The saints communion with God, and Gods communion with them in ordinances.: As it was delivered in severall sermons / by that faithfull servant of Christ, Mr. William Strong, late minister at Westminster.

1. That they may be affe∣cted with desertions. Saith David, Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. If he had never seen the face of God, he would never have been troubled for Gods hiding of his face. The Saints of God, if they had not some tasts of communion with him, they would never be troubled for his withdrawment from them. 2. That they may not be de∣jected under them: David, he

calls to minde his song that he made in the night, and the remembrance of that was ex∣ceeding sweet, and exceeding pleasant unto him; the re∣membrance of former com∣munions that he had with God, bore up his spirit, when many troubles were up∣on him.

8. End why God will have communion with his people, it is to put them out of tast with all the pleasures of sin and the creature, Phil. 4.7. And he peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds, &c. 'Tis usuall, when any epithite of God is added to a thing, it signifies and notes the excellency of it: it's the peace of God, a peace that comes from God, a peace that brings to God, a peace

that makes us live like God, in such sweetnesse, and peace, and contentment. Now this peace, it puts a mans mouth out of tast of any of the sweet nesses and of the pleasures of sin, Thy loving kindnesse is bet••e, then life, saith David. And, Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better than Wine, saith the Church. There is nothing puts us out of tast with the pleasures of sin so much, as a soules tasting of communion with God: when a soule hath drank the old wine, it cares not for drinking of new, because the old was better. The loving kindnesse of God in communion with him, is that which takes off the pallate from tasting sweet∣nesse any where else. The more any soule is brought in∣to

communion with God, the more doth it disrelish the plea∣sures of sin.

9. End that God aims at in giving the Soule Coumunion with himself, is, that it might aggravate their sins in the day of Repentance: Sins against Communion are great aggra∣vations. Solomon departed from the Lord when hee had appeared to him twice, which migh tily aggravated his sin. 1 Kings 11.9. God kept an ex∣act account of his manifesta∣tions, that he might aggravate Solomons sins in the day of his Repentance. O when a soule comes to fit down and consi∣der, I have not onely sinned against so many mercies of God, and so long tired out the Patience of God, but I have sinned against Communion

with God, Jesus Christ took me into his banquetting house, and his banner over me was love, He stay'd me with flagons, he com∣forted me with Apples, his left hand was under my head, and his right hand did imbrace me; and yet I finned my self out of the sweet imbraces of Christ. O how doth this melt the heart when it comes to mourn for sin, the sense of the sweetness of his communion that he had with God, puts double tears into his eyes, and double sighs into his spirit. There's no such aggravation of sin as commu∣nion with God.

10. Therefore God hath communion and fellowship with his people, therefore doth he meet them that he might blesse them, Exod. 20.24. Communion times are

times when all requests are granted. King Ahasuerus grants the request of Hester, when he comes to sit with her at a ban∣quet of wine. The greatest blessing that ever the Saints do enjoy, it is in times of communion with God: O then, how are their conscien∣ces filled with peace! O how are their hearts filled with joy! God makes large distri∣butions of spirituall blessings, when he admits the soul into communion with himselfe: What blessing is there that the soule may not have, when it hath communion with God in Ordinances?

11. End of Gods commu∣nion with his people here, is, that his fellowship here may be the first fruits of glory here∣after. When God will bestow

any great mercy upon a man, he gives him a tast of it be∣fore hand, that he may set him upon more earnest and eager longings after it. Gods people they have the first fruits of all their mercies in this world, and the full crop of them all in another world. When the soule is made to tast of the sweetnesse of com∣munion with God, O how it longs to be with God, how many prayers doth the soule make to God, that he would tak it home to himselfe, that it might ever lye in his arms, and ever dwell in his pre∣sence! I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, which is best of all: What was the ground that raised up such desires in Paul to be with Christ? It was because here he had tasted of

the sweetnesse of Christ; and if Christ in this world was so sweet, if a Christ on earth was so sweet, then a Christ in hea∣ven would be much more sweet. And on this ground the Church calls to Christ, Make hast my beloved, and be thou like a Roe or young Hart upon the mountain of spices, Cant. 8.14. And in Revel. 22. when Christ had told the Church, that he would return again unto her to have more communion with her; she cries out, Amen, even so come Lord Jesus: She puts her prayers to Christs promises, and saith, Amen Lord, so let it be.

