Sacramental
Preparation
FOR
THE
HOLY
COMMUNION
IN
SHORT
.
Direct
.
I.
UNderstand
well
the
proper
Ends
to
which
this
Sacrament
of
the
Body
and
Blood
of
Christ
was
instituted
by
him
:
And
take
heed
you
use
it
not
to
other
Ends
for
which
it
was
never
appointed
.
The
True
Ends
are
these
.
1.
To
be
a
Solemn
Commemoration
of
the
Death
and
Passion
of
Jesus
Christ
,
to
keep
it
as
it
were
in
the
Eye
of
the
Church
,
in
his
bodily
absence
till
he
come
,
1
Cor
.
11.24
,
25
,
26.
2.
To
be
a
Solemn
Renewing
of
the
Holy
Covenant
,
which
was
first
entred
in
Baptism
between
Christ
and
the
Receiver
:
And
in
that
Covenant
it
is
on
Christ's
Part
,
a
solemn
Delivery
of
Himself
first
,
and
with
Himself
the
Benefits
of
Pardon
,
Reconciliation
.
Adoption
,
and
Right
to
Life
Eternal
:
And
on
Man's
Part
it
is
our
solemn
Acceptance
of
Christ
with
his
Benefits
,
upon
his
Terms
,
and
a
delivering
up
our selves
to
Him
as
his
Redeemed
ones
;
even
to
the
Father
as
our
Reconciled
Father
,
and
to
the
Son
as
our
Lord
and
Saviour
,
and
to
the
Holy
Spirit
as
our
Sanctifier
;
with
professed
thankfulness
for
so
great
a
Benefit
.
3.
It
is
appointed
to
be
a
lively
objective
Means
,
by
which
the
Spirit
of
Christ
should
work
,
to
stir
up
,
and
exercise
,
and
encrease
the
Repentance
,
Faith
,
Desire
,
Hope
,
Love
,
Joy
,
Thankfulness
,
and
new
Obedience
of
Believers
;
by
a
lively
Representation
of
the
Evil
of
Sin
,
the
infinite
Love
of
God
in
Christ
,
the
firmness
of
the
Covenant
or
Promise
,
the
Greatness
and
Sureness
of
the
Mercy
given
,
and
the
Blessedness
purchas'd
and
promis'd
to
us
,
and
the
great
Obligations
that
are
laid
upon
us
.
And
that
herein
Believers
might
be
solemnly
called
out
to
the
most
serious
exercise
of
all
these
Graces
,
and
might
be
provoked
and
assisted
to
stir
up
themselves
to
this
Communion
with
God
in
Christ
,
and
to
pray
for
more
as
through
a
Sacrificed
Christ
.
4.
It
is
appointed
to
be
the
solemn
Profession
of
Believers
of
their
Faith
,
and
Love
,
and
Gratitude
,
and
Obedience
to
God
the
Father
,
Son
and
Holy
Ghost
,
and
of
continuing
firm
in
the
Christian
Religion
.
And
a
Badge
of
the
Church
before
the
World
.
5.
It
is
appointed
to
be
a
Sign
and
Means
of
the
Unity
,
Love
and
Communion
of
Saints
,
and
their
readiness
to
communicate
to
each
other
.
Direct
.
II
.
Look
upon
the
Minister
as
the
Agent
or
Officer
of
Christ
,
who
is
commission'd
by
him
to
Seal
and
Deliver
to
you
the
Covenant
and
its
Benefits
;
and
take
the
Bread
and
Wine
,
as
if
you
heard
Christ
himself
saying
to
you
,
Take
my
Body
and
Blood
,
and
the
Pardon
,
and
Grace
which
is
thereby
purchas'd
.
It
is
a
great
Help
in
the
Application
,
to
have
Mercy
and
Pardon
brought
us
by
the
hand
of
a
Commission'd
Officer
of
Christ
.
Direct
.
III
.
In
your
Preparation
before
hand
,
take
beed
of
these
two
extreams
.
1.
That
you
come
not
prophanely
and
carelesly
,
with
common
Hearts
,
as
to
a
common
Work
:
For
God
will
be
sanctified
in
them
that
●●raw
hear
him
,
Lev
.
10.3
.
And
they
that
Eat
and
Drink
●●worthily
,
not
discerning
the
Lord's
Body
from
common
Bread
,
but
Eating
●●●f
it
were
a
common
Meal
,
do
Eat
Death
to
themselves
instead
of
Life
.
2.
Take
heed
your
mistakes
of
the
Nature
of
this
Sacrament
,
should
possess
you
with
such
fears
of
unworthy
Receiving
,
and
the
following
Dangers
as
may
quite
discompose
and
unfit
your
Souls
for
the
joyful
exercises
of
Faith
,
and
Love
,
and
Praise
,
and
Thanksgiving
,
to
which
you
are
invited
.
It
should
be
received
in
a
Feasting
frame
of
Mind
.
Direct
.
IV
.
Let
your
Preparation
to
this
Sacrament
consist
of
these
Particulars
following
.
1.
In
your
Duty
with
your
own
Consciences
and
Hearts
.
2.
In
your
Duty
towards
God
.
3.
And
in
your
Duty
towards
your
Neighbour
.
I.
Your
Duty
with
your
Hearts
,
consists
in
these
Particulars
,
1.
That
you
do
your
best
in
the
close
Examination
of
your
Hearts
about
your
State
,
and
the
Sincerity
of
your
Faith
,
Repentance
,
and
Obedience
:
To
know
whether
your
Hearts
are
true
to
God
in
the
Covenant
,
which
you
are
to
Renew
and
Seal
:
Which
may
be
done
by
these
Enquiries
,
and
discern'd
by
these
Signs
.
(
1.
)
Enquire
,
Whether
you
truly
Loath
your selves
for
all
the
Sins
of
your
Hearts
and
Lives
,
and
are
a
greater
Offence
and
Burden
to
your selves
because
of
your
Imperfections
and
Corruptions
,
than
all
the
World
besides
is
,
Ezek
.
6.9
.
and
20.43
.
and
36.31
.
Rom.
7.24
.
(
2.
)
Enquire
,
Whether
you
have
no
Sin
,
but
what
you
are
truly
desirous
to
know
;
and
no
Sin
known
,
but
what
you
are
truly
desirous
to
be
rid
of
:
And
so
desirous
,
as
that
you
had
rather
be
perfectly
freed
from
Sin
,
than
from
any
Affliction
in
the
World
,
Rom.
7.22
,
18
,
24.
and
8.18
.
(
3.
)
Enquire
,
Whether
you
love
the
searching
and
reforming
Light
,
even
the
most
searching
Parts
of
the
Word
of
God
,
and
the
most
searching
Books
,
and
searching
Sermons
,
tha●
by
them
you
may
be
brought
to
know
your selves
in
order
to
your
setled
Peace
and
Reformation
John
3.19
,
20
,
21.
(
4.
)
Enquire
,
Whether
you●
truly
Love
that
degree
of
Holiness
in
others
,
which
you
have
not
yet
attained
your selves
,
and
Love
Christ
in
his
Children
with
such
an
unfeigned
Love
,
as
will
cause
you
to
releive
them
according
to
your
Ability
,
and
suffer
for
their
sakes
when
it
is
your
Duty
,
1
John
3.14
,
16.
1
Pet
.
1.22
.
and
3.8
.
James
2.12
,
13
,
14
,
15.
Mat
.
25.40
,
&c.
(
5.
)
Enquire
,
Whether
you
can
truly
say
,
That
there
is
no
degree
of
Holiness
so
high
but
you
desire
it
,
and
had
rather
be
perfect
in
the
Love
of
God
,
and
Obedience
to
his
Will
,
than
have
all
the
Riches
and
Pleasures
of
this
World
,
Rom.
7.18
,
21
,
24.
Psalm
119.
●5
.
Mat
.
5.6
.
And
had
rather
be
one
of
the
Holiest
Saints
,
than
of
the
most
renowned
,
prosperous
Princes
upon
Earth
,
Psalm
15.4
.
and
16.2
.
and
84.20
.
and
65.4
.
(
6.
)
Enquire
,
Whether
you
have
so
far
laid
up
your
Treasure
,
and
your
Hopes
●n
Heaven
,
as
that
you
are
resolved
to
take
that
only
for
your
Portion
;
and
that
the
Hopes
of
Heaven
●nd
Interest
of
your
Souls
has
the
Preheminence
in
●our
Hearts
against
all
that
stands
in
Competition
●ith
it
,
Col.
