,transcribed from the #ahaj8 ,r4 ,thomas edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,,the ,glorious ,law-,giver1 ,,and ,,the ,,obedient ,,subject3 ,,being ,,the ,,substance ,,of ,a ,,sermon1 ,on the ,,duty of all ,,believers ,,to ,,commemorate ,,the ,,death ,,of ,,the ,,redeemer1 ,,in ,,the ,,lord',s ,,supper4 ,,intending ,,to ,,set ,,forth ,the ,authority of ,christ2 the ,nature of the ,ordinance2 ,and a ,,description of the ,,persons who have a ,right to partake of the same4 99 99 99 99 99 ,by ,j4 ,,church1 ,,minister ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 99 99 99 99 99 8,yet have ,i set my ,king upon my holy ,hill of ,zion40 8,obey his ,voice2 my ,name is in him40 99 99 99 99 99 ,,southwark3 ,,printed ,,by ,r4 ,,thomas1 ,no4 #aa1 ,,red ,,lion ,,street1 ,,borough4 ,sold at the ,obelisk ,chapel4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,,sermon4 #a ,,corinthians1 ,chap4 xi1 ,ver4 #bc1 to the ,end4 ,for ,i have received of the ,lord that which also ,i delivered unto you1 c4 c4 ,,our most adorable ,redeemer is set forth in the sacred ,scriptures1 as the glorious ,mediator of a better ,testament4 ,in this character1 he sustains the three-fold office in his ,church1 of ,prophet1 ,priest1 and ,king--from everlasting he was set up to be future man--to ransom the elect1 honor the divine ,law1 and glorify all the sublime ,attributes of ,god4 ,as ,man-,mediator he was set up2 for as the eternal ,jehovah1 he could not be higher than he was2 ,god having chosen his elect in him1 accepted them in him--he appointed him to be all to them2 do all for them2 and finally bring them to glory--hence1 he says1 ,thy throne1 ,o ,god1 is for ever ever4 ,the ,lord ,jesus having engaged in the eternal ,covenant1 to be our ,surety1 ,righteousness1 ,advocate1 and ,friend1 immediately after the breach of the ,covenant of ,works1 he graciously revealed himself in his lovely offices2 and1 as a ,prophet1 he foretold his own incarnation1 threatened ,satan1 and pardoned our first ,parents4 ,as a ,prophet1 he preached by the ministry of ,noah1 to those souls now in the prison of hell--was typified by all the pious prophets that appeared till his coming in the flesh1 when he gave ocular demonstration that he was that ,prophet that should come into the world--he carries on1 and still executes this office in the hearts of his people1 by his ,word and ,spirit--enlightening their minds1 and leading them into all truth2 removing the veil of ignorance1 and delivering his people from all damnable heresies--hence he says1 ,i am the ,lord thy ,god1 which teacheth thee to profit1 and leadeth thee in the way in which thou shouldest go--this is done by the holy ,spirit's inhabitation4 ,as our ,prophet1 he is our light1 and will be so for ever--for the ,lord shall be thy everlasting light1 thy ,god thy glory--though this office will be carried on in heaven different to what it is on earth4 ,his character1 as ,mediator1 includes his ,priestly ,office2 and this is of vast importance to us--this was shadowed forth under the old ,law1 by the calling and qualification of the ,high ,priests1 particularly ,aaron1 though ,christ was not of the same tribe with him1 nor made a ,priest after that ,law1 but of one more ancient1 and which continues to this day1 and will for ever1 after the order of ,melchisedec--ever blessing his people1 and his blessing on ,mount ,zion is life for evermore4 ,yet ,aaron was a figure of the ,high ,priest of our ,profession1 in his separation from his brethren2 in the holy unction1 when installed into office2 in the several vestments with which he was cloathed2 his mitre1 embroidered coat1 ephod1 and the girdle of it2 with the breast-plate of ,judgment--but more so in the sacrifices he offered up2 all which held forth the ,redeemer1 who1 through the eternal ,spirit1 offered up himself to ,god2 being himself the ,altar1 ,priest1 and ,sacrifice4 ,he is still carrying on this office in the ,church1 and for his people1 by presenting his sacred ,person1 and meritorious ,work1 to the ,father2 making intercession1 not as he did on earth1 with strong cries and tears to ,god--not as supplicating an angry ,judge2 but by shewing himself1 as having done1 as our ,surety1 all that ,law and ,justice could require--he is now our ,advocate on high1 offering up our prayers and praises1 which become acceptable to ,god1 through the sweet incense of his ,mediation4 ,our spiritual holiness is derived from him as our ,priest4 ,we are anointed by virtue of union with him--the same divine anointing that was on him1 as the ,head1 runs down1 even to the skirts of his cloathing1 on the meanest1 lowest1 and weakest of his saints2 and it is the business of our faith to make use of him in every season of guilt and bondage4 ,we feel the liberty of ,god's children1 as we are led by the ,spirit to ,jesus1 as our atoning and interceding ,priest1 putting away sin2 whilst the ,spirit bears testimony to the conscience1 that the blood of ,christ cleaneth from all sin4 ,another office of vast importance to the ,church of ,god1 is the ,kingly ,authority of our ,redeemer2 this he sustains1 and this he exercises--as ,god he is ,king by nature1 and has a kingdom1 common to the three divine ,persons--hence he is called ,lord of ,hosts1 or armies2 the six armies--two in heaven1 elect angels and spirits of just men--two on earth1 the ,church and the nations of the