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FOR THE 
 
 Holy Communion, 
 
 By R.\ , 
 
 To which is added 
 
 Suitable Meditations be- 
 fore, in, and after Re s 
 ceiving. 
 
 WITH 
 
 Divine Hymns, 
 
 In Common Tunes; 
 Fitted for Publick Congre 
 ons, or Private Families. 
 
 H \ LONDON 7 Printed for Tho. Park? 
 
 burft, at the Bible & Three Crowns, 
 
 | the lower end of Cheap fide. 1696. 
 

THE 
 
 P R EFACE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 READER. 
 
 SAcramental work^ is fvlermi 
 worh^ indeed : And all tboje 
 helps are valuable and defi* 
 rable, whereby the furniture 
 of our minds J he temper of our heal 
 and the condull of our lives may ■> 
 anfiverable to the fokmnity of a Sa- 
 cramental Table. A' mind that is 
 barren or perplext ; an heart that is 
 falfe or fiupid ; and the conscience of 
 aaifirdered converfation, are bad 
 A i Com- 
 
The Preface 
 
 paffage through them to that exalteai 
 (late , wherein he had fo much to dor 
 with God for us : In aU thefe.and in 
 his preparations for them, doth he 
 appear mo ft exemplary to us, claim- 
 ing and urging our Conformity to his 
 obedient , fubmifjive, and refolded 
 felf And in his Meritorious Suffer- 
 ings and Expiatory Death, muft we 
 difcern and think fever ely on, wixat 
 there and thence was evident \ viz. 
 Gods Wifdom, Majefty, Holinefs^ I 
 and his Governing Juftice, and Pre- 
 rogatives ; the finfulnefs of fin, the 
 mifery of Revolted Man, the equity 
 and povcer of God's Violated Law, 
 | and. the eminence of the Divine a- 
 Y hove the Animal Life, Nature, and 
 Concerns, 
 
 HI. Our Intereft in, and Benefit 
 hy thefe his Sufferings, are next to 
 exercife our thoughts. He died to let 
 m fee, x. How 
 
to the Reader: 
 
 t . How glorious a God we have to 
 do with. 
 
 2 What wife and righteous Con- 
 ft it ut ions we had violated. 
 
 3. What dreadful evils we had 
 brought upon our J elves. 
 
 4. V/hat fpirit, ft rength and reach 
 there is in Dtvine Threatnings. 
 
 5-. How hard it is to be recovered, 
 when we are fain from God, and f9 
 what an Enemy Satan is to Man; 
 and how unwilling to let his Cap- 
 tives go. 
 
 6. To fbew us the riches of God's 
 Grace in him, and his own Dignity 5 
 in that his Sufferings could, and did*, 
 merit and obtain of God our Pardon, 
 Adoption Acceptance, and Eternal 
 Blifs through him. 
 
 7. To raife and cherifh holy endea- 
 vours to return to God in hope. 
 
 8. To make us dread the thoughts 
 of ever falling off from God again. 
 
 9- To 
 
i ne r reiace 
 
 9. To juftifie our claims io all t hex 
 Benefits of our Gojpel-ftate and day\ 
 
 10. To obtain of God for us the] 
 Spirit and Means, of Grace , thereby] 
 to fit us for our prefent Work, and 
 Trials in this our Probationary I 
 ftate, and to fuit and bring us to his 
 Father and himfelf in Glory, and that 
 with univerful Satisfaction, and Ad- 
 vantage, and Applaufe. 
 
 Ii. To put himfelf into a capaoity 
 of interceding for us in Heaven, and 
 UeJJingus from Heazen as our High- 
 Prieft upon his Throne. 
 
 n. To put us into, and to keep us 
 in a Covenant-ftate and frame, that 
 thus we may deal and walk., with 
 God, as Children, as interejied in 
 his Son, as inhabited and aEluated 
 by his Spirit, and as united with all 
 the Family of God and Ghriji, in the 
 fame Principles, Practices, Concerns, 
 and Hopes > in order to the exercifes 
 
 of 
 
to the Reader* 
 
 of all the Sympathies and Jervices of 
 mutually Chrifiian Love, Ephef. iv. 
 v. i-6; 
 
 IV. Our Commemoration of Ghrift 
 thus reprefented to us % a* upon the Croft, 
 and as determining to come again, is 
 our next work: 
 
 i. The Sacramental Elements, and 
 the Obferved lnfiitution, is the Me- 
 morial. 
 
 2. The Remembrance contains, 
 
 i. Head-work, in difcerniug, re- 
 membring and believing the Sacra- 
 mental Do&rine of this Supper to be 
 true y and of great confequence to m : 
 Chrift Crucified, and determining 
 to come again . 
 
 2* Heart-work, in forming the 
 temper, purpofes, hopes and comforts 
 of our hearts unto what this Supper 
 imports, and our acceptance of yphat 
 is tendered^ here 3 and our obliging our 
 
 [elves 
 
The Preface, &c. 
 
 [elves to do and be as Cbrift would 
 have us. 
 
 3 . Life-work 5 in keeping up our 
 Chriftian pradlice and profeffion as we 
 are here directed and obliged to $ for 
 a more full account whereof, and 
 greater fitnefs for it, thou art com- 
 mended to this helpful Ireattfe, by 
 thine to his poor power for Ghrift, 
 
 Matthew Sylvefter. 
 
 Feb. 3. 169-J. 
 
 A 
 
u ; 
 
 A Monthly preparation for our 
 Holy Communion with Gbrijl 
 and his Church, in the Lord's 
 
 Supper. 
 
 THIS is a holy Feaft that is piir- 
 pofely provided by the Kiag 
 of Saints, for the Entertain* 
 ment of his Family ; for the 
 refrefliing of the weary, and the making 
 glad the mournful Soul. The night before 
 his bitter Death, he inftituted this Sacra- 
 meDtal Fcaft ; He caufed his Difciples to 
 fit down with htm, and when they had 
 partaked of the Paffoven, the Sacrament 
 of Promife, and had their tafte of the old 
 wine^ he giveih them the new^ even the 
 Sacrament of the better Covenant , and of 
 the fuller Gofpel-Grace:He leacheth them 
 that his Death is Life to them : and that 
 which is his bittertft fiffiring, is their 
 Veafk; and his forrows are their Joy$s\ as 
 B oul 
 
t A Monthly Preparation for 
 our fin ful plea fures were his forrows. The 
 fiain Lamb of Go J our pajjover that was 
 Sacrificed for us, that taketh away the fins 
 tf the world y v/as the pleafanr food} Which 
 Sacramtntaily he himfelf then delivered to 
 them, and fubfiantially the next day offer- 
 ed for thena. The bread of God is he which 
 corieth down from Heaven , and givetb 
 life unto the world, John 6. 3 3. He is the 
 Jiving bread which came down from Hea» 
 vcmlf any man eat of this Bread he (hall 
 hve for evert and the Bread which begiv- 
 etb is his flejh which he hath given for the 
 life of the world, verfe 50, 5 1 . Except we 
 eat the fiejh of the Son of man, and drink 
 his blood, we have no Ufe in m : Whofo 
 tatetb hisfitfh and drinkfth his blood, hath 
 eternal life, and he will raife him up at the 
 lafi day : For his fe(h is meat indeed, and 
 his blood is drink indeed'.He that eateth his 
 fiejh, and drinketh his blood, dwtlleth in 
 Chrift, and Chrifi in him : As the living 
 Father hathfsnt the Son, and he liveth by 
 the Fdtfor^fi he that eateth him, (hall live 
 by him* 'This is that bread that came down 
 from Heaven: mot as the Fathers did eat 
 Mama and are dead : he that eateth this 
 head fh all live for ever* I 
 
1 (hall here only give yoa fome brief 
 Directions for your private duty herein.' 
 
 Direcft. 1 . Underfiand well the prober 
 wdsyto which thuSacrament was inftituted 
 by Chrijl 5 and take heed that yon ufe it not 
 ft ends, for which it never was appointed^ 
 The true ends are theft, 1. To be a folemn 
 Commemoration of the Death andpajjion 
 ffjefvs Cbrift,Mzt.i6. 2$. Mar. 14.24* 
 Luke 22. .20. to keep it, as it were,ln the 
 sye of the Church, in his bodily abfence 
 :ill he come, 1 Cor. 1 1, 24, 25*, 26. 2« 
 To be a folemn renewing of theHoly Co- 
 venant which was firft entred in Baptifa y 
 between Chri(t and the Receiver 5 and in 
 that Covenant it is on Chrift's part, a fo- 
 lemn delivery of himfelf firft, and with 
 himfelf the benefits of Pardon,Reccnciliati« 
 on, Adoption, and right to Life eternal. 
 Hab.9. 15,16,17,18. 1 Cer. 10,16,24; 
 And on mans part^it is our folemn accept- 
 ance of Chrift with his J&nefits, upon his 
 term 4 ?, and a delivering up our felves to 
 him, as his Redeemed ones , even to the 
 Father as our reconciled Father, and to 
 the Sen as our Lord and Saviour find to 
 the Holy Spirit as our Santtifier, wirh 
 B 2 Trofejfed 
 
r vi/m wrfvrr i vr 
 
 TrofefledThankfulneft for fb great a bene- 
 fit. 3. It is appointed to be a lively ob- 
 jective means, by which the Spirit of 
 Chrift fhould work to ftir up and exercife, 
 and increafe the Repent ance, Faith fie fire, 
 Love, Hope, Joy, Thankfulnefs, and New- 
 Obedience of Believers ; by a lively Repre- 
 fentationoi the evil of fin, the infinite love 
 of God in Chrift, the firmnefs of the Co- 
 venant or Promife, the greatnefs and fur e- 
 nefs of the Mercy given, and the Blejfed- 
 nefs purchafed and prQtnifed to us, and the 
 great obligations that are laid upon us. 
 And that herein believers might befolemn- 
 \y called out to the moft ferious exercife 
 of all theft Graces, 1 Cor. n. 27, 28, 
 29, |l # 1 Cor. 10.16, 17, 21. 1 Cor. 
 11.25', z6. 2Con6 # 4# and might be 
 provoked and affifted to ftir up themfelves 
 to this Communion with God in Chrift, ! 
 & to pray for iriore as through a facrificed 
 Chrift. 4. It is appointed to be the fo- 
 lemn Profeffion of Believers , of their 
 Faith, and Love, and Gratitude,and Obe- 
 dience to God the Father, Son and Holy 
 Ghoft, and of continuing firm in the 
 Ghriftim Region. And a Badge of the 
 
 Church 
 
the Holy Sacrament, f 
 
 Ohurch before the World. A£b %i 4% $ 
 46.6c 20. 7. 5*. And it Is appointed to 
 be a Jign and weans of the Unity , Love y 
 and Communion of Saints , and their 
 readinefs to Communicate to each other. 
 
 The falfe miftaken end*, which you 
 muft avoid, are thefe. 1. You muft not 
 with the Papifts, think that the end of it 
 is to turn Bread into no Bread, and Wine 
 into no Wine, and to make them really 
 the true Body and Blood of Jefus Chrifi. 
 For if fenfe (which telleth all Men that it 
 is ftill Bread and Wine) be not to be be- 
 lieved, then we cannot believe that ever 
 there was a Gofpel, or an Apoftle^ or a Pope, 
 or a Man, or any thing in the World, 
 And the Afofik exprefly calleth it Bread 
 three times, in three Verfes together, after 
 the Consecration, 1 Cor, n. z6, x/, 28.' 
 and he telleth us, that the ufe of it is 
 (not to make tke LordsBody really prefent^ 
 but) to (hew the Lords Death tit he come } 
 that is, As a vifible reprefenting and com- 
 memorating fign, to be infiead of the Bo- 
 dily frefence tit he come, j 
 
 x. Nor muft you with the Papifts ufe / 
 this Sacrament to facrifce Chrifl again/ 
 B 3 reatf 
 
5 
 
 I 
 
 € A Monthly Preparation for 
 
 really unto the Father, to propitiate him 
 "or the quick and dead, and eafe Souls 
 Purgatory, and deliver them out of it. 
 or Chriji having died once dieth no more, 
 and without killing him, there is no 
 (acrificing him : By ence offering up 
 himfelf, he hath perftfted for ever 
 them that arefanBified ; and now there 
 retnaimth no more facrifice for fin : Hav- 
 ing finifhed the facrificing work on Earth, 
 he is now pafled into the Heavens, to ap- 
 pear beforeG^ for his Redeemed ones. Ro. 
 6> 9. 1 Con 15. 3 # 2 Cor, 5. 14, 15-. 
 Hek. 9, z6. and 10. ix, 26. and 9. 
 
 3. Nor is it any better than odious im- 
 piety to receive the Sacrament, to con- 
 firm tome Confederacies or Oaths of Se- 
 cre/ie, for rebellions or other unlawful de- 
 figns; as the Powder- Plotters in England 
 did. 
 
 4, Nor is. it any otlier than impious 
 prophanation of thefe facred Myfteries for 
 thePrieft to contain or fvffer nororioufly 
 ignorant, and ungodly perfons, to receive 
 them, either to make themfelves believe 
 that they are indeed the Children of God, 
 
 or 
 
the Holy Sacrament* J 
 
 or to be a means which ungodly men 
 fliould ufe to make them godly $ or,which 
 Infidels or Impenitent perfons muft ufe to 
 help them to Repentance and Faith in 
 Cbrift. For though there is that, . in it 
 which may become a means of their Con- 
 verfion, (as a Thief that ftealeth a Bible or 
 Sermon Bock) may be converred by it,) 
 yec is it not to be uftd by the RtceJ 
 that end. For that \vere to tell G.d a lie, 
 as the means of their Conyerfion 5 for 
 whofoever cometh ro receive a ferled par- 
 don, doth thereby profefs repentance, as 
 alfo by the words adpynedhe muft do; 
 And whofoever taketb, and eatetb, and 
 drinketb the Bread and Wine, doth actu- 
 ally profefs thereby, that he taketh and 
 applieth Chrift himfelf by Faith : And 
 therefore, if he do neither of thefe, he 
 lieth openly to God ; and Iks and falfe 
 Covenants are not the appointed means 
 ofConverfion. Not that the Minifierisz 
 lier in his delivery of it : For fee doth but 
 conditionally fealand deliver Gods Coven- 
 ant and Benefits to the Receiver, to be hii, 
 if he truly Repent and Believe'* But 
 the Receiver himfelf lieth. if he do not 
 B 4 aHuaBf 
 
$ A Monthly Preparation for 
 
 tftuaVy Repent and Believe, as he there 
 profefleth to do. 
 
 y. Alfo it is an impiou? prophanation of 
 the Sacrament, if any Prieft for the love 
 of filthy lucre, (hall give it to thofe that 
 ought not to receive it, that he may have 
 his Fees or Offerings ; or, that the Prieft 
 may have fb much money that is be- 
 queathed for the faying a Mafs for fuchor 
 fuch a Soul. 
 
 6. And it* is odious prophanation of 
 the Sacrament, to ufe it as a League or 
 Bond of Fa&ion, to gather perfbns in to 
 the party y and tic them faft to it, that they 
 may defend upon the Prieft, and his Fa&- 
 ion and Inereft may thereby be ftrength- 
 ned, and he may feem to have many fol- 
 lowers. 
 
 7. And it is a dangerous abufe of ir, to 
 receive it, that you may be pardoned, or 
 fen&ified, or faved, barely by the work 
 done, or by the outward exercife alone. 
 As if God were there obliged to give you 
 Grace, while you ft rive not with your 
 own hearts, to ftir them up to love, or de- 
 fire, or faith, or obedience, by the means 
 that are before you j or as if God would 
 
 pardon 
 
the Holy Sacrament* 9 
 
 pardon and fave you for eating (b much 
 Bread and drinking fo much Wine, when 
 the Canon biddeth you j or, as if the Sa- 
 crament conveyed Grace, like as Charms 
 arefuppofed to work, by faying over fo 
 many word?. 
 
 8. Laftly, It is no appointed end o£ 
 this Sacrament, that the Receiver thereby 
 profefe himfelf certain of the fincerity of 
 his own Repentance and Faith : ("For it 
 is not managed on the ground of fuch cer- 
 tainty only by the Receiver ; much lefs 
 by the minifter that delivereth it.) But on- 
 ly he profeffeth that as far ^as he can di£ 
 cern by obferving his own heart, he is 
 truly willing to have Chrift, and his be- 
 nefits on the terms that they are offered ; 
 and that he doth confent to the Covenant 
 which he is there to renew. Think not 
 therefore, that the Sacrament is inftituted 
 for any of thefe ( raiftaken) ends, 
 
 Dire<3: # z. Diftinttly underftand the parts 
 of the Sacrament , that you may diftmftly 
 nfe them, and not do^ you know not what. 
 This Sacrament containeth thefe three 
 part?. I. The Conner at ion of the Bread 
 and Ww> which maketh k the Reprefen- 
 . B 5 miv§ 
 
10 A Monthly Preparation for 
 tative Body and Blood ot Chrift. 2. The 
 Reprefentation and Commemoration of the 
 Sacrifice of Chrift. 3. Tht Communion: 
 Or, Communication by Chrift, and Recep* 
 tun by the people. • 
 
 1 .In the Confecration^he Church doth 
 firft offer the Creatures of Bread and 
 Wine, to be accepted of God,to this Sacred 
 ufe : And God accepteth them, and biefc 
 feth them to this ufe 3 which he fignifieth 
 both by the words of his own Inftitution, 
 and by the A6Uon of his Minifters , and 
 their Benidiftion. They being the Agents 
 of God to the People, in this Accepting and 
 'Bkjfing, as they are the Agents ot .the 
 Teople to God, in offering or dedicating the 
 Creatures to this ufe, 
 
 a. This Conf'ecration having a fpecial 
 refpe& to God the Father, in it we ac- 
 knowledge his three grand Relations. 1 : 
 That he is the Creator, and fo the Owner 
 of all the Creatures j for we offer them to 
 him as his own. i< That he is cht Righ- 
 teous Governor, whole Law it was, that 
 Adam and we have broken, and who re- 
 quired fatisfa&ion, and hath received the 
 Sacrifice and atonement, and hath difpen- 
 
 fed 
 
the Holy Sacrawent. 3 I 
 
 fed wirh the drift and proper execution of 
 that Law j and will rale us hereafter by 
 the Law of Grace. 3. That he is our Fa- 
 ther or BenefatStor who hath freely given 
 us a Redeemer, and the Covenant of 
 Grace, whofe Love and Favor we have 
 forfeited by fin^but defire & hope to be 
 reconciled by Chrift. 
 
 3. AsGhrift hirafelf was Incarnate and 
 true Chrift,beiore he wzs facrificed to God, 
 and was facrificed to God, before thar facri* 
 fee be communicated for life and nourifh- 
 ment to Souls ; So in the Sacraracnr,0«- 
 fecration muft firft make the Creature to 
 be the Flefh and Blood of Chnji rcprefent- 
 ative 3 and then the facrificing of that 
 fiejh and blood muft be reprefented and 
 commemorated ; and then the facrificed 
 flefhand blood communicated to the Re- 
 ceivers for their fpiritual life. 
 
 II. The Commemoration chkfly (but 
 .pot on! y) refpe&eth God the Son ; For he 
 ha:h ordained, that thefe confecrated Re* 
 frefentatkns fhould in their manner aad 
 meafure, fupply the room of his bodily 
 prefence. while his body is in Heaven : 
 And th^t thus as it were in tffigy* in rcpre- 
 
 femation, 
 
IS A Monthly Preparation for 
 
 ftntation, he might be ftill Crucified be- 
 fore the Churches eyes j and they might 
 be affe&ed, as if they had feen him on the 
 Croft. And that by Faith and Prayer, 
 they might, as it were 5 ofter him up to 
 God, that is, Might (hew the Father that 
 facrifice onee made for fin, in which they 
 truft \ and for which it is, that they ex- 
 pert all the acceptance of their perfbns 
 with God, and hope for audience when 
 they beg for mercy, and offer up prayer 
 or praifc to him. 
 
 III. In the Communication, though the 
 Sacrament have refpeft to the Father, as 
 the principal Giver ; and to the Son as 
 both the Gift and Giver 5 yet hath it a 
 fpecia! refpe& to the Holy Ghofi, as being 
 thatfpirit given in the fle(h zf$Blood y whkh 
 quickeneth Souls 5 ! without which, the 
 F/a£ will profit nothing : And whofe o- 
 perations muft convey and apply Chrifts 
 favlng benefits to us. John 6, 63, & 7. 
 
 39- 
 
 Thefe three being the parts of the Sa- 
 crament in whole, as comprehending that 
 (acred Afltim and participation which is 
 cfieatial to it* The Material parts, called 
 
 the 
 
the Holy Sacrament. 1 3 
 
 the Relate and Correlate, arc. 1. Subftan- 
 tial and Qualitative, i. Attive and 
 TaJJive. 1 . The ftrft are the Bread and 
 Wine as figns, and the Body and £/W of 
 Cbrift y with his Graces and B*wc/5>f, as ;Je 
 things fignified and given. The fecand 
 are the Attions of Breaking, Vouring out, 
 and Delivering on the Minifters part, 
 ( after the ConfcrationJ and the Taking, 
 Eating, and Drinking, by the Receivers, 
 as the fign: And the fignified is, the 
 Crucifying or Sacrificing ofChrift,and the 
 Delivering himfelf with his Benefits to the 
 Believer, and the Receivers thankful Ac- 
 centing, and uiing the faid gift. Tothefe 
 add the Relative Form,zn& the Ends y md 
 you have the definition of this Sacra- 
 ment. 
 
 Dire&. 3- Look upon the mini ft eras the 
 Agent or Officer ofChrift, who is Com- 
 miffioned by him to feat and deliver to you 
 the Covenant and its benefits : And take 
 the Bread and Wme. as if you heard Chrift 
 himfelf faying to you y Take my Body and 
 Blood, and the ?ardon, and Grace which 
 is thereby yurchafed. It is a great help 
 in the Application^ to have mercy and 
 
 pardeo 
 
14 A Monthly Preparation/or 
 pardon brought us by the hand of a Cora- 
 miffioned Officer of Chrift. 
 
 Direfl, 4. In your preparation before- 
 hand, take heed of thefe two extrearm. i. 
 That you come not prophanely and carelejly, 
 with common heart} ^-as to a common worki 
 For God will be fan&ified in them that 
 draw near to him, Levit. io» 5, And the/ 
 that eat and drink unworthily, not difc 
 cerning the Lords Body from common 
 Bread 5 but eating as if it were a common 
 meal, do eat death to themfeives, inftead 
 of life. 2 # Take heed left- your mifiakes 
 of the' nature of this Sacrament^ (hould 
 pojfefs you with fnch fears of unworthy re- 
 cetving* and the following danger s^ as may 
 quite difcompife, and unfit your Souls for 
 the joyful exercifes of Faith > and Love^and 
 Fraife, and Thanksgiving, to which yon 
 are invited. Many Jthat are fcr upulous 
 of receiving it in any^fav^e a feafiing geft- 
 ure y are too little carefal and fcrupuious 
 of receiving it in any, fave zfeafttng frame 
 of mind. 
 
 The firft extreamis caufed by. propHn- 
 nefs and negligence 3 or by grofs ignorance 
 of the nature of the Sacramental work. 
 
 The 
 
the Holy Sacrament. 15 
 
 The Utter extream ii frequently caufed a* 
 followeth \i.By fettingthts Sacrament at; 
 a greater diftance from other farts of God's 
 worflup; than there is caufe : So the:: 
 excefs of Reverence doth overwhelm the 
 minds of fome with terror?. 2. By ftudy- 
 ing more the terrible words of eating and 
 drinking damnation to tbemjehes, it they 
 do it unworthily ) than all the expreflions of 
 Love and Mercy, which that Biefifed Feaft 
 is furniflied with. So that when t^ie viewes 
 of infinite Love fliould ravifh them, they 
 are ftudying wrath and vengeance to ter- 
 rifie them, as if they, came to Mcfes, and 
 not to Qbrij}. 3. By not understanding 
 what maketh a Receiver worthy or un- 
 worthy, but taking their unwilling infir- 
 mities for condemning unworthinei?. 4. 
 By receiving it fo ieidom, as to make it 
 ftrangc to them, and increafe ijieir fear, 
 wherea?, ; f it were adminiftred every Lords 
 day, as it was in the Primitve Chufdus, 
 it would better acquaint them with ir, and 
 cure that fear that cometh from ftrange- 
 nefi. 5. By imagining, that none that 
 want aflurance of their own iincerity, can 
 receive in Faith, 6. By contracting an ill 
 
 habit 
 
l6 A Monthly Preparation for 
 
 habit of miftaken Religioufnefs, placing it 
 all in poring on themfelves, and mourn- 
 ing for their corruptions 5 and not in ftudy- 
 ing the Love of God in Chrift, and living 
 in the daily prailes of his Name, and joy- 
 ful thankfgiving for his exceeding Merc- 
 ies. 7. And if befides all thefe the Body 
 contract a weak or timorous melancholly 
 diftemper, it will leave the mind capable 
 of almoft nothing, "but fear and trouble, 
 even in the fweeteft works. From many 
 fuch caufes it cometh to pafs, that the Sa- 
 crament of the Lords Supper is become 
 more terrible, and uncomfortable to abun- 
 dance of fuchdiftempered Chriftians, than 
 any other Ordinance of God;8c that which 
 fliould moft comfort them doth trouble 
 them moft. 
 
 Quefh 1. But is notth'tsSacrament more 
 holy and dreadful, and jhould it net have 
 more preparation^ than other parts of wor* 
 {hip ? 
 
 Anfw, For the degree indeed, it ftnuld 
 have very careful preparation : And we 
 cannot well compare it with other parts 
 of worflitp 3 as Praife, Thank(giving,Co- 
 veaantfng with God, Prayer, c^c Becaufe 
 — " that 
 
the Holy Sacrament] 1 7 
 
 that all thcfe other paf ts afe here compri- 
 fed and performed. But doubtlef?, God 
 muft alfobe far.&ified in all his other wor- 
 fhip, and his Name muft not be taken in 
 vain. And when this Sacrament was re- 
 ceived every Lords day, and often in the 
 week befides, Chriftians were fuppofed to 
 live continually in a (late of general 
 preparation^^ not to be (b far from a due 
 particular preparation^ many poorChrift- 
 ians think they are. 
 
 Queft. i. How often [hould the Sacra- 
 ment be now admimfited^ that it neither 
 grow into contempt nor (Iran gene ft ? 
 
 Anfw. Ordinarily in well Difplined 
 Churches it flhould be ftill every Lord'sday. 
 For, i. We have no reafbn to prove,that the 
 Apoftles example and appointment in this 
 cafe, was proper to thofe time?, any more 
 than that praife and thankfgiving daily is 
 proper to them : And we may as well de- 
 by the obligation of other Inftitutions or 
 Apoftolical Orders as that. 2. It is a 
 part of the fettled order for the Lords 
 day's worfhip; and omitting ir, maiwetb 
 and altereth the v)or$)ip for the day ; and 
 occafioneth the omiffionofthe thankfgiv- 
 ing 
 
1 8 A Monthly Preparation for 
 
 ing and praife t and lively commemorations 
 iof Chrift, which fliould be then moft per- 
 formed : And To Chriftians by ufe, grow 
 habited to fadneG,and a mourning raelan- 
 cbolly Religion, and grow unacquainted 
 with much of the Worffiip and Spirit of 
 the Gofpel. 3. Hereby the Papifts la- 
 mentable corruptions of this Ordinance 
 have grown up, even by an excefi of re- 
 verence and fear, which feldom receiving 
 doth increafe • till they are come to wor- 
 (h\p Bread as their - God. 4. By feldom 
 communicatingjMeh are feduced to think 
 all proper Communion of Churches lieth in 
 thut Sacrament, and to be more propbane- 
 Iy bold in abufmg many other parts of 
 worfliip. 5T. There are better means (by 
 Teaching and Difcipiine) to keep the Sa- 
 crament trom conremptyban the omitting 
 or difplicing of ir. 6. Every Lord's day 
 is no oftener than Chriftians need it. 
 7. The frequency will teach them to live 
 prepared, and not only to make much ado 
 once a Month or Quarter, when the fame 
 work isnegle£fced aii the year befide; even 
 as one that iiveth in continual expecta- 
 tion of death, will live in continual prepa- 
 ration: 
 
the Holy Sacrawlnt. \g 
 
 ration: When he that expe&eth ic but 
 in fbme grievous fickneC, will then be 
 frightned into fome feeming preparation?, 
 ; which are not the habit of hh Soul 5 
 but laid by again when the difcaie is 
 over. 
 
 x. But yet I mud add, that in fbme 
 undifciplined Churches, and upon fome 
 occasions ic may be longer omitted^ or 
 feldomer ufed ; no duty is a duty at all 
 times : And therefore extraordinary c^fes 
 may raife fuch impediment?, as may hin- 
 der us a long time from this, and many 
 other Priviledges. But the ordinary faul- 
 tinefs of our imperfeft hearts, that are apt 
 to grow cuftomary and dull, is no good 
 reafon why it ftiould be felcom ; any 
 more than why other fpecial duties of 
 Worfhip and Church-Communion fliould 
 be felcom. Read well the Epiftle of Paul 
 to the Corinthians, and you will find t-- 
 they were then as bad as the true Christ- 
 ians arenow 5 and that even in this Sacra- 
 ment they were very culpable; and yet 
 Paul feeketh not to cure them by their 
 feldomer communicating. 
 