3.1
,
3
,
4.
Mat
.
6.20
,
21.
(
7.
)
En●uire
,
Whether
the
chiefest
Care
of
your
Hearts
,
●nd
endeavour
of
your
Lives
be
to
serve
and
please
God
,
and
to
enjoy
him
for
ever
,
rather
than
for
any
worldly
thing
,
Mat
.
6.33
.
John
5.26
.
2
Cor
.
5.
●
,
6
,
7
,
8
,
9.
(
8.
)
Enquire
,
Whether
it
be
your
●aily
desire
and
endeavour
to
mortifie
the
Flesh
,
and
●aster
it
's
rebellious
Opposition
to
the
Spirit
;
and
●ou
so
far
prevail
,
as
not
to
Live
,
and
Walk
,
and
●e
Led
by
the
Flesh
,
but
that
the
course
and
drift
of
●our
Life
is
Spiritual
,
Rom.
8.1
,
6
,
7
,
8
,
9
,
10
,
13.
●al
.
5.17
,
21
,
22.
(
9.
)
Enquire
,
Whether
the
●orld
and
all
its
Honour
,
Wealth
and
Pleasure
ap●ar
to
you
so
small
and
contemptible
a
thing
,
as
●at
you
esteem
it
as
Dung
,
and
nothing
in
Com●rison
of
Christ
,
and
the
Love
of
God
,
and
Glory
;
●d
are
resolved
,
that
you
will
rather
let
go
all
than
your
Part
in
Christ
;
and
which
uses
to
carry
it
in
the
Time
of
Trial
in
your
deliberate
choice
,
Phil
.
3.7
,
8
,
9
,
13
,
14
,
18
,
19
,
20.
1
John
2.15
.
Luke
14.26
,
30
,
33.
Mat
.
13.19
,
21.
(
10.
)
Enquire
,
Whether
you
are
resolved
upon
a
course
of
Holiness
and
Obedience
,
and
to
use
those
Means
which
God
doth
make
known
to
you
to
be
the
way
to
please
him
,
and
to
subdue
your
Corruption
:
And
yet
,
feeling
the
frailties
of
your
Hearts
,
and
the
burden
of
your
Sins
,
do
trust
in
Christ
as
your
Righteousness
before
God
,
and
in
the
Holy
Ghost
,
whose
Grace
alone
can
illuminate
,
sanctifie
and
confirm
you
,
Acts
11.23
.
Psalm
119.57
,
63
,
69
,
106
1
Cor
.
1.30
.
Rom.
8.9
.
John
15.5
.
2
Cor
.
12.9
.
By
these
Signs
you
may
safely
try
your
States
.
2.
When
this
is
done
,
you
are
also
to
try
the
Strength
,
and
Measure
of
your
Grace
;
that
you
may
perceive
your
weakness
,
and
know
for
what
help
you
should
seek
to
Christ
;
and
to
find
out
what
inward
Corruptions
,
and
sinful
Inclinations
are
yet
strongest
in
you
,
that
you
may
know
what
to
lament
,
and
to
ask
forgiveness
of
,
and
help
against
.
3.
You
are
also
to
take
a
strict
account
of
your
Lives
;
and
to
look
over
your
dealings
with
God
and
Men
,
in
Secret
and
Publick
,
especially
of
late
since
the
last
renewal
of
your
Covenant
with
God
,
and
to
hear
what
God
and
Conscience
have
to
sa●
about
your
Sins
,
and
all
their
Aggravations
,
Psaln
139.23
.
1
Cor
.
11.28
.
4.
And
you
must
labour
to
get
your
Heart
affected
with
your
Condition
as
you
do
discover
it
:
T●
be
humbled
for
what
is
sinful
,
and
to
be
desirous
o●
help
against
your
weakness
,
and
thankful
for
th●
Grace
you
Discern
.
5.
Lastly
,
You
must
consider
of
all
the
Work
yo●
go
to
do
,
and
all
the
Mercies
you
are
going
to
receive
,
and
what
Graces
are
necessary
to
all
this
and
how
they
must
be
used
:
And
accordingly
loo●
up
all
these
Graces
,
and
prepare
them
for
the
exercise
to
which
they
are
to
be
called
out
.
II
.
Your
Duty
towards
God
in
your
Preparation
for
this
Sacrament
is
,
1.
To
cast
down
your selves
before
him
in
humble
Penitent
Confession
,
and
Lamentation
of
all
the
Sins
which
you
discover
;
and
to
beg
his
Pardon
in
Secret
,
before
you
come
to
have
it
publickly
Sealed
and
Delivered
.
2.
To
look
up
to
him
with
that
Thankfulness
,
Joy
,
and
Love
,
as
becomes
one
that
is
going
to
receive
so
great
a
Mercy
from
him
:
And
humbly
to
beg
that
Grace
which
may
prepare
you
,
and
quicken
you
to
and
in
the
Work
.
III
.
Your
Duty
towards
others
in
this
your
Preparation
is
,
1.
To
Forgive
those
that
have
done
you
wrong
,
and
to
confess
your
Fault
to
those
whom
you
have
wronged
,
and
ask
them
forgiveness
,
and
make
them
Amends
and
Restitution
,
so
far
as
is
in
your
Power
:
And
to
be
reconciled
to
those
with
whom
you
are
fallen
out
;
and
to
see
that
you
love
your
Neighbours
as
your selves
,
Mat
.
5.23
,
24
,
25
,
26
,
44.
●ames
5.16
.
2.
That
you
seek
Advice
of
your
Pastors
,
or
some
fit
Persons
,
in
Cases
that
are
too
●ard
for
your selves
to
Resolve
,
and
where
you
need
●heir
special
help
.
3.
That
you
lovingly
admonish
●hem
that
you
know
do
intend
to
Communicate
unworthily
,
and
to
come
thither
in
their
Ungodliness
,
and
gross
Sin
unrepented
of
:
That
you
show
not
●ch
hatred
of
your
Brother
,
as
to
suffer
Sin
upon
him
,
●ev
.
19.17
.
but
tell
him
his
Faults
as
Christ
has
●irected
you
,
Mat
.
18.15
,
16
,
17.
and
do
your
●arts
to
promote
Christ's
Discipline
,
and
keep
pure
●e
Church
.
See
1
Cor
.
5.
throughout
.
Direct
.
V.
In
the
Time
of
the
Administration
go
a●g
with
the
Minister
throughout
the
Work
,
and
keep
●ur
Hearts
close
to
Jesus
Christ
in
the
exercise
of
all
●ose
Graces
,
which
are
suited
to
the
several
Parts
of
the
Administration
.
Think
not
,
that
all
the
Work
must
be
the
Ministers
:
It
should
be
a
busie
Day
with
you
,
and
your
Hearts
should
be
taken
up
with
as
much
Diligence
,
as
your
Hands
be
in
your
common
Labour
;
but
not
in
a
toilsome
weary
Diligence
,
but
in
such
delightful
business
as
becomes
the
Guests
of
the
God
of
Heaven
at
so
sweet
a
Feast
,
and
in
the
receiving
of
such
invaluable
Gifts
.
Here
I
shall
distinctly
show
.
1.
What
Graces
they
be
that
you
must
there
Exercise
.
2.
At
what
Seasons
in
the
Administration
,
each
of
these
inward
Works
are
to
be
done
.
I.
The
Graces
to
be
exercis'd
are
these
(
besides
that
Holy
Fear
and
Reverence
,
which
is
common
to
all
Worship
.
)
1.
An
humble
Sense
of
the
odiousness
of
Sin
,
and
of
our
undone
Condition
as
in
our selves
,
and
a
displeasure
against
our selves
,
and
loathing
of
our selves
,
and
melting
Repentance
for
the
Sins
we
have
committed
;
as
against
our
Creator
,
and
as
against
the
Love
and
Mercy
of
a
Redeemer
,
and
against
the
Holy
Spirit
of
Grace
.
2.
A
hungring
and
Thirsting
Desire
after
the
Lord
Jesus
and
his
Grace
,
and
the
Favour
of
God
,
and
Communion
with
him
,
which
are
there
represented
and
offered
to
the
Soul
.
3.
A
lively
Faith
in
our
Redeemer
,
his
Death
,
Resurrection
,
and
Intercession
:
And
a
trusting
our
miserable
Souls
upon
him
,
as
our
sufficient
Saviour
and
Help
:
And
a
Hearty
Acceptance
of
him
and
his
Benefits
upon
his
offer'd
Terms
.
