THE Communicant's Guide: SHOWING A Safe and Easy WAY TO THE Lord's Table: In Compassion to The Poorer and Weaker Sort OF CHRISTIANS.  
By CLEM. ELIS, Rector of Kirkby in Nottinghamshire.  1 Cor. 11. ●● If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 
LONDON: Printed for john Baker at the Sign of the Three Pigeons in St. Paul's Churchyard. M DC LXXXV.   

TO THE Christian Readers: More especially to those who belong unto my Charge; for whose Help this Book is principally intended.  
My Dear Friends,  
I Hope none of you will think me so vain, as to publish this Little Book for this Reason, That I suppose there are not many better of the same Subject, and for the same Use, already abroad in the World. I well know, that there be very many; and not a few of them so excellent, that if you had them, and knew how to use them, this that I now present you with might well seem to be superfluous, if not contemptible. But, I hope, till you can be better provided, it may be very useful to you, at least in this. that it may help to fit you for the using of those better: and if this only be the use of it, you ought not to despise it.  
The true Reasons then, why I thus tender you my Service, are those, which some of yourselves have often prompted me with. When you have been admonished to prepare yourselves carefully for the worthy Receiving of this Holy Sacrament, you have been ready to say, That you wanted good helps and Books for that purpose, and you continue ignorant for want of Instruction; for though you hear Sermons, and have been Catechised in public, and have been examined and instructed privately too by the Minister, yet your Understandings being dull, and your Memories weak, you are not much better for all this, because you want such Books to read as may help you more fully to understand your Duty. This is a Pretence, and no more than so, in very many, whose Love to Sin, and Carelessness of their Souls and all their spiritual Concerns, is indeed the real cause of their Ignorance and Unfitness for this and all other religious Duties. To remove this Pretence, and that you may not delude yourselves to your utter undoing, by thinking you have a sufficient Excuse for not doing so necessary a Duty, when you have none, is the cause of my presenting you with this help to the doing of it.  
Some of you say, That the most excellent of those Books already extant to this purpose, are too dear, and you are not able to buy them. Herein some of you speak the Truth; such I mean as have not wherewith to buy Bread for their Mouths, or clothes for their Backs. But the most of them who thus plead their Poverty, say no more in effect but this: That they think their Money better bestowed in a Lace or Ribbon, a Cup of Ale, or a Game at Cards, than on their Souls, which were so dear to Christ, that he paid his most precious Blood to redeem them.  
Others say, That those Books are too learned and hard for their Understanding, and they should be no wiser for them if they had them. And indeed there is too much Truth in this: yet are there not wanting such as are so plain and easy, that it can be nothing but your unacquaintedness with the very Principles of Religion, that makes them seem hard. If you were concerned to understand any other Language than that of the Blow and Cart, or thought it as needful to discourse sometimes of matters relating to God and your own Souls, as to talk to your Horses and Oxen, you might soon learn much Good from the Books you thus complain of.  
Some of these Books, you say, are too▪ long and tedious. And it is true, that some of them are longer than they should be for the use of the weaker sort of Christians. But it is no wonder if every good Book seem too long to them who have no Delight in Goodness, and to them that are weary of hearing a short Sermon of an Hour, or it may be not so much. A Book that will cost them some days to read it over understandingly, must needs be very tedious indeed. They that think all their time little enough to trade and drudge in for the World, or their swinish Lusts, cannot spare much of it for their Souls without grudging and wearisomeness.  
Now that you may not henceforward have any colour for such Pretences, I here offer you one that is, if I mistake not, every way fitted to your Condition and Capacity, for it is cheap, and easy, and short; and yet, I hope, sufficient to teach and direct you in your Duty. I herein endeavour to manifest my hearty Love and Care for your Souls and everlasting Welfare: and if I had no other Reason for writing and publishing it but this only, that I desire to show my Readiness to serve you, and to cast in my small Mite amongst those that offer more largely out of their Abundance, towards the enriching of your Souls, I may, I hope, be at least excusable.  
But, alas, what better will you be for my Kindness if you will not make use of it! This Book, nay all the Books in the World, will not make you Christians, or worthy Communicants, by lying by you, or by a careless reading, without understanding, applying, and practising, no more than your Meat will nourish you without eating it. Some few Years ago I gave you, for the same Reasons which move me now to give you this, a small Summary both of your Faith and Duty, called, Christianity in short; which hath with very many found a welcome much above my Hope or Expectation; the worst Entertainment it hath met with, is from some of you for whose Benefit it was chiefly intended, and who had it gratis. The Reason why it hath been so coldly entertained at home whilst it was so welcome abroad, I am apt to think is this, That you know me better than Strangers do, and seeing my Infirmities daily, do more slightly regard my Endeavours than they who see them not. But remember, I pray you, it is the Doctrine of your Blessed Saviour, that in both that little Book, and this I commend unto you, and not my own Example. Make but use of that as you ought, and my Failings, what hurt soever they do myself, shall not hurt you.  
One thing you are to be here minded of: You read things of this nature so imperfectly and so heartlesly, that little of what you read remains with you. An obscene Ballad or idle Tale-Book you can read with Delight; and though imperfectly at first, yet you read them so often, till you grow too perfect in them to your own great Hurt. Why take you not the like Pains in these Helps of Religion? Because you take no Pleasure in Religion, nor care much what becomes of God's Honour, or the Salvation of your Souls. This is too sad a Truth, and you cannot deny it. Your drowsy reading makes all good Books mere Nonsense to you.  
If it were not so, you would never be weary of learning your Christian Duty, nor of practising it neither; and you would particularly never rest till you understood the right way of coming worthily to this heavenly Banquet, unto which I here direct you. Whenever men are Christians indeed, they will set a greater Price than now they do upon this unvaluable Token of Divine Love; and they will be ashamed to think that the Table of Devils should have so many Guests, and the Table of the Lord so few.  
I have here very plainly, shunning all Disputes and Niceties, laid the whole Duty before you, with the necessity of it, and the way to perform it aright; I have also removed out of your way all the Rubs and Mormoes which are apt to hinder or affright you. Nothing can be wanting but a Will in you to be Christians, and to live so now as that you may live eternally. This is that which I cannot give you, but must not cease to beg it for you of the only Giver of all good Gifts, nor to beseech you, by the Mercies of God, that you will by all means endeavour after it.  
To the Grace of God I do mo●● heartily commend you in my Prayers, beseeching him to bless this poor Endeavour to the eternal Good of your Souls.   

THE CONTENTS.  

Chap. I. THE necessity of Receiving this Sacrament.  
II. The necessity and way of Receiving it worthily.  
III. How to examine ourselves about our Baptismal Covenant.  
IV. A help for the Examination of our Faith.  
V. A help for the Examination of our Repentance and Obedience.  
VI How to examine whether we be rightly disposed for this Sacrament?  
VII. What Affections of Soul are suitable to this Sacrament.  
VIII. How we are to behave ourselves at this Sacrament.  
IX. The pretended Reasons for neglecting this Sacrament briefly answered.  
X. The Stumbling-blocks cast in our way removed.  
Some short Directions and Prayers.    

THE WAY TO THE Lord's Table.  
CHAP. I. The necessity of receiving this Sacrament.  
REverently and Devoutly to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is so indispensable a Christian Duty, that whosoever refuseth to do it, doth no less, in effect, than refuse Salvation, and renounce his Saviour.  
There is no Salvation in any other but JESUS CHRIST: 
Acts 4. 12.  No man cometh to the Father but by him. 
john 14. 6.  There is no Salvation by Christ for those that keep not his Commandments; 
Heb. 5. 9  but as he is the Author of Salvation to them that obey him: So will he come to take Vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel. 
2 Thes. 1. 8.  And his express Command he hath left us in these plain Words, This do in Remembrance of me, Luke 22. 19 1 Cor. 11. 24.  
He that hath given us this Command is GOD 
Rom. 9 5.  over all, 
Col. 1. 16.  blessed for ever. 
1 Cor. 6. 19  The great God that made us; 
1 Pet. 1. 19  the good Lord that 
Matt. 28. 18.  bought and redeemed us 
Matt. 17. 15.  with his own most precious 
Act 3. 22.  Blood; 
john 15. 9 10. 13.  he to whom God the Father hath given all Power both in Heaven and in Earth, 
Rom. 5. 6. 8.  and hath commanded us to hear him in all things whatsoever he saith unto us. It is the Command of a dear Friend, who loved us as his Father loved him, who hath called us Friends, and laid down his Life for us in pure Love; and hath assured us, that if we keep his Commandments we shall abide in his Love. The Command of this dying Friend, when he was going to reconcile us wicked Rebels by his own bloody Death unto God, was this, This do in Remembrance of me.  
When dying for us, he bequeathed unto us Pardon, and his Spirit and eternal Life, this he required of us, that by doing this we would preserve alive a loving and thankful Remembrance of him, and show his Death, 
1 Cor. 11. 26.  and his Kindness therein to our Souls, till he come again to receive us to himself, and put us into full Possession of eternal Glory. And how shall we then look him in the Face if we have refused to do this?  
In this Sacrament he offereth us himself Crucified for 
1 Cor. 10. 16.  us, his Body and Blood; the most choice Token of his wonderful Love. Can we refuse it, and not renounce his Love and Friendship thereby?  
Thus would He have us declare our Fellowship with the Father and the Son, 
1 john 1. 3.  and with the Holy Apostles and all Saints, as joint Members of his one Body the Church, 
1 Cor. 11. 17.  by feasting together at his Table on this one Bread. Can we refuse to do this, and not renounce all Fellowship with the Father and the Son, and the Communion of Saints?  
Two solemn Rites he hath instituted as peculiar to his Religion, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord; whereby we are to own him openly before the World, and profess ourselves in Covenant with him. As he than that refuseth to be Baptised, refuseth to be a Christian; so he that having been baptised refuseth this other Sacrament, doth in effect renounce his Baptism, disown the Covenant, apostatise from Christ, and cast off the Profession of Christianity.  
He hath not commanded us many chargeable and troublesome Sacrifices, such as the jews offered; nor the Blood of our Sons and Daughters, which the Gentiles grudged not to offer unto Devils. The Cost we are put to is of a little Bread and Wine; the Pains we are put to, is, with holy and thankful Hearts to take, eat, and drink, in Remembrance of our Saviour. Can we now disobey so easy a Command of the God of Heaven and Earth, the King of the World, the Redeemer of Sinners, the only Saviour of Souls, and not renounce God, our Saviour, the Christian Religion, and all our claim to Salvation? No, 'tis very plain, that tho' the want of this Sacrament, when it is desired but cannot be had, is no Sin, if not occasioned by our Sin; yet the wilful neglect of it is no less than a damning Sin, unless there be no such thing as Damnation, and the Gospel be a Fable; from which blasphemous thought Good God preserve us all.   

CHAP. II. The Necessity and Way to Receive worthily.  
HE that eateth not at the Lord's Table must die, and he that eateth unworthily is in danger of Death: so St. Paul assures us; Whosoever shall eat this Bread, and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord, 1 Cor. 11. 27. and again, v. 29. He eateth and drinketh Damnation [or Judgement] to himself.  
If this seem hard to us, it is only because we are unreasonable, and had rather not do any Duty at all, than be at the Pains to do it as we ought. As the Duty is necessary, and yet very reasonable and not burdensome; so to do it worthily is as necessary, and no less reasonable or easy if we have a Mind to be Christians.  
The Direction how to communicate worthily we have in these words, Let a Man examine himself, and so let him eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup, 1 Cor. 11. 28. They who are ignorant, and are not sufficiently instructed, cannot examine themselves, and therefore may not eat, and they who, either because they are afraid to awaken their Consciences and not be able to sin in Quietness, or because they are loath to be at the Pains, or take so much time from their worldly Business or Pleasures, will not examine themselves, may not presume to eat.  
What then must such Persons do, for if they eat not they die? The ignorant must be Catechised and learn: if they be ashamed of this, they are ashamed of Christ, and must perish for hating Instruction. They that will not examine themselves, must consider how they can dwell with everlasting Burnings. Eat or Die, Examine or eat not, that's all the Choice our Sins have left us.  
Yet Examination is not a thing commanded for itself, but in order to something else. Counterfeit Gold is of no more worth than it was before, for being examined or tried by the Touchstone. We must examine ourselves, that we may know what we are. Examine yourselves, whether you be in the Faith; prove your own selves: Know you not your own selves, how that jesus Christ is in you, except you be Reprobates? 2 Cor. 13. 5. We might know whether we be Christians or no, would we try ourselves, and not be content, like false Gold, to make a show only. And to this end must we by Examination learn to know ourselves, that we may be able to approve of ourselves in our own Consciences before God, that we are sincere Christians, that we may not think ourselves to be something when we are nothing, and so deceive ourselves, let every Man prove his own Work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself, Gal. 6. 4.  
In short, we are to examine what Graces God hath given us, and be truly thankful; what is yet amiss in us, and amend it; what we yet want, and endeavour to obtain it.  
The difficulty of this Duty affrighteth many from this Sacrament: and indeed, considering how most of us live, it is no wonder that it seemeth difficult. But we should remember, first, That this Self-Examination is a Duty, necessary, not only now and then before a Sacrament, but at all times, that we may understand how far we are Christians indeed; and therefore the Difficulty may as well affright us from being Christians as from this Sacrament; and so I fear it doth too many, who therefore abstain from the Lord's Table, because they have no mind to be Christians any farther than in Name only. And then, secondly, We must remember, that whatever Difficulty there is in this Duty, it is of our own making, and we may make the Duty more easy if we will. For,  
1. We continue willingly ignorant of the Word of God, and its use; and it must needs be hard for us to examine ourselves by a Rule which we understand not. But let us take pains to learn perfectly the particulars of our Christian Faith and Duty, gathered from the Sacred Scriptures and explained in easy Catechisms, and often beg the Minister's help for the right understanding and due applying thereof to ourselves, opening freely to him all our Ignorances' and Doubts, and this part of the Difficulty will be removed.  
2. We live loosely and carelessly, not observing well our own Tempers and Actions; and having let them slip without any notice of them, we cannot recall to mind and examine what we never regarded. Let us but once every day take a little time to consider what Inclinations in us have that day shown themselves, and what have been our Thoughts, Words, and Actions, and comparing them with the Rule of Life, observe how they agree or disagree with it: and heartily blessing God for any Good that by his help we have done, humbly bewailing, confessing, and begging Pardon for all our Failings of Omission or Commission, praying devoutly and seriously for more Strength and Grace to live better, resolve to do our utmost Endeavour to amend and improve daily; we shall soon find all the Difficulty over: especially if we would, as often as we find cause to doubt of any thing, open our Souls freely to our Spiritual Guides, God's Ministers, for their Assistance. Which course till i be taken, we shall every where find too few Christians: but if we would do thus, we should learn to know ourselves so well, that it would be a very easy matter to examine our selve● against a Communion.  
Now that we may be worthy Communicants, we must examine our self both whether we be sound Christian● or no, and, whether we be rightly disposed for this particular Christian Duty.  
1. We must be of Christ's Family, as Christians, before we may feast at Christ's Table as Communicants. W● are solemnly admitted into the Family, or Church of Christ, by Baptism, wherein we are dedicated to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and admitted into the Bond of a sacred Covenant with the ever Blessed and Glorious Trinity. So long as we continue faithful in this Covenant, so long are we Christians; and therefore this is first to be enquired into, Whether or no we faithfully stand to this Baptismal Covenant?  
2. Then are we duly disposed for this Duty of Communicating, when understanding the Nature, Ends, and Benefits of this Sacrament, we find the Affections of our Hearts in some measure suitable thereunto. And to this purpose it is, that we are more especially before our Approaches to the Lord's Table to examine ourselves.   

