confist; but it is a Relative thing, instituted by our Saviour as a Means to promote and carry on that Noble End, for which the Grace of God hath appeared unto all Men; that denying all Ungodliness and Worldly Lufts, we should live Soberly, Righteously, and Godly in this prefent World, Tit. 2. 12. Here indeed we lay the Foundation of a life of Virtue, by devoting unto God the Powers and Faculties of our Souls, and the Members of our Bodies: but as the Ground-work is in order to a Superftructure; fo are our Actions now in order to the further edifying and perfecting of us, that we may be built up more and more in our most Holy Faith, and being fitly framed together and compacted, may grow and rife up by degrees to an Holy Temple for the Lord, to be an Habitation of God through the Spirit.

THIS you will eafily perceive, if you obferve, 1. The Nature of the Ordinance it felf. It is first, a Reprefentation of the very Death of Chrift; a Representation exhibited to our Sences, by the breaking of the Bread, and the effufion of the Wine. And what doth this mean, but to awaken our Fears, by fhewing us the Terror of the Lord, who for the expiation of the World's Guilt, fpared not his own Son, 'nor would be reconciled to the World at a

low

lower rate, than by delivering him up to Torments and Death for us all? What doth it mean, but to fet our Zeal a work upon mortifying all our Lufts and Affections, and upon perfecting Holiness in the fear of God, because Chrift gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all Iniquity,and Purifie unto himself a peculiar People, zealous of good works? What doth it mean, but to make us ever watchful and circumfpect, left we tread under foot the Blood of the Son of God? Because, if we fin wilfully after we have received the Knowledge of the Truth, there remaineth no more Sacrifice for Sin, Heb. 10. 26. It is, fecondly, a Memorial of Chrift's Love, Love ftronger than Death, that made him give his life a ranfom for the ungodly. And what doth this mean, but to kindle in our Hearts the most ardent Affections to Him again, who fo loved us, as to die for us? The greatest Affection this, that 'tis poffible for any Mortal Man to exprefs, to lay down his Life for the Brethren: But yet infinitely fhort of that, which the Son of God expressed upon the Crofs, for his Enemies: In this he commended his Love towards us, above all proportion and comparison, in that while we were yet Sinners Ghrift died for us,the Just for the Unjuft. It is thirdly,

thirdly, a foederal Solemnity, whereby we renew the Covenant we entred into at our Baptifm, Vowing, Promifing, and Engaging over the Symbols of Chrift's Body and Blood; and Swearing, as it were, with our Hands laid upon the Redeemer of our Souls, that we will henceforth walk in Newness of Life. And what doth this mean, but to bind us with the most Solemn Securities, and under the most dreadful Penalties, to renounce the Devil and all his Works; to deny all the Lufts of the Flesh, fo as not to follow or be led by them; and not only to offer up our Hearts and Spirits unto the God of Purity, but to prefent even our Bodies a living Sacrifice, Holy and Acceptable to him? And for the farthering of all thefe Noble Ends, this Mystery is, in the Fourth place, the very Means of Grace and Salvation, an Inftrument that conveys to us the prefent, Poffeffion of all neceffary and fuitable Affiftances, and a Title under Seal to all the Evangelical Promises, and particularly to this, that he that perfevereth unto the end, the fame fhall be faved; and that to them who by patient continuance in well-do ing, feek for Glory and Honour, and Immortality, God will render Eternal Life, Rom. 2.7. And what doth this mean

:

too,

too, but that we fhould grow in Grace; that we must not grieve the good Spirit of God, whereby we are Sealed to the day of Redemption; but that we should be ftrong in the Lord, and in the power of his Might, and give all manner of diligence to make our Calling and Election unto Grace fure and effectual, by adding to our Faith, Virtue (or Courage) and to Virtue, Knowledge; and to Knowledge, Temperance; and to Temperance, Patience; and to Patience, Godliness; and to Godliness, Brotherly Kindness; and to Brotherly Kindnefs, Charity; Charity, in the highest degree, to all Mankind, and even to our Enemies? Thus, you fee, the nature of the Ordinance it felf is fuch, that it is not only highly ufeful for the prefont, but of mighty Importance for the future; it hath a tendency forward; and it drives at mighty Ends, which our endeavours are to be employ'd about, after the Celebration of it is over; that we may be more and more Partakers of the Divine Nature, and come every day nearer and nearer to the Life of God.

TO confirm this ftill, we may obferve, Secondly, That thofe very Preparations which are required in order to our worthy Communicating, do all look the fame way, and have a direct tendency to the

fame

fame purpose. Thus Faith, or the hearty belief of the truth of our Religion upon those Evidences and Motives it carries with it, is naturally productive of conftant Obedience to the Precepts of it, throughout the whole courfe of our lives. For as it discovers to us the Folly, the Shamefulness, and the bitter Fruits of Sin; fo it fhews us on the other hand the excellence of Virtue, and the beauty of Holiness. It proposes Chrift's Yoke as an eafie thing, especially to fuch as make a due ufe of the Spirits Affiftance, and accuftom themselves to the familiar practice of Religion. And though at the first entrance upon a Life of Holiness, there may be many difficulties for us to grap. ple with, Affections to be regulated, evil Habits to be eradicated Pleafures and fecular Advantages to be denied, when they stand in competition with our Duty; and though in the progrefs of our life many temptations from within and without us are to be refifted; many hardfhips and tryals to be expected, and afeveral kinds to be met with before we die; yet we learn from our Religion, that the prefent fatisfactions which attend a courfe of Virtue are fo great, and the future Rewards which are to crown it, are fo end

T

bundance of discouragements of

lefs