WHatever Apologies the World may expect for Books of another Nature , I think they ought not to be gratified in Books of this , for whatever tends to regulate our conversation , and advance a happiness in another World when our hopes fail us here , is sufficient to recommend it self .

It s unaccountable , that since Religion , in spight of all designs to undermine and make it look little , asserts its own Authority and make men confess its beauties , that they should be such fools as not to be charm'd by them . Since Atheism and Infidelity are become meer Name , and Men are obliged to own a Being , which they have the Impudence to disobey : It may become a Question , Whether they had not better have continued in their Opinion that there was no God , if there were ever any such , than pretend to own a Being , and pay so little respect to it : How Men came to distrust the God who made them , or not carefully observe him whom they own to be the Maker of the World , are things equally unaccountable ; that Man , who is endued with Reason , and capable to convince himself , that he is not of himself , and that whatever was the Cause of him , must have a Cause , or that that Cause must be Eternal , and the Maker of all things , who is forced from Natural Principles , and common Arguments , to allow a first Cause , and that he cou'd not have had this Knowledge if this Cause , had not revealed it self : That the same reason , which inclines him to take any thing for truth of which he han't demonstration , or to give credit to any thing , obliges him to believe the Account of God , of Religion , and Himself , which is delivered in the Scriptures , and for the truth of which there is the best Testimony in the world . For their Antiquity , there is nothing so ancient , and for their Credit , they have the general Consent of all Ages , Jewish and Christian . So that if they be true , we ought to give our entire Assent to all that is declared , and they testifie of One whom God was to send to redeem this sinful World : For Man fell from what he was created , and stood in need of an Attonement ; that this Person in the fulness of time was manifested to the World , being conceived by the Spirit of God , and born of a Virgin ; that he wrought Miracles ; taught us an exact Rule of Faith and Obedience , and then laid down his life as a Ransom for all that should believe on him ; that after his death , he raised himself from the dead , and in the sight of his Disciples ascended into Heaven , and there remains , till he shall come to judge the World : That he appointed Apostles , and gave them power to make Bishops , Priests and Deacons , that by such an Order of Men , the Laws which he Commanded might be taught to us , and the Rites of that Religion which he planted , duly performed . Of this we are infallibly assured , and though we have the witness of Men , yet the witness of God is greater , and he that can no more deceive than be deceived , has positively confirmed . We have had a constant succession of men in the Priestly Office , even to this time , what then is the cause of our Dissensions , of our Unbelief and Misbelief , but that they who polluted our Manners , wou'd betray our Faith , and make us altogether uncapable of those Blessings which these Scriptures promise us to enjoy ; why such industry to bear down Revealed Religion , but that Men hate the light which wou'd expose their Deeds that are Evil. Why are they so laborious to defame that Doctrine which has increased against Opposition , and the malice of Hell , and will be preserved to the end of the World : 'T is impossible to know a God reconciled without revelation , and 〈…〉 has revealed himself it must be by some ●ody , and is there any that they can prefer to our Saviour , who has the witness of the Father and the Holy Ghost concerning him . He was prophesy'd of 3000 Years before , and exactly answered the Character of him that was to come : What Excuse then can Men have for their Obstinacy , who pretend to own a God , and yet won't believe the words of his Mouth ? Is there any Law , any Precept , any Character misbecoming the Dignity and Wisdom of the Son of God ? Has our Saviour said any thing to be the Will of his Father which is not rational , and most becoming the Almighty Governor of Heaven and Earth ? If not , Why shou'd the hearts of the Sons of Men be lifted up , and dispise the D ctates of this preacher of Righteousness ? If they own a God , can they serve him in a more acceptable manner ? Can they propose better Rules of Conversation , be govern'd by better Laws , be better Men than the Scripture can make them ? If there is nothing in the Scripture misbecoming an infinite Wisdom , and they declare to us the Will of God , which is , that we shou'd believe and obey his Son , why shou'd we refuse to serve him , as he himself thinks fit ? So little reason has the Deist for his Opinion , that 't is impossible to establish it , unless we destroy that by which we came to know there is a God , which no Man cou'd have done without Original Impressions upon his Soul , or explicit Revelation . So that it is to live unaccountably , to believe they know not why , but do what seems Good in their own Eyes , and every man to worship a Being which he reveals to himself , which being impossible is to live in the possession of absurd Principles , and which are not answerable to the common Reason of Mankind .

