Sacramental Preparation FOR THE Holy Communion IN SHORT. Wherein are Directions and Meditations, Containing the Substance of what is Needful and Useful Before, In, and After the Administration of the LORD's SUPPER.  
To which is added Plain and Practical DIRECTIONS FOR THE Profitable Reading OF THE Sacred Scriptures.  
By a Reverend Divine of the Church of England.  
London: Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the ●●ble and Three Crowns in Cheapside, 1698.   

Sacramental Preparation FOR THE HOLY COMMUNION IN SHORT.  
Direct. I. UNderstand well the proper Ends to which this Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ was instituted by him: And take heed you use it not to other Ends for which it was never appointed. The True Ends are these. 1. To be a Solemn Commemoration of the Death and Passion of Jesus Christ, to keep it as it were in the Eye of the Church, in his bodily absence till he come, 1 Cor. 11.24, 25, 26. 2. To be a Solemn Renewing of the Holy Covenant, which was first entred in Baptism between Christ and the Receiver: And in that Covenant it is on Christ's Part, a solemn Delivery of Himself first, and with Himself the Benefits of Pardon, Reconciliation. Adoption, and Right to Life Eternal: And on Man's Part it is our solemn Acceptance of Christ with his Benefits, upon his Terms, and a delivering up ourselves to Him as his Redeemed ones; even to the Father as our Reconciled Father, and to the Son as our Lord and Saviour, and to the Holy Spirit as our Sanctifier; with professed thankfulness for so great a Benefit. 3. It is appointed to be a lively objective Means, by which the Spirit of Christ should work, to stir up, and exercise, and increase the Repentance, Faith, Desire, Hope, Love, Joy, Thankfulness, and new Obedience of Believers; by a lively Representation of the Evil of Sin, the infinite Love of God in Christ, the firmness of the Covenant or Promise, the Greatness and Sureness of the Mercy given, and the Blessedness purchased and promised to us, and the great Obligations that are laid upon us. And that herein Believers might be solemnly called out to the most serious exercise of all these Graces, and might be provoked and assisted to stir up themselves to this Communion with God in Christ, and to pray for more as through a Sacrificed Christ. 4. It is appointed to be the solemn Profession of Believers of their Faith, and Love, and Gratitude, and Obedience to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and of continuing firm in the Christian Religion. And a Badge of the Church before the World. 5. It is appointed to be a Sign and Means of the Unity, Love and Communion of Saints, and their readiness to communicate to each other.  
Direct. II. Look upon the Minister as the Agent or Officer of Christ, who is commissioned by him to Seal and Deliver to you the Covenant and its Benefits; and take the Bread and Wine, as if you heard Christ himself saying to you, Take my Body and Blood, and the Pardon, and Grace which is thereby purchased. It is a great Help in the Application, to have Mercy and Pardon brought us by the hand of a commissioned Officer of Christ.  
Direct. III. In your Preparation before hand, take bead of these two extremes. 1. That you come not profanely and carelessly, with common Hearts, as to a common Work: For God will be sanctified in them that ●●raw hear him, Lev. 10.3. And they that Eat and Drink ●●worthily, not discerning the Lord's Body from common Bread, but Eating ●●●f it were a common Meal, do Eat Death to themselves instead of Life. 2. Take heed your mistakes of the Nature of this Sacrament, should possess you with such fears of unworthy Receiving, and the following Dangers as may quiter discompose and unfit your Souls for the joyful exercises of Faith, and Love, and Praise, and Thanksgiving, to which you are invited. It should be received in a Feasting frame of Mind.  
Direct. IV. Let your Preparation to this Sacrament consist of these Particulars following. 1. In your Duty with your own Consciences and Hearts. 2. In your Duty towards God. 3. And in your Duty towards your Neighbour.  
I. Your Duty with your Hearts, consists in these Particulars,  
1. That you do your best in the close Examination of your Hearts about your State, and the Sincerity of your Faith, Repentance, and Obedience: To know whether your Hearts are true to God in the Covenant, which you are to Renew and Seal: Which may be done by these inquiries, and discerned by these Signs.( 1.) inquire, Whether you truly loathe yourselves for all the Sins of your Hearts and Lives, and are a greater Offence and Burden to yourselves because of your Imperfections and Corruptions, than all the World besides is, Ezek. 6.9. and 20.43. and 36.31. Rom. 7.24.( 2.) inquire, Whether you have no Sin, but what you are truly desirous to know; and no Sin known, but what you are truly desirous to be rid of: And so desirous, as that you had rather be perfectly freed from Sin, than from any Affliction in the World, Rom. 7.22, 18, 24. and 8.18.( 3.) inquire, Whether you love the searching and reforming Light, even the most searching Parts of the Word of God, and the most searching Books, and searching Sermons, tha● by them you may be brought to know yourselves in order to your settled Peace and Reformation John 3.19, 20, 21.( 4.) inquire, Whether you● truly Love that degree of Holiness in others, which you have not yet attained yourselves, and Love Christ in his Children with such an unfeigned Love, as will cause you to relieve them according to your Ability, and suffer for their sakes when it is your Duty, 1 John 3.14, 16. 1 Pet. 1.22. and 3.8. James 2.12, 13, 14, 15. Mat. 25.40, &c.