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CHA P. V.

The Dignity of the Sacrament, and Honour of the Priesthood.

Christ att defirous to feast upon these dainty

TF thou feeft the Table richly furnished, and

Meats, let that Defire be duly tempered with Reverence and holy Fear; for know, that if thou hadft the Purity of an Angel, or the mortified Piety of John the Baptift, yet even thus thou could'ft not deferve fo Divine a Bleffing; but ought'ft to acknowledge it a mighty, Favour and Condefcenfion, that thou art admitted to receive, and tafte, or even to touch this Bleffed Sacrament. That Man fhould confecrate thofe Elements, and by pronouncing a fet Form of Words introduce a new Efficacy, and give them a myftical Power, which Nature neither did, nor could provide them with before; that the Perfons prefent should eat the Bread of Angels, and be filled with heavenly Food by virtue of fuch Confecration; Thefe are not the Effect of any extraordinary Merit in them who fanctifie, or who receive, thofe Creatures of Bread and Wine, but the pure and fole effect of Mercy and Grace. The Greatnefs of the Mystery does' indeed magnifie the Prieftly Office, and Men ought to pay a more than common Refpect to thofe Perfons, whom God hath honoured with a Privilege, not imparted to the very Angels themfelves. For they who are regularly ordained in the Church, are the only Perfons, by whofe Miniftry God gives the Body of his Son to us. They are the Perfons acting by his Commiffion, they use the Form appointed by Chrift himself, and have a conftant mighty Effect attending upon their due Adminiftration. But ftill our Thoughts and Wonder muft not terminate in them, as if by

their own Power and Holiness they could bring fuch things to pass. For they are only Inftruments; and therefore we muft carry our Meditations further, up as high as God himself, for he is the first and principal Caufe, he the Invinfible Worker of this Miracle of Mercy; It is his Word, which made, and governs all Things, that only can command material and common Elements to produce fpiritual and extraordinary Effects, and ftrengthen and refresh the Souls of the Faithful by the Body and Blood of Chrift; at the fame time, and with as certain operation, as their Bodies are strengthened and refreshed by the Bread and Wine.

When therefore thou approachest the Chriftian Altar, reft not in the Teftimony of thy Senfes, nor. dwell upon the outward and vifible Signs; but let thy Faith carry thee on to the inward and Spiritual Grace, and exercise it felf in contemplating the Almighty Power of God. And Thou, to whom the invoking this Power and its efficacious Prefence is committed, fee that thou do it with awful Reverence and godly Fear. Confider whofe Servant thou art, and what a glorious Character thou haft received by Impofition of the Bishop's Hands. For thou art Ordained a Prieft for noble and religious Purpofes; The Excellence of. thy Office confifts in giving thy Master's Family their Portion of Meat in due manner and feafon: Be faithful therefore in the Execution of this weighty Truft; Proceed in it with a fervent and exemplary Devotion, and let it be thy firft care to offer up thy felf an unreprovable Sacrifice to God. Do not imagine any part of thy Privilege to confift in an exemption from the Duties incumbent upon Common Chriftians. Alas! thy Burden is not lefs but greater, thy Temptations more and fiercer, thy Danger more imminent, for being thus diftinguished. For it will be expected, that the Sanctity of thy Manners, the Severity of thy

Virtue, the Conqueft of thy Paffions, the Perfection of thy Holiness, the Fervency and Zeal of thy Devotion fhould diftinguifh thee, as vifibly, as eminently, as thy Garb and thy Profeffion do. That thou fhouldst be cloath'd and adorn'd with that Righteoufnefs, that Innocence, that Gravity, of which thy Robe is a fignificant Emblem; and, as thou art become a Leader, thou fhould'ft likewife be a Pattern to the Flock. For the Converfation of such Perfons fhould be no longer conformable to the Customs and corrupt Examples of the World, but confined to the Angels in Heaven, or to the Saints that excel in Virtue upon Earth.

