A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.

CAP. VII.

Of the second publike meanes of a godly life, which is the admi∣nistration of the Sacraments.

§. Sect. 1 That the Sa∣craments fur∣ther vs much in a godly life, as they are seales of the Couenant.

THe second meanes of inriching vs with all sauing graces, and strengthening vs vnto all the duties of a godly life, is the right vse of the Sacraments, Baptisme, and the Lords Sup∣per, both which doe much conduce hereunto, and each of them seuerally. For the Sacraments are seales annexed to the Couenant of grace, purposely instituted of God to strengthen and confirme our faith in this assurance, that Christ and all his benefits doe belong vnto vs; that in him, and for his righteousnesse, death, and full sa∣tisfaction vnto Gods Iustice, he hath pardoned and forgiuen vnto vs all our sinnes; that in him he is well pleased with vs, and hath giuen vnto vs iust title and interest to all his promises both of grace in this life, and glo∣ry and happinesse in the life to come; that hee will giue vnto vs his holy Spirit, and thereby write his Law in our hearts, that we shall not depart from him, mortifie our corruptions, and quicken vs vnto new obedience. Of all which benefits, the Sacraments are not onely significant signes, but al∣so infallible seales, annexed purposely by God vnto his Couenant, to as∣sure vs that he will performe all his promises, and to giue vnto vs (like a bond and conueyance legally signed and sealed) iust title and interest vn∣to all those blessings, euen before we sensibly haue them in possession and fruition. Yea not onely so, but they also serue like instruments and con∣duit pipes to conuey to the worthy receiuer, Christ, and all his benefits. Now what can more forcibly perswade, or more powerfully inable vs to the duties of a godly life, then the representing, assuring, and exhibiting of all these inestimable benefits, in the right vse of the Sacraments? What can more inflame our hearts with most feruent loue towards God, then the consideration, yea sense and feeling of this admirable loue of God towards vs, in giuing vnto vs when wee were sinners, strangers and enemies vnto him and his grace, Christ Iesus, and with him all these vn∣speakable benefits? and what more then loue can effectually mooue vs to an holy desire in all things to glorifie and please him, and to walke wor∣thy his loue in all holinesse of life and conuersation? What can more lighten the burthen of our labour, and make vs to thinke all too little which we can doe and suffer for him? Againe, the Couenant of grace

sealed vnto in the right vse of the Sacraments, doth singularly incourage vs to lay aside all doubts and difficulties, seeing God thereby assureth vs that he will, yea hath giuen vnto vs his holy Spirit, to direct and assist vs in all our good indeuours, in the mortifying of all our sinfull corruptions, seeme they neuer so strong and vnresistable, and strengthening vs to the performance of all good duties, seeme they neuer so difficult and vnplea∣sing vnto flesh & blood. And what can more effectually moue vs to go on in the worke of sanctification, then to haue such an assistant to ioyne with vs, vnto whom nothing is difficult, being infinitely able to performe and perfect whatsoeuer he vndertaketh? What can more powerfully perswade vs to doe God faithfull seruice, then to haue the pardon of our sinnes put into our owne hands, signed and sealed, so dearly purchased, and so freely giuen? then to haue the present pledges and pawnes of Gods loue and fauour, the earnest of his Spirit, the first fruits of his graces, and the con∣ueyances of our heauenly Inheritance, sealed and deliuered into our own keeping. For who would be so sluggish, as not to doe faithfull and dili∣gent seruice to such a glorious and gracious Master, for such liberall and bountifull wages? Finally, seeing in the right vse of the Sacraments wee doe really and truly, though spiritually and by faith, receiue Christ, that he may dwell in vs, and we in him, and not onely communicate with him in his diuine graces imputed by God, and applyed by faith, but also by vertue of his Spirit assisting this ordinance, haue all sanctifying and sa∣uing graces confirmed and increased in vs, whereby wee are strengthened vnto all the duties of a godly life: hence also it appeareth how much they conduce and further vs in them; seeing we haue Christ himselfe a co-wor∣ker with vs, who by his holy Spirit sustaineth the greatest part of the waight of that his easie yoke, and light burthen, which he layeth vpon vs; in which respect we may take courage vnto vs, and say with the Apostle, that we are able to doe all things, through the power of Christ which strengthen∣eth * 1.1 vs; and seeing also they cherish and increase his gifts and graces in vs, whereby we are moued and inabled to worke together with him, in all holy duties of Gods seruice, and of a godly and Christian life.