( 5.) inquire, Whether you can truly say, That there is no degree of Holiness so high but you desire it, and had rather be perfect in the Love of God, and Obedience to his Will, than have all the Riches and Pleasures of this World, Rom. 7.18, 21, 24. Psalm 119. ●5. Mat. 5.6. And had rather be one of the Holiest Saints, than of the most renowned, prosperous Princes upon Earth, Psalm 15.4. and 16.2. and 84.20. and 65.4.( 6.) inquire, Whether you have so far laid up your Treasure, and your Hopes ●n Heaven, as that you are resolved to take that only for your Portion; and that the Hopes of Heaven ●nd Interest of your Souls has the pre-eminence in ●our Hearts against all that stands in Competition ●ith it, Col. 3.1, 3, 4. Mat. 6.20, 21.( 7.) En●uire, Whether the chiefest Care of your Hearts, ●nd endeavour of your Lives be to serve and please God, and to enjoy him for ever, rather than for any worldly thing, Mat. 6.33. John 5.26. 2 Cor. 5. ●, 6, 7, 8, 9.( 8.) inquire, Whether it be your ●aily desire and endeavour to mortify the Flesh, and ●aster it's rebellious Opposition to the Spirit; and ●ou so far prevail, as not to Live, and Walk, and and lead by the Flesh, but that the course and drift of ●our Life is Spiritual, Rom. 8.1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13. ●al. 5.17, 21, 22.( 9.) inquire, Whether the ●orld and all its Honour, Wealth and Pleasure ap●ar to you so small and contemptible a thing, as ●at you esteem it as Dung, and nothing in Com●rison of Christ, and the Love of God, and Glory; ●d are resolved, that you will rather let go all than your Part in Christ; and which uses to carry it in the Time of Trial in your deliberate choice, Phil. 3.7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20. 1 John 2.15. Luke 14.26, 30, 33. Mat. 13.19, 21.( 10.) inquire, Whether you are resolved upon a course of Holiness and Obedience, and to use those Means which God doth make known to you to be the way to please him, and to subdue your Corruption: And yet, feeling the frailties of your Hearts, and the burden of your Sins, do trust in Christ as your Righteousness before God, and in the Holy Ghost, whose Grace alone can illuminate, sanctify and confirm you, Acts 11.23. Psalm 119.57, 63, 69, 106 1 Cor. 1.30. Rom. 8.9. John 15.5. 2 Cor. 12.9. By these Signs you may safely try your States.  
2. When this is done, you are also to try the Strength, and Measure of your Grace; that you may perceive your weakness, and know for what help you should seek to Christ; and to find out what inward Corruptions, and sinful Inclinations are yet strongest in you, that you may know what to lament, and to ask forgiveness of, and help against.  
3. You are also to take a strict account of your Lives; and to look over your dealings with God and Men, in Secret and public, especially of late since the last renewal of your Covenant with God, and to hear what God and Conscience have to sa● about your Sins, and all their Aggravations, Psaln 139.23. 1 Cor. 11.28.  
4. And you must labour to get your Heart affencted with your Condition as you do discover it: T● be humbled for what is sinful, and to be desirous o● help against your weakness, and thankful for th● Grace you Discern.  
5. Lastly, You must consider of all the Work you go to do, and all the Mercies you are going to receive, and what Graces are necessary to all this and how they must be used: And accordingly loo● up all these Graces, and prepare them for the exercise to which they are to be called out.  
II. Your Duty towards God in your Preparation for this Sacrament is,  
1. To cast down yourselves before him in humble Penitent Confession, and Lamentation of all the Sins which you discover; and to beg his Pardon in Secret, before you come to have it publicly Sealed and Delivered. 2. To look up to him with that Thankfulness, Joy, and Love, as becomes one that is going to receive so great a Mercy from him: And humbly to beg that Grace which may prepare you, and quicken you to and in the Work.  
III. Your Duty towards others in this your Preparation is,  
1. To Forgive those that have done you wrong, and to confess your Fault to those whom you have wronged, and ask them forgiveness, and make them Amends and Restitution, so far as is in your Power: And to be reconciled to those with whom you are fallen out; and to see that you love your Neighbours as yourselves, Mat. 5.23, 24, 25, 26, 44. ●amess 5.16. 2. That you seek Advice of your Pastors, or some fit Persons, in Cases that are too ●ard for yourselves to Resolve, and where you need ●heir special help. 3. That you lovingly admonish ●hem that you know do intend to Communicate unworthily, and to come thither in their Ungodliness, and gross Sin unrepented of: That you show not ●ch hatred of your Brother, as to suffer Sin upon him, ●ev. 19.17. but tell him his Faults as Christ has ●irected you, Mat. 18.15, 16, 17. and do your ●arts to promote Christ's Discipline, and keep pure and Church. See 1 Cor. 5. throughout.  
Direct. V. In the Time of the Administration go a●g with the Minister throughout the Work, and keep ●ur Hearts close to Jesus Christ in the exercise of all ●ose Graces, which are suited to the several Parts of the Administration. Think not, that all the Work must be the Ministers: It should be a busy Day with you, and your Hearts should be taken up with as much Diligence, as your Hands be in your common Labour; but not in a toilsome weary Diligence, but in such delightful business as becomes the Guests of the God of Heaven at so sweet a Feast, and in the receiving of such invaluable Gifts.  
Here I shall distinctly show. 1. What Graces they be that you must there Exercise. 2. At what Seasons in the Administration, each of these inward Works are to be done.  