But these are not the only Persons who are prejudicial to Religion , for that suffers like our selves , most by those who pretend to be our Friends ; the Wisdom of God so far condescended to our weakness , as to make himself known in a wonderful manner . When our first Parents fell , sin entred into the World , and Death by sin , for in them all Men were made sinners ; if our Parents transgressed , we must derive a contagion from their Loins , for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean , and if we are conceived and born in Sin , what is Man that he should be clean or he that is born of a Woman , that he should be Righteous : God saw this , and knew our insufficiency , that we should incline to Evil , and cou'd have no merit to attone his Justice , for what cou'd the Sons of Violence offer that was clean , or Man , miserable Man , propose to restore himself to the favour of God . But God was pleased to propose a sacrifice , to take away the sins of the World , and this he declared as soon as Man had sin'd , and continued to inculeate this Goodness in the minds of Men by his Prophets , who continually declare the mercy of God which should appear to bring Salvation ; this is what Abraham believed , and 't was imputed unto him for Righteousness , for he saw the Day , and was Glad : This was it that was typifyed by the Ceremonies of the Law , that every time they Sacrificed and Worshipped in the Temple , they might have something to put them in mind of their Messia , whom they expected , and who was called the Wonderful Counsel , or the mighty God , the everlasting Father , the Prince of Peace ; that his Office was to visit and redeem his People . Thus did God prepare the way for his Son , that we might reverence him , and though his Dignity was thus great , yet he was to be rejected and dispised by Men , smitten of God , that the Chastisement of our Peace might be upon him , and by his Stripes we might be Healed . This indeed was wonderfull , and what proved a stumbling block to the Jews , and foolishness to the Gentiles , and what they who in this Age continue to deny the Lord who bought them , think very Ridiculous : But however merry these Gentlemen of that Perswasion are with the price of their Salvation . I believe it would startle them to have it seriously put to them , whether they renounce the merits of that Cross which they dispise , or the Name into which they were Baptized ; we are certain it can be no jesting matter , if the Scriptures don't err concerning Him , for they tell us , he died for our sins , and rose again for our justification , and that without him , we have no life in us ; that he is our Advocate , and was made a propitiation for our Sins , and yet that he was from Eternity ; for he came down from Heaven , and was in the Beginning , and was with God , and was God , and yet became Flesh , and dwelt among us , that even in this State , he was worthy of Divine Honour , by virtue of that Union in him , of the Divine and Humane Nature that he was Alpha and Omega ; that in the beginning he laid the Foundations of the Earth , and all the Sons of God shouted for joy ; therefore let us take heed to the things which we have heard , least at any time we let them slip , and then , How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation ? And who then can deny that this Jesus , as the Scriptures explain it , is God manifest in the Flesh , to whom be Glory for ever . And yet there are a sort of Men , who set up themselves in contradiction to this Mystery of Godliness , and fancy by searching , they can find out the Almighty to perfection , who pride themselves in Reason , and think it a disparagement for any thing to be above their Knowledge . They are so refin'd in their Notions , that they can see no difference between a thing , being above their reason , and being contrary to it : They are so great Masters , that not to understand a thing , or its being repugnant in its self are the same thing , for with them all is Non-scence and contradiction , which they don't comprehend ; when at the same time they can't give an account of themselves , and yet would be thought to understand every thing else . The Scripture more perticularly is their Talent , and if we can believe them , there is nothing like a Mystery in it , but they can easily comprehend all , or as easily deny : That our Saviour was conceived by the Holy Ghost , and Born of a Virgin is possitive in the Scriptures , but what they never yet made easie to our conceptions , but in such a manner as gives the lie to the Prediction , and wretchedly perverts the Sense of the Scripture , by leaving it more perplex'd and above our reach than 't is of it self . That he was the express Image of the Father , and therefore to him every Knee should bow , that all Power in Heaven and Earth was given unto him , and therefore if we do not believe in him shall be Damn'd . That he came out from God , and that he and the Father are one , and therefore is able to hear our Prayers , and has promised if we ask of him he will give us , and yet that took upon him the form of a Servant , is what God has Testified , and what he thought was not too much for our sake , though in himself he thought it not Robery to be equal with God , and of this there are three that bear Record in Heaven , the Father , the Word , and the Holy Ghost , and that these three are one ; and into this truth are we commanded to be Baptized , for 't was his will that all Nations should be Taught and Baptised in the Name of the Father , Son and Holy Ghost ; these are all infallible Truths , whether they understand them or not , if they cannot , then there are Mysteries , and what they must believe without knowing any more than that God with whom all things are possible has said it , and if we would be saved must believe , that we have all sin'd and stand in need of a Saviour , is what our Reason and Scripture informs us ; the Person and Dignity of this Saviour , the Scripture possitively asserts , and if that be true , he could not be less than God that undertook our Redemption , and that had those peculiar attributes belonging to him ; but how he the God-head and Man-hood was united in him , is not what his Wisdom has thought fit to reveal , and what our finite understanding is not capable of , and what is not necessary to our Salvation that we should know , but believe : So that the Controversie seems to be this , whether God can oblige us to believe what we can't comprehend ? And whether he has not obliged us already to a Faith which must be obedient to his word , till they can prove to our reason , that either of these are untrue or impossible ? Let it suffice us to h ld fast the Faith in which we are bred up , and only believe as much as God has been pleased to reveal , and have regard to what the Scripture say concerning him , through whom are are to have everlasting Life . Thus much is certain , and what I think to be an unanswerable Argument , and a just account of the Christian Belief , which a Great Divine of our Church has lately offer'd . That the Foundation of the Doctrine of the Trinity is this ; First , That there can be but one God ; Secondly , That there is nothing in God , but what is God ; Thirdly , That there can be no composition in the Deity with any such positive real Being distinct from the Deity it self . But the Church finding in Scripture mention of three to whom distinctly the God-head belongs , expressed these three by the Name of Persons , and stated their Personallity upon three distinct Modes of subsistance allotted to one and the same God-head , and these also distinguished from one another by three distinct Relations .

