completely furnished and finished, and all things are ready, so that I have nothing to do but go and take possession.
O what had become of me, and other perishing sinners, had we the Ark to build ourselves ? Nay, the whole creation had not been able or sufficient for this purpose. How soon would the raging flood of divine wrath sweep away all the arks of men or angels' building ! But thanks be unto God for ever, for the excellent well built Ark of God's devising, for the many spacious rooms and safe lodging places within it, for the suit- able accommodation and plentiful provision laid up therein, and for the door opened in the side thereof for perishing souls to enter by. The salvation of sinners by a crucified Christ, IS a well ordered schenoe, a beautiful contrivance ! Blessed be the infinitely wise contriver for it. I see all things in Christ crucified necessary for me : He is made of God to me, w/s- dom, righteousness, sanctijication^ and redemficicn. There is in him infinite wisdom to guide me, a spotless righteousness to coyer me, precious blood to wash me, the Holy Spirit to sanctify me, his good word to direct me, his just laws to gov- ern me, and his infinite fulness to supply all my needs : Safe and happy then would I be, were I found in him. O that, up- B
14 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.
on trial by scripture marks, I could conclude myself to be within the Ark, to wit, a crucified Jesus!
Can I say, I have been warned of God, and moved with fear, to fly to this Ark ? Have I discovered my shelterless state by nature, the waves and billows of wrath rising and rolling against me ? Have I seen my own inability to provide an ilfi'k for myself, and the excellency and fitness of the xArk of God's providing? Have I been made willing to abandon all false arks, and earnestly inquisitive how to get into the true Ark ? Have I been made willing to use all appointed means for this end, to read, hear, meditate, pray, repent, believe, essay to climb up the sides of the Ark, and press to get in at the door thereof? Have I been willing to venture my all in the Ark, like Noah, notwithstanding of the discouragements, scoffs, and hatred of the world forsodaing ? Have I willingly acquiesced, sheltered, and lodged my soul in God's Ark, and been made to say, This is my restj'or ever, here ivill I dwell ? Come what floods will, Christ shall be my Ark, his righteousness alone my refuge and hiding place.
Alas I upon impartial search, have T not cause to fear that I have not yet fled to the Ark, but am still exposed to the de- vouring flood ? and can I be easy or quiet in such a case ? Can I forbear crying. What shall I do to get into the Ark Christ ? Kay, What would I not db to get into it ? Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do ? Wouldst thou have me to humble myself, confess, mourn, part with sin, close with Christ in all his offices ? Prescribe, Lord, what thou wilt, I will not scruple what thou enjoinest me, but obey thee without reserve. I am resolved upon it, whatever it cost me, that the solicitations of the flesh, the temptations of Satan, the scoff's, reproaches or persecutions, of the world, shall not stop me from flying to the Ark ; I would break through all these to be found in it ; Lord, increase and strengthen my faith for that end, and help my unbelief.
O how suitable is the Ark Christ to my destitute and mis- erable condition : In myself 1 want all things, but I see supply for all my wants in the Ark. I am poor, but I see gold in the Ark to make me rich ; I am wounded by sin, but I see balm in the Ark to heal my wounds : I am blind, but there is eye- salve in the Ark, to make me see: I am perishing with hun- ger, but I see bread in the Ark to satisfy me : I am naked, but in the Ark there is white raiment to clothe me : I am pollut- ed, but in the Ark there is a fountain to wash me : I am ex- posed to more terrible floods than Noah was, but I seethe Ark Christ can save me from them all. Noah's ark saved him only from a flood of water, but the Ark Christ saves from a flood of the curses of the law and the wrath of God, which will sweep away all the unbelieving world. This flood rose, swel- led high, and dashed furiously against our Ark ; but the Ark was proof against it, and sheltered all the elect world from
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. 15
the flood, SO that not one drop did light on them. — O how ex- cellent is this /\rk 1 for it can save me from being overwhelm- ed or carried away with any flood, and particularly it can save me from being carried away with a flood of Satan's temp, tations which sweeps away many, or with a flood of indwelling corruption, with a flood of error, with a flood of profanity, or with a flood of neutrality and indifFerency about spiritual con- cerns ; by which floods, multitudes are destroyed. Let me then by faith fly to this blessed Ark, where all' believers are preserved from these destroying floods. Behold, I run, I fly ; May Jesus draw me, and help me in !
Blessed for ever be the God of heaven, for providing such an Ark for fallen sinners upon earth. I desire to count all things but less and dung, that I may be found in this Ark among the preserved in Christ Jesus, whom no flood can reach. However this Ark be slighted by the world, I'll prize it above all tilings, and count them for ever happy who get into it, see- ing God declares it, that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus — The Ark was slighted by the old world, and Noah ridiculed for preparing it for liimseif and his house ; but it soon appeared that Noah was the wisest man that then lived upon the earth. Few there were who entered with Noah into the Ark, and no doubt were reproached and mocked for their singularity ; but soon was the world persuaded that they were the only wise and happy men in it. Better surely it was to have followed the eight persons that went into the Ark, than to have joined eight millions of those who were drowned in the flood. Should 1 be so foolish as to follow the old world in undervahiing the Ark, I must lay mv account to be shut out and perish with them too : Wherefore 1 will not fear the re- proach of men, for being singular in my esteem of glorious Christ. — May I be numbered among that happy company (however few they be) who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sin- cerity, and will bless God eternally for providing this Ark for drowning men ! May 1 be one tha't will ever bless m.y lovely and loving Jesus, that pitied me and took me in, when others were washed off" from the sides of the Ark, as adhering only to it by a dead and formal profession !. May I be one that will ever sing to his praise, O amazing free love I that pitied and distinguished me, when the flood came;, that graciously drew and determined me in such a manner, that I gr.t into the Ark and was safe, when many others were washen off and perish^ ed for ever 1
.16 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.
MEDITATION II.
From 2 Peter ii, 4, God spared not the Angels that sinned, but cast theui down to Heii,
HOW admirable, free, and distinguishing is the love of God 'o mankind sinners, in pitying them in their low and lost estate ? O how different is the case of fallen men upon the earth, from the case of fallen angels in hell, and that of damned souls there 1 Manna is rained down upon us, while an eternal show- er of fire and brimstone fails down upon them. They are bound in chains of darkness, whilst thou, Lord, art drawing lis with cords of love. Thou didst not spare angels, nor take on their nature ; but tliou hast spared us, married our na- ture, and exalted it to the heavens. They continue without liope under the deluge of God's wrath, while the pleasant Rainbow of tiie sacrament appears to us, as a token of God's covenant of grace, and of his willingness to secure us from that overflowing flood, by the interposition of his dear Son in our nature. (3 iiovv welcome should we make that gospel Rain- bow !
Lord, thy wrath soon broke out against the angels that fell ; thovi didst punish them immediately upon their sinning against i!ic-e. Thou didst not wait for their repentance, nor make any oft'er of mercy to them ; but, presently upon their first offence, didst condemn them to everlasting chains of darkness. O how far different is thy manner of dealing with us ! Long hast thou waiied upon us after we have sinned ; yea, thou hast followed us with thy mercy after m;.ny refusals of it, and even after our trampling the precious blood of Christ under our feet ! Marvellous and peculiar is thy mercy to fallen men in 5'espect to fallen angels '■ Glory to sovereign free mercy, that ihou didst not cast us off for ever without a parley, as thou didst them ; but waitest to be gracious to us, long stretching out ;hy hand, and calling us to repentance, saying, Turn ye, turn ye ; why will you die ?
Against the sinning angels God was so provoked, that he resolved within himself, and hath kept his resolution ever since the beginning of the world, and will keep it to ail eternity, that he will not so much as enter into a parley with these cre- tures, however glorious they once were, nor be reconciled to them upon any terms ; yea, that he will hear of no term.s, but will revenge himself upon them to all eternity. — May not then the hearing of this cause us to quake and tremble ? for why might not the Lord have dealt with us in the same manner, Avho were far more wretched and miserable creatures than angels ? Surely if a king be so angry with an offending noble- man, that was once his special fav^ourite, as to banish him from court, and afterwards hear of no terms of reconciliation with him ; would not a footman, or mean servantj that had offend-
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. IT
ed, when hearing of this, begin to dread, and say, O what will become of me a poor man, when the king treats his peers so severely ? I may surely despair of remission or reconciliation with him. So, in like manner, we poor clay worms, upon hearing of God's severity to fallen angels, might have been overwhelmed v/ith fear, if the Bible had not told us, that the Son of God's delights were with the sons of -men ; that "verily he took not on him the nature of a72gels^ but he took on him the seed of Abrahain^ Heb. ii. 16. and that he gave him- self to be a sin offering and sacrifice for men ! Astonishing news ! Glory to God for these glad tidings of great joy I
O admirablelove to Adam's rebellious offspring ? Hast thou. Lord, past by angels, and remembered us in our low estate ! and in thy infinite compassion become our surety, to appease di- vine justice for our heinous sins, when no other sacrifice could do it ! O what shall we render to thee for this distiuguishiiig love ! Surely our condition in Adam was no better than that of the angels who left their first estate. By nature we were in a most dreadful case, lying, like Isaac, bound on the altarj to be a sacrifice to the justice of God, and the sword of justice lift up to give the killing blow, until the Son of God discover- ed himself as the ram caught in the thickets, and calling to justice, hold thy hand, loose them, and bind me in their room % I'll be the sacrifice for them. In choosing fallen men, and not angels, God gave an amazing instance of the sovereignty of his grace, that he would be merciful to whom he would be merciful ; would pass by the superior nature, and choose the inferior ; prefer vessels of clay to vessels of gold 1 What can. w« say ? Nothing, but wonder at God's free grace !— Un- speakable lo%'e 1 Lord, it had been much if thou hadst pro- vided an angel to mitigate our sufferings in hell, by giving us drops of water to cool our tongue ; but that thou shouldsthave condescended to come and change rooms with us, lie in hell for us, and suffer the very pains and agonies due to us, is love that passeth knowledge'.
Lord, when I consider thy distinguishing pity, and low stoop, to purchase and recover such clods of earth and sin with thy blood and agonies, I am amazed at thy love, confounded at my own ingi-atitude, and ashamed at the coldness and hard* iiess of my heart '■ Oh 1 was Christ willing to change rooms Avith the like of me, and shall not I be willing to change rooms with him, and at his command to part with the filthy rags of my sins, and take on the robe of his righteousness: O shall: not this amazing lov€ of Christ constrain me to love him agairij and live to him that died for me ? Shall it not constrain me to think on him ? constrain me to close with and trust in him? constrain me to commend him ? constrain me to hale and avoid liis enemy, sin ? constrain me to adhei'e to his ti-uths aijcd. -ways ? to persevere in prayer, praise, and holy %valking t
A=re fallen angcis left, and fallen men pitched upon to1?s tae-
B2
18 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS,
monnments of free grace, to fill up the vacant rooms wbicFi angels fell from ! What shall 1 say to this, but, even so Fa- ther.for so it Jdeased thee ^ let thy sovereign free grace be the eternal song of both men and angels. A'ot unto us, not u7ito US, but unto thy name he the glory. — Blessed be God, that I hear this joyful sound of reconciliation with fallen men, and of a treaty of peace carried on with them : The devils never heard, and never shall hear such news. — But oh, if I come not in, and accept of the terms and offers made to me in the gospel, 1 11 put myself in a worse case than the devils : For it cannot be charged upon fallen angels, as on fallen men, that God was willing to be reconciled to them, and they would not. Kow then, when the gospel treaty is proclaimed, God forbid I be found guilty of refusing his terms, scorning his offers, and defying his threatenings. O how shall I escape, if I neglect so great and wonderful salvation as is tendered to me ? Neglect k, Lord, I dare not, I will not. Lo, I come, I accept, 1 em- brace,! take hold of thy covenant, and the seal of it tendered to me : I renounce the 'old covenant, I break league this day with all thy enemies, 1 proclaim war against them ; I close with Christ Jesus, both as my righteousness and strength; I make a full and free surrender and resignation of myself un- to the Lord, to be his and his only, in all I am, and in all I enjoy, to be ordered and disposed of for his glory and service. Lord, I am thine ; I will not be my own, I will not be the world's, but I'll be thine, thine only, and thine wholly ; thine to love thee, serve and obey thee without reserve ; since thou wouldst have no nature but mine, I will have no will but thine. I renounce my own will, and take thine for my rule. Lord, I am thme, O save thou me ; and I will trumpet forth thepraisesi sf free grace and redeeming love for ever. Amen,
MEDITATION IIL
From Psalm cxlvii. 20. He hath not deal* so with any nation.
THE nation of Israel was singularly privileged above others ; they were taken into covenant with God, they had God's word and ordinances, the means of conversion and sal- vation ; they had the gospel revelation, the knowledge and promises of the Messiah — But we under New Testament times,and m Britain, are yet more peculiarly privileged with clearer light and discoveries of the Messiah than the nation oi Israel had. They lived under a darker and harsher dispen- sation of the covenant of grace by Moses, whose first miracle ■was the turning of water into blood; but we live under the clear- er and sweeter dispensation of it by Christ himself, whose first miracle was the turning water into wine, that cheers the heart. The nation of Israel were called a people near unto God j but in gospel times we are alloiived yet nearer access
SACRAMENTAL MEEITATIONS. 10
to God than they had. The children of Israel were not aU lowed so much as to touch the mount on which the Lord came down ; the men of Bethshemish had not liberty to look into the ark the place of his residence : — But, behold, we are al- lowed to take a near view and steady look of a crucified Jesus in the sacrament, ivko is the image 'of the invisible God^ the bright 7i€ss of his Father's glory ^ and the express image of his person ; yea, we have liberty not only to look to him, but also to touch him, handle his wounds, embrace his person, and lodge him in our hearts.
The advantage of a clear revelation of a crucified Christ in the gospel ordinances, and particularly in the Lord's supper, is an invaluable privilege. If the royal Psalmist admired the divine goodness in causing the sun, moon, and stars to shine in the firmament for man's behoof, and therefore cries, ivhat is man that God is thus mindful of him ? How far greater cause have we to say so, when we observe how God causes the Sun of Righteousness to shme so brightly in the firmament of gospel ordinaiices, and the day-spring froin on high to visit us with the light of saving knowledge, and of eternal salvation through him ? — Again, if the Psalmist exalts God's goo. n ess so much in his giving the beasts of the field, fowls of the air, and fishes of the sea, to be food for man ; what ground have we to admire and praise God's infinite mercy, in giving us the flesh and blood of his own dear Son, to preserve the lives of our souls ? O what rare gospel feasts are these which God allows us in the land wherein we dwell! And, O ! how wonderfully are they preserved and continued with us, from time to time, by the miraculous workhig of God's niercy and power ? while others are visited with cleanness of teeth, and a famine of the word of God. He hiith not dealt with every nation as with us.
And, LORD, how distinguishing is thy goodness unto me a most unworthy creature ? By thy mercy 1 was born in a valley of vision; and I dwell in a lightsome Goshen, when multi- tudes of others, in Pagan and Popish nations, are covered with Egypiian darkness, and sit in the region of the shadow of death. I hear heaven's free market days of grace proclaim- ed, when others have silent Sabbaths ; I am invited to a rich banqueting house, when others are starving for want of the bread of life. O that I could value my mercies aright '—It IS a great privilege that I am allowed to speak to the great GOD in prayer, and to hear him speak to me in his word ! But still he puts a greater honour upon me, by calling me to enjoy intimate communion and fellowship with himself- yea invitmg me to sit down whh him at his table, and feast upon the fruits of CHRIST'S death ; and benefits of his ] urchase » —Oh, I am not worthy of the least cnimb that falls from the ehildren s table, and far less of being set down at the table with the children to eat of their bread, and share of the dain- ues provided for them by their heavenly Father. If Peter.
20 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.
after having seen Christ's glory and liis own vileness, judged himselt unworthy to be in the same ship with Christ, and there- fore cried, Defiart from me, for I am a sinful man ; how should I, the chief of sinners, adventure to sit at the same ta- ble with him, and feed upon his flesh and blood ? Amazing- condescension 1
O wtiat distinction doth God make among nations, in send- ing the gospel to them, with clear views and pi-essing offers of a crucified JESUS to perishing souls I And what cause have we, in these nations, of admiring the distinguishing good-r ness of G.jd to us in this respect beyond others ! \V' ould w^ not admire his goodness, if he caused the sun to shine only in our horizon, as he did on Goshen, when other nations were covered with darkness, as the land of Egypt was ? yet surely the gospel sun is by far a greater mercy. — The gospel is, in- deed, a joyful sound. Psalm Ixxxix. 15. so called, with allusion to the silver trumpets made use of under the law to call the people to the solemn assemblies, and to intimate to them the feast of the passover, which represented the love and suffer- ing's of the Messiah. A joyful sound the gospel is hideed, if we compare it with the sound of the law's curses and threat- cnings thundered from mount Sinai against sinners. Rut, be- hold, this joyful sound, bringing salvation, comes from heaven, even to heaven-daring sinners, who had openly rebelled against the God of heaven '. Glad news I Blessed are they who know this joyful sound ; know it so as to believe it, admire it, enter- tain it, and comply vvith it, so as to receive Christ offered therein to lost sinners.
Lord, I make this joyful sound welcome ; it is music to my car, and a cordial to my heart. I reckon their feet beautiful who bring such glad tidings to my soul. O how welcome would men make them, who should bring them an invention that would secure their estates from consuming, their houses from burning, or their bodies from dying 1 — But here we have tlie sure news of an invention that doth much more for us than all this, even a device that secures us from hell, and ensures us of heaven. Ought I not then cheerfully to comply with this joyful sound, and fall in with the call thereof? God forbid that I should stop ray ears at it ; it had been better for me then never to have heard of it at all : How dreadful would my case be at the judgment day I How would devils, Turks, Heathens, and my own conscience, upbraid me in hell to all eternity for my folly in slighting this joyful sound ! Surely God may slight the mournful sound of their prayers in time of dis- tress, who slight the joyful sound of his gospel in time of health. —But, Lord, I bless thee for it, I love it, 1 receive it, I wel- come it, I fall heartily in with it, and will admire it for ever*
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. 21
MEDITATION IV.
From 1 John iii. I. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us '.
IN the amazing work of our redempiion, we are called to behold and admire both the love of the Father, and the love of the Son. Unspeakable love of the Father, that contrived our redemption, pitched upon and gave the Redeemer. O how readily accepted he of the Son's offer to suffer and satisfy in- finite justice for sin in our room ! Upon our fall, he might justly have said, No, the soul that sins shall die personally, I'll admit of no surety. But, glory to the blessed Father, such was his love to us, that when the dear Son said. Father, I will be surety for the sinners of mankind, let my blood be shed for theirs, let the blow light on me, let me die in their room ; such was the love and pity of the Father to us, that he pre- sently accepted the offer, held our Redeemer at his word, say- ing. Be it as thou hast said ; A'u^ake^ O snvord^ against the Man that is ?)iy Fellow ; smite the Sheftherd^ and spare the sheep. I'll glorify my justice upon my own dear Son, rather than upon them. Ameuj said tht blessed Son of God : I will be the sa- crifice.