§. Sect. 2 That the Sa∣craments fur∣ther vs in god∣linesse, as they are testificati∣ons of our ser∣uice to God.

Secondly, the Sacraments are helpes vnto vs for this purpose, as they are solemne testifications of our seruice and obedience vnto God, seeing they are his liueries and cognizances whereby his seruants are knowne from others; and the sacramentall oath which he causeth all his souldiers to take, when he entertaineth them into his spirituall warfare; and the pres-money which he putteth into their hands, whereby hee obligeth and firmely bindeth them to continue constant in this warfare, and to fight couragiously vnder his colours. Now this may mooue vs to doe faithfull seruice vnto our great Lord and Master, partly because hee hath so inno∣bled vs by giuing vs entertainment into his Family, and graced vs, by let∣ting vs weare his liuery and cognizance, seeing it is a farre greater ad∣uancement and dignity, to be one of his meanest seruants, euen a doore∣keeper in his House, then to be the greatest Monarch in the earth; partly * 1.2 because he incourageth vs to faithfull and diligent seruice by such boun∣tifull wages and inestimable rewards; and partly because wee shall other∣wise dishonor our Lord and Master, & weare his liuery to do him shame;

yea also disgrace our selues, whilest we doe discouer our grosse hypocrisie, in not answering to our profession, nor performing such holy duties as are sutable vnto it; whereby we shall moue the Lord, in his iust displea∣sure, to pull our liueries ouer our eares, and so vncasing vs, to lay open our hypocrisie to our shame, and to turne vs out of doores. This may moue vs also to fight couragiously vnder his Standard, against the spirituall ene∣mies of our saluation, seeing if we slip out of his Campe, after we haue re∣ceiued this pres-money, and runne away, wee deserue death by our aposta∣sie; or if we cowardly yeeld vnto the assaults and tentations of our spiri∣tuall enemies, and doe not fight valiantly, and performe faithfull seruice to our grand-Captaine, euen vnto the death, wee are well worthy to bee cashiered, to haue no part in the glory of his victory, nor any portion of ioy in his heauenly triumph.

§. Sect. 3 That the Sa∣crament of Baptisme fur∣thereth vs in godlinesse, as we are thereby ingrafted into Christ.

More specially, the Sacrament of Baptisme is to the worthy receiuer, a notable meanes to inable vs vnto the duties of a godly life. First, because * 1.3 thereby we are sacramentally ingrafted into the body of Christ, and made members of his body spiritually by faith, as wee are outwardly initiated, entred and admitted by the Congregation, as members of the visible Church, according to that of the Apostle, Ye are all the children of God, by faith in Iesus Christ; for as many of you as haue been baptized into Christ, haue put on Christ. By vertue of which incision, we are inabled to bring forth the fruits of holinesse and righteousnesse; according to that of our Sauiour; I am the Vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same * 1.4 bringeth forth much fruit, (namely, by that life and sap of grace which hee receiueth of me) for without me ye can doe nothing. For as the Impe or Cion liueth not by his owne life, but being cast out of the stocke, dyeth and withereth; so being ingrafted into Christ, we liue not our owne life, but by vertue of that liuely sap of grace which wee receiue from him, accor∣ding to that of the Apostle; I liue, yet not I, but Christ liueth in me; and the * 1.5 life which I now liue in the flesh, I liue by the faith of the Sonne of God, who hath loued me, and giuen himselfe for me; whereas he that abideth not in the true Vine Iesus Christ, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and men gather * 1.6 them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. More specially, being baptized into Iesus Christ, we are baptized into his death and Resurre∣ction, from which such vertue and vigour is deriued vnto vs, that wee are not onely thereby washed and purged from the guilt and punishment of all our sinnes, but also inabled to mortifie and crucifie the old man, the flesh, with the sinful lusts therof, & raised from the death of sin, to holinesse and newnesse of life. The which is not onely sacramentally signified by the outward washing and sprinkling with water, which serueth to cleanse vs from our bodily defilements, by our stay, and (as it were burying) vn∣der it, representing our mortification, death and buriall to sinne, and our rising out of it, signifying our spirituall Resurrection to a new life, but al∣so certainly sealed and assured, and powerfully conueyed to the worthy receiuer, that is, to little children elected to saluation, potentially, the in∣ward vertue lying hid in them, till being come to age, it be produced into act by a liuely faith; and to those of yeeres actually, who with the out∣ward washing, apply by faith the blood of Christ for the purging of