 Q^ 3» drt at the Members of the f vifi m 
 
 ble 
 
20 Jl Montigly t reparation for 
 
 He Church to he admitted to this Sacra- 
 went ? or Communicate ? 
 
 Anfw. All arc not tofeek if, or to take 
 ir, becaufe many may know their own 
 unfitnefs, when the Church or Paftors 
 know it not ; But all that come and feek 
 if, are to be admirted by the Pallors, ex- 
 cept fuch Children y Idiots ignorant ptrfonsi 
 or Heriticks) as know not what they are 
 to receive and do ; and fuch as are notori- 
 oufly wicked or fcandalous, and have not 
 manifefted their repentance* But then it 
 is prefuppofed, that none ihould be numbr- 
 ed with the adult members of the Church, 
 but thofe that have perfonally owned their 
 Baptifmal Covenant, by a Credible Prof ef 
 fion of true Chriftianity. 
 
 Queft. 4. May a Man that hath know- 
 ledge , and civility > and common gifts.come 
 and take this Sacrament, if he know that 
 he is yet void of true repentance, and other 
 faving Grace ? 
 
 Anfw. Nojfor he then knoweth himfelf 
 to be one that is uncapable of it in his pre- 
 fent ftate. 
 
 Qaeft* 5. May an ungodly Man receive 
 
 this 
 
the Holy Sacrament 2 1 
 
 this Sacrament, who knoweth not himfclf to 
 bt ungodly? 
 
 Anfw. No ; For he ought to know 
 it ; and bis finful ignorance of his own 
 condition, will not make his Gn to be his 
 duty ; nor cxcufe his other faults before 
 God. 
 
 Queft. 6. Mufi a fmcere Chriflian re- 
 ceive , that is uncertain of his fncerity, and 
 in continual doubting ? 
 
 Anfw. Two prepaYations are neceflary 
 to this Sacrament ; the general preparati- 
 on, which is a ftateof Grace, and this 
 the doubting Chriftian hath ; and the 
 particular preparation, which confifteth in 
 his prefent aflual fitnefs : And all the 
 queftion is of this. And to know this, 
 you muft further diftinguiffi, between im- 
 mediate duty and wore remote ; and be* 
 tween the degrees of doubtfulnefs in Chrift- 
 ians. I, The neare(i immediate duty of 
 the doubting Chriftian is, to ufe the means 
 to have his doubts refolved, till te know 
 his cafe ; and then his next duty is, to re- 
 ceive the Sacrament j and both thefe ftill 
 remain his dury, to be performed in this 
 order : And if he &y ,/ cannot be rejolved, 
 ; when 
 
when I have done my heft. Yet certainly 
 it is fome (in of his own, that kcepethhirn 
 in the dark, and hindereth his affurance ; 
 and therefore duty ceafeth not to htduty: 
 The Law of Cbrifi ftill obligeth him, both 
 to get affurance, and to receive $ and the 
 want both of the knowledge of his ftate, 
 and of Receiving the Sacrament, are his 
 continual fin, if he lie in it never fo long 
 through thefe fcruple?, though it be an 
 infirmity that God will not condemn him 
 for. (For he is fappofed to be in a ftate 
 of Grace.) But you will fay, What if 
 (till he cannot be refolved whether he have 
 true Faith and Repentance^ or not? What 
 fhouU he do while he is in doubt? I anfwer, 
 It is one thing to ask, what is his duty in 
 this cafe? and another thing to ask, Which 
 isthefmaUer or kfs dangerous fin? Still 
 his duty is both to get the knowledge of 
 his heart, and to communicate* But while 
 he finne thorough infirmity) in the failing 
 of the fir ft) were he better alfo omit the 
 other ', or not ? To be well refolved of that, 
 you muft difcern, 1. Whether his judg- 
 ment of himfelf 5 do rather incline to think 
 and hope that he is (inctrein his repentance 
 
 and 
 
the Holy Sacrament. 2$ 
 
 atidTaith, or, that he is not ? 2. And 
 whether the consequents are like co be good 
 or bad to him. If his hope3 that he is [in* 
 cere, be as great or greater than his fears 
 of the contrary, then there is n^o fuch ill 
 confequent ^to be feared as may hinder 
 his communicating 3 but it is his beft way 
 to doit, and wait on God in the ufe of his 
 Ordinance. But if the perflation of his 
 gf acelefnefs be greater than the hopes of 
 his fincerity, then he muft obferve how he 
 is like to beaffe&ed, if he do communi- 
 cate. If he find that he is like to clear up 
 his mind, aed increafe his hopes by the 
 a&uanng of his Grace, he is yet beft to 
 go.* But if he find that his heart is like to. 
 be overwhelmed with horror and funk in- 
 to defpair, by running. into thefuppofed 
 guilt of unworthy receiving, then it- will 
 be worfe to do it, than to omit it. Many 
 jfuch fearful Chriftiar.s I have known, that 
 I are fain many years to abfent themfelves 
 from the Sacrament ; becaufe if they 
 (hould receive it while they are perfwad- 
 ,ed of their utter uoworthinefs,tbey would 
 be fwallowed up of defperation,and think 
 :hat they had taken their own damnatioa, 
 
 (as 
 
( as the Twenty fifth Article of the 
 Church of England faith, the unworthy 
 receivers do.) So that the chief fin of fuch 
 a doubting receiver , is not that he receiv- 
 eth though he doubt ; for doubting will 
 not excufe us for the finful omiflion of a 
 duty (no more of this than of Prayer or 
 Thankfgiving : ) But only Prudence te- 
 quireth fuch a one to forbear that, which 
 through his own diftemper would be a 
 means of his defpair and mine ; As that 
 Phyfick or Food (bow good foeverj is not 
 to be taken which would kill the taker : 
 Gods Ordinances are not appointed for our 
 deftru6Hon, but for our edification 5 and 
 fo muft be ufed as tendeth thereunto. Yet 
 to thofe Chriftians, who are in this cafe, 
 and dare not communicate, I muft put 
 this Qyeftion,How dare you fo long refufe 
 it ? He that confenteth to the Covenant, 
 may boldly come and Ggnifie his content, 
 4nd receive the fealed Covenant of God; 
 for confent is your preparation, or the ne- 
 eeffary condition of your Right: If you 
 confent not, you refufe all the Mercy of 
 the Covenant. And dare you live in fuch 
 a ftate ? Suppofe $ Pardon be offered to 
 
 al: 
 
the Holy Sacrament. 25 
 
 ndemned Thief, but fo.that If he after 
 it in the dirt, or turn Tray tor, he (lull 
 J tea forer death j will he rather chufe to 
 Y\q than take it, and fay, I am afraid I 
 liall abufe it ? To refufe Gods Covenant 
 ■is certain death ; but to confent is your 
 preparation and your life. 
 
 Queft. 7. Wherein lietb the Jin of an 
 Hjpocrite^and ungrdly perfen, if he do re- 
 vive ? 
 
 j4nfw. His fin is, 1, In lying and bypo- 
 
 :rifo j in that he profeffeth to repent un~ 
 
 f eigne dly of his fin, and to bs refolved for a 
 
 y holy life, and to believe in Cbrifi^ and 
 
 to accept him on his Covenant-term?} and 
 
 ID give up himfelf to God, as his Father, 
 
 his Saviour,and his Sanctifier, and to for- 
 
 5 fake ihtFlcfr, the World, and ihe Devil j 
 
 when indeed, he never did any of this, 
 
 llbut fecretly abhorreth it at his heart, and 
 
 will not be perfwaded to it : And (ball 
 
 this Vrofcjfion, and his very Covenanting 
 
 jit felf,and his Receivings it h iProftJJing* 
 
 ^covenanting- fgn y is nothing but a very lie. 
 
 ^And what it is to lie to the Holy Gbvjtf he 
 
 ejeafe of Ananias and Sapphira tellcth us. 
 
 j[fc. It is ufurpation to come and lay claim 
 
 C to 
 
26 J? Monthly t reparation for 
 to thofe Benefit?, which he hath no title 
 to. 3. It is a prophanation of thefe holy 
 Myfteries, to be thus ufed ; and it is a 
 taking of Gods Name in vain ? who is a 
 jealous God, and will be fen&ified of all 
 that draw near unto him. 4. And it is a 
 wrong to tbeChurch ofGod^theCommu- 
 nion of SaintF, & the honour of the Chrift- 
 ian Religion, that fuch ungodly Hypocri- 
 tes intrude as Members : As it is to the 
 ICings Army, when the Enemies Spies 
 creep in amongft them ; or to hisMarri- 
 age-feaft to have a gueffc in rags.A/af. 12. 
 J I, ii. 
 
 Obje6h But it is no lie, hecaufe they 
 think they fay true in thtir Profefflon. 
 
 j4n[w. That is through their finful 
 negligence and felf-deceit : A^d he is a 
 Her that fpeaks a fa! (hood, which he may 
 and ought to know to be a fallhood, 
 though he do not know ir. There is a lier 
 in rajhnefs and negligence^ as well as of fet 
 purpofe. 
 
 ^ueft. 82 (loth all unworthy receiving 
 make a man liable to damnation ? Orjvhat 
 mworthinefs is it that isfo threatned ? 
 
 Anfw. There are three forts ©f wnwor- 
 
 thinefs 
 
The Holy Sacrament. ij 
 
 thincfs (or unficnefs) and. three forts of 
 Judgment anfwerably to be feared. I. 
 There is the utter unworthinefs of an In- 
 fidel, or impenitent, ungodly Hypocrite. 
 And damnation to Hell fire, is the punilh* 
 ment that fuch muft expeft, if Converfion 
 prevent it nor. a. There is an unworthi- 
 nefs through fome great and fcandalous 
 crime, which a regenerate perfon falletb 
 into ; and this (hould ftop hira from the 
 Sacrament for a time, till he have repented 
 and caft away hb Go: And if he come 
 before he rife from his fall by a particular 
 repentance, (as the Corinthians that finned 
 in the very u(e of the Sacrament it felfj 
 they may expect fome notable temporal 
 judgment s the prefent ; ( and if Repen- 
 tance didno prevent ir,they might fearE* 
 ftrnal puni(l-_nent.) 3. There is that mea- 
 fure of unworthinefs which cor fifteth in 
 the ordinary infirmities of a Saint 5 and 
 this (hould not at all deter them from the 
 Sacrament, becaufe it is accompanied with 
 a greater worthinefs \ yea, though their 
 weaknefs appear in she time and manner 
 of their receiving : But yet ordinary cor- 
 regions may follow thefe ordinary infir- 
 C 2 mitks* 
 
26 si mommy Preparation jor 
 mitles. ( The grcjjer abufe of the Sacra- 
 mznt it [elf] I yyn under thefecond rank j 
 
 Queft. 9. What is the particular prepa- 
 ration needful to a fit Communicant} 
 
 Anfvt. This bringeth me up to the 
 next Direftion. 
 
 5 , Let your preparation to this Sacra- 
 went con/if} ef thefe 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 Neigh- 
 bour. 
 
 I, Your duty with your hearts confift- 
 eth in thefe particular?. 1. That you do 
 your beft in the clofe examination of your 
 hearts about your States, and the firiceri- 
 ty of ycur Faith, Repentance, and Obtdi- 
 mct 1 To know whether your hearts are 
 true to Godwin the Covenant which you 
 are to renew and feal. Which may be 
 done by thefe inquiries^ and difcerned by 
 thefe Sign?. 1. Whether you truly loath 
 ycur (elves for all the fins of your hearts 
 and lives, and are a greater offence and 
 burden to your felves, becaufe of your 
 imperfe&ions and corruptions, than all 
 the World befides is? £&. 6. 9. & 10. 
 
 - 43. 
 
the Hoy Sacrament. 29 
 
 43. d^ 36. 3 1. Row. 7. 24. *• Whe- 
 ther you have no fin but what you are 
 truly defirous to know ; and no known 
 fin, but what you are truly defiroua to 
 be rid of; and fo dtfirous, ?s that you had 
 rather be perfectly freed from fin, than 
 from any aflEL&ion in the world? Kom. 7. 
 21, 1 8, 14, e^ 8. 18. 5. Whether 
 you love the fearchicg and reforming 
 Light, even the moft (earching parts of the 
 Word of God, and the hidS fearching 
 Books, and fearching Sermon?, that by 
 them you rmy be brought to know your 
 klvt? 3 in order to your fetled peace and 
 reformation? John 3. 19, 20, n;.f 
 Whe-beryou truly love that degree of 
 lolinefs in others which you have not 
 yet attained your (elves, and love Chriil ' 
 in his Children, with fuch an unfeigned 
 love, as will caufe you to relieve them ac- 
 cording to your abilities, and fuflfrr for 
 their fake?, when it is your duty? 1 John 
 }'. 14, 16.-1 Pet. 1. 21. & 3 g, Jam. 
 2,12,13, J 4> l S* M*'- *?• 40. &c. 
 5. Whether you can rrti ! y fay , that there 
 13 no degree of holinefs fo high, but you 
 defire ir, and had rather be perfect in the 
 p.., j lovev 
 
30 A Monthly Preparation/or 
 
 love of God, and the obedience of his 
 will, than have all the riches and pleafure $ 
 of this World, Rem. 7. 18, Xf, 24.P/W. 
 1 \g t 5. Mat. 5:. 6, And had rather be 
 one of the holieft Saint?, than of the moft 
 re nowned profperous P* inces upon Earth? 
 P(al. 15.4. & 16. I. Vfal- 84. 10, 
 &6$. 4, 6. Whether you have fo far 
 laid up your treafure, and your hopes in 
 Heaven, as that you are refolved to take 
 that only for your portion ; and that the 
 hopes of Heaven, and intereft of your 
 SouRhath the preheminenoe in your hearts 
 againftall that (lands in competition with 
 illQoI. 3. I> 3, 4. Mat. 6. zo, zi. 7. 
 Whether the chiefeft care of your heart?, 
 and indeavor of your lives, be toferveand 
 pleafe Gad, and to injoy him for ever ra- 
 ther than for any wordly thing? Mat. 6. 
 aj. Job. ?. z6. xCor. 5. 1, 6, 7, 8,9. 
 8, Whether it be your daily defire and 
 indesvor to morcifie the Hekh, and mafter 
 its rebellious oppofuion to the Spirit y and 
 youfo far prevail, as not to live, and 
 walk, and be led by the(L(h>but that 
 the courfe and drift of your life isfpirifvsai? 
 Vxcm. 8. 1,6,7,8, 9,10, 13, Gal 5. 
 
 1 17) 
 
the Holy Sacrament : 3 I 
 
 17, li, xx # 9. Whether the world, 
 and all its honour, wealth, and pleafurea 
 appear to you fo fhnl! and contemptible a 
 thing, as thdt yoii efteem it as dung, and 
 nothing in companion of Chrift, and the 
 love of God and Glory ? and are refolded, 
 that you will rather let go all, than your 
 part in Cnrift ? And, which ufeth to car- 
 ry kin the time of trial, in your deliberate 
 choice/ Phil 3.7>8, 9, 13, 14, « 8 , 
 19,20. ijehn x, T$; Lute 14, ^6.30, 
 33, Adatth. 1 3. 19, xi. ro. Whether 
 you are refoived upon a courfe of holinefs 
 and obedience, and to life thofe means 
 which God doth make known to you^ to 
 be the way to plcafe him, and to fabdue 
 your corruption ; and yet filing the frail- 
 ties of your hearts, and the burden of 
 your Cin-j do truft in Chrift as your R igh- 
 teoufnofs before God, a r id in the Uo J y 
 Gho'h whoft Grace alone can illuminate, 
 fan&ifi^and confirm you? Acts H. X3, 
 Pfal 119. 57, 63, 69, io6 t 1 Cor! i. 
 30. R^. 8. 9. jM# 1 5-. 5*. 1 Cor. ii, 
 9. By thefc Signs you may lafely try your 
 itates. 
 
 x, When this is done you are alfo to 
 C 4 try 
 
3 z A Monthly "Preparation for 
 try the ftrength and meafure of- your 
 Grace j that you may perceive your 
 weaknels, and knew for what help you 
 ftiouid feek fo Chrift. And ro find out 
 what inward commotions andjivful inclina- 
 tions are yet ftrongeft in you, that you 
 may know what to lament, and to ask for- 
 givenefi of, and help againfh My Book 
 called Direftions fcr weak Clrifltezs, will 
 give you fuller advice -in Jihi?. 
 
 3. You are alfo to take a ftr;& account 
 cf your lives'^ and to look over yourdeal- 
 irg3 with God and Men, in fecretand pub- 
 iick, efpecially of late, fince the laft re- 
 newal of youi Covenant with God, and to 
 hear what God and Conference have to 
 fay about your fins and all their aggravati- 
 on?, r/ah 139. 23. 1 Cor, 1 i, 28. 
 
 4. And y :ti mull labour to get your 
 hearts affected with yoi r condition's you 
 co difcover ir. To be humbled for what 
 bfioful, and to be defiroi^ of help againft 
 your .weaknefs, and thankful for the Grace 
 which you difcern. 
 
 5r,L/ifHy,you guH conCHer of all the 
 work that you have to do, & all the mer- 
 ries which you a r e going ro receive, and 
 
 wh«?f 
 
- 
 
 the tfof/SZl 3$ 
 
 t Graces are neceifiry to all this, and 
 w they muft be ufed } and accordingly 
 k up all thofe Graces, and prepare 
 em for theexercife to which they are to 
 be called our. I (hall name you the par- 
 ticulars anon. 
 
 I I. Your dury towards God in your 
 preparation for this Sacrament, is, i. To 
 caft down your (elves before him in hum- 
 ble penitent confeffion, and lamentation 
 of all the Sins which you difcover ; and 
 to beg his pardon in fearer, before you 
 com* to have it publickly fealed and de- 
 livered, x. To lockup to him with thank- 
 fuinefs, Love, and Joy, as becomes one 
 that is going to receive fo great a mercy 
 from him;and humbly to beg that Grace 
 which may prepare you, and quicken you 
 to, and in the work. 
 
 I I I. Your duty towards others in this 
 your preparation, i? 7 I. To forgive thofe 
 that have done you wrong, and to con- 
 
 Es your fault. fo thefe whom you have 
 wronged, and ask them forgivenefr, and 
 make them amends and reuifution fo far 
 as is in your power^and be reconciled to 
 thole with whom you are faUen our , and 
 C f ' to 
 
24 A Monthly Preparation for 
 
 to fee, that you love your neighbours 
 as your felve?, Mat. $, 23, 24. 2f, 26, 
 44. James 5. 16. 2. That you feek ad- 
 vice of your Paftorsjor fome fit perfons, in 
 cafes that are too hard for your (elves ro 
 refblve, and where you need their fpecial 
 help. 3. That you lovingly admonifh 
 them* that you know do intend to commu- 
 nicate unworthily, and to come thither 
 in their ungodline(s,and grofs Gnunrepen- 
 ted of : That you (hew not fuch hatred of 
 your Brother, as to fuflfer fin upon him, 
 Lst;. 19. 17. But tell him his faults, as 
 Chrift hath dire&ed you, Mat. 18. 1 5-, 
 16^ 17. And do your parts to promote 
 Chrifts Drfcipline , and keep pure the 
 Church. See iC^r, f. throughout. 
 
 Dire&. 6. When you come to the holy 
 Communion, let not the over-fcrupuloxs re- 
 gard of the perfon of the Mmfter, or the 
 company, or the imperfections of the mini{?- 
 tation, dtfturh y-our meditations, nor call 
 away your minds from the high andferious 
 imphyment tf the day. Hypocrites who 
 place their Religion in bodily exercifes, 
 have taught many weak Chriftians to take 
 up uneceffory fcruples, and to turn their 
 
 rye 
 
the Holy Sacrament* 35 
 
 eye and obfervation too much to things 
 without them. 
 
 Queft. But [hould we have no regard to 
 the due celebration ofthefe [acred Myfteries, 
 and to the Minifies, and communicant $ % and 
 manner of Administration ? 
 
 <dn[iv. Yes : You (hould have Co much 
 regard to them, i. As to fee that no- 
 thing be amifs through your default,which 
 is in your power to amend. 2. And thac 
 youjoyn not in the committing of any 
 known fin. But, 1. Take not every fin 
 of another for your fin, and think not that 
 you are guilty of that in other?, which 
 you cannot armndprjthat you muft forfake 
 the Church and worflbip of God, for thefe 
 corruptions which you are not guilty of; 
 or deny your own mercies, becaufe o- 
 thers ufurp them orabufethem. t. If 
 you fufpe£t any thing impofed upon you 
 to be fintul to you, try it before you 
 come thither ^ and leave not your minds 
 open to difturbance, when they (hould 
 be wholly.imployed with Chrift. 
 
 Qjeft. But what if my confcienee be 
 not fatisfiedy but I am full tn dwbt, muft ■ 
 I not forbear ? Seeing fa that doubt eth is 
 
 condemned 
 
36' ^ flqpnrhfy V reflation for 
 
 condemned if be eat, becaufe he eate'h not 
 in 'Faith ; for what foe ver is not of Faith is 
 fm? 
 
 sdnfxv:The Apoflle there fpeaketh not 
 of eating In the Sacrament r but of eating 
 meatSjWhich he doubreth of whether they 
 are lawful ,but is fure,that it is lawful to 
 forbear them. And in cafe of doubt- 
 ing about things indifferent, the furer fide 
 is to forbear them, btcaufe there may be 
 fin in doing ; but there can be none on 
 the other fide in forbearing. But in cafe 
 otDuties, your doubting will not difo- 
 bh'ge you j eife men might give over 
 praying, -and hearing Gods Word, and 
 believing, and obeying their Ruler?,and 
 maintaining their Families, when they 
 are but blind enough to dcubt oT it. z. 
 Your erring Confcience is not a Law- 
 maker, and cannot make it your duty 
 to obey ir. For God is your King, and 
 the Office of your Confcience is to dfctm 
 bis Law y and urge you to obedience, and 
 not to make you Laws of its«pwn : So 
 that if it fpeak faifly, it doth not oblige 
 you, but deceive you. It doth only liga*e Y 
 or infiuFe you, but not oh ! ig4re> Qf make 
 
 a 
 
the Holy Sacrament. 57 
 
 a fin a duty. If cafteth you into necefll- 
 ty of finning more or lefs till you relin* 
 quifh the error : But in eafe of fuch duties 
 . as tbefe, it is a fin to do them with a 
 doubting Confcience, but (ordinarily) it 
 is a greater fin to forbear. 
 
 Obje&. But forne Divines write, that 
 Confcience being Gcds Officer'^ when it err- 
 eth> God hitnjeif doth bind rnt by it to foU 
 low that error^ and the evil which it requi- 
 reth becmeth my duty. 
 
 Anfw: A dangerous error tending to 
 fubverfion of Souls and Kingdom?, and 
 highly difhonourabie to Gc d- God hath 
 made ir your duty to know his Will, and 
 do it. And if you ignorantly miftake him, 
 will you lay the blame on him, and draw 
 him into participation of your fin, when 
 j he forbiddeth you both the error and the 
 1 fin? And dorh he at once forbid and com- 
 mand the fame thing ? At that very mc- 
 menr, God is (b far from obliging you to 
 1 follow your error, that he ftill obligeth 
 you to lay it by, and do the contrary. If 
 you fay • Tiu cannct. larger, Your 
 hnporency, if a finful imporency $ and you 
 can ufe the mean? ^ in which his Grace 
 
 can 
 
38 A Monthly Preparation for 
 
 can help you : and he will not change 
 his Law,nor make you Kings and Rulers 
 of your feives inftead of him^ becaufe you 
 are ignorant or impotent. 
 
 \ Dire£t. 7. In the time of adminiftration 
 go along i»i f h the Minifier throughout the 
 work) and keep your hearts doje to Jefus 
 Chnft^ in the ^xe r cife of all tbofe Graces^ 
 which arefmted to the fever % al parts of the 
 admmiftration, Think not that all the 
 work mud be the Minifter's. It fhould 
 be a buGe day with you, and your hearts 
 fhould be takenrup with as much diligence,, 
 as your hands be in your common labor ; 
 but not in a toilfome weary diligence, bur 
 in fuch delightful bufinefs as becometh 
 the gueftsof the God of Heaven, at (b 
 fweer a feaft, and in the receiving of fuch 
 unvaluable gifts, 
 
 Herelflnuld diftin&Jy fhsw you, I. 
 What Graces they be that you muft there 
 exercife. II. What there is obie&ively 
 prefented before you in the Sicrament, to 
 exercife all thefe Grace?. IIL At what 
 feafons in the adminiftration each of thefe 
 inward works are to be done. 
 
 I. The Graces to be exercifed are thefe 
 
/ he Holy Sacrament. 3 9 
 
 aefidts that holy fear and reverence com- 
 on to all worflr'p) 1. A humble fenfe of 
 le odioufnefs ofyJw, and of our undone 
 condition as in our ftlves,and a difpleafure 
 againft our felves,& loathing of our felves, 
 and melting Repentance for the fins we 
 have comrnitred ; as againft our Creator^ 
 and as againft the Love and Mercy of a 
 Redeemer find as againft the holy Spirit of 
 Grace, x. A hungring and thirfting defirt 
 after the Lord Jefus,and hisGrace,and rhe 
 favour of God and communion with him, 
 which are there reprefented and offered to 
 the Soul. 3. A lively Faith in our Re* 
 deemer, his death, refurre&ion and inter- 
 ceffion j and a trtifting our miserable fouls 
 upon him, as our fuffident Saviour and 
 help ; And a hearty acceptance of him 
 and his benefics upon his offered terms, 
 4 # A joy an J gjadnefs. in the fenfe of that 
 unfpeakablc m^cy which is here offered 
 us. 5:. A thankful heart towards him, 
 from whom we do receive ir, 6. A fervent 
 Love to him that by fuch Love doth feek 
 our Love. 7. A triumphant Hops of life 
 eternal, which is purchaftd for us 3 and 
 fealed to us. £, A wittingnefs and refolu- 
 
40 A Monthly Vreparationfor 
 ticn to deny our felve?,and all this world, 
 and fuffer for him that hath fuffered for 
 our Redemption. 9. A Love to our 
 Brethren,, our Neighbours and cur Ene- 
 mies, with a readinefs to relieve therrijand 
 to forgive them when they do us wrong. 
 1 o. And a firm Refolution for future c- 
 bedience, to our Creator, and Redeemer, 
 and San&ilierjiccording to our Covenant 
 II. In the naming of thefe Graces, I 
 have named their obje£ts .• which you 
 fh ltd obferve as diftin&ly as you can,ttiat 
 they may be operative. I . To help your 
 Humiliation and Repentance, you bring 
 thither a loaden miferable Soul, to receive 
 a pardon and relief: And you fee before 
 you the Sacrificed Ski of God, who made 
 his foul an offering for fin, and became a 
 Carle for us to five us who were secured. 
 2. To draw out your defires, you have 
 thenmfl: excellent gifts and the rr ;ft need- 
 ful mercies prefented^to you chat this 
 world incapable of: Even the pardon of 
 fin, the Love of God, the Spirit of Grace, 
 and the hopes of Glory, and thrift him- 
 felf with whom all this is given. 3. To 
 ex^rcifc your FaitH yoa have Chrifl here 
 
 fir ft 
 
the HolySacranent. 4 1 
 
 jj -firft reprefcnted as cruc fiid before your 
 ' eyes ; and then with his bemtits, freely 
 ,, given you, and offered ro your acceptance, 
 Si wuh a Command that ycu refute him nor. 
 j 4. Toextrcife ycur delight and gtadne(s, 
 , i: you have this Saviour and this Salvation 
 tendered to ycu 5 and all that your fouls 
 can well difiie fet before you, 5*. To 
 I exercifeyour ThankfuineP, what could 
 j do more than Co great a Gift, fo dearly 
 purchafed, fo fureiy fealed, and fo freely 
 offered? 6. To cxerctte ycur Love to 
 God in Chrift, you have the fulled ir>£ni- 
 f jfeftation of his artra&ive Love, even iff-rr- 
 J"cd to your eye?, and tafte, and heart, that 
 [ a foul on earth can reafonabiy ex-pc£i ; in 
 \ fuch wonderful condefcerfion , that the 
 ' greatfiefi and ftrahgnefi of k furpafletha 
 natural nuns belief. 7. Toexercife your 
 hopes of life e?ernal : you have the price of 
 if here fet before you;, you have (he Gift 
 of it here fealed to you , and you have 
 • ibat Savicur represented to you in his 
 uffertng, who is now there reigning, that 
 ?ou may remember him, as expectants of 
 lis Glorious coming to judge the world, 
 ind glorifie you with himfelf. 8. To ex- 
 
 ercife 
 
42 A Monthly Preparation for 
 ercife your leli> deny al and refolution for 
 fufikring 5 and contempt of the world and 
 fLftily pleafures, you have before you 
 both the greareft example and obiigttion, 
 that ever could b& offered to the world ; 
 when you fee and recsive a C r ucifred 
 Chriil^that fo ftrangely dcnyed himfelf for 
 you • and fet fe litcb by the wjrld and 
 . flcfli. 9. To exercife you^-love to Bre- 
 thren, yea, tnd Enemies, you have his 
 example before your eyes, that loved you 
 to the death when you were Enemies : 
 And you have his holy fervanrs before 
 your eyes , who are amiable in him 
 through the workings of his Spirlr, iad on 
 v/hom he will have you (hew your love 
 to himfelf. 10. And to excite your Re- 
 faction for future odedience ? you fee his 
 double Tide to the Government of you, 
 as Creator and as Redeemer ; and you feel 
 the obligations of Mercy and Gratitude; 
 and you arc to renew a Covenant with 
 drift) to that end; even openly where all 
 the Churches are witneff .-?. So that you fee 
 here are powerful obje£i before you co 
 draw out all thefe Graces, and that they 
 are all but fuch as the work requireth you 
 then to exercife. III. 
 
