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Mafter, it is good for us to be here, let us build tabernacles, q. d. Let us dwell still here, and not go down to yon vain empty world again; here's better company and purer delights." But, O how much more is Peter ravifhed with wonder now! This was but a small part of that glory, which Peter and the faints above fee there

O believers, you ought in a communion day to get up to the mount of meditation, as Mofes did to the mount Nebo, and view this promifed land; and, as ye fee it, you ought to long for it, and alfo "rejoice in hope of the glory of God," and fay, "O thall Here long join with that one hundred and forty-four thoufand that follow the Lamb? Shall I bear a part in that heavenly concert? Shall all tears be wipt from my eyes? Shall my poor dying body be turned into a glorious fear? Shall I be for ever with the Lord, and drink of the ri vers of pleasure that run clear as crystal alongst the banks of eternity, and whofe ftreams make glad the ci ty of God? And fhall not my heart leap for joy at the profpect of it? The night is far spent, and the day is at hand, the fun is at the rifing; and, will not a believer rejoice in hope of it ?"

The wife men, when they but faw the ftar that pointed out where Chrift was, yet it is faid, "They rejoiced with exceeding great joy" Matt. ii. 10. But, O believing communicant, thou wilt fhortly fee the ftar of Jacob, namely, Chrift himself, who is the "bright morning ftar," fhining in his glory; and will not that cause far more joy to thee? If the difciples returned from the fepulchre with great joy, when they but got the news that Chrift was rifen from the dead; what joy will it be to thee, to fee him raised and reigning in his glory, and thyfelf raised from the grave to reign eternally with him?

Well then, let a communion-day, and the comforts of it, put thee in mind of that happy ftate, and raise fuitable defires and affections in thee towards it, and make thee long and fay, "Lord, thefe joys are too great to enter into me now; O make me fit to enter into them!"

Lafly,

Laftly, As far as time and strength can allow, the evening of a communion fabbath fhould be spent in fecret and family duties. I acknowledge our frail bodies. may be much fatigued by our long attendance, intensenefs and abstinence this day: But O if we could say this evening (and particularly minifters and elders, who had greater work this day upon their hands than others) that though we may be weary with our work, yet we are not weary of this work; for it is Chrift's work, which is both pleafant and profitable, and carries its own reward in its bofom !

And fince your bodies must be refreshed this night, and you must entertain fome fellowship with others, there ought to be a more divine and heavenly air upon your converfations at this time than ordinary: Let your carriage and difcourfe be fuch as becomes those who have been on the mount this day with God, that others may take notice of you, that you have been with Jefus.

When you fee the table covered this night, or fup per fet upon it, you may think or fay, "Now I am come from a communion-table to a common-table; from tafting of the upper-fprings, to fhare of the nether→ fprings; from feeding on manna, to eat the bread that peritheth: How great is the change of my fare! Lord, let not this table be a fnare to me, nor any wife tend to divert my mind either from the sweet table I have been at, or that bleft table above I would be at." We may likewise take occafion to admire the infinite bounty and goodness of God to both our fouls and bodies: O what pains and coft he is at with us! At our common table we fee his beafts killed to maintain the life of our bodies, and at the communion-table we have feen his dear Son flain to preserve the life of our fouls.

In the last place, keep a watchful eye upon all your thoughts and words this night; look well to the frames. of your fouls. Hath God fhed abroad his love this day in your hearts? keep yourselves in the love of God. Ly down this night with fweet thoughts of Christ, fervently praying for a rich blessing upon the day's work, VOL. I

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and for his gracious prefence on the morrow, that the laft day of the feaft may be the greateft and fweeteft.

SECT. III. Containing directions to all Communicants in general, concerning their after conversation in the world.

REMEMBER you have been covenanting with God, and taking folemn vows on yourselves at the Lord's table; fee that your converfations be fuitable hereunto. You have been admitted to great honours and fpecial privileges: See then that ye fhew your thankfulness to God the author of your mercies, by the love of your hearts, the praifes of your lips, and exemplarinets of your lives. But more particularly, obferve these following directions.

DIRECT. I. Study to be true and faithful Soldiers to your General, whofe colours you have folemnly fworn to.