them from the guilt, punishment and corruption of their sinnes, and the vertue of his death and Resurrection, for the killing and crucifying of the flesh with the lusts thereof, and their spirituall quickening vnto holinesse and new obedience. And hereof it is, that the Apostle draweth from our Baptisme effectuall arguments to perswade vs vnto, and worke in vs san∣ctification and holinesse of life. How shall we (saith he) that are dead to sin, liue any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of vs as were baptized into Iesus Christ, were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by Baptisme into death, that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead, by the glory of the Father; euen so we also should walke in newnesse of life; for if we haue bin planted together in the likenesse of his death, we shall be also in the likenesse of his Resurrection; Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the bo∣dy of sinne might bee destroyed, that henceforth wee should not serue sinne, &c.

§. Sect. 4 Secondly, as it is the Sacra∣ment of our new-birth.

Secondly, Baptisme doth inable vs vnto the duties of a godly life, as it is the Sacrament of our Regeneration and new-birth, not onely signify∣ing, but sealing and assuring, yea powerfully conueying to the worthy re∣ceiuer (by the inward operation of Gods Spirit, which powerfully work∣eth together with his holy ordinances) the spirituall life of grace, poten∣tially to the elect Infants, as they potentially haue faith, and by Gods De∣cree are ordained to beleeue, and actually to those who by faith apply vn∣to themselues Christ and all his benefits. By which spirituall life and quic∣kening power, they are inabled, according vnto their age and growth in Christ, to moue and worke in the duties of holinesse; euen as the child which is new-borne moueth as soone as it liueth, first more weakly, and af∣terwards more strongly, as it increaseth in age and growth, in strength and stature. Neither is the vertue of Baptisme thus quickening vs to new∣nesse of life, to be limitted and restrained to the time past, or to the pre∣sent act of administration, as though it did no more but purge and cleanse vs from the guilt and punishment of our sinnes past, and morti∣fie our originall sinne in which we were borne, or raise vs who were dead in trespasses and sinnes, vnto the first beginnings of spirituall life and mo∣tion, bringing vs (as it were) to the birth, and then vtterly leauing vs to be nursed and nourished by other meanes; but the power and vigour of it continueth and extendeth it selfe to the whole course of our liues; and is an effectuall meanes, being recalled to our minds, and afresh applyed by faith, both to assure vs of the pardon of all our sinnes, as it is the seale of the Couenant, whose vertue continueth not onely at the first act of sea∣ling, but as long as the tearme specified in the writing, and therefore must continue in full vertue for euer, to our vse, seeing it is a seale affixed to an euerlasting Couenant; and also with no lesse efficacy to mortifie daily more and more, all our sinfull corruptions, and to quicken vs vnto holi∣nesse and new obedience, when vpon any occasion wee apply vnto vs the death and Resurrection of Christ, signed and sealed vnto vs, and for our perpetuall vse in our Baptisme; and doe reuiew our spirituall euidences, and the great Charter of Gods Couenant, wherein he hath not onely gi∣uen Christ vnto vs, and all his benefits, but also hath promised and assu∣red vs that he will giue his holy Spirit to continue with vs vnto the end

of the world, who will apply vnto vs the efficacie of Christs death and re∣surrection, not onely for the pardon of our sinnes, in respect of their guilt and punishment, but also for the washing away daily of the pollution of it, and subduing of the flesh and the lusts thereof, and for our conti∣nuall quickning and further growth in all duties of holinesse and righte∣ousnesse.

§. Sect. 5 Thirdly, as it is our restipulati∣on in the Co∣uenant of grace.

