REverently and Devoutly to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is so indispen­sable a Christian Duty, that whosoever refuseth to do it, doth no less, in effect, than refuse Salvation, and renounce his Saviour.

[Page] There is no Salvation in any other but IESVS CHRIST: Acts 4. 12. No man co­meth to the Father but by him. Iohn 14. 6. There is no Salva­tion by Christ for those that keep not his Command­ments; Heb. 5. 9. but as he is the Author of Salvation to them that obey him: So will he come to take Ven­geance on them that obey not the Gospel. 2 Thes. 1. 8. And his express Com­mand he hath left us in these plain Words, This do in Remembrance of me, Luke 22. 19. 1 Cor. 11. 24.

He that hath given us this Command is GOD Rom. 9. 5. over all, Col. 1. 16. blessed for ever. 1 Cor. 6. 19. The great God that made us; 1 Pet. 1. 19. the good Lord that Matt. 28. 18. bought and redeemed us Matt. 17. 15. with his own most preci­ous Act 3. 22. Blood; Iohn 15. 9. 10. 13. he to whom God the Father hath given all Power both in Heaven and in Earth, Rom. 5. 6. 8. and hath command­ed [Page] us to hear him in all things whatso­ever he saith unto us. It is the Com­mand of a dear Friend, who loved us as his Father loved him, who hath called us Friends, and laid down his Life for us in pure Love; and hath as­sured us, that if we keep his Com­mandments we shall abide in his Love. The Command of this dying Friend, when he was going to reconcile us wicked Rebels by his own bloody Death unto God, was this, This do in Remembrance of me.

When dying for us, he bequeathed unto us Pardon, and his Spirit and eternal Life, this he required of us, that by doing this we would preserve alive a loving and thankful Remembrance of him, and shew his Death, 1 Cor. 11. 26. and his Kindness therein to our Souls, till he come again to re­ceive us to himself, and put us into full Possession of eternal Glory. And how shall we then look him in the Face if we have refused to do this?

In this Sacrament he offer­eth us himself Crucified for 1 Cor. 10. 16. [Page] us, his Body and Blood; the most choice Token of his wonderful Love. Can we refuse it, and not renounce his Love and Friendship thereby?

Thus would He have us de­clare our Fellowship with the Father and the Son, 1 Iohn 1. 3. and with the Holy Apostles and all Saints, as joynt Members of his one Body the Church, 1 Cor. 11. 17. by feasting together at his Table on this one Bread. Can we refuse to do this, and not renounce all Fellowship with the Father and the Son, and the Communion of Saints?

Two solemn Rites he hath institu­ted as peculiar to his Religion, Bap­tism and the Supper of the Lord; where­by we are to own him openly before the World, and profess our selves in Covenant with him. As he then that refuseth to be Baptized, refuseth to be a Christian; so he that having been baptized refuseth this other Sacrament, doth in effect renounce his Baptism, disown the Covenant, apostatize from Christ, and cast off the Profession of Christianity.

[Page] He hath not commanded us many chargeable and troublesome Sacrifices, such as the Iews offered; nor the Blood of our Sons and Daughters, which the Gentiles grudged not to offer unto Devils. The Cost we are put to is of a little Bread and Wine; the Pains we are put to, is, with ho­ly and thankful Hearts to take, eat, and drink, in Remembrance of our Saviour. Can we now disobey so ea­sie a Command of the God of Heaven and Earth, the King of the World, the Redeemer of Sinners, the only Sa­viour of Souls, and not renounce God, our Saviour, the Christian Religion, and all our claim to Salvation? No, 'tis very plain, that tho' the want of this Sacrament, when it is desired but cannot be had, is no Sin, if not occasi­oned by our Sin; yet the wilfull ne­glect of it is no less than a damning Sin, unless there be no such thing as Damnation, and the Gospel be a Fa­ble; from which blasphemous thought Good God preserve us all.

HE that eateth not at the Lord's Table must dye, and he that eat­eth unworthily is in danger of Death: so St. Paul assures us; Whosoever shall eat this Bread, and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord, 1 Cor. 11. 27. and again, v. 29. He eateth and drink­eth Damnation [or Judgment] to him­self.

If this seem hard to us, it is only because we are unreasonable, and had rather not do any Duty at all, than be at the Pains to do it as we ought. As the Duty is necessary, and yet very reasonable and not burden­some; so to do it worthily is as ne­cessary, and no less reasonable or easie if we have a Mind to be Christians.

The Direction how to communi­cate worthily we have in these words, [Page 7] Let a Man examine himself, and so let him eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup, 1 Cor. 11. 28. They who are ig­norant, and are not sufficiently in­structed, cannot examine themselves, and therefore may not eat, and they who, either because they are afraid to awaken their Consciences and not be able to sin in Quietness, or because they are loath to be at the Pains, or take so much time from their worldly Business or Pleasures, will not exa­mine themselves, may not presume to eat.

What then must such Persons do, for if they eat not they die? The ignorant must be Catechised and learn: if they be ashamed of this, they are ashamed of Christ, and must perish for hating Instruction. They that will not ex­amine themselves, must consider how they can dwell with everlasting Burn­ings. Eat or Die, Examine or eat not, that's all the Choice our Sins have left us.

Yet Examination is not a thing commanded for it self, but in order [Page 8] to something else. Counterfeit Gold is of no more worth than it was be­fore, for being examined or tryed by the Touch-stone. We must examine our selves, that we may know what we are. Examine your selves, whe­ther you be in the Faith; prove your own selves: Know you not your own selves, how that Iesus Christ is in you, except you be Reprobates? 2 Cor. 13. 5. We might know whether we be Chri­stians or no, would we try our selves, and not be content, like false Gold, to make a shew only. And to this end must we by Examination learn to know our selves, that we may be able to approve of our selves in our own Consciences before God, that we are sincere Christians, that we may not think our selves to be something when we are nothing, and so deceive our selves, let every Man prove his own Work, and then shall he have rejoycing in himself, Gal. 6. 4.

In short, we are to examine what Graces God hath given us, and be truly thankful; what is yet amiss in [Page 9] us, and amend it; what we yet want, and endeavour to obtain it.

The difficulty of this Duty affright­eth many from this Sacrament: and indeed, considering how most of us live, it is no wonder that it seemeth difficult. But we should remember, first, That this Self-Examination is a Duty, necessary, not only now and then before a Sacrament, but at all times, that we may understand how far we are Christians indeed; and therefore the Difficulty may as well affright us from being Christians as from this Sacrament; and so I fear it doth too many, who therefore abstain from the Lord's Table, because they have no mind to be Christians any farther than in Name only. And then, secondly, We must remember, that whatever Difficulty there is in this Duty, it is of our own making, and we may make the Duty more easie if we will. For,

1. We continue willingly ignorant of the Word of God, and its use; and it must needs be hard for us to exa­mine [Page 10] our selves by a Rule which we understand not. But let us take pains to learn perfectly the particulars of our Christian Faith and Duty, gathered from the Sacred Scriptures and ex­plained in easie Catechisms, and often beg the Minister's help for the right understanding and due applying thereof to our selves, opening freely to him all our Ignorances and Doubts, and this part of the Difficulty will be removed.

2. We live loosly and carelesly, not observing well our own Tempers and Actions; and having let them slip without any notice of them, we can­not recall to mind and examine what we never regarded. Let us but once every day take a little time to con­sider what Inclinations in us have that day shewn themselves, and what have been our Thoughts, Words, and Acti­ons, and comparing them with the Rule of Life, observe how they agree or disagree with it: and heartily bles­sing God for any Good that by his help we have done, humbly bewailing, [Page 11] confessing, and begging Pardon for all our Failings of Omission or Commissi­on, praying devoutly and seriously for more Strength and Grace to live better, resolve to do our utmost En­deavour to amend and improve daily; we shall soon find all the Difficulty over: especially if we would, as of­ten as we find cause to doubt of any thing, open our Souls freely to our Spiritual Guides, God's Ministers, for their Assistance. Which course till i be taken, we shall every where find too few Christians: but if we would do thus, we should learn to know our selves so well, that it would be a ve­ry easie matter to examine our selve [...] against a Communion.

Now that we may be worthy Com­municants, we must examine our selve both whether we be sound Christian [...] or no, and, whether we be rightly disposed for this particular Christian Duty.

1. We must be of Christ's Family, as Christians, before we may feast at Christ's Table as Communicants. W [...] [Page 12] are solemnly admitted into the Fami­ly, or Church of Christ, by Baptism, wherein we are dedicated to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and ad­mitted into the Bond of a sacred Cove­nant with the ever Blessed and Glo­rious Trinity. So long as we continue faithful in this Covenant, so long are we Christians; and therefore this is first to be enquired into, Whether or no we faithfully stand to this Baptis­mal Covenant?

2. Then are we duely disposed for this Duty of Communicating, when understanding the Nature, Ends, and Benefits of this Sacrament, we find the Affections of our Hearts in some mea­sure suitable thereunto. And to this purpose it is, that we are more espe­cially before our Approaches to the Lord's Table to examine our selves.

THE faithful keeping of our Bap­tismal Covenant is our Christiani­ty. We are therefore impartially to enquire both how we understand it, how we have kept it, and how we resolve to keep it.

1. To help us to understand it, we must know four things; viz.

1. Gen. 1. 27. That our Good God ha­ving made man a rational Creature in his own Image, Eccl. 7. 29. and given him an immortal Soul, void of any Inclination to Evil, with sufficient Knowledge to understand his Duty, and Power enough to do it, did com­mand him to live in perfect Obedi­ence to God his Maker, whereby he and his might live for ever happy in the Love of God.

2. That Adam, Gen. 3. Rom. 5. 12. the first Man and common Father of [Page 14] us all, by the Temptation of the De­vil, disobey'd this Command, and thereby brought us all into a state of Weakness, Sin, and Death: And now in such a Condition we come into the World, Rom. 8. 7, 8. that, left unto our selves, we would do nothing but sin against God, and run upon our own Destruction.

3. That our gracious God, when he might justly have cut off at once the whole Race of Mankind in Adam and Eve, or have left all their Posteri­ty to perish by their own Doings; of his wonderful Goodness and Mercy took pity on Sinners, and opened [...] to us a new way to Salvation, by pro­viding for us a Saviour, even GOD the SON, the only begotten of the FATHER, who in our Flesh having taught us what God now requireth of us if we will be saved, laid down his Life for us to satisfie for our Sins and free us from Ven­geance, Mat. 1. 21. 1 Thes. 1. 10. Mar. 16. 16. and offereth us a full Pardon on Condition that we will believe in him and be [Page 15] baptized, so signifying our Consent to the new Covenant which God is pleased to make with us in him.

4. The meaning of which Covenant is this: That though we cannot now be innocent, and so can never hope for Life by obeying and fulfilling the Law of Innocence given to Adam; yet, if we will first, Act. 3. 19. truly repent, and secondly, Ioh. 3. 36. believe the Gos­pel of CHRIST, Heb. 5. 9. and third­ly, Heb. 8. 10. sincerely obey his Com­mands, God will yet be our God, and take us for his People; and for his be­loved Son Iesus Christ's sake pardon our Sins, and sanctifie us by his holy Spi­rit; and finally, glorisie us with him­self in Heaven.

