cent, is to come frequently to the Holy Sacrament; in our preparations whereunto, we are more particularly bound to examine our hearts upon that head, Matth. v. 23, 24. If thou bringest thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Add to this, that the communicating in this holy ordinance represents to our minds some of the most forcible motives to forgiveness and charity. There we

see in how gracious a manner the great God of Heaven and Earth pardons the offences of his creatures, and is reconciled to them. We see by faith, the Son of God even dying for us, while we were enemies to him. And we see ourselves united with the congregation of Christian people, in one body, under Christ our Head; for we being many, are one bread and one body, Cor. x. 17. Or, if these considerations do not work us into a charitable disposition, we remember that one great end of our coming thither, is tɔ sue for the pardon of our sins; and we are very sure, that God will not forgive

us,unless we also forgive our fellow-creatures. And thus, by obliging ourselves to receive the Holy Sacrament frequently, the roots of malice and envy are kept under,and by degrees rooted up, which would otherwise overspread the whole heart. 8. As all the blessings of God require suitable acknowledgments on

8. Thankfulness to God.

in

our part; so especially his infinite love and mercy in the redemption of mankind, ought to be often remembered and dwelt upon by every Christian. How seldom this is in any measure performed by those who neglect the bles sed Sacrament, I need not say, because their own consciences know it; but this I must say, that it is high presumption any Christian to hope for the benefits of Christ's redemption, while he shews himself altogether insensible of them, by refusing to join with his fellow-Christians in this sacrifice of praise and thanks" giving, which Christ appointed, and the church of Christ continues, in re membrance of them: Where societies of devout and sincere Christians assemble together, with one heart and one voice to celebrate the wisdom and good. ness of God, in the redemption of man

kind, and to profess and confirm their faith in Christ crucified; and by remem bering the miserable state out of which they are delivered, and the glorious hopes of which they are made partakers through the merits of Christ's death, do fill their hearts with spiritual joy, and pour out their souls before God in praises and ad

oration.

These are some of the blessed advantages which flow from the due The sum. and frequent receiving of the Holy Sacrament; that it puts us in mind of the re.. lation we bear to Christ, and of our manifold obligations to love and obey him; That it is a check to presumption, by shewing God's hatred of sin; and a remedy against despair, by representing his mercy to penitent Sinners, That it will not suffer us to go on securely in the transgression of our duty, but awakens our consciences, and obliges us to exam. ine our lives, and renew our vows of obedience,and raises us from these earth. ly thoughts (in which our souls would otherwise be buriec) to the heavenly exercises of praising and adoring our Cre ator and Redeemer. That is, in a few words, it obliges us to live up to our pro

fession, and as becomes the gospel of Christ.

And these considerations being laid to The appli- heart as seriously as they ought,

cation,

cannot fail of obliging and disposing all, who are in earnest in religion, and resolve to be Christians in deed as well as in name, to repair frequently to the Lord's table, which is so excellent a means to preserve their innocence, and improve them in all christian graces and virtues; especially since it is the means which Christ himself hath appointed for these ends, and being observed in obe. dience to his command will be always attended with a more especial blessing. And as the neglect of this Holy Ordinance is a high contempt of the authority of our Saviour, who commanded Christians to continue this remembrance of his dying for them; so for us to think that our souls can be nourished and grow up to eternal life, without a religious use of the ordinances whichChrist hath appointed for that end, is as vain a thing, as to hope that our bodies can live and grow without their proper nourishment.

But notwithstanding all this, I doubt there are very many Christians, who,

though they seldom or never come to the Lord's Table,do yet reckon themselves sufficiently concerned for their eternal happiness. Which happiness being in itself unspeakably great, and also a deliverance from endless misery, cannot but be earnestly desired and wished for by all, if bare wishes would bring them to it. But it is a great folly and a dangerous delusion, to imagine that we are in earnest for the end, while we are visibly negli gent of the means; that is, that we do above all things desire the salvation of our souls, when there is nothing we neg lect more than the Holy Ordinances and Exercises which Christ hath appointed, as the standing means to obtain and secure it. So that they do but flatter them.. selves into their own destruction, who ei ther hope for Heaven without a Holy life, or believe that Holiness of heart and life can be bred and cherished in us by any other way, than that which Christ hath appointed. And therefore let none believe that they take due state of their souls or are in the way of salvation, while they live in a wilful neglect of the blessed Sa. crament; but rather let them make their avoiding it,a certain sign that their hearts