 1 
 
the Holy Sacrament. 43 
 
 -III. But that you may be the readier 
 'hen it cometh to prafticc, I fhall as it 
 'ere lead you by the hand through all 
 le parts of the adminiftration,& tell you 
 'hen and how to exercife every grsee, 
 nd thofe that are to be jiyned together 
 (hall take together, that need Ids diftinci- 
 els do not trouble you* 
 
 1. When you are called up and going 
 -> the Table of the Lord, exercife your 
 lumility, Dcfne and Thankfulnefs, and 
 17 in your heart?, What Lord, dcfl thcu 
 zllfuch a wretch as I i What ! me that 
 ave fo oft defpifed thy mercy ? ard wil- 
 dly cjftnded thee, and pre f erred thefith 
 fthis world avd the pleajures of the fitfh 
 efore thee ? Alas, it is thy wrath in Hdl 
 hat is my due .* But if leve will choofs 
 ich an unworthy gueft, and Mercy will he 
 \onoured upon fuch fin and mi fry, I come 
 .ord at thy call : J gladly come : Let thy 
 j'd be done ', and let that mefcy which 
 vuiteth me, make me acceptable, and 
 jaciovfly entertain me \ and let me not 
 me without the wedding Garment, ncr 
 
 unrevtremly 
 
44 A Mont hly Preparation for 
 
 unreverently raft on holy thwg$ y nor turn 
 -thy mtuies to my ham ! 
 
 2. Whcft the Miniftcr is confeffing fin* I 
 proftrate your very fouls in the fenfe of 
 yourunworthinef$,'and let your particular 
 fins be in your eye, with their hainousa^- 4 
 gravatiomjTbe whole need not thcPhy. 
 fician^but the lick. But here I need not put 
 words inroypur mouths or mind?,btcaufe 
 the Minifter goeth before you, and your 
 hearts mini concurr with hisConfctfiion*, 
 and put m alio the fecret fins which he 
 oniitrerh, 
 
 3 # When you look on the Bread snd 
 Wine which is provided and offered for 
 this holy ufe 5 n member that it is the Crea* 
 tor of ail things, on whom you live,whofe I 
 Lq;*/* you did off.nd ; and fay in your f 
 hearts, -O Lord, how great is my offence}\ 
 who have broken the Laws of him that I 
 mads me-> and on whom the whole Creationl 
 doth dipend ? I had tny Bei^g from thee A 
 and my daily Bread ; and jhonld I have ! 
 requited thee with difobedknee ? fathir^lX 
 have finned againft Heaven and befcrel 
 thee^ and am no more worthy to be calk* 
 thy Son. 
 
 4,Whenl 
 
■ tm tioiy sacrament. 45 
 
 [ When the words of the Inftitution 
 [ead, and the Bread and Wine are fo- 
 lly ccnfecratcd, by fcparating them to 
 I facred ufe 5 and the acceptance and 
 1 ing of God is "defired, adnfire the mer- 
 hat prepared us a Redeemer, and fay, 
 \od how wonderful is thy wifdom and 
 love? How fir angely dofi thou glorifie thy 
 'cy over fin that gave advantage toglo- 
 thyjufiicefEven thou ourGod whom xce 
 je offended, baft out of thy own Treafary 
 isfied thy own juftwe, and given m a 
 \viour by fucb a Miracle of Wtjdom,Love y 
 d Cwaefcentiev; as men or Angdsfoall 
 ver be able fuSy to comprehend : fo did ft 
 m love the finf til world, as to give thy 
 n, that whofoever believeth in him, 
 wld not pertjht but have everlafling life, 
 thou that haft prepared m fofull a reme- 
 y, and fo pretious a gift, Janffifie thefe 
 natures to be the Reprefentative Body 
 nd Bfaodof Chrift, and prepare my heart 
 r fo great a gift, and foJotgh and holy and 
 mourable a work. 
 
 $. When you behold the Confecrated 
 "read and Wine y difcern the Lords Body, 
 id reverence it as the Rtprfwtative Body 
 
 and 
 
4& -tf mommy t reparation for 
 
 and Blood of Jefus Chrift ; and take heed 
 of Prophaning ir, by looking on it as com- 
 7mn Bread and VVine; Though it be not 
 Tranfubftantiate, but ftill is very Bread 
 and Wine in* its Natural being, yet it is 
 Chrifls Body and Blood in reprejentation and 
 effeB. Look on it as the confecrated 
 Bread ef life, which with the quickning 
 Spirit muft nourifh you to life eternal, 
 
 6. When you fee the Breaking of the 
 Bread, and the Pouring out of the VVim^ 
 let Repentance^ and hove, and Defire y and 
 Thankfulnefs, thus work within you. O 
 wondrous Love ! O hateful fin \ How 
 merciful^ Lord^ haft thou been to finners > 
 & bow cruel have we been to our felves & 
 thee ? Could hove ftoop lower } Could God, 
 be merciful at a dearer rate ? Could my 
 fin have done a more horrid deed f than put 
 to death the Son of God f How fmalla 
 mattet hath tempted me to t hat, which mujl 
 cofl fo dear before it was forgiven} How dea\ 
 payed my Saviour for that, which I mighi 
 have avoided at a very cheap rate I A\ 
 how low a price have I valued bis Blood 
 when 1 have finned and finned again fo 
 
 nothmg 
 
the tioij sacrament 47 
 
 tiling ! This is my doing ! My fins 'were 
 otT horns ^ the Nails^the Spear I Can a 
 \urdtrer of Chrijt be a [mall cfftndtr * 
 > dreadful jujtice ! It was 1 andjucb other 
 •nners that dejerved to bear the pnnijhment 
 \\vvo were guilty of the fin 5 and to have 
 ''•eenfewel for the unquenchable flames for 
 ^ver. Opretious Sacrifice ! O hateful fin I 
 ) gracious Saviour I how can mans dull 
 ! vnd narrow hearty be duly affefted with 
 tt: uchtranfcendent things? or Heaven make 
 Wj due impreffion upon an inch offiefh! 
 f Shall 1 ever again have a dull apprehenfi- 
 m of fuch Lcve f Or ever hawe a favour- 
 %bk thought of fin ? Or ever have afear- 
 Hefs thought of jufiice ? O break or melt 
 V this hardened hearty that it may be fome- 
 1 "what conformed to my crucified Lord I The 
 tears of Love and true Repentance are eafi- 
 w than the flanfts from which lam redeem- 
 ed. O hide me in thefe wounds, and wafh 
 me tn this pretiom blood I This ts theSacrim 
 I fee in which I trnft : This is the Rightcouf- 
 )nefs by which / muft be jufttfied, andjaved 
 \fromtheCnrfe of thy violated Law ! Ai 
 w thou haft accepted this, & Father, for the 
 kl world, upon theCrofs, Behold it (till m 
 
40 si Monthly Preparation for 
 the behalf of finners ; and bear his Blood 
 that cryetb unto thee for mercy to the mi- 
 ferable, and pardon m y and accept us <is 
 thy Reconciled Children^ for the fake of this 
 Crucified Cbrift alone. We can offer thee 
 no other Sacrifice for Jin j and we need no 
 other. 
 
 7, When the Minifter applyeth him- 
 felf toGod byprayer,fcr the efficacy ofthis 
 Sicrament,thit in it he will give usChrift 
 and his benefits, and pardon, and juftifi? 
 u^and accept us as his reconciled Children} 
 j»yn heartily and earneftly in thefe re- 
 q lefts, as one that knoweth the need and 
 worth of fuch a mercy. 
 
 8. When the Minifter delivereth you 
 theconfecrated Bread and Wine, look upon 
 him as the mefifengerof Chrift, and hear 
 him as if Chrift by him faid to you, Take 
 this my broken body and blood, and feed en 
 it to cverlajting life : and take with it my 
 fealed Covenanted therein the fealed teflt- 
 mony ef my love, and the fealed pardon of 
 your fin Si and a fealed gift of life eternal \ 
 fo be it, y oh unfeignedly confent unto my Co- 
 venant, and give up your felves to me as 
 my redeemed w?t. Even as in deliver- | 
 
 ing 
 
The Holy Sacrament. 49 
 
 ing thepofTcflionof Houfe or Lands, the 
 (deliverer giverh a Key, and a Twig and 
 a Turf, and faith, 1 deliver you this houfe^ 
 and I deliver you this Land ; So doth the 
 Minifterby Chrift's Authority deliver you 
 Chrift and pardon and title to eternal life. 
 Here is an Image of a facrificed Chrift of 
 Gods own appointing, which you may 
 lawfully ufe ; And more than an Image ; 
 even an inverting Inftrument, by which 
 thefe higheft mercies are folemnly deliver- 
 ed to you in the name of Chrift. Let 
 your hearts therefore fay with Joy and 
 \TbankfulneJs, with Faith and Love, O 
 matchlejs bounty of the eternal God ! what 
 a pft is this ! and unto what unworthy 
 (inner s ! and will Godfioopfo low to man ? 
 *nd come fo near him ? and thus reconcile 
 his wort hie fs enemies ? WtU he freely pardon 
 i?5 that I have done ? and take we into 
 bis family and love, and feed me with the 
 hjhand^blood of Chrift ? 1 believe; Lord 
 help mine unbelief. 1 humbly and thank- 
 ully accept thy gifts I Open the frmy hearty 
 hat I may yet more joyfully and thankfully 
 ccept them : Seeing God will gkri fie his 
 love and mercy by (vch incomprehenfible 
 D gifts 
 
jo a Mommy rtgparationjor 
 
 gifts as thefc, behold, Lord, a wretch that 
 needeth all this mercy I And feeing it is the 
 offer of thy Grace and Covenant, my Soul 
 doth gladly take thee for my God and Fa- 
 ther, for my Saviour and my SanUifer ; 
 And here I give my up fc If unto thee, as thy 
 Created, Redeemed and ( J hope ) Regene- 
 rate one ; as thy Own, thy Subjeil and thy 
 Child) to be favtd and SanBifed by thee, to 
 be beloved by thee and to Love thee to ever- 
 tafting : Ofeal up this Covenant and par- 
 don, by the Spirit, whtch thou Jealeft and 
 deliver eft to me in thy Sacrament : that, 
 without referve, I may be entirely and for 
 ever thine I ^ 
 
 9. When you fire the Communicants 
 receiving with ycu, let your very hearts 
 be united to the Saints in love, and fay. 
 How goodly are thy Tents, O Jacob 
 How amiable u the Family of the Lordl 
 How good andpleafant is the unity of Bre- 
 theren ? How dear to me are the preticus 
 numbers of my L/rdl though they have yet 
 all their Spots and weaknejfes, which he par* 
 doneth % and (0 muft we* My goednejs Ej 
 Lord extendeth not unto thee; but unto thy ( 
 Saints, the exceUmt ones on *artb> in whom^ 
 
 r 
 F:: 
 
theffoly Sacrament. 5 r 
 
 s my delight. What portion of my eftate 
 hou require fi I willingly give unto the poor , 
 tnd if 1 have wronged any man, 1 am 
 willing to re ft ore it ■: And feeing thou haft 
 } oved me fin enemy, and forgiven me fa 
 neat a del t, I heartily forgive thofe that 
 have dene me wrong, and love my enemies. 
 
 keep me in thy family all my days, for 
 % day in thy Court is better than a Thou(and 7 
 tndthe door-keepers in thy houfe are happier 
 ban the moft profperous of the wicked \ 
 ^umb.14.5- P&l. I??. & iy # 4& 
 16. x, 3. Luke 19. 8. Pfal. 84. 10. 
 
 lo. When the Minifter returnetfi 
 Thanks and Praife to God 5 ftir up your 
 
 1 Souls to the greateft alacrity ; and fuppofe 
 ou faw the Heavenly Hofts of Saint* 
 nd Angels praifing the fame God in the 
 defence of his Glory ; and think with 
 our {elves, that you belong to the fa.ie 
 
 1 amily and fociety as they^and are learc- 
 j[tg their work, and muft (hortly arrive ac 
 l ieirperfettion:Strive therefore to imitate 
 iaetn in Love and joy 5 and let your very 
 W-iulsbe poured out is Praifes and Tharlf- 
 iving : And when you have the next 
 =fure for your private thoughts fas when 
 D 2 the 
 
52 A Monthly Preparation for 
 
 the Minifter is exhorting you to your du- 
 ry ) exerclfe your love and thanks and 
 Faith and hope and ftlf-denyal and Re- 
 folution for future obedience 5 in fome fych 
 breathings of your Souls as thefe : O tyy 
 graders God, thru haft furpajfed all hu- 
 mane comprehenfton in thy Love ! Is this 
 thy ufage of unworthy prodigals ! 1 feared 
 left tky wrath as a confummg fire would 
 have devoured fuch a guilty Soul ; and thou 
 voouldeft have charged upon me all my fo/lj: 
 But while 1 condemned rfl] felf thou haft 
 jor given & juftifed we sand fur priced me 
 with the fweeteft embracements of thy love I 
 I fee now that thy thoughts are above our 
 thoughts^ and thy ways above our ways, and 
 thy love excelleth the love of man, even 
 more than the Heavens are abovethe earth. 
 With how dear a price haft thou Redeemed 
 a wretch, that defer ved thy ever lading ven- 
 geance \ with how pretiom and-fweet a 
 Feaft haft thou entertained me 9 who de- 
 fer ved to be cafi out with the workers of ini- 
 quity ! fhalJ I ever more flight fuch Love' 
 as this} jhall it not overcome my Rebelli* 
 oufnefs^ and melt down my cold and hard- 
 twd heart ? [hall 1 be faved fnm Hdl and 
 
 not 
 
 
the Holy Sacrament 5^5 
 
 not be thankful ? Argels art admiring 
 thefe miracle s of Love f and fa ill not I 
 admire them ? Their love to its doth caufe 
 then? to rejoyce, while they (land by an i 
 our Heavenly feaft ? And faould it not be 
 fweeter to us that ar* the %ue(ls that feed 
 upon tt ? My God ^ow dearly haft thou 
 pH r chafedmy hov ? Ho.v flrangly haft thou 
 deferved and (ought it ? Nothing is jo much 
 my grief and fa ime, as that I can an fiver 
 fitch Love^ with no more fervent fruitful 
 Love. O what an addition -would it be 
 to all this pretious mercy , if thou would fl 
 give me a H-.art to anfwer thefe thine in- 
 vitations % That thy Love thus pour € d cut ^ 
 might draw forth mine y and my Soul might 
 flame by its approaching unto thefe thy 
 flames f And that Love draw out by the 
 fen ft of Love, might be all my life} O that 
 I could Love thee as much as 1 would Love 
 thee f Tea as much as thou wvuldeft have 
 me Love thee j But this is too great a 
 happmefsfor earth ! But then haft faewed 
 me the place where I may attain it ! My 
 Lord is here, in full pcffe£ion : who hath 
 left me thefe pledges^ tilt he come and fetch 
 us to him f elf 1 and feaft us there in onr Ma- 
 D 3 fters 
 
54 -« Monthly Freparatton for 
 fters Joy ; O blejfed place ! O happy com- 
 pany that fee his Glory ^ and are filled with 
 the ft reams of tbofe Rivers of confolation I 
 yea happy we whom thou haft called from 
 our dark and miferableftate^ and made us 
 Heirs of that felicity, and paffengers to it, 
 and expeBantsofit, under the conduUof 
 Jo fare a guide ! then we full Love tbe$ 
 witloit thefe fmful paufes and defefisl in 
 another rmajure, and another manner them 
 now we do ; when thou (halt reveal and 
 communicate thy attractive Love^n another 
 ffieafure and manner than now ! Till then, 
 my God, I am devoted to thee ; By right 
 and Covenant I am thine ! My [ml here 
 beareth witwfs aga'mft my [elf that my 
 dtfeEls of Love have no excufe ^ Thou 
 dftrveft all, if 1 had the hove if all the 
 Saints in Heaven and Earth to give thee. 
 What hath this world to do with my affeBu 
 ons ? And what is this fordid corruptible 
 fiefo, thai its defres and pleafures [bould 
 call down my Soul^ and tempt it to negUft 
 my God I Vifhat is there in all the Offer- 
 ings that man can lay upon me^ that I 
 Jhould mt joyfully accept them for his fake* 
 that hath Redeemed me from Hell,by fuch 
 
 unmatched 
 
the Holy Sacrament. yy 
 
 unmatched voluntary Offerings ? Lor d \ fee- 
 ing thou regarde(l y andjo regardeft^ fo vile 
 a worm, my hearty my tongue ^ my hand con- 
 fefs, that I am wholly thine. O let me 
 live to none but thee, avd to thyfervice^and 
 thy Saints on earth ! And O let me no 
 more return unto iniquity ! nor venture on 
 that fin that killed my Lord ! And uovj 
 thou haft ch fn fo low a dwelling O be not 
 \ft range to the Heart that thou haft fo freely 
 c ho fen! O make it the duly rejidence of 
 thy ff kit I Quicken it by thy grace ; adorn 
 it wah thy gifts 5 employ it in thy Love, de- 
 light in its attendance on thee ; refrcfl* it 
 "With thy joys and the light of thy counte- 
 nance • and deftroy this carnality, ft! fiftrtc ft 
 and unbelirf '; And let the World fte thmt 
 God will make a Palace of the Inveft hearty 
 when he cfoojetb it for the place of his owa 
 \ abode, 
 
 Direih 8. When you come home^ 
 review the mercy which you have received \ 
 and the duty which you have dow, and 
 the Covenant you \ Jbave made: Ani^ i # 
 Betake your (elves to God in Praife and' 
 Prayer for the perfecting of his work : A*d % 
 x; Take heed to your hearts that they grow 
 
 90% 
 
56 A Monthly Preparation for 
 
 not cold, and that worldly things or diver- 
 ting trifles, do not blot cut the facrqd im- 
 frefiions, which Chrift hath made , and 
 that they cool vet quickly into their . former 
 dull and Jleepy frame. 3. And fee that 
 your Lives be atlnatcd by the grace that 
 you have here received^ that even they that 
 you converfe with may perceive jhat you 
 have been w-th God. Especially when 
 Temptations would draw yotj again to 
 fin$ and when the injuries ofFriends or E- 
 nemies would provoke you^and when you 
 are called to teftifie your I^'pve toChrift,by 
 any coftiy work or fufifering; remember 
 then what was fo lately .before your eyes, 
 and upon your heart ; £nd whatyoa refol- 
 ded on, and what a Covenant you made 
 with God. Yet judge not of the fruit of 
 your Receiving, fo piuch by feeling^as by 
 faith : for more is promifed than you yet 
 pofTefs. 
 
 Here 
 
(57) 
 
 folenvi 
 | Here follows the Authors 
 
 %e filiation of himfelf \\toFa* 
 
 ther, Son and fjAy Ghojl. 
 
 L C*\ ^? ^ oc ^ * '°°k t0 Thee, I come 
 c V^/to Thee,to thee alone! No man, no 
 c worldly creature made me 5 none of 
 c them did redeem me ; none ot them did 
 
 * renew my foul, none of them will pfa-, 
 i tie me at thy Bar, nor forgive my Cw % 
 c norfave me from the penal Juftice : 
 ' none of them will be a full or a.ptrpe- 
 1 lual felicity or portion for my foul, f 
 c am not a ftranger to their promifes and 
 1 performances: I have trufted them too 
 c far 5 and followed them too long !] O rhac 
 4 it had been left, (though I mufc thank- 
 i fully acknowledge,that M?rcy did ear- 
 i \y (hew me their decdt,and turn my en- 
 
 * quiring thoughts to thee :) to thee I re- 
 1 jign my felr^for I am thine own I to thee 
 'IfubjeffM powers of my Sxi-1 and body fc 
 
 *£o£ 
 D 5 
 
5& The Anthors Solemn 
 
 'for thou arc my Rightful Sovereign 
 € Governour : from thee I thankfully ao 
 'cept of all the b:nefirs and comforts of 
 
 * my life : in thee I expcft my true felici- 
 c ty and content : to know thee, and love 
 c thee, and delight in thee, mult be my 
 
 * bleffcdne fs, or I muft have none. The 
 Mtttle taftes of this fweetnefs which my 
 
 * thirfty (bul hath had, do tell me that 
 c there is no other real joy, I feel that 
 
 * thou haft madt my mind to know tbee 7 
 *and I feel thou haft made my heart to 
 c love thee, my tongue to praifeihee, and 
 *■ all that I am and have to ferve thee ! 
 
 * And even in the panting langulihing de- 
 
 5 fires and motions of my foul, I find that 
 
 * thou, and only thou, art its rtfting place: 
 f and though Love do now but/earcb^nd 
 ^"t**}* an( * eT ?* anc * wetpy and in reaching 
 *■ upward, but cannot reach,, the glorious 
 c Irghyhe blefled knowledge, the perfeft 
 c lovc,for which it longethj yet by its rye, 
 c its aim. is* motions, its moans, its groan-, 
 
 6 I know its meaning, where it would be, 
 * and! know its end. My difplaced foul will 
 c nev^r be ura//,.tili it come near to thee, 
 Sill.it know thee better, till it bve thee 
 
 4 *nx>rs 
 
Refignmon tf mmfiifc &C 59 
 c 'more. It loves it felf, and juftifiech. 
 c that (elf- love, when it can love thee.- 
 1 it loaths it (elf, and is weary of it (elf as a 
 1 lifclefs burden, when it feels no pant- 
 c ings after thee. Wert thou to be found 
 c in the mod folitary dc(art, it would feek 
 c thee y or in the utrermoft parts of the 
 1 earth, it would make after thee: thy 
 c prefence makes a croud, a Church : thy 
 
 * eonver(e maketh a clolet , or folitary 
 1 wood or field, t© be kin to the Angelical 
 
 /Chore.. The creature were dead, if 
 
 * thou wert not irs life ; and ugly, if thou 
 
 * wert not its beaury j and infignihcant, 
 c if thou wert not its fenfe. The foul 
 1 is deformed, which is without thine Icn- 
 c age ; and lifelefs, which liveth not in 
 1 love to thee, if love be not its pulfe, 
 'and prayer,and pfaife,its conftant breath: - 
 c the M-nd is unlearned vW>tch readeth 
 
 c not thy Name on ail the World," and 
 ' feeth not HOLINESS TO THE 
 € LORD engraven upon the face of every 
 f creature. He doteth that doubteth of 
 1 thy Being or Pafe£tion% and he dream- 
 c eth who doth not live to thee, O lee 
 
 * me hay* soother portion } no reafon i no 
 
 6 iovs 
 
£cr The Authors Solemn 
 
 * love,no life, but what is devoted to thee, 7 
 'employed on thee,and for thee here, and 
 
 * (hall be perfected in thee 5 the only per- 
 c te6t final objeft, for evermore. Upon 
 € the holy Altar ere£ted by thy Son, and 
 c by his hands, and his mediation, I hum- 
 1 b!y devote and offer thezTHlS HEART: 
 c O that I could fay with greater feeling, 
 
 * This flaming , Uving, longing Heart \ 
 1 But the facred fire which mud kindle 
 c on my facrifice, rauft come from thee 5 
 c it will no* elfe afcend unto thee : let 
 
 * it con fume this drofs, (6 the nobler part 
 
 * may know its home. All thac I can fay 
 
 * to commend it to thine acceptance, Uf 
 f< that I hope it's waftui in precious blood, 
 
 * that there is fomething in it that is thine 
 *ownjit ftilllooketh towards thee,&groan- 
 
 * eth to thee,& followeth alter thee, and 
 4 will be content with gold, and mirth, 
 € jstnd honour, and fuch inferiour fooleries 
 e no more : it lieth at thy doors,, and wilt 
 
 * be entertain'd or perifh. Though ala?, 
 
 * it loves thee not as it would, I boldly fay, 
 
 * it longs to love thee, it loves to love 
 
 * ihee ^ it feeks, it craves no greater bltP 
 
 * kdnefs thai perfedi endlefs mutual leve 
 
 ft 
 
 'it 
 
Refignaticnofhirnfetf) &c. 6* 
 c it is vowed te thee,even to thee alone 5 
 c and will never take up with fhadows 
 'more; but is refolved to lie down in 
 c forrow and defpair, if thou wilt not be 
 1 its RESTmd JOT. It hateth it felf 
 c for loving thee no more ; accounting no 
 c want 5 deformity^, (hameor painfo great 
 f and grievous a calamity. 
 
 c For thee the Glorious blefled GOD, 
 c it i : that I come to Jefiu Chrijf. If he 
 4 did not reconcile my guilty foul to thee, 
 c and did not teach it the heavenly art and 
 ' work of Love, by the fweet communi- 
 c cations of thy love, he could be no Sa- 
 i viour for me. Thou art my only ul- 
 1 timate end ; it is only a guide and way to 
 'thee that my anxious foul hath (6 much 
 c ftud'ed.-md none can teach me ri'ghtly to 
 * know thee, & to love thee, and ro live to 
 \ thee, but thy felf: it mud be a Teacher 
 1 fentfrem thee,rhat muft conduit me to 
 1 thee J have long looked round about me 
 4 in the world, to fee if there were a more 
 1 lucid Region, from whence thy will 
 1 and glory might be better feen, than 
 c that in which my lot is fallen : But no 
 [ Traveller th*t I can fpeak with, no Book 
 
 1 which 
 
6 1 The Authors Solemn 
 
 f which I have turn'd over 5 no Creature 
 
 * which I can fee, doth tell nje more than 
 
 * jFefus Chrift. I can find no way fo fuit- 
 c able to my foul, no medicine fo fitted to 
 
 * my mifery, no bellows fo fit to kindle 
 c love, as faith in Chrift, the Glafs and 
 c Mcffenger of thy love. I fee no do&rine 
 € fo divine and heavenly, as bearing the 
 ^ image and fuperfcription of God; nor 
 c any fo fully confirmed and delivered by 
 c the acteftation of thy own Omnipotency; 
 1 nor any which fo purely pleads thy 
 c caufe, and calls the Ssul from Jtlf and 
 1 vanity, and condemns ics fin and puri- 
 
 * fieth ir, and leadeth itdireftiy unto thee^ 
 f and though my former ignorance diP- 
 € abled me to look back to the Ages paft, 
 c and to fee the methods of thy provi- 
 c dence, and when I look into thy Word 3 
 4 dlfabled me from feting ;he beauteous 
 
 * methods of thy Truth ; fhou haft given 
 
 * me aglimpfe of clearer light which hath 
 c difcovered the reafons and methods of 
 c grace, which I then dacern^a not : and 
 i in the midft of my mod hideous cerapta- 
 c tions and perplexed thoughts, thou 
 *kepft alive the root of faith,and' kepft 
 
 ^'ali^e 
 
RefignAtfOtPofhimfelf. &C tfj 
 
 alive cbe love to thee and unto holi- 
 
 nefs which it had kindled. Thou haft 
 
 mercifully given me the witncfs in my 
 
 (elf 5 not an unreafonable perjwafion ia 
 
 i ray tn$nd % but that renewed nature $ 
 
 thofe holy and heavenly defires and 
 
 delights, which fure can come from 
 
 none but thee. And O how much more 
 
 have I perceived in many of thy fer- 
 
 vant9, rhan in my felf J thou haft caft 
 
 my lot among rheSouls whomChrift hath 
 
 healed. I have daily converfed with 
 
 thofe whom he hath raifed from the 
 
 : dead. I have feen the power of thy Got 
 
 : pel upon finners :. All the love that ever 
 
 c I perceived kindled towards thee, and 
 
 allrhe true obedience that ever I faw 
 
 t performed to thee,, hath been cfL6ted by 
 
 ' the word of Jefus Chrift : how oft 
 
 : hsth his fpirir helped me to pray ! and 
 
 1 how ofren haft thou heard thofe pray- 
 
 1 ers I, what pledges haft thou given 
 
 To my daggering faith, in the works 
 
 : which prayer hath procured, both for 
 
 r my felf and many others ? And ii 
 
 ' Confidence in Chrift be yet deceit^. 
 
