The DEVOUT COMMUNICANT Exemplified, in his Behaviour Before, At, and After The SACRAMENT Of the LORDS SUPPER.  
More Practical, Useful, and Suitable to all the parts of that Solemn Ordinance than any yet extant.  
In this Impression is added a Prayer before, and another after the Sacrament; together with more particular Directions and Meditations for the Time of Receiving.  
But they made light of it—  Matth. 22 5. 
London Printed for Thomas Dring, at the Harrow next Chancery Lane in Fleetstreet, 1675.   

TO THE TRULY NOBLE Sir K. L. Baronet.  
SIR,  
AMong the Multitude of Practical Divine Treatises are none more numerous than on the Lord's Supper, nor more diversely handled: Not a few well-disposed persons yet complain they are at a loss, not so much which to make use of, variety here distracting; as that they know not how to form Directions into apposite Meditations: they sequester, they sit, they seem to reflect as others, but know not what to say in themselves, to their great discomfort and discouragement. The ensuing Manual is so methodically digested for their assistance, and presented to yourself, not as one that needs it, but the Composer a better evidence of his great esteem of a person so constant, so devout a Communicant; so eminently Charitable, so rarely Tempered, so truly Honourable. If it displease any, I borrow of so many to discharge one great debt; methinks my Honesty in owing it may satisfy; their allowing me also to make the best use of theirs I were able. And if this be a bad one 'tis a right hand error; I hope they'll not condemn, but pity and pardon me I was no better advised; my ambition being not to appear in public, but to be publicly useful, and to let the World know how much I am,  
SIR Your great Admirer, and Humble Servant.   

A PREMONITION To The READER.  
ALthough the ensuing Treatise was designed to be ushered into public view, without any other Epistle than that Dedicatory to one, who is for no other witnesses of his eminent Piety than those two, which are more than ten thousand; yet it is found requisite to advertise those who are willing to make use of it.  
1. As to that part of Preparation which respects Humiliation for sin, Matter enough for which every one may find there, by examining his manifold breaches of the Law and Gospel; yet the Communicant in an especial manner is to reflect upon, and be deeply humbled for his own iniquities, and particular failings since the foregoing Communion; but no exact example could be given of what himself is only conscious.  
2. For Prayers the Week before, and Morning of the Communion, they refer for Memory-sake to the requisite Graces and Ends in going to the Ordinance.  
3. More matter is provided than I doubt will be spent at the time of Receiving in this Frozen Age, so deviated from the Primitive, when all Christians still partook of that one Cup; yet those that (notwithstanding all endeavours) have Memories so unfaithful as they dare not trust, may (for aught I know) by Book make use of so much of that they judge most pertinent, as the spaces of joining with the Minister will admit.  
4. A Prayer before, and another after the Sacrament, with more particular directions and meditations for the time of Receiving, is added in this Edition, to satisfy those who thought them wanting (though the Author did not) in the first.  
5. If any thing be judged unsuitable, because not usual, there is matter enough besides. They are left to their liberty that are not of my mind.   

Some Books printed for Thomas Dring at the White Lion next Chancery Lane end in Fleetstreet.  
☞ England's Imminent Danger, and only Remedy, faithfully considered and represented▪ By an Impartial Hand. Necessary to be read by all people in these times.  
Titles of Honour, by the late famous and learned Antiquary, John Selden of the Inner Temple, Esq The third Edition, with Additions and Amendments by the Author. Folio.  
The History of Romish Treasons and Usurpations, together with a particular account of many gross Corruptions and Impostures in the Church of Rome, highly dishonourable and injurious to the Christian Religion: to which is prefixed a large Preface to the Romanists; by He●. Fowlis, B. D. Folio.  
A Relation of a Conference between Bishop Laud and Mr. Fisher the Jesui●●. The third Edition. Folio.  
The Consecration of Places for Gods public Service, Worship, and the Reverence due unto them: vindicated by Th● wemies M. A. in 〈◊〉.   

The Devout COMMUNICANT.  

Frequent Celebration.  
DO this in remembrance of me, is a permission, and an injunction; 'tis our Duty as well as our Benefit to re●eive Christ; so not to receive him, both our ●n and misery. 'Tis more than a command charge of a dying Testator, and Saviour. As the benefit is of infinite merit, so should he acknowledgement be an Eternal Memorial. His death should always live in our ●earts; and we so careful in doing this, ●●at when he comes again, he may find us 〈◊〉 doing. Doth he not now thus bespeak ●s? Can the King of Kings take it kindly 〈◊〉 your hands, when he hath killed the fated Calf, furnished his Table, sent forth his Servants, saying, Behold I have prepared my Supper, come, eat of my Bread, and drink of my Wine which I have mingled, all things are ready, come unto the Marriage, and you make light of it, (so mean are your thoughts of his fare and company) or desire to be excused because you are not dressed, when indeed you never went about to make you ready? Do you not provoke him to leave you, to let you go sorrowing to your graves? to say, None of those that were bidden (though they see the plenty) shall taste (the sweetness, fatness, goodness) of my Supper; was there ever any so dear, so precious? cost it not the Master of it his own life to make it? If out of courtesy you invite a poor man to the best that can be had, and he saucily, ungratefully find fault with your meat, ask you, why you troubled him to come to so poor Provision, or send word, you have nothing worth coming for, he can provide for himself, hath better at home, and better company, would you think he deserved the worst bit of it, or another invitation? 'tis a sign you value not, you slight Com 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with me: If you loved me you would ●till ●e seeing, looking upon, desiring to be with me; where I am wont to walk, to manifest myself, to sit at my Table, to sup with my Disciples, and never be at rest without a renewed sense of my love unto you; you are they I live and die for, for whom I do and suffer so much, of whom I will always think upon, in whose Thoughts I love to live, and because my departure is at hand, and I must go away from you, this memorial I leave with you, to put you always in remembrance, when you see it, think of me who in the very night I was betrayed, when taking that doleful farewell of an ungrateful world, was so mindful of your good and comfort, to arm, establish, and refresh you; and will you neglect, , contemn it? doth not the benefit of my passion without your desert, plead for the constant meditation of it without your scandal? The frequent, faithful remembrance of what I did and suffered for you, is my chief request, and your only requital, and yet do you distaste what I ●mbraced? and endure not to think of what I refused not to endure? loath you the cup of Salvation, that cost me a cup of Astonishment? Have I left the Glory of my Father to be clothed with, and dwell in flesh? Led a life of suffering, undergone a shameful, painful, accursed death, risen again, ascended, prepared mansions, taken possession for you, where I plead your cause, and will come ere long to absolve you before all the world, and with whom you shall be for ever? Have I given such costly evidences of my love unto you, and love you not to do this in remembrance of me?  
Do] But for thee (dear Saviour) I had been for ever undone; for thee then and for thy sake, what is it that I should not do? Thy desires are my Injunctions: there's Authority enough in thy love to do thy pleasure. Since thou would have no nature but mine, I will have no will but thine: When once signified by command, upon my obligation I should, upon my Fealty to thee the King of the Church, and Sovereign as well as Saviour of my Soul, I ought, I may, I must not dispute, nor delay, I dare not but must Do; else, how must I be looked upon, when the King commands all his loving Subjects to take the Oath of Allegiance, and I stay away and refuse? Do I not publicly disown him for my Sovereign, who hath enjoined the Celebration of this, as an evidence and symbol of my Relation to, and communion with him? Is not this appointed for a memorial of his death, whereby he delivered his people, and destroyed their enemies; transcendently to us, what the Passeover was to the Jews, and the neglect of it more provoking? yet, the man that is unclean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the Passeover at the time appointed (when he might and ought eat it) even the same soul shall be cut off from his people, because he brought not the offering of the Lord in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin. There's a punishment annexed to the neglect, as well as ill performance of it; he that eats irreverently, is guilty of profaning the Lords Body; and he that eats not, of despising it, and of preferring his lusts before him; the one eats damnation to himself, and the other by not eating, judges himself to be in a damnable State. 'Tis dangerous staying in that condition wherein we judge ourselves unmeet society for Christ; if I cannot partake of his Supper here, how can I think myself fit to feast with him in Heaven? or hope to look on his face with comfort there, and take no pleasure to behold, remember, come near, have any thing to do with him here? will not his presence be most terrible then, to whom his memory is no way delightful now? Am I troubled for neglect of other duties, and not of this, when Christ's Items at the last day are made up of sins of omission? Dare I pick and choose, when, whosoever shall keep the whole Law, yet offend in one point, is guilty of all?  
This] Not to climb a Cross, or undergo a bitter passion for thy sake; I should not think much to do that, who hast done so much more for me. Not to be had to a Scaffold, but to come to thy Table; not to go to Slaughter, but a Feast; not to Bleed or Burn, but to Eat and Drink; and that not Bread of Affliction, or Water of Adversity, which flags the Spirit; but such Bread and Wine as confirms and comforts my Heart: Not a Mourners Bread, Tears; or a Martyr's Cup, Blood; but a Saviour's fare, Blessed Wine and Bread, yea in them (what both is and makes blessed) his body and blood, meat and drink, bread of life, and well of life, that both joys my heart, and saves my soul. Didst thou on the Cross drink Vinegar, (made infinitely more tart by my sins) for me; and shall not I at thy Table drink Wine for myself, made infinitely sweeter with the blood it conveys? Didst thou drink a Cup of wrath, and shall not I drink the cup of Blessing? Eat the bread of affliction, and shall not I eat the bread of life? suffer thy passion, and shall not I enjoy it? Didst thou stretch out thy hands on the Cross, and shall mine be withered and shrunk towards thy Table? Hadst thou bid me do some great thing for procuring so great a good, that there had been between the service and reward no disproportion, should I not endeavoured to do it? how much more when thou bidst me eat and live? I am not saved but by thy Body, I shall be damned without thy Blood. Didst thou offer them for me on the Cross, and shall I not take the pledge from thee at thy Supper? Dost thou give me a Title to them, and shall I bar myself of possession? rob myself of thy mercy, and my right, of no less than the price of my Redemption? Dost thou give me the purchase in thy Blood, and shall I deny myself the Seal in thy Church? Dare I be guilty of so great a Robbery and Rebellion, to violate thy will and seal? to steal at once thy Bread and Cup, and Sceptre against thy express Will and Testament? to take the Bread and Cup out of my own hand, and the Sceptre out of thine? to deprive my soul of thy Body and Blood, and thee of thy Authority? by thy grace I will never but observe as thou appointest: If this be thy command, O Saviour, I am a Rebel as much to my good, as thy Law, a damned Rebel if I do not this.  
In Remembrance] I blush Lord to see myself need thy memento. Have I a room for the trash of the world, and none for thee? memory for what I list, and none for what I should? O thou that hast so done thy marvellous works that they ought to be had in everlasting remembrance; whose name is wonderful, and all thy works as thy name, and this above all thy works, can I ever forget thee? can I forget my self so much, that breathes not a moment on Earth, or out of Hell without thee? If I forget thee, O Saviour, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; If I remember not thee, let my right hand forget her cunning. Sure that harp had never known the tune of joy, nor hand to do with harp, hadst not thou put a world (all out) in order again, and set all in tune. And is that all, when I own a thousand lives unto thee, to require, not my Body, but my Mind? to say, Remember, not to Die for me, but to forbid thy Memory to Die in me? O thou loving and Blessed above all Beloved's, when thy passion is engraven by thy own hand in an Holy Mystery for my mind to wear, shall not I keep this memorial? Shall I not wear thy Ring who am so ready to wear a Death's-head to preserve alive the memory of a dead Friend? O that I may ever keep this Manna that came down from Heaven, not in a Leaden, but Golden pot; not in a dull, barren, bare contemplative, but humble, tender, active, precious memory; which moves all good affections to thee, and promoves all good abilities for thee. Such a memory will mind, and do all Duty; admire and love thee, obey, endure, do, and suffer for thee; establish Faith, excite Repentance, inflame Love, maintain Constancy. I cannot but repent, believe, and love to the end, if thou be in my mind: If I fail payment of any duty to thee or man, it is because I do not remember thee.  
Of me] Of my Death, and your redemption by it. This Sacrament than is an obelisk to the eternal memory of thy passion; so oft as I neglect it, what do I but pull down this Pyramid of everlasting date, set up in the Church for a solemn memorial of thy death, and bury thee and thy Merits, as the Jews did thy Body, but in a worse grave, not in a Garden, but Desert, a grave of Oblivion? Wretch am I, that have need of such an help to my memory, and spur to my Duty, as both a Command and a Sacrament; it casts reproach on me, O Saviour, that thou shouldst give thy Body for me, and I scarce give my mind to thee; that I should have so great a room in thy heart, and thou so hardly get any in mine; that thou shouldst be more ready to bleed for me, than I to think of thee. Dear Jesus, thou didst empty all thy veins for me, shall not I find a vessel to preserve thy precious Blood? Do I not spill what thou shed, if I let it run out of my memory? yet art thou put to it, to find me both blood and mind; and when thou hast done all that, out of remembrance of me (lest it should be forgotten) ordain'st a Sanction and Sacrament, saying, Do this in remembrance of me. But more wretch I, if I do not so do, for Lord, if I do thee honour, dost thou not do me favour for it? If I give thee glory, is it more my duty then felicity to do it? If thy Sacrament, is it not my benefit? Receive I not great honour in it? Reap I not good benefits by it? conveys it not the Blood Royal of Heaven into me? Am I not related to, Brother of Christ, Heir and Prince of Heaven by virtue of that Blood? Is not the Godhead bodily in him? and is not this Body mystically in me, and I near allied to God by the Communion of that Body? And can he want Demeans that is such a Prince? Is not the Earth thy gift, and Heaven in thy power? O thou Son and Heir of all! And have I not thy Spirit, thy flesh to pledge for all, the conveyance sealed in thy Blood, and thy Merits made over and assured in thy Body? O Lord, I am so much concerned in honour and estate to do what thou commandest, that if I consider myself, I shall do it to thy memory, in remembrance of me, as well as thee.  
Wherever God hath bestowed a vital principle (Faith, whereby the Just live) he affords nourishment to sustain it; and an inclination, and attractive faculty towards it: Christ Crucified is, as the cause of our new birth, so the food which sustains and preserves us in it, unto whose Body and Blood there must needs be as proportionable an appetite in a new Christian, as to Milk in an Infant, that being more nourishable than milk, and Faith more vital to desire it then Nature. Oh! I know not what (grace and comfort) I have lost, that others have found in the Conscientious use of this. If there be any thing in the lively discoveries of the evil and desert of sin, the wrath and love of God, the cordials of the Gospel by frequenting it, might it not have been much better with me in my Spiritual condition? is not this great Hypecrisie and Dissimulation, to complain of the hardness of my heart, and not apply the Blood of Christ to soften it? of the prevalency of corruptions, and not bring them to his Cross to subdue them? of my timorous spirit, and not come where God secures me, and giveth evidence for the discharge of his covenant and promise? that God is departing, when I stand at a distance, and will not come nigh him? is withdrawn from my Soul, when I withdraw from my Duty? that I am a stranger to spiritual joy, when I will not come to draw water out of the wells of Salvation? of die weakness of grace, and not use of all means of strengthening it? can I refuse my food, yet be nourished? grow in grace, and neglect the means? not grow, and be guiltless? live in a known sin by neglecting a plain commanded Duty, and expect the rewards of obedience? may not partial obedience to Gods commands well increase my doubts of his favour? Is not this to slight and disesteem a firm conveyance of all Christ's purchased benefits, here offered and assured to Believers? and than think not much (Soul) if thou go without them for ever, who art also so unwilling to bind thyself to thankfulness and obedience for them. Meals which are for nourishment must be often, 'tis not told me how often I should eat or drink, the sense and feeling of the wants of my food directs me to, makes me do it often. Am I not apt to grow dull, lukewarm, cold to, and in duty? to contract guilt, blot my evidences, disturb my peace, to forget him and his matchless love? Is he so much in my serious thoughts as he deserves? Is it enough to have some accasional thoughts of him? Do I not complain that I love, and think of him no more, can apply him no better, have so little of him, am so insensible of his kindness, and affection to his members? Is it not a sin and shame I no more solemnly dwell in meditation upon him, am no more in praising of, rejoicing in him? Do I not often need so great an help to soften my heart, to renew my repentance, to strengthen and confirm my Faith, Hope, and Resolutions; to increase, inflame my love, and thankfulness, fix my thoughts more solemnly upon him, apply him, get and maintain more intimate communion with him, closer knit my soul to him and his members? Is it not a sad sign I perform no Duties, as, and to those ends I ought, but out of custom, without expecting, therefore without finding any great advantage from them? Are the consolations of God small unto me? is it not a sign when I was there I missed of the benefit? Have I not cause to repent of my former receiving, when it left not earnest breathe for the like opportunity? was it possible for me to meet with God, to taste the sweetness, the fullness of Christ, to experience the reachings forth of my love and desires, the pleasures of acting grace, and not long for another meeting? By thy grace I will therefore communicate with more devotion; repent with greater contrition, walk with more caution, pray more earnestly, receive with more reverence, and I doubt not but I shall find my affections increase together with the Spiritual benefit. The frequent solemn exercise of our graces must needs dispose strongly to Habitual ones; and hugely promote the Interest of Religion. It cannot be that the Sacrament be undervalved by frequent repetitions, without great unworthiness of the person (setting light by and loathing spiritual Manna) and an unworthy Communication: for he that receives worthily, increases in the love of God and of Religion, and the fires of the Altar are apt to kindle into a flame, and when our Lord enters into us, and we grow weary of him, or less fond of his frequent entrance and perpetual cohabitation, 'tis an infallible sign we have (or are ready to) let in his Enemy; no Secular object hath any pleasure in it, long beyond the hope of it; for the possession and enjoyment is found so empty, that we grow weary of it; but whatsoever is spiritual, is less before we have it, but in the fruition swells our desires, enlarges the Appetite, and makes us more receptive and forward in the Entertainment. Nor is it likely they will suffer for, who refuse to banquet with him. They proclaim they have no portion in David no inheritance in the Son of God. Oh he qualms of undesirous Communicants should justly stir up the faithful to loathe it in themselves.   

Habitual Preparation  
THe death of Christ, in regard of his intent, was a Sacrifice to God, but of the Jews the greatest cruelty and murder. When a profane person comes, he sheds the blood of Christ, which a Believer receives; and by Faith feeding on it, being one with Christ, makes as great satisfaction to God, as if he had suffered to Eternity. This new wine must not be put into an old vessel; else the wine will be spilt and the vessel perish. Christ and Belial cannot cohabit; he will not enter through a besmeared door, nor dwell in a nasty house; Feet that walk in filthy paths are not to tread his holy place; nor a heart full of rancour, hatred, uncharitableness, to sit down at this feast of love; Hands dipped in blood, polluted with unlawful gains, stained with spots of the flesh, or stretched out to injure him in his members, are most unfit to be reached forth to receive him in the Sacraments, to handle those holy mysteries: Those Teeth that grind the face of the poor, to eat the bread of Angels; the Mouth that's full of rotten, corrupt communication, evil speaking, reviling, or that thirsts after the blood of our neighbour, to drink the Blood of Christ; Eyes gazing on vanity, to look on Jesus. Oh, how pure ought I to keep those doors of my Soul, at which the King of Glory so often enters? Shall I kiss his hand with filthy lips? put hallowed bread and wine into a noisome sink? go to that Table as Swine to their trough, in my pollution? ravish, contemn the grace and mercy of God? tear them asunder from the conditions he hath annexed to them? He will not be one with an Harlot; nor seen with the same eyes. His Body never saw Corruption, nor will be mixed with it: It lay in a Virgin Womb and Sepulchre, and still resides only in Virgin Souls, Devoted, Consecrated, set apart to his use and service. His glorified body is no more capable of dishonour, nor will enter into an earthly soul. Unclean birds receive nothing▪ but the Carcase of the Ordinance; the Bread without the Body, the Wine without the Blood; both without the blessing; the Elements, but not the Sacraments; such are guilty of his Body and Blood, for reaching out their hand with purpose to receive him into a polluted soul, though he withdraw himself that they cannot partake of him: They disgrace their Prince, by showing it to his Statue erected for his honour and remembrance; are guilty of Treason by offering Indignity to his Seal and Picture; dishonour done to the Image and representation, reflects upon the Original; he is personally in Heaven, and will be no where Sacramentally but in the Heavenly part of man; he finds no rest in a heart full of vain, vicious thoughts; it stinks like the lake of Sodom; he retires thence vexed with the unclean Conversation of the impure Inhabitants. When he approaches to a soul, and finds it a Cage of unclean Birds, he flies with the wings of a Dove to cleaner and whiter Habitations. But if we avoid, hate, and have no fondness of affection for them; and with complacency entertain the contrary, than Christ hath washed our feet, and then he invites us to his Supper. The unavoidable infirmities of our lives, against which we daily strive, and for which we never have any kindness or affection, are not spots in these feasts of Charity, but instruments of Humility, and stronger invitations to come to Rites ordained for corroboratives 'gainst infirmities, and for growth in the inner man. But remanent affection to a sin, enmity with neighbours, secular avocations to the height of care and trouble, excuse not, but increase men's sin, and secure their misery 'Tis just they graze with Goats, that refuse to wash their hands that they may come to the Supper of the Lamb. The excuses wherewith they palliate their neglects of waiting upon our Lord, and accepting his kindness, all grow upon this bitter root of an unholy careless life, loving the world and the lusts thereof: the only reason is, they have a mind to live as strangers to him, and not to be his household servants and domestics, for than they might always come unto him. They think they must not come so oft, because to prepare themselves costs them so much time; but would they spare so much, as to lead a holy life, and be at so much trouble as to please God in other things, they would not find it so laborious to please him in this. Kept they always a fear of God in their Souls, they would without much pains be fit to approach with fear and reverence into his presence; would they fear to do what God hath forbidden, they would not fear to do what he hath commanded: but while they refuse to obey him in one thing, no wonder they do in another. Religion concerns not our actions only, but the frame and disposition of our hearts and minds; and the same habitual graces are to be daily exercised, though in a lower measure and degree. Every day is to be holy to the Lord, though every action in the day be not equally holy. When we labour conscientiously to stand to our first Promise and Covenant, all the actions of our lives become holy; and so we are holy in our Shop, by diligence and justice; at our Board, by temperance, thankfulness, charity; Abroad, by an innocent, useful conversation; in our Closet, by Prayer, and Meditation; yea, prudence, and the ends of health and cheerfulness will make our sleeps and recreations holy, and not to be reckoned among pastimes, but the necessary seasons of doing little or nothing, that afterwards we may be worthily employed. A Christian behaves himself not for such a set number of days, as if so much time were to be spent in Holiness, and so much in sin; but as if he accounted his whole life an opportunity of serving God, and of cleansing himself from all that filthiness, which will not let him see his face. He receives daily what daily profits, and so lives that he may daily receive it. A Holy Life is a perpetual Sacrifice, and he that so lives, keeps his heart as an Holy Altar, always warm and glowing within him; he offers up daily such Sacrifices as are acceptable to God, and prepare him for a due commemoration of this great Sacrifice; a constant abstinence from all forbidden things, and care to perform such duties as maintain a lively sense of God in our Souls, would make us vehemently hunger after this Heavenly Food. A circumspect life makes us both fit and desirous to converse with God every day; good Actions beget in us greater long after grace, and good desires make us still do well, out of hope to have more grace; when a good man lifts up his heart to God, he draws down God into his Soul, that he may work with his hands that which is good in his employment, in which he is not so busy that his hands should grow so heavy, or dirty by it, as to be unwilling or unfit to lift them up again to God. Such a Combination is there between all that God requires to make them easy and familiar, pleasant and desirable, and our obedience impartial and universal. A holy behaviour in our calling, converses, and use of the creature, disposes us to Acts of immediate worship, that requites and returns the kindness by disposing and fitting us for a holy deportment for the future, which is itself an invitation of God to our souls; much more when seconded with the Attractives of Holy Prayers and affectionate desires. The sweetness of such converses with God, and the power of his Grace consequent upon our hearty desires, engages and enables us to a holy conversation, which brings us (from familiarity with the Devil) to fellowship with God, the happiness of which is so great, that it excites us to do all we can to maintain and prevent our being tempted from it. Good Hearts daily mortified, and strictly watched over, like dry wood, with one blast kindle the flame of love, stir up the Grace of God in them; while those soaking in the world, like green sticks, all their puffing, blowing, and prayers will scarce fetch any fire. Oh! would I every day prepare for the day of death; or (which is of a like consideration) the day of Communion, (nothing less will sit me to Communicate then to departed hence;) set myself in order, meditate often every day on Christ's first and second coming; not stay a minute, but instantly grieve for, severely condemn myself, and renew my resolution to amend all, and pray for particular strength against whatsoever I have observed amiss: would I consider where I fall oftenest, from what principle this default comes, what are the best remedies, and pass on to a real and vigorous use of them. Did I resolve to have God frequently in my thoughts, to bring it to pass to have so great a dread and reverence of him, that I may be more really ashamed, troubled, confounded, to sin in his presence and observation, then of the severest man's; and to have a perpetual intercourse and converse with him: Or would I actually attend to what I do, and consider every action, and speak so little that I might consider it; I should find, that upon the day of Communion I should have nothing to do, but to Revive my Graces ●y Prayer, Praises, and the exercise of devotion.   

