The Communicant's Companion
5. If, upon search, we find that we make no progress in grace and holiness, let the ordinance of the Lord's Supper be improved for the furtherance of our growth, and the removal of that, whatever it is, which hinders it; if we find we thrive, though but slowly, and though it is not so well with us as it should be, yet, through grace, it is better with us than it has been, and that we are not always babes, let us be encouraged to abound so much the more. "Go and prosper; the Lord is with thee, whilst thou art with him."
V. Inquire, What do I want?—A true sense of our spiritual necessities is required to qualify us for spiritual supplies. The hungry only are filled with good things. It concerns us, therefore, when we come to an ordinance, which is as a spiritual market, to consider what we have occasion for, that we may know what to lay hold on, and may have an answer ready to that question which will be put to us at that banquet of wine— "What is thy petition, and what is thy request?" Or that which Christ put to the blind men
—"What will ye that I shall do unto you?"
"Grace and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ," are inclusive of all the blessings we can desire, and have in them enough to supply all our needs. Since, therefore, we must ask and receive, that our joy may be full, it concerns us to inquire what particular grace and comfort we need, that we may, by faith and desire, reach forth towards that in a special manner.
1. What grace do I most want?—Wherein do I find myself most defective, weakest, and most exposed? What corruption do I find working most in me? The grace that is opposite to that, I most need. Am I apt to be proud or passionate? Humility and meekness, then, are the graces I most want. Am I apt to be timorous and distrustful? Faith and hope, then, are the graces I