O love unspeakable, both in the Father and the Son I Hu- man love, angelic love, is nothing to it! O what is the love of creatures one to another, to this love of God to man ! Aston- ishing love I that the eternal Son of God, intreated by no man, but hated of all men, should in his love and pity intreat for men : yea, undertake and die for them, when eneniies to God and all that is good ! O the breadth^ O the lengthy 0 the dc/ith^ O the height of this love of Christ, ivhich pasð knoivledge ! I may possibly feel it, but I cannot fathom it. The love of creatures is nothing to the love of Christ. It was great love that Jacob bare to Rachel, that he endured the heat of summer, and frosts of winter, for her: But all that was nothing to the v/inter storm which Christ suffered for us. It was extraordinary love that Jonathan had to David, that he would peril his life to avert his father's wrath from him : But, what was that to Christ's love, that took on his eternal Father's wrath, which was infinitely greater than Saul's, and actually laid down his life to avert that dreadful storm of wrath from us I Vv'hat love v/as it that made him stand before the mouth of hell furnace, and suffer himself to be scorched with it in the most terrible manner, that he might stop the flame from breaking out on us ! BeJiold him receiving the sword of justice into his bowels, to prevent its being sheathed into our hearts ! Behold, when the sea of God's wrath raged and was tempestuous, threatening to swallow us all up, Christ came, and said, like Jonah, Spare these poor sinners ; take me up, and cast me into the sea in their stead, that the storm may be appeased against them ! Christ was willing to be cast
22 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.
into the sea of wrath, to be a blessed plank of mercy for ship- wrecked souls to grip to, and be saved.
Admirable love of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who would give his dearly beloved Son, out of free love and pity to man, to die and suffer wrath for him I and would chaise rather to see his dear Son agonizing and struggling under iii- finite wrath for a time, than to see an elect world struggling in hell among devils for ever! O who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord i who can shew forth all his praise ! O Fa- ther vof mercies, from all eternity thou foresawest our fall and misery, and, in thy wisdom and love, didst contrive a ncble remedy for us : Thou even didst provide a surety for man be- fore the debt was contracted ; a Saviour for him before he was lost ; and by this glorious surety thou hast found out a noble way to satisfy both the demands of justice and in- trcaties of mercy, and glorify both those divine perfections at once. — By this, Lord, we know thou Livest us, thabthou hast not withheld thy Son, thine only Son from us, to be sacrificed in our room : and graciously callest us to commemorate thy love, in providing this sacrifice, at thy holy table. — Instead of this, thou mightest justly have called n\uiiitudes of us togeth- er, to make us a sacrifice to thy justice for our heinous sins and rebellirjns against heaven. But behold, thou callest us to- gether to thy table upon quite another design, even to intimate to us a sacrifice of thy own providing, sufficient for us all ; and actirilly to behold the bleeding victim ot the innocent LAMB of GOD, who willingly, at his Father's call, gave himself to be slain to take away the sins of the world 1 Lord, what didst thou see in such creatures, to make thee love us after tliis manner ? Nothing, but much to make thee loathe us ; yet the time when we were most loathsome thou madest it the time of love ! Surel}- thy ihougkts are not as our thoiighia^ nor thy ways as our ways. How astonishing was thy conduct in re- deeming us when lost ? And worse are we than devils, if Ave be n-)t ravished Vvith the love of the Father in projecting our redemption, and with the love of his eternal Son, that made him leave his glory in heaven, and even wade through hell to save tlie dregs of the creation.
O what manner of love is this, that the Father did give his eternal Son, to die for those who deserved eternal wrath for their rebellion and treason against himself! When notice was first given in this lower world, that the Son of Gr^d was com- ing down to it from heaven ; what could have been expected, but that his business here would be to condemn the world, and hasten the execution of those he found in arms against him ? But O ! who can think, and not wonder, that he should h;:ve sent him to suffer and die for such as forfeited their lives, and deserved to be slain ; yea, for such as were alienated from the life of G >d, and full of enmity against him, unworthy of any place of abode upon earth, and by their wickedness fully prepared for hell I O how surprising it is, that God would, in
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. 23
tJiis our miserable state, send the Son of his love to die for us, to rescue us from deserved wrath, and purchase a new title for us to life and glory ! Behold what manner of love this is, thnt the Just should suffer for the unjust, the just Prince for the unjust rebels that were in arms against him, the King of Glory for the children of disobedience, the obedient Son for mortal enemies ? O this is such a manner of loving, that the highest transport of wondering cannot reach : For scarcely for a righteous man luill one dare to die ; but God commends his love to us, in that, while ive were yet sinners, Christ died for us, Rom. v. 7, 8.
O how am I able to hear, speak, or think of this love, and my heart not bum with an admiring sense of the freeness and riches of G<xl's grace; and with a vehement hatred and in- dignation against my sins, which contributed to pierce and crucify mv glorious Redeemer ! Can I be but ravished with love to him, when he comes to communicate his love to me at his table, and say, Behold how I have loved vou, and given myself for you I I was cut off, but not for mvself ; I was wounded for your transgressions, and bruised for your ini^ quities. It was for you I was betrayed, reviled, condemn- ed, and crucified ; for you my hands and feet were nailed to the tree, my head crowned with thorns, and mv side pierced with a spear : And all this I suffered, that you might be sav- ed from hell, and get sin forgiven, and God reconciled to you lor ever. ^
MEDITATION V.
From Psalm viii. 4. What is man, that thou art mindful of him ?
WHEN David beheld the heaven, with its glorious lumina- ries, the sun, moon, and stars, and the mighty works of God in the creation, and considered what a mean figure man made amongst them ; he admired God's condescension and goodness in hisconcern and pains about him, in his works of providence and redemption. Lord, what is man, fallen man, that thou shouldst notice him so much ? a poor, vile, sinful worm ' A.nd yet how singularly minded and honoured is he, in God the Son's undertaking to be his cautioner and ransom ! Had he done It for angels, it had not been so marvellous ; but what is man, that Crod should visit him in this manner : should pay him a homely visit in human nature, to see what ailed him to hear his complaints, and knowfeehnglv his wants and miseries, that he migut the better sympathize with him, relieve and sup- ply him. -^
But, who is this that comes to pay this visit to man ? Even he, that is King of kings, and Lord of lords, Avho is infinite in majesty and power, in riches and glorv. How awful are >A\Q descriptions given us of him in the Bible I Great is our
24 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS,
Lord, and of great poiver ; his understanding is in fniiie. He calls the stars by their names. Whatsoever he pleaseth, that doth he,, in heaven and in earthy in the seas a?id all deep places. And it is said of his coming to judgment, Dan. vii. lOe AJiery stream issued forth from before him^ thousand thou- sands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thou- sand stood before him. And yet this almighty person, the Great God, condescends to clothe himself with our nature, and stoops to the very ground, in the most lowly manner, to pay a kind visit to his rebellious creature, man, even man that is a worm ; and when he gees not access to him at first, he con- tinues to stand and knock at his door. — O how marvellous is this, that he, who is Omnipotent, that could, by a word, have annihilated fallen man, and created a more amiable crea- ture, in all respects, in his room, should stoop so low to him ' that he who is Omniscient, and perfectly knew man's un- worthiness, his enmity, his ingratitude, and what unkind re- turns he would make for the greatest kindness, should court him so earnestly I that the Judge of heaven should come down from the bench, and put on the pannel's clothes, that he might answer and satisfy the law for him '• that the great General of the armies of heaven should put himself in the room of a poor condemned deserter, to suffer for him ! that tlie Creator should stoop to die for the creature, even the Great God for a worm, man, is love that swallows up our thoughts and lan- guage ' What can we think, what can we say of it 1 It is love thatpasseth knowledge I the most penetrating angel cannot fathom its height, its depth, its breadth, or its length ! Why t For its height, it is infinitely higher than the highest heavens. For its depth, none can see its bottom, for it made him stoop as low as hell. For its breadth, it is as broad as the whole earth, and the whole heavens too ; it comprehends all his peo- ple, even the poorest outcasts on earth, as well as the highest saint in heaven. For its lengh, it never ends, but continues without interruption, notwithstanding provocations; nay, it is drawn out parallel with the longest line of eternity.
Lord, what is man that thou shouldst have minded him, visited him, and loved him so ! A creature most unlovely, ug- ly, and black as hell ; that had got the image of Ggd razed out, and the image of Satan pictured in its room.— A creature lame and impotent, that could not rise but as Christ litted him, could not stand but as he upheld him, could not walk but as he led him, nor move but as he drew him — A rebel that was in league with hell, that hated his Sovereign, and was plotting with the devil to pull the crown off his head.— A creature made loathsome by sin in God's sight : yea, more loath- some than a new born infant wallowing in its blood, than Job when full of boils, than Lazarus full of sores, or a dead car- case crawling with worms.— A creature that was undesirous of God's visit or help, and unwilling to accept of it ; that said
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. 25
to him, Defiart from ils^ nqe desire not the knoivledge of thy ways, A creature that c6ntemnecl his love, rejected his of- fers, and trampled his blood — Who would have pitied such a creature •* one so poor, so vile, so miserable 1 It had been much to have given him alms ; but for the Son of God to g-ive his life for him, may strike men aad angels with astonishing surprise for ever. Lord, what is man I a poor feeble crawl- ing worm, that thou shouldst be mindful of him after this manner ? And, what are we, that w^e should still have the of- fers of this love continued to us ? Oh, shall v/e ever make light of this love any more ? I believe^ Lord, hel]} my unbelief.
There is a parallel text, Psal. cxliv. 3. Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him ! or the S07i of man ^ that thou makest account of him I What a poor little thing is man, that thou shouldst make so great account of him, put such respect upon him above all other creatures, so as to con- descend to stand in a nearer relation to him, than to any other, as that of a father, a brother, a husband, a friend, kc. yea, more, thou hast dignified this poor thing, a man, so much as to assume his nature into an ineffable personal union with the second person of the ever glorious Trinity, whereby the na- ture of man is exalted above the angels of heaven. It is not the angelical, but the human nature which God hath chosen to tabernacle in ; and now it is honoured so far as to be set on the right hand of the Majesty on high. — The great account God hath of this little thing, man, appears further in the great cost he hath laid out for him. Why ? God not only gives his creatures to die for man, to yield him food, but he also gives his Christ to die for him, to procure him eternal life. Again, how great is the goodness which God hath laid up for him hereafter ? Eye hath not seen it, ear hath not heard it, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive how great it is ? O what a favourite of heaven must this little creature, man, be '•
Lord, who can but wonder at the honour thou hast already put upon man, and at the favours thou still designest for him'! Great things hast thou laid out, and great thing's hast thou laid up for man. I admire thy low stoop in the visit thou madest man, in the incarnation of thy dear Son, and in thy visit in the gospel proclamation, and offer of pardon through him ! but let me still plead for another visit in the effusion of thy Holy Spirit : This other visit thou knowest is necessary to make the former effectual to my salvation. May then 'thy Holy Spirit work faith in me, to fall in with thy glorious device for the redemption of man in all points, to accept of thy love- offers, and rest upon thy free promises of salvation through Jesus Christ, and his most perfect righteousness. Amen.
26 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS-.
MEDITATION VI.
From 1 Cor. x. 4. And that Rock was Christ.
HOW useful was that rock in the wilderness to the IsraeU ites sojourning there, after it was smitten by Moses' rod °. When they were ready to perish in that dry desart, the rock sent forth sti'eams of water to them in great abundance ; streams that followed them up hill and down hill, in all their turnings and windings, marches and counter -marches through that weary land. That rock was to them a lively type of Christ, who being smitten by the rod of the law's curses, whose minister Moses was, sends forth plentiful supplies to his peo- ple, while travelling in the wilderness of this world. There are two principal streams of blessings which he sends forth, most useful to us, to wit, a stream of blood for our justifica- tion, and a stream of the Spirit for our sanctification. The channel or conduit pipes, for conveying these streams to us, are the ordinances and promises of the gospel ; and through these pipes these blessed streams run freely to all true believ- ers, from the Rock Christ, which was broached for them.
Oh, how costly was our redemption to our dear kinsman Jesus Christ ? dear did our souls cost him • The rock of our salvation was cleaved asunder, rent and pierced to the very heart, to let out the waters of life to us, by which only we can be preserved from eternal death, and obtain eternal life. How costly and precious are the streams of Christ's blood and Spi- rit, his mercy and grace, which flow from the smitten Rock, and follow us through the wilderness in the free offers of the gospel ? They are life-giving streams, fire-quenching, heart- softening, soul-cleansiug, healing, and fructifjdng streams : Welcome then should we make these streams to our souls in this dry and thirsty Land. — Likewise the rock was to the Israelites a shadow from the heat, and a covert from tempests and storms : So Christ, our Rock, screens us from the scorch- ing heat of vindictive justice, and from the waves and billows of God's wrath.— How necessary and useful is the Rock Christ to the souls of fallen men ! Oh, let me never, Jeshurun-like, lightly esteem this Rock of our salvation. O let me never go to false rocks, or false streams, for shelter or supply in straits, when the true Rock is so near, and the saving streams run close by my door ; yea, follow me daily in the channel of the word and sacraments : Streams appointed by Heaven to an- swer all the cases and ailments of lost sinners.— O shall God in his tender mercy provide such a wonderful remedy, set the Rock abroach for me, and cause its streams to follow me ; and shall I be so foolish as to turn my back upon them, and refuse to apply or make use of them ? O save me from such cursed ingratitude and madness ; J believe, Lord, heltim^ wibeli^-
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS,
2!^
O how much should my heart be affected at thy holy table^ when I see the Rock of my salvation smitten by the rod of jus- tice, and behold the bloody spear pierce into his heart ? O Reck of ages, what made thee to rend and cleave so ? O Brightness of thy Father's glory, who has disfigured thee so ? O River of life, clear as crystal, who hath troubled thee so? Oh, it was my sins, my pride, my passion, my unbelief, my worldliness, my hardness, impenitence, &c. These were the cause of my Redeemer's sufferings. The iniquities of sinful men were laid upon him. When he was pierced, it was I that should have been smitten. When he groaned and sweated blood, I should have howled and roared in hell. Harder than the rock is my heart, if I can see my dear Saviour smitten and pierced, and not mourn. O can I see his side and heart streaming out blood, and mine eyes not pour out tears ! Can I behold the Rock smitten for the sins of men, and not adore the holiness and justice of God manifested therein ? Can I see my innocent Saviour wounded and slain for my sins, and my soul not hate them ? yea, shall I not be fiiled with horror and trembling at temptations to sin ? -
Let me, at ray Saviour's call, approach to his table, and come near to the Rock of my salivation, and hearken to the raging billows of infinite wrath, dashhig against the Rock for my sins, and even making the Rock to groan, sweat, and tremble under the pressure. O what a dreadful hurricane of wrath did he endure, to keep the sv;eUing ocean of divine wrath from overflowing guilty men I Surely my glorious Em- manuel's groaning and sweating blood under the strokes of God's vengeance, is a greater evidence of the implacable v/rath and indignation of God against sin, than if he had hurl- ed all the rocks of tlie creation into the midst of the sea, yea or a thousand v^rorlds of m,en and angels into hell. O that while I am beholding this sight I may tremble at sin, come by faith under the shadow of this Rock, and run into the clefts of it for safety. Here I would be out of the reach of the law's curses, and threatenings of wrath ; and though I he^r the roar- ings and dasliings of the sea upon the Rock, yet a drop of it could not touch me.
O that I could imitate Moses, when I am at the table, and smite the Rock by the rod of faith, that the streams of Christ's blond and Spirit may flow out to me. What was his error will be my wisdom, to smite the Rock oftener than once, to put forth many acts of faith on Jesus Christ, such as the discern- ing, assenting, approving, deriving, receiving, ck'sing, em- bracing, trusting, pleading, applying, and appropriating acts of true laith. May I, like Israel of old, Deut. xxxii. 13. be helped by faith to suck honey out of the Rock, and oil rut o£ the flinty Rock : Honey and oil, sweetness and fatness, quick- ening and comfort. — How shall I come at this hone} and oil I Only by sucking : And how shall I sjuck, but by the mouth of
^8 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.
faith ? There is no sucking without it. Neither can I suck by faith, unless God make me do it : for it is said, Deut. xxxii. He made them to suck honey out of the rock. It is God that must give me both a mouth and strength to suck, faith in the habit, and faith in exercise. It is only the blowings of the north and south winds on the garden, that make the spices to flow: out : yhvake O north ivlnd^ come thou souths blow upon my garden ; bring faith to life, that I may suck honey from Christ in the sacrament. Christ's breasts are now full ; O let not faith be wanting, for if it be wanting, I can suck no- thing: Blessed be God, Jesus Christ, my Redeen^iCr, is the author of faith. Lord, increase my faith, that I may suck honey from the Rock. But what honey may I expect from it ? Ans. The honey of pardon of sin. O how sweet is* this honey! —The honey of peace and reconcihation with God ; — the lioney of a law-biding righteousness ; — the honey of access to, and communion with God ; — the honey of enlargement of heart, and loosing of bands, Sec. O let me ever suck from this Rock, the Rock that answers all my needs, and richly supplies all my wants. — Let me also, under all my straits, support myself with the Psalmist's cordial, Psal. xviii. 46. The Lord liveth^ and blessed be my Rock, W'hy should be- lievers in Christ droop in any condition, or look like dead men, while their Lord liveth, and their Rock standeth I Blessed be God, my Rock is a living and lasting Rock ; my hopes may die, my comforts die, my frames die, my gifts, my wealth, and my relations, they may all die ; but I rejoice in tiie news that my Lord will not die, nor my Rock fall. lie once died for me, but he is risen again : Good news ! ISow he is alive, and will die no more.
MEDIl'ATION VII.
From Zecii. xli. 10. They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and mourn.
THIS promise hath a respect, not only to the Jews when converted, but to all sinners when brought to repentance. We have all pierced Christ, in as much as our sins were the cause of his death ; He ivas wounded Jor our transgressions. Now a believing sight of a pierced Saviour, is the best spring of sorrow for sin ; it is faith's look to a crucified Christ, that will set us a mourning after a godly sort. O that this pro- mise may be made good to me at this time, that I may be help- ed to look believingly upon Christ as pierced for my sins, my pride, my passion, my unbelief, my carnality, my disobedi- ence, my impenitence, my sins of the heart, of the tongue, and ' f the life, that I may confess and bewail them, mourn and weep over them before the Lord. Oh • when shall I mourn and weep if not now, v;hen I am called to lock upon my dear Lord and Surety at his table, all red with blood for my red
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. ^
and scarlet coloured sins ? I will not now stand afar off, and look to my Saviour on the cross, as those women who follow- ed him from Galilee, Luke xxiii. 49. No, I will come close to him, take a near look, and a narrow view of his wounds and piercings by my sins, that I may see how wide and deep they are, that my eye may affect my heart with godly sorrow for sin.