II. Next we must examine how we have kept this Covenant. And here, seeing we were baptized in our In­fancy, and what was promised on our parts, was promised by others in our Name; we are to exa­mine,

1. Whether we have, since we came to Understanding, at any time [Page 16] own'd and confirmed this Engage­ment, and taken upon our selves the Performance of it. Our Church hath well provided, that no Person shall be admitted to the LORD's Supper till he be Confirmed, or have declared his willingness to be confirmed; that is, till he have satisfied the Church, that he understands the Covenant of Bap­tism, and declareth his Resolution to keep it.

2. If we have thus own'd our Bap­tismal Engagement, we must dili­gently examine how we have hither­to performed it in all the Parts of it, viz. Repentance, Faith, and sincer [...] Obedience. And this we are to do by posing our selves in the several Articles of our Christian Faith, and in the Commandments of God. If we find that we have not been faithful to God in this Covenant, we must not come to this Sacrament till we have unfeignedly repented of our unfaith­fulness, and seriously renewed our En­gagement to keep it henceforward Therefore,

[Page 17] III. We must examine how we re­solve to keep it for the time to come: And here we are to see to these things:

1. That it be a serious, deliberate, and well grounded Resolution, not ta­ken up dissemblingly, nor rashly, nor for weak Reasons. But being clearly convinced and become sensible of God's absolute Right in and to us and all our Services, his sovereign Authority to govern us and command us, and his wonderful Goodness and Love to us, more especially declared in his Son Iesus Christ; this Sense and Con­viction of God's being our Maker, our Governour, and our Benefactor, should be the reason and ground of our Re­solution to be wholly his, to be ruled by him, and love and honour him above all.

2. That it be a full and compleat Resolution, that we use no Ifs or Ands, or rest in some faint Purposings; but we must be throughly determined and fixed upon it. That whatever we may lose or suffer by it in this World, [Page 18] we will by God's help go through with it, without any Exception or Limitation whatsoever, doing the whole Will of God from the Heart.

3. That it be a humble and pious Re­solution, without any proud Trust or Confidence in our own natural Strength to make it good; but yet with all Trust and Confidence in the Goodness of God, that if we conscien­tiously use the means of Grace and Strength which he hath ordained, as he hath wrought in us to will, so he will strengthen us to do his good Will, and finally, reward us according to his infinite Mercy.

When we have thus considered our Covenant of Baptism, and are thus re­solved, by God's help, to keep it, we should earnestly pray unto God for his Assistance: and, if we are not already Confirmed, it is fit that we humbly offer our selves to Confirmation so soon as we can. The very sense of Shame to break a Covenant after this solemn Engagement in the Face of the Church to keep it, and the Fear of drawing a [Page 19] greater guilt upon our Souls, by breaking a Covenant so renewed, must needs be some Restraint upon us to keep us from breaking it. And be­sides this, we have good Cause to hope, that the Prayers of the Church, and the Blessing of God's Minister, the Bishop, who by his Office blesseth in God's Name, shall very much conduce to our greater Strength and growth in Christianity.

WE promised in Baptism, to be­lieve all the Articles of the Christian Faith. These Articles are briefly laid together in the Creed. To examine our selves how we keep this part of our Covenant, let us in the pre­sence of God, the Searcher of Hearts, ask our selves these Questions:

[Page 20] Have the Word and Works of: Rom. 1. 20. God convinced me, Heb. 11. 6. that there is an eter­nal, Iohn. 4. 24. invisible, 1 Tim. 6. 16. 1. 17. living Spi­rit, Ier. 23. 24. every where present throughout the World, Rev. 4. 8. in­finite in all Perfections of Power, 1 Tim. 1. 17. Wisdom, and Good­ness, called GOD? Ps. 119. 68.

Do I believe, 1 Cor. 8. 4. that there is but one only true and li­ving God, 1 Thes. 1. 9. even the FA­THER, Matt. 28. 19. the SON, 1 Iohn 5. 7. and the HOLY GHOST, which being three, are yet all three but one GOD blessed for ever?

Do I believe, 2 Tim. 3. 15, 16, 17. That the Books of the Old and New Psalm 32. 5. Testament do contain the very Word of God, Titus 1. 2. and that therein God hath re­vealed unto us all things that are needful to our eternal Happiness; 2 Cor. 1. 20. and that he is a God of Truth and can­not lie, and that all his Words are true?

[Page 21] Do I believe, Acts 17. 24, & 28. That God is the Maker, Preserver, and Governor of all things; Psalm 103. 19. that I and all things are his, 1 Cor. 6. 20. and at his Disposal; that our Life, Motion, and Being, are from him, and all our Happiness depends upon his Love and Blessing.

Do I believe, Gen. 1. 27. That Man was made in the Image of God, very good, with an immortal Soul, with Knowledge and Power enough to understand and do God's Will?

Do I believe God made Col. 1. 16. many Spirits called An­gels, Heb. 1. 14. 12. 22. and that some of these 2 Peter 2. 4. by Sin fell from their first Iude 6. State, Mat. 25. 41. and these are the Genesis 3. Devil and his Angels for Romans 5. 12. whom Hell was prepared; Ephes. 2. 3. and that the Devil tempt­ing Heb. 12. 14. Man to sin in disobey­ing God, Rom. 4. 6. all Evil came thereby into the World: that we are all naturally Sinners, and the Children of Wrath, and cannot be happy without being [Page 22] pardoned and cleansed, but must be tormented for ever in Hell?

Do I believe, Ephes. 1. 4, 5, 6. That God of his own free Grace and Iohn 1. 14. Goodness hath made us a Acts 4. 12. new way to Happiness through his only begotten SON IE­SVS CHRIST our Lord, and that there is Salvation in none other?

Do I believe, 1 Iohn 5. 20. That the SON being the true God 1 Timothy 2. 5. and eternal Life, Matt. 1. 18. became also the Man CHRIST Luke 2. 27. IESVS, 1 Tim. 3. 16. 1 being conceived by the power of the HOLY GHOST, Peter 2. 22. and born of a pure Virgin, and being thus God manifested in the Flesh, [...] an holy Life on Earth in perfect Obedience to his FATHER's Will?

Do I believe, Iohn 1. 41. 45. That this is the promised Messias, Acts. 10. 38. the Anointed holy one of God, Luke 24. 19. who as the great Prophet of God hath instructed us in the way of Righteousness and Salvation; Iohn 15. 15. and having taught us the whole Will of [Page 23] his Father, Heb. 7. 27. 9. 26. after he had suffered many things in our Humane Nature, 2 Cor. 5. 21. was Crucified, 1 Cor. 15. 4. and willingly di­ed a Sacrifice of Atone­ment for our Sins, Heb. 2. 17. and was buried, and continued till the third day in the state of the Dead, and herein was the true High-priest, who offering himself once for all, hath made Reconciliation for the Sins of the People?

Do I believe, That on the third day he rose again from the dead, Rom. 6. 9. to die no more; Matt. 28. 19. and ha­ving sufficiently instruct­ed his Apostles in their Office, and instituted the Sacrament of Baptism whereby they were to ad­mit men into his Church, Mark 16. 19 he was received up into Hea­ven, Luke 22. 69. and sat down on the Hebrews 8. 10. right hand of God, 1 Tim. 6. 15. in all Power and Majestly, Eph. 1. 22. King Hebrews 7. 25. of Kings, Acts 3. 26. and Head over all things to the Church; Acts 17. 31. and there, 1 Thes. 4. 16. as the great High-priest, Acts 10. 42. maketh Intercession for [Page 24] us and blesseth us, rendring our Ser­vices acceptable to God?

Do I believe, that at the day ap­pointed by God, he shall come again in Glory to judge the Quick and Dead, according to his Gospel; and that we must all appear before his Judgment Seat, 2 Cor. 5. 10. that every one may re­ceive the things done in his Body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad?

Do I believe, Luke 24. 29. That Christ sent the Promise of his Fa­ther, Acts 1▪ 4. the Comforter, Acts 2. which is the HOLY GHOST, Iohn 16. 13. to guide the Church into all Truth, Iohn 14. 16. to be with it for ever, Rom. 15. 16. and to sanctifie our Hearts, 1 Cor. 6. 11. to believe, love, and obey the Truth, and to prepare us by Holiness for Hap­piness in the Presence of God for ever?

Do I believe, Eph. 1. 22. that God always had and will have a peculiar People and So­ciety of Men, 1 Tim. 3. 15. Col. 1. 18. which make One holy Catholick Church, Eph. 4. 11. 12. Eph. 2. 20. 21. 4. 4, 5. [Page 25] or Body, whereof Christ is the only Head, who ruleth and governeth it by his Spirit and Word, and Ministers under him, in Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline?

That all the true san­ctified Members of this Church are enlivened by the holy Spirit of Christ, 2 Cor. 13. 14▪ Ephes. 2. 18. 1 Iohn 1. 3. Heb. 1. 14. Heb. 12. 13. Eph. 4. 3. &c. and by the Communion of the Spirit communicate in the Love of the Father, and the Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, in the Ministry of Angels, and the Prayers of glorified Souls, and with all Saints in the same holy Faith and Love and Offices of Religion?

Do I believe, Acts 2. 38. that all who faith­fully persevere in this holy Communion of Saints have the Pardon of their Sins gi­ven them of God through Jesus Christ, Luke 24. 47. proclaimed unto them by the Mini­stry of the Word, and particularly ap­plied and sealed unto them in the Sa­craments?

[Page 26] Do I believe, Acts. 24. 15. That the Bodies of all men shall af­ter Iohn 5. 28, 29. Death be raised up again to Life, Mat. 25. 41. 46 and that the Wicked shall go into everlasting Torments, 1 Thes. 4. 17. and the Righteous shall live for ever in perfect Holiness and Glory in the Presence of God in Hea­ven? 1 Iohn 3. 2.

These are the chief Matters of Faith, wherein we are to examine our selves. But that we may know whether we believe these things sa­vingly, we are farther to enquire:

1. If we believe them understand­ingly. To be satisfied herein, we should do well to have the Approbati­on and Judgment of God's Minister.

2. If we believe them with a divine Faith, because of the Truth or Vera­city of God who hath revealed them. Be perfect therefore in the Scriptures, that you may know they are taught therein by God.

3. If we believe them firmly, so that we are persuaded we dare even lay down our Lives for the Truth.

[Page 27] 4. If we believe them effectually and practically, so that this Belief doth fill our Hearts with the Fear and Love of God, and produce strong Resoluti­ons, servent Prayers, and strenuous Endeavours to honour God by holy and obedient Lives.

Yet here we are to note, That it is not every doubting whether we under­stand aright, or whether the thing be a divine Truth, or whether our Faith be firm and strong, or have sufficient Influence on our Hearts and Lives, that should dismay us: but whilst we find, that notwithstanding some Doubtings, our Faith is able to carry us on in a Christian Course of Life, trusting our Souls in well doing to the Mercy of God through Iesus Christ, we are to cheer up our selves, and using the means of strengthening our Faith, say, Lord, I believe, help thou my Un­belief.