I. The Graces to be exercised are these( besides that Holy Fear and Reverence, which is common to all Worship.) 1. An humble Sense of the odiousness of Sin, and of our undone Condition as in ourselves, and a displeasure against ourselves, and loathing of ourselves, and melting Repentance for the Sins we have committed; as against our Creator, and as against the Love and Mercy of a Redeemer, and against the Holy Spirit of Grace. 2. A hungering and Thirsting Desire after the Lord Jesus and his Grace, and the Favour of God, and Communion with him, which are there represented and offered to the Soul. 3. A lively Faith in our Redeemer, his Death, Resurrection, and Intercession: And a trusting our miserable Souls upon him, as our sufficient Saviour and Help: And a Hearty Acceptance of him and his Benefits upon his offered Terms. 4. A Joy and Gladness in the Sense of that unspeakable Mercy that is here offered us. 5. A Thankful Heart towards him from whom we do receive it. 6. A fervent Love to him, that by such Love doth seek our Love. 7. A Triumphant Hope of Life Eternal, which is purchased for us, and Sealed to us. 8. A Willingness and Resolution to deny ourselves, and all this World, and suffer for him that has suffered for our Redemption. 9. A Love to our Brethren, our Neighbours and our Enemies, with a readiness to relieve them, and to forgive them when they do us wrong. 10. And a firm Resolution for future Obedience to our Creator, and Redeemer and Sanctifier, according to our Covenant.  
II. That you may be the readier, when it comes to practise. I shall, as it were, led you, by the Hand, through all the Parts of the Administration, and tell you When and How to exercise every Grace, and those that are to be joined together, I will take together.  
1. When you are called up, or going to the Table of the Lord, exercise afric Humility, Desire and Thankfulness, and say in your Hearts, What, Lord, dost thou call such a Wretch as I? What! me that have so oft despised thy Mercy, and wilfully offended Thee, and preferred the filth of this World, and the Pleasures of the Flesh before Thee? Alas, it is thy Wrath in Hell that is my due: But if Love will choose such an unworthy Guest, and Mercy will be honoured upon such Sin and Misery, I come Lord at thy call; I gladly come: Let thy Will be done; and let that Mercy which invites me, make me acceptable, and graciously entertain me; and let me not come without the Wedding Garment, nor unreverently rush on Holy Things, nor turn thy Mercies to my Bane.  
2. When the Minister is confessing Sin, prostrate your very Souls in the Sense of your unworthiness, and let your Particular Sins be in your Eye, with their heinous Aggravations: The Whole need not the Physician, but the Sick.  
3. When the Words of Institution are red, and the Bread and Wine are solemnly Consecrated, by separating them to that sacred use, and the Acceptance and Blessing of God is desired, admire the Mercy that prepared us a Redeemer and say, O God how wonderful is thy Wisdom, and thy Love? How strangely dost thou glorify thy Mercy over those Sins, that gave Thee advantage to glorify thy Justice? Even thou our God whom we have offended, hast out of thy own Treasury satisfied thy own Justice, and given us a Saviour by such a Miracle of Wisdom, Love and Condescension, as Men or Angels shall never be able fully to comprehend. So didst thou Love the sinful World, as to give thy Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life. O thou that hast prepared us so full a Remedy, and so precious a Gift, sanctify these Creatures to be the Representative Body and Blood of Christ, and prepare my Heart for so great a Gift, and so high, and holy, and honourable a Work.  
4. When you see the Breaking of the Bread, and Pouring out of the Wine, let Repentance, and Love, and Desire, and Thankfulness thus Work within you, O wondrous Love! O hateful Sin! How merciful, Lord, hast thou been to Sinners? And how cruel have we been to ourselves and Thee? Could Love stoop lower? Could God be merciful at a dearer Rate? Could my Sin have done a more horrid dead, than to put to Death the Son of God? How small a Matter has tempted me to that, which must cost so dear before it was forgiven? How dear paid my Saviour for that, which I might have avoided at a very cheap Rate? At how low a Price have I valued his Blood, when I have sinned and sinned again for nothing? This is my doing, my Sins were the Thorns, the Nails, the Spear, can a Murderer of Christ be a small Offender? O dreadful Justice! It was I and such other Sinners that deserved to bear the Punishment who were guilty of the Sin, and to have been fuel for the unquenchable Flames for ever. O precious Sacrifice! O hateful Sin! O Gracious Saviour! How can Man's dull and narrow Heart be duly affencted with such transcendent things? Or Heaven make its due Impression upon an Inch of Flesh? Shall I ever again have a dull Apprehension of such Love? Or ever have a favourable Thought of Sin? Or ever have a fearless Thought of Justice? O break or melt this hardened Heart, that it may be somewhat conformed to my Crucified Lord! The Tears of Love and true Repentance are easier than the Flames from which I am redeemed. O hid me in these Wounds, and wash me in this precious Blood. This is the Sacrifice in which I trust: This is the Righteousness by which I must be justified, and saved from the Curse of thy violated Law. As thou hast accepted this, O Father, for the World, upon the across, behold it still on the behalf of Sinners, and hear his Blood that cries unto Thee for Mercy to the miserable, and Pardon us, and accept us as thy reconciled Children for the sake of this Crucified Christ alone. We can offer Thee no other Sacrifice for Sin, and we need no other.  
5. When the Minister applies himself to God by Prayer, for the Efficacy of this Sacrament, that in it he will give us Christ and his Benefits, and Pardon, and justify us, and Accept us as his reconciled Children, join hearty and earnestly in these Requests, as one that knows the Need and Worth of such a Mercy.  