world--two in hell1 fallen angels and reprobate characters2 and it is a most awful consideration1 that all who despise his ,law1 ,gospel1 and ,grace1 dying in such a state1 he will make them feel his kingly power1 in breaking them to pieces4--,psalm ii4 ,this office is exercised in the ,church of ,god2 the ,father himself says1 ,yet have ,i set my ,king upon my holy hill of ,zion3 the learned tell us it reads in the ,hebrew1 ,i have anointed my ,king upon my holy hill of ,zion--in allusion to their anointing kings at their inauguration--anointed with the oil of gladness1 above their fellows4--,in the ,old ,testament he was prophesied of and typified by pious kings4--,the ,church of ,god is ,christ's kingdom1 and the members of it his subjects3 the exercise of this office is first in the hearts of his saints1 in rescuing them from the power of the ,devil1 by his almighty grace--the ,king of ,glory opens the doors of their hearts2 first destroys the ,devil's armour1 even the veil of ignorance1 7in which he trusts7 then turns ,satan out for ever4 ,he makes us willing in the day of his power1 to come out of the world2 to chuse him as our better part2 to love him1 to serve him all our days1 in the newness of the ,spirit1 and not in the oldness of the ,letter--the throne he sits on is our hearts1 and this will be for ever--thy throne1 ,o ,god1 is for ever and ever4 ,he displays this office in our defence2 for upon all the glory shall be a defence from our enemies2 from the dominion and damning power of sin2 maintaining our graces1 continuing and preserving us in the faith1 keeps us from falling1 finally1 and preserves us to his heavenly kingdom and glory4--,this office is executed1 externally1 by the ,word and ,ordinances4 ,christ1 as ,king1 is ,law-,giver in his own ,church2 the ,new ,testament is our ,rule of ,conduct4 ,as ,ministers1 we are not to send our hearers1 nor go ourselves to ,moses1 for a ,rule of ,conduct2 the preceptive parts of the ,new ,testament are quite sufficient2 and where their is faith in the soul1 embracing the righteousness of ,jesus1 and the love of ,god shed abroad in the heart1 such are no ,antinomians2 for the righteousness of the holy and righteous ,law of ,god1 is fulfilled in them who walk not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit--this is the end of the ,law1 and the glory of the ,gospel2 and while we serve in the newness of the ,spirit1 we obey the external ,precepts of the ,law1 as far as they extend to us1 as creatures of ,god's power4 ,we have no spiritual ,king but ,jesus2 he is the ,head of the ,church1 and the ,master of his ,house4 ,his laws are spiritual1 as they relate to spiritual ,subjects--,i will put my laws in their hearts1 and in their minds will ,i write them4 ,these are1 first1 ,faith1 which is the ,work of the ,holy ,ghost1 and centers in the ,person and ,work of ,jesus4 ,the other is ,love--a new commandment ,i give unto you1 that ye love one another4 ,this love stands distinguished from that mentioned in the old ,covenant2 that respects all mankind1 as our fellow creatures--this is the law of ,love2 a new commandment ,christ has given to us4 ,as ,king he has external ,laws1 which must be obeyed in ,faith and ,love1 called the ,obedience of ,faith1 and serving in the newness of the ,spirit2 and ,i am very confident that wherever ,christ has displayed his ,prophetic office in teaching1 and his ,priestly office in anointing the soul1 that all such characters accept ,christ as their ,king1 and say1 from the heart1 ,thine are we1 ,lord1 and on thy side1 thou blessed ,king ,zion--,o ,king1 live for ever6 and take me as ,i am--to thee ,i yield till my powers1 and consecrate all my days4 ,i remark1 then1 that there are certain external ,laws1 which ,jesus has issued out1 and ought to be attended to2 not one of them is grievous2 but this yoke is easy1 and this burden is light4 ,his commandments or ordinances are not grievous1 but pleasant2 and when our ,faith is in exercise1 our ,hope lively1 and our ,love glowing1 we find ,wisdom's ways pleasantness1 and all her paths peace4 ,i will mention some1 and enlarge only upon one1 which is the design of this ,discourse4 ,first--,the ,,ministry of the ,,word4 ,this is the glorious ,magna ,charta1 exhibiting the loveliness of the ,saviour1 the wisdom of ,god1 the freeness of grace1 the high privileges of all the elect4 ,i mention this because some proud professors have written 7and many have imbibed their error7 that every ,christian is to be a ,preacher6--and if so1 ,where would be the ,hearers8 ,these men1 to me1 resemble the awful characters that conspired against ,moses and ,aaron1 who said1 all the ,lord's people are holy2 and why should not one be exalted to preach as well as another6 ,but let the above characters read their awful end1 as recorded in the #afth ,chapter of ,numbers4 ,the public ,ministry of the ,word is an ,ordinance of ,christ1 for public good2 this is plain from the ,old and ,new ,testament--,see1 then1 that ye refuse not him that speaketh from heaven in ,christ's name2 for how can they preach1 to any good purpose1 except they be sent8 ,secondly--,,prayer1 public and private2 and good men ought always to pray--,i will that men pray every where--the ,jews had their stated times for ,prayer2 in the evening1 in the morning1 and at noon-day will ,i cry unto thee4 ,in public1 by ,ministers1 or private ,christians