IT is the great Blessing of the Gospel, Matt. 9. 13. that CHRIST came to call Sinners to Repentance. That after the Law of Innocence was broken, Luke 24. 47. and we were under the Curse of Death, and an impossibility to be saved by our own Righteousness, Re­pentance is allowed of, and a new Obe­dience.

Repentance, Matth. 3. 2. in Scripture, Mark 1. 15. is sometimes all one with Conversion; Luke 13. 3. that is, Acts 3. 19. 26. 20. 2. 38. such a turning and change of Heart and Mind, that, being brought to the Knowledge of the true God and our Duty to him, we renounce our former course of Life, and resolve to serve and honour God according to his Word. This fits us for Baptism, wherein God's Minister, in God's Name, admits us into the [Page 29] Church, and assures us of Pardon up­on our continuing living Members of the same.

Repentance is also an humbling sense of, Revelat. 2. 5. and hearty Sorrow for any Sin or Violation of our Baptis­mal Covenant, 2 Cor. 7. 9. 10. with a free Confession of our Demerit, 1 Iohn 1. 9. an earnest begging of Pardon, Isai. 1. 16, 17. a resolving to amend, Ezek. 36. 31, 32. and praying for God's Grace so to do.

Now because all Sin is Disobedience to the Law of God, 1 Iohn 3. 4. we may at once examine our Repentance and Obedience by that Law, it telling us our Duty, and our Con­sciences telling us how we have either done it, or are concerned for not do­ing it. Ask then,

Have I done my best, 1 Cor. 15. 34. by such helps as God affords me, Romans 1. 22. to attain to divine Knowledge, and not contented my self to live in Ignorance of God and of his Truth? Hath the Knowledge of God wrought in me a most high and ho­nourable [Page 30] Esteem of him, an aweful Reverence towards him, an entire Resignation of my self to him, and humble Obedience to his Govern­ment, a total dependance and trust to his Goodness, an unfeigned Love of him above all things, and an ardent Desire to enjoy him?

Do I love God for the ex­cellency of his Nature, Matth. 22. 38. and the beauty of his Holiness, 1 Iohn 5. 3. and his Goodness to me and all men; especially as manifested in Iesus Christ? Do I love him so, as to love his Laws, and his Word and Worship, his Mi­nisters and his Children; his House and Day, and every thing that relates to him? Is it the earnest desire of my Soul to be able to honour him more, and to be more like him in Holiness, and can I find no rest to my Soul in any thing but him?

Have I made his Wis­dom my Director, Psal. 119. 24. and his Will my Choice, Matth. 6. 25. and his Promises my Confidence, Phil. 4. 6. and his Laws my Rule, 1 Pet. 5. 7. and depending [Page 31] on his Providence in all dangers or wants, using the lawful means which he alloweth, and no other, without any disheartning Fears, or anxious Thoughts and Cares, commending the Success to him in Prayer; dare I trust all my Concerns, both in this World and the next, to God, only through the Mediation of Iesus Christ?

Do I not presume of Salvation by Christ without the Sanctification of his Spirit, nor hope for Mercy without Repentance and Amend­ment of my Life; 1 Iohn 3. 3. but doth my hope in God set me upon cleansing my self from all Filthi­ness of Flesh and Spirit, 2 Corinth. 7. 1. and perfect­ing Holiness in the Fear of God, never despairing of his Mercy through Christ so long as I sincerely desire and endea­vour to serve him faithfully?

Have I been patient in Wants, Mic. 7. 9. and Losses, Lam. 3. 39. and Griefs, Iames 1. 4. without all repi­ning at God's Dealings, Luke 22. 42. or hard Thoughts of him? Romans 8. 28. Do I thankfully receive his sharpest [Page 32] Chastisements, improving them all to Humility, and Amendment of Life, and rejoycing in them as Tokens of his Love, and as the Condition which he hath chosen as best for me?

Have I not neglected to worship God devoutly both in publick and in secret, Iohn 4. 24. and do I not rest in a formal outward Wor­ship, and for low ends, Matth. 15. 7. but heartily, 1 Peter 2. 1. in pure Con­science of Duty, Matthew 7. 7. to honour God thereby? Romans 12. 12. Do I pray fervently and reverently, Iames 5. 16. and with a prepared and composed Mind, 1 Iohn 5. 14. and for such things as are a­greeable to God's Will, Colos. 3. 16. especially for Grace to enable me to honour him? Have I reverently, attentively, and constantly, read and heard God's Word, treasuring it in my Heart as the Rule of Life, and Foundation of Hope, not enduring to hear it abused?

Have I kept holy the days of God's solemn Worship, constantly frequent­ing the publick Assemblies, and de­voutly joyning in all the Services [Page 33] there? Exodus 20. 8. Have I behaved my self in God's House as in his more especial Pre­sence, Matth. 21. 13. and done what I was able to maintain and up­hold the holy Ministry, Heb. 10. 25. and the Purity of God's Worship, Eccl. 5. 1. with­out Heresie, Psalm 89. 7. Superstition, Luke 8. 15. Schism, 1 Thes. 2. 13. or Faction?

Have I duely and preparedly recei­ved the Sacraments of Christ's Institu­tion, and submitted my self to the Government and Discipline of his Church, Ephesians 4. 3. endeavouring to hold the Unity of the Spi­rit in the bond of Peace?

Have I had a religious regard to the sacred Name of God, Psalm 111. 9. in no case using it blasphemously, Exodus 20. 7. profane­ly, Lev. 19. 12. vainly, Rom. 2. 24. irreverently, 1 Tim. 6. 1. or willingly hearing it so used, Titus 2. 5. either in common swearing, Matth. 5. 34. needless swearing, Iames 5. 12. false swearing, or in idle talk of God, or hypocritical praying to God, or vent­ing false Doctrine in God's Name, or [Page 34] fathering any evil practice on God, or by my wicked Life tempting others to blaspheme the Name of Christ by which I am called?

Have I made a right use of my Rea­son, to judge of things as they de­serve, and to consider my Obligati­ons to God, and the great Concerns of my Soul, Mark 8. 36. and to care for it more than for my Body, and to govern my self so by the Laws of God, that I am ready to die, and to give account of my self at the Judg­ment Seat of Christ?

Have I check'd in my idle Thoughts, and busied them in things useful? Have I restrained and kept in my Passions within the Bounds of Religion, Colossians 4. 6. and not been hurried by them unto any Words or Deeds unbeseeming a Chri­stian? Ephes. 4. 29. Have I well husbanded my time in doing good, and lost wilfully as little as may be?

Have I had just Thoughts of my self as a vile Sinner, and hath not any Opinion of my Birth, Parentage, [Page 35] Strength, Metth. 5. 3. Beauty, Luke 17. 10. Riches, Rom. 12. 3. Honours, 1 Peter 5. 5. Wit, Learning, any Action, Gift, Grace or Vertue made me proud, self-conceited, ambitious, or vain­glorious? Have I thankfully acknow­ledged all to be God's undeserved gift, of which he may deprive me when he will, and very justly, be­cause I have not done so much good by it as I ought?

Have I been temperate and sober, not exceeding in Meat, Rom. 13. 13, 14. Drink, 1 Peter 2. 11. Sleep, Gal. 5. 16. Sport, Luke 21. 34. or Apparel; and used them all to the Health, Strength, Refreshment, and Vigour of my Body and Mind, that I might the better serve God in the Duties of my Calling? Have I not in any of them wasted my time, weakened my Body, disordered my Head, fed my Lusts, consumed my Estate, disabling my self to do my duties of Piety to God, Justice to my Neighbour, Cha­rity to the Poor, and providing for my Charge, and educating my Chil­dren? [Page 36] Have I carefully avoided super­fluous Expences, bewitching Plea­sures, tempting Company, Idleness, and unprofitable Business?

Have I loved my Neigh­bour as my self, Mark 12. 31. and done to all men as I would they should do to me, Matth. 22. 39. that is, Luke 6. 31. all the good I could, 1 Iohn 3. 18. and no hurt; Heb. 3. 13. instructing, Col. 3. 16. ad­monishing, Heb. 10. 24. reproving, Lev. 19. 17. counselling, Iames 2. 16. comforting, Matth. 5. 42. giving, forgiving, healing, helping, relieving, speaking well of, praying for him, and doing him all good Offices according to my Power and Opportunities?

Have I been thankful to others for the like Kindnesses, studying to re­quite them? Do I reverence with­out Envy my Superiours in any kind, am I loving and friendly to all my Equals, and affable and helpful to my Inferiours, without Pride or Disdain, no way scorning, upbraiding, mock­ing or vilifying them for any Infirmi­ties or Imperfections?

[Page 37] Have I honour'd the King and all inferiour Ma­gistrates, Rom. 13. 1. &c. praying for them speaking no evil of them, 1 Pet. 2. 13. obeying their just Com­mands, 1 Timothy 2. 1. paying Tribute and Custom, 1 Peter 2. 20. 3. 14. suffering willingly for my Faults, Matthew 5. 10. and patiently without resistance for well­doing, discovering all Plots and Con­spiracies, that I can know of, against them, assisting them against their Ene­mies, serving faithfully under them in my [...]lace and Calling, no way di­sturbing the Peace, obstructing or re­proaching the Government?

Have I esteemed the Pastors and Governours in the Church highly in love for their Works sake, 1 Corinth. 4. 1. not defrauding them of, 1 Thess. 5. 13. or grudgingly paying, Heb. 13. 17. or by hard Bar­gains diminishing their dues? Gal. 6. 6. Do I pray for them, 1 Cor. 9. 14. often consult them, submit to their Teaching and Disci­pline, and neither by my Absence from Church, nor irregular Life, or any war, discourage them.

[Page 38] Have I loved and ho­noured my Father and Mo­ther, Matth. 15. 4. concealing their Fail­ings, Exodus 20. 12. bearing their Infir­mities, Ephes. 6. 2. endeavouring their Comfort, Col. 3. 20. obeying their Commands, Eph. 6. 1. following their Counsel, 1 Tim. 5. 4. praying for their Happiness and long Lives, sub­mitting to their Correction, relieving and requiting them to my Power as there was need?

Have I loved and done all fatherly or motherly Offices for my Children, Ephes. 6. 4. given them devoutly to God in Baptism, Heb. 12. 7. 9. pray'd for them, Col. 3. 21. nursed them, instructed them, mo­derately corrected them, restrained them from Evil, given them good Ex­ample, encouraged them in Goodness, not pamper'd them in Back or Belly, brought them up in Humility and Modesty, provided them of honest Callings, and married them religi­ously?

Have I loved my Brothers or Si­sters, and manifested my Love to them [Page 39] as there hath been occasion? Am I a Father to the Fatherless, a Husband to the Widow, a Deliverer to the Op­pressed, a Reliever of the Poor? Do I weep with those that weep, Rom. 12. 1 [...]. and rejoyce with those that rejoyce, Gal. 6. 9. 10. with a fellow-feeling of their Joys or Afflictions? Heb. 13. 1. &c. Am I more especially thus affected towards those of the Houshold of Faith, mourning for the Calamities of the Church, and pray­ing for the peace and flourishing of it?