6. When the Minister delivers you the Consecrated Bread and Wine, look upon him as the Messenger of Christ, and hear him as if Christ by him said to you, Take this my broken Body and Blood, and feed on it to Everlasting Life: And take with it my Sealed Covenant, and therein the Sealed Testimony of my Love, and the Sealed Pardon of your Sins, and a Sealed Gift of Life Eternal; so be it you unfeignedly Consent unto my Covenant, and give up yourselves to me as my Redeemed ones. Here the Minister by Christ's Authority delivers you Christ, and Pardon, and Title to Eternal Life. Let your Hearts therefore say with Joy and Thankfulness, with Faith and Love, O matchless Bounty of the Eternal God! What a Gift is this! And unto what unworthy Sinners! And will God stoop so low to Man? And come so near him? And thus reconcile his worthless Enemies? Will he freely Pardon all that I have done? And take me into his Family, and Love; and feed me with the Flesh and Blood of Christ? I believe; Lord, help my unbelief. I humbly and thankfully accept thy Gifts. Open thou my Heart that I may yet more joyfully and thankfully accept them. Seeing God will glorify his Love and Mercy by such incomprehensible Gifts as these, behold Lord, a Wretch that needs all this Mercy. And seeing it is the offer of thy Grace and Covenant, my Soul doth gladly take Thee for my God and Father; for my Saviour and my Sanctifier. And here I give up myself unto Thee, as thy Created, Redeemed, and( I hope) Regenerated one: As thy Own, thy Subject, and thy Child, to be saved, and sanctified by Thee, to be beloved by Thee, and to Love Thee to Everlasting. O Seal up this Covenant and Pardon by thy Spirit, which thou sealest and deliverest to me in thy Sacrament; that without reserve I may be entirely and for ever thine.  
7. When you see the Communicants receiving with you, let your very Hearts be united to the Saints in Love; and say, How goodly are thy Tents, O Jacob! How amiable is the Family of the Lord! Though they have yet all their Spots and Weaknesses, which he Pardons, and so must We. My Goodness, O Lord, extends not unto Thee, but unto thy Saints the excellent ones on Earth, in whom is my delight. What Portion of my Estate thou requirest, I willingly give unto the Poor, and if I have wronged any Man, I am willing to restore it: And seeing thou hast Loved me an Enemy, and forgiven me so great a Debt, I hearty forgive those that have done me wrong, and Love my Enemies. O keep me in thy Family all my Days; for a Day in thy Courts is better than a thousand, and the Door-keepers in thy House are happier than the most prosperous of the Wicked.  
8. When the Minister returns Thanks and Praise to God, stir up your Souls to the greatest cheerfulness: And suppose you saw the heavenly Hosts of Saints and Angels, praising the same God in the presence of his Glory; and think with yourselves that you belong to the same Family and Society as they, and are Learning their Work, and must shortly arrive at their Perfection: Strive therefore to imitate them in Love and Joy: And let your very Souls be poured out in Praises and Thanksgiving: And when you have the next leisure for your Private Thoughts( as when the Minister is exhorting you to your Duty) exercise your Love and Thanks, and Faith, and Hope, and Self-denial, and Resolution for Future Obedience, in some such Breathings of your Souls as these; O my Gracious God, thou hast surpassed all human Comprehension in thy Love! Is this thy usage of unworthy Prodigals? I feared least thy Wrath, as a consuming Fire, would have devoured such a guilty Soul, and thou wouldst have charged upon me all my Folly: But while I condemned myself, thou hast forgiven and justified me; and surprised me with the sweetest Embracements of thy Love. I see now that thy Thoughts are above our Thoughts, and thy Ways above our Ways, and thy Love excels the Love of Man, even more than the Heavens are above the Earth. With how dear a price hast Thou redeemed a Wretch that deserved thy Everlasting Vengeance! With how precious and sweet a Feast hast Thou entertained me, who deserved to be cast out with the Workers of Iniquity! Shall I ever again slight such a Love as this? Shall it not overcome my rebelliousness, and melt down my could and hardened Heart? Shall I be saved from Hell and not be Thankful? Angels are admiring these Miracles of Love, and shall not I admire them? Their Love to us does cause them to rejoice, while they stand by and see our Heavenly Feast; and should it not be sweeter to us that are the Guests that feed upon it? My God how dearly hast Thou purchased my Love? How strangely hast Thou deserved and sought it? Nothing is so much my Grief and shane, as that I can answer such Love with no more fervent, fruitful Love. O what an addition would it be to all this precious Mercy, if Thou wouldst give me a Heart to answer these thine Invitations? That thy Love thus poured out might draw forth mine, and my Soul might flamme by approaching unto these thy Flames? And that Love drawn out by the Sense of Love might be all my Life? O that I could Love Thee as much as I would Love Thee; yea, as much as Thou wouldst have me Love Thee! But this is too great a Happiness for Earth: But Thou hast shewed me the Place where I may attain it: My Lord is there in full Possession, who hath left me these Pledges till he come and fetch us to himself, and Feast us there in our Master's Joy. O blessed Place! O happy Company that see his Glory, and are filled with the Streams of these Rizers of Consolation! Yea, happy We whom Thou hast called from our dark and miserable State, and made us Heirs of that Felicity, and Passengers to it, and Expectants of it under the Conduct of so sure a Guide! O then we shall Love Thee without these sinful Pauses and defects! In another Measure and another Manner than now we do: When Thou shalt reveal and communicate thy attractive Love in another Measure and Manner than now! Till then, my God, I am devoted to Thee. By Right and Covenant I am thine. My Soul here beareth Witness against myself, that my defects of Love have no Excuse. Thou deservest all, if I had the Love of all the Saints in Heaven and Earth to give Thee. What hath this World to do with my Affections? And what is this sordid, corruptible Flesh, that it's Desires and Pleasures should call down my Soul, and tempt it to neglect my God? What is there in all the Sufferings that Man can lay upon me, that I should not joyfully accept them for his Sake that has Redeemed me from Hell, by such unmatched, voluntary Sufferings? Lord, seeing Thou regardest, and so regardest, so vile a Worm, my Heart, my Tongue, my Hand Confess, that I am wholly Thine. O let me live to none but Thee, and to thy Service, and thy Saints on Earth! And O let me no more return unto Iniquity! Nor venture on that Sin which killed my Lord! And now Thou hast chosen so low a dwelling, O be not strange to the Heart that Thou hast so freely chosen! O make it the daily residence of thy Spirit! Quicken it by thy Grace: Adorn it with thy Gifts: Employ it in thy Love: Delight it in it's Attendance on Thee: Refresh it with thy Joys, and the Light of thy Countenance: And destroy this Carnality, Selfishness, and Unbelief: And let the World see that God will make a Palace in the lowest Heart, when he chooses it for the Place of his own abode.  