4.
A
Joy
and
Gladness
in
the
Sense
of
that
unspeakable
Mercy
that
is
here
offer'd
us
.
5.
A
Thankful
Heart
towards
him
from
whom
we
do
receive
it
.
6.
A
fervent
Love
to
him
,
that
by
such
Love
doth
seek
our
Love
.
7.
A
Triumphant
Hope
of
Life
Eternal
,
which
is
purchas'd
for
us
,
and
Sealed
to
us
.
8.
A
Willingness
and
Resolution
to
deny
our selves
,
and
all
this
World
,
and
suffer
for
him
that
has
suffer'd
for
our
Redemption
.
9.
A
Love
to
our
Brethren
,
our
Neighbours
and
our
Enemies
,
with
a
readiness
to
relieve
them
,
and
to
forgive
them
when
they
do
us
wrong
.
10.
And
a
firm
Resolution
for
future
Obedience
to
our
Creator
,
and
Redeemer
and
Sanctifier
,
according
to
our
Covenant
.
II
.
That
you
may
be
the
readier
,
when
it
comes
to
Practice
.
I
shall
,
as
it
were
,
lead
you
,
by
the
Hand
,
through
all
the
Parts
of
the
Administration
,
and
tell
you
When
and
How
to
exercise
every
Grace
,
and
those
that
are
to
be
joyned
together
,
I
will
take
together
.
1.
When
you
are
called
up
,
or
going
to
the
Table
of
the
Lord
,
exercise
youe
Humility
,
Desire
and
Thankfulness
,
and
say
in
your
Hearts
,
What
,
Lord
,
dost
thou
call
such
a
Wretch
as
I
?
What!
me
that
have
so
oft
despised
thy
Mercy
,
and
willfully
offended
Thee
,
and
preferred
the
filth
of
this
World
,
and
the
Pleasures
of
the
Flesh
before
Thee
?
Alas
,
it
is
thy
Wrath
in
Hell
that
is
my
due
:
But
if
Love
will
choose
such
an
unworthy
Guest
,
and
Mercy
will
be
honour'd
upon
such
Sin
and
Misery
,
I
come
Lord
at
thy
call
;
I
gladly
come
:
Let
thy
Will
be
done
;
and
let
that
Mercy
which
invites
me
,
make
me
acceptable
,
and
graciously
entertain
me
;
and
let
me
not
come
without
the
Wedding
Garment
,
nor
unreverently
rush
on
Holy
Things
,
nor
turn
thy
Mercies
to
my
Bane
.
2.
When
the
Minister
is
confessing
Sin
,
prostrate
your
very
Souls
in
the
Sense
of
your
unworthiness
,
and
let
your
Particular
Sins
be
in
your
Eye
,
with
their
heinous
Aggravations
:
The
Whole
need
not
the
Physician
,
but
the
Sick
.
3.
When
the
Words
of
Institution
are
read
,
and
the
Bread
and
Wine
are
solemnly
Consecrated
,
by
separating
them
to
that
sacred
use
,
and
the
Acceptance
and
Blessing
of
God
is
desired
,
admire
the
Mercy
that
prepared
us
a
Redeemer
and
say
,
O
God
how
wonderful
is
thy
Wisdom
,
and
thy
Love
?
How
strangely
dost
thou
glorifie
thy
Mercy
over
those
Sins
,
that
gave
Thee
advantage
to
glorifie
thy
Justice
?
Even
thou
our
God
whom
we
have
offended
,
hast
out
of
thy
own
Treasury
satisfied
thy
own
Justice
,
and
given
us
a
Saviour
by
such
a
Miracle
of
Wisdom
,
Love
and
Condescension
,
as
Men
or
Angels
shall
never
be
able
fully
to
comprehend
.
So
didst
thou
Love
the
sinful
World
,
as
to
give
thy
Son
,
that
whosoever
believes
in
him
should
not
perish
,
but
have
Everlasting
Life
.
O
thou
that
hast
prepared
us
so
full
a
Remedy
,
and
so
precious
a
Gift
,
sanctifie
these
Creatures
to
be
the
Representative
Body
and
Blood
of
Christ
,
and
prepare
my
Heart
for
so
great
a
Gift
,
and
so
high
,
and
holy
,
and
honourable
a
Work
.
4.
When
you
see
the
Breaking
of
the
Bread
,
and
Pouring
out
of
the
Wine
,
let
Repentance
,
and
Love
,
and
Desire
,
and
Thankfulness
thus
Work
within
you
,
O
wondrous
Love
!
O
hateful
Sin
!
How
merciful
,
Lord
,
hast
thou
been
to
Sinners
?
And
how
cruel
have
we
been
to
our Selves
and
Thee
?
Could
Love
stoop
lower
?
Could
God
be
merciful
at
a
dearer
Rate
?
Could
my
Sin
have
done
a
more
horrid
Deed
,
than
to
put
to
Death
the
Son
of
God
?
How
small
a
Matter
has
tempted
me
to
that
,
which
must
cost
so
dear
before
it
was
forgiven
?
How
dear
paid
my
Saviour
for
that
,
which
I
might
have
avoided
at
a
very
cheap
Rate
?
At
how
low
a
Price
have
I
valued
his
Blood
,
when
I
have
sinned
and
sinned
again
for
nothing
?
This
is
my
doing
,
my
Sins
were
the
Thorns
,
the
Nails
,
the
Spear
,
can
a
Murderer
of
Christ
be
a
small
Offender
?
O
dreadful
Justice
!
It
was
I
and
such
other
Sinners
that
deserved
to
bear
the
Punishment
who
were
guilty
of
the
Sin
,
and
to
have
been
fewel
for
the
unquenchable
Flames
for
ever
.
O
precious
Sacrifice
!
O
hateful
Sin
!
O
Gracious
Saviour
!
How
can
Man's
dull
and
narrow
Heart
be
duly
affected
with
such
transcendant
things
?
Or
Heaven
make
its
due
Impression
upon
an
Inch
of
Flesh
?
Shall
I
ever
again
have
a
dull
Apprehension
of
such
Love
?
Or
ever
have
a
favourable
Thought
of
Sin
?
Or
ever
have
a
fearless
Thought
of
Justice
?
O
break
or
melt
this
hardned
Heart
,
that
it
may
be
somewhat
conformed
to
my
Crucified
Lord
!
The
Tears
of
Love
and
true
Repentance
are
easier
than
the
Flames
from
which
I
am
redeemed
.
O
hide
me
in
these
Wounds
,
and
wash
me
in
this
precious
Blood
.
This
is
the
Sacrifice
in
which
I
trust
:
This
is
the
Righteousness
by
which
I
must
be
justified
,
and
saved
from
the
Curse
of
thy
violated
Law
.
As
thou
hast
accepted
this
,
O
Father
,
for
the
World
,
upon
the
Cross
,
behold
it
still
on
the
behalf
of
Sinners
,
and
hear
his
Blood
that
cries
unto
Thee
for
Mercy
to
the
miserable
,
and
Pardon
us
,
and
accept
us
as
thy
reconciled
Children
for
the
sake
of
this
Crucified
Christ
alone
.
We
can
offer
Thee
no
other
Sacrifice
for
Sin
,
and
we
need
no
other
.
5.
When
the
Minister
applies
himself
to
God
by
Prayer
,
for
the
Efficacy
of
this
Sacrament
,
that
in
it
he
will
give
us
Christ
and
his
Benefits
,
and
Pardon
,
and
Justifie
us
,
and
Accept
us
as
his
reconciled
Children
,
join
heartily
and
earnestly
in
these
Requests
,
as
one
that
knows
the
Need
and
Worth
of
such
a
Mercy
.
6.
When
the
Minister
delivers
you
the
Consecrated
Bread
and
Wine
,
look
upon
him
as
the
Messenger
of
Christ
,
and
hear
him
as
if
Christ
by
him
said
to
you
,
Take
this
my
broken
Body
and
Blood
,
and
feed
on
it
to
Everlasting
Life
:
And
take
with
it
my
Sealed
Covenant
,
and
therein
the
Sealed
Testimony
of
my
Love
,
and
the
Sealed
Pardon
of
your
Sins
,
and
a
Sealed
Gift
of
Life
Eternal
;
so
be
it
you
unfeignedly
Consent
unto
my
Covenant
,
and
give
up
your selves
to
me
as
my
Redeemed
ones
.