Have I married no such as is for­bidden by God, nor for unlawful ends, nor against my Parents Will? Do I use the Marriage-bed so­berly and religiously? Heb. 13. 4. Do I love, Eph. 5. 22. and live quietly and kindly with my Husband or Wife, Col. 3. 18. and faithfully using his or her Bed only? 1 Pet. 3. 2. &c. Do we bear with each others Infirmi­ties, 1 Timothy 2. 9. advising, Titus 2. 4. assisting, Mat. 19. 6. 9. comforting, praying for and with each other, pro­mote each others spiritual Welfare, [Page 40] agree in governing the Family and well-educating our Children?

Have I not used my Servants hardly or cruelly, Colossians 4. 1. but gently as Christian Bre­thren or Sisters, Ephesians 6. 9. giving them their due, instructing and allowing time to serve God.

Have I diligently done my Master's Commands, 1 Timothy 6. 1. studied his Profit, Eph. 6. 5. not wasted his Goods, Titus 2. 9. or wrong'd him of my time or service by Idleness or any other way? 1 Pet. 2 18. Have I concealed his Secrets or Infirmities, born his Rebukes and Corrections without answering a­gain? Have I done him Service as in the Sight of God?

Have I murder'd no man, Vid. hurt no man's Bo­dy, Romans 1. 29, 30, 31. 3, 4. 12, 9. tempted no man to Intemperance or any thing which hath impaired his Health or occasion'd his Sickness or Death, 1 Tim. 3. 3 & 11. 5. 13. 6. 4. Titus 3. 2. 3. Gal. 5. 19 & 26. Col. 3. 8. raised no Quarrels or Dissenti­ons [Page 41] among men, been angry causlesly, or immoderately? Have I labour'd to promote the bodily Welfare of others as my own?

Have I defiled no man's Wife, Mar. 7. 22. 10. 19. nor lusted after her, Matt. 15. 19. committed no Fornication or Uncleanness? 2 Timothy 2. 3. Have I checkt all lustful thoughts, 1 Cor. 6. 8. forborn all lascivious words and Actions, Lev. 19. 16. not occasioning Lust in my self or others by Idleness, Prov. 11. 13. pampering the Body, using immodest Dresses, amorous Gestures, obscene Songs or Stories, unseasonable Fami­liarity, and private Opportunities? Do I use all means of preserving my own and others Chastity?

Have I stol'n nor spoil­ed no man's Goods, 1 Peter 4. 15. nor by force or fraud, Iames 3. 14. or co­lour of Law, Ephes. 4. 31. injured him in any part of his Estate? 1 Thes. 4. 6. Have I not begged with­out need, Mic. 6. 10, 11. nor borrow'd without punctually pay­ing again, Gal. 6. 5. Rom. 14. 13. Luke 3. 11. Iames 2. 16. 1 Iohn 3. 17. 1 Cor. 10. 34. Luke 17. 3, 4. nor over-reach­ed [Page 42] others in buying or selling by con­cealment of faults, or taking advan­tage of another's Ignorance or Neces­sity, nor oppressed any by Usury or Exaction? Have I laboured honestly for my own Living, and freely gi­ven and neighbourly lent as there was cause? Do I make satisfaction for all Trespasses, pay all Dues, and do what I can to better another man's Estate as mine own?

Have I no way injured any one's good Name or Credit, Matthew 5. 44. by false-witness, Rom. 12. 20. railing, 1 Thes. 5. 18. slandering, 1 Pet. 3. 9. back­biting, 1 Cor. 13 4. &c. busie prating of his Behaviour, Mat. 5. 23. 7. 1. Infirmities or Concerns; causless suspi­cions, rash censuring and judging, misconstruing and wresting his Words or Actions, not checking or willingly hearing others do so; gibing, scoffing, playing upon him, or not righting and defending him as much as we can with Truth?

[Page 43] Have I not been too selfish, Iames 5. 16. so that I could be content to thrive by ano­ther's Loss, Luke 19. 18. or value not much the Publick or my Neighbours Welfare, Ezek. 33. 15. so I may please my self? Rom. 13. 8. 12. 18. Have I so learn'd to deny my self that I can be heartily contented with, and thankful for my present Condition be it better or worse, and rejoyce to see others in a better Condition than I am in; that I can bear Poverty, and Shame, and Injuries; and love, pray for, and do good to Enemies? Am I so little in love with the World, that nothing therein can tempt me to dishonour God or wrong my Neigh­bour, or bear Malice or Hatred against any man, or break the Bond of Love and Charity, or to neglect the care of my Soul?

These are the chief Branches of our Christian Duty, whereby we may also know our Sins, and what we have more especially to repent of. And here we are to note some things ve­ry needful to be observed.

[Page 44] 1. That though we are to aim at the Perfection of Duty in all we do, and not to satisfie our selves with low degrees of Holiness, but to be greatly humbled by the sense of our Failings, and restlesly to strive after better things; yet it is not a perfect Obedience without Sin, but a sincere Obedience without feigning and hy­pocrisie, that is the Gospel-condition of our Salvation through Christ Iesus. It is not our duty to be perfectly inno­cent, but it is our duty to labour after Perfection. Tho then we find that we offend in many things, and do all that we do very weakly and imper­fectly, we are not to discourage our selves thereby, so long as we can find our hearts sincerely bent to keep Co­venant with God, and to honour and serve him more perfectly.

2. That we are therefore narrow­ly to search our hearts, to see that we are sincere in our obedience. We are to see, that all our obedience flow from a true Love of God in our hearts, and a sense of his Right to command, [Page 45] and our Obligations to obey; that our great design in all things be to please God and to enjoy his Love, and not any of those low ends of pleasing men, or securing our own Reputation, or our worldly Peace, Profit, or Safety. And if our Obe­dience be thus sincere, then do we make a Conscience of those which men account little Duties as well as of greater, of shunning little Sins as well as grosser Sins, of governing our Thoughts and Desires, as well as Words and outward Actions; we are as religious in private as in publick, where it is costly as where it is cheap, where 'tis painful as where it is easie, where it is against our natural Incli­nations as where it suits with our na­tural Temper, where it is discounte­nanced, derided, or persecuted, as where it is countenanced, commended, and rewarded by men.

3. That having discovered our Sins, we seek not any Excuses or Pretences to cloak or lessen them, but endeavour to view them in their ugliest and most [Page 46] affrighting Shapes; as contrary to the Purity of God, and the very Na­ture of man as well as his Happiness: against so much goodness, long-suffer­ing, and patient Forbearance of God; against so many Encouragements of his present Bounty and rich Promises of Reward; so many gracious Warn­ings and Threatnings, so many father­ly Chastisements and Corrections, so much Light and Knowledge, so many means, helps, and opportunities, so many vows and engagements, so ma­ny admonitions by Friends, and checks by our own Consciences: after all this, so long continued in, so much time, strength, estate, wasted thereby; so little of all this left to serve God with, &c. By such Considerations must we labour to humble our proud Hearts, and bring them to a perfect Hatred of Sin.

4. That our Repentance be un­feigned, and rest neither in confessing our Sins, nor sorrowing for them, nor begging Pardon, nor in any thing else, till it come up to a hatred of Sin, [Page 47] and a full Resolution to forsake it. When it is come to this, we will be very angry at our own Folly that we have so long continued in it, very thankful to God for any Chastisement, thinking our selves mercifully dealt with, whatever our Condition be, so long as we are not in Hell; use cheer­fully all helps and means, how hard or sharp soever, to mortifie our Lusts; thank any man that will reprove us and shew us our Faults; watch dili­gently against all Temptations, avoid carefully all occasions of Sin; observe jealously our Thoughts, Words, and Actions; pray devoutly for more Grace and Strength; abridge our selves of many things lawful, and punish our selves by crossing our own Wills; not be ashamed to make pub­lick satisfaction to the Church where it is required, nor to open our Breasts freely to the Guide of our Souls for our own Satisfaction. We will do any thing, or suffer any thing, to pre­vent sinning against God.

[Page 48] These helps to Self-examination might here have been omitted, had I cause enough to believe, that they for whose Ease and Benefit they are chiefly design'd, had made as good use of my little Book, called Christi­anity in short, as I could wish they had made. Those Summaries of Faith and Duty which there they have, might have served them for this purpose. And here I think fit to give my Readers notice, that I suppose it would be very beneficial to their Souls, once a Week or Fort­night, or at least, when they have examined themselves in order to this Sacrament with the greatest Serious­ness and Devotion, to use that form of Resigning themselves to God, and re­newing their Covenant with him, which they have at the end of that small Book.

IF we be Christians, we have a right to this Sacrament; yet, that we may profit the more by it, we are more particularly to examine our selves both how we understand it, and how suitable our Affections are unto it.

I. We are to try how we under­stand the Nature, Ends, and Benefits of this divine Ordinance. To which end, we are duely to consider the In­stitution of it, as it is recorded in Scri­pture.

St. Matthew tells us, Matthew. 26. 26. &c. that as they were eating, Iesus took Bread, and blessed it, Mark 14. 22. &c. (St. Luke saith, he gave Thanks) and brake it, Luke 22. 19. &c. and gave it to the Disciples, 1 Corinth. 11. 23. &c. and said, Take, eat, this is my [Page 50] Body. ( St. Luke addeth, Which is given for you, this do in Remembrance of me: and St. Paul saith, which is broken for you, &c.) And he took the Cup, and gave Thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for ma­ny for the Remission of Sins. ( St. Luke saith, This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you) And St. Paul saith, This Cup is the New Te­stament in my Blood: This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me: For as often as ye eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, ye do shew [ or, shew ye] the Lord's Death till he come.

By these Words of the Evangelists and St. Paul, we may understand what the meaning and use of this Sacra­ment is.

1. It is a holy Christian Feast, not much unlike the Feast of the Passover among the Iews, at which this was instituted by Christ. Exodus 12. When they were in Bondage in Egypt, God, in order to their Delive­rance, destroyed all the first-born in [Page 51] Egypt, commanding them to kill in each Family a Lamb, and to strike the Blood thereof upon the Door-posts of their Houses, and so to feast upon it, promising, that when he saw the Blood he would pass over their Houses, and not destroy their first-born. In thankful Remembrance whereof, they yearly kept the like Feast, called there­fore the Lord's Passover. Thus by the Sin of Adam we being all brought in­to Bondage and Slavery under Satan, it pleased God to destroy the Power of the Devil, and deliver us by the Death of JESUS CHRIST, the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sins of the World; Iohn 1. 29. to redeem us by his precious Blood as of a Lamb without Blemish and without Spot: 1 Pet. 1. 19. so that Christ is our Pass­over sacrificed for us. 1 Cor. 5. 7. Therefore are we to keep the Feast, eating our Pass­over, the Body and Blood of Christ, in a thankful Remembrance of this our Redemption and Deliverance by his once offering himself to God a Sacrifice for our Sins.

