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Benefit by the Death and Sufferings of Chrift, who willingly became Poor, that we might be made Rich; and while we were yet Enemies Died for us, that we might live through him.

Now for the Use of this, I fhall conclude this Difcourfe, and thefe Ledures with Three Practical Confiderations, which may have refpect to three feveral Times, viz. before, in, and after the Sacrament: The one to Excite us to it, the other to Dired us in it, and the laft to Benefit us by it.

1. Let us confider how we anfwer the End of Chrift's Inftituting this Sacrament, which was for the Continual Remembrance of his Death, and of the Be nefits we receive thereby. But alas! how many, how very many are there who pretend to be Chriftians, and yet feldom or never fo much as think either of the one, or of the other. For how can they be imagined to Remember Chrift's Death, when they will never come where they may be put in mind of it? Or how can they expect to reap the Benefits of it, when they wilfully negled that Ordinance which he has appointed as a Means to convey thofe Benefits to them, and a Pledge to affure 'em thereof? I'know the common Excufe is, that they are unprepar'd and unfit to come to this Holy Table, and the Fear they are in of Receiving Unworthily, and thereby Eating and Drinking their own Damnation. And indeed it must be confefs'd, that this Excufe is but too often too true, and that the Danger alfo is very great. But why then do they not prepare and make themfelves fit for it, that they may receive it worthily, and foreceive no burt but benefit by it. They cannot pre tend to want Time for it, or Notice of it; for they all know long before-hand the common Times when it is ufually Adminiftred, and befides they are often reminded of it a little before, with earneft Invitations S

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and Perfwafions to come, and Directions to fit them for it. And how if Chrift, inftead of Inviting them to his Table, fhould Summon them to his Tribunal? Tho' they will not come to the one, they muft and fhall come to the other whether they will or no. And if they be unfit for the Sacrament, how much more unfit will they be for Death and Judgment? Yet no body knows whether he fhall have more time to prepare for the one than for the other. 'tis certain that many who neglect the Sacrament at one time, are fnatch'd awayby Death before the next, and who can be fure but it may be his own Cafe? But if they refufe to come to the Sacrament, because they will not be at the trouble to prepare for it; that is, because they will not part with their Lufts and Vices that make them unworthy of it: They are to know, and ought to confider, that they are in equal Danger as if they receiv'd Un worthily, and that they may Eat and Drink their own Damnation (as too many do) at their own, or other's Tables, as well as at that of the Sacrament.

2. Let us confider how we may beft and moft Wor thily receive this Bleffed Sacrament when we come to it, fo as to partake of the Benefits of it. And this we may learn, by confidering the great Defe& mentioned by the Apoftle in thofe that receiv'd it unworthily, which is, in not difcerning the Lord's Body, 1 Cor. 11. 29. And therefore they who can difcern the Lord's Body, may be fure they receive it Worthily, and expect to reap the Benefits of it. Now the Lord's Body in the Sacrament is only to be difcern'd by Faith, and there fore tho' it be faid that the Body and Blood of Chrift are verily and indeed taken and receiv'd in the Lord's Supper, yet 'tis only by the Faithful, and that by their Faith. Without this Faith the Outward Elements will be but common Bread and Wine, and have none of that Virtue and Efficacy in them to work thefe Effeds in us, which otherwife might be expected from them.

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Let us therefore earneftly beg of God, when we come to this Holy Sacrament, that he would open our Hearts, and enlighten our Underftandings to difcern the. Body and Blood of Chrift in thefe Holy Myfteries, that bis Flesh may be Meat indeed, and his Blood may be Drink indeed to our Souls, and that we may truly Feed on him in our Hearts by Faith with Thanksgiving.

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3. Laftly, Let us confider what Effects we find in our own Souls after the receiving of this Bleffed Sacrament. Whether we find our Souls ftrengthned by it against Sin, and enabled for the Performance of our Duty. If by Faith we have truly receiv'd the Body and Blood of Chrift in this Sacrament, we cannot but find Virtue proceeding from it, for the Mortifying of our Sins, and the encreafing and ftrengthning of all our Graces. If we can perceive nothing of this in us, 'tis to be fear'd we are not fo well prepar'd for it, or not fo Devout and Serious in it as we ought to be. Let us alfo confider whether our Souls he forefresh'd by it, in the comfortable Senfe of the Pardon of our Sins, as we may expect from it, if duly received. If we find nothing of this in us, 'tis to be fear'd there are fome fecret Sins that we ftill retain, and are unwilling to part with, and no wonder then if we receive no more Comfort by this Sacrament, But if we be Careful and Diligent in our Preparation for it, and Devout and Serious in it, we need not fear but to receive Benefit and Comfort by it. We fhall then find by Comfortable Experience, that Chrift is the true Bread of Life, and that his Love is better than Wine. And this will inflame our Hearts with Love unto him again, who lo ved us, and gave himfelf for us, that he might Redeem us from all Iniquity, and purifie us unto him. felf a peculiar People, zealous of good Works. And let us beg of God that he will affift us by his Grace in the use of this, and all his other Ordinances, that we may grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge

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and Love of our Lord Jefus, and that we may be daily adding one Degree of Grace to anotber, till we come unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Chrift. To whom with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, be all Honour, and Praife, and Glory, now and for ever. Amen.

FINI S.

Fuft Published,

Practical Treatife of the Regulation of the A Paffions. By Francis Bragg, B. D. Vicar of Hitchin, and Prebendary of Lincoln. Printed for John Wyat.

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