Here
the
Minister
by
Christ's
Authority
delivers
you
Christ
,
and
Pardon
,
and
Title
to
Eternal
Life
.
Let
your
Hearts
therefore
say
with
Joy
and
Thankfulness
,
with
Faith
and
Love
,
O
matchless
Bounty
of
the
Eternal
God!
What
a
Gift
is
this
!
And
unto
what
unworthy
Sinners
!
And
will
God
stoop
so
low
to
Man
?
And
come
so
near
him
?
And
thus
reconcile
his
worthless
Enemies
?
Will
he
freely
Pardon
all
that
I
have
done
?
And
take
me
into
his
Family
,
and
Love
;
and
feed
me
with
the
Flesh
and
Blood
of
Christ
?
I
believe
;
Lord
,
help
my
unbelief
.
I
humbly
and
thankfully
accept
thy
Gifts
.
Open
thou
my
Heart
that
I
may
yet
more
joyfully
and
thankfully
accept
them
.
Seeing
God
will
glorifie
his
Love
and
Mercy
by
such
incomprehensible
Gifts
as
these
,
behold
Lord
,
a
Wretch
that
needs
all
this
Mercy
.
And
seeing
it
is
the
offer
of
thy
Grace
and
Covenant
,
my
Soul
doth
gladly
take
Thee
for
my
God
and
Father
;
for
my
Saviour
and
my
Sanctifier
.
And
here
I
give
up
my self
unto
Thee
,
as
thy
Created
,
Redeemed
,
and
(
I
hope
)
Regenerated
one
:
As
thy
Own
,
thy
Subject
,
and
thy
Child
,
to
be
saved
,
and
sanctified
by
Thee
,
to
be
beloved
by
Thee
,
and
to
Love
Thee
to
Everlasting
.
O
Seal
up
this
Covenant
and
Pardon
by
thy
Spirit
,
which
thou
sealest
and
deliverest
to
me
in
thy
Sacrament
;
that
without
reserve
I
may
be
intirely
and
for
ever
thine
.
7.
When
you
see
the
Communicants
receiving
with
you
,
let
your
very
Hearts
be
united
to
the
Saints
in
Love
;
and
say
,
How
goodly
are
thy
Tents
,
O
Jacob
!
How
amiable
is
the
Family
of
the
Lord
!
Though
they
have
yet
all
their
Spots
and
Weaknesses
,
which
he
Pardons
,
and
so
must
We
.
My
Goodness
,
O
Lord
,
extends
not
unto
Thee
,
but
unto
thy
Saints
the
excellent
ones
on
Earth
,
in
whom
is
my
delight
.
What
Portion
of
my
Estate
thou
requirest
,
I
willingly
give
unto
the
Poor
,
and
if
I
have
wronged
any
Man
,
I
am
willing
to
restore
it
:
And
seeing
thou
hast
Loved
me
an
Enemy
,
and
forgiven
me
so
great
a
Debt
,
I
heartily
forgive
those
that
have
done
me
wrong
,
and
Love
my
Enemies
.
O
keep
me
in
thy
Family
all
my
Days
;
for
a
Day
in
thy
Courts
is
better
than
a
thousand
,
and
the
Door-keepers
in
thy
House
are
happier
than
the
most
prosperous
of
the
Wicked
.
8.
When
the
Minister
returns
Thanks
and
Praise
to
God
,
stir
up
your
Souls
to
the
greatest
Chearfulness
:
And
suppose
you
saw
the
heavenly
Hosts
of
Saints
and
Angels
,
praising
the
same
God
in
the
presence
of
his
Glory
;
and
think
with
your selves
that
you
belong
to
the
same
Family
and
Society
as
they
,
and
are
Learning
their
Work
,
and
must
shortly
arrive
at
their
Perfection
:
Strive
therefore
to
imitate
them
in
Love
and
Joy
:
And
let
your
very
Souls
be
poured
out
in
Praises
and
Thanksgiving
:
And
when
you
have
the
next
leisure
for
your
Private
Thoughts
(
as
when
the
Minister
is
exhorting
you
to
your
Duty
)
exercise
your
Love
and
Thanks
,
and
Faith
,
and
Hope
,
and
Self-denial
,
and
Resolution
for
Future
Obedience
,
in
some
such
Breathings
of
your
Souls
as
these
;
O
my
Gracious
God
,
thou
hast
surpassed
all
Humane
Comprehension
in
thy
Love
!
Is
this
thy
usage
of
unworthy
Prodigals
?
I
feared
least
thy
Wrath
,
as
a
consuming
Fire
,
would
have
devoured
such
a
guilty
Soul
,
and
thou
wouldst
have
charged
upon
me
all
my
Folly
:
But
while
I
condemned
my Self
,
thou
hast
forgiven
and
justified
me
;
and
surprized
me
with
the
sweetest
Embracements
of
thy
Love
.
I
see
now
that
thy
Thoughts
are
above
our
Thoughts
,
and
thy
Ways
above
our
Ways
,
and
thy
Love
excels
the
Love
of
Man
,
even
more
than
the
Heavens
are
above
the
Earth
.
With
how
dear
a
price
hast
Thou
redeemed
a
Wretch
that
deserved
thy
Everlasting
Vengeance
!
With
how
precious
and
sweet
a
Feast
hast
Thou
entertained
me
,
who
deserved
to
be
cast
out
with
the
Workers
of
Iniquity
!
Shall
I
ever
again
slight
such
a
Love
as
this
?
Shall
it
not
overcome
my
rebelliousness
,
and
melt
down
my
cold
and
hardned
Heart
?
Shall
I
be
saved
from
Hell
and
not
be
Thankful
?
Angels
are
admiring
these
Miracles
of
Love
,
and
shall
not
I
admire
them
?
Their
Love
to
us
does
cause
them
to
rejoyce
,
while
they
stand
by
and
see
our
Heavenly
Feast
;
and
should
it
not
be
sweeter
to
us
that
are
the
Guests
that
feed
upon
it
?
My
God
how
dearly
hast
Thou
purchased
my
Love
?
How
strangely
hast
Thou
deserved
and
sought
it
?
Nothing
is
so
much
my
Grief
and
Shame
,
as
that
I
can
answer
such
Love
with
no
more
fervent
,
fruitful
Love
.
O
what
an
addition
would
it
be
to
all
this
precious
Mercy
,
if
Thou
wouldst
give
me
a
Heart
to
answer
these
thine
Invitations
?
That
thy
Love
thus
poured
out
might
draw
forth
mine
,
and
my
Soul
might
flame
by
approaching
unto
these
thy
Flames
?
And
that
Love
drawn
out
by
the
Sense
of
Love
might
be
all
my
Life
?
O
that
I
could
Love
Thee
as
much
as
I
would
Love
Thee
;
yea
,
as
much
as
Thou
wouldst
have
me
Love
Thee
!
But
this
is
too
great
a
Happiness
for
Earth
:
But
Thou
hast
shewed
me
the
Place
where
I
may
attain
it
:
My
Lord
is
there
in
full
Possession
,
who
hath
left
me
these
Pledges
till
he
come
and
fetch
us
to
himself
,
and
Feast
us
there
in
our
Master's
Joy
.
O
blessed
Place
!
O
happy
Company
that
see
his
Glory
,
and
are
filled
with
the
Streams
of
these
Rizers
of
Consolation
!
Yea
,
happy
We
whom
Thou
hast
called
from
our
dark
and
miserable
State
,
and
made
us
Heirs
of
that
Felicity
,
and
Passengers
to
it
,
and
Expectants
of
it
under
the
Conduct
of
so
sure
a
Guide
!
O
then
we
shall
Love
Thee
without
these
sinful
Pauses
and
defects
!
In
another
Measure
and
another
Manner
than
now
we
do
:
When
Thou
shalt
reveal
and
communicate
thy
attractive
Love
in
another
Measure
and
Manner
than
now
!
Till
then
,
my
God
,
I
am
devoted
to
Thee
.
By
Right
and
Covenant
I
am
thine
.
My
Soul
here
beareth
Witness
against
my Self
,
that
my
defects
of
Love
have
no
Excuse
.
Thou
deservest
all
,
if
I
had
the
Love
of
all
the
Saints
in
Heaven
and
Earth
to
give
Thee
.
What
hath
this
World
to
do
with
my
Affections
?
