Remember, therefore, that we do not only take hei'e God's kindness sealed in the sacrament, but we re-promise back again to lead new lives. All must resolve by his grace to obey him henceforward, and to take him for our God. The way, therefore, will be to put this into the condition of your promise now, and prayer after. Lord, I have promised this ; but thou knowest I cannot perform the promise I have made, and the condition thou requirest, of myself. But in the covenant of grace, thou hast said that thou wilt make good the condition. Thou hast promised to give the ' Spirit to them that ask him,' Luke xiv 13; thou hast promised to 'circumcise my heart,' Col. ii. 11 ; thou hast promised to ' teach me,' Ps. xxxii. 8 ; thou hast promised to delight over me for good ; thou hast promised to ' wash me with clean water,' Ezek. xxxvi. 25 ; thou hast promised to put thy fear in my heart,' Jer. xxxii. 40 ; thou hast promised ' to write thy law in the afiections,' Jer. xxxi. 33. I would fear thee, and love thee, and trust in thee, and delight in thee ; thou knowest I cannot fulfil the conditions. Thou art able and willing ; thou art as able to make me do these things as to command me to do them.
Thus we should desire God to give the grace that he requires in the use of the means ; for that must not be neglected. AVe must attend upon the ordinances ; use the parts that are given us ; and in that, ' to him that hath shall be given,' Mat. xiii. 12. Thou shalt not need any necessary good to bring thee to heaven, if thou wilt claim the promise of the covenant in the use of means. We shall want degrees perhaps ; but in the covenant of grace, it is not degrees that brings us to heaven, but truth. *• Cf. Vol. V. p. G3.-G.
THE F.UTHFUX, COVENANTER.
25
Now, in our renewing the covenant with God, let us not despair of his performance ; let not that hinder us from coming to the sacrament, hut come cheerfully, and know that he that hath made the covenant with thee to be thy God, and to give thee all particular grace, in the use of all good means, will perform it. He will perform it if we come in sincerity of heart. If we come to 'daub'- with God, and after to follow our sinful courses, this is to mock God. This made David take it to heart so much, that ' his familiar friend, that ate at his table, lift up his heel against me,' Ps. xli. 9. May not God complain of us, that we come to the com- munion, to his table, with false, Judas hearts, and afterwards betray him ? He may say. My familiar friends they came and ate with me, yet they have lift up the "heel against me ; they are rebellious ; they will leave no sin that before they were enthralled to. So, instead of a blessing, we bring a curse upon us, a just reward of our disloyalty. Oh remember that it is a great aggravation of sin after the sacrament.
I speak not this to discourage any, but to encourage us rather. If we come with sincere hearts, and with resolution to please God, we may look for all the promises from God. All that he hath promised he is ready to perform, if we in faith can allege the promise, ' Lord, remember thy pro- mise, wherein thou hast caused thy servant to put his trust !' Ps. csis. 49.
* Cf. Ezek. xiii. 10-14, and xxii. 28.-0.
JOSIAH'S EEFORMATION.
JOSIAH'S REFORMATION.
NOTE.
' Josiah's Reformation' forms Nos. 8, 9, 10, 11 of the first edition of ' The Saint'i Cordials'— 1G29 ; and in the second and third— 1637 and 1658— Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Cf. Notes, Vol. IV. page 60, and Vol. V. page 176. For account of a manuscript «opy of these delightful sermons, in my possession, see Bibliographical List of Editions in Volume VII. The title-page of ' Josiah's Eeformation,' in the editimi of 1637, which is our text, is given below.* tr.
* JOSIAHS
REFORMATION.
Laid open in foure Sermons,
f 1. The Tender Heart.
] 2. The Art of Selfe-Humbling. mz. <(
) 3. The Art op Mourning
' 4. The Saints Refreshing.
WHEREIN IS SHEWED THE
TVRNINGS AND WINDINGS OF THE
Soule in this great worke of Reformation : and how the
stout heart may so be brought low, as to be made humble,
melting, and compassionately mournfuU : even to
the comfort of a sweet Assurance.
[Wood-cut here, as described. Vol. IV. p. 60. See also Memoir, p. cxxiv.]
By R. SiBBS D. D. Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and preacher of Grayes Inn London.
The second Edition. EsAY 57. 15. For this sailh the high and lofty One, that inhahiteth Etcrnify, ivhoxe Name is Tlohj ; I dwell in the high and holy I' lace : with him also that is of a contrite and humble sjnrit, to r»- vive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
LONDON,
Printed for R. Davvlman, at the brazen Serpent in I'auls Churcliyard. 16 3 7.