Ejaculations and a short prayer when the communion service is ended.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation. Luke ii. 29.

NOW, O Lord, refreshed with this

heavenly banquet of thy Son's inftitution, I have fealed my repentance, and flee unto thee for pardon for all thofe imperfections that have accompanied me at this time, in my attendance at thy altar; forgive the deadnefs and dulness of my affections, the wanderings of my thoughts, Land diftractions of my mind; let the fincerity of my holy purpofes and refolutions be accepted, notwithstanding my weaknefs and frailty.

O! let this commemoration of my crucified Saviour influence all my thoughts, words, and actions, that my converfation may be as becometh the gospel of Christ. Reward me not according to my deferts, but according to my great neceffities, and thine own rich mercies in Jefus Chrift; to whom with thee, O God the Father, and God the Holy Ghoft, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

Now arising, depart reverently from the Lord's table with a glad heart and cheerful countenance; preserve good thoughts in your mind; behave, with gravity, yet be not sullen or morose; for a Christian's behaviour should not be without innocent alacrity or cheerfulness, 24

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INSTRUCTIONS

How to live well, after a worthy receiving of the holy-sacrament.

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us, and to our children for ever. Deut. xxix. 29.

1. F thou wouldst preferve thy faith incorrupt, and thy devotion from diftraction, content thyfelf with reverencing and admiring thefe holy myiteries; and do not indulge: a bufy curiofity, in bold and unprofitable inquiries concerning them, for this is one way to damp a godly zeal, and to perplex thy mind with intri-'cate and endless doubts.

2. Happy is that meeknefs and poverty of fpirit, which induftriously declines the rugged thorny paths of controverfy and captious difputes; and walks in the plain fmooth way of duty and practical religion; which ftudies God's commands, and labours to understand things of a fize with its own capacity, without troubling itfelf about his doings and decrees.

3. Too many inftances there are of daring men, who by prefuming to found the deep things of religion, have cavilled and argued themfelves out of all religion. These men mistake their bufinefs

for

the

the thing required of a Chriftian, is not penetration and fubtility of wit, nice diftinction, or fublime notions, but victorious faith, and an honeft holy life; fobriety and temperance, and chastity, juftice and charity, piety and devotion.

4. Thefe doubts are not always finful, nor always from themfelves, but frequently owing to the temptations of the devil, and induftriously fcattered by him, with wicked artifice and malicious defign. Be not, therefore, too anxious upon these occafions. Trouble not thyfelf to argue nicely, nor employ thy thoughts upon the matter, nor hold thyfelf concerned to be able to answer every cavil, which he puts into thy head: but keep clofe to Scripture, and do thy duty; and the enemy will foon retreat when he finds thee neglect his attempts.

5. Think not these inward diftractions a lign that thou art forfaken of God. They are rather, on the contrary, a mark of grace. God fuffers them to exercise thy patience, to try thy conftancy, to promote thy fpiritual advantage. Proceed then in thy Chriftian courfe with refolution and patience; and ftill frequent the facrament with steadfast faith, and humble reverence.

6. Whatever there thou findeft to exceed thy understanding, put it to God's

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account; and leave him to make it good, tho' thou canst not conceive how it fhould be done. He will not deceive thee; but they who rely upon their own underftanding, are fure to deceive themfelves. For,

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7. Remember, God hath faid, that be walks and dwells with the humble, and fhows his ways to the meek; that he reveals himself to tabes; that he opens the eyes of the honeft and fincere.; but hides his grace and knowledge from the proud and wife in their own fight. Human reafon may both deceive and be deceived; but faith hath God for its foundation, and cannot err; becaufe depending upon one who is truth itfelf, incapable of mistaking, or of impofing upon others.

8. 'Tis therefore highly fit, and, in matters of religion, abfolutely neceffary, that these two principles fhould know their order and refpective ftations; and each contain itself within its proper fphere. Faith (which fuppofes a revelation received and acknowledged) challenges the highest place; and reafon ought to keep her diftance, to ferve and follow after, not to fet bounds to, or affume and encroach, and ufurp over the other. For,

9. Faith and charity are the two pillars upon which Chriftianity ftands; the two governing principles of a good man's opi. nions and actions. And their authority

and

and influence are, in no one inftance, more confiderable, than in this of the bleffed facrament. God is infinite and eternal, his power unbounded and incomprehenfible, he does whatfoever pleafeth him in heaven and earth and who can understand bis council, or find out all his methods?

10. If the works of God were fuch as human reafon could penetrate with eafe, they would lofe great part of their glory. We fhould foon abate of our awe and vewe and veneration for their author, if his dealings were not above the power of our tongues to exprefs, and the utmoft extent of our imaginations to conceive. O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnefs, and confefs the wonders that he doth for the children of men! for great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty; how unfearchable are thy judgments, and thy ways paft finding out! Pfal. cvii. Rev. xv. Rom. xi.

A prayer of thanksgiving, in our retirement, after we are returned home from the Lord's table.

Behold thou art made whole sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. John v 14.

O'

Lord my God! I acknowledge with all thank ulnefs of heart thy great mercy and goodnets, in giving me an opportunity of approaching thy holy table, in difpofing my mind to commemorate

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