believing soul to the day of redemption.* The presence of God accompanies his institution, so that what the minister declares in the name and by the authority of Christ, according to the word he will ratify, second and confirm in heaven; † and how many drooping heirs of promise hath God raised, satisfied, and encouraged about their title to covenant mercies by this ordinance ? O the advantage that many have got thereby! therefore wait on God in this ordinance. O look not upon it as one of the weak and beggarly elements, as some ignorantly and blasphemously call all ordinances. Make them not a matter of ceremony and formality, but prepare for them and attend on them conscientiously, and you shall see the delightful effects thereof. 3. Improve the seals of the covenant, both baptism and the Lord's supper. Circumcision is called the seal of the righteousness of faith, because this sweet evangelical privilege, or marrow of the gospel covenant was signified, sealed and exhibited in that ordinance. O Christians, understand and improve the encouraging ordinance of baptism, it would be a spring of sweetness and satisfaction to your doubting, fainting spirits; and then, for the Lord's supper, herein Christ's body and blood are particularly applied to us, to become our own; yea, verily and really, though not corporeally, but spiritually, exhibited to every worthy receiver; || and hence, resulteth spiritual joy, solace and satisfaction, as in the passover in Hezekiah's days, they kept the feast with gladness and there was joy in Jerusalem.” § But be sure you examine yourselves, prepare your hearts, excite your graces, understand the covenant, 66 * Isaiah lix. 21. Gal. iii. 2, 3. Ephes. iv. 30. + Isaiah xliv. 26. Matt. xviii. 18. Rom. iv. 11. 1 Cor. x. 16, and xi. 24. § 2 Chron. xxx. 21-26. apply these blessed mysteries to your own souls, open your hearts by meditation that the King of glory, may come in, stir up your souls to God, and he will draw near to you; you will see Christ crucified before you,* you will enjoy a blessed feast of fat things, that will nourish and comfort your pining souls; here you will find pleasant apples and sweet flagons of the wine of his special love to refresh you and support your hearts in the day of your affliction, and sad desertion; and if you cannot enjoy that reviving ordinance, yet reflect upon your former enjoyments, meditate upon your crucified Redeemer, and represent his bruised body and effused blood to yourselves, and in due time you will cry out with Thomas, "my Lord and my God." 4. Frequent the throne of grace in the exercise of prayer; say as David, Psalm xxxv. 3, "O Lord, say unto my soul, I am thy salvation." God hath promised to make his people joyful in the house, or duty, of prayer. † Saints have found by experience the sweet and satisfying fruit of serious wrestling with God. Thus David prays, Psalm xxxi. 16, "make thy face to shine upon thy servant," and verse 21, he breaks out in thankfulness for an answer, "Blessed be the Lord, for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city." Yea, Christ himself commands us to ask that we may receive that our joy may be full, John xvi. 24, and is not a clear evidence of our interest in the covenant, and the mercies of it worth asking? therefore, plead with God; tell him thou preferrest covenant mercies above worldly enjoyments, and that thou wouldst rather have those mercies made sure to thee than to have a lease of thy life, for his "lovingkindness is better than life." Tell him the joy of the Lord is thy strength, and how much it will tend to thy * Gal. iii. 1. + Isaiah lvi. 7. Psalm lxiii. 3. furtherance in his service, if he will lift up the light of his countenance on thy soul; tell him he hath granted comfortable assurance to many souls, and thou needest it as well as they; thou art an humble suitor at the gates of mercy, and art resolved not to let him go, except he bless thee; yet once again, tell him, it is no more than he hath promised in his word, and Christ hath purchased by his blood; and, therefore, it is no arrogancy for thee to crave or expect, and when thou hast been pleading, conclude with that poor man in the gospel, "Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief,"* and he will say," according to thy faith be it unto thee."† 5. Walk closely with God. As that is one of the mercies of the covenant, so it is an evidence of our interest in the covenant, and it is a notable means of obtaining and maintaining assurance; Psalm 1. 