When I look on him, I'll consider the dignity cf the person pierced by and for me : he is the Almighty Creator, the glo- rious Emmanuel, the Plant of renown, the Prince of the kings of the earth, that is pierced and nailed to a cross. Jeremiah laments in the captivity, tliat princes were hanged up by the hands, Lam. v. 12. But what were the princes of Israel to the Prince of Peace, the King of Glory, whom I see hanging nail-
'ed through the hands on the cross, and his blood poured out like water upon the earth ! O it is royal blood, the blood of God, that I see running down to satisfy Justice for my sins ; and will not such a sight cause me to mourn for them ? Can I look on my lovely Redeemer, stript naked, mounted up, and fijxed vvith nails to a tormenting cross? Can I see his head pierced with thorns, his back pierced with scourgings, his hands and feet pierced with big nails, his side pierced with a. spear, and his heart pierced with sorrows for my sins, and my heart not mourn for them ? Yet all the piercings and wounds of his sacred body were but small, to the piercings and agonies of his soul, when he drank the cup of his Father's wrath for me, which made him cry out. My soul is exceeding son-civ-
ful e-ven unto death ; my Gody my God^ ivhy hast thou for- saken me? Can I behold this loving Jesus, standing in my room, bearing the wrath of a Deity for me, and my heart not bleed ? Can I see him, when the sword of justice was drawn to smite me, opening his breast to receive the stroke into his^ heart, and my heart not melt within m^ ? Lord, grant me such a sight by faith, of a wounded, bleeding Saviour, as to make me a melting and mourning sinner.
How can 1 leave this subject until my heart be more affect- ed i Hc.dl been personally atmountCalvary,andwith my bodily eyes had seen my dear Redeenier racked and nailed to the tree ? Had I seen him lifted up between heaven and earth, that the nations might behold him, with his arms stretched out to embrace sinners ? Had I beheld his dying look^, and heard his dying groans? Had I seen his precious blood for many hours run from his wounded hands and feet to the earth ? Could I have stood by vvIlIi dry eyes, 05' an unconcerned heart, especially when I had thought he vvas suffering all this *. at cf love to me, for my sins, and in my room ? — Why then sh( uld I not be as much concerned, when I come to his table to cele- brate the memorial of that fearful tragedy, and look upon the- outward signs wliich represent the same ! Lord, give me lai ill's eve to behold the things signific'd lheycb^•. even th^j
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bleeding and dying of the glorious Emmanuel.-- -And what kind of blood is it I see running down? It is innocent blood! precious blood ! royal blood '• heart blood 1 Nay, the blood of the eternal Son of God, one drop whereof is worth an ocean of our blood, and is of infinite value ; and yet behold all this blood is shed for such worms as I am ! O can I think long upon this subject, and not find my heart pained with love, and be ready with Joseph, to seek a secret place to weep in ? Had an ordinary man been executed for my crime, it would have affected me all my days; how much should it touch me to see the Son of God put to death forme ! The sun fainted, the heavens mourned in black, the earth quaked, and the rocks rent, when this black tragedy was act- ed ; how much more should my heart rend and mourn at the representation of it before my eyes I Surely my mourning should be great, deep, and bitter mourning, as in the text, like the mourning of a parent for the death of an only son ; or like the mourning of Haddadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo !
0 what was the rdeath of king Josiah to the death of King Je- sus, the eternal Son of God I O my dear slain Lamb, shall I not moura and weep over thee !
Oh ! can I see his blood run down in streams, and my eyes not pour out some drops 1 Did Christ sweat blood, and weep blood for my sins, and shall not I weep tears for them ! Shall
1 not give drops of water for streams of blood ! Alas ! I am more sparing of my tears for Christ, than Christ was of his blood for me ! How fast did the blood trickle down Christ's cheeks in the day he wore the crown of thorns for me ? But how slowly do the tears fall from my eyes when I commemo- rate his dying love ? Can 1 shed tears in plenty for a dead child 1 and have I reserved none for a slain Saviour ? Yea, slain by my sins ! How sad is it to see so many weeping eyes at a funeral, and so many dry eyes at a communion table? Alas I this is a sad sign of few looking by faith to him we nave pierced ; few sensible of the evil of their sins, that were the liaiTsmers which drove the nails into his body. O for a realiz- ing aci of faith, representing all that the Lamb of God suffer- ed, in the greatest certainty and clearest evidence, that it is no devised fable. O for an applying and appropriating act of faith, to bring all home to myself, and say. He loved me^ and %'ave himself for me !
What a hard heart is this I have beyond others ! Can I see others weeping and mourning over a slain Saviour, that sit at the same table, eat the same bread, and drink of the same cup with me, and cannot I get one tear ! Is God come with his bottle, v/aitingfor my tear-i ? Do others pour into it plentifully, andhave I not one tear to drop into God's bottle ? Lord, what means the hardness of my heart, and the dryness of my eyes, at the sight of my Saviour's bleeding and dying for my sins? When should I mourn and weep, if not now ? Was there ever such an occasion for tears ? Oh I doth God intend to reserve
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weeping for me in hell, where tears shall never be dried up ! this is what I deserve, if I be hard hearted and dry-eyed now«^ But, Lord, pity my hardness, and give me such a look as thou gavest Peter, that may eause me to weep, and weep bitterly, at the remembrance of my sins which pierced thee..
MEDITA'J'ION VIII.
From Luke xxii. 61, 62. The Lord looked upon Peter.— And Peter went out and wept bitterly
LORD, since my looks to thee are so slight, so wavering and inconstant, that they make little or no impression upon my hard heart, do thou vouchsafe to look upon me Avith pity and with poAvier ; for thy looks are efficacious, and melt down the hardest heart. O give me such a look as thou gavest Pe- ter, when he denied thee, and began to curse and swear : A look that may bring me to myself, and cause me to weep, and weep bitterly at the remembrance of my sins, my unbelief, my pride, my passion, my disobedience, which pierced thee, my dearest Lord and Saviour, Look thou ufian mc, and be mer- cifiil unto mcy Psal. cxix. 132. Christ's look to back-sliding Peter was merciful, and full of compassion ; his bowels yearn- ed for his poor disciple, when ready to fall into the devil's arms by total and final backsliding, and prevents him speedily. He would not let him lie long in that dismal state he fell into, as it were on the very brink of hell, but presently plucks him back, and recovers him. In like manner. Lord, look on me, and recover me speedily when I fall into sin, lest my next step be into hell.
Christ's look to Peter was a preventing look; he looked on Peter before Peter looked to his Saviour for mercy, and before he looked on himself, or upon his sin, and the danger he was exposed to by it Glory to my Redeemer that watches over his people, sees and minds their danger, when they themselves are little thinking upon it ; he is more careful of them than they are of themselves. How marvellous, is Christ's love, that w^ould be so concerned about Peter at such a time, when he himself was amidst his bloody enemies, and upon trial for his life ? Even then, as it w^ere, he forgets his own danger, and takes notice of the danger of his servant : He being the great Shepherd of the sheep*^ ventures ail to rescue one of his flock out of the mouth of the lion^ a.nd fro?n the paivs of the bear, O who would not desire to belong to the flock of such a faithful,, loving, and compassionate Shepherd I
The look Christ gave Peter was a convincing look ; it laid open his sin to him with all its aggravations, which made it very bitter to him. It spoke such language to him as this;. ♦' O Peter, what hast thou done I Hast tliou cast off' thy Sa= " viour I And hast thou said, thou knowest not me, who knew " thee from the womb, and am going to die for thee ? Dost
^^^' SACRAMENTAL MEDITATION*.
*' thou not know me that called thee from thy nets, that " empowered thee to preach the gospel, and work miracles i " that kept thee from sinking in the waters ? Am not I he thou *' sawest shining on mount Tabor ? Even he thcu saidest thou '' would rather die than deny ?" O for such a convincing look from Christ, that would pierce and melt my heart, and make me weep bitterly both now and at his table, for m}' base ingrat- itude, in disowning and piercing my dear Redeemer.
Christ's look to Peter was a powerful and overcoming look ; it conquered his will, loosed him from the world and sin, rmd made him yield presently to Christ: he Avas not able to hold out a moment longer, but, like Joseph, seeks a secret place to weep in. O how powerful is a look from Christ 1 It is suffici- ent to bow the most stubborn will, and melt the hardest heart ; it can turn the rock into standing ivater, and thejiint into a fountain of water ^ Psalm cxiv. 8. How powerful was the look he gave to poor Jerusalem, when lying in their blood ; a look that caused them to live, Ezek. xvi. 6. How powerful was the look he gave to Zaccheus on the sycamore tree, Luke xix. 5. O for such a look as would bring me presently down, in like manner, from the sycamore of my self-conceit and self- righteousness, and from my best beloved sins and idols, and cause me receive Christ joyfully into my heart, and go with, cheerfulness to bis table, and receive the seal of his covenant^ saying. My Lord, and my God !
Christ's look to Peter was a peculiar and distinguishing look ; the pov/er andgi*ace of God w«nt along with it to change Peter's heart, and bring him to his right mind. Christ looked on many thousands that were never the better of it. He look- ed on Judas after he betrayed him, and when he presumed to kiss him, and reproved him too for his base treachery : But neither that look nor reproof melted his heart. As the beams- of the very same sun hardens clay and sqftens frozen earth ; so a look from the same Jesus, the Sun of right eoii-.ness, left. Judas hard and impenitent, whilst it softened Peter's heart. The one went on in his villany, whilst the other relented, and melted into tears. Why ? he loked but on the face of Juaas, but he looked on the heart of Peter. He locked upon the one ■with a frowning judicial look, but looked upon the other wiih a recovering and drawing look. Christ's look to Peter was accompanied with the inward influences of his Spirit on his heart, otherwise it had not been effectual. Oh, if he would vouchsafe such a gracious look to my frozen heart, and sofcen it ? I would fain bring my hard heart and lay it befo'-e this blessed sun, and wait until he draw by the cloud, 1 lok through and shine upon it. Lord, I tremble to go to th) table with this hard heart, lest thou shouldst look on me with anger, as thou didst upon these, Mark iii. 5. upon account of the hard- ness of their hearts. Lord, I desire to be grieved for my htai-t hardness, and to look to thee whom I pieiced by it. Give such
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a look to ray heart as thou gavest to Peter's, melt it down into penitential tears, and cause me to go aside and weep bitterly.
Christ's look caused Peter to remember and think upon liis words to him. It is in and by his word that he works up- on sinners' hearts. O 1 if the Spirit would bring the word to my mind, set it powerfully home upon my conscience, and so give the happy turn to my soul. Lord, help me to lay up thy words, and ponder them in my heart : and, O bring them al- ways seasonably to my view, that when I fall I may not lie long under sin, nor continue in a state of backsliding from thee. May I have such a look from thee, as shall look all my idols out of countenance, and look my wandering heart into a right frame for covenanting and communicating work : A look that sliall put new life in all my droopmg graces, and kindle such a flame of love to Christ in my heart, and of indignation against sin, as all the devils in hell shall never be able to quench. A look that shall make me weep, while I live, for piercing Christ the Lamb.
Oh, shall others shed tears in plenty for sin, and my eyes remain dry ? Shall others get their hearts broken, and mine continue hard ? Lord, thy grace is free : O how easy were it for thee to melt my heart, and moisten my eyes ; One touch of thy hand, nay, one look of thy countenance, one cast of thine eye, is sutFxient to do it. O turn unto me, and give me one merciful look : for thy ordinance will be lifeless, and lest unto me, if thou look not on me. How can I go to the table to be- ■ hold Jesus, my surety, all red with blood for my red and scar- let coloured sins, while my heart doth not mourn, nor my eyes run down ? Surely the streams of my Saviour's blood deserve to be lamented with tears of blood, and shall I not do it at least with tears of water ? Washe wounded for my transgressions, and shall not my heart bleed, and eyes weep for his wounds, given him for my sins ?
IMEDITATION IX.
Fro!-n Matth. xv. 27. And she said; Truth, Lord ; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs,
THIS vv^oman was a Canaanite, and lived among heathens, yet she had greater knov^ledge and faith of the Messiah than the most of the Jews. Her faith, humility, patience, and re- solution, amidst the greatest discouragements, are here re- corded for a pattern and encouragement to desponding believ- ers in all ages.
This woman w^as so sensible of her misery, that she address- es Christ with great earnestness for help : She doth not speak calmly or coldly to Christ, but she cried unto him, and follow- ed him with her cries, ver. 22, 23. Surely, if I were duly af- fected with my spiritual w^ants and miseries, I would speak to God in no other language than that of cries and tears. O what
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cause have I to bewail my coldness and indifSsrency in prayerc. and the little sense I have of my dangers and necessities, which are great beyond expression.
This woman, notwithstanding her great earnestness and strong faith, met with very great trials and discouragements in her addresses to Christ.
1. Her first trial is Christ's silence to her, when crying t© him for mercy, ver. 23. He ansivered her not a word. Strange ! not a word from a meek and merciful Saviour, that never put a poor sinner, seeking mercy, away from him be^ lore ; but still invited all to con>e to him for it. That is a sore temptation. Lam. ii. 8. When I cry and shout^ he shutteth ^ut ^my jirayer. Behevers are apt to think that God shuts ©ut their prayers in wrath, when it is not so. Christ heard this woman, accepted her, was pleased with her, and strengthened her to hold on in prayer, though he did not im^. mediately answer her. He eiitertaine<l her with silence to draw her on to be more importunate, and to try her faith, pa«. tience, and perseverance, and thereby to teach us to be fol- lowers of those who through faith and patience do nov/ inherrt the promises. Christ keeps the door bolted for a time, that we may knock the harder, Mutth. vii. 7. A^^ik^ seek, knock\ The choicest mercies come to us after the greatest wrestlings. Likewise I see here, that there is love in Christ's heart to wrestling souls, even when frownsappearin his looks ; where- fore let me take encouragement from him, though he slay me, yet to trust in him.
Second. Another sore trial the woraan met with, was the answer Christ gave his disciples when iiUerceding for her, whereby he seems to exclude her out of liis comniission, ver. 24. I a?n not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The Jews were, called sheep, but the Gentiles, dogs. The Jcv/s were indeed to have the first offer of Christ's grace and purchase. Though the woman might have taken Christ's words as a plain repulse, yet she studica^to put the best sense on them she can, and continues her importunity. Which teaches us never to leave the Throne of Grace for any dis- couragement- Third. Slie gets a repulse yet more-sharp than the two form- er, even after she had come close up to him. and fallen down at his feet, saying, Lord^ h^lp me. Tlien it is Christ ranks her among the dogs, these that were without the covenant, pro- fane and unclean. Now, one might think she is cut off by that word, and will insist no inore after it. Nay, she takes hold of that word ofreproach, and pleads upon it in the text, Truths Lord^ I am a dog^ vile and unworthy ; yet let me humbly ask the dog's room and privilege, even to creep beneath the children's table, and gather some crumbs of mercy. O how Hiuch is contained here for our instruction and imitation ? Fir-st. What cause have we, O Lord, to bless thy goodnessj.
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Ih^t we Gentiles, of dogs are now become children, and al- lowed to come to thy table '. And, at the same time to fear thy justice, since the Jews, of children are now become dogs, and shut out as unclean ! If they were cut off who crucified thee in thy low estate, what may we expect, if by our sins, Y.'e crucify thee in thy glory ? Let us not be high minded but fear.
Secondly. Christ puts the strongest faith of his people up- on the sharpest trials : He thinks fit, for his own glory, where he gives much grace, to try grace much.
Thirdly. Those who are eminent in faith are most hum- ble : this woman was so. O how humbly did she plead with Christ ? She threw herself on" the ground, lay low at his feet, and from the dust, cried for help ; she claimed nothing, only begged for mercy. And when Christ spurned her from his feet, called her a dog, she doth not murmur nor complain of his harsh carriage, but humbly takes with the charge: Truths Lord^ thou dost not miscal me, nor call me so bad as I am ; I am a dog-, a most vile and unworthy creature, and have no right to the children's bread, and must starve if thou hast not mercy upon me. She can bear any thing, the worst frown or chastisement from Christ, only she cannot bear being exclud- ed from his mercy and grace ; she would have some token of it, though never so small : She claims not a Benjamin's meal, nor a child's portion, only let her have a dog's crumb. Lord, I take patiently the stripe from thee ; give me but a crumb after it, and I will go away satisfied. Surely the more hum- ble any supplicant is at a throne of grace, he comes still the better speed ; for the Lord resists the firoud, but givea grace to the humble.
Fourthly. God's usual method of dispensing his mercy and grace to sinners, is first to cast them down before he raises them up ; he first hum.bles and lays them low in a sense of their unworthiness and vileness, before he advances them to his favour. We must first see ourselves to be as dogs, less than the^ least of all God's mercies, before we are fit to be dig* nified with the privileges of children.
Fifthly. When unbelief draws dismal conclusions from eve- ry thing, and tempts us to quit our grips and hopes, upon any dark dispensation, and to say with that wicked king, 2 Kings vi. 33. This evil is of the Lord : What should Iivaitfor the Lord any longer? Behold, faith is a valiant and impor- tunate grace, it puts the best constructions upon all Christ's actions ; it is sharp sighted, to see and take hold of all advan- tages to strengthen itself, and finds encouragement even in that which is discouraging. That which seemed to cut oflf this beheving woman's hope, she improves it as a ground of hope, and an argument in prayer. Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat^ Bcc. q. d. Even the worthless dogs belong to the familv, and though they may not feast with children at- the table', they
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maj^ creep undei' it and gather crumbs, these oif-fallings that would be swept to the door : this will not wrong the children. Let me stand in relation to Christ, though in the meanest sta- tion, even that of his dog ; I will be thankful for it, or for any thing, if he do not turn me out of the house.
Sixthly. When our discouragements are greatest, we should learn from this woman, never to give over the exercise of faith and prayer ; but to look on all our disappointments in the suc- cess of prayer, as excitements to greater earnestness in pray- er. Faith will not set limits to the Holy One ; though speedy answers be not given to our prayer, it becomes us to wait God's time, who is the best judge of the fittest season. He that helieveth nvill not ynake haste. Why ? he knows his ex- tremity is God's fit opportunity.
Seventhly. A resolute adhering to Christ by faith under trials, is most pleasing and acceptable to him ; as when we persevere in the use of means, when success is small, when we depend upon his promise, and look to his power ; when under the darkest dispensations we watch over our hearts and steps, that they do not decline from his ways, as these in Psal. xliv, 17, 18. And glory to him that gives us such en- couragement for this resolute adherence to him, as the mer- cifulness of his nature, and his faithfulness, which assure us, there is more good-will in his heart, than is visible in his dealings ; and that his providence will never give his word the lie. He gives in secret strength to his people to adhere to him, when he seems most opposite to them, as he did to this woman. He loves to bring about his people's mercies by means improbable and contrary, to glorify his wisdom. He delights to bring light out of darkness.
Eighthly. Great will the reward at last be of the believer's faith, humility, and perseverance in prayer ; for, saith Christ at length, v. 28. O nvoman great is thy faith ; be it unto thee even as thou wilt,
MEDITATION X.
From 1 Cor. ii. 24. This do in remembrance of me.
