Page:Preparation sermon, before receiving the Holy sacrament.pdf/11

 with remorſe at the begining of Chriſt's ſufferings. Did that vile traitor's heart relent for his treachery when he ſaw Chriſt ready to ſuffer, and ſhall we have thoughts of ſin and betraying of Chriſt, when we fee his ſufferings fully executed? O what is this but to be murderers of Chriſt, and to turn the table of the Lord into a ſhambles and an Aceldama? Let us therefore come with deep conſiderations of the curſed nature and demerit of ſin, firmly reſolved to fight againſt it to our laſt breath, and to revenge the blood and death of precious Chriſt on it. If we have been drunkards, ſwearers, ſabbath-breakers, neglectors of prayer, &c. ye muſt reſolve to be ſuch no more.

II. I proced to the Second place to ſhow wherein conſiſts the guilt and danger of unworthy communicating. It is to be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. A great guilt and indeed! A dreadful charge, to be reckoned among the Jews and soldiers who embrued their hands in the blood of Chriſt

I. It is a mocking of Chriſt. Your coming to his table is a pretence of love to him, that you come here to remember his death and unparalled love, and to proclaim what obligations ly on you to love him, and to hate ſin that used him ſo; and therefore when you come away to embrace temptations as readily as ever, you plainly declare that you was ſting with Christ when you came to his table. It a ſolemn mocking of him  You act Judas's part, and ſay, Hail, maſter, while you are playing the traitor; the soldiers part, faying, Hail, king of the Jews, when you deſign to crucify him. O what a guilt this muſt be?

2. It is a baſe undervaluing and contempt of the body and blood of Chriſt yea, a regarding it as the of a malefactor It is impoſsible that an unworthy communicant can reward it as the blood of  innocent man, tho' this were bad enough, in