 ''mu-ftlnot fay that thou baft deceived 
 
 <me?- 
 
04 Ihe Authors solemn 
 
 me ? who I know canft neither be de- 
 ceived, or by any falOiood or fedu&ion 
 deceive. 
 
 c On thee therefore, O my dear Re- 
 deemer, do Icaftand truft this finful 
 foul ! with Thee and with thy holy Spirit 
 I renew my Covenant ; 1 1 know no o- 
 ther • I have no other ; I can have no 
 other Saviour but thy felf ; To thee I 
 deliver up this foul which thou hafi: re- 
 deemed , not to be advanced to the 
 wealth, and honour^and pleafures of this 
 world ; but to be delivered from them, 
 and to be healed of fin, and brought 
 to God ; and to be (aved from this 
 prcfent evil world, which is the portion 
 of the ungodly and unbelievers ; 
 to be waflied in thy Blood, and illumi- 
 nated, quickened and cor firmed by thy 
 SPIRIT; and condu£hd in the ways 
 of holinefs and love : and at laft to 
 be prefented juftified and fpotlefs to the 
 Father of fpi*i*?, and poffcffcd of the! 
 glory which thou haft promifed, O 
 thou that haft prepared fo deat a medi- 
 cine for the cleanfing of polluted guilty 
 c foulsjleave not this unworthy foul in irs 
 
Kefignatton of bimjelf t ore. 6$ 
 
 ' guilt, or in its pollution ! O thou that 
 ! knoweft the Father, and his Will, and 
 ' art neareft to him, and moft beloved of 
 1 him, caufe me in my degree to know 
 ; the Father 3 acquaint me with To much 
 l of his wiil, as concerneth my duty, or 
 [ my juft encouragement : leav,e not my 
 ; foul to grope \n darknefi, feeing thou 
 : ari the Sun and Lord of L ; gbr, O heal 
 my eftranged thoughts ot God .' is he 
 my lighr, and life,, and all my hope ? and 
 ' inuft I dwell with him for ever ? and 
 ; yct dull I know him no better than 
 : thus ? (hall I learn no more that have 
 fiich a Teacher ? and (hall I get no near- 
 er him, while I have a Saviour and a 
 Head fo near f O give my faith a clear- 
 er profpe£t into that better world landlet 
 me not be fo much unacquainted with 
 the place in which I muft abide for 
 ever ! And as thou haft prepared a Hea- 
 ven for holy fouls, prepare this too-un- 
 prepared foul for Heaven, which hath 
 not long toftay on earth. And when at 
 death I refign it into thy hands, receive 
 it as thine own, and finifti the Work 
 which thou haft begun, in placing it 
 
 ! among 
 
66 The Authors Solemn 
 
 among the bleffed Spirits, who are filled 
 with t&e fight $nd love of God. I truft 
 thee living} let me tmft thee dying, 
 and never be afhimed" of my truft. 
 4 And unto Thee, the Eternal Holy 
 Spirit, proceeding from the Father and 
 the Son, the Communicative LOVE, 
 who coadefcendeft to make Ptrfeft the 
 Ele&ofGod, do I deliver up this dark 
 imperfect foul, to be further renewed, 
 confirmed and pferfcfled, according to 
 the holy Covenant. Refufe not to blefs 
 if with thine indwelling and operations^, 
 quicken it with thy life ; irradiate it by 
 thy light; fan&ifie it by thy loveja&uafe 
 it purely, powerfully and conftantly by 
 thy holy motions. And though the way 
 of this thy facred influx be beyond 
 the reach of humane apprehenfnn $ yet 
 let me know the reality and faving pow- 
 er of ir $ by the happy effe£ta. Thou 
 art more to fbu!?, than fouls to bodies, 
 than light to the eyes. O leave not 
 my foul as a carrion deftitute of thy 
 life ; nor its eyes as ufelefi, deftitute of 
 thy light ; nor leave it as a fenfeiefs 
 bkck without thy motion. The re- 
 
 c membrance 
 
Refignation of bmfelf, 6CO 67 
 
 ' membcance of what / wa? without 
 'fhee, doth make me fear left thou 
 c fhouldeft with-hold thy grace. Alas, 
 1 1 fcel ? / daily feel that 1 am dead to all 
 1 good, and all that's good is dead to me, 
 * if thou be not the life of all. Teachings 
 # and reprocfs,mercies and corre<5Hon?,yea, 
 'theGofpel it felf, and all the liveliefl: 
 Bx>ks and Sermon?, are dead to me, be- 
 caufe I am dead to them : yes, God is as 
 no God to me, and Heaven as no Hea- 
 ven, and Chrilt as no Chrift, and the 
 'cleared evidences of Scripture verify are 
 as no proofs at al) t if thou reprefent 
 ■ them not with light and power to my 
 : foul > Even as all the glory of the world 
 1 is as nothing to me without the light by 
 which it's feen. O thou that haft be- 
 gun, and given me thofe heavenly inti- 
 mations and defies, which flt(h and 
 blood could never give me, fuffer jiot 
 my folly to quench thefe fparks, nor 
 this brutifli flefli to prevail againft thee, 
 nor the powers of hell to ftifle and kill 
 fuch a heavenly feed. O pardon that 
 folly and wilfulnefs , which hath too 
 often, too obdurately and too untbank- 
 
 1 fully 
 
6% The Authors Soltmn 
 
 fully ft riven againft thy gracf; and de- 
 part not from an unkind and finful foul ! 
 I remember with grief and flume, how , 
 I wilfully bpre down thy morions ; pun- 
 ifh it not with defertior>, and give me 
 not over to my felf. Art thou not in 
 Covenant with me, as my San£lifier y and 
 Confi^mer, and Comforter ? I never un- 
 dertook to do thefe things for my felf 5 
 but I confenr that thou fhouldeft work 
 them on me. As thou art the Agent and 
 Advocate of Jt(us my Lord, O plead his 
 caufe tfL&aallv in my foul, againft the 
 fuggeftions of Saran and my unbelief ; 
 and fiaifli his healing favihg work ; and 
 let not the flefh >r world prevail. Be 
 in me the refident witneG of my Lord, 
 the Author of mv prayers, the Spirit of 
 Adoption, the Seal A God 5 and the ear- 
 ned of mine inheritance. Let not my 
 nignrsbe 10 Jong, and my daysfofhort, 
 nor fin eclipfe thofe beams, which have 
 often iliuminared my foul. Without thee, 
 Books are fenfelefs fcrawls, ftudies are 
 dreams, learning is aGlow-Worm, and 
 wit is but wantonnefs, impertinency and 
 folly. Tranfcribe thofe (acred precepts 
 
 1 on 1 
 
 i 
 
"9 
 
 * on my heart, which by thy di&ates and 
 'infpiration arc recorded in thy holy 
 
 * word. I refufe not thy help for tears 
 c and groans : but O fhed abroad that love 
 1 upon my heart , which may keep it in a 
 ' continual life of love. And teach me 
 
 * the work which I mud do in Heaver: 
 c refrefti my foul with the delights of holi- 
 c nefs,& the joys which lrifejfromthe belie- 
 ' ving hopes of the everlafting joys:Exer- 
 c clfe my heart and tongue in the holy 
 'praifesof my Lord. S:rengthen me in 
 •fufferings j and conquer the terrors of 
 6 Death and Hell. Make me the more 
 ' hfeavenly, by how much the fafter I am 
 c haftening to Heaven : and let my laft 
 
 * thought?, words and works on earth, 
 c be likeft to thofe which (hall be my fir ft 
 'in the ftate of glorious immortality ; 
 1 where the Kingdom is delivered up to 
 1 the Father, and GOD will for ever be 
 1 AS^ and In all : of whom, and through 
 c whom, and to whom are ^1 things^ To 
 \ whom be glory for ever. Amm. 
 
73 
 
 A Vathetical Meditation on the Taffion of 
 Chrifi i to be read by Communicants 
 before their reception gf the Sacrament 
 of the Lordi-Supper. 
 
 Queft. 
 
 WHat is fhe Sacrament of the 
 Lords-Supper} 
 Anfw* It con&fts of two 
 vifible fign?> Bread and Wive , 
 which by the Lords appointment was to 
 reprefent to the receiver his bloody death, 
 that (b his Difeiples may keep it freft in 
 their memories. 
 
 Q^But is it t only to remember that there 
 was a Chrift % and that he was crucified, 
 and no more f 
 
 Anfw. Experience tells us that fiich a 
 bare remembrance as tha^doth little move 
 upon the heart and upon the 2ffe<5tion.% 
 and Co will do little or no good. It is not 
 the remembrance of any mans death that 
 doch of it felfaflfc& me, but as I confidcr 
 him as a Father, or as a Husband, or as a 
 
 Frimd f 
 
ji ra imitca* mtauawn crc, 7 1 
 
 Friend^ with many other cxpreffions of 
 nis love to me when living, this will ex- 
 ceedingly work upon the heart, (b as 
 Ijcaufe forrowand grief,and the like. 
 
 Queft. What is it then that I muft call 
 to mind when 1 think upon a bleeding and 
 dying Cbrift, fo as to ajfett my heart ? 
 
 Anfw. The cruel and bloody nature 
 of his Death ; here you may c«nfider the 
 whole ftory of his Arraignment, his being 
 betrayed by his own Apoftle, his being 
 fpit upon and crowned with thorns, his 
 being mocked and jeered by putting a 
 Ytedxv&o his hand inftead of tfcepter, after- 
 wards his bearing of a Crofs, and his be- 
 ing nailed to it in his hands and feet; after 
 that, his being pierced through with a 
 fpcdr ; this Mat. 27. will fully acquaint 
 y«u with. Secondly , the caufes of his 
 Death ; it was no natural difeafe, neither 
 was it for any evil done of his own, but 
 for Ui, He bore our iniquities upon the 
 crofs. Thirdly, the tffettsof his deaths 
 iwhich was to obtain power of his Father 
 jto conquer the Devil, and pull us out of 
 (his hands ; to break our hearts, and to 
 iconquerusto hiinftif, to pardon our fins, 
 
 aad 
 
7 z A Vat betical Meditation 
 
 and to give unto us eternal life with him- 
 felfin glory, and this upon our faith and 
 fincere repentance. Now from all thefe. 
 things are your Meditations to be raifed, 
 before you come to this Sacrament, and 
 when you are receiving of ir. 
 
 An Example of Meditatiorrl have here 
 fet you down as followeth. 
 
 Away thefe wanton wandering wordly 
 thoughts^ you are clogs to my foul. Away 
 all trifling worldly bufitiefs> I cannot now 
 attend your call, my heart hath now 
 fomething eife to do. Adieu my Friends, 
 farewell my Husband, Wife and Child, 
 I muft~go fee my bleeding LW, 'hat's dear- 
 er to me than you all. Come now my 
 foul, thou art alone, thou knoweft the 
 way make haft and feed 3 look yonder, 
 fee how the people flock 5 crofs bat this 
 t/*fe,and climb but up this mount ,thou wilt 
 foon arrive at bloody Golgotha, where 
 thou (hair fee thy bleeding and dying 
 Saviour to figh and linger out a dying 
 life on the Crofs in love tor thee. This, 
 this might , Ob my Squ1 1 have been thy 
 
 day, 
 
on the Paffion of drift. 75 
 
 cay, and thou might'ft have been the 
 prifbncr ; this I fay might have hen the 
 cay in which thcu might'ft have drunk 
 
 Pthe bitter cup of the fierce anger of God. 
 
 9 But look yonder ! there he goes that muft 
 drink up the drcg?^ and all tor thee.Look 
 again ! there he goe§ that muft lay down 
 his life that thou maift be reprieved. But 
 come, m j foul) draw up a little nearer, 
 thou canft not fee him well at (6 great a 
 diftance ; (land here and thou wilt fee him 
 paffing ; look, there he goes with a train 
 of Virgins following. BuJ fee how cruel- 
 ly thefe barbarous Jervs do ufe him, they 
 make him bear his Crofs himfelf, and 
 prefs his wearied fainting limbs above his" 
 ftrengrh ; fee how they laugh and feoff, 
 and wag their heads as if he were their 
 May- game. Methinks my heart boils up 
 
 ► with rage to fee, thefe cruelties revenged; 
 Oh ! how could the bltfied God for- 
 bear to fee his bkiTed Son thus wronged? 
 
 ' Why did he not fend twelve Legions of 
 Angds for his refcue ? Why doth h© not 
 Tend down fire from Heaven upon the 
 
 - heads of thefe his Sons enemies, and Co 
 confume them ? But ftay myfocltfh hem. 
 
74 -A Pathetical Meditation 
 
 thou kncxveji net what fpirit thou art of 5 
 this debt was owing, and it muft be paid- 
 God requires fo much, and it muft be giv- 
 en, or thou canft not be faved. Thy 
 Lord did know this well enough, for this 
 he came from Heaven, and committed 
 himfelf to the rage of men j he knew he 
 muft endure all thefe revilings,and doth it 
 grieve thy foul to fee him thus abafcd ? 
 Stay but a while, and thou (halt fee him 
 more ; look up, my foul, come, tell me 
 what thoufeeft ? Oh 1 cannot, forrow tyes 
 my tongue, I cannot fpeakjl fee and hear 
 thofe things that I want a power toutter.I 
 lee a troop of Virgins following him, their 
 weeping Eyes, xhtu blubbering lips, their 
 fighs and throbbings fpeak them mourner?. 
 i fte my Lord looks towards tht ra, and 
 kindly chides their loving forrow, Why 
 weep ye, Oh ye Daughters of Jerufakm} 
 weep not for we. My Lord ! what need 
 was there for that queftion ? Should not 
 they weep when thou muft bleed? Would 
 not their eyes have been flints if that then 
 they (hould not drop tears for thee,when 
 as thou wert about to pour out thy life 
 and blood for them ? Ah ! could they 
 
 chufe, 
 
on the Tafjion of Chrift. 7 f 
 -hufe, or do lefs than weep to fee thine 
 inocent felf among a herd of Tygers I 
 ;hat fhould a Lamb do there ? they faw 
 bee in their ravenous jaws about to tear 
 hy heart, to fuck out all thy blood, and 
 save thee dead. Have I not fat and read, 
 *,nd read and wept viewing over the 
 tory ; and could they forbear that with 
 heir watry eyes faw this fcene then a£le& 
 3ut whither, O whither, O ye blinded 
 Jews, are ye dragging this my Lord > 
 My fpirit begins to faint, I now can look 
 no longer, my heart now begins to fwell 
 with grief, it muft now break, or I muft 
 vent it at mine eyes in ftreams ! Look ! 
 fee the Hammer and Nails, the Hammer 
 lift up to ftrike. Bloody man ! thou durft 
 not fure; furely thoudoft not know whofe 
 hands and feet thou art now piercing ;it 
 Is the Prince and Saviour of the World 
 Foolifh heart ! fee how thou art miftaken; 
 look, fee it's done, the nails are driren to 
 the head ! fee how the crimfon tears run 
 sickling down his hands and feet, and 
 fee how hardened hearts be laughing at 
 t ! Ob filly foolifh blinded men ! whac 
 laugh you at ? This very Chrifi whom 
 E % now 
 
7 6 A Pathetical Meditation 
 
 now you mock, (hall be your Judge • 
 this very man Jefus whom you have thus 
 abufed.disM come attended with thoufands 
 of Angels, with the found of Trumpet?, 
 and (hall fit upon your life and dt ath.Hitn 
 whom you now have nailed toaCrofs, 
 hath God exalted to be a Prime and a 
 Saviour. What then will you do when 
 that great and terrible day of the Lord 
 fhall come ? How will you look him in 
 the face whom you have [fit on ? How 
 will you dare to fpeak a word for your 
 felves to him whom you have nailed to a 
 tree and crucified f His wounds in hands % 
 fide and fee t (hall all bear witnefs againft 
 you, and his innocent blood that you have 
 fpilt (hall cry aloud about the throne for 
 vengeance againftyou;youry?w?.r (hall then 
 be turned into tears, and your taunts into 
 lamentations. And how will you then 
 look and cry when God paffeth fentence 
 ; on you, and thrufls you down to Hell to 
 bear the punifhment of your (ins ? this is 
 the Lord that came to fpare your lives,yet 
 your wicked nefs fparrd not his ; land how 
 at length can you think to efcape with 
 yours ? 
 
 But 
 
on the Pajfion ofChrifl. 77 
 
 But once again, ltfok up my foul \ and 
 
 fee what is become ot thy nailed- znd cruel- 
 
 ^fied Lord : Ah me ! he is nor quite dtad ? 
 
 ■pok how he gifps and pants for life ! Oil 
 
 how his looks are changed ! How pale 
 
 and wan do I fee his cheeks ! the blood 
 
 and all the fpirirs are quite drawn from 
 
 them. Merhinks he ihould be dead, for 
 
 (ee how weak his neck is grown, that it 
 
 i is not able to fupport h>s bead that lyes a 
 
 1 dying on his bleeding breaft. What yet 
 
 1 not dead 1 fee how he (hakes and ftirs his 
 
 dying limbs.' what gafps and groaxs do 
 
 I hear him fetch, as it his foul were ftrug- 
 
 I ling to get out ? Hark, bark, hefpeahl 
 
 1 Oh let me catch the leaft breath of my 
 
 1 dying Saviour. What faith my Lord? 
 
 Hark what doft thou not hear ! Whar ?- 
 
 I My God, my God, why haft thouforfaken 
 
 \me? frairi a ma fced to hear thefe words, 
 
 iKow couldft thou fufpe& thy Fathers 
 
 Uove ? How could he be far from thee, 
 
 fwho was one with thyfelf? Bur Oh ! this 
 
 iis but the voice of his Mmhoad, &nd pot. 
 
 jjof his Godhead- It was the voice c 
 
 dying and bleeding Man Jefus y not the 
 
 voice of the God Jefus. 
 
 E 3 But, 
 
A PatheticalAfeditation 
 But, Oh my Lord, what are thofe pains 
 and gripes thou feeleft, that brings forth 
 thefe complainings ? But why do I ask 
 this queftion ? hath he not been all this 
 while a drinking up the cup his Father 
 gave him, the birer, and fowr, and poy- 
 fbnouacup of his Fathers wrath, which I 
 and all the world had elfe drunk of? hejuft 
 now fwallowed down the laft mouthful of 
 the dregs, whole bitter noifotn tafte hath 
 lent forth thefe doleful lamentations ; for 
 mark , he had no fooner fpoke thefe words,- 
 but he gafped his laft. 
 
 Thecaufes of his Death. 
 And muft the Son of God be humbled 
 thus ? mufthe th^t was from everlafting, 
 railed and advanced above every man in 
 heaven and earth ; he that lay in the 
 arms and breaft of God, loved by the Fa- 
 ther, and his only Son ; honoured, adored, 
 admired and beloved often thoufand times 
 ten thoufands of Angels j But muft this 
 God leave all this glory y and change that 
 fweet Heavenly and delightfc me Palace 
 for fo mean, fo low, fo dirty a cottage, as 
 to be born a man. And muft his entertain. 
 
 ment 
 
on the Pa/fion of Chrift. jg 
 
 ment at firft be no better than z ft able or a 
 manger could give him ? No fooner mud 
 he begin to live, but mull an enemy affiuk 
 his life ? Muft he travel up and down the 
 earth, and fpend his time and ftrengrh in 
 preaching^/**/ tidings to miferable undone 
 , meo, and fill the world with Jigns and 
 wonders, and not deferve fo much of men 
 as a houfe to dwell in, or a hole to pui his 
 head in ? and after all this humble, holy, 
 long-fuffe« ing life, mufl he be thought of 
 • by this unthankful and unbelieving world 
 as one not worthy to live, and not have 
 a breathing in that air which he both 
 made and gave them to breath in ? but 
 muft he at length be kid hold of by a trai- 
 terous Judas that he had once taken for 
 one of hisApoftles; &muft he fuffer allthis? 
 But ah ! alas ! what is this ? muft he be a!fo 
 crowned with thorns, and muft he fweat 
 and bleed} Oh far more than tongue can 
 utter ! Oh aftonifhing condefcention ! 
 thus did the Sm become a frvant y and 
 learn 'd obedience by his fuffer ing?, and 
 ftrved three and thirty yea Y s apprentice[h:p 
 in the pain and travel of hi? foul hereon 
 earth^a longer time thanj^^ferved for his 
 E 4- beloved 
 
80 A Pathetical Meditation. 
 
 beloved Rachel, & that becaufe he loved 
 us bet;er,and therefore gave a better dow- 
 ry for us. Bat had I lived to have (hen 
 this Prince of Glory ihusdifguis'd^his Eaft- 
 tfn Sun thus benighred in a cloud, this 
 Glorious God thus v/raped up in rags of 
 fl-ih, flhould I have known him, or not ? 
 my fenfual heart, I doubt thee much ; 
 wouldeft thou have cleaved to him and 
 loved him better than thy life, and have 
 faid, Though all leave thee, I will not j and 
 with Paul, lam willing and ready not only 
 to be bound* but to die Jor thee. What 
 tbinkeft thou, 0\\my fiul ! couldft thou 
 have left Hisband, Wife, Father and 
 Mother, and all the reft of thy Friend?, 
 and have fold all that thou haft, and 
 followed him., what him whom the Pro- 
 phec foretold? 7/Qr. 53, 1.5. He huh no 
 form or comlinefs in htm, that you jhmU 
 d?fire him : he is defy fed and rejected of 
 men, a man of forrows and acquainted 
 ivkh griju Tell aif, tell me, couldft 
 thou have divorced thy felf from all, and 
 have taken this feemingly uncomely perfbn 
 for thy Lord^nd only Husband ? Ah me ! 
 I^d o not know my heart ; but furely, had 
 
on the Paffion ofChrifi . 8 1 
 
 I known him as I do now know him, I 
 fliould not have ftuck at any thing for 
 him. For what if his Face did want 
 comlinefs, feeing it came fo with tears and 
 grief for thee ? and wilt thou love thy 
 friend the worfe, becaufe he (hires in 
 forrow with thee ? for thou canft not hut 
 know that he came from Heaven to take 
 tohimfelf a Spoufe on Earch ; and if I 
 was one that he loved, and grieved for to 
 lee my fcubborn heart fo hard to yield^ 
 was this thecaufe he wanted beauty ? Oa 
 fuch a want as this is lovely,and methinks 
 my heart could have cleaved the cloferto 
 him, There was no beauty or comhnefs in 
 him-) and what of that ? my ugly and de- 
 formed foul deferves more loathing $ my 
 rigbteoufoefii the comelieft part about me 
 is but rags j or a menfiru.m cloth \ if there 
 were no more defirablenefs in him than in* 
 me»Oh had I loved him then,and left all for 
 him,it were no wonder:but (hat he (hould 
 lo'veme, I rather (land amazed i There 1 
 was no beauty in him, it may be fo j but' 
 could it be otherwife expe&ed from him 
 who came to work in fire and [moke? who* 
 came to quench the Flames of Hell, an & 
 E y te. 
 
82 A Vathttical Meditation 
 to fatisfie Gods wrath and juftice ? to pull 
 out filthy fouls from the jaws of luftful 
 fenfual flefti and blood? it was not beauty 
 hmftrength that was here needful. A 
 glance of an amorous eye would not have 
 wounded Sxtan, and made him fall from 
 Heaven like a fhfh of Lightning. A com- 
 ly countenance could not have inchanted 
 and unbar'd Hell gates ,and made them fall, 
 and break before him into fharrers. What 
 need a fair hand to touch our filthy rotten 
 fouls, and take them up in rnenftmous 
 blood, and wafh them clean ; or what need 
 fuch clean hands to clafp about the rufiy 
 iron gates wherein I and all the world lay 
 bound in chains, and to pull them down, 
 to take our cankered bolts and knock them 
 off} to take us by the hand to help u? up, 
 and lead us out ? Alas .' there needs no fuch 
 eje^face^ or hand for fuch a work. It is 
 powerful, all-conquering ftrenath that is 
 here required. It was a powerful victori- 
 ous arm ch at here was needed, and fuch a 
 one he had. But what iliould he do 
 with a beautiotts body that mull befoabaf- 
 cd and ahufed as his was ? an uncomly 
 face will fcrve where it rauft be /pit on. 
 
 What 
 
on tfoe tajjion oj Ksmjt oy 
 
 What muft he do with a fair [oft delicate 
 hand, which muft be pierced ; another 
 kind of hand k good enough to knock a 
 nail into. And what need9 his body be of 
 a clear, white,tbin, tranfparent skin ? will 
 not any ferve that body that muft be 
 bruifed and wounded as his was; nay, as 
 it was neceffary his fhould be ? But why 
 thus neceffary ? either he muft be thus 
 dealt with, or elfe my fin cannot be par- 
 doned. Either he muft be defpifed of 
 men,or I muft be of God. Oh ! he muft 
 drink up this bitter cup with all its dregs, 
 or elfe I muft have drunk it up my felf. It 
 was I that finned,and I muft have fuffered: 
 this curfed, proud and earthly heart of 
 mine rebelled and broke the Laws, and 
 fhould have fuffered and born the punifh* 
 ment 5 had not he ftept in and born the 
 ftroke off from me, I had been now burn- 
 ing in everlafting flame?, and have been 
 lingering out this time in torment, which 
 lam now fpending in the fweet thoughts 
 of my efcap?. And is not this all true ? 
 fpeak out, my Soul ; hath not the Prophet 
 faid as much ? Surely (faith he ) he hath 
 born our griefs, and carried our for rows: 
 
§4 AVathetical Meditation 
 he was wounded for our tranfgrejjiens, he 
 was bruited for our iniquities, the cbaftife- 
 went of cur peace lay upon him, and by 
 his (tripe** we are healed. All we like 
 fheep are gene afiray, we are every one 
 turned to his one way> ayd the Lord hath 
 laid upon htm the iniquities of m all.He was 
 cpprejfedyhe was ajjliffed, yet he opened not 
 his mouth \ he was brought as a lamb to 
 the /laughter, and as a fieep before the 
 jhearers was dumb, fo he opened not his 
 mouth. He was taken from prifon and 
 judgment, and who Jhall declare his gene- 
 ration J for he was cut off from the land of 
 the living. And for tbetranfgrejffwn of my 
 people was he [mitten, Thou feed thy 
 debt, and thy Saviours payment of it ; 
 thefeareno fi£Hons 5 thou haft juft now 
 read a fureword of Prophecy tha,t hath con- 
 firmed it. Thofe wounds, thofe jlripes., 
 thofe bruifes which thou readtft of, he 
 bore for thee, and which were due to thee. 
 It was thou that (houldft have been led 
 from prifon to judgment, from prifon to the 
 Judgment-feat of the great God, who 
 ihould have fat as Judge j he ftiould have 
 arraigned thee, fentenced thee, and have 
 
 fen: 
 
on the Paffion of Chrift. 85 
 
 fent thee to the flaughter-houfe of Hell, 
 where thou (houldeit have been weeping, 
 and wailing, and gnafhing of thy teeth. 
 Bur Oh amazing love and grace ! the Son 
 of God that loved me better than his life, 
 ftept ofF his Throne and took my nature 
 on him, and became a man like to me 
 (only (in excepted) he came and bid mc 
 comfoitmy trembling heart, he would 
 put himfelf in my condition, and become 
 the prifoner ; and if my fin would coft 
 his life, he would freely part with it. Me- 
 thinks I feel my bowels turn, my fpirics 
 melt within me j was ever love like to his 
 love ? he was a ftranger to me : why did 
 he not let me die ? h was his Father I 
 did wrong, why did he not let me fuffer ? 
 What if my punifliment was as great as 
 Hell .? furety I did deferve it. What if 
 my pains and (creeches were eternal? 
 Ah ! I was a creature, a worm, a fly>a no- 
 thing to him, and what need he have 
 cared ? but he loved me ; and could he 
 j love a priloner at the Bar ? I was a fmner^ 
 a vile polluted one, methinks he Ihould 
 have loathgd me; but he did tvafb thee, 
 and make thee clean again. Ay, but I was 
 
 his 
 
86 A Pathetic al Meditation 
 his Fathers enemy, and fo no friend to 
 him ;or J would he love an enemy ?or did he 
 not know fo much f. bat how could that 
 be when he faw my heart, and the enmity 
 that was in it ? yes, he did, and yet he 
 loved thee ; even while we were enemies he 
 died for us. But why did he love an en- 
 emy ? or how could he do it ? I know 
 not why, it is paft my reafon to imagine 
 it : Oh inexprejfible love ! Oh love paft 
 thought ! I cannot fathom thee with my 
 reafon, thy ways are unaccountable; he 
 loves becaufe he will love. And though 
 his love difpleafeth u?, yet it pleafeth him 
 to love us. What ails my heart? I can- 
 not find it ftir? What, dead under the re- 
 viving thoughts of thy deareft Redeemer ! 
 I juft now faidj be loved thee thougb an 
 enemy, and when thou lovedft not him j 
 I fee the enmity is not quite remov'd,thou 
 canft not love hina yet : Arife, (hake up • 
 thy felf, and look about thee, thou doft not 
 fure fee thy mercy; furely thou underftand- 
 eft not what thou oughteft to underfrand. 
 Come away, Oh come away, li r t up thy 
 drowfie head, I will make thee look and 
 love, while I fee thee all on burning, and 
 
 make 
 
on the Vaflionof Chrijl. $7 
 
 make tbee ere I leave thee confefs thou 
 loveft him. Think, think, Oh my fcul^ 
 that thou hadft juft now finned and broke 
 that law which threatned death, and upon 
 the breach doth find thee guilty. Think 
 that thou faweft a flaming Cherubim, a 
 meflenger of the Court of Heaven flirt in 
 at that door and arreft thee for High trea- 
 fon and give thee a fummons to rife from 
 the feat thou fitteft on, to make a fudden 
 anfwer for thy life. Look then 5 my foul, 
 Ah ! I lookt juft now, I fee rhat door wide 
 open : What's this a fybrit'} Ah me, / 
 am undone, tor /have finned ! / think the 
 room flhakes under me, or elfe Vis my 
 heart thafs trembling. What's this 1 
 hear / I muft now anfwer for my life; 
 
 what (hall I fay ! I know not what; 
 
 1 have finned, my Conference tells me 
 that I have finned, the witnefs within will 
 caft me, I fee the Inditeqpent writ with 
 blood on my heart ; the pride, fenfuality, 
 ami theearthlinefs of which I am charged 
 With, I am net able to deny one tittle. Oh 
 for a mountain to cover me ; Oh whither 
 (hall I go, wither (hall I flie ? That Bed, 
 the fe Cut rains, this clofet cannot hide me. 
 