And
what
is
this
sordid
,
corruptible
Flesh
,
that
it
's
Desires
and
Pleasures
should
call
down
my
Soul
,
and
tempt
it
to
neglect
my
God
?
What
is
there
in
all
the
Sufferings
that
Man
can
lay
upon
me
,
that
I
should
not
joyfully
accept
them
for
his
Sake
that
has
Redeemed
me
from
Hell
,
by
such
unmatched
,
voluntary
Sufferings
?
Lord
,
seeing
Thou
regardest
,
and
so
regardest
,
so
vile
a
Worm
,
my
Heart
,
my
Tongue
,
my
Hand
Confess
,
that
I
am
wholly
Thine
.
O
let
me
live
to
none
but
Thee
,
and
to
thy
Service
,
and
thy
Saints
on
Earth
!
And
O
let
me
no
more
return
unto
Iniquity
!
Nor
venture
on
that
Sin
which
killed
my
Lord
!
And
now
Thou
hast
chosen
so
low
a
dwelling
,
O
be
not
strange
to
the
Heart
that
Thou
hast
so
freely
chosen
!
O
make
it
the
daily
residence
of
thy
Spirit
!
Quicken
it
by
thy
Grace
:
Adorn
it
with
thy
Gifts
:
Employ
it
in
thy
Love
:
Delight
it
in
it
's
Attendance
on
Thee
:
Refresh
it
with
thy
Joys
,
and
the
Light
of
thy
Countenance
:
And
destroy
this
Carnality
,
Selfishness
,
and
Unbelief
:
And
let
the
World
see
that
God
will
make
a
Palace
in
the
lowest
Heart
,
when
he
chooses
it
for
the
Place
of
his
own
abode
.
Direct
.
VI
.
When
you
come
home
Review
the
Mercy
you
have
received
,
and
the
Duty
which
you
have
done
,
and
the
Covenant
you
have
made
:
And
1.
Betake
your selves
to
God
in
Praise
and
Prayer
for
the
perfecting
of
his
Work
:
And
2.
Take
heed
to
your
Hearts
that
they
grow
not
Cold
,
and
that
worldly
Things
,
or
diverting
Trifles
don't
blot
out
the
sacred
Impressions
which
Christ
has
made
,
and
that
they
cool
not
quickly
into
their
former
dull
and
sleepy
Frame
.
3.
And
see
that
your
Lives
be
actuated
by
the
Grace
that
you
have
received
,
that
even
they
that
you
Converse
with
may
perceive
that
you
have
been
with
God
.
Especially
when
Temptations
would
draw
you
again
to
Sin
,
and
when
the
injuries
of
Friends
or
Enemies
would
provoke
you
,
and
when
you
are
called
to
testifie
your
Love
to
Christ
by
any
costly
Work
or
Suffering
,
remember
then
what
was
so
lately
before
your
Eyes
,
and
upon
your
Heart
,
and
what
you
resolved
on
,
and
what
a
Covenant
you
made
with
God
.
Yet
judge
not
of
the
Fruit
of
your
Receiving
so
much
by
Feeling
,
as
by
Faith
:
For
more
is
promis'd
,
then
you
yet
possess
.
Baxter's
Christians
Directory
,
Tome
II
.
Chap.
XXIV
.
Plain
and
Practical
DIRECTIONS
FOR
THE
Profitable
Reading
OF
THE
HOLY
SCRIPTURES
.
BEgin
with
Prayer
We
must
Plow
with
God's
Heifer
,
if
we
would
understand
his
Riddle
.
.
What
the
Apostle
saith
concerning
every
Creature
of
God
.
that
it
is
sanctified
,
and
made
fit
for
a
Free
and
Holy
Use
,
By
the
Word
of
God
and
Prayer
,
1
Tim
.
4.5
.
may
be
applied
to
Reading
the
Holy
Scriptures
,
and
to
every
other
solemn
Action
of
our
Lives
,
that
it
is
sanctified
and
made
a
Means
of
spiritual
Good
,
viz.
increase
in
Knowledge
and
Holiness
by
Prayer
:
And
therefore
when
we
enter
upon
this
Duty
of
Reading
.
We
must
lift
up
our
Hearts
to
God
,
that
He
,
who
is
the
Author
and
Inditer
of
the
Holy
Scriptures
,
would
be
the
Interpreter
of
'em
to
us
;
That
he
would
open
our
Understandings
,
as
he
did
the
Understandings
of
the
Apostles
,
(
Luke
24.45
.
)
to
understand
the
Scriptures
,
i.e.
that
we
may
understand
the
spiritual
Sense
and
meaning
of
'
em
.
There
's
the
Litteral
Sense
,
which
we
may
understand
in
a
great
Measure
,
by
our
natural
Abilities
of
Reason
,
Consideration
,
and
the
like
,
and
by
help
of
Humane
Learning
,
as
studying
the
Originals
,
Reading
of
Commentators
,
&c.
And
there
's
also
a
Spiritual
Sense
,
which
is
spiritually
discerned
,
which
God
reveals
unto
us
by
his
Spirit
,
1
Cor
.
2.9
,
14.
Hence
David
Praies
so
often
for
this
Illumination
of
the
Spirit
upon
this
occasion
,
Psalm
119.18
,
27
,
33.
Paul
while
a
Pharisee
,
was
ignorant
of
this
spiritual
Sense
of
the
Law
,
notwithstanding
all
his
natural
and
acquired
Abilities
,
till
he
was
made
to
understand
it
by
the
Spirit
,
Rom.
7.9
.
This
is
the
Unction
from
the
Holy
One
,
which
enables
us
to
Know
all
Things
,
1
John
2.20
.
And
to
Judge
of
all
Things
,
1
Cor
.
2.15
.
And
this
we
have
Encouragement
to
beg
,
from
that
Promise
,
James
1.5
.
If
any
Man
wants
Wisdom
,
let
him
ask
it
of
God
,
who
gives
liberally
,
and
upbraids
not
.
2.
Be
fill'd
with
a
Sense
of
thy
own
Emptiness
and
Ignorance
.
They
that
are
full
of
themselves
have
no
room
to
receive
any
more
;
and
therefore
they
are
sent
empty
away
,
(
Luke
1.53
.
)
Empty
of
Knowledge
;
for
,
He
that
thinks
he
knows
any
thing
,
knows
nothing
yet
as
he
ought
to
know
,
1
Cor
.
8.2
.
Whereas
Solomon
assures
us
(
Prov.
11.2
.
)
that
with
the
lowly
is
Wisdom
.
For
the
Promise
is
made
to
such
,
Psalm
25.9
.
The
Meek
,
(
the
Lowly
,
or
Humble
;
as
it
is
Translated
,
Psalm
9.12
.
and
10.17
.
and
so
frequently
)
Will
he
guide
in
Judgement
,
and
the
Lowly
will
he
teach
his
Way
.
This
Dispensation
and
Way
of
God's
dealing
in
this
respect
,
our
Saviour
Christ
takes
Notice
of
and
blesses
him
for
,
Mat
.
11.25
.
I
thank
Thee
,
O
Father
,
Lord
of
Heaven
and
Earth
,
because
thou
hast
hid
th●se
things
from
the
Wise
and
Prudent
,
(
i.e.
such
as
thought
themselves
so
:
That
were
highly
Conceited
of
themselves
,
and
of
their
own
Wisdom
and
Understanding
:
As
the
Scribes
and
Pharisees
were
,
John
9.41
.
Ye
say
,
We
see
.
As
Christ
calls
those
Whole
and
Righteous
,
which
were
so
in
their
own
Conceit
,
Mark
2.17
.
So
he
calls
them
Wise
and
Prudent
,
that
look'd
upon
themselves
as
such
;
tho'
really
it
was
otherwise
with
'em
,
and
therefore
elsewhere
he
calls
'em
Fools
and
Blind
,
(
Mat
.
23.17
.
)
and
hast
revealed
'em
unto
Babes
;
i.e.
(
hast
opened
the
Understandings
of
my
Disciples
and
Followers
,
who
have
mean
Thoughts
of
themselves
)
to
perceive
,
receive
,
and
embrace
the
Mysteries
of
the
Gospel
.
It
's
a
great
help
to
Knowledge
,
to
be
acquainted
with
our
own
Ignorance
.
Therefore
said
Deo
meo
gratias
ago
,
quod
ignorantiam
meam
non
ignoro
.
I
Thank
my
God
,
that
I
am
not
ignorant
of
my
Ignorance
.
