thereby given us of GOD's favour and gracious goodness towards us: and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of his fon, which is the bleffed company of all faithful people; ' and also heirs thro' hope of his everlafting kingdom, by the merits of the most precious death and paffion of his dear fon. Now,

From the foregoing account of this facrament, you are to understand, that when you come to the Lord's table, you are to eat the bread in remembrance that Chrift's body was broken for you, and to drink the wine in remembrance that Chrift's blood was thed for you: esteeming and receiving these elements, not as common bread and wine, but as confecrated to reprefent the body and blood of Chrift, to all spiritual intents and purposes; and firmly believing that you shall verily and indeed partake of all thofe graces and bleffings, which Chrift merited for mankind by his death, and which this facrament was defigned to convey to every one that comes holy and

clean

S

4 Rom. viii. 32.1 John iv, 9.-John xiii. 1. Eph. v. 30.-1 John 1. 3.-1 Cor. xii. 13. 1 John v. 11.-1 John ii. 25.-John vi. 51, 54, 57, 58.—Tit. i. 2.- -Tit. iii. 7.Heb. vi. 17,, 20.-Heb. xii, 22, 23, 24..

clean to fuch a heavenly feast, in the marriagegarment required by God in holy fcripture.

We are taught by the church, that it is required of them who come to the Lord's fupper, to examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former fins, ftedfaftly purpofing to lead a new life: bave a lively faith in GOD's mercy through Chrift, with a thankful remembrance of bis death, and to be in charity with all men. And all perfons are more especially to examine into the state of their fouls before they come to the Lord's fupper; becaufe without repentance we are not capable of that pardon which is G here offered us: nor can any but believers difcern the Lord's body in this facrament, or reap any spiritual advantage from receiving it. It is a facrifice of praise for our redemption by the death of Chrift, and therefore we are to receive it, as by faith, fo with thanksgiving; and forafmuch as it is a feaft of Love, and fignifies the conjunction of chriftians in one fpiritual bo-dy, it is neceffary that those who receive it, should be in charity with all men. Neverthe-B 5 lefs,

d

a Matt. xviii. 31 Cor. x. 21.-1 Cor. v. 8.-Rom. ii. 4. 1 Cor. xi. 29, 30, 31.-2 Cor. xiii. 5.-Heb. x. 22, 29.z Chron. xxx. 18, 19, 20.) Mark vi. 16.--John viii. 24. Heb. xiii. 15.-Eph. v. 20.-1 Pet. ii. 5.1 Cor. x. 17.— Cor. xii. 12, 13.-Rom. xii. 5.. f Eph. v. 2.-1 John iv. 11-John xiii. 34-John xv. 12.-Heb. xiii. 16..

lefs, tho upon examination, a man should not find himself thus qualified, that will not excuse him from receiving, because as the graces, now called forth to be vigorously exerted, ought to be the standing temper and habit of our minds; and as one chief defign of this fa crament is to confirm and fortify us in them; he who abfents himself, upon pretence of wanting them, does only wickedly plead onegreat fault in defence of another, and is there fore the more inexcufable. *~

}

There are fome people got into fuch a way of thinking, as to believe that the peril of unworthy receiving is fo great, that a man had better stay away, than run the hazard thereof, The danger, indeed is great to them who will prefume to eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, rafhly and unadvisedly: "but it is no lefs dangerous to them who stand out in difobedience' to the last and dying command of their dearest faviour, and reject his invitation to fo many great and fpiritual advantages, upon pretence of that danger, which it is in their

S

1

8 Ifa. xxx. 1.—2 Chr. xxviii. 13. Rom. vi. 1. 1 Cor, xi. 27, 30.—1 Cor. x. 21, 22.Matt. xxii. 11, 12, 13.—2 Chr. xxx. 18, 19, 20-Pfalm 1. 16.-Prov. xxi. 27.-Eccl. v. 1. i Matt. xxii. 2, 8. k 1 Cor. xi. 23, 24. + Matt. xi. 28.Ifa. lv. 1.-John vii. 37.-John v. 40.-John vi 35,, 68. Prov. ix. 6..

theirown power to avoid; "the refult of which is, that there can be no compounding in this cafe; and that our fafety confifts in refolving to do the duty required, and to take the best care fo to prepare ourselves, that the performance may be accepted by GOD. "I will not fay that no accident whatfoever should interfere with our obfervance of this duty; but when any unavoidable impediment interpofes, it is to be removed, and the omiffions repaired, as foon as poffible.

{

Let us now look into the nature of those duties which are required of them who come to the Lord's fupper, so as to be received as worthy partakers of that holy table: in the firft place let us confider, that to repent us truly of our former fins, is to examine our lives and converfations by the rule of GOD's commandments; Pand whereinfoever we fhall perceive ourselves to have offended, either by will, word, or deed, there to bewail our own finfulness, and to confess ourselves to almighty God,' with full

purpose

* 1 Cor. xi. 31.-Pf. xxxii 5.-2 Chron. xxx. 8. n I Cor xi. 28.-Ifa. lv. 6, 7.-Prov. xxviii. 13. • Numb. ix. 10. 11, 6, 7, 8.-2 Chron. xxx. 1, 4. P Lam, iii. 40.- Pf. cxix. 59.-Pf. lxxvii. 6.-2 Cor. xiii. 5.-Gal. vi. 9, 10, 11.-Pf. li. 17.—Joel ii. 12, 13. Pf. li. 3.-Joel i. 9.

4. 9 2 Cor. vii. Luke xv. 21,

3.

W

purpose of amendment of life: 'and if we shall perceive our offences to be fuch, as are not only against GOD, but also against our neighbour, then we must reconcile ourselves unto them, being ready to make reftitution and fatisfaction, according to the utmost of our power for all injuries and wrongs done by us to any other; " and this is no other than what we are obliged to by common juftice: " Butcharity goes farther, and requires of us to be likewise ready to forgive others that have offended us, as we would have forgiveness of our offences at GOD's hand. *And when, upon examination, we find that we truly and earnestly repent us of our fins, and are in love and charity with our neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of GOD, and walking from thenceforth in his holy ways, we muft then draw near without fear, and take that holy facramentto our comfort; firmly believing that almighty GOD, for the fake ofour

bleffed

t

Pet. iv, 2.-Acts xxvi. 20.-Matt.

Pf.. cxix. 106. iii. 8.-Phil, i. 11.

* Matt. v. 23, 24.-Rom. xii. 18.Tim, ii, 8: " Luke xix. 8, 9, 10.-1 Sam. xii. 3.-Ezek. xxxiii. 14, 15: W Eph. iv. 32. Col. iii. 12, 13. * Luke vi. 37-Matt. vi. 12, 14, 15. y Matt. xiv. 27.-Matt. viii.. 26. Luke xii. 32.—2 Tim. i. 7.-1 John iv. 18.

z Matt..

x. 49. Luke viii. 48.-Matt. v. 4.-Matt. xiii, 20.—Lukes iv. 17, 21.—Ifa. xl. 1, 2.