556 SACRAMENTAL DISCOURSES.
no understanding : whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle." God loves a pliable spirit, that upon every look of his eye will be guided to a duty. But those who are like horses and mules, that must be held with a strong rein, that will not be turned till God puts great strength to it, are possessed with such a frame of spirit as God ap- proves not. You are left at liberty to choose a time; but observe any intimation of providence that may direct to that time.
(3.) Be sure to improve surprisals ivith gracious dispositions ; I mean, in the approach of solemn ordinances. Sometimes the soul is surprised with a gracious disposition, as in Cant. vi. 12, " Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib." " I knew it not," saith the church, " I was not aware of it ; but I found my soul in a special willing manner drawn forth to communion with Christ." Is God pleased at any time to give us such gracious sur- prisals, with a holy disposition to be dealing with him? — it will be the best season ; let it not be omitted.
These things will a little direct us in the determination of the time for preparation; which is left unto our own liberty.
4. Take care that the time designed and allotted does neither too much intrench upon the occasions of the outivard man, nor upon the weakness of the inward man. If it doth, they will be too hard for us. I confess, in this general observation which professors are fallen into, and that custom which is in the observation of duties, there is little need to give this rule. But we are not to accommodate our rule unto our corruptions, but unto our duties: and so there is a double rule in Scripture fortifies this rule. The one is that great rule of our Saviour, that " God will have mercy, and not sacrifice." Where these duties of observing sacrifices do sensibly intrench upon duties of mercy, God doth not require it; which hath a great regard even unto our outward occasions. And the other rule is this, — that bodily exercise profits little. When we assign so long a time as wearies out our spirits, and observe the time because of the time, it is bodily exercise, when the vigour of our spirits is gone ; which is a sacrifice God delights not in. As Jacob told Esau, if the cattle were driven beyond their pace they would die ; so we find by experience, that though with strong resolu- tions we may engage unto duties in such a manner as may intrench upon these outward occasions or those weaknesses, they will return, and be too hard for us, and instead of getting ground, they will drive us off from ours: so that there is prudence to be required therein.
5. Let not the time allotted he so short as to be unmeet for the going through with the duty effectually. Men may be ready to turn their private prayers into a few ejaculations, and going in or out of a room may serve them for preparation for the most solemn ordinance. Thi6 hath lost us the power, the glory, the beauty of our profession.
SACRAMENTAL DISCOURSES. 557
Never was profession held up to more glory and beauty, than when persons were most exact in their preparation for the duties of their profession ; nothing will serve their turn, but their souls having real and suitable converse with God as unto the duty that lies before them.
6. The time of preparation is to be extended and made more solemn upon extraordinary occasions. The intervention of extraordi- nary occasions must add a solemnity to the time of preparation, if we intend to walk with God in a due manner. These extraordinary occasions may be referred to three heads : — particular sins ; particular mercies; particular duties: —
(1.) Is there an inter veniency upon the conscience of any special sin, that either the soul hath been really overtaken with, or that God is pleased to set home afresh upon the spirit ?— there is then an addition to be made unto the time of our preparation, to bring things to that issue between God and our souls that we may attend upon the ordinance, to hearken what God the Lord will now speak ; and then he will speak peace. This is the first, principal, extraordinary interveniency that must make an addition to the time of preparation for this ordinance.
(2.) The interveniences of mercies. The ordinance hath the na- ture of a thank-offering, and is the great medium or means of our returning praise unto God that we can make use of in this world. And then are we truly thankful for a temporal mercy, when it en- gages our hearts to thank God for Christ, by whom all mercies are blessed to us. Hath God cast in any special mercy ? — add unto the special preparation, that the heart may be fit to bless God for him who is the fountain and cause of all mercies.
(3.) Special duties require the like. For it being the solemn time of our renewing covenant with God, we stand in need of a renewal of strength from God, if we intend to perform special duties; and in our renewing covenant with God, we receive that especial strength for these special duties.