O MY soul, here is a solemn ordinance, instituted for keep- ing up the remembrance of a crucified Jesus: and behold it was appointed by himself,, when he was just a going to do more for us than all the angels in heaven could have done, even to make atonement for our sins by his death and suffer- ings : and he twice repeats his dying cjiarge to us, v, 24 and 25. This do ; this do ye. Men use to regard the commands of their dying friends, and perform their wills religiously: and shall not I with pleasure obey the will and .mmand of a dying Redeemer, when the thing is so easy and agreeable, to eat and drink at his table in remembrance of him ? If I for-
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get thee, O friend of sinners, let my right hand forget its cun- ning, &c. Our loving Redeemer well knew the treachery of Our memories, the worldliness of our hearts, and inconstancy of our affections, that we would be ready to let his death and love slip out of our thoughts, and therefore he would have the signs of his sufferings frequently presented to our eyes. Alas! for tlie cursed ingratitude of my heart, that is so apt to forget him that remembered me when there was none to pity me ; but glory to him that takes such pains to cure my forgetfulness, by setting forth Christ crucified so evidently before my eyes in the broken bread and poured out wine in the sacrament. — I look upon this ordinance as a visible representation and com- memoration of my Saviour's death and sufferings for his peo- ple, which he will have continued till he come again to judg- ment. It is like a marble pillar set up upon his grave, with an inscription bearing account of his glorious achievements and mighty deeds, his glorious sufferings, conflicts, and victo- ries, for his people.— Wherefore, as oft as he calls me, I will go thither, and put all the honour and respect I can upon my kind benefactor : I will remember his love, proclaim his worth, and publish his praises. I will hereby own myself be- fore the world to be one of his disciples, and "a follower of the Lamb. I will declare my abhorrence of sin that pierced him, and my gratitude to the Lamb for the atoning sacrifice he of- fered up for me upon the cross, I will triumph in this as the only ground of my hope. I will put the crown on his head, and cast all my crowns down at his feet, and cry, JVorthii is the Lamb that ivas slain^ a-nd has redeemed me from my sins by his blood-; worthy is he to receive all honour^ jioiver^ glo^ rz/, and dominion., for ever and ever.
Glory to my dear Saviour, that seeks no greater return for all his labour of love, than a thankful remembrance of it at his table. Oh, should I grudge to give such a sinall return to him that sufifered the pains of death and hell for m- I Had he bid me sacrifice my first born, and give all I have to the poor, or go in pilgrimage to the Holy Land to visit his sepulchre, or go to the top of Mount Calvary where the cross stood, as a token of thankfulness for his love, could I have refused it ? But he puts me to no such hard task — Lord, thou bids me not go to a bloody scaffold to remember thee, but to a well covered table to do it. Thou bids me not go there to bleed or burn for thee, but to eat and drink : not the bread of afiiiction, or water of adversity, but bread that strengUiens the heart, and wine that cheers the drooping spirit, bread and wine which thou hast sanctified and blessed for me — Surely, O dear Saviour, I owe my life to thee, nay a thousand lives if I had them ; but it is not my life, but my memory and thoughts thou art calling for ; it is not to die for thee, but to remember thee. Didst thou drink the r.vp of wrath on the cross for me, and will not T
D
o$ SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.
drink a cup of blessing at thy table for thee, nay for myself, and for my eternal salvation ?
Let me go then to this holy table, with faith, love, and thankfulness, to remember Christ and his dying love ; as he commands me. And while I remember him, let me also re- ceive and embrace him as my bleeding High Priest, in the arms of my faith, and at the same time throw my guilty soul into his wounded arms, for saving me from wrath. — Let me go and remember the woundings and piercings of my Redeem- er, with a pierced and wounded heart for these cursed sins, which nailed and killed the Prince of Life. Let me hence- forth be the death of sin, which was the death of my dear Sa- viour. Oh, shall I suffer sin to live any longer in me, tliat would not suffer my Redeemer to live in the world ?
But let me consider my High Priest before hand, and what of his sufferings I should remember at his table. — I will re- member how the glorious heir of all things denuded himself of his riches and glory, how he left his throne of majesty to lodge in a virgin's womb ; yea, to be born among beasts, and cradled in a manger, for such a worm as me ! I will remem- ber how he was attacked by the devil, contradicted by sinners, and reproached by the world for my sake ! — I will remember how sorrowful his soul was in the garden, v/hen the bitter cup was put in his hand ; and how he sweated, how he prayed, how he fell to the ground, till he was quite overwhelmed witli v/rath, and covered with biood, for my sake ! — I will remem- ber how he was sold for a small price, and basely betrayed by Judas ; how he was taken by tlie soldiers, tied as a malefactor with cords, denied by Peter, forsaken by all his disciples, and left alone among his crael and insulting enemies. — I will re- member how he was blindfolded, mocked, spit upon, buffeted, and affronted by ruffians a whole night, and patiently suffered all for my sake. I will remember how his lovely countenance was disfigured with blows, and the plucking the hair off his cheeks ; and how the sweetest face ever the sun saw, vv^asall besmeared withbloodand spittingformy sake. — Iv/ill remem- ber how he that clothes the lilies of the field, was himself stripped naked, bound to a pillar, and cruelly scourged, till the pavement of Pilate's judgment-hall was all bedewed with his precious blood — I will remember how the crown of thorns was plaited with the sharp points turned inward, put upon his head, and driven into his temple, with a reed, till they pierced his skull in many pl«ices, and a shower of blood run down his blessed neck. — I will remember how the heavy cross-tree was laid upon his scourged and bleeding shoulders, and he made to carry it through the streets of Jerusalem, forth of the gates, and up mount Calvary,, to the place of exe- cutivon, until his strength was spent, and he foundered undei- the burden. — I will vemember hov\^ the cross-tree was laid down and my Saviour stripped naked, and stretched out upon
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h as a rack ; and how he was fastened to it with four big iron nails through his hands and feet, and the cross lifted up and let fall into a deep hole digged for the foot of it, to the violent rending and widening of his sacred wounds, by Avhich he hung, until ail his blood streamed forth at them^ and he expired ajnidst the most exquisite tortures.
I will remember also the sufferings of his soul at that time, when the Lord ran upon him as a giant, and made his soul the butt of his envenomed arrows, the poison whereof drank op his spirits, until his strength was dried up like a pctsnerd. — 1 will remember how his soul was troubled and nonplussed at the distant prospect of this cup ; and how sore amazed he vras soon after when it was put into his hand. — I will remem- ber how the tasting of it cast him into a bloody sweat and ag- ony, which died his garments red, and bedewed the ground where he lay. — I will remember how he was broken with breach upon breach^ till all the sea billows of divine vengeance went over him, and the Lion of the tribe of Judah was made to roar under the strokes and bruises of the flaming sword, Psnl, xxii. 1. — I will remember the dreadful hidings ci God's face he lav under, until he Avas made to cry, iMy God, JMij God, ivhy 'haat thou forsaken me ? — I will remember the iuexora- bleness of divine justice, that would not spare him one stripe, abate him one farthing of tiie debt, nor one drop of the cup, so that he drank till he cried, It is finished, and gave up the- ghost. Glory to him for his love in finishing the work*
MEDITATION XI.
Fi ora Philip, i. 23. For I aa^ in a strp.-.t betwixt two.
^ AS the Apostle was in a strait whether to choose to die or to live, so am I in a strait whether to go to the Lord's table, or to stay back. Now, thou callest me, Lord, to celcbrace the memorial of thy death, yea, to feast with thee at thy holy table, and I knov7 not what to choose ; I am in a strait betwixt tvvo. Ivly heart is so unholy, and my unworthiness so great, I tremble to go forward to feast with a God so holy, and whose purity is infinite ; and yet my wants are so many, and my ne- cessities so great, that my case is hopeless if I stay back : Lord, I can go to none else in ail the world to supply my needs, but to thyself alone. — But on, when I think of going forward, mv guilt stops my mouth, and fills me with blushing. Lord, if the holy angels, those pure and unspotted seraphims wh© burn in zeal for thy service, must even cover their faces before thee, how shall I Venture into thy presence ; I whose zeal is so languishing, whose love is so cold, whose mind is so earthly, and prayers so dull ? Shall I approach so near a holy God in such a cas*D ?* But what thei-k shall I do ■ Shall I jo ii; with
40 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.
these worldlings who were bidden to the feast of the great King, refuse, and make my excuse ? Then I fear the King will be angry, declare me unworthy to taste of his supper,yea, swear in his wrath that I shall never enter into his rest.
Lord, 1 abhor myself for my iinworthinessand vileness, my guilt and pollution ; but where shall I go to get help and reme- dy for it, but unto thee alone ? Hast thou not bidden me come, though my sins be red as crimson ? Have not many such come to thte, and found relief and help ? Surely, O Lord, thy good- ness is greater than my sinfulness, and thy mercy surpasseth. my misery ; for though my sins reach even to the clouds, yet thy mercy is above the heavens. O merciful Father, extend thy free, boundless m.ercy to a miserable, helpless sin- ner : Surely misery is the proper object of mercy. Holy God, if thou help me not for the sake of m^/ miseries which I iiave deserved, yet help me for the sake of thy mercies which thou hast promised in Christ, thy dear Son. Wherefore I plead for Christ's sake, that thou wilt hear the cry of my mi- series, and not the cry of my sins. O doth not his precious blood cry louder for pardon, than my sins for punishment ? Lord, hear the cry of that blood, and let it not be as water spilt upon the ground. For the sake of that prevalent blood, pity, pardon and accept a poor unworthy creature, that desires to obey thy call, and prepare his heart to seek thee though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanc- tuary,
O Lord, though I may be ashamed to come to thee, m\'' needs are so pressing and pinching that I cannot stay away. To rjhom shall I go but unto thee^ for thou hast the ivords ■ if etenial life ? The v/hole creation cannot supply my wants. 'Fhou only art my sun, from whose beams I must receive sav- ing light ! Thou art my Head, from whom I must get spiri- ;ual life ; thou art the root, from which I must receive sap and growth : Thou art the fountain, from which I must draw living water: Thou art the treasure, from which I must ob- tain the riches of grace. So that without thee I am nothing, I have nothing, I can do nothing. — To thee then must I go for all my supplies, and out of thy fulness receive grace for grace. —Lord, thou hast enough to supply many worlds of needy souls ; for the sun is not so full of light, nor the sea so full of water, as thou art full of grace and mercy to needy creatures : And as thou art full, so I am assured thou art free, and wil- ling to communicate thy fulness. In spite then of all objec- tions and difficulties, forward to thee I will go, and cast my- self down at thy feet; Jf I perish, I fierish. Oh! did ever iiny perish at mercy's door ?
Lord, I have heard of thy mercy to the very chief of sinners, and cannot this mercy reach the like of me ? Surely the viler sinner I am, thou hast the fairer opportunity to shew the riches of thy mercy, the freeness of thy love, and the efficacj^
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATION'S. 41
6f thy blood; and if I be allowed to §hare therein, the sweet" er and louder will the eternal hallelujahs be, that will be sung to the Lamb ot God on my account. O that he would glorify his mercy, his love, and blood, in my relief. O where shall a poor heavy laden sinner go, but to him that can free him of his burden ? Where shall I go whh a multitude of sins and, miseries, but to thee who hast a multitude of tender mercies ? Where shall I go with m.y deep and heinous guilt, but to thee who hast a deep fountain to wash it a.vay ? Behold one deep calleth to another, the depth of my misery to the depth cf thy mercy 1 My wound is great, but thy b^ Im is excellent ! My sore is broad, but thy plaister is answerable ! O Lord^ be merciful unto md", heal mxj soul^for I have sinned againsC thee.
Lord, is not the gospel- feast I am invited to a feast of chari- ty, to which thou callest not the rich but the poor, maimed, halt, and blind, who cannot make any return for thy bounty ? And may not such a miserable object as I am take enccurage- ment from such a free, extensive invitation, Luke xiv. 21. — My b essed Redeemer, while he was on earth, did not disdain to eat with publicans snd sinners, nor to dine with Simon a leper. And though he be now exalted in the highest hea- vens, yet he still retains the bowels of a man, and all the pity and charity to perishing sini ers, he had while here in this state of humiliation. Wherefore, sensible of my unwor- thiness, loathing myself for my vileness, and trusting to my Saviour's compassion to the miserable, I desire to go forward to his holy table : O that he would direct and strength- en me to go about such a weighty work 1 Let not that ordinance, which God hath instituted for a blessing, be made a curse to me through my unworthy partakings Lord, rebuke all unseasonable thoughts and w^anderings that would mar the duty ; excite and actuate in me every proper grace, and en- able me to manage so, that I maj' not dishcnotir, but glorify thee; I may not increase my guilt, but augment my grace; I may not bring more hardness, but softness into my heart. Lord, descend thou into ray heart by the infiiiences of thy Spi- rit, that I may ascend up to thee by the actings of grace ; and when the Kine.siiis athis table, let'my spikenard send forth the smell thereof. Lord, I look to thee for strength, conduct, and through-bearing, in every straits. I trust not in my pre- parations, but in thy free mercy, for acceptance ; I trust not in my faith, but in thy faithfulness, who hast pn mised to give power to the faint ; I trust not in my repentance^ but in thy free pardoning mercy ^ I trust no't in my doings, but iii Christ's doings, O take aw^ay my filthy garments, and clothe me with the best robe. The Lord our Righteousnlss. I will q-o in the strength of the Lord God, i nvillviake men^^ Hon of thy righteousness, even of thine oni.--^- Aw.ake, O :wrth %i;ind. and come^ thou south, blow uf:l}i ?mj .^'ardeny.
D 2
42 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.
that the sjiices may jioio out. If thy presence ^o not ivitk 7rte, carry me not up hence.
The Lord made a breach upon the Israelites, for not seek- ing him after the due order, 1 Chron. xv. 13. — He smote 50,000 of the Bethshemites for an irreverent look into the Ark, -which typified Christ ; and what cause then have I to fear a stroke, should I rashly touch the symbols of his body and blood ! — Seeing this ordinance is intended for doing hon- our to the King of Zion, O save me from doing indignity to him by betraying him with a kiss, or by throwing his pic- ture, or great seal, into a puddle.^ — May I so prepare for this feast, that the blessed master of it may see I am watchful of his eye, tender of his honour, and fearful of his anger. Lord, awake my heart, stir up my graces, and prepare me for a meeting with my Saviour ; and let not my soul, whose only hope is to be saved by Christ's blood, be sent away from his table with the guilt instead of the benefit, of that blood upon it.
MEDITATION XII.
From Philip, iv. 19. But my God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.
HEAVENLY Father, out of thy rich bounty thou wast pleased once to lay up a great stock for me in my progenitors' hands, but they very soon squandered it all away, so that I am become extremely poor and needy. O '• what can I do in this indigent condition, but come back to thee for pity and new suppUes ? — For ever blessed be thy name, for the reviving news thou hast published in the gospel ; that thou hast now laid up a new stock for bankrupt sinners in the hands of a surety that cannot fail, and hast erected a throne of grace for such as I am, to come to in time of need, where Christ Jesus my surety sits as commissioned by thee, with glorious riches to supply my wants. — Many are the needs which thou thinkest fit to leave upon me, that I might have the more errands unto this throne, and that thou may est the oftener hear my voiccc O pour out upon me a spirit of grace and supplication, and cause rne to delight in approaching to thee, and pouring out my wnr.ts before thee.
Behold, Lord, a needy creature, an object of pity, ap- proaching to a liberal Saviour, whose fulness is infinite I O how suitable is it to my wants, which are great and innumera- ble ! I am starving, and have no bread ; I am naked, and have Qo clothing ; I am wounded, and have no cure ; I am in debt, and have no money ; I am polluted, and have no fountain ; I am burdened, and have no rest ; I have destroyed myself, and can find no help in myself.=— But yet there is help for me else- where ; I have heard'ef the mercy of the King of Israel, and ©f the remedy he hath provided for those who are helpless.
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. 43
lost, and miserable. Wherefore, though I be poor, I will not despair, for thou art the Lord of the whole world, and hast opened thy treasures to the needy : Though I be polluted I will not despond, for thou hast the fountain of salvation : Though I be naked, I will not with Adam run from thee and hide myself, nay I will run to thee to cover me with the wool and fleece of the Lamb of God, even the spotless righteousness and innocence of my Saviour : Though I be hungry and starv- ing I will take encouragement from the glad tidings thou hast proclaimed in the gospel of a rich feast for the poor and needy. — Lord, I come to thee as the hungry to be fed, as the naked to be clothed, as the wounded to be healed, as the cold starv- ing creature to the fire, as the unclean to be washed in the fountain that is opened, not to the house of David only, but even to the poorest inhabitant in Jerusalem. Glory to' God, that it is so free and open to the poor and needy.
Lord, 1 come not to thy table because I am worthy ; but because thou art rich in mercy, and dost promise that iht nee- dy shall not be forgotten^ aiid the expectation of the poor shall not perish ? And that when the poor and needy seek ivater, and there is none^ and their tongue failethfor'thirst, thou the Lord nvilt hear them^ and open rivers in the ivil" derness^ and fountains in the 7nidst of the valleys. O come, do as thou hast said ; pity a poor, needy, peri^ihing creature, and fill my naiTow vessel out of the ocean of thy mercy, where it will not be missed. — Come to the feast of thine own ap- pointment, and display thy fulness and liberality. Cast open the doors of thy treasures, and allow me access to Christ's unsearchable riches. — Thy word, Lord, assures me, that in all ages thou hast bestowed these riches upon the poor ajid needy^ without money, and witiiout price. And this doth warrant me to plead with thee to come to thy house, where many nee= dy beggars are gathered, and scatter thy bounty am.ong them^ and admit me to gather v/ith them. — O let not such a misera- ble object go from thy door without an alms, without a crumb of the children's bread, seeing there is bread enough in th7 house, and to spare. O let none return ashamed from the fountain who come expecting water. Thou hast promised to pour water upon the thirsty and floods upon the dry ground. On, is there any more dry, more poor, more needy, than I am I Lord, make me as thirsty as I am dry, as humble as I am poor, and as sensible as I am needy. Alas, that I have so lit- tle sense of my wants! Oh, deal not with me, according to my sense of need, which is small, but deal with me according to my real need, and thy royal bounty, which is exceeding gi-eat,
O that I were poor and needy in my own eves, and truly sensible of ray ov/n wants ; that I am drowned in debt to the law and justice of God, owe many thousands, and have not ®ne farthing to pay ; that I am destitute of every thing that ;s good, can do nothing to please God,, and am unworthy of
44 SACRAMENTAL MEDIT ATIOfJS,
the least of his mercies. O that 1 were made willing to quit all confidence in my own righteousness, duties, frames, or at- tainments ; and well content to go entirely out of myself to Christ, for righteousness to justify me, and for his Spirit or grace to renew and sanctify m> nature.
Lord, I am poor, but I see God has treasured up unsearch- able riches, and infinite fulness in Jesus Christ to answer all my needs : — I am naked, but I see in Christ a robe of righ- teousness, that is sufficient to cover me, and a whole elect world; — T am a starving creature, but in Christ there is the bread of life, and the waters of life for my soul ; — 1 am fool- ish and ignorant, but Christ hath infinite wisdom to teach and guide me ;■ — I am loaded with guilt, but Christ's sacrifice is sufficient to atone for it; — I have strong lusts and corrup- tions, but Christ hath a kingiy power to subdue them ; — 1 am under much darkness, buc Christ is the light of the ivorld ; — I am under fears and discouragements, but Christ is the con- solation of Israel ; — -I am woimded and sick, but Christ, my physician, hath excellent balm for me ; — I am under a bur- den of debt, but Christ, my surety, is rich, ana fully able to pay it ; — I am in prison, and under bonds, but Christ opens the prison doors, and looses them that are bound j — 1 am father- less by Adam's fall, but Christ is the Everlasting Father, iti ivhom the fatherless Jind mercy ; — 1 have many enemies to pursue and accuse me, as law, justice, Satan, and conscience ; but Christ my advocate cm answer them all : — Therefore I flee to him for refuge, 1 close with him in all his offices, and put my whole confidence in hin).