Empty
thy Self
then
of
all
Self-conceit
,
that
thou
mayst
be
in
a
Capacity
to
be
fill'd
by
God
.
Come
with
an
humble
,
lowly
Mind
to
the
Reading
of
the
Scripture
:
For
God
gives
Grace
(
the
Grace
of
Knowledge
and
Understanding
as
well
as
other
Graces
)
to
such
.
Don't
impose
thy
Sense
upon
Scripture
,
but
receive
thy
Sense
from
the
Scripture
.
Frame
thy
Notions
and
Apprehensions
according
to
the
Model
,
and
Form
of
sound
Words
contain'd
therein
.
Humbly
deliver
up
thy
Mind
and
Understanding
to
be
cast
into
the
Mold
thereof
,
(
Rom.
6.17
.
)
to
receive
Impressions
from
it
,
and
not
to
make
Impressions
upon
it
.
Those
Men
are
to
be
abhorr'd
,
that
submit
not
their
Thoughts
and
Conceptions
to
this
sacred
Standard
;
who
compel
the
Scripture
to
serve
their
private
Opinions
;
who
make
no
Conscience
of
putting
a
Text
upon
the
Rack
to
make
it
speak
what
it
intended
not
;
of
miserably
torturing
it
that
they
may
force
it
to
confess
what
it
never
meant
.
These
Persons
should
be
reminded
how
great
a
Sin
it
is
to
distort
and
deprave
th●
Holy
Writ
,
and
designedly
to
draw
it
to
another
Sense
than
it
naturally
bears
:
And
the
Penalty
is
as
grievous
as
the
Crime
;
for
as
the
Apostle
St.
Peter
informs
us
;
This
Generation
of
Men
,
wrest
the
Scriptures
to
their
own
Destruction
.
Edwards
of
the
Excellency
and
Perfection
of
the
Holy
Scriptures
,
Part
3.
p.
585.
3.
Be
frequent
and
diligent
in
the
Reading
and
Study
of
the
Scriptures
.
We
are
commanded
by
our
Saviour
Christ
,
John
5.39
.
To
Search
the
Scriptures
.
Not
barely
to
read
'em
,
but
to
sift
'em
narrowly
,
thereby
to
find
out
the
full
Force
and
true
Meaning
of
every
Sentence
;
yea
,
of
every
Word
and
Syllable
.
We
must
dig
into
the
Bowels
of
the
Scripture
,
as
Miners
do
into
the
Bowels
of
the
Earth
for
Silver
and
Gold
,
and
precious
Stones
.
The
Scriptures
are
able
to
make
us
Wise
unto
Salvation
,
2
Tim
.
3.15
.
To
endue
with
saving
Wisdom
:
This
Wisdom
is
to
be
sought
for
as
Silver
,
and
searched
after
as
hid
Treasures
,
Prov.
2.4
.
Silver
and
Treasures
are
not
gathered
by
every
Lazy
Passenger
on
the
surface
of
the
Earth
:
but
Men
must
with
indefatigable
Pains
and
Industry
,
pierce
into
the
Bowels
of
the
Earth
in
quest
of
those
hid
Treasures
that
lye
buried
in
it
:
So
must
we
for
these
Treasures
of
Heavenly
Wisdom
.
There
are
Things
contain'd
in
the
Scriptures
which
the
Prophets
of
Old
,
notwithstanding
the
Advantage
of
their
own
special
Revelations
,
enquired
diligently
after
;
yea
,
which
even
the
Angels
themselves
desire
to
bow
down
,
and
look
into
,
1
Pet
.
1.11
,
12.
Much
more
then
should
they
be
studied
by
us
,
who
are
of
such
narrow
Capacities
,
and
shallow
Understandings
.
The
Scripture
is
the
best
Interpreter
of
it self
under
God
:
Therefore
the
more
thou
art
Conversant
in
it
,
the
greater
Acquaintance
thou
wilt
●t
with
its
Phrase
and
Manner
of
Speech
.
What
●
exprest
in
one
Place
more
doubtfully
and
ob●rely
,
is
many
Times
exprest
in
another
more
●ainly
and
intelligibly
.
Therefore
compare
Place
●ith
Place
,
and
the
scope
of
one
Place
,
with
the
●ope
of
another
;
for
which
purpose
the
Parallel
●criptures
in
Clark's
Annotations
may
be
of
good
●se
.
Again
,
we
are
commanded
also
to
have
the
Word
●
Christ
dwelling
in
us
richly
,
Col.
3.16
.
It
must
●ot
only
be
without
us
,
but
within
us
;
not
only
in
●ur
Houses
,
but
in
our
Hearts
;
and
that
not
only
as
●
Stranger
and
Sojourner
,
but
as
a
Dweller
and
A●ider
;
not
for
a
Day
or
Two
,
but
for
continuance
,
●o
take
up
its
fixed
residence
there
,
so
as
to
make
●t
our
Meditation
Day
and
Night
:
To
have
it
●eady
by
us
for
our
use
upon
all
Occasions
:
And
●his
not
in
a
scanty
Degree
;
not
sparingly
and
pe●uriously
,
but
plentiously
and
richly
;
that
we
may
●e
throughly
furnisht
to
every
good
Work
,
2
Tim
.
●
.
17
.
And
for
this
end
.
4.
Read
it
deliberately
,
with
due
Attention
,
Observation
and
Consideration
.
This
is
the
Apostle's
Direction
,
1
Tim
.
4.13
.
Give
attendance
to
Reading
.
Observe
carefully
what
you
read
:
Be
intent
upon
it
:
Apply
your
Mind
wholely
to
it
.
Let
not
your
Thoughts
run
waste
,
go
astray
,
play
the
Truants
and
ramble
after
other
Things
;
but
keep
'em
close
to
Work
;
fix
'em
upon
the
business
in
Hand
:
And
then
read
with
Deliberation
,
so
as
that
nothing
may
pass
unobserved
.
Run
it
not
over
hastily
,
like
a
Task
,
but
consider
what
is
said
(
2
Tim
.
2.7
.
)
especially
when
you
meet
with
any
thing
that
does
more
nearly
concern
you
,
and
is
suited
to
your
Case
.
Water
poured
hastily
upon
a
narrow-mouth'd
Vessel
will
most
of
it
run
beside
,
and
but
little
will
run
in
:
We
are
narrow-mouth'd
Vessels
,
and
apt
to
let
things
slip
:
Therefore
we
must
give
the
more
earnest
heed
to
the
things
we
read
(
Heb
.
2.1
.
)
least
we
let
Things
run
beside
:
That
is
the
force
of
the
Word
,
according
to
that
Learned
Critick
H.
Stephens
.
Eâ
significatione
quâ
dicitur
fluvius
,
aut
aqua
quaepiam
praeter
fluere
locum
aliquem
.
Steph
.
in
Thesauro
.
We
say
,
Haste
makes
Waste
:
And
certainly
by
reading
hastily
,
we
lose
abundance
of
that
excellent
Matter
,
which
,
by
Deliberation
,
we
might
gain
;
as
every
one
may
find
by
Experience
.
The
Rabbins
have
a
Saying
,
That
upon
every
Letter
of
the
Law
,
there
hang
Mountains
of
Sense
;
Non
est
in
lege
vel
litera
una
a
quâ
non
pendent
Montes
magni
.
Picke
.
Avoth
.
ch
.
2.
And
our
Saviour
Christ
tells
us
,
(
Mat
.
5.18
.
)
That
one
Jot
,
or
one
Tittle
shall
in
no
wise
pass
from
the
Law
:
So
,
we
should
not
suffer
one
Jot
or
Tittle
to
pass
unobserved
;
since
a
little
Word
may
contain
a
great
deal
of
Matter
,
and
many
excellent
Lessons
may
be
learned
from
the
very
Coherence
,
Occasion
and
the
like
.
It
is
a
Passage
of
Holy
,
Laborious
Mr.
Stockton
,
That
the
observing
and
pondering
every
Word
and
Circumstance
in
a
Promise
is
of
great
Use
.
Stockton's
Life
,
p.
96.
of
which
you
may
find
many
Examples
in
those
Memorials
he
left
of
himself
,
and
Publisht
in
his
Life
by
my
worthy
Friend
,
and
Academical
Acquaintance
Mr.
John
Fairfax
.
5.
Come
to
the
Word
with
earnest
Desires
to
profit
by
it
.
The
Usefulness
and
Profitableness
of
the
Scripture
in
several
Particulars
,
the
Apostle
acquaints
us
with
,
2
Tim
.
