SERM, and prepared for it. And therefore my VIII. next Enquiry fhall be,

III. WHEREIN we ought to examine our felves. Now we must examine ourselves chiefly concerning these four Things: 1. CONCERNING our Knowledge. 2. CONCERNING our Faith.

3. CONCERNING our Repentance, And,

4. CONCERNING Our Charity.

First, LET us examine our felves concerning our Knowledge, i. e. whether we understand the Principles of the Christian Religion: And,

Secondly, WHETHER we comprehend the Meaning and Inftitution of this Sacrament. And, if we find we are ignorant in either of thefe, let us endeavour to gain a competent Knowledge thereof, either by reading fuch Books as are wrote on this Subject, or applying ourselves to those who underftand thofe Matters. it is no uncommon Thing to meet with those who fancy themselves very knowing in Matters of Religion, and think they are able to instruct others, who have Need to be taught themselves, which are the firft Principles of the Oracles of God. There are others, who have fucked in er

For

roneous

roneous Principles from their very Child- SE RM. hood; and it is a very difficult Matter VIII. duly to inform the Judgments of these Perfons, or to fet them right, and to give them a clear Notion, even of the plaineft Institutions of the Chriftian Religion. The best Direction that I can give those Men is, to read the Word of God diligently and conftantly, which is very plain, in Matters abfolutely neceffary to Salvation; and where they doubt of any Thing, to confult those whom God has appointed to inftruct them, diligently to attend upon the Word preached, and that equally neceffary Duty, the Explaining the Church-Catechism; by fuch Means as thefe, they will foon come to the Knowledge of the fundamental Articles of their Faith, and the moft neceffary Duties of the Chriftian Religion.

2. LET us confider and examine ourfelves, whether we believe, and yield our unfeigned Affent to the Truths contained in the Holy Bible, concerning God's Being, his moft glorious Attributes, his Precepts, his Promises, his Threatenings; and whether the Belief of thefe Truths has had a fuitable Influence upon our Lives and Conversations?

Whe

SERM. Whether the Belief of God's Omnif VIII. cience makes us careful to perform our

private as well as our public Devotions? Whether the Belief of his Omniprefence engages us to depend on his Protection in the most perillous Times; his Veracity to rely upon him in the loweft Condition; and finally, whether the Belief of his Precepts, Promises, and Threatenings has produced a cordial and univerfal Obedience to all his Commands? Which is the

3. PARTICULAR, in which we are to examine ourselves, our Repentance; whether we are heartily forry for our paft Offences against God and our Neighbour; and whether we fet a Guard over ourselves that we do not commit the fame again; and, if we have injured or defrauded any Man, whether we endeavour, to the utmost of our Power and Ability, to make him Reftitution and Satisfaction? Which Duty of Satisfaction, though it is too often overlooked, and is fo unwelcome a Doctrine, that it is not fo often infifted on, either from the Pulpit or the Press as it ought to be, yet it is abfolutely neceffary to a full and compleat Repentance.

4.

WE must examine our felves concern-SE RM. ing our Charity both to God and Man. VIII. With Relation to God, this Sacrament is called the Eucharift, or Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving; with Relation to Man, the Communion, or common Union of all Christians; and, therefore, we are to examine our felves, firft, whether we are paffionately affected with the wonderful Love of God to Mankind in general, and to us in particular, in having fent his only begotten Son, out of his Bofom, to lay down his Life for us? Let us confider, whether the Meditation on the wonderful Goodness of God to us kindles in our Breaft a. fincere Love and Affection towards our Neighbour? Whether we can forgive our Enemies for God's Sake, and do good to those who have injured us, upon this Confideration, that our Bleffed Saviour died for us, even when we were Enemies to him? For fcarcely for a righteous Man will Rom. ▾ one die: Yet peradventure for a good Man 7, 8. fome would even dare to die; but God commendeth his Love towards us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Chrift died for us. These are the Subjects upon which our Examination must proceed; and, that you may the more easily remember them, you may at any Time recollect yourfelves by looking

SERM. looking into the Church-Catechifm, in VIII. which, when it is demanded,

Question. WHAT is required of them who come to the Lord's-Supper? The Answer is,

Anfier. To examine themfelves, whether they repent them truly of their former Sins, ftedfaftly purpofing to lead a new Life, having a lively Faith in God's Mercies through Chrift, with a thankful Remembrance of his Death, and to be in Charity with all Men. I come now, in the

IV. and laft Place, To lay down some Rules, whereby we may difcover whether our Examination is performed as it ought to be. And,

1. LET us confider, what Time we have spent in examining of ourselves. For, though there is not any fixed Portion of Time allotted for the Performance of this Duty, yet it is abfolutely neceffary that every Communicant fhould fet a-part fome Space of Time for it. Those who have a great deal of Time and Leifure, which lies upon their Hands, ought to be more careful and circumfpect, that they spend it in preparing themselves, and that they fequefter their Thoughts from worldly Affairs, for fome Time before; and those

who