Direct. VI. When you come home Review the Mercy you have received, and the Duty which you have done, and the Covenant you have made: And 1. Betake yourselves to God in Praise and Prayer for the perfecting of his Work: And 2. Take heed to your Hearts that they grow not could, and that worldly Things, or diverting Trifles don't blot out the sacred Impressions which Christ has made, and that they cool not quickly into their former dull and sleepy Frame. 3. And see that your Lives be actuated by the Grace that you have received, that even they that you Converse with may perceive that you have been with God. Especially when Temptations would draw you again to Sin, and when the injuries of Friends or Enemies would provoke you, and when you are called to testify your Love to Christ by any costly Work or Suffering, remember then what was so lately before your Eyes, and upon your Heart, and what you resolved on, and what a Covenant you made with God. Yet judge not of the Fruit of your Receiving so much by Feeling, as by Faith: For more is promised, then you yet possess. Baxter's Christians Directory, Tome II. Chap. XXIV.   

Plain and Practical DIRECTIONS FOR THE Profitable Reading OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.  
BEgin with Prayer 
We must Plow with God's Heifer, if we would understand his Riddle. . What the Apostle saith concerning every Creature of God. that it is sanctified, and made fit for a Free and Holy Use, By the Word of God and Prayer, 1 Tim. 4.5. may be applied to Reading the Holy Scriptures, and to every other solemn Action of our Lives, that it is sanctified and made a Means of spiritual Good, viz. increase in Knowledge and Holiness by Prayer: And therefore when we enter upon this Duty of Reading. We must lift up our Hearts to God, that He, who is the Author and Inditer of the Holy Scriptures, would be the Interpreter of 'em to us; That he would open our Understandings, as he did the Understandings of the Apostles, ( Luke 24.45.) to understand the Scriptures, i.e. that we may understand the spiritual Sense and meaning of' em. There's the literal Sense, which we may understand in a great Measure, by our natural Abilities of Reason, Consideration, and the like, and by help of human Learning, as studying the Originals, Reading of Commentators, &c. And there's also a Spiritual Sense, which is spiritually discerned, which God reveals unto us by his Spirit, 1 Cor. 2.9, 14. Hence David Praies so often for this Illumination of the Spirit upon this occasion, Psalm 119.18, 27, 33. Paul while a Pharisee, was ignorant of this spiritual Sense of the Law, notwithstanding all his natural and acquired Abilities, till he was made to understand it by the Spirit, Rom. 7.9. This is the Unction from the Holy One, which enables us to Know all Things, 1 John 2.20. And to Judge of all Things, 1 Cor. 2.15. And this we have Encouragement to beg, from that Promise, James 1.5. If any Man wants Wisdom, let him ask it of God, who gives liberally, and upbraids not.  
2. Be filled with a Sense of thy own Emptiness and Ignorance. They that are full of themselves have no room to receive any more; and therefore they are sent empty away,( Luke 1.53.) Empty of Knowledge; for, He that thinks he knows any thing, knows nothing yet as he ought to know, 1 Cor. 8.2. Whereas Solomon assures us( Prov. 11.2.) that with the lowly is Wisdom. For the Promise is made to such, Psalm 25.9. The Meek,( the Lowly, or Humble; as it is Translated, Psalm 9.12. and 10.17. and so frequently) Will he guide in Judgement, and the Lowly will he teach his Way. This Dispensation and Way of God's dealing in this respect, our Saviour Christ takes Notice of and blesses him for, Mat. 11.25. I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, because thou hast hide th●se things from the Wise and Prudent,( i.e. such as thought themselves so: That were highly Conceited of themselves, and of their own Wisdom and Understanding: As the Scribes and Pharisees were, John 9.41. Ye say, We see. As Christ calls those Whole and Righteous, which were so in their own Conceit, Mark 2.17. So he calls them Wise and Prudent, that looked upon themselves as such; tho' really it was otherwise with 'em, and therefore elsewhere he calls 'em Fools and Blind,( Mat. 23.17.) and hast revealed 'em unto Babes; i.e.( hast opened the Understandings of my Disciples and Followers, who have mean Thoughts of themselves) to perceive, receive, and embrace the Mysteries of the Gospel. It's a great help to Knowledge, to be acquainted with our own Ignorance. Therefore said Deo meo gratias ago, quod ignorantiam meam non ignoro. I Thank my God, that I am not ignorant of my Ignorance.  