[Page 52] In like manner, when according to the Law, Men sacrificed Peace-offerings unto God, Levit. 7. 20. they were al­lowed to feast before God on part of the same; to signifie, that God now admitted them to an intimate Communion and Friendship with him­self, feasting them at his own Table, of that meat which by their Oblation was now in a special manner his. So Christ, whom all the Sacrifices of the Law did shadow forth and typifie, be­ing offered once for all a Sacrifice of Atonement for our Sins, calleth us Christians to feast upon this Sacrifice, though it was a Sin-offering; and even upon the Blood of it (as the Iews were not allowed to do in their Feasts) in token of a more intimate Communion and Friendship with God through him, who hath made our Peace. This Sa­crament then is a sacred Feast, and that upon the sacrificed Body and Blood of Christ: and as bodily we eat and drink the broken Bread and poured­out Wine, the Symbols of his Body and Blood; so spiritually we eat his crucified [Page 53] Body and drink his poured-out Blood.

2. The great end of this Feast is, to keep up in the Christian Church a fresh and joyful Remembrance of Iesus Christ, and of all that he did and suffered in the Flesh for us. This do, saith he, in remembrance of me. It is his Plea­sure that we more signally and so­lemnly commemorate thus the Sacri­fice of his Death by a lively Repre­sentation of it at this Feast of Love, and so shew his Death till he come.

1. We shew it hereby to our own Hearts, for the stirring them up to an holy rejoycing in Christ, praising him, believing in him, loving him and obeying him, and to bring them to true Repentance and a perfect hatred of Sin which crucified the Lord of Glory.

2. We shew it to the World, decla­ring to the Honour of our holy Iesus what great things he hath done for our Souls; that we are not ashamed of a crucified Saviour, that we glory before the World and rejoyce in him, that he is the Food and Gladness of our [Page 54] Souls, that we are resolved to be faithful unto him whilst we live, and are ready to dye a bloody Death for him if he shall call us to it.

3. We shew it unto God, laying be­fore him in our Prayers the Death of his only begotten Son, as the most powerful Argument, and all indeed that we have, to prevail with him for Pardon, and Grace, and Glory; of­fering our Persons and our Services to the Father as acceptable unto him in the Vertue of this Sacrifice only.

3. The Benefits of this Sacrament must needs be many, seeing herein our blessed IESUS giveth himself unto us to be the food of our Souls His Body, which was broken for us, he here bids us take and eat. His Blood, which was shed for us, he here bids us drink, The Cup of Blessing, 1 Cor 10. 16. which we bless, is it not the Communion or Com­munication] of the Blood of Christ? The Bread which we break, is it not the Communication of the Body of Christ? Christ, and all the Benefits of his Pas­sion, are freely communicated to the [Page 55] worthy Partakers of this Bread and this Cup. The Cup of which we drink, is the New Testament in his Blood. Covenants were of old made and confirmed with Sacrificings and Feastings: the new Covenant of Grace and Salvation was established with us through the bloody Sacrifice of Iesus Christ, and is renew'd and confirm'd by our feasting before God on this Sa­crifice.

1. This Blood was shed for the Re­mission of Sins, and by our worthy drinking of it, we receive an Assu­rance, That our Sins and our Iniquities God will remember no more, Hebrews 8. 12.

2. God, by admitting us to his Ta­ble to feast on this Sacrifice, owns us as Members of his proper Family; and will accordingly provide for us and protect us. He will be to us a God, and we shall be to him a People, Hebrews 8. 10.

3. The Promise of the Covenant was this, Hebrews 3. 10. I will put my Laws (saith God) into their, [Page 56] Minds, and write them in their Hearts: God will give the light of Knowledge and the life of Grace; not only teach us, but incline our Hearts to love and delight in his Laws. Here is Life and strength of Grace promised, but all through Iesus Christ; he is the bread of God which giveth Life unto the World; and this bread is his Flesh which he gave for the Life of the World, and he that eateth this bread shall never hunger nor die, John 6. 33. 51. 35.

4. The Bond of Vnion betwixt Christ our Head, and us his Members, is hereby strengthned. He (saith he) that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him, Joh. 6. 56.

5. The Communion of Saints is here­by preserved and maintain'd; by this we declare, that we being many are one Bread and one Body; for we are all Par­takers of that one Bread, 1 Corinth. 10. 17.

6. Our Faith of the Resurrection is hereby confirm'd; Whoso eateth my Flesh ( saith Christ) and drinketh my [Page 57] Blood, hath eternal Life, and I will raise him up at the last day, John 6. 54.

So many and inestimable are the Benefits of the New Testament in Christ's Blood by this Sacrament con­firmed unto every worthy Commu­nicant.

HE eateth and drinketh unworthily who dis­cerneth not the Lord's Body. 1 Cor. 11. 29. To discern the Lord's Body, is to put a sufficient Difference between this Divine Feast and other common Feasts, both in our Iudgment, Affection, and Behaviour. How we are to judge of it, hath been already shewn. We are next to see what Affections it calls for.

We come not here to feast with Men only, but with God; nor to feed our Bodies with a little Bread and Wine, but our Souls on the Body and Blood of Christ. Let us then enquire,

1. Are we deeply sensible of our spiritual Wants, and our great need of this divine Food? Except we eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of the Son of Man, we have no Life in us, John 6. 53.

[Page 59] 2. Are we highly sensible of God's wonderful Goodness in providing so graciously for our Wants? God so lo­ved the World, that he gave his only be­gotten Son, that whosoever bel [...]eveth on him should not perish, but have everlast­ing Life. All things (saith he) are now ready, come ye to the Marriage. John 3. 16. Mat. 22. 4.

3. Do we verily believe, that who­soever cometh preparedly shall be kindly welcome? Him that cometh to me (saith Christ) I will in no wise cast out, John 6. 37.

4. Have we longing Appetites and ardent Desires to this food of our Souls? Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness, for they shall be filled, Matt. 5. 6.

5. Do we empty our Souls of car­nal and worldly Thoughts and Cares and Desires? Labour not for the Meat which perisheth, but for that Meat which endureth unto everlasting Life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you, for him hath God the Father sealed. John 6. 27.

[Page 60] 6. Are we not ready to lay hold on vain Excuses borrow'd from our worldly Businesses of Pleasures? None of those Men (saith God) shall taste of my Supper, Luke 14. 24.

7. Do we labour to put our selves into a fit habit and posture of Soul for so divine a Feast? He that came with­out his Wedding-garment was bound hand and foot, and cast into outer Dark­ness, Matt. 22. 13.

Now therefore we are as it were to new trim up all our Graces, and ap­pear with them before God in their greatest Brightness, having our Souls adorned, and adorning the Gospel of Christ.

1. Let the Consideration of the Odiousness of Sin to God, which he would not pardon without the Death of his only begotten Son, and of the astonishing Love of God to Sinners Souls, so that he would send his Son to die rather than they should perish, give Life to our Repentance.

2. Let this Consideration, that Christ hath not only left us the History [Page 61] of his Life, Death, and Resurrection, in his Gospel, confirmed by many Mi­racles; but hath also instituted a so­lemn festival Commemoration of him­self, which hath been constantly cele­brated in his Church in all Ages, wherein what by the Word is preach­ed to our Ears is lively represented to our Eyes, even Iesus Christ evidently set forth crucified a­mong us; Gal. 3. 1. set our Faith on work.

3. Let the wonderful Love of the Father in giving his only Son, of the Son in shedding his precious Blood for us ungodly Sinners, rebellious Ene­mies, hopeless Wretches, demonstrated in this Feast of Love, enflame our Hearts with the Love of God in Iesus Christ.

4. Let the Promises of God that can­not lie, first sealed in the Blood of the everlasting Covenant, now renewed and confirmed in this Sacrament, feed and nourish our Hope.

5. Let the numerous Benefits of Christ's Death, thus signally exhibited and assured unto us, fill our Hearts [Page 62] with Thankfulness, remembring that this Sacrament is the Eucharist, a thankful Commemoration of Christ, and this Cup the Cup of Blessing, Praise, or Thanksgiving.

6. Let our Deliverance from the Vassalage of Sin and Torments of Hell, and our new Title to the Kingdom of Heaven, Ps. 116. 3. fill our Hearts with spiritual Joy. Let us take the Cup of S [...]lvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord, in joyful Songs and Hymns of Praise.

7. As God, whom we have so often provoked to Wrath and Indignation, doth graciously condescend in Christ Iesus to renew his Covenant of Mer­cy to us; so let us most heartily come to renew through the same blessed Iesus our Engagements to him, and do that which may correspond with what Christ hath done for us.

Did he deny himself, Phil. 2. 5. ad 8. veiled his God-head in mortal Flesh, taking on him the form of a Servant, Lu. 14. 26. humbling himself to the Death of the Cross? Let us de­ny [Page 63] our selves, take up the Cross, for­sake all, and follow, him.

Was he Crucified for us? Rom. 6. 6. Let the Old-man be cruci­ [...]ed in us with the Affecti­ons and Lusts, Galat. 5. 24. 6. 14. let the World be cruci­fied to us, and we unto the World, let us make no more Provision for the Flesh to fulfill the Lusts thereof.

Did he give himself a Sacrifice for our Sins? Psal. 51. 17. 107. 22. Let us offer to God the Sacri­fices of broken and con­trite Hearts, Heb. 13. 16. the Sacrifice of Prayer and Supplication, of Praise and Thans­giving, Rom. 12. 1. of Almsgiving and Mercy; and in a word, our Bodies a living Sa­crifice, holy and acceptable to God.

8. Let this Feast of Love and holy Communion oblige us to hold the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace, 1 Cor. 5. 8. to purge out the old leaven of Malice and Ephes. 4. 32. Envy, Gal. 6. 10. to forgive as God for Christ his sake hath Mat 5. 44. forgiven us, Romans 12. 20. 21. to do good to all men as we have opportunity, Mat. 5. 24. [Page 64] especially to them that are of the Houshold of Faith; to love our Ene­mies, bless our Persecutors, pray for our Haters, render good for evil, over­come evil with good; and if going to the Altar, we remember that our Brother hath ought against us, go first and be reconciled unto him.

When we are thus disposed we may with an holy Boldness come to the Lord's Table, and need not fear but we shall have the Benefits thereof confer­red upon us.

¶ AS thou goest to the Church, medi­tate all the way, or discourse with thy Company of the Goodness of God in inviting poor Sinners to his own Table: Say thus with thy self.

