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his prefent Glorified State, can Suffer, is fuch a Contradiction to all the Principles of our Religion, that the Papifts themfelves are afhamed to affert it.

-12. 2. What think you of the Sacrifice, as they call it, of the Mafs?

A. We do not deny, but that, in a large Senfe, this Sacrament may be called a Sacrifice; as the Bread and Wine, may be called the Body and Blood of Chrift. But that this Sa crament fhould be a true, and proper Sacrifice, as they define the Sacrifice of the Mafs to be, it is altogether Falfe and Impious to af

fert.

13. 2. What was then the Defign of our Saviour in this Inftitution?

A. To leave to his Church a Perpetual, SoCor. xi, 24, lemn and Sacred Memorial of his Death for Us: That as often as we come to the Lord's Table, and there join in the Celebration of this Holy Sacrament we might be moved, by what is there done, at once both to call to our Remembrance all the Paffages of his Paffion; (to confider him as there fet forth Crucified before our Eyes ;) and to Meditate, upon the Love of Chrift thus dying for Us, and upon the mighty Benefits, and Advantages which have accrued to Us there.. by; and have our Hearts affected after a fuitable Manner towards Him.

Of the Out

quard Ele

ments of

Bread and

SECT. XLVII

Wine, and our 1.YOU before faid that in Every Sacrament there must be Two Parts, an Obligation to Communicate Outward and an Inward: What is therefore in bethKinds, the Dutward Part of Sign of the Lord's

Supper?

A. Bread

A. whether we Bepent Us truly of our former Sins, stedfaltiy purposing to lead a New Life.

5.2. How may we know whether we do this, fo effectually as we are here Required to do?

A. We can only judge by the prefent Frame and Difpofition of our Souls. If we are heartily Sorry for, and afhamed of our Sins: If we earneftly defire God's Forgiveness of them : If we are instant with God in our Prayers for Pardon, and where we have done any Injury to our Neighbour, are ready to ask his Forgivenefs alfo, and to make all Reasonable Satisfaction to him: If, laftly, as far as we can judge of Ourselves, We do all this Uprightly, and Sincerely: If we Reserve no Secret Affection for any Sin in our Souls, but univerfally Refolve to forfake All our Evil Ways; and in Every Thing to follow the Rules of our Duty; We may then justly conclude, that our Repentance and Refolutions, are hearty, and without deceit; and, as fuch, will qualify us for the worthy Receiving of this Holy Sacrament.

6. 2. But what, if after all this, we should Relapfe into Sin again?

A. If we do it by Surprise or Infirmity; if we fall back only into fome leffer Sins, and fuch as are hardly together to be Avoided by us in this present Life; we ought not to be dif couraged. But, indeed, if after this we fhould fall into the Commiffion of fome hainous, deliberate, wafting Sin; but efpecially fhould Relapfe into a Habit and Course of such Sins; this would be of a dangerous Confequence to us, and make our laft State worse than our first.

7. 2. Would it not therefore be the fafeft way rather to abftain altogether from the Holy Table, than to run the Hazard of Coming Unworthily to it?

I 2

A. Were

A. Were it a Matter of Indifference whether we ever Received this Sacrament, or no, this might the more Reasonably be infifted upon; but as the Cafe now ftands, it is altogether Idle, and Abfurd. For, Firft, To come to the Holy Table is a Matter of Exprefs Duty: Ghrift has commanded us to do it: And it is equally dangerous not to Come at all, as it is to Come Unworthily, to it. Secondly, By not Coming, we deprive Ourfelves of the Grace of God, which this Sacrament was defigned to Convey to Us; and in that, of the Greatest present Benefit, as well as Comfort, to our Souls, in the Course of our Duty, that our Religion has pro vided for them. To all which, let me add, Thirdly, That the Shortnefs, and Uncertainty of our Lives, being confider'd; we ought, upon that account, to make the fame Preparation against the Hour of our Death, that we are Required to do, for Coming to the Holy Table. And fince Men are so very apt to put both the Thoughts of Death, and their Provifion for it, afar off; it is an Inftance of the Great Mercy and Concern of our Saviour Chrift for us, that by calling us frequently to His Table, and Requiring fo ftrict a Preparation for it; he has thereby engaged us to keep our Souls always in fuch a State as will fit us for Dying, fhould we chance, ere we are aware, to be surprised by Death.

