and diffolute, nay many thoughtlefs and lukewarm People, allow themselves in this Indifference; and industriously seek Pretences to defer their Repentance and Approaches to the Lord's Table, meerly to avoid, as they think, the Neceffity of parting with their darling Lufts, and the keeping that ftrict Guard upon their Converfations, without which they must be loft to all Eternity.

How cold, alas! is thofe Mens Love for me? How feeble their Devotion, who, upon fuch frivolous Pretences, can difpenfe with this fo neceffary Duty, fo glorious Privilege, of Communicating at my Table? How happy, how eafie to himself, how acceptable, how dear to God is that Man, whofe Conduct is fo ftrictly virtuous, whofe Confcience fo void of stain and reproach, that he could every Day moft chearfully, moft fafely partake of this Heavenly Feaft, were the Opportunities of doing it fo equal to his Difpofition, and might his Zeal escape the Cenfure of needlefs Oftentation? For a Man is not prefently to be condemned, who does not feek or embrace every poffible Occasion of Communicating. There may be fome very allowable, and others even commendable, Reafons for abfenting. If out of deep Humility, and awful Reverence, or as a voluntary Punishment inflicted upon a Man's felf for fome grievous Relapfe, he impofe this Penance, or dread to come: The Refpect paid to the Ordinance, or the holy Indignation conceived against himself, may be better accepted and more becoming, than Receiving in fuch Circumftances. But this must not be fo far indulged, that long difuse fhould produce indifference and difregard for the Sacrament; For, if once the Soul degenerate into Neglect and Spiritual Sloth, all poffible Endeavours must be used to awaken it. Not doubting but that God will be ever prefent with the Affiftances of his Grace, and fecond thy Care with fuccefs proportionable to

X 4

thy

thy Vigour and Diligence, and the Sincerity of thy good Intentions.

But One thing muft always be obferved,That when the Hindrances to Communicating are real and important and neceffary, not frivolous Excufes induftriously thought, or readily laid hold on to cover Impiety and Negligence, the Perfon fo detained is prefent in Wish and Inclination, though not in actual Attendance. And then the Benefit of the Sacrament, and all the Saving Effects of it are as fully imparted to him, as his Appearance in the Congregation, and the Elements themselves, could have enfured them. For 'tis a great Mistake to imagine, that good Men receive not the Advantages of Chrift's Body and Blood, except juft then, when they receive the outward and vifible Signs of them: Every Day, every Hour furnishes Opportunities of Communicating fpiritually, and a Man thus compofed can never be furprized, never find any difficulty to comply with any Occasion of doing it publickly. For an innocent Life, and a deyout Mind are a conftant Preparation. But when the ufual Seafons return, and efpecially the Solemn Feftivals, wherein the great and glorious Mysteries of the Chriftian Religion are commemorated, then fuch a one will think it his Duty to join with the Publick Affemblies in this fublimeft Inftance of Piety and Thankfgiving he will approach with a Heart full of Affection and Reverence; and efteem this Homage due, not only to himself for the Comforts and Advantages he may expect from it, but more especially to Me, for the Honour and Tribute of Praife, by which my Name and Mercies ought to be thus magnified among Men. And this is a Fruit which can only redound to me by open and visible Acts of Worship. Whereas the Other of private Improvement and mystical Communion with Chrift, is attained in fecret, and conftantly follows upon every religious Meditation concerning

cerning my Incarnation, and Sufferings, or any other of the mysterious Works, by which the Redemption of Mankind was compleated, and the pious Affections of Chriftians are cherished and inflamed.

They, who referve themselves for the Feasts of the Church only, and take no care to put their Souls in a due Pofture for Receiving, except only when fuch Solemnites call them to it, are feldom or never prepared as they ought to be. He is the fafe, the happy Man, who makes it his frequent Practice, and conftantly offers up himself a Sacrifice to his God. In the Act of Communicating keep Rule and Order, and let not thy Haste or Impatience, the Length of thy private Devotions, or any other Singularity of thy own Fancy, give disturbance to the common Ufages and Ceremonies of the Congregation whereof thou art a Member. For take this along with thee, That, even in this Part of Worship, where Zeal and Devotion are moft acceptable Ingredients, yet these very Qualifications, when indulged out of Seafon and Measure, lofe all their Value; and are not half fo pleafing in the fight of God, as unaffected Modefty, and an humble decent Compliance with the established Orders and Customs of the Church,and the Convenience of others; who ought not to be difturbed, or incommoded for the fantaftical or peculiar Ways of any private Perfon whatsoever.