 My 
 
88 A Pathetical Mediation 
 
 My Mother, Father, Wife or Child, can 
 not help me ; O who then (hall ? I run, 
 whither, I know not ; vengeance will find 
 me out where ever I go. Ob curled and 
 fubtil Satan ! are all thy fair promifes and 
 inticements come to this ! O my wicked 
 cm fed fooiifti heart I that ever I fhould 
 believe him before my Creator, that told 
 me, the Jay I finned 1 [hould farely die. Oh 
 that for a little fimple tranfient pleafure I 
 fhould fo madly hazard my eternal life ! 
 and now I mufc be caft to H:ll to bear 
 the puniflnrnc of my folly. Think once 
 again,think that this were the day,nnd this 
 the very place in which God fhjuld come 
 and fi in Judgement on thee. . Mschinks 
 I fee the Heavens bow themfelves : Oh 
 what a crackling do I hear in the Clouds ; 
 look yon Jer ! fee who comes ! it is rny 
 Judge \ his countenance is as a flime of 
 fire, he utters his voice like Thunder, 
 the* mountains skip, or rather (hake, or 
 rarher tremble. Now, now, is the time 
 of my utter deftruction near at hand. Oh 
 how (h ill /look him in the face ! his looks 
 do aire tdy affright me ! I (hall not fay 
 one word, and 1 have not one Frien d 
 
 th&t 
 
\ 
 
 on the rajpon of Ltortjt. xg 
 
 that will fay one word for me. It's true, 
 I fee a terrible glorious Troop of Angels 
 that do attend him, but they are all his 
 friends, and therefore all my enemies: I 
 dare not fpeak a word to rhem • and 
 alas ! if I fhould, they are all but his 
 fcrvants, and fellow-creatures with my 
 felf; alas ! they cannot, yea they will 
 not help me # It's true, there is one, that 
 one that feems as o^e with God, the beams 
 ofwhofe countenance are far brighter 
 thas all theHoft ofHeaven;Btfide5,if God 
 have a Son, it may be it is he ; methinks 
 he is a mirronr of his Fathers Glory ; but 
 this I know not • be what he will, he 
 cannot pity me a (inner,the doors of hope 
 are all (hut up, and now as a miferable 
 wretch I muft prepare to hear my fen- 
 tence^ the Judge is fet, and with trem- 
 bling heart and pints I ftand a frifoner 
 at the Bir for my life, and now I muit at- 
 tend his call. 
 
 God fpcaks, ]] Sinner, where art 
 thou ? 
 
 The Sinner an/wers ] Lord, here am I. 
 God fpeaks] How dareji thou thus a- 
 
 btife 
 
90 A Patbetical Mediation 
 
 bufe my Grace , and kindle up my zjzal a~ 
 gainft thee that now as jluble it will con- 
 fane thee ? Is this the thanks that thou 
 haft returned for all the love th it I have 
 (h wed to thee ? Muft 1 make a whole 
 d and give it to thee, and as if that 
 was roo little, 7 bid thee freely take my 
 felf and all, and would not this content 
 thee? Was /not as a Father to thee, the 
 time thou lovedft me, and di(Jft obey me ? 
 Did /not make thy feat a Paradice, and 
 ftrewed thy paths with pleafure ? Did J 
 not rejoyee over Usee as a young man over 
 hi3 bride? What evil haft thou found in me, 
 that thou (houldft thus rebellioufly revolt 
 and break my Laws, and for a trifle fell 
 my favour, and hazard my Ercrnal 
 pleafures ? Speak finner, was it not 
 fo ? 
 
 Tie /inner anfwers'} My God, thefe 
 weeping eyes and bended knees confefs fo 
 much. 
 
 Godfpeah 3 Had I not told thee that 
 Gn would coft thee thy life,then thou hadft 
 had fome excufe : have / faid ir, and will 
 the great God change? finner,thou muft 
 die; I told thee (o before, and now 2 
 
 tell 
 
on the Paffion ofChriH. 91 
 
 tell thee again, the God of Heaven cannot 
 lye. Get thee gone thou curfed wretch 
 into eternal flames, and keep that Devil 
 company in chains and torments, with 
 whom thou haft rebelled againft trie, and 
 go fee what pleafures thou haft in fin- 
 ning.- 
 
 The Sinner anfivereth ] Thou great 
 God and terrible Judge ; I do confefs 
 thy fentence juft ; but if there be any 
 bowels of mercy in thee, pity me, or 1 die 
 for ever. Mercy, mercy, Lord ! for / 
 am thy creature, the workmanjflhip of thy 
 hand?. If there be any thing in the trem- 
 bling heart and hands, and knees of this 
 thy fenter.ced prifoner, that will move 
 compaflion, O pity, pity a condemned 
 (inner. 
 
 God fpeaks ] What ! (lays he longer 
 to trouble my patience ! / fay, be gone 
 thou curfed; though thou art my creature, 
 know that my wrath hath kindled on 
 better creatures than thou art ; get thee 
 to Hell, and the howling Devils will tell 
 thee as much. 
 
 The 
 
9 z si rat bet teat, meditation 
 
 The /inner fpc ah ~] Ah, wo, wo, wo to 
 me, for ever cui fed I am,andcurfed muft 
 / go for ever, My righteous Judge,and 
 ye G'oriou* Angels adieu for ever : Live, 
 live for ever bleffed a»d happy in his lovr; 
 ht have lived, and joyed, and glo- 
 ried in that God that made both ye and 
 me ; but like a wretch that / am,wo that 
 ever / was born, I fold his favour, and 
 fo my eternal life, for a thing of nought, 
 a vain luft, a linful pleafure that lafted 
 but for a feafon, and I go,/ go into eternal 
 fiUmes, What fays my heart to this? 
 Mefhinks the very thoughts of it do make 
 my heart to quiver, and my fldli to duke 
 all round about me ; I (eel no ftrength in 
 all my j )ints. 
 
 Godfocah'] So, fo^/amglad fomerhing 
 moves thee. 
 
 But think again, that the Devil did 
 take hold of thee, and drag thee from the 
 place thou fitreft on, t& Hett •, fuppofe 
 the Father frowning on thee, and all the 
 Angels ftiouting thee down to Hel! 5 and 
 .glorying in thy damnation ; but think 
 
 again 
 
on the Pajfion of Cbrift. 93 
 
 again thou fa weft when all were joying 
 to fee thee fentenced to Hell, that he that 
 fatjuft by the Judge, whom thou thought- 
 eft even now to be his Son, but kneweft 
 it nor. -Look ! look ! methings 1 fee him 
 rifeoff his Throne 5 fee, fte, how the 
 Angels fall to adore him, methinks he is 
 a coming near thee. Oh how my heart 
 doth tremble : Oh what will he torment 
 me before my time ! Ah me ! my doom is 
 great enough already. 
 
 Sinner /peaks ] Thou wilt not fend 
 me to a worfer place than Hell ; my Judge 
 hath pafled my fentence, thou canft not 
 fend me into worfer than flame?, or 
 punifh me longer than everlaftingly. 
 
 Cbrifi an fivers.*] Oh haw my bowels 
 turn ! this finner knows not what is in my 
 heart ; he thinks /am his enemy. Sinner," 
 fhake off thy tears, and wipe thine eyes, 
 thou (halt not die. 
 
 The finner [peaks again. ] Oh thou 
 glorious God or Angel, or 1 know not 
 what to call thee, do not delude or deride 
 
 a 
 
y^ -^ tatmttcai meat at ton 
 
 a poor Caitiff wretch in the midft of mife- 
 ry: Why wilt thou raife me to fuch a 
 pinacle of hope, to caft me down, and 
 make my fall the greater ? My Judge 
 hath pafled the fentence, I muft die 5 and 
 who can reverfe the doom ? Ah ! / muft 
 go-, fee my prifon-door wide open ; the 
 fmoke and flafhes come to meet my de* 
 fpairing foul halfway. 
 
 Cbrift [peaks ] And now my heart be- 
 gins to break, my love can keep no 
 longer in$how caufltfly doth this wretch 
 torment his heart ! he knows not who / 
 am : 1 muft reveal my felf. Sinner, 1 love 
 thee ; / fay thou (halt not die : Come, 
 feel my. heart and pulfe how they bear, 
 and tell how ftrong my love within doth 
 a& them ; D^ft thou not fee /have \dt 
 my Throne, and am come down to the 
 Bar where thou ftandeft condemned ? 
 But why doft thou weep ? Come, let me 
 wipe thine eyes, and bind up thy bleeding 
 and defpairing heart : 7 tell thee thou 
 (halt not die : li Heaven will have blood, 
 it (hall have mine,(b it will but fpare thine. 
 Sinner, if thou kneweft who 2 am, thou 
 
 wouldeft 
 
on the Tajfion of Chrijf. 9 5 
 
 wouldeft not doubt one tittle: I tell thee 
 I am his Son, his only Son, that but now 
 condemned thee ; / know he is juft, and 
 juftice muft be fatisfied. But do not thou 
 fear, if one of us muft die, it fball be /: 
 / will pour out my blood a facrifice for 
 fin, and appeafe his wrath, and make 
 you friends again. Ye innumerable com- 
 pany of Angels,(yet_fervants at my Father 
 will) why do ye rcjoyce to fee my prifbn- 
 er fent to Hell ? this curfed foul over 
 whom in glory you do now triumph, / 
 do refolve to die for, and to buy her to 
 my felf a Spoufe, and to make her blefled 
 with your felves, and give her a Prinves y $ 
 place on a Throne that is by my felf. 
 
 Sinner fpeah ] U this a dream ! or 
 am /waking? the goodnef?, greatneis, 
 glory of this fudden unexpected blefled 
 change,tempts me to doubt whether it be 
 true, or whether it be fome unruly fancy 
 that doth delude this wretched heart of 
 mine ? What for the Son of God to de- 
 bate iiimfelffo low as to take my nature 3 & 
 fo my caufe, . and become the prifoner ! 
 What ! and though he knows he fhali 
 
 be 
 
p5 A Patbetical Meditation 
 
 be caft ! Will he hear the fentence 5 an] 
 quietly bear bolts, and {hackle?,and chain?, 
 which fhould have fettered me ? Yet more 
 than this, Doth he know it is impoflible 
 to get a reprieve from his Father and 
 judge ? # and that he muft mod afluredly 
 drink thebittereft dregsofDearb,more bitter 
 than Devils or damned Souls in Hell has 
 yet ever tailed of ? For it is impoflible 
 the Cup fliauld pafs : And can he, will 
 he, dare he venture? But ftay, I muft 
 be a Spoufeko be exalted from this Dung- 
 hill to be a Prwcefs to the Son and Heir 
 of Glory ! Hold,ho!d, here's enough, it is 
 a dream, an idle fancy of a diftempered 
 brain ; /{ball never find a heart to be- 
 lieve one Syllable. But yet, methinks, if 
 it be a dream, '-cis a Golden one. h it 
 poflible that fuch a damned wretch as /, 
 could harbour fuch filken gilded thoughts 
 of fuch love, grace, mercy and tendernefs 
 of the Son of God ? Oh my heart ! if they 
 were not true, how came they into my 
 mind, or how came rhey to ftay ? or could 
 they, if but meer fictions, make fuch a 
 change in my heart ? Could they fb 
 viiiorioufly conquer all my fear, filence 
 
 all 
 
on the Vafjion of Cbrtjt. gj 
 
 all my doubt*, allay the heats of a fcorch- 
 ed and bc-helled Confcience ? But why 
 a dream, poor wretched heart ? Didft thou 
 not fee him ftep off his Throne ? Wa? it 
 a time to dream cr fleep in, when thou 
 wert before the judgment-feaf, while God 
 was frowning, and the Devils dragging 
 thee to and fro to get thee away to Hell ? 
 O then, jufl: then, he ftept down, drew 
 near and took thee by the hand, and fpoke 
 thefe reviving wards to thee : Doubt 
 this, and doubt thy judgment. But why 
 a dream ? I am not now in Hells tor- 
 ments, whither I Was juft now fentenced : 
 My heart is now at eafe and quiet • fure- 
 ly fomething mud be the reafon why the 
 Devil that but now had hold of me, hath 
 left me. Where is the Confcience that 
 but now was burning in me; But Oh> 
 cannot the pretence of the Lord put me 
 out of doubt ? Do not his words that 
 were fo kind, his tender dealing with me f 
 doth not his (looping to me, taking rre 
 | by the arm, and the gende lifts that he 
 gives to my drooping fou', fpeak him 
 prefent ? Oh ! do not my head, eye?,arm?, 
 heart, bread, and the eafe of every joint 
 ! F and 
 
9o . A Ptiihetical Meditation 
 and irmb about mc, witnefs the fame ? A- 
 ♦ay my unbelieving heart, what a ftiris 
 hire to make thee believe a thing fo evi- 
 dent ? Doubt my mind, and freely doubt, 
 Tie give thee leave, when thou haft any 
 occafion or reafon' for it. But why fhould 
 / doubt that which is pad all doubt ? 
 May I not believe my fenfes ? I both faw 
 and heard him fpeak the words $ or (hall 
 1 mifdoubt his faithfulnefs? I know he is 
 theSon cfGod he cannot ]ye,but it is true/ 
 yer, my God, 1 pray thee be not angry 
 with my (crupulous heart} thou feed in 
 tears 1 make the doubt, Set it bean argu- 
 ment to me of fiflcerity : I do not ask 
 that queftion as one that would be fain 
 perfwaded it's true ; Card thou think, 
 my Lord, that I would not be reconciled, 
 and cheerfully accept of Gr<ice when thou 
 fo freely offered!! it ? O but Lord, (peak 
 thefe words to my heart which thou hdl 
 already fpokc to my ear, and thou wilt 
 melt it into love and thank fulnefe^ and 
 I (foal! never doubt it more. 
 
 Object. But yet , but what can Heavenl 
 love jo much ? 
 
 AnfwA 
 
on the Pafficn of Chrip. 9$ 
 
 Anjw. Thou filly worm ! how idly 
 doft chou queftion ? muft Heaven, and fo 
 its love,, be bound up to fo narrow and 
 contra&ed thoughrs as thine are ? Whar, 
 can God love no more than thou canft ? 
 Love is a perfedUon, and God is infinite- 
 ly perfeft, fo muft be infinitely and in- 
 comprehenfively loving. Thou fool, go 
 found the Sea, and tell me its greateft 
 depths; give me the height ofyonder Stars, 
 this pofiibly thou maift do ; tor the Seas 
 are not fo deep but they have a bottorn,nor 
 the Stars fo high, but they may by art 
 be known. But, Oh the heights, and 
 depths, and breadths, and lengths of the 
 love of our Redeemer ! He is God, and 
 his breafts are fo full of love, that they 
 flow and overflow with love j they have 
 no bottom. Do but try, my foul, caft 
 thy felf into this bottomlefs lovely Ocean 7 
 into this endiefs Eojow j and when thou 
 haft been finking millions of millions of 
 years, tell me whether you come to 
 ground. Ye glorious Angels, and ye 
 bkffed Spirits of juft men made perfedft, 
 'that live above, you that have been wad- 
 ing downward thefe five thaifands of ytars^ 
 F % do 
 
do ye feel a bottom ? or are ye near one ? 
 Away, away, my foolifh heart 5 if this 
 be all thou haft to plead, he may redeem 
 thee, and take thee for his Spoufe, and 
 betroth thee ro himfelf, notwithftanding 
 all this. 
 
 Objedt. But Oh this filthy^ leathfom 
 flefhly felf y this bafe unthankful earthlv 
 hearty that can f refer a dunghtlly drofs % 
 and dirt y before him that can freely lay out 
 his love to a creature like my Jelf : But 
 Oh how hardy andjiijfy and unrelenting am 
 I to my God. But Oh he will flight me> 
 becaufe I have often put him offend flighted 
 him ; he cannot love and die for fuch a one 
 as 1 arm 
 
 Anfw. Ceafe, fool, thy reafonings y he 
 cannot love an enemy, becaufe thou canft 
 not y he cannot die, becaufe thy cowardly 
 heart will not fufftr thee ! Why fhould.he 
 fear the grave 5 that had power over it ? 
 And what though thou art unworthy of 
 his love, if he will have thee and make 
 thee worthy ? Thy heart is bafe, and 
 what of that, if he will mend it ? thy fil- 
 thy 
 
on the PatfioncfChrift. I Of 
 
 thy rotten and pollured foul he Intends 
 to wafh and cleanfe it till it is without 
 fpot and wrinkle, or any fuch thing. Thy 
 ftubborn proud earthly and luftful heart, 
 he can make humble, tender, fofc and 
 yielding. And when he hath made thee 
 as he would, why may not he take thee 
 to himfelf, and lay thee next his heart, and 
 delight ov^r theeeverlaftmgly ? 
 
 OWy&. But wiR his Father yield to this} 
 I am too poor a much for the Son and 
 hiir of all things : But will he^ can he fujjer 
 hu Son to die to buy fitch a beggarly thing 
 to.hiwfelf as lam ? 
 
 jinfxv. Away thefe filly fimple childifh 
 thoughts • how like an inhabitant of 
 this earthly fenfuat world doft thou reafon? 
 thou wi ? t not under much, and there- 
 fore will not God his S >n ? Thou fool, 
 thou wilt not becaufe thou canft find 
 another eqial. -But doft thou not know 
 that God c\n find none eqiul to his S m ; 
 he rnuft ftoop, or elfe go wkhout. It's 
 true, he might have gone without, but 
 what if he would nor, why foould not 
 F 3 Heaven 
 
*0i A Patbetical Meditation 
 
 Heaven have its will as well as thou ? 
 Thou haft no dowry, and he doth need 
 none, and yet thou argueft as if Heaven 
 would make traffic!* wkh his Son and his 
 love, as wc filly worms do here ; but wc 
 are beggars, .and (6 are Angels, and all 
 the glorious Hofts above, they are his 
 Creature^ hang and depend upon him, 
 and cannot fubfift one moment happy 
 wi'hour fuplies and helps or his Grace ; ard 
 why may he not bring a beggarly man 
 as ne^r to himfelf, as a beggarly Angel, 
 if (bit pleafeth him ? 
 
 Obje&. But dith it fo fleafe him ? 
 
 Anfw, How often have I told thee it 
 doth pleafe him and haft thou not be- 
 lieved ? Come, if thy hearing will 
 will not fatisfy,let thy feeing do it. Loot, 
 if thou halt eye?. Come tell me, doth 
 not Heaven look as though ir was p!eafed 
 with the offer of his Son ? What cloud 
 or darknels doll: thou fee about the 
 Throne? What fign or token ofdif. 
 plcafure canft thou at all difcover ? Open 
 thine eye9, view the God of Glory. Do 
 his looks befpeak him to be thy Father or 
 
 thy 
 
on the Pafflon of Chrift, 10$ 
 
 thy Judgc?And canft thou not be read bork 
 Husband, Father and Lord, and all in his 
 countenance ? What not fee it ! Purely 
 thou art blind ; If he had not told as 
 much from his own mouth, his eyes and 
 looks befpeak his love and favour loud 
 and clear enough to thee. But doth he 
 not tell th e, to put thee out o^ all doub fc , 
 this is my well-beloved Son, hear him 5 
 hear him; What's that? believe him 
 whatfbeverhe fays, why,what faith he ? 
 O dull and ftupid heart I haft t hou forgot 
 already ! He laid he will pay his life for 
 thine ; and doth not his Father bid thee 
 hear him? He faid he wou'd reconcile 
 thee, love thee, and m;ke thee friends 
 again 5 And is it not comfort when the 
 Father bids thee believe him : he faid, he 
 will pardon, wafh and cleank the?, and 
 take ihce to nimklf,& betroth thee to him 
 for tw, and after all will give thee to 
 fee his Glory, even the fame Glory 
 which he had before the World. And the 
 Father is willing to all this,for he relbthee 
 his Son, is his well-beloved Son, and bids 
 thee believe him, and niifdoubt not one 
 fyllable. And canft thou after all this 
 F 4 doubt 
 
!C4 A Pathetic al Meditation. 
 doubt thar the Father is not willing? But 
 do not his Angels likewifr, who are mini- 
 ftring fpirirs, with voice and looks pro- 
 claim as much, thar Heaven is well pleafc 
 ed with the Son^aad whh his Death and 
 Pafllon, and fo with thee in him ? Do 
 not the Angels admire the myftery of 
 Redeeming Grace, that makes them fo 
 defircus ro peep into 5 r ? Why did they 
 proclaim his coming into the World, and 
 fing for, joy rhat there wss good will in 
 Heaven to men on earth ? or why do 
 they fo diligently atrend thee by night 
 and dzy? Thou feeft them not keep guard 
 sbcut thy Chamber-dcar,and. roundabout 
 the Qir rains of rhy bed. Why do they 
 attend fhee from room to room, and fol- 
 low thee down flairs, and out of door?, if 
 it were not but that thou art fome great 
 Princefs, nearly allied to their Lord and 
 Made* ? Thou doft not fee this, biame 
 then thine eye? , and the infidelity of rhy 
 hear • fhaii it be lefs true, becaufe thy 
 bafe infidelity cannot digeft it ? Thou 
 might di-ubr God, Heaven, and every 
 thing elfe on that (core } bur haft thou 
 not it from his own mouth, that the An- 
 gels 
 
on the Pajfion cfChrifi* 1 05 . 
 
 gels are miniftring fplrics for the heirs of 
 Glory ? Come, tell me, 1 fay, tell me 
 quickly, I muft have an anfwer, Can this, 
 and all this be uue, and Heaven yet not 
 be pleafed? If God with his Son and An- 
 gels be all content that thou fhouldft be 
 reftored, and (o exalted to fuch dignities 
 as to be heir unto the Crown of Heaven; 
 it thefe be pleafed, who is there in Hea- 
 ven that can elfe be difpleafed ? Whan 
 faith my heart ? what not yet one word ? 
 Oh how long (hall I be troubled and peft- 
 ered with my unbelief ! Ob my God, 
 ft/ike, chide, and break this flinty reprove 
 thisftubborn and unbelieving heart, I 
 Cannot perfwade it that thou loved mc, 
 or art willing to love me : I urge thy 
 word, and my bvft reafon to prove ir, 
 but I cannot make it yield, O"* break, 
 I pray thee, this Flint or Adamant upon 
 thy downy breafl of love • ftrike, and one 
 blow of thine will make it fail in piece?, 
 laodconfefs at length that thou art wed 
 ■j pleafed with thy Son 5 and fully fatisfied 
 I that he fliould bleed and die for me. B it 
 i let me tiy thee once agair^ if thou hail 
 loft chiae ears and eyes • He fee if thou 
 
1 06 A Pathetic al Meditation 
 haft loft thy feeling too. Thou fay ft thou 
 canft not believe that God is willing to 
 accept the Son for thee, or that tHou fo 
 vile a wretch canft be accepted of by the 
 Father through the merits of his Death 
 and fufhrings. Come, tell me, is not 
 this thy language ? I know thou dareft 
 not to fpeak fo much in word?. B Jt ah ! 
 my Hearty I find thoa haft got a Tcngnt 
 as well as my Momh y that often mutters 
 and fpe-iks a different language. Put tell 
 me if thy unbelief hath any ground for 
 it ? What makes it then that thy felf is 
 (b free from fears and terrour?, when thou 
 fliauldeft believe the Almighty, of thy 
 Bodies Deatb,Refurre£Hon, and coming to 
 Judgment, if thouthoughteft him not thy 
 friend, and reconciled to thee in his Son ? 
 if nor, methinks thy fears fhould fright 
 thee, and trembling feixe on every joynf; 
 and yet thou wilt fooiifh y mutter againft 
 thine own feeling. 
 
 Sqfit Speaks ] O biefled God ! I feel 
 thou haft overcome 5 I yield, I yield, I 
 have not left a word to fpeak againft thy 
 love \ thy Son hath ottered fatisfa&nn, 
 
 and 
 
W'» #-r*v * wjjrvr* uy "wr*/ grim M \S I 
 
 and thou haft accepted it j thou haft laid 
 down,0 my Saviour, thy life for mine 5 
 and thy Father and my Father is well 
 pleafed with it : Blood is paid, Juftice is 
 Satisfied, Heavens doors are widened, 
 thine arms opened to receive me 5 no- 
 thing is wanting but by heart ; make 
 it fuch as thou wilt have it, and then take 
 it to thy (elf. Come up, my foul, thou 
 haft an heart, and there is a Chrift \ the 
 Father thou feed is willing, and the Son 
 is willing, give but thy confenr, and he is 
 ^Ihine for ever. Fear not thy hardnef?,. 
 blindnefs, deadnefs, loathfomnefs, all thefe 
 cannot hinder, if thou be but willing. He 
 hath been in the world to ask the worlds 
 content already ,and al(b thine \ thou canft 
 not doubt of his good-will \ fpeak but 
 the word, and he hath thine too. What 
 ftickeft thou at ? furely thou art a Aug- 
 gilh fpirit ; what dofc thou ail I Half of 
 this ado would find a heart for a little 
 mire or dirt, or fomething elfc that is 
 worfe, and is not Chrift better ? But ah i 
 yet I feel a piece of unbelief ftill working 
 in thy very bowel?, as if that Jefus that 
 died at Jerufdtm were not the Son of 
 
ic8 Antithetical Meditation 
 
 God 5 and the Redeemer of the World. 
 And is this all ? O were I certain thou 
 wouldft neVe doubt more, how freely 
 fliould I make fiti?fa£Hon ? But Oh ! I 
 faiet and tire with the trips and {tumblings 
 of my unbelief. Bat mount, my Sjul t 
 thou mufc refolve to tire and put to Glence 
 all thy unbelieving babling?, or *hey will 
 thee j which, if they go, never'expe6t an 
 hours peace or quiet more ; thou muft re- 
 fold to conquer thy unbelief, or to be 
 conquered 5 thou knowelc her tyranny 
 too well to let her go away the vi&oreft^l 
 He was not the Chrifr,thoufayeft, but teli- 
 me why ?; 
 
 Objeft* His Parentage was too low 
 and mean ; what th?. Saviour cf the world 
 a Carpenter i Sen ! how can it be \ 
 
 Anfw. My unbelief, in the firfr place 
 thou lyeft, his Mother was a Virgin, and 
 her Conception knew no Father but the 
 Almighty power of the overfhadowing 
 Holy Ghoft ; he waa more truly the Son 
 of God than Jofeptfs Son. And was his 
 birth, thinkfc thou, fo mean, whofs 
 Parentage was fo glorious ? Obje£h 
 
on the Pajfion of Chrifi. i op 
 
 ©b}e# # His birth but mean and beg- 
 garly ; no fccner born^ but cradled ma 
 manger ; and could Heaven fujfer this ? 
 
