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SERM. Guide and Director of our Confciences, VII. as the Rule by which we ought to live here, and by which we fhall be judged at the Laft-day; and therefore one good Rule, to direct us how we may profit by the Word, is, to go along with the Preacher in our Minds, and, when he reproves Sin, to ask ourselves, Whether we are guilty of this Vice? When he recommends Virtue, Whether we have duly practised it? When he explains the Holy Scripture, Whether we do truly and thoroughly understand it? And when he denounces God's Judgments, to look upon thofe Arrows, not as fhot at random, but levelled against our Trangreffions, and defigned for our particular Reformation.

5. LET us digeft what we have heard, by a ferious and thoughtful Meditation. Let us confider what we can remember of the Sermon, how much we are the better for it; whether we understand more than we did before, or are better difpofed to practise what we do know? And let us take this for a tried and approved Rule, that That is the best Sermon which makes the most deep and lafting Impreffion upon our Memories, and has the moft powerful Influence upon our Lives and Converfations. It will, therefore, be the

Pru

Prudence of every good Man, not to SERM. abandon himself presently to worldly VI. Thoughts, as foon as Divine Service is over, but to confider what he has heard, and to treasure it up for the Well-govern

ment of his Life.

Laftly, LET us pray unto God, that he will profper his own Handy-work, that he will affift us with his Holy Spirit, and make the good Seed of the Word to be fruitful and multiply, that we may not deceive ourselves, by being only Hearers of the Word, but reap the Benefit of it,

being Doers of the fame. These are plain Rules and easy to be understood, and I wish they were as generally practifed. Certain I am, that they would have a wonderful Influence upon Men's Lives and Converfations: Thofe, that are Hearers, would have no longer Reason to complain, that they are not edified by our Preaching; and thofe, who preach the Word, would have no Occafion to take up the Lamentation of the Prophet, They Zach. vii. refufed to bearken, and pulled away the 11, 12. Shoulder, and flopped their Ears, that they fhould not hear. Yea, they made their Hearts as an Adamant-ftone, left they should hear the Law, and the Words which the Lord of Hofts hath fent in his Spirit,----therefore

came

SERM. came a great Wrath from the Lord of Hofts. VII. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear, fo they cried, and I would not bear, faith the Lord of Hofts.

GOD grant to all Chriftian Paftors that they may preach his Word with Plainnefs and Integrity, in Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power: And to Christian People, that they may come and bear the Word with fitly prepared Minds, and meek and teacheable Difpofitions: And that both Teachers and Hearers may practife all Chriftian Doctrines, to the Glory of God, through Jefus Chrift, our Lord.

SERMON

SERMON

VIII.

Of Preparation for the Lord's-
Supper.

1 COR. xi. 28.

But let a Man examine himself, and fo let him eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup.

T

HE Receiving the Sacrament of SERM. the Lord's-Supper is one of the VIII.. moft folemn Duties of the Chrif

tian Religion, and requires the greatest Care and Diligence to prepare ourfelves for it; for, as the Benefit is great, if we receive it worthily, i. e. with a devout Frame of Mind, and fuitable Affections; for then we eat the Body, and drink the Blood of our Bleffed Saviour, we have the Pardon of our Sins fealed to

us,

SERM. us, and an Earneft of Heaven and eternal VIII. Happiness: So is the Danger great, if we

come to it after a careless and negligent Manner, if we intrude rafhly and unadvisedly unto the Table of the Lord, for, then, we eat and drink Judgment or Condemnation to ourselves; for fo the Word pix, fignifies, i. e. by taking the Holy Elements into our Mouths, we provoke God to fend down fome fearful Judgment upon our Bodies in this World; and, without a serious and hearty Repentance, we incur the Penalty of eternal Damnation in the World to come. And therefore, how careful ought every one to be, that he is cloathed with a Wedding-garment, of a holy Frame of Mind, before he come to this Feast, and adorned with fuch preparatory Graces, as will make him a fit Guest for this heavenly Table. To direct you in the Performance of this fo abfolutely neceffary a Duty: I befeech you to take the Words of my Text along with you, in which are contained the chief and principal Rules, how we fhould prepare ourfelves for the Performance of it.

BUT let a Man examine himself, and fo let him eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup.

FROM which Words I observe,

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