And now what designs these Traducers of the Lord of Glory can intend , by puzelling themselves and every Body else with their pretentions to more Reason than God has given them , I can't imagine , unless under the disguise of Charity to our Reason , they would subvert our Religion , and by pretending to bring the sublime Truths of God's Word to our understanding , they would Ridicule the hidden things of God , and so open a way for Atheism and Insidellity , by denying first that there is any thing which our reason can't comprehend , and then that there is nothing in the Scripture , but what can easily be understood . This is to make our Reason , not the Scripture a rule of Salvation , and when once our sense is to judge of these Divine Truths , all of them that we can give a Mathematical Account of , must be rejected : And yet that there are such truths of which they can have no Idea is certain , and after all , they must own , that either they are not to be understood , and yet believed , or else that they are Non-sence and contradiction , which is an impudence they dare not publickly own , and what would be fatal to their designs ; for the Socinian needs only appear in his proper Colour , to make him abhor'd and rejected by all , and lookt upon as an Enemy to God , Religion and the common sence of Mankind .

But there is yet another sort , who pretend an Obedience to the Gospel of Christ , and yet make that easie rule of Salvation so confused and perplex'd , that either they dare not , or cannot give an account of their Faith . Their principles , if they have any , are as unaccountable to themselves as to the World , and they agree in nothing so much as to oppose the plain sense of the Scripture ; that Baptism and the Lord's Supper are positive Institutions , the one to be perform'd by Water in the Name of the Father , Son and Holy Ghost , and the other by Bread and Wine , in remembrance of our Saviour's Death and Sufferings , are as plainly and positively commanded , as any one thing in the Scripture . That the Apostles and primitive Christians made it their Practise , is capable of the same proof as the Scriptures themselves ; they went about Preaching the Lord Jesus , and Baptising all that believed in his Name , and the condition of Salvation in those days , was Faith , Repentance and Baptism ; that to strengthen People in their Faith , they meet on the first day in the Week to break Bread , and St. Paul is very careful to instruct our Behaviour , that we might receive the Bread of the Lord worthily .

