and Repentance be fuch as is required, yet ftill 'tis Neceffary for him to Receive the Holy Communion, because 'tis needful for him to have the Seal of that Righteoufness which he hath by Faith. We know that Abraham Believed, and found favour with God before he was Circumcised; and yet by Circumcifion he was Allured of God's favour. In like manner, fuppofe a Believer to be forgiven before he comes to the Lord's Table, yet he is Affured of his forgiveness by coming to it; and 'tis neceffiry for People ever to take that course which is most for their Safety and Satisfation. Every man is apt to think so in Civil Contracts, fo that though a Deed be drawn, and agreed to, yet they think themfelves not fure enough, 'till the Wax and the Seal be added. And truly, if the Children of Light were as wife in their Generation, as the Children of this World are in their kind of Wisdom, they would think every thing Neceffary, that helpeth to give. them the more and more Affurance. Now this bleffed Ordinance hath fuch an Effe&t and Tendency; fo that let a Penitent's condition be never so good, an honest-hearted Communicant's is much better; his Confidence is better grounded; his Hopes are built upon a furer bafis; and the Comforts of his heart must be stronger, and the Peace

C 3

Peace of his Confcience, must be greater, and his Condition must needs be every way much fafer, than His can be, who from time to time Neglecteth fo great Salvation. For, in the Fourth place, It is upon the due Use of God's Ordinances, that he entitleth us to Eternal Life. Though he be loving unto every man, and is ready to pardon every true Penitent, yet hath he fet us our way, to obtain our pardon; he hath directed a method and course, in order to our Salvation; and men must obferve that method, and take that course, if they will be happy. 'Tis not Peoples Fancies that can fave them; nor must they think to Capitulate with Almighty God; or to prescribe Him Conditions; but with all heartiness and readiness obferve those Conditions which he hath prescribed Vs. Now this is God's Method, to bring men to Happiness upon a due Ufe of Sacraments, as well as by other Performances; and we must conclude, that he who requireth thofe Duties we owe our Selves and our Neighbours, will also (and much rather) exact that Duty we owe his Son. In short, men must go in God's Way, and follow God's Directions, and then depend upon his Goodness and Mercy in fo doing. If the Jews in the Wilderness intend to be healed of their

Wounds,

.

Wounds, they must look upon the Brafen Serpent. Indeed God might have made them whole and found only by a word from his Mouth; but this was not his way, and therefore there was a necessity for them to make ufe of the other way that he had ordered them, Namb. 21. And fo if Naaman will be healed of his Leprofié, he muft go down into Jordan, and wash jeven times. Indeed he muttered at the Prophet, becaufe he did not frike his band over the place as he might have done) and he bragged of Abana and Pharphar, that they were as good Waters as any Rivers in Judea (as perhaps they were) and yet for all this, the Prophet's hand must not heal him, nor will all the Rivers of Damafcus do him good, but to Jordan he muft go, or elfe return a Leper; as he went, 2 Kings 5. Why thus it is in the prefent cafe: God hath promifed to pardon all penitent people, and to heal them of their Wounds and Leprofies; but withall, he hath fhew'd them whither they muft go, and what Means they must make use of; he hath ordered us to Do This, to Eat of this Bread, and to Drink of this Cup for the remiffion of fins; and we are not to begrudge our Duty, but to follow God's Method and Command, and to expect his Bleffing. Men must not

effing.

4

bold

bold off and forbear, because God can pardon them without thefe Means; or because fuch great things are spoken of Faith and Repentance; they muft not let go Certainties, and truft to Poffibilities; nor flight any Ordinance, as if it were unneceffary, upon a Prefumption that God's Mercy and Power is All-fufficient. No, they must fhew their Obedience; and have recourse to those Means which God hath Appointed: And this is one, and a principal one; viz. the Receiving of this Bleffed Sacrament.

СНА Р.

CHA P. II.

Several Excufes Confidered.

WH

HAT hath been thus delivered, will I hope prevail with thofe, who will be Wife for themselves; who study to be blameless and harmless, the Sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation.

BUT it is a moft difficult Matter to Perfwade, especially to Actions that are of a Divine and Spiritual Nature. Though Interest be commonly the most powerful Rhetorick in the World, and Mens greatest Interest is concern'd in this Cafe, yet because they do not difcern with their Eyes, either the Advantages that are Received by a Worthy Ufe, or the Loffes that are fuftain'd by an unworthy Contempt of this Ordinance; fuch is the Folly and Stupidity of many People, that any pretence almost serveth as an Excuse and Plea (fufficient, as they think) to keep them from the Lord's Table. That Great Perfon, Luke 14. that made a costly Supper, and Invited many Guests, received very rude Returns; when they prefently pretended,

one,

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