 Anfw. It confifts. But yet it was as 
 glorious : for did not a Star proclaim him 
 .born ? and did not a whole Hoft of An- 
 gels (ing and (hout it up for joy ? and 
 did not wife men, yea and Kings, bring 
 Incenfe, Myrrh, and Frankinfenfe, being 
 but as fo mach tribute, unto the new- 
 born King and heir of all things, as if by 
 inftin&they knew they held their Crowns 
 of him ? a greater honour than ever any 
 new born Prince hath yet received before 
 him, or ever (hall or will do after him, 
 
 Methinlcs, my unbelieving heart, I 
 could dare to tell thee, that room was no 
 ftable, it was a Palace 5 and did not the 
 coft, prefent? v and glorious prefence of 
 Kings (peak as much ? 
 
 | Obje&, But bit days were fpent in 
 \p£verty t meannefs and dif grace $ and can 
 \1 9 dare /, trufi my foul wth fuch a (me^ 
 
 a&d 
 
 I 
 
1 10 A Pathetical Meditation 
 d»d take him to be the Sen of God ? 
 An(w. And now / wonder at thee ! it's 
 true what thoufayeft, if thou lookeft up- 
 on him one way ; his life was fuch as thou 
 telleft me of ; bur 'tis a ftrong argument 
 againft thy felf; for juft fiich a one was 
 the Chrift to be, according to the Pro- 
 phets; the 5$ Chap, of Ifa. fliews as 
 much. But yet if thou truly underftand- 
 eft what true pomp and glory means, even 
 to an eye of fenfeas well as to that of 
 iwhfiolomoris life imbroidered with all 
 his glorious afcb, was not comparable to 
 this life of his. Was ir not filled with 
 miracles and wonders ? was he not pro- 
 claimed the Son of God with voices from 
 Heaven ? did he not conquer Devils, and 
 therefore the Kingdom of Hell? Was 
 ever Prince on Earth honoured with fo 
 great a Conqueil ? Were not his miracu- 
 lous Feafts more fpltndid than thofe of 
 Princes ? che fare was but poor and mean, 
 but the miracles made it rich and glori- 
 ou?. Had I been prefent, ihould I not 
 have wondered and gaz?d more at the 
 Matter of this Feaft, and have taken more 
 pleafure to have feen him fit down with 
 
 thefe 
 
on the Pajfion of Chrift. 1 1 1 
 
 thefc five thoufands, than with a Table 
 full of Princes and great men ? Alas, it 
 were a trifling fight to this, Methinks 
 my unbelief: that pleads fo much for fenfe,* 
 fenfe it felf pleads too ftrongly againft 
 thee, for thou canft not argue one Syl- 
 lable. 
 
 Obje&. But would the Son of God fo 
 hanged and crucified ? could Heaven have 
 fujfered this ? could not the Saviour of 
 the World fave himfelf ? how could he 
 thenfave me ? 
 
 Ar.[w % Hadft thou not the blindnefs of 
 the Jews, thou couldtft noi reafon thus 
 like them 5 but was it nor necefiary it 
 fhouM be fo ? Did not the Prophets fore- 
 tell his death, and fuch a death ? Had he 
 not died, and died as he did, / might then 
 have had fome ground to doubt him 
 whether he were the Meffias or nor, for ic 
 was needful that the Prophecies fliould be 
 fulfilled, Dan. 9. But yet as wretched 
 and as contemptible a going out of the 
 world as he had^and his manner of dying 
 on the Crofs, how vile foever it feemed 
 
 to 
 
112 A Pathetic d Mediation 
 
 ro be, yet was there nor enough co Glence 
 all the doubts that could pjflibly from 
 thence arife, and much for the confirma- 
 tion of my faith in the wonderful Eclipfe 
 of the Sun,, the rending of the veil of the 
 Temple, the opening of the Graves, the 
 raifing of the dead, and afterwards his 
 ownrifing the third day, and afcending 
 up to Heaven in a Cloud ? If my faith 
 might have daggered; in feeing him on the 
 Crofs dying, it could not when it faw him 
 rifen,and in the Clouds afcending, 
 
 Obj 61. But werethofe wonders true] 
 and certain ? 
 
 Anfw. Bk haft thou any ground to 
 doubi thru? are they not written in thy 
 Bible ?- and art thou not certain that it is 
 the word of God ? or haft. thou, not 
 fuSicient reafon to believe it to be fo,? 
 But haft thou not a whole Nition,yea 
 Nat.i >ns that do believe the fame ? and 
 befv^rhi?age, did not our Fathers, and 
 Grandfathers, and great Grandfathers,and 
 fo continued a teftimony of ages from the 
 tine that they were done, to this day, 
 witnefs to the truth of them, and that; 
 
on' the Vajjivn ofChrift. I 1 3 
 
 (b unanimcufly & refolutely that ten thou- 
 fands have rather chofen to lofe their lives, 
 than the truth of them. Now pur all 
 thtfe together, and fell me, canft thou 
 
 - doubt ? Awsy 3 1 fee thou doft but trifle ; 
 cqnfefs the truth, or I am refolvtd to hted 
 thee no longer. Con.e/ake and embrace 
 that crucified Jefus, account all things 
 elfe but as lofc, and drofs, and dung in 
 cemparifon wirh him ; flick not at his 
 outward meannefc, fcrupienot at bis ig- 
 nominious dying,ir is the very Chrift the 
 Saviour of the world. Oh why fhou!deft 
 thou thus torment me ? Doft fhou not 
 fee all thy fellovv-Chriftians to glory in 
 that Croft, and in that Chiift that died on 
 it ? Do they not bear it as a badge of 
 honour, and {hall it be to thee as fhame? 
 Do not all the Chriftian World eat and 
 drink as often as they can the Symbols of 
 this their dying Lord ? And do they not 
 all fing, and joy, and triumph in it ?*and 
 wilt thou the while lye vexing thy felf 
 over a company of needlefs fears and 
 fcruples? Farewell all needlefs doubts and 
 tormenting queftions, I fee my fai.h is 
 
 •built on a Rock, blow winds, beat waves, 
 
 you 
 
1 14 A Vathetical Mediation 
 
 you cannot now move me. Bleffed God • 
 I thank thee, for thy Son, rhou haft given 
 his life for the fpoiler, tnou haft bowed 
 his back to the enemies,long furrows have 
 they plowed upon it, and the day of his 
 calamity they laughed at. Lord : thou 
 haft wounded him for my fins, and bruif- 
 ed him tor my iniquities. Tbefe (peak 
 the depth of thy counfel?, and the ways 
 of thy mercy paftfind'ng rut,and the ten- 
 dernefs of thy bowels. Thou haft made 
 him my Rock, and my (hield, and my 
 ftiong tower, and in the day oi my for- 
 row through him thou wilt hear me. To 
 thee, O G>d 3 will I make my vows, and 
 to thee Will I pay them 5 I wiil humble 
 my felf before thee. I will always lye at 
 the feet of my Redeemer. Lord ! his 
 Grofs and his fhame (hall be no more a 
 ftumbiing-biock to m?, I will take it up 
 and follow him,lc lhali be my Crown,my 
 Song, and the glory &i my rejoicing. I 
 will enter into thy Courts with joy, and 
 in the Congregations of thy Saints (hall 
 be my delight 5 I will remember thy 
 loving-kindneffes of old, and the days in 
 which thou didft afflift thy only Son for | : 
 
 thel 
 
on the Paffion ofChrift. 1 1 5 
 
 ■ the fins of my Soul. I will call to mind the 
 i Covenant ot thy Grace 5 and my heart 
 fhall praife thee, when I fee it founded 
 on blood. Then will I betroth my felf 
 to thy Son; join thou, Lord, both our 
 hands and heart?, and we will ftrike up a 
 match for ever. Praife thou the Lord, 
 Oh my foul, and all you that love and fear 
 him, praife his holy name. 
 
 the SACRAMENT. 
 
 TheDrcfs. 
 
 Lord, where am I ! What ! all the 
 Children of the Bride-chamber up and 
 drefl-, and I flumbring in my bed! Tell 
 me ye faired, what make ycu up fojearly ? 
 Alas our Lord was up before us all. He 
 called usup by break of day, and won* 
 dered that we were not triming our 
 l^mps, knowing with whom we were to 
 feaft this day. Oh well then I will rife 
 up too. Oh what a (hew do thefe bright 
 and glittering Saints make in mine eyes ? 
 j What abrightnefs do thefe pearls and 
 " monds caft in mine eyes! they* do ftrike 
 
 me 
 
* ***rsb *#(/(**' t'-*fcn»«^v^ 
 
 me into amazemenr. Oh what a lovely! 
 bumble look doth crown their brow ?l 
 and what a comly countenance hath Joy J 
 and Heavenly delight cad on their checks: 
 furely they did nor thus drtfs thcmfelvcs, 
 i was my Father that made them thusj 
 p. parM to entertain his Son. Bu where 
 are ,ny Clothe* f Now for the fafacit, 
 fwee r eft robe of thoughts and wi(be« that 
 can be oand, or that the wardrobe of myi 
 Father cin k&nd me. Oi how naked 
 am I ! Bit where are mv (ilfan golden 
 twijis of Fahhtohang tbejewds ofjoy.and 
 love , and humility upm? I am never dreft 
 till they be oo. O i where, where are 
 they? lfawthemby me bur }uft now. 
 1 laid them by my hearr before I went to 
 bed, Oi whir was I fo long a reafon- 
 ing ab-)u r ? O i whar long and rmoy 
 threds did my reafon fpin even noWjbut to 
 make thefe twines to rye up my joy, and 
 toraifeupmy love, and ro hang my 
 Heavenly delight up>n f Bar ah ! I fear 
 this enviou3 world hath with her vaniries 
 ftollen tbem away, or hid them fromm* 3 
 or the envious D^vil, or unbelief have 
 been ravelling or finding of them, that 
 
 now 
 
on the Pajfion of Chrift. I Iy 
 
 now I am as far to fcek as ever. Whi- 
 ther, O whither (hall I go to find them 
 out ? Now, will the Bridegroom come, 
 and I am not ready f I cannot, dare noc 
 go to day. Now will my Lord be an- 
 gry, and ask me why I came not, and I 
 have no anfwer to naake him. A»d if 
 I go undreft, he will ask me, where is 
 my Weding-garmenr, and then I ftiall 
 ibefpeechlefs. Ah foollfh Ample* heart! 
 i that thou Ihouldft take no more care but 
 | to let thefe thoughts oi earth fo intangle 
 * themfelves with thy fo pure and heavenly 
 contemplations] Now how to get them 
 loofe again, thou knoweft not ; this 
 thou mighteft by heed and care have pre- 
 vented ; but now what help f Lord, I 
 have finned ; O holy Father pardon this 
 time, and I will take more heed. Oh 
 jcome and unty my thoughts from this 
 [earth, and come and drefs me up as bed: 
 |pleafeth tbec. Come,be not difcouraged, 
 Oh my Soul ! Let butthyarnre ofGract 
 ibe whole, that i?, fincere, thy God, and fo 
 l:hy Saviour will accept thee. Though 
 j.hy garments are not fo much perfumed 
 \witb Heaven^ as thy brethrens are, but 
 
 yet 
 
1 1 8 A Pathetical Mediation 
 
 yet If they are but white and free from 
 the fpotsof flefli and fpirit, thou wilt be 
 looked on and liked of well enough*. Thy 
 Lord dotb know that all have not Talents 
 alike ; and where he gives but a little, he 
 expects but little. A faith that it richly 
 embroidered over with hve and delight^ 
 is not given to all ; and is not expe&ed 
 from any but from thofc to whom it is 
 given. Thou haft an honeft, willing, 
 ferious heart, that thinks it doth defpife 
 and trample undtr feet the neareft, deareft 
 pleafures,profits *nd glories in the world, 
 in compare with him that gave himfelf to 
 death for thee • and hadft rather anger 
 flefli and blood, the darteft friends, and 
 all the world than him, by finning againft 
 him in the lead. If this bs true,fear nor, 
 thou haft thy Weding-garment on, thou 
 art well clad ; as mean fo ever as it is, it 
 is fuch a one as Heaven gave thee,and fuch 
 a one as thy dear Redeemer can, and will 
 embrace thee in. 
 
 The Tre fence-Chamber. 
 
 Fear not, my foul, I charge thee do m 
 
 not 
 
on the rajjion oj c fortjf. 1 19 
 
 not faint. Lee not thy weaknefi,and the 
 poverty of thy grace, difcourage thee : 
 fee how thy Lord draws nigh. Fear nor, 
 I fay, he will not ask thee, Friend, how 
 camefl thou hither not having on thy Wed- 
 ding garment? He fees thy hearr, and fees 
 thou haft it on. Oh he comes ! and it is 
 but to whifper thee a welcome in thine ear; 
 it is but to fall about thy neck and kifs 
 thy be-tear'd cheek?, and bid thee a kind 
 welcome to thy bleeding Lord. 
 
 Soul Oh did I think to be thus much 
 made of ! / thought he would not have 
 minded me ; but I did no fooner appear 
 and fer my* feet within the doors, but he 
 ran to meet me ; he took mee in his arms, 
 he brought me hither, and fet me here. 
 Is this a houfc, or is ir a Palace ? h this 
 a Court for Princes, or for Angels ? Ne- 
 ver did place more ravifli me into amaz> 
 Iment than this place! beautiful are thy 
 .gates, O Zion ! O how pleafant is the ka- 
 [tritationofthe m.fthghl Is it the place 
 or the company that itrikes me inroaftc2- 
 nifament! Now I can fay, mod feelingly 
 fay with David, My (blights are with 
 
 the 
 
1 20 A Fatbetjcal Medttancn 
 
 the Saints of the mofi high, and them ft 
 excellent of the earth. Their poverty, 
 their difgrace, their contempt amongft 
 whom rhey live, do not puzzle my quick- 
 ey'd Faith 5 thefe are the Kings Daugh- 
 ters that are all glorious within, their gar- 
 ments are of needle work, imbroidered over 
 with pure gold , fine-fpun gold. Thefe .' O 
 thefe ! how poor and mean fbever they 
 are, or may fcem to be, thefe fhall fit 
 with Chrift to Judge the World.Ok! how 
 my foulisraviflied with delight, to fee 
 and look on thofe with whom I (hall live 
 for ever ! It they are (6 lovely now, what 
 will they be hereafter, when our God 
 fhall take them, and fcowr off their ruft, 
 and wafh their Garments bright in the 
 Sun-jhine of his countenance^ and change 
 thofe mortal and corruptible bodies into 
 immortal and" glorious ones ; and fet them 
 upon Thrones, about himfelf, and lade 
 theif heads with Crowns of maffy gold ; 
 and when 1 fhall hear them warbling out 
 the everlafting Praifes of the Lamb, 
 whofc Bjdy and Blood we (hall fit down 
 to feed on ! 
 
 Com- 
 
ontheVaffionof Chrift. 
 Communion- Plate. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Never was Gold or SiW graced 
 
 thus before, 
 
 To bring this Body and this Blood 
 
 to us, is more 
 
 than to Crown Kings, 
 
 or be made Rings 
 
 •For Star-like Diamonds to glitter ml 
 
 The Bread. 
 
 Welcome Faireft 3 take and eat: 'tk 
 the fweetefl dainties, deareft morfel Hea- 
 ven can affjrd thee. Welcome, mv Dear ' 
 •totheTableof my Lord. Welcome a 
 thoufand time ? , I bid thee ; yea, welcotn- 
 er than thine own heart can wifh Take 
 eat this morfd, it coft my life : h» s a ^ 
 ; t,on t hy Father fent unt'o thee by me/and 
 v bid me remember thee of his love to thee- 
 He bids thee remember a Fathers love 
 jAy, a Saviours. He hath a heart to give 
 -the^nd^havel. Take this in earneft 
 oft <m both .none. Take freely if 
 ithou were not welcome, 1 would have 
 G told 
 
122 A Pathetical Meditation 
 told thee; I would have asked thee for 
 thy Weding- Garment, knew I not thy 
 heart; or if 1 were uncertain of thy love, 
 1 would have fccrn'd thee as unwcrrhy of 
 my prefence ; did / know thou loveft 
 any thing above me, / would have hid 
 my face, and never have fpoke thee a 
 welcome Co feelingly and kindly to thy 
 foul. Tell me, O tell me I doft thou not 
 love me ? I know thou doft ; and above 
 Father or Mother, Wife or Child, Lands 
 or Living, or Credit ; 1 know thou doft. 
 And wile thou not take the Crofs and fol- 
 low me ? I know thcu wilr, I fee and 
 know the labour of thy love $ I remem* 
 ber the pains and travel of thy foul jl 
 faw thee follow me on thy knees in tears, 
 and begged my life rather than thy life. { 
 know thy heart, 1 faw it bleeding before 
 my Throne-, I took it in my arms and 
 bound it up, and in that breaft I remem- 
 ber I put it up again 5 I faw thee when 
 ao eye faw thee 5 I heard thee, and had 
 compaflion on thy groanings, whilft thou 
 wert complaining that 1 had fliut out thy 
 prayers ; I will remember fmcethy heart 
 did firfl; fall fick with love, fince the 
 
 time 
 
time thy fleflh began to die,and fince thoa 
 laidft thy felf in the grave down by me, 
 and were willing to die to all this vain 
 empty glory of the world,becaufe I died & 
 left it. I know thee well enough, Thou art 
 mine. and t am thine .Take ir,I charge theej 
 eat it as thou loveft me; and whilit thou 
 feedeft, remeirber the love of thy deareft 
 Redeemer. 
 
 Soul. Oh 'tis the fweeteft meat that 
 ever tongue did taft;it fends a relifh to my 
 veryhearcjl fini ic digefl: s as it defcendsf 
 I feel my nerves and (inews llrengthen ; I 
 never knew that bread was theftaff of life 
 till now *, Oh how fit is my foul now for 
 Chrift ? How eafie do 1 now find his 
 yokejfiow light his burden ! Methinks / 
 could watch or pray,or read more earneftly, 
 refolvedly,beIievingly, than ever. OVIme- 
 thinks I can take hisCrofs &bear i' ftrong- 
 ly 5 and take the fihame and defpife it fully; 
 ph 'tis a feaft of fat things ! The richeft 
 banquet oflove that ever I was ar 5 it was 
 'but a little that I took, and it fills me fulL 
 imy hungry ftomach now cry?/cis enough^ 
 jl find it now verified to my fouta&d fpirit, 
 1- * G 2 ihac 
 
1 24 A Pathetical Meditation 
 that he that ears of this bread (hall never 
 hunger more. Well, 1 need net ftarve 
 when there is fuch bread in wy Fathers 
 houfc. I need nor, / will 00% / cannot 
 feed any longer m 'uusks with the 
 fwine of the world. I fed on air and 
 fmoke before ; I never tafted fubuantial 
 bread till I tailed of this, ThU is the ftaff 
 of my life, and upon this will I fupport 
 my felf to my very grave. 
 The Wine.- 
 
 Chrifi. Gome my Deareft, I have 
 drunk, and thou (halt pledge me : I have 
 broached my fide, and drew it on pur- 
 pofe for thee.This is aWine of mine own 
 making, when I trod the Wineprefs of 
 my Fathers wrath. It is my blood; but 
 take and drink it ; it was the caufe ©f 
 my wounding, but to thy foul it (hall 
 prove healing, /died and bled, it was 
 but to make this Banquet for thee. I 
 have brought thee into my Win?- cellar, 
 and my Banner over thee (hall be love. 
 Fear not, take and drink, thou haft an 
 ulcer in thy hear, and this (hall cure it ; 
 fpotsand (tains of guilt on thy foul, and 
 this (hall purge them aw&y j \hy fjpirit* 
 
 are 
 
on t be Paffion of Chrifl. 1 1 5 
 
 are faint, this fhall revive thee, thou arc 
 afraid to fee thy Fathers face, this (ball 
 ro^ketheeto dr**-w near the Throne of 
 Grace with boidnefv Drink, I charge 
 thee ^ drink on thy love and loyalcy to 
 me, I command thee as thcu wilt have 
 thy heart to mend, thy wounds to cur' y 
 tbyfp'ritsto revive, thy fears to fcatter, 
 thy foul to love and obey me, take, O 
 take this cup into thy hand, tafte ir, and 
 praife my love. 
 
 Soul. Lord ! I have taken, I have- 
 drunk as thou haft bid me,2 neither could^ 
 or dare deny thee. Can I refufe- thy 
 blood when / have accepted thy felf ? O: 
 can I accept my pardon at thy hand<ymd 
 refufe the Seal thereof? /know /am vile, 
 / am vile, but thou haft pardoned me. 
 Lord 5 /have abufed thy love, a thoufand 
 times refufed thy offered ftlf, and with* 
 ftood the tenders of thy Grace; but thou 
 haft covered all my fins, thou haft freely 
 juftified me by thy Grace, and made a full 
 j atonement for me by thy blood ; this is 
 t that thou freely biddeft me take, and /, 
 I have freely drunk it. Never was Wine 
 i fo full as this is, Never was Bowl fo full 
 G J of> 
 
1 1 6 A Pathettcal Meditation 
 ©fpleafure Us this. I have fwallowed 
 down my life and pardon at one draught: 
 J tock it rrem my Saviours hand, it \ates a 
 supof his own preparing. Zfevef drink 
 wasfugared, this was / I never (afted bet- 
 ter rellifhc Wine in all my life I 
 
 The riehefi Cordials cannot rna'ch this. 
 
 ( draught Divine, 
 
 Sprits of pearls dijfolvcd would but dead 
 
 ( this Wine. 
 
 Oh wh<n my hopes but kijl the purple dews 3 
 
 ( they hwg and cleaved fo 3 
 
 As ?f thej were loth to let thee go. 
 
 7hey (trove and ftrugkd to get near my 
 
 ( heart % 
 As if intending there to take a part. 
 1 dare not fay them nay ; blood from that 
 
 (Bowl 
 May the bejl room command within my 
 
 {foul. 
 
 What a fudden, ftrange, yet happy 
 alteration do / find wichin ! my languid 
 .pirits are revived ^ my winter 5? over. 
 Methinks / feel my life and joy to fprtag 
 amain. My A avows Rod ( a dry ftick but 
 
 nowj 
 
on the Paffion of Chrijf 9 127 
 
 now) doth bloom and flourifli. My new- 
 ly ingrafted foul is full of /nfant-cluf- 
 ters. 
 
 Blood at the root of Vines 
 
 They fay produce the ricbeft Winto, 
 
 Oh ! if my Lord will undertake to 
 
 drefs this Vine,and trickle down his blood 
 
 into my root, then draw it up into each 
 
 branch of Grace by the W3rm!ng beam 
 
 of his reviving love j then let my Dears 
 
 eft come, let him come as he hath pro. 
 
 mifed, and bring my Father and his Fa v 
 
 ther with him, and fup both with me and 
 
 in me. Let them come, and I will bid 
 
 them a welcome, I (hall have a fruit to 
 
 prefent them with,which they themfelves 
 
 (hall fay is pleafant ; / (hall not (en3 my 
 
 Father away now fo oft complaining, I 
 
 came to feek for grapes $n&fruit % hnthe- 
 
 hold wild ones* 
 
 G 4 fk> 
 
128 A Pathetical Meditation. 
 
 The CobcIh/iov. 
 
 Oh ! how unwillingly do I fife ! mo 
 thinks I could fit here and feaft my heart 
 and eyes for ever. What running-Ban- 
 quets doth my Lord aftord me here ! fure- 
 ly he fliould not need to fear that / ftould 
 furfeiton himfelf. But alas ! / rauft be 
 gone, what (hall / do in yonder hungry 
 foul-ftarving world again ? J have been 
 feeding on my Pafchal Lamb, and now 
 I mud go and eat my fowre herbs $ but it 
 it be his will, / mull cbey ; ifit be (6, 
 I mud arife .• I know thou haft prepared 
 the endlefs feaft above, where Khali ever 
 fir and enjoy thy love, and glut my hun- 
 gry eye and heart on the Banquet of thy 
 everlafting felf. As yet / am now on 
 earth, my toil and work lyes heavy on my 
 hands, / have yet an afternoon to labour 
 out, God knows my work is hard, too 
 hard for me my felf to perform, /fcarce- 
 ly fhould have lafted out fa long, but that 
 ometimes at fuch feafons as this i% he re- 
 paired my fi. iking fpirits by pouring in the 
 Cardials of his Blood. Now / muft go 
 
 and 
 
en the Tfijfitti of thrift. * 2^ 
 
 and" perhaps find as (harp confli&s- with 
 my felf as ever. / know the World and 
 Hell have been laying their fnares and 
 gins to catch my w ew- fie d£d foul j and 
 all confpire againft my welfare. Now it 
 is well if / efcape a fal!,a,bruifc,a- breaking 
 of my bone?,in which fad plight Ihzve fo 
 often lain, that my Lord might have took 
 me for dead, but that my groanings told 
 him loudly / lived, Lird ! muft I leave 
 this feaft ? muft / go ? Take me then 
 by the hand, and lead me ; if / muft walk, 
 let me fee thee by me, that / may IcWw 
 1 walk with my God. Lead me" away , 
 and 1 wili go with thee ; and let me not 
 go till thou bringeft me hither again ; 1 
 cannot, will not live without thee. And 
 do thou Lord, fay, / muft nop, (hall not. 
 
 If both our hearts in love fo well agree, 
 What then (hall fepar ate my Cbrift from 
 
 me? 
 
 <?5 A 
 
j 3<? A Meditation on Ckrift'y Death, 
 
 A Meditation on the Death 
 cfChrift, ^reparative to the 
 Sacrament: P end for his pri- 
 vate ufe. 
 