Actual Preparation.  
HOliness is our profession; and all the time after one Communion is the ●●me of preparation for the next; and e●ery Receiving a repeated conspiracy against the Interest of the Devil. He that's always well vested, will deck and trim ●gainst a Wedding day; wise Virgins ●o forth to meet him, having Oil in ●heir Vessels and their Lamps burning; ●ut when they hear the Bridegroom's ●oming, they arise and fall afresh to ●imming their Lamps, to snuff them, ●●ir up the fire, and apply the Oil to ●●ake them burn brighter and clearer. ●●ow another repast approaches, I must ●eny myself lawful things; sequester ●●om my ordinary business; abstain from ●●e most lawful enjoyments and chastest ●mbraces, that I may give myself unto ●●ayer; and more fully know the state of my Soul; with a greater intention an● ardency of spirit examine myself eve● about the coldness of my Prayers; 〈◊〉 neglects in the daily review of myself the smallness of my sorrows; the weakness of my services; my daily neglects ignorances' and unavoidable infirmities a● to God, myself, relations, and others; i● an especial manner, any failing since th● last Communion. If there be but a littl● passion, a rash word, a vain thought, &c and besides my sorrow and afflicting m● self for, hatred and amendment of it just after its commission; I am now t● bewail it over again, to call myself t● a strict account for it, to drown it i● another flood of tears, more firmly t● strengthen my resolutions against it, an● prepare it to receive another wound, 〈◊〉 mortal stroke from the wounds of Jesus that it may never live more; more deeply apprehensive of the evil of sin, mor● sorrowfully bewail it, more rationally resolve against it, open a greater vent an● passage for my tears; affect my hea● more deeply with my needs, and the certainty of supply, and so raise myself to 〈◊〉 greater height of humility, desire and confidence; to excite my appetite and more lively apprehensions, and vigorous affections, rouse my thoughts, and meditations to a greater fervour; more solemnly to recollect what I have learned, to stir up my remembrance, and renew a sense of my wants and weaknesses; to imprint the ends of the Institution more firmly in my memory, to consider what Acts are most proper when I shall be at his Table; to stir up those affections beforehand, which will prepare a more lively expression of them when I come there. To renew acts of Charity and forgiveness, pass by all injuries and offences, be reconciled perfectly to my brethren, and to take care there be not the least grudge, or spark of anger that lies buried in my Soul unquenched; all passions hushed and laid, the Soul smooth, fair, and not a wrinkle upon its brow. More strictly and solemnly to search, purify, cleanse, and cast out all the leaven; to pray with greater appetite, praise his Name with a more delightful relish. To distaste all other things, to disburden myself, to lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets me, to get as near Heaven as possible; to render my mind more sensible of God, and more fit to receive a deeper impression from his hand. To excite the strongest acts of Faith, the vehementest flames of love and long after Christ and his blessings, (which prepares for the enjoyment) Holy desires, joy, and thankfulness at the approach of so blessed an opportunity. To renew my resolutions and vows of holy obedience, to mortify my lesser irregularities, and to bind the obligations faster that are upon my Soul. To have a lively sense of the ends for which I go; in what estate my Graces stand; what I am to ask; and for what I ought to plead the Blood of Christ; voluntarily to offer more of my time and thoughts to Religious Exercises, and to do that over again with a greater fervour, which I have been doing since the last Communion. To recover myself to the same, or rather higher degrees of Zeal, fervour, and sublime admirations; to apparel, trim, and dress up my mind with braver notions and brighter ornaments. To get my manners, carriage, and behaviour, rightly form, and handsomely composed, for this Feast with die great King.  
He that understands the excellency and holiness of the mystery, the glory of the Guest, the infinite benefit then designed, and the increase of degrees by the exercise of those previous acts of Holiness the manner so contrary, as worthy and unworthy; the effect of the Ordinance so much depending on the manner of receiving; the advantage so great of Communion with Christ's Body; the danger no less than Damnation; that it will set one forward, and contribute very much to an happy or an unhappy eternity (a man cannot at all be supposed in any state, wherein this thing will be indifferent to him) will not be inquisitive, into the just measure, but do it heartily, devoutly, reverently, and as much as he can, put himself in to a meet disposition tobe so familiar with God.   

Solemn Sequestration.  
A Journey, an unfixed Heart, undischarged of earthly thoughts, travelling up and down afar off unfits as well as a dead body, or gross sins. Earthly thoughts in the Temple, if not driven away before, will be buzzing, pestering, vexing me, and corrupt the Sacrifice. If I go with a lose, ungirt spirit, I cannot instantly entertain my Lord; his work must stay until I be ready; I must be girding when I should be working, or do it fumblingly, and awakedly, not with dexterity and activity. Let your loins therefore be girt, and you yourselves like men that wait for their Lord, that when he comes and knocks, you may open to him immediately. It concerns me now to put myself into that order and state of good things, as if to morrow I were to die; to suppose myself seated before God's Tribunal, and to see whether I can reasonably hope my state is changed, my sins pardoned, and mortified, to consider, that unless I dare die that day if God should call me, there's little reason I should dare to receive the Sacrament of ●ife, or Minister of death. If I be mistaken about the truth of Grace now, I am undone for ever, without true Repentance; by my unworthy going, I bind the guilt of all my other sins upon my Soul, and add this to all the rest, guiltiness of the blood of Christ. He that communicates worthily, is justified from his sins; and to him death can have no sting to whom the Sacrament brings life and health. And if I judge Righteous Judgement, I shall soon find what pinches most, what makes me most afraid, what most criminal and least mortified; so shall learn to make provision accordingly. Enter then my Soul into thy chamber, solemnly sequester thyself from all other Avocations, that we may tend upon the Lord without distraction. Shut up, set a watch at the gates of thy heart; let it not be open till that solemn day be over; If other thoughts be hankering, and hanging about for entrance, testify against them, rebuke, and threaten them, let thy spirit in a holy indignation rise up against them; the only means that from that time forth they come no more in such a season. Farewell my Wife, and Children, Friends, and secular concerns; abide you here at the foot of the Mount; be hushed and laid, deadened, and mortified, all irregular earthly passions, and affections. I have something else to do, you are a clog unto my soul; tread not, nor whisper in this solemn place, where is no room but for God alone; trouble me not, the door is now shut, I am about a great work I will not, cannot open to you.  
And Oh thou that lookest from Heaven, that fashionest the hearts of men, and considerest all their works; enlighten, enliven, and convince me; affect, assist, and prosper me; own, accept, and bless me; call in; and restrain the looseness, and wander of my thoughts. Fix, unite, and fill my heart with an awe, a dread, and reverence of thee; with suitable thoughts, apprehensions, and meditations to the present occasion; and let my meditations be attended with suitable affections. Let all flesh be silent before thee; let thy spirit rest upon me; let this season be improved, not carelessly, sloathfully, or negligently; but sincerely, & uprightly, with my whole soul, heart and strength; to thy praise, and my great advantage at thy Table, and in the day when thou shalt judge the secrets of men's hearts by Jesus Christ.   

Strict examination.  
I Am about to sit at the Lords Table, among his own Children; I know beforehand, the King (attended with his glorious Angels) will come in to see his guests; Christ's garment, covers only Christ's members; he is too just to be bribed, too great to be slighted, too wise to be deceived, too jealous to be provoked, too good to be forfeited. Oh what solemn provision shall I make for so sacred a presence, but a serious, diligent, deep enquiry into, with a full and awful discussion of the particular present estate of my Soul, whether I be such as may be assured he will bid me welcome; being reconciled to him, and endued with those vital qualifications which pre-dispose me for an Ordinance that supposes me within the Covenant it seals, and to have spiritual life it sustains and nourishes, by conveying that true food of life Christ Crucified. I must be born before I can eat; Uncircumcised persons were not to eat the Passeover. The inward of Ordinances are only enjoyed by them that are inwardly Christians. Those only that bring true Graces, receive real Comforts; we take Christ; and then eat him; none find any nourishment, relish, or sweetness in his blood, but those who have received him, and so have a propriety in, a little to him (and the nearer the Interest, the greater sweetness). He must be mine first in claim and title, then in fruition and comfort; no juice or sap from the Vine, except a branch in it; no grace is there improved, but what I have along with me I must prove my right to the purchase, ere I can take possession. 'Tis high Treason to annex the King's Broad Seal to forged Writings; no receiving the benefit, without showing the condition, and my interest in the Covenant; that's sealed to them only that come up to the terms of it. Now, this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel,  
●aith the Lord, I will put 
Jer. 31.31, etc.  my Law in their inward 
Heb. 8.10, etc.  parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God and they shall be my people; and they shall know me from the least unto the greatest, and I will forgive their iniquities, and remember their sins no more. And Oh my Soul! have I an inward right, an actual interest in this Covenant?  
Is the Law of God writ in my Heart? A permanent (that no Time, Temptation, Tribulation, can obliterate) universal counterpane, answerable conformity, legible by others in my Conversation, and by myself in my Constitution of Soul strongly inclined, disposed and persuaded to all cordial, sincere, entire, cheerful, spiritual obedience, out of a principle of love to God, and to glorify and enjoy him: delighting, meditating in it day and nights; being renewed according to his Image, in Knowledge, Righteousness and true Holiness.  
Have I a Covenant-Relation to, and Interest in God? Am I one of his people by [Federal profession,] not ashamed of, but openly declaring and avouching myself to be his, rejoicing, and glorying therein as my great privilege and happiness? [In all Covenant-Relations to God and Christ?] Do I fear, love, obey, submit to, depend upon him for direction, provision and protection; am I wholly at his dispose, as my only, wise, faithful, loving [Father?] Do I forsake all other Corrivals and Competitors? cleave only to him in all conjugal love and faithfulness? Do I delight in, am I unsatisfied without his presence as my [Husband?] Do I purify, and keep clean his Temple? demean myself towards him as my [Inhabitant?] Esteem, live upon, and rest fully contented with him as my [portion?] Am I his by [Federal Appropriation?] not sin's, Satan's, the World's, my own; but entirely his [In all I am] Body and Soul? are my Eyes his, to behold his wonderful works? my Ears to hear his Heavenly saving Word? my taste and smell his to relish his surpassing sweetness in the Creatures? my Tongue to proclaim and Triumph in his praise? my Hands to work that which is good? my Feet to walk in his ways? all my senses and members, abilities, and faculties, instruments of righteousness? Is my understanding his, to know, discern, contemplate upon him? my Memory to treasure up, and retain his counsels, and covenants, promises, and dispensations? my Conscience his Deputy to accuse, or excuse under him; my Will his, to will, or nill in subordination to him? my grief, hatred, and detestation, to mourn for, abhor, and fly every thing offensive to him, or obstructive of my delightful enjoyment of him? my desire, love and delight his, to long for, embrace, acquiesce fully and contentedly in him? Am I his, in all I have? Do I approve myself his in all my relations and stations, inward qualifications and endowments, outward goods and possessions? In all I can do or procure, undergo or endure for him? Am I willing and ready to give myself to and for him? taking up my Cross daily and following him? rejoicing I am accounted worthy to suffer for his name?  
Have I a sanctified knowledge of God? as to his Essence, Attributes, Personal distinctions, Word, and Works? of Man in his Creation, Corruption, Restauration, and Perfection? of Christ in his person, Offices, Estates? of the Covenant of Grace and the Lords Supper, in its efficient, material, formal, and final cause? And is this my Knowledge experimental, heart purifying, and humbling, communicative, growing, affectionate, efficatious, and obediential?  
Are mine iniquities forgiven and forgotten by God? Do I groan under them as my greatest evil and heaviest burden? forsake them in affection and commission? Have I sincerely confessed, bewailed, loathed them, and myself for them? unfeignedly striving against, and desiring to be freed from the filth, power & dominion, as well as the guilt, and punishment of sin; from a love and sense of God's kindness, and goodness to me? Is my heart calmed and quieted through Faith in Christ, being thereby at peace with God? enlarged to bless him for pardon? Am I earnest with him more and more for assurance of it, purity of heart, establishment in his ways? Is there in me a hearty, sincere disposition, inclination, and propensity to pardon the offences of others? pitying, and lamenting, meekly reproving, proving, and covering their infirmities: a readiness to help them rejoicing in their welfare as my own, especially the demeanest Saints, in whom is all my light?  
Christ is not to be received of all comers, 
(a) John. 1.12.  nor entertained by every guest, 
(b) Can. 3.4.  nor touched by every hand, 
(c) Mat. 9.21.22.  nor found by every enquiry. 
(d) Can. 5.6.  He is offered in the Gospel to all, but gives himself here, and is received by such alone as have, and have I a spiritual hunger and thirst after him? 
(e) Mat. 5.6.  An ear to hear him 
(f) Mat. 13.9.  An eye to see him, 
(g) 1 Cor. 11.29.  A foot to come to him 
(h) Mat. 11.28.  A hand to take him, 
(i) 1 Cor. 11.24.  Arms to embrace him; 
(k) Can. 3.4.  A mouth and taste, to eat and drink, relish and digest him, 
(l) Can. 2.3. Mat. 26.26.  A breast to retain him. 
(m) Eph. 3.17.  Bowels of affection towards him and his members? A Heart to mourn for my piercing of him? to be truly thankful for, and above all to prise him?  
Are not these Infallible Scriptural Characters of Christ's Disciples? Can I appeal to God and say, Lord thou knowest all things, thou knowest it is thus with me? or, am I willing to venture my eternal condition, my last gasp upon my present hopes? Have I a solid ground of confidence, when I shall appear naked before God's Bar, when the secrets of hearts shall be manifest? will these pleas find acceptance in that day, when all the world must be saved, or damned by him? Oh my Soul! make nothing the foundation of thy peace, but what God hath made the condition of thy Salvation; let nothing satisfy us now, but what will save us then; for if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things: but if our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God.   

Deep Humiliation.  
BEfore I go for a full discharge, I must narrowly look into the Book of my Conscience, cast up my accounts, and see how infinitely I am indebted to my God; view myself in the glass of his Law and Gospel: Search my Soul so to the bottom, that none of my wounds may fester, but be all discovered and cured: consider from whence I am fallen, before and since the last Communion, and repent: and O that I may be so sensible of my sin and misery, that I may be truly apprehensive of, and thankful for infinite love and mercy.  
I dare not presume to compass thine Altar, most holy Lord, before I have washed my hands in Innocency, and purified my heart by Repentance, and Faith in the blood of my Redeemer. I will now therefore call my sins to remembrance, and set them in order before mine eyes and remember mine own evil ways, and my do which have not been good, and loathe myself in my own sight for my iniquities, and for my abominations.  
O I am not able to reckon up or remember my innumerable breaches of thy most holy Commandments. The  
1. By not knowing, acknowledging, thinking, remembering, choosing, believing, esteeming, adoring, loving, desiring, fearing, obeying of, trusting, joying in, acquainting myself with, not demeaning myself towards thee as God, and my God: but preferring sin, self, Satan, the world, any thing before thyself. The  
2. By misapprehensions, gross conceits of thee, not setting my whole delight in, reposing all my confidence on, expecting all my happiness from, addressing all my complaints, prayers, praises unto thee, not worshipping thee as to manner and means agreeable to thy word. The  
3. By not acknowledging, or effectually remembering and delighting to speak of thee as I have had occasion, to make thy praise glorious, or doing it irreverently, dealing falsely in my Covenant with thee; not vindicating thy Honour, not grieving for thy Dishonour; weariness of thy commands, nonobservance, distrust, misapplication of thy providences; unthankfulness for great mercies; dejection, impatience under small crosses; insensibleness, incorrigibleness under judgements and afflictions, not using thy Name, Attributes, Ordinances, Works, every thing whereby thou may'st be known, as is required. The  
4. By unmindfulness beforehand to prevent or avoid whatsoever might distract in the duties of the Sabbath; not preparing myself, not resting from needless thoughts, words, actions; misspending it in idleness and vanity, not performing public and private duties of Prayer, Reading, Hearing, Examination, wheting thy Law upon my heart and others, contemplating thy Word and Works with that care, reverence, sincerity, spirtualness, profit, delight, as I ought; not calling the Sabbath a Delight, Holy of the Lord, Honorable. The  
5. By not behaving myself answerable to my several Relations; with all due reverence and respect to my Natural, Ecclesiastical, Political Parents, in heart, word, behaviour, prayer, thanksgiving for Superiors, covering their infirmities in love: not admonishing and encouraging Inferiors in well-doing; not by a grave wise, holy, exemplary carriage, procuring glory to thee, and preserving the honour and authority thou hast put upon me, not regarding the dignity and worth of my Equals, or rejoicing in their gifts, advancement, prosperity, as my own. The  
6. By sinful anger, hatred, secret grudges, injurious thoughts, excessive passions, distracting cares, immoderate use of diet, labour, rest, recreation; reviling, saddening, provoking, grieving speeches? falling short in maintaining mutual Friendship, and in following peace with all men, sowing discord among Brethren, concealing their dangers, unprofitable conversation, quenching, suppressing holy suggestions, preferring things of time before eternity; or, by whatsoever may tend, not to the health but prejudice of my own or others Soul or Bodies; not weeping with them that weep, being senseless, hardhearted, unaffected at public evils and others miseries. The  
7. By unchaste thoughts purposes, affections, looks, company, words, actions, or listening to them; not labouring to quench my fleshly concupiscence, by watching over my senses, heart, and ways; not shunning all occasions to, or acts of uncleanness, in or with myself or others: not keeping my body and soul from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, but making my heart a cage of impure thoughts, my mind a sty of the unclean spirit. The  
8. By unbecoming arts in Bargaining, not dealing with others as I would men should with me: not endeavouring by all just means to procure, preserve, and further the welfare of others as well as my own: withholding good from them to whom it was due: suffering Christ to stand at, and go away from my door, hungry, cold, naked, succourless, and when the leanness of his cheeks pleaded pity, the hardness of my heart would show no compassion. The  
9 By slandering, backbiting, detracting, reviling, harsh, flattering, misconstruing, discouraging, sinister intentions, words and actions: listening to, and spreading the faults of others, not charitable in my thoughts and speeches to them, not freely acknowledging their gifts and graces; not readily receiving a good report, but willingly admitting an evil one; not discouraging tale-bearers, flatterers, slanderers; not loving, desiring, rejoicing in, caring for, defending and upholding their good name not sorrowing for, and covering their infirmities; but practising, or not avoiding myself, or not hindering what I can in others, such things as raise jealousies and suspicions, procure an ill name to myself or others. The  
10. By self-love, evil thoughts, covetousness, inordinate prising, and affecting, distrustful, distracting, solicitous care and study in getting, keeping or using temporal things; discontent with my own estate, envying and grieving at my neighbours; unlawful motions and affections to things that are his.  
And to these I have added multitudes of sins against the Gospel, by not as I ought labouring to acquaint myself with it. Ignorance, flighting of, not sufficiently esteeming, admiring, thankful for that infinite love in my Redemption; not loving, rejoicing in Christ and him Crucified, relying on, & owning of him in all his Offices, accounting all things loss and dung for him; not taking that pains I ought to know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, and to be made conformable to his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead, and be made perfect as my Father in Heaven is perfect. Not claiming his promises as my heritage, nor esteeming them the joy of my heart, and as unsearchable riches, exceeding great and precious; not believing, prising, embracing of, hoping, waiting for the good of them, with so much readiness and steadfastness as their excelcellency and certainty requires; and applying them as I ought to this and the next life; not careful they have their due effects on my Soul, in making me partaker of the divine nature; not dying daily to sin nor acting, & growing in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ: not thirsting after righteousness, and that poor, mournful, meek, merciful, pure Spirit that shall be blessed; not confessing but being ashamed of Christ before men, and my relation to him; not denying myself, taking up my Cross and following him. Not doing all things to the glory of God, nor rejoicing in him always. Not receiving, not doing the good, nor improving time, mercies, judgements, foreign perturbations, national discontents and divisions, irreligious confusions, domestic distinguishing favours, as I ought. Strangeness, niggardliness unto, inconsiderateness of the worth, fearlesness of the loss of my precious Soul; caring more for the Body than it or others; not troubled for such as are negligent, poisoners, murderers of theirs. Not sufficiently convinced of, humbled for, the corruption of my nature, mind, conscience, will, affections; of the evil of sin, and lying under the wrath of God, hiding, excusing, lessening of, not making that narrow search after, not being grieved for my sins in any proportion to their multitude and greatness; as considering that wretched injustice, folly, and unkindness I have expressed by them, loving darkness, hating the light; receiving the grace of God in vain, turning it into wantonness crucifying the Son of God afresh, tempting, grieving the Holy Spirit; hardly forsaking my beloved sin for thy sake, who hast freely given thy only Sow for mine: That carefulness, that clearing of myself, that indignation, that fear, that vehement desire, that zeal, that revenge, that watchfulness, resolving, striving against sin, improving all advantages for avoiding and subduing it, I find not that is wrought in those who sarrow after a godly sort: nor applying myself with all earnestness to the only means of pardon end reconciliation in the Gospel.  
Time and strength would fail me to repeat how oft I am partaker of Family, National, Church, other men's sins; by setting an ill example, provoking, consenting to, conniving at, countenancing, permitting sin where I might correct or hinder it; hating my brother in my heart ●y suffering sin upon him. Delightful society with evil doers, taking pleasure in the cause of my humiliation, to see them pave their way to Hell with their own ●ands; making that matter of sport, which nothing but the dearest drop of the hearts ●lood of God could expiate; laughing ●●t that which makes damned souls shed ●ivers of tears: they shall be damned that ●ave pleasure in unrighteousness. By not ●eeking the things of Christ as my own, not preferring Jerusalem above my chie● joy, not having the care of the Church lying upon me. My heart trembles no● for fear of the Ark; nor is my soul vexe● from day to day with their unlawful deeds among whom I live. Oh how little do I mourn for the suffering of others for the signs of God's anger, for the sins 〈◊〉 the times! when do I go apart and moun● for England's crying abominations, or loo● upon London, a sinful City, and weep ov●● it?  
And oh the infirmities, imperfection iniquities of my holy things! Oh ho● much carelessness, unpreparedness, impenitency, unbelief, pride, hypocrisy, u● spiritualness, earthliness, formality, slightness, deadness, heartlesness, distraction indisposition, weariness, want of relish attends my attendance on so great a Majesty! Unanswerable walking, resting 〈◊〉 the mere outside of duty, when I do not enjoy Communion with thee in them!  
And dare such a guilty abominable s●ner sit down with thee at thy table? such Dog that hath so often returned to his w●mit, go and take that which is so holy such a Swine wallowing in the mire, ha● to do with those precious pearls? that hath already so often trampled them under my feet, carelessly neglecting, or unworthily receiving those holy mysteries, rather defying them then adoring thee, by bringing such troops of my Saviour's professed Enemies (unrepented sins) along with me, as if I came not to commemorate, but to renew his Passion, to crucify him afresh. Oh I have much reason to fear I am guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, by ear-ring and drinking unworthily; in that I have not hungered, and thirsted after nor partaken of it so often as my necessities, and opportunities required; nor approached it with such a solemn Preparation, Examination, Humiliation, and cleansing the secrets of my heart from all sin; nor renewed the Covenant-Conditions, Faith and Repentance; nor received it with that reverend behaviour, and those inward dispositions; nor been so especially careful in making, good my Covenant Engagements, and Resolutions, as becomes a worthy Communicant. Oh how can such a loathsome wretch go to be entertained by thee in so near a Communion, that cannot expect, that am below the least good look from thy gracious eye? Oh how dare such a vile miscreant presume to drink of the Cup of Blessing, who have deserved such a curse from thy hand, as that thou shouldest hurry me to thy Bar of Justice, and not admit me to the Seals of the Covenant of Grace: to be covered with shame and confusion of face, while thy Children come with boldness and present themselves before thee, arrayed in the righteousness of thy Son; whilst they are lifting up their heads with joy, knowing the time of celebrating their Redemption draweth nigh; I may be hiding myself in the Dens and Rocks of the Mountains, saying, fall on me and hid me from the face of him that sits upon the Throne. Dragged away by cursed Fiends to the place of Torment, with hideous scrieks to an innumerable company of Devils and Damned Souls; instead of going to the house of God, the assembly of his people, with the voice of joy and gladness, with a multitude that keep holy day. While the Sun of Righteousness arises with healing in his wings unto those that fear thy name; thy wrath may burn against me as fire, and consume me as stubble. The day of joy and gladness, feasting and rejoicing, sacrifice & atonement to thy sincere servants, may be a day of wrath and trouble, darkness and gloominess, distress and desolation to me: while they with joy of heart are saying, come let us go unto the house of the Lord, oh our feet shall stand within thy Gates, O Zion, thy Courts, O God I, the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? In stead of holding out to me the golden Sceptre, thou mightest break me with a Rod of Iron, and dash me in pieces like a Potter's vessel; while they are rejoicing and giving honour to thee at the Supper, I might lie under the wrath of the Lamb, lifting up mine eyes in Hell, begging a drop of water to cool my tongue. I might see them sit down with the King at his table, and myself thrust out into that place where is nothing but weeping, & wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Thou art ready to entertain those that are bidden, but I am not worthy; for making light of thy provision and invitation, preferring the things of the world before it, thou mayest justly say, I shall never taste of thy Supper; or, if I go, it might be not for the better, but for the worse; I might meet with a frown instead of a smile; a blow, a breach, a curse, instead of a blessing. Thou mayest in stead of bread give me a stone, for the Cup of the New Testment a Cup of wrath and Trembling. Thou mayst turn my heart into a stone, instead of turing my heart of stone into an heart of flesh. The bread of life may be to me a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence to fall on me and grind me to powder. For my going aside from thee, and defiling myself: the wine that comforts and makes worthy Receivers fruitful in grace, may be unto me as the water of Jealousy, bitter within my bowels, causing my belly to swell, and my thigh to rot; and I may be a curse among the people. His blood might be laid to my charge for my condemnation, sealing up all my other fins; instead of being sprinkled upon my Conscience, to humble me for, and cleanse me from all sin.  
Behold I am vile, viler than the earth but look upon me in thy Son, and thou wilt love me, and be well pleased with me; mine only hope is in that grace and mercy made known in and thorough him: I have broken thy commands, but he hath fulfilled them; affronted thy Justice, but he hath satisfied it; deserved thy wrath, but he hath endured it; the chastisement of my peace was upon him, let the merit of his righteousness be upon me, and by his stripes let me be healed. His Blood is my only refuge, oh let it be my Atonement, or I perish eternally. Wherefore didst thou shed it, but to save sinners? Remember not what I have done against thee, but what he hath done and suffered for me. Oh when I consider thy greatness and my unworthiness, thy purity and my uncleanness, thy glory and my shame, I am confounded and discouraged; but when I consider thy mercy and wisdom, bounty and goodness, readiness to forgive, and desire to impart thyself unto thy servants, than I am encouraged to come with boldness unto thee. Thou never despised him that called upon thee, or forsook any that abode in thy fear: It was never known that any who trusted in thee were ever confounded. Oh respect not the greatness of my offences but of thy goodness; though I have so often broken my part of that Covenant the Sacrament Seals, yet be thou pleased to make good thine, to be merciful to my unrighteousness, and to remember my sins & my iniquities no more. Thou knowest how intolerable a thing it is to lie under thy wrath to all eternity, and therefore lovest to do miracles of mercy, because thou lovest not that a sinner should perish. Have mercy upon me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions; wash me throughly from mine iniquities, and cleanse me from all my defilements, with the merit and virtue of that Blood which thou hast so abundantly shed for penitent sinners; that I may with an undefiled soul eat of the purest sacrifice, the Lamb slain from the beginning: so I shall have no spot in me for which thou wilt judge me at thy Table, or condemn me at thy Tribunal.  
Being in Christ reconciled unto me, oh give further evidences of thy fatherly affection, by bestowing a double portion of thy grace upon me now thou callest me to this Ordinance; and who is sufficient for these things? I have neither a meet Sacrifice to offer, nor a meet vessel to receive thee. I know not what to say or do; how to pray or receive, prepare or behave myself; not sufficient of myself to think any thing as of myself, but my sufficiency is of thee; the preparation of the heart and answer of the tongue is from thee; the God, the promiser, the Giver of grace as well as glory, that invites all to come unto thee, with assurance of finding with, and receiving from thee whatsoever is requisite for their refreshment, support, and comfort; ho every one that, thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that, hath no money, come ye buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Thou preparest a table for us in this wilderness, where we eat of thy own Bread, and drink of thy own Cup; omittest not expression of tender love to treat us as a most indulgent Father. But shall the time of receiving come, before thou come into my soul to stir up thy graces in me? Ganst thou that so loved me, who was of no worth, while yet in my sins, as to die for me, neglect me in thee? shall I, whose only hope is to be saved by Christ, be sent away with the guilt, instead of the comfort of his Blood? Oh of his fullness let me receive, and grace for grace; let thy Spirit help mine infirmities, thy grace be sufficient for me, thy strength be made perfect, more eminently manifest in weakness. Array me with the righteousness of the Saints, put upon me the Lord Jesus; let me be found having on the Wedding-garment at the Wedding-supper; such a preparation of Soul as may qualify me for it, such a degree of reverence and humility, saving knowledge, godly sorrow, renewed repentance, new obedience; lively faith, unfeigned, love, joy and thankfulness, holy desires, self-denial, suitable, solemn, heavenly meditations, as becomes a worthy Communicant. Oh thou true food of my Soul! receive me who am to receive thee; quicken me with thy Spirit, feed me with thy Flesh, satisfy me with thy Blood, vouchsafe me thy Grace, communicate to me thy Nature, let me receive life from thee to act and live unto thee, who measurest not thy gifts by our petitions or desertsses, but our wants and thy own mercy.   

