out any Exception, or Regard to private Intereft, and to rejoice and live in thee alone. May all the Zeal and Raptures, the Extafies and heavenly Vifions of the Saints; May all their Virtues and their Praises; May every Creature in Heaven and Earth; May alĺ that I have ever prayed for, and all that pray for me, contribute to thy Glory; and may thy Name be only and ever magnified by all and each of them.

Accept, O Lord, my hearty Wishes and Defires of Praife and Thanksgiving, as infinite as thy Majefty, for they are thine of right, and mayeft thou be worthily bleffed by them. This is and fhall be, my daily hourly Prayer. Nor will I content my felf with Wishing and Endeavouring this, fingly and in my own Perfon, but do moft ferioufly Invite and Conjure all the bleffed Spirits above, all thy faithful People upon Earth, to join in this moft juft Tribute of Honour; and in full Confort and perfect Harmony, to publish thy Praise and Glory in all Times and Pla

ces.

Come in, ye Nations and Countries, all Kindreds and Languages of the World, and bear your Parts in Singing forth the Sweet, the faving, the holy Name of Jefus. Raife your Devotions, as high as Human Nature can go, for you can never go far enough. And, You, devout Difciples of this bleffed Mafter, as oft as you receive this Holy Sacrament, fee that you reverently adore this Mystery of Love. And then be fure with a moft fervent Faith, and univerfal Charity, to befeech this gracious Saviour, that the Effect of his Death may be as general as the Defign of it; that he who Died for All, may be Glorified in the Salvation of All. And may thofe Supplications be fuccefsful in obtaining Mercy, for your Selves, and every Sinner, and for Me, the Chief of Sinners, in particular.

And when you return from this precious heavenly Feift, full of Grace and Joy, remember then to look

back

back with tender Compaffion upon your weaker Brethren; and wish, that every contrite and afflicted Soul may be admitted to the like Comforts, may feel the fame wonderful Efficacy from this myfterious Table ; and let not Me, the leaft and moft unworthy of your Brethren, who want them moft of any, be denied a part in your Charitable Interceffions.

CHA P. XVIII.

Against the nice Disputes concerning this Sacrament. Chrift.]F thou would'ft preferve thy Faith, incorrupt, and thy Devotion from diftraction, content thy felf with reverencing and admiring these holy Myfteries, and do not indulge a bufy Curiosity, in bold and unprofitable Enquiries concerning them. For this is the way to damp a godly Zeal, and to perplex thy Mind with intricate and endless Doubts. Remember, it is the Glory of God to conceal a

Prov, XXV. 2. thing, and his fuper-eminent Wisdom and Power procures it felf juft Veneration, by doing more than Man is able to comprehend. I do not mean by this to exact a blind Obedience, but expect and commend the Ufe of Reafon in the Search of Divine Truths. Provided always, that it be tempered with Sobriety and Modefty, with Teachablenefs, and a due Refpect to what I my felf have revealed in my Word, and what my Church hath faithfully delivered in her Doctrines and Expofitions upon it.

Happy is that Meeknefs and Poverty of Spirit, which induftriously declines the rugged thorny Paths of Controverfy and captious Difputes; and walks in the plain fmooth Way of Duty, and practical Religion; which ftudies God's Commands; and labours to

under

understand things of a fize with its Capacity, without troubling it felf about his Deings and Decrees. Too many Instances there are of daring Men, who, by prefuming to found the deep Things of Religion, have caviled and argued themselves out of all Religion. These Men mistake their Bufinefs: For the thing required of a Christian, is not Penetration, and Subtilty of Wit, nice Diftinction, or fubiime Notions, but vigorous Faith, and an honeft holy Life: Sobriety, and Temperance, and Chaflity, Juffice and Charity, Piety and Devotion. How oft is Reason puzzled, even in Matters relating to Creatures inferior to thy felf? And will not this Reflection controul, and cure an Expectation fo extravagant and abfurd, as that of being able to give a clear Account of things above thee; nay, of perfectly understanding thy Great, thy Infinite Creator himself? Submit thy Reafon to Revelation, and let Humility and Deference to God recommend thy Faith; and then, though thou canst not attain all Knowledge, yet thou shalt be fure not to want any, that is neceffary or profitable for thee.

Many Men are much diffatisfied in their Minds, with Doubts concerning the Nature of true Faith, and Difficulties which arife concerning my Prefence in the Sacrament. But thefe Doubts are not always finful, nor always from themselves; but frequently owing to the Temptations of the Devil, and induftriously fcattered by Him, with wicked Artifice, and malicious Defign. Be not therefore too anxious upon thefe Occafions; Trouble not thy felf to argue nicely, nor employ thy Thoughts upon the Matter; nor hold thy felf concerned to be able to answer every Cavil which he puts into thy Head: But keep clofe to Scripture, and do thy Duty, and the Enemy will foon retreat, when he finds thee neglect his Attempts. Think not thefe irward Distractions, a Sign that thou art forfaken of

God.

God. They are rather the contrary, and a Mark of Grace. God fuffers them to exercife thy Patience, to try thy Conftancy, to promote thy Spiritual Advantage. Wer't thou a Reprobate, thou would'ft not thus be affaulted; for fuch the Devil is fure of already, and Temptations are thrown away upon them. They are the Faithful, the Sincere, the Devout Chriftians, whom he teazes and torments; for, in fo doing, he hopes to enlarge his Dominion, and to feduce those who were not His before.

Proceed then in thy Chriftian Courfe with Refolution and Patience, and ftill frequent the Sacrament with ftedfaft Faith, and humble Reverence. Whatever there thou findeft to exceed thy Understanding, put it to God's Account; and leave Him to make it good, tho' thou canft not conceive how it fhould be done. He will not deceive thee; but they who rely upon their own Understandings, are fure to deceive themselves. Remember God hath faid, that he walks and dwells with the Humble, and fhews his Ways to the Meek, that he reveals himself to Babes; that he opens the Eyes of the Honeft and Sincere, but hides his Grace and Knowledge from the Proud, and Wife in their own Sight. Reafon (Experience proves) may both deceive, and be deceived; for it is but human; but Faith has God for its Foundation, and cannot err; becaufe depending upon One who is Truth it felf, incapable of miftaking, or of impofing upon others.

'Tis therefore highly fit, and in Matters of Religion, abfolutely neceffary, that thefe two Principles fhould know their Order, and refpective Stations; and each contain it felf within its proper Sphere. Faith (which supposes a Revelation received and acknowledged) challenges the highest Place, and Reafon ought to keep her diftance, to ferve and follow after, not to fet Bounds to, or affume, and encroach, and ufurp over the Other. For Faith and Charity are the two

Pillars upon which Christianity ftands; the two governing Principles of a good Man's Opinions and Actions. And their Authority and Influence is in no one Inftance more confiderable, than in this of the Bleffed Sacrament. God is infinite and eternal, his Power unbounded and incomprehenfible. He does whatsoever pleaseth him in Heaven and in Earth, and who can understand his Counfels, or find out all his Methods? If the Works of God were fuch as Human Reafon could penetrate with eafe, they would lofe great part of their Glory; and we fhould foon abate of our Awe and Veneration for their Author, if his Dealings were not above the Power of our Tongues to exprefs, and the utmoft Extent of our Imaginations to con

ceive. O that Men would therefore praise the Pfalm cvii. Lord for his Goodness, and confefs the Wonders that he bath done for the Children of Men! for great and marvellous are thy Works, oh Lord God Almighty! How unfearchable are thy Judg- Rom. xi. ments, and thy Ways paft finding out!

Rev. xiv.

The

END.

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