O my sinful Soul, taste and see that the Lord is good! O what a Love and Goodness is this! that such wicked Prodigals as we, who have so long abused all the good Gifts which our heavenly Father hath bestowed upon us, in a vain, foolish, and sinful way of living, should have such Encou­ragements as these to return to our offended God and Father! I will go unto him, and say, Father, I have sin­ned against Heaven and before thee, and am not worthy to be called thy Son, or to appear and feed amongst thy Children. O Lord, not consider­ing what thou hast made me, a ratio­nal [Page 66] Creature, to know, love, and ho­nour thee my great and good God, I have used my self like a Beast, and have fed with Greediness and Delight amongst swinish Sinners, upon empty Husks and Vanities. O blessed be thy Name, who hast brought me to my self again, to see, and lament, and hate my past Folly. I am now in all Hu­mility coming to feast my Soul with thee in thy House, where there is ever bread enough and to spare, even the Bread of Life, my ever blessed JESUS. O send out thy Light and thy Truth! let them lead me, let them bring me unto thy holy Hill and to thy Tabernacles; then will I go unto the Altar of God, unto God my ex­ceeding Joy, and with all my Soul will I praise thee O God, my God. I will enter into thy Gates with Thanksgi­ving, and into thy Courts with Praise, I will be thankful unto thee and bless thy Name: For the Lord is good, his Mercy is everlasting, and his Truth endureth to all Generations.

[Page 67] ¶Entring into the Church, have such Thoughts as these before the Service begin.

O how dreadful is this place! This is no other but the House of God, and the Gate of Heaven. Holi­ness, O God, becometh thine House for ever. One day in thy House is bet­ter than a thousand. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to ap­proach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy Courts. I come, O Lord, into thy House in the multitude of thy Mer­cy, and in thy Fear will I worship thee in thy holy Temple. I have lo­ved the Habitation of thy House, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. O let me be abundantly sa­tisfied with the Fatness of thy House, and make me drink of the River of thy Pleasures.

¶Ioyn devoutly with the Congrega­tion in the Prayers of the Church, and attend diligently to God's Word read and preached. And when the Minister is going to the Table, say thus:

[Page 68] Blessed be God for affording us Pa­stors and Teachers: O how beautiful are the Feet of them that preach the Gospel of Peace, and bring glad ti­dings of good things! O Lord bless and assist this thy Servant in this holy Ministration. Thou, O Lord, art our Shepherd, we can want nothing; thou preparest a Table before us, sure­ly Goodness and Mercy shall follow us all the days of our Life.

¶When the Bread and Wine are pla­ced upon the Table, and thou art preparing thine Offering, say thus:

O gracious Lord, what a miracle of Divine Love do we here behold! We have sinned against thee, and yet thou callest not upon us for Sacri­fices and burnt Offerings, but hast pre­pared a Body for thy eternal Son, that he in that might do thy Will, live among us, and die a Sacrifice for us, and here feed us on that Sacrifice of himself to eternal Life. I have abun­dantly deserved to be at this time in Hell amongst the Devils, and dost thou yet vouchsafe to feast me at thy [Page 69] Table, amongst thy Children, on the Body and Blood of thy dearest Son? O astonishing Love! Let this thy love, O God, pierce my Heart, and do thou, O blessed JESUS, dwell therein for ever.

The Earth is thine, O Lord, and the fullness thereof. What can I ren­der unto thee for all thine inestimable Benefits. My Goodness extendeth not unto thee, but to the Saints that are in the Earth. Thou, O God of thy Goodness, hast prepared for the poor. Accept, I beseech thee, of my poor Mite, receive this my humble Ac­knowledgment of thy Bounty to me poor Sinner, whereby I confess and declare my self and all that I have, to be at thy Command and Service, ac­cept of me for Iesus Christ his sake.

¶When the Exhortation is read, mind it well, and observe whether you come so duely prepared as is therein said you ought to be. Then say,

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in [Page 70] me, and lead me in the way everlast­ing. Who can understand his Errors? Cleanse thou me from my secret Faults.

¶When you are bid to draw near, do so, both with Body and Soul, say­ing;

My Heart is ready, O God, my Heart is ready; I will wash my hands in In­nocency, and so will I compass thine Altar, O God.

I come, O my God I come, for whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee. O hide not thy comfortable Pre­sence from me.

¶Then humbly joyn in the Confession of Sins, saying after the Minister, and receive in the humblest Posture the Ab­solution as from Christ himself interce­ding for you at God's right hand and blessing you. Draw Comfort from the Sentences of Scripture read unto you, and lift up your Hearts with joyful Prai­ses unto God, as you are called upon to do, heartily joyning in the following De­votions.

[Page 71] When the Minister consecrateth the Elements, fix your Eye upon the whole Action, and your Heart upon your cru­cified Jesus, considering with what Pains and Tortures on the Cross he finished your Redemption.

When the Minister draweth near you with the Bread, say;

Create in me a clean Heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me.

¶When you take the Bread, say;

With all Humility and Thankful­ness of heart I take this sacred Pledge of thy Love, O dearest Saviour. Be it according to thy Word, with thy cru­cified Body feed my Soul to Life eter­nal.

¶Then eating the Bread, say;

O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God blessed for ever, I am wholly thine and not my own; reign in me, rule over me, O blessed Iesus, now and for ever. By thee I live, through thee let me grow in Grace and Goodness. Keep me from hungring any more af­ter Sin and Vanity. Lord, evermore give me this Bread till thou bring me [Page 72] to thy eternal Supper in thy Kingdom of Glory.

¶Receiving the Cup, say,

I will receive the Cup of Salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord.

¶Having drunk of it, say,

My Soul was a-thirst for the living God; let thy Blood, O holy Lamb of God, cleanse me and this whole Con­gregation from all Sin. Let thy holy Spirit be in us a Well of living Water springing up into everlasting Life. I have confessed my Sin, and thou art faithful and just to forgive my Sin, and to cleanse me from all Unrighteous­ness. Take now, my blessed Lord, a full and everlasting possession of thy dear Purchase. As I believe we have Redemption through thy Blood, even the Forgiveness of Sins; so do I here deny my self, and resolve by thy As­sistance to follow thee even unto Death. And, O thou God of Peace, that brought'st again from the dead our Lord Iesus Christ, that great Shep­herd of the Sheep, through the [Page 73] Blood of the everlasting Covenant, feed, govern, and protect thy whole Flock the Universal Church, make us perfect in every good Work to do thy Will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in thy Sight, through Iesus Christ, to whom be Glory for ever and ever. Amen.

¶During the time of the Distribu­tion, if no Psalm be sung, (or, if a Psalm be sung, then, during the Oblati­on, or at any other vacant times) employ your selves in such Meditations as these following.

O how wonderful is the Love of God! How doth the Lord triumph in his Goodness, and rejoyce in his Mer­cy! We that have a thousand times over deserved to be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of Teeth in everlasting Fire, are here admitted to feast and rejoyce at the Table of the Lord.

O astonishing Love of the blessed Iesus! O abominable Sins of us re­bellious Wretches! Was thy holy Bo­dy, my dearest Lord and God, thus [Page 74] broken and torn, they precious Blood thus shed and poured out for our sin­ful Souls? And shall we not abhor those cursed Sins of ours, and with all due Hatred and Indignation cast them off for ever? Shall we not renounce all Kindness to our beastly Lusts, loath our selves for our Iniquities, and give our selves entirely to thy Service (which is perfect Freedom) for ever­more?

O ravishing Love, that moved the eternal Son of God to rescue us from everlasting Torments, by the sharpest Pains and Tortures of his spotless Bo­dy, and the bitterest Agonies of his purest Soul! That moved the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to condescend un­to Sufferings, Shame, and Death, and to be made a Curse for us, that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him?

Wast thou, O blessed Saviour, con­tent for our sake to be despised and re­jected of men, to become a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with Grief, [Page 75] and have we so long hid, as it were, our Faces from thee? Hast thou been despised, and yet have not we esteem­ed thee? Surely thou hast born ou [...] Griefs, and carried our Sorrows; thou wast wounded for our Transgressions, and bruised for our Iniquities; the Chastisement of our Peace was upon thee, and with thy Stripes we are healed. All we, like Sheep, have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on thee the Iniquity of us all. Thou wast oppressed and afflicted, yet did'st thou not open thy Mouth; thou wast brought as a Lamb dumb to the Slaughter; thou wast cut off out of the Land of the Living; for the Transgression of thy People wast thou stricken.

O holy Iesus, I do most stedfastly believe, that thou art the Lamb of God that takest away the Sins of the World; that thou hast in thine own Body born our Sins upon the Tree; and that in the Body of thy Flesh, through Death, thou hast reconciled [Page 76] us who were Enemies, to present us holy and unblameable in God's sight. Thou wast not ashamed to call us Bre­thren; and because the Children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood, thou [...] thy self tookest part of the same, and through Death hast destroy'd him that had the power of Death, the Devil.

We have not an High-priest which cannot be touch'd with a feeling of our Infirmities, but was in all Points tempted as we are, yet without Sin. Therefore may we come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need. Thou, O blessed Ie­sus, being made perfect through Suf­ferings, art become the Author of Sal­vation unto all that obey thee.

O Lord, I poor Sinner fly for Re­fuge, to lay hold on the Hope now set before us. Thou art able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by thee, seeing thou ever livest to make Intercession for us. By thine own Blood hast thou entered in once [Page 77] into the holy place, having obtained eternal Redemption, for us. Thou art entered into Heaven it self now to ap­pear in the Presence of God for us. Thou art our Advocate with the Fa­ther, the Propitiation for our Sins, and we look for thee to appear the second time without Sin unto Salvation.

O Lord, seeing thou hast given us Boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Iesus, by a new and living way which he hath consecra­ted for us through the Vail, that is to say, his Flesh: and having such an High-priest over thine House, I here draw near with a true Heart, in full Assurance of Faith, having my Heart sprinkled from an evil Conscience, and resolving by thy Grace to hold fast the Profession of my Faith without wavering.

I do here, O Lord, in all Humility, offer up my self to be a living Sacri­fice, holy and acceptable unto thee in vertue of the Sacrifice of thy dear Son, desiring to glorifie thee with my Body and Spirit which are thine. [Page 78] Confirm, I beseech thee, now unto my Soul, and to all here present, the Covenant sealed in his Blood. Enable us to continue stedfast therein for [...]ver.

Lord, make all that profess thy Name zealous of good Works, unite us in the same Faith and Love, and let us keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace. Let us never for­sake the assembling of our selves to­gether, to celebrate the Memorial of thy loving-Kindness, and shew thy Death till thou come. Put thy Laws into our Hearts, and write them in our Minds, and enable us to cleanse our selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit, and to perfect Holiness in the fear of God.

¶When the Distribution is ended, joyn heartily in the Thansgiving, and following Hymn of Praise.

Being return'd home, give hearty Thanks for this Mercy afforded you; pray for Grace to perform your Vows, and return not too soon to your common Business. Strive by [Page 79] Meditation to keep a warm sense of God's Goodness in your Heart, and labour to strengthen your Resoluti­ons of a Holy and Christian Life Watch especially against the Sins you have been lateliest guilty of, or [...] most inclined to, and sin no more lest a worse thing come unto you.

NO good man will seek an Excuse, no wicked man can find one, for not endeavouring to do his Duty; and a Duty it is to do this in Remem­brance of Christ. The Benefits are such as cannot be slighted by a wise man, the Necessity is such as cannot be dis­pensed with by any man. Yet be­cause men are too apt to deceive them­selves out of their Duty and Happi­ness at once by something that they call Reason, and where they have no good Excuse are ready to make a bad one; in charity to their Souls, their Vanity herein is to be shew'n them.

