The Communicant's Companion
they "have hid their hand in their bosom, and it grieves them to bring it to their mouth again;" that is, they will not be at the pains to feed themselves.
What shall we say to rouse these sluggards; to persuade them to press forward in their profession, forgetting the things that are behind, and not resting in them? Hear, ye virgins, that slumber and sleep, and let your lamps lie by neglected—hear the cry, "Behold the bridegroom cometh, (cometh in this ordinance to espouse you to himself; stir up yourselves, and) go ye forth to meet him." Hear, ye servants, ye slothful servants, your Master's voice, "How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?" Is it not high time to awake out of sleep, and apply thyself more closely and vigorously to the business of a Christian? Is it not far in the day with thee, perhaps the sixth hour, or further on; and yet hast thou no appetite to this spiritual feast to which thou art invited? Thou hast lost a great deal of time already, shouldst not thou now think of redeeming time for thy soul and eternity? And how can that be better done, than by improving such advantageous opportunities as sacraments are? Hear that call to careless and trifling professors, as if thou thyself wert called by name in it: "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."
1. Consider what an affront you put upon the Lord Jesus, while you live in the neglect of this ordinance; you contemn his authority, who hath given this command to all his disciples, (and among them you reckon yourselves,) "Do this in remembrance of me." And is it nothing to live in the omission of a known duty, and in disobedience to an express precept? Is the law of Christ nothing with you? If you know to do good, and do it not, is it not sin?
Is not this as much an ordinance of Christ, as the word and prayer? You would not live without them; nor would you be yourselves, or suffer your children to be, without baptism; why then is this neglected? You arraign
Christ's wisdom: he instituted this ordinance for your spiritual good, your strength, and nourishment; and you think you need it not, you can do as well without it: this appointment, you think, might have been spared; that is, you think yourselves wiser than Christ. You likewise hereby put a great slight upon the grace and love of Christ, which has made such rich provision for you, and given you so kind an invitation to it.
This is excellently well urged in the public form of invitation to the holy communion, which warns those that are scandalous to keep off, in these words: "If any of you be a blasphemer of God, a hinderer or slanderer of his word, an adulterer, or be in malice or envy, or in any other grievous crime; repent you of your sins, or else come not to that holy table; lest, after the taking of that holy sacrament, the devil enter into you, as he entered into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquities, and bring you to destruction of both body and soul."
But the other exhortation stirs up those that are negligent, in these words: "Ye know how grievous and unkind a thing it is, when a man hath prepared a rich feast, decked his table with all kind of provision, so that there lacketh nothing but the guests to sit down, and yet they who are called (without any cause) most unthankfully refuse to come. Which of you in such a case would not be moved? Who would not think it a great injury and wrong done unto him? Wherefore, most dearly beloved in Christ, take ye good heed, lest ye, withdrawing yourselves from this holy supper, provoke God's indignation against you. It is an easy matter for a man to say, I will not communicate, because I am otherwise hindered with worldly business; but such excuses are not so easily accepted and allowed before God. If any man say, I am a grievous sinner, and therefore am afraid to come; wherefore then do you not repent and amend? When God calls you, are ye not ashamed to