tered by its Brightness. When that which is perfect fhall come, then will all Ufe for Sacraments be fuperfeded, and for ever cease. For these are Remedies and Expedients,, accommodated to a State of Frailty and Imperfection, fuch as the Bleffed above have no Óccafion for. They are in endless and unfpotted Perfection, and ever rejoicing in the Beams of thy glorious Prefence. They fee thee as thou art, and are

transformed into the Excellencies they fee. 1 John iii. They taste the Word made Flefh, not in the Symbols of his Human Nature, but in the Native Charms of his Divine; as he was the Word of God from all Eternity, and fhall continue fo to be for ever.

When thefe Idea's, fo full of Wonder, employ my Thought, I not only feel a generous Difdain of Worldly Comforts, but am provoked to difefteem even those spiritual and better Confolations, which thy Grace at prefent diffufes through my Soul. And all befides feems poor and defpicable, fo long as I am debarred the fight of my Love and Lord. Thou knoweft the Secrets of my Heart, and wilt bear Teftimony to the Sincerity of thofe Profeffions I make; when I declare, that nothing less than God, whom I moft earneftly long for ever to contemplate, can fatisfy and fill the impatient Defires of my enlarged Soul. But this, I know, is a Bleffing, not to be obtained by Mortal Man, and therefore I will fet my felf with Patience to wait the time appointed for it. Thus did thy Saints of old, who now partake of the Joys and Kingdom of their Lord. Their Faith was vigorous, and their Perfeverance unfhaken, their Thirstings eager, but their Patience exemplary and humble; till that Coming of their Lord, which they thought long, at laft releafed, and exalted them. My Hope, my Faith, are now the fame, which theirs were then ; and, I truft, my Joy and Crown, fhall by thy Grace and Mercy, be one Day the fame too. Till that Day

come,

come, I will tread in their Steps, and fupport my felf by the Contemplation of their bright Examples. Thy Holy Scriptures fhall be my Comfort: In them, as in a Glafs, I will view and adorn my Soul: And above all, thy Bleffed Body and Blood fhall be my Spiritual Suftenance. Here will I feek for Strength against Infirmities, here apply Balm to my Wounds, and Phyfick to my Difeafes, and hither fly for Refuge, in all my Fears, and Dangers, and Temptations.

Two Things are plainly neceffary to the Prefervation of Life, without which no Mifery could be fo infupportable, as that of living here. The Difmal Confinement of this Prifon of Flesh can only be endured by the Help of Food and Light. Thy Mercy hath not left us deftitute of this Provifion; but kindly given thy holy Body for my Refreshment and Suftenance, and thy holy Word for a Lantern unto my Pfal. cxix. Feet, and a Light unto my Paths. To thefe I owe, not my Comfort alone, but even my Life it felf. For the Word of God is the Light of the Soul, and the Sacrament of his Death is the Bread of Life. Thefe are the two Tables of the Chriftian, refembling thofe of the Jewish Church heretofore; where the Divine Treasures are expofed and preferved. The Qne, like that of the Shew-Bread, furnished most richly with the Symbols of thy precious Heb. ix. Body; The Other, like the Repository of

the Law, containing Holy Doctrines, prefcribing trueand faving Faith, and leading us within the Veil to thẹ moft holy Place.

All Honour, and Praise, and Thanksgiving, be to the Bleffed Jefus, Light of Eternal Uncreated Light, for the Table of his Heavenly Doctrine, fpread and adorned by the Ministry of his infpired Servants, the Prophets, Apoftles, and other holy Writers, taught by Himself, that they might each Us. All Glory and Thanks be to the great Creator and merciful Re

2

deemer

deemer of Mankind, for his extensive tender Love, in preparing a plenteous Feaft for all the World. Not like that Pafchal Lamb of old, a Type and Shadow only, but the very Subftance of that Shadow, the Accomplishment of that Type; even Chrift our Paffover facrificed for us, and exhibited to us. This Bread fuftains, this Cup chears and rejoices the Hearts of the Faithful. It fills them with the overflowing Delights of Paradife, is a Pledge and Antepaft of Heaven, and, allowing for the Difference of Conditions, admits us into Partnership with Angels themfelves. The Joy of both is the fame, tho' both cannot receive it in equal Proportions.