Yet notwithstanding this , as if an aukerd Gravity , and sullenness of Behaviour were to pass for Authority , they pretend by a New Light to another understanding of the Scripture , and impudently prevert that Sense which the Christian Church for 1600 Years and more submitted too . So unwilling are they to go to Heaven in the steps of their Fathers , that they prefer every wild Enthusiastick Notion to the written Word of God , and so fearful of following the Examples of Tradition that each Man sets up for a Rule to himself ; they have no Priests as well as no Sacraments , no settled constitution of a Church , and are so little observers of St. Paul's Command , to do all things with Decency and Order , as if he did not speak it by the Spirit , but to gratifie his own Superstition ; they live as if the Gospel was all Privilege , and no Duty , are Enemies to a form in Divine Worship , and in spight of the Scripture which commands Women to be in silence , will needs have them for Speakers among them ; thus do they play at cross purposes with the Word of God , and by their Obstinancy and Fantasticalness , make it of none effect . But there is an Argument against them , which they never thought fit to answer , and till they can , must be thought Enemies to the Gospel of Christ : An Ordinance once enjoyn'd and never repeal'd , is still in force ; but Baptism by Water was once enjoyn'd , but never repeal'd : Ergo , and so of the Lord's Supper , and what ever else is accounted an Ordinance in the Church of God , and all that lies upon us to prove , is , That what we assert is an Ordinance , and was enjoyn'd by lawful Authority ; and this is what the Scriptures prove themselves , and what has been strengthen'd by the Arguments and Practise of the Church down to this day . So that if there is any such thing as Unbelievers , false Teachers , and denyers of the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles , we may find them in this wretched Sect of pretenders to Christianity .

But now among these who have no knowledge of the Truth , or hold it in Unrighteousness , or put Godliness into a Form to draw the ridicule and scorn of the World , it s no wonder to meet with them Debauch'd , or fill'd with Pride , Conceit and Devillishness , or Deceitful , trusting in themselves Hypocrites , turning the truth of God into a lie . But that we who are Born in a Nation , where the true Religion is Established by Law , and have all the Advantages which God can give us to make us Happy . Our Church teaching us the form of sound Words once deliver'd to the Saints , and makes the Word of God her Rule of Faith , the Example of the Apostles and Primitive Fathers her Guide , and her constitution such as Decency directs , that we in the midst of such assistances should fail of the end of Creation , and in the spight of God's Grace and Mercy , deprive our selves of everlasting Happiness , by living in Disobedience to this Church , in contradiction to the word of God , and in defiance of what our reason tells us is both our interest and duty . Whence is this hardness of heart , that Men forget they were Baptised , and live as if they never heard of Religion ? Let us all put the Question to our selves , and see whether one Reason of this Stupidity and Wickedness is not from our Neglect , in the Education of those committed to our Charge .

We are dedicated to God and Religion as soon as Born , according to the command of our Saviour ; but since most of us are borought to the Church , when through our tender Years we are not capable to judge nor perform what is required of us . The Church according to an Ancient Prescription has appointed Sureties in our behalf ; they solemnly Engage for us till we come to an Age that we are able to take care of our selves . Whence is it then , that notwithstanding this Prudent care of the Church , so few are bred up to those Pious Rules prescribed in our Baptism , and how many less when they come to Age , think themselves bound to perform what was vow'd in their Names . Do they who are God-fathers perform their part ? Do they endeavor early to instruct their Children , and inform them to what advantages they are Born , that they promised by them who are their Sureties to perform their duty to God and their Neighbour ; that now they are able , they are to be accountable for their own Actions , and take upon them that Solemn Engagement to Fight under Christ's Banner , and to resist the World , the Flesh , and the Devil , and to believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith . Thus much is certainly incumbent upon such as undertake for Infants at least , that they put the Parents in mind to do it for them , so that there is no such difficulty that should discourage any from so charitable a Work , but there is danger for those who take it upon them with no design , but to comply with the custom , but not to inform them of good and Evil ; and , Oh , how happy should we be , if when we first come to the knowledge of Good and Evil , that we could so persue the Good , that God may not deny us the privilege of tasting of the Tree of Life also .