Application.

THere are three Uses I shal make of this point.

1. Information: 2. Exami∣nation: 3. Exhortation.

1. For Information. [Use 1] Is it so that the main end of God in the establishing and setting up of Ordinances, is communion with himselfe? Hence I draw these six inferences.

1. Behold here the infinite delight that God takes in the society of all his Saints, that he would set up all Ordinan∣ces for this end, to have com∣munion with them, and that they might have communion with him; that he might have the enjoyment of them, and that they might come to the participation of him. 'Tis a wonder of mercy, and of

condescensions, that the most High should stoop to such low persons: He that had infinite blessednesse in the society, and in the enjoyment of himselfe, he that took so great a delight in his Son, and in the society of the Angells, that he should take any delight to impart himselfe unto poor sinfull dust and ashes, to men, nay, to wormes, and no men. When men set up variety of means for the accomplishment of their ends, 'tis a great signe, that their hearts are very much set upon them. Consi∣der what variety of Ordinan∣ces God hath set up, for the communication of himselfe unto believers.

2. Behold here, what should be the main end of the Saints, in the use of all Ordinances;

namely, communion, and fel∣lowship with God: look what was Gods end in appointing Ordinances, that should be our end in using of Ordinan∣ces: In praying we should seek the face of God, and in hea∣ring, we should hear the voice of God, hear what God the Lord will say; and in medi∣tating, my meditation of thee shall be sweet: and in confe∣rence, Psal. 145.11. They shall talk of the glory of thy Kingdome, and speak of all thy power. In re∣ceiving the Lords Supper, what should be a Saints grea∣test delight in comming to that spirituall Banquet? It should be meeting with Christ in that Ordinance. We often∣times lose all the blessings of the means, because we pro∣pound not to our selves com∣munion

with God as the end. Many soules that come to Ser∣mons, Christ may say to them as he said to those, What went ye out into the Wildernesse to see? a Reed shaken with the winde? You are to do as the wise Virgins did, to go forth and meet the Brides groom, and to trim your Lamps for the meeting of him. If communi∣on be not your end in Ordi∣nances, Ordinances will be nothing available to you; you will lose all the Ordinances that you enjoy, except you meet with Christ in them.

3. Is communion with God, the great end of God in Or∣dinances? Hence then learn this, that when commu∣nion with God in Ordi∣nances is not enjoyed, then the ultimate end of all the

Ordinances is frustrated; you lose the end for which all Preaching, and Praying, and Hearing was ordained; while communion is missed, while you have no communion with God, Ordinances never at∣tain their appointed ends. How sad is it to use the means, and never attain the end, and yet this is the case of thousands of soules, that live under choice administrations, and yet are never brought into a state of communion; they are so far from enjoying commu∣nion with God, that they know not what it is to have communion with God, though it be declared to them. How many are there that lye a long time at the pool, and yet ne∣ver see any Angell come down to stirre the water; that lie by

the sides of the pool, but are never put into the pool? O how sad is it, that such excel∣lent Ordinances should lose their ends, and that we should so long have the enjoyment of them, and yet never be bettered by them; that we should never attain those ends for which they were or∣dained.

4. Is it so, that the main end of God in establishing and setting up of Ordinances, is to enjoy communion with himselfe? then let every soul take heed of throwing down of Ordinances, let every soul be exceeding tender of the appointments of God, lest they throw down the means of their communion with God, and live without. God in the world: Though God

hath not tyed himselfe to Or∣dinances, yet he hath tyed us to Ordinances; and in mine own experience, I have known many men grow worse, but never any man grew better by the neglecting of Ordinan∣ces. There is no communion to be had with God but in Ordinances; and therefore if you go from Ordinances, you will be fetched home by a smarting rod, if you belong to God. VVhat ever you do, be very tender of Gospell-Ordi∣nances: For if he that despised Moses his Law dyed without mer∣cy under two or three witnesses; of how much sorer panishment shall they be thought worthy, that tram∣ple under foot the blood of the cove∣nant, wherewith they were sanctifi∣ed, and count it an unholy thing? O it's sad to see how many

soules there are, that cast dirt upon those Ordinances, that are the Charriots in which Jesus Christ rides, to take up soules into communion with himselfe.

