Communion with Chrift, 2 Cor. viii. 12. which confifts in an abfolute Choice, Heb. xi. 25. not carried after spiritual Things only, as beneficial unto ourselves, but as fimply and in themselves good, for their own Sakes to be defired of all, Pf. xliii. 3. and lxxii. 25. carried as well after Sanctification as after Juftification and Redemption, which are in Chrift, 1 Cor. i. 30. with greater Efteem for Chrift than all Things befide, Pet. ii. 6.

3dly, We must have a fincere Affection to come to the Love of Christ, and all his Followers, because no Gifts fignify any Thing without Love, I Cor. xiii. 2. Q. Is there any Thing farther necessary, for worthy Receivers to examine themfelves about?

A. Yes; the Sincerity of their Hearts, whether it be evidenced by their Obedience, without which they cannot worthily approach this Table, I Cor. v. 8. Therefore let us keep the Feast, not with old Leaven, neither with the Leaven of Malice and Wickedness, but with the unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth.

Q. What more ought to be tried?

A. Whether we find in ourselves a Hunger and Thirft after the Grace of God in Chrift, both for the pardoning and mortifying of all our Sins, and for the Amendment and reforming of our Lives, having a fincere Intention to be zealous of good Works, I Tim. i. 14. Then we may advance our Claim, and hold faft the Bleffing; for fuch the Saviour is provided, to fuch his Benefits are propofed, and on fuch his Grace will be magnified. Then we may approach that holy Prefence, and be affured, that our Sins, for Chrift's Sake, are pardoned; then we will have Peace and Love, reviving Influences of fresh Annointings of the Spirit; yea, then we will receive a Thousand Mercies, and find ineftimable Treasures in Chrift Jesus.

Hence then, every one, who, as a poor, indigent, guilty Sinner, flies to Chrift, may take Views of the wonderful and aftonishing Grace and Condefcenfion

my

of God to his People; who, notwithstanding all their Sins, Corruptions, and other Evils, will not reject their Perfons or Duties, nay, though Evil be prefent with us, our gracious God will not be abfent from us; fee that in the Spoufe, Cant. ii. 8. It is the Voice of beloved! Behold, he cometh, leaping over the Mountains, Skipping over the Hills; it is the Voice of my beloved! That abrupt Expreffion fhews a perfect Surprize. She faw Mountains of Guilt and Unworthinefs betwixt Chrift and her Soul; and yet, behold, he comes, fkipping over all thofe Mountains and Hills. O free Grace! O rich and admirable Grace! which with fo many Nevertheleffes will fave and comfort the poor and unworthy Soul!

Q. What is the Danger of coming to the Lord's Table without thefe Graces?

4. The Danger is exceeding great, both to Soul and Body; 1, To the Soul, I Cor. xi. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself, (or to an aggravating) of his Damnation. 2dly, To the Body, 1 Cor. xi. 30. For this Caufe many are weak and fickly among you, and many Леер.

Q. If upon Examination we are in Doubt about our Faith and Sincerity, must we forbear?

A. If our Doubts arife from Weaknefs, and not the total Want of Grace, fuch Doubts fhould not hinder us, Rom. xiv. 1. Him that is weak in the Faith, receive you, &c.

Q. How may the Believer fupport himself against all Temptations of the Devil, the World and the Flesh, which are drawn from hence, that there are not many Fruits of his Faith to be difcerned?

A., He ought to confider, that Faith in it's own Nature, is of thofe Things which are not seen or felt, Heb. xi. and in this it differs from Vifion, · Rom. viii. 24. 1 Cor. xii. 12. And therefore there is no more required to the Being of Faith, but that a

Man

Man do with his whole Heart make choice of Chrift for his Saviour, and with his whole Heart adhere unto him; other Things belong to the well-being of Faith, but not abfolutely to the Being of it, Col. ii. 7. 2dly, He ought to confider, that the Want of many Fruits may argue Faith to be languifhing or weak, but it cannot argue that there is no Faith, 2 Pet. i. 8. 3dly, He ought to confider, that the Confcience is often fupported by the Remembrance of what is past, tho for the prefent Grace doth not appear, Pf. lxxvii. 6,. 7, 12. And by the Judgments of others that are godly and wife, concerning us when our Judgment is troubled, Heb. vi. 9, 2 Cor. ii. 7, 8.

Q. But how may a Man fupport himself against Temptations which are drawn from hence, that he feels upon him Signs of the Wrath of God?