Do they who are Parents perform their part by confirming the Advice of the God-fathers to their Children , in adding both their Precept and Example . The Church has appointed God-fathers to be as Monitors , but 't is they that will be accountable for the mismanagement of their Children , for they have a constant Eye over them , and their Authority last as long as their lives , and if thro' their Negligence , their Children are lost , their Blood will be required at their hands . 'T was a severe Judgment upon Old Eli , for not maintaining the right of a Parent in the correction of his Sons , tho' he was not altogether silent at their wickedness , but mild in his reproof , and yet God removed from him the Priest-hood for ever . But how many are there that don't say so much as he did ? My Sons , ye do not well to make the Lords's People to Transgress , but are rather encouraging them in their Vices , or silent at their Wickedness . Good God , that Men should desire Children to make them miserable ! Surely it concerns us as much as it did the Jews , to bring them up in the fear and Nature of the Lord . Why should we be cautious in our Admonitions , when 't is our Duty , and their Interest , to hear and to obey , and we have this for our Encouragement , if they are disobedient , the Laws of the Land are ready to our assistance in the punishment of Wickedness and Vice , and we have this Negative Power , to restrain them from being very bad , if we can't make them very Good .

We are born into a World full of Temptations and Miseries , and tho' God has pronounced it good , as the work of his hands , yet we are so prone to do amiss , that we scarce arrive to the power of acting , but we incline to pervert that Blessing , and make that our Curse , which was design'd our Happiness . 'T is the Goodness and Mercy of God that we are created with a power to Will , and he has placed in us such an inclination to good , as may be infinitly improved by getting in us the upper-hand of Evil , and a power to overcome the subtilties of the World , the Flesh , and the Devil ; let us then make use of this Power which God has given us , and they who are Young , look up to God to preserve their Innocence ; and they who are so unhappy as to have been over taken by the Enemy of Mankind , let them now at length call their ways to remembrance , and turn their face unto God's Testimonies ; to this end , let them according to the Direction of a great Man :

First , Consider what they have done amiss ,

Secondly , What is fitting for them now to do .

Thirdly , If they do it not , what the end of their neglect will be .

