And this there is the more need to inculcate, because there are too many that approach with a fair behaviour, and forward devotion to the holy table; who foon after take the liberty to run upon a new score of fin, hoping shortly to humble themselves, and to wipe all off again. Many that live in fecret pride, and earthly mindedness, in neglect of themselves, and disregard to all their brethren; many that fall back into heart-burnings, and evil furmifings, if not into open quarrels and contentions, who need to be awakened to look into them felves. Further; in the

Let us la

IV. PLACE, let us do this, bour to impress and retain an image of Christ upon our fouls, whom we have feen, as it were, crucified before our eyes. Let us represent unto ourselves, what fuch a perfon Chrift was, and what his manner of behaviour was in the world; and then let us labour to carry him in our mind, and have him before our eyes, that fo by looking on him, we may shape all our affections, and

all

all our actions, after that pattern which he hath fet us.

Let us endeavour to think every where, that we see him hanging upon the cross for our fins, or declaring to us his mind, or doing something that the gospel speaks of; fo that we may lead a mortified life, and be in every thing fashioned after his like nefs.

And this we must do the rather, because, as I have faid, he is now more nearly united unto us; fo that when we are to do any thing, we must act like him, we must confider how he did, or what he would do in fuch a cafe; and we must so behave ourfelves, that in a very proper sense, Christ may be faid to live in us.

We must so eat and drink, buy and fell, and do all fuch like things, as we think that Chrift would do them, were he in the flesh. We must become fo many images of him in the world; that they who fee us, may behold him, and glorify Christ who dwelleth in us.--- And this is the meaning of that expreffion of the apostle, when he bids us to put on the Lord Jefus

Cbrift's

Cbrift; that is, to be fo transformed into him, that both in our outward garb and deportment, and alfo in our inward affections, we may be a lively resemblance of him.

Now the fame apoftle tells us, That as many, as are baptized into Christ, have put en Chrift; and therefore much more, they who have eaten of his body, and drank of his blood, are fuppofed to have put him on, and to have dreffed their fouls compleatly after his holy image. They must labour to be all over godly, and to have an univerfal holiness and virtue, that they may be holy as he is holy.

And for our better direction Let us labour to do something, worthy of the expence of Chrift's blood; and to think what manner of perfons they ought to be, for whom the Lord of life died, and who are washed in the blood of that Lamb, who was flain for the fins of the world.."

Let us labour to do fomething, anfwer ́able to the dearest love of the great God of heaven and earth; and confider after what fort they ought to live, to whom God hath

2

given

given fo rich a gift, whom he hath ho noured, not only to be his fons, but to have his deareft Son to die for them.

Let us labour to do fomething, that may be anfwerable to fo many, and fo great means of falvation; and in particular we fhould think, what is expected from those; who have now received a greater strength from heaven.

We muft labour to do fomething, that is worthy of a foul and body, configned to immortal bleffedness. How holy should they be, who expect fuch great things? who have received fuch pledges of them? who wait for the Lord from heaven, to change these vile bodies into his likeness.

Let us not defile that body, which is become (as it were) the temple of the Lord and which is fanctified for the eternal manfions. Let us not profane that body and foul, which fhall for ever live with God, and are already become his habitation, through his holy Spirit dwelling in them.

And now let us confider, --- Can we think that thofe perfons do lead a life worthy of any of these, who delight not to converfe

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converse with God? who pray never, or but very feldom, and but very shortly, and as if their hearts were frozen; who hear fermons, and understand them not, or elfe forget them as foon as they are heard; who grow no wiser, nor better, than they were many years ago; whofe time runs away in eating and drinking, fleeping and diverfions, working and toiling, as if these were the things they are exhorted to do; who rarely take the Bible or a good book into their hands, and when they do, throw it away again, at the call of any pleasure or worldly gain; who love nobody but themselves, and are angry at those who would save their fouls.

Let us not deceive ourselves, We do pot eat and drink this heavenly provifion, on purpose that from thence we may rise up to play. Men do not ftand in need of fuch noble nourishment, for the following of their trades, and the encouragement of them in their worldly bufinefs. An honeft beathen would even do better things than these. He that never heard of Christ, and never tafted of this heavenly food,

would