Thirdly, it is a meanes to helpe vs forward in all duties of godlinesse, as it is our restipulation in the Couenant of grace, whereby hauing receiued from God the promise of the remission of our sinnes, grace and glory, we for our part promise vnto God againe, that wee will receiue Christ and all his benefits by a true and liuely faith, bringing foorth the fruits thereof in vnfained repentance and amendment of life, and that vtterly renoun∣cing Satan, the world, and our owne sinfull flesh with the lusts thereof, we will wholly dedicate and consecrate our selues, or soules and bodies to the seruice of him who is our Creatour and Redeemer. The which our vow and Couenant made vnto God, is a powerfull bond to restraine vs from all sinne, and to tye vs vnto the performance of all duties of Gods seruice, seeing if we doe not performe the condition of the Couenant be∣tweene him and vs, we can haue no true ioy and comfort in our liues, be∣cause we can haue no assurance that we haue any right and interest vnto any of Gods gracious promises made vnto vs in Iesus Christ. So often therefore as we haue occasion to call to our remembrance, our vow and promise made vnto God in baptisme, and especially when wee are present at the celebration of this holy Sacrament, and heare it againe repeated and made in the name of infants admitted vnto it; if wee conscionably labour to make a right vse of our Baptisme, it will put vs in mind of our Couenant then made with God, and renew our desires, resolution, and in∣deuour of performing that seruice in the duties of a Christian life, which we haue vowed and promised vnto him, lest wee should be found Coue∣nant-breakers, and dalliers with God, who will not bee mocked, thereby deluding our selues of all blessings and benefits, respecting this life and the life to come, which in the Couenant of grace are promised vnto vs. Where, by the way we may obserue, that those who withdraw themselues, and depart out of the assembly when the Sacrament of Baptisme is admi∣nistred, doe not only thereby sinne against God, the Church, and the party baptized (as I haue before shewed) but also are very iniurious vnto them∣selues, in that they lose a good opportunity of calling to minde and re∣newing their Couenant with God, and depriue themselues of one speci∣all helpe, whereby they might bee inabled to performe the duties of a god∣ly life.

§. Sect. 6 That the Sa∣crament of the Lords Supper is a powerfull meanes to fur∣ther vs in Chri∣stian duties, first, because thereby our Communion with Christ is confirmed, and secondly, our faith streng∣thened.

* 1.7 So likewise the Supper of the Lord, rightly celebrated and vsed, is a powerfull meanes to inable and helpe vs forward in the performance of all Christian duties. First, because thereby our vnion and Communion with Christ, is more and more strengthened and confirmed; seeing God doth offer and giue, and we take and apply vnto our selues by the hand of faith, vnder the visible signes of Bread and Wine, Christ and all his benefits; his Body crucified, and his Blood shed, that they may nourish our soules vnto euerlasting life; according to that of our Sauiour; He that eateth my flesh,

and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him; and againe, He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternall life, and I will raise him vp at the last day. Now the more that this our vnion with Christ is strengthened and confirmed, the more powerfully doe we performe all Christian duties, see∣ing from him all grace is communicated vnto vs, and all vertue and quickning life, whereby we are inabled to bring foorth the fruits of holi∣nesse and righteousnesse. Secondly, it strengtheneth vs vnto all good du∣ties, as it is a speciall meanes for the strengthening and increasing of our faith, which was the chiefe end for which it was ordained. For seeing the Lord hath not onely committed his Couenant to writing, but for the fur∣ther ratification of it, hath annexed vnto it his seales, the Sacraments, there is now no place left to doubting; seeing it is impossible that the Lord, who is Truth it selfe, and his promises, Yea, and Amen, should faile * 1.8 in any of them, being thus established and confirmed. In which regard, the Apostle calleth the Sacraments, the seales of the righteousnesse of faith, * 1.9 because as seales, amongst men, are annexed to writings, to giue them se∣curity, and better assurance of the performing of Couenants agreed on betweene them: so the Lord hath instituted his Sacraments, and annexed them to his Couenant, not to confirme it, which is so infallible, that it needes no confirmation, but to strengthen our feeble and weake faith, which needes all helpes and meanes to keepe it from wauering. Now the more our faith is confirmed, the more rich wee grow in all sauing graces, seeing it is the fountaine from which they flow, and the more we abound in all holy duties, and fruits of new obedience, seeing it is the roote from which they spring.

§. Sect. 7 Thirdly, be∣cause it is the spirituall food and nourish∣ment of our soules.

Thirdly, because the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is the spirituall food of our soules, whereby they are nourished and strengthened in life * 1.10 and grace vnto eternall saluation, euen as our bodies are nourished with corporall food, and thereby strengthened and inabled for all actions and imployments: So our Sauiour saith; My flesh is meate indeed, and my blood is drinke indeed; not to feed the body, but to comfort the soule, to pre∣serue our spirituall life, and to strengthen vs vnto all duties of holinesse and righteousnesse. And as the bodily life languisheth, and strength de∣cayeth, if we refuse our corporall nourishment; so the vigour and life of our soules cannot continue, if we feed not vpon Christ by faith; according to that vehement asseueration of our Sauiour; Verily, verily, I say vnto you, * 1.11 except ye eate the flesh of the Sonne of man, and drinke his blood, ye haue no life in you. Yea, this Supper of the Lord is not such a spare meale, and bare Com∣mons, as onely holdeth life and soule together, and doth not reuiue the spirits, increase the strength, and fit vs for action and imployment; but it is a plentifull feast for our soules, which maketh vs grow in grace and spiri∣tuall strength and stature, vnto a perfect age in Christ, making them strong and vigorous vnto all Christian duties of Gods seruice. Whereof it is, that as Baptisme is called the Sacrament of our imitation and new birth, so this of our augmentation and growth in grace; affording vnto vs plentifull nourishment for this end. For as God is so bountifull in affor∣ding man meanes for the preseruing his bodily life, that he alloweth him such things, not onely which are absolutely necessary, but also for delight,

