not coming to the Holy Communion; because all Business is confiftent with the Duties of Religion, provided we govern our Affairs by Chriftian Principles: tho' fuch Men have not Leifure for fo much actual Preparation, yet they may have that habitual Preparation, upon which the great Strefs ought to be laid in this Matter: Nay,even the confcientious Discharge of a Man's Duty in his Businefs,may be one of the beft Qualifications to recommend him to God; fince every Man ferves God when he follows his Calling with Diligence, and obferves Juftice and Honesty in all his Dealings; and confequently, the greater Danger and Temptation he's expos'd to thro' the Multiplicity of Business, the more need hath he of God's Grace and Affiftance, which are abundantly communicated to us in this Holy Ordinance: So that Men of Bufinefs, if they have any ferious Thoughts of another World, ought more efpecially to lay hold on fuch Opportunities which fecures the Salvation of their Souls; for as they who have Leifure ought to Receive conftantly, as the beft Improvement of their Time; fo they that are engag'd in many worldly Affairs, ought to come the oftner to the Holy Communion, and learn how to fanctifie C

their

their Employments. But to proceed. THE other Branch of a A lively Faith in God's Mercy. Communicant's Duty is, to examine whether he hath a lively Faithin God's Mercy thro' Chrift. Examine your felves whether ye be in the Faith, 2 Cor.13.5. this Sacrament of the Lord's Supper being only appointed for fuch Believers as own their Baptifm, and profefs the Faith of Christ crucified, and understand the Fundamental Articles of the Chriftian Religion, contained in the Apoftles Creed, and alfo the End and Defign of this Holy Inftitution. The Benefits of our Saviour's Death and Paffion in this Sacrament are indeed freely offered unto all, but only effectually to Believers. As many as received him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe in his Name, John 1. 12. And this is Life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jefus Christ whom thou hast sent, John 17. 3. All that Chrift hath done and fuffered for us Men and our Salvation, can never profit us, unlefs we have Faith to believe it: That which muft render the Benefits and Bleffings of the Gofpel effectual to our Salvation, is, our Faith in Christ, Verily I fay unto you, (faith our Saviour) be that beareth my Words, and believeth on him that fent me, hath everlasting

Life, and fhall not come into Condemnation,but is paffed from death unto Life, John 5. 24. The ancient Churches accounted those only faithful that had received the Lord's Supper; and the Germans allow'd none to come unto their Sacrifices who had loft their Shields; nor does our own Church allow that any of us fhould come to this Chriftian Sacrifice without this Shield of Faith. Draw near with Faith, (fays the Prieft) and take this Holy Sacrament, to your Comfort. And this Faith for the Object hath God's Mercy,through Chrift,as the Fountain and Foundation of all thofe Infinite Bleffings and Comforts which we gain by his Manifestation in the Flesh; and if we inquire into the Cause and Reafon of fo much Mercy and Goodness to Mankind, no other can be given but the Riches of his Mercy, Eph. 2. 4. And if we further enquire how this Mercy became ours, the Answer is plain, It was thro' Chrift, by whom all the Bleffings of this Life,and thofe of a better,are purchafed for us, and must be obtained thro' the Merits and Interceffion of the Holy Jefus, by him we were redeemed, and according to the Riches of his Grace we have obtained Remiffion of our Sins, and thro' bim at last we shall be glorified.

A thankful Remem- AND to this our Faith

brance of his Death.

we must join a thankful Remembrance of his Death,and of thofe Benefits which we receive thereby. Our gracious and merciful Lord (faith holy David) hath fo done bis marvellous Works, that they ought to be had in remembrance, Pfal. 111.4. But efpecially this Work of our Redemption by Jefus Chrift,which to forget were an Ingratitude bafer and viler than ever Heathens or Publicans, the very worst of Mankind among the Jews, were known to be guilty of towards their Benefactors, Mat. 5. 46. Herein is Love, not that we loved God,but that he loved us,and fent his Son to be the Propitiation for our Sins, 1 John 4. 10. This is a Mercy far above all other Mercies, nay, it is even this which sweetens all other Mercies to us: Had there been no Redemption, our Creation had only made us capable of endless Torments, and it had been better for us never to have been born,than to inevitable Ruin; which must have been our Lot and Portion, had not the Son of God, by his own Oblation of himself,once offered upon theCross, • made a full, perfect, and fufficient Sacrifice and Satisfaction to God for the Sins of the whole World. The Confequences of this Redemption are fo infinitely great and valuable, that it as much furpaffes our

Under

Understanding as it does our Merits. This we are to declare and to publish to all the World, what God hath done to fave Mankind from that Damnation which they had deferved, and to restore us again to that Happiness and Glory which we could never expect or hope to enjoy, had not Chrift died for us. O come bither and bearken, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what he hath done for my Soul, Pfal. 66. 16. Praife the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his Benefits,who forgiveth all thy Sins, and be leth all thine Infirmities; who faveth thy Life from Destruction,and crowneth thee with Mercy and Loving-kindness, Pf. 103. 2, 3, 4. With what Joy and Thankfulnefs then should every good Chriftian commemorate this exceeding Love of God in the Salvation of Sinners by Jefus Chrift! This was the proper End and Defign of this Inftitution, to perpetuate this wonderful love of Chrift in laying down his Life for us. Do this in remembrance of me,faid ourSavi- to a frequent viour a little before his Cru- Communion. cifixion ; which being a folemn Command of our Mafter and only Saviour thus dying for us, we cannot refufe Obedience hereunto, without being guilty of the moft horrible Ingratitude and Contempt of his Divine Authority.He hath appoinC 3

Our Obligations

ted