at their ,prayer-,meetings1 which are praise-worthy1 when carried on in a spirit of modesty and humility1 with life and fervor--and here ,i would drop a ,word of ,exhortation--,let your public ,prayers be always short4 ,o that ,ministers1 ,masters1 ,heads of ,families1 and those who conduct ,prayer-,meetings1 would adopt this method4 ,god forbid that ,i should limit the ,holy ,one of ,israel to time1 in leading the minds of his people to himself1 but we can certainly distinguish between access to ,god1 and a long1 dry1 formal address to the ,deity4 ,how tedious the service when the ,minister is nearly half an hour 7and ,i have known it the case forty minutes7 in ,prayer1 and the same old1 dry1 formal address to ,god twice1 and perhaps three times a day4 ,o that ,dissenters1 ,baptists1 and ,presbyterians particularly1 were convinced how painful they render that service that ought to be perfect freedom1 to old and young4 ,the same hint ,i would drop to those who conduct ,prayer-,meetings3 ,why should one brother be so prolix as to engage a full half hour1 and sometimes more1 wounding the feelings of others that ought to be engaged1 and rendering the whole service tedious4 ,perhaps this is one reason why our ,prayer ,meetings are so often neglected--no brother ought to occupy more than one quarter of an hour1 including the hymn1 so that four might engage in one hour2 and if there are not brethren enough to carry it on1 then ,i recommend the ,scriptures to be read1 and singing of ,hymns4 ,permit me1 also to advise the ,heads of private families1 where there are servants kept1 and young people1 children1 and the various branches of that family1 to use brevity in your ,prayers2 your servants1 perhaps1 have been hard at work all day--they are tired and heavy3 ,o what a burden they must consider ,religion when you keep them on their knees full half an hour2 and ,i have known it too often forty-five minutes6 ,this renders the externals of ,religion an unpleasant service to those of your family who know not ,god4 ,contrive to make your evening services short2 and if circumstances would admit1 it would be well if this were performed before supper1 before your and their powers are almost lost in sleep1 or at least heaviness4--,try to make the very externals of ,religion pleasant--,let your ,prayers be grave1 solid1 and important2 avoid nonsense1 absurdities1 loud speaking1 or too low to be heard2 above all1 avoid levelling your speeches in ,prayer1 at individuals present2 why should any one make a throne of grace a bow to discharge arrows at others4 ,i have mentioned those things1 as they have long hurt my mind2 ,i hope it will prove a word in season1 while none will take offence at my design1 as ,i have no other end in view than the honor of ,religion4 ,thirdly--,,godly ,,conversation must be considered an ,ordinance4 ,this must be carried on with humility of course2 affection1 kindness1 and tenderness1 to those of different denominations from ourselves2 while the main subject ought to be1 the way the ,lord has led us2 the great things he has done for us2 what ideas ,god has been pleased to give us of ,jesus1 his blood and obedience2 his ,covenant2 what light to understand such a sweet text2 how he applied such a ,sermon1 such an hymn1 such a promise2 how wrought such a deliverance2 appeared in such an hour of temptation4 ,these topics would encourage one another1 comfort the feeble-minded1 exalt the ,saviour1 and exclude scandal1 wrath1 bitterness1 and a party spirit4--,come hither1 all ye that fear ,god1 ,i will tell you what he has done for my soul4--,they shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom4--,they that feared the ,lord1 spake often one to another1 remembering the end of their ,conversation1 ,jesus ,christ1 the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever6 ,fourthly--,,singing his high ,praises1 with the understanding1 and with grace in the heart4 ,this is an ,ordinance kept up in all ages of the ,church3 ,is any merry1 let him sing ,psalms4--,so another is1 ,speaking to yourselves in ,psalms and ,hymns1 and spiritual ,songs2 singing with grace in the heart to the ,lord ,jesus4 ,this ,ordinance is not a carnal one1 nor is it to be despised3 the ,quakers1 and some other characters ,i have met with1 set it aside as a carnal ,ordinance4 ,o6 what an awful insult upon the ,saviour6 who1 with his disciples1 sung an ,hymn1 and then went out to the ,mount of ,olives4 ,what an insult to set aside this ,ordinance as carnal1 seeing the ,holy ,ghost by the ,apostles ,paul and ,james1 has commanded it2 and ,john heard the ,songs of the redeemed1 in the ,church militant--and of ,saints it is said1 ,let the high ,praises of ,god be in their mouths4 ,singing is only speaking in a musical voice2 and the subject-matter of it ought to be the precious ,person of ,immanuel2 every ,hymn ought to be of him and to him--this enlivens worship2 ,god delights to hear it1 and those characters that set it aside altogether1 ,i am almost uncharitable enough to suppose they have nothing to sing about4 ,but if we have obtained ,mercy1 ,righteousness1 ,redemption1 and ,pardon1 let us sing of them--,i will sing of ,mercy ,judgement--,i will sing of thy ,righteousness all the day4 ,they sung a new ,song1 saying1 ,worthy the ,lamb that redeemed us4 ,fifthly--,,baptism is another ,ordinance3 this is evident from the commandment of