it is in their own power to avoid; the refult of which is, that there can be no compounding in this. cafe; and that our fafety confifts in refolving to do the duty required, and to take the best care fo to prepare ourselves, that the performance may be accepted by GOD. I will not say that no accident whatfoever fhould interfere with our obfervance of this duty; but when any unavoidable impediment interpofes, it ought to be removed, and the omiffions repaired, as foon as poffible.

Let us now look into the nature of those duties which are required of them who come to the Lord's fupper, fo as to be received as worthy partakers of that holy table: in the first place let us confider, that to repent us truly of our former fins, is to examine our lives and converfations by the rule of GOD's commandments; and whereinfoever we shall perceive ourselves to have offended, either by will, word, or deed, there to bewail our own finfulness, and to confefs ourselves to almighty God, with full purpose of amendment of life: and if we shall perceive our offences to be fuch, as are not only against GOD, but also against our neighbour, then we must reconcile ourselves unto them, being ready to make reftitution and fatiffaction, according to the utmost of our power for all injuries and wrongs done by us to any other; and this is no other than what we are obliged to by common juftice: But charity goes farther, and requires of us to be likewife ready to forgive others that have offended us, as we would have forgivenefs of our offences at GOD's hand. And when,

upon

upon examination, we find that we truly and earneftly repent us of our fins, and are in love and charity with our neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of GOD, and walking from thenceforth in his holy ways, we must then draw near without fear, and take that holy facrament to our comfort; firmly believing that almighty GOD, for the fake of our bleffed Redeemer, and in regard to the merits of his death, will mercifully pardon and graciously receive us as worthy communicants. Befide this, it is farther required of us to behave with all poffible reverence and devotion, when we prefent ourselves among our brethren that come to feed on the banquet of that most heavenly food; and above all things, our principal business at the altar is to give most humble and hearty thanks to GOD the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, as for all the bleffings vouchfafed unto us, fo efpecially for the redemption of the world, by the death and passion of our Saviour Chrift both God and man, to whom we should at all times, but more especially at these opportunities (of commemorating this ineftimable love of the Son of GOD, dying for us wretched' finners) be most thankful, and filled with continual praises to Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, who created, redeemed, and fanctifieth us, and all the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The

The New Week's Preparation.

PART II.

A preparatory prayer.

Leffed Lord! who haft commanded and BL invited us to pray unto thee: O let thy fpirit help my infirmities; and do thou fo difpose my mind, and prepare my heart, that my prayers and praises may be acceptable in thy fight, through the mediation, and for the fake of Jefus Chrift, thy fon our Lord. Amen. This prayer may properly be used every morning and evening to begin your devotions.

The Meditation for Sunday Evening, after receiving the Lord's Supper.

Upon the fallen state of man, and the greatand gracious work of man's redemption through Jefus Chrift.

For all have finned and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Chrift Jefus. Rom. iii. 23, 24.

1.

Having now, O my foul! received the holy facrament of the Lord's fupper, it is neceffary (fince we have not yet profeffedly

done

; to

done it) that we should inform ourselves carefully of the nature and end of this facred inftitution; what is meant by this holy action what purpose it was ordained; and what benefits and advantages are to be expected from it. Now if anyone goes to the holy communion without confidering the reasons of that ordinance, and the very great concern he has in it; or, without understanding the neceffity and advantage of a redeemer, he will certainly go with indifference, and of course return without that benefit, which he might otherwise hope for and expect. Therefore,

2. That this, O my foul! may not be our own cafe, it is neceffary that we should well confider what account the holy fcriptures have given us of the condition we are in, not only with respect to this life, but also to that which is to come. We are there affured, that we are finners by nature, and that, as fuch, GOD cannot take pleasure in us; and that, fhould we happen to die before we are restored to his favour, we shall be separated from him, and be unalterably miserable to all eternity. This confideration neceffarily leads us to inquire, how the nature of man came to be thus difordered, and prone to evil. For, we must not imagine

that

that the infinitely good GOD ever created man in fuch a state of corruption as we now fee and perceive him to be in; but that he muft have fallen into this deplorable condition fince he came out of the hands of his creator, the juft and great GOD; of which we have the following account.

3. Our first parents Adam and Eve, from whom sprang all mankind, were created in the image of GOD, that is, holy and innocent, having a perfect knowledge of their duty, a command over their will and affections, and a power, inherent through GOD's appointment, to do what they faw fitting to be done in this their happy condition: they were placed in paradife, as in a state of trial, with a promife of happiness and immortal life, if they would continue to love, fear, honour, and obey their creator: and they had also an exprefs warning of the dreadful confequences of any future difobedience, and departing from their duty.

4. Yet for all this warning, through the temptation of the devil (as St. Paul describeth the fallen ftate of man, and we have found by fatal experience) there was a law in their members warring against the law of their mind; that the

good,