YOU have come under a facramental oath to God; fee that you keep it facred and inviolable. The Pfalmift gives it as a mark of a man that will go to heaven, Pfal. xv. that he keeps his oaths and promifes, even though it should be to his hurt and prejudice. How much more, then, fhould a man be careful to keep his oaths and engagements he comes under to God in the facrament, when it is greatly for his good and advantage fo to do? O communicant, be faithful to the Captain of your falvation, abide by his ftandard, defert him not in the day of battle, go not over to his enemies camp. Remember what he hath done and fuffered for you, and let the love of Christ constrain you to abide with him. Plutarch tells us of the foldiers of Pompey, that when he could not keep them in the camp by any perfuafion, yet when Pompey threw himself on the ground, faying, if ye will go, ye fhall trample on your general; it is

faid, they were overcome and perfuaded to stay. So your general, Chrift, when in the garden, threw himfelf on the ground, wrestling in an agony, to fave you from fin, and stop your career to hell: O then do not trample on your general, but ftop your felf destroying courfe, and abide with your Saviour. We read, 2 Sam, xx. 12. that David's foldiers while marching very fast, when they faw the dead body of Amafa lying in the way, (viz the general wallowing in blood) they stopt their march and stood ftill. O communicant, though for merly thou hast been marching furiously in the ways of fin, yet when thou feeft the mangled, wounded, pierced, and crucified body of thy Saviour before thee, thou fhouldft ftop thy courfe, and proceed no further. Oh, do not trample on thy wounded general, do not defpife his bleeding wounds, nor forget his dying love. Kee ftedfaftly your facramental oath, and never act contrary Beware of plotting against him, or correfponding with traitors. Let it never he heard, that any of Chrift's fworn foldiers fhall either defert or betray their renowned general. If you would be faithful foldiers to Chrift your general, then carefully obey his orders, couragiously adhere to his intereft, valiantly fight for his caufe, and manfully refift his enemies, and abide by his ftandard to the very laft. "Be thou faithful to the death, and thou shalt get the crown of life," Rev. ii. 10.

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DIRECT. II. Study to be active and diligent in a course of new obedience, after the Sacrament.

YOU fhould now walk circumfpectly, be more hum ble and pious towards God, more juft and righteous towards man, and more fober and temperate towards yourselves. Have a fincere refpect to every commanded duty: Keep the fabbath more exactly, hear more attentively, pray more fervently, meditate more fre quently, and fee to watch over your hearts, your words, and your ways, more diligently, that fo you may please God, walk worthy of Chrift, walk worthy of the covenant, of the facrament, of the kingdom, of the gofpel and grace of God. Let your prefent deportment be anfwerable

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anfwerable to your future preferment; and fee that there be fome proportion betwixt your privileges and your duties.

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It fhould be with a man after his communion with God in the facrament, as it was with Jacob after his communion with God in Bethel, Gen. xxix. 1. "Then Jacob lift up his feet, (as it is in the original) and came into the land of the people of the eaft." After Jacob had met with God, then he lift up his feet, i. e. he went on his journey with ftrength, with spirit and cheerfulness. So after we have had fellowship with God in the facrament, we fhould, in the ftrength of that meal, lift up our feet, and go on cheerfully and refolutely in our journey towards heaven. Nay, we fhould, like Jehoshaphat, not only have our hands and feet, but also Our hearts lift up in the way of the Lord." We fhould now run his errand moft cheerfully, fing in his ways, and ferve him with alacrity. When God calls us to any duty, we should prefently answer the first intimation of his will," Speak, Lord, for thy fervant heareth." O communicant, thou oughtest now to be fwift to hear every one of God's calls; be like the Pfalmift, Pfal. xxvii. 8. "When thou faidft, Seek ye my face; my heart faid unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I feek." Though before I have neglected to feek thee in public with others, and in private by myself, and been, alas, very negligent in the duties of thy worship; yet now I will begin to read the fcriptures, praife thy name, and pray diligently, not only in fociety with others, but alfo by myfelf in fecret, and do all thefe duties of holiness mine cath at the facrament doth bind me unto. And fee that you refolve and perform all thefe, leaning to the strength of your covenanted Redeemer.

DIRECT. III. Abandon all your former known fins, and ftrictly guard against them after the Sacrament.

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REMEMBER what Paul faith, Eph. iv. 28. "Let him that stole, steal no more," &c. In like manner, fay I, let him that profaned God's name, profane it nó

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