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THe highest of all Gods ser∣vices are his Sacraments; which therefore require the most eminent acts of our Devotion. The Sacrament of initiation, which in the first planting of a Church is administred onely to those of riper age and under∣standing, cals for all possible re∣verence, and religious addresses
of the receivers; wherein the Primitive times were punctu∣ally observant, both for sub∣stance, and ceremony; now, in a setled and perpetuated Church, in which the vertue of the Co∣venant descends from the parent to the child, there seems to be no use of our preparatory dire∣ctions: Onely, it is fit that our Devotion should call our eyes back, to what we have done in our infancy, and whereto we are ever obliged; that our full age may carefully endeavour to make our word good, and may put us in mind of our sinfull fai∣lings. That other Sacra∣ment of our spirituall nou∣rishment, which our Saviour (as his farewell) left us for a blessed memoriall of his death and passi∣on, can never be celebrated with enough Devotion. Farre be it from us to come to this feast of our God, in our common gar∣ments; the soul must be trimmed
up, if we would be meet guests for the Almighty. The great Master of the feast will neither abide us to come naked, nor ill clad: Away therefore, first with the old beastly rags of our won∣ted corruptions: Due examina∣tion comes in first, and through∣ly searches the soul, and findes out all the secret nastiness, and defilements that it hides within it; and by the aid of true peni∣tence, strips it of all those loath∣some clouts, wherewith it was polluted; Sin may not be cloa∣thed upon with grace; Joshuahs * 1.1 filthy garments must be pluckt off, ere he can be capable of pre∣cious robes: Here may be no place for our sinfull lusts, for our covetous desires, for our naturall infidelity, for our malicious pur∣poses, for any of our unhallowed thoughts; The soul clearly de∣vested of these and all other known corruptions, must in the next placae in stead thereof, be
furnished with such graces and holy predispositions, as may fit it for so heavenly a work. A∣mongst the graces requisite, Faith justly challengeth the first place, as that which is both most emi∣nent, and most necessarily pre∣supposed to the profitable receit of this Sacrament; for whereas the main end of this blessed banquet is the strengthening of our faith, how should that re∣ceive strength, which hath not beeing? to deliver these sacred viands to an unbeleever, is to put meat into the mouth of a dead man: Now therefore must the heart raise up it self to new acts of beleeving, and must lay faster hold on Christ, and bring him closer to the soul; more strongly applying to it self, the infinite merits of his most per∣fect obedience, and of his bitter death and passion; and erecting it self to a desire and expectati∣on of a more vigorous: and
lively apprehension of it's omni∣potent Redeemer. Neither can this faith be either dead, or so∣litary; but is still really opera∣tive, and attended (as with o∣ther graces, so) especially with a serious repentance; whose won∣derfull power is, to undoe our former sins, and to mold the heart and life to a better obe∣dience: A grace so necessary, that the want of it (as in ex∣tream corruption of the sto∣mach) turns the wholesom food of the soul into poyson; An im∣penitent man therefore com∣ming to Gods board, is so far from benefiting himself, as that he eats his own judgement: Stand off from this holy table, all ye that have not made your peace with your God; or that har∣bour any known sin in your bo∣some; not to eat is uncomfor∣table, but to eat in such a state is deadly; yet rest not in this plea, that ye cannot come because ye
are unreconciled; but (as ye love your souls) be reconciled that you may come.
Another Grace necessarily pre-required is charity to our brethren, and readinesse to for∣give; For this is a communion, as with Christ the head, so with all the members of his mysticall body: This is the true Love∣feast of God our Saviour, where∣in we professe our selves insepa∣rably united both to him & his; If there be more hearts then one at Gods table, he will not own them; These holy ele∣ments give us an Embleme of our selves: This bread is made up of many grains, incorpora∣ted into one masse; and this wine is the confluent juice of many clusters; neither doe we partake of severall loaves, or va∣riety of liquors, but all eat of one bread, and drink of one cup. Here is then no place for ran∣cour and malice; none for se∣cret
grudgings and heart-burn∣ings; Therefore, if thou bring thy * 1.2 gift to the Altar, and there re∣membrest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift, and goe thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Neither may we doe as those two emulous Commanders of Greece did, who resolved to leave their spight behinde them at mount Athos, and to take it up again in their return; here must be an absolute, and free ac∣quitting of all the back-recko∣nings of our unkindnesse, that we may receive the God of peace into a clear bosome.
Zachar. 3. ••
Mat. 5. 23.