CHAP. III. How to examine ourselves about our Baptismal Covenant.  
THE faithful keeping of our Baptismal Covenant is our Christianity. We are therefore impartially to inquire both how we understand it, how we have kept it, and how we resolve to keep it.  
1. To help us to understand it, we must know four things; viz.  
1. 
Gen. 1. 27.  That our Good God having made man a rational Creature in his own Image, 
Eccl. 7. 29.  and given him an immortal Soul, void of any Inclination to Evil, with sufficient Knowledge to understand his Duty, and Power enough to do it, did command him to live in perfect Obedience to God his Maker, whereby he and his might live for ever happy in the Love of God.  
2. That Adam, 
Gen. 3. Rom. 5. 12.  the first Man and common Father of us all, by the Temptation of the Devil, disobeyed this Command, and thereby brought us all into a state of Weakness, Sin, and Death: And now in such a Condition we come into the World, 
Rom. 8. 7, 8.  that, left unto ourselves, we would do nothing but sin against God, and run upon our own Destruction.  
3. That our gracious God, when he might justly have cut off at once the whole Race of Mankind in Adam and Eve, or have left all their Posterity to perish by their own Doings; of his wonderful Goodness and Mercy took pity on Sinners, and opened ● to us a new way to Salvation, by providing for us a Saviour, even GOD the SON, the only begotten of the FATHER, who in our Flesh having taught us what God now requireth of us if we will be saved, laid down his Life for us to satisfy for our Sins and free us from Vengeance, 
Mat. 1. 21.  
1 Thes. 1. 10.  
Mar. 16. 16.  and offereth us a full Pardon on Condition that we will believe in him and be baptised, so signifying our Consent to the new Covenant which God is pleased to make with us in him.  
4. The meaning of which Covenant is this: That though we cannot now be innocent, and so can never hope for Life by obeying and fulfilling the Law of Innocence given to Adam; yet, if we will first, 
Act. 3. 19  truly repent, and secondly, 
joh. 3. 36.  believe the Gospel of CHRIST, 
Heb. 5. 9  and thirdly, 
Heb. 8. 10.  sincerely obey his Commands, God will yet be our God, and take us for his People; and for his beloved Son jesus Christ's sake pardon our Sins, and sanctify us by his holy Spirit; and finally, glorify us with himself in Heaven.  
II. Next we must examine how we have kept this Covenant. And here, seeing we were baptised in our Infancy, and what was promised on our parts, was promised by others in our Name; we are to examine,  
1. Whether we have, since we came to Understanding, at any time owned and confirmed this Engagement, and taken upon ourselves the Performance of it. Our Church hath well provided, that no Person shall be admitted to the LORD's Supper till he be Confirmed, or have declared his willingness to be confirmed; that is, till he have satisfied the Church, that he understands the Covenant of Baptism, and declareth his Resolution to keep it.  
2. If we have thus owned our Baptismal Engagement, we must diligently examine how we have hitherto performed it in all the Parts of it, viz. Repentance, Faith, and sincere Obedience. And this we are to do by posing ourselves in the several Articles of our Christian Faith, and in the Commandments of God. If we find that we have not been faithful to God in this Covenant, we must not come to this Sacrament till we have unfeignedly repent of our unfaithfulness, and seriously renewed our Engagement to keep it henceforward Therefore,  
III. We must examine how we resolve to keep it for the time to come: And here we are to see to these things:  
1. That it be a serious, deliberate, and well grounded Resolution, not taken up dissemblingly, nor rashly, nor for weak Reasons. But being clearly convinced and become sensible of God's absolute Right in and to us and all our Services, his sovereign Authority to govern us and command us, and his wonderful Goodness and Love to us, more especially declared in his Son jesus Christ; this Sense and Conviction of God's being our Maker, our Governor, and our Benefactor, should be the reason and ground of our Resolution to be wholly his, to be ruled by him, and love and honour him above all.  
2. That it be a full and complete Resolution, that we use no Ifs or Ands, or rest in some faint Purposing; but we must be throughly determined and fixed upon it. That whatever we may lose or suffer by it in this World, we will by God's help go through with it, without any Exception or Limitation whatsoever, doing the whole Will of God from the Heart.  
3. That it be a humble and pious Resolution, without any proud Trust or Confidence in our own natural Strength to make it good; but yet with all Trust and Confidence in the Goodness of God, that if we conscientiously use the means of Grace and Strength which he hath ordained, as he hath wrought in us to will, so he will strengthen us to do his good Will, and finally, reward us according to his infinite Mercy.  
When we have thus considered our Covenant of Baptism, and are thus resolved, by God's help, to keep it, we should earnestly pray unto God for his Assistance: and, if we are not already Confirmed, it is fit that we humbly offer ourselves to Confirmation so soon as we can. The very sense of Shame to break a Covenant after this solemn Engagement in the Face of the Church to keep it, and the Fear of drawing a greater guilt upon our Souls, by breaking a Covenant so renewed, must needs be some Restraint upon us to keep us from breaking it. And besides this, we have good Cause to hope, that the Prayers of the Church, and the Blessing of God's Minister, the Bishop, who by his Office blesseth in God's Name, shall very much conduce to our greater Strength and growth in Christianity.   

CHAP. IU. An help for the Examination of our Faith.  
WE promised in Baptism, to believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith. These Articles are briefly laid together in the Creed. To examine ourselves how we keep this part of our Covenant, let us in the presence of God, the Searcher of Hearts, ask ourselves these Questions:  
Have the Word and Works of: 
Rom. 1. 20.  God convinced me, 
Heb. 11. 6.  that there is an eternal, 
john. 4. 24.  invisible, 
1 Tim. 6. 16. 1. 17.  living Spirit, 
jer. 23. 24.  every where present throughout the World, 
Rev. 4. 8.  infinite in all Perfections of Power, 
1 Tim. 1. 17.  Wisdom, and Goodness, called GOD? 
Ps. 119. 68   
Do I believe, 
1 Cor. 8. 4.  that there is but one only true and living God, 
1 Thes. 1. 9  even the FATHER, 
Matt. 28. 19  the SON, 
1 john 5. 7.  and the HOLY GHOST, which being three, are yet all three but one GOD blessed for ever?  
Do I believe, 
2 Tim. 3. 15, 16, 17.  That the Books of the Old and New 
Psalm 32. 5.  Testament do contain the very Word of God, 
Titus 1. 2.  and that therein God hath revealed unto us all things that are needful to our eternal Happiness; 
2 Cor. 1. 20.  and that he is a God of Truth and cannot lie, and that all his Words are true?  
Do I believe, 
Acts 17. 24, & 28.  That God is the Maker, Preserver, and Governor of all things; 
Psalm 103. 19  that I and all things are his, 
1 Cor. 6. 20.  and at his Disposal; that our Life, Motion, and Being, are from him, and all our Happiness depends upon his Love and Blessing.  
Do I believe, 
Gen. 1. 27.  That Man was made in the Image of God, very good, with an immortal Soul, with Knowledge and Power enough to understand and do God's Will?  
Do I believe God made 
Col. 1. 16.  many Spirits called Angels, 
Heb. 1. 14. 12. 22.  and that some of these 
2 Peter 2. 4.  by Sin fell from their first 
jude 6.  State, 
Mat. 25. 41.  and these are the 
Genesis 3.  Devil and his Angels for 
Romans 5. 12.  whom Hell was prepared; 
Ephes. 2. 3.  and that the Devil tempting 
Heb. 12. 14.  Man to sin in disobeying God, 
Rom. 4. 6.  all Evil came thereby into the World: that we are all naturally Sinners, and the Children of Wrath, and cannot be happy without being pardoned and cleansed, but must be tormented for ever in Hell?  
Do I believe, 
Ephes. 1. 4, 5, 6.  That God of his own free Grace and 
john 1. 14.  Goodness hath made us a 
Acts 4. 12.  new way to Happiness through his only begotten SON JESUS CHRIST our Lord, and that there is Salvation in none other?  
Do I believe, 
1 john 5. 20.  That the SON being the true God 
1 Timothy 2. 5.  and eternal Life, 
Matt. 1. 18.  became also the Man CHRIST 
Luke 2. 27.  JESUS, 
1 Tim. 3. 16. 1  being conceived by the power of the HOLY GHOST, 
Peter 2. 22.  and born of a pure Virgin, and being thus God manifested in the Flesh, 〈◊〉 an holy Life on Earth in perfect Obedience to his FATHER's Will?  
Do I believe, 
john 1. 41. 45.  That this is the promised Messias, 
Acts. 10. 38.  the Anointed holy one of God, 
Luke 24. 19  who as the great Prophet of God hath instructed us in the way of Righteousness and Salvation; 
john 15. 15.  and having taught us the whole Will of his Father, 
Heb. 7. 27. 9 26.  after he had suffered many things in our Humane Nature, 
2 Cor. 5. 21.  was Crucified, 
1 Cor. 15. 4.  and willingly died a Sacrifice of Atonement for our Sins, 
Heb. 2. 17.  and was buried, and continued till the third day in the state of the Dead, and herein was the true Highpriest, who offering himself once for all, hath made Reconciliation for the Sins of the People?  
Do I believe, That on the third day he rose again from the dead, 
Rom. 6. 9  to die no more; 
Matt. 28. 19  and having sufficiently instructed his Apostles in their Office, and instituted the Sacrament of Baptism whereby they were to admit men into his Church, 
Mark 16. 19  he was received up into Heaven, 
Luke 22. 69.  and sat down on the 
Hebrews 8. 10.  right hand of God, 
1 Tim. 6. 15.  in all Power and Majestly, 
Eph. 1. 22.  King 
Hebrews 7. 25.  of Kings, 
Acts 3. 26.  and Head over all things to the Church; 
Acts 17. 31.  and there, 
1 Thes. 4. 16.  as the great Highpriest, 
Acts 10. 42.  maketh Intercession for us and blesseth us, rendering our Services acceptable to God?  
Do I believe, that at the day appointed by God, he shall come again in Glory to judge the Quick and Dead, according to his Gospel; and that we must all appear before his Judgement Seat, 
2 Cor. 5. 10.  that every one may receive the things done in his Body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad?  
Do I believe, 
Luke 24. 29.  That Christ sent the Promise of his Father, 
Acts 1▪ 4.  the Comforter, 
Acts 2.  which is the HOLY GHOST, 
john 16. 13.  to guide the Church into all Truth, 
john 14. 16.  to be with it for ever, 
Rom. 15. 16.  and to sanctify our Hearts, 
1 Cor. 6. 11.  to believe, love, and obey the Truth, and to prepare us by Holiness for Happiness in the Presence of God for ever?  
Do I believe, 
Eph. 1. 22.  that God always had and will have a peculiar People and Society of Men, 
1 Tim. 3. 15.  
Col. 1. 18.  which make One holy Catholic Church, 
Eph. 4. 11. 12.  
Eph. 2. 20. 21. 4. 4, 5.  or Body, whereof Christ is the only Head, who ruleth and governeth it by his Spirit and Word, and Ministers under him, in Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline?  
That all the true sanctified Members of this Church are enlivened by the holy Spirit of Christ, 
2 Cor. 13. 14▪  
Ephes. 2. 18.  
1 john 1. 3.  
Heb. 1. 14.  
Heb. 12. 13.  
Eph. 4. 3. etc.  and by the Communion of the Spirit communicate in the Love of the Father, and the Grace of our Lord jesus Christ, in the Ministry of Angels, and the Prayers of glorified Souls, and with all Saints in the same holy Faith and Love and Offices of Religion?  
Do I believe, 
Acts 2. 38.  that all who faithfully persevere in this holy Communion of Saints have the Pardon of their Sins given them of God through Jesus Christ, 
Luke 24. 47.  proclaimed unto them by the Ministry of the Word, and particularly applied and sealed unto them in the Sacraments?  
Do I believe, 
Acts. 24. 15.  That the Bodies of all men shall after 
john 5. 28, 29.  Death be raised up again to Life, 
Mat. 25. 41. 46  and that the Wicked shall go into everlasting Torments, 
1 Thes. 4. 17.  and the Righteous shall live for ever in perfect Holiness and Glory in the Presence of God in Heaven? 
1 john 3. 2.   
These are the chief Matters of Faith, wherein we are to examine ourselves. But that we may know whether we believe these things savingly, we are farther to inquire:  
1. If we believe them understandingly. To be satisfied herein, we should do well to have the Approbation and Judgement of God's Minister.  
2. If we believe them with a divine Faith, because of the Truth or Veracity of God who hath revealed them. Be perfect therefore in the Scriptures, that you may know they are taught therein by God.  
3. If we believe them firmly, so that we are persuaded we dare even lay down our Lives for the Truth.  
4. If we believe them effectually and practically, so that this Belief doth fill our Hearts with the Fear and Love of God, and produce strong Resolutions, servant Prayers, and strenuous Endeavours to honour God by holy and obedient Lives.  
Yet here we are to note, That it is not every doubting whether we understand aright, or whether the thing be a divine Truth, or whether our Faith be firm and strong, or have sufficient Influence on our Hearts and Lives, that should dismay us: but whilst we find, that notwithstanding some Doubtings, our Faith is able to carry us on in a Christian Course of Life, trusting our Souls in well doing to the Mercy of God through jesus Christ, we are to cheer up ourselves, and using the means of strengthening our Faith, say, Lord, I believe, help thou my Unbelief.   