A. if, He ought to confider, that many Signs of God's Wrath may coincid with his Love and Favour, P. xcix. 8. 2dly, He ought to remember, that Christ who was the Son of God's Love, has tasted the Wrath of God in this Sort, Matt. xxvii. 46. 3dly, He ought to confider, that it is required of the Faithful that they believe against Hope in Hope, Rom. iv. 18. and that they (do as it were) wrestle with God by Faith, Gen. xxxii. 24. Hof. xii. 4, 5.

Q. How may he hold up his Head against thofe Temptations which arife from hence, that his Faith doth not increase, Rom. i. 17.

A. He ought to confider, that it is with 'Faith as it is with Plants and living Creatures, which we may more eafily perceive to have grown, than to be growing. 2dly, That the increafe of Faith is not to be expected to be known every Móment, and at all Seafons of our Life, Heb. v. 12. but efpecially is it known, when the Son of Righteousness approacheth nearer to our Horrizon by a more merciful Communication of his Grace, Acts ix. 31. 2 Pet. i. 2, 3. 3dly, That thofe Temptations which do hinder the

Increase

Increase of Faith for the prefent, may turn Advantageous to it thereafter, even as the Winter turns out to Plants, and as Sickness to the Bodies of young Perfons.

Q. How may a Man comfort himself against those Terrors which arife from the Guilt of his Sins, efpecially if they are grievous?

A. He ought to remember, 1, That fuch Temp tations as thefe do proceed from a Defect in Faith, `Rom. vi. 11. Eph. vi. 16. 1 Pet. v. 9. And therefore that we are not to caft away our Faith because of such Sins, but rather fo much the more to ftrengthen it, Luke xxii. 32. 2dly, He ought to confider, that it is the Duty of the Faithful, not on account of Sin to fly from, but rather to God, and to adhere to him in Chrift, in order that Sin may be remitted and abolifhed, Job iii. 14. with Num. xxi. 9.

Q. How may a Chriftian fuftain himself in Time of Affliction?

A. He ought to confider, 1, That fuch Kind of Tryals are Fruits of God's Love, Heb. xii. 6. 2dly, By which God would molify his Heart, 2 Chron. xxxiii 10. And, 3dly, Mortify his Corruptions, P. cxix. 67. 4thly, They fhall Work for his Good, Rom. viii. 28. and augment his Graces, James i. 3. 5thly, The Grace of God in all fuch Cafes are fufficient for him, 2 Cor. xii. 9. 6thly, He ought to confider, that God will fave his afflicted People, 2 Sam. xxii. 28. that he hears their Cry, fob xxxiv. 28. P. xviii. 27. &c. He will have Mercy upon them, Ifa. xlix. 13. &c. 7thly, He ought to confider, that Afflictions are the Lot of God's Children, Pf. xxxiv. 19. fo of David, Pf. cxxxii. 1. Of Paul, Acts xx. 23. and others. 8thly, If we are in Time of Afflictions we ought to account it as a fpecial Favour; fo did Feb, Fab vii. 18. and Jeremiah prayeth, Correct me, O Lord, Chap. x. 24 David, before he was afflicted,

went

went aftray, Pf. cxix. 67. and confeffed that it was good for him to be afflicted, Verse 17.

Q. What are the Duties of worthy Receivers at the

Lord's Table?

A. To endeavour to discern Chrift by the Eye of Faith, under thefe Signs of his Body and Blood, I Cor. xi. 29. and on the difcerning of him, to mourn bitterly for Sin, Zech. xii. 10. and to excite all their Graces into vigorous Acts, for the applying Chrift to themselves, Cant. iv. 16. Awake, O North Wind, and come thou South; blow upon my Garden, that the Spices thereof may flow out, &c.

Q. What is the Duty of worthy Receivers after the Sacrament?

A. Their Duty is heartily to praife and bless God, for Christ, and the Benefits of his Blood, Matt. xxvi. 30. to double their Diligence and Watchfulness againft Sin, Eph. iv. 30. and to grow more fruitful in all fpiritual Obedience, Col. i. 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleafing, being fruitful in every good Work, and increasing in the Knowledge of God.

The 82d Question of the HEIDELBERG CATECHISM.

AY thofe who by their Principles and Practices are Unbelievers and ungodly Perfons, be admitted to the holy Sacrament?

"A. No; for that would be to prophane the "Covenant of God, and to draw down his Wrath

upon the whole Church; wherefore the Chriftian "Church is obliged, according to the Ordinances of "Jefus Chrift and his Apoftles, to exclude all fuch "by Virtue of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, until they discover an Amendment of Life." Q. How do you prove that Unbelievers and ungodly Perfons ought not to receive the Lord's Supper?

66

A. By Scripture Teftimony, 1 Cor. xi. 29. He that

eateth