Earnest Supplication for Requisite Qualifications.  
TO go to that Ordinance which requires all imaginable liveliness and activity with dull and cloudy affections, will be my sin, and an aggravation of it, if through want of diligent endeavour to get my Soul affected and inflamed, by stirring up the graces of God in me; and whither shall I go for this but unto thee, the author and finisher of them? how shall I do it but by thee? Oh do it for me.  

Holy Reveronce and Humility.  Affect my heart with an awful reverence and selfbasement upon my so near approach unto thee in this solemn Ordinance, towards the greatness of thy Majesty, with whom I there come to renew my Covenant; towards the excellency of thy Son, whom I come to receive into my Soul; towards the holiness of thy Spirit, whose assiance I hope for, and by whom I come there to be established in my Union and Communion with Christ and his Members. Oh how durst I who am nothing but folly and infirmity, misery and sin, shame and death, presume to come so nigh; for behold the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee, unless thou hadst invited and commanded it? If so much Sanctity, Reverence and Devotion was requisite as to the Ark, the Temple, the receiving thy Law; Oh how shall I behave myself now I go to receive thy very self? or Communicate with thee, that deserves not to come before thee? Oh how Humble should I be who am to receive a gift of Free Grace? Was he Humble that was all Purity, and shall I be proud who am so defiled? The high and lofty One dwells not in a haughty heart, but with him that is of a contrite, humble spirit; not will he that humbled himself to the death be taken into a proud Soul. Oh that I may therefore have grace, whereby I may serve thee acceptably, with reverence and godly fear, and be clothed not only with the Righteousness, but Humility of Christ, be low and mean, base and vile in my own eyes; I am not worthy to be called thy Son, make me as thy meanest servants, the lowest room at thy Table; give my sins thy pardon, my soul thy grace, my person and service thy acceptance in thy beloved; and what thou dost convey, seal to me by what I am to receive.  
Without Knowledge the Heart, 
Saving Knowledge.  the duty cannot be good; but the Covenant thou hast made with thy people is, they shall all know thee from the least to the greatest. Oh let me come with knowledge of the nature, necessity, use and ends of the Ordinance. Direct me how to behave myself at, and meditate upon those Divine Mysteries, that I may not be a blind offerer, nor bring a blind offering; but offer unto thee a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable, reasonable service; that I may receive with understanding, discern the Lords Body; look into the Mysteries of the Sacrament, lest not knowing the meaning, Ifeel not the comfort of it; but be alienated, estranged from thee through the ignorance that is in me.  
That. I may eat the Passeover with bitter herbs, 
Godly Sorrow.  give me a deep sense of my own vileness and unworthiness; take, away this heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh, that I may loathe myself in my own sight for mine iniquities, and for mine abominations, be filled with shame and sorrow, hatred and indignation against myself, for my offending so good and gracious, so loving and bountiful a Father, Redeemer and Sanctifier: That I may look upon him whom I have pierced, and mourn for him, with detestation and holy revenge against those my sins that cost him so dear, were the cause as well as any other men's of his death, and would have cost me damnation; abominating them as the scourges and thorns, nails and spear that Afflicted, Crucified my dearest Saviour, the Lord of Glory. The day of mourning for him is at hand, oh that I may then slay my most beloved lusts! be revenged on them for it, and for their endeavouring to rob me of my spiritual Birthright, my eternal Blessedness. Let me call to mind, and be truly sensible of every sin, and of the evil of it, and of thine and my Saviour's love manifested to me in his sufferings. There where he appears most Bloody, let Sin oppear most deadly; that I may receive abroken, bleeding Christ, with a broken contrite Heart; a Sacrifice thou wilt not despise, O God, prepare in me; that being weary and heavy laden, I may be capable of his refreshment; being supled in my own tears, I may be fit to be washed in his blood.  
And seeing thou givest thyself only to thy Disciples and Friends, 
New Obedience.  work in me fresh purposes of amendment; that being willing and obedient, I may eat the good of the Ordinance. Let there be conformity, that there may be Communion; let me not put that new wine into an old impure, but new Heart. I cannot Eat the Passeover and stay in Egypt still; let me do it with my loins girt, ready to march toward the Promised Land. Thou confirmest thy Covenant, and expectest I restipulate with thee, that I cast out, and execrate the old leaven. Seeing the Covenant of Grace sealed, let me seal a Covenant of Obedience; seeing by the merit of Christ's death I am purchased to be thine, by the power of it let me be dead to sin, and both receive life, and change my life; let me bring a wounded heart to, and carry wounded sins from thy Table; die to sin, seeing Christ died for sin; let me take him by way of surety, and give up myself to him by way of surrender; receive him as a Saviour; and submit to him as a Prince; set myself apart for thee on that Feast of Dedication. Let me approach with the most sincere, fixed resolutions of an entire resignation; and receive such grace and strength from thee, as may enable me faithfully to perform them; that I may find myself in the number of those, to whom my Saviour allows such special manifestations of himself, by lifting up the light of his countenance upon them, by intimating his good will and love unto them, his fullness and righteousness for them, as Shows his constant abode with them.  
Let no profane or unseasonable Thoughts enter into my mind while I am about that Holy Solemnity; 
Purity.  let me lay aside, leave behind me, and be kept from all carnal earthly vain Imaginations; drive away all drowsiness, carelessness, slothfulness; idle apprehensions; that I may wholly contemplate upon, and give up myself unto him, who sacrificed his Soul and Body for me; and come before thee with such Reverential Hungering, & Holy Affections, as is due to the hand that reacheth, to the seal that secureth, to the food that strengtheneth that spiritual life in us, without which we can never be happy. O thou that callest me unto thee, let thy compassion pity my vileness; let thy mercy pardon my sinfulness; let thy grace cleanse my filthiness; let thy wisdom enlighten my darkness, let thy strength support my weakness; adorn me with the wedding garment, the righteousness of thy Son, and holiness of thy Spirit; that all my nakedness may be covered, and my great deformities hid from thine eyes: pardon me by thy mercy, that I may receive thy grace; and fit me by thy grace, that I may receive thy mercy; help me so to accuse myself, that thou may'st acquit me, so to judge and condemn myself, that thou may'st absolve me; so to exercise a holy revenge upon myself, that thou may'st spare me. Let thy Spirit be thy Harbinger to provide entertainment for thy Son in my Soul, that he may find ●t swept of sin, and garnished with grace; make it day in my Soul by hopes and desires, before I there receive the Sun of Righteousness.  
Faith is thy own gift as well as Christ; 
Faith.  I believe, Lord help my unbelief, that I may besprinkle my soul and Conscience with his blood; not only look upon and remember but close in with, and receive him there tendered: Eat his flesh and drink his blood; apply him as taking on him our nature, & and giving it as a ransom for sin; That I may not stagger at the promise through unbelief, but be strong in faith, giving Glory to God; being fully persuaded that what thou hast promised thou wilt perform. When I see Bread and Wine upon the Table, let me see Christ there as a feast in token of my reconciliation with thee, and on the Cross as a Sacrifice, offering up his Body and blood to thee; observing the Bread broken, let me see Chrirst crucified for, and offering himself unto me; upon the Wine pouring out, let me behold how his blood was poured forth for my sins. As I receive Bread and Wine for bodily sustenance, so cause me to feed on, digest improve his body and blood; having the, same expectation of Spiritual and Eternal life from him, that I have of temporal life from my food. Let me eat not only the Bread of the Lord, but the Bread which the Lord, that as by my senses I receive ●he Elements to my Corporal, so by faith 〈◊〉 may receive and apply him to my Spiritual nourishment. Let the Ordinance be a ●●vely resemblance, remembrance, and application of the sufferings, and earnest of the Supper of the Lamb. Let Christ be 〈◊〉 lively set forth, as if Crucified before by eyes, dying for me: that beholding, ●mbracing, and even putting my fingers ●nto the print of his nails and feet, and thrusting my hand into his side; so fully persuaded of his suffering for me, that I ●●ay not be faithless but believing; saying, ●y Lord and my God, he loved me and ●ave himself for me; my beloved is mine ●nd I am his. O that I may so touch him, ●s may find and feel strength, peace, virtue come from him, and be healed of all ●●y uncleanness; that they may not be ●nto death, but unto the glory of thy mercy in pardoning, and grace in purifying 〈◊〉 polluted a Wretch. That it may be he food, the feast of my graces; the poi●●on, the funeral of my corruptions. Let ●●e so feed on his blessed Body, and bathe ●●y soul in his precious Blood, that my Soul may magnify the Lord, and m●● Spirit rejoice in God my Saviour; who●● having not seen I may love, in wh●● though now I see him not, yet believing, 〈◊〉 may rejoice with joy unspeakable and fu●● of glory.  
Circumcise my Heart to lo●● thee with all my Soul, 
Love.  and wit● all my strength. Let my hear● be ravished with this infinite merci●● in thee to sinful miserable man, in cotriving and giving so glorious a Reddeemer and Redemption to save him and now in presenting us with such special Seals of his love, and admitting u●●● into so near, so holy a Communion 〈◊〉 For this let me be dissolved into lov● to thee and thy Son, and to man fo● his sake; and into a steadfast vow of lif● and death to thy service; that I will give and forgive, do, and suffer any thing fo● thee. Let me be filled with holy raptures, joys and hopes in so great a goodness, who having done this, will de●● me nothing, and (maugre the rage and malice of hell) not see my soul lost, fo● whom all this is done. Oh let me meet with strong endearments of Affections melting, and flowing over towards thee, languishing with desires enjoy thee, even turned into, made 〈◊〉 of love for thee; that I may be the disciple whom thou lovest, and laid in ●y bosom. Oh deal with me as thou ●ften dost with those that draw near to ●●ee; though I burn not with so hot a ●ame, yet through thy grace I crave it ●f thee, that I may participate with, ●nd be numbered among such fervent ●overs. If I cannot say I am sick of Love, ●et am sick that I cannot love thee? ●here wilt thou give me thy love, admission to more familiar fellowship, ●ear●r manifestation, sensible feeling ●nd assurance of thy love and affection unto me, that I am beloved of ●hee. Give me grace to love the Lord ●esus in sincerity; let him dwell in my ●eart by Faith and Love; that being ●●oted and grounded in Love, I may be ●ble to comprehend with all Saints, ●hat is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the ●ove of Christ which passes knowledge; ●hat the remembrance of him may pierce ●e with grief, transport me with love captivate my will, engage all my affections to him and for him. And let me kno● I am passed from death to life▪ because love the Brethren. Shed abroad th● love in my cold frozen heart, and infla●● it with fervent affection to thee and thing While my love is burning towards th● self, oh how can it choose but be imparts to thy Friends, who sincerely love the● and on whom thou hast set thy heart, ar●shed thy love, thy spirit, whereby the are made like unto thee? They m●● needs be lovely in my eyes, to who● Christ is precious. Oh let me not con●● to this Lovefeast with a bitter but chan●● table spirit! Purge out therefore t●● old leven of malice, which will sow the Ordinance to me. Oh that our F●ther in Heaven may look down upon 〈◊〉 children feasting together in mutual lo●● and delight, in the remembrance of 〈◊〉 that love he hath shown us, and joy●● expectation of what further he hath p●●mised to us.  
Let me not sit sad a● dejected, 
Joy and Thanksgiving.  as if I liked 〈◊〉 the provision, or though myself not welcome. Ma●● this real, magnificent, solemn, sumptuous Feast, these Celestial Viands wherewith thou feedest thy people, by thy gracious comfortable discoveries of thyself, a spiritual banquet unto my soul, a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined! Do not only stand and knocks, but open the door of my heart; vouchsafe to come in and abide with me; that there may be a cheerful, comfortable converse: sup with me, and let me sup with thee, that I may be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, (feel and find abundance of soul-satisfaction reached out to me in the Ordinance; and do thou make me drink of the River of thy pleasure: quench my thirst after carnal, and let me be filled with Divine pleasures, ravishments and contentments flowing from the inexhaustible fountain of Divine plenty. Let my soul be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth praise thee with joyful lips. Let me come before thee with thanksgiving, and praise thee with my whole heart. Let there be Angels work at Angel's food, make me joyful in thy house of prayer. By and for him let me offer the Sacrifice of Praise to God, the fruit of my lips, giving thanks unto his Name in the great Congregation, and Praise thee among much People.  
Thou art ready to give bread to the hungry, to fill them with good things, 
Spiritual Thirst.  and the water of life to him that is athirst. Thou art not straitened in thyself, but I am straitened in my own bowels; the desire and the meat, the necessity and relief, are all from thee. Oh thou that providest Food, give also a stomach; bid, and make me welcome! say, eat, oh Friend; drink, yea drink abundantly, oh Beloved! Oh create and stir up in me earnest long and a Spiritual appetite; that I may come to be made partaker of the good things thou hast prepared for me, with enlarged affections, and longing desires after, answerable to my need of the Ordinance, and Christ offered in it, as full nourishment for my Soul under the forms of Bread and Wine; and with strong expectations to receive him and his benefits, with desire let me desire to eat this Passeover; open my mouth wide that thou may'st fill it: As the Hart panteth after the water-brook, so let ray soul pant after thee, O God.   

The Evening Close.  
AND now, oh gracious God, leave me not to the dulness, the deadness, the hardness, the impenitency, the unbelief, ●he barrenness, the earthliness, the impo●●ency, the distraction of my own Heart! Oh every the Ordinance with thy own presence. While the King sitteth at his Ta●le let my Spikenard send forth the smell ●hereof. Descend into my heart by the ex●●tations of thy grace and influences of thy by, and let me ascend unto thee by the ex●●cise of grace, & pious addresses. Awake ●●ou North wind, and come thou South, ●ow upon my Garden, that the Spices ●●ereof may flow out; Make every grace 〈◊〉 my soul lively, active, & fragrant, by the ●eathings & inspirations of thy Holy Spi●●t. O abide with me, because it draweth ewards the time of receiving; what do I there thou be not there? If thy presence go not ●●ong with me, carry me not hence. Let Christ ●●pear unto, and be known of me in breaking of Bread; let me carry away not only Bread, but Light, Life and Health; that with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory (the love, the mercy, and goodness) of the Lord, I may be changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. O let me remember▪ and do thou remember what thy Son hath suffered, that I may be thankful, and thou so sensibly gracious unto me, that I ma● taste and see how good the Lord is.  
I am altogether, unworthy of my desires 〈◊〉 but what thou dost for any, is not because they are worthy, but because it pleaseth th●● to do for thine what they ask of thee according to thy will. With what confidence go we to Market with money in our hand? we doubt not returning without our errand; Oh we would come as confidently expecting the giving out of grac● to us, as if we were able to putchase it for thou hast bid us come buy Wine an● Milk without money and without price and hast promised, and art more willing 〈◊〉 give the spirit to them that ask it, th●● Parents Bread to their Children, whi●● they cannot deny, whatever shift th●● make for it: our love to our Children 〈◊〉 but hatred; our compassion, hardness; our bowels rocks in comparison of thine to thine: why then wilt thou not hear me? Turnest thou a deaf ear to me? Canst thou deny me? Did any of the seed of Jacob seek thy face in vain? Who ever approached to this overflowing Fountain of sweetness, but carried away some drops? ●or sat by so great a flame, and received not some warmth from it? why then lies my Soul so cold, so frozen, so dead before thee? O wilt thou not relieve a hungry beggar? wilt thou not grant the request of an importunate Petitioner? Shall I go away empty from an inexhaustible Treasure? Hungry from a Feast? Dry from a Fountain? Cold from the Sun? Sad and comfortless from a Feast of Love? Oh! ●ake it a type and earnest of our Eternal banquet: Feed me to that by Faith and Love, and seal me to it in Spirit and Con●ience; let me enjoy thy lightsome revi●●ng company in this state of absence and obscurity. Away, my Soul from this ●●rk, deceitful, vexing world; love not ●●y Disease, thy Fetters, thy Calamities; ●yn not with those that take up their rest 〈◊〉 this side Heaven, saying, it is good to be here. Woe is me that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar; that I remain in this sinful, polluting place, among a strange people, and am kept so long from my Father's House. Oh that I had wings like a Dove, then would I sly away and be at rest; lo then would I wander far off, (as legs and wings could carry me) and remain in the wilderness; I would live in the solitariest place of the Earth, for my greater freedom from sin, and enjoyment of my God. This flattering, vexing world should soon see me quit it; my base heart should soon be 〈◊〉 of me; rather than undergo their uncessant troubles: I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest. Oh wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death 〈◊〉 Which so oft troubles, grieves and over-clouds me, distracts & hinders me, allure● and entangles me? When shall I have done trifling and dallying, roving and repining, fretting and disputing? Whe●● shall I only talk and walk with thee be; composed and fixed, Spiritual an● Heavenly, love, choose, and obey thee delight, rejoice, joy, and glory in thee Oh when wilt thou unloose the cords of this tottering Tent? When shall this Mudwall crumble into dust? When shall my earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved? When shall I be carried to those eternal mansions? Why is his Chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his Chariot? Hath he not sped? Hath he not divided his gifts? Hath he not obtained his purchase? Hath he not prepared a place for me? Shall I ever be at home in the body, and absent from the Lord? Make haste, O thou whom my soul loveth, and come in glory, as thou first camest in humility; and conform them to thyself in glory; whom thou makest conformable to thy sufferings and humility. Keep up our faith, our hope, and our love; by the exercise of them let us have our Conversation with thee in Heaven; and daily vouchsafe us some beams of thy directing, consolatory light, in this our darkness; and be not as a stranger to thy scattered Flock, thy disconsolate Spouse in this distant state, this desolate Wilderness. O show thyself more clearly to us; testify to our Souls, that thou art our Head and Saviour, that we abide in thee by the Spirit which thou hast given us, abiding and overcoming in us, and as thy Agent preparing us for eternal Life. Let not our darkness nor thy strangeness feed our odious unbelief; nor my corrupt habits choke or smother my new resolutions and sweet meditations. These weak, wavering thoughts, these faint desires, these sickly affections in my Soul will not live a night, unless my gracious God interpose his Power, preserve and cherish them. Oh seeing thou hast given me to bestow some small pains on my Heart, and to conceive some good hopes, let them not be dashed in pieces in so short a moment: spread the wings of thy goodness over me, and maintain that, which not I, but thy Spirit hath wrought in me; let me find all, when I awake let me still be with thee, O blessed Trinity, to whom be ascribed Kingdom, Power, and Glory, now and for ever. Amen.   