CHAP. V. An help for the Examination of our Repentance and Obedience.  
IT is the great Blessing of the Gospel, 
Matt. 9 13.  that CHRIST came to call Sinners to Repentance. That after the Law of Innocence was broken, 
Luke 24. 47.  and we were under the Curse of Death, and an impossibility to be saved by our own Righteousness, Repentance is allowed of, and a new Obedience.  
Repentance, 
Matth. 3. 2.  in Scripture, 
Mark 1. 15.  is sometimes all one with Conversion; 
Luke 13. 3.  that is, 
Acts 3. 19 26. 20. 2. 38.  such a turning and change of Heart and Mind, that, being brought to the Knowledge of the true God and our Duty to him, we renounce our former course of Life, and resolve to serve and honour God according to his Word. This fits us for Baptism, wherein God's Minister, in God's Name, admits us into the Church, and assures us of Pardon upon our continuing living Members of the same.  
Repentance is also an humbling sense of, 
Revelat. 2. 5.  and hearty Sorrow for any Sin or Violation of our Baptismal Covenant, 
2 Cor. 7. 9 10.  with a free Confession of our Demerit, 
1 john 1. 9  an earnest begging of Pardon, 
Isai. 1. 16, 17.  a resolving to amend, 
Ezek. 36. 31, 32.  and praying for God's Grace so to do.  
Now because all Sin is Disobedience to the Law of God, 
1 john 3. 4.  we may at once examine our Repentance and Obedience by that Law, it telling us our Duty, and our Consciences telling us how we have either done it, or are concerned for not doing it. Ask then,  
Have I done my best, 
1 Cor. 15. 34.  by such helps as God affords me, 
Romans 1. 22.  to attain to divine Knowledge, and not contented myself to live in Ignorance of God and of his Truth? Hath the Knowledge of God wrought in me a most high and honourable Esteem of him, an awful Reverence towards him, an entire Resignation of myself to him, and humble Obedience to his Government, a total dependence and trust to his Goodness, an unfeigned Love of him above all things, and an ardent Desire to enjoy him?  
Do I love God for the excellency of his Nature, 
Matth. 22. 38.  and the beauty of his Holiness, 
1 john 5. 3.  and his Goodness to me and all men; especially as manifested in jesus Christ? Do I love him so, as to love his Laws, and his Word and Worship, his Ministers and his Children; his House and Day, and every thing that relates to him? Is it the earnest desire of my Soul to be able to honour him more, and to be more like him in Holiness, and can I find no rest to my Soul in any thing but him?  
Have I made his Wisdom my Director, 
Psal. 119. 24.  and his Will my Choice, 
Matth. 6. 25.  and his Promises my Confidence, 
Phil. 4. 6.  and his Laws my Rule, 
1 Pet. 5. 7.  and depending on his Providence in all dangers or wants, using the lawful means which he alloweth, and no other, without any disheartening Fears, or anxious Thoughts and Cares, commending the Success to him in Prayer; dare I trust all my Concerns, both in this World and the next, to God, only through the Mediation of jesus Christ?  
Do I not presume of Salvation by Christ without the Sanctification of his Spirit, nor hope for Mercy without Repentance and Amendment of my Life; 
1 john 3. 3.  but doth my hope in God set me upon cleansing myself from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit, 
2 Corinth. 7. 1.  and perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God, never despairing of his Mercy through Christ so long as I sincerely desire and endeavour to serve him faithfully?  
Have I been patient in Wants, 
Mic. 7. 9  and Losses, 
Lam. 3. 39  and Griefs, 
james 1. 4.  without all repining at God's Dealings, 
Luke 22. 42.  or hard Thoughts of him? 
Romans 8. 28.  Do I thankfully receive his sharpest Chastisements, improving them all to Humility, and Amendment of Life, and rejoicing in them as Tokens of his Love, and as the Condition which he hath chosen as best for me?  
Have I not neglected to worship God devoutly both in public and in secret, 
john 4. 24.  and do I not rest in a formal outward Worship, and for low ends, 
Matth. 15. 7.  but heartily, 
1 Peter 2. 1.  in pure Conscience of Duty, 
Matthew 7. 7.  to honour God thereby? 
Romans 12. 12.  Do I pray fervently and reverently, 
james 5. 16.  and with a prepared and composed Mind, 
1 john 5. 14.  and for such things as are agreeable to God's Will, 
Colos. 3. 16.  especially for Grace to enable me to honour him? Have I reverently, attentively, and constantly, read and heard God's Word, treasuring it in my Heart as the Rule of Life, and Foundation of Hope, not enduring to hear it abused?  
Have I kept holy the days of God's solemn Worship, constantly frequenting the public Assemblies, and devoutly joining in all the Services there? 
Exodus 20. 8.  Have I behaved myself in God's House as in his more especial Presence, 
Matth. 21. 13.  and done what I was able to maintain and uphold the holy Ministry, 
Heb. 10. 25.  and the Purity of God's Worship, 
Eccl. 5. 1.  without Heresy, 
Psalm 89. 7.  Superstition, 
Luke 8. 15.  Schism, 
1 Thes. 2. 13.  or Faction?  
Have I duly and preparedly received the Sacraments of Christ's Institution, and submitted myself to the Government and Discipline of his Church, 
Ephesians 4. 3.  endeavouring to hold the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace?  
Have I had a religious regard to the sacred Name of God, 
Psalm 111. 9  in no case using it blasphemously, 
Exodus 20. 7.  profanely, 
Leu. 19 12.  vainly, 
Rom. 2. 24.  irreverently, 
1 Tim. 6. 1.  or willingly hearing it so used, 
Titus 2. 5.  either in common swearing, 
Matth. 5. 34.  needless swearing, 
james 5. 12.  false swearing, or in idle talk of God, or hypocritical praying to God, or venting false Doctrine in God's Name, or fathering any evil practice on God, or by my wicked Life tempting others to blaspheme the Name of Christ by which I am called?  
Have I made a right use of my Reason, to judge of things as they deserve, and to consider my Obligations to God, and the great Concerns of my Soul, 
Mark 8. 36.  and to care for it more than for my Body, and to govern myself so by the Laws of God, that I am ready to die, and to give account of myself at the Judgement Seat of Christ?  
Have I checked in my idle Thoughts, and busied them in things useful? Have I restrained and kept in my Passions within the Bounds of Religion, 
Colossians 4. 6.  and not been hurried by them unto any Words or Deeds unbeseeming a Christian? 
Ephes. 4. 29.  Have I well husbanded my time in doing good, and lost wilfully as little as may be?  
Have I had just Thoughts of myself as a vile Sinner, and hath not any Opinion of my Birth, Parentage, Strength, 
Metth. 5. 3.  Beauty, 
Luke 17. 10.  Riches, 
Rom. 12. 3.  Honours, 
1 Peter 5. 5.  Wit, Learning, any Action, Gift, Grace or Virtue made me proud, self-conceited, ambitious, or vainglorious? Have I thankfully acknowledged all to be God's undeserved gift, of which he may deprive me when he will, and very justly, because I have not done so much good by it as I ought?  
Have I been temperate and sober, not exceeding in Meat, 
Rom. 13. 13, 14.  Drink, 
1 Peter 2. 11.  Sleep, 
Gal. 5. 16.  Sport, 
Luke 21. 34.  or Apparel; and used them all to the Health, Strength, Refreshment, and Vigour of my Body and Mind, that I might the better serve God in the Duties of my Calling? Have I not in any of them wasted my time, weakened my Body, disordered my Head, fed my Lusts, consumed my Estate, disabling myself to do my duties of Piety to God, Justice to my Neighbour, Charity to the Poor, and providing for my Charge, and educating my Children? Have I carefully avoided superfluous Expenses, bewitching Pleasures, tempting Company, Idleness, and unprofitable Business?  
Have I loved my Neighbour as myself, 
Mark 12. 31.  and done to all men as I would they should do to me, 
Matth. 22. 39  that is, 
Luke 6. 31.  all the good I could, 
1 john 3. 18.  and no hurt; 
Heb. 3. 13.  instructing, 
Col. 3. 16.  admonishing, 
Heb. 10. 24.  reproving, 
Leu. 19 17.  counselling, 
james 2. 16.  comforting, 
Matth. 5. 42.  giving, forgiving, healing, helping, relieving, speaking well of, praying for him, and doing him all good Offices according to my Power and Opportunities?  
Have I been thankful to others for the like Kindnesses, studying to requite them? Do I reverence without Envy my Superiors in any kind, am I loving and friendly to all my Equals, and affable and helpful to my Inferiors, without Pride or Disdain, no way scorning, upbraiding, mocking or vilifying them for any Infirmities or Imperfections?  
Have I honoured the King and all inferior Magistrates, 
Rom. 13. 1. etc.  praying for them speaking no evil of them, 
1 Pet. 2. 13.  obeying their just Commands, 
1 Timothy 2. 1.  paying Tribute and Custom, 
1 Peter 2. 20. 3. 14.  suffering willingly for my Faults, 
Matthew 5. 10.  and patiently without resistance for well-doing, discovering all Plots and Conspiracies, that I can know of, against them, assisting them against their Enemies, serving faithfully under them in my ●lace and Calling, no way disturbing the Peace, obstructing or reproaching the Government?  
Have I esteemed the Pastors and Governors in the Church highly in love for their Works sake, 
1 Corinth. 4. 1.  not defrauding them of, 
1 Thess. 5. 13.  or grudgingly paying, 
Heb. 13. 17.  or by hard Bargains diminishing their deuce? 
Gal. 6. 6.  Do I pray for them, 
1 Cor. 9 14.  often consult them, submit to their Teaching and Discipline, and neither by my Absence from Church, nor irregular Life, or any war, discourage them.  
Have I loved and honoured my Father and Mother, 
Matth. 15. 4.  concealing their Failings, 
Exodus 20. 12.  bearing their Infirmities, 
Ephes. 6. 2.  endeavouring their Comfort, 
Col. 3. 20.  obeying their Commands, 
Eph. 6. 1.  following their Counsel, 
1 Tim. 5. 4.  praying for their Happiness and long Lives, submitting to their Correction, relieving and requiting them to my Power as there was need?  
Have I loved and done all fatherly or motherly Offices for my Children, 
Ephes. 6. 4.  given them devoutly to God in Baptism, 
Heb. 12. 7. 9  prayed for them, 
Col. 3. 21.  nursed them, instructed them, moderately corrected them, restrained them from Evil, given them good Example, encouraged them in Goodness, not pampered them in Back or Belly, brought them up in Humility and Modesty, provided them of honest Callings, and married them religiously?  
Have I loved my Brothers or Sisters, and manifested my Love to them as there hath been occasion? Am I a Father to the Fatherless, a Husband to the Widow, a Deliverer to the Oppressed, a Reliever of the Poor? Do I weep with those that weep, 
Rom. 12. 1●.  and rejoice with those that rejoice, 
Gal. 6. 9 10.  with a fellow-feeling of their Joys or Afflictions? 
Heb. 13. 1. etc.  Am I more especially thus affected towards those of the Household of Faith, mourning for the Calamities of the Church, and praying for the peace and flourishing of it?  
Have I married no such as is forbidden by God, nor for unlawful ends, nor against my Parents Will? Do I use the Marriagebed soberly and religiously? 
Heb. 13. 4.  Do I love, 
Eph. 5. 22.  and live quietly and kindly with my Husband or Wife, 
Col. 3. 18.  and faithfully using his or her Bed only? 
1 Pet. 3. 2. etc.  Do we bear with each others Infirmities, 
1 Timothy 2. 9  advising, 
Titus 2. 4.  assisting, 
Mat. 19 6. 9  comforting, praying for and with each other, promote each others spiritual Welfare, agree in governing the Family and well-educating our Children?  
Have I not used my Servants hardly or cruelly, 
Colossians 4. 1.  but gently as Christian Brethren or Sisters, 
Ephesians 6. 9  giving them their due, instructing and allowing time to serve God.  
Have I diligently done my Master's Commands, 
1 Timothy 6. 1.  studied his Profit, 
Eph. 6. 5.  not wasted his Goods, 
Titus 2. 9  or wronged him of my time or service by Idleness or any other way? 
1 Pet. 2 18.  Have I concealed his Secrets or Infirmities, born his Rebukes and Corrections without answering again? Have I done him Service as in the Sight of God?  
Have I murdered no man, 
Vid.  hurt no man's Body, 
Romans 1. 29, 30, 31. 3, 4. 12, 9  tempted no man to Intemperance or any thing which hath impaired his Health or occasioned his Sickness or Death, 
1 Tim. 3. 3 & 11. 5. 13. 6. 4.  
Titus 3. 2. 3.  
Gal. 5. 19 & 26.  
Col. 3. 8.  raised no Quarrels or Dissensions among men, been angry causelessly, or immoderately? Have I laboured to promote the bodily Welfare of others as my own?  
Have I defiled no man's Wife, 
Mar. 7. 22. 10. 19  nor lusted after her, 
Matt. 15. 19  committed no Fornication or Uncleanness? 
2 Timothy 2. 3.  Have I checked all lustful thoughts, 
1 Cor. 6. 8.  forborn all lascivious words and Actions, 
Leu. 19 16.  not occasioning Lust in myself or others by Idleness, 
Prov. 11. 13.  pampering the Body, using immodest Dresses, amorous Gestures, obscene Songs or Stories, unseasonable Familiarity, and private Opportunities? Do I use all means of preserving my own and others Chastity?  
Have I stolen nor spoiled no man's Goods, 
1 Peter 4. 15.  nor by force or fraud, 
james 3. 14.  or colour of Law, 
Ephes. 4. 31.  injured him in any part of his Estate? 
1 Thes. 4. 6.  Have I not begged without need, 
Mic. 6. 10, 11.  nor borrowed without punctually paying again, 
Gal. 6. 5.  
Rom. 14. 13.  
Luke 3. 11.  
james 2. 16.  
1 john 3. 17.  
1 Cor. 10. 34.  
Luke 17. 3, 4.  nor overreached others in buying or selling by concealment of faults, or taking advantage of another's Ignorance or Necessity, nor oppressed any by Usury or Exaction? Have I laboured honestly for my own Living, and freely given and neighbourly lent as there was cause? Do I make satisfaction for all Trespasses, pay all Dues, and do what I can to better another man's Estate as mine own?  
Have I no way injured any one's good Name or Credit, 
Matthew 5. 44.  by false-witness, 
Rom. 12. 20.  railing, 
1 Thes. 5. 18.  slandering, 
1 Pet. 3. 9  backbiting, 
1 Cor. 13 4. etc.  busy prating of his Behaviour, 
Mat. 5. 23. 7. 1.  Infirmities or Concerns; causeless suspicions, rash censuring and judging, misconstruing and wresting his Words or Actions, not checking or willingly hearing others do so; gibing, scoffing, playing upon him, or not righting and defending him as much as we can with Truth?  
Have I not been too selfish, 
james 5. 16.  so that I could be content to thrive by another's Loss, 
Luke 19 18.  or value not much the Public or my Neighbour's Welfare, 
Ezek. 33. 15.  so I may please myself? 
Rom. 13. 8. 12. 18.  Have I so learned to deny myself that I can be heartily contented with, and thankful for my present Condition be it better or worse, and rejoice to see others in a better Condition than I am in; that I can bear Poverty, and Shame, and Injuries; and love, pray for, and do good to Enemies? Am I so little in love with the World, that nothing therein can tempt me to dishonour God or wrong my Neighbour, or bear Malice or Hatred against any man, or break the Bond of Love and Charity, or to neglect the care of my Soul?  
These are the chief Branches of our Christian Duty, whereby we may also know our Sins, and what we have more especially to repent of. And here we are to note some things very needful to be observed.  
1. That though we are to aim at the Perfection of Duty in all we do, and not to satisfy ourselves with low degrees of Holiness, but to be greatly humbled by the sense of our Failings, and restlessly to strive after better things; yet it is not a perfect Obedience without Sin, but a sincere Obedience without feigning and hypocrisy, that is the Gospel-condition of our Salvation through Christ jesus. It is not our duty to be perfectly innocent, but it is our duty to labour after Perfection. Tho then we find that we offend in many things, and do all that we do very weakly and imperfectly, we are not to discourage ourselves thereby, so long as we can find our hearts sincerely bend to keep Covenant with God, and to honour and serve him more perfectly.  
2. That we are therefore narrowly to search our hearts, to see that we are sincere in our obedience. We are to see, that all our obedience flow from a true Love of God in our hearts, and a sense of his Right to command, and our Obligations to obey; that our great design in all things be to please God and to enjoy his Love, and not any of those low ends of pleasing men, or securing our own Reputation, or our worldly Peace, Profit, or Safety. And if our Obedience be thus sincere, then do we make a Conscience of those which men account little Duties as well as of greater, of shunning little Sins as well as grosser Sins, of governing our Thoughts and Desires, as well as Words and outward Actions; we are as religious in private as in public, where it is costly as where it is cheap, where 'tis painful as where it is easy, where it is against our natural Inclinations as where it suits with our natural Temper, where it is discountenanced, derided, or persecuted, as where it is countenanced, commended, and rewarded by men.  
3. That having discovered our Sins, we seek not any Excuses or Pretences to cloak or lessen them, but endeavour to view them in their ugliest and most affrighting Shapes; as contrary to the Purity of God, and the very Nature of man as well as his Happiness: against so much goodness, long-suffering, and patient Forbearance of God; against so many Encouragements of his present Bounty and rich Promises of Reward; so many gracious Warnings and threatenings, so many fatherly Chastisements and Corrections, so much Light and Knowledge, so many means, helps, and opportunities, so many vows and engagements, so many admonitions by Friends, and checks by our own Consciences: after all this, so long continued in, so much time, strength, estate, wasted thereby; so little of all this left to serve God with, etc. By such Considerations must we labour to humble our proud Hearts, and bring them to a perfect Hatred of Sin.  
4. That our Repentance be unfeigned, and rest neither in confessing our Sins, nor sorrowing for them, nor begging Pardon, nor in any thing else, till it come up to a hatred of Sin, and a full Resolution to forsake it. When it is come to this, we will be very angry at our own Folly that we have so long continued in it, very thankful to God for any Chastisement, thinking ourselves mercifully dealt with, whatever our Condition be, so long as we are not in Hell; use cheerfully all helps and means, how hard or sharp soever, to mortify our Lusts; thank any man that will reprove us and show us our Faults; watch diligently against all Temptations, avoid carefully all occasions of Sin; observe jealously our Thoughts, Words, and Actions; pray devoutly for more Grace and Strength; abridge ourselves of many things lawful, and punish ourselves by crossing our own Wills; not be ashamed to make public satisfaction to the Church where it is required, nor to open our Breasts freely to the Guide of our Souls for our own Satisfaction. We will do any thing, or suffer any thing, to prevent sinning against God.  
These helps to Self-examination might here have been omitted, had I cause enough to believe, that they for whose Ease and Benefit they are chiefly designed, had made as good use of my little Book, called Christianity in short, as I could wish they had made. Those Summaries of Faith and Duty which there they have, might have served them for this purpose. And here I think fit to give my Readers notice, that I suppose it would be very beneficial to their Souls, once a Week or Fortnight, or at least, when they have examined themselves in order to this Sacrament with the greatest Seriousness and Devotion, to use that form of Resigning themselves to God, and renewing their Covenant with him, which they have at the end of that small Book.   

