distract me, the Burthen of my Sins preffes me down, the Multitude of my Temptations are a perpetual Torment and Vexation, the Variety and Exorbitance of my corrupt Affections entangle, and confound, and over-power my Reafon. And in the midft of thefe Calamities and Dangers, I have no Succour, no Defence, no Supporter or Déliverer, but only thee, my God. And therefore into thy Hands, my merciful Maker and Saviour, I commit my felf, and all my Affairs; and beg, that thou would'ft keep what is thus depofited with thee, fafe unto Life Eternal. O take me therefore into thy Cuftody; and, as thou haft ordained thy Body and Blood to be the Food of Immortality; fo grant, that it may have its proper Efficacy upon my Soul in particular, to the Glory of thy Name, and the Honour of fo bleffed an Inftitution. And, that no Neglect or Unfruitfulnefs of mine may obftruct its kindly and powerful Operations; Grant, I beseech thee, my God and Saviour, that I never may be guilty of fuch Difrefpect, as wilfully to turn my Back upon thy Table; but may earneftly long for, heartily rejoice in, and diligently comply with, every Opportunity of receiving this mighty Bleffing; and may fo frequent, and fo improve under, thy merciful Difpenfation; that I may conftantly return, with greater Care and Zeal, more fettled Refolutions, more irreconcileable Hatred againft Sin, and more fervent Love for God and Goodness, than before. So fhall I approach nearer to thee indeed, and each Sacrament prove a fresh Advance toward Heaven. So fhall my Soul be filled with the Treafures of thy Mercy, the Delights of thy Secret ones, and the ravishing Foretaftes of that Blifs, which fhall be always growing, till it be confummated at laft in that Eternal Feaft above, the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb in thy Kingdom. Amen.

CHAP. V.

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

IF

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Chrift.]F thou feeft the Table richly furnished, and art defirous to feaft upon these dainty. Meats, let that Defire be duly tempered with Reverence and holy Fear. For know, that if thou hadst 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 present fhould eat the Bread of Angels, and be filled with heavenly Food, by vertue of fuch Confecration; Thefe are not the Effect of any extraordinary Merit, in them who fanctify, 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 magnify 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 Ministry God gives the Body of his Son to us. They are the Perfons acting by his Commiffion, they ufe the Form appointed by Chrift himfelf, and have a conftant mighty Effect attending upon their due Administration. But ftill our Thoughts and Wonder must not terminate in Them, as if by

their own Power and Holinefs they could bring fuch things to pafs. For they are only Inftruments; and therefore we must carry our Meditations further, up as high as God himself, for he is the first and principal Caufe, he the Invisible Worker of this Miracle of Mercy. It is his Word, which made, and governs all Things, that only can command material and com-mon 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 ftrengthened and refreshed by the Bread and Wine.

When therefore thou approachest the Christian Altar, reft not in the Teftimony of thy Senfes, nor dwell upon the outward and visible Signs; but let thy Faith carry thee on to the inward and fpiritual 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 Priest for noble and religious Purposes. The Excellence of thy Office confifts, in giving thy Master's Family their Portion of Meat, in due Manner and Seafon. Be faithful therefore in the Execution of this weighty Trust; 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 inore imminent, for being thus diftinguifhed. 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 Holinefs, the Fervency and Zeal of thy Devotion, fhould diftinguish thee, as vifibly, as eminently, as thy Garb and thy Profeffion do. That thou fhould't 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 fuch Perfons fhould be no longer conformable to the Cuftoms and corrupt Examples of the World, but conformed 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, consider what thou art going about, and how high a Place thou hast obtained; no less than to be the Reprefentative of the Great High-Prieft in Heaven, and to minister in His ftead unto his People. Firft, therefore, with all Humility, bewail thy own Unworthinefs, and confefs thy own Sins. Then with a moft extenfive 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, carelefs or cold in this Affair; for it is most important, and requires thy most 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 celebrateft 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

of

of Chrift, Conversion to Sinners, peace to wounded Confciences, 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.

Difciple.

Ehold, Lord, with thy wonted Mercy, the Doubts and Confufions of my troubled 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 Sinfulnefs; I am all Perplexity, and Diftraction 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 fhall be punished for the high Indignity, of bringing fo polluted a Gueft, to fo pure and heavenly a Feast. 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 Flesh 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;

but