5. If communion be the main end of God in setting up of Ordinances; Behold then whence it is, and why it is, that the Saints of God are so much troubled, when they want the sensible enjoy∣ment of communion with God: they know the truth of this truth, the Ordinance in its end is lost to them. When a child goes out to seek his Father, and cannot finde him, 'tis a great grief to him: Be∣lievers go out in Gospell-Or∣dinances to seek after God, and when they cannot finde him, it must needs be very

grievous to their spirits, Cant. 3.1. by night upon my bed I sought him whom my soul loved, but I found him not: Divine en∣deavours do not alwaies meet with Divine successes; shee sought him, I, but she found him not. So many a soule comes to meet with God in an Ordinance, but God is with∣drawn from them, they can∣not see his face though they come to seek his face, and the sorest affliction that a child of God lies under, or can lie un∣der in this world, is the with∣drawment of God from Ordi∣nances, when he thinks to find God in them, he is departed from them; they shall go with their Flocks and their Herds to seek after the Lord, but they shall not find him, for he hath withdrawn himself.

6. Is it the main end of God in setting up Ordinances, that his Saints might have Com∣munion with him? Then learn hence the ground why the Saints set so high a price upon, and are so often found in Di∣vine Ordinances, 'tis because they there meet with Com∣munion with God; now the meetings with God is the ground of their so often ap∣pearings before him: Alas, 'tis not their meeting together that they aim at, but their meeting with God that they looke after, if God be want∣ing, all is wanting, if God be there, nothing is wanting. Ordinances alas they can do nothing without God, they are but painted swords in dead mens hands, they can∣not raise the heart when it is

fallen, they cannot refresh the heart when it is sad, they can∣not enlighten the soul when there is a cloud upon it, they cannot draw the heart to Hea∣ven when it is earthly, they cannot resolve any doubts that are upon their spirits: no, these things are too great, and too good for Ordinances to do, 'tis onely the God of the Ordinances that can do all all these things. Alas, if there were nothing but the very Ordinance, believers would never be so often in the use of them, if there were nothing but a little bread and wine at a Sacrament, who would sit down at it with such great de∣light? If there were nothing but praying in prayer, who would lose any time about it? if there were nothing but

hearing in hearing, if there was not the power of God going along with the voice of man, what is it? And therefore when you see the Saints and people of God so often imploying themselves about spirituall Ordinances; when you see them begin the day with prayer, and end the day with thanksgivings; when you see them fixing their souls to meditate upon God, you may well conclude there is more then the bare Ordi∣nance; nay, in every Ordi∣nance remember 'tis not for the Ordinance sake, but for Communion with God which was the main end why God set up Ordinances.

[Use 2] For Examination, how you may know whether you have had any fellowship

and Communion with God or no.

This is a serious question, and deserves more then a slight answer. Communion with God is a thing of more concernment, and of greater moment then most men are a ware of, and we use to try things that will not be taken from us without tryall. Con∣sider three things:

• 1. God hath scales to weigh all your graces.
• 2. He hath touchstones to try all your graces.
• 3. He hath Fanns to sift all your graces.

Rev. 3.2. thou hast a name to live, and art dead; And then you use to try those things where there may be credit. Sometimes men take that for fellowship with God in Ordi∣nances

which is not; and sometimes mendeny that for fellowship with God in Ordi∣nances: that is;

First, Some men take that for fellowship with God in Ordinances which is not. There are two things that look like fellowshp and com∣munion with God in Ordi∣nances that are not.

1. There are some imper∣fect approches of God unto the soules of unregenerate men in ordinances, when there is no reciprocall approaches of the spirits of unregenerate men to God.

2. When their spirits are onely passive and not a∣ctive, God calls upon them to seek his face, but their hearts never answer, Lord thy face will I seek, as the heart of the righteous do.

Secondly, some men deny that for Communion with God in Ordinances which is Common.

Take these two distinctions.