It gives great encouragement to my poor needy soul, that I have a Saviour so full of goodness and pity to look to, a mighty Agent in heaven to plead ra) cause, and to present my bills, petitions and supplications, to the Father. I put all my requests and concerns in his hand, and conmut them to his care and management; he knows the fittest time to present them, and to send me .n answer. In the sacrament I swear allegiance to thee, as my Sovereign Lord and King, over thy broken body, anc shed biood, 1 engage to be a true andfaithrul soldier in thy army, and to take the field against thy enemies. Many pieces of turnitare do 1 need for this warfare ; I need the girdle of sincerity, tlie shield of faith, the helmet of hope, the sword of the Spirit, the breast-plate of righteousness, and to have my .feet sh()d with the preparation of the gospel of peace. But glory to thy name, my Redeenier and captain of salvation hath provided a noble armory and storehouse to an- swer all these my necer'^iies and wants. Lord, supply all iny needs out of thy infiniie fulness, and furnish me with every thi-tg req.usite and necess r-. ft)r the work and warfare thou eallesi me unf-. Oh, my eriemies are lively, and they are str( ng : But.' k-k t m> gl-^rious Captain to gird me with strength for the battle, and to teach my hands to >yAr>
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS* 45
MEDITATION XIII.
lYom Eph. ill. 19. And toknow the love of CHRIST, which passeth knowledi;,e.
WHERE shall I begin my thoughts upon this subject of the love of Christ to men ? And when begun, how shall I make an end ? It hath a breadth and length, a depth and height that passeth knowledge. If the apostle Paul, that had the bright- est discoveries of this love, owned this, much more may I. I may sooner find out the height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, or the depth of the sea, than measure Christ's love. It is an unfathcmabLe ocean that hath neither bank nor bottom. O whither did his love carry him ! From the height of glory to the depth of misery. How low and deep was our fall, that no- thing could recover and raise us up, but the low abasement of the Son of God, the King of glory ? Plow low was the step he made to help us up ; even to put on our nature, and suffered himself to be pierced for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities I Blessed Lord, thou tookest not on thee the na- ture of angels, but the seed of Abraham ; these are fast bound up from thee with chains of darkness, whilst thou drawest us to thee v;ith cords of love ! Hov/ distinguishing was thy love to man, that brought thee from heaven to earth, from the throne to the manger, from the manger to the wilderness, from the \vilderness to the garden, from the garden to the judgment- liall, from the judgment-hall to the cross, from the cross to the grave ; yea, from the glory of heaven to the very torments of hell, and all for creatures that were black and ugly as hell ! How wonderful is the sight thou callest me to see at the Lord's table 1 Even to see him sufft ring for sin that never committed sin ! To see him made sin for us, who kntiu no sin, that we, who knew no righteousness, ?night be made the rii^hteousness of God in him I An amazing sight indeed !
Lord^ what is man that thou art mindful of him ! O what is he that thou shouldst magnify and set thy heart on him I And what am I, the worst of men, and vilest cf sinners, that thou shouldst stoop so low to exalt me '• That thou shouldst endure the poverty of this world, that I might enjoy the riches of heaven 1 Be content to live in the form of a servant, that I might have the adoption of a son ! Be willing to bow thyself unto death, to raise me to eternal life '• Be content to be num- bered among transgressors, that I might have a room among the blessed ! To be crowned with thorns, that I might be crowned with glory ! To be condemned before men, that I might be justified before God 1 To drink the bitter cup of wrath, that I might drink the pure river of life ! To cry out in sorrow upon the cross, that 1 might triumph with joy upon the throne ! To' stand before the mouth of hell furn?xe, to keep its flames from breaking c>ut on me ' O Lord Jesus, thy love hath overflown all banks, and thy compassion knew OA
46 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATlOKS.
bounds 1 Can I think on it, nnd my heart not burn ? Can I speak of it, and not be overcomej so as to seek, with Joseph, a secret place to weep in ?
O lovcjthat passeth knowledge ! How shall I think of it and not stand amazed ! That the general should die for the sol- dier, the physician for the patient '• That the righteous Judge of Heaven should come to the bar, puthim.self in the malefactor's clothes, and be condemned for him '• That the blessed Son of God should interpose his innocent breast to receive the mor- tal stroke for us ! That God all-sufficient should be exposed to hunger and thirst, to grief and weariness, and the vilest re- proaches and indignities, for worms like us '. Behold the Cre- ator of the world wounded, mangled, and killed, by ungrate- ful creatures, whom he came to save 1 behold his bowels yearning towards them who raked in them with their bloody iiands ! Behold his heart burning with affection towards them that cruelly pierced it ! Surely a believing view of this love of Christ is sufficient to mollify a heart more cold and frozen than ice itself I O love unfathomable ! \Mio can measure its dimensions I It hath a height without a top, a depth without a bottom, a breadth without a side, a length without end ! Astonishing love ! that my exalted Lord should stoop so low as to become a man ; nay, a poor man, a man of sorrov.-s, a deserted man, a dying man, and also a dead man, for such a wretch as me 1 Nay, more, that he should stoop to be made a curse, and lie under a dreadful load of wrath upon his inno- cent soul, infinitely more heavy than what is laid upon any damned soul in hell !
O what a sea of wrath did my loving Jesus swim tlirough to save me from perishing! Behold how that raging sea wrought and was tempestuous, roared most terribly, and threatened to swallow me up with the rest of the elect world ; till once my Redeemer stept ir^, and undertook to be the sacri- iicefor calming the sea! Take me up, (said he, like Jonah) and throw me into the sea, and ye shall be all safe. In this Red sea our blessed Jonah was content to swim for thirty- three years, without seeking deliverance, till once the sea wa,s perfectly calm, and every elect soul out of danger. Mar- vellous loving-kindness ! Oh that I could, with a suitable frame o^ heart, both remember and admire redeeming love, and redeeming blood, when I go to sit down at my Redeem- er's table. O that I may there get faith's sight of the various instances of his love, that passeth knowledge. Let me there view Christ in the wom.b, and in the manger ; in his weary steps, and hungry bov^els ; in his prostrations in the garden, and clotted drops of bloody sweat. Let me view his head with a crown ofVnorns, and his face besmeared with the sol- dier's spit. Let me view him in his march to Calvary, and his elevation upon a painful cross, with his head bowed down, and his side streaming blood I O uiu)aralleled love ! It had
SACRAMENTAL 3iEDIT ATION S. ' 4/'
been wonderful love to have sent one of the lofty seraphims to suffer for us : but to give him whom all the seraphims sen-e and adore, is love that iiasseih knowledge l Let me view the Scripture designations and titles of him that loved us, a?id gave himself fo?^ us, that he might wash us in his blood.
He is our Emmanuel, the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Eat her, the Prince of Peace^ the Kiyig of kings, and Lord of lords, the Prince of the kings of the earth, the Lord oj glory, the rose of Sharon, the plant of renown, the brightness of his Eather's glory, the exjiress image of his person, the bright and morning star, the sun of righteousness, the light of the world, the.^ head of his church, the beginning and frst born from the dead, the apjiointed heir cf all things. This is he that loved US, and gave himself to die for the redemption of a crev/ of ■rebels, grace-abusing, and gospel- slighting sinners ! Oh, what am I that thou shouldest spare, yea, ransom and feast me in such a manner 1 Long ago mightest thou have shaken off the hand of thy Providence such a viper as I am, into fire un- quenchable ; and there made me to know, to sad experience, v/hat it is to abuse free grace, by the loss of eternal glory.— But, instead of that, thou hast pitied me, loved me, become my surety, to appease justice for my heinous sins by thy blood, when no other sacrifice would do. Lord, I v/elcome thy love-feast ; I lay my hand on the head of the sacrifice, and rest upon it; I believe, Lord, help my unbelief. Q that I may henceforth live under the continual sense of my infinite obligations to my .^'lorious surety, that would make his soul an oJjTeringfor my sin. O what return shall I give him for all his soul-travail and agnonies for me ? O that I could spend my whole life, and each day of it, in magnifying his love, and liv- ing to his praise. Now, blessed be his glorious name for ever and ever ; let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen.
MEDITATION XIV.
From Luke xxii. 44. And bein,^ in an agony— his sv;eat was as it were great drops of blood.
O MY soul, this text affords thee great subject of thoughts, when thou goest to remember thv dear Saviour at his table.' Here I see him in a bloody agony TAnd first, let me observe the place where his agony began, thegar<len of Gethsemane, which lay m the valley of Jehcshaphat, on the east- side of Jerusa- lem, at the foot of the m.ount of Olives. Now, it was in the valley of Jehoshaphat.that God did plead with the nations in Christ their surety, Joel iii. 2. The word Gethsemane signifies a m,ill or press for olives, as beingprobably the place where they pressed the olives that grew on the mount, and
48 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS*
there squeezed the oil out of them. In this place, it pleased the Father to bruise Christ our true olive, that so out of his fulness the fresh oil of his merit and grace might flow out abun- dantly to needy souls. Never was there such an. olive pres- sed there before, since the first planting of that mount ! Ne- ver was there such precious oil seen as Jesus' blood! O that I may partake of the root and fatness of that good olive which was pressed here, and of that oil, which will make my grace to grow and my face to shine ?
As it was in a garden that man's sin and misery first began, so it was in a garden that our blessed Surety began his last expiatory sufferings for sin, which cast him into a fearful agony. As the garden of Eden produced man's misery, so the garden of Gethsemane provided a remedy. O that when I walk and retire myself in a garden, I may have grace to think seriously, and with suitable affections, upon the sins of men, and the sufferings of my Saviour for them ; and, at the same time, to send up my ejaculations to God, for an interest in his agony and atonement, and for the comfortable intima- tion thereof to my soul. When my dear Redeemer was in his agony of soul, I read of his offering uji prayers and suji- Jilications to God, with strong crying and tears, Heb. v. 7» and have I no prayers or tears to offer up to God at the re- memljrance of his agony I especially, when I consider how much my sins contributed to throw him into it. — ^O how strong and bitter were my Surety's cries at this time, when God bruised his soul, and poured down a flood of his wrath upon him ? He cried, till he was spent with crying ; he grew hoarse with it, and his throat so dried, that he could cry no more, Psal. Ixix. 3. Now was his soul in travail, and great cause had he for his strong crying and tears. He was silent mider all the pains of his body, and under his sufferings from men ; all that time he is dumb^ as a sheeji before her shear- ers : But, behold, when fierce wrath from God alighted on his soul, he cries vehemently ; and he prayed most earnestly and importunately for support and through-bearing under this terrible storm. O that, from my Saviour's example, I may learn, when under soul-trouble and inward distress, to make my prayers to God more earnest and fervent, and to persevere without fainting ; which I have encouragement to do from this, that my Saviour's fervent praj ers and tears have made way for mine.
I observe also in this passage, that the agony of Christ's soul increased so much, that it produced a sweat of blood o\ev his body ; yea, great drops or clots of blood, which, by his vio- lent agony, burst through his very clothes, and watered the ground where he lay. O what trouble and anguish, pangs ^nd sorrow, desertions and strugglings, must his soul have.en- llured at this time, under the burden <.-f God's wrath for his people's sins, which put his sacred body and blood into such
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS, 49
a dreadful commotion and ferment ! O what a prodigious and preternatural sweat was this 1 Never was the like heard of since the world began ! According to the course of nature, Christ h'ing in the open air, in a cold night, upon the cold ground, with the greatness of his consternation, should have drawn all his blood inward from the external parts of his bo- dy : But Christ's sweating and bleeding was altogether pre- ternatural. He sweated without external heat, he bled with- out external wound. The fire of divine wrath, now kindled in his soul, was so very hot and raging, that it made the blood about his heart to boil, and burst throxigh both fiesh ard gar- ments.— He had received at this time, no wound nor exter- nal violence from any hand ; no Judas, no soldier, no tormen- tor, had yet attacked him ; no spear, no nail, no thorn nor scourge had yet touched his sacred body, and yet he bleeds most plentifully ! Oh, but the sword of Justice»,liad reached him, and made a deep wound and wide gash in his soul; at which breach a sea of wrath brake in with such violence, that it overwhelmed him ; made him fall first on his knees, and th*'iflaton the ground, where he lay agonizing and crying, till all the waves and billows of divine vengeance went over him. Oh, what a dreadful pressure was my Saviour's soul under at this time I What squeezing anguish had he about his heart, that made his body to struggle, and sweat in such a manner, that every pore of his body became a bleeding wound I O how awfully should I be affected with this tragical sight ! How thankfully should I remember my Redeemer's love, when he calls me to do it at his holy table !
In my Saviour's agony I may see, as in a glass, the malig- nant evil and cursed nature of sin, that no less could atone for it, than the soul-travail and agony of the dear Son of God I Can I ever make light of sin, when I view the great drops of blood standing about his garments, while he lay grovelling oh the earth in the anguish of his soul ! Shall I not henceforth abhor sin, and stand in awe of offending a just and holy God, seeing it is such a fearful thing to fall into his hands : If such things ivere done in the green tree^ what shall be done in the dry? Was the cup of wrath so terrible to the innocent human nature of Christ, when presented to hina, that he shrinked and cried ? O ! what will it be to guilty sinners ? Here I may see how costly the redemption of soiils is ; ere this could be compassed, God must be made man. Eternity must suffer death, the Lord of angels must weep in a cradle, the Creator of the world must hang like a slave I He must lie in a manger at Bethlehem, cry in an agony at Gethseraane, die on a cross at Calvary ! Unspotted Righteousness must be made sin, and unblemished Blessedness must be made a curse ! O did Christ value souls at so high a rate, and shall men be SO foolish as throw them away for a thing of nought !
E
SQ SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.
Here T may see the great difficulty of making peace with God, when once his law is broken::; no less could do it than the blood, and soul-agony of the Son of God : even an infinite ran- som must be paid ere God would be rec )nciled to man. O how much am I beholden to Christ that undertook the recon- ciliation, that prevented my ruin, by taking the cup out of my hand '■ O the cup he drank for me was mingled with wrath and curses, a cup full ot vengeance, pressed down, heaped up, shaken together, and running over ; a cup, which if men or angels had but tasted, they had reeled, staggered, and fallen headlong into hell : Yet, said Christ, ere any of my elect ones drink it, I will do it for them ; reach it hither to me, bitter as it is. — O how ready was Christ to engage for men ! and how willing was he to perform ! how ready, full, and free •was the fountain of his blood to wash the defiled 1 Behold' how freely it issued forth before a wound was opened ; all his veins and pores poured forth, without waiting for the tor- mentors. Lord, make me as willing and ready to apply it. Did Christ wrestle in an agony to obtain the redemption of OS t sinners, and shall not I wrestle as in an agony to get ftn interest in this redemption, and the evidences thei^eof cleared op to my soul ! O for faith and fervency, in prayer, that I may wrestle without ceasing for assurance of his love, that I may go with joy to his table.
MEDITATION XV.
f'roai Isa. liii. 7. He opened not his mouth ; he is brought as a lamb t -> tht slaughter'
attention, seeing they were the occasion of the Ethiopian Eu- nuch's conversion ; for it was whil« he read and thought on these words, that God sent Philip to join him, Acts viii. 29.
0 that God would, in like manner, send his Holy Spirit to join me while I am meditating on them.
First. I observe that Christ is the great sacrifice provided by God to make atonement for our sins : He is the great an- titype and substance of all the lambs and beasts that were of- fered up in sacrifice under the law, and therefore he is often in the New Testament called the Lamb, the Lamb of God, and the Lamb i'ain» The Spirit of God seems to have a pe- culiar delight in dwelling upon-this type of the Lamb ; more than on any other of the Old Testament types ; and should not
1 delight in it too, and often with pleasure make mention of the Lamb, the worthy Lamb, that will be the object of the praises of saints and angels through all eternity ?
Second. Christ is represented by a lamb to point o-.it the innocence of his person, the meekness of his nature, the ttsefulness of his benefits, and patience under sufferings.
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. 5.1
How patient is the lamb under injuries ? It is silent both before the shearer and butcher ; it parts with its fleece in shearing time, and with its life in slaughter time, with- out anv noise or resistance. Dogs and swine howl and cry- when violence is offered to them, but the lamb is quite silent. So Christ the Lamb of God opened not his mouth, under the greatest revilings, mockings, buffettings, spit- tings, piercings, and the most cruel death, which he suf- fered from men, 1 Pet. ii. 23. and hence it is said in the text, when he was led to the slaugher, he opened not his month : He opened not his mouth, unless it was to bless, teach, or pray for those who injured him ; yea, he not only did pray, but also pled an excuse for them. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And after his resurrection, how ready was this meek Lamb to forgive all that wronged him ! When gi^ing orders to preach remission of sins to a lost world, he h\^s begin at Jerusalem^ Lukexxiv. 46. where they mcck- cd and pierced him, because there they had greatest need of his blood to Vv-ash them from guilt. How meekly did our bless- ed Lamb ciirry to Peter, when he denied him in his own hearing? He did not turn and frown upon Peter, as he wejl deserved, though he might have frowned him into hell ; it is said onlv. He turned and looked on Peter, Luke xxii. 6L not with an angry look, but with an affectionate melting look, which reccveied him to a penitent frame : Neither did he af- terwards upbraid him Avith his carriage. O meek Lamb of God I Can I remember thee at thy table, without being filled with remorse and grief for my impatience under injuries, and the proneness of my heart to resent them ? Shall I not be asham- ed of mv unchristian temper, when I see my meek and lov- ing Jesus willing to be the sport and derision of men and devils, that he might be the author of salvation to perishing souls ? Oh, how ashtonishing is it to see the Creator af- fronted by the creature, the potter by his clay, the King of glory by wcrms of the earth, and yet hold his peace 1 Now, is the head so meek and patient, and should not the members be so too ? O how unseeml} is it to see a company of fierce lions following a meek lamb 1 O that I could learn more of him that is meek and lowly in heart.
