Second corollary, is to show how all these things do promote holi- ness. As it is a badge of profession ; surely the peculiar people must be an holy nation, 1 Peter ii. 9. As it is a seal of the covenant we are obliged to holiness and new obedience. Therein we devote our- selves to God, to be ' holy as he that hath called us is holy,' 1 Peter i. 16, 17. As it is a pledge of heaven ; it is a sinless state we look for: 1 John iii. 3, ' He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, as Christ is pure.' As it is a means of communion with Christ : 1 John i. 6,7, 'If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth ; but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.' The visible fruit of this communion is holiness : 2 Cor. vi. 14, ' For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?' And as it is a means of our spiritual growth. What is growth but growth in holiness ? As it is a memorial of Christ's death ; so with the apostle we should be able to say, ' I am crucified with Christ,' Gal. ii. 20 ; and Eom. vi. 6, ' Knowing that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.' What did he die for but to sanctify us ? As it is a pledge of his coming ; can a guilty creature long for Christ's coming ? The voice of sinful nature is, Depart ; but the Spirit in the bride saith, Come. Would prisoners and malefactors long for the assizes ? As it is a bond of love ; true spiritual love is inter honos : 1 John V. 1, ' Every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him that is begotten of him.' Our hearts are purified for this love: 1 Peter i. 22, ' Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth.' As it is a feast , if we are not holy, we are unworthy guests, unthankful to God that entertaineth us : Ps. xli. 9, ' Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.' Men do more grievously take injuries from kindred and domestics that eat their bread. You must not eat with God unless you resolve to live in a state of holy friendship with him. From the whole, let us sanctify ourselves in body and soul, and come in a holy manner to this holy table.
Third corollary, is to show the false ends, as resting in the work wrought. Sacraments do no good merely as a work wrought. If severed from the word, they are unprofitable ; as a seal without an indenture and writing : Mat. sxviii. 19, 'Go ye therefore, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have com- manded you ; ' and Eph. v. 26, ' That he might sanctify and cleanse it, by the washing of water through the word ; ' and 1 Peter iii. 21, ' The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us ; not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God.'
The papists say it is viaticum morientium, therefore thrust the sacrament into the mouths of those that die, and, if neglected, they almost despair of the salvation of him that dieth. No ; it is viaticum
A SERMON ON THE ENDS OF THE SACRAMENT. 499
vive7itmm; it is our journey provision. Death is not a journey, but the end of a journey ; it is a passage in a moment, a cessation from our journey in this world, which ^needeth no viaticum. It is a going out of the workl, Uke the putting out of a lamp, in a moment. As a lamp needeth no oil to be extinguished, but to burn, we need this for our journey going through the world, but not at our departure out of tha world. In that moment that our body dieth, the soul it is in the hand of God.
END OF VOLUME XM.
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