CHAP. VI How to examine whether we be rightly disposed for the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.  
IF we be Christians, we have a right to this Sacrament; yet, that we may profit the more by it, we are more particularly to examine ourselves both how we understand it, and how suitable our Affections are unto it.  
I. We are to try how we understand the Nature, Ends, and Benefits of this divine Ordinance. To which end, we are duly to consider the Institution of it, as it is recorded in Scripture.  
St. Matthew tells us, 
Matthew. 26. 26. etc.  that as they were eating, jesus took Bread, and blessed it, 
Mark 14. 22. etc.  (St. Luke saith, he gave Thanks) and broke it, 
Luke 22. 19 etc.  and gave it to the Disciples, 
1 Corinth. 11. 23. etc.  and said, Take, eat, this is my Body. (St. Luke addeth, Which is given for you, this do in Remembrance of me: and St. Paul saith, which is broken for you, etc.) And he took the Cup, and gave Thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the Remission of Sins. (St. Luke saith, This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you) And St. Paul saith, This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood: This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me: For as often as ye eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, ye do show [or, show ye] the Lord's Death till he come.  
By these Words of the Evangelists and St. Paul, we may understand what the meaning and use of this Sacrament is.  
1. It is a holy Christian Feast, not much unlike the Feast of the Passover among the jews, at which this was instituted by Christ. 
Exodus 12.  When they were in Bondage in Egypt, God, in order to their Deliverance, destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt, commanding them to kill in each Family a Lamb, and to strike the Blood thereof upon the Door-posts of their Houses, and so to feast upon it, promising, that when he saw the Blood he would pass over their Houses, and not destroy their firstborn. In thankful Remembrance whereof, they yearly kept the like Feast, called therefore the Lord's Passover. Thus by the Sin of Adam we being all brought into Bondage and Slavery under Satan, it pleased God to destroy the Power of the Devil, and deliver us by the Death of JESUS CHRIST, the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sins of the World; 
john 1. 29.  to redeem us by his precious Blood as of a Lamb without Blemish and without Spot: 
1 Pet. 1. 19  so that Christ is our Passover sacrificed for us. 
1 Cor. 5. 7.  Therefore are we to keep the Feast, eating our Passover, the Body and Blood of Christ, in a thankful Remembrance of this our Redemption and Deliverance by his once offering himself to God a Sacrifice for our Sins.  
In like manner, when according to the Law, Men sacrificed Peace-offerings unto God, 
Levit. 7. 20.  they were allowed to feast before God on part of the same; to signify, that God now admitted them to an intimate Communion and Friendship with himself, feasting them at his own Table, of that meat which by their Oblation was now in a special manner his. So Christ, whom all the Sacrifices of the Law did shadow forth and typify, being offered once for all a Sacrifice of Atonement for our Sins, calleth us christian's to feast upon this Sacrifice, though it was a Sin-offering; and even upon the Blood of it (as the jews were not allowed to do in their Feasts) in token of a more intimate Communion and Friendship with God through him, who hath made our Peace. This Sacrament than is a sacred Feast, and that upon the sacrificed Body and Blood of Christ: and as bodily we eat and drink the broken Bread and poured-out Wine, the Symbols of his Body and Blood; so spiritually we eat his crucified Body and drink his poured-out Blood.  
2. The great end of this Feast is, to keep up in the Christian Church a fresh and joyful Remembrance of jesus Christ, and of all that he did and suffered in the Flesh for us. This do, saith he, in remembrance of me. It is his Pleasure that we more signally and solemnly commemorate thus the Sacrifice of his Death by a lively Representation of it at this Feast of Love, and so show his Death till he come.  
1. We show it hereby to our own Hearts, for the stirring them up to an holy rejoicing in Christ, praising him, believing in him, loving him and obeying him, and to bring them to true Repentance and a perfect hatred of Sin which crucified the Lord of Glory.  
2. We show it to the World, declaring to the Honour of our holy jesus what great things he hath done for our Souls; that we are not ashamed of a crucified Saviour, that we glory before the World and rejoice in him, that he is the Food and Gladness of our Souls, that we are resolved to be faithful unto him whilst we live, and are ready to die a bloody Death for him if he shall call us to it.  
3. We show it unto God, laying before him in our Prayers the Death of his only begotten Son, as the most powerful Argument, and all indeed that we have, to prevail with him for Pardon, and Grace, and Glory; offering our Persons and our Services to the Father as acceptable unto him in the Virtue of this Sacrifice only.  
3. The Benefits of this Sacrament must needs be many, seeing herein our blessed JESUS giveth himself unto us to be the food of our Souls His Body, which was broken for us, he here bids us take and eat. His Blood, which was shed for us, he here bids us drink, The Cup of Blessing, 
1 Cor 10. 16.  which we bless, is it not the Communion or Communication] of the Blood of Christ? The Bread which we break, is it not the Communication of the Body of Christ? Christ, and all the Benefits of his Passion, are freely communicated to the worthy Partakers of this Bread and this Cup. The Cup of which we drink, is the New Testament in his Blood. Covenants were of old made and confirmed with Sacrificing and Feast: the new Covenant of Grace and Salvation was established with us through the bloody Sacrifice of jesus Christ, and is renewed and confirmed by our feasting before God on this Sacrifice.  
1. This Blood was shed for the Remission of Sins, and by our worthy drinking of it, we receive an Assurance, That our Sins and our Iniquities God will remember no more, Hebrews 8. 12.  
2. God, by admitting us to his Table to feast on this Sacrifice, owns us as Members of his proper Family; and will accordingly provide for us and protect us. He will be to us a God, and we shall be to him a People, Hebrews 8. 10.  
3. The Promise of the Covenant was this, 
Hebrews 3. 10.  I will put my Laws (saith God) into their, Minds, and write them in their Hearts: God will give the light of Knowledge and the life of Grace; not only teach us, but incline our Hearts to love and delight in his Laws. Here is Life and strength of Grace promised, but all through jesus Christ; he is the bread of God which giveth Life unto the World; and this bread is his Flesh which he gave for the Life of the World, and he that eateth this bread shall never hunger nor die, John 6. 33. 51. 35.  
4. The Bond of Union betwixt Christ our Head, and us his Members, is hereby strengthened. He (saith he) that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him, Joh. 6. 56.  
5. The Communion of Saints is hereby preserved and maintained; by this we declare, that we being many are one Bread and one Body; for we are all Partakers of that one Bread, 1 Corinth. 10. 17.  
6. Our Faith of the Resurrection is hereby confirmed; Whoso eateth my Flesh (saith Christ) and drinketh my Blood, hath eternal Life, and I will raise him up at the last day, John 6. 54.  
So many and inestimable are the Benefits of the New Testament in Christ's Blood by this Sacrament confirmed unto every worthy Communicant.   

