The Communicant's Companion
2. All things are now readier than they will be shortly, if we trifle away the present season. Now the door of mercy stands open, and we are invited to come and enter; but it will shortly be shut. Now the golden sceptre is held out, and we are called to come and touch the top of it; but it will be otherwise when the days of our probation are numbered and finished, and he that now saith, "Come for a blessing," will say, "Depart with a curse."
II. We must call you to come: this is now the call, Come, come; "the Spirit saith, Come, and the bride saith, Come." Come to Christ in the first place, and then come to this ordinance. All things are ready, be not you unready.
This exhortation must be directed to three sorts of persons: 1. Those who are utterly unmeet for this ordinance, must be exhorted to qualify themselves, and then come. 2. Those who, through grace, are in some measure meet for this ordinance, must be exhorted speedily to enter themselves. 3. Those who have entered themselves, must be exhorted to be constant in their attendance upon it.
1. I must apply myself to those that, by their ignorance, profaneness, irreligion, or reigning worldliness, put a bar in their own way, and may not be admitted to this ordinance. If these lines should fall under the eye of any such, let them know I have a message to them from God, and I must deliver it, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.
Dost thou live a carnal wicked life, in the service of sin and Satan, without fear, and without God in the world? Light is come into the world, and dost thou love darkness rather, not knowing nor desiring to know the way of the Lord, and the judgment of thy God? Art thou a drunkard, a swearer, a Sabbath-breaker?— Art thou an adulterer, fornicator, or unclean person? Art thou a liar, a deceiver, a railer, or a contentious person? Art thou a mere drudge to the world, or a slave to any base lust? Doth thy own conscience tell thee thou art the man, or would it not tell thee so, if thou wouldst suffer it to deal faithfully with thee?
(1.) Know then, that thou hast no part nor lot in this matter; whilst thou continuest thus, thou art not an invited guest to this feast; the servants dare not bid thee welcome, for they know the Master will not, but will ask thee, "Friend, how earnest thou in hither? What hast thou to do to take God's covenant and the seal of it into thy mouth, seeing thou hatest instruction?"
Read that scripture, and hear God speaking to thee in it: "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to dogs." Thou art forbidden to touch these sacred things with thine unhallowed hands: for "what communion hath Christ with Belial?" If thou thrust thyself upon this ordinance, whilst thou continuest under such a character, instead of doing honor to the Lord
Jesus, thou puttest a daring affront upon him, as if he were altogether such a one as thyself; instead of deriving any true comfort to thy own soul, thou dost but aggravate thy guilt and condemnation; thy heart will be more hardened, thy conscience more seared, Satan's strong holds more fortified, and thou eatest and drinkest judgment to thyself, not discerning the Lord's body; nor puttest a difference between this bread and other bread; but trampling under foot the blood of the covenant, as a profane and common thing.
(2.) Know also, that thy condition is very miserable whilst thou debarrest thyself from this ordinance, and art, as polluted, put from this priesthood.
How light soever thou mayest make of it, this is not a small portion of thy miseries, that thou shuttest thyself out of covenant and communion with the God that made thee; and, in effect, disclaimest any interest in the Christ that bought thee, as if thou hadst taken the devils' words out of their mouths, "What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God?" And if thou persist in it, so shall thy doom be; thou thyself hast decided it. If now it be as nothing to thee, to be separated from the sheep of Christ, and excluded from their green pastures, yet it will be something shortly, when thou shalt accordingly have thy place among the goats, and thy lot with them for ever.
Thou thinkest it no, loss now to want the cup of blessing, because thou preferrest the cup of drunkenness before it; but what dost thou think of the cup of trembling, that will ere long be put into thy hand if thou repent not?
Thou hast no desire to the wine of the love of God, but rather choosest the puddle water of sensual pleasures; but canst thou "drink of the wine of the wrath of God," which shall be poured out without mixture in the presence of the Lamb? Thou thinkest thyself easy and happy, that thou art not under the bonds and checks of this ordinance; but. dost thou not see thyself extremely miserable, whilst thou hast no right to the blessings and comforts of this ordinance? If there were not another life after this, thou mightest have some color for blessing thyself thus in thine own wicked way; (and yet, if so, I should see no cause to envy thee;) but, wretched soul, "what wilt thou do in the day of visitation?" Thou that joinest thyself with the sinners in Zion, and choosest them for thy people, "Canst thou dwell with devouring fire? Canst thou inhabit everlasting burnings?" May God by his grace open thine eyes, and give thee to see thy misery and danger before it be too late!
(3.) Yet know, that though thy condition is very sad, it is not desperate.
Thou hast space yet given thee to repent, and grace offered thee. O refuse not that grace, slip not that opportunity! Leave thy sins, and turn unto God in Christ; cast away from thee all thy transgressions, make thee a new heart, begin a new life, forsake the foolish, and live to some purpose, and go in the way of understanding: and then in wisdom's name, I am to tell thee, that