? Bunday God, my God, why haft thou farfaken me III. Matt. xxvii. 46. Now all this he fuffered only The great them. to keep thee from perishing. And therefore confider what inexpreffible thanks thou owest him, and endeavour to raise thy foul to the moft zealous and hearty thanksgiving: For this is a principal part of duty at this time, the praifing and magnifying that mercy which hath redeemed us by fo dear a price. Therefore it will here well become thee to fay with David, I will take the cup of falvation, and will call upon the name of the Lord. 9 27. Fourthly, Look on these fufferings of Chriftin Chrift to ftir up this Love; and furely there cannot be a more effectual means of doing it; for here the Love of Chrift to thee is most manifeft, according to that of the Apostle, 1 John iii. 16, Hereby perceive we the Love of God toward us, because he laid down his life for us. And that even the highest degree of Love; for, as himself tells us, John xv. 13. Greater Love than this hath no man, that a man lay down his life for his friend. Yet even greater Love than this had he; for he not only died, but died the most painful and moft reproachful death, and that not for his friends, but for his utter enemies. And therefore, if after all this Love on his part, there be no return of Love on ours, we are worse than the vileft fort of men for even the Publicans, Matt. v. 46. love those that love them. Here therefore chide and reproach thy felf, that thy Love to him is fo faint and Sunday cool, when his to thee was fo zealous and III. affectionate and endeavour to enkindle this holy flame in thy foul, to love him in fuch a degree, that thou mayst be ready to copy out his example, to part with all things, yea, even life it felf, whenever he calls for it, that is, whenfoever thy obedience to any command of his fhall lay thee open to thofe fufferings; but in the mean time to refolve never again to make any league with his enemies, to entertain or harbour any fin in thy breast. But if there have any fuch hitherto remained with thee, make this the feafon to kill and crucify it; offer it up at this inftant a facrifice to him, who was facrificed for thee, and particularly, for that very end, that he might redeem thee from all iniquity. Therefore here make thy folemn refolutions to forfake every fin, particularly thofe into which thou haft most frequently fallen. And that thou mayft indeed perform thofe refolutions, earneftly beg of this Crucified Saviour, that he will, by the power of his death, mortify and kill all thy corruptions. 1 New Cove ed in the 28. When thou art about to receive the The Beneconfecrated bread and wine, remember, that of the God now offers to feal to thee that New nant fealCovenant made with mankind in his Son. SacraFor fince he gives that his Son in the Sacrament. ment, he gives with him all the benefits of that Covenant, to wit, pardon of fins, fancti Sundaefying grace, and a title to an eternal inheIII. ritance. And here be astonished at the in Upon Receiving, give thanks. Pray. finite goodness of God, who reaches out to thee fo precious a treasure. But then remember, that this is all but on condition that thou perform thy part of the covenant. And therefore fettle in thy foul the most serious purpofe of obedience; and then, with all poffible devotion, join with the minister in that fhort, but excellent prayer, ufed at the inftant of giving the facrament; The body of our Lord, &c. 29. So foon as thou haft received, offer up thy devouteft praises for that great mercy, together with thy moft earnest prayers for fuch affiftance of God's Spirit, as may enable thee to perform the vow thou haft now made. Then, remembring that Chrift is a propitiation, not for our fins only, but also for the fins of the whole world, let thy charity reach as far as his hath done, and pray for all mankind, that every one may receive the benefit of that facrifice of his; commend alfo to God the estate of the Church, that particularly whereof thou art a member, and forget not to pray for all to whom thou owest obedience both in Church and State; and fo go on to pray for fuch particular perfons, as either thy relations or their wants hall prefent to thee. If there be any collection for the poor (as there always ought to be at this time) give freely according to thy ability; or or if, by the default of others, there be no Sunday fuch collection, yet do thou privately defign III. fomething towards the relief of thy poor brethren, and be fure to give it the next fitting opportunity that offers it self. All this thou muft contrive to do in the time that others are receiving, that fo when the publick Prayafter the administration, begin, thou mayft be ready to join in them; which thou must likewife take care to do with all devotion. Thus much for behaviour at the time of receiving. ers, Sacra 30. Now follows the third and laft thing, After the that is, what thou art to do after thy receiv-ment. ing. That which is immediately to be done, is, as foon as thou art retired from the congregation, to offer up again to God thy fa crifice of praife, for all thofe precious mercies conveyed to thee in that holy Sacrament, as alfo humbly to intreat the continued af Private fiftance of his graces to enable thee to make and good all thofe purposes of obedience thou Thank haft now made. And in whatfoever thou knoweft thy felf moft in danger, either in refpect of any former habit, or natural incli nation, there especially defire, and earnestly beg his aid. 31. Prayer giving. When thou haft done thus, do not pre- Not prefently let thy felf loose to thy worldly cares fall to Sently to and bufinefs, but fpend all that day either Worldly in meditating, praying, reading, good conferences, or the like; fo as may best keep up that affairs. Sunday that holy flame that is enkindled in thy heart. III. Afterwards, when thy calling requires thee ftill in me mory. ger of them. to fall to thy ufual affairs, do it, but yet ftill remember that thou haft a greater bufinefs than that upon thy hands; that is, the performing of all thofe promises thou fo lately madeft to God. And therefore whatever thy outward imployments are, let thy heart be To keep fet on that, keep all the particulars of thy Rethy Refo lutions folutions in memory and whenever thou art tempted to any of thy old fins, then confider, this is the thing thou fo folemnly vowThe dan edit againft; and withal remember what a breaking horrible guilt it will be, if thou shouldft now wilfully do any thing contrary to that vow; yea, and what a horrible mischief alfo it will be to thy felf For at thy receiving, God and thou entredft into covenant, into a league of friendship and kindness. And as long as thou keepeft in that friendship with God, thou art fafe all the malice of men or devils can do thee no harm: For, as the Apostle faith, Rom. viii. 31. If God be for us, who can be against us? But if thou breakeft this league (as thou certainly doft, if thou yieldest to any wilful Making fin) then God and thou art enemies; and if God thy Enemy all the world then were for thee, it could not avail thee. Thy own 32. Nay, thou wilt get an enemy within thine own bofom, thy Confcience accufing and upbraiding thee; and when God and thine own Confcience are thus against thee, thou |