Page:Preparation sermon, before receiving the Holy sacrament.pdf/5

 5. It is to communicate without any previous preparation, and ſerious pains, by prayer and ſelf-examination. If you would communicate worthily, muſt uſe all endeavours to train your hearts and ck your ſouls in order to entertain the maſter of  feaſt, Chriſt to every person who intends  partake of this a ſacrament as Samuel ſaid to Jesse's, I Sam. 16 15. Sanctify yourſelves, and come with me to the ſacrifice. Remember what a rebuke chriſt gave to the man who came to the feaſt, and was not at pains before to put on the wedding garment, Matth. 22 II 12.

6. It is to communicate without remembering Chriſt or his death, which is the great deſign of the, Luke 22. 20. And this is not a bare or hiſtorical remembrance, but a  and a grateful heart affecting remembrance, ſuch  remembrance as a man hath when he ſees the  of a dear friend who is deceaſed or abſent from : he not only remembers his perſon, but the  love that was betwixt them, and the many good offices his friend hath done for him. Well, if ye would communicate, aright, ye ſhould remember Chriſt's painful death and bitter agonies; how he on the croſs with his body torn and bleeding all over; how heaven, earth and hell, justice, men and devils, let upon him at once; how he was broken bruiſed by his Father in the day of his great wrath, how the thorns pierced his temples, and drew deep furrows in his face: and how be ſuſſered all  for ſinners, and in the midſt of all ſtill  a vehement and conſtant love to them. He had ſin of his own: and all his ſorrows, cries, groans, agonies, wreſtlings and ſtrugglings, were for us. O cumunicants, take a view of ſhese things, and ye will be fitter to remember them.