Sacramental meditations and advices, grounded upon Scripture-texts, proper for communicants. Together with a short Christian directory

that we are out of hell, for many thoufands are burning there, who have not finned fo heinously, in making light of precious Chrift, as we have done.

Moreover, Reader, confider if you go to this ordinance unpreparedly, or with indifference, you not only make light of the Lord Jefus Chrift, but you are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, Cor. xi. 27. Surely that word may caufe you to quake and tremble; blood guilti nefs of any fort is a dreadful fin, and especially to be guilty of the blood of the Lord. Murder is a fin that cries for vengeance on the actor, and gives God no rest till he punish it, Gen. iv. 10. The voice of thy brother's blood crieth to me from the earth. If it be a crying fin to murder a common perfon, what must it be to murder a king? Who can ftretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless? Sam. xxvi. 9. O then, what a crime must it be to murder the eternal Son of God, who is thy exalted King, thy everlafting Father, thy dear Redeemer, and thy God who gave thee a being. Childmurder is a heinous crime; but what Chrift murder is, no tongue can tell! If on him that flew Cain (that wicked man) vengeance should be taken feven-fold, what vergeance will be taken on him that crucifies afreft the Lord of glory? This confideration fhould make all of us afraid of carelefs and unworthy communicating,

If we would communicate worthily, we must be earnest, not only for the life of grace, but alfo for the liveliness of grace; not only for the truth and fincerity of grace, but likewife for the activity and vigorous exercife of grace. So that a believer himself doth not eat and drink worthily, unless the grace that is in him be excited and exercised at this ordinance. -There must be not only faith in the truth of it, but there must be faith realizing, applying, appropriating, and making ufe of Chrift's death and purchafe in this ordinance.. Not only must there be a difpofition of foul to be humbled for fin, but there must be actual mourning and melting of heart for fin, and for particular fins, when we look on him we have pierced by them.

-Not

-Not only must there be a principle of love to Chrift, but also an exciting of love to flame out to Chrift, who loved us and gave himself for us.

Worthy communicating being a work of fuch importance, the following fcriptural meditations and advices are humbly offered to Christians, as an help in their preparations for it. Reading and thinking much on the fubjects here propofed, may, through God's blething, be useful to promote their habitual preparation for the holy fupper.

Chrift's

body and blood herein exhibited are pure and holy things, and should be received in prepared and cleanfed hearts. His body never faw corruption in the grave, nor will be mixed with it in hearts where corruption is allowed. ly in a virgin's womb, and in a virgin's fepulchre, and will ftill be entertained in virgins fouls and affections; in hearts purified and confecrated to God. In thefe, Chrift chufes to refide, and not in thefe, where fin and the world, with the Jufls thereof, are harboured. Oh, had we grace to maintain and cherish the fear of God, and the love of Christ habitually in our fouls, we might, without much pains, be prepared for coming to him at bis table.

Did we always bear in our minds, that facramental occafions are folemn appointments, and Bethel-meetings with God. for renewing covenant, and entertaining fellowship and communion with him, we would guard more against formality creeping in upon us in our preparations for, and in our attendance upon this ordinance, than, alas, we do. Oh, fuch formality will provoke the Mafter of our folemn feaits to withdraw from them, and then what poor, dry, melancholy, and lifelefs things will they be? What are facraments without Chrift's prefence in them? O let us never be fatisfied with communion-fabbaths, without communion - with Chrift in them.

On the other hand, if we would keep up communion with Chrift in thefe ordinances, let us beware of relying on our previous pains or preparations, either for our right per forming of our duty, or for our acceptance in it: For we are never more ready to mifcarry, and to be difappointed,

than when we are guilty of this refting. Sundry go to the Lord's table with great humiliation for fin, and yet come away without comfort: Why? because they make a Chrift of their forrow.-O what worth can we fee in our beft preparations, confeffions, prayers, tears, humiliations, &c. if we compare them with the law of God? We have more caufe to be afhamed of them, than to lay any ftrefs on them. Could we renounce all felf-confidence, and disclaim all our provifion in point of dependence, and caft ourselves wholly on Chrift for strength, through bearing, and acceptance, we would have better fuccefs at the Lord's table, than commonly we have.

We are never more fit for his holy table, than when we are most humbled, and most ashamed of ourselves, because of our unfitness for this folemn approach; and we are ne ver lefs fit, than when we think ourselves most fit and prepared for the dury.A holy deniednefs to all felfe fufficiency, and a deep fenfe of unworthiness and unfitness, is the best preparation we can attain to. for this folemn or dinance. Let us make holy David our pattern, when going to partake, Pfalm.lxxi. 16. I will go in the ftrength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteouf nefs, even of thine only.- And let us pray with the fpoufe, Cant. iv. 16. Awake O north wind, and come thou fouth, blow upon my garden, that the spices theresf may flow out. Amen.

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