come, I will tread in their Steps, and support 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 Lanthorn unto my Pfalm cxix. Feet, and a Light unto Feet, and a Light unto my Paths. To thele 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. These are the two Tables of the Chriftian, resembling thofe of the Jewish Church heretofore, where the Divine Treasures are expofed and preferved. The One, like that of the Shew-Bread, furnished moft richly with the Symbols of thy precious Body; Hebr. ix. the Other, like the Repofitory of the Law, containing Holy Doctrines, prefcribing true and faving Faith, and leading us within the Veil to the most 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 teach us. All Glory and Thanks be to the great Creator and merciful Re

deemer

deemer of Mankind, for his extenfive 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 Substance of that Shadow, the Accomplishment of that Type; even Chrift our Paffover facrificed for us, and exhibited to us. This Bread fuftains, this Cup cheers 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 blessed 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 thePowers 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 fhould those 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 holy, for I the Lord your God am Holy. But fure the Sanctity and exemplary Lives of Priefts under the Gospel ought as much to excel thofe of the Sons of Aaron, as our Miniftration 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 a pure Heart, with a becoming Zeal, and moving Devotion; fuch as may not only fuit their own Character, 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 Innocence, or come not up to all thofe eminent Degrees of Perfection, which we might and ought: Yet let at least 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 Frailness.

Chrift.]

I

CHA P. XII.

Of Preparation to the Communion.

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

eat

eat the Paffover at thy House with my Difciples.Purge out thy old Leaven, and dress 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 should 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 Bitternefs 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 beft 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 employed in Preparation cannot effect what in ftrict Juftice 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 Unworthiness. If Beggars with their Nakedness and Sores, have leave to fit and feaft with Princes, their Duty is, with Humility 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 shall be fupplied by Grace.

,

,

When

Matth. vii,

and xv.

When thou feeleft thy Heart burn with Love and Devotion return_thy Thanks to God for kindling thefe holy Fires. I did it, not because thou art worthy of fuch Grace, but because I had compaffion on thy Weakness and thy Wants. When thou findeft thy self cold and infenfible in Religious Duties, double thy Diligence and thy Prayers, lament thy Deadnefs, and continue knocking; For if thou perfevere, and wilt take no Denial, thou shalt not ask in vain, but be fed, at leaft, with the Crumbs that fall from thy Mafter's Table. Thou ftandeft in need of me, but I have none of thee. It is for thy Benefit, not my own, that I vouchsafe to meet thee at this Sacrament. Thou comeft hither to be filled, and ftrengthened, and fanctified, to return better than thou cameft, to receive increase of Grace, to be One with me, and dwell in me; and those who come fincerely difpofed to receive me, and amend their Lives, I will in no wife fend empty away. Do not then neglect thofe precious Opportunities; Do not abfent, or come carelefly; but make me room in thy Heart, and let it be a clean and fit Reception for fo pure a Gueft, and He whom thou loveft, will go home with thee to thy Houfe.

But then obferve, that there is the fame Neceffity of Care and Watchfulness after this Sacrament, as of Prayer and Preparation before it. For a conftant virtuous Life and ftrict Guard over a Man's felf, is the best and most effectual Preparation to every Sacrament, and the fureft Means of obtaining more and greater Degrees of Grace. A Man, who prefently returns to the World, and gives himself a loofe to the Liberties and Affections the Bufinefs and the Pleasures of it, undoes what he had taken Pains to do before; and defeats the good Effects of his most folemn Preparation. Be not fond of variety of Company and Diverfions; nor lavish and unwary in thy