1. Dist. Communion with God in Ordinances is some∣times secret, and sometimes more manifest: First, it is secret: God doth not alwaies speak peace with a loud voice, he sometimes speaks peace with a still voice, Cant. 5.4, 5. there Communion with God is more secret, My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. I rose up to open to my beloved, and my hands drop∣ped with mirrhe, and my fingers with sweet smelling mirrhe upon the handles of the locks. Second∣ly, It is more manifest: sometimes they are in hidden

rooms, in secret chambers to∣gether. At other times they are walking in the open galleries.

2. Distinction: There's a Sanctifying Communion, and there's a ravishing Communi∣on: The sanctifying-Commu∣nion may be where the ravish∣ing Communion may not be, Ps. 51.8. make me to of hear joy and gladnesse, &c. David hee had a sanctifying Communi∣on before, but now he beggs for a ravishing Communion with God that would raise him up to a rejoycing in God.

Now you may know whe∣ther you have fellowship with God in Ordinances or no by three things.

• 1. By somthing Before duty.
• 2. By somthing In duty.
• 3. By somthing After duty.

First, by something before

duty. If you have Communi∣on with God, you may know it by these three Characters.

1. If God before raise up thy heart to make fellowship thy end in duty. O shew us the Fa∣ther and it sufficeth us, that was the Disciples end in their prayer to Jesus Christ; shew us the Father, nothing but the Father would suffice them: So when thou comest to Ordinances, and sayest, O that I might see the goings of God my King in his Sanctua∣ry! O that I might be able to see the prints and footsteps of God in such and such an Or∣dinance! God will never de∣ceive the expectations of his people; These expectations they are raised by him, & they shal be fulfilled by him, Jer. 29.11. I know the thoughts that I

think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end: They looked for peace, I, saith God, an Olive branch shall be sent them; they expect my pre∣sence, they shall find my pre∣sence. If God before hand raise up thy heart to make fellow∣ship thy end in all thy Acti∣ons, then thou maist certainly conclude thou shalt have fel∣lowship with him.

2. If God before hand put thy heart into a suitable frame to the duty, then thou maist assure thy soule thou shalt have fellowship with God in the duty; if thou findest those graces exercised by thee, the duty calls for from thee. When God called Moses into the Mount, he was sure to have communion with God:

Why? because God gave him such dispositions, as fitted him for communion. When once the heart is put into commu∣nion frame, it shall never go without it: if thy shooes be put off, and the place on which thou standest be holy ground, never fear, but thou shalt enjoy communion with the holy God. There is a re∣markable passage the Psalmist hath, Psal. 10.17. expresly pointing at this, that God doth first put the spirits of his people in a frame, suitable to communion with himselfe: And 2. he commeth unto them with a blessing, enclin∣ing his ear to hear and ac∣cept them favourably, or that whensoever the Lord doth put the hearts of his people into a prepared frame, then he

doth incline his ear and hear them: the words are those, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 tachin libam, (there is the first) thou wilt fit, dispose, direct, or prepare their heart; or thou wilt cause their heart to prepare it selfe, as it were; for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 tachin is the future hiph., from the root 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 chun, he prepared or fitted, &c. and then observe what follow∣eth: VVhen once thou hast thus fitted and prepared their heart, then 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 takshib ozn••kah, Thou wilt prepare thy ear to hear; or thou wilt cause thy ear to be heard, and to be attentive in hearing their suits and supplications: for the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 takshib is also future hiph. from the root 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 kashab inkal, he was attentive, or he heard with attention. So that God never

puts his people into a prepa∣red posture for communion, but he gives them communi∣on. VVhen duties answer to our hearts, and our hearts answer to our duties: This is the workmanship of God, to frame the heart for duty, as well as to cut out duty for the heart. And hence the Psalmist knowing this, that it is the or∣der and work of God; first, to prepare the heart for commu∣nion, and then to incline his own ear to hear his people, and to entertain communion with them in Ordinances; he doth observe this order, and follow it with a practise suitable to it in his daily ad∣dresses to God, that is thus: wheresoever he doth finde his heart put into a fitted and prepared frame for —

communion with God, he doth not let it dye again, and go out of frame by a sloathfull neglect of such a disposition of heart: No, but he immedi∣ately sets himselfe to duty, to worship God, and to the acts of his Worship, in his Ordi∣nances, as he expresseth him∣self in another Psalm; viz. Psal. 57.7. thus: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nac••on libbi elohim, nachon ••ibbi••, (there is the first, he finds his heart fitted and pre∣pared for communion with God) My heart (saith he) is fitted or prepared (for the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 nachon is the pas∣sive conjugation niphal, signi∣fying, he is fitted or prepared, from the same root in the for∣mer Text 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 chun, he fitted, or prepared in the active; and so it is rather to be rendred,

