Therefore, as I may speak with reverence, make thy breakfast, as I may say, every morning, of the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ, and this will give thee more life, more ability, and strength, the multiplying and con- * That is, ' painstakingly.' — G. j Spellftd ' reuce.' — G
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timial repetition every day of the act of faith, laying hold on Christ's body broken, his blood shed. It is a most effectiml means ; try it, and you shall find the experience of it.
(2.) No means in the world so effectual than, when a man would go to Christ, to look to his ordinances. Whaft are they ? His word and his sacra- ments. Come like a Christian, and not like a moral man. Go to the fountain for justification and sanctification where it may be had, thou shalt find then greater efiects than ordinaiy. Then for the word, it is an eflec- tual means whereby we may purify ourselves : we may read Eph. v. 26, ' Even as Christ loved his church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it, with the washing of water by the word.' The blood of Jesus Christ washeth thee, there is the main washing ; but notwithstand- ing, there be certain conduits and pipes, whereby the virtue of this is con- veyed. Christ doth sanctify and purify thee, by washing, by water, by the word ; so that when a man comes with faith in his word, in his promises, this is a special means. Note one place more : John xv. 2, ' Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away, and every bx'anch that bear- eth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.' ' Now you are clean through the word that I have spoken unto you:' nothing is more plain ; the word of God taken with faith is a special ordinance, whereby thou mayest come to purify thy heart. But how is that ? How may I apply the word thus ?
1. First, Consider the word of God is a word of power. When thou comest to the ministry of the word, remember that God hath made them able ministers of the Spirit, not only of the letter. Christ is with them to the end of the world. They are not only such as do prescribe barely this and that, and give no strength. No ; we are ministers sealed : the Lord accompanies the external ministry of the word with the internal power of his Spirit, that when thou comest to church, thou comest only for the ordinance sake ; the Lord hath pleased to make that a door of grace eff'ec- tual, and he shall not only barely command, but he shall be a minister of the Spirit, shall enable me to do the things God requires. Oh, if a man come as to a market of grace, and say. Lord, thou, thou hast commanded me to come, and to expect from their mouth the donation of the Spirit, thou hast touched their tongue with the fire of thy blessed Spirit, to shew that that shall be a means to convey grace. Now if a man could come thus, the word would go far, and be very efiectual, whereas we come now to hear rather a lecture of moral philosophy than for God's Spirit.
2. Again, The promises in the word of God, when thou dost apprehend them spiritiudly, they are a u-onderful means to purge. Many think that they should apprehend only the promises of justification. Nay, faith extends ; wheresoever God hath a tongue in his word, there faith hath an ear to hear, and a hand to lay hold on. The oath that he swore to our forefathers, that we should serve him in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life : there is a word God hath sworn, that I shall serve the Lord Jesus ; and beloved, if this be a word of truth, and if my faith can apprehend and apply it, notwithstanding many difiiculties, though there be oppositions of men and angels, I am yet to wrestle with principalities and powers. But look to the Lord, the Lord hath sworn thou shalt serve him, all thine enemies shall not hinder. Where is thy faith now ? Bring faith to this promise, this oath of God : and what will it make a man do ? It will make us go out against all oppositions, though we have walls of brass and chariots of iron against us. But hath God said they shall go out?
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Lay hold on that ; believe that as firmly as thou wilt believe the promise of justification. So the word of God will be made a wonderful efilectual moans ; only let us come, like believers, like true Christians, and the Lord will do wonders, above all we can imagine and think, if we can come in the right way. Well, that is the word. •
3. But the Lord hath appointed his sacraments. It is a strange thing that the first sacrament of regeneration there should be so little use made of it. It is a popish error, and cannot be yet weeded out of men's hearts. They think, what is in baptism ? It washeth away what is there for the present, but it serves for no other matter to purify afterward ; a gross and popish error. You must know it hath virtue and effect, that must be made useful for cleansing thyself even at this hour: as Rom. vi. 1-4, 'What shall we say then ? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound ? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein ? Know you not that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were bap- tized unto his death ? Therefore we are buried with him in baptism into death ; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should also walk in newness of life.' Mark how the apostle fetches his ground and foundation from baptism, not as past, but as having present operation and force. If thou hast faith to overcome thy corruptions now, the force and effect of baptism is in thee ; it hath a regard for the time to come, as well as for the time past ; therefore say. Lord, thou hast appointed thy blessed sacraments, to be a seal for the confirma- tion of thy promises which thou hast made, that I should be washed ; Lord, I present thy word, thy own seal ; I beseech thee, make it good to my soul. So that if a man look to his baptism, and present it to the Lord, I say, it will be a more effectual means of cleansing thee, than if thou look back, and apply it only for thy present state at the time of baptism ; and so of the Lord's Supper. But I cannot go to particulars, these be the main things.