and not bread alone to strengthen mans heart, but also wine to make it glad, and oyle, to expresse this ioy in the face and countenance. So hee hath dealt * 1.12 much more bountifully for our soules, prouiding for their nourishment a plentifull feast, the strengthening Bread of Christs Body, and the cheering and gladding Wine of his precious Blood, the delicious viands and dishes of his spirituall benefits, and sauing graces, and sweet comforts of his holy Spirit; and not onely setteth these things before vs to looke vpon, but giueth vnto vs gracious entertainement, inuiting vs to feed vpon them, not onely vnto necessity, but also to delight. So that our welcome is no lesse worth then our cheere, and (as the Spouse speaketh) his loue better * 1.13 then wine. Yea, vnto his feast he addeth a banket of spirituall comforts, im∣bracing vs with the armes of his loue, cheering vs with the consolations of his Spirit, and rauishing our soules with the sweet feelings of his fa∣uour, and such inward ioy; that being with the Spouse thus brought into * 1.14 his Banketting-house, and hauing for a Canopie ouer our heads, his Banners of loue, we are ready, as it were in an extasie to cry out, Stay me with flagons, comfort mee with Apples, for I am sicke of loue. Now how can our poore soules, being thus royally feasted and cherished at the Supper of the great King, but bee inwardly replenished with all thankfulnesse towards God for his so rich mercies? What can they doe lesse, then enter into a serious consideration with themselues, what they may returne vnto God, that they may expresse their loue and gracefulnesse, for so many and inesti∣mable fauours, without any desert vouchsafed vnto them; saying with the Prophet Dauid, What shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefits towards * 1.15 mee? And finding themselues to be vtterly vnable to make any other re∣quitall, then by remaining thankfull debters, what can they doe lesse then conclude with him, that they will take the cup of saluation, and call vpon the Name of the Lord, praising and magnifying his mercies in the sight of all the people? And finding our selues preserued in spirituall life, growne * 1.16 in Gods graces, and strengthened and fitted for all good imployment, by the royall bounty of our heauenly King, feasting vs with such cordiall restoratiues, and delicious food, aboue the price of siluer or gold, or any other corruptible thing; how vngratefull should we be, if we did not im∣ploy this strength which he hath giuen vs in the duties of his seruice, that we may glorifie his holy Name, and bee accepted of him, by doing that which is pleasing in his sight?

§. Sect. 8 Fourthly, be∣cause it is an action which we doe in re∣membrance of Christ.

Fourthly, the right vse of the Lords Supper much conduceth vnto a godly life, as it is an action which we doe in remembrance of Christ, and are thereby put in minde how much he hath done and suffered for vs. For who can lightly esteeme of any sinne, which cost Christ no lesse then the price of his precious blood? Who will not bewaile his sinnes past with bit∣ter griefe, abhorre his present corruptions with mortall hatred, and vtter∣ly renounce and forsake them for the time to come, who duly considereth that they were the nayles which fastened our Sauiour Christ to the Crosse, and that vnsupportable waight, which made his soule heauy to the death, pressed out of his innocent body that bloody sweate, and extorted from him that lamentable complaint, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Who will bee hired with the base wages of worldly vanities, to defile

