14 He maketh peace in thy borders: and filleth thee with the flour of wheat. 15 He fendeth forth his commandment upon carth: and his word runneth very swiftly. 16 He giveth fnow like wool: and scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes. 17 He cafteth forth his ice like morfels: who is able to abide his froft? 18 He fendeth out his word, and melteth them: he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow. 19 Hefheweth his word unto Jacob: his statutes and ordinances un to Ifrael. 20 He hath not dealt fo with any nation: neither have the heathen knowledge of his laws. + Pfalm 148. Laudate Dominum. O Praise the Lord of heaven: praise him in the height. 2 Praise him, all ye angels of his: praise him, all his host. 3 Praise him, fun and moon: praise him, all ye stars and light. 4 Praise him, all ye heavens: and ye waters that are above the heavens. 5 Let them praise the Name of the Lord: for he spake the word, and they were made, he commanded, and they were created. 6 He hath made them faft for ever and ever: he hath given them a law which fhall not be broken. 7 Praise the Lord upon earth: ye dragons and all deeps; 8 Fire and hail, fnow and vapours: wind and storm fulfilling his word: 9 Mountains and all hills: fruitful trees and all cedars; 10 Beafts and all cattle: worms and feathered fowls; He hath mt dealt fo with any Nation, &c. It the privileges which the Jews enjoyed under the Mofaic Difpenfation were fo ftrong a motive to gra titude; how much more fhould the ble fngs of the Gofpel be fo to Chriftians: which as they are not vouchfafed to all People, fhould heighten their value in our cfteem, and engage us to poffefs them with thank fulness, and ufe them to the glory of God, and our own Salvation. This may be justly termed the univerfal Hymn. For herein all Creatures are called upon to celebrate the power, wisdom, and goodness of God. II Kings of the earth and all people: princes and all judges of the world; 12 Young men and maidens, old men and children, praife the Name of the Lord: for his Name only is excellent and his praise above heaven and earth. 13 He fhall exalt the horn of his people, all his faints fhall praise him: even the children of Ifrael, even the people that ferveth him. + Pfalm 149. Cantate Domino. Sing unto the Lord a new fong: let the congregation of faints praise him. O 2 Let Ifrael rejoice in him that made him: and let the children of Sion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise his Name in the dance: let them fing praises unto him with tabret and harp. 4 For the Lord hath pleasure in his people: and helpeth the meek-hearted. 5 Let the faints be joyful with glory: let them rejoice in their beds. 6 Let the praises of God be in their mouth: and a two-edged fword in their hands; 7 To be avenged of the heathen: and to rebuke the people; 8 To bind their kings in chains: and their nobles with links of iron. 9 That they may be avenged of them, as it is written: Such honour have all his faints. * Pfalm 150. Laudate Dominum. O Praise God in his holiness: praise him in the firmament of his power. + This Pfalm is a Song upon fome fignal Victory, and fome great Exploits done by the Jews, and therefore it probably relates to the Davidical Times, when they made the greateft figure, and gained the most con fiderable Victories. This Pfalm, which is the laft, is all rapture and A a 2 Praise him in his noble acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3 Praise him in the found of the trumpet: praise him upon the lute and harp. 4 Praise him in the cymbals and dances: praise him upon the ftrings and pipe. 5 Praife him upon the well tuned the loud cymbals. cymbals: praise him upon 6 Let every thing that hath breath: praise the Lord. tranfport, and feems to have been fenn'd on purpose to be a conclufion of the facred Songs, to fhew what is the defign of them all, that is to affift us in praifing God, in which let us all unite now and for ever more. FIN I S. Wherein thofe FEARS and SCRUPLES About Eating and Drinking Unworthily, AND OF Incurring our own DAMNATION thereby, Are proved Groundless and Unwarrantable. Whereunto are added PRAYERS and MEDITATIONS Preparotary to a SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION, Agreeable to what The Church of England requires from her COMMUNICANTS. SHEFFIELD; Printed for W: WAR D. PREFACE THE HE ufual Reafon which Men affign for their not coming fo often to the Holy Sacra ment as they would do, is their Fear of eating and drinking unworthily, and consequently, of incurring their own Damnation thereby. The Defign then of this foort Difcourfe is, to fbew what Sacramental Preparation is, which is abfolutely neceffary to qualify Men for a warthy Participation of the Lord's Supper, that fo Men may come without the leaft Fear of eating and drinking Damnation to themselves: For which purpose, I conceive no Rule, no Instruction more fafe, eafy and inftructive, than that of our Church Catechifm, which I have endeavoured to explain, and to accomodate for the Uje and Benefit of the meanest Capacity. THE The concluding Part of this Difcourfe contains Frayers and Meditations preparative to a Eatramental Preparation; and though they be few in Number, yet I hope they fully answer all those feveral Parts of a Communicant's Duty, according to that Rule and Standard which our Church has fixed for our Guide and Companion to the holy Altar. By the Addition of thofe Psalms, and proper Lessons annexed to each particular Prayer and Meditation, the Communicant may enlarge bis Devotions to what Degree or Length be pleafeth. By which Method you have as much Matter for actual Preparation in this little Book, as in any other Difcourfe of this Nature whatsoever. |
