The Communicant's Companion (continued)
resolution in every thing to submit to the conduct and government of that grace, shall be enabled to do all things through Christ strengthening them.
3. Let a lively faith here descend to particulars, and receive this grace with application to the various occurrences of the Christian life. When I go about any duty of solemn worship, I find I am not sufficient of myself for it, not so much as to think one good thought of myself, much less such a chain of good thoughts as is necessary to an acceptable prayer, to the profitable reading and hearing of the word, and the right sanctification of the Lord's day; but all our sufficiency for these services is of God, and of his grace.
That grace I here receive according to the promise, and will always go forth, and go on in the strength of it.
When an opportunity offers itself of doing good to others, to their bodies, by relieving their necessities, or contributing any way to their comfort and support; or to their souls by seasonable advice, instruction, reproof, or other good discourse; we must depend on this grace for ability to do it prudently, faithfully, and successfully, and so as to be accepted of God in it. I find I want wisdom for these and such like services, and for the ordering of all my affairs; and whither shall I go for it but to wisdom's feasts, whose preparations are not only good for food, and pleasant to the eye, but greatly to be desired to make one wise? Here therefore I receive "Christ Jesus the Lord, as made of God unto me wisdom;" wisdom dwelling with prudence; wisdom to understand my way, that wisdom in which every doubtful case is profitable to direct. Having many a time prayed Solomon's prayer, for a wise and understanding heart, I here receive the sealed grant in answer to it: "wisdom and knowledge are given thee," so much as shall be sufficient for thee in thy place and station, to guide thee in glorifying God, so that thou mayest not come short of enjoying him.
When we are assaulted with temptations to sin, we find how weak and ineffectual our resistance has often been; here, therefore, we receive grace to fortify us against all those assaults, that we may not be foiled and overcome by them. All that in this sacrament list themselves under the banner of the Captain of our salvation, and engage themselves as his faithful soldiers in a holy war against the world, the flesh, and the devil, may here be furnished with the whole armor of God, and that power of his might, as it is called, wherewith they shall be able to stand and withstand in the evil day. I now receive from God and his grace, strength against such a sin that has oft prevailed over me, such temptation that has oft been too hard for me; "now, therefore, O God, strengthen my hands." Through God I shall do valiantly.
When we are burdened with affliction, we find it hard to bear up: we faint in the day of adversity, which is a sign our strength is small; we grieve too much, and are full of fears in a day of trouble, our hearts many a time are ready to fail us; hither therefore we come to receive grace sufficient for our support under the calamities of this present time, that, whatever we lose, we may not lose our comfort, and whatever we suffer we may not sink;—grace to enable us, whatever happens, to keep possession of our own souls, by keeping up our hope and joy in God; that, when flesh and heart fail, we may find God the strength of our heart; and if he be so, "as our day is, so shall our strength be." Such assurances are here given to all believers of God's presence with them in all their afflictions, and of the concurrence of all for their good, that, being thus encouraged, they have all the reason in the world to say, Welcome the will of God; nothing can come amiss.
We know not how we may be called on to bear our testimony to the truths and ways of God in suffering for righteousness' sake; we are bid to count