his soule againe with the filth of sinne, which could no otherwise be clen∣sed and purged then by the precious blood of Iesus Christ, of infinite more value then ten thousand worlds? And so on the other side, who can bee slacke in the seruice of so gracious a Sauiour? or bee sparing in his paines to glorifie him, who for his redemption hath not spared his dearest blood? Who would not worship him in all the duties of holinesse, who hath purchased his happinesse at such a rate as men and Angels were not able to discourse? who is so vnthankfully slothfull, that will not spend his sweate in his seruice, and his teares, because he cannot spend so much as he should, and euen his blood to make vp what is wanting in them both, for him and his sake, that hath clensed our bodies and soules from the in∣grained spots, and vncurable leprosie of sinne, with his bloody sweate, yea full streames of his precious blood? Who will now grudge to doe works of mercy, or to feed the poore members of Iesus Christ with his spare food, & to clothe them with his cast apparell; which remembreth that this bread of life came downe from heauen to be our food, and hath not spared to feast vs at his owne royall Table, with his owne body and blood for our spirituall nourishment vnto eternall life? that he who is the liuely and ex∣presse Image of his Father, and equall vnto him in glory and Maiesty, dis-roabed himselfe of this glorious garment, and tooke vpon him the shape of a seruant, yea was content to be stripped of those poore clothes he had suiting with his meane condition, and whilest he bore our sinnes, to beare our shame, hanging naked vpon the Crosse, that he might clothe vs that were spiritually naked, with the rich and glorious robe of his righ∣teousnesse and obedience?

§. Sect. 9 Because there∣by we are oc∣casioned to renew our Co∣uenant with God.

Finally, the Lords Supper rightly vsed, is a notable meanes, to confirme and strengthen vs vnto all duties of a godly life; because it giueth vs occa∣sion in our preparation, (that we may come as worthy ghests to the Lords Table) to renew our Couenant with God, by renewing our faith in Christ, our repentance for our sinnes, our loue towards God and our neighbours, and all other sauing graces in vs. We renew our faith, by meditating vpon Gods infinite mercies, and Christs all-sufficient merits, the gracious and indefinite promises of the Gospell, and the truth and omnipotencie of God, whereby he is willing and able to performe them; vpon Gods Com∣mandement, inioyning vs to beleeue, and his bounty and goodnesse, in giuing his Word and Sacraments made effectuall by his Spirit, whereby he inableth vs to doe that which he commandeth. Wee renew vpon this occasion our repentance also, by bewailing our sinnes past, and strengthe∣ning our resolution, to leaue and forsake them for the time to come, and to serue God in the contrary duties of holinesse and righteousnesse. And seeing our great wants and imperfections in all Gods graces and Christi∣an duties, we promise and vow in our selues, and vnto God, that wee will carefully vse all good meanes whereby we may attaine vnto them in more perfection. So likewise after the receiuing of this Sacrament, wee take oc∣casion to examine our selues, how we haue profited and increased in spiri∣tuall strength and growth of grace, by being feasted at the Lords Table with this food of our soules; and being mindfull of our promises made be∣fore we come to the Lords Table, we become more diligent in vsing the

meanes whereby Gods graces may be perfited in vs, and we strengthened vnto all good duties. And that we may not appeare to be Couenant-brea∣kers with God, and to haue receiued his grace in vaine, we are made more carefull and conscionable in looking to all our wayes, for the auoyding of all those sinnes wherewith formerly we haue beene ouertaken, and practi∣zing those duties which we haue heretofore neglected, and so to carry our selues in the whole course of our liues, that we may at all times and in all things please the Lord, whom we haue found and felt so gracious vnto vs. In all which respects, who doth not plainly see, that the often resorting to the Lords Table, if we come vnto it duely prepared, is a most effectuall meanes to inrich vs with all Gods graces, and to strengthen vs vnto all good duties of a godly life? And therefore they are most iniurious vnto their owne soules, who seldome come to this spirituall feast, and take euery slight occasion of defrauding them of their due food, seeing heereby they make them droope in their spirituall life, to languish and waxe faint in all sauing grace, and to become vtterly, both vnable and vnwilling, to performe vnto God any sincere and cheerefull seruice.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Phil. 4. 13.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 84. 10.
• * 1.3

  Gal. 3. 26, 27.
• * 1.4

  Iob. 15. 5.
• * 1.5

  Gal. 2. 20.
• * 1.6

  Ioh. 15. 6.
• * 1.7

  Ioh. 6. 54, 56.
• * 1.8

  2. Cor. 1. 20.
• * 1.9

  Rom. 4. 11.
• * 1.10

  Ioh. 6. 55.
• * 1.11

  Ioh. 6. 53.
• * 1.12

  Psa. 104. 14. & 115.
• * 1.13

  Cant. 1. 2.
• * 1.14

  Cant. 2. 4, 5, 6.
• * 1.15

  Ps. 116. 12, 13.
• * 1.16

  1. Pet. 1. 18.