Empty thyself then of all Self-conceit, that thou mayst be in a Capacity to be filled by God. Come with an humble, lowly Mind to the Reading of the Scripture: For God gives Grace( the Grace of Knowledge and Understanding as well as other Graces) to such. Don't impose thy Sense upon Scripture, but receive thy Sense from the Scripture. Frame thy Notions and Apprehensions according to the Model, and Form of sound Words contained therein. Humbly deliver up thy Mind and Understanding to be cast into the mould thereof,( Rom. 6.17.) to receive Impressions from it, and not to make Impressions upon it. Those Men are to be abhorred, that submit not their Thoughts and Conceptions to this sacred Standard; who compel the Scripture to serve their private Opinions; who make no Conscience of putting a Text upon the Rack to make it speak what it intended not; of miserable torturing it that they may force it to confess what it never meant. These Persons should be reminded how great a Sin it is to distort and deprave th● Holy Writ, and designedly to draw it to another Sense than it naturally bears: And the Penalty is as grievous as the Crime; for as the Apostle St. Peter informs us; This Generation of Men, wrest the Scriptures to their own Destruction. Edwards of the Excellency and Perfection of the Holy Scriptures, Part 3. p. 585.  
3. Be frequent and diligent in the Reading and Study of the Scriptures. We are commanded by our Saviour Christ, John 5.39. To Search the Scriptures. Not barely to red 'em, but to sift 'em narrowly, thereby to find out the full Force and true Meaning of every Sentence; yea, of every Word and Syllable. We must dig into the Bowels of the Scripture, as Miners do into the Bowels of the Earth for Silver and Gold, and precious Stones. The Scriptures are able to make us Wise unto Salvation, 2 Tim. 3.15. To due with saving Wisdom: This Wisdom is to be sought for as Silver, and preached after as hide Treasures, Prov. 2.4. Silver and Treasures are not gathered by every Lazy Passenger on the surface of the Earth: but Men must with indefatigable Pains and Industry, pierce into the Bowels of the Earth in quest of those hide Treasures that lie butted in it: So must we for these Treasures of Heavenly Wisdom. There are Things contained in the Scriptures which the Prophets of Old, notwithstanding the Advantage of their own special Revelations, inquired diligently after; yea, which even the Angels themselves desire to bow down, and look into, 1 Pet. 1.11, 12. Much more then should they be studied by us, who are of such narrow Capacities, and shallow Understandings.  
The Scripture is the best Interpreter of itself under God: Therefore the more thou art Conversant in it, the greater Acquaintance thou wilt ●t with its Phrase and Manner of Speech. What ● expressed in one Place more doubtfully and ob●rely, is many Times expressed in another more ●ainly and intelligibly. Therefore compare Place ●ith Place, and the scope of one Place, with the ●ope of another; for which purpose the Parallel scriptures in Clark's Annotations may be of good ●se.  
Again, we are commanded also to have the Word ● Christ dwelling in us richly, Col. 3.16. It must ●ot only be without us, but within us; not only in ●ur Houses, but in our Hearts; and that not only as ● Stranger and Sojourner, but as a Dweller and A●ider; not for a Day or Two, but for continuance, ●o take up its fixed residence there, so as to make ●t our Meditation Day and Night: To have it ●eady by us for our use upon all Occasions: And ●his not in a scanty Degree; not sparing and pe●uriously, but plenteously and richly; that we may and thoroughly furnished to every good Work, 2 Tim. ●. 17. And for this end.  
4. red it deliberately, with due Attention, Observation and Consideration. This is the apostles Direction, 1 Tim. 4.13. Give attendance to Reading. Observe carefully what you red: Be intent upon it: Apply your Mind wholly to it. Let not your Thoughts run waste, go astray, play the Truants and ramble after other Things; but keep 'em close to Work; fix 'em upon the business in Hand: And then red with Deliberation, so as that nothing may pass unobserved. Run it not over hastily, like a Task, but consider what is said( 2 Tim. 2.7.) especially when you meet with any thing that does more nearly concern you, and is suited to your Case. Water poured hastily upon a narrow-mouth'd Vessel will most of it run beside, and but little will run in: We are narrow-mouth'd Vessels, and apt to let things slip: Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we red( Heb. 2.1.) least we let Things run beside: That is the force of the Word, according to that Learned critic H. Stephens. Eâ significatione quâ dicitur fluvius, aut aqua quaepiam praeter fluere locum aliquem. Steph. in Thesauro. We say, hast makes Waste: And certainly by reading hastily, we lose abundance of that excellent Matter, which, by Deliberation, we might gain; as every one may find by Experience. The rabbis have a Saying, That upon every Letter of the Law, there hang Mountains of Sense; Non est in lege vel litera una a quâ non pendent Montes magni. pick. Avoth. ch. 2. And our Saviour Christ tells us,( Mat. 5.18.) That one Jot, or one Tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law: So, we should not suffer one Jot or Tittle to pass unobserved; since a little Word may contain a great deal of Matter, and many excellent Lessons may be learned from the very Coherence, Occasion and the like. It is a Passage of Holy, Laborious Mr. Stockton, That the observing and pondering every Word and Circumstance in a Promise is of great Use. Stockton's Life, p. 96. of which you may find many Examples in those Memorials he left of himself, and published in his Life by my worthy Friend, and Academical Acquaintance Mr. John Fairfax.  