When thou entreft into the Holy Place, and there putt'ft on the Garments of thy Function, confider what thou art going about, and how high a Place thou haft obtained; no less than to be the Reprefentative of the Great High-prieft in Heaven, and to Minifter in his ftead unto his People. Firft therefore, with all Humility, bewail thy own Unworthiness, and confess thy own Sins; then with a moft extensive Charity, and tender Compaffion, bewail, and intercede for the Sins of others. Look upon thy felf as a Mediator between God and Tranfgreffors; to offer up Their Prayers, Confeffions, and Thanksgivings to him; and to hand down his Pardon and Bleffings to them. And be not flothful or unthinking, careless or cold in this Affair; for it is most important, and requires thy moft diligent Attention, thy moft earneft Importunity, thy moft Indefatigable Perfeverance; never to be abated, till thou have gained thy Point, and prevailed for Mercy and Grace, by thofe refolute Wrestlings with God. But, when thou celebratest the Holy Supper, remember, thou art about a Work, which all Heaven and Earth are concern'd in. A work, which, when performed as it ought, brings Honour to God, Joy to the bleffed Angels, Edification to the Church

Church of Chrift, Conversion to Sinners, Peace to wounded Consciences, Comfort to the Afflicted, Strength to the Feeble, and to thy felf abundance of Grace, and an exceeding great Reward.

CHAP. VI.

An Act of Preparation before the Sacrament.

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Difciple.]DEhold, Lord, with thy wonted Mercy, the Doubts and Confufions of my trou bled Breaft. For, when I look up to Heaven, and confider the Majefty of my Great, my Holy God; and from thence draw my eyes back upon my felf, and view my own Vilenefs and horrible Sinfulness, I am all Perplexity, and Distraction, and Horror. Thou biddeft me come; and, if I refufe or neglect to comply with that gracious Invitation, I forfake my own Mercy, and deprive my felf of Life and Happiness: But if I come unworthily, I am equally miferable,and Thall be punished for the high Indignity,of bringing fo polluted a Gueft to fo pure and heavenly a Feaft. What Course then fhall I take to be fafe, when Danger and Death threaten on either hand? I will even fly to thee, my God, and inftead of confulting with Flefh and Blood, or hearkning to the deceitful Infinuations of my too rafh, or too timorous Reafon, will ask Counsel of Thee, my Infallible and only Oracle, in Difficulties, my never-failing Help in Neceffities and Diftreffes.

Teach me, I beseech thee, the right way, and lead me in fuch Methods of Holy Preparation, as may be proper and fuitable to fo exalted an Act of Religion, I know that these Approaches to thee in the Bleffed Sacrament are exceeding beneficial and delightful;

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but make me know withal, in what manner thou must be approached, to render that which is defirable in it felf fafe and profitable to me in particular. Give me, I beseech thee, a due Senfe of the Greatnefs of the Mystery,and the Excellence of thy Mercy in it; and, confequent to that, fill my Soul with pure and holy Affections, with earneft Longings, with godly Sorrow, with fincere and ftedfaft Refolutions, with profound Reverence, and ardent Devotion, that my Heart may be a clean, though homely Receptacle for my Saviour, fuch as he will not difdain; and I fo welldifpofed a Gueft at this Divine Feaft, this Spiritual Sacrifice, that thou may'ft bid me welcome to thy Table, and the Food I receive there may nourish me up to Health and Life Eternal. Amen.

CHA P. VII.

Of Self-Examination.

Chrift. whether Prieft or Private Chriftian, 'A' Bove all keepings, keep thy heart, and

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take good heed, that at thy coming to my holy Table thy Devotion confift not in outward Gefture, and Pomp and Shew only. I am not to be impofed upon with fuch empty Formalities, but require an upright, humble, and devout Mind, a Mind low and proftrate as thy Body, a ftedfaft Faith and pure Intention, and unfeigned Zeal for God's honour. Therefore, before thou prefume to approach, examine well how thou art qualified: Search every corner of thy Confcience, and do thy utmoft to purge and caft out all Remains of the old Leaven. Let no Sin unrepented of reproach thee; no Luft unmortified divide thy Affections, and hinder thy free and entire Refignation to my Will.

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