3. Here is the end and benefit to be obtained thereby, ' Lest he that destroyed the first-born should touch them;' that is, the avenging angel that destroyed the first-born of man and beast among the Egyptians, lest he should come nigh to do them harm. Now, as Moses celebrated the passover in assurance that the destroying angel should not touch the people of Israel, so may every believer be certified, if he will take God's prescribed course, that the grace promised and sealed in the sacrament shall be bestowed upon him.
Therefore by Moses' example we are encouraged, (1.) To obedience in the right use of God's signs ; (2.) To confidence that God's ends shall be obtained in the use of those instituted signs, and that the ordinances shall be effectual unto the ends for which God hath ap- pointed them. Therefore waiving all other points, I shall insist upon this one alone.
Doct That rightly to celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's supper, there is great need of the vigorous and lively work and exercise of faith.
Here I shall prove —
1. In general, that whosoever would have commerce with God must have some faith.
2. That this faith, as it is necessary to religion in general, so espe- cially to all acts of worship.
3. That among all other acts of worship, faith is most necessary in the use of sacraments.
476 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. LXII.
First, In general, "whoever would have any commerce with God must have some faith. He must believe steadfastly those two primitive and supreme truths, God's being and bounty, his essence and his pro- vidence ; that there is a God, and that it is not in vain to serve God. This general faith there must be : Heb. xi. 6, ' He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.' For if there be no God, why should we trouble ourselves about religion ? And if there be no providence, it is all one whether we forbear or observe those rites which concern his worship and service, or whether we go about them with any life and seriousness ; if we only comply with the common error and fashion of the times we live in, we are safe. Therefore certainly this general faith must be at the bottom of all religion ; we must be soundly persuaded of these truths that there is a God, and that he is a rewarder, and bind them upon our hearts, that they may excite us to diligence and seriousness in the practice of those duties which they enforce. And therefore I would counsel every christian that is conscious to himself of too much dead- ness and formality, when he is about to come to God, to excite himself with these two short thoughts — that God is, and that he will not be sought in vain. Kemember that God, into whose presence thou art coming, takes notice of thy duties, and will reward thee accordingly. Secret atheism will either tempt us to neglect all religion, and cast off all care of the duties thereof, or else to go about it only in a compliance with a popular and vulgar error that is set afoot in every age or place where our lot casts us. Or if uatural conscience convinces us that there is a God, and that he must be worshipped (as certainly if we hearken to the dictates of it, it will easily do so), yet if we are not persuaded that he is good to mankind, and that he will reward tliose that worship him sincerely and according to his will, all that we do in religion will be but perfunctory, and looked upon as a heavy task, and bondage or slavery in which we have no delight. So that this general faith is necessary ; you should say, Verily, I go not before an idol, but before the living God ; and they that thus seek him shall praise him : Ps. xxii. 26, ' They shall praise the Lord that seek him;' something shall be given that shall excite their hearts to praise him.
Secondhj, As this faith is necessary to religion in general, and all that respect we show to God, so all the duties of worship must be gone about in faith and obedience, otherwise they are not acceptable to God, for God accepts of nothing but what he hath appointed and instituted. Now God's institution, which is the rule of commerce between him and the creature, consists partly, in a word of command requiring such service at our hands, and partly, in a word of promise, and therefore the institution can never be rightly observed and complied with unless we act in obedience to his command, and with a confidence that God will perform his promise. As, for instance, take any duties of wor- ship— prayer . Ps. 1. 15, ' Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee.' There is an institution of prayer as a part of gospel worship, and a promise of hearing us ; therefore now I must make conscience of praying, and that whatever my unbelieving heart saith to the contrary, with confidence that God will hear me, that my prayers shall not be in vain, but enter into my bosom. So for hearing