 BUT is he dead ? Oh fad ! yet 
 joyful news ! how ftrangely is my 
 foul amazed, and diverfly mov'd 
 and froubPd by thefe contrary 
 paflions ! methinks / could pull up the 
 floodgates of my forrow, and vent ir out 
 in tears 5 but fomething bids me hold. 
 Shall I mourn for him that's juft now paft 
 fcis fiate of mourning } He's dead ! and 
 what of thai? And fb are all his grief?, his 
 bloody f wears, his fighs and groans con- 
 cluded. He hath drunk on the brook in the 
 way ; bitter while they were in his mouthy 
 and he was living j but fweet now they 
 have funk into his bdiy,and he in Heaven. 
 Sweet to him, becaufe it was his work, fc 
 he hath finiftit it j and fweet to me, be- 
 
 yufe 
 
t reparative to we sacrament, 131 
 caufe it was the portion of forrow, death^ 
 hell, that / muft have taken. And canft 
 thou mourn ! methinks if thou didft love, 
 thine heart ftiould rather fympathiz? with 
 his : He is Tinging, and fhilc thou be 
 fighing? /Zeis joying that his work is 
 done, and now is welcomed into Heaven 
 by God his Farher, and (homing up by 
 Angels voice?, as the great Conquerour of 
 the hearts of men on earth, and that now 
 in triumph he is returned. And will a 
 mournful weed, a wet eye, and a cloudy 
 brow, become thee at thefe times of 
 Feftivals ? Siaail the Heavenly Angels be 
 joyful, and thou fad j? How ftrangely 
 will this be conftrued! Will itnot be (aid, 
 thou doft not love him ? or thou doft en- 
 vy his recovered glory that he hadleft,and 
 now again bith taken ? Or that thou canft 
 not endure to fee him wear his Princes 
 Crown in Heaven, that for a time he had 
 laid afide to come down to the earth to 
 fetch thee thence to Heaven ? But ah ! 
 my.Ltprd, thou wilt not fare imerpret for- 
 fow thus ; thou hafc not fure forgot to 
 give a meaning unto tears, to teach a figh 
 to (peak, and then to know its language I 
 
 * Hath 
 
Hath my Lord forgot (o fuddcnly that 
 he was on earth, and that he fwear, and 
 groan'd, apd wept, and bled, as well as I 
 do now ? What though now all tears, 
 and fbrrow, and fighing is done away,and 
 heceafcth to be any longer fubjeft to our 
 infirmities ? yet fure he knows it is not 
 thu3 with us. I am not yet in Heaven, no* 
 am I yet quite paft the vale of forrowj and 
 ft cannot then be ftrange to him, if he 
 fees fometimes our faces look of a fadder 
 hue than thofe that are in Heaven. But 
 why (hould thus my tears be check'd, and 
 my throbbing heart be chidden ; were it 
 for a thing of nought /might be counted 
 fool or child 3 but (hall my Saviour die, 
 and vent his Soul in a ftream of blood, and 
 all in love to me ? and (hall he thus for- 
 fake the world, and die and then be laid 
 in the grave, and I be denied the liberty 
 of following him thither as a mourner ? 
 Shall it be faid of the Prince of Glory, 
 that he died and had the burial of an^fs ? 
 becaufe there was none to forrow forth 
 thofe words of, Ah my Lor J I What ! 
 (hall it be granted to a Wife to mourn for 
 the death of a beloved Husband ? and to 
 
rrcparaiivcnu hoc ^hu amtnt* i$$ 
 a Child at the burial of a beloved Father ? 
 Shall not fuch be blamed 5 bur rather pitied? 
 And (hall their friends come in and confefs 
 the lofs and the ground of their forrow 
 ;uft, and rather fit them down and bear 
 them company in their grief? And muft 
 /of all be thus cenfur'd? Away with an 
 Husband, Wife, or Child to me: h he 
 not more to me than ten Husbands ? 
 Might I not have had an hundred that 
 would have never done half fo much for 
 me as he hath done ? That fitft left his 
 glory for my fake, and then laid down his 
 life, and took theftroke upon himfclf that 
 I my felf deferved , and all becaufe he 
 lov'd me? Was ever friend like this 
 friend ! and ever love, like this love I 
 Many waters cannot quench love j but 
 neither waters, blood, death, nor many 
 deaths cculd quench his love to me. But 
 fhall he love, and die in love, and thus 
 be fore'd to leave me, becaufe he lov*d 
 
 I me, and I not mourn the ab r ence of my 
 
 II beft Beloved ? Mm unreafonable may 
 i| any this deny me. 1 But ah ! what a bir- 
 i ter-worded check did /even now receive; 
 || as if my forrow would arife from the en- 
 
 vying 
 
Ij4 ^ Meditation on Chrift s Death, 
 vyin^ofhis now glorious ftate, and not 
 from any love I bare him! Oh! what 
 needle-pointed words are thofe ! methinks 
 they have p' re' J mine heart in every part 
 and from each prick hath ftarced forth a 
 drop, that hath fet it o're with a bloody 
 dew ! Bat how can it once be thought 
 that envy ftnuld get a room in an heart 
 that's full of Jove, with which it fwells,it 
 bubbles up, and runs all over ? it cannot 
 be. Bear wimefs heavens ! I do not 
 grieve that you contain him, but that I 
 on earth have loft him ! Oh my God! I 
 am not forry that thy Son hath paft his 
 fufferings, and is arriv'd to reft, and got 
 again into thy bofbm, his ancient neft of 
 love and pleafure. Oh you blefled Or- 
 ders otSeraphim & Cherubims^nd you in- 
 numerable company ofthefpiritsofthejuji 
 man made perf eft ! /do not envy that you 
 have my Lord ^ith you, that you fee his 
 face, and live and walk, and joy in the 
 light of his countenance: Alas] we your 
 poor Brethren could nor make him fo 
 welcome here on earth, as you can there ; 
 we lovM him as fmcerely as yo'.j, and be- 
 lievM an hisn,and took delight too in him; 
 
 but 
 
r reparative to the sacrament. 13 5 
 but yet nothing near fo much as you.You 
 know hrm better than we do 3 for you 
 know him as you arc known, and there- 
 fore know better how to pri£e him. We 
 know him but in part, and the value, 
 pricc,& love could but be in the like pro- 
 portion. He is therefore far much better 
 there than here $ and how (hall I then 
 either eiwy him or you ! And what, my 
 foul ! {hould / wifh him back again ? 
 what if I thought I could prize and love 
 him more, and could promife the like for 
 all his beloved difciples ? / could not alike 
 engage for the wicked, esvious, malicious, 
 unbelieving world ; I could not promife 
 he (hould meet with no orher Herod to 
 feck his life, or that the hard hearted 
 Jews would give him better entertain- 
 ment, whom they dare yet curfe with 
 the name of Conjurer^ though Mofes and 
 their ' Prophets bore witnefs to him, and 
 though they received a feal from Heaven 
 in voice?, thunders,fign?, and an innumera- 
 ble company of real Miracle?, Oh no ! 
 ray Lord J though I could wifih to fee 
 thy face again on earth, yet not in fuch 
 a flare of mifery in the mldft of a den of 
 
 Bears 
 
156 A Meditation on Chrift s Detthj 
 
 Bears, and Lions, as not long fince thou 
 
 waft. Ah ! thou knoweft I took no 
 
 delight to hear that traiterom. news of 
 
 thine own Apofile that had betray'd thec^Sc 
 
 that it fillM mine heart with anguifh to 
 
 hear how flnmefully and fcornfully thou 
 
 waft abufed. Thou faweft me blufh 
 
 when 1 beard thy face was fpit on j my 
 
 head did ake when thine was crowned 
 
 with thorns. Anguifti and indignatio'n 
 
 did loofe my nerve?, and with a pallia 
 
 ftpok mine hands, when thine had a 
 
 Mock Scepter put into them, a reed, 
 
 and a ft jff, Hail Jtfm King of the Jews* 
 
 And did not mine heart break and bleed 
 
 to hear that thine w$s pierced ! Ah my 
 
 Lord! and (hall I yet Had an htart to 
 
 wifh thee here again ! No, no, I am glad 
 
 thou haft efcap'd their bloody hands, and 
 
 row got quite without their reach. I am 
 
 glad thou haft got to perfect eafeand reft; 
 
 and know'ft no pains, nor griefs, nor for- 
 
 rows. Oh! rake a full poffrflion-of thy 
 
 Fathers breaft, and fu thee down upoa 
 
 his Throne, Thou art a King for ever. 
 
 And take delight in chefe thy foul did 
 
 travel, die and bleed for on earth. / 
 
 will 
 
f reparative to the Sacrament. 1 37 
 will repine at nothing that (hall advapce 
 thy glory. But Oh ! thou cruel bloody 
 unbelieving world ! you wicked murther- 
 ous bloody Jews I though I rejoice my 
 Lord is fafe arrived home, and quietly- 
 landed within his Haven ; yet from you 
 I cannot hold mine anger, that made his 
 Sea a Sea of bloo^, and drained his hearr,, 
 to make it deep, &* filld his fails with fighs 
 and groans, rhat causM his voyage to be 
 fo doleful. What good got you to ftand 
 and laugh to fee him forrowfu' ? to fccff 
 and jeer to hear his lamentations ? what 
 curfed rage was that to make fuch hafte 
 to fetch him vinegar and g^ll to prolong 
 his life, to lengthen out his dolors ? How 
 could you find fuch barbarous hearts to 
 triumph over a bleeding dying laaib^that 
 was fo innocent ? How could you taunt 
 at him when you heard him praying for 
 you, Father forgive them ! and fo tender* 
 ly txcuGng you, fcr thy know not what 
 they Jo I Mcthinks that kindly harmkfs 
 (carriage (hould have pierced your heart?; 
 jthofe melting words fhould have diflYlvM 
 'them; and inftead of piercing him, I. 
 liould have thought you pierced. And , 
 
 ah 1 
 
I$8 A Meditation on ChrijPs Death, 
 ah ! but that I know an unbelieving 
 heart my felf, and under (land what hard- 
 riefs means, 1 fhould ftand and wonder ! 
 Oh .' it's too hard an Adament for downy 
 words, and doleful found?, and tender 
 carriages to break and [barter .' How of- 
 ten have I outftood all thofe my felt/ 
 And when I ferved my.flefh, how little 
 did I mind them ! And when they have 
 been presented to me in the Gofpel, or in 
 a Sermon told that ail thefe tortures he 
 endur'dfor me, and 1 in part believed ?r 
 too, yet} was / not as a man bereft of my 
 fenfes, and / was no more mov'd in mine 
 hearr, aiif I had not heard or tfhderftooi, 
 and were quite bereaved of fenfe and rea- 
 fon. But had I thus continued in my 
 fenfelefs unbelieving ftate, and as I HvM 
 fo died 5 yet how defervedly (hould I 
 have born the wrath of 6*od, and have 
 been fent to Hell as a recompence of mine 
 unbelief ?_ And yet 5 you carelefs fecure 
 Jervs y can you think to efcape when God 
 comes to make inquifition for blood ? 
 How wii] you do if this Cm (hill find yGU 
 our? I God requires blood for blood, 
 what will become of yours ? /f he had 
 
 been 
 
Preparative to the Sacrament. 1^9 
 been no more than a common man, the 
 Law would then have required your lives 
 for payment. But how if in the end he 
 prove a Prophet ? say more than that, the 
 Son of the mod high God, the Prince and 
 ■ Saviour whom God had promifed to raife^ 
 the Mtjfiab whom Mofes and the Pro- 
 pl&tsbare witnefs io 5 and him that you 
 fo long'd and wifhr to fee ! How will you 
 look ! what will you fay ! what anfwer 
 will you make when all thefe truths are 
 cleared ? where will you hide your felves 
 for Ibamr ? and what will you do when 
 confufion (hall thus rake hold upon you ? 
 What! will you i hen confefs the fa& 5 
 or will you deny it ? with what face can 
 you do the firfi: ? And if you do the latter, 
 thecurfe you and your Fathers drew upon 
 your felves, Letbts blood be upon us and 
 cur children J ftand ftill on record againft 
 you, and will cry you guilty. Will you 
 excufe it with your unbelieving ignor- 
 ancc?But how will you be able ro rub your 
 j brows in?o fo much confidence? How dare 
 ;you fay you were ignorant of him, when 
 you fay you know both Mofes and the 
 Prophets, and they bear witnefs of him ? 
 
 You 
 
140 AVrepraationonCbrijFs Death, 
 You askta fign, and did he not give you 
 both figns and wonders ? How often did 
 he cure your Lame? How wonderfully 
 did he heal your Leper?, and thofe fick of 
 the Palfi2 3 yea of all manner of difeafes ? 
 How did he open the eyes of the blind I 
 & give light to them that was born blind 
 yea^eftore the wicheied hand,8r make the 
 crooked ftraigbr > and open the ears of the 
 deaF, and caft out Devi!? r and raife the 
 dead ! Therefore let aU the hoxfe of Ifrael 
 know fijfxredlyy that God hath made that 
 fame J ejus whom ye have crucified, both 
 Lord and Chriji. 
 
 A Prayer before the Receiving the 
 Holy Communion. 
 
 MOST Holy God, I am as flMle 
 before thee+ the confamwg Fire* 
 Hon (hall I fhwd before thy Holinefs, for 
 1 am a fnful Creature, laden with Iniqui- 
 ty, that have gone backward, and provoke 
 ed the Holy One 0/Ifrael ; when I wm loft^ 
 thy Son did feehjtndfave me j when I was 
 
 dead 
 
*fe**( i# y?^, f feo« made ft me alive. Thou 
 f awe ft mt polluted in my bloody and faidft 
 unto me live- In that time of love thou co- 
 vered ft my nakednefs, and enteredfi into 
 a Covenant with me, *nd 1 became thine 
 own. Thou did ft deliver me from the power 
 of Darknefs, and tranjlate me into the 
 Kingdom of thy dear Son • and gaveft mt 
 remiffwn of fin , through his blood* But 1 
 am a grievous Revolt er, 1 have forgotten 
 the Covenant of the Lord my God, . 1 was 
 engaged to love thee with all my heartland 
 to hate iniquity, and ferve thee diligently •, 
 and thankfully to fet forth thy praife. But 
 1 have departed from thee, and corrupted 
 m y ftf h ft If- love, and by loving the 
 world, and the things that are in the 
 world, and have fulfilled the df fires of the 
 fie[h. which I (hould have crucified. I have 
 neglettedmy duty to thee, and to my neigh- 
 bour, and the neceffary care of my own 
 Salvation. 1 have been an unprofitable 
 Servant, and have hid thy Talents, and 
 have dishonoured thee, whom in all things I 
 Jhould have pleafed and glorified. I have 
 been negligent in hearing and reading thy 
 O o ly V/ord, and in meditating and con- 
 ferring 
 
142 A Prayer before the Receiving 
 faring of it, in pnblick and private 
 Grayer and Thank* giving* and in my 
 preparation to this holy Sacrmnent, in the 
 examining of myfelf % and repenting of my 
 fins,) and fiirrmg up my heart to a belie* 
 ving and thankful receiving of thy grace? 
 and to love and joyfulnefs, in my Commit* 
 nion with thee $ and with one another of 
 thy People. 1 have not duly difcerned the 
 Lor£s Body, but have prophaned thy holy 
 Name and Ordinance^ as if the Table of 
 the Lord had been contemptible. And when 
 thou haft fpoken peace to me, I returned 
 again to folly ; / ha ve deferved, O Lord) 
 to be caft om of thy pre fence >and to be for • 
 faken^as I have forfaken thee^ and to hear 
 to my confnfion, Depart from me, I know 
 thee not, thou worker of iniquity* Thon 
 may e ft juflly tell me y thou hafi no pledfure 
 in me, nor wilt receive an Offering at 
 my hand. But with thee there is abundant 
 mercy. And my Advocate Jefm Chrifi 
 the Righftopu, is the Propitiation for my 
 finsy who bare them in his Body on the 
 Crofs, and made himfelf an Offering for 
 them, that he might pat them away by the 
 Sacrifice of himfelf 5 have mercy upon me , 
 
 and 
 
the Holy Comntumon. 143 
 
 and ftajh me in his blood $ cloath me with 
 his Rightecufnefs -? take away my iniqui- 
 tiess and let them not be my ruine ; forgive 
 them, and remember them no more : O 
 thoh that delighteft rift in the death of 
 [inner s, heal my back^flidings, love me 
 freely > and fay uhiomy foul, that thou 
 art my [alv at ton. Thou wilt in no wife 
 caft out them that come unto thee, receive 
 me gracioufly to the Feafl thou haft pre- 
 pared for me 5 c au[e me to hunger and 
 thirft after Chrifti and his Righteoufnefs^ 
 that I may be fatufied : Let his flefh and 
 blood be to me meat and drinkindeed, and 
 his Spirit be in pie a well of living water s 
 fpringing up to everlafiing life. Give me to 
 know thy Love in Chnft, which paffith 
 knowledge. Though I have not [ten him^ 
 let me love him. And though now I fee 
 him not, yet believing let me rejo) ce with 
 joy unffeakable, and full of glory \ thugh 
 lam unworthy of the crumbs that fall 
 from thy Table, yet feed me with the 
 Bread of Life, and fpeah^ and feal up 
 I Vtace to my finful wounded foul. Soften 
 tny heart that is hardened by the deceit- 
 fulnefs of fin 5 mortifie the fiejh, and 
 
 ftrerigthen 
 
144 -** r ? a ytr after t foe Kecetvtng 
 ftrengthen me with might in the inward 
 tnan$ that I may live and glorifie thy 
 Grace, through Jefm Chrift our only 
 
 Saviour. In whofe words I conclude, 
 faying, @#r Father ',&c. 
 
 A Prayer after the Receiving of the 
 Holy Communion. 
 
 MOST* Glorious God, how wonderful 
 is thy Power, and Wifdom^ thy 
 Holinefs and Jujlice, thy Love and Mer- 
 cy in this work, of our Redemption, by the 
 Incarnation, Life, Death, RefurreBion, 
 Interce[fion y and Dominion of thy Son ! 
 No power or wifdomin Heaven or Earth , 
 xould have -delivered me but thine* The 
 jingeU defire to pry into this Myfiery, the 
 Heavenly Hoft do celebrate it with prai- 
 fes, faying, Glory be to God in the Highefi; 
 on Earth peace ; good will towards men* 
 The who f e Creation jhaU proclaim thyprai- 
 fes, ble fling, honour, glory and power be 
 nmo him that fitteth upon the Throne* and 
 unto the Lamb forever and ever. Worth 1 ) 
 is the Lamb that was [lain to receive 
 fower^ and honour^ and glory j for he 
 
 hath 
 
the Holy Communion. 14^ 
 
 hath redeemed u* to God by his bloody and 
 madem Kings and Pr iefts unto our God. 
 Where fin abounded, grace hath abounded 
 much more, ^nd haft thou indeed for- 
 given tnefo great a debt-, by fo precious a 
 Ranfom ? f Wilt thou indeed give me to 
 reign with Chrift in Glory, and fee thy 
 face,and love thee, and be beloved of thee 
 for ever ? Tea Lord, thou haft forgiven 
 me, and thou wilt glorifie me, for thou an 
 faithful that haft promifeJ. With the blood 
 of thy Son, with the Sacrament, and with 
 thy Spirit, thou haft fealed up to me theft 
 precious promifes. jindjhaU I not love thee^ 
 that haft thm loved me t Shall 1 not love 
 thy Servants, and forgive my Neighbours 
 their little debt t After all this (ball I 
 again forfake thee> and deal faljly in thy 
 Covenant ? God forbid , O ! fet my af- 
 fettions on the things above, where thrift 
 fitteth at thy right hand. Let me no more 
 mind earthly things, but let my Conver- 
 I fat ion be in Heaven, from whence I expeft 
 \ my Saviour to come and change me into 
 I the likenefs of his glory. Teach me to do 
 m thy will, O God! and to follow him, who 
 •h\ is the Author of Eternal Salvation, to aH 
 H them 
 
\/\6 AVhrayer after the Receiving 8co 
 them that do obey him. Order my ft eps 
 by thy Word, and let not any iniquity have 
 dominion over me. Let me not hence- 
 forth live unto my felf but unto him who 
 died for me and rofe again. Let me have 
 no feSowfhip with the unfruitful works of 
 darknefs % but reprove them* And let my 
 light fo (hine before men, that they may 
 glorifie thee. In fimplicity and godly fin* 
 verity, and not inflejhly wifdom, let me 
 have my Converfation in the world* that 
 my ways were fo direUed^ that I might 
 keep thy Statutes ! Though Satan will be 
 defirotu again to fift me, and feek. m * 
 roaring Lion to devour, ftrengthen me to 
 ftandagainft his Wiles.and portly bruife 
 him under my fen. Accept me y O Lord, 
 who reftgn my (elf unto thee, as thine own 9 , 
 and wtth my thanks andpraife, prefent my 
 felf a living Sacrifice to be acceptable 
 through Chnft. Vfeful for thine honour. 
 Being made free from fin, and become 
 thy Servant, let me have my fruit unto 
 holinefs, and the End Everlafting Life. 
 Through Jefus Chrift our Lord and Sa- 
 viour. In whofe words I farther pray, 
 Our Father, &C. 
 
 A 
 
HI 
 
 A Divine Soliloquy. 
 
 O My Soul! thou haft been feafted 
 with the Son of God, at hi* Table* 
 upon hu Flejh and Bloody in preparation 
 for the Feaft of Endlefs Glory j thou haft 
 feen there represented, what fin deferveth, 
 what Chrijt fuffered, what wondcrf*{ 
 Love, the God of infinite goodnefs hath ex* 
 preft to thee. Then hajl had Communion 
 jwith the Saints*? thou hafi renewed thy 
 Covenant of Faith, and thankful Obe- 
 dience, untoChrift. Thon hafi received 
 his renewed Covenant of Pardon, Grace 
 and Glory to thee ; carry hence th£ 
 lively fenfe of thefe great and excellent 
 things upon thy heart* Remember, O my 
 Soul ! thoucamefi not {to that holy Table) 
 only to injoythe mercy of an hour, but that 
 which may fpring up to endlefs Joy. Thotc 
 cam eft not only to do the duty of an hour, 
 but to promife that which thou muft per- 
 form while thou liveft on Earth. Remem- 
 ber daily * efpecially when Temptations to 
 unbelief, and finful heavintfs ajfault thee^ 
 H 2 what 
 
i4o A Divine Soliloquy. 
 what pledges of Love thou ha(t received. 
 Remember daily , efpecially when Flefh, and 
 Devil, and Worlds would draw thy heart 
 again from God 5 and temptations to fin 
 are laid before thee, what Bonds God 
 and thy own Confent have laid upon thee. 
 Remember •, my Soul 1 if thou art a 
 Vtnitent Believer , thou art now forgiven, 
 and wafljed in the Blood of ChrijK O I go 
 your way, and fin no mort\ no more thro 9 
 wilfulnefsy and ft rive agmntt your fins of 
 weaknefs. Wallow no more in the Mire, 
 and return not to thy Vomit* Let the ex* 
 ceeding Love of Chrift conftrain thee, 
 having fuch Vromifes^as 2 Cor. 6. 17,18. 
 O cleanfe thy felf from all filtbinefs of 
 fiejhandfpirit, perfecting holinefs in the 
 
 fear of God. Amen. 
 
 Hymns 
 
H9 
 
 Hymns' fuited to the Sacrament of 
 the Lord's Supper. To be fung 
 in the common Tunes. 
 
 A Hymn for 'the Sacrament, 
 H.YM N I 
 
 I. 
 
 A New and well compofed Song, . 
 With raptures fill'd of Love, 
 And exrafies of Joy, let's tune 
 
 lli to our Lord above. 
 Awake my drowfie fleepySoul, , 
 
 Awake dull heavy heart, , 
 And all my faculties and powers^ 
 Joyn, in and bear a part. 
 
 Ho 
 
 Let judgment weigh theargumenv] 
 
 Let fancy it adorn, 
 Let ^memory bring forth its (lore, . 
 
 Thoughts,, offer your firft-born. 
 God did aflame the thape of Man* 
 
 With fl^ih his glory vail'd, 
 
 H g Himletf i 
 
2 Jo Hymns fuited to the Sacrament. 
 Himfelf he humbled unto death. 
 
 He to the Crofs was nail'd. ■ 
 III. 
 K^ade fin, us to acquit from Gn ; 
 
 Accurfed, us to blefi, 
 Of Righteoufnefs he wrought a Robe 
 
 To hide our nakednefi. 
 Darling of Heaven he was and is, 
 s The Father's chief delight : 
 Angels wonder, the Saints above 
 
 Are ravifh'd at his fight, 
 IV. 
 Array 5 d he is with Majefty^ 
 
 Angels do him attend 5 
 All pow'r is his in Heaven and Earth, 
 
 All to his Scepter bend. 
 A glorious Crown is on his head 
 
 Moft lovely is his face, 
 TVeaiures of wrfdom are with him, 
 
 For us he*s ftor'd with grace, 
 V. 
 His Love doth pafs dimenfions, 
 
 His Love exceeds all thought, 
 Srrorger than death, this Love to us 
 
 Salvation hath brought. 
 Hence all the Clouds away, away, 
 
 Darken no more mine eye, 
 
 Fain 
 
Hymns fuited to the Sacrament] % j> ti 
 Fain would I fee this lovely one, 
 
 Whofe dwelling is on high. 
 VI. 
 Open thine Eye, here Jefus (lands, 
 
 He looks, he breathes, he moves : 
 By Faith thou rmy'ft difcern him plain, 
 
 In thisfweet Fcaft of L->ves, 
 And art thou here indeed, my Lord ! 
 
 Drawjiearer yet to me, 
 And nearer, nearer, my dear Lord 5 
 
 Too near thou canft not be. 
 VII. 
 Gome my Beloved, let me view 
 
 Thy beauteous lovely face; 
 Thee / would fold in arms of love, 
 
 Fain I would thee embrace. 
 I feeK I feel a flame within, 
 
 Dear Lord, I thee admirej 
 Thy fparkling beauty which I fee^ 
 
 Hath fet me all on fire, 
 VIIL 
 Thy kind looks have me overcome, 
 
 The glances of thine Eye, 
 Sweetly my Soul tranfported have, 
 
 I feel an extaYie. 
 Unutterable Joys / feel, 
 
 How fweet ! how fweet ! how facet 
 H 4 N 
 
», 
 
 txyt Jtiymns jutted to the bacrament, 
 h this tafte of thy Love, whilft I 
 
 And my Beloved meet I 
 IX. 
 Sure this the Gate of Heaven is, 
 
 Methinb I'm enrrmg in, 
 Where I (hall always fee thy face, 
 
 And no more grieve or fin. 
 Ten thoufand praifes let us give 
 
 Unto our Lord on high • 
 Let heart, and lip, and life combine 
 
 To make the melody. 
 
 HTMN IL 
 
 I. 
 
 OCome let us jnyn all like one, 
 The Lord to magnifie ; 
 Let us together lift his name 
 
 In fweet founds to the Sky, 
 Sweet Hymns of Love come let us (ing* 
 
 Let Love us aft and move j 
 Let Lo^e our voices tune to praife 
 Our God, for God is Love. 
 IL 
 God's Love the lofty Heav'ns above^ 
 
 In height doth far tranfeend : 
 Its depth, the Sea ; its breadth and length 
 Is without bound or end. 
 
 God's 
 
Hjmns fuited to the Sacrament, i f | 
 God's Love to us is wonderful : 
 
 To us who Rtbels were, 
 God gave his only Son to die, 
 
 That Rebels he might fpare.' 
 
 II f 
 
 From guilt and reigning power of fin. 
 
 And S.itao's fhvery $ 
 From fire of Hell us to redeem, 
 
 God gave his Son to die. 
 Chrift fuflfer'd in our ftead, he was 
 
 More harmleG than the Dove : 
 That God fhjuJd lay our fins on him i • 
 
 This, this indeed is Love. 
 
 in 
 
 Ocome let wgive God our Loves, 
 
 Let every heart take fire ; 
 Let flames come forth and joyn in one^ 
 
 And unto Heav'n afpire. 
 Sweet Spirit come, like Southern Galcs^ 
 
 Within us breathe and move j 
 Blow up our fpark into a flame, 
 
 That we may burn with love, 
 
 r. 
 
 That we with all our hearts may love, ' 
 
 Our hearts Lord circumcife : 
 Of Love perfum'd with fweet Incenfe^ 
 
 Accept the, Sacrifice. 
 
 H 5 Draw 
 
j 5^ njrnnsjmuu to we sacrament* 
 
 VI. 
 Draw near, O God, unvail thy felf, 
 
 Oar cloudinefs remove ; 
 O flhine ! and (mile on us, that we 
 
 may fee thy face and love. 
 VJl 
 Dear Jefus,corne and vifit us, 
 
 Aftranger do not prove; 
 Heal wounds of 6n, fpeak peace that we 
 
 Thy voice may hear and love* 
 VII I. 
 Our felves we offer with our beam, 
 
 Our whole felves werefign 
 To thee who art the God of J-ove ? 
 
 t We are and will be thine. 
 
 ur Mii in. 
 
 i. 
 
 TOD hath us brought into his Courts # 
 And Chambers of his Love, 
 That he might feed and feaft us hcre^ 
 
 With dainties from above, 
 Heav'n opened is before our Eye 9 
 
 The Vail is rent, that we 
 May upward look, and his dear Son 
 Crowned with Glory fee. 
 
 This 
 
Hfmiu fished M tht'Sa'cramnti- 255 
 II. 
 This Jefus crowned was with Thorns, 
 
 Scourged with cruel hands, 
 His flefli was torn,when to the Crofs 
 
 He tycd was with Bands. 
 Tears trickled from his mournful eyes 5 
 
 Sweat dropped from his face, 
 Blood flowed from his hands and feet, 
 And fide, in ftrearas apace. 
 111. 
 His groans were ftrong,his ays were loud^ 
 
 PreflureB of wrath did lye 
 Upon his Soul, with fenfe of which 
 
 In anguifh he did dye. 
 He harmlefs was, and innocent ; 
 
 No guilt upon him lay, 
 But as our Surety he our debts 
 Did by his fufferings pay, 
 IK 
 Thus did he Juftice £tis£e$ 
 
 By dying in our room, 
 That we might juftified be 
 
 By Faith, that to him come. 
 The Bread we eat at this great Fea^ 
 
 Cbrift's &:(h j?, and his blood 
 Is reprefented by the Wine; 
 Thi% this indeed is food, 
 
1 54 Sacramntal Hymm. 
 
