VeU. 12.] SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. 157
upon God with thankfulness. God hath been at a great deal of cost to erect a throne of grace that we may pray with confidence : ' Having boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus/ Heb. x. 19. If a charitable man should see a company of beggars wandering in the street in the time of worship, and their pretence is that there is no room for them in the public place of meeting, and he should build a chapel for them, they would be without excuse. God hath been at great cost to provide a throne of grace, that we might not neglect prayer.
5. Singing of psalms, that is one of the exercises of godliness, and is of great use in the spiritual life, though usually it be performed per- functorily and customarily. It is chiefly required as a solemn profes- sion of worship. As far as the voice will extend, we proclaim it to all the world that we are not ashamed of God's worship. David calls upon the nations to make a joyful noise to God : Ps. Ixvi. 1,2,' Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands ; sing forth the honour of his name, make his praise glorious.' As it is the custom of nations to proclaim what they would have noted and observed, by sound of drum and trum- pet, so by singing we manifestly own God's worship and service. But this is not all; it is an excellent way of instruction: Col. iii. 16, ' Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs ; singing with grace in your hearts unto the Lord.' It was one means of Austin's conversion, Quantum fluminis in hymnis et canticis suavi sonantis ecdesice ? — How did he weep and mourn when he heard the psalms sung by the church, to think of the mercies and dispensations of God to the church. And it is a fruit and effect of spiritual delight, the vent we give to it. Look, as drunkards, when filled with carnal mirth, they howl out their wanton songs, so when the soul is filled with spiritual consolation, it breaks out into singing. The apostle alludes to it : Eph. v. 18, 19, ' Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit ; speaking to one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs ; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.' It gives vent to strong spiritual affections when the heart is ravished and overcome with the love of God. It is a more distinct and fixed reading, a reading with meditation. Singing and meditation are put for the same thing : Ps. civ. 33, 34, ' I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live ; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being ; my meditation of him shall be sweet.' Singing is but a more distinct pronunciation, that we may have more liberty for thought and meditation as we go over those portions of scripture that are sung in the church.
6. A religious use of the seals. Baptism must not be forgotten, though not to be reiterated. Look, as Christ told Peter when he washed his feet, John xiii. 7, ' What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter ; ' so you are to look after the fruits and effects of your baptism, and of your engagement to Christ in your infancy, and what benefit you have by virtue of your being baptized into Chiist. But especially the use of the supper; that is one of the exercises of godliness ; it is the seal of the covenant. It is called, ' The new testament in Christ's blood,' Luke xxii. 20 ; that is, it is a sign and seal of it. Sacramental speeches must be understood sacramentally. Noav this is a high condenscension on God's part (with what reverence should wo
158 SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. [SeR. X.
come to such an ordinance !) as if his word did not suffice, but we must have all ways of ratification and assurance. The Lord's supper is the map of the gospel ; all the mysteries of salvation are here abridged ; it is the epitome of the gospel, Christ's public monument to the church. Look, as kings will not only have their royal acts and deeds recorded in faithful chronicles, but also erect a public monument to keep up their' memory, so the Lord Christ would not only liave his royal acts recorded in the chronicles of the scripture, but hath erected this public monument, that we may remember what he did for us, how he triumphed over principalities and powers, and made a spoil of them openly. It is a visible pledge of his second coming. Christ would have it celebrated in the church to awaken our hopes, our thoughts, and our desires, till he come again in person to convey us into his Father's bosom. It is a mysterious instrument and means God hath found out to convey comfort and grace to the soul, to work out a union between him and the creature. We do not only draw nigh to God, but are united to him. It is the beginning and autepast of glory ; so much Christ intimates, Mat. xxvi. 29, ' I will not hence- forth drink of the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.' It is a taste" of the new wine we shall drink with Christ, those spiritual consolations we shall receive from him in his kingdom.