CHAP. VII. What Affections of Soul are suitable to this Sacrament.  
HE eateth and drinketh unworthily who discerneth not the Lord's Body. 
1 Cor. 11. 29.  To discern the Lord's Body, is to put a sufficient Difference between this Divine Feast and other common Feasts, both in our judgement, Affection, and Behaviour. How we are to judge of it, hath been already shown. We are next to see what Affections it calls for.  
We come not here to feast with Men only, but with God; nor to feed our Bodies with a little Bread and Wine, but our Souls on the Body and Blood of Christ. Let us then inquire,  
1. Are we deeply sensible of our spiritual Wants, and our great need of this divine Food? Except we eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of the Son of Man, we have no Life in us, John 6. 53.  
2. Are we highly sensible of God's wonderful Goodness in providing so graciously for our Wants? God so loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting Life. All things (saith he) are now ready, come ye to the Marriage. John 3. 16. Mat. 22. 4.  
3. Do we verily believe, that whosoever cometh preparedly shall be kindly welcome? Him that cometh to me (saith Christ) I will in no wise cast out, John 6. 37.  
4. Have we longing Appetites and ardent Desires to this food of our Souls? Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness, for they shall be filled, Matt. 5. 6.  
5. Do we empty our Souls of carnal and worldly Thoughts and Cares and Desires? Labour not for the Meat which perisheth, but for that Meat which endureth unto everlasting Life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you, for him hath God the Father sealed. John 6. 27.  
6. Are we not ready to lay hold on vain Excuses borrowed from our worldly Businesses of Pleasures? None of those Men (saith God) shall taste of my Supper, Luke 14. 24.  
7. Do we labour to put ourselves into a fit habit and posture of Soul for so divine a Feast? He that came without his Wedding-garment was bound hand and foot, and cast into outer Darkness, Matt. 22. 13.  
Now therefore we are as it were to new trim up all our Graces, and appear with them before God in their greatest Brightness, having our Souls adorned, and adorning the Gospel of Christ.  
1. Let the Consideration of the Odiousness of Sin to God, which he would not pardon without the Death of his only begotten Son, and of the astonishing Love of God to Sinners Souls, so that he would send his Son to die rather than they should perish, give Life to our Repentance.  
2. Let this Consideration, that Christ hath not only left us the History of his Life, Death, and Resurrection, in his Gospel, confirmed by many Miracles; but hath also instituted a solemn festival Commemoration of himself, which hath been constantly celebrated in his Church in all Ages, wherein what by the Word is preached to our Ears is lively represented to our Eyes, even jesus Christ evidently set forth crucified among us; 
Gal. 3. 1.  set our Faith on work.  
3. Let the wonderful Love of the Father in giving his only Son, of the Son in shedding his precious Blood for us ungodly Sinners, rebellious Enemies, hopeless Wretches, demonstrated in this Feast of Love, inflame our Hearts with the Love of God in jesus Christ.  
4. Let the Promises of God that cannot lie, first sealed in the Blood of the everlasting Covenant, now renewed and confirmed in this Sacrament, feed and nourish our Hope.  
5. Let the numerous Benefits of Christ's Death, thus signally exhibited and assured unto us, fill our Hearts with Thankfulness, remembering that this Sacrament is the Eucharist, a thankful Commemoration of Christ, and this Cup the Cup of Blessing, Praise, or Thanksgiving.  
6. Let our Deliverance from the Vassalage of Sin and Torments of Hell, and our new Title to the Kingdom of Heaven, 
Ps. 116. 3.  fill our Hearts with spiritual Joy. Let us take the Cup of S●lvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord, in joyful Songs and Hymns of Praise.  
7. As God, whom we have so often provoked to Wrath and Indignation, doth graciously condescend in Christ jesus to renew his Covenant of Mercy to us; so let us most heartily come to renew through the same blessed jesus our Engagements to him, and do that which may correspond with what Christ hath done for us.  
Did he deny himself, 
Phil. 2. 5. ad 8.  veiled his Godhead in mortal Flesh, taking on him the form of a Servant, 
Lu. 14. 26.  humbling himself to the Death of the Cross? Let us deny ourselves, take up the Cross, forsake all, and follow, him.  
Was he Crucified for us? 
Rom. 6. 6.  Let the Old-man be crucified in us with the Affections and Lusts, 
Galat. 5. 24. 6. 14.  let the World be crucified to us, and we unto the World, let us make no more Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof.  
Did he give himself a Sacrifice for our Sins? 
Psal. 51. 17. 107. 22.  Let us offer to God the Sacrifices of broken and contrite Hearts, 
Heb. 13. 16.  the Sacrifice of Prayer and Supplication, of Praise and thanksgiving, 
Rom. 12. 1.  of Almsgiving and Mercy; and in a word, our Bodies a living Sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.  
8. Let this Feast of Love and holy Communion oblige us to hold the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace, 
1 Cor. 5. 8.  to purge out the old leaven of Malice and 
Ephes. 4. 32.  Envy, 
Gal. 6. 10.  to forgive as God for Christ his sake hath 
Mat 5. 44.  forgiven us, 
Romans 12. 20. 21.  to do good to all men as we have opportunity, 
Mat. 5. 24.  especially to them that are of the Household of Faith; to love our Enemies, bless our Persecutors, pray for our Haters, render good for evil, overcome evil with good; and if going to the Altar, we remember that our Brother hath aught against us, go first and be reconciled unto him.  
When we are thus disposed we may with an holy Boldness come to the Lord's Table, and need not fear but we shall have the Benefits thereof conferred upon us.   

CHAP. VIII. How we are to behave ourselves at this Sacrament.  
¶ AS thou goest to the Church, meditate all the way, or discourse with thy Company of the Goodness of God in inviting poor Sinners to his own Table: Say thus with thyself.  
O my sinful Soul, taste and see that the Lord is good! O what a Love and Goodness is this! that such wicked Prodigals as we, who have so long abused all the good Gifts which our heavenly Father hath bestowed upon us, in a vain, foolish, and sinful way of living, should have such Encouragements as these to return to our offended God and Father! I will go unto him, and say, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before thee, and am not worthy to be called thy Son, or to appear and feed amongst thy Children. O Lord, not considering what thou hast made me, a rational Creature, to know, love, and honour thee my great and good God, I have used myself like a Beast, and have fed with Greediness and Delight amongst swinish Sinners, upon empty Husks and Vanities. O blessed be thy Name, who hast brought me to myself again, to see, and lament, and hate my past Folly. I am now in all Humility coming to feast my Soul with thee in thy House, where there is ever bread enough and to spare, even the Bread of Life, my ever blessed JESUS. O send out thy Light and thy Truth! let them lead me, let them bring me unto thy holy Hill and to thy Tabernacles; then will I go unto the Altar of God, unto God my exceeding Joy, and with all my Soul will I praise thee O God, my God. I will enter into thy Gates with Thanksgiving, and into thy Courts with Praise, I will be thankful unto thee and bless thy Name: For the Lord is good, his Mercy is everlasting, and his Truth endureth to all Generations.  
¶ Entering into the Church, have such Thoughts as these before the Service begin.  
O how dreadful is this place! This is no other but the House of God, and the Gate of Heaven. Holiness, O God, becometh thine House for ever. One day in thy House is better than a thousand. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy Courts. I come, O Lord, into thy House in the multitude of thy Mercy, and in thy Fear will I worship thee in thy holy Temple. I have loved the Habitation of thy House, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. O let me be abundantly satisfied with the Fatness of thy House, and make me drink of the River of thy Pleasures.  
¶ join devoutly with the Congregation in the Prayers of the Church, and attend diligently to God's Word read and preached. And when the Minister is going to the Table, say thus:  
Blessed be God for affording us Pastors and Teachers: O how beautiful are the Feet of them that preach the Gospel of Peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! O Lord bless and assist this thy Servant in this holy Ministration. Thou, O Lord, art our Shepherd, we can want nothing; thou preparest a Table before us, surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow us all the days of our Life.  
¶ When the Bread and Wine are placed upon the Table, and thou art preparing thine Offering, say thus:  
O gracious Lord, what a miracle of Divine Love do we here behold! We have sinned against thee, and yet thou callest not upon us for Sacrifices and burnt Offerings, but hast prepared a Body for thy eternal Son, that he in that might do thy Will, live among us, and die a Sacrifice for us, and here feed us on that Sacrifice of himself to eternal Life. I have abundantly deserved to be at this time in Hell amongst the Devils, and dost thou yet vouchsafe to feast me at thy Table, amongst thy Children, on the Body and Blood of thy dearest Son? O astonishing Love! Let this thy love, O God, pierce my Heart, and do thou, O blessed JESUS, dwell therein for ever.  
The Earth is thine, O Lord, and the fullness thereof. What can I render unto thee for all thine inestimable Benefits. My Goodness extendeth not unto thee, but to the Saints that are in the Earth. Thou, O God of thy Goodness, hast prepared for the poor. Accept, I beseech thee, of my poor Mite, receive this my humble Acknowledgement of thy Bounty to me poor Sinner, whereby I confess and declare myself and all that I have, to be at thy Command and Service, accept of me for jesus Christ his sake.  
¶ When the Exhortation is read, mind it well, and observe whether you come so duly prepared as is therein said you ought to be. Then say,  
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Who can understand his Errors? Cleanse thou me from my secret Faults.  
¶ When you are bid to draw near, do so, both with Body and Soul, saying;  
My Heart is ready, O God, my Heart is ready; I will wash my hands in Innocency, and so will I compass thine Altar, O God.  
I come, O my God I come, for whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee. O hide not thy comfortable Presence from me.  
¶ Then humbly join in the Confession of Sins, saying after the Minister, and receive in the humblest Posture the Absolution as from Christ himself interceding for you at God's right hand and blessing you. Draw Comfort from the Sentences of Scripture read unto you, and lift up your Hearts with joyful Praises unto God, as you are called upon to do, heartily joining in the following Devotions.  
When the Minister consecrateth the Elements, fix your Eye upon the whole Action, and your Heart upon your crucified Jesus, considering with what Pains and Tortures on the Cross he finished your Redemption.  
When the Minister draweth near you with the Bread, say;  
Create in me a clean Heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me.  
¶ When you take the Bread, say;  
With all Humility and Thankfulness of heart I take this sacred Pledge of thy Love, O dearest Saviour. Be it according to thy Word, with thy crucified Body feed my Soul to Life eternal.  
¶ Then eating the Bread, say;  
O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God blessed for ever, I am wholly thine and not my own; reign in me, rule over me, O blessed jesus, now and for ever. By thee I live, through thee let me grow in Grace and Goodness. Keep me from hungering any more after Sin and Vanity. Lord, evermore give me this Bread till thou bring me to thy eternal Supper in thy Kingdom of Glory.  
¶ Receiving the Cup, say,  
I will receive the Cup of Salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord.  
¶ Having drunk of it, say,  
My Soul was a-thirst for the living God; let thy Blood, O holy Lamb of God, cleanse me and this whole Congregation from all Sin. Let thy holy Spirit be in us a Well of living Water springing up into everlasting Life. I have confessed my Sin, and thou art faithful and just to forgive my Sin, and to cleanse me from all Unrighteousness. Take now, my blessed Lord, a full and everlasting possession of thy dear Purchase. As I believe we have Redemption through thy Blood, even the Forgiveness of Sins; so do I here deny myself, and resolve by thy Assistance to follow thee even unto Death. And, O thou God of Peace, that brought'st again from the dead our Lord jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant, feed, govern, and protect thy whole Flock the Universal Church, make us perfect in every good Work to do thy Will, working in us that which is wellpleasing in thy Sight, through jesus Christ, to whom be Glory for ever and ever. Amen.  
¶ During the time of the Distribution, if no Psalm be sung, (or, if a Psalm be sung, then, during the Oblation, or at any other vacant times) employ yourselves in such Meditations as these following.  
O how wonderful is the Love of God How doth the Lord triumph in his Goodness, and rejoice in his Mercy! We that have a thousand times over deserved to be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of Teeth in everlasting Fire, are here admitted to feast and rejoice at the Table of the Lord.  
O astonishing Love of the blessed jesus! O abominable Sins of us rebellious Wretches! Was thy holy Body, my dearest Lord and God, thus broken and torn, they precious Blood thus shed and poured out for our sinful Souls? And shall we not abhor those cursed Sins of ours, and with all due Hatred and Indignation cast them off for ever? Shall we not renounce all Kindness to our beastly Lusts, loathe ourselves for our Iniquities, and give ourselves entirely to thy Service (which is perfect Freedom) for evermore?  
O ravishing Love, that moved the eternal Son of God to rescue us from everlasting Torments, by the sharpest Pains and Tortures of his spotless Body, and the bitterest Agonies of his purest Soul! That moved the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to condescend unto Sufferings, Shame, and Death, and to be made a Curse for us, that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him?  
Wast thou, O blessed Saviour, content for our sake to be despised and rejected of men, to become a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with Grief, and have we so long hid, as it were, our Faces from thee? Hast thou been despised, and yet have not we esteemed thee? Surely thou hast born ou● Griefs, and carried our Sorrows; thou wast wounded for our Transgressions, and bruised for our Iniquities; the Chastisement of our Peace was upon thee, and with thy Stripes we are healed. All we, like Sheep, have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on thee the Iniquity of us all. Thou wast oppressed and afflicted, yet didst thou not open thy Mouth; thou wast brought as a Lamb dumb to the Slaughter; thou wast cut off out of the Land of the Living; for the Transgression of thy People wast thou stricken.  
O holy jesus, I do most steadfastly believe, that thou art the Lamb of God that takest away the Sins of the World; that thou hast in thine own Body born our Sins upon the Tree; and that in the Body of thy Flesh, through Death, thou hast reconciled us who were Enemies, to present us holy and unblameable in God's sight. Thou wast not ashamed to call us Brethren; and because the Children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood, thou 〈◊〉 thyself tookest part of the same, and through Death hast destroyed him that had the power of Death, the Devil.  
We have not an Highpriest which cannot be touched with a feeling of our Infirmities, but was in all Points tempted as we are, yet without Sin. Therefore may we come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need. Thou, O blessed jesus, being made perfect through Sufferings, art become the Author of Salvation unto all that obey thee.  
O Lord, I poor Sinner fly for Refuge, to lay hold on the Hope now set before us. Thou art able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by thee, seeing thou ever livest to make Intercession for us. By thine own Blood hast thou entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal Redemption, for us. Thou art entered into Heaven itself now to appear in the Presence of God for us. Thou art our Advocate with the Father, the Propitiation for our Sins, and we look for thee to appear the second time without Sin unto Salvation.  
O Lord, seeing thou hast given us Boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of jesus, by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the Veil, that is to say, his Flesh: and having such an Highpriest over thine House, I here draw near with a true Heart, in full Assurance of Faith, having my Heart sprinkled from an evil Conscience, and resolving by thy Grace to hold fast the Profession of my Faith without wavering.  
I do here, O Lord, in all Humility, offer up myself to be a living Sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto thee in virtue of the Sacrifice of thy dear Son, desiring to glorify thee with my Body and Spirit which are thine. Confirm, I beseech thee, now unto my Soul, and to all here present, the Covenant sealed in his Blood. Enable us to continue steadfast therein for ●ver.  
Lord, make all that profess thy Name zealous of good Works, unite us in the same Faith and Love, and let us keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace. Let us never forsake the assembling of ourselves together, to celebrate the Memorial of thy lovingkindness, and show thy Death till thou come. Put thy Laws into our Hearts, and write them in our Minds, and enable us to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit, and to perfect Holiness in the fear of God.  
¶ When the Distribution is ended, join heartily in the thanksgiving, and following Hymn of Praise.  
Being returned home, give hearty Thanks for this Mercy afforded you; pray for Grace to perform your Vows, and return not too soon to your common Business. Strive by Meditation to keep a warm sense of God's Goodness in your Heart, and labour to strengthen your Resolutions of a Holy and Christian Life Watch especially against the Sins you have been lateliest guilty of, or 〈◊〉 most inclined to, and sin no more lest a worse thing come unto you.   

