II.

member this Saying of Chrift, that it is more S ERM. bleffed to give than to receive. More bleffed to give at all Times, when your Alms are requested for the real Benefit of your FellowChristians: And as to the particular Demands of this Day, permit me, as a Minister of Christ, to affure you of my Belief (which I do very assure folemnly, and with a full Persuasion of the Truth of it;) that you will find counts in what you have already done, or shall hereafter do towards this Charity, both in this Life, and the Life to come.

i

your Ac

And I pray God that he will perfect the good Work that he hath begun in you, until the Day of our Lord Jefus.

This is all I have to wish for your Sakes, and for the Sakes of these poor Children: And may God give a Bleffing to my Wishes, and your Works. Amen.

i Phil. i. 6.

THE

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The Neceffary Knowledge of the LORD'S SUPPER, and the Neceffary Preparation for it, fhewn from the Words of its Inftitution: In a SERMON preach'd at the Cathedral of York, March 29, 1727.

ADVERTISEMENT.

TH

