CHAPTER XXX.

OTHER RULES CONCERNING A CHRISTIAN'S EXAMIN

ING HIMSELF BEFORE HE COME TO THE HOLY

COMMUNION.

EXAMINATION or probation of oneself may

be reduced to these four heads, whereof the first is faith; the second is repentance; the third, an heart occupied in no other affairs than holy and heavenly; the fourth, a resolution to newness of life.

Concerning faith, the communicant ought principally to examine himself whether he stedfastly believe, that God, through Jesus Christ, is become propitious unto man, and that through Him he attaineth full redemption of his sins.

Concerning repentance, it is requisite that he examine himself whether he be sorry from the bottom of his heart for his sins, by true and unfeigned repentance; for true repentance makes him feel the burden, and feeling the burden, to go unto Him that will ease all those that are weary and heavy laden. Repentance makes him to find the disease, and finding the disease to run unto the Physician, and receive this spiritual physic of the soul

I

Concerning an heart occupied in holy and heavenly affairs, the communicant ought to examine himself whether his heart be occupied in good thoughts. Now, what better thoughts may possess the mind of a faithful communicant, presenting himself at the Table of the Lord, than these or the like? O God, Thou art good! O soul, thou art happy!

Concerning a purpose or resolution of newness of life, the communicant ought to examine himself whether he constantly purpose with himself that he will correct all his faults, and not commit them again for all the allurements that the world can afford. And although he hath a thousand times fallen into the same, yet so often also to purpose with himself amendment: provided ever that not by his own strength he may hope to perform this, but to place all in the aid and assistance of God, from whom every good and perfect gift descendeth, and to whom we are evermore to pray with him. We believe, Lord; help our unbelief.

CHAPTER XXXI.

OF QUIETNESS OF MIND BEFORE THE RECEIVING OF THE HOLY COMMUNION.

GREAT defects there are in many, that coming

ness.

unto the Holy Supper of the Lord, they come sometimes perplexed with various thoughts, sometimes distracted with a multitude of earthly busiThese defects ought to be removed; for what more convenient at this time than to have a quiet mind, sequestered from all troublesome inferior cogitations? When thou enterest into the Church, saith St. Bernard, leave without all secular affairs; attend unto Him who attendeth unto thee: much more coming unto the Table of the Lord, leave all thy cares, and resign thyself wholly unto God.

66

It is said of Socrates, that his scholars bringing him presents, Sophocles, a poor boy of the company, comes unto him in this manner: Sir, I have nothing to give you, only I give you myself." To whom Socrates answered, "Thou that givest thyself to me shalt receive thyself bettered by me." And so he did, after instruction in virtue and learning. If we have nothing to give, the very giving of ourselves to God is acceptable to Him, and profitable to us the givers.

There are that write of Thomas Aquinas, that learned divine, how he was spoken unto in this manner, as it seemed from God: Quid dabo tibi, Thoma? "Thomas, what shall I give thee?" His reply was said to be, Teipsum, Domine; "Thyself, Lord."

What is the cause that we are often weak and weary? Surely for no other cause than for our distractions in human affairs. O happy were we, had we but a glimpse of that heavenly Jerusalem, which St. John saw descending from Heaven'. Truly this should we see with St. John, if we were with him in the Spirit: but this cannot be, so long as we are in the flesh.

"doth

"When our grain," saith St. Austin, putrify in lower places, we remove it into higher, where it is likely to be more safe; this should we do with our cogitations." St. Chrysostom unto the people of Antioch saith, "You would bestow your time, and employ your substance, where most gain is to be got; why then, set your affections on heavenly things. We see that those who sit upon round things do sit unstably; but those which settle themselves upon a corner-stone sit sure. Christ is the corner-stone, upon whom we may safely rest the world is unstable and wavering.

f Revelation xxi. 10.

Our Saviour doth manifest this to His disciples: "In Me you shall have peace, but in the world you shall have affliction." Where there is a contrary effect between these two, vos in me, and vos in mundo: you in Me, and you in the world; in Me peace and quiet, in the world trouble and affliction; who would take care about puddle water that may drink freely of the Water of Life? They that desire nothing but Christ, shall in Christ find all things. Elkana said unto Anna, "Am not I better to thee than ten sonsh?" Is not quiet in Christ better than all the pleasures and profits of the world? There is no taking aim at a flying fowl, nor settling our affections upon things which are transitory

CHAPTER XXXII.

PIOUS CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE WE COME TO
THE LORD'S SUPPER.

I. CONSIDER Who, and how great a One, He is, whom thou art about to receive.

2. If John the Baptist, sanctified in his mother's womb, thought himself unworthy to unloose the latchet of Christ's shoes; may not I say with humi8 John xvi. 33.

h I San.uel i. 8.