Puslapio vaizdai
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port and quicken you in your spiritual welfare. How desirable, how delightful to partake of it!

II. Another method of self-examination before the Sacrament is expressed in the words of the Church Catechism, as to what is required of communicants to qualify them for an approach to the Lord's table.

This second method is particularly suitable to all those who have neither leisure nor capacity to read sacramental books; and consequently they have formed no other notions of it than those they had learned in the Church Catechism, when they were at school as boys and girls. Some perhaps have never been put to school, and cannot read; to such as these this method of examination will be short and plain, so that they may easily learn it by heart, if any well-disposed person, from a principle of compassion and benevolence, would frequently repeat it to them, and so impress it strongly on the memory.

1. Do you repent truly of your former sins, and stedfastly purpose to lead a new life?

"Cease to do evil; learn to do well." Isaiah i. 16. "Except ye repent, ye shall all perish." Luke xiii. 3.

Without sincere resolutions of leading a new and holy life, your repentance is imperfect, and will not avail.

You must pray daily for the help of the Holy Spirit, to enable you to keep these resolutions.

2. Have you a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ?

"Without faith," says the apostle, "it is impos"sible to please God; for he who cometh to him must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder "of them who diligently seek him.” Heb. xi. 6.

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Ye believe in God, believe also in me," says Christ, John xiv. 1.

It must be a lively faith and active; it must work you such an obedience to God's commands as Christ has enjoined in the Gospel.

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Faith is necessary to salvation, because the hope of sinners is entirely founded on the mercy of God through Christ, who sealed to us this mercy by his death.

3. Have you a thankful remembrance of Christ's death?

"Ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify "God in your body, and in your spirit, which are "God's." 1 Cor. vi. 20.

You must be thankful, because the blessings promised in the covenant of grace are so valuable, so necessary, and so freely given.

You should remember with gratitude and joy the death of Christ, as the means of procuring these blessings.

4. Are you in charity with all men ?

"If God so loved us, we ought also to love onè "another." 1 John iv. 11.

You must be in charity with all men; that is, love all men; forgive those who have offended you'; ask forgiveness of those whom you have offended; and make restitution to any you have wronged. If you harbour malice and resentment your heart, you are not in a fit state either to live or die.

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The Sacrament is given to you on a supposition that your faith and repentance are sincere; and if this condition fail in you, the action of giving it you, though by the most exemplary minister, and in the most solemn manner, will never save you.

III. The third method is not only more com

prehensive than either of the former, but it contains some important examinations in regard to a profitable behaviour after having received the Sa

crament.

Helps for conversing on the design of the Sacrament, the preparation for receiving it, and behaviour after it. As you desire to receive the Sacrament, I would beg you seriously to consider what follows.

Receiving the Sacrament can be of no real service unless it be attended with

A lively faith in Christ, Heb. xi. 6.

An unfeigned repentance for all your sins, Luke xiii. 3.

And sincere purposes of renewed obedience, Heb. v. 9. particularly a renewal of the baptismal and sacramental covenant.

As these are the indispensable terms required of all who receive the Sacrament, they ought to be seriously considered.

The design of this ordinance.

On the principles of faith, repentance, and renewed obedience, it is to be regarded,

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As a

The preparation for this ordinance.

remem

brance.

As a seal, or confirmation.

As a mark or badge.

Are you grieved for having forgot
Christ?
Are you determined to recollect
and remember him more con-
stantly and affectionately for
the future?

Do you know what are the bless-
ings to be sealed to you?
Are you sensible of your want of
them?

Do you hunger and thirst after
them?

Do

you

love all sincere Christians of every rank and party, because they are dear to Christ, and redeemed by his love?

Are you willing to forgive all who
have offended or injured you, be-
cause God, for Christ's sake, is
willing to forgive you?
If any remainder of resentment,
ill-will, or envy, still lurks in
your heart, are these your bur-
den and misery, what you la-
ment, strive against, and from
which you long to be delivered?
For it is by this mark (or love
to another)" that all men shall
"know that ye are my disci-
"ples." John xiii. 35.

Examine yourself by these questions, as in the presence of God; and when you can answer them in the affirmative, your heart (treacherous as it is) will not I hope deceive you. You will then be

properly prepared for this ordinance. For such as you Christ purchased all these blessings: to such as you the Gospel promises them: and to you they will be confirmed, and sealed in this ordinance.

Helps for conversing with the sick (or others) in regard to a suitable behaviour after having received the Sacrament.

This is of great importance, for it is as much your duty to be altogether as careful to improve the Sacrament after you have received, as to prepare yourself for it before you receive. You cannot urge this to yourself too earnestly, or on others too affectionately.

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For want of this care afterwards, the Sacrament is, alas! to too many an hasty dash from a summer's cloud, which is dried up almost as soon as it falls whereas by this continued, this renewed improvement, that holy ordinance may, like a copious stream, be running on with a steady and persevering flow, to refresh your hearts, and to make the whole of your conversation fruitful in every word, work, and temper.

Observe not only on the day you have received the Sacrament, but on every day of every week after you have been a partaker of this holy communion, the following directions..

1. Meditate on Christ's sufferings. Accustom yourself to frequent ejaculations, and to meditations on the sufferings of Christ, in character, soul, and body. By no means let the remembrance of a dying Saviour, his boundless love, public shame, and exquisite agonies, depart from your mind.

2. Meditate on the blessings purchased by Christ. (Namely, pardon of sin, aid of the Spirit, and eternal life.) Often comfort yourself with a review of these blessings which God has, as it were, signed and sealed for your enjoyment. Endeavour to strengthen your faith by this expedient. Use it as a cordial to revive your faith (that most important

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