our ,lord to his ,apostles3 ,go teach all nations2 baptizing them in the name of the ,three divine ,persons4 ,some learned men that have written against this ,ordinance1 tell us it is the ,baptism of the ,holy ,ghost2 and that the ,greek text reads1 into the name--and suppose it does1 this is no argument against ,water ,baptism--the ,apostles were never commanded to baptize any one with the ,holy ,ghost1 that was the immediate ,work of the ,spirit himself4 ,besides1 there is a vast difference between baptizing into the ,name and into the ,nature of ,christ2 as much difference as between plunging the ,body in ,water and the ,regeneration of the ,soul2 the one is an outward visible sign of the other1 which is the ,substance4 ,that it is a command it is evident--then he commanded them to be baptized4 ,god sent ,john to baptize1 and ,jesus sent his disciples4 ,it is an act of religious ,worship1 and it is intended to represent the ,sufferings1 ,death1 ,burial1 and ,resurrection of the ,son of ,god4 ,it is intended to lead the mind to the ,blood of ,jesus for its ,pardon2 and having this ,pardon of ,sin sealed home upon the conscience1 this is the answer of a good conscience towards ,god2 and this is the ,work of ,faith to apprehend and apply the ,death of ,jesus to the conscience1 through the operation of the ,holy ,spirit4--,i now come to the principal ,ordinance ,i mean to give my thoughts on1 and in which1 ,i believe1 all who love the ,saviour agree-- ,sixthly--,the ,,lord',s ,,supper4--#ast4 ,i shall notice the ,nature and ,design of it4 #bndly4 ,point out the ,characters who have a ,right to partake of it4 #crdly4 ,answer some of the ,objections brought against such a partaking of it1 by some of those very ,persons who have a ,right to it2 and in so doing ,i will not encourage the ,pharisee or the ,libertine1 nor bolster up an ,hypocrite with false evidences1 but descend to the lowest class of ,god's ,people2 none else have any ,right1 either to ,doctrines1 ,promises1 ,ordinances1 or ,evidences4 ,reader1 all the faults are mine1 but the truths are ,god's4 ,the ,lord's ,supper ought always to follow ,baptism--the one is preparatory to the other1 and none but those who submit to the one1 ought to be admitted to the other2 at least this was the ancient custom among the first ,christians1 who had light given them to see the ,order and ,design of them both4 ,this is called the ,body and ,blood of ,christ1 not really so1 but symbolically represented to our faith4 ,some call it the ,ordinance--so it is2 but the term is not emphatic enough--the ,scriptures call it the ,communion of the ,body and ,blood of ,christ1 because the ,people of ,god held communion with ,christ and one another4 ,it is called this ,bread1 and this ,cup of the ,lord4 ,sometimes it is expressed by the ,breaking of ,bread--a part for the whole4 ,it is called the ,lord's ,table--a ,table he has furnished1 as an emblem of ,christ4 ,it is called a ,feast--,let us keep the ,feast4 ,but the best phrase of all is the ,lord's ,supper--a ,supper1 the last ,ordinance the ,lord instituted1 and at which he has promised his gracious presence4 ,it was instituted and first eaten at night2 and was first performed by our ,lord the evening in which he was betrayed2 nor does this detract from the grandeur of the entertainment2 though it is of little consequence what part of the day it is celebrated1 yet ,i certainly give the preference to the evening1 as it is better calculated to remind us of that evening when our dear ,redeemer went out into the ,garden of sad ,gethsamane2 the night ,judas betrayed him--the night ,christ's holy soul endured the wrath of ,god--the night he sweat drops of blood--the night he struggled with1 and overcame the powers of ,hell2 'twas on that dark1 that doleful night6 ,permit me here to observe1 that this is the best time1 much better than an afternoon1 when people and ministers are generally dull in their frames4 ,the divine authority we have for keeping it is because it was instituted by ,christ himself4 ,how dare ,quakers and black ,antinomians ridicule this as a carnal ,ordinance6 it is a spiritual ,feast1 made by a spiritual ,king1 for a spiritual ,people1 to be received in a spiritual way4 ,this is peculiar to the ,gospel ,dispensation2 perhaps typified in the ,old ,testament1 by ,melchisedec1 who was the ,priest of the most high ,god1 and brought forth bread and wine to refresh ,abraham and his weary troops2 and how many times has the same ,high ,priest refreshed his dear people in his ,ordinances1 particularly in the ,supper-,scene8 ,perhaps it was perpetually represented by ,wisdom in the ,proverbs1 saying to simple souls1 called out of darkness into light1 ,come eat of my ,bread and drink of the wine which ,i have mingled4 ,and when we meet with ,christ1 and enjoy his presence in this ,ordinance1 we know what is meant by the mingled wine4 ,this ,ordinance appears a more clear command than any other1 and it is to continue till ,christ comes the second time2 and this second coming referred to1 is in his power and glory1 at the last day4 ,some have attempted to allegorize it1 and they tell us we are not to keep this ,ordinance now1 because ,christ did come the second time on the ,day of ,pentecost1 and then all ,figures and ,shadows vanished4 ,but this objection is groundless2 the ,shadows of the ,ceremonial ,law were abolished1 but all figures