CHAP. IX. The pretended Reasons for neglecting this Sacrament briefly answered.  
NO good man will seek an Excuse, no wicked man can find one, for not endeavouring to do his Duty; and a Duty it is to do this in Remembrance of Christ. The Benefits are such as cannot be slighted by a wise man, the Necessity is such as cannot be dispensed with by any man. Yet because men are too apt to deceive themselves out of their Duty and Happiness at once by something that they call Reason, and where they have no good Excuse are ready to make a bad one; in charity to their Souls, their Vanity herein is to be shown them.  
Obj. 1. We eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of Christ spiritually by Faith out of this Sacrament; what need therefore can there be of this Sacrament, seeing therein we are but to do the same?  
Ans. This is all one as to say, We do some part of our Duty, what need is therefore of doing the rest? Or, We believe in Christ, what need i● there to obey his Commandments? It is enough to a Christian, that Christ hath commanded it.  
That Faith whereby we eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of Christ spiritually, implieth Obedience to the Gospel of Christ; and it is an especial Command of the Gospel to do this. He than that neglects the doing of this, neglects to obey the Gospel, and therefore falsely pretends that he eats and drinks spiritually the Flesh and Blood of Christ. Whatever therefore the Christian doth more in this Sacrament than out of it, the wilful Neglecter of it is inexcusable, for he is no Christian or true Believer.  
Obj. 2. he that receiveth unworthily receiveth Damnation to himself; therefore 'tis safer to forbear.  
Ans. So you may say, He that eateth may, if he be not careful, eat Poison, or choke himself, or surfeit and die; and therefore 'tis safest to forbear eating. Will you fast for this reason?  
Wilful neglect is certain Damna●●●●; receiving is not so: Will you prevent an uncertain danger of Death, by killing yourself?  
If a man receive without Faith and Repentance, he receiveth Damnation; and so he doth if he do not believe and repent, tho' he receive not this Sacrament. What better is he then for not receiving it? He perisheth either way, receiving or not receiving it.  
A Communicant that being a penitent Believer comes to the Lord's Table without due Preparation and suitable Affections, may receive thereby judgement, (so the Word translated Damnation may be englished) that is some Chastisement, such as Weakness, Sickness, or Death, 1 Cor. 11. 30. and he is thus chastened, that he may not be condemned, v. 32. But even this may be prevented by judging ourselves, or duly examining ourselves, v. 31. And now which is safer, to judge ourselves and eat, or to neglect our Duty and perish?  
Obj. 3. But I am afraid I am unworthy, and therefore dare not come to this Sacrament.  
Ans. In a strict sense, we are all unworthy, even so much as to eat or live, being Sinners, and deserving Damnation.  
In another sense, he is unworthy that is ignorant, an Unbeliever, and wicked, or no good Christian, and must not come. But say,  
Are you a sincere Christian, or a dissembling Hypocrite? If the former, prepare yourself and come; if the latter, be ashamed of it and repent, for otherwise you perish.  
Obj. 4. I doubt of my Sincerity, and he that doubteth is damned if he eateth, Rom. 14. 23.  
Ans. To do a thing, doubting that it is an unlawful thing or a Sin, is that which deserveth Damnation, according to that Text. But you cannot fear that the receiving of this Sacrament is a Sin, it being a necessary Duty. That which you doubt of is your own Sincerity. If you be indeed unsincere, that is, a Hypocrite and a Dissembler, you are not to receive it: if you be sincere you may, there can be no doubt of this. But you doubt whether you be a sincere Christian. And if this Doubt be so prevalent that you rather judge you are not, I shall not advise you to come to this Sacrament till you be better satisfied of your Sincerity. But then consider,  
Will you contentedly rest in this doubtful Condition? Can you be quiet in your Mind, till you find cause to hope you are a Christian, and shall be saved? If you find no cause to hope this, why should you not forbear all other Christian Duties as well as this?  
Why do you not lay open your condition freely and impartially to your spiritual Guide, and take his Judgement of your Sincerity? If you use not this or any other means of knowing yourself, but rest contentedly under your Doubts, and plead them as an Excuse for not doing your Duty, you are certainly no sincere Christian.  
But if you are troubled that you know yourself no better, and are above all things desirous to be a good Christian, and endeavour by all means to be so, and to know that you are so, and give yourself no rest, but mourn, and pray, and examine yourself, and crave Advice, and set yourself in earnest about the Duties of Christianity, these are good signs of Sincerity; and you ought to receive this Sacrament, and wait upon God for a farther Blessing.  
Obj. 5. I fear I have not a saving Faith, I have no Assurance of my Salvation.  
Ans. Though such Assurance may be had, yet I verily think, that the far greater number of good Christians want it, and are but working out their Salvation with fear and trembling. To labour after it is our Duty, to have it is our great Comfort, but no Condition of Salvation.  
Do you believe the Gospel, that he that believeth and is baptised shall be saved? that jesus Christ is the Saviour of all them that, repenting of their Sins, trust in his Merits, and live in Obedience to his Government and Laws?  
Do you accordingly consent to be saved by him upon these terms; and striving against Sin, earnestly desire and endeavour to live according to his Gospel, and trust to him for Salvation? This is saving Faith, whether you have full Assurance or no, and you are to receive this Sacrament for the strengthening of your Faith.  
Obj. 6. Faith worketh by Love, Gal. and I fear I do not love God.  
Ans. Are you convinced, that God is the chief good, and aught to be loved above all things? And do you so value him above all things?  
Are you thereupon resolved to do any thing, to part with any thing, to suffer any thing, thereby to honour him and enjoy his Love?  
Do you thus practice, and can you deny yourself and your own Will to do his? This is Love, that you keep his Commandments. And though you feel not such a passionate Lov● 〈◊〉 you have for some other things, yet, if you have this prising and overruling Love, that you do prefer his Will and his Favour above other things, you are to use this Sacrament for the confirming and farther inflaming your Love.  
Obj. 7. I fear I do not truly repent, for I cannot weep for my Sins.  
Ans. Can you hate them and avoid them; and do you in Obedienee to God, and of Love to him, eat all Temptations, and watch against them? If so, though your Eyes be dry, God will not despise a broken Heart.  
Obj. 8. But I feel Lusts and evil Inclinations stirring in me.  
Ans. So you shall whilst you live, more or less. But do you not feed and cherish them? Do not you delight in them, nor obey and fulfil them? Do you, on the contrary, check and restrain them, and use all the means of subduing and mortifying them? If you find it thus, come to this Sacrament with Comfort. Let not Sin reign in you to fulfil the Lusts thereof, and all will be well.  
Obj. 9 I am not in charity with my Neighbours, therefore I dare not come.  
Ans. That is, You dare sin and perish, but you dare not leave off sinning and do your Duty and be saved. If you be not in charity, how dare you pray for the Forgiveness of your Sins as you forgive others? how dare you sleep, lest you die out of Charity? Plead not Sin as an Excuse for not doing your Duty, but leave your Sin, and do it.  
Obj. 10. But I am engaged in Law Suits, and dare not come till they be ended.  
Ans. That is, You will have your Right first, if you can get it, and let God stay your leisure for his. When you have got your Will of your Neighbour you will do your Duty to God.  
But cannot you manage your Law Suits justly and charitably? Can you not defend or recover your Right without doing wrong or bearing ill will to your Neighbour? Then do● you take a sad course, to damn 〈◊〉 own Soul to do your Neighbour an ill-turn.  
Do nothing but your Duty in going to Law, and you need not be kept from your Duty in this Sacrament of Christ.  
Obj. 11. I have so much Business, that I cannot prepare myself.  
Ans. Is it honest and profitable Business which you may do to the Glory of God? Then need it not hinder you from doing this great Business of your Soul.  
Doth it afford you time to eat and drink, to sleep, yea and perhaps give and receive impertinent Visits? And will it allow no time to prepare yourself for this Sacrament? See that you make no more Business than is needful.  
Examine yourself daily, and stir up your Affections to God, and renew your Vows, and use only honest Business, and the work of Preparation will require no great time.  
●bj. 12. I receive it sometimes, but why so often?  
Ans. Where's the Zeal of the Primitive Christians, who communicated every Lord's Day, or oftener?  
What Reason can you give, why this Sacrament should not be a part of all our public and more solemn Worship, seeing it is a Duty whereby we are so especially to own ourselves the Disciples of a Crucified Saviour?  
Have we not need often to stir up in us the Remembrance of Christ, to quicken and actuate our Graces? Are they so lively and active in us?  
Would not the frequent Celebration hereof keep in us a warm sense of our Christian Duty, to live Godly, Righteously, and Soberly?  
Would it not keep in a constant readiness to die, and fit our Accounts for judgement?  
Can our unwillingness frequently to communicate signify any thing else, but that we too coldly resent God's Love to our Souls in Christ; and tha● we desire to have time enough betwixt Sacrament and Sacrament to 〈◊〉 get our Vows, and to enjoy our Sins, and hope to make amends for all the next time we receive?  
Obj. 13. I see many that come to this Sacrament little better for it, they live no better Lives than they did before.  
Ans. You see some that thrive not by their Labour, nor grow strong by their Meat, nor are cured by their Physic. Will this move you to neglect your Business, refuse to eat, seek no Remedy when you are sick?  
Must not you do your Duty because others do it amiss?  
Obj. 14. I have not found that Benefit and Comfort by it formerly which should encourage me to come to it again.  
Ans. We are to do our Duty whether we get any thing by it or no.  
If we reap not the Benefit, the fault is neither in God, nor his Ordinance, but in ourselves. The Sun makes a living Plant grow, but drieth up a dead one.  
If we have done our Duty as we ought, the Conscience of that should comfort us very much.  
If we hold on constantly in a Christian course of Life, we may presume we have got good by this Sacrament, and may get much more by receiving it oftener.  
Be more careful to do your Duty in an acceptable manner, than too desirous of sensible Joys and Comforts. The Duty is ours to perform in its season, the Benefit is God's to give when he pleaseth, and the Comfort may be reserved to come in fully in Heaven.  
Obj. 15. But I am guilty of backstiding into many Sins since the last Sacrament.  
Ans. It is that which good men have been guilty of, and for that there is no less need of Humiliation and Repentance, but there is more room for Hope.  
The more dangerously you have fallen, the more care ought you to take to rise again by Repentance, the more need have you to renew you● Covenant, and to come for more strength in your greater need.  
Obj. 16. I shall but break my Vows again, and incur the greater Damnation.  
Answ. If thy Leg were broken, wouldst thou not set it for fear of breaking it again? If thou art sick, wilt thou not be cured for fear thou shouldst relapse and die?  
If indeed thou resolvest to return to the Mire again, it is in vain for thee to wash and be clean. But be in good earnest to strive against thy Sin and forsake it, and fear not, God's Grace is sufficient for thee.   