Third. Here I see the greatest instance of divine love that ever the world saw. Behold an offended God willing to spare wretched criminals,and take satisfaction from a surety in their room 1 and he himself finds out the lamb to be the sacrifice, even his eternal Son, who willingly undertook to assume a body for that end. Ho,v astonishing are the Lamb's words, Heb, x. 5. Sacrijice and offering thou ivouldest not ^ hut a body hast thou prepared me : as if he had said, " Father, " since all the legal sacrifices are insufficient to satisfy thy "justice, atone for sin, and ransom precicus souls; even ^'take tlie body thou hast prepared for ine, let that be
52 SACRAMENTAL MEBITATIONS.
" the sacrifice to justice ; it is more valuable than any othcr^ ** being the tabernacle of my divine person ; it will bring glo- " ry to thy offended justice, and satisfy it to the full. I }ield •' myself willingly to be the prisoner of justice, and go quietly '^ as a lamb to the slaughter ; not dragged to it as an ox or *•' bullock, but meekly and pleasantly like a lamb." — When, according to this agreement, justice required the Lamb to be .sacrificed, O how patient and silent was he under all the ac- cusations laid against him, though he were wholly innocent; he would say nothing in his own defence, at which Pilate (not knowing the cause of his silence) marvelled greatly, having never seen the like before. But our Lamb considered that lie stood not only at Pilate's bar, but also at the bar of God's justice, as our Surety, bearing our guilt ; and though man had nothing to lay to his charge, yet he knew what divine justice had to charge upon him, and therefore he is silent, and answers nothing, that he niight not hinder our redemption, ]ior stop the payment of our debt. When justice charged him with our sins, our "unbelief, pri-.le, covetousness," &c. he might have said, *'0 Father, tliese transgressions are not mine, I never offended thee ;" but he will do nothing to res- cue himself. Therefore, when the fearful charge of the whole sins of an elect world was exhibited against him, and the sword of justice drawn, ready to strike, he opened not liis mouth, but takes with the charge, as if he had been guil- ty of all. Glory to the silent Lamb for ever, that would not hinder our release from punishment, but meekly took the stroke for us.
Fourth. Behold this meek Lamb before he was brought to the slaughter, led up and down from place to place ; from the garden to the high priest, from the high priest to Pi- late, from Pilate to Herod, from Herod back to Pilate, from Pilate to Calvary. Behold him mocked, abused, and disgrac- ed by them, buffetted and spit upon, crowned, scourged, and pierced, and yet never resists nor complains. He willingly j^ave his back to the s?mters, and his cheeks to the?}! that plucked cjf the hair^ and hid not his face from spitting. Now, the meek Lamb is content to be as the rajn caught in the thickets, to be slaughtered and sacrificed in our room, who were lying bound like Isaac, to have been the sacrifice. Oh» it was our sins that platted the thorns ; they also were the reed that drove them into his temples, yet he opened not his mouth, " Fifth. Now this slaughtered Lamb is set before my eyes in the sacrament, and God's call to me is. Behold the Lamb of God, John i. 29. Now let me behold with an earnest and steady look, with faith and expectation, that I may get heal- ing to all my diseases. As no stung Israelite got healing from the brazen serpent, unless they looked to it, so none can get benefit from Christ unless they behold him. May I never look away from this Lamb, to my tears, convictions, prayers.
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. 33^
reformations, or any thing else ; seeing the best duties will make bad saviours. If 1 expect salvation from other things, I am undone, for there is no other name given under heaven ■whereby men can be saved : But if I look to the Lamb of God, my salvation is secured by his promise, Isa. xlv, 22,
Sixth. There was no house in Egypt safe from the destroy- ing angel, but those who had their doors sprinkled with the blood of the Paschal lamb ; so there is no soul safe from the sword of revenging justice, but those who by iaith put them- selves under the protection of the blood of this slain Lamb : Let me therefore take the bunch of hyssop, faith, and dip it in the bason of the New Covenant, and sprinkle this blood on my guilty soul, and so I shall be safe.
Seventh- How blessed is their character who follow the Lamb, Rev. xiv. 4. May I follow him as my physician to cure me, my righteousness to justify me, my life to quicken me, my husband to supply my wants, my guide to conduct me, my pattern to direct me in my steps. Let me learn fi'om his example, to be patient without murmuring, when I am under affliction. — Let me learn meekness towards men, when I meet with reproaches or injuries from them.^ — Let me learn a readi- ness to obey God's call to every duty. O did Christ go wil- lingly to the slaughter for us, and shall I be backward to pray, communicate, part with sin, or do any thing he requires of me ? Let me, in all duties and ordinances, seek after the Lamb's presence, seeing my eternal happiness lies in being' ever with the Lamb, and to be fed and led by him, Rev- viL 16.
MEDITATION XVL
From Eph. I. 7. In whom wc have redemption through his blood,
HOW dismal is our case by nature ! We are slaves to sik; and Satan, and prisoners to the justice of God, being sentenced . to die, doomed to wrath, and reserved to public jiidgment and execution. In this miserable condition were all mankind, until Christ came to ransom us ! And, O how difficult and costly was our redemption to Christ ' no less could be the^ price of it than his precious blood. The glorious Son of God, .who created heaven and earth, must become a creature, be born of a woman, and pour out his blood on an ignominious eross, before we could be redeemed from sin and wrath. O how valuable must the blood of this infinite person be ! \A"hat is the blood of earthly kings and princes to this blood ? Sure-- ly one drop of it, is of more value than an ocean of theirs I and yet every drop of this blood was poured out upon the groucdi for our redemption. In this blood I see sundry things i-
I^rst. The amazing love of Christ in shedding hib blood.§fi&r E 3 . '
54 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS^
the redemption of such creatures as I am ; creatures mos'c ugly, that had lost the image of God, and got Satan's image pictured in its room, and were thereby become black as hell. Creatures loathsome as dead carcases, being dead in tres- passes ; and yet these he loved so as to shed his blood, and bleed to death for them. For as lovely as Sarah was, while alive, yet when dead, Abraham could look on her no more, but would have her buried out of his sight. But Christ said not so of his elect spouse when dead ; no, said he, let me bleed and die for her to bring her to life ; though, at the same time, she was more loathsome than Job with his boils, Lazarus with his sores, or any dead carcase with vermin. O what cause could be given for the love of a bleeding Jesus? well might he say, " I loved you, because I loved you ; and I love you freely." And O, with what sorrow, pain, and agony, was his bleeding love attended, while his dear soul was overwhelmed with the terrible billows of his Father's wrath ? Christ knew well beforehand all these sufferings, and all the ingredients in. the cup, yet he would needs drink it for us : He foresaw the poison of God's arrows that would drink up his spirits; the Ijurning thirst that the heat of divine wrath would create in him ; yet willir^gly did he go to bleed and die, like a lamb to the slaughter. O love that passeth knonvledge.
Second. In Christ's blood I see the glory of infinite wisdoni displayed : Who could have found out a way to reconcile justice and mercy, and satisfy both their demands about Adam's fallen race 1 A general council of angels could never have thought of the Son of God's being made flesh, and shedding ills blood. How shocking would the suggestion have been, if God had not made it? But, behold, hereby infinite wisdom hath discovered a way to gratify both justice and mercy ; to punish sin, and yet pardon the sinner ; to maintain the hon- our of the law-maker, and yet preservd the life of the law- breaker: Hereby mercy is satisfied in spciring the rebel, and yet justice more glorified, and sin rendered more odious, tharv If the sinner himself had been eternally demnedfor it. — Nay, though ail the men on earth had been cast into hell-fire for sin, and the- angels with them, it had been no such instance of jus- tice, as Christ's bleeding and dying for sin : For what is the punishing of creatures, to the suffering of the Creator !
Third. This blood being the blood of God, hath infinite virtue :.nd efficacy ; it hath purchased the church of God, and alt grace and glory to her, Acts xx. 28. ; it protects all who come under the covert of it from the wrath cf God, Exod. xii. 13. When I see the blood, I nvill pass over you^ and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, nvhen I smite the land of Egypt.'" — This blood, which is the price of oui* redemption, hath marvellous effects ; it pleads for the guiltj'-, ^nd obtains pardon of sin, peace with God, nearness to and comniunion with him. It cleanses, heals, satisfies, and beau-
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. SB
tifies perishing souls i it seals the New Testament, overcomes our enemies, liberates the prisoners, opens heaven's totes, and gives boldness to enter in : The person of our Redeemer being preferable to a million of worlds full of men ana angels, his blood alone might well serve for an elect world. What sins can be so heinous or so numerous, but the blood of God can wash them away I This was famous Cranmer's support^ that day he suffered martyrdom ; when his heinous sin of re- nouncing the truth stared him in the face, and he was greatly dejected for it ; he brake out, " Surely God was made flesh, and shed his blood, not for lesser sins only, but for great, great sins also." This relieved him, and made him die widi cour- age. This blood can help in all straits, deliver from all fears, and is able to save to the uttermost. It hath saved many who have condemned themselves, and thought their salvation im- possible. It hath eased m ;ny cousciences, when the terrors of the Almighty have surrounded them, and his arrows have stuck fast in them. It hath unstinged death, and carried ma- ny safe through its darkest vallies. This blood hath cleansed many vv hose hearts were filthy as the mire, and whose hves swarmed with the most aborahiable lusts, such as the Corin= ihians, 1 Cor. vi. 11. and three thousand of those who had embrued their hands in shedding of it. Acts ii. 36. Nay, it is able to take away the sins of a world, John i. 29. and much ?4iore the sins of any one soul, though like a mountain for weight, or the sand for number.
Fourth. I see this redeeming blood to be a suitable remedy for all maladies : O that I could look to it by faith, apply it to my sores, and plead it with God : " Lord, I am an unrighte- " ous creature, but here is justifying blood ; my heart is unho- " ly , but here sanctifying blood ; my soul is wounded, but here '' healing blood : my lusts are strong, but here mortifying " blood ; my heart is hard, but here softening blood ; my " affections are dead, but here quickening blood ; my love '' is cold, but here is heart-warming blood. ^ — When I am at *' the holy table, I am near this blessed remedy : O let me *' not miss a cure when the Balm of Gilead is among my *' hands ; let me not perish in my guilt beside the open foun- " tain. Oh, this blood hath healed thousands, and shall I " remain under ray plagues ? — Lord, let that innocent blood, " which run from thy hands, heart, and side, drop on my *' guilty soul, and cleanse me from all sin. O my glorious *' bleeding Lamb, if thou ivilt^ thou ca?ist make 7ne clean, O *' siiy to me as thou didst to the leper, / tuill, be thou clean, -'• Surely thy blood is more able to save me, than my sins are *' to destroy me."
Fifth. How just is it that I should commemorate the shed- ding of this blood in the way that Christ appoints ? Lord, help me to go to thy table, and reahze the shedding of this blood to myself, as much as if.I had stood by the cross, and seen it with my eyes fiowing from his wounds. Let my faith be.
56 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.
the evidence of things not seen, and let it realize the shedding of Christ's blood as evi<^enUy to me as if I hadaccually seen it. Ah, I cannot say it is so, while my eyes are so dry^, and my heart so hard ; alas for my stupid unconcerned heart, that doth not burst into love and tears at the sacramental view of this Diood shedding 1 How can I see these hands, that sway the sceptre oi the heavens, nailed to the tree of reproach, and not mourn ? How can I see these feet, that trample on the powers of hell, nailed to a tree, and not weep ? Did the earth tremble, rocks reiid, sun hide, and heavens darken, and will not my rocky heart rend for sin that caused all ? — Since thou. Lord, comest to me, in streams of blood, let me go forth and meet thee with streams of tears. — Oh ! shall I be more spar- ing of my tears for Christ, than he was of his blood for me? Can 1 see this precious blood run down in streams, and my eyes not pour out some drops ? Can I refuse drops of water for streams of blood ? Can I see the blo^d of die King of kings spilt like water on the ground, and the earth drinking it up, and my heart not rend for shedding it ? Oh thatwy head were waters^ and vilm eyes a fountain of tears^ that I might ivccfi day and night for the slain Lamb of God I
Sixth. How dreadful must the crime be to tread this blood under foot by unbelief, or unworthy communicating ! — Had' Zimri peace that slew his master ? And can 1 have peace i£ I be guilty of the blood of hiin that is my master and Redeem- er both ? How sad will my case be, if that blood, which alone can procure my pardon, shall cry for mv eternal punishment ?
Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O 'God O that I could
value and esteem, plead and apply this precious blood more i Lord, accept of it as a full satisfaction for all my sins, and an all-sufficient price for my soul's redemption. Is not one drop of thy Son's blood of more value than a sea of mine. My sins, alas ! have shut me out of Paradise, but, O let this blood open Paradise to me again ; and let me, through this Red sea, en- ter into the heavenly Canaan; I knrw [ can have no othei^ passage into it. Lord, impute not the guilt, but the merit of this blood to me.
MEDITATION XVIL
From Fsalm Ixxii, 6. He shall come down like rain upon >he mown grass ; as showers that water the earth.
THIS is spoken and promised of Christ, and serves t© teach us, that Christ coming to his church and people, b\ the gracious influences of his Hoiy Spirit, is most useful and re- freshing to their souls, like showers '^f rain to the dry ground, ©r a meadow newlv cut to make it spring again. — Christless- souls are like the dry ground ; without the moisture of saying.
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. S7
grace, their hearts are hard ; neither rods, mercies, nor ser- mons, make any impression upon them : Why ? they are without Christ, the fountain of grace, and spiritual influences. — Before the fall, man's soul was like a well watered garden, beautiful, green, and fragrant ; but, by his apostacy from God, in Adam, our first head, the springs of grace and holi- ness are quite dried up in his soul ; and there is no curing this drought but by the soul's union with anew head, to wit, Christ our second Adam, who has the Spirit given him without mea- sure for the use of his members. Now, when we are united by faith to Christ, our head of influences, the dry land is turci- ca into nvater-sfirings ; Christ comes down as the rain by his spirit of regeneration, and brings the springs of grace into the soul. He is the first and immediate receptacle of the Holy Spirit, and all regenerating and sanctifying influences, and out of his fulness we must by faith receive them. And, when at any time the springs of 'grace are interrupted in the soul by sin or unbelief, so as the ground turns dry, the plants wither, and the things which remain are ready to die, the soul hath need to look up to Jesus Christ to come down with new showers upon the thirsty ground, and decayed plants.
1. As the rain is the free gift of God to the dry ground, it eomes free and cheap to poor and rich, small and great, and costs them nothing : So Christ, with his blessings, is God's free gift to a dry i)erishing world, for which we should con- tinually be thankful. 2. As nothing can stop the falling of the rain, so nothing can hinder Christ's gracious influences, when he designs to awake, convince or soften a hard heart. When these showers do fall on sinners, the most obstinate will must yield, and cry, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? 3. As the rain is most necessary and suitable to the dry ground, and to the various plants itproduceth, and also to the difterent parts of every plant or tree : such as the root, trunk, branches, leaves, flowers, and fruit ; So Christ is absolutely necessary, and his influences most suitable to all his people's souls, and to everv faculty of them, the understanding, will, memory, and afi'ections ; and to all their diiferent graces, faith, love, repentance, Sec. to root and establish them, strengthen and confirm them, quicken and increase them, cherish and preserve them. 4. As the rain comes down in diverse ways and manners to the earth, sometimes with cold winds and tempests, thunders and lightnings, and at other times with calmness and warmth : So Christ comes to sinners, sometimes with sharp convictions and legal terrors, and some- times with alluring invitations and promises. 5. O how plea- sant are the effects of rain tolanguishingplants, to make them green and beautiful, lively and strong, fragrant and fruitful I So the effects of Christ's influences are most desirable to drooping souls, for enlightening and enlivening them, for con- firming and strengthening them, for comforting and enlarg-
58 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.
ing them, for appetising and satisfying them, transforming and beautifying them. A shower from Christ would soon make the church, though witliered, turn green and beautiful, and to send forth a smell as of a field that the Lord hath blessed ; and likewise some drops of this shower, falling down upon the languishing graces of communicants, would soon make them vigorous and lively in shewing forth their Saviour's death at his table.
Here I may see the reason why many souls continue as dry ground in their parched natural condition, while others near them are flourishing and fruitful ; Christ's shower hath come down upon the one, and not upon the other; one piece is rain- ed upon, and another piece is dry and withered, according to that word in Amos iv. 7. — Oh, what cause is there to bewail the evident symptoms of this continuing natural drought in multitudes of souls '• Why ? their hearts are hard, impene- trable, and unaffected with the miserable state they are in by nature, and with the woful plagues of their hearts. They have no sense or feeling of the evil of sin, notwithstanding of all the reproofs and threatenings of the word, or the rods and strokes it brings upon them ; or of the sufferings of Christ for sin. And though God assures them, that the end of dry ground is cursing ■nd burning, they are impenitent and un- concerned under all. — O if parched souls in their natural estate were made sensible of their misery, and brought to be- wail their case, and say, *■' Oil, I am as the heath in the desart that sees no rain : I am a dry tree ; if I continue in this state, 1 will be cut down as cumbering the ground, and made fuel to hell fire. I see the ax of justice laid to my root ; every hour I am in danger of the blow. O if Christ would interpose to spare me, and come down upon me as the rain, and bring the moisture of grace into my soul.''
How lamentable also is the case of those who once seemed to be watered by this heavenly rain, and now are parched by a long consuming drought and withering wind I They have lost their former greenness and moisture, their spirituality and liveliness, and their duties are quite dwindled away into a lifeless caixase and dead formality. They have lost their wonted freedom and enlargement in prayer, and are fallen under sad bonds and straitenings of spirit, which make them count holy things a weariness, and frequently neglect secret prayer. Surely such have great need of Christ coming down upon them as the rain, to make them spring up as the grass, and revive as the corn. — Alas, we have a sinful hand in bringing on such a spiritual drought, by quenching the mo- tions of the Spirit, indulging fleshly lusts, giving the world Christ's room in the heart, and neglecting to live by faith on the Son of God, who is the rain and dew of Israel.
H iw hippy are those who live under the droppings of this rain ! They are like trees planted by the waters, their roots
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.' 59
spread forth, and their leaves are green, Jer. xvii. S. Have I the signs of such persons? " Is my heart ready to melt at the sight of a crucified Jests set before me in the sacrament ? Do I mourn for my sins that pierced him ? Am I ready to think worse of myself than any other person can ? Is my heart soft and pliable to the will of God, both m his precepts and providences ? Do the world's good things bulk but little in my eye ? Is it my desire to meet with Christ in eveiy duty and ordinance ? Do I still look on sin as Christ's enemy ? Am 1 afraid of provoking him by sin to withhold the showers, and make the heavens as brass to me ? Am I desirous to bring forth fruit answerable to the waterings he graciously allows me : " O may I find these marks in my soul 1
O that I could earnestly plead for the fulfilling of this pro- mise in the text, that Christ would come dow^n as the rain ; that he would send the showers he hath merited and promis- ed, send them to myself, to the church, and to the whole land ; to the present age, and to the rising generation ! O what glorious eifects would these showers produce! They would beautify the church and her assemblies, make both ministers and professors to shine in holiness, and congregations to be lively in worship. They would open prison doors, loose bonds, enlarge hearts, revive drooping souls, tura their water into wine, their sorrows into joy, their complaints into praises, and make them sing in the ways of the Lord. — By these showers God would be glorified, the church cemented, and her dis- tempers healed. — Ordinances would be successful, commu- nions more pleasant, the godly more valued, religion more esteemed, and the way to heaven more delightful. — Lord, look on the dry ground and present droughty season with pi- ty, open the windows of heaven, and send down showers as in former times, and as in other parts of the world. Send a shower to young communicants, and to those who have not seen thy goings in the sanctuary ; a shower to stony hearts and withered hands ; a shower to soften the clods, loose the roots, and open the springs. O how much good would one of Christ's showers do to a poor dry land I what wonders would it work ! what prisoners would it loose ! what cloudy minds would it brighten, and what doubling souls would it resolve ! Come down. Lord Jesus. Amen.
MEDITATION XVIII.
Prom M?.tth. viii. 8, Lord, I om not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof.