Obj. 1. We eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of Christ spiritually by Faith out of this Sacrament; what need there­fore can there be of this Sacrament, see­ing therein we are but to do the same?

[Page 81] Ans. This is all one as to say, We do some part of our Duty, what need is therefore of doing the rest? Or, We believe in Christ, what need i [...] there to obey his Commandments? It is enough to a Christian, that Christ hath commanded it.

That Faith whereby we eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of Christ spi­ritually, implieth Obedience to the Gospel of Christ; and it is an especial Command of the Gospel to do this. He then that neglects the doing of this, neglects to obey the Gospel, and therefore falsly pretends that he eats and drinks spiritually the Flesh and Blood of Christ. Whatever therefore the Christian doth more in this Sacra­ment than out of it, the willful Neg­lecter of it is inexcusable, for he is no Christian or true Believer.

Obj. 2. he that receiveth unworthily receiveth Damnation to himself; there­fore 'tis safer to forbear.

Ans. So you may say, He that eat­eth may, if he be not careful, eat Poison, or choak himself, or surfeit [Page 82] and die; and therefore 'tis safest to forbear eating. Will you fast for this reason?

Willful neglect is certain Damna­ [...]; receiving is not so: Will you prevent an uncertain danger of Death, by killing your self?

If a man receive without Faith and Repentance, he receiveth Damnation; and so he doth if he do not believe and repent, tho' he receive not this Sacrament. What better is he then for not receiving it? He perisheth ei­ther way, receiving or not receiving it.

A Communicant that being a peni­tent Believer comes to the Lord's Ta­ble without due Preparation and suta­ble Affections, may receive thereby Iudgment, (so the Word translated Damnation may be englished) that is some Chastisement, such as Weakness, Sickness, or Death, 1 Cor. 11. 30. and he is thus chastened, that he may not be condemned, v. 32. But even this may be prevented by judging our selves, or duely examining our selves, v. 31. And [Page 83] now which is safer, to judge our selves and eat, or to neglect our Duty and perish?

Obj. 3. But I am afraid I am unwor­thy, and therefore dare not come to this Sacrament.

Ans. In a strict sense, we are all unworthy, even so much as to eat or live, being Sinners, and deserving Damnation.

In another sense, he is unworthy that is ignorant, an Unbeliever, and wick­ed, or no good Christian, and must not come. But say,

Are you a sincere Christian, or a dis­sembling Hypocrite? If the former, prepare your self and come; if the lat­ter, be ashamed of it and repent, for otherwise you perish.

Obj. 4. I doubt of my Sincerity, and he that doubteth is damned if he eateth, Rom. 14. 23.

Ans. To do a thing, doubting that it is an unlawful thing or a Sin, is that which deserveth Damnation, accor­ding to that Text. But you cannot fear that the receiving of this Sacra­ment [Page 84] is a Sin, it being a necessary Du­ty. That which you doubt of is your own Sincerity. If you be indeed un­sincere, that is, a Hypocrite and a Dissembler, you are not to receive it: if you be sincere you may, there can be no doubt of this. But you doubt whether you be a sincere Christian. And if this Doubt be so prevalent that you rather judge you are not, I shall not advise you to come to this Sacrament till you be better satisfied of your Sin­cerity. But then consider,

Will you contentedly rest in this doubtful Condition? Can you be qui­et in your Mind, till you find cause to hope you are a Christian, and shall be saved? If you find no cause to hope this, why should you not forbear all other Christian Duties as well as this?

Why do you not lay open your con­dition freely and impartially to your spiritual Guide, and take his Judg­ment of your Sincerity? If you use not this or any other means of know­ing your self, but rest contentedly un­der [Page 85] your Doubts, and plead them as an Excuse for not doing your Duty, you are certainly no sincere Christian.

But if you are troubled that you know your self no better, and are above all things desirous to be a good Christian, and endeavour by all means to be so, and to know that you are so, and give your self no rest, but mourn, and pray, and examine your self, and crave Advice, and set your self in ear­nest about the Duties of Christianity, these are good signs of Sincerity; and you ought to receive this Sacrament, and wait upon God for a farther Bles­sing.

Obj. 5. I fear I have not a saving Faith, I have no Assurance of my Sal­vation.

Ans. Though such Assurance may be had, yet I verily think, that the far greater number of good Christians want it, and are but working out their Salvation with fear and trembling. To labour after it is our Duty, to have it is our great Comfort, but no Condi­tion of Salvation.

[Page 86] Do you believe the Gospel, that he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved? that Iesus Christ is the Savi­our of all them that, repenting of their Sins, trust in his Merits, and live in Obedience to his Government and Laws?

Do you accordingly consent to be saved by him upon these terms; and striving against Sin, earnestly desire and endeavour to live according to his Gospel, and trust to him for Salva­tion? This is saving Faith, whether you have full Assurance or no, and you are to receive this Sacrament for the strengthning of your Faith.

Obj. 6. Faith worketh by Love, Gal. and I fear I do not love God.

Ans. Are you convinced, that God is the chief good, and ought to be lo­ved above all things? And do you so value him above all things?

Are you thereupon resolved to do any thing, to part with any thing, to suffer any thing, thereby to honour him and enjoy his Love?

[Page 87] Do you thus practice, and can you deny your self and your own Will to do his? This is Love, that you keep his Commandments. And though you feel not such a passionate Lov [...] [...] you have for some other things, yet, if you have this prizing and over-ruling Love, that you do prefer his Will and his Favour above other things, you are to use this Sacrament for the con­firming and farther inflaming your Love.

Obj. 7. I fear I do not truly repent, for I cannot weep for my Sins.

Ans. Can you hate them and avoid them; and do you in Obedienee to God, and of Love to him, shun all Temptations, and watch against them? If so, though your Eyes be dry, God will not despise a broken Heart.

Obj. 8. But I feel Lusts and evil In­clinations stirring in me.

Ans. So you shall whilst you live, more or less. But do you not feed and cherish them? Do not you delight in them, nor obey and fulfill them? Do you, on the contrary, check and [Page 88] restrain them, and use all the means of subduing and mortifying them? If you find it thus, come to this Sacra­ment with Comfort. Let not Sin reign in you to fulfill the Lusts there­of, and all will be well.

Obj. 9. I am not in charity with my Neighbours, therefore I dare not come.

Ans. That is, You dare sin and pe­rish, but you dare not leave off sin­ning and do your Duty and be saved. If you be not in charity, how dare you pray for the Forgiveness of your Sins as you forgive others? how dare you sleep, lest you die out of Chari­ty? Plead not Sin as an Excuse for not doing your Duty, but leave your Sin, and do it.

Obj. 10. But I am engaged in Law Suits, and dare not come till they be ended.

Ans. That is, You will have your Right first, if you can get it, and let God stay your leisure for his. When you have got your Will of your Neighbour you will do your Du­ty to God.

[Page 89] But cannot you manage your Law Suits justly and charitably? Can you not defend or recover your Right without doing wrong or bearing ill will to your Neighbour? Then do [...] you take a sad course, to damn [...] own Soul to do your Neighbour an ill-turn.

Do nothing but your Duty in go­ing to Law, and you need not be kept from your Duty in this Sacrament of Christ.

Obj. 11. I have so much Business, that I cannot prepare my self.

Ans. Is it honest and profitable Bu­siness which you may do to the Glo­ry of God? Then need it not hinder you from doing this great Business of your Soul.

Doth it afford you time to eat and drink, to sleep, yea and perhaps give and receive impertinent Visits? And will it allow no time to prepare your self for this Sacrament? See that you make no more Business than is need­ful.

[Page 90] Examine your self daily, and stir up your Affections to God, and renew your Vows, and use only honest Bu­siness, and the work of Preparation will require no great time.

[...]bj. 12. I receive it sometimes, but why so often?

Ans. Where's the Zeal of the Pri­mitive Christians, who communicated every Lord's Day, or oftner?

What Reason can you give, why this Sacrament should not be a part of all our publick and more solemn Worship, seeing it is a Duty where­by we are so especially to own our selves the Disciples of a Crucified Savi­our?

Have we not need often to stir up in us the Remembrance of Christ, to quicken and actuate our Graces? Are they so lively and active in us?

Would not the frequent Celebrati­on hereof keep in us a warm sense of our Christian Duty, to live Godly, Righteously, and Soberly?

Would it not keep in a constant rea­diness to dye, and fit our Accounts for Iudgment?

[Page 91] Can our unwillingness frequently to communicate signifie any thing else, but that we too coldly resent God's Love to our Souls in Christ; and tha [...] we desire to have time enough be­twixt Sacrament and Sacrament to [...] get our Vows, and to enjoy our Sins, and hope to make amends for all the next time we receive?

Obj. 13. I see many that come to this Sacrament little better for it, they live no better Lives than they did before.

Ans. You see some that thrive not by their Labour, nor grow strong by their Meat, nor are cured by their Physick. Will this move you to ne­glect your Business, refuse to eat, seek no Remedy when you are sick?

Must not you do your Duty because others do it amiss?

Obj. 14. I have not found that Bene­fit and Comfort by it formerly which should encourage me to come to it again.

Ans. We are to do our Duty whe­ther we get any thing by it or no.

If we reap not the Benefit, the fault is neither in God, nor his Ordinance, [Page 92] but in our selves. The Sun makes a li­ving Plant grow, but drieth up a dead one.

If we have done our Duty as we ought, the Conscience of that should comfort us very much.

If we hold on constantly in a Chri­stian course of Life, we may presume we have got good by this Sacrament, and may get much more by receiving it oftner.

Be more careful to do your Duty in an acceptable manner, than too desi­rous of sensible Joys and Comforts. The Duty is ours to perform in its sea­son, the Benefit is God's to give when he pleaseth, and the Comfort may be reserved to come in fully in Hea­ven.

Obj. 15. But I am guilty of back-sti­ding into many Sins since the last Sacra­ment.

Ans. It is that which good men have been guilty of, and for that there is no less need of Humiliation and Repentance, but there is more room for Hope.

[Page 93] The more dangerously you have fallen, the more care ought you to take to rise again by Repentance, the more need have you to renew you [...] Covenant, and to come for more strength in your greater need.

Obj. 16. I shall but break my Vows again, and incur the greater Damna­tion.

Answ. If thy Leg were broken, would'st thou not set it for fear of breaking it again? If thou art sick, wilt thou not be cured for fear thou should'st relapse and dye?

If indeed thou resolvest to return to the Mire again, it is in vain for thee to wash and be clean. But be in good earnest to strive against thy Sin and forsake it, and fear not, God's Grace is sufficient for thee.

WE may well say here, as Christ said in another Case, Some there be who will neither enter into the Church to receive this Sacrament themselves, nor suffer those to enter in that would, but are very busie in laying such stumbling-blocks in their way as they are not able to remove. So that either they keep away from this blessed Sacrament to their great hurt, or struggle through their doubts and scruples with much Galling and Uneasiness, to their great disquiet. In pity therefore to the weak, these also ought to be removed.

