I should be sorry, however, to be understood, as if I meant to discard all ideas of danger from the celebration of this Rite, to annihilate the perilous consequences of abusing it, and thus open a door to the free, unrestrained, incautious, and irreverent Participation of it. Far otherwise: I would destroy all unnatural terrors which the extravagancies of men have annexed to this duty, and which serve only to counteract ils natural tendency; but I would preserve all proper reverence for it as a duty of the most solemn nature to Christians, not to be engaged in with levity, and an inconsiderate, fearless, unawed presumption. I would support those just apprehensions of danger, which may secure it from profanation, and which may reasonably be presumed to attend the abuse of it; in common with that of other religious and spiritual exercises; at the same time I would rescue mankind from those exagge rated notions of impending destruction which seem disproportioned to particular abuses, and rather with too much boldness to be impressed upon the irregular exercise of any ONE individual duty. As Utility is the only object in the following Work, I have not scrupled to borrow from other Authors whatever was adapted to my purpose. It can, therefore, lay claim to little more than that of a Compilation. To enumeraie particularly all the authorities that have contributed to adorn its pages would extend the Preface to too great a length, It will be sufficient to remark, that I have availed myself of the Writings of TILLOTSON, FLEETWOOD, LAKE, WILSON PORTEUS, HORSLEY, WATSON, and TOMLINE, Prelates of distinguished eminence; and of those of WOGAN, ADAMS, MERRICK, DR. JOHNSON, WARNER, and ARCHDEACON POTTS, &c. &c. On the whole, no pains have been spared in the accomplishment of the undertaking, and every endeavor has been used to produce such an USEFUL and RATIONAL COMPANION at the Lord's Table, as may contribute to the real improvement and pleasure of the DEVOUT COMMUNICANT; and at the same time, I sincerely trust, may tend in some degree to promote the glory and honor of the divine Founder of the Institution. troubled spirits, and fresh life and vigor to our decaying virtue; to scale the heights of piety in an holy communion with him ;, and to feel within our breasts that spirituality of sentiment, and that refined purity, which is the emblem and foretaste of celestial happiness! Is not this a blessing then ; and are not these attainments worthy of our best desires? Shall we not frequently pursue what thus improves, and makes us more than men; what moralizes, spiritualizes our nature, and advances our souls to such degrees of perfection? Surely, we must be blind to our best interests, as well as insensible to our truest enjoyments, not to lay hold, as often as we can, on such an excellent mean of religious improvement. The arguments then that have been here advanced will, I trust, effectuate the removal of every scruple, and place this Institution in a light, which will encourage every one to come to it; and whilst it preserves the honor and reverence, which are most justly due to it, will operate with as much success upon the morals, as the most severe injunctions of Preparation. And let us rest assured, that when we approach the Table with sincere hearts and fervent minds, we bring with us all that a merciful God can expect from fallible creatures, and therefore all that our benign Redeemer can require. Let E us fear to come before Him with hypocrisy and falsehood; and let this be our only fear. And if the joys of heaven be in our thoughts, let us be careful to seek them in the consistent practice of every virtue; and at the same time that we obey our Savior in the exercise of this ritual ordinance, let us obey him in His GOSPEL, by "walking in all the "commandments of the Lord blameless;" for it is General ObeDIENCE alone that will entitle us to the appellation and reward of faithful servants, and enable us to go on to the end of life, "perfecting "holiness in the fear of God;" and above all, let us remember, amidst all our other Observances, that it is only when we are " stedfast, immoveable, "and always abounding in the work of the Lord, that our labor will not be in vain.” Let us then beseech God to increase the influence of his Holy Spirit within us, that our faith may be of that kind, which worketh by love; that all our affections, and from them all our actions, may flow in a steady course of obedience; that each day may correct the last, by a sincere repentance of our errors in life; and that we may continue gradually to approach nearer the idea of christian perfection, until we come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, and unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. |