The Communion Morning Dress.  
AH, where am I? what do I? all the Children of the Bride-chamber are ●p and ready, and I slumbering in my Bed! Tell me, ye Fairest, what made you up so early, and dressed so soon? A●●as, our Lord was up before us all; ●e called us up by break of day, and wondered we were not trimming our Lamps, not decking ourselves, knowing with whom we were to meet, to feast ●o day. Our Beloved spoke and said ●nto us, Rise up, my Love, my Fair Ones, and come away. This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. How should we welcome it with suffcient joy & thankfulness, for the approach of so great a Blessing ●hat brings our Saviour so near unto us!  
'Tis too too late; I will arise and get ●e ready; but where are my ? Oh ●ow poor, how empty, how naked am I! Oh for the fairest, sweetest robe of thought and wishes out of my Fathers, Wardrobe; Oh for my silken, golden twist of Faith to hang the Jewel of God● sorrow, and Humility, Love, and thankfulness upon: I am never dressed till they be on. Oh where are they? I saw them by me but just before I went to bed; what was I then so long about, but gathering, tying, raising them up? Ah this vain World, this envious Devil, this evil deceitful Heart, hath been ravelling, stealing them out, or hide them from me, that now I am as far to seek as ever. Oh whither shall I? what shall I do to find them? behold the Bridegroom cometh, and I am not ready; I cannot, dare not go to day. Now will my Lord be angry when he comes in, to see his guests; he looking over them, will say where's such a one? was he not bidden? I'm sure I invited him. If I go undressed, he'll ask how came I in, not having on a Wedding Garment? to either I shall be speechless. Ah foolish, 〈◊〉 careless heart! to let Earthly so entangle thy Heavenly Thoughts; thou knowest not now how to unloose them, which heed and care might have prevented: my horrible negligence and guiltiness makes m●●tremble to go, yet not dare to keep away; for where should my polluted Soul be washed but in that Fountain set open for) sin and for uncleanness? Oh thou that wilt in no wise cast off him that cometh unto thee; disentangle my thoughts from all things below, and dress me up as pleaseth thee; overlook my manifold weaknesses and imperfections in my preparation; if I knew nothing by myself, yet were I not thereby justified; I have no Righteousness of my own, and if I had, I would not mention it before thee; though I were Righteous, and had the greatest fitness and perfection a creature is capable of, yet would I not answer thee; I would not plead, but supplicate; not stand upon my Right, but petition thy Favour; not expect thy Justice, but crave thy pity, I would make supplication to my Judge. The Righteousness of man is not pleadable before a Righteous God: if thou shouldest be extreme to mark what is done amiss by the best men, in the best actions, O Lord who could stand? we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; my person is loathsome and abominable; my preparation and best performances carry in them matter, of my own death and indictment, except thou (oh) cover them with the Robe of Christ's Righteousness, and sprinkle them, with his blood, they can find no acceptance with thee. And Oh thou who for our sake tookest upon thee our passions and sensibilities, our weaknesses and sufferings; so art become a merciful High Priest, and pitiful to our infirmities, receive a wearied sinner an overburthened Conscience, an afflicted, polluted Soul into thy care, custody, and cure. The humility and sorrow, love and purity of any Creature, is not sufficient to make me worthy to be fed with thy Body, nourished with thy Blood, united to thee, to dwell and be one with thee; but what I cannot be of myself, let me be made of thee, who of God art made unto us Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption. Oh weigh thine own, not my merits that I may offer up an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing unto thee by Christ Jesus the life of them that believe, and the Resurrection of the dead From him I hope for victory against my sins, strength in Duty against my weakness, succour in my life against temptation, in my death against despair, after death against damnation▪ I presume upon thy help, not because I ●ave deserved it, for I have been an unprofitable servant, but because thou hast redeemed me, for thy Blood cannot be unprofitable. Help me, if not for my misery which I have deserved, yet for thy mercies which thou hast promised; for thy goodness is more ready to forgive, than thy power to punish: and thy Blood cries ●ouder for pardon, than my sins for punishment. Thou hast not yet forgiven so much as thou hast promised, nor promised more than thou hast puchased. Hath thy Blood satisfied for more sins than I can commit, and shall it not satisfy for those 〈◊〉 have forsaken and do detest? Hast thou purchased Mercy for more than repent, and wilt thou not show it on those to whom thou hast given Repentance? Hast thou been so long calling, that thou shouldest at last reject me? so long promising Salvation that thou shouldst at last deny me? I am thy Debtor for thy purchase, but thou art mine for the promise. 〈◊〉 could not oblige thee by my desert, but thou hast obliged thyself by thy word. I plead not the merit of my obedience, but the mercy of the Covenant which thy L●●● and mercy moved thee to make, and thy Truth ties thee to perform: Free grace made, thee a promiser, and thy promise hath made thee a Debtor. Thou art not more Free in making promises, then faithful in making them good: a God that keepeth Covenant unto a thousand generations▪  
And oh that I could now la●● aside my Body with my Business put off this outward man for● more naked, 
The Soul Fixed.  inward spiritual sight, that my mind might be rendered more sensible of him; fit to receive 〈◊〉 deeper impression from his hand, that nothing but him might enter in. Away▪ be gone ye wand'ring, worldly, vai● thoughts, for I am going to my God: sti● not up, nor disturb the Beloved of my Soul; come not near I charge you, make no noise to displease him, or to call m● away from, entertaining and enjoying o● him: yea (Lord) bid them be gone, and not dare to appear before thee. It is the voice of my. Beloved, I hear him inviting me to his Table; I see him coming to entertain me; let all flesh therefore be silent and not be so bold as to whisper in his presence.  
Welcome holy thoughts and pure desires: Oh happy time wherein I may embrace my Saviour, and solace my soul in the arms of my dearest Love! Awake my Understanding, Will, and Affections; awake my Glory and my Heart; awake all ye Powers, Faculties, and Graces of my Soul, and all that is within me be summoned in, stirred up, and wholly bend to attend this service. My costliest Box of Ointment cannot be bestowed better than on my Saviour: my greatest care and caution, love and labour, then in his service. 
And inflamed with Love.  And how shall I put my heart into a flame of love, a frame to meet him, better than by considering the wonder of his love unto me? Oh how free, unmerited, disinterested! preventing not only our desires, but our knowledge, surpassing our wishes as well as our deserts.  
He loved us first. Had we deplored our Apostasy, implored his Grace, reformed our Ways, returned before invited, made the first overtures of Reconciliation with him; this had carried something of inducement for procuring his love: but that he who had receive the injury, should address himself to him that did it; that the offended party should pray and beseech the offender to be reconciled? that he whose right was to punish, should first offer terms of grace and pardon to them that had done him all the wrong, and make Compensation of it to himself! Herein is love, not that we loved him, but that he loved us first, even before we had a Being; so little could we deserve it, that our felicity in his Decrees, preceded our existence in the world. His goodness is so entirely its own principle, and motive, that even out Creation since which alone we can pretend to merit it) is the effect of it, as well as our Redemption. When no eye pitied, no person interceded, no hand could relieve, he visited and redeemed us, unable to add to, or diminish his essential happiness. If thou sinnest, what dost thou unto him? if thou be righteous, what givest thou him? our best services are deuce, not tributes; not to advantage him, but to discharge ourselves, as acknowledgements we have all from him. He doth us good, not because we are, but he liberally so. The fire we kindle on God's Altar, warms and enlightens us, but not Heaven at so distant a remove; not is wanted in the Regions of this Sun which shines upon us Dunghills, not out of any invitation his Beams find there, but because 'tis his Nature to be freely, obligingly diffusive; nor is disturbed or loses its light, but we by turning away our eyes, or sending up the black and noisome vapours of our lusts. I cannot but stand amazed at the low stoop of thy Sacred Majesty, in matching with so mean, so base, so stained a Family. Thou tookst not on thee the nature of Angels, but the seed of Abraham: They are bound in chains of darkness, whilst thou art drawing us with cords of Love: thou spared not them, and spared not thy Son for us. What admiration and astonishment can answer thy boundless condeseension? that thou who hadst married infinitely below thyself, if with the most spotless, ancientest, honourablest House of thy Creatures, should take polluted dust and ashes into thy bosom! yea thou passest by all others as Nettles and Thorns, while thy Church is in thy eye as the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valleys.  
He loved us when Enemies; not only when we were not at all, incapable of being a motive in his love, but worthy of his detestation. To have spared our lives had been an unexpected, undeserved mercy; who finds his enemy and slays him not; was ever eye enamoured on deformity, or love set upon filthiness and putrefaction? But behold! I running away from him, hating of him; he loving me, following of me, entreating my return; I undoing, he pitying my soul; finding his arms open to embrace me, against whom I was lifting up my hand; for when we were without strength, Christ died for the ungodly; and as foul as ugly, as loathsome, as forlorn as sin could make me, espoused me to himself; opened his Heart to lodge in it, his professed Enemy that trod him under foot; his Bowels yearned toward those, who raked into them with their bloody hands; his Heart burnt with affection to those that cruelly pierced it; when we were fight he was dying; when we had the weapons in our hand, he had the spear in his side. Herein God commended his love to us, in that while we were sinners Christ died for us; shown as great love and kindness to the greatest Enemy, as could be shown to the greatest Friend; and received me not to mercy only, but to the Endearment of a Son. That the General should die for the Soldier; the Physician for the Patient; the Workman for the Work; the Pastor for the Flock; the Master for the Servant; the Just for the ; the Innocent for the Guilty; the Shepherd for the Sheep; the Prince for the Rebel; the Lord of Glory for the Children of Disobedience; he that was without all sin, for him that was without all Righteousness; God for Man; to wound a Darling to staunch the Blood of a Traitor; for the Judge to pardon, and put himself into the Malefactor's  and stead, and suffer for him; to die for those that killed him? and bleed to wash his own blood from their hands that spilt it; with the kind Balsom Tree, whose healing wounds weep sovereign Balsam to cure those that made them: that he should interpose his own Breast to receive in those arrows of vengeance aimed at us; and that while professing ourselves his Enemies, and proclaiming War against him; to spare our lives, lose his own; that he should so love us, as to give himself for us, is such a so loving us, as makes the highest Hyperbole dwindle into a Meiosis.  
He loved us unto death. No sooner born then persecuted, nor circumcised then designed for the slaughter. Behold the God of Heaven flying in a woman's arms from the rage of a weak Man: the God of Israel driven to be nursed out of the bosom of his Church. He that made the Heaven of Heavens, subject to, if not busily working in the homely trade of a poor Foster-father. The owner of all possessing nothing, but the punishment due unto our fins. He that commands the Devils to their chains, transported, and tempted by that presumptuous Spirit. God all-sufficient exposed to hunger and thirst, weariness and danger, grief and contempt, reproaches, affronts, and calumnies; blasphemed of those whose God he had always been in a peculiar manner; straightened in the womb, vexed in the world, abased from the Cratch to the Cross, rejected by Churls, persecuted by Wretches, tempted by Reprobates; and yet the Son of Man must suffer many things, be sold and caught, ●ound and dragged, arraigned and condemned, stripped and scourged, reviled and besmeared, pierced and gored, and then it is ●●nished. Thou seemest now (O Blessed Redeemer) to have finished in thy passion, what thou hadst continually suffered in the whole course of thy life. How many slaves ●nder the vassalage of an enemy, far better ●hen thou, from ungrateful Man whom ●hou camest to save? Thy whole life was but a continual passion, thy birth and death but one protracted act; Christmas Day and Good Friday but the evening and morn●ng of thy passion; thou foundest a Golgo●ha even in Bethlehem; others die Martyrs; but thou born one among beasts, and ●iv'd among worse, as well as died among ●hieves. Blessedness is made not earth ●nely but woe, to bring earth from woe to blessedness.  
Behold him now (O my soul) hanging ●pon the Cross (and thy sins putting him ●nto that gore) saying, Weep not for me ●hat endures it, but weep for yourselves ●hat causes it: read in me the cruelty of ●our sins; see how barbarously they have used me, how miserably I am torn and wounded by you: how many thorns in this Crown of thorns are your sins: how my blood, with my warmest love runs out to fetch you home to God. Oh my head, my side, my hands, and my feet. Look through these gaping wounds into my heart; pierced first by love, and then by a spear for you. Was ever any sorrow or love like unto mine? Can I do more than die for you? Will you not be persuaded what an evil and bitter thing sin is unto me? Do you not see how it rakes into my side, and tears my very heart? how greedily it sucks my blood? Behold the pits it diggeth, the very print of its nails; see the very place where it hath thrust its spear. Canst thou hug and embrace bloody Parricides? show any kindness to so deadly an enemy? harbour them that have used me thus? You say, You are my friends; will you not take my part against them? Have not all these wounds, mouths enough to persuade you to fall out with sin? Would you have me used thus again? Can you find in your heart to see me once more upon a Gibbet? Will you tear open my wounds (crucify me) afresh? Else why can you not be prevailed with by this sight? Why do you not spit in the face of your sins? do all the despite you can unto, revenge me perfectly upon them? ●ail them unto my Cross, if you would have me embrace you?  
O how ought my Adamantine heart to rend in pieces, when all thy tortures and groans are for, are from us? And yet as if once were not sufficient, how often do we join with those that crucify thee afresh? By hypocrisy we bend the knee with ludibrious devotion, saying, Hail King of the Jews. By presumption we put a Reed in thy hand. We smite and buffet thee with the works of darkness, saying, Prophesy who smote thee. By Profaneness we spit in thy face the filth of our rotten hearts. By Sacrilege we cast lots for thy garments. By Schism we divide thy seamless Coat, (which the rude Soldiers did not.) By popularity we wash our hands as innocent, and to please men, condemn thee. By unhallowed cups we give thee gall to drink. By Superstition betray thee with a kiss, and despise thee with seeming honour. By Apostasy, deny & forswear thee. By Heresy rack and disjoint thee. By the roare● laughs and scoffs, oaths and blasphemies, tear and rend thee. By any common sin, we prefer Barabba before thee. O we●● thy pains so light, that we must every day redouble them? Is this the kindness, the entertainment thou deservest? the recompense of thine inestimable love, thus cruelly to vex and wound thee? O how can we hope to find Redemption by thy Blood, while we continue by our horrid crimes to make new gashes in thy side, to rub thy. wounds afresh, and cause them to stream anew, that were even closed up before? an act more Jewish then the Jews. Oh! I sigh unto thee for want of grief, for thy grievous sufferings: Oh that I could turn myself into tears, that I might wash the wounds I have made! seeing thou diedst for my sins, how ought I to despise myself, who have so cruelly offended and tormented thee? the very party whose offences have brought those miserable torments and death upon thee? Oh how must this needs irreconcile and engage me to pursue them to death, that in the eye of all the world brought so great shame, and pain, and amazement on the Lord of Life and Glory? Come along with me, Oh ye vile, ye sinful passions and corrupt affections, into his presence, (if ye dare live so long) and there receive your mortal wound from him! Methinks you should begin to die at the very thoughts of a dying Redeemer, and swoon away at the sight of yonder Blood, and not stay till you come to his Cross; but give up the Ghost before you see but the image his death: do you not feel the power of it afar off? doth not his pierced side pierce your heart before you behold it? Oh ye bloody things! what have ye done? what wounds have you made in the Body of my Lord? lay your necks quietly on the block; prepare yourselves for death which is approaching: nay, never struggle nor resist; think not to live any longer for I have vowed you in sacrifice to him.  
And now what remains, 
Ends in going.  but that I renew a quick and lively sense of the ends of this Rite, and of mine in going, and what lies hid under the Ceremony? Oh my Soul! whither art thou going? What is that Table which I see yonder spread for us? and what is thy chief design in going to it? what means that broken bread that is provided? for what end was that body Crucified? do men use to drink a cup of Blood? Oh let me know the bottom of this mystery; let me enter into this secret, and my own heart's.  
Renouncing my own Righteousness and Preparation; in his name, merits, mediation, strength and righteousness; in obedience to thy command and thy followers practice; to renew my Covenant with thee; to commemorate and be affected with his death; to own and increase my Spiritual Union and Communion with him and his members; to further my joy in the Holy Ghost, peace of Conscience, and hopes of Eternal Life; for the nourishment of my Soul; to get power against my sins to act, and excite, and strengthen my graces; to make fresh applications of his blood; to have the Covenant of Grace with all its blessings sealed unto me, I go unto thy Table. O stir up in me thirsting desires after, strong expectations to receive these blessed ends and benefits; and do thou make them good unto me.  
Oh how weak, 
To strengthen my Inner man.  how imperfect are my Graces! I see and know but in part, so love, obey, believe but in part. Oh how many temptations, adversaries, difficulties assault me! How seldom have I a will to do good? and when I would do good evil is present with me. All I have, ●an, or am, is from thee, so due unto thee, but all still unworthy of thee; yet how heart-bound is that little all of service I do thee? I pray as if afraid to be heard, bear as if unwilling to be saved, communicate as if loath to receive thee, serve thee as if I would not please thee. To that end I go to the Lords Supper, suitable and sufficient to nourish my inner man; where ●re rendered most familiarly and effectually his Flesh and Blood, meat and drink indeed. Oh that I may have such expectations of Spiritual life from him, that I have of Temporal life from my ●ood! and so eat his Body and drink his Blood, receive, digest, and improve, ●eed upon, and Spiritually apply Christ ●s incarnate and in his sufferings, that 〈◊〉 may find refreshment and sweetness, quickening, strength, and life from him, and may live by him, and in him, and he in me. Oh that by the power of thy spirit accompanying the Ordinance I may partake yet more and more of a new and divine nature: that I may find strength and vigour diffused through my whole man; and receive some communication of that light and life which Christ came into the world that his People might have, and that they might have it more abundantly. Oh that his Death and Resurrection may have their power and efficacy upon me, crucifying my lusts and passions, and raising me up to all the acts of the Spiritual life. Oh that something may be done this day against my pride and passion, worldliness and carnality, hypocrisy and uncharitableness, doubtings and unbelief, distrustful fears and discontents, backwardness and indisposition to, listlesness, dulness, and distraction in Duty. Oh that I may find my heart thereby drawn nearer to, and carried out with more unweariedness and cheerfulness in thy Service. Let me come from thence with my pardon sealed, my corruptions subdued, my graces quickened, strengthened, and confirmed; my heart enlarged, my soul refreshed and encouraged to run the ways of thy Commandments; and so inseparably united to thee, that no Temptation may be ever able to dissolve the ●union; but that being begun here in grace, ●it may be perfected in glory.  
How painful and intolerable is the obscuring and interrupting of our Union and Communion with Christ (our Heaven upon Earth? 
To maintain and increase, evidence and enjoy Union and Communion with Christ and him crucified. ) Therein we enjoy his person and all sweet Relations to it: his death, and all the saving fruits, privileges, and influences of it. To maintain and increase, evidence and enjoy it, I receive the Cup of Blessing which we bless, the Communion of the Blood of Christ; and the Bread which we break, the Communion of the Body of Christ to my soul, my Faith, yea even to my outward Senses, signifies, seals, and instrumentally exhibits my Spiritual Communion with Christ and his Death. Thereby I partake of, and am strengthened in this Fellowship with him, as really as I partake of that Bread and Cup. Oh that he being united to me in these holy Mysteries, may comfort, rule, and direct me in all my ways; and his Spirit turn me into the same quality and likeliness! Oh that I may there find him whom my soul loveth! There are the signs, but where the body and blood of my Saviour, the Lamb for a sacrifice? I go not for the bread and wine, but to see Jesus. What are the Elements without thy presence? Oh what wilt tho● give me if I go from thy Table Christless? Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, (afford expressions of his tender affection and reconciliation to my soul,) for thy love is better than wine.  
If we forsake Communion with our Fellow-members, 
To maintain and increase Spiritual Union and Communion with Christ's Members.  how can we maintain it with ou● Head? What need the● have I (especially no● when so many divisions and disagreements) of, and to that end I come to the Ordinance, which tends so much to uni●● and knit together the disjointed Members of Christ; for we being many a●● one Bread and one Body, for we a●● partakers of that one Bread, and hereby profess to be one, and to walk as Fellow-members in Christ, with all christian love and tenderness towards one another. Oh let my heart be enlarged towards them, my delight in them, (for their relation to thee and thy Image upon them) sympathise with, have a fellow-feeling of, interest myself in their several states and occasions; rejoicing with those that rejoice, and weeping with those that weep. Seeing thou hast so loved us, let me be perfectly reconciled to every man; and every spark of anger, envy, and malice, be utterly extinguished, remembering he that comes in hatred is a Judas to Christ, and a Cain to his Brother.  
Through the death of Christ my sins are pardoned, 
To Commemorate Christ's death.  my reconciliation with God obtained, his curse removed, the Enemies of my Salvation subdued, my eternal Salvation and Inheritance, my deliverance from worse than Egyptian Bondage procured, the new Covenant established, all my mercies purchased, conveyed and sanctified: yet how unthankful for, insensible, forgetful of it am I? so greatly ungrateful as to bury in oblivion the greatest expression of his infinite love: in honour of him to make a solemn rehearsal of his famous Acts, to speak of the glorious honour o● His Majesty, and to talk of his Power: I come unto this lasting Monument and Memorial, to show forth his death till he come. Oh let me celebrate it with an affectionate, fiducial, thankful, obediential remembrance; with a ravished heart filled with a gracious composition of joy and sorrow, love and admiration; with such resentments as befit so strange an object, that I may desire, & rejoice, mourn, and tremble; be in such a mixture of passions as may even imitate the confusion that was in the world at his sufferings; make such deep and lasting impressions thereof on my soul, as if this was the very day he suffered. Let me not conclude I have received Christ, till I have remembered him, so as to affect my heart with love to him, desire after him, faith and joy in him, sorrow for my sins the cause of his suffering. Let me think of it as an history to beget my knowledge, as a Gospel to beget my Faith, as an example to provoke my patience, as a benefit to procure my happiness. Oh that I may so remember him at his Table on his Cross, that he may not forget me on his Throne in his Kingdom. Lift up my mind from the contemplation of him as he hung upon the Tree, to him as he sits now in Glory at thy right hand, making intercession for me, presenting to thee the invaluable merits of his death, to appease thee for the sins I commit daily against thee. Oh set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm, that I may be never forgotten, always remembered, preserved, kept safely by thee: and let me set thee as a seal upon my heart, as a seal on my arm, receive thy image and impression of thy love, keep it thankfully, continually on my heart, and testify it in my life.  
By reason of my infirmities, carelessness, sins, 
To have my personal claim and title to the new Covenant cleared.  how apt am I to doubt the pardon of them, and my interest in thy love? The streams of corruption rising up in me, interrupt the light and lustre of my future possession, and suggest matter of diffidence and anxiety, that my hopes hitherto have been ungrounded, my Faith, Presumption, my claim to, and propriety in Christ uncertain, if not quite desperate. But he hath shed his blood meritoriously to procure it; and I go to the Ordinance as thou hast appointed it, to have my pardon, and interest in his Blood sealed and assured unto me, and to renew my engagements and resolutions, that I may be tied faster to thee with new cords of thy love, and that it may be more impossible for me to unloose myself from thy service. O let me therefore receive it as a sign and seal from thee to me, representing and exhibiting thyself and benefits; and from me to thee, a sign to separate me from sinners, a seal to oblige me to all faithfulness and thankfulness required on my part. Oh make the Ordinance effectual to all those blessed ends and purposes for which thou hast appointed it. Let it be not only a sign to represent, but an instrument to convey Christ with the power and virtue of his death unto me, and a seal to assure me of my Interest in the Covenant; that in those holy Mysteries I may not only Commemorate, but effectually receive my blessed Saviour, (thou mayest communicate to me thyself) and all the benefits of his passion; and have not only a representation, but a participation of him in the Sacrament: to the outward Administration of it join the inward Seal of thy Spirit.  
Thou knowest all my corruptions and temptations, wants, weaknesses, and imperfections, poverty and nakedness, troubles and dangers; how often I am tempted and defiled, grieved and indisposed; what strong corruptions to be subdued and mortified, languishing graces to be quickened and strengthened, faint purposes and resolutions to be enlarged and confirmed. In confidence of thy great goodness, faithfulness, and mercy, I thy creature come unto thee my Creator, thy son unto thee my Father, thy servant unto thee my Lord; in danger unto thee my Saviour, needy unto thee the Possessor of Heaven and Earth, diseased unto thee the only Physician, unclean unto thee the Fountain of grace and mercy, desolate unto the God of all consolation; guilty, blind, lifeless unto thee the Author, the Father of pardon, light, life, and Salvation. Oh heal me of the guilt of my sins by the merit of thy blood, of the power and corruption of my sins by the efficacy of thy Spirit. Inflame my coldness with the fire of thy love, soften my hardness with the dew of thy grace, enlighten my blindness with 〈◊〉 beam of light from heaven, anoint the eye of my soul with eyesalve that I may see, clear up spiritual things to my apprehension, heal all the distempers, ease all the pains, supply all the necessities of my soul. Make me more humble, holy, heavenly, confident, and believing: fill thy house with thy own glory. Stand not at a distance behind the wall, show thyself through the Lettuce of the Ordinance: let me see the outgoings of my God and my King in his Sanctuary. Let me not come unto thee, nor go from thee without thee. Oh take this season of coming in upon my soul; bestow more of thyself upon me. Change me into thy likeness, lift up my heart unto thee in Heaven, turn all earthly things unto me to bitterness, contempt, and oblivion: Be thou my meat and drink, my hope and strength, my shield and portion, my honour and glory, my love and joy, my delight and solace, only sweet unto my taste from henceforth and for ever.  
These are the mercies thou hast promised to thy people, hast bidden them to ask, art wont to convey by thy Ordinance. These are the legacies left me by my Saviour's Will, whereof thou art Executor: his prayer, promise, and blessing, this Institution is engaged to procure them for all believing Receivers: for these things therefore which thou then granted him, do I come unto, and wait upon thee this day. With no lower aims go I to thy Table: with such precious things is the Lord Jesus wont to feast his Guests, and of his infinite fullness it is, that I hope to participate, through him to be strengthened with might in the inner man, even to be made strong by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Thou hast provided for my soul as well as body; shall there be bread enough in my Father's house, and I here perish for hunger? Pertains it not to thee to keep in repair that habitation thou hast made so for thyself? Will it tend to thy Honour who hast begun to build, to leave the workmanship of thine own hands, as if not able to finish? must not the food and Author of our Spiritual life nourish, and cherish, redress the decays, uphold the frame of it in us? Oh! will the head let a member perish? shall a branch whither for want of juice? he is the true vine, we the branches, thou art the husbandman, haft ordained him to be the root, fountain, and support of all Spiritual furniture, grace and fruitfulness to those implanted in him▪ Oh of his fullness of Grace communicate to me, for without him I can do nothing acceptable to thee! Art not thou as willing to bestow the fruit, of thy Blood upon us, as to shed it for us? Hast not thou, who once so readily healed diseases, cured all that came unto thee, as much mercy to Soul as Body? Art thou not as merciful as tender, as able, as willing to help as ever? If (as I hope) thou wilt, thou canst make me clean and supply my wants; outward means without thee cannot, yet here thou hast bid, I attend waiting for the descent of thy Holy Spirit: oh say unto me, be it unto thee even as thou wilt; yea even as thou wilt who art ever readily, strongly inclined to do thy people good. Oh let me be so refreshed and strengthened with that spiritual banquet, that I may cheerfully walk on my way to glory, through him who is both Sacrifice and Priest, the Feast and Master of it, invites us to, and feeds us by himself, to whom with thy Blessed Majesty, and Holy Spirit be ascribed all Honour, Glory and Praise, now and for ever. Amen.   

