but from the fource of all joy and comfort; where fhall we find ftrength to refift the temptations that crowd about us, but in this divine armour? when we are loaded with fo many imperfections, and fometimes, by negligence or furprize, fall a prey to the tempter; what fo proper to wash away our fins, as that precious ineftimable blood, which was fhed for our falvation? therefore the very fenfe of our unworthiness, if rightly applied, fhould quicken our zeal in approaching the Lord's table frequently, as the best means to make us better. 4. Indeed, when we have a forefight of our communicating, it is very adviseable we fhould trim our lamps; examine the state of our minds; renew our repentance; exercise our charity; enlarge our devotions; spiritualize our affections; and, in order to this purpofe, fhould retire from business and pleafure; that by prayer, fasting, and alms-deeds, our minds may be raised to relish spiritual en joyments. 5. On the contrary: the living in the conftant habitual practice of any known fin without repentance, will make our approach to the holy table a mocking of God, a great contempt of my of his authority, and our prayers also an abomination to the Lord; for, to profess ourselves forry for our fins, and refolve to forfake them, when we have no sense of the one, nor are determined to do the other, is the greatest affront imaginable to our Maker, by fuppofing either that he doth not know our hearts, or, that he will be pleased when we offer to him the facrifice of fools, in a multitude of words only. 6. Nor doth the danger of unworthy receiving make it safest to abstain from receiving at all, or at leaft to come to receive but feldom; because the danger of neglecting and contemning a plain command of our faviour is more hazardous to our falvation, than performing it without some due qualification. The duty therefore being neceffary to be performed (as hath already been fhewn on page 47) the true confequence we should draw from the danger of performing it unworthily, fhould be to excite ourselves to great care and diligence in preparing ourselves for the due discharge of it; but never to delude ourselves by falfe rea-fons to fuch a neglect as will certainly increase. our condemnation. 7. Though our business be lawful in its own nature, yet if it be profecuted to such a degree as to take men off from the care of their fouls, it ought to be put off, when it interferes with this duty; because the falvation of our fouls is of much greater confequence than any affair that relates to this world; wife men proportion their care of a thing according to its worth; no prudent perfon will spend his time upon trifles, and neglect what may be of the greatest confequence to his foul. It must be owned that our fouls are of greater worth than our bodies, and that we must certainly find a time to die, however carelefs and negligent we may be in making a due preparation for death. Befides, the care of temporal concerns and our duty to God are no ways inconfiftent, provided we govern our affairs by christian principles. A great deal of business and the duties of religion may stand together. Though men of bufinefs have not leifure for much actual preparation, yet they may have all that habitual preparation upon which the great stress ought to be laid in this duty. 8. We are affured that the confcientious discharge of our business is an admirable qualification for receiving the Lord's iupper. We ferve ferve God when we follow our callings with diligence, and obferve juftice and equity in all our dealings, when we manage the affairs of the public with fidelity and honefty; without felling justice, without oppreffion, and without facrificing them to our private intereft and paffions. Befides, the greater dangers and temptations we are expofed to, the greater need we have of God's grace and affiftance, which is abundantly communicated in this holy inftitution. Is it not prudent for those that travel in ways frequented by robbers, to go well armed and to unite companies, that they may be the better able to defend themselves? Thus the man of bufi-. ness who has any ferious thoughts of another world, ought more especially to embrace all opportunities of receiving, it being best able to fecure him against thofe dangers he daily converfes with, and to fortify him against thofe watchful enemies that lie in wait to deftroy his foul. Therefore as they, who have leifure, ought frequently to receive the holy communion, as the best improvement of their time; fo they that are engaged in many worldly affairs ought to learn how to fanctify their employments by coming often to this holy facrament. C 6 9. The 9. The obligation that lies upon any chriftian to receive the holy communion is the plain and pofitive command of our blessed saviour to do this in remembrance of him; which makes ita neceffary and perpetual duty incumbent upon all christians; and to live in the neglect of a plain law, of the author of our religion, is no way confiftent with the character we profess of being his difciples. The circumftances of this inftitution ftill bind us to have a great regard to it; for it was the last command of our best friend and great benefactor, when he was about to lay down his life for our fakes. Nevertheless great care must be taken, that when a man is habitually prepared, he do not then impose upon himself so much actual preparation, as shall make him lose an opportunity of receiving the holy facrament, when he has not had time to go through with that method of devotion he has prescribed to himself on that occafion. The Hymn, on Tuesday Morning. Of fure truft in GOD's grace through Jesus Christ. Fudge me, Lord, and prove my ways, And try my reins, and try my heart; My faith upon thy promise stays, |