ditations. Both of these do fit us to receive holy exhortations, and useful inftructions; and they again ftir us up to more frequency and fervency in prayer and meditation. And these together, with all the former that I have mentioned, do prepare us for the facrament, and for keeping the holy feaft of Chriftians in the fupper of the Lord; and this again, affords fuch nourishment, that it makes us ftrong in the grace. of Chrift, and to perform all other duties with a greater pleafure, and with more delight to God and to ourselves.

BUT it must also be acknowledged, That there is fome other preparation requifite to holy duties, befide all this that I have mentioned. For, though fervency in any one duty of our religion, doth fit us to be more fervent in all the reft; and though the works of our employment confcientiously discharged, do fit us for the duties of religion; yet to the doing of them fervently, it is needful that we lay out of our mind all other thoughts that concern them not. Now the works of our ordinary employments,

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ployments, being about a different matter from the works of devotion; and the mind full of one thing, not being able presently to be void for other company;we must spend some time to discharge our thoughts of such objects, as are foreign to these holy duties we go about. Conftancy in our lawful business doth hinder many indifpofitions and ill habits in our minds, which elfe would grow up in us; but yet they may leave fome little indifpofitions in us, at least to such a fervency in devotion, as we would arife unto. Thefe therefore must be laid afide in fome meafure, and the thoughts of them give way for fome time to holy purposes, that the duties of religion may enter, and more fully poffefs our minds.

AND when we are thus at leifure, let us fet ourselves to confider what is the end of this rite, and what lieth bid under the ceremony. This one thing feems to call for fome folemn thoughts beforehand, because it is a part of our religion, which is cloathed with an outward garment; it hath fomething of a pofitive inftitution in

it, and retains fomething of the ceremony, the fignification of which is to be studied, left we should not difcern the Lord's body. If we look not beyond the fhadow, we shall feed nothing but our body; or if we draw afide the veil but half way, we shall lofe a great part of the food of our fouls, which are instructed by every part of this holy action. We must therefore labour to uncover the face of this myfterious food, and confider it in all its spiritual notions. When we intend to remember Christ in the facrament, let us confider whither we are going; what that table is, which is fpread for us; what means that broken bread which is provided; and for what end his precious blood was shed. Let us look into his wounds with joy and gladnefs, to see how his heart doth beat with love towards us. Let us open our hearts unto him, and fhew an abhorrence and deteftation of those fins, for which he suffered, that he might save us from eternal ruin.

AND then, we fhould confider, in the next place, what acts are most proper when

we shall be at God's table. We should think with ourselves, what hatred of fin, what defire, what love to God, and what charity to our brethren, is then to be expreffed, what prayers and interceffions, what praises and thanksgivings, are then to be offered. For we fhall scarce spend our time well there, unless we be provided with fome matter for our thoughts at that time. And therefore it is good to confider with ourselves, what difpofition of foul doth beft agree, with every part of this facred action. How the mind is to be affected at the breaking of the bread, and the pouring out of the wine; how it is to be moved when they are bleffed and prefented unto God; and how when they are taken and received by us.

AND when we have diligently pondered of this, Let us begin to ftir up thofe affections beforehand, which will prepare us to a more lively expreffion of them when we come there. Let us begin to admire at God's goodness, that he will fend an invitation to fuch poor wretches as we are. Let us render him many thanks, for that being

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being a Lord of fuch majefty, he would vouchfafe with fo much humility to come and dwell in our flesh; and that he should love us better than his life, and that he will not forget us now that he lives in heaven.

In the next place, Let us further endeavour, that all the paffions and affections of our fouls may be quieted and fill. We must take fome pains with them, that they may be fo mortified and deadened to the world, that then they may not be too quick and lively, and hinder our meditations of heavenly things. For this is a Spiritual banquet, and the food gives no nourishment, but what we receive by meditation, by ferious thoughts and affections, which can find no place, but only in ftill and quiet fouls. There should be no tumults of anger and fuch like paffions, because we converfe with the God of love. All our storms should be husht and laid, as if we heard our Saviour's voice, faying, Peace, be fill. And therefore all holy men have taken an efpecial care, when

they