Going to Church.  
COme away, my Soul! let us go: (oh that I may) See how he loved us, how dear we are unto him, how nearly related he is unto us. Let us go die with and for him, disclaim whatsoever is against him, renew our Covenant with him, consecrate ourselves wholly to him, that we will never leave nor forsake him. We were unworthy he should speak to us, or look upon us; he comes unto us, dwells with us in our nature: unworthy of the crumbs that fall from the Table he hath spread for all creatures; and behold he calls us to one furnished with the richest of his blessings. Oh that I may find him whom my soul loveth! oh that he would speak comfortably, savingly, effectually sensibly unto me! that my heart may burn within me while he talketh with me, and openeth unto me his love and affection, those holy mysteries, and my understanding.  
His sweat and blood (oh my soul) drowned not his affections to us; his Compassion broke through his passion; in the same night, (which was so full of anguish and dolour to his Soul,) wherein he was betrayed; when death was in sight, and all those unspeakable fears and sorrows, terrors and sufferings were ready to invade him, when his Disciples were ready to betray, forsake, deny him; injuries from men, ready to load him; and the Justice of God upon sin to be demonstrated on him, he then even forgot his own misereys to remember and dispense his merries to us, and provide this Banquet for us, continually to present himself to us; lest after he had endured so much for us we should forget or distrust his love unto us. Oh how was he burned between two fires, the fire of his Affections to us, and that of his Afflictions for us! At that time wherein men were designing the greatest cruelty against him, was he bestowing the greatest courtesy and gift on us; himself leaving us a Legacy, a pledge at parting of his dearest love, stronger than death, that held him on the cross to finish our Salvation, when death could not hold him in the grave. Before he gave himself to be crucified for us, he provides an ordinance the means of his communicating himself to us: he gives us in the Sacrament what he did and gave, prepared and purchased for us on the cross.  
Oh the infinite love of God, that he would give his own Son; and of Christ that he would so graciously come and save us, and leave us those remembrances and tokens of his love! that he should die for us when he was on earth, be so mindful of, and nourish us with himself now he is in Heaven! Oh wonderful mystery, that the Body of Christ now reigning in Heaven, should be laid upon the Table; that the Author of life should become the Bread of life; that under the broken form, of bread and wine whole Christ should be conveyed to every Believer! His Personal Union is with the single nature, but his Mystical with every Believer. This Sacrament is the representative of the Substance, the sign of a Covenant, the seal of a Purchase, the figure of a Body, the witness of our Faith, the earnest of our Hope, the presence of things distant, the sight of things absent, the taste of things unconceivable, the knowledge of things that are past knowledge; a seal of our Saviour's engraving, whose superscription is Christ's loving us, whose Image is Christ dying for us, whose deed is Christ's New Testament confirmed to us: in the sign we have the Image, in the seal the benefit of Christ's Body; in the sign we see, in the seal we by Faith receive him. The Bread and Wine are but the dishes in which this Feast (not of the belly but mind) is served up; not the Feast it self. Faith eats, not the Bread, but the breaking of it; drinks, not the Wine, but the pouring of it forth. The eating Christ's flesh, and drinking his blood, is nothing else but an act of Faith terminated upon him as our Mediator and Redeemer. The participation of his Body and Blood for strength and refreshment, (sweet to Faith as meat and drink is to hunger) could not be better shadowed forth then by the staff of Bread and Wine, comprising all sorts of Spiritual provision for our inner man: and Faith is to the Soul what Natural hear is to the body, by virtue of which the Nutritive Faculty turns the food into nourishment. They present and confirm Christ to us as the most needful, beneficial, and perfect nourishment of the New man, as Bread and Wine are such unto the Body, i. e. that Christ crucified preserves us from Eternal death, and is unto us the Fountain of Spiritual and Eternal life. Believe, and thou hast eaten: Christ is present with, but not in the Bread and Wine, but to the faithful Receiver, not in the Elements, but to the Communicants; not water, but washing with it is Baptism; not Bread and wine on the Table are a Sacrament, but eating and drinking them, which if they be acts of Faith (the hand and mouth of the soul) the Bread and Wine as really convey and unite whole Christ with the vital influences that proceed from him to the Soul, as the hand doth them to the mouth, or the mouth to the stomach. Whatsoever we may expect of bodily strength or reparation from Bread and Wine, we may expect from Christ for our Soul, life maintained, grace quickened, deadness enlivened, resolutions enabled, hope erected, faith strengthened, lusts subdued, which is consequent upon our union with Christ and interest in the Covenant, renewed and ratified to his people by Christ's death, and sealed to them in the Sacrament. In the Word we have a promise, here a pawn or pledge of him.  
Lift up your heads therefore, O ye gates of my Soul, and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. And be assured such additions of grace as thou art fitted for, and Infinite Wisdom sees meet to deal out, shall be conferred upon thee.  
Fear not, I charge thee do not faint; let not thy weakness, thy poverty, thy inability discourage thee; all have not Talents alike; a Faith richly embroidered with love and delight is not given to all, and expected only from those to whom it is given. Be thy attire whole, sincere, clean, and white, free from spots of the flesh and Spirit, though not so perfumed with heaven as thy Brethren; thou wilt be welcome. Thy God and Saviour will not ask, How camest thou hither not having on a Wedding-garment: he knows thy heart, and sees thou hast it. He will not break the bruised Reed, nor quench the smoking Flax, till he send forth judgement unto victories What manner of, guest's were those he commanded to be brought in to the Wedding Supper? but such as were found in the streets, and lanes, the Hedges and high ways: the poor and the maimed, the lame, the halt, and the blind; hungerstarved, forlorn, undone lost wretches.  
Oh blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that they may dwell in thy Courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy House, even of thy holy Temple.   

At the Lord's Table.  
WHat shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits? I will take the cup of Salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto him now in the presence of all his people.  
Come forth, oh my graces! stir up yourselves, stand ye lively and active before the Lord. Awake my Faith, and see the Atonement of my sins in the broken body of my Saviour, the price paying the ransom laid down, the thing in doing. Awake Repentance, and hear the strong cries, and see the doleful Agonies of him that bore our chastisements. Awake my Memory and call to mind that Egypt wherein I was, and the Blood of the Passover, which removed the Destroying Angel from my Soul. Now let the Altar smoke with the sacrifice of a loving heart, inflamed with the holy fire of God's love to me. Flame, oh Love; come ye warm Desires, and break with longing. Let Fear with all veneration do its obeisance. Come up, ye Daughters of Music, and all that is within me, bless his holy Name. Now the wax is warm, Oh let the seal be stamped fair, that I may see the impression ever after. Now that God shows forth to me the death of his Son for me, let me show it forth to God again, as that which I stick unto and abide by for my Righteousness and Peace with him.  
Having liberty and access with boldness unto the Throne of Grace by the Blood of Jesus, the High Priest of our Profession, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of Faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  
O thou that providest food for all creatures and hast given all creatures to be food for Man's body, and for his soul, not only thy holy Word, but the blessed Body and Blood of thy Son; cause all our hearts to burn with desires after thee, who art so full of love to us. Prepare every one by a full digestion of thy heavenly word, to receive likewise this Divine nourishment. Make it (through the lively operation of thy Holy Spirit) the Bread of Spiritual life, and Wine of Spritual comfort to all our Souls. Cause us to long after, relish and savour the things of God. Let this be the constant language of our Souls, Lord ever more give us this Bread. Call in, compose, and spiritualise all our thoughts at this solemn Ordinance. Pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek thee, though he be not cleansed according to the Purification of the Sanctuary. And, O thou that made us upright, pity the degeneracy of mankind; despise not the price of thy Son's blood, let it not be as water spilt upon the ground; convert, direct, unite, provide for, take care of, support and comfort all of them: let us take a mutual charge of one another▪ make us all up more and more into the mystical body of thy Son, that we may keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace. Afford us thy Gospel in its power and purity, liberty, and efficacy, so long as the Sun and Moon endureth. Let us never want Magistrates and Pastors after thy own heart, which shall protect, encourage thy people, and feed them with knowledge and understanding.  
See (my Soul) thy Saviour set down with what a handful of his Disciples! 
On the Communicants separated from the Congregation.  that lay in common with the rest of the world; by nature children of wrath even as others, born in the same state of distance from thee, and with the same principles of enmity against thee. Oh! what is this that is come to pass? how is it that thou manifestest thyself to us, and not unto the world? what moved thee to make a difference, where thou foundest none? Why ●vere we not made a Prey of Divine revenge, and perished not in our enmity against thee? Why wert thou not provoked by our obstinacy, malice, and unbelief, beyond the possibility of an Atonement? Why hast thou so long suffered our injurious disrespects, and unkind repulses of a merciful Saviour, and persuaded till thou overcame and made ●us yield? Why hast thou not cut off all our hopes of a blessed immortality, who have paid so great bounty with contempt, so many benefits with ingratitude, so inexpressible love with oblivion, neglect, and hatred? Oh what hast thou done? What hast thou not done and suffered for us? why wouldst thou buy sinful dust with thy own blood? Redeem our shame by the shameful death of Glory and immortality itself? put thyself (that got nothing by making the world) to more charge than all of it is worth, to redeem the worst part of it, fallen man? Who can conceive whether we had precipitated ourselves, and to what thou haft exalted us? to be spectacles even grateful to God, who were monsters of horror; laid in his bosom, who were in the arms of the Devil; worthy his embracements, who were unworthy of his eye; crowned Kings of Heaven, who were slaves condemned to the Prison of Hell. He not only pardons our sins, but relinquished his Throne, lost his life, to enthrone us in his Kingdom: bestows on us his greatest mercies, unworthy of the least; sets us down as sons at his Table with his children, who are unworthy as dogs do creep under it, courts us to obedience, who might not only command us to it, but instantly punish our disobedience: promises a reward to such who are so far from deserving it, that they are still provoking him: glory to such who are more apt to be ashamed of their duties then offences.  
Oh! how ought we to be transported with love and thankfulness, considering who hath chosen us, when, why, whom, from, and to what, how long, and how few, his peculiar care of, and kindness unto us! How should the remembrance of this dear love of our Lord, make us ●urn with ardent affections towards one ●nother! How shall we offend one of ●hose for whom Christ died? or deny ●ur selves to them to whom he hath gi●en himself? Shall we hate, be envious, ●nd uncharitable, where thou art so lo●ing, so liberal? condemn or despise the meanest, when thou distributest thyself ●o all? Oh, now we see thy love to enemy's, let all ours find us friends! Let ●o malice, heartburning, or uncharitableness, enter in, or any more rancour my ●oul. With all thy prople let me interest myself, and own them in all their conterments, pity them in all their miseries, ●e ready to relieve them in all their ●ants, to comfort them in all their di●tresses, to counsel them in all their doubts, to delight in their society, bear their infirmities, pardon all their miscarriages, study their welfare, do all the good 〈◊〉 can to Soul and Body.  
Now I see the Minister at the Table to consecrate the Bread and Wine by Prayer ●nd the words of Christ's Institution: 
The Minister at the Table.  with joy and admiration think (my Soul) how Christ was ordained and accomplished for the Office of a Mediator, whom the Father sanctified and sen● into the world; and for this cause he sanctified himself as Priest, Altar and Sacrifice for our Redemption, Spiritual nourishment, and Eternal salvation. The Eternal Wisdom of God Incarnate t●● reveal and communicate his Will, hi● Love, his Spirit, his Glory, to sinful miserable Man. Oh the immensity of his Mercy, and unutterable treasures of hi● Grace! which neither the provocation of our sins, nor the infinite exactness o● his own Justice, could any way overcome or restrain to despise the works of his ow● hand, or not to compassionate the wretchedness of his Creatures, though it co●● the Humiliation and Exinanition of th● Son of God Oh how great, how amiable appears his Love and goodness, i● passing by so many offences, and requiring no satisfaction from us for such insufferable wrongs, but transferring the punishment from us unto his own Son; who● love also was so great, that he woul● bear our iniquities that we might be saved! Oh how could he choose a mo●● obliging way of Redeeming us, that hath ●us displayed the severest Justice and ●ghest Mercy, the greatest hatred of sin, ●●e greatest love to sinners; since by those ●equalled and unvaluable sufferings to ●hich he delivered up for us that Son, ●ho is so near unto him, that he is one ●ith him; at once manifesting both how ●uch he hated sin, which he so heavily ●nished in the person he most loved; ●●d how much he loved sinners, by gi●●ng up what he so loved, for a ransom 〈◊〉 those that were guilty of what he so ●●ted? And oh the miracle, the amazing ●odigic of this Love! that Heaven ●ould so condescend to Earth, and that ●an should be so united to God that ●●od should dwell in flesh, and that this ●sh should be our food! That the Son of ●od should love us better than his life, and 〈◊〉 the meat of Worms, of Sinners, of Ene●es! that he should make himself pre●nt to our Faith; and as if he would do ●●re than die for us, desires to live for ●●er in us, and to be united to us! Was ●●er kindness like unto this? was ever ●●ch a furnace of love burning in any ●east? can any heart frieze over such a fire? Oh! who can abide the heat of th● love? who can dwell in such flames, a●● not be consumed? who can abide in 〈◊〉 great sense of this love, and abide in th● body? what instances can parallel? wh● words can be expressive? what apprehensions can commemorate? what r●ptures can be sufficient for the admiration of this so infinite love? Be thou sw●● lowed up (O my Soul) in this depth 〈◊〉 Divine love, and hate to spend thy though any more upon other things that hast su●● a Saviour to take them up.  
Oh! I shake, I tremble, am altogether confounded 〈◊〉 the approach of so great guest! 
The Minister coming towards him.  Lord, I am not w●● thy that thou shouldest come under 〈◊〉 roof, or to eat the crumbs that fall fro● my own, much less thy Table. Oh, w●● am I that I should dare with my (originally, actually) defiled hands, to recei●● those high, those holy Mysteries? th● thou desirest to to come unto me, be entertained by me? what findest thou 〈◊〉 me, that so much delights and invites th● to me? art thou ignorant of my m●●vile beginning and original? I am not ●heruhim, Seraphim, or of the number of ●hat Celestial Hierarchy; but dust and she's, polluted dust and ashes. Lord, ●●adst thou rather be at another man's 'scuse with dishonour, then at thy own ●ith honour? or, if thou hast no respect ●o thine own honour, if thou castest under ●ot all praise and renown, if thou takest ●nto thee every vile sinner, yet hast thou ●o regard to thy Greatness and Majesty? Thou knowest my poverty, my need, my impurity: this poor place is a far un●eet habitation for thee. Whence is this 〈◊〉 me, that my Maker, my Redeemer, ●hould come unto me, thus favour, thus signify me? that thou shouldest be so ●elow thyself, as to look upon so low, so ●ain, so miserable a thing as Man, such a ●ead Dog as I am? Why have I found grace in thy sight, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? Lord, what am I that thou shouldest remember me, be mindful of me, visit me, ●ast thine eye, set thine heart upon me, ●ome to marry thyself with me? Whence ●omes it that thou, who art in Heaven ●mongst them that know so well how to ●ove and serve thee, shouldest vouchsafe to descend to me, who know little e●●● but how to offend thee? Canst thou 〈◊〉 be content to be without me? Did 〈◊〉 mere love draw thee from Heaven 〈◊〉 my sake, and give thyself for me to 〈◊〉 deem me from my sins, and dost thou s●● give thyself to me to be the strength an● health of my Soul? As if thou could● never give thyself enough, or be ne●●● enough mine? Oh how am I astonished at this inconceivable love! oh that I we● able to comprehend it! Oh that I had 〈◊〉 thousand hearts to correspond with i● oh stay (my gracious Lord) for the ●●mcasure of my love, till thou hast ma●● me able to do nothing else but love the● But since thou art pleased to come an● offer thyself to me, my soul thirsteth 〈◊〉 thee; I humbly stretch out my hands u●to thee; my longing, gasping, desires a● after thee: I open my heart with a● humble thankfulness to receive thee, n●ver to be separated from thee, for ever 〈◊〉 adhere unto thee. Oh enter in and st●● with me; satisfy my soul with thy sel● say, This day is Salvation come unto t● house. Oh be not now offended at th● loathsome sights in a soul so sick and diea●e● ●ased, so full of filth, of rottenness and corruption, into which thou art entering. Do not disdain me for those many Maladies, but come and cure me.   

The Bread.  
SEE (my soul) thy Saviour in the Minister, and the benefits that come by ●im in the Bread and Wine; believing ●hose with himself are given thee by him, ●●s really as the Elements by his Ambassador, saying, [Take, eat, this is my Body which is broken for you:] by Faith re●eive, apply, appropriate me unto thy ●elf. This Bread consecrated by me is ●he Sacrament of my Body, offered as an Expiatory Sacrifice for you. Hereby I impute my righteousness, impart my lo●ing kindness, make over and give un●o you my whole self (God and Man as Mediator) in my Blood and Merits, Gra●es and Spirit, Virtue and Benefits, Obedience, Satisfaction, Expiation, Do, ●nd Sufferings; in all I have, am, or have purchased for you, I make yours by gift, ●nd you by Faith, as truly as if put into your very hand and mouth. Mine were the pains, the sufferings of Death, yours the benefit; mine the stripes, yours the balm; mine the thorns, yours the Crown. These are the holes in my hands and side, the blood that issued from them yours; the price mine, yours the purchase. See here in my wounds your safety, in my stripes your healing, in my anguish your peace, in my Cross your Triumph. I came out of my Father's bosom that thou mightest lie in abraham's. Own me for thy Lord, who have thus bought thee out of slavery; accept me for thy Redeemer, who have paid so dearly for thee; follow me in the way I have shown thee, that I may bring thee to him I have reconciled to thee. [Do this in, and for a remembrance of me;] who, what, for whom, why, for what end, with what mind, I suffered; what I have done for yond, and am unto you.  
Dear Saviour, biddest thou me Remember thee! How should I forget thee? how can I but remember, but celebrate thee? But oh, that I could more affectionately, more constantly, more effectually remember thee! With all the passionate affections of a Heart full of love to, wholly in love with thee, with all zealous desires to glorify thee, with all fervent long after thee, always to remember thee, never to forget thee! Oh that the fire of love would now kindle and burn in my Soul; boil up, even run over with love unto thee! Oh that I had the flames of a Seraphim, the voice of an Angel to sing thy praise! Oh that I could go out of myself when I remember thee, and never think of thee without an Ecstasy! forget, and quit all the world to live upon thee! The thoughts of what thou hast done is able to break an heart of Marble with love, to turn a Rock into a Fountain of tears, to unloose the tongue of the dumb, that they may sound forth thy loving kindness.  
Oh, after all his foregoing sufferings seest thou him not (my Soul) fastened to the Cross, conflicting with his Father's wrath, groaning under the weight and burden of our Sins? Look how his whole Body is stretched and tentered, his Hands and Feet bored through, his precious Blood trickles down; and how miserably the Thorns pierce his holy Head. See how his Looks are changed, his Cheeks pale, his Blood going, his Neck too weak to support his Head, which lies a dying on his bleeding Breast. Look how he shakes and stirs his dying Limbs, what gasps and sighs he fetches, as if his Soul was struggling to get out. Hear you not his dying groans, the taunts of the Jews, yea the groans of the Earth, under the weight of his Cross? See the Sun blushing under a veil of darkness to behold the Son of Righteousness under an Eclipse? Can, oh can my bosom hold, now I see the innocent Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world, a bleeding Victim on the purple Altar of Death? This, this (my Soul) might have been the day that thou mightest have been the Malefactor, and have drunk the cup of the fierceness of God's wrath; but there is he that hath done it for thee. He harboured no grief of his own, but is acquainted with the just and deadly griefs of others: he takes our sorrows on him to bestow upon us his joy: he sorrows for us, that hath neither cause nor likelihood to sorrow for himself. What but God's implacable vengeance could inflict? What but his all-sufficient patience could endure? What but man's heinous sins deserve, such his sad and wrathful dolours? Ah sinful wretches! 'tis our do, that he suffers; our evil, but his smart; our trespass, his punishment. His breast is made a large receptable for our cares; his back a common prop unto our load; he was delivered for our offences; he was slain, but not for himself, he bore our grief; and carried our sorrows; he was wounded for our transgressions; bruised for our iniquities; for the transgressions of his people was he smitten. Why then are we angry with, rail against the Jews, and complain not of, find no fault with ourselves, greatlier guilty? they were the instruments, we the procurers of his sufferings: their sins practised ours provoked his death: we pity his abused innocency, but think not of our unworthiness and desert; bewail the event, and redress not the cause: we have as great enmity against his Image, as they against his Person; they grieved him in his Body, we in his Spirit, and make his wounds bleed afresh: he takes it as heinously we should despise him now, as that they persecuted him then: they were but our Executioners, to inflict these punishments our sins deserved, and God's justice imposed on him. 'Twas thy Sins (O my Soul) were the associates to crucify him; thy hypocrisy was the kiss that betrayed him, thy pride and covetousness the Thorns that crowned him, thy oppression and cruelty the nails that pierced him, thy unbelief and apostasy the spear that gored him; thy Idolatry, superstition, Juke warmness, the knee that mocked him; thy contempt of Religion the spittle that defiled him, thy anger and bitterness the vinegar and gall that distasted him, thy scarlet sins the crimson that dishonoured him: my drinking iniquity like water made him drink a Cup of wrath, my forsaking my Father made him forsaken of his: all the members of his body were objects of such cruelty, because mine, instruments of iniquity. Oh I am the merit of thy sorrow, I am the stroke of thy grief, I am the fault of thy kill, I am the desert of thy death, I am the offence of thy revenge, I am the grievousness of thy passion, I am the cause of thy torment. Oh wonderful condition of censure! Oh ineffable disposition of the misery! the unjust sins, and the just is punished: the guilty transgresses, and the guiltless is stricken: the impious offends, and the pious condemned; what the bad deserves, the good suffers; what the servant perpetrates; the Lord pays; what man commits, God undergoes. Whither, oh Son of God? whither descends thy Humility? Whither flameth thy Charity? whither proceedeth thy Pity? whither increaseth thy Benignity? whither reacheth thy Love? whither cometh thy Compassion? I have been proud, thou hast been humbled; I have done unjustly, thou art punished; I have dealt heinously, thou art revengefully smitten; I have committed the fault, thou art tortured. How much do I own thee, most Blessed Redeemer? how great is the price thou hast paid for me miserable Sinner? Oh I blush to see my Soul so foul and loathsome that nothing less than thy precious blood serves to wash and cleanse it. I am confounded to see thee in such a case for us who cared not how vile, how base, how miserable we were.  
Oh how was that justice injured, that could not rest appeased in Punishment, but rigour? how odious and intolerable is every sin, which required no cheaper blood for a Sacrifice then that of the Son of God? and which not suffering only, but extremity must expiate? how heinous was the commission, since even the remission was so grievous? That made such a breach between God and us, as required such sufferings of the Lord of Glory? wretch that I am to cost my God so dear! I am not worthy for which he should have suffered the least care or trouble, much less the torments of Soul and Body. And yet, what mean I to be so treacherous unto him? How have I broken his commands and my vows, even since the last Communion? Oh can I Kiss the nails? hug the spear? desire that which is the blood of him that lost his life? Can I account that light, which made his Soul heavy unto death? Can that be my joy which made him a wan of sorrow? sweet to me, which was so bitter to him? shall those sins not be forsaken by me, that made him forsaken of God? or live in me, that would not suffer him to live in the, world? Oh can I endure my Lord should be evermore disgusted and affronted? oh how is my heart provoked and incensed against ye my sins? oh that none of you might escape here! that ye may all lie bleeding as so many Sacrifices at the Altar of my Lord! oh let them now feel the weight and sharpness of thy Cross! here let them be slain at thy foot, that I may not carry away one of them alive.  
How can my Heart refrain from tears of sorrow and joy, to think of its unkindness, and of his strange love? what heart can be so hard as without pain to think we love him no more, who put himself to such pains for us? Oh how am I troubled that my heart should be so cold, when his was so hot with love, as to send forth its life-blood for my Redemption? and yet, when I consider, that in this stream of blood my sinful Soul is washed, and that by his stripes I am healed; that instead of sin, and death, and Hell deserved, Righteousness, and life, and Heaven, is purchased; how can I choose but rejoice in his love, and hope he will accept of my poor acknowledgement, who so pardons, as might even melt the hardest heart, and for ever silence and satisfy it by the love of God and sufficiency of the Sacrifice. Oh how am I ravished therewith? I am justified by Faith, and at peace with God; the flames of Hell shall never touch me; Death is swallowed up in victory; I am consigned to a blessed immortality. But oh my Lord! I take the boldness to complain unto thee, and expostulate with thee; how sayest thou that thou lovest me, if thou discover thyself no more unto me? if I have no more love unto thee? no more life from thee? if I be so barren and unfruitful towards thee? so dull and cold in thy service? so unwilling to execute thy commands? so weak and unable against assaults? if thou be with me, who can be against me? what can be too hard for me? what cannot be done by me through thee? O! since it is thy pleasure to be so familiar with me; if thou lovest me so much, fulfil in me all the good pleasure of thy will, and the work of Faith with power. Oh let the merit of Christ's death free me from the guilt upon me; and his Spirit cleanse me from the stains within me. Let holiness to the Lord be written upon my whole Soul and Body, that they may be a delectable habitation for thee; unite my heart unto thee, transform me altogether in thee.  
I put myself out of my own power; I accept of and close with thee as my Maker and Preserver, Lord and Sovereign, Priest and Prophet, King and Captain, Head and Husband, to be ordered, disposed, provided for by thee. I give my hearty consent that thou shouldest dwell within me, as the alone Prince of my soul; the possession of it I for ever surrender up unto thee. I cease to be my own. I renounce the Devil, the World, and the Flesh; I profess my acceptance of, submission to, to place my happiness in, and to resign myself wholly unto thee, to be provided for, disposed of, led, saved by theme. Oh how am I pleased with my choice! that I have parted with my self, and am become thine! How am I beholden to thee, that I may give myself unto thee, that thou hast brought me into the Bond of the Covenant? Oh come (dear Redeemer) to the price of thy own blood, cease thine own and save me; assist and strengthen me, feed and preserve me; never leave me nor forsake me.   