FAITH and repentance do still go together ; every believ- er is a tnae penitent : He that puts on the Lord Jesus is also clothed with humility. The higher thoughts a man hath of Christ, the lower thoughts will he have of himself. When
60 SACRAMLITTAL MEDITATIONS,
the man's eyes are open to see the holiness and excellency of Christ, he is made to own his own nothingness before him, and his infinite distance from him, and to say, like the Cen- turion in the text, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof ; q. d. It is too great an honour for such a guilty and filthy creature to entertain a Saviour of infinite pu- rity : my heart is more unworthy than my house. I have no- thing to commend me to thee. — The lowly soul abhors himself as vile in the sight of a holy God ; he says, I am all as an un- clean thing, and all my righteousness is as filthy rags ; in me dwells no good thing; I am insufficient of myself to do any thing that is good, or even lo think a good thought : It is God that must work in me, both to will and to do of his good plea- sure. He is under no obligation to pity or help me, it will be absolute free mercy in him if he do it. The lowly man hath undervaluing thoughts of himself, and of all his own doings and attainments : He renounceth all confidence in his own righteousness, and humbly submits to the righteousness of God by faith : He is content to be stript of all his cv/n gar- ments that Christ may be his clothing. He looks not to his own performances to recommend him to God, but only to Christ his surety. He is willing to go out of himself, and live "wholly upon borrowed righteousness and borrowed strength, even to live upon Christ crucified, and to derive daily and hourly from him strength, both for duty and difficulty, for work and warfare. — The man that is lowly in heart, submits to the will of God in all his dispensations, is content with eve- ry condition he thinks best for him ; he is patient in afflic- tion, and silent under God's rod, without answering again. He is sensible that he justly deserved hell, and therefore is very thankful for the least mercy ; like the woman of Canaan, he owns himself unworthy as a dog, and will be thankful for the crumbs that fall from the children's table. He will be thankful for a word from Christ, for a look, for a smile, for the least token of his favour, or the smallest influence of his Spirit.
Wherever faith is in exercise, it is a soul-humbling and self emptying grace, and lays the soul very low before God; and G jd always hath respect to such faith, and to such lowli- ness, Psal. cxxxviii. 6. Christ put great respect upon the lowly Centurion, ver. 10.13. Ihavenot found so ^r eat faith^ no, not in Israel ; go thy way^ and as thou hast believed^ so be it done unto thee. He also put great respect upon the humble publican, Luke xviii. 13, 14. and declared him justi- fied; for (saith he) he that humbleth himself shall be exalt- ed. He pur great honour upon the humble woman of Ca- naan, that owned herself vile as a dog, Matth. xv. 27, 28. O luoman^ great is thy faith, (said he) be it unto thee even as thou wilt And he saith of himself, Isa. Ivii. 15. though he be the high and lofty One that inhahiteth eternity^ yet he.
w
SACRAMENTAL MEi, STATIONS. 6.1
dioelleth with the humble spirit. And thus he sets himself before us, as the great pattern of humilitv, and bids us learn it of him. When he appeared unto Moses, it was not in a lofty cedar, but in a low, mean, humble bush. And when he would appear in our nature, it was not a great exalted wo- man he takes up with, but a low, humble virgin, as Mary herself observes, Luke i. 48, 52. "May I be helped then to appear before him at his holy table, with a humble spirit, and lowly frame, that he may vouchsafe to dwell and hold com- munion with mt !
O that I had the marks of a lowly heart, and cnukl say, that I blush, and am ashamed before God in prayer, because of my sinfulness and pollution ! that I am made to wonder at free grace in spariiig such a vile unthankful wretch, in keeping me out of hell, in offering me Christ and pardon through his blood, and calling me to his table. — That 1 disclaim ail righteous- ness by the law, and expect nothing but wrath and ruin from that airth ; that I look only to Christ, and have admiring thoughts of him and his lav.'-biding righteousness. That I have a deep senss of indwelling sin, and of the corruptions of my heart, and think more meanly of myself than any othet* person can. — That I am jealous of my wicked heart, and afraid lest I betray or wound the Son of God, and contract blood guiltiness ; and therefore I adventure to his table with much fear and trembling. Lord, bestow upon me such a humble heart.
O can such an ill-deserving creature appear before God, and expect mercy, who hath so long abused mercy! Lord, instead of stretching forth a sceptre of mercy to invite me to thy table, thou mightest, with the rod of tliv justice, justly dash me in pieces as a.potter's vessel. Instead of entertain- ing me with the bread of life, and the cup of blessing, thou mightest give me the bread and water of afSiction ; yea, cast me into that pit. where I should cry in vain for a drop of wa- ter to cool my tongue. O shall such a wretched dog as I pre- sume to come to thy table, and eat of the children's bread, who am not worthy to gather the crumbs that fall from it I But I have heard of the mercy of the King of Israel, that' he de- lights to shew it to the unworthy that humble themselves be- fore him. Oh, I am vile and unfit to appear before tliee • but, surely they are undone that keep away. from thee, J am come to thee, not because I am tit or worthy, but because thou art rich in mercy, and hast contrived a way for saviiig the like of me. — Lord, I am not worthy to come within sight of thee" but far less that thou shouldst come under my roof to lr„ic-e with me ! Will God in very deed come and d-^ell with raeri ! This is a wonder, though all men were as innocent and righte'- ous as once Adam was ? But will he lodge or feast witii me that am a leper ? Will he come under the roof of my soul, a house so ruinous, smoky and defiled, where he his not a fit
F
62 SACRAMENTAL MEDiTATIONSi
place to lay his head ? But, O my humble, condescending Sa- viour, did not disdain to lie in a manger among beasts, nor to dine with Simon a leper ? O Lord Jesus, come in thyself and furnish the house, prepare an upper room in my soul, large, swept, and garnished, and there abide, and keep thepassover ■with me.
Lord, I am not worthy to eat the crumbs^that fall from my own table, much less those that fall from thine. I deserve not a room to stand among thy servants, far less to sit down with thy children. I am unworthy of my dail) bread from thee, and shall I be allowed to eat of the bread of Ufe ? Shall I, who deserve not the bread of men, be admitted to eat the bread of angels 1 Shall I sit down with him, at whose feet they fall? If John the Baptist (one of the greatest that was born of women, who was filled with the Holy Ghost from the womb) thought himself not worthy to loose Christ's shoes, how un- worthy am I, the meanest of creatures, a transgressor from the womb, to be admitted to touch, nay, feed upon Christ's broken body and shed blood ? If Peter, after seeing Christ's glory, and his own vileness, judged himself anworthv to be in the same ship with Christ, and cried. Depart from me., for I <im a sinful man ; how shall I, the chief of Mnners, adven- ture to sit down at the same table with him in a familiar way ? If the woman with the bloody issue were afraid to come and touch the hem of Christ's garment, how much more may I, who am full of running issues of sin, fear to touch the sym- bols of his body and blood, or put my hand into his side r If the purest angels must cover their faces when before him, how shall I, who am so impure, appear openly, in his presence-? But glory to God for the blessed covering provided for my guilty soul, under which I may appear and be accepted. I come to thee wrapt in it. Lord, accept cf me. *
O how distinguishing are thy favours to me an unworthy creature ! Thou mightest justly have put in my hand a cup of trembling and unmixed wrath, a cup filled with horror of conscience and fearful despair : But, instead thereof, thou givest me the cup of blessing, filled with the hope of pardon and eternal life. I might have been in hell, drinking the damned's cup of wrath, into which justice is still pouring in as fast as they drink out : But, glory to free grace, thou call- est me to drmk.the cup of salvation, which my Saviour hatli purchased with his blood, and sweetened with his blessing. Thanks be to God for it for ever*
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. •S
MEDITATION XIX.
From 2 Cor. ix. 15. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
MANY give thanks to God for meat and drink to their bo- dies, which indeed is the duty of all; but alas ! few give thanks to God for Jesus Christ, the only food of precious souls, and God's unspeakable gift to meiv! Many are fond of tem- poral gifts and earthly riches, which are nothing but vanity ; but ah 1 they are easy about this pearl of great price, this matchless gift, whose value no tongue can express, nor open up what is contained in it. The apostle tells us a great truth, Eph. i. 3. that God dlesses us ivith all spiritual dies-' si?igs in Christ, In this gift of God we have innumerable gifts bestowed on those who believe on him, such as the gifts of spiritual illumination, pardon of sin, a law-biding righte- ousness, reconciliation with God, adoption into his family, re- storing of his image, sanctifying influences, spiritual strength for work and warfare, loosing of bonds, witnessings of the Spirit, unstinglng of death, conduct through the dark valley, and a title to the mansions of glory, and the eternal enjoyment, of God. Christ is the most necessary and most enriching gift ever w-as given to the world, God ga\'e him to be a plarjk of mercy, to save our souls when shipwrecked. He gave him to be our physician and balm, to heal us when C)ur wounds seemed incurable. He gave him to be the Lord our Right eousjiess, when we had no righteousness. He gave him to be our Advocate to plead for us, when we had many accusers, and none to take cur part. He gave him to us to be, nvisdojn^ righteGusness^ sanctification^ and redemption. In this gift there is infinite fulness, and unsearchable riches. Weil may the Spouse call Christ a bundle of myrrh and a cluster of camphire^ Cant. i. 13, 14, because so many gifts and blessings are bundled up in this one gift. Oh, what can I conceive, or what can I express of this gift ? He that would describe or speak of this gift, v/ould need to have his tongue dipt in heaven. — Should an angel come down from it to tell us of this gift, he would outspeal^all the men on earth : yet when he had said all he could, the gift would be far above his expression : Why ? because he is unspeakable.
Thanks be unto God that gave us not a servant, not an an- gel, not a friend, but his Son. Not an adopted son, but his own Son by eternal generation ; a Son, who is the brightness of his Father^ s glory ^ and the express image of his person. Yea, he gave us his only Son, to die as a sacrifice in our room I How bitterly did Jacob bewail the parting with one son, when he had eleven behind ? But God gave his only begotten Son, and the Son of his love for us I It is recorded as an admirable instance of Abraham's obedience, that he was willing to part vd\.h. his only son at God's command. Gen. xxii. 129 .A^ow I-
i4 SACRAMENTAL 31 EDITATIGNS.
Anoiv that thoufearest God, seeing thou hast not nvithheld fhy son, thine only son^from me» But what was Abraham's son to Go-d's eternal Son, the second person of the glori<'US Trinity ! a Son that was his equal 1 a Son in whom his soul de- Kghtecl ! a Son that never displeased him at any time 1 How bitterly did David mourn at paniiig with a rebellious son 1 0 Absalom^ viy sov^ rmj son, ivould to God I had died for thee^ Ice. But what are all the sons of men, or ten thousand worlds full of men, or as many heavens full of angels, to the belo\ed Son of God, whom all the angels worship and adore ? And yet this is the gift that God gives us. In giving this gift, divine bounty hath stretched itself to the uttermost : He could have ereated a million cf heavens more bright, and millions of an- gels more glorious for us ; but a more glorious Son he had not) nor could have ; a greater gift he had not in all his treasures, than his own co-eternal and consubstantial Son, yet he makes a free gift of him to us 1 O who would not give thanks unto God for this his unspeakable gift? And, who would not part •with all the w^orld to have an interest in this gift sealed to him at the Lord's table ? — This is the gitt that sweetens all othet- gifts, and without which iiotbing in the world hath any sweet- ness in it.
This gift of God is most free ; it was impossible that the world could have Christ any other way than as a free gift. A man, like old Jacob, may be bereaved of his children, but it was not possible that God could be bereaved of his dear Son. Neither could we have him by purchase ; we were so poor, we had not wherewith to purchase the least blessing. And, what though all the riches of the world had been ours, though ail its mountains had been gold, pearls, or diamonds, they would not have been sufficient to purchase one sight of this gift, far less a right to it. Nor could ever any motive be found out for bestowing this gift, but the mere free love of God, Johniii. 16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son: As if he had said, since the world hath no merit nor price, worth or motive, to obtain this blessing, I just make a free gift of him to the world ; take him freely, poor beggars of Adam's family ^i^take him, and he will enrich you all' And O how seasonably and unexpectedly was this gift giv- en ' Adam, when he came trembling before God after his fall, looking for his final doom, did little expect such a gift, until God himself, to the astonishment of angels and men, promised the seed of the woman. Who could have thought that the great God would have gifted his dear Son to such vile wretch- es, sinners that were not seeking him ! Nay, who of mankind eould have desired such a gift 1 Indeed when we had been perishing, w^e might have looked up, and cried, O God, have mercy upon us : But who would have said, O give the Son oi thy love to bear the wrath due to us 1 We neither deserved, iicr desired this gift j but God gave it most freely and suiv
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. ^
prisingly! When Adam broke God's covenant, he was pur- sued with a cry, Adam^ ivhere art thou? Doubtless, Adam expected a terrible blow from the sword of justice: but, be- hold, he is pursued with a cry, and the unspeakable gift in the crier's hand 1 O how stirprising was this to poor, trembling, guilty Adam I What cause had he to cry, Thanks be unto God for his iinafieakable gift ! What shall I render to the Lord for such a gift ? And the same cause have we*
O v--onderful love I this free gift is offered freely to the poor- est creature of Adam's family ; so that such an one as I, am warranted to accept and embrace it, and make sure my in- terest in it ; Lord, I believe^ helfi thou mine unbelief Ma- ny covet other gifts, but I covet this bc-st gift, this enriching- gift : this is a lawful covetousness : I receive this gift of God into my bosom, into my very heart, O that. I had the marks of those who possess this gift, and are truly thankful for it I Can I say that this gift is truly precious in my eyes, and that I esteem it far above all tem; oral gifts whatsoever : That I am often thinking upon his matchless excellency, his low stoop and condescending love ; and do I frequently break out wilnt the Psalmist, JVhom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none ujion earth I desire b< side Mf ■?.— Have I low thoughts of myself, as unworthy that Christ should come under my roof, "reckoning myself with Paul, the least of saints, ajid chief of sinners ? Do I renounce all Christ's rivals and com- petitors, such as my beloved lusts, and beloved righteousness ? Do I count all my doings and duties but loss and dung^fjr the righteousness of Christ ? Do I take the crown off every head, and put it upon Christ's head, and give him all 'foe glo- ry of my salvation, and say, that in the Lord Jesus only have I right€ous7iess and strength? Am I careful to avoid' everj" thing that would dishonour Christ ? and do I say to every temptation that offers, Notu shall I do this wickedness^ and sin against God, or bring a reproach upon Christ and his Avays? Do I rejoice when Christ is honoured, his throne rais- ed, his glory advanced, and his subjects increased ; and when strangers and young ones are drawn to love and admire him ? Am I often saying. What shall I render to the Lord for his unsfieakable gift ? I am at a loss hov; to express xv\\ thank- fulness : I have nothing to give him ; but I'll render ail I have to him, my soul, my body, my k)ve, my praises^ my time, my talents, my walk and conversation, Lprd, accept of my two poor mites, soul and Ixtdy, in token of my gratitude for God's redeeming love and free gift ; and make'me fit for giving thee thanks eternally for this unspeakable gift : O that 1 could ap- ply these blessed marks to myself,.
Ai\d O-v/hat thnnks do I owe n->y dear Saviour, that sub- knitted vvillingiy to be heaven's gift to the children of men 3 ye-a, frankly oifered. and gave himself to be a sacrifice for stiein, to drink of the brook in the way, even the cup of God'p:
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wrath, that we might drink the cup of God's bles&ing * O how low was Our fail, that nothing could raise us up again but the low abasement of the Son of God I And O how low was the stoop that he behooved to make to recover us. The Son of God m_ust be tread upon as a worm. The Almighty phy- sician must come from heaven, and let his heart be pierced, to prepare a medicine to cure our disease. He that thought it no robbery to be equal with God, must be made equal to robbers and murderers. He must not only suffer death, but desertion also, from God, from man, and the whole creation. He gave himself not only to suffer the pangs of death, but the pains of hell ; rot only the sorrows of dying men, but the sor- rows of damned souls. O unspeakable gift I
MEDITATION XX.
From Luke Ix. 22. The Son of Man'niust suffer many things.
OUR Lord oft spoke of his sufferings to his disciples, be- cause he would have them deeply imprinted upon the hearts of all his people, that they might always think upon them, and carry about with them the dying of the Lord Jesus. As Christ foretold his sufferings before hand, so they came exactly to pass. He said he must suffer ma7iy things for his people, and accordingly he did so : Let me view his sufferings before I go to commemorate them at his table.
First. T must consider him that suffered many things for us ; the Spirit of God reqmres us to consider the High Priest, who he is, Heb. iii. 1. Though he calls himself in the text the Son of man, as to his human nature, yet he is also the Son. of God as to his divine nature ; yea, God equal with the Fa- ther, the great God our Saviour : This God-man, the WON- DERFUL, is our high priest, that suffered inany things for us. He is our glorious Emmanuel, the innocent and inima- eulate Lamb of God, that had not the least spot or crime of his own to suffer for. — He is the brightness of his Father's glory, the express image of his person ; he is the King of kings, and Lord of lords. He that suffered is he that went abcut always doing good to persons of all sorts, and deserved well of those who persecuted and crucified him. He is the great lover of mankind, and friend of sinners ; our glorious benefactor, who remembered us in cur low estate; one that comes under the most endearing characters to us,, as that of eur father, our brother, master, physician, ransomer, &:c. Now, will not a son be sensible of the sufferings of his father, or a wife of the sufferings of her husband ? Or one brother touched with the sufferings of another ? This is the great High. Priest that suffered many things for us.
Second. lam to consider the many ;/z?7?^s he suffered. Ah, they are so great, so variousj and manifold j I cannot recount
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. 6T
HOI* coiTiprehend them ! I may say, he suffered in both na- tures : Though his Godhead could not properly suffer grief or pain, yet it suffered an eclipse for thirty three years, except a short time it shone forth at mount T^.bor. — He suffered ma- nv things in his human nature, both in soul and body ; he Avas persecuted, tempted, calumniated, betrayed, bcund, mocked, spit upon, buffeted, scourged, wounded, cr(;\vned with thorns, and crucified. — He suffered in all his offices, he was mocked as a Prophet, and bid prophesy who smote him ; as a Priest, he was bid save himself, seeing he pretended to save others ; as a King, he was mocked with an dd purple robe and thorny crown.— He suffered in his honour and reputatirn, being dis- graced and reproached by n)en, called a Samaritan, one pos- sessed of the devil, a blasphemer, a glutton, a drur.kard, a seducer, b.c. He was even overwhelmed with calumny. — He suffered as a blasphemer agr.inst God, as a traitor to Cssar, and an enemy to Moses' law, though he were entirely free from them all.— He was wounded and pierced in all parts of his body, in his head, hands, and feet ; in his cheeks, back^ and side.-^He suffered in his outward goods, being spoiled of all things, and even stript of his clothes to his very skin, and nailed to the cross naked. — He suffered in all his five senses ; his sight, with the spiteful carriage of those that passed by, -waggmg their heads; his hearing, with their blasphemous talk ; his smell, with the noisome savour of the sculls of the ^ead ; his taste, with vinegar and gall; his feeling, with thorns and nails piercing his head, hands, and feet. He suf- fered in the most tender and sinewy parts of his b^dy, by the tormenting nails, especially being violently stretched out, and probably disjointed, to make them reach to the holes; there- fore he saith, Psal. xxii. 16, 17. They have digged my hands and my feet ^ I may tell all nnj bones,, they look and stare ujion me. — ^He suffered most of all in his soul, and its noble fa- culties : How great was the agony and travail of his soul,, -when he sweated blood in the garden through all the pores of his body ! O how great was the anguish of his mind upon his hea- venly Father's deserting him, which made him send forth a dreadful cry to heaven for relief, My God^ my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Then it was he cried and groaned under his pressure, but no relief appeared ; there was no answer,, every door was shut against him : For at this time his owa sun, his own heaven, his own Father, his own Godhead, did ail hide their faces and consolations from him ! O the many things he suffered for us, they cannot be numbered !