CHAP. X. The Stumbling-blocks cast in our way, removed.  
WE may well say here, as Christ said in another Case, Some there be who will neither enter into the Church to receive this Sacrament themselves, nor suffer those to enter in that would, but are very busy in laying such stumbling-blocks in their way as they are not able to remove. So that either they keep away from this blessed Sacrament to their great hurt, or struggle through their doubts and scruples with much Galling and Uneasiness, to their great disquiet. In pity therefore to the weak, these also aught to be removed.  
1. Some have been made to think it unlawful to receive the Sacrament where it is administered with a prescribed form of Words.  
Not to prove here the Lawfulness and usefulness too of set and prescribed Forms of Prayers in the public Worship of God, it will be sufficient, in reference to this Sacrament, to consider thus much.  
1. That when our blessed jesus commanded this to be done in ●●membrance of him, he neither commanded nor forbade it to be done by a set or prescribed Form: it is therefore certainly left to the Discretion and Piety of the Church to consider which is most expedient and conducing to Edification, a Form or no Form; and to act accordingly. The thing must be done, and with a prescribed Form or without one, it must be done. Christ hath not told us which way, and who shall determine the matter but they to whom he hath committed the ordering of all such things in the Church?  
2. If in any part of the public Worship a prescribed Form be expedient, it must be in this. 'Tis the Feast of Love, and a holy Communion, wherein we declare ourselves one Bread and one Body; 'tis therefore in a great measure even necessary, that before we come together we should have before our Eyes the things wherein we are unanimously to join, the Words to which we are to say, Amen: and not go at ●●●nture to join in we know not what, and commit our Thoughts and Devotions there to the conduct of a single man, that loves it may be to hear himself talk, and to show his Wit and Eloquence in Words, (to say the best of them) for the most part unintelligible to the greater number of Communicants.  
Yea, seeing, to the great Grief of all good Christians, the Devil and his Instruments have ever been very busy to deform this holy Ordinance, and to turn this Sacrament of Union into a bone of Contention; it well becometh the Church to use all care, that nothing be said or done in this Administration, but what is according to Truth and Godliness. And certainly it would be no good sign of such Care, to leave every Minister to his own Discretion, to use his own affected, and perhaps erroneous, Way and Words.  
II. Others are made afraid to kneel in receiving this Sacrament, because th● Apostles at the first Institution did not so 〈◊〉 and because the Papists doing so 〈◊〉 the Bread and Wine.  
If the Apostles kneeled not, yet they neither sat nor stood. And if they used a Supper-gesture, it was on occasion of the Passover whereat this Sacrament was instituted. Christ hath commanded that this be done, that is, that Bread and Wine be blessed and broken and distributed, taken, eaten, and drank in Remembrance of him; but he hath not commanded any Gesture, nor expressly forbidden any. This therefore also must be left to the Prudence of the Church, as all other Circumstances of this sacred Action, till it can be shown that the bare Example of the Apostles did oblige us perpetually to imitate it; which here cannot be shown: and therefore to say it did, is to add to the Word of God, and to lay a Snare before men's Consciences; it being hard, for most men at least, to give a reason, why their Example in this Circumstance of Gesture, should ●ore oblige us than in others of Time, Place, Number, etc.  
Kneeling is a Gesture of Humility, and that better becometh vile Sinners offering their Prayers and Praises at the Throne of Grace in the Virtue of the Sacrifice of Christ, than any Posture of Familiarity, such as sitting especially is. However, seeing, it is enjoined, were it less convenient, yet he hath certainly no very great Love or Appetite to this divine Food, who will rather want it than receive it on his Knees, and chooseth rather to disobey Christ in not doing this at all, than obey the Church in doing it thus, when there is no Divine Law to the contrary.  
And if the Papists do kneel to worship the Elements, may not we therefore kneel to worship Christ? The Church of England hath sufficiently declared against worshipping the Elements; and if she knew you did so, would cast you forth as Idolaters.  
III. But we must thus communicate with Sinners in a mixed Congregation and we are forbidden so much as to eat with such, 1 Cor. 5. 11. and commanded to withdraw from every Brother that walketh disorderly, 2 Thes. 3. 6. and to come out from among them and be separate, 2 Cor. 6. 17.  
You must come out from Heathens, and be separate from Idolaters, such as were those Unbelievers, 2 Cor. 6. 14, 15, 16. But none but baptised Persons and Professors of Christianity, are admitted to the Lord's Table.  
You must also withdraw yourselves from disorderly Walkers, as you are commanded, 2 Thess. 3. 6. not familiarly to converse them, so as to partake with them, or countenance them in their Wickedness or Idleness; but set a note of Disgrace upon them by shunning their Company and Familiarity, to make them, if possible, ashamed of themselves. Yet must we not look upon them as Enemies, but admonish them as Brethren, v. 14, 15. All this plainly relates to our ordinary Conversation with such men, and nothing is ●ere said about communicating in this Sacrament.  
●e sure that you be none of those whose Company is here forbidden to Christians, such as are disorderly Walk●ers, that obey not the just Orders of their Pastors and Governors (v. 14.) but are unruly and will not be governed (1 Thes. 5. 14.) and such as cause. Divisions and Offences contrary to the Doctrine that they have learned, Rom. 16. 17.  
In the same sense we must not eat, that is, familiarly converse with wicked Christians, 1 Cor. 5. 11. For that it is ordinary Conversation that is there meant seems plain, because 'tis such a keeping Company with them, as the Apostle allows them with Heathens and Idolaters, v. 10. which cannot be at the Lord's Table whither they are not admitted, but only Professors of Christianity.  
Though we are to withdraw from such wicked and disorderly Persons, so far as not to countenance them, but endeavour to make them ashamed o● their Sins; yet must we be careful to do this orderly, 
1 Thess. 4 〈…〉  and as becometh Christians. 
1 Peter 4. 15.  And this you do not, if you study not to be quiet and to do your own Business, but delight to be busybodies in other men's matters. If you suffer for that, you have the just Reward of your busie-boldness.  
Qu. But must wicked men be admitted to this Sacrament?  
Ans. No, not if they be notorious, and have not declared their Repentance. They ought to be admonished, and if stubborn, cast out of the Church by those to whom it belongs to do it. Leave that to your Governors, and do you the Duty of private Christians.  
Remember Charity thinketh no evil, 
1 Cor 13. 5. 7.  but believeth all things; it judgeth not rashly, but hath as good an Opinion as may be had of all men. Be sure then that you have sufficient ground for it when you judge any one wicked.  
Take heed also of spiritual Pride in yourself, and that your unreasonable swelling with self-conceit cause not 〈◊〉 Brother to seem little and vile in your Eyes.  
See that you count not any man a wicked man only because he is not of your Opinion, or because he is not of your Party, or dares not separate from the Church as you do, or censure other men as boldly as you do, or have as high an Opinion of his own Godliness as you have: it is no good sign of that Purity which some pretend to, that they scruple at a Form or Ceremony, but not at being drunk, or being unjust in not paying every man his due, or reviling their Governors, or uncharitably censuring the whole Church; or, that they dare not come to the Lord's Table with wicked men, but dare go to the Alehouse with them.  
See that you have discharged a good Conscience towards your Brethren, before you abandon their Communion.  
Have you friendly reproved and admonished them privately? 
1 Thess. 5. 14.  Talk not to others of their Wickedness till you have first told them of it. 
Matth. 18. 15.  If this have done no good upon them, 
2 Thess. 3. 15.  have 〈◊〉 admonished them again before two or three Witnesses? If this prevail not, have you told the Minister and desired his help to reform these Sinners? If he cannot reclaim them, have you endeavoured to have them cast out of the Church by Excommunication? If you have not done this, where's your Charity to your Brother? where's your Obedience to God? Where's your Zeal for the Church's Purity? You have more cause to be afraid of your own Sins, than of other men's: nay, you become by this neglect, Partakers of other men's Sins, which you pretend to be the very thing you are so greatly afraid of.  
Obj. You say, perhaps, you have done all this, and yet these Sinners are not excluded, but admitted.  
If it be so, it is not well; yet it is not your Fault that they are admitted; but it is your Fault if you will not do your Duty because other men will not do theirs.  
Obj. But I shall so profess Communion with the wicked.  
Ans. By the course you have taken you have done what was your Duty, to avoid their Communion. You come not to communicate with the Wicked, but with sincere Christians.  
Obj. But by so doing I shall countenance them, and seem to own them as good Christians.  
Ans. By what you have done to amend them, and by what you may still do in continuing to reprove them, you prevent that danger.  
There were very wicked Persons in the Church of Corinth, such as the Apostle orders to be cast out and delivered to Sitan; yea at the Sacrament there were Divisions and Factions, and some were drunk. These things St. Paul reproves them for; but you no where hear him bid others abstain from the Sacrament because of such men, but he bids them examine themselves and eat.  
IU. But you say; you dare not receive this Sacrament at the hand of a wicked Minister, and you take yours to 〈◊〉 such.  
It is not well if he be such indeed; and if he be openly such and not removed, some others are to blame as well as he. Have you admonished him? Have you again admonished him? If that would not do, have you complained of him, and used all the means in your power to have him either reform or turned out? If this be not done, you have not done your Duty either to him, or your own Soul, or the Church of God. Complain not then of his Wickedness, but your own.  
Have you used all these means in vain to reform or remove him? Then if you can conveniently you may remove to some place where you have a better. If you cannot, you are to be content, and receive the Food of your Soul from a dirty hand, rather than want it. You would not refuse the King's Pardon though a Drunkard or a Swearer brought it you. This Meat nourisheth not by virtue of the hand of him that ministereth it unto you, but by the Blessing of God that giveth it. Take it as from the hand of Christ himself, and have Faith in him, and when you have done what legally you can to get a good Minister, you shall far no worse for a bad one in the end.  
Obj. But though I can find no great Fault otherwise with the Minister, yet this I like not, that he admits scandalous Sinners to the Communion.  
He is indeed to charge all such to abstain from this Sacrament till they declare their Repentance. He is not to admit such, if he know them, till they have declared their Repentance, and made such Satisfaction as the Church requireth. Do you certainly know then that he doth otherwise; and have you acquainted him who they are, and satisfied him that they are so indeed? Usually such men keep most out of his way, and he is least acquainted with them, and hath at most but an uncertain Report of their Vices; and they that bring him this Report, refuse to prove the Truth of it; and when he inquires of the Persons themselves they deny it, and he dare not deny them the Privileges of Christians, till he have better grounds to go upon. Or if you are sure the Minister was not ignorant of their wicked Life, are you sure also, that they have not, before they were admitted, given him all the Satisfaction he could in reason demand in such a case?  
You ought to be sure of these things before you censure him so hardly. And if you be sure he is guilty, complain of him, after due Admonition, and I am confident this Fault will be amended. But if unfit Persons be admitted by him ignorantly, and you know of it, and do not inform him better, it is yourselves on whom this Gild will lie.  
The good Lord grant that we may all more conscientiously do our Duties in our several Stations, that his Name may be glorified, his Church may flourish in Truth and Purity, and Peace and Love may abound amongst Christians.   

