duty to communicate as often as opportunities fhould invite, and health permit. But it is certain, on the other hand, that bare comanunicating, is not the thing required, but communicating worthi1y. Here lies the main ftrefs of all, not to urge frequency of commmunion fo far as to render this holy facrament hurtful, or fruit1els to parties concern'd; neither yet to abate fo far of the frequency, as to make a kind of dearth or famine of this fo falutary and neceffary food. For the clearer understanding of this matter, it may be neceffary to take notice, that fince it is allowea on all kands, that there can be no jujt bar to frequency of communion, but the want of preparation, which is only fuch a bar as men may themselves remove, if they pleafe; it concerns them highly to take off the impediment as foon as poffible, and not to trust to the vain hopes of alleviating one fault by committing another. The danger of mifperforming any religious duty, is an argument for fear and caution, but no excufe for neglect: God infyfts upon the doing it, and the doing it well alfo. It was no fufficient plea for the flothful fervant, under the Gofpel, that he thought his mafter hard to please, and thereupon neglected his bounden duty: but on the contrary, the ufe he ought to have made of that confideration was, to have been fo much the more wakeful and diligent in his master's Service. Therefore in the cafe of the holy communion, it is to very little purpofe to plead the frictness of the felf-examination or preparation by way of excufe either for a total, or for a frequent, or for a long neglect of it. A man may fay, that he comes not to the Lord's table, because he is not prepared, and fo far he affigns a good reafon; but if he should be further afked, why he is not prepared, when he may; then he can only make fome trifting, infufficient excufe, or remain fpeechless.

But to return: I have spared no pains to render thefe meditations and prayers as generally useful, as can be expected in a book of this kind; yet, as the best performances have their imperfections, fo this (to be fure) is not without fome. However, I hope, there are none fo material but what a Chriftian may over-look for the fake of that good which is intended by it. Again: that all theje meditations and prayers are entirely new, is by no

means

means pretended: no, there will be found amongst them fever al collected from other books; but then these being fuch only as have been allowed to be excellent in their kind, it may reafonably be expected that the whole will be the more acceptable on that account.

Upon a review, fince the first publication of this Preparation, I have experienced that many communicants diftract themfelves with a multiplicity of private devotions, when in duty they fhould attend to the publick fervice of the church; and further prompted thereto by the advice of those whofe peculiar charge is to infpect and promote the welfare of the chriftian worship, and for whofe judgment the world upon many occafions have expressed the greateft efteem; I have interwove in this prefent edition jo much of the communion as is fufficient to prevent that growing evil; in which I have followed the example of the bishop of Man, Mr. King, and feveral others; but with this difference, that I have not burthened the communicant with much of the Office—no more than that part of it in which communicants only are concerned; and which is really neceffary for their affifiance during the folemnity; whereas the bishop ofMan, and fome others, have taken in the whole of that office from one end to the other; which I can't approve of upon feveral accounts too tedious to be related in fo fhort a preface, and which I rather chufe to conclude with the following quotation of the late pious, learned and orthodox Dr. Waterland, against the folly and danger of laying a fashionable ftrefs upon an habitual preparation, and in favour of fuch WEEKLY Treatifes of preparation before receiving the Lord's Supper..

The usefulness of actual preparation before receiving the LORD'S SUPPER.

"Our esteem or difefteem (of this holy facrament) will beft be "feen by our preparing or not preparing for it as we ought. "There is fomething of a preparation of heart, mind and ways, "required for all religious offices, much more for this, which is "the flower and perfection of all.

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"As to the length of time to be taking in preparing, there is no one certain rule to be given, which can fuit all cafes er circumflances: only, when a man has competently adjufled his << accounts with God, (be it fooner or later) then he is fit t come, and not till then.

"There is an habitual, and there is an actual preparation * <<The habitual preparation is a good life; and the farther we << are advanced in it, the lefs need there is of any actual prepa<<ration befides: but, because men are too apt to flatter and de << cerve their own hearts, and to fpeak peace to themselves with<< out fufficient ground for fo doing; therefore fome actual prepa"ration, felf-examination, &c. is generally neceffary, even to those who may be habitually good, if it be only to give them a "well-grounded affurance, that they really are fo. "It were to be wished there were not many amongst us who "have a deal to confider of before-hand, many offences to cor"rect, many diforders to jet right, much to do, and much to un"do, before they prefume to come to God's altar.

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"Fault has been fometimes found with these little treatises of "Weekly Preparation: I think without reafon. They are "exceeding useful in their kind.-It may be happy for them "who need none of thefe helps: but they that least need them, "are not the men, generally, who most defpile them. None of us, perhaps, are fo perfect as not to want, at fome feafons, fome fuch hints for recollection or helps to devotion. It is well for common chriftians, that they are provided with useful manuals of that kind. They that are well difpofed, will make "ufe of them as often as they need them, and will at all times give "God thanks and praifes for them.

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* Sectbe Directions on Page 134.

The

The Lord Jefus, the fame night in which he was betrayed, took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and faid, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the fame manner alfo he took the cup, when he had fupped, faying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me: For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do fhew the Lord's death till he come. 1 Cor. xi. 23, 24, 25, 26.

In the Morning, when you first awake, Say:

A Rife, thou that fleepest; arise, my dull

and drowsy soul, and Christ will give

thee light.

bo

To thee, O Lord, do I lift up my eyes, my hands, my heart, from this bed, where my dy hath taken its nightly repofe, towards thy Heaven, where my foul expects her eternal reft.

My voice fhalt thou hear betimes in the morning; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up,

When you rife.

N the name of Jefus Chrift, who was cru *Iified for our our cified for our fins, and rofe again for juftification, I arife from this place of bodily

A 6

* From Bishop CoSIN.

reft.

reft, to fulfil thy will, O my God: fave me, therefore, by his crofs and paffion, blefs, govern, and keep me this day, and for ever. Amen.

I laid me down and flept, and rose up a gain, for the Lord hath sustained me. Amen.

When you are ready, look on your foul as ftill undreffed, till you have faid your prayers.

Bleffed Lord! who haft invited and commanded us to pray unto thee, let thy fpirit help mine infirmities; and do thou fo difpofe my mind, and influence my heart in my preparation for a worthy receiving of thy moft holy facrament, that my prayers and praifes may be acceptable in thy fight, thro' the mediation, and for the fake of Jefus Chrift our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Almighty Lord God, mortify and kill all vices in me; and fo ftrengthen me with thy grace, that by the innocency of my life,. and the conftancy of my faith, Imay always glorify thy great and holy name. Grant me the true circumcifion of the fpirit; that, my heart and all my members being mortified from all worldly and carnal lufts, I may in all things obey thy bleffed will. Enable me to ove my enemies, and to do good to those that

hate