Page:Preparation sermon, before receiving the Holy sacrament.pdf/12

 the efficacy of it, but he muſt needs regard  as the blood of the higheſt malefactur that ever was in the world. If ye do not own it and accept it the blood of God ye charge Chriſt as a greater criminal than Judas, as the greatest cheat and impoſture that ever was, in the declaring himſelf to be the Son of God. By diſregarding the ſacrament ye are guilty of the greatest affront to Christ that can be offered. What greater aftrent can be offered than to throw the picture of a prince into a nasty jakes or dungull? Can you disparage the covenant of grace more than by unworthily using the seals of it? Can you affront Christ more than by coming to his table covered over with your sins? Should a beggar who was wallowing it a puddle intrude himself in that filthy condition into a prince's company, sit down at his table, and dip his besmeared hands into the same dish with him? It is as if ye should say that the body and blood of the Redeemer was only fit food for dogs and swine.

3. It is an implicite consent and approbation of the Jews murdering of the Lord of glory. He is supposed to conſent to the death of an innocent perfon who set light of it, and is no ways affected by it, or entertains and abetts the murder. So who soever hath slight thoughts of Chriſt's death, and is not grieved for his sins that were the cauſe of it or lodges them still with delight in his heart, is accessary to the murder, and so is guilty of the blood of Christ. O my friends, is this a small guilt? To be guilty of the innocent blood of any perfon is dreadful crime: but what must it be to be guilty of the blood of the Son of God? O profane sinner who had not a-mind to leave thy sins, come not to the table of the Lors; thou wilt embrue thy hand a-fresh in the blood of Christ, the glorified Son of God, thou will be his executioner, and not his guest. Therefore part with all your sins this night, and bid