prepared or fitted, then fixed, thus; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 libbi, my heart, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 nachon, is fitted or prepared) O God, my heart is fitted or prepared (for communion with thee.) Well, what fol∣lowes? He presently sets him∣selfe upon that great duty and Ordinance of communion with God, in the praising of his Name, and singing forth those praises, as in the words immediately following in the same verse thus: My heart is pre∣pared, O God, my heart is prepared: (therefore) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ashi∣dah va-azameral, I will sing and give praise.

3. When the heart is carried forth in its utmost strength after duty, then thou shalt enjoy communion with God Dan. 9.3.22. compared. Daniel he sets his face towards Jeru∣salem,

and the Text saith, that at the beginning, the Angel of th Lord came and touched him: O Daniel, greatly beloved of the Lord, thy prayer is heard. When the soule puts forth his grea∣test strength in duty, then doth it enjoy most commu∣nion with God in duty: The more active thou art in im∣ploying thy selfe about this work, the more in-comes from God will there be in this work. That's the first parti∣cular.

Secondly, in the duty: If there be ravishing discoveries the heart knowes it, God is his own witnesse in the Spi∣rit. I, but if there be but an humbling fellowship, though there be not ravishing disco∣veries, 'tis an evidence. Now the dispositions of the Soul

in the duty which speaks com∣munion with God, are these.

1. It is a very humble fel∣lowship, it laies a man very low in his own eyes, and rai∣seth God very high. How ready are we then to cry with Peter, Lord depart from me, I am a sinfull man. The heart will be humble, and the presence of God will be dreadfull.

2. The appearance of grace will be powerfull, it will set the heart against every sin. When Moses came from the mount of communion, how zealous was he against the sin of Idolatry?

3. There will be an answe∣ring of the heart, for it is an echoing fellowship. The Lord saith, thou art my people, and they will say, thou art my God: If he say, seek ye my

face, they will answer, thy face Lord will I seek.

4. It will be a heating fel∣lowship. The Disciples said, Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us? O it will be a heating fellowship, it will kindle fresh flames of love towards Jesus Christ, it will make your soules burn to∣wards heaven.

Thirdly, after the duty, you may know whether you have fellowship by these par∣ticulars.

1. It will leave a sweet re∣membrance behind it, Psalm 42.4. When I remembered these things, I powre out my soul in me; for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy day. The soul can never

forget those times of commu∣nion that it had with God, nor those bosome embraces, nor those sweet kisses that it had from the lips of Christ: These mercies are too great to be forgotten by a soule that doth enjoy communion with God.

2. It leaves an instinct in the soule after farther fellow∣ship with God. If a man fall into sin but once, it leaves a pronenesse in a man to fall into it again: So 't is in communion with God, if a man enjoy communion with God but once, it leaves a greater prone∣nesse and aptitude in the man to look after communion with God again. A soule that hath had communion and fellow∣ship with Christ, O how doth it long after further fel∣lowship

with him.

3. It leaves in a man a love to those Ordinances wherein it had communion with God: O how is the soul in love with those prayers which brought Christ to it, and in love with that Word wherein Jesus Christ spake to his soul: How is it taken with every Ordi∣nance, wherein the influences of Heaven are distilled and drop upon them.

4. It leaves an impression upon the soule of the holinesse of God. The holinesse of God is of a transforming nature, Acts 4.15. They took knowledge of them that they had been with Je∣sus. They saw that they had enjoyed communion with God, why? there were such beams of the Majesty, and the beauty, and the glory of God

left upon them that they that saw them might easily know, that they had seen God, and had enjoyed communion with him: and 'tis said of Stephen, they beheld his face as the face of an Angel, when he was before the Councell.

5. If you have fellowship & communion with God, you wil have acquaintance with God, and familiarity with him, Job 22.21. Acquaint thy selfe with God, &c. A soule cannot enjoy communion with a stranger, till he be familiarized into his acquaintance. Communion speaks the choicest familiarity between persons If your souls have had communion and fel∣lowship with God, then you are brought into acquaintance with God.