5. Come to the Word with earnest Desires to profit by it. The Usefulness and Profitableness of the Scripture in several Particulars, the Apostle acquaints us with, 2 Tim. 3.16. Rom. 15.4.( 1.) It is profitable for Doctrine; to Teach us what we are to Know, Believe, and practise, in order to our Everlasting Happiness.( 2.) For Reproof; to enable us to convince Gain-sayers,( Tit. 1.9.) and confute Errors.( 3.) For Correction; to reform the Life, and free it from all corrupt Manners, unwarrantable practices and vicious Courses.( 4.) For Instruction to Righteousness; to teach us how to make further progress in the way to Heaven, and to walk on in the right way to true Happiness.( 5.) It is profitable to teach us how to exercise Patience under all the hardships we must undergo, and the Trials we may meet with in our Pilgrimage:( 6.) It holds forth manifold Comforts to us, to enable us to run with cheerfulness the Race that is set afore us.( 7.) It serves to the Breeding, increasing and Confirming our Hope and Expectation of Everlasting Life. In which respects it has many glorious Titles and high Commendations given it by Authors, both Ancient and Modern. It is called both the Food and physic of the Soul, an Apothecaries Shop where spiritual Medicines for all the Diseases and ails of the Soul are to be found; where there's a salue for every Sore, a Remedy for every Malady. But I can't better express myself upon this Head, nor display the excellent Usefulness of the Holy Scriptures, than in the Words of the Reverend Dr. Roberts, in the Introduction to his Clavis Bibliorum. Here are unfolded the Covenant of Grace, wholly made up of heavenly Cordials: The Promises of the Life that now is, and that which is to come, exceeding great and precious. The Comforts of God, able to Counterpoise the deepest Disconsolations. Here are discovered the Miseries of all that are in the first Adam, the Felicities of all that are in the second Adam, and the Way how Poor Souls are Translated from those Miseries to those Felicities. In a Word, What is there not in Holy Scriptures? Are we afflicted? Here's our Solace. Are we persecuted? Here's our Protection. Are we deserted? Here's our Recovery. Are we tempted? Here's our Sword and Victory. subtilest we Live, here's the Rule of our Conversation; when we die, here's the Hope of our Glorification. So that I may say with Tertullian, I adore the fullness of the Scripture.  
Since then it is so exceeding Profitable, if we don't bring along with us sincere and hearty Desires to partake of this Profit, what do we spend our Time about it for? Come we then to it with a Mind and Desire to Profit by it: To have our Minds more enlightened with the saving Knowledge of his Will, and all other Graces increased, that we may abound in the Fruits of Holiness and Righteousness, and become more flourishing in the Courts of our God.  
6. Exercise Faith on the several Parts of the Scripture. I don't mean barely to Assent to the Truth of 'em with an Historical Faith; that's no great Matter to do: Generally, all that call themselves Christians pretend to this: But to employ an Operative Faith about 'em, i.e. such a Faith as shows itself in the Life. Believe the Precepts so as to obey 'em; Believe the Promises so as to Suck Comfort from 'em, and so as to be encouraged thereby in the Way of Holiness: And Believe the threatenings so as to be deterred thereby from Sin. And thus to believe the Scripture is no easy Matter: For it is easy to prove, that few of those who pretend to believe 'em, nay, perhaps are possessed with true and saving Faith, do yet firmly believe 'em with such an inward, hearty persuasion, and Operative Faith, as I have mentioned. I shall prove it plainly and undeniably to you, by this convi●●● Illustration. If some King or Nobleman, who h●s always been found true and faithful to his Word, without any one instance to the contrary, shall Declare and give Notice, That whosoever comes to him by such a Time, and will go over with him beyond Sea to such a Place, when he comes there he'll give him a hundred Pound, and so many Acres of Land, and make him a great Man; so that he shall much Advantage himself in all Respects, and it shall be better with him than it is now, if Persons do believe him( especially they who are Poor and Needy) they will certainly come and accept of his Offer: And if such Persons do not come, it's a certain Sign that they do not believe him.( I might put many such Cases.) So when God hath said, If ye live after the Flesh ye shall die: It is a People of no Understanding, therefore he that made them will not have Mercy on them, and he that formed them, will show 'em no Favour, Isa. 27.11. He will not be merciful to any wicked Transgressor, Psalm 59.5. If fleshly Livers, ignorant Persons, wicked Transgressors, notwithstanding this Declaration of God's Will, will yet persuade themselves that they shall live in Eternal Happiness, and that God will be merciful to 'em, this evidently proves that they don't believe those Scripture-Threatnings. Again, when Scripture saith, He that sows sparing shall Reap sparing, though Persons do Sow, yet if they do it in a penurious, scanty, sparing Manner, and not Liberally and Bountifully, it's a certain Evidence. That they don't believe that Scripture-Promise: For I never knew any Man so covetous as to be s●●ring of his Seed. How many such Instances might be given? So that I say, it's no such easy and common Matter, as many think it, to believe the Scripture; and therefore, I give you 〈◇〉 Direction, when you come to red the Scripture, to bring along with you a firm persuasion of the Truth of every thing contained therein.  
And that this is the Way to profit thereby, is plain from that Passage of the Apostle, Heb. 4.1. the Word Preached( or red) did not profit them, not being mixed with Faith in them that Heard( or red) it: Implying, That the Way to profit by the Word is to receive it by Faith, whereby it is received into, digested and incorporated into the Soul, and so the Soul is nourished thereby, as the Body is by it's Food.  
7. Select such Places in Reading as may be of special use to you. Here I shall only Transcribe, what was written long ago by Mr. N. B. in the Preface to his Directions for Reading the Scripture. He that comes to red the Scripture should especially set himself to observe, the most needful Places to enlarge his own Knowledge, and further his own growth in the true Grace of God. As for Example.  