Some short Directions and Prayers.  
WHen you go to examine your Faith by the help I have herein given you, or some other, fall humbly before God on your Knees, and heartily say;  
O most glorious God, who madest me that I might know thee, and knowing thee might love thee, and loving thee might be for ever happy in thy Love; I poor Sinner do here most humbly bewail and confess my great, and alas, too wilful Ignorance of thee: O! for his sake whom thou hast sent to call us out of Darkness into Light by his Gospel, even JESUS CHRIST, in whom dwell all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge; enlighten my dark Soul by thy Word and holy Spirit, with the saving Knowledge of the Truth, and incline my Heart firmly to believe it even to the end. Remove from me all prejudice and blindness of Heart; let not the God of this World any longer darken the Eyes of my Understanding, or delude my poor Soul to believe a Lie, or possess me with a desire of vain Knowledge which profiteth not unto Godliness, but enable me daily to grow in all Grace and the Knowledge of thee the only true God, and jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. Help me at this time to discern my Errors, and the Imperfections in my Knowledge and Faith, and to correct them. Strengthen me to hold fast without wavering the form of sound Words, which thou teachest and not Man; that persevering steadfast in the same unto the Death, I may receive the end of my Faith, even the Salvation of my Soul, through jesus Christ my blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.  
At the end of every Question, consider well; and if you find you so believe, say:  
For ever blessed be God, who hath enlightened my Soul with the Knowledge of this sacred Truth, and Faith in him: O Lord, increase this Knowledge, and confirm this Faith in me unto the end.  
If you doubt in any point, note it well, and say;  
O Lord, pardon thy Servant, I am weak and blind; open mine Eyes, what I know not teach thou me, by thy holy Spirit guide me into all the Truth, for jesus Christ his sake.  
Having noted all your Doubts, take a fit opportunity to consult your Pastor for better Instruction.  
At the end of this Examination, thus pray:  
O most blessed God, if my Heart deceive me not I firmly believe all that I know of thy sacred Truth. Thou knowst, O Lord, the scantness of my Knowledge and weakness of my Faith, I most heartily beseech thee to pardon my Imperfections, to keep me from Heresy and Error, and to strengthen me daily in the true Faith of our Lord jesus Christ. Let me not rest in an idle and dead Faith, but make it lively and active in me, purifying my Heart from all Hypocrisy and Uncleanness, kindling in me a fervent Love to thee and to thy Laws, working in me by Love an universal Obedience to thy blessed Will, enabling me to overcome the World, subdue the Flesh with the Lusts thereof, to quench all the fiery Darts of the Devil, to resist all his Temptations unto Victory, to be conformed daily more and more to the Image of Christ, to be strong against all Sufferings and the Terrors of Death, and finally to lay hold on eternal Life, through thy Mercy, and the Merits of my blessed Saviour jesus Christ. Amen.  
When you are to examine your Repentance and Obedience, pray to this sense.  
Most great and good Good, the searcher of Hearts and trier of the Reins, who art every where present, and from whom no Darkness can hide us; thou compassest my Path, and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways: there is not a word in my Tongue, nor a thought in my Heart, but thou knowst it altogether. My heart, O God, is deceitful above all things, and I cannot find it out, neither understand the errors of my ways, nor the sincerity of my Purposes, without the help of thy holy Spirit. Help me, O my God, help me, I beseech thee, to know myself and the true frame and temper of my Soul; show thou me wherein I have offended thee in Thought, Word, or Deed; grant me a true and a humbling sight and sense of all my Sins; let not my Ignorance blind me, nor self-love beguile me, nor the common practice of the World delude me into a false Opinion of myself and my own Righteousness: but enable me, I humbly beseech thee, to find out all my Sins, together with all the Aggravations of my Gild; make me truly vile in mine own Eyes, and heartily sorry for all my Failings; enable me to hate and forsake every evil way, and to turn unto thee by an unfeigned Repentance, and a sincere Obedience to all thy holy and good Laws; that I may have my fruit unto Holiness, and the end everlasting Life, through jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour. Amen.  
After every Question pause a while, and impartially judge yourself; and where you think you have done any part of your Duty, say;  
Blessed be my good God through jesus Christ, who by his holy Spirit hath enabled me either to will or to do any good thing in his Sight. O Lord, I have done all very weakly and imperfectly, and most humbly beg thy pardon. If I have done any thing well, not unto me, O Lord, not unto me, thy very unprofitable Servant, but unto thy Name, be the Glory, through jesus Christ my Lord.  
Where you see your sin, lay it in earnest to your Heart, and say;  
O Lord, I have herein sinned most grievously against Heaven and before thee, and am not worthy to be called thy Child: God be merciful to me poor Sinner who deserve nothing but Hell and Damnation: O grant me Repentance unto Life, and enter not into Judgement with thy Servant, but pardon my Sin, and lead me in the ways of thy Commandments to eternal life, through jesus Christ.  
If you have offended or injured any man, note it well, and take some sit time to confess it to him, satisfy him, and beg his Pardon.  
If your Sin be public and scandalous, think not you have done enough till you have publicly testified your Repentance, as the Church shall require it of you.  
When you are in any doubt, resort again to the Minister, confess your Sin freely to him, and crave his judgement and Directions.  
After Examination, pray earnestly to this effect:  
O most holy and just God, who perfectly hatest all Iniquity, and will not have Mercy on any impenitent Sinner, how should so vile and polluted a Wretch as I am dare so much as to take thy holy Name into my defiled Mouth. O Lord, I am a most grievous and abominable Sinner, and do altogether deserve thy fierce Wrath and heavy Indignation. It is a very great wonder of Mercy, that thou sufferest me yet to live, and hast not long since cast me into Hell, and given me the Wages of Sin for which I have so long laboured. How many and foul are the Sins which thou hast now enabled me to discover in myself! even the least of this black number is enough to condemn me to endless Torments; and whither then would not such a multitude of foulest Transgressions sink me, if thy Mercies were not infinite, and thy Patience truly wonderful! Yet alas! how few are all these in comparison of those which have escaped my Observation, but cannot be hid from thine allseeing Eye? And if I appear so vile in my own Eyes, how loathsome and abominable a thing must I needs be in thine? My Sins (O God) are not a few but many, no small Offences, but very heinous Transgressions, few of them rare with me, but most of them very often repeated, long continued in, and become even familiar, customary, and habitual. Yea, O Lord, with shame and confusion of Face I confess, that I have had so little regard to thy Will, that I have even sinned, as I eat and drink, with all greediness and delight. Though thou hast never been wanting to me in any help to enable me, or any Remembrancer to mind me, or any Motive to invite me, or any Bounty or Promise to encourage me; yet have I made a very bad use of all thy Goodness: and by that very Patience and Forbearance which should have led me to Repentance, I have encouraged myself to sin the more freely, even without fear, and I may justly fear, to the great hardening of my Heart. Tho I have lived long under the bright Light of thy Gospel, and have thy Word sounding in my Ears daily, and have thy Ministers ready at hand to instruct me; yet am I very ignorant, and have even hated Knowledge and despised Instruction, and cast thy Words behind. Though I have had many seasonable Monitors of my Duty, and felt many motions of thy good Spirit, and suffered many Checks from my own Conscience; yet have I turned my Back upon thee, and done almost none of thy Commandments. Nay, after the most solemn Engagements, Covenants, and Vows, I have treacherously revolted from thee, rebelled against thee, and set at naught all thy Goodness to me. I have a false and treacherous Heart, which hath never yet kept Faith with thee. I find, to the great discomfort of my Soul, that I have dissembled with thee, and gone about to mock thee by feigned Professions, counterfeit Repentances, and hypocritical Devotions. Even now, O Lord, I feel not that deep Humiliation, that piercing Grief, that Anger, and Hatred, and Indignation, against my Sins, and myself for cherishing them, that I ought to have: neither do I find in my Heart, that servant Love of thee, that true Zeal for thy Honour, that hungering desire of Righteousness and Holiness that should be in me. And now, O my God, what can I have to say for myself after all this? Why shouldst thou not deal with me as I have justly deserved, and reward me with Indignation and Wrath, Tribulation and Anguish? If thou shouldst even now instead of accepting my Confession, throw me, in thy just Fury, into unquenchable Flames with the Devil and his Angels, thou wert most just in so doing, and even merciful in taking Vengeance of me so late, when I had so often and long provoked thy Wrath before. O Lord, I have nothing to plead in my own Excuse, I have nothing to fly unto, but that Mercy of my good God which I have so long abused. O hide not thy Face away from me, but humble my Soul yet more for my Unworthiness; break my Heart into true Contrition▪ that it may yet be an acceptable Sacrifice unto thee; give me not over unto vile Affections, nor a reprobate Mind; break the dominion Sin hath got over me, for the earnest desire of my Soul is to be thy Servant, and only thine for ever. O gracious God, we have an Advocate at thy right hand, even jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the Propitiation for our Sins; him thou sentest into the World to be the Saviour of lost Sinners, and hast promised, that no Man shall perish or be rejected that cometh unto thee by him: for his sake pardon me, for his sake have Mercy upon me; by the bitter Death and Passion of thy dearly beloved Son in whom thou art well pleased, I beseech thee, O holy Father, to look graciously upon me, and blot out all my Transgressions, and restore unto me the Joy of thy Salvation. Cleanse and purify my sinnful Soul in his Blood, receive me graciously into the number of thine adopted Children, rid me and set me free from the power of Sin, and slavery of my Lusts; let thy holy Spirit rule for ever in my Heart, and deliver me from the Law of Sin and Death in my Members. O speak Peace unto thy Servant, and let me yet live to praise thy Name; let me not return any more with the Dog to his Vomit, nor with the Sow to her wallowing in the Mire; but work in me a perfect Hatred of all that thou hatest, and a true Love to all that thou lovest. Strengthen me by thy Grace to withstand all Temptations, and to persevere and grow in Faith and Love, and all Goodness, to deny all Ungodliness and worldly Lusts, and to live henceforward righteously, soberly, and godly in this present World; patiently and comfortably looking for that blessed Hope, and the glorious Appearance of the great God and our Saviour jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all Iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works. In his blessed Name and perfect Prayer, I here commend unto thee all the Desires and Needs of my poor Soul, and of thy whole Church. Our Father, etc.  

A Prayer before the blessed Sacrament.  
O Most merciful God and Father in jesus Christ, who of thine infinite Love and Goodness to our poor perishing Souls, hast provided for us all things that be needful to us in our polluted and miserable Condition, whereinto we have brought ourselves by Sin and show'st Mercy unto us even when we would have no Mercy on ourselves: I am here, O Lord, prostrate at thy Footstool, a vile Wretch, that have again and again deserved to be punished with everlasting Destruction from thy presence. And will the great God of Heaven and Earth vouchsafe to look upon such a Dog as I? Shall the so often offended, dishonoured, provoked Majesty of the glorious God, condescend even to invite and beseech so traitorous a Rebel as I have been, to accept of Pardon and Salvation? And shall I yet despise thy lovingkindness, O my gracious God, and neglect so great Salvation as this that thou daily tenderest unto us in the Son of thy Love and our blessed Saviour jesus Christ? When we were gone astray from thee the God of our Life, and were going headlong to Destruction, thou wert pleased to open unto us a new and living way by the Death of thy only begotten Son. When we lay polluted in our Filth, and odious to thy pure Eyes, thou opened'st for us, in his precious Blood, a Fountain for Sin and for Uncleanness. Thou hast not disdained to admit me poor Sinner into thy holy Church and Family by Baptism, and into a sacred Covenant of Grace and Peace with thyself through the Blood of the blessed Mediator. And even now after so many careless and even wilful Violations of this holy Covenant, thy Mercy follows me with fresh Offers of Reconciliation, and thou hast invited me to a Feast of Love in thy House, and at thy own Table, and on the Body and Blood of thine own dear Son and my blessed Redeemer. O my most bountiful God, how long have I played the ed Prodigal, and pleased myself in Sin and Vanity, and delighted in disobeying thy Commandments? How often have I set light by the Bread of Life in the House of my Father, and preferred the Trash of this World before it? How often have I boldly and presumptuously, without due Preparation, approached unto thy holy Table? And how often have I returned thence with the same unclean Heart and unmortified Lusts which I carried thither? When I consider this, I tremble to think what Entertainment such a monstrous Sinner as I have been, might expect from thee. O let me not any longer, through Impenitence and Negligence, lose the Benefits of thy rich Mercy in jesus Christ. For his sake pardon all my former Neglects, Misbehaviours, and Breaches of Covenant with thee, and grant me now, good God I beseech thee, such a measure of thy Grace as may fit me for this sacred Ordinance. Once more most blessed God, I am preparing to come at thy gracious Call, but what can I do without thy Help? I am clogged with Sin and Corruption, I have suffered my Lusts to get the upper hand, and to lead me Captive; O! show thy Strength in my weakness, pull down every proud and unruly thing in me that exalteth itself against thy holy Spirit; strengthen me henceforward for ever to do thy Will. Awaken and stir up my dull Affections to love thee, and praise thee for thy wonderful love in redeeming us by the Sacrifice of thy beloved Son. O Lord, I do now renew most heartily my so often broken Vows and Promises to be wholly thine, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for evermore. Accept of me, O my God, and let not my great Unworthiness provoke thee to reject thy poor Servant whose Soul panteth after thee. Enable me, amongst those that keep Holiday in thy House, worthily to show forth the Death of our blessed jesus, even as he hath commanded us, in a joyful and truly thankful Remembrance of his inestimable Love, in an absolute and entire Dedication of our selves to his Service and Government, in a total Reliance upon thy Mercy through his Merits, in a cordial Love to him our Head, to all his Members, yea to all Mankind, and even our Enemies for his sake. And do thou, O merciful Father, for thy dear Son's sake, herein seal unto our Souls the Pardon of all our Sins, confirm and strengthen us in all Grace and Goodness, and bring us by the constant and conscientious use of this and all other Instruments of Grace, to everlasting Life, through jesus Christ our Lord, in whose holy Words I farther beg whatever is needful for myself and for thy whole Church. Our Father, etc.   

A Prayer after receiving this Sacrament.  
O Father of Mercies, and God of all Comforts, I have this day tasted and seen that thou art good, and that thy Mercy endureth for ever. It is well seen, O God, that thou delightest not in the Death of a Sinner, seeing thou vouchsafest so vile a Sinner as I am to feast my hungry Soul at thy Table, and to drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures. For ever blessed be thy Goodness, and praised for evermore be thy Mercies to us poor Sinners in the Lord Christ jesus. O let the deep sense of this thy wonderful Love ever rest upon my Heart. Let the spiritual Relish of this heavenly Feast so delight my Soul, as to render all Sin and Vanity unsavoury and loathsome to it for ever. Let this great Grace and Favour of admitting me this day to renew my Covenant with thee after so many Breaking's of it, oblige me to constant Thankfulness, and continual Obedience, to the greatest watchfulness over my Heart● and Circumspection in all my ways. And as I have been showing the Death of Christ in this holy Sacrament in the midst of the Congregation; so give me Grace and Strength to show it daily in a Christian Life and Conversation, and in the continual mortifying and crucifying of my sinful Affections and Lusts. Enable me to resist and vanquish all those Temptations to Sin whereby I have been formerly conquered. O holy jesus, I have given my Heart to thee this day, take, I beseech thee, such a full Possession of it by thy holy Spirit, that neither the Devil, the World, nor Sin, may ever again have any part or interest in it, nor let me ever desire to be any otherwise my own, than that I may continue wholly thine, at thy sole Command and Disposal. O good God, pardon all the Infirmities and Failings whereof I have been guilty in the performance of this great Duty. And bless, I beseech thee, this sacred Ordinance to thy whole Church, so that Truth, and Holiness, and Christian Love, may ever flourish and abound therein. As we have one Faith, one Baptism, one Lord, one Hope, and profess ourselves one Body by partaking this one Bread; so grant us to hold the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace, till we come to the Church triumphant in Heaven, through him who loved us, and hath washed us in his Blood, even JESUS CHRIST, our only Lord and Saviour. Amen.  
FINIS.    

Books printed for and sold by, John Baker at the Three Pigeons in Saint Paul's Churchyard.  
THE right Foundation of Quietness, Obedience, and Concord: by Clement Elis.  
Lately published by Dr. Parker, archdeacon of Canterbury; An Account of Church— Government, for the first six hundred Years.  
Religion and Loyalty; or, a Demonstration of the Christian Church, within itself. octavo. in two Volumes.  
The Service-Book, in folio, in 〈…〉, fit for Churches and Chapls.  
Duport in Psalmos. quarto. Gr. Lat.— idem in Homerum. 4o.— idem 4o. Graece separatim.  
An earnest Invitation to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. 12ᵒ. by joseph Glanvil.  
A Sermon before the Artillery-Company, by Dr. Calamy, lately published.  
FINIS.