are not done away--,baptism is a ,figure1 and to be observed--the ,lord's ,supper is a ,figure of his ,body broken and his ,blood shed1 to take away ,sin4 ,and this is plain by the ,text1 which was received by ,paul long after the ,descent of the ,holy ,ghost on the ,day of ,pentecost--delivered to him1 and the ,holy ,spirit1 by him1 has commanded it to be kept till the end of the world4 ,the ,matter of it ,first1 ,bread1 not wafer ,cakes1 which are not properly ,bread1 nor broken1 nor fit for nourishment1 and so not a proper emblem4 ,the ,bread which we break1 is it not the ,communion of the ,body of ,christ8--not his mystical ,body1 but an emblem of his natural ,body1 which he took into union with his ,godhead4--,secondly1 ,wine4 ,this is another part of the ,ordinance2 and the ,matter of it a symbol of the ,blood of ,christ--,this is my ,blood4--,paul says1 ,the ,cup of ,blessing which we bless1 is it not the ,communion of the ,blood of ,christ8--,the ,blood of the ,new ,testament4 ,every action of the ,redeemer1 in its institution1 is worthy of our highest regard4 ,he took ,bread--this was to shew his act of taking our flesh4 ,he blessed it1 that it might be nourishing to our ,faith1 and encouraging to our ,hope4 ,he brake it--to shew he should be broken for us4 ,he gave it to his ,disciples--to shew he had given himself to his ,people1 for their eternal ,salvation4 ,the grand ,design1 then1 of this ,ordinance appears to be1 simply1 to preach ,christ more clearly and sensibly--to bring him more to their feelings or senses than hearing4 ,faith cometh by hearing--but in this ,ordinance we taste1 touch1 handle1 and have ,christ evidently set forth as crucified1 for our ,faith to apprehend4 ,it is to remind us of his ,love1 in that wonderful breaking forth of it1 in his dreadful ,sufferings1 and painful1 though victorious ,death4 ,this is designed to arrest our attention1 and call forth our love1 wonder1 admiration1 and praise--to lead us to the contemplation of his ,agony and bloody ,sweat--when in a cold night1 such was the agitation of his ,soul1 beneath the ,wrath of ,god1 the ,guilt of our ,sin1 and his ,struggles with the ,powers of ,hell1 that he exclaimed ,my ,soul 7being truly human7 is exceeding sorrowful1 even unto death4 ,o6 my ,father1 if it be possible1 let this ,cup pass from me4 ,here it was his great mind took in all the evil1 apprehended all the vileness that was in ,sin4 ,our ,sins here beset him1 stared him in the face2 encompassed him1 and he felt their burden so heavy1 he was filled with amazement and terror4 ,now it pleased the ,father to bruise him--he was exposed to the whole storm of divine ,wrath2 he was in an ,agony1 such as had never been felt before by any one--it covered his whole ,body with a bloody ,sweat1 which started from his ,veins1 came out at the ,pores1 and fell in clots on the ground6 ,the ,curse due to the ,sins of the ,elect1 seized him and fell on him4--,here it was he offered up strong cries and tears to ,god4 ,at this time his heart melted like wax1 so that he might well say1 ,i am poured out like water4 ,in the midst of this ,agony he was betrayed by an apostate ,apostle1 seized on by an insulting rabble1 led from the ,garden1 first to ,annas1 next to ,caiaphas1 and then to ,pilate2 from him to ,herod1 then back again to the ,roman ,governor4 ,here he endured the contradiction of ,sinners against himself--,he stands at ,pilate's ,bar--then uncovered1 bound to a pillar1 and flogged by merciless men--a thousand ,roman soldiers1 perhaps1 around him1 and each gave him a wound--being bound so fast to the post1 as that his arms were ready to break4 ,now the ,ploughers ploughed on his ,back1 and made long furrows--he was wounded that his flesh was made black and blue with blows--they continued their strokes till they made him bare to the very bone--then he was untied and turned1 and tied up again1 so as to wound that part which yet remained whole--then platting a crown of thorns1 drove them into his ,temples1 so that they entered into his ,skull1 so that the pain was exquisite--they put a reed or cane in his hand1 struck him with it--mocked his ,offices--put on his ,body an old coat--they smote him with their hands4--,he came forth1 wearing the purple robe and crown of thorns4 ,but1 ,o6 what an object of grief1 sorrow1 and pain6 ,he looks around him1 and exclaims1 ,beheld the ,man6 while his every step was marked with blood6 ,the rabble still cry out1 ,away with him6 ,crucify him6--,he goes forth1 and ascends the ,hill1 where his dear ,body was nailed to the cursed tree4 ,see him giving his dear ,hands1 with all the meekness and patience of a ,lamb1 to the cruel executioners1 while they1 hard as adamant1 drove the rugged iron through them4 ,his ,body was stretched on the cold ,cross1 his ,hands and ,feet bored through with iron pins1 from which the ,blood gushed out abundantly4 ,here was a fountain opened1 under the ,wrath of ,god6 ,the heavens gathering a dismal gloom1 he cried out1 ,my ,god1 my ,god6 why hast thou forsaken me8--,all these sorrows1 and infinitely more than these1 our ,jesus experienced for our ,salvation4 ,this is what is represented in the ,supper--and 8,hard is the wretch that never felt one soft affection move20 for1 8,did ere such love and sorrow meet1 or thorns compose so rich a crown80 ,and ,i must doubt the state of those who despise this ,ordinance as carnal1 