6. If your soules have en∣joyed

communion and fel∣lowship with God, you will be sure to keep God company, and walk with God, let others walk which way they please. It is said of Enoch, to his praise, that he walked with God; and God spake to Abraham, Walk before me, and be thou perfect.

7. A soul that hath com∣munion and fellowship with God in Ordinances, is sensible of all. Gods withdrawments, he knowes when God comes in, and when God goes out at an Ordinance. How many persons are there that never minde either the accesses or recesses of Christ or the Spi∣rit, when they come in to ap∣pear before God in Ordinances.

8. There will be a sweet a∣greement between Christ and the soul: can two walk toge∣ther,

except they be agreed in what path they shall go, and what steps they shall take? that which was Gods way shall be the soules way, God will not go one way and let the soul go an other, then it can have no Communion; But when God and the soul tread both in the same steps, there's a sweet agreement, and de∣lightful harmony between them.

9. A soul that hath Com∣munion with God, highly pri∣zeth the presence of God, and the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ; If thy presence go not a∣long with us (saith Moses) carry us not from hence: and nothing gives the soul content, if it hath lost Communion, till it be re∣stor'd again, it can bear any thing better then a breach in

its Communion, no loads lie so heavy upon it as a departed Saviour: how doth the soule lament after the Lord, when it cannot find the Lord? it is rest∣lesse till it come to lie in it's beloveds bosome.

Lastly, A soul that hath fel∣lowship & Communion with God, it cuts off all other contr∣ary fellowships that are incon∣sistent with it; cuts off all sinful & carnal fellowship. They wil have no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darknesse that have fellowship & commu¦nion with the Father of lights.

[Use 3] For Exhortation to presse you to look after communion with God:

There are three things that wee are to look after to attain to communion with God.

• 1. We must have a right path.

• 2. We must have a staffe of strength and power.
• 3. Wee must have true ascents and fellowships.

First, wee must have a right path, and that is Jesus Christ, there is no coming to the Fa∣ther but by the Son, J••h. 14.6. I am the way, &c. There is a choice way to God, but there are no choice of waies to come to God; passe by one you pass by all: Heb. 7.19. For the Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did: by ••he which we draw nigh unto God: what is that better hope? It is Jesus Christ: hope depends so much on him for the best things, that he is called our better hope, by which with assurance wee may draw nigh to God; that's the Apostles incouragement, Heb. 10.19.

by the b••ood of Iesus we have bold∣nesse to enter into th holiest.

Secondly, wee must have a staffe of strength and pow∣er, and that's the spirit of God, Iude 20 Verse, praying in the Holy-Ghost. As it's the office of Christ to interceed with God for us, so it's the office of the spirit to interceed in us; the prayers that go up to God, come down from God. There are two burdens that are too heavy for us to bear;

First, the burden of sins.

Secondly, the burden of suits.

Thirdly, we must have true ascents and footsteps, else wee shall never come up to Com∣munion with God.

There are six severall ascents and foot steps by which wee

ascend to the Throne of God for the enjoyment of com∣munion with him.

1. The sence of self-indigen∣cy: wee never enjoy commu∣nion with the fulnesse of God, till we see the Emptinesse that is in our selves, a full soule loaths the hony Come, though it have never so much sweet∣nesse in it, the whole never prizeth the Physitians. Medi¦cines: sence of want draws the Creature downe on Earth, and then leads it up to Hea∣ven.

2. Sence of our own utter inability to supply our own necessities, Psal. 73.25, 26. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee: my flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my

portion for ever. If there be any thing that you expect sa∣tisfaction from besides God, you will never come to com∣munion with him: you will then looke after fellowship with him, when you see all your happinesse in him. The.

3. Footstep to Communion with God is sence of our own unworthinesse, that God should give supplies unto us: when Jacob was brought so nigh into fellowship and Com∣munion with God, when hee was strugling with God, and would not let him go till hee had got a blessing, then he l••t go all opinion of worth in himself to receive a blessing, Gen. 32.10. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies. There is no drawing nigh to the

most high God without low thoughts of our selves: the proud look disdainfully upon God, and meet with disdain from him. The

4. Footstep to Communion is the clear knowledge and full acknowledgement of the power and sufficiency of God to help us, and to fill us, Heb. 11.6. hee that cometh to God must believe that God is, and that hee is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him: what's that? It lies in two things.

