nance, and who make confcience of attending it, and preparing for it, but are oft filled with doubts and fears, least they be unworthy communicants, apprehending they have no right to Chrift's table, in regard they do not perceive any fure marks of grace in their hearts, nor find any fenfible beneft by the ordinance: Wherefore I have, for the fake of fuch, laid down many marks for examining their ftate, their graces, their frame, and profiting by this ordinance: And alfo have intermixed the book with a great variety of cafes of confcience, which I have handled and refolved for the relief and support of fuch ferious fouls.

4thly, I defign to confute those who corrupt this holy ordinance, or in any measure deviate from Chrift's inftitution; and therefore I have gone through the several parts of the institution, fhown the usefulness and fignificancy thereof, and have fairly propofed the matters in controverfy, with the adversaries objections, and anfwered them.

5thly, I am to reprove and reform thofe, who ruth upon this ordinance in an ignorant or careless manner, without due preparation; by showing who only have a right to this table, what is the nature and importance of the work of communicating, with the fin and danger of doing it unworthily.

6thly, I intend likewife to reprove thofe, who live in the habitual neglect of this ordinance; by laying open the neceffity and advantages of worthy communicating, and the guilt and hazard of neglecting Chrift's inftitution and dying command.

Seventhly, To reprove those who fatisfy themfelves with the communicating once in a year or two years, as they have the occafion only in their own parish kirks, and no oftener; by fhewing the obligations that lie on all Chrift's difciples to partake often. And I fhall add, in this place, that there is ground to fear, that the unfrequent celebration and participation of this bleffed feaft, which Chrift hath prepared for us, is an evil that many in this church are chargeable with, and for which the Lord may plead a controverfy with us. How can we expect but he will depart from us, when we ftand at fuch a distance from him, and come fo feldom near him in the method he hath appointed? Can we look for the fmiles of Chrift's countenance, when we live fo much in the neglect of his dying words? Is it any wonder our hearts are fo hard, when we are so feldom applying the blood of Chrift for foftening them? VOL. II.

B

Or

Or that our graces be fo weak and withered, when we fo little use the means for ftrengthening and cherishing them? Is not the frequent use of this ordinance, in the way Christ hath appointed, an excellent help, to foften our hearts, renew our repentance, strengthen our faith, inflame our love, increase our thankfulness, animate our refolutions against fin, and encourage us to holy duties, and shall we willingly neglect it? It is no wonder that we complain we miss what we aim at and expect in this ordinance, when we are fo little fenfible of former neglects. It is a fad figs our receiving of this facrament is not right, when it leaves not in us earnest breathings for the like opportunity; is it poffible for us to meet with Chrift, and tafte of his fweetnefs and fulness in this ordinance, and not long for another meeting?

Let none think, that the frequency of the adminiftration would expofe to contempt; for I am fure no worthy communicant will undervalue this ordinance, because of a frequent repetition, but rather prize it the more. Did the primitive Chriftians bring it to contempt, by partaking every Lord's day? Nay, was not their efteem of it much higher than thofe who difpenfe, or receive it only once in two years? I with the words of our dying Saviour, and the acts of our General Affemby, relative to this matter, were more adverted to, by one and all of us.

The mind of our church, with refpect to this point, is well known: For our directory for public worship de clares, That the Lord's fupper is frequently to be cele brated." Our reformers appointed it to be administrate in parishes three or four times in the year, and that ministers who were flothful in the administration of it, should be cenfured, as appears from the acts of Aff. 1562, and 1596; which are alfo approven by Aff. 1638, who further ap point," That fume courfe be taken for turnishing of the elements, where the minister of the parish hath allowance "only for once in the year;" that fo the want of a fund for communion-elements might not hinder the frequent administration of this ordinance. Again, left the multiplicity of preaching, or minifters aflifting at it, fhould binder its frequency, the General Affembly, anno 1645, did appoint, That minifters should have, at this work, but two affiftants, who were to provide their own parishes at home with preaching; and that there be but one preparationfermon on the Saturday, only one fermon on the Sabbath

morning

morning before ferving of the tables, and one thanksgiv ing-fermon after the communion.”