Difciple.

CHAP. XI.

The Benefit of Christ's Body and Word.

Sweeteft dearest Jefus! Who can exprefs the Charms, the Tranfports, of

that Soul, which feafts with thee at thy Table? Thar

Table,

Table, where no common Food is placed, but the Divine Entertainment of thy own Body and Blood. An Entertainment delicious, above all that Man can exprefs or imagine! What Satisfaction fhould we take to come into thy Tabernacle, and fall low on our Knees before thy Foot-ftool, to open wide our Hearts for the Delights of thy Houfe, and, with Mary Magdalen, to wash thy holy Feet with Tears of Love! But where, alas is this Devotion to be found? where are thofe Eyes overflowing with pious Sorrow? Or, if that Sorrow be swallowed up in Joy, yet ought we not even thus to approach thee with dry Eyes; but Tears of Joy fhould trickle down apace, when we confider our mighty Privilege, and the Happiness of being admitted to thy bleffed Prefence, and made Partakers of the Bliss of Angels. For, as they really behold thy Face in Glory, fo am I fure to fee, and to receive thee, in the mystick Elements, tho' covered there under a different Form, and fhrouded in a Veil of Bread and Wine.

I adore thy Goodness, which thus condefcends to the Infirmities of Human Nature, and in much Compaffion is pleafed under these fenfible Reprefentations to hide that glorious Majefty, whofe native Luftre is too piercing bright, for Me or any Created Being to behold in its full Strength. But tho' my Eyes fee thee not as thou art, yet here, I know, I have thee most effectually, and do therefore moft humbly adore that Divinity on Earth, which Angels proftrate themselves before in Heaven. I do it through a Glass, and I gaze with the Eyes of Faith; They are permitted to do it Face to Face, and to know even as they are known. And, though this Glass be dark and dim, yet it is fuch as I ought to be content with, fince Mortality admits of nothing better; nor can I attain any higher Perfection, till the Day of Everlafting Life dawn, and the thick Shadows of Figures are feat

I Cor. xiii.

tered

tered by its Brightness. When that which is perfect fhall come, then will all Ufe for Sacraments be fuperfeded, and for ever ceafe; for these are Remedies and Expedients, accommodated to a State of Frailty and Imperfection, fuch as the Bleffed above have no occafion for. They are in endless and unspotted Perfection, and ever rejoicing in the Beams of thy glorious Prefence; they fee thee as thou art, and are transformed into the Excellencies 1 John iii. they fee; they tafte the Word made Flesh, not in the Symbols of his Humane Nature, but in the Native Charms of his Divine; as he was the Word of God from all Eternity, and fhall continue fo to be for ever.

When these Ideas fo full of Wonder employ my Thoughts, I feel a generous Difdain, not only of worldly Comforts, but am provoked to difefteem even thofe fpiritual and better Confolations, which thy Grace at prefent diffuses through my Soul: And all befides feems poor and defpicable, fo long as I am debarred the fight of my Love and Lord: Thou knoweft the Secrets of my Heart, and wilt bear Teftimony to the Sincerity of thofe Profeffions I make, when I'declare, that nothing lefs than God, whom I most earneftly long for ever to contemplate, can fatisfie and fill the impatient Defires of my enlarged Soul. But this I know, is a Bleffing, not to be obtained by Mortal Man, and therefore I will fet my felf with Patience to wait the time appointed for it. Thus did thy Saints of old, who now partake of the Joys and Kingdom of their Lord. Their Faith was vigorous, and their Perfeverance unfhaken, their Thirtings eager, but their Patience exemplary and humble, till that Coming of their Lord, which they thought long, at laft released, and exalted them. My Hope, my Faith are now the fame, which theirs were then; and, I truft, my Joy and Crown, fhall, by thy Grace and Mercy, be one Day the fame too. Till that Day

come,