seeing it is the last request of him who is ,god-,man ,mediator1 our friend1 and eternal all4 ,i now proceed1 #bndly1 ,to point out the ,characters that are incited1 for whom this was instituted1 and who have a right to partake of this ,ordinance4 ,negatively--,no ,unbeliever1 no ignorant ,persons1 who know neither ,god nor themselves2 no immoral ,character2 no ,pharisee1 ,worldling1 or ,hypocrite--these1 if they could be found out1 ought to be denied2 but the ,tares and the ,wheat must grow together till the ,harvest--the wise and foolish ,virgins will keep on till the midnight ,cry is made2 the sacred ,scriptures are the grand touch-stone--all must be weighed in these ,balances of the ,sanctuary2 ,doctrines1 ,experience1 ,ordinances1 and ,characters1 must be according to this ,word4 ,as all ,promises1 so all ,ordinances are for the ,people of ,god2 and these ,people go by various names in ,scripture--perhaps the best is that of ,children4 ,the most lovely character of ,god is that of a ,father1 and the nearest idea of relationship is that of ,children3 this term relates to the whole ,election of ,grace1 among ,jews and ,gentiles4 ,god called the ,israelites his ,children1 and the same name is given to his chosen among the ,gentiles--,more are the ,children of the ,desolate than the ,children of the married ,wife1 saith the ,lord4 ,as ,children1 and by virtue of our adoption into his family1 as the fruit of eternal love1 all the ,ordinances of the ,gospel are ours--all are yours1 and ye are ,christ's4 ,as ,children1 he has provided a ,table1 and he1 as our ,father1 loves to see us at it--we have a right to it2 to this priviledge all the ,children of ,god were appointed--having predestinated us to the adoption of ,children2 this was an eternal act4 ,but ,i shall now consider1 ,why they are so called1 which will give us to see whether we have any evidence in our souls that we are the ,children of ,god1 and have the ,spirit of ,adoption1 to say1 ,father1 ,father4 ,doubtless thou art our ,father4 ,if ,children1 then1 in the ,first place1 ,we must be born again3 this originates in his will--of his own will begat he us4 ,this ,new ,birth is the sovereign ,act of ,god--,born not of the will of the flesh1 but of ,god4 ,this ,work is solely through the ,agency of ,god the ,holy ,spirit--,except a man be born of ,water and the ,spirit1 he cannot see 7that is to say1 enjoy7 the kingdom of ,heaven4 ,the means he usually makes use of is the ,word--being born1 not of corruptible ,seed1 but the ,word of ,god4 ,sometimes through the ,ministry of ,men--,my little ,children1 for whom ,i travel in ,birth--,timothy1 my own son in the ,faith4 ,this ,new ,birth is produced by the inhabitation of the ,spirit1 he forms this new ,man at once2 our knowledge of it is progressive4 ,this work on the heart consists4 ,first1 in spiritual ,light in the mind4 ,by this we are led to see our lost state by ,nature1 and the ,suitableness of ,jesus4 ,this1 7as an evidence it is of ,god1 in a covenant way7 is always attended with humble confession1 self-abhorrence1 seeking after ,pardon in the ,atonement of ,christ2 after a better righteousness than our own1 and a sense of ,god's favour2 and wherever this ,work is begun1 such souls cannot1 will not rest till they have found that ,pearl of greatest price--their eyes are open to see the value of it4 ,secondly1 ,life--this distinguishes a ,believer from an ,hypocrite1 or a mere nominal ,professor4 ,this is ,god's ,blessing on ,mount ,zion2 and it is felt by the most lively and keen sensations of the ,burden of ,sin2 of the ,guilt1 the ,power1 and ,love of it--this arms ,death--this makes ,judgment and ,eternity formidable4 ,this ,life is felt and discovered in hungering and thirsting after ,christ1 as the ,rest of his ,saints4 ,this is to be seen and felt under the ,word--sometimes in reproving1 directing1 comforting1 instructing1 and building up4 ,this ,life is felt when ,god proclaims ,liberty to the ,soul2 for as ,life must be in the heart1 to feel ,bondage1 so we can always tell by the same in ,liberty4--,this ,new ,birth is attended with much pain1 many conflicts1 and gloomy fears--in some ,children of ,god they are lighter than others1 but all are taught by the same ,spirit1 and the work is the same in all1 in point of its ,nature4--,the ,third1 is ,love4 ,this is infused into the mind as a holy ,principle1 though it is not shed abroad till it is felt1 casting out fear1 which hath torment--this is born of ,god1 and sinneth not4 ,when ,light and ,life come into the ,soul1 ,love always attends it2 and though it is but little exercised under the ,workings of ,conviction1 yet it is in the ,heart--this is evident1 for let a ,believer be under what ,law-,work he may1 he1 at times1 feels a love to ,truth and to ,jesus1 though he cannot see his interest in him1 yet he desires to love him above all4 ,he feels a love to ,ministers of the ,truth1 though he is cut up root and branch by them1 yet he loves them4 ,he loves the ,ordinances1 and wishes he could see his right to them4 ,he loves the ,people of ,god1 thinks they all excel him1 and sometimes is envious of their felicity2 not that he would deprive them of what they enjoy1 but he is jealous lest ,god loves them and not him4 ,i might mention ,fear1 as it is a covenant ,blessing2 but wherever there is ,love1 there is a holy1 child-like1 filial ,fear4 ,these things evidence ,god is our ,father1 ,christ our ,friend1 and shew our ,right to this and every other ,ordinance4--,secondly1 by our ,food2 the ,holy ,spirit having given us spiritual ,appetites2 and having graciously provided spiritual ,food for his ,children1 he has been pleased to send his ,ministers to proclaim it2 and setting before his ,people the ,blessings of an everlasting ,covenant1 in the everlasting ,love of ,god1 and made known in an everlasting ,gospel1 by ,ministers of his own sending4 ,christ1 in the ,glories of his ,person1 in the ,love of his ,heart1 in his atoning ,sacrifice1 in his perfect ,obedience1 in his ,sufferings1 victorious ,death1 ,burial1 ,resurrection1 and ,ascension1 in his covenant ,engagements1 and lovely ,offices4 ,this is the ,food of an immortal mind1 and well calculated to satisfy it4 ,all the ,promises of the ,word1 the ,invitations1 and precious ,declarations1 are set forth as ,food for his ,children1 and we can feed upon nothing else4 ,all the ,doctrines of the ,gospel1 and all the ,perfections of ,god1 as displayed in our complete ,salvation--if these things are precious to us1 this is another evidence that we are ,children of ,god1 and have a ,right to his ,ordinances4--,thirdly1 by our ,clothing4 ,the ,obedience of ,christ to the ,law1 is a ,robe1 the best1 or first ,robe1 lined with ,love1 and hemmed round with every precious ,promise4 ,this imputed to us by the ,father1 wrought out by the ,son1 brought into the ,conscience by the ,spirit1 and apprehended by the hand of ,faith1 we are justified freely1 by this covenant ,act of ,grace4 ,this we sweetly enjoy1 when the ,spirit bears witness to our spirits--at all times we depend on it1 for our ,righteousness before ,god4 ,humility is another part of our cloathing1 as ,children--be ye clothed with ,humility4 ,zeal4--,this at times is put on2 the ,exercises of the ,graces of the ,spirit1 on their proper ,objects1 is called ,garments2 and while ,god says1 ,put on thy beautiful ,garments1 we can say1 ,i will greatly rejoice in the ,lord1 for he hath clothed me with the ,garments of his ,salvation4 ,this shews our ,right to the ,lord's ,supper4 ,fourthly1 in our ,education4 ,god the ,spirit trains us up in the way we should go4 ,hence it is written1 ,they shall be all taught of ,god4 ,we sit down at the feet of ,christ1 and learn the ,emptiness of the ,creature2 the ,vanity of the ,world2 the ,danger of a ,form of ,godliness without the ,power2 the dangerous ,tendency of false ,doctrines2 the ,devices of the ,devil2 the ,workings of the old ,man2 the perpetual ,warfare between the ,flesh and the ,spirit2 the ,difference between the ,law and the ,gospel2 a ,minister of the ,spirit and one of the mere ,letter2 what it is to forget the things that are behind1 and to be pressing on to know1 win1 and apprehend ,christ as our ,salvation1 who first loved1 choose1 and apprehended us4 ,these are some of the many ,lessons we learn in his ,school--and who teacheth like him8 ,we learn how to walk by ,faith1 live by ,faith2 to make use of ,christ1 as the whole ,armour of ,god2 and to rejoice in his eternal ,love1 and immutable ,covenant--and these evidence our ,right to the sacramental ,communion of the ,body and ,blood of ,christ4--,i might here mention the ,corrections we received--for whom the ,lord loveth he chasteneth1 and scourgeth every ,son he receiveth4 ,mark that6 they are ,sons4 ,the kind ,presents1 the ,love-,tokens1 the ,deliverances1 the ,support1 the ,protection1 ,care1 long ,suffering1 ,kindness1 ,compassion which our ,father manifests to us1 in public and in private2 the ,letters he kindly accepts from us1 while we are out at ,school2 the kind ,answers he gives2 the ,presents he sends2 the ,indulgences he grants2 all evidence he is our ,father1 and we his ,children4--,i now appeal to my own ,soul1 and to all who hear me1 ,what know we of these ,things8 ,examine yourselves2 let a ,man examine by the ,touchstone of ,god's ,word3 if the above are ,things you have felt and known1 in some degree1 then you are welcome to the ,sacrament4 ,approach the ,table1 let nothing keep you back--,obey his ,commands1 they are the ,commands of a ,father to his ,children2 of a ,king to his ,subjects2 of a ,master to his ,servants2 of a ,captain to his ,soldiers2 but1 above all1 the ,intreaty of a dying ,friend to those he loves4 ,this leads me1 #crdly4 ,to answer some ,objections--there really is no end to objecting4 ,i principally intend to answer the ,objections of those who are ,children of ,god1 who through weakness of ,judgment1 and ,faith1 and for want of clear ,evidences1 scruple about their ,right to the ,lord's ,supper4--,here ,i scarcely know how to begin1 the objections are so numerous4 ,i will answer the few following3 ,some object1 ,because1 say they1 ,i am so very bad2 ,i have such ,evils in my ,nature2 such ,thoughts in my ,heart2 such ,fears ,i shall never be saved4--,these ,objections are frivolous2 if you tarry till you are better1 you will never come2 you cannot come too bad to ,jesus--,i will in no wise cast out4 ,you must come to every ,ordinance1 and to ,jesus1 as a ,sinner1 vile and polluted4 ,away then with that legal notion1 that proud spirit6 for this ,objection arises from ,pride3 it is1 in fact1 saying1 ,if ,i was better than ,i am1 ,i should have less need of ,jesus1 and less need of his ,grace4 ,besides1 not any thing you feel can justify