(1.) The corruptions that remain, and daily work in the best hearts ; these are evermore puzzling and fearing the poor soul, with fears and doubts about its condition. Grace teacheth men due seve- rity to themselves ; and fear of their own deceitfulness, makes them think no hearts are like their hearts ; especially whilst they compare other men's outside with their own inside, as generally they do. Oh, how do our own corruptions every moment raise mists and clouds that it is a wonder we ever showld have one clear beam of as- surance shining into such hearts, as our hearts are !
(2.) The multitudes of mistakes and cheats that are frequently- committed, and found in this matter, makes upright hearts the more suspicious and doubtful of their own condition. O when they read Mat. vii. 22. that many will say to Christ in that day, Lord we have prophesied in thy name, &c. it scares them, lest they also be deceived.
(3.) The grand importance of the matter, makes poor souls fear- ful of concluding certainly about it. O when a man considers, that the whole weight of his eternal happiness or misery, depends upon the resolution of these questions. Am I in Christ; or am I not ! it will make him tremble to determine. In a word, assurance is not in. our power, or at our command. There be many holy, humble, diU- gent, and longing souls, to whom it is denied : it is arbitrarily dispen- sed by the pleasure of the Spirit, to whom he will : and such favoursare rare, even among true believers ; the more therefore it is to be valued and desired by all, as the spouse doth in this place. And so much to
4oi SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.
the first thing ; Upon icliat account the assurance of Chrisfs love is so desirable in the eyes of Christians.
^. In the last place, let us consider, how this mercy, which is so desirable, may be obtained ; And this is our proper work and busi- ness at this time.
You are now come to a sealing ordinance, instituted on purpose for this noble end and use. O that we would pray and plead for it, as the spouse here doth ! " Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm : for love is strong as death ; jealousy is cruel as the grave,'" &c. Now, in order to the attainment of this most de- sirable mercy, take a few necessary hints of your present work and duty, in the following directions.
Direction I. Would you be well secured of Christ's love to you, and that you are set as a seal upon his heart ? Then exercise and manifest more love to Christ, and let him be much upon vour hearts. If it be clear to you, that you have true love to Jesus Christ, you need not at all to doubt, but you are in his heart, and in his love : / love them that love me, Prov. viii. 17. And surely you have now before you the greatest motive in the world, to inflame your love to Jesus Christ. Behold him as he is here represented to you, wounded for your mU quities ; yea, sacrificed to the wrath of God, for your peace, pardon, and salvation ! " O v.hat manner of love is this ! Behold how he loved thee !" If Christ's love draw forth thine, it will so far clear thy interest in his love, as- it shall engage thy heart in love to him.
Direction II. But seeing the activity of your love will be accord- ing to the activity of your faith ; therefore, in the next place, I ad- vise you to make it the main work and business of this hour, to ex- ercise your faith upon Jesus Christ. Set yourselves this day to be- lieve : The more strong the direct acts of your faith shall be, the more clear and comfortable its reflex acts are like to be.
There are three distinct offices, or employments for your faith, at this table, viz. 1. To realize. S. To apply. 3. To infer, from the sufferings of Jesus Christ.
1. To realize the sufierings of Christ for you, and behold them here represented in a true glass to the eye of faith. See you that bread broken, and that wine poured out ? As sure as this is so, Jesus Christ endured the cross, suffered the wrath of the great and terrible God, in his soul, and in his body, upon the cursed tree, for, and in the room of poor condemned sinners. Your faith for the one hatli as much, yea, more certainty, than your senses hath for the other. " This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners," 1 Tim. i. 15. " And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness ; God was manilested in the flesh," &c. 1 Tim. iii. 16.
2. Apply the sufferings of Christ this day to thine own soul : Be-
SACRAMENTAL l^LEDTTATIOXS. 455
lieve all this to be done and suffered in tliy room, and for thy sake. He offered not this sacrifice for his own sins, but ours : Isa. liii. 9- Heb. vii. 27- He was incarnate for you, Isa. ix. 6. " For us a child is born ; to us a son is given." His death was for you, and in your stead. Gal. iii. 13. " He was made a curse for us C and when he arose from the dead, "he rose for our justification,'' Rom. iv. 25. And now he is in glory, at the right hand of God, he is there for us, Heb. vii. 25. " He ever lives, to make intercession for us." It was the pride, passion, earthliness, and unbelief of thy heart, which Jesus Christ groaned, bled, and died, to procure a pardon for.
3. Infer from the sufferings of Christ, those conclusions of faith that tend to assurance. As thus : Did Christ die for me, when I was an enemy ? Then surely, being reconciled, I shall be saved by his life, Rom. v. 10. Again ; If Christ died for me? Then I shall never die eternally. Nothing shall " separate me from the love of God ; it is Christ that died," Rom. viii. 34.
Direction III. Mourn over all those sins, that cause the Lord to hide his face from your souls. Have you grieved the Spirit by your sins ? O be grieved for it this day at your very hearts ; cover the table of the Lord with tears : " Look upon him whom you have pierced, and mourn as for an only son." Though there be no merit, yet there is much mercy in a broken heart for sin ; and there is no such advan- tage to get your hearts broken, as this is, which is now before you. When the shower of repentance is fallen, the heavens over thee may be clear, and the sun shine out in its brightness upon thy soul.