And that the church, fince the Revolution, continues to be of the fame mind with our predeceffors, concerning the frequency of celebrating this ordinance appears from the late acts of the General Affembly thereanent; particularly the 9th act of Aff. 1701; where it is recommended to prefbyteries," To take care, that the facrament of the Lord's fupper be more frequently adminiftrate in their bounds; and that the number of minifters to ferve thereat be reftricted, fo that neighbouring churches be not thereby caft defolate on the Lord's day." But the act, which is moft plain and particular on this head, is the 11th act of Aff. 1712, entitled, " A&t. appointing the more frequent Celebration of the Lord Supper." And it runs thus: "The General Affembly, confidering that the affemblies of the national church, having, by fe. veral acts, appointed the frequent celebration of the holy facrament of the Lord's fupper, in all the congregations of this church; and judging, that the due obfervation of thefe acts will greatly tend to the glory of God, and the edification of fouls; therefore, they do hereby enjoin all prefbyteries to inquire, if thefe acts be duly obferved by all the brethren; and, n cafe any minifter thall neglect to celebrate the facrament of the Lord's fupper in his parish for a whole year. the affembly appoints the prefbytery, in which the faid parifh lies, to call for an account of the reafons of his omiffion of that great and folemn ordinance, and to approve or d fapprove the fame, as they fhall fee caufe, and to record their diligence in this matter. And, for making this effectual the general affembly enjoins the fynods, at their feveral meetings, to inquire at the presbyteries within their bounds, what care they have taken to execute the faid act," &c. And further, that the Lord's people may have opportunity of frequent communicating, the General Affembly, by the 6th Act, Aff. 1711. "Do recommend to prefbyteries to do what they can, to get it fo ordered that the facrament of the Lord's fupper may be adminiftered in their bounds, through the feveral months of the year. And this they enacted, for redreffing the practices, that are too common in moft places, of crowding the whole communions of the bounds, in the space of a few fabbaths, in the fummer feafon; whereby minifters, who are called to affift at these occafions, are exceedingly hurried

B 2

hurried and ftraitened; and serious exercised persons are deprived of the benefit of that holy ordinance during the reft of the year, which is certainly a very great lofs; and alfo many parishes, by this method, are allowed the facrament no oftener than once in two years: Which practices are still continued, notwithstanding of all the excellent acts to the contrary. However, I am glad to hear, that, in fome parishes, ministers have begun to celebrate this ordinance twice in the year: I heartily with this practice were general among us, and people had a lively appetite after this quickening feast.

I confefs, there is one thing among us, which is a great obftruction to the frequent celebration of this ordinance, viz. The great number of minifters and preachings now used on fuch occafions, which truly makes that folemn work a business of such outward toil and labour to the adminiftrators, as difcourages them frequently to undertake it. So that, till fome regulation be made in the forefaid respect, I despair of feeing this holy ordinance dispensed fo frequently among us as it ought to be.

Not

In the days of old, there was lefs preaching at communions, but much power and life in them; but in our days, there is much preaching but little power. that I am againft much preaching at thefe occafions, where there is an appetite among the hearers, and where plenty of minifters may be had, without laying the neighbouring congregations defolate, or proving any let to the frequency of this ordinance; but to make it a ftanding order, that there fhall be fo many preachings, whether there be an appetite or no, or whatever inconveniencies thould follow, I apprehend cannot be fo eafily justified. I cknowledge, about the time of our late happy Revolution, when fo much preaching at communions began to be a fettled practice, there were fuch vehement defires among the people after the ordinance, and lively preaching of the word, that had been fo fcarce for fo many years before, that it was neceffary to gratify them with much preaching at these folemn occafions; but it is not to be expected that these longings fhould always continue. In thofe primitive times of Chriftianity, when the disciples hearts flamed with love to their lately crucified and affcended Redeemer, they had fuch burning defires after the ordinances and preaching of the gofpel, that the apostle Paul, at the celebration of the Lord's fupper, Acts xx. 7.

was

was encouraged to continue preaching to the people till mid-night; yet none ever pleaded, that the apostle's practice on that occafion fhould be a standing rule for the church in all time coming.

But that I be not too tedious in this preface, I shall on. ly acquaint my reader, that I have chosen to handle this excellent fubject in a catechistical method, as being the moft eafy and familiar way of inftructing the ignorant, and most easy for the memory to retain. The work of catechifing hath been fignally blessed of God, for instructing people in the principles of Chriflianity: And where this is neglected or contemned, people understand little of the most excellent fermons they hear, and are little edified by them. Proper food must be provided for children, as well as meat for ftrong men. And hence it is, that the chief Shepherd enjoins his fervants to feed his lambs, as well as his fheep.

I know the church of Scotland is already provided with excellent Catechifms, both Shorter and Larger, and with a choice explanation of the Shorter by Mr Vincent, all which I earnestly recommend to the reader's diligent perufal; and especially our Larger Catechifm, as contain, ing a noble system of divinity; it would be the advantage of all the members of this church, to be at more pains in reading, confidering, and laying it up in their memories, than generally they are. The approbation of the Larger Catechifm, by the General Affembly, 1648, Seff. 10. fhould not be forgotten; in which we find, that, after the moft exact trial and examination, both by the respective prefbyteries of this church, and by the affembly itself, they do declare this Catechifm to be moft agreeable to the word of God, and the received doctrine of this church; and that it is a rich treasure for increafing knowledge 'among the people of God; where alfo they blefs God that fo excellent a Catechifm is prepared, with whom I do heartily join iffue. But, feeing it cannot be expected that any Catechifm of its bulk (which is of an univerfal nature, treating on all the heads of divinity) should be fo full and copious about the facraments, and particularly the Lord's fupper, as the neceffity of fome do require; I have adventured to compofe this Sacramental Catechism, for the benefit of young communicants, and others weak in knowledge; and have ftudied to contract as much of the doctrine of the covenants, and of the facraments, as pof