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ciety: Now the great Reason why Chrift gave himself for us, was, to purchase to himself a peculiar People, zealous of good Works. As God's Children, they are obliged to imitate their heavenly Father in his moral Perfections; and that great Honour and Privilege certainly requires Obfervance and Obedience. As Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven, they are obliged not to forfeit their Title, which we can never be made Partakers of, but by a patient Continuance in Well-doing.

III. In the Nature of the holy Rite that is performed. Now this plainly appears to be a public confenting to that Promife their Sureties made for them, and ratifying it before the Church, and promifing themfelves, that they will evermore endeavour faithfully to obferve fuch Things as they, by their own Confeffion, have aflented unto: Whereupon. the Bishop folemnly bleffes them; and having received Authority thereunto, prays over them, that they may receive the ordinary Gifts of God's holy Spirit: But the Church being for fome Time fettled, the Holy Ghoft governs it by fecret and invifible Communications; and thefe common Graces are obtained by fuch as are qualified' to receive them, and feek them. in a regular andi Minifterial Way. They who are preparing themselves for Confirination, fhould frequently read over the Office composed for

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that

that Purpose, which clearly explains the Nature of it.

IV. In the Character of that Church Officer who adminifters it. This it is poffible, may feem unneceffary to fome People; but if our Youth were early inftructed in the Nature of a Church, as a Society; and that the Governors of it, called Bifhops, are Succeffors to the Apostles, and receive their Commiffion by a divine Authority, it would have a mighty Influence upon the future Conduct of their Lives! they would not be toffed to and fro, and carried about with every Iind of Doctrine by the Sleight of Men, and cunning Craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive; they would become ftedfaft to the Communion of the Church by Principle, which is the only Means to, fecure then true Members. Now the preparing for Confirmation feems to be a proper Time for fuch Inftruction; because the Candidate then first finds a Bishop's Prefence neceffary to perform the Office.

V. They fhould prepare themselves farther by Prayer and Fafting. After all the Pains we have taken to inform ourfelves in the Nature of our Duty, we muft beg of God that He would open our Eyes, that we may fee the wonderous Things of his Law; it is from Him that our Understandings must receive Light to discover our Duty, and our Wills Strength and Ability to perform it; and therefore to Him

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Him we must addrefs for that Temper and Preparation of Mind, that may qualify us to receive the happy Effects of this folemn Rite: And in order to make our Prayers more ef fectual, we should accompany them with Fafting; a Duty all along obferved by devout Men, and acceptable to God, under the Old and New Teftament, both as it was helpful to their Devotion, and as it became a Part of it.

VI. By a fincere Repentance for their paft Sins. Nothing is a greater Let and Hindrance to the Influences of God's Holy Spirit, than the cherishing and indulging any Breach of his holy Laws: It is not reasonable to expect any Teftimony of his Favour and Kindnefs, as long as we remain in a State of Rebellion againft Him; now by confenting to any known Iniquity, we offer the greatest Affront imaginable to the divine Majefty; and therefore if we pretend to receive the Influences of his Holy Spirit, we muft reconcile ourfelves to Him by an humble Confeffion of onr paft Follies; by an hearty Sorrow for having offended Him; and by fincere and effectual Refolutions of better Obedience for the Time to come: This Repentance will qualify us to partake of the Mercy of God, which, for the Sake of Chrift's Sufferings, He is ready to bestow upon all thofe that feek Him with their whole Heart. K 6

VII. By

VII. By a ferious Refolution of living anfwerably to their Obligations. By this folemn and public Profeffion of our Faith, we may impose upon Men, because they cannot difcover the Secrets of our Hearts; nay, Charity obliges them to think us fincere, if they have not full Evidence to the contrary: But God, whofe particular Attribute it is to know the Heart, is privy to our most retired Thoughts; and confequently, if we engage only out of Custom, and in Compliance with the Fashion of the World, as He rejects our pretended Dedication of ourselves to his Service, fo he may withhold that Grace which commonly attends, this Ordinance, fince we render ourfelves unworthy of the Influences of it, by never really defigning what we openly appear to profefs. As you value therefore the Bleffings of this holy Rite, you muft ferioufly refolve to practise what you folemnly engage to perform; you must endeavour to bring your Life to a Conformity with that Pattern you have now propofed; this may draw down the prefent Affiftances of God's Holy Spirit, and may difpofe him to pity thofe Frailties and Infirmities, to which Surprife and Temptation may expose you, by granting farther Meafures neceffary for your Recovery. In order to this Purpofe, it will be very fit frequently to read over the Offices of Baptifm and Confirmation, whereby you will be acquainted with the

Bleffings

Bleffings you may expect, and the Duties you are obliged to perform,

CHAP. XIX.

FOR FRIDAY.

Receiving the Communion.

THIS is juftly reckoned one of the moft important Actions of our holy Religion; whereby as we diftinguifh ourselves to be the Difciples and Followers of the bleffed Jefus,. fo we are admitted to the highest Act of Communion with Him. If Men were more fenfible of their Duty in frequenting the Lord's Table, it is impoffible they fhould run to that Excess of Wickednefs which now too generally abounds among us; and if they who do approach more regularly, would endeavour to trim their Lamps, and to fpiritualise their Affections, true Chriftian Zeal would increase infenfibly; and we fhould not find that Backwardness and Indifferency to every Thing that is Good.

Imprint, O God, upon my Mind, a juft Senfe of this important Duty, and let all my Ap

proaches

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