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8. 2. What is the next Thing wherein we are to Examine Ourselves, before we come to the Holy Communion?

A. Whether we have a lively Faith in Ged's Mercy through Chrift; i. e. do ftedfaftly Believe, that if we truly Repent us of our Sins, God will not only moft certainly forgive them; but as an Earneft of it, does here, in this very Sacrament, Ratify, and Seal anew

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his Covenant with us, and make us Partakers of the Benefit of that Redemption, which our Bleffed Saviour purchased for Us, by the Sacrifice of His Own Body and Blood.

9.2. Why do you call fuch a Faith as this, a lively Faith?

A. To fhew that our Faith is then only Ac=ceptable unto God, and Profitable to our Salvation, when it is Lively, and Active: And works in Us fuch a fincere Repentance of our paft Sins, and fuch a conftant, and uniform Obedience to God's Commandments, as our Saviour, in his Gospel, Requires of Us. For otherwise, to know, and affent to, the Truths of our Religion, without Living agreeably thereunto, will carry Us no farther than the worst of Men may Go; and even the Devils themfelves, as St. James fays, do Go. Jam. ii. 19.

10. 2. What is the next particular upon which we are to Examine ourselves, before we come to the Holy Communion ?

A. Whether we come to it, with a thankful Bemembrance of Chrift's Death; which is therein defign'd to be fet forth, and fhewn by Us. Whether we are truly fenfible of the Infinite Love of God, and Condefcenfion of Jefus Chrift, thereby declared to Us. Whether we are careful always to keep up in our Minds, a lively Memory of his Death, and Paffion: And do, by the Sincerity of our Love to God, and the Zeal we have for our Duty; endeavour, in fome measure, to testify how hearty a Sense we have of those unfpeakable Mercies, which he has been pleased thereby to favour us withal.

11. 2. What is the laft Thing concerning which we are to Examine ourselves?

A. Whether we are in Charity with all Men: Whether we do not only freely Forgive I 3 what

whatfoever Injuries Any may chance to have done Us, but are fo intirely Friends with them, as to be ready to do them all the Kindness we can; and that as fincerely, and heartily, as if they had never Offended Us, or Otherwife done Us the leaft Injury.

12.2. Is this all that is Required of Us, before we come to the Lord's Supper?

A. Other Exercifes there are, which may profitably be made Ufe of by Us, in order to our better Performance of thofe Duties we have before mention'd. Such are fome extraordinary Acts of Prayer, and Devotion to God; and of Charity towards our Neighbour. A Retirement from the Bufinefs, and Conversation of the World; but efpecially from the Follies, and Vanities of it. And thefe accompanied with fome Acts of Severity, and Mortification, whilst we are making the Examination of ourselves before propofed. But these must be govern'd by the Rules of Prudence, as every Man's Bufinefs, Opportunities, Needs, State of Health, and the like Circumftances, either require, or will allow of.

13.2. Is fuch a Preparatory Examination of Ourfelves, fo neceflary before we Come to the Holy Table, that we may, in no Cafe, prefume to Come without it?

A. No, it is not: Those who live in a Strict, and Regular Courfe of Life, and have nothing Extraordinary happen to Them, as they always know what their State towards God is, fo are they always Ready to Receive this Holy Sacrament; and need not be afraid, upon any Occafion, to partake of it, although they had not the Opportunity of making a particular, previous Preparation of themfelves for it. Yet, if even these fhould defign to go, at a certain Time (before known) to the Com

munion,

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