 V. 
 Here is the heavenly Manna, which 
 
 Our God to us doth give : 
 Who eateth other bread (hall die $ 
 
 In eatingjhis we live. 
 A hidden lite of Grace we have, 
 
 Breathing dt fires and love ; 
 Chrift is our Life, the Author, Spring* 
 By whom our Graces move* 
 Fl 
 Come let us look untoour Lord $ 
 This Glafs will (how his face, 
 Not veiled over with dark Types, 
 
 As heretofore it was. 
 God-man, that name is wonderful $ 
 
 So is his beauty j fo 
 Hi3 love is full of wonders, both 
 Beyond our reach to go. 
 VIL 
 Yet where we cannot comprehend, 
 
 Looking, let us admire, 
 Admiring lovs, loving rejoyce^ 
 
 And to enjoy afpire. 
 Our Lord is prefem at thisFeaftj 
 
 He looks, let** meet his Eye 
 With ours ; fweet glances^ looks of love* 
 M may be we (hall fpjv 
 
 Gome 
 
Sacramental Hjmns. if jf 
 
 FIJI. 
 Come Lord draw neaiy we long, we long 
 
 Thy face to fee, thy love 
 To tafte, thy voice to hear r within 
 
 To feel thy Spirit move. 
 Thou art all foir, thou haft no fpor 3 
 
 Thy beauty is divine : 
 Thou art all love, embrace us Lord 
 
 In thofefwcet Arms of thine. 
 IX 
 We look,, we wait, we hope, we truft, 
 
 We long, we love, we burn. 
 Ravifh ihou doft our hearts, whilft thoui. 
 
 To us thine Eye doft turn, 
 With, all the powers of our Souls 
 
 Dear Jefus we thee praife, 
 In fongs of joy and thankfulnefi. 
 
 Our voices we do raife 9 
 X. 
 Hofannas we, Ho/anna's we 
 
 Do fing with one accord 
 la Hallelujah's of triumph 
 
 We joyn to praife the Lord, 
 I Ye Angels and triumphant Saints, 
 
 Praife ye our Lord above, 
 Whilft we his Servants here below. 
 
 Dj fing his praife with love. 
 
 liT. HTMN* 
 
156 Sacramental Hytnm] 
 
 H T M N IV. 
 
 L 
 TpHoufands of thoufands ftand around 
 X Tby Throne, O God, mod high 5 
 Tenthoufand times ten thoofind (bund 
 
 Thy praifc, but who am I ? 
 Thine arm of might, moft mighty King 
 
 Both Rocks and hearts doth break* 
 My God, thou canft do every thing 
 
 But what would (haw thee weak. 
 
 /;. 
 
 Moft pure and holy are thine Eyes, 
 
 Moft holy is thy Name $ 
 Thy Saints, and Laws, and Penalties, 
 
 Thy holiaefs proclaim* 
 Mercy is God's Memorial, 
 
 And in all Ages prais'd ; 
 My God, thine only S.>n did fall, 
 
 That Mercy might be rais'd. 
 111. 
 Thy brlgh; back-parts, O God of Grace, 
 
 I humbly here adore 5 
 Shew me thy glory and thy face, 
 
 That I may praife thee more. 
 Myfterious depths of endlefs love 
 
 Our admirations raife* 
 
 My 
 
SactAmntal Hjmm. 1 57 
 
 My God, thy Name exalted is 
 Far above all our praifc; 
 
 HT H N V. 
 
 I 
 
 T^O whom,LoTd,fhbuld I fing, but thee, 
 
 The maker of my Tongue ? 
 Lo, other Lords would feize on me, 
 
 But I to thee belong. 
 As thou Lord, an immortal Soul 
 
 Haft breathed into me, 
 So let my Soul be breathing forth 
 
 Immortal thanks to thee, 
 
 Sing and triumph in bound lefs grace. 
 
 Which thus hath fet thee free ; 
 Extol with fhouts my faved Soul 
 
 Thy Saviours love to thee. 
 Sweet Chriftj thou haft refrcftt our Sorfs 
 
 With thine abundant grace, 
 For which we raagnifie thy Name, 
 
 Longing to fee thy face. 
 
 Down from above the blefled Dove 
 
 Is come into my breaft, 
 To witnefs God% Eternal Love, 
 
 This, is .my heavenly Feaft, 
 
 This 
 
Ip8 Sacramental Hymnr 
 
 This makes me Abb* Father cry, 
 
 With confidence of Soul ! . 
 It makes me cry, my Lord, my God 3 
 
 Aod that, without control*!. 
 IV. 
 Thou art all power, thou art all love* 
 
 And fo thou* art ta me j 
 Bleft be, my God no wand hence forth, 
 
 And to Eternity. 
 
 &Y MJST VI. 
 
 L 
 
 T ORD give me a believing heart, 
 *■* Advance it more and more; 
 Rebqkc thofe doubts and fcruplei that 
 
 Are crowding at my door. 
 Lord let thy Word and Spirit guide 
 
 Thy Servant in thy way 5 
 May I walk clofely with my God, 
 
 And run^no more affray* 
 11L 
 All they that Gtdown wilh theemuft 
 
 Be decked with thy Grace j 
 Thou fmil'ft on fuch Communicants, 
 
 And they behold thy face. 
 Come holy Spirit,come and take 
 
 My filthy Garments hence^ 
 
Sacramental Hymns. 1 5^ 
 
 The guilt, the (lain, the love of fir?, 
 Will give my Lord offence, 
 
 Lf t nothing that is not divine, 
 
 Within thy prefence move, 
 What e're would caufe thee not to (hine 
 
 In tokens of thy Love, 
 Awake Repentance, Faith and Love, 
 
 Awake O^every Grace! 
 Come, come, attend this glorious King, 
 
 And bow before his face. 
 IV. 
 Let not my Jefus now be ftrange, 
 
 And hide himftlf from me 3 
 O caufe thy face to (hine upon 
 
 The Soul that longs for thee.'. 
 
 H T M N ril 
 
 I 
 TT/E to our heavenly Father give 
 
 The tribute praife we owe, 
 Wh oby his purifying Grace 
 
 Prepares us here below. 
 JLo here's the moft amazing proo£ 
 Of great and matchlefs Love! : 
 Not that our Early love to God , 
 Did his prevent and move. 
 
r 60 Sacramental Hymns . 
 
 U. 
 
 His motives all to pity us 
 
 From his own bowels flow 5 
 Thence came thericheft gift of Heav'n 
 
 To Guilty Men below. 
 That to his glorious grace all praife 
 
 Might be intirely paid : 
 \Vho, that he might forgive our fins, 
 
 Chrift's Blood our Ranfom made ; 
 
 Let then this glorious gift of God 
 
 Yet more our Souls refine, 
 That his pure Image may in us 
 
 With greater glory (hine* 
 Draw us, dear Lord, and Towards thee 
 
 We with fwifr wings will move, 
 Thou Objeft of our higheft hopes. 
 
 And of our deareft LoVel 
 IK. 
 Thank fgiving is an heav'nly work. 
 
 It's all in Heav'n they do. 
 To thank and praife the Lord mofthigfc 
 
 On Earth is fweet work too. 
 O J bleffed are the Saints above, 
 
 How a£Hve is your (late ! 
 You ever blefs the Lord our God, 
 
 Not at our broken rate. 
 
 Eu 
 
Sacramental Bymni. 1 6 1 
 
 VI 
 Bur, O ! how weak are crawling Worms? 
 
 How (hort our Sabbath-days? 
 We die more hours by far in fleep, 
 
 Than we do live in praife. 
 O glorious God ! accept our wilta, 
 
 And weaknefles forgive; 
 We wife our Souls were like the Saints, 
 
 Unlike them as we live. 
 V. 
 But, O my God ! reach down thy hand, 
 
 And take us up to thee, 
 That we about thy Throne may (land, 
 
 And all thy Glory fee. 
 All glory to the facred Three, 
 
 One Everlafting Lord, 
 As at the firft> ftill may he be 
 
 Belov'd, obey'd, adored. 
 
 H Y M N rill 
 
 I. 
 
 COme let's adore the King of Love, 
 The King of fufPrings too, 
 For love it was that brought him dowa^ 
 
 And fet him here below. 
 Love drew him from his Paradice, 
 
 Where Flowers that fade not grow, 
 i. And 
 
1 62 Sacra mental Hymn*. 
 
 And planted him in our poor duft, 
 
 Among us, Weeds below, 
 II. 
 O narrow thoughts,and narrow fpeech ! 
 
 Here your defe6b confefs. 
 The life of God, the death of Chrift, 
 
 How faintly you expreP. 
 O thou ! whs from a Virgin root 
 
 Made'ft this fair Flower to fpring^ 
 Help us to raife both heart and voice, 
 
 And .with morefpirit Gag, 
 
 To Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, 
 
 One undivided Three, 
 All higheft praife, all humblefi thanks 1 
 
 Now and for ever be, 
 
 H r M N IX, 
 
 To the Tunc of the 1 00 Pfalm; 
 
 /. (high, 
 
 *nrilne now your felves my heart firings 
 
 Let us aloft our voices raife, 
 That our loud fong may reach the Sky, 
 And these prefent to thee our praifc. 
 
 To 
 
Sacramental Hymns] 1 6$ 
 
 To thee,b!eft Jrfus, who came'ft down 
 From thole bright Spheres of Joy above, 
 To purchafe us a dear bought Crown, 
 And woe our Souls t'efpoufe thy Love. 
 
 Long had the World in darknefs fat, 
 j Till thou with thy all-g lorlous light 
 Began to dawn from Heav'ns fuir Gate, 
 And with thy beam difpell'd their night. 
 
 We too, alas! ftill here had flood 
 l As common flaves in this fame (hade. 
 But Jefus came, and with his Blood 
 Our general Ranfbm freely paid. 
 
 And now, my Lord, my God, my All, 
 What fhall I mofi in thee adaaire, 
 That pow'r which made the world,& (hall 
 The world again diflblve with Fire 1 
 Oh no} thy Grange humiliry, 
 Thy wouad*,thy pains,thyCrofi,thy death 
 Thefelhall aloae my wonder be, 
 My health/my joy, my ftaff, my breath* 
 
 j To thee, great God, to thee alone, 
 Three Perlbns in One Deity, 
 As former Ages ftill have done, 
 All Glory now and ever be. 
 
 UTMN 
 
zo4 A Hymn oh the 
 
 H Y M N X. 
 
 I. 
 ■nTH E Mighty Jefus, fill'd with love 
 
 Did thefe dark Regions leave : 
 The hea^'nly Hofts all wandring ftood 
 
 King J< fus to receive. 
 The great Jehovah fets a Throne, 
 
 Inftalls cur glorious King; 
 Both Heav'n and Earth muft him adore^ 
 
 And loud Hqfannab's fing. 
 //. 
 There fits the King of Peace and Love, 
 
 A Saviour is his name, 
 Mercy his Nature and delight, 
 
 And ever (b the fame, 
 Come all that fear, come all that want, 
 
 And fpeedy fuccour find 5 
 He n f re denies a praying Soul, 
 
 He is (bo good and kind. 
 III. 
 Behold and wonder at his 3Love, 
 
 We arc his daily care, 
 His ear, his heart, is always fixe 
 
 To hear and anfwer prayer. 
 Be not afraid to 'bring your Suit, 
 
 Come with a chearful heart. 
 Weak crys, mixt prayers cannot bar 
 fc A grant to his own part. Satan 
 
Itttercejjiw of Cbnjt. i £ f 
 
 IV. 
 Satin, it's true, prefents his Plea, 
 
 And Juftice brings its claim ; 
 But all arc filent when he pleads, 
 
 His Blood, his Love, his Name \ 
 Let holy Souls then daily go 
 
 To Jefus on his Throne, 
 And love that all-prevailing Friend 
 
 Who fays we are his own. 
 
 H r M N XL 
 As the 6^th?(a\w. 
 
 I. 
 
 OThis ungrateful World ! 
 To kill fo kind a Friend, 
 That made the Lord of Glory die, 
 
 What might this aft portend ? 
 B'Jt wonder, holy Souls, 
 
 God's thoughts all thoughts tranfcenel : 
 Jhrift murder'd by a Rebel World, 
 And yet he is our Friend. 
 II. 
 It's truc,Chrift left the Earth, ■ 
 
 But isenthron'd above. 
 Not to revenge this cruel aft, 
 But lives and reigns in love, 
 
 Sweet 
 
166 A Hymn on the 
 
 II. 
 
 Sweet is his work on high, 
 
 Peace 16 the charming voice ; 
 Let but a Soul embrace his Call ? 
 
 The beav'nfy Hoft rejoyee. 
 Behold he (lands and calls, 
 
 Come Sinners, come to me, 
 My Ltfve, my Kingdom {hall be yours 
 
 To ail Eternity. 
 
 III. 
 Believe my faithful Word, 
 
 All my defigns are Grace, 
 Take now the Earned of my Love 
 
 Before you fee my face. 
 Never be ftrange to me, 
 
 I wait to bear your cry, 
 Let me but know your preffing want*. 
 
 And you (hall have fupply, 
 IV. 
 Never diftruft my Love, 
 
 I Am^ this is my Name j 
 Sin makes me hide my face a while, 
 
 When yet my Love's the fame. 
 Never regard yout Foes, 
 
 They are no match for me 5 
 Plead (till myConqueft* with your Go 
 And you (hall Vi&ors be. 
 
 HTM 
 
Iritercetjion cfChrift. i6y 
 
 H T M N XI I 
 
 I. 
 
 Flli'd with the fenfe of fin and wrath,' 
 And black defpair drew nigh, 
 To Chrift I fled for fuce'ring Grace, 
 
 He heard my mournful cry : 
 Under his pleafant fiiadel fate, 
 
 Sweet notes of Love I heard ; 
 My welcome was above my thought., 
 
 How was I lov'd and chear'd I 
 II. 
 He came to mc, but not alone, 
 
 Divine fruits were my fair ; 
 I waited what he firft would fay, 
 
 Your fins now pardon'd are : 
 Peace with Jehovah is my gift, 
 
 No frowns appear above ; 
 Go boldly to .my Father's Throne, 
 
 Love waits your Soul to love. 
 I IF. 
 The Book of Life, your Name is there. 
 
 And ever there (hall be, 
 Love wrote it there, Love keeps it there 
 
 ' To all Eternity. 
 Ask what you will, I have God's Ear, 
 
 He never me deny'd ; 
 
 I Come 
 
1 68 A Hymn on the 
 
 Come with your tears, come with youi 
 And you fhall be fupply'd. ( want?; 
 
 I give my Angels for your Guard, 
 
 You are their daily care 3 
 Let Satan tempt and (hoot his Darts , 
 
 They can pi event the fnare* 
 O Lord ! what can I now reply, 
 
 What, love ar fuch a rate .' 
 But this I'll pray, O let my Love 
 
 Bear an Eternal Date. 
 
 Another. 
 
 I. 
 
 The time is paft when humane Race 
 
 Became God's Enemy ; 
 The World ne're faw fo black a Night, 
 
 When Adam eat the Tree, 
 Vaft: gulf of Woes became his due, 
 
 Which had no bounds nor end ; 
 What e're he did, what e're he thoughr, 
 
 Still guilt did him attend. 
 II. 
 God faw this fad tremendous Fall, 
 
 His Truth (aid, might thy Word ■ 
 Juftice rerjuir'd, the Sinner's Blood 
 
 No pity him afford j 
 
 Bu 
 
I Bjt Love, that charming Attribute 
 Prepared a kind R--ply, 
 The Pieas of Juftlce Hi adjuft, 
 My only Son (hill die. 
 III. 
 Bled was the day when Adam heard : 
 
 That chearing word of Grace, 
 I'll (end the Lord ot G'ory here, 
 
 And hide my angry face. 
 Hear what he f3ys, he knows my heart, 
 
 My Mercy (hall rejoice, 
 Peace he'll proclaim, the War willceafe,. 
 If you obey his voice. 
 IV. 
 Go trembling Sinner, go to him, 
 
 Fear not your former guilt, 
 His Death has anfwer'd my demand?, 
 
 And I will you acquit. 
 Come take the Piedge, believe my S«n, 
 
 I am your own, your All, 
 i have a Father's hand and hearr, 
 To hear you when you call. 
 
 y. 
 
 My Chrift did lovingly invire 
 
 Me to his charming Feaft; 
 He added to his wond'rous Love, 
 
 Made me a wiliing Gueft. 
 
 I z I came 
 
J jo A Hymn en the 
 
 I came and found a Banquet rare, 
 
 He brought me Angels food, 
 He bid me rake and cat my fill, 
 
 For my Eternal good. 
 VI. 
 He fpoke fuch chearing words of Grace, 
 
 What do you want, my Friend ? 
 What, can you doubt my kind defign ? 
 
 ConGder and attend. 
 Sin cannot now defeat my Love, 
 
 Since pardons I will give. 
 Sin feems an unrefifted Fee, 
 
 It (hail not always live. 
 VI I. 
 You feel a dreadful War within, 
 
 Lufts claim a rightlefi Throne, 
 Eur this united force I'll break, 
 
 Since now you are my own. 
 Saran with all hisDartssnd Soared 
 
 Shall prove a fruitlefs Foe ; 
 You are defignV! for Heaven's Blifs, 
 
 He. to Eternal Woe. 
 VIII. 
 Never diftruft my wond'rous Love, 
 
 Thcbtft is yet behind. 
 No Tongue nor Thought can reprefent 
 
 How good 111 be, and kind : 
 
 Refrcfli 
 
Ivterceffm of Chrijl- 1 7 j 
 
 Refofh your Souls with what I give, 
 
 Wait till you come on high : 
 1 long till all my Members fee 
 
 What's in Eternity. 
 
 Another. 
 
 1, 
 
 What made the Lord of Glory die r 
 
 Shall God the anfwermake ? 
 Oat guilty Souls may trembling (land . 
 
 To hear Jehovah fpeak s 
 But God has fpoke, he fent his Son, 
 
 But ftay dtje&ed heart, 
 Not to condemn a Rebel World ? 
 
 But to regain his oarr, 
 1 h 
 The Death of Chrift no vengeance cries^ 
 
 It is a fign of Peace ; 
 It pardons fins, and pays our debt?,. 
 
 And gives our Souls releafe ^ 
 Let Law & Confcience bring their charge^ 
 
 Let Juftice plead our guilt : 
 The Death of Chrift can faience all^ 
 
 And God will us acquis 
 I I J. 
 Oh Soul! (hall banifln fears return^ 
 
 Whea you can pardon plead, 
 
 1 3 Bote 
 
172 A Hymn on the , &c. 
 
 Hold faft this charming Pledge of Love, 
 
 For you it is decreed ; 
 Let Angels fing their higheft Note, 
 
 Let Earth triumph below, 
 Let the Redeemed of the Lord 
 
 Their Saviour's Glory (how. 
 
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 £^o/Cheap(Ide. 
 
 A Body of Practical Divinity ,confifting 
 of above one hundred feventy fix Ser- 
 mons on the leflcr Catechifm compofed by 
 the Reverend Affembly of Divines ztlVef}- 
 minfier : With a Supplement of fome Ser- 
 mons on feveral Texts of Scripture. By 
 Tho. Watfon } formerly Minifter at Sr. Ste- 
 pben'sWalbrook, London. 
 
 A Paraphrafe on the New Teftament, 
 with Note?, do&rinal and practical. By 
 plainnefs and brevity fitted to the life of 
 Religious Familie?, in their daily Reading 
 of the Scriptures ; and of the younger and 
 poorer fort of Scholars and Minifters, who 
 
 want 
 
A Catalogue of Books'. 
 want fuller helps. With an Advertifement 
 of Difficulties in the Revelations. By the 
 Late Reverend Mr. Rich. Baxter. 
 
 Six hundred of fele& Hymns and Spiri- 
 tual Songs collected out of the Holy Bible. 
 Together with a Catechifm, the Canticles, 
 and a Catalogue of Vertuous Women. 
 The Three laft hundred of k\e& Hymns 
 colle&ed out of the Pfalms of David. By 
 William Barton, A. M. late Minitier of 
 Sr. Martins in Leicefter. 
 
 Spiritual Songs : Or Songs of Praift to 
 Almighty God upon feveral occa{i>ns. To- 
 gether with the Song of Songs, which is 
 Solomons: Firft.tum'd, then par3phrafed 
 in Englifh Vcrfc. By J*bn Mafon. 
 
 Penitential Cries/n Thirty two Hymn', 
 Begun by tke Author of the Songs of Praife 
 and Midnight Cry ;.and carried on by 
 another hand. 
 
 Sacramental Hymns collected ( chiefly) .j 
 out of fuch paffages of the NTeftament as \ 
 contain the moft flncable matter of Divine 
 Praifcs in the Celebrarion of the LordV 
 Supper.To which is added one Hymn rela- 
 ting roBiptifm, and another to the Mini- 
 fey- 9 ByJ*Jtoyfe 9 Witk fome by other hands,- . 
 I 4,. hi 
 
Catalogue ofQcoks. 
 
 AColle&ion of Divine Hymns upon ft- 
 veral occalions ; fuited to our common 
 Tune?^ for the ufe of Devour Chriftian^ 
 in finging forth the Praifes of God. 
 
 ThePfalms of David in Metre : Newly 
 tranfhted and diligently compared with 
 the Original Text and rormer Tranflation : 
 More plain, fmooth*, and agreeable to the 
 Text than any heretofore. 
 
 Of Free Juftification by Chrift. Written 
 firftin Latine by John Fox, Author of the 
 Book of Martyr?, againft Oforiusfec, And 
 now Tranflated into Engliflh, for the bene- 
 fit of thofe who love their own Soul?, and 
 would not be miftaken in fo great a Point. 
 
 An Earned Call to Family-Religion : Or 
 a Difcourfe concerning Family- Worfhip. 
 Being the fubftance of Eight&n Sermons. 
 Preached by Samuel Slater \A*M> Minifter 
 of the Gofpel. 
 
 The Preaching of Chrift 5 and the Pri- 
 fon'of God, as the certain Portion of them 
 that xCytSt Ghrift's Word. Openecf in fe- 
 deral Sermons on 1 Pet.^. 19. By Samuel 
 Totnlym^M.A. and Minifter of the Gofpel 
 of Ctoriit in Markforougb. 
 
 QrrmrJOLcats for the Daughters of gion : , 
 
 '■ ; ;."" ci 
 
A Catalogue of Books] 
 Or the chara&er and bappinefi of a Vir- 
 tuous Woman j in a Difcourfe which di- 
 re&s the Female Sex how ro expefs the 
 Fear of Cod in every Age and State of their 
 Life-find obtain both Temporal and Eternal 
 Bitflednefi. Written by Cotton Mather. 
 
 The Confirming Work of Religion,and 
 its great things made plain by their pri- 
 mary Evidences and Demonftrarion? ; 
 whereby the meaneft in the Church may 
 foon be made able to render a rational ac- 
 count of their Faith. 
 
 The prefent Afpe& of our Time?,and of 
 (he Extraordinary Conjun&ion of things 
 therein ; in a Rational View and Profpe£l 
 of the fame, as it rcfpe&s the publick ha- 
 zard and fafety of Brittaiti in this day. 
 Theft two h& by 'Robert Flemings Author 
 of the Fulfilling of the Scriptures, and 
 Minifter at Rotterdam. 
 
 England's Alarm : Being an account cf | 
 God's molt confiderable Difpenfarians of-' 
 Judgment and Mercy toward? theft King- 
 dom^ far 14 years laft paft ; and alfq of 
 the fcvcral forts of Sins and Sinners therein 5 
 cfpcmUy the Murmurers againft this Pre- 
 sent Government* With an Earned C^U 
 
 to 
 
j4 Catalogue of Books. 
 
 to fpeedy Humiliation and Reformation, ard Sup- 
 plication, as the chief means of profperirg their 
 Mjjtfties Counccls ard Preparations. Dedicated 
 to t!i| King and Quoen. 
 
 A FamilJ-Alcar Erected to the honour of the 
 KfrnalGod : Or, afo ! cmn Ell jy to promote the 
 VVofflSp of God in Private Houfes : Being force 
 Mv-ifrationsonGw 3. 5, 2, 3. With the Bcft En- 
 tam, or Dying Parents Living Hopes tor their Sur- 
 v ;. 1; 1 Children, grounded upon the Covenant of 
 iffd'h Grace with Believers and their Seed. Be- 
 long a fhort Difcourie on 2 $am. 23. 5. By Other 
 Htjwmd Minifter of the Gofpel. 
 
 The Gofpel- My ftcry of San&ification opened 
 in fundry practical Directions fuited efpecially 
 to the cafe of thofc who labour under the guile 
 and power of In-dwelling fin. To which is added 
 a Sermon of J unification. By Walter Marjhall Mi- 
 nifter of the Gofpel, &c 
 
 Death improved, and immoderate Sorrow for 
 Dceeafed Friends & Relations reproved.Where- 
 in you have many Arguments againft Immode- 
 rate borrow, and many profitable Leffons w^ich 
 wemay learn from fuch Providences. By E.Bury, 
 formerly Minifter of Great BoUs in ShropJbire 9 
 Author of the Help to Holy Walking, and the 
 Husbandman's Companion, &c. 
 
 The Poor Man's Help, and Young Man's 
 ffuide : Containing, r. Doctrinal Inftr'u&ions for 
 the right informing of hi* Judgment. 2. Practi- 
 cal Directions for the general courfe of his Life. 
 3. Particular Advices for the well managing of 
 every day with reference to his Natural Actions; 
 Q'vil Employments, Ncceflary Recreations, Reli- 
 gious 
 
gious Duties, particular Prayer, 
 Congregation, Private in the Family, Seer 
 the Clofet, Reading the holy Scriptures, 
 the Word Preached, and Receiving the 
 Supper. By WitliM Bur fat, M. A. of Pen, 
 HiU in Cambridge, and now Vicar of Dcdban in 
 Ejfex, and Author of the practical Difcfl; fc c 1 
 Intanc-Bjpiifm. 
 
 A plain Difcourfe about rafh and finful Angir ; 
 as a kelp (or fuch as are willing to be reHcfw 
 againft fo fad and too generally prevailing Di- 
 ftemper even amongft Profeflbrs of Re'igion ; be 
 ing the fubftance of fome Sermons Preached at 
 Mavcbefter. By Henry Nrwcome, AT. A. and M'wii 
 fter of the Gofpel there, and Author of the Im- 
 provement of Sicknefs. 
 
 The Rod or the Sword, the prefent Dilemma oi 
 the Nations of England^ Scotland and Ireland, con- 
 fidered, argued and improved on K^£. 21.14. 
 By a true Friend to thelProteflant Intereft, and 
 the Proteftant Government. 
 
 A Prefent for fuch as Have been Sick and are 
 recovered : Or, a Difcourfe concerning the Good 
 that comes out of the Evil of Affliction : Being 
 feveral Sermons Preached after his being 1 
 from a Bed of Languifhing. By Nathan 
 MM* and Author of the Converfion 1 
 The true Touchftone of Grace and Nature, 
 courfe of Confcicncc. Treatife of Prayer 
 Love, &c. 
 
 Some paffages in the Holy Life and Death of] 
 Late Reverend Mr. Edmund Trench-, moft of i* 
 drawn out of his own Diary. Publifhed by Jo 
 Bo;/* Snifter in Dublin* 
 
 AdviB 
 
m* A Catalogue cfZocks. 
 L Advice to an 6djy Child, or Excellent Counfcl 
 to ail Young Perform, containing the fom and 
 jibfcance of Experimental and Fra&ical Din- 
 rfcy. Written by an Eminent and Judicious Di- 
 vilfc for.the private ufe of an Only Child. Now 
 r^Jfcpublick for the benefit of all. 
 
 An account of the Bleflcd Trinity,argued from 
 thelRature and Perfe&ion of the Supream Spirit, 
 ■Rigtcident with the Scripture Poftrine, in all the 
 Br tides of the Catholick Creeds ; together with 
 Its A/vftical, Foederal, and Pra&ical Ufes in the 
 Khriftian Religion. By William Bwrougb Re&or 
 of Cheyns in Bucks. 
 
 A Difcourfe of Juftification, being the fum of 
 Twenty Sermons. By Walter Cr$fs, M. A. 
 
 Pra&ical Difcourfes -on Sicknefs and Recovery. 
 
 A Difcourfe concerning Trouble of mind; in 
 three parts. By Timothy Rogers, M. A. Alfa a 
 Treatifeof Confolaticn, by thnjame Author. 
 
 A plain and Familiar Difcourfe on the Sacra- 
 ment By Bifhop Kidder. 
 
 Roberts on the Sacrament. 
 
 Vines on the Sacrament. 
 
 D*/s Sacramental Catechifm. 
 formerly leS Sc ^ oni Fart of the Difcourfe on the 
 A U rb* <• it, concerning Chriffs Sufferings. 
 
 
 # 
 
 FINIS.