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MEDITATIONS AND ADVICES,

GROUNDED UPON

SCRIPTURE TEXTS;

PROPER FOR

COMMUNICANTS,

ΤΟ

PREPARE THEIR HEARTS, EXCITE THEIR AFFECTIONS,
QUICKEN THEIR GRACES, AND ENLIVEN THEIR
DEVOTIONS, ON

SACRAMENTAL OCCASIONS:

AND LIKEWISE USEFUL

TO PROMOTE GRACIOUS DISPOSITIONS AND RESOLUTIONS IN
CHRISTIANS, AT ALL TIMES, UPON THE REMEM-

BRANCE OF A CRUCIFIED JESUS.

A CRUCIFIED

TOGETHER WITH

A SHORT CHRISTIAN DIRECTORỲ;

AND A

VARIETY OF SCRIPTURE SONGS, FOR ZION'S TRAVELLERS.

APPENDIX:

1. A LECTURE CONCERNING THE INSTITUTION OF THE
LORD'S SUPPER: ON 1 Cor. XI. 17, TO THE END.

II. A PREPARATION SERMON: FROM JOSH. III. 5.

II. AN ACTION SERMOM: FROM CANT. II. 4.

BY THE REV. JOHN WILLISON,

LATE MINISTER AT DUNDEE.

PUBLISHED

EY SYBRANT QUACKENBUSH, Jun.

S. PARKER, PRINTER, TROY.

1821.

58133

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I am pleased at the idea of your publishing Willison's Meditations and Advices; in doing it you will confer a benefit upon the church. I have often read it, I trust with profit. I know of no work better calculated to enliven the graces, excite the zeal, and promote the faithfulness of God's people. Like the sun it communicates light and heat. While it animates, it instructs; while it searches, it encourages. The author had the happy art of so mingling the oil and wine, as to meet the various cases found in the church. This treatise ought to be in the hamis or every communicant. I wish you success from God in this attempt to subserve his cause and people. Yours affectionately,

MARK TUCKER, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Stillwater. MR. QUACKENbush.

Troy, May 9th, 1821.

SIR,

It is with pleasure that I learn, that you are about te republish the Rev. Mr. Willison's Sacrainental meditatrons and Advices. It is a work of great worth, admirably calculated to enlighten the understanding, and warmthe hearts of the followers of Christ; and prepare them for an acceptable approach to the holy communion. Under a full conviction that it will be of great use to the Christian Community, it is hereby recommended to their pious patronage.

JONAS COE, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Troy.

MR. QUACKENbush.

Lansingburgh, May 9, 1821.

TO THE CHRISTIAN PUBLICK,

Every disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, who loves his master, will thank the Publisher of this little volume, as an instrument in the hand of God for spreading before him, so great a treasure as Willison's Sacramental Meditations and Advices. Let all who have the opportunity, make a copy their own.

SAMUEL BLATCHFORD, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Lansingburgh. MR. QUACKENBush.

DEAR FRIEND,

July 1st, 1821.

I have read with pleasure and with profit, Willison's Sacramental Meditations and Advices, and think it well calculated to improve the mind, and warm the heart of the believer in Christ, I wish you success in its republication and more general diffusion. The work is highly esteemed, and is indeed worthy the serious perusal of every christian. With esteem, your friend,

J. D. FONDA, Minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, Greenwich. MR, QUACKENBUSIL

PREFACE.

THE eternal Son of God, when taking his leave of an

ungrateful world, instituted the sacrament of the Supper, as a lively resemblance and memorial of his bloody suf ferings and death in the room of his people; and also to be a bright and lasting evidence of the amazing love of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to perishing sin

ners.

As God once sent his Son into the world in a lowly habit, clothed with human flesh, to save sinners, so now he sends him in a homely dress, clothed with the elements of bread and wine, to assure us of his love, and to engage us to come to him. Kings expect that their children will be respected, though their officers be neglected. Surely (saith God) They will reverence my Son; they will make him welcome, and hearken to him.

In this most august ordinance of the New Testament the great God approaches very near to us, and we to him; and yet it is to be deeply regretted, that many who profess to believe this, come to it with so little thought and preparation, and with so much indifferency and carelessness of spirit. Oh, shall we venture so near the great God, who is infinitely holy, in whose sight the heavens are not pure, and in whose presence the sun and stars are dimmed, and the 'brightest seraphims do gather in their wings, and account themselves as little flies before him! and shali we, who are creatures so mean and so vile, be careless and unconcerned, when we make the nearest approach to this great and holy God, that we can make on this side heaven.

Ought we not to go blushing, ashamed, and deeply humbled on many accounts, and particularly for our ingratitude for redeeming love, that love which passeth knowledge, and for our contempt of God's unspeakable gift, the greatest sin in the world; yea, we should go wondering that we are out of hell, for many thousands

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