The Cup.  
COme my beloved, now I have drunk thy Cup of wrath, pledge me in this Cup of Salvation, for which I pierced my side. I drew this wine on purpose for thee, when I trod the wine-press of my Father's wrath alone: This Cup is the New Testament in my blood, is a pledge of, signifies and represents (by representation is) my blood, in which the New Testament between God and Man is founded and established, confirmed and ratified; and by which, remission of sins and all other consequent blessings of the New Covenant are purchased. It's glorious liberties and immunities I hereby sign and seal unto you; a full release and discharge from all your debts, from the house of bondage, sin, the grave, and hell. Here I deliver yond your Protection, from all your Enemies will I save you; from the Arrests of the Law, from the powers of darkness, from the victory of the world, from the curse of the Cross; none shall prove too hard for you, all shall work good unto you. I hereby confer upon and instate you in all its royal privileges and prerogatives; behold I give myself to you, to be your God and instead of all relations: I will be a Friend, and Physician, a Shepherd, Sovereign, and Husband unto you; to espouse your interest, to counsel and heal you, to feed and comfort you, to watch over and defend you. Lo, I make over myself to you in all my Essential perfections; mine omnipotency shall be your guard, my omnisciency your overseer, my omnipresence your companion, my mercy your store, my wisdom your counsellor, my justice your revenger and rewarder, my holiness a fountain of grace unto you, my sovereignty to be commanded by you, my infiniteness and all-sufficiency the lot and extent of your inheritance, my Faithfulness & unchangeableness the rock of your rest and security, my eternity the date of your happiness. I will be yours in all my personal relations; a Father unto you, what would my Children have? of your Father's instruction and probation, protection and provision, care and ear, bread and rod, heart and house, pity and compassion, I here assure you; my Son and Spirit I give you; to  and teach you, assist and comfort you, intercede in and for you, sanctify and save you; with myself I give you all things, mine Angels for your guardians and attendants; my Word, and Ordinances, Ministers, and providences for your guide and good. Whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, or the World, or life, or death; or things present, or things to come, all are yours.  
And that you may know I am in earnest, lo I establish my Covenant with yond, ordered in all things and sure; written in the blood, founded in the all-sufficient merits of your surety, in whom I am well-pleased; whose death made this Testament unchangeable for ever; so that your name can never be blotted out, nor your inheritance alienated, nor your legacies diminished, nothing can be altered. I here solemnly deliver it to you as my Act and Deed, sealed with the Oath and Blood of God, who engages here his own Body for security! Come ye blessed, fear not, the donation is free and full, I have received a ransom, and expect only you believe, know and accept of your own blessedness. Here are the conveyances, see the seals, take the writings, behold the blood of the Covenant; receive the instruments of your salvation. This I give you as a pledge of my love, and of the truth of all I have promised. I hereby plight you my troth, and set to my hand, ratify and confirm every Article of these Indentures, and do actually deliver into thy hand this glorious Charter, with all its Royalties and Privileges as your own for ever.  
Amen, Hallelujah. Oh be it unto thy servant according to thy Word. But who am I? and what is my Father's house, that thou hast brought me hither? What shall thy servant say unto thee? I am silenced with wonder, and must sit down in astonishment, for I cannot utter the least tittle of thy praise. Oh what meaneth the height of this strange love? that the Lord of all should enter into Covenant with his dust, and take in to his bosom the viperous brood, that have so often spit their venom in his face? I am not worthy to wash the feet of the servants of my Lord, how much less to be one with thee, and to be made partaker of those blessed privileges settled upon thy Sons? but for thy goodness sake, and according to thine own heart hast thou done this; even so Father, because it seemed good unto thee. Wonder oh Heavens, and be moved oh Earth, at this great thing! Rejoice oh Angels, shout oh Seraphims, strike up ye Celestial Quires, help Heaven and Earth, sing unto the Lord oh ye his Saints, prepare an Epithalamium o all ye Friends of the Bridegroom, be ready with the Marriage song, for Heaven and Earth, God and Man, are reconciled, a Covenant of Peace entered and sealed, Jehovah hath betrothed himself to his hopeless Captives, and owns the Marriage before all the world: he is become one with us, and we with him; he hath bequeathed to us Heaven and Earth, with the fullness thereof, and kept back, left us nothing to ask at his hands, but what he hath already freely granted. Oh had I the tongues of Men and Angels, all were too little for my single turn: the whole Choir is not sufficient to utter his praise.  
And will the Lord be mine? hath he laid aside the controversy, and concluded a peace? will he receive his Rebel to mercy, and open his door to his Prodigal? I will bow myself before his footstool, and say, Oh Lord I have heard thy words, and do here lay hold on thy Covenant; I subscribe to thy Conditions, and close with my Mediator; I accept thy kindness, I adventure myself upon thy fidelity, and trust my whole happiness here & hereafter upon thy promises. Oh my God, I subject my whole Soul unto thee: Oh my Rock in thee will I build all my hopes and confidence: Oh staff of my life, strength of my Soul, Life of my Joys, and the joy of my Life, I will sit and sing under thy shadow with great delight, and glory in thy Salvation.  
I here take thee at thy word, thou God of Truth; thou requirest but my consent and acceptance, and here thou hast it; in token whereof I receive this pledge thou hast left me; believing thou wilt establish for ever thy word unto thy servant, and do as thou hast said. In this blood of thine oh Saviour I believe, I receive it as mine, I thirstily drink down, and hearty apply, with a comfortable expectation of all those blessed benefits, purchased, secured, sealed by it. I am more loathsome and abominable, than the croaking Toad, or most venomous Serpent; but This Blood was shed to make me precious before thee; which I durst not have thought, but that I hear thee say, since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee. And, oh how truly mayst thou call us a dear, e precious people, who are bought with that Blood, a drop of which is of worth to purchase Heaven and Earth?  
I own the suffering of the penalty due, for breaking thy Law, violating thy Covenant and wronging thy Justice. But was not this Blood shed for our good, and in our stead? hath not our surety made full satisfaction? undergone the curse of our sins? born them all in his own Body upon the tree? endured as much as they deserved, as thy Justice demanded? was he not once offered up to bear the sins of many? became he not subject to the Law for us 〈◊〉 our nature, and representatively in our stead? setting us right with, reconciling us again to thee? hath he not made satisfaction for the injury we had done thee as our Judge, and performed that service we owed thee as our Maker? Is not ●he Creditor satisfied, when the debt is ●aid? will thy Justice suffer thee to de●and the same debt twice of the surety ●nd debtor? is not thy wrath appeased ●ith him, made so miserable a spectable 〈◊〉 dear unto thee? is not the least drachm ●f this Blood of God, of greater value than  
Sea of mine? of value to ransom as ●any worlds of men, as men in this? a ●ufficient satisfaction for all my sins, an all-sufficient price for my redemption? ●eing justified freely by his Grace through ●he Redemption that is in Jesus Christ, ●hom God hath set forth to be apropitia●●on through Faith in his blood; to declare ●●is righteousness for the remission of sins ●hat are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare I say, his righteousness, ●hat he might be just, and the justifier of ●im that believeth in Jesus. If we confess ●ur sins, he is faithful and just to forgive ●●s our sins, and to cleanse us from all un●●gh teousness.  
I am guilty of many heinous sins against love and light, mercies and Judgements, my own conscience, and the ●●ght of nature; and without shedding of ●ood is no remission. But here is that which procures it for, and seals the promise of it to us? to the praise of the glory of thy grace, thou hast made us accepted in the Beloved; once in the end of the world, he hath appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself, in whom we have Redemption through his Blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Thy word assures it to all that take him for their Saviour, (which I find myself by thy grace enabled) and thou hast bound thy w●●● with thy oath, and to both added thy Sacraments as seals; this threefold cord cannot be broken. At the day of Judgement thou wilt own thy hand and seal, an● solemnly acquit me whom thou no● pardonest by thy deed of gift, the Gospel there is no condemnation to them that a● in Christ Jesus.  
I am naturally and by evil works, at 〈◊〉 distance from, at enmity with thee, an 〈◊〉 my unto thee. But God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself; h●● Blood was given to make an Atonement for our souls: thy wrath is turned from 〈◊〉 thou art become propitious to believer Christ our Passeover is Sacrificed for us the propitiation (Propitiatory Sacrifice● ●or our sins; that thou mightest pass over ●nd look upon us with a pleasing aspect; ●●e satisfied for sin, and pacified to sinners; ●n expiated, and thou appeased: and we 〈◊〉 well ingratiated, brought into favour, ●f enemies made friends, as pardoned; ●aving made up the breach, and made ●eace through the blood of his Cross, by ●im, to reconcile all things to himself; we ●●at were sometimes Aliens and Enemies, ●ow thou hast reconriled in the body of his ●●esh through death; to present us holy, un●●lameable, unreprovable in thy sight. ●e who sometimes were far off, are made ●igh, by the blood of Christ; for he is our ●eace (our peacemaker) who hath made ●oth one, & broken down the middle wall ●f partition between us; by whom we have ●●so now received the Atonement.  
Lord, I am in worse than Egyptian ●ondage, a captive to Satan, a slave 〈◊〉 my Lusts, destitute of grace and eve●● good thing. But is not here a suf●cient price laid down for my ransom? ●nd all things pertaining to life and godliness? hath he not obtained eternal redemption for us, who came to give, who ●●ve himself a ransom for many, for all? Hath he not delivered, redeemed, & bought me quite out of the handsof Justice, out of the power of Sin, and Satan? If while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, much more than being now justified by hi● Blood, shall we be saved from wrath through him. For Sin he condemned si● in the flesh, overcame death, and destroyed him that had the power of death, eve● the Devil. I beg of thee and rely upon therefore supplies of my soul-pressing wants grace, and peace, & comfort, more love unt● thee, and fear of thee; and. I ask no mor● then what he hath bought for me, who hat● not only purchased me with his ow● blood, but all good things by the redundancy of his Merit, after satisfaction made unto thee for our debt.  
I have no righteousness of my own but what is as filthy rags; but thou ha● made him to be sin for us who knew 〈◊〉 sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him: we are clothed wit● him, and appear in thy sight as parts an● portions of himself, the fullness of him th●● filleth all in all. Oh! impute not th● guilt but the merit of his blood unto m●● behold me in him, whom thou hast appointed between thee and sinners; whose righteousness in every point answers thy Justice, and whose sufferings are sufficient to satisfy the penalty of all my sins: Oh balance them against mine iniquities; and the excess and proportion of virtue in his obedience, against the malignity and unpleasingness of my disobedience; they will so far exceed in weight and worth, that thou wilt in justice rather pour forth thy mercy upon me, and accept me into favour for the one, then hold me still in displeasure for the other. And oh thou who without grudging bore my burden when thou stoodst at the Bar of Accusation! when thou shalt sit in the seat of Judgement, wilt thou stick to seal my pardon? Where thyself hath paid the debt, thy justice cannot deny to sign the Acquittance, nor thy tender love suffer thee to condemn or reject a member of thy body, a part of thyself. Thou that suffered'st for me here, and pleadest for me now, cannot forget to be gracious to me then.  
The Law, Satan, and my sins not only stop my mouth that I cannot plead my own Cause, but they plead against me, and cry unto thee for vengeance. Bu● is not this Blood as a visible prayer i● every wound, as so many mouths ope● interceding to thee for pardon and mercy for me? saying, behold the travel 〈◊〉 my Soul, the purchase of my blood, th● fruit of my Agonies; for him I wept and sweat, bled and died; he hath sinned but I have satisfied; he departe● for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever, not as a servant only, bu● brother unto me, both in the flesh, and in the Lord; for mine, and thy own sake, therefore, if thou account me thy beloved Son, receive him as myself, in whom thou art well-pleased: if he have wronged thee, or owes thee aught, put it on my account, I will repay it, I will answer for him: I Jesus have ratified and confirmed it with my own Blood: his surety came not out of Prison, until he had paid the uttermost farthing. Behold, Oh Lord, the bleeding wounds of thy own Son; remember how his body was broken; think upon his precious blood shed for us; let us die, if he hath not made a full satisfaction; we desire not to be pardoned if he hath not paid our debt. But canst thou behold him, and not be well-pleased with us? canst thou look upon his body and blood which we present to thee, and turn thy face from us? Oh let us prevail in the virtue of his Sacrifice for the Graces and Blessings we need! Take pity, have mercy upon us for his sake, whom we now desire to hold up between thy anger and our Souls; and hid not thyself from us, unless thou canst from him, whom we bring with us unto thee. While we are remembering him at his Table, he is remembering us at his Father's right hand.  
I am not only guilty, but polluted; sin hath as well defiled, as it would damn me. But oh remember who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood; of virtue and Spirit to purify me, as value and merit to pacify thee. To this Fountain which thou hast set open I bring my polluted Soul; and what hinders but that I may wash and be clean? be purged from the filth, as well as pardoned for, and saved from the guilt of all my sins? for the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sins.  
Oh how often is my Soul cast down within me? my omissions and Commissions, my sins and duties (as I perform them) discomfort me; I am ashamed of, and blush to see them; my petitions for pardon stand in need of pardon; my tears of washing, my best performances are provocations, and help to fill up the measure of my sins; but for the Priest that offers, the Altar that sanctifies all my services, the sweet incense he offers with our prayers.  
His Priesthood is for ever available, and effectual for us. Here is wine sweetened with the love of God, perfumed with the divine nature; that cheers the heart of God by way of satisfaction, and the heart of Man by way of pacification; that makes peace in Heaven and within us, and all our Sacrifices well-pleasing unto thee; who dealest not with us according to our frailties, but state in our Advocate; who when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the Right hand of the Majesty on high, and ever lives to make intercession for us. If thy grace prevented us before Repentance that we might return, shall it not much more prevent Repenting sinners that we may not perish? how canst thou but love them that love thee, seeing thou loved us when we hated thee?  
Oh my stony, unrelenting heart! how unaffected am I with my own vileness, and thy goodness, the evil of sin, and excellency of grace, the worth of my Soul, and death of my Saviour! but the blood of Christ is able to soften and mollify the most obdurate sinner. Oh that I could feel the virtue and power of it dissolving this rock into a fountain of tears, a relenting frame, a heart of flesh.  
My lusts and Corruptions are many and mighty; too strong for me, but not for thyself. As in the first Adam's sin, man died legally, so in the second Adam's death, sin died virtually. He suffered to save his people from their sins, that himself and not sin should have dominion over us. Shall not that blood mortify my pride, worldliness, inordinate affections, which shall subdue the whole body of sin? shall I reproach or make void his death unto my own Soul? or by continuance in sin, that brought so great a punishment on so great a person, be a greater enemy to him then the Jews were? How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein, knowing this, that our Old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Oh that I may henceforth find and reckon myself to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord!  
Oh how am I tempted, and assaulted! that I am sometimes ready to say, I shall one day fall by my spiritual enemies; but Faith gives us a share in the victories of Christ: having spoilt all Principalities and Powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them as our enemies: in, on the Cross, his triumphant Chariot, took away from them all possibility to hurt: though they assault us still, we are assured of an absolute victory. The accuser of the Brethren is cast down, which accused them before God day and night, and they overcome by the Blood of the Lamb, that hath quenched the flames of divine fury, and all our enemies are reconciled, or subdued.  
Ah my Lord! how often doth sin and the world deadden my heart, and affections towards thee? O how dull, how indisposed? that I cannot pray with life, nor be lively in thy service: but this blood was shed to set Prisoners free; and is the life of all our duties, graces, and comforts. Oh that its power and efficacy may quicken and enliven me, may put vivacity, and activity in me! that I may pray, and hear, receive, meditate, and discourse of spiritual things with freedom and liberty, liveliness, and cheerfulness.  
Oh that I may no more, as I have too too often, disbelieve, or question the promises of this life, or that to come. For this Blood ratifies and confirms the Covenant of grace; not only purchased, but assures us of all good things. Christ's Will and Testament, wherein he hath bequeathed such precious legacies to his people, is now of force; for a Testament, is of force after the Testator is dead.  
Oh how ought it to affect me, for the betraying of innocent Blood! he was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, in his hands no wickedness, in his heart no sin, no guile found in his mouth. I and my brethren are guilty, but for this spotless Lamb, what hath he done? and where there is no sin, thou inflictest no punishment. But he was numbered with the Transgressor's; surely then the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all: for the transgression of my people was he smitten; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities. Oh! I take thee at thy word, and do believe all my sins, with all thine Elects were imputed to our surety; and the wages of sin inflicted on him, that we might be fully acquitted and discharged.  
I am guilty of many aggravated sins, and am the greatest of sinners; but with thee is plenteous redemption through Christ Jesus who shed his Blood, not because we were Righteous, but to make us So: of infinite, virtue and merit; as sufficient for me, as if none else were justified or saved by it. He is able to save to the utmost all that come unto thee by him.  
Oh how small, how imperfect are my Graces? how cold my Love? how weak my Faith? How faint my desires after thee? but the least degree of Grace is the fruit of this Blood: Oh that I may find its efficacy, perfecting that good work thou hast begun in me, from strength to strength, till grace be consummated ●n Glory. Through the Blood of the Eternal Covenant, make me perfect in every good work to do thy will, working in me that which is wellpleasing in thy sight.  
Oh what trifles disturb my charitable affections? how interrupted and inconstant my love to those, who by one spirit are all baptised into one body? but Christ hath reconciled us in one body by the Cross, having slain the enmity thereby? Oh that henceforth I may be of one heart with his Disciples, and love them as he hath loved us.  
Our God is a Consuming Fire; which I cannot but dread, having so much fuel about me, and within me; but in thy Son I see flesh of my flesh, and bone of my bone; who gave himself for us. And shall the sentence of thy judgement disannul the merit of his sufferings, of his satisfaction? Didst thou not punish him that thou mightest spare us? is it not as great a necessity of thy Satisfied Justice to spare the sinner, as it was of thy offended Justice to punish the sin? Thou art not only reconcilable, but desirous to become our friend. Oh how comfortable are those words of thine to my guilty Soul, the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement to the Son; his first coming was in the flesh, when he took on him our nature; his second in the spirit, when he imparted unto us of his spirit; his third will be in power, when he shall communicate to us his glory: his first was to redeem; his second to comfort; his third will be to reward us. If we be careful not to offend, he will not be extreme to mark what we do amiss. He will proceed, not according to the Law, which requires an absolute obedience without sin, and will condemn all that have been guilty of any sin; but according to the Gospel, which admits of repentance for the forgiveness of sin, and will condemn none but the unbelieving and impenitent sinner. Damnation is denounced, not for breaking the Law, but rejecting the Gospel. He is faithful because he hath promised; and just, because his Son hath purchased forgiveness. The same sentence shall be pronounced as is passed already in the Gospel, Whosoever be-believes in him shall not perish, but have ever-everlasting life.  
Sin hath shut us out of paradise; but ●e blood of Christ hath opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. It gives us ●ere a right, and hereafter an admission: ●●rough this Red Sea we enter into the heavenly Canaan; and for this cause he 〈◊〉 the Mediator of the New Testament, ●hat by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under ●he first Testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.  
And he that hath purchased for us a Kingdom, hath thrown in, stored up all necessaries for our passage thither; maintenance for his Heirs while they come to Age. He will not neglect his members; not starve his own Body: He will refresh the weary Pilgrim; furnish and supply us with provision to serve us by the way till we come home to himself. How shall he refuse our prayers for any thing, now we are united to his person, our souls joined to, and nourished by his body, sanctified by his blood, and clothed with his robes, marked with his character, & sealed with his spirit, renewed with his vows, consigned to his glory, & adopted to his inheritance; when we represent his death, and pray in virtue of his passion, and imitate his intercession, and do that he commands, & take Christ along with us in our arms, and offer him, he essentially loves? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely give us all things.   

The Communion Close.  
BUt here is no continuing Banquet! Oh how unwillingly do I rise? How joth am I to go hence? me thinks I could sit here and feast myself for ever. Oh what running Banquets my Lord affords me! sure he need not fear I should surfeit on himself, or be weary of his company. Oh! what shall I do in yonder unsatisfying, Sould-starving World? I have been feeding on my Paschal Lamb, and now must I to my sour Herbs again! If it be his will, I must obey; but oh take me by the hand, lead and uphold-me, be still by me, let me see thee always with me. I know thou hast prepared the endless Feast above, where I shall ever lie in thy bosom, under the uninterrupted beams of thy smiling, and all-cheering Countenance, and glut my hungry Soul on the Banquet of thy ever blessed self: In comparison of which I now, rather Fast then Feast; and enjoy but drops, of the river of pleasure; an antipast of the Eternal Supper, a Vigil of the Eternal Rest, where my Appetite shall be satisfied, and my thirst quenched in the Ocean itself: where I shall see thee in thy Glory, and be ravished in the sight of thy beauty, and drink of those overflowing joys streaming from the light of thy ever-blessed face. Where Body and Soul shall be subject to no corruption, imperfection or decay; nor stand in need of such Viaticums to support us in our way. Where the vail of our mortality shall be rend, our mudwall of flesh made spiritual and transparent; the shadows and resemblances abolished, the glass removed, the riddle of our Salvation unfolded, the vapours of corruption dispelled, the patience of our expectation rewarded; where from the power of the Spirit within, and presence of Christ without, there shall be diffused on the whole man a double lustre of that exceeding abundant Glory. This ordinance is a Type of that Eternal Feast the feeding on his Body, a pledge of seeing his face; the same company there, and Christ in the midst of them, when he shall gird himself, and make us to sit down at meat, and come forth and serve us. Oh the dignity, the comfort of those servants, who have infinite delight, Majesty itself condescending to serve them at the Table! for the Guests to have him set himself to solace them; who is infinite in sweetness and knowledge, to make his sweetness please them whose bosom is the hive and centre of all goodness, in which all the scattered parcels of blessedness are bundled up.  
But alas, as yet I am on Earth, and have my work to do, too too toilsome, and heavy for me; scarcely should I have lasted out so long, but that at such seasons as this, he repairs my finking Spirit, by pouring in the Cardials of his Blood, the comforts of his Spirit. Oh, little did I think to be thus much made of, or minded by him, who is taken up with the attendance and praises of his Heavenly Host; my conscience would have kept me away, but he called me to him, ran to meet me, and took me in his arms, and rebuked my timorous Spirit, saying, wherefore didst thou fear? I called myself Prodigal, a companion of Swine, a miserable hardhearted wretch, no more worthy to be called his Son or Servant; he called me Child, and chid me for questioning his love. He hath readily forgiven me those sins, I thought would have made my Soul the fuel of Hell. He hath put on me the best Robe, his Son's righteousness; a ring on my hand, honoured, adorned me with the riches, the seals, & pleges of his love, and Shoes on my feet, prepared, armed, firmly fettled me to go throughout all the difficuties of a rugged way: by enabling me to believe the Gospel of Peace and Atonement. He hath killed the Fatted Calf for me, instead of mingling my Blood with my Sacrifice; and entertained me with Joy, with music, and with Feasting; when I better deserved to have been howling among the Dogs without the door, than a crumb at his table. He hath embraced me in his sustaining Consolatory arms, when he might have spurned my guilty Soul to Hell, saying depart from me, I know you not.  
Oh! how shall I mention the lovingkindness & praises of the Lord, according to his mercy, according to the multitude of his loving kindness, according to all he hath bestowed on me, and his great goodness to the house of Israel? Oh that I could proclaim thy love to all the world, and make the whole earth ring with thy praises, and awake every creature to do it with me! Oh that I could laud him with the Celestial Choir, and join my heart and voice with the spirits of just men made perfect! [To him] who hath created a whole world, so large, beautiful and magnificent to serve us; subjected so fair a Territory to our Dominion; consigned to our use so numerous a race of goodly Creatures, to be managed, enjoyed, governed by us. [To him] who hath endued our Bodies so fearfully, wonderfully, curiously made, with Souls resembling his excellent perfections in Knowledge, Righteousness, and true Holiness, capable or serving and enjoying him; affording to that end all convenient instructions, encouragements, and assistances. [To him] that supplies our manifold needs, protects us from innumberable dangers, gives us whatsoever is necessary, convenient and pleasant, for our use, sustenance, and delights; accepts our acknowledgements of former Blessings, as arguments, and opportunities of conferring fresh ones: who might utterly cast us off when we threw off our obedience, and long ago have saned us as chart from off the face of the earth by the breath of his nostrils into unquenchable fire. [To him] who remembered us in our low estate, when we had lost his Image and favour, our excellency and happiness; descended from his imperial throne, took upon him our shape conversed as it were upon equal terms with us, to assume us into a nearer affinity; submitting to our choice, Crowns that cannot fade, Sceptres that cannot be extorted from us. [To him] who hath saved us and called us with an Holy Calling; quickened us who were dead in trespasses and sins; opened our Eyes, bowed our Wills, spiritualised our Affections, changed us from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that we might receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by Faith in Jesus Christ. [To him] who forgives our iniquities, covers our sins, justifies the ungodly, healeth all our diseases; imputeth not our trespasses, but his Righteousness unto us: redeemeth our life from death and destruction: crowneth us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. [To him] who hath adopted us, and looks upon us, and provides for us, and deals with us as Sons, Heirs of God, and Coheirs with Christ, Fellow Citizens with the Saints, and of the household of God. [To him] who hath not lately begun, or will suddenly cease; is neither inconstant or mutable in his Affections, but from everlasting, continues, and will to eternity persevere immutable in his intentions to do us good; that hath delivered, doth deliver, and will deliver; and never leave us nor forsake us. [To him] whom no ingratitude, undutiful carriage or disobedience of ours, could one minute wholly remove or divert from his steady purpose of caring for us: who regards us though we do not attend to him; procures our welfare, though we neglect his concerns, employs his restless thoughts, extends his watchful eye, exerts his powerful arm, is always mindful, and busy to do us good: watches over us when we sleep; remembers us when we forget ourselves, in whom 'tis infinite condescension to think of us, placed so far beneath his thoughts; to value us dust and dirt, and inconsiderable nothings; not to despise and hate us, so really despicable and unworthy. [To him] that is as merciful and gracious, as liberal and munificent, that not only bestows on us more gifts, but pardons us more debts than we live minutes; that with infinite patience endures, not only our manifold infirmities & imperfections, but our petulant follies and obstinate perverseness, careless neglects, wilful miscarriages, treacherous infidelities; who puts up the exceeding many outrageous affronts, injuries and contumelies continually offered to his supreme Majesty, by us, base worms, whom he hath always under his feet, and can crush to nothing at his pleasure. [To him] that hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God his Father; a note the Angels cannot sing, who have many strains of praise we are unacquainted with. [To him] that is able to keep us from falling, and to, present us faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding great joy. [To him] that vouchsafes us hearts and abilities to wait upon, free access unto, a constant intercourse, and familiar acquaintance with himself: to esteem and style us his friends and children; to invite us frequently, and entertain us so kindly with these incomparable delightful delicacies of spiritual repast, with an affection as great as our fare is costly: yea, to invite us often at our home, and if we admit, to abide and dwell with us; indulging us the enjoyment of that presence, wherein the life of all joy and happiness consists; and to behold the light of his all-chearing countenance. [To him] who giveth freely and upbraideth no man with former unkindnesses and neglects of his love we are hearty ashamed of; who calls us neither very frequently, nor over strictly to account; who exacts of us no impossibity, no difficult burden, or costly return; being satisfied with the cheerful acceptance of his favours, the hearty acknowledgements of his goodness, the sincere performance of such duties, to which our own welfare, comfort, advantage (rightly apprehended) would, otherwise abundantly dispose us [To him] whose Benefits to acknowledge is the greatest Benefit of all: to be ●nabled to thank him who deserves our ●●eatest thanks; to be sensible of whose beneficence, to meditate on whose good●ess, to admire whose excellencies, to celebrated whose praise, is Heaven itself, ●he life of Angels, the quintessence of Joy, ●he supreme pitch of Beatitude. [To him] ●hose benefits are immensely great, innu●●●●ably many, inexpressibly good and ●●recious, be Glory, Majesty, and Dominion, ●●w and for ever.  
And oh thou the blessed Fountain of all ●ercy and goodness! Inspire our hearts ●ith thy Heavenly Grace, and thereby enable us rightly to apprehend, diligently to consider, faithfully to remember, worthily 〈◊〉 esteem, to be thankfully affected with, 〈◊〉 render all due acknowledgement, praise, ●●ve, and thankful obedience, for this, and 〈◊〉 thy great and manifold favours and benefits conferred upon us. And blessed 〈◊〉 the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting, and blessed be his Glorious name for ever; and let the whole ●arth be filled with his Glory, and let all 〈◊〉 People say Amen.   

