The Communicant's Companion
seasonable when we are coming to an ordinance, which is instituted both for the honor of the Redeemer, and for the comfort of the redeemed.
Beside the matter of joy and praise with which we are furnished in our attendance on the ordinance, even our approach to it is such an honor, such a favor, as obliges us to "come before his presence with singing, and even to enter into his gates with thanksgiving."—" With gladness and rejoicing shall the royal bride be brought." Those that in their preparations for the ordinance have been "sowing in tears, may not only come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them," but go with rejoicing to fetch their sheaves, to meet the ark, "lifting up their heads with joy, knowing that their redemption," and the sealing of them to the day of redemption, draws nigh. Let those that are of a sorrowful spirit hearken to this; cheer up and be comforted; "This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep." "It is the day that the Lord hath made, and we must rejoice and be glad in it;" and the joy of the Lord will be our strength, and oil to our wheels. All things considered, thou hast a great deal more reason than Haman had, "to go in merrily with the king, to the banquet of wine."
Two things may justly be matter of our rejoicing and thanksgiving in our approach to this ordinance:
1. That God has put such a price as this in our hands to get wisdom; that such an ordinance as this was instituted for our spiritual nourishment and growth in grace; that it is transmitted down to us, is administered among us, and we are invited to it. This is a token for good, in which we have reason to rejoice, and be very thankful for, that our lot is not cast either among those who are strangers to the gospel, and so have not this ordinance at all, or among those who are enemies to the gospel, and have it wretchedly corrupted, and turned into an idolatrous service; but that Wisdom's table is