First, It were a Thing of admirable Use all my Life long, if I did set down all the Places of Scripture, that in the Reading I find sensible Comfort, and ravishing of Heart in. It may be in the whole Bible, I may find Twenty, Forty, Fifty, &c. of such Places, as I was sure in the Reading, did wonderfully fill my Heart with secret Refreshing, and sensibly Joy: Now these Places so noted, not only serve for present use, but while I Live in any Distress I may have recourse to these, as so many Wells of Joy: And if in my Grief one or two, or ten of 'em did not Comfort me, yet a thousand to one but some of 'em, will have Spirit and Life in 'em to refresh me again in my Sorrows. Besides, it marvelously establishes my Faith, when I remember in how many distinct Places of Scripture, the Lord was pleased to Comfort me in Particular. This is one Thing we should observe.  
Secondly, Would it not be exceeding profitable, if I did Note all the Places of Scripture, which in Reading of 'em did sensibly smite my Heart, and reprove some Fault in me, so as I felt my Heart troubled within me? Certainly by that time I had gone through the Scriptures, I should see the Anatomy of my Corruptions, and plainly perceive, what things there were in my Nature, that God had a quarrel against: And so might be guided by the very Finger of God, to know the Faults I should set myself most against in Mortification.  
Thirdly, In Reading, one shall find sometimes certain Rules or Counsels given, which one sensibly is affencted withal, and has an inward Desire O that I could but remember this Counsel of the Holy Ghost! Now I would Note all those Places, that the Holy Ghost has made me in Love withal in the Reading, that might concern my own particular Direction, either at Home or Abroad.  
And then in the End of the Book he sets down these.  
Rules or Titles of Things to be observed in Reading.  
1. Places that in Reading I found sensible Comfort in.  
2. Places that I found did rebuk Corruption in my Nature or Practise.  
3. Places that show the privileges of the Godly above all other Men.  
4. Places that show the Affection I should bear to God.  
5. Places that show me how to carry myself in the Church.  
6. Places that show me how to carry myself in my Family.  
7. Promises that may Comfort me against my daily Infirmities.  
8. Comforts against inward Temptations and Afflictions of Spirit.  
9. Promises to establish me, against the Fear of falling away.  
10. Promises that may Comfort me against outward Crosses.  
11. Grounds or Places that show me divers Points of Religion, that I could infallibly rest upon, and Live and die in the Assurance of' em.  
12. Hard Places, that I would be resolved in the meaning of' em.  
13. Comfortable Places concerning Prayer.  
14. Places that direct me in my particular Calling.  
15. Places that show me how to carry myself towards the Wicked, especially when I must needs be in their Company.  
16. Comforts against Death.  
17. Places that show the Glory of Heaven.  
18. Places that set out the Terror of Hell.  
19. Choice Sentences, to be learned without Book.  
20. Sentences for Children to Learn, briefly expressing the chief Points of Religion.  
21. Places against hypocrisy.  
22. The most Memorable Sayings of the Godly in their several Estates.  
23. Miscellanea, or Places I would remember, but know not what Head to refer 'em to.  
Each of these Heads, or so many of 'em as one shall judge most suitable for himself, may be written on the Top of the Pages, in a Paper-book made for that End.  
8. And Lastly, Be careful to Practise what you know, and you shall know what to Practise. Christ's Promise to such is express to this Purpose. John 7.17, If any Man will do his Will, he shall know of the Doctrine, whether it be of God. And David found the Truth of it by Experience. Psalm 119.98, 100. Thou through thy Commandments hast made me wiser than mine Enemies: For they are ever with me. I have more Understanding than all my Teachers; for thy Testimonies are my Meditation, I understand more than the Ancients, because I keep thy Precepts.  
Practise is the Life and Soul of Knowledge, without which it is but a dead carcase. Hereby the three of Knowledge will become a three of Life to us. This is the End therefore that we should propound unto ourselves, viz. to refer all to Practise; by performing the Duties enjoined, and avoiding the Sins forbidden in the Word. This David promised to do, Psalm 119.33. Teach me O Lord the Way of thy Judgments, and I will keep them unto the End. Without this our Knowledge will but aggravate our Condemnation, Luke 12.47. The Servant that knew his Lord's Will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his Will shall be beaten with many Stripes. How should we expect that God should enlighten our Understandings with the Knowledge of his Will, or give us more, if we don't make use of that we have? Yea, we may rather expect, that he should take away that Talent from us, which we hid unprofitably in a Napkin: As he threatened to do, Luke 19.24. I shall conclude these Directions with that Passage of Jerom to Celantius, Sint ergo Divinae Scripturae semper in manibus tuis, &c. Let therefore the Holy Scriptures be always in thy Hands, and meditate on 'em in thy Mind; yet don't think it sufficient to have God's Laws in thy Memory, if thou forget them in thy Works, but therefore know them, that thou mayst do what thou knowest. for not the Hearers of the Law are Just before God, but the Doers of it are justified. These are the Persons who are pronounced Happy by Christ, John 13.17. If ye know these Things, Happy are ye if ye do them. Let us Do so, that we may Be so. Amen.  
FINIS.   

BOOKS Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside.  
A Treatise of the Institution, right Administration and receiving of the Sacrament of the Lord's up per, By Mr. Richard Vines.  
A True Touch-stone of Grace and Nature, or a Discourse concerning Self-examination, with Meditations relating to the Lord's Supper. By Mr. N. Vincent, late Minister of the Gospel.  
A Communicant Instructed, or Practical Directions for worthy receiving of the Lord's Supper. By Fran. Roberts, M. A.  
Convivium Coeleste, or a Discourse concerning the Lord's Supper, showing at once the Nature of that acrament, as also the right Way of preparing ourselves for the receiving of it, &c. by the Right Reverend Father in God, Richard Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells.  
Sacramental Discourses on several Texts before, and after the Lord's Supper. By John Shower.