Going Home.  
O How great a Lord hath my Soul entertained! How glorious a guest do●● thou now harbour! How pleasant a Companion, how faithful a Friend hast tho● now taken in! How dear a Husband do●● thou now enjoy! Oh the inestimable benefits received in these high and holy Mysteries! what am I, O Lord, or what is i● me, that thou shouldest do this great honour and Glory unto me? and reveal 〈◊〉 thy heart and love which is secret unto others? he might have prepared torment but behold privileges for me! I am unworthy to touch the threshold of th● house, and thou hast taken me to th● Table; not worthy to stand among th● servants, and thou hast made me sit wit● my Saviour; not worthy to fall dow● before thy footstool, and thou hast smil● upon, come in to me, and made my hea●● thy Throne; while others eat the brea● of violence, and drink the wine of deceit what am I that I should eat the body, an● drink the blood of thy own Son? I a● not worthy to eat the bread of men, an● thou hast given me the bread of Angels. What they admire, I have received; whom they adore, I have entertained; their mirror is my meat; Christ and they are two, I and my Saviour are one; oh unspeakable mystery! oh incomparable mercy!  
This is he who came from Edom, with died garments from Bozrah, whom we have seen glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength; returning in triumph from the slaughter and conquest of all his and our enemies? mighty to save us from our sins, that were mighty to condemn. And he hath on his vesture, (the title is conspicuous) and on his thigh, (the place of strength) King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Wherefore art thou red in thy apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth the wine fat? I have trodden the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of God, and of the people there was none with me; I have discomfited my people's enemies, and trodden them down like grapes in a wine-press: their blood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my garments. Oh, I beheld his blood streaming down through the holes in his side! Oh what? fight, a fire, a flame of love did I see in his blessed Heart, and myself portrayed upon it? my name among the rest, oh with what joy and comfort to my Soul! he hath set me as a Seal upon his Heart; love is strong as death, many waters of affliction cannot quench it, nor the floods of trouble or persecution drown it; might all the pleasures, profits, honours of the world be given for it, it would be utterly despised. Oh how easy find I his yoke! how light his burden! methinks I could watch or pray, do or suffer more believingly, more courageously than ever. It was the voice of my Beloved that knocked, saying, open unto me my Sister, my Love, my Dove, my Undefiled: he put in his hands by the holes of the door, and my bowels were moved for him; my Soul failed when he spoke, I sought him in every part of the Ordinance, and he was found of me; I called him, and he gave me answer: I sat under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the Banqueting house, and his Banner over me was Love. His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me. A bundle of Myrrh is my Beloved unto me, he shall lie all night betwixt my Breasts; he shall be still in my heart by affection and Faith? I will make him my continual joy, comfort, and refreshment; and solace myself in him in all estates. Oh that his name may be graven upon my heart! and his Image remain fair and lively upon my Soul! Oh that I may find a kind of unwillingness to admit of any other company: when I come to converse with other things, let me still be looking towards him as my only desire, good, and happiness, let my heart be so filled with him, that other objects may not come near, or make any strong impression on me. Oh that some lively coals of that holy fire kindled at the Ordinances, may be still glowing in my Soul; that the savour and tincture of it may be never done away. Oh how can any other pleasure seem any more pleasant to me? Can I desire the husks the Swine do eat, when there is such Bread in my Father's house? no man having drunk old wine, straightway desireth new, for he saith, the old is better. Sure he hath been little affected, nor had any taste of God's sweetness, presently to relish worldly things; to wash off his palate the savour of spiritual with sensual or secular thoughts. Abrupt choping off from Holy Duties is such a quenching of the spirit, as tends much to hardening the heart: such sudden quenchings of spiritual heat got in an Ordinance, cannot be without much danger to the Soul; motions so quite opposite, are as prejudicial, as unbecoming. Is it fit or seemly to leave the company of our Lord so soon as we have let him in, and divert to other occasions? associate ourselves to other persons, now we have newly given him our Faith, and taken him as the Bridegroom of our Souls? and not rather delight in the presence of our new love; and keep our heart from cooling by laying on new fuel; turning the remainder of this day into an after supper, a second Communion. In reviewing and being humbled for our coldness, distractions, miscarriages. In blessing God for the liberty and opportunity of a Sacrament, and the privileges thereby conferred upon us; in ruminating on, and retaining the savour of those pleasant things we have been entertained with: exceedingly gladded in the sense of that love we have been tasting and celebrating, in the belief of that pardon we have received in the hopes of that Grace and Glory that hath been assured to us. In considering the obligations we have laid on ourselves. In heavenly discourses with our beloved; in expressions of our love and affection towards him, acts of desire after inseparable union with, and greater likeness unto him: in vows and promises we will always be faithful and loyal to him: in entertaining him with acts of love and delight, thanks and praise, with the best cheer we are able to make our new, our beloved guest: in commending his beauty, praising him for his kindness and favours, extolling his riches, admiring his perfections and graces; talking with him about the affairs of our Soul; in opening to him every room in it, leading him into the most private recesses of our heart: showing him all the secrets of it, acquainting him with all our wants and weaknesses, spreading before him all our desires and fears, hopes and griefs. In praying for help and assistance to be steadfast in his Covenant, interceding with him for all mankind, especial our Fellow Communicants. In telling him again, all we have is his; in tying a new knot upon the band of the Covenant between us; craving him pardon for our follies; desiring him not to be offended at the dark and noisome hole into which we have brought him, & entreating him with all loves that he will not take exception at his poor entertainment; even charming him to stay and dwell with us, by all the songs of praise and thankfulness we can devise.   

Subsequent Duties after the Sacrament.  
AND now my utmost care and diligence is required to express the power and efficacy of the Ordinance, in living more fruitfully, religiously, watchfully; in making good my vows and promises at the Sacrament. That heart and life therefore may be suitable to my Sacramental obligations, and may witness the good received in and by it; oh my Soul,  
Make a solemn reflection on thyself and entertainment.] How was my heart and behaviour before God, what welcome did he give me? Reflection is necessary after every duty: what good have I got? what warmth of affection? what more love to, desire after, delight and confidence in God? what greater ability and love to discharge duty, to bear affliction, to resist temptation, to walk in God's ways? so especially after the Sacrament, was my Heart hard, dull, indisposed? I must then suspect my miscarriage in preparation or performance; and labour to find out, be truly sensible of, greatly bewail, and humble, judge, and condemn myself, and beg pardon for the cause; earnestly importune him that he would now help me by Prayer and Humiliation, to recover the benefit of the Ordinance, that I may by an after act do that which I should have done before. Sorrow for, and sense of our senslesness, is one fruit of Christ's death we undoubtedly received in the Ordinance. We may not judge of our gain by, and profit in duty by our present feeling: or that the only evidences of Communion and acceptance with God, are, our Souls lifted up and ravished with sensible joys: our uprightness and sincerity in the performance of our duties, and in our covenanting with God, and continuing steadfast therein, may administer most ground of comfort when we reflect upon it: for we were then really acceptable to him that looked down upon us, and received from him a seal to the promise of pardon and eternal life, though he did not testify it by giving in extraordinary joys. He looks not so much at fits of passion, as at the steady bent and tenor of the Soul. The truest Communion with God, is to enjoy the Communication of his Graces, whereby we are made conformable to him; we may enjoy the saving influences of his Spirit, when we cannot feel his more abundant consolations. Though this Ordinance be not at present joyous, yet may afterwards yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to those that are conversant therein. It cannot be well known what Grace we have received (further measures of which are the holy Spirits accompanying those means, being the great benefit we are apt to expect) till we come to the exercise of it in duty and against temptation. But oh, how much cause have I to rejoice in his love and goodness, to render him hearty thanks (who might have left me as well as others to myself) for his quickening and refreshment, for his satisfying me so abundantly with the fatness of his house, and making me drink of the river of his pleasure; especially now I find (and oh that I could more and more) such real benefit received by it; my soul more deeply broken and humbled under the sense of sin, and that become more loathsome, hateful, burdensome to me. My heart truly thankful for what I have enjoyed, and sorrowful I have enjoyed no more; more strongly engaged and resolved to inward and universal holiness: my Faith in Christ more increased and settled; my love to him more inflamed; my Soul strengthened and emboldened to undergo any thing for him: my spiritual delight and joy in him raised, and lessened to other things: my esteem and valuation of the Ordinance heightened, my Graces in it exercised; my desires after full enjoyment of God and Christ in Glory more enlarged. If he were pleased to kill me, he would not have received a burnt-offering and a Meat-offering at my hands; neither would he have showed me all these things; nor as at this time, have given me to experience such things as these. Oh that I may always retain a thankful sense of all his benefits! Oh how much am I beholden to thee my God? I have been praising of thee, but nothing to what I ought, or what thou deserv'st. Oh, how can I cease to magnify thee? for what I am and have, for the use of thy creatures, and thy blessing with them; for every crumb, much more for Christ, that foundation mercy, that hath all mercies folded up in him, and entailed unto him; that sweetens and sanctifies every mercy: for this Feast on his Body and Blood, for the joys of thy house, and the viands of heaven; for any measure of life and affection, raisedness and comfort, grace and goodness. Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. While I live I will praise thee, I will sing praise unto my God, while I have a being: and what is here wanting in thy due praise, I will pay hereafter in everlasting Hallelujahs.  
Rest not in the work done,] though done never so well. Beware, lest by spiritual pride, and future negligence thou lose the things thou hast wrought. Had I done all as well as was commanded me, I would say I am an unprofitable servant, I had done but my duty, but O how short come I of it? Oh let not the Lord lay to my charge, my want of due preparation; my coldness, and indifferency, distraction and unbelief, my so many failings before and at the Ordinance: that my heart was in no better frame; that I took no more pains with it to fit it for thyself: that it was no more broken for my sins, when the Minister broke the Bread: that when I took it, I was so dull, so dead, and did no better reach forth the hand of Faith to lay hold on, and apply Christ and his benefits; so played the hypocrite before thee and my fellow Communicants: that when the Wine was poured forth, and I saw how Christ shed his Blood for sinners, I scarce dropped a tear for the cause, from a heart sensible of my sins and his love unto my Soul: when I took and drank the Cup, I did not remember him as I ought: that my heart was not so seriously intent, and reverend, so deeply affected, suitable to the importance and excellency of the duty, and the Majesty of him with whom I had to do.  
Spend some time in strengthening and confirming thy holy purposes and resolutions.] O that some fruit may be seen of this day till the solemnity return! that the thoughts and meditations I had there may be so strongly, so deeply fixed and rooted in the bottom of my heart, that nothing may be able to pluck them up! that I may be so sensibly possessed with the persuasions that Christ is in, and united to me! that when a Temptation comes and knocks for entrance, I may readily, naturally say, I am not he that I was before, the property of the house is quite changed; I live yet not I, but Christ in me; I was indeed a common Inn to entertain all-Comers, but now I am become the sole Habitation of the High and Holy One, he expects to be honourably treated like unto himself, he will have no competitors or unclean thing in his house; I cannot arise and open to you. Oh how shall I treat him, who hath taken up his abode with me? shall I take the members of Christ and make them the members of an Harlot? defile that body wherein he hath chosen to reside? force him out of his habitation by any impurity? offend him by any noisome thoughts, or unsavoury breath out of my mouth? shall those hands that have received the sacred Elements, work deceit? those Eyes that have been filled with tears at the Lords Table, be filled with envy? those teeth that have eaten Holy Bread, ●grind the face of the poor? those lips that have touched the Sacramental Cup, salute an Harlot? the mouth that hath drunk consecrated wine, be full of rotten discourse? shall I be so greedy of the World, as to forget to retire to converse with my Saviour? shall I so perplex myself in business, as to omit to pray, to meditate, to sing praises unto thee? No, I am not at my own dispose, I have sworn and I will perform, that I will keep thy righteous judgements; and often consider how deeply I am obliged to him that hath paid my debt. Oh I can never parallel his love, yet let me show myself thankful; I can do nothing satisfactory, but let me do something gratulatory. He gave himself a sin-offering for me, let me give myself a thank-offering to him; offer up myself a living sacrifice unto my Redeemer, who offered up himself a dying Sacrifice for my Redemption.  
Beware of Crucifying Christ afresh.] To them that believe he is precious; now I have begun to celebrate the Marriage, oh let me never throw off the wedding Garment, slain it by any pollution, or seek after other lovers? eat his Bread, and lift up the heel against him; take the Cup, and betray my interest in him; after I have received him, cast him out of my heart, live in that for which he died, As the Sacrament is a memorial of Christ crucified for sin, let it be a remembrance to me of abhorring, crucifying, abstaining from it. Else, I hold on Satan's side, seek to keep him on his throne, do those things which Christ is more unwilling I should, than he was to suffer all the indignities and torments the Jews inflicted; he was willing to die by their hands, rather than any inconveniency should fall upon me, than sin and Satan should reign over, and keep possession in me: he was not troubled so much to die, as he was to see me live in sin; for he died that I might cease from sin. And, do I dispute when a temptation is presented, whether Christ or Barrabbas shall be preferred? my lusts denied, or my Lord crucified? that which would murder my Soul deserve to be spared, or he that suffered to save it? Oh how sad! that he who seems to deify Christ in the Eucharist, should vilify him in his members; that such who pretend to eat and drink Christ's Body and Blood at the Church, should eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence in their own houses: that they should be so devout at the Sacrament, as if they believed God to be in the Bread, and in their lives so profane, as if they believed not God to be in Heaven.  
Abandon and Crucify all sin more than ever.] I have put off my coat of corruption, how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet in the blood of the Lamb, how shall I defile them? the Lord hath spoken peace unto me, let me not return again to folly. Hath he taken off my former burden, and cast it on the back of his dear Son, and shall I lay more load upon him? hath he loved me and washed me from my sins in his own blood, and shall I with the dog return to the vomit? with the sow that is washed to her wallowing in mire? shall I take poison after Physic? make the Table of the Lord contemptible? Hath he been so gracious to me, as to vouchsafe and seal me a pardon of all my sins, and shall I so abuse his goodness, so turn his grace into wantonness, as to run afresh on his score? is not this to account the blood of the Covenant, wherewith I am sanctified, an unholy thing; may I not fear his anger will kindle against me, and that he will no more have mercy on me? Oh let not those hands that were reached forth to receive Christ, be stretched out to oppression and violence, but be hence forth sacred, and do no deed that may offend thee: nor those lips that have touched those holy Mysteries, be defiled with the Devils drivel, filthy communication, but be hallowed from all words that may displease thee. Oh let my Soul, which by thy Sacrament is made so happy, as to be so near to, be never so wretched, as to think any thing too dear for such a Saviour. Let nothing make me leave my first love, who for love of me left his Father and country, Heaven and glory, to espouse me.  
Frequently consider the engagement thou hast hereby laid upon thyself.] No space of time can wear it off, to the same strictness all our days as this, though we had but this one opportunity to receive. The Bonds my Soul is entered into, will never be cancelled. God forgets not his promises, nor my breaches, though I may; the matter is now out of my hands, I cannot revoke this gift of myself to God (indeed I have given nothing but what was his own before) after these vows there is no enquiry to be made whether they should be kept, This day I have avouched the Lord to be my God, to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes; and he hath avouched me to be one of his people: I have taken Christ for my Lord and Husband, to live in love and obedience to him, as I hope to be saved by him. Tempt me not therefore from my loyalty and allegiance, the vows of God are upon me, sealed at the Sacrament, and recorded in Heaven; not one of my Fellow Communicants but are witnesses with, and to God, that they saw me personally, publicly own and renew my Covenant with him; for my Oath sake, and those that sat with me, I will not do this evil and sin against God. Shall I alienate and pollute the heart so solemnly devoted to him? break those bands asunder, and fetch the Sacrifice away from the Altar, tied with such strong cords of Oaths and Covenants? must I not expect to bring fire along with it? to provoke God to a severe revenge of the mocks and scorns I put upon him? shall I so horribly profane his name? and make myself such a forsworn perjured wretch? Is it a light thing to break an Oath made solemnly with God? shall he escape that doth such things? or shall he break the Covenant and be delivered? As I live, saith the Lord, surely my Oath which he hath despised, and my Covenant which he hath broken, even it I will recompense on his own head. I am sure he will be true to his promises, and shall I fall under his threaten, by being false to mine? If a good man keep his Oaths and promises with men to his own hurt, much more ought be those to God for his own good.  
Walk on in the strength of this spiritual Food, till thou comest to perfection.] Oh that I may still drink of the Spiritual Rock, find the efficacy, virtue, and benefit of the Sacrament, follow and stream after me while I travel in this Wilderness! O that I may be stronger and stronger in all Graces, more active and exacter in all Spiritual Duties; hear more heedfully, pray more fervently, receive more believingly, keep the Sabbath more exactly, watch over my heart and ways more diligently; be more humble and pious towards God, more just and righteous to man, more sober and temperate towards myself: that I may walk worthy of Christ, of the Covenant, of the Sacrament, Kingdom, Gospel, and Grace of God; of my Birth and Breeding, oh that my present deportment may be answerable to my future preferment; that there may be some proportion between my frequent receiving and growing in Grace; that I may show forth his death till he come, in respect of its influence on my Soul.  
Delight in Spiritual fellowship with Christ's Members.] Oh that I may now bury all envy, malice, hatred, uncharitableness; and (as Christ) love my enemies, but especially those that are partakers of the same benefits with me. O that that sentence may still run in my mind, If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another! Oh that I may shake off all ungodly society, have my heart linked unto, and be a companion of all those that fear the Lord; make the liveliest of them my most intimates, and upon all occasions improve their fellowship to the best advantage. O that I may henceforth behave myself as a stone of the same Building; as a branch of the same Vine; as a servant of the same Family; as a member of the same Body; as a Son of the same Father; oh merciful Eternal high Priest, let that Sacrifice thou once offeredst on the Cross for the sins of the world, which thou dost now and ever represent in Heaven to thy Father by thy never-ceasing intercession, which this day hath been exhibited Sacramentally on hy holy Table, obtain Mercy and Peace, Faith and Love, Truth and Unity, Safety and establishment, Grace Glory, and all good things to thy whole Church, and let not the gates of Hell ever prevail against it.  
Cheer up and comfort thyself against all discouragements.] Have I worthily received the Lords Supper, whatsoever my miseries are, this cannot but be a reviving cordial, yet my sins are pardoned. How little should I be dismayed at any inward or outward troubles? let me be fed all my days with the bread and water of affliction, I have another bread and cup to sweeten both; let her not say she is sick, her sins are forgiven. I have received an all-sufficient Saviour; and seek for nothing in, but renounce myself having so much in him. How can I any more walk dejectedly, that am interested in the New Covenant? which with all its promises and privileges is ratified and confirmed to me? what ever I need is to be had here, health and recovery from sickness, a competant maintenance and support, peace & deliverance from our enemies, content and patience, liberty and joy, sanctified riches, or a cheerful poverty, and whatsoever is a blessing is purchased for and secured to us. And oh that this in all my troubles, difficulties addresses to God, may quiet me, and strengthen my Faith to apprehend him as in Covenant with me, that hath engaged himself to be with me in all estates and conditions, and to order all things for my advantage: I have resigned up myself to him, let him do with me what seemeth him good. He cannot deny himself; all his words are oaths for their certainty, and all his promises the sure mercies of David. This Sacrament is that to my particular person which it is in itself, and by design to all the world: If I receive worthily, I shall receive any of those blessings according as God shall choose for me, which shall be not only with more wisdom, but more affection than I can for myself. Let me but be void of all care, but only to preserve my Father's love, and I cannot want. He whom Almighty Wisdom and Goodness takes a Fatherly care of, engages to feed, cannot but have enough. All things are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. Nothing is excluded where he is included.  
Keep up earnest long after this and the eternal Supper of the Lamb.] Oh when will the opportunity return? when shall I come again and appear before God? when shall I see his power and his glory, taste his love and goodness as I have in the Sacrament? O that I may still be feasting my Soul on those Heavenly Dainties, those spiritual Viands, those satisfying pleasures at his Table! I think the time long to that day of gladness and rejoicing. The King of Glory hath now espoused me to himself by Proxy, by his Ambassador; the day is hastening when the Marriage shall be publicly, triumphantly solemnised, and completed. Mount up (my Soul) and ever stand wishly looking for his appearance, never slack thy Watch, nor let thy Expectation cool, till he take thee to himself, where we shall be gathered together where the Body is, and his Glory presented without an umbrage; where he shall lay aside his veil, and his amiable countenance be chequered with no intermingled frowns, intervening clouds, or obscure mediums; where mysteries shall be turned into revelations, the translation into the original, commemoration into vision, espousal into mutual fruition and embraces, sighs and tears into nuptial songs and festivities, transient glances into the direct beams of the ever radiant Sun of Righteousness, a moment's work into an eternity of rest: where is satiety without nauseating; perfect happiness without care or encumbrance, envy or successor, alteration or end; for every chain a ray of light, every tear a pearl, every prison a palace, every loss the purchase of a Kingdom, every affront in God's Service an eternal honour, every hour of sorrow a thousand years of comfort, multiplied with a never ceasing Numeration. Where Job● that sat on the Dunghill, sits among the Angels, Lazarus, that lay among the Dogs, is lodged in Abraham's bosom; the Saints heretofore among the pots, walk in white: where are riches and pleasures tru● and real, adequate and suitable, solid and satisfying, lasting and durable: where I shall see thee (oh infinite Sweetness and Delight) without a Veil, and live upon thee without a Figure: where I shall have, not a Sacramental, but a Beatifical Communion; not wear thy ring, but see thy face; not remember, but behold thee; not in Faith, but clear and full Fruition.  

