I I would recommend to all of you to remember the fights ye have feen this day of the love of Christ that paffeth knowledge. And the influence it should have on you, is to think, How I fhall requite it? The queftion that all of you should be putting up to God at this time on the back of a communion, is that, Pfal. cxi. 12. "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me?" How fhall I walk suitable to this love? I am jealous I be unthankful. O bafe wretch, wilt thou forget his goodness? O what shall I render unto the Lord? I have David's anfwer and refolves to that queftion in that pfalm, which I hope are yours. What faith David? 1. He faith, verfe 1. "I will love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice, and my fupplication." The world and fin fhall never have my love any more. "Whom have I in heaven but thee?" 2. "Return unto God as your reft," verse 7. O your fouls center in God as your portion and reft: be well fatisfied and contented herewith. let 3. Refolve to "walk before God in the land of the living," ver. 9. Quicken your foul to the performance of every known duty, and abftain from every known fin. Walk always under the fenfe of divine omnifcience. 4. Refolve to " call upon the name of the Lord,” ver. 13. As foon as ye can get occafion, O retire for folemn prayer, and continue in prayer. O what shall we pray for now? Can God give any more than what he hath given in the facrament? Anf. Pray that God may fulfill all the promises, and bestow all the privileges and bleflings he hath fealed to you in this ordinance. So does David, 1 Chron. xvii. 23. "Now, therefore, Lord, let the things that thou haft fpoken concerning thy fervant, and concerning his houfe, be eftablished for ever, and do as thou haft said." Also pray that God would enable you to keep your promise to God, and keep the fenfe of your vows and obligation on your fpirits, and preferve your present frame, motions, and refolutions, as David prays, 1 Chron. xxix. 18. Lord God of Abraham, Ifaac, and of Ifrael, our fathers keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts thoughts of the heart of thy people." Satan has a defign upon you; you had need to pray. 5. Render yourfelves wholly to God, as his fervants, ver. 16. " O Lord, truly I am thy fervant." He repeats, "I am thy fervant;" I give up myself, foul, body, time, Atrength, talents, means, &c. all to ferve thee. 6. Offer the facrifice of thankfgiving," ver. 17. Say with David to your foul, "Blefs the Lord, O my foul, and all that is within me blefs his holy name." 1. Admire God's condefcenfion to thee who art a worm, that he should give thee angel's food; and tho' thou art a vile worm, that fhould be fent to hell with devils, art yet fet at the table with his children. 26 Let the high praises of God be in your mouths, as Deut. viii. 10. "When thou haft eaten and art full, then thou fhalt blefs the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Allude to it, blefs him for a Goshen on earth, that ye have a land of light, and valley of vifion to dwell in, and blefs him for the profpect of a Canaan above. The fong above is, "To him that loved us, and washed us from our fins in his blood," Rev. i. 5. O begin this fong here. 3. Be encouraged to go on cheerfully in your Chriftian course, and go about all duties with pleasure. 7. Pay your vows, as in verfe 18. Ye have vowed against fwearing, drinking, fabbath-breaking, neglect of prayer, &c. difhonour not God, by proving perfidious to him. 8. Set the Lord always before you as your Judge, your Pattern, your Witnefs, and your Portion, Pfal. xvi. 8. 9. Watch against Satan's wiles and temptations. I. Long for heaven to be with Chrift. 11. Guard against divifions, love one another as brethren, and banish malice. Mind Chrift praying on the crofs for his ene mies. 12. Be more charitable to the poor. CONTENTS Sacramental Actions Concerning the Sacramental Words Obligations upon us to partake of the Lord's Supper Concerning the Examination of our Wants and Ne- Page. 5 17 46 66 70 74 81 92 99 108 112 137 143 Concerning the Examination of our Ends and Defigns 145 Concerning the Examination of our Graces and Qua Concerning the Duties requifite after Partaking Directions to poor Believers who mourn under God's 188 193 198 202 214 221 235 245 257 AN APPENDIX: I. Containing An Example of a Young Communicant's fecret Tranfacting and Covenanting with God, before his Approach to the Lord's Table. III. Some Meditations and Materials for Prayer, pro- IV. An Action Sermon and Sacramental Speeches, Page 200 303 AN EXAMPLE DE PLAIN CATECHISING UPON THE ASSEMBLY'S SHORTER CATECHISM: HUMBLY OFFERED As an Help for Inftructing the YOUNG and IGNORANT in the Knowledge of the Principles and Duties of the Christian Religion, with the GROUNDS thereof, and that in a very comprehenfive Manner: WITH A PREFACE, Briefly demonftrating the TRUTH of the CHRISTIAN REVE LATION, and the Unreafonableness of INFIDELITY. BY THE REV. MR JOHN WILLISON, |