This Examination consists in a review of their past life , as to their Actions , all that they have left undone , as well as done ; as to their Faith , whatever they disbelieved that is true , or believed that is amiss ; and this is no easie task , it requires Time and Pains , Zeal and Constancy , if their own Education has not given them the advantage of directing themselves , let them address themselves to some discreet Minister ; let us first consider the necessity of Repentance , and then the difficulties , and they are more than we can presently imagin . Our lusts are not to be conquer'd by a Sigh , a Tear , or a Resolution , when we are in a fit of Devotion ; but let the difficulty be greater than our imagination , we must resolve to undertake the Combate , and root out every habit and disposition to sin : In order to it , let us first know what is fitting for us to believe , and then what is fit for our practice ; for if we build upon a true Foundation , our Faith will direct us to work out our Salvation by a true Repentance ; if we suffer our selves to be deceiv'd by any known sin , we are not in safty , and 't is not Repentance when we repeat our Wickedness , and we have not conquer'd our lusts till we are able to resist them ; he who thinks he may go to Heaven , because he is Honest in the main , or is one the world calls a Moral Man , is in danger of Eternal Ruin ; the Young Man in the Gospel had kept all the Commandments from his Youth , and yet lacked one thing needfull to make him perfect ; and the reason of this purity is plain , for the same dispositions which we have when we leave this World , will follow us to the next ; we are mistaken if we suppose that with this Body we shall put off the body of sin ; or , because we die in a fit of Devotion , that God will accept of this last part of our life , and not account for the rest . Our Souls will have the same affections in the other World , as here , for there can be no alteration , as the Tree falls so it lies , and if we resolve not to endeavour a change till Death approach us , and think that our Reflections upon a Sick-bed are sufficient to attone a mispent life , we shall be miserably deceived : It is certain indeed that a true Repentance , though never so late will be accepted , but who can be certain that he shall truly repent at a time when he is not fit for the ordinary Offices of life , when his Soul is upon the Wing , and ready to take its flight into another World . Repentance includes more then can be done in such a dreadful Extremity ; it implies not only that part which many endeavour at that time to act , by moving all about them with their Tears and Resolutions , but an absolute change in their whole Man . Who can satisfie himself that his heart is right towards God , when he has not an opportunity to try and examine his sincerity ? Can any Man be secure that if he should live , that his Vices would not return with his Health , since 't was necessity , not choice , that drove him to these new Resolutions ; and if he cannot , what unanswerable folly is it to defer what reason and every Man's Conscience suggest ought presently to be done ; let us then not trust to uncertainty , but since God gives an opportunity to be happy , not make our selves miserable ; let us cast off the Old Man with his Deeds , and betake our selves to a newness of life ; and to enable us in this work , let us set our Faces towards the Altar of God , for 't is there we are to receive strength and comfort , and every good thing . This is what we obliged our selves to at our Baptism , and since we have lived unworthy of the First Sacrament , let us in Humiliation and Repentance approach the Second , that our sins may be blotted out , and we may be made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in Light ; and now if any ask what preparation we ought to make , I answer : I know of no other than what I have endeavoured to perswade , and what is necessary and reasonable , even a true Faith and Repentance ; that the Sacrament is a Duty , is generally acknowledg'd , yet through mistakes there are abundance neglect it . Our Saviour was very particular in this Order to his Disciples , and his Apostles devoutly press it in all their Writings , and the Ancients received it as an inestimable Blessing . We are told , that unless we Eat Christ's Body , and drink his Blood , we have no life in us , and that this is to be done by Bread and Wine in the Holy Communion , is what the Apostles and generality of Mankind down to this Age have believed . Christ , when he gave it them , told them , it was his Body , and St. Paul directs our Behaviour , that we might not receive it unworthily , but discern it as the Lord's body , and therefore first , to Examine our selves , and then Eat of that Bread , and Drink of that Cup , what then should hinder our approaches to this Holy Banquet ; that we are wicked is no excuse , for why are we not otherwise ; that we are affraid , because of our unworthiness ; if there is no other reason but our fear , is no Excuse . For 't is not the sense of our unworthiness that should hinder us , but our resolution , or unwillingness , to be otherwise , and that indeed will make us unworthy for ever ; for , where shall we be washed , if not in this Fountain which is opened for Sin and Uncleanness ? If none but such as are perfect could approach this Holy Table , who then would venture to come near ? And what can we think of our Saviour , that could propose a Snare to endanger our Ruin ? No , it was ordain'd for such as had a sense of their Unworthiness , and were sensible of their load , but desired to be eased of their heavy burthen ; Well , but they who come to the Sacrament are obliged to live stricter lives than other Men , and some are affraid they can't conform to an exactness of Conversation . Why are they not as well affraid , that because they don't lead such lives , that they shall be punished , which would be an argument to put