3.16
.
Rom.
15.4
.
(
1.
)
It
is
profitable
for
Doctrine
;
to
Teach
us
what
we
are
to
Know
,
Believe
,
and
Practice
,
in
order
to
our
Everlasting
Happiness
.
(
2.
)
For
Reproof
;
to
enable
us
to
convince
Gain-sayers
,
(
Tit
.
1.9
.
)
and
confute
Errors
.
(
3.
)
For
Correction
;
to
reform
the
Life
,
and
free
it
from
all
corrupt
Manners
,
unwarrantable
Practises
and
vicious
Courses
.
(
4.
)
For
Instruction
to
Righteousness
;
to
teach
us
how
to
make
further
progress
in
the
way
to
Heaven
,
and
to
walk
on
in
the
right
way
to
true
Happiness
.
(
5.
)
It
is
profitable
to
teach
us
how
to
exercise
Patience
under
all
the
hardships
we
must
undergo
,
and
the
Trials
we
may
meet
with
in
our
Pilgrimage
:
(
6.
)
It
holds
forth
manifold
Comforts
to
us
,
to
enable
us
to
run
with
chearfulness
the
Race
that
is
set
afore
us
.
(
7.
)
It
serves
to
the
Breeding
,
Encreasing
and
Confirming
our
Hope
and
Expectation
of
Everlasting
Life
.
In
which
respects
it
has
many
glorious
Titles
and
high
Commendations
given
it
by
Authors
,
both
Ancient
and
Modern
.
It
is
called
both
the
Food
and
Physick
of
the
Soul
,
an
Apothecaries
Shop
where
spiritual
Medicines
for
all
the
Diseases
and
Ailes
of
the
Soul
are
to
be
found
;
where
there
's
a
Salve
for
every
Sore
,
a
Remedy
for
every
Malady
.
But
I
can't
better
express
my self
upon
this
Head
,
nor
display
the
excellent
Usefulness
of
the
Holy
Scriptures
,
than
in
the
Words
of
the
Reverend
Dr.
Roberts
,
in
the
Introduction
to
his
Clavis
Bibliorum
.
Here
are
unfolded
the
Covenant
of
Grace
,
wholly
made
up
of
heavenly
Cordials
:
The
Promises
of
the
Life
that
now
is
,
and
that
which
is
to
come
,
exceeding
great
and
precious
.
The
Comforts
of
God
,
able
to
Counterpoise
the
deepest
Disconsolations
.
Here
are
discovered
the
Miseries
of
all
that
are
in
the
first
Adam
,
the
Felicities
of
all
that
are
in
the
second
Adam
,
and
the
Way
how
Poor
Souls
are
Translated
from
those
Miseries
to
those
Felicities
.
In
a
Word
,
What
is
there
not
in
Holy
Scriptures
?
Are
we
afflicted
?
Here
's
our
Solace
.
Are
we
persecuted
?
Here
's
our
Protection
.
Are
we
deserted
?
Here
's
our
Recovery
.
Are
we
tempted
?
Here
's
our
Sword
and
Victory
.
Whilest
we
Live
,
here
's
the
Rule
of
our
Conversation
;
when
we
dye
,
here
's
the
Hope
of
our
Glorification
.
So
that
I
may
say
with
Tertullian
,
I
adore
the
fulness
of
the
Scripture
.
Since
then
it
is
so
exceeding
Profitable
,
if
we
don't
bring
along
with
us
sincere
and
hearty
Desires
to
partake
of
this
Profit
,
what
do
we
spend
our
Time
about
it
for
?
Come
we
then
to
it
with
a
Mind
and
Desire
to
Profit
by
it
:
To
have
our
Minds
more
enlightned
with
the
saving
Knowledge
of
his
Will
,
and
all
other
Graces
encreased
,
that
we
may
abound
in
the
Fruits
of
Holiness
and
Righteousness
,
and
become
more
flourishing
in
the
Courts
of
our
God
.
6.
Exercise
Faith
on
the
several
Parts
of
the
Scripture
.
I
don
't
mean
barely
to
Assent
to
the
Truth
of
'em
with
an
Historical
Faith
;
that
's
no
great
Matter
to
do
:
Generally
,
all
that
call
themselves
Christians
pretend
to
this
:
But
to
imploy
an
Operative
Faith
about
'em
,
i.e.
such
a
Faith
as
shows
it self
in
the
Life
.
Believe
the
Precepts
so
as
to
obey
'em
;
Believe
the
Promises
so
as
to
Suck
Comfort
from
'em
,
and
so
as
to
be
encouraged
thereby
in
the
Way
of
Holiness
:
And
Believe
the
Threatnings
so
as
to
be
deterr'd
thereby
from
Sin
.
And
thus
to
believe
the
Scripture
is
no
easie
Matter
:
For
it
is
easie
to
prove
,
that
few
of
those
who
pretend
to
believe
'em
,
nay
,
perhaps
are
possest
with
true
and
saving
Faith
,
do
yet
firmly
believe
'em
with
such
an
inward
,
hearty
Perswasion
,
and
Operative
Faith
,
as
I
have
mention'd
.
I
shall
prove
it
plainly
and
undeniably
to
you
,
by
this
convi●●●
Illustration
.
If
some
King
or
Nobleman
,
who
h●s
always
been
found
true
and
faithful
to
his
Word
,
without
any
one
instance
to
the
contrary
,
shall
Declare
and
give
Notice
,
That
whosoever
comes
to
him
by
such
a
Time
,
and
will
go
over
with
him
beyond
Sea
to
such
a
Place
,
when
he
comes
there
he
'll
give
him
a
hundred
Pound
,
and
so
many
Acres
of
Land
,
and
make
him
a
great
Man
;
so
that
he
shall
much
Advantage
himself
in
all
Respects
,
and
it
shall
be
better
with
him
than
it
is
now
,
if
Persons
do
believe
him
(
especially
they
who
are
Poor
and
Needy
)
they
will
certainly
come
and
accept
of
his
Offer
:
And
if
such
Persons
do
not
come
,
it
's
a
certain
Sign
that
they
do
not
believe
him
.
(
I
might
put
many
such
Cases
.
)
So
when
God
hath
said
,
If
ye
live
after
the
Flesh
ye
shall
dye
:
It
is
a
People
of
no
Understanding
,
therefore
he
that
made
them
will
not
have
Mercy
on
them
,
and
he
that
formed
them
,
will
show
'em
no
Favour
,
Isa
.
27.11
.
He
will
not
be
merciful
to
any
wicked
Transgressor
,
Psalm
59.5
.
If
fleshly
Livers
,
ignorant
Persons
,
wicked
Transgressors
,
notwithstanding
this
Declaration
of
God's
Will
,
will
yet
persuade
themselves
that
they
shall
live
in
Eternal
Happiness
,
and
that
God
will
be
merciful
to
'em
,
this
evidently
proves
that
they
don't
believe
those
Scripture-Threatnings
.
Again
,
when
Scripture
saith
,
He
that
Sowes
sparingly
shall
Reap
sparingly
,
though
Persons
do
Sow
,
yet
if
they
do
it
in
a
penurious
,
scanty
,
sparing
Manner
,
and
not
Liberally
and
Bountifully
,
it
's
a
certain
Evidence
.
That
they
don't
believe
that
Scripture-Promise
:
For
I
never
knew
any
Man
so
covetous
as
to
be
s●●ring
of
his
Seed
.
How
many
such
Instances
might
be
given
?
So
that
I
say
,
it
's
no
such
easie
and
common
Matter
,
as
many
think
it
,
to
believe
the
Scripture
;
and
therefore
,
I
give
you
〈◇〉
Direction
,
when
you
come
to
read
the
Scripture
,
to
bring
along
with
you
a
firm
Perswasion
of
the
Truth
of
every
thing
contain'd
therein
.
And
that
this
is
the
Way
to
profit
thereby
,
is
plain
from
that
Passage
of
the
Apostle
,
Heb
.
4.1
.
the
Word
Preached
(
or
Read
)
did
not
profit
them
,
not
being
mixed
with
Faith
in
them
that
Heard
(
or
Read
)
it
:
Implying
,
That
the
Way
to
profit
by
the
Word
is
to
receive
it
by
Faith
,
whereby
it
is
received
into
,
digested
and
incorporated
into
the
Soul
,
and
so
the
Soul
is
nourisht
thereby
,
as
the
Body
is
by
it
's
Food
.