How high and honourable is that Function, to which God hath permitted, nay enjoined, to minifter in thefe holy Things; to handle and deliver this bleffed Bread, and give each Servant his Portion of Life by and with it, to implore with wonderful Efficacy the Divine Bleffing, and exalt natural and common Things, to Purposes and Effects infinitely exceeding all the Powers of Nature? How clean fhould thofe Hands,how pure thofe Lips, how chaft and holy that Body be, which fo frequently, fo familiarly converfe with, and are united to, the Author and Perfection of all Purity? Sure nothing of corrupt Communication, nothing indecent, nothing idle or trifling, nothing but what may tend to edifying, ought to come out of that Mouth, which fo often bleffes, and confecrates, and takes into it, the Sacrament of his dying Redeemer. How should thofe Eyes be turned away from Vanity, how immovably fixed upon Heavenly Objects, which fee their Lord's myftical Body, and invite his peculiar Prefence, fo frequently brought upon the Altar, by virtue of their being lifted up to the Throne of Grace, in Benedictions and Prayers of his own inftituting?

To Men of this Profeffion under the Law, no doubt that Precept was in a more efpecial Manner intended,

Be

.

Levit. xix.

Be ye boly, for I the Lord your God am Holy. But fure the Sanctity and exemplary Lives of Priests under the Gospel ought as much to excel thofe of the Sons of Aaron, as our Ministration exceeds theirs in Glory. And therefore, grant thy Grace, O bleffed God, to all who are admitted to this Holy Office; and Thou, who alone workeft great Marvels, exert thy Almighty Power, in enabling every fuch Perfon to ferve at thine Altar, with clean Hands, and pure Heart, with a becoming Zeal, and moving Devotion; fuch as may not only fuit their own Chara ter, but be a Pattern and powerful Incitement to the Piety of others. And if we cannot, (as indeed we are ftill but Men, and in many things offend all) if we cannot stand before thee in pure unblemished Inno cence, or come not up to all those eminent Degrees of Perfection, which we might and ought: Yet let at leaft our deep and godly Sorrow expiate our Offences; and our Refolutions of entire Reformation, and more confpicuous Piety and Devotion for the time to come, Our unfeigned Humility and Charity unconfined, and Labours indefatigable, make fuch Reparation, as thou wilt please to accept, for the Mifcarriages occafioned by the Fraud and Malice of the Devil, or by our own Carnal Will and Frailnefs.

CHA P. XII.

Of Preparation to the Communion.

Cbrift.] I

Luke xxii.

Love Holiness, and I give what I love. A pure Heart is the thing I delight in, and this is the Place of my Reft. Furnish me thy largest Room, and I will come and

eat the Paffover at thy House with my Disciples. Purge out thy old Leaven, and drefs up every Corner of thy Heart; fweep it clean from the World, and all its corrupt Affections; throw out the Lumber and the Filth of thy Sins; if thou defire that I fhould come and make my abode with thee. Sit as a Sparrow alone upon the House-top, and mourn in thy Clofet for all the Tranfgreffions wherein thou haft exceeded; fo will I be with thee, and comfort thee, in the Bitterness of thy Soul. This careful Preparation will be the natural Confequence of thy Sincerity and Refpect for Me. For every Lover provides his best Apartment to entertain his Friend, and best beloved; and, by his Diligence to receive fo defired a Gueft, expreffes the Truth and Greatnefs of his Affection.

But know withal, when thou haft done thy utmost, that even whole Years, beftowed in Preparation, cannot effect what in strict Justice is my due. That thou art admitted to my Table, and received kindly there, is owing, after all, not to thy own Defert, but to My Grace and Mercy, which accepts thy weak Endeavours, and paffes by thy Sin and Unworthinefs. If Beggars, with their Nakedness and Sores, have leave to fit and feast with Princes; their Duty is, with Hu mility and Thankfulness, to acknowledge the mighty Favour. Do then thy part, and do it in the best manner thou canft, do it diligently and heartily; Come not as by Compulfion, but come willingly and gladly; come not for Fashion's fake, but come with Reverence, and godly Fear, and fervent Zeal. When thy Saviour condefcends to come to thee, refufe him not, nor turn thy Back and flee from his Table. I have invited, I have commanded thee to come; Let not thy Infirmities difcourage thee, for they are all perfectly known to Me; and I will confider and allow for them, and what is wanting in Nature fhall be fupplied by Grace.