Third. I am to consider from whom the Son of Man suf» fered. He suffered from all hands, from earth, from hell, frt^m heaven j fn ra men, from devils, from infinite justice. He suffered from all sorts of men ; from king Herod and his men of war, who mocked him, and set him at nought ; from the Jewish priests and rulers, who did cruelly use and prosg-
^8 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS."
cute him to death ; from governor Pilate, who scourged andi condemned him to be crucified : He suffered from the Jews and from the Romans, from the clergy and from the lawyers, from soldiers and servants, from great ones and commons^ and even from those he had done much good unto. — He suffered from those whom he came to save and wash by his blood ; for there were three thousand of those who crucified him, or were active in his sufferings, that were converted to him by Peter's sermon. Acts ii — He suffered not only from enemies, but from professed friends and disciples ; one of these betrayed and sold him, another of them denied and abjured him, and all the rest forsook him, and left him alone to suffer in the midst of devils and ruffians insulting over him. — He suffered from de- vils, and all the powers of hell ; these dogs^ and bulls of Bashan^ were all let loose to tear and gore him in his last sufferings \for this^ he said, v^-A^XheXr hour and power ofdark^ ness, — ^But, which was worst of all, he suffered also from hea- ven ; for he being substituted in the room of sinners, a just and holy God acted as an inexorable judge towards him, he frowned terribly upt-n him, smote him with the sword of justice, and withdrew all the feeling of his loving-kindness from him, and all those divine influences which might any v/ay refresh his troubled soul in the hour of his greatest need : And thus he fell a sacrifice to incensed justice for our heinous guilt and pro- vocations. At this time a fearful black cloud was spread over the glorious Sun of Righteousness ; never was there any such eclipse seen or heard of as this I For a candle to be put out is no great matter, but for the sun to be darkened is very un- common : But though sun, moon, and stars, had all been blov/n out at once, it v;ould be no ways so amazing as the darkening of the eternal Sun of Righteousness upcsn the cross — A strange and marvellous sight I What meant the heat of this great an- ger ? Must even the Creator himself suffer for the crea- ture's sins ? Must he suffer such a load of wrath, as make liim cry out to the astonishment of angels and men ?
Fourth. I am to consider the High Priest, and for whom it was he suffered those great and many things. He suffered not for himself, for he never offended either against God of man, and deserved no punishment. He suffered none for fal- len angels ; they must all suffer for themselves : It was only for men of Adam's race, that were debtors to justice and pri- soners of wrath ; he suffered for creatures most undeserving, for rebels, and for many that were his greatest enemies ; and even for those who were his murderers and executioners, for he both prayed and was heard for them, when they were pouring out his blood.
Fifth. Let me consider with what affection he suffered all those things for us. It was his ardent love to perishing souls, which many waters could not quench ; — with fervent wishes and longings for the hour of his passion. / hav£ a baptism ^. be bajitised withyand hoiv am I straitened until it be as^-
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. 69
compilished ? — With great liberality : It is not the blood of his finger, or a part of his blood, that he would shed for us; no, he would needs pour out all his blood, and even his heart- blood too, and with that he poured out his soul also, Isa. liii. Why would he be so liberal r — that with him there might be plenteous redemption^ Psal. cxxx. 7. He suffered v/ith great meekness, patience, and resignation ; when he suffered he threatened not, but was led as a sheep to the slaughter, dumb, not opening his mouth : — With great humility and self- denial, content to be as a nvorm and no man, to bring glory to his Father: — With a thirsty zeal fur the salvation of souls, and for completing the work of our redemption ; and hence it was he cried on the cross, / thirst, and glad when he could say. It is finished,
O what cause have I to obey his dying charge, to go to his Bfiemorial feast, and to think upon and wonder at the match- less love of Christ, that made him willing to suffer so many things for such wretched creatures as I am. He knew well enough before hand what our salvation would cost him, yet he "willingly undertook it, saying, upon the very first motion of it, Lo^I come. Bat saith God to him, If you will engage in this work, you must bear my wrath, and be handled as if you were the sinner in law : Well, saith Christ, I come to do thy ivill, O God ; I am satisfied with the terms : Let the cup be never so bitter, I will drink it, ere these miserable creatures do it, O loving High Priest, how shall I think of thy sufferings with- out raptures of love and admiration ! I had been in hell if thou hadst not been in an agony here ; I had been for ever scorched there, if thou hadst not sweat here ; yea. not only I, but ail the posterity of Adam had peiished, if thou hadst not suffered those many things for them : Surely the weight of v/rath which made thee heavy, and caused thee to fall to the ground, sweat, groan, and cry, would have sunk all mankind into hell for ever. — O what ingratitude must it be to refuse Christ's offers and terms of salvation, after what he has suf- fered to purchase it ! Was he at so much pains to obtain re- demption for us, and will we be at no pains to get an interest in it? Did he shed blood, and will n.ot I drop tears I Lord, pity this heart of mine.
MEDITATION XXL
From John xviii, 4. Jesus knowing all things that should come upon him^ \ve:.t foi th, &c.
CHRIST foreknew all his sufferings, with all their ingre- dients, before they came upon him ; yet he willingly and re- solutely went forth to meet them. He will not flee, nor hide hiinself from his persecutors, but cast himself in their way> He saw the cup of wrath mixed and ready for him, and uow^
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as it were, he reaches forth his hand to take it. When the people would have forced him to a crown, he hid hinibeli from them, John vi. 15. ; but when they would force him to a cross, he offered hunself to them, knowing that his hour was come to fulfil his suretyship for us, and complete our redemption. Upon this account he made his sufferings welcome, and the passover that introduced them, Luke xxii. 15. With desire have I desired to eat this passover. He abhorred ail coun- sels that tended to hinder him, and rebuked Peter as smartly for dissuading him from suffering, as he would have done Sa-' tan himself, Matth. xvi. 23. And though ail his disciples would have dissuaded him. John xi. 8. he marched with great forwardness to Jerusalem, where he foretold tlie bloody tra- gedy was to be acted ; he hastened to the field of battle, and place of suffering : Yea, he weiit so fast to it, that his disci- ples were amazed at it, and afraid to follow him, Matth. xx. 18. Mark. x. 32. They were behind him, and would have fallen behind altogether, had it not been for shame, and let him go alone ; they v.'ere amazed to see a man hasten so fast to a bloody death. But he would not stop, thiAigh they had all left him, as they did afterwards. And when his time '^as come to be apprehended, he would neither let Peter defeiid him, nor angels rescue liim, though there were twelve legions at his call : One angel would have been sufficient to do it, or one word from his own mouth ; but, saith he, 7 he cii/i ray Fa- ther hath given me to drink ^ shall I not drink it ? — Where- fore, when they accused him of blasphemy against God, aiKi of enmity against Cesar and Moses' law, and things he was per- fectly innocent of, he would make no legal defence to save his life before Pilate, but held his peace, inson;;;ch that Pihite marxelled greatly. He might think it was easy for hirn to answer all they said, but he knew not the reason of our Lord's silence, viz. that he would do nothirig to hinder the elect's redemption, which he had undertaken. And, as he was si- lent bef-re Pilate, so was he before divine justice, and would do nothing to divert the stroke : Soon might he have rescued himself when justice drew the stroke, by saying, " Father, these sins are not mine :" No, he is silent, and takes with the charge, as if he had C( mmitted them all. On me, saith he, be the curse ; I will be the sacrifice for these lost sheep. O love unsj^eakable !
The reasons of my Saviour's willingness to suffer are ob- vious : he knew it was his Father's will he should suffer, and therefore he said. Psalm xl. I delight to do thy ivilU 0 ?nij God, He knew it would greatly dibphiy the glory of the di- vine attributes, that was sullied by our sins ; it would highly magnif)' his love to his sheep, John x. / lay doian my lijefor my sheep ; 1 do it of myself, freely, without compulsion : It was necessary, to mtike his sacrifice acceptable and well-pleas- iBg unto God, The heathens would not offer a sacrifice t»
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their gods that came struggling to the altar; so every sacri- fice ofifercd to the true God must be a free-wiil oifevine, if we would have it of a sv/eet sm.elling savour unto him. This Christ hath taught us by his example, and ujDon this account God hath twice proclaimed from heaven, This is my beloved Son, in tvhom I am rj-ell pleased,
O, v/as Christ's willingness to suffer for sinners so well- pleasing to the Father, and shall it not render him most ami- able and lovely to us ? Surely the Mediator's frank and cheer- ful undertaking to suffer so much for us, when unrequired by us, is a favour infinitely kind and obliging, and doth command raptures of love and praise from us when we celebrate his holy supper. What a moving sight is it to the eye of faith, to behcid our glorious Emmanuel voluntarily stating himself in our law room, without the soliciting of any creature, and engaging cheerfully to go through Satan's buffeting, death's pang's, and hell's fiames for us ! With what elevated thoughts and raised affections, should we admire, love, and praise a crucified Jesus, who did all this willingly and unrequired for us 1 Oh, he never had so good will to eat when hungry, as he had to suffer and satisfy justice for us! Hence he said. My meat is to do the ivill of him that se/it me., and to finish his cyorXr, John iv. 34. Here is food most delicious for faith to feed upon at the Redeemer's table. — Again, from this willing- ness of Ciirist to suffer for us, I have good ground to conclude his willingness to receive us, when we come to him by faith to partake of the fruits of his sufferings. O how can any be- liever, or sensible sinner, question or doubt of Christ's willing- ness to help and save them, who was so willing to offer him- self a sacrifice to justice for them ? Surely he is far more willing to save, than any sinner is to repent or believe. And from this I will take my encouragement to come to him : Since my loving Jesus came willingly as ti lamb to the slaugh- ter for sinners, I will venture, with humble confidence, to go to this meek, compassionate, sv/eet natured Lamb, for pity and help in the time of n>y need, trusting he will not reject me, nor any that comes to him upon his call in the gospel. / be- Ueve. Lord^ help my unbelief.
O, did Christ suffer the pains of death and hell so willingly for us, and shall not we be willing to suffer the reproaches or revilings of men, or any other persecution for him ? And when any such injuries are done us, shall we not bear them with meekness and patience after Christ's example, who sub- mitied cheerfully to every thiiig he knew to be his Father's wiU? Though he was perfectly innocent, and met with the greatest provocations from wicked men, } et he patiently here them ; taking all as out of his Father's hand, who had min- gled the cup for him. Thereiore, when he was reviled, he reviled not gain ; he could have told Pilate, Caiajshas, and his other persecutors, what sort of men they were, yet he
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opened not his mouth, but went willingly as a lamb to the slaughter. O that we could imitate the meekness, patience, and willingness of the Lamb of God in all the sufferings he calls us to.
O did Christ delight to do his Father's will, and go willing- 1)^ through the most hard and difficult ta^k of sweating, bleed- ing, and dying for us ? and shall we fiiid so little delight in doing his will, and performing the duties which lead to com- munion and fellowship with him, as prayer, praise, reading, hearing, or communicating I Did Christ come so cheerfully to die for us, and shall we go so backwardiy and unwillirigly to his table to enjoy fellowship with him, when he invites us to it : O what a shameful requital is this May not Christ say, Is this thy kbidness to thy friend ? When the Father called me to suffer, and drink the cup of trembling for thee, how readily did I echo back, / come^ lo, I come, to do thy ivill I take delight .' But when I cail thee to pray or communicate, how backward and dead hearted art thou in that work ? I did not weary so soon in the garden, as thou dost in the church 1 I did not so soon weary on the cross, as thou dost in thy clo- set ! I was longer in my agony, wrestling under the wrath of God for thee, than ever thou wast in wrestling in praj er for thy soul.
Did Christ offer his sacrifice so willingly for us, O then let me go to God my Saviour, with the sacrifice of myself and my duties, with a ready and cheerful heart : God loveth a cheerful giver. As Amaziah offered himself willingly unto the Lord, 2 Chron. xvi. 16. and David saith, Accefn of the Jree will offerings of my mouthy Psal. cxix. 108. O that with the like willingness I could offer myself, my heart, and my sacrifices of prayer and praises, unto the Lord : And when I feel any reluctancy and backwardness of spirit to duty, let me still call to n-sind how wirhngly Christ offered himself a sacrifice to God for us, and chide my heart for its unwilling- ness.— Surely it is much for the honour of God, and the credit of religion, as it is most just and reasonable in itself, to serve God with joytulnesS) who has willingly given us the unspeiika- ble gift of his dear Son to die for us The wicked and profane are ready to reproach religion as a sour and melancholy thing, when we serve God in a dead hearted manner ; and God himself is highly displeased with us for it, as is evident from that long and terrible chapter, the 28th cf Deuteronomy, that is full of curses and threatened judgments, ver. 47. where the cause of all is given. Because thou servest not the Lord thy God tvith joy fulness and gladness of heart. Since tlie sacrament is called the Eucharist or Thanksgiving, let me go to it with a joyful and thankful heart, blessing God for Christ. O thanks' be to God for his uns/ieakable gift* Amen.
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MEDITATION XXII.
Fiom John xvi. 7. It is expedient for you that I g© rnvn*-— -
KO vs'onder that sorrow filled tlie disciples hearts at the intimaticn of Christ's departure tVonn them: They had en- joyed a sweet time with him at the commtmion table ; his pre- sence with them was their heaven, and they cannot think of parting with him : They are greatly troubled, that he will neither stay still with them, nor take them away with him : A'ex'ert/ieless^ said he, it is expedient for you that I go away. — Lord, saith the soul, how is it expedient for me to be left behind thee in a state of corruption, with indwelling sin that darkens my mind, deadens my heart, disorders my af- fections, and indisposes nie for spiritua.1 work ? — How shall I stay behind thee, amidst Satan's temptations and fiery darts, flying thick about me? Must I abide in that place ■where that enemy hath his circuit, and still rangeth about, devouring many thousands ? Could I win away with Christ, I would be quite out of the reach of his shot. Lord either stay with me or take me up with thee — Oh, must I stay be- hind thee amidst the infectious defilements and ensnaring ex- amples of an ungodly v/orld 1 When I open mine eyes here, what will meet them but multitudes wallowing in pride, sen- suality, covetousness, injustice, malice, envy, drunkenness, gluttony, uncleanness, contempt of God and religion ? Must I stay to see this horrible sight, the whole world lying in wick- edness ? Must I sta}' to hear God daily dishonoured by the tongues of the ungodly ? Must I stay to see Christ slighted, wounded, and crucified afresh by wicked men ? O what dan- ger will I be in of being infected by their examples I But, Lord, If I could win away with thee, I would be quite out of hazard, and out of sight of the wickedness of the vrorld. — How shall I stay behind thee in such an earthly tabernacle, to be burdened with bodily distresses, sickness, pains, and mani- fold complaints, and amidst innumerable losses, crosses, and disappointments from the creature I How shall I stay to see such melancholy divisions, contentions, debates, and separa- tions, as fallout among the people of God in Christ's absence ? Must I stay behind thee to suffer injuries, reproaches, cruel mockings, bad usage, and persecutions, both from the tongues, and hands of men ? and sometimes to be torn as with the teeth of wild beasts? Hence this world is called a den oflioris and mountain of leopards. Cant, iv, 8. Oh, could I v/in away to heaven with Christ, I would see no lion nor leopard there. There is none to hurt or destroy in all God's holy mountain above.
Have I seen the King in his beauty, and must I be left be- hind him ? Hath the communion table been like Mount Ta- bor, where; he was transfigured before mv eves, with his
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countenance shining, and his raiment white as light? And must I go down from the Mount again to a land of darkness, of drought, and of perplexing doubts and fears, where I shall sometimes go mourning without the sun ; yea, neither sun nor stars appearing to me for many days ? Must I be put to walk without the light of God's countenance, and without the food of my soul, communion with my God ? After I have been lift- tdup must I lay my account with being cast down again, per- haps into depths like those of Asaph, Fsalm Ixxvii, or like those ot Heman, Psalm Ixxxviii. with fears of sinking in them, and of falling short of heaven for ever ? Could I win away with Christ, 1 would at once be delivered from all these fears. — Here my knowledge of God is small, and oft obscured with darkness ; ray faith is weak, and oft in hazard of being over- come with unbelief; here my love is cold, and oft like to be chil- led v/ith frost and winds from Satan and the World; my pray- v^rs oft are formal and wandering, my praises low and flat ; here my best wishes are attended with many slioi-t-cemings and defects : But, Q! if I could win to heaven with Christ, where grace and holiness are in perfection, I would praise him with- out wandering, and serve him without sin for ever I Here sin still cleaves to my nature, mixes itself with my services, and defiles my best duties. Here I still carry about with me a deceitful and treacherous heart, whereby I am in hazard of backsliding from God, and miscarrying for ever, should I be left to it ; But, O '• were I with Christ, 1 would be free from all these anxious thoughts and fears. Lord, stay here with ine, or take me up to thee.
But thou sayest, It is expedient for me to stay behind for a time. Why, Lord ? Must I stay that my travelling graces, my faith, hope, and patience, may be tried and exercised here belovv^, and thereby gradually strengthened and ripened for the perfect state ? Must I stay that I may be conformed to my head both in serving and suffering ; and that thy wis- dom, pov/er, and mercy, may be glorified in conducting and preserving me through all the difficulties and dangers of this ■wilderness? 7'hij nvill, Lord., be do?ie, only leave me not a- lone ; but for thy name' s sake lead me'and guide me — Or, is it thy pleasure to suspend my heaven for a while, that I may promote thy glory on earth, be useful to the souls of others, and recommend my dear Redeemer to those who know him not, which is a work I cannot do in heaven ? O fit me for it by thy grace, and fill me with zeal for thy glory. O let thy kingdom come upon earth, that the kingdom of glory may be hastened. ^
Thou sayest, it is expedient for thee to go away. WHiy, Lord ? must thou thyself be thy people's forerunner, to carry tidings to heaven of their complete redemption, and of their coming after thee in their several generations? Must thou goto open the passage and pave the way for access to their
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persons and duties, and prepare rooms and lodgings for them against the time they come home ? Must thou go away to be a public agent and intercessor for thy people under all their trials and tossings here below ; and likewise to provide and furnish a rich and glorious communion table for them in thjr Father's house above ? Lord, send thy Holy Spirit to fit and prepare me and many others for that blessed entertainment, — Lord, when thou saidst, It is exliediejit for you that I go avjay^ thou didst add, f( r // / go not avjay, the Comforter ivillnot come unto ijou 1 VVhy ? it was so agreed in the coun- cil of the Trinity, that the sending of the Spirit in his plenti-