23, "to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God." Close walkers have many choice discoveries. O the peace that such have as keep God's commandments! O the sweet refreshment which re"The work of righte sults from a lively obedience! ousness is peace, the effect of righteousness is quietness and assurance for ever."-Isa. xxxii. 17. If you keep constantly in the fear of God, he will discover to you the secrets of his covenant, he will cause the sun of righteousness to arise upon you; if you keep his commandments, you shall have a comforter, and he will manifest himself to you; || but if you grow careless, and remiss in your walking, and step aside to any gross sin, no wonder if you have little assurance of these covenant mercies; for these do separate betwixt you and your God, you and comfort. This obscured David's interest Psalm cxix. 165. Mark ix. 24. || Psalm xxv. 14. + Matt. ix. 29. in God, and his inconsistent acts cost him many a tear, and sad thoughts of heart, which made him cry out of broken bones, and bitterly groan out his sad complaints for the want of the joy of God's salvation; yea, for one act of sloth and security, the church lost the sweet sense of divine love.-Cant. v. 6. O beware of sin, it is like a filthy vapour rising out of the soul, that causeth a mist, and such a thick mist between God and us, as will keep the light of his countenance from shining upon us-it begets jealousies, suspicions and uncomfortable fears in the soul whether God be ours or not, and, therefore, beware of sin, and walk humbly with God. * 6. Be much in self-observation. Some have an interest in the covenant, but know it not for want of selfdiscovery; therefore, it were a good work to consider both your hearts and ways; indeed, the heart is deceitful, but you should have the candle of the word in the hand of conscience, and deal impartially with your hearts; seek into the obscure corners thereof, and it is possible, in some nook or other, you will find a covenant mercy. Canst thou not say as Peter in sincerity, "thou knowest that I love thee!" or with Hezekiah, that you have walked before God in uprightness? † Dost thou not find in thy heart a care to please God, a fear to offend him, a desire to enjoy him, a hatred of sin, a love to the saints, poverty of spirit, a despising of the world, and low thoughts of thy best duties? Well now, a sound search, and clear discovery of the frame of your spirits will be an admirable way to confirm to yourselves your interest in these covenant mercies, and so proving yourselves, your rejoicing and satisfaction shall be from yourselves. If thou canst but John xxi. 17. Gal. vi. 4. Prov. xiv 14. + Isaiah xxxviii. 3. find one saving grace in thy heart in truth, thou mayest gather some evidence thence; God's children have taken comfort from their sincere love to the brethren, when they have scarce discerned any other grace, and so have assured their hearts before God that they were "of the truth," see 1 John iii. 18, 19; there is never a good work done, if it be right for principle, rule and end, but it will help us to a discovery of our state, that our work is "wrought in God," John iii. 21; therefore, let us be willing to come to the light, and try our hearts and acts; so may we attain assurance of our interest. 66 7. Reflect upon, and recollect your former experience. This was David's usual method, to assure his heart of the truth of grace, and his interest in God, Psalm lxxvii. 10, "I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High ;" also the "days of old ;' hence "his songs in the night." This course took † Job, and many other saints; and the apostle bids the believing Hebrews "call to remembrance the former days, in which, after they were illuminated, they endured a great fight of afflictions, Heb. x. 32, and this was in order to the recovery of God's smiles, and the sense of his love. You will say, what am I better for remembering what goodness was in me in time past, which I am now fallen from and have lost? I answer, much every way, chiefly because these mercies of the covenant are sure mercies, and though they may be obscured, yet they are never abolished, "where God loves once, he loves to the end."-John xiii. 1. The bud and blossom of comfort may be nipped, but the root of the matter and incorruptible seed remain in the heart; || a man in a swoon hath life though possibly * Psalm cxliii. 5, 6. † Psalm lxxvii. 6. Job xxiii. 11, 12, Job xix. 28. 1 Pet. i. 23. |