in that holy facrament: now, fpiritual food and fuftenance is doubtlefs the food and fuftenance of the Spirit; fo to eat and drink piritually is a figurative expreffion, and fignifies the feeding upon Chrift's body with our heart by faith. See John vi. 63.

6. Therefore, the benefits whereof we are made partakers by this facrament, to the ftrengthening and refreshing of our fouls by the body and blood of Christ, as our bodies are by the bread and wine :. O happy foul! that feeds on fuch celeftial food, that art refreshed with the bread that came down from heaven, if with a true penitent heart, and lively faith, thou receive that holy facrament; for then we fpiritually eat the flesh of Chrift, and drink his blood. And

7. Confider, that bread and wine, (or. any thing elfe, which it might have pleafed Chrift to have chofen,) may, by the bleffing and appointment of God, be as communicative of grace, as the true na tural flesh and blood of Chrift itself can be: for even that (if you could indeed eat it with your teeth) would no more communicate grace, or any bleffing to the receiver, without fuch inftitution and appointment of God, than any other food in the world that you can eat.

8. Wherefore, it is my firm belief, that as this facrament is matter of mere inftitution and appointment, I am concerned

to

to know no more either what the facrament is, or how it operates, than it hath pleafed God to reveal in the holy fcriptures. And it will be fufficient for me to believe, that the confecrated elements are both called and made the body and blood of Chrift, fo verily and indeed, to all spiritual intents and purposes, as to convey, to the faithful receiver, whatever grace and bleffing Chrift hath annexed to the due performance of thofe holy rites, which he hath ordained as pledges of his love, and for our joy and comfort.

The Hymn on Monday Morning.
Commemorating the inftitution of the Lord's fupper.

UPON that dark, that doleful night,

When powers of hell and earth arofe Against the Son of God's delight,

And friends betray'd him to his foes; Then, ere the mournful fcene began,

He took the bread, and bless'd and brake What love through all his actions ran! What wondrous words of grace he spake ! This is my body broke for fin, Receive and eat the living food: Then took the cup and bless'd the wine; 'Tis the new covenant in my blood. And as his flesh with nails was torn, He bore the fcourge, he felt the thorn ; And Juftice pour'd upon his head Its heavy vengeance in our stead.

And as his vital blood was spilt
To buy the pardon of our guilt,
When for black crimes of biggest fize,
He gave his foul a facrifice.

Do this (he cry'd) till time fhall end
In mem'ry of your dying friend;
Meet at my table, and record
The love of your departed Lord.
Jefus, thy feast we celebrate,
We show thy death, we fing thy name,
Till thou return, and we shall eat
With thee the fupper of the Lamb.

The Prayer on Monday Morning,

To implore a continuance of God's grace bestowed upon

us in this facrament.

G

Racious Lord! unto whom all hearts are open, all defires known, and from whom no fecrets are hid, if thou fhouldft deal with me as I have deferved, how juftly mayft thou deprive me of all thofe means of grace, and opportu nities of working out my falvation, which thou haft hitherto vouchfafed me. But, O merciful Father! thou haft declared thyfelf to be a God, merciful and gracious, forgiving iniquity, tranfgreffion, and fin. My only hope, therefore, is in thy tender mercy, which has been ever of old; and in that pity and compaffion which thou haft fhown to mankind in

the

the redemption of the world, by the death of thy dear Son. For thy name's fake therefore, O Lord! and for thy beloved. Son's fake, pardon, I most humbly be-feech thee, all my paft fins, and let not iniquity be my ruin. Forgive the deadnefs of my devotion; the coldnefs of my affections; the wanderings of my prayers; and whatever thou haft feen amifs in me.

Oh! pity my weakneffes and forgive my infirmities, and lay not to my charge the imperfections of my religious duties. But enable me, O Lord, by the affiftance of thy good fpirit, to amend whatever has been amifs, and to endeavour more and after the attainment of all those graces and good difpofitions, which are neceffary to render our prayers and praises acceptable in thy fight.

And whereas I have fo lately renewed my baptifmal covenant with thee, in the Lord's fupper, let me never fall into a careless and unconcerned ftate of mind; into a coldness and indifferency toward the duties of religion; but animate and enliven my fluggish heart, and cleanse it from all its defilements. Oh! root out of my heart, by the powerful efficacy of thy grace, O God! all pride, and envy, and covetoufnefs; all bitterness, anger, and malice; and whatever elfe is contrary to D 3

the

the laws and precepts of the gofpel; and replenish my foul with the graces of thy Holy Spirit, that I may become fruitful in every good word and work, and that my whole life may be one continued act of a humble and dutiful obedience to thy divine commands. To which end,

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O bleffed Lord! ftrengthen my faith, fortify my mind, and give me a honeft and upright heart, that nothing may be ever able to fhake my integrity. Give me fuch a lively fenfe and conviction of the fhortnefs and uncertainty of this life, and of the momentous concerns of eter nity, that I may not be fo foolish as to wafte my precious time in an eager pur fuit after the things of this world; but grant that I may employ it in fuch a manner as may best promote thy honour and glory, and fet forward mine own falvation.

O make me fo wife as to fee, and know, and follow the things that make for my peace, left they be hid from mine eyes, and all opportunities of reconciling myfelf to thee, my offended God, be far from me: let the falvation of my precious foul be my conftant care and concern.

Grant that I may never forget the one thing needful, but give all diligence to make my calling and election fure; that, en

deavouring