Come Love! come Lord! and that long day  
For which I languish, come away.  
When this dry Soul those Eyes shall see,  
And drink the unsealed source of thee;  
When Glory's Sun Faith's shade shall chase,  
Then for thy Veil give me thy Face.     

AN APPENDIX TO THE Devout Communicant.  
CONTAINING Moore particular Directions and Meditations for the time of Receiving, with a Prayer before and after.  

A Prayer at home before the Sacrament.  
ETernally Blessed, and infinitely Glorious Lord God Thou art greatly to be feared in the Assembly of thy Saints, and to be had in reverence of all that draw nigh unto thee. Look down from Heaven the habitation of thy Holiness and Glory, in much mercy, pity, and tender compassion upon me, A vile, sinful, despicable Creature, prostrate at thy Footstool; unworthy to look up unto thy Throne, or to receive any thing at thy hands, but thy wrath and severe displeasure. I am less than the least of all thy Mercies, and liable to the severest of thy Judgements, by reason of the pollution and sinfulness of my Nature, Heart, and Life. I am of the degenerate Posterity of fallen Adam; and have all the powers faculties, and members of my Soul and Body defiled with sin. I have sinned in every Age, in every Relation, in every Condition, in every employment of my Life. I have disinherited thy Word, disregarded thy Calls; slighted thy Judgements, abused thy Mercies, turned thy Grace into Wantonness, rejected the tenders of thy Love, resisted the motions of thy Holy Spirit, the checks of my own Conscience, and followed the motions of my own evil Heart; I have dishonoured thy Name, profaned thy Sabbaths, polluted thy Ordinances, been unthankful for thy Benefits, impatient under Afflictions, unfaithful to my promises; misspent my time, neglected my Duty, walked unanswerable to those multiplied obligations laid upon me, broken all thy holy Commandments, by many and great transgressions made and judged myself unworthy of everlasting life; 
* Here mention your particular failings.  so that nothing might remain unto me, but a fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation to devour me.  
But thou delightest in mercy and not in the death of a sinner; art not willing any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Oh take not counsel of thy just indignation, but of thy native goodness, thy satisfied justice. Wilt thou destroy him that presents himself to be punished, and thy Son to have satisfied? that desires not to live, unless it be by the benefit of thy mercy and his sufferings? Wilt thou not spare me for thy Son, who sparedst not thy Son for me? Is there not enough in his Merits and Sacrifice to expiate all my sins, and to justify my person in thy sight? O suffer not thyself to be deprived of the glory of my forgiveness and salvation, as well as of my creation and redemption. Save me whom thou hast hitherto spared, and forgive me eternal death, which I have so often merited by my great offences. Bury them all in the bottomless Ocean of thy own Mercy and forgetfulness, and my Saviour's Blood; lay them upon him who is able to bear them, and  me with his righteousness that is able to cover me.  
Oh free me from the guilt and stain, the power and penalty, the reign and dominion of sin, that nothing may separate me from thy love nor from the sensible discoveries of it at thy Table. That I may be a meet and worthy Receiver, accept me into thy favour; let thy mercy pardon my sins, thy grace sanctify my soul, thy goodness supply my wants, thy merits enrich my poverty, thy precious blood wash away all my spots, thy Holy Spirit prepare, and direct, and assist me. Take away my filthy garments, my spiritual filthiness, and  me with the best robe, the Lord our righteousness. Oh, think me worthy for his sake, and make me worthy for thy mercy-sake. Deal not with me according to my deserts, but thy great goodness and my great necessity. Let me so remember my sins, that thou mayest forget them: set them so before my face, that thou mayest cast them behind thy back. Give me such a lively steadfast Faith in Christ for forgiveness, that thou mayest seal it up unto my soul. Let me love him, and all his members, with a pure heart, fervently, at thy holy Communion, and ever after without dissimulation. So enlarge my Soul with spiritual affections and desires, that it may even break for the long it hath unto that Ordinance, and unto thy Testimonies at all times. Remove far from me all blindness of mind, hardness of heart, unrelenting affections, deadness and indisposedness, earthliness and distraction, irreverence, unbecoming apprehensions, whatsoever may hinder the blessing and efficacy of that soul-nourishing refreshing Ordinance, thy gracious presence, my eternal salvation. Create in me an understanding, heavenly, clean heart, O God; and renew an humble contrite right spirit within me, prepared for thee, Oh be not as a stranger unto me; hid not thyself from me; lift up the light of thy countenance upon me. Let me feel the comfortable breathe of thy Holy Spirit in my Soul at thy Ordinance; sanctify it to me and me to receive it acceptably, with due preparation and apprehensions, reverence and humility, repentance and faith, love and charity, joy and thankfulness, a deep sense of thy inexpressible love and my own unworthiness.  
And oh that all of us, who this day approach thy Table, may so eat his flesh which he hath given for the life of the World, that we may live for ever; and so drink his blood, that it may be to us for remission of sins. Meet us not in ourselves, in thy justice, as a consuming fire; but a reconciled Father, in thy righteous and beloved Son, whom thou gavest, who gave himself for us when we were thy enemies. Let us departed thence more under the power of thy love and grace, and under greater resolutions and abilities to do thee faithful service all our days, through Jesus Christ, our Sacrifice and Redemption, Hope and Confidence, Surety and Advocate, the Food and Health, the Life and Salvation of our Souls; who hath taught us when we pray to say,  
Our Father, etc.  

As soon as ever the Sermon is ended, look towards the Lord's Table, and say within yourselves,  
THis Sacrament I am going to, is a standing Memorial of my Saviour's Passion, wherein he once offered up Himself to God, and a Sign of that nourishing and strengthening Grace, which he now offers to me under the notion of Food. It is the true means and instrument of conveying on me those Blessings, and signifies that which by its proper Institution it represents.  
In the making and ordering of those Elements, see, consider (O my Soul) the heavy Blows, and Bruises, the Pressures, Piercing, Pains, and Sufferings of thy Saviour, from his Father and wicked men. The malice and violence of his Murderers, crucified Him as a Malefactor; and the fiery wrath of God made him a  Sacrifice; and under both these Sufferings He is become to me Meat indeed, and Drink indeed; the stay and support, the comfort, refreshment, and life of my Soul, nourishing and preserving it to eternal life.  
That Bread and Wine could never sustain and nourish me, if the one had not fallen into the Earth, under the Sickle, the Flail, the Millstone, and the Fire; the other under the Hook, and the Press of the Husbandman; nothing less than the Cross, the Wounds, the Death of my Lord, my God of his dearest Son made me a Saviour; and by this Sacrament assures me I shall be kept up and fed with a supply of all necessary Blessings, as certainly as he gives me to taste that Bread and Wine, the ordinary means for preserving my life and strength.  
Whilst we condemned Creatures were passing on to our Execution, the Son of God looked upon us, and took our Condemnation upon Himself; and under it died in our stead: Thus, by the death and satisfaction of this Sacrifice, Justice gave way to my Release; God the Father forgave my Sin, and God the Son procured my Life.   

Then fall upon your Knees with all imaginable Reverence, and say,  
LEt the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength and my Redeemer.  
Most gracious God, who of thy great goodness, hast ordained this Ordinance for a continual Remembrance of● hat ever prevailing Sacrifice, which thy infinite Wisdom and Love hast appointed, and accepted upon the Cross, for us vile, helpless, wretched Sinners; make us truly sensible of all our offences against thee, and of his Love and Sufferings for us, and accept us in Him to the Praise of thy Grace. Rebuke all unseasonable thoughts and imaginations; stir up, and act in us, every grace of thy Holy Spirit; and graciously entertain us, and grant we may now so behave ourselves, that we may not provoke, but glorify thee; be savingly partakers of the Redemption we now commemorate, and be found and kept in the number of thy Redeemed Ones for ever.  
BLessed Lord, who revivest by this sacred Banquet the memory of thy inexpressible Love, and of my Saviour's Sufferings, enable me by Faith so to apply his Passion, that healing strength, and saving virtue, may proceed from it; the strength and sweet odour of whose Oblation is a fragrant, as savingly efficatious, as when first offered up unto thee. enlighten my Understanding, prepare my Heart: Help, O help me, that I may now abate nothing of those affections that are due unto Thee, and my ever blessed Redeemer. And let me obtain the fruits and Benefits of his Death and Passion; even the remission of all my Sins, and the fullness of all thy Graces. O bless me and thine own institution unto me; and grant that I may not increase my guilt, by abusing of what thou offerest me, but may receive a blessing from Thee.  
HOly, righteous Father, who seest nothing in me that is truly mine, but dust and ashes; and which is worse, sinful Flesh, polluted Blood; O look upon some few resemblances of thine Image, some rays and beams of thy Spirit, some small beginnings of thy Grace which are from thee in me; and supply the defects with thy Mercy, Merits, and Sacrifice of thy Son. Turn thine Eyes, O merciful Father, to his Satisfaction and Intercession, who now sits at thy right Hand; to the Seals of thy Covenant, which lie before thee upon thy Table; and to all the wants and distresses which thou seest in my Soul; and take this opportunity of glorifying thy Mercy, thy Son, and thy Grace towards me and upon me.  
BLessed Jesus, so dispose me by thy grace, and Holy Spirit, to feed spiritually and really upon that Sacrifice which thou offeredst without the Gate, and which this Sacrament sets before me here in thy Court, that I may be admitted into that holy place which thy Sacrifice hath opened, and this Sacrament invites me to. And help me so to drink of this fruit of the Vine, that I may drink it new in my Father's Kingdom, where I shall be delighted and refreshed, and converse with thee, without these tipical shadows and adumbrations.   

When the Minister is confessing sin, and praying for the efficacy of the Ordinance, let your Heart concur with him, and put in your particular failings with their aggravations, and the mercies you in special need, which he omits. Prostrate your Souls in the sense of your own vileness, and necessities; join with all earnestness in his confessions and Petitions, as one that knows the evil of sin, and the need and worth of the Blessings he Requests.  
And let the solemn consecration of the Bread and Wine, mind thee how thy Saviour was consecrated and set apart for thy Salvation; And say,  
HOw wonderful is thy wisdom and Love, O God, in our Recovery and Redemption? How justly mightest thou have dealt with us, as with the fallen Angels, and left us to perish without a Remedy? Howstrangely dost thou glorify thy Mercy over those Sins, that gave thee the advantage and occasion to glorify thy Justice? Even thou our God, whom we have offended and provoked eternally to ruin us, haste, out of thine own Treasure, satisfied thine own Justice; and given us a Saviour, by such a Miracle of Wisdom, Love, and Condescension, as Men and Angels shall never be able fully to comprehend. So didst thou love the sinful World, as to give thy only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.   

When you see the breaking of the Bread, and pouring out of the Wine, say,  
O Hateful Sin! O wonderful Love! O dreadful Justice! O precious Sacrifice! O merciful Saviour! How gracious Lord hast thou been to Sinners? How severe unto thy Son? How cruel have we been unto thee, and ourselves? How small a matter hath tempted me to that, which cost so dear before it was forgiven.  
I Cannot but here observe something very like the Sacrifice and Passion of my Dear Redeemer. Thus the Bread of Life was broken; Thus the Lamb of God was slain; Thus his precious Blood was shed; Thus his Father gave Him once to die, and gives still the virtue of his Death to bless and save every one that comes unfeignedly to Him.   

While the Minister and others are Receiving before you, say,  
WHo can sufficiently admire and adore Thee, most gracious God, for reconciling us unto thyself? Vile sinners, the Offspring of sinful Parents, thou treatest as familiar Friends, as dear Children. Thou mightest have brought us together hither for a Sacrifice to Thy Justice, and behold one of Thine own making for us, the Son of Thy Love. We are unworthy of the least crumb of our daily Bread, unworthy to tread upon thy Earth, to breath in thy Air, to lift up our Eyes to Heaven, and Thou givest us Bread from Heaven, liberty to tread thy Courts; Thy Spirit to breath in our Hearts, leave to breath ou● our Requests unto Thee, O compassionate Father. And now Since Love will choose such unworthy Guests, and Mercy be honoured upon such Sin and Misery, let that Mercy that invites us makes us acceptable, and graciously entertain us.  
O Author of my Salvation, and of these Mysteries that express it; Object, and Truth of what I am now going to receive: Thou art as able to perfect me with thy Blessings out of thy Throne, as thou wert to redeem me by thy Sacrifice on thy Cross. O perform in me by thy Sufferings, what thou dost exhibit and present. By this thy Body broken, give also nourishment and maintenance unto eternal life. Look upon a poor Sinner at Thy Table, as Thou didst on him that hung by Thy Cross, and remember me now Thou art in Thy Kingdom.  
I Am unworthy that Thou shouldst enter under my Roof; much less come and sup, and dwell with me: but seeing it is Thy good pleasure to vouchsafe me this favour, cleanse me from all my Sins, that I may entertain Thee in a pure and Sanctified Heart. Make this unclean Habitation, that is so unfit to receive Thee, a Temple for thyself to dwell in. Strengthen my Faith, assist me by Thy Grace and Spirit, that I may fully rely upon Thee, apply Thy Sufferings unto me, worthily receive Thee.   

When the Minister gives you the Bread, Think you hear Christ say to you in particular,  
[Take, eat, this is my Body, which is broken for Thee, this do in remembrance of me.]  
MY Lord, and my God? didst Thou offer up thyself for me, despicable, forlorn, wretched Sinner, as well as for any other? and dost Thou now give Thyself unto me, and bid me remember Thee, the Redeemer of my Soul, the Author, the Object, and Truth of this Sacrament? I humbly and thankfully receive Thee, with a troubled Heart that I can no better receive Thee, entertain Thee, love Thee, remember Thee, serve Thee, express my gratitude towards Thee, and that I have so often offended Thee.  
Now I know thou lovest me, seeing thou hast not withheld thy Son thine only Son from me. By his Merits and bloody Sacrifice, I hope to be received into the Communion of his Sufferings here, and hereafter into the Communion of his Glory.  
THis is the Sacrifice, the Righteousness in which I trust, and by which I am justified and saved from the Curse of Thy violated Law. As Thou hast accepted it O Father, for the World upon the Cross, behold it still, on the behalf of Sinners; and hear his Blood that cries unto Thee for mercy to the miserable; and for his sake pardon us, and accept us 〈◊〉 thy reconciled Children.  
This was my doing: It was I, ●nd such other Sinners, that deserved to bear the punishment, who were guilty of the Sin. And can a Murderer of Christ be a small Offender? Shall I ever have a dull, a lifeless apprehension of Thy Love, or a favourable thought of Sin more? O that I may sufficiently detest and never more commit those Offences that delivered my Redeemer to Death, that pierced my Saviour's Hand● and side, that Crowned his Head with Thorns, and filled his Sou● with Grief.  
O Thou, who in thine anger revenged our Sins upon thy Son, in thy merce correct and destroy them also in me. And besto● upon me such a measure of th● Spirit, through which He offere● Himself without Spot unto Thee as may sanctify for ever the Bod● and Soul which now I offer u● unto Thee, and help me to discharge the Service I promise unto Thee.  
O Blessed Lord Jesus, who hast ordained this mystery for a communion of thy Body, for a means of advancement and proficiency in Holiness, and for an infallible Pledge of eternal Salvation, which Thou hast purchased by thy Sufferings, and preparest Thy people for by Thy Grace; make this Ordinance of a true sign, an effectual means of the same, that it may be efficatious to settle me in the communion of Thy Sufferings, which it showeth forth, to feed me with that living Bread which it presents, and to sanctify me for that eternal happiness which it promises and secures.   

Take the Cup from the Minister, as from Christ, saying,  
[This is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for Thee, for the remission of Thy Sins.]  
O The depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God How unsearchable is his Goodness, and his Love past finding out! How hast Thou surpassed all Humane Apprehensions? What a matchless Gift is this, and unto what unworthy Sinners. Will God stoop so low to Man? And come so near him? and thus reconcile his provoking Enemy? Will He freely pardon all I have done? and take me into His Family and Love? and feed me with the Flesh and Blood of his Son? Such a guilty Soul might expect the destroying Angel; that Thou wouldst have charged upon me all my Sin and Folly. But while I condemned myself, Thou hast justified me, and given me the Seal of my Pardon, in the blood of Thy gracious Covenant; and surprised me with the surest Tokens and Pledges, the sweetest Embracements of Thy Love.  
O The unmerited, the distinguishing goodness of the great and holy God of Heaven and Earth! in making me a reasonable Creature, his Servant, his Son; In providing so plentifully for my Body and my Soul; temporal and spiritual bread to eat, and Raiment to put on; In giving me a heart in any measure to discharge my Duty unto Thee, whilst others are neglecting Thee, or expressing their enmity against Thee. Innumerable are thy Creatures, that cannot take notice of thy Benefits. Yea, how great a part of mankind, made at first after thine Image, live and die in Darkness, and perish for want of Vision? That cannot or will not enjoy these happy Opportunities? are unavoidably kept from them, or wilfully, sinfully separate and exclude themselves? How few of those that draw near to Thee, sincerely wait upon Thee, faithfully serve Thee, are graciously accepted by Thee. With what an unvaluable price hast Thou Redeemed a worthless Sinner, that deserved Thy everlasting Vengeance? with how precious a Feast entertainest Thou me, that deserves to be cast out with the Workers of Iniquity into the ever-flaming Pit, in that I have been so careless of serving Thee, so wilfully offended Thee, so often preferred things displeasing unto Thee before Thee; and provoked Thee to call back thy goodness and mercy from me?  
HOw dearly hast Thou purchased my Love? How strangely hast Thou deserved and sought it? O what shall I say unto Thee? or do or suffer for thee? which way shall I express my gratitude towards thee? O, what an addition an answerable Heart would be to thy Love, and Mercy, and Invitation? Make, O make such deep and lasting Impressions upon my Soul of Thy care and kindness, and condescension towards me, that I may always affectionately remember Thee, faithfully serve Thee, never offend Thee, eternally enjoy Thee  
O That I could love thee as much as I should as I would, as I shall love Thee, when I shall do nothing else but praise Thee, and serve Thee, and love Thee, without ever offending Thee, or doubting of thy Love unto me. In the mean time, O that it may be the delight of my Soul to think of Thee and thy lovingkindness, to reverence and worship Thee, to pray unto Thee, and praise Thee; to wait upon Thee in Thine Ordinances, at Thy Table, to be ordered and guided by Thee.  
I Offer up unto Thee my Soul and Body, all I am and have, to he ruled and disposed of by thee. O that I may be full of zeal to follow Thee, and rejoice in being loved of Thee, and humbly confide in Thee, and absolutely resign myself unto Thee, and be filled with constant devotion towards Thee, and earnest breathe after Thee.  
O Father of everlasting compassion, forsake not in this Wilderness a feeble Israelite, whom Thou hast brought thus far out of Egypt: and let not the Soul Thou hast blessed with some desires, and helped thus far with some tendency towards eternal happiness, ever faint or fall from the right way.  
O Son of God, and Life of those that believe; quench not, but cherish and inflame the smoking Flax; break not, but support and strengthen the bruised Reed. Feed with thy Divine Influences this tender Branch, this weak Member of Thine, which without thee cannot but whither, cannot but die, cannot but perish. Despise not the slender beginnings of Grace in me, but carry it on with power, until Thou hast made me meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Life.  
Blessed Spirit of all Grace, cleanse me from all my Sins; keep and set forward in me, notwithstanding all my Infirmities, Thine own Work, and carry it on unto Perfection. Seal up unto me the Covenant of Pardon, which is sealed and delivered to me in this Ordinance.  
FIll our Hearts (most gracious God) with love and kindness towards one another; Let there be no strife or differences between us or any of Thy people, for we are Brethren. Supply all the necessities of our Souls and Bodies: Provide for us, as Thou knowest best for us. Let us be still fully satisfied and delighted under all thy Dispensations towards us; and let all be in love and mercy unto us. Mortify all our inordinate affections and desires: Draw thine Image more and more lively upon our Souls. Let our chiefest pleasure consist in serving and pleasing of Thee. Let nothing disturb or displease us, but Thy dishonour.  
Send Thy Gospel where it is not preached; make it very successful where it is: Let all who enjoy it, walk worthy of it, and let them be taken care of, preserved, and defended by Thee.  
Forgive unto us whatever Thou hast seen amiss in us: what is ours, graciously pardon; what is Thine own, graciously accept. Bless this Ordinance Thou hast ordained for Thy Church; accompany it with the Influences of that Spirit, which Thou hast promised to pour upon all Flesh; That thereby the World, Thy Church, our Souls and Bodies may glorify Thee, now and ever, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.    

A Thanksgiving and Prayer at home after the Sacrament.  
I Adore and magnify thee (most gracious God and merciful Father) for what thou art in thyself and unto all thy Creatures, for thy infinite Wisdom, Power, and Goodness, and for any discoveries of the same in and by thy Word and Works; that thou hast so wonderfully made, so plentifully provided for every Creature, especially Man, their Lord, thy Image and Glory. But how can we sufficiently admire thy inexpressible Condescension and Love, in taking notice of us, (except to punish us) in becoming so nigh unto us when we lay in our blood, and had made ourselves worse than the Beasts that perish? And dost thou open thine eye upon such an one? and bringest me into fellowship with thee? Is it pleasing to thee to look upon abominable filthy Man? or gain unto thee to serve me? to give thyself to and for me? to purchase such a clod of Earth and Sin with thy own Blood? Oh, when I consider the Rock whence I was hewn, and that on which thou hast set me; from what I was fallen, and to what thou hast exalted me; where I had been, and where I shall be; I am amazed at thy Love, I am confounded at my ingratitude! What shall I return unto thee (that humblest thyself to behold the things that are in Heaven and Earth) for the innumerable instances of thy peculiar care and special love; for choosing me out of the World, that I might not be condemned with it; for making a Child of Wrath the Object of thy Love; for opening to me a door of Mercy, whilst I was shutting it against myself; thinking towards me thoughts of peace, whilst mine were only evil, and enmity against Thee; for so many occasions and opportunities of praising thee, and that I have not sinned away all into an incapacity of praising thee; for striking a Conjugal Covenant with me, whose Person is ugliness and deformity, whose Parentage base and beggarly, whose portion nothing but Diseases and Misery; for feeding me this day with thy Word and Sacrament, with thy own Flesh and Blood, who mightest long ago shaken off the hand of thy Providence such a Viper as I into fire unquenchable, and made me there sadly experience what it is to abuse Grace by the loss of Glory; for any heart, endeavours, or assistance, any signs of thy acceptance, any liveliness of affection in commemorating the All-sufficient Sacrifice of my ever-prevailing Mediator, in stead of being made a Sacrifice to thy Justice for ever and ever: That I have been pledging thee in a Cup of Love, while others drink the Dregs of thy Wrath; in any measure discharging my duty, whilst others are suffering the insupportable punishment of their neglects: that thou hast assured me of forgiveness, and all other benefits purchased by thy Passion, while so many millions are sealed up under wrath in the prison of thy Fury: Not unto me (O Lord) not unto me, but unto thy Name be the praise. O my God, to these and all thy mercies deny not this, A thankful heart for all thy mercies, and grace to make them incentives to more cheerful and sincere Obedience. Mind me always of, and enable me faithfully to perform the Vows and Promises now upon me; confirm and strengthen them, that they may stand as fast as thy everlasting Covenant. Let me not falsify with thee, or departed from thee, or defile that place thou hast chosen for thy Temple, but dedicate it wholly to thee. Let the fruit of the Ordinance be found to the praise of thy Grace, the support and encouragement, comfort and advantage of my own Soul. Let me always remember thee, and my duty unto thee: let nothing separate me from the love of thee; let me rather die then deny, or dishonour thee. Make me sensible how much my Saviour loved me, by his ardent desire to be an offering for me, and remembered by me. Let me not spare my darling sins for thy sake, who sparedst not thy beloved Son for mine. Let me always look upon that with horror and hatred, which procured to him so much ignominy and torment. Let not those lusts please and delight my Fancy, which were nails and thorns in his hands and side. Seeing I now profess to abide in him, enable me to walk even as he walked, in lowliness and humility, meekness and patience, contempt of the World, heavenliness, and zeal for thy Glory; temperance and moderation, tenderness and compassion, love and charity, innocency and usefulness, obedience, resignation and submission to thee. Charge not upon me, my unpreparedness for, unaffectedness, wander, unbelief, at that solemn ordinance, this day's iniquity of my holy things, but upon our great high Priest, who offered up himself to hear our sins.  
And Oh that we who have now been celebrating his Love and Passion, may with all thy people love one another as he hath loved us; have strength to resist and overcome, constancy to suffer and persevere, may breathe earnestly after thee, be pardoned and accepted, supplied, owned, blessed by thee, keep close unto thee, and reign with thee to all eternity, through our ever blessed Redeemer, who was delivered for our Offences, and raised again for our Justification; in whose holy Name and words I further pray unto thee, saying,  
Our Father &c  
FINIS.