them upon that Tryal , and when once they saw the pleasantness of the paths of Righteousness , they would endeavour to persevere in them ? Besides , they are not obliged , but to lead such lives as is necessary to Salvation , and how dares any Man that believes another World do less ? There is danger indeed in unworthy Receiving , and there is as great a danger in staying away , both of them are a contempt of the Lord's Body , and will receive their reward ; in short , whatever our Scruples are that hinder us from this Ordinance , let us with all speed endeavour to remove them , for there is no excuse for our Abscence , nor any objection , but what may easily be answered , if we are sincere in our inquiries ; 't is the neglect of this Sacrament that is the cause of our coldness in Religion , and I can't tell how it comes to pass , that tho' the Church and State requires all that are at the Age of Sixteen to communicate at least three times in the Year , that there is not one in a Thousand observe the order ; there are a great many considerate persons that never seem to have a desire after it , till they come upon their Death-bed , and then are willing to have it to conduct them to Heaven . The Ancient Church refused to Administer to any that had not received it before , and if the discipline was maintained , it would make us more circumspect ; for a great many think if they can have the Minister to pray by them , and give them the Sacrament , all will be well : But if they who refused it in their Health , were deny'd it upon their Death-bed , it would be a dreadful warning to others not to neglect it , and those Ministers who venture now to Adminster it , transgress the Rubrick in this case ; but 't is as indiscreet to trust to This now , as to depend upon a Repentance , begun at such a time which is hardly possible to be sincere , and if not , they are lost for ever ; there are the same Arguments to bring Men to the Sacrament , as there are to perswade them to a newness of life , without both we are not assured of Salvation , and he that pretends to lead a life according to God's Holy Word , and yet refuses to eat of the Bread which came down from Heaven , how can he hope to be raised up at the last day ? The truth on 't is , Men are not willing to part with their Lusts , and as long as they are in that mind , they do well to stay away , but do very ill to continue in such a resolution ; but what shall we say , if neither Promise , or Threats , Rewards or Punishments , Heaven or Hell , will perswade Men to forsake their sins , nothing will ; however we must never be weary in well doing , and 't is our Duty to exhort one another daily , which was the chief inducement of this , Advice to those which never Receiv'd the Sacrament , and this I thought I cou'd not do in a better manner than by shewing , First , the unreasonableness of Sin , and then , Secondly , the necessity of Repentance ; to this end I have collected a form of Devotion which may be useful in our Conversion , and when we are so happy as to be sensible of the folly of our ways , that we can set before us the difficulty of returning , and yet dare venture thro' all hardships to attain Salvation . I thought it necessary to add some Arguments to oblige us to that Duty , which is our interest to comply with , and which will strengthen our resolutions in Piety ; to these Directions , I have collected another form of preparitory Devotions to be used at any time before we approach the Sacrament , and left it to the Reader 's Discretion to use as much of it , and as often as he pleases . That our behaviour in the Church might be answerable to the Solemnity , there is appointed a large Form of Devotion , and I have endeavoured to range them in a suitable Order , that every Prayer having a particular relation to what we are then a doing , our Minds might be more moved , and our Souls thus ascending with our Devotions , we may pray by the Spirit , and the understanding also . I 'm very willing to believe , that all who come to this Holy Table , endeavour to be as devout as they can , and 't is possible , fancy themselves very Zealous , if they prescribe their thoughts to that which is good in general , and no doubt 't is very well if they have so much victory over themselves , as to curb their thoughts and desires ; but if by any other helps they can arrive yet farther , and not only when they enter the Church , leave the thoughts of the World behind , but can place such as are suitable in their room , 't is not only their vertue , but duty ; we are to consider that we are come to remember Christ , and that all our Thoughts ought to bend themselves to such holy Meditations ; we should as much as possible pry into these Mysteries which the Angels desire to look into , and thus by not only taking words with us when we enter the House of God , but directions for our Thoughts too , we might not be in danger to offer up the sacrifice of Fools . To these Devotions in the Church I have added some for our behaviour at Home , for 't is necessary to keep our affections in a heat afterwards , as to kindle them before ; besides , I had this design in it , to inform some , who by their practise don't seem to know any more , than that we are to be serious while we are about this Solemnity , and as soon as 't is over , forget their Resolutions and the Obligations they have put upon themselves , by Eating and Drinking before the Lord . We come there to receive Grace to help up to perform our Resolutions of amendment , as well as to receive pardon for our past Offences , and unless we come with this design , we can have no Absolution , and I would to God , that we all did approach this Table with such Resolutions : In order to it this Collection of Devotions is humbly offer'd , and if it shall please God to make it an instrument , but to convert one sinner , or add a zeal to any sincere Christian , it will abundantly recompence my trouble , and to God alone be the Praise .