7.
Select
such
Places
in
Reading
as
may
be
of
special
use
to
you
.
Here
I
shall
only
Transcribe
,
what
was
written
long
ago
by
Mr.
N.
B.
in
the
Preface
to
his
Directions
for
Reading
the
Scripture
.
He
that
comes
to
Read
the
Scripture
should
especially
set
himself
to
observe
,
the
most
needful
Places
to
enlarge
his
own
Knowledge
,
and
further
his
own
growth
in
the
true
Grace
of
God
.
As
for
Example
.
First
,
It
were
a
Thing
of
admirable
Use
all
my
Life
long
,
if
I
did
set
down
all
the
Places
of
Scripture
,
that
in
the
Reading
I
find
sensible
Comfort
,
and
ravishing
of
Heart
in
.
It
may
be
in
the
whole
Bible
,
I
may
find
Twenty
,
Forty
,
Fifty
,
&c.
of
such
Places
,
as
I
was
sure
in
the
Reading
,
did
wonderfully
fill
my
Heart
with
secret
Refreshing
,
and
sensibly
Joy
:
Now
these
Places
so
noted
,
not
only
serve
for
present
use
,
but
while
I
Live
in
any
Distress
I
may
have
recourse
to
these
,
as
so
many
Wells
of
Joy
:
And
if
in
my
Grief
one
or
two
,
or
ten
of
'em
did
not
Comfort
me
,
yet
a
thousand
to
one
but
some
of
'em
,
will
have
Spirit
and
Life
in
'em
to
refresh
me
again
in
my
Sorrows
.
Besides
,
it
marvellously
establishes
my
Faith
,
when
I
remember
in
how
many
distinct
Places
of
Scripture
,
the
Lord
was
pleased
to
Comfort
me
in
Particular
.
This
is
one
Thing
we
should
observe
.
Secondly
,
Would
it
not
be
exceeding
profitable
,
if
I
did
Note
all
the
Places
of
Scripture
,
which
in
Reading
of
'em
did
sensibly
smite
my
Heart
,
and
reprove
some
Fault
in
me
,
so
as
I
felt
my
Heart
troubled
within
me
?
Certainly
by
that
time
I
had
gone
through
the
Scriptures
,
I
should
see
the
Anatomy
of
my
Corruptions
,
and
plainly
perceive
,
what
things
there
were
in
my
Nature
,
that
God
had
a
quarrel
against
:
And
so
might
be
guided
by
the
very
Finger
of
God
,
to
know
the
Faults
I
should
set
my Self
most
against
in
Mortification
.
Thirdly
,
In
Reading
,
one
shall
find
sometimes
certain
Rules
or
Counsels
given
,
which
one
sensibly
is
affected
withal
,
and
has
an
inward
Desire
O
that
I
could
but
remember
this
Counsel
of
the
Holy
Ghost
!
Now
I
would
Note
all
those
Places
,
that
the
Holy
Ghost
has
made
me
in
Love
withal
in
the
Reading
,
that
might
concern
my
own
particular
Direction
,
either
at
Home
or
Abroad
.
And
then
in
the
End
of
the
Book
he
sets
down
these
.
Rules
or
Titles
of
Things
to
be
observed
in
Reading
.
1.
Places
that
in
Reading
I
found
sensible
Comfort
in
.
2.
Places
that
I
found
did
rebuke
Corruption
in
my
Nature
or
Practise
.
3.
Places
that
show
the
Priviledges
of
the
Godly
above
all
other
Men
.
4.
Places
that
show
the
Affection
I
should
bear
to
God
.
5.
Places
that
show
me
how
to
carry
my Self
in
the
Church
.
6.
Places
that
show
me
how
to
carry
my Self
in
my
Family
.
7.
Promises
that
may
Comfort
me
against
my
daily
Infirmities
.
8.
Comforts
against
inward
Temptations
and
Afflictions
of
Spirit
.
9.
Promises
to
establish
me
,
against
the
Fear
of
falling
away
.
10.
Promises
that
may
Comfort
me
against
outward
Crosses
.
11.
Grounds
or
Places
that
show
me
divers
Points
of
Religion
,
that
I
could
infallibly
rest
upon
,
and
Live
and
Dye
in
the
Assurance
of
'
em
.
12.
Hard
Places
,
that
I
would
be
resolved
in
the
meaning
of
'
em
.
13.
Comfortable
Places
concerning
Prayer
.
14.
Places
that
direct
me
in
my
particular
Calling
.
15.
Places
that
show
me
how
to
carry
my Self
towards
the
Wicked
,
especially
when
I
must
needs
be
in
their
Company
.
16.
Comforts
against
Death
.
17.
Places
that
show
the
Glory
of
Heaven
.
18.
Places
that
set
out
the
Terror
of
Hell
.
19.
Choice
Sentences
,
to
be
learned
without
Book
.
20.
Sentences
for
Children
to
Learn
,
briefly
expressing
the
chief
Points
of
Religion
.
21.
Places
against
Hypocrisie
.
22.
The
most
Memorable
Sayings
of
the
Godly
in
their
several
Estates
.
23.
Miscellanea
,
or
Places
I
would
remember
,
but
know
not
what
Head
to
refer
'em
to
.
Each
of
these
Heads
,
or
so
many
of
'em
as
one
shall
judge
most
suitable
for
himself
,
may
be
written
on
the
Top
of
the
Pages
,
in
a
Paper-book
made
for
that
End.
8.
And
Lastly
,
Be
careful
to
Practise
what
you
know
,
and
you
shall
know
what
to
Practise
.
Christ's
Promise
to
such
is
express
to
this
Purpose
.
John
7.17
,
If
any
Man
will
do
his
Will
,
he
shall
know
of
the
Doctrine
,
whether
it
be
of
God
.
And
David
found
the
Truth
of
it
by
Experience
.
Psalm
119.98
,
100.
Thou
through
thy
Commandments
hast
made
me
wiser
than
mine
Enemies
:
For
they
are
ever
with
me
.
I
have
more
Understanding
than
all
my
Teachers
;
for
thy
Testimonies
are
my
Meditation
,
I
understand
more
than
the
Ancients
,
because
I
keep
thy
Precepts
.
Practise
is
the
Life
and
Soul
of
Knowledge
,
without
which
it
is
but
a
dead
Carkass
.
Hereby
the
Tree
of
Knowledge
will
become
a
Tree
of
Life
to
us
.
This
is
the
End
therefore
that
we
should
propound
unto
our selves
,
viz.
to
refer
all
to
Practise
;
by
performing
the
Duties
enjoyn'd
,
and
avoiding
the
Sins
forbidden
in
the
Word
.
This
David
promised
to
do
,
Psalm
119.33
.
Teach
me
O
Lord
the
Way
of
thy
Judgments
,
and
I
will
keep
them
unto
the
End.
Without
this
our
Knowledge
will
but
aggravate
our
Condemnation
,
Luke
12.47
.
The
Servant
that
knew
his
Lord's
Will
,
and
prepared
not
himself
,
neither
did
according
to
his
Will
shall
be
beaten
with
many
Stripes
.
How
should
we
expect
that
God
should
inlighten
our
Understandings
with
the
Knowledge
of
his
Will
,
or
give
us
more
,
if
we
don't
make
use
of
that
we
have
?
Yea
,
we
may
rather
expect
,
that
he
should
take
away
that
Talent
from
us
,
which
we
hide
unprofitably
in
a
Napkin
:
As
he
threaten'd
to
do
,
Luke
19.24
.
I
shall
conclude
these
Directions
with
that
Passage
of
Jerom
to
Celantius
,
Sint
ergo
Divinae
Scripturae
semper
in
manibus
tuis
,
&c.
Let
therefore
the
Holy
Scriptures
be
always
in
thy
Hands
,
and
meditate
on
'em
in
thy
Mind
;
yet
don't
think
it
sufficient
to
have
God's
Laws
in
thy
Memory
,
if
thou
forget
them
in
thy
Works
,
but
therefore
know
them
,
that
thou
mayst
do
what
thou
knowest
.
for
not
the
Hearers
of
the
Law
are
Just
before
God
,
but
the
Doers
of
it
are
justified
.
These
are
the
Persons
who
are
pronounced
Happy
by
Christ
,
John
13.17
.
If
ye
know
these
Things
,
Happy
are
ye
if
ye
do
them
.
Let
us
Do
so
,
that
we
may
Be
so
.
Amen
.
FINIS
.