5. A settinrf of the heart upon the jjyoviises of God.
That a man having discerned that God hath so compassed him with favour that he hath seen his misery ; that he hath seen a way to get out, and hath found a way to approach unto the throne of God ; he presently thereupon cometh unto God, looks whether or not he will hold forth unto him the golden sceptre. He seeth the Lord hath made him to beg Christ earnestly, and that he can confess his sins unto him ; then presently there cometh a setting of the heart upon the promises. Hath not God said, ' Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness : for they shall be satisfied,' Mat. v. 6. He hath given me but a cold answer ; but it is true, hath not he said, ' Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will ease you' ? Mat. xi. 28. I find but little ease, but I know that I am in his favour. He hath given unto me feet, affection, and an heart to come unto him ; and hereupon I will set mine affections. Howsoever he spurneth me, yet I know that he is just, and therefore will not be broken off. I know he is faithful, and therefore will forgive me. And hereupon the Christian setteth himself upon a settled resolution. Having considered the promise of God, he is persuaded ' that neither life nor death, princi- palities nor powers, things present nor things to come, shall separate him * That is, Jacob. Cf. Genesis xxxii. 26, seq. — G.
72 THE RIGHT RECEIVINO.
from tho lovo of Christ,' Iloin. viii. 35, 38. And that man who is thus persuaded aud assured by faith, though not by sense, whom God hath thus far carried, will thus reason the matter with himself. Well, I know that ho that hath ' begun this good work will finish it,' Philip, i. 6. And there- fore with this conclusion, I will come looking for an increase of grace. Now I see some life, some health, some strength ; I will look for an increase of these ; more life, more health, and more strength. Therefore I will come unto the Lord's table ; this is a worthy receiver. These concern our justification, wherein a man must examine himself.
And tako this; he that cometh without faith, that man comcth without his wedding garment, whom tho master of the feast (when he cometh to take notice of the guests that are come) shall single out from the rest, and say, ' Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into everlasting torments,' Mat. xxii. 13. But a man will say. May not I read good books at home, the Bible or others ? Ay, but thou shalt not have such a feast at home. He here provideth a feast ; and when the feasters are set, he cometh and seeth them. Thus God is present here in these assemblies, and seeth of what disposition his guests are. Now when a man comes without his wedding garment, that putteth to the seal, but wanteth the writing, will not this make God to single him out ? There is a day when he shall be mute. Know therefore, that this table is provided for God's friends, and therefore unless thou by faith canst know that thou art fiiends with God, thou canst have no comfort ; therefore examine thyself, for before that thou findestthy heart settled, before thy sins are forgiven, thou art not fit. A man will say, Alas ! I would, if I had it, give all the world for it, but alas ! all is in vain ; I have often sought for it ; often groaned and shed many tears for it before God ; and yet things go not as I would. And what then ? Shall I abstain ? No ; if thou discernest that thou art weak,fthou must come. This table is provided for them that are weak. And if thy faith be weak, if thou hast but the least grain of faith, thou must come. As the church in the Canticles, when she began to be sick, desired to be stayed with flagons, Cant. ii. 5 ; so when our souls are ready to faint, we must desire him to come unto us, to comfort us, to stay us. * The Lord quencheth not the smoking flax, nor breaketh the bruised reed, Mat. xii. 20, but will make it grow to a great tree ; only be thou patient, and wait the Lord's leisure. And thus much shall suffice to have spoken of the first point, wherein the afiections must be examined ; that is, upon the point of justification. We come now to the next point and matter, which is the grace of sanctification.
We must examine ourselves next in the grace of sanctification.
And for this, they that come must especially look unto it ; for let us ask the question. Why will God provide a table ? Why will he feed them ? Is it not that they may do him service ? Especially then examine thine own heart, whether thou art minded to serve God thyself, or the devil. Is there a man who saith, I will serve mine own turn, by hook or crook. I will get this ? Is the table of the Lord, think you, provided for him ? to strengthen him to do service against him ? Thou that wouldst come unto the table, thou must remember thou art to be one of his family ; he will have thee sit down with him. And doth he not then require that thou shouldst do him sei'vice ? If then thou art ready to serve against him, if thou runnest into the camp of tho enemy, to join with Satan against thy Maker, dost thou think that thou art fit to come ? Nay, let me speak unto them that are profane, who break his Sabbaths and blaspheme his name. I say, that