First, that God needs no Creature.

Secondly, that he is enough to supply the needs of every Creature.

5. Foostep to communion is, to believe that the Lord stands ready to embrace us

in all our commings to him, and to give us all the good that we come for; to believe that he is ready to supply us in every good we seek from him: we honour God most when we expect the greatest incomes of mercy from him. He hath not said to the seed of Jacob, seek ye me 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 thou, for a vain, void, and empty nothing. The greatnesse of God gives him power, and his goodnesse gives him will to supply us: therefore we should believe without doubting his rea∣dinesse to supply us, Heb. 10.22. Let us draw near in full assurance, &c. In what assu∣rance must we come? Even in this, that we shall be an∣swered in whatsoever we ask. As Faith must be mingled with every word of precept

that Godspeaks to us, so it must be mingled with every word of prayer that we speak to him, James 1.5, 6. If any lack wisdome, let them aske it of God, that giveth to all men lib rally, and upbraideth not.

6. Footstep of our Com∣munion with God, is bold¦nesse in all our approaches to him: As God opens his heart freely, so we must open our mouths boldly. Holy boldnesse is the highest act of Faith, and the neerest step to God; when the soul is got thus high, it is upon the top of Jacobs Ladder, Heb. 4.16. Let us come boldly to the Throne of grace, &c. Boldnesse is a grace, that is most suitable to the Throne of grace. Let me speak with reverence,

we are gotten to Gods side, when we come with bold∣nesse, grace can step no high∣er; the next degree of ascent is to be swallowed up in glo∣ry. In every Ordinance we have a vision of God by faith; and in every duty, we should come to God with boldnesse and joy. To conclude all: Would you have Commu∣nion with God in Ordinan¦ces? Then let me commend to you these five things.

First, there must be a be∣ing neer to God, before there can be a drawing neer to God; you must labour after Reconciliation, before ever you can enjoy Com∣munion; while you are e∣nemies, you will be stran∣gers. Till God be brought neer to you, you can never

draw neer to God: We are first brought neer to God by the blood of Christ, be∣fore ever we have Com∣munion with God in Ordi∣nances.

Secondly, He that desires Communion with God in Ordinances, must look up∣on God as present, and not as absent from him, without this, we can never enjoy Communion with him. Rev. 4.6. there's a high Throne, which is nothing else but a representation of God to his people in Gospell-Ordi∣nances, there they behold his glory, and enjoy Com∣munion with him. He that desires Communion with God in Ordinances, must look upon God as present; first, in Majesty; secondly,

in jealousie; thirdly; in au∣thority; fourthly, in puri∣ty.

3. If you would have Com∣munion with God in Ordi∣nances, then in every Ordi∣nance make Communion with God your end. The hy∣pocrisie, or the sincerity of every mans spirit is mostly seen in his end. Theres a dou∣ble end that every man should propose to himselfe in com∣ming to Ordinances, and when this end is unproposed, Communion with God is un-enjoyed. First, they should do them as acts of o∣bedience in reference to Gods command: Secondly, they should use them as means of Communion, in reference to Gods promise. In every Or∣dinance you should make

Communion with God your end, and use the Ordinance as a means for the attainment of that end, thus; I am going to such a duty Lord, and this is my end, to enjoy thee in it. I am going to pray, and I would have the enjoyment of God in prayer. This is the end you should propound, when you go about every Ordinance.

4. Get divine and spiri∣tuall apprehensions, if ever you would enjoy Commu∣nion; for according to our apprehensions of God, such will be our enjoyments of him, and such will be our Communions with him. Some persons have to do with God in Ordinances, that never think what that God is with whom they have to do. The

only way to raise up our Com∣munion with God, is, to raise up our apprehension of him: if we know him but a little, we can never enjoy much society and communion with him.

5. Make use of former ex∣periences, if you would enjoy communion with God: the experience that men have had of the sweetnesse of God, will stirre up their hearts to long more and more after commu∣nion with God. He that hath tasted of the sweetnesse of God, cannot sit down satis∣fied, except he meet with God in the Ordinance.