you in the breach of a plain ,command4--,do this in remembrance of me4 ,another objects to the ,table1 because it is not essential to ,salvation2 then ,i wonder you do not object to hearing1 to reading1 to praying--for none of these things are essential to ,salvation2 and though it is not essential to your ,salvation1 you may find it essential to the ,knowledge and ,enjoyment of it4 ,here at the table1 ,god has met with many4 ,besides this1 though not essential to ,salvation itself1 yet it is an essential ,command of the eternal ,jehovah--,do this4 ,let his ,word be obeyed whether essential to ,salvation of not4--,another ,objector says1 ,i think it best to stay till ,i know more of myself and of ,god1 and then ,i will come4 ,this is acting against yourself1 as well as the ,command3 if the ,ordinances are designed to communicate ,knowledge to the ,mind1 and you feel your need of ,knowledge1 you ought1 above every other1 to be in the use of that ,ordinance1 to gain a clearer ,knowledge--,in the keeping thy ,commands there is great reward4 ,we cannot get our ,knowledge first1 and then come to ,ordinances2 but in the ,ordinances ,god may be pleased to give you clearer ,knowledge4 ,but do you obey his voice8 ,my ,sheep hear 7obey7 my voice--,see that ye refuse not him that speaketh from ,heaven--,do this1 in remembrance of me4--,another ,objector says1 ,i think it right to wait till ,i see my interest clear4 ,this appears very feasible2 but1 upon examination1 this ,objection falls to the ground4 ,when our ,lord instituted it and gave it to his ,disciples1 they did not make this ,objection1 and say1 ,oh1 we cannot think of obeying your ,commands1 nor receiving the ,bread and ,wine at your ,hands2 because you have not yet manifested yourself clearly to us4--,we read of no such ,objection4 ,what ,philip said to the ,eunuch on another occasion1 may be applied to this--,if thou believest with all thine heart1 thou mayest4 ,if you believe on ,jesus1 in such a way as to depend on him1 look to him1 and desire nothing in comparison with him1 your ,faith is to grow exceedingly1 even up to full ,assurance4 ,by the use of ,ordinances1 then1 in order to see your ,interest clearly1 obey his divine ,word1 ,do this1 and you shall be blessed1 though not for1 yet in the deed1 ,let not ,conscience make you linger1 ,nor of ,fitness fondly dream2 ,all the fitness he requireth1 ,is to feel your need of him4 ,with respect to others1 in reference to ,church ,orders1 this must be left to the ,consciences of ,believers1 whether they are led to approve of strict or mixt ,communions2 as there are ,ministers who are faithful and experimental1 of both ,parties4--,i must pass by many other ,objections ,i have heard1 as scarcely worth attending to4 ,i close1 with answering the old ,objection1 which arises from the ,apostle's language1 ,he that eateth and drinketh unworthily1 eateth and drinketh his own damnation1 not discerning the ,lord's ,body4 ,this has frightened many1 and kept them1 through their own legality1 from the ,table4 ,as to ,worthiness1 we shall never possess it2 we may as well object to every meal1 to the light of the sun1 to every breath we draw1 as object to the ,table because of our ,unworthiness4 ,to set this ,passage in a fair light1 it appears there was a custom in the ,corinthian ,church1 of having a ,supper before the ,sacrament3 this was1 as they said1 to imitate ,christ1 who1 with his ,disciples1 first kept the ,passover ,feast1 then celebrated his own ,supper4 ,at this ,anti-,feast or ,supper1 they acted so disorderly1 exceeding the bounds of ,temperance and ,sobriety1 that in the midst of such ,cheerfulness and ,gaiety1 they were not fit to attend to the ,lord's ,supper4--,see ver4 #bj1 #ba4--;,all are worthy whom he invites1 his ,friends1 his ,beloved1 his ,children1 because they in the ,supper discern the ,lord's ,body2 but all others1 who have no ,knowledge of ,christ1 nor the ,nature of the ordinance1 are considered as unworthy1 or unfit persons2 and when this ,ordinance is dishonored by such ,characters1 they dishonor the ,saviour it holds forth1 and eat and drink1 not eternal damnation1 but condemnation to themselves2 ,god testifying his disapprobation of the ,abuse of any of his ,ordinances--this he did in the ,corinthian ,church1 7see ver4 #cj7 the ,lord chastened them who had behaved in such a disorderly manner1 with bodily infirmity2 and although he saved their ,souls in himself1 yet he actually took away some by ,death4 ,the ,unworthiness then spoken of in this ,text1 is not of the ,persons1 but of the unbecoming conduct of those who would come in a state of ,intoxication or ,gluttony1 to the ,lord's ,table2 and the ,damnation spoken of1 is ,guilt1 and of course1 the sad consequences attending it2 so that this ,objection to the ,lord's ,table must fail--only let a ,man examine himself1 whether he is a ,child of ,god--whether he is in the ,faith and the ,faith in him--a ,faith1 that works by ,love--goes out of self and embraces ,christ as his ,atonement1 ,righteousness1 and ,strength--that produces good ,works1 and animates the ,mind in the ,prospect of that ,joy which never fades away4 ,,jesus1 thy ,feast we celebrate1 ,we shew thy ,death1 we sing thy ,name1 ,till thou return1 and we shall eat ,the ,marriage ,supper of the ,lamb4 ,picture3 ,decorative graphic with ,,finis on it ,thomas1 ,printer4 ,red ,lion ,st4 ,borough4