and idle cogitations; exclude an entrance to evil desires; yield acceptable passage to the Bridegroom Christ Jesus; gird up thy loins with the girdle of truth; light the lamp of faith; go forth to meet him, and receive him joyfully.

DR. CHRISTOPHER SUTTON.

III.

Thou art invited, O my soul, to a royal banquet; put on thy best apparel then, for the King that bids thee will take great notice of thy dress. It is the marriage-supper of the great King; let me then get on the wedding-garment, that I may go out to meet the Bridegroom of my soul. Take care that thou appear like a guest, lest the Lord of the feast should look upon thee as an intruder. But come away, all things are ready! Surely thou dost not stand doubtful whether thou shalt go or not, nor make excuses to put it off till another time? Art thou sure if thou hast rejected this solemn invitation, and refused thy company to the great Master of the feast, who does now so passionately desire it,-art thou sure to be accepted another time? may not these delays provoke the slighted King to cry out in his anger, that thou, which wert in vain bidden, shalt not taste of my supper?

Raise up thy faculties, therefore, O my

soul, and consider the many obligations that thou art under of hastening to the banquet of thy Lord. Think but upon the condescension of the Almighty. He stoops to solicit my presence, and even entreats me to be there: shall I, then, insolently reject these submissions of the Deity, and despise the goodness of my Creator? But as the condescensions of thy Saviour, O my soul, in calling thee to the feast, so the benefits of it to thyself do oblige thee to accept this call, and hasten to the entertainment with an excess of joy.

Here is that which conveys grace to the soul, and nourishes my faith and all other virtues to that degree, as to make me a new creature, and fit me for the presence of my Lord in his eternal kingdom. Here is that which ratifies the promises of God, applies the merits of my Redeemer's death to my soul, and, in a word, seals the pardon of my sins. Here is that which will make me in a manner the receptacle of my God, for he will come unto me, and make his abode with me; so that I shall enjoy him here below, and in some measure anticipate his glorious presence, which is in heaven the delight of angels.

Reflect, again, upon the honour, O my soul, that is conferred upon thee. Why this great honour, O my Lord, to me, the most wretched of all that are called to thy hea

venly table? what dost thou see in me to tempt thy compassion, and invite thee to vouchsafe me this honour? Was it not enough for thee to come down from thy glorious seat above, and die upon the cross for me, but must thou also provide this heavenly banquet for thy servant, and oblige him to sit down in thy presence, and feed upon the bread of life?

O my soul, how am I obliged, in gratitude to my Saviour's love upon the cross, to be frequent in the commemoration of it! He there trod the wine-press of his Father's displeasure, and in the bitter anguish of his departing soul, cried out he had forsaken him. The disgrace, as well as the torments of his cruel death, together with his willingness to endure all this for my redemption, are such instances of love, even in this invitation too, as call for the highest expression of gratitude, and a thankful acceptance of the proffer.

IV.

BISHOP KEN.

Let us consider, my soul, before we go to the holy table, for what ends we go thither, and with what hearts we ought to go. Is it not to admire the greatness of God's love in giving his Son to us; and the greatness of Christ's love in giving himself for us? Is it not to render our highest thanks and

offer up ourIs it not to

praise to the Father and the Son for this inestimable love, and then to selves wholly to his service? renew our baptismal covenant, wherein we promised to forsake all his enemies, and to lead a mortified life in all obedience to his will?to represent to God what his Son hath done for us, and humbly to hope in him for all the benefits of his passion?-to receive increase of power to overcome the world, and farther testimonials of his love, and stronger desires after the consummation of it in heavenly bliss?

V.

BISHOP PATRICK.

O blessed Saviour, what more powerful motives can I have to persuade me to communicate than thy command, and the blessed effects of this holy sacrament?

But, alas, my corrupt nature is apt to subject me to low and base inducements to this duty; such as are, fear of my superiors' displeasure, if I abstain; or shame of not appearing as devout as my equals; or the mere custom of the place or of the

season.

But, Lord, I do from my heart renounce all these and the like carnal considerations; and I come to thy table to renew my bap. tismal covenant with thee.

I come to testify my sense of thy love, O

heavenly Father, in thy so loving the world as to give up thy only Son to die for me.

I come to testify my faith in thee, and my love towards thee, O blessed Saviour, and thankfully to commemorate thy wonderful love in dying for me.

I come, Lord, to testify my stedfastness in the communion of thy Church, and my charity to all the world.

I come to thy table, O Lord, from a sense that I want that spiritual food to which thou there invitest me.

Alas, I am soon apt to grow weary of well-doing; a few prayers tire me; every slight temptation overcomes me: but I know that thy body can strengthen my soul, and thy blood revive my drooping obedience; and it is thy most blessed body and blood after which I hunger and thirst: O gracious Lord, grant that I, and all who communicate with me, may feel their saving efficacy. O, feed, refresh, and nourish our souls with them to life everlasting, and that for thy own infinite mercy's sake, which moved thee to offer up thy body and blood for us. Amen. Amen.

BISHOP KEN.

VI.

Dost thou bid me, O Saviour, do this in remembrance of thee? O, how can I forget thee? how can I enough celebrate thee, for