1. Some have been made to think it unlawful to receive the Sacrament where it is administred with a prescribed form of Words.

Not to prove here the Lawfulness and Vsefulness too of set and prescribed [Page 95] Forms of Prayers in the publick Wor­ship of God, it will be sufficient, in reference to this Sacrament, to consi­der thus much.

1. That when our blessed Iesus commanded this to be done in [...] ­membrance of him, he neither com­manded nor forbad it to be done by a set or prescribed Form: it is therefore certainly left to the Discretion and Pi­ety of the Church to consider which is most expedient and conducing to Edi­fication, a Form or no Form; and to act accordingly. The thing must be done, and with a prescribed Form or without one, it must be done. Christ hath not told us which way, and who shall determine the matter but they to whom he hath committed the ordering of all such things in the Church?

2. If in any part of the publick Worship a prescribed Form be expedi­ent, it must be in this. 'Tis the Feast of Love, and a holy Communion, where­in we declare our selves one Bread and one Body; 'tis therefore in a great [Page 96] measure even necessary, that before we come together we should have before our Eyes the things wherein we are [...]nanimously to joyn, the Words to which we are to say, Amen: and not go at [...]nture to joyn in we know not what, and commit our Thoughts and Devotions there to the conduct of a single man, that loves it may be to hear himself talk, and to shew his Wit and Eloquence in Words, (to say the best of them) for the most part unintelligible to the greater number of Communicants.

Yea, seeing, to the great Grief of all good Christians, the Devil and his Instruments have ever been very busie to deform this holy Ordinance, and to turn this Sacrament of Union into a bone of Contention; it well becometh the Church to use all care, that nothing be said or done in this Administrati­on, but what is according to Truth and Godliness. And certainly it would be no good sign of such Care, to leave every Minister to his own Discretion, to use his own affected, [Page 97] and perhaps erroneous, Way and Words.

II. Others are made afraid to kneel in receiving this Sacrament, because th [...] Apostles at the first Institution did not so [...] and because the Papists doing so [...] the Bread and Wine.

If the Apostles kneeled not, yet they neither sate nor stood. And if they used a Supper-gesture, it was on occa­sion of the Passover whereat this Sacra­ment was instituted. Christ hath com­manded that this be done, that is, that Bread and Wine be blessed and broken and distributed, taken, eaten, and drank in Remembrance of him; but he hath not commanded any Gesture, nor ex­presly forbidden any. This therefore also must be left to the Prudence of the Church, as all other Circumstan­ces of this sacred Action, till it can be shewn that the bare Example of the Apostles did oblige us perpetually to imitate it; which here cannot be shewn: and therefore to say it did, is to add to the Word of God, and to lay a Snare before Mens Consciences; it [Page 98] being hard, for most men at least, to give a reason, why their Example in this Circumstance of Gesture, should [...]ore oblige us than in others of Time, Place, Number, &c.

Kneeling is a Gesture of Humility, and that better becometh vile Sinners offering their Prayers and Praises at the Throne of Grace in the Vertue of the Sacrifice of Christ, than any Posture of Familiarity, such as sitting especially is. However, seeing, it is enjoyned, were it less convenient, yet he hath certainly no very great Love or Ap­petite to this divine Food, who will rather want it than receive it on his Knees, and chooseth rather to disobey Christ in not doing this at all, than obey the Church in doing it thus, when there is no Divine Law to the contrary.

And if the Papists do kneel to wor­ship the Elements, may not we there­fore kneel to worship Christ? The Church of England hath sufficiently de­clared against worshipping the Ele­ments; and if she knew you did [Page 99] so, would cast you forth as Idola­ters.

III. But we must thus communicat [...] with Sinners in a mix'd Congregation and we are forbidden so much as to eat with such, 1 Cor. 5. 11. and commanded to withdraw from every Brother that walketh disorderly, 2 Thes. 3. 6. and to come out from among them and be sepa­rate, 2 Cor. 6. 17.

You must come out from Heathens, and be separate from Idolaters, such as were those Unbelievers, 2 Cor. 6. 14, 15, 16. But none but baptized Persons and Professors of Christianity, are ad­mitted to the Lord's Table.

You must also withdraw your selves from disorderly Walkers, as you are commanded, 2 Thess. 3. 6. not famili­arly to converse them, so as to partake with them, or countenance them in their Wickedness or Idleness; but set a note of Disgrace upon them by shunning their Company and Familia­rity, to make them, if possible, ashamed of themselves. Yet must we not look upon them as Enemies, but admonish [Page 100] them as Brethren, v. 14, 15. All this plainly relates to our ordinary Conversa­tion with such men, and nothing is [...]ere said about communicating in this Sacrament.

[...]e sure that you be none of those whose Company is here forbidden to Christians, such as are disorderly Walk­ [...]ers, that obey not the just Orders of their Pastors and Governours ( v. 14.) but are unruly and will not be go­verned (1 Thes. 5. 14.) and such as cause. Divisions and Offences contrary to the Doctrine that they have learnt, Rom. 16. 17.

In the same sense we must not eat, that is, familiarly converse with wick­ed Christians, 1 Cor. 5. 11. For that it is ordinary Conversation that is there meant seems plain, because 'tis such a keeping Company with them, as the Apostle allows them with Heathens and Idolaters, v. 10. which cannot be at the Lord's Table whither they are not ad­mitted, but only Professors of Chri­stianity.

[Page 101] Though we are to withdraw from such wicked and disorderly Persons, so far as not to countenance them, but endeavour to make them ashamed o [...] their Sins; yet must we be careful to do this orderly, 1 Thess. 4 [...] and as becometh Christi­ans. 1 Peter 4. 15. And this you do not, if you stu­dy not to be quiet and to do your own Business, but delight to be busie-bodies in other mens matters. If you suffer for that, you have the just Reward of your busie-boldness.

Qu. But must wicked men be admit­ted to this Sacrament?

Ans. No, not if they be notorious, and have not declared their Repentance. They ought to be admonished, and if stubborn, cast out of the Church by those to whom it belongs to do it. Leave that to your Governours, and do you the Duty of private Christians.

Remember Charity think­eth no evil, 1 Cor 13. 5. 7. but believeth all things; it judgeth not rashly, but hath as good an Opinion as may be had of all men. Be sure then that you [Page 102] have sufficient ground for it when you judge any one wicked.

Take heed also of spiritual Pride in your self, and that your unreasonable swelling with self-conceit cause not [...] Brother to seem little and vile in your Eyes.

See that you count not any man a wicked man only because he is not of your Opinion, or because he is not of your Party, or dares not separate from the Church as you do, or censure other men as boldly as you do, or have as high an Opinion of his own Godliness as you have: it is no good sign of that Purity which some pretend to, that they scruple at a Form or Ceremony, but not at being drunk, or being unjust in not paying every man his due, or reviling their Governours, or uncha­ritably censuring the whole Church; or, that they dare not come to the Lord's Table with wicked men, but dare go to the Ale-house with them.

See that you have discharged a good Conscience towards your Brethren, be­fore you abandon their Communion.

[Page 103] Have you friendly re­proved and admonished them privately? 1 Thess. 5. 14. Talk not to others of their Wickedness till you have first told them of it. Matth. 18. 15. If this have done no good upon them, 2 Thess. 3. 15. have [...] admonished them again before two or three Witnesses? If this prevail not, have you told the Minister and desi­red his help to reform these Sinners? If he cannot reclaim them, have you endeavour'd to have them cast out of the Church by Excommunication? If you have not done this, where's your Charity to your Brother? where's your Obedience to God? Where's your Zeal for the Church's Purity? You have more cause to be afraid of your own Sins, than of other mens: nay, you become by this neglect, Partakers of other mens Sins, which you pretend to be the very thing you are so greatly afraid of.

Obj. You say, perhaps, you have done all this, and yet these Sinners are not ex­cluded, but admitted.

[Page 104] If it be so, it is not well; yet it is not your Fault that they are admit­ted; but it is your Fault if you will not do your Duty because other men will not do theirs.

Obj. But I shall so profess Communion with the wicked.

Ans. By the course you have taken you have done what was your Duty, to avoid their Communion. You come not to communicate with the Wick­ed, but with sincere Christians.

Obj. But by so doing I shall countenance them, and seem to own them as good Chri­stians.

Ans. By what you have done to amend them, and by what you may still do in continuing to reprove them, you prevent that danger.

There were very wicked Persons in the Church of Corinth, such as the Apostle orders to be cast out and deli­vered to Sitan; yea at the Sacrament there were Divisions and Factions, and some were drunk. These things St. Paul reproves them for; but you no where hear him bid others abstain [Page 105] from the Sacrament because of such men, but he bids them examine them­selves and eat.

IV. But you say; you dare not receive this Sacrament at the hand of a wicked Minister, and you take yours to [...] such.

It is not well if he be such indeed; and if he be openly such and not re­moved, some others are to blame as well as he. Have you admonished him? Have you again admonish'd him? If that would not do, have you complained of him, and used all the means in your power to have him either reformed or turn'd out? If this be not done, you have not done your Duty either to him, or your own Soul, or the Church of God. Com­plain not then of his Wickedness, but your own.

Have you used all these means in vain to reform or remove him? Then if you can conveniently you may remove to some place where you have a better. If you cannot, you are to be content, and receive [Page 106] the Food of your Soul from a dirty hand, rather than want it. You would not refuse the King's Pardon though a Drunkard or a Swearer brought it you. This Meat nourish­eth not by vertue of the hand of him that ministreth it unto you, but by the Blessing of God that giveth it. Take it as from the hand of Christ him­self, and have Faith in him, and when you have done what legally you can to get a good Minister, you shall fare no worse for a bad one in the end.

Obj. But though I can find no great Fault otherwise with the Minister, yet this I like not, that he admits scandalous Sinners to the Communion.

He is indeed to charge all such to abstain from this Sacrament till they declare their Repentance. He is not to admit such, if he know them, till they have declared their Repentance, and made such Satisfaction as the Church requireth. Do you certain­ly know then that he doth other­wise; and have you acquainted him [Page 107] who they are, and satisfied him that they are so indeed? Usually such men keep most out of his way, and he is least acquainted with them, and hath at most but an uncertain Report of their Vices; and they that bring him this Report, refuse to prove the Truth of it; and when he enquires of the Persons themselves they deny it, and he dare not deny them the Priviledges of Christians, till he have better grounds to go upon. Or if you are sure the Minister was not ignorant of their wicked Life, are you sure also, that they have not, before they were admitted, given him all the Satisfa­ction he could in reason demand in such a case?

You ought to be sure of these things before you censure him so hardly. And if you be sure he is guilty, com­plain of him, after due Admonition, and I am confident this Fault will be amended. But if unfit Persons be ad­mitted by him ignorantly, and you know of it, and do not inform him [Page 108] better, it is your selves on whom this Guilt will lye.

The good Lord grant that we may all more conscientiously do our Duties in our several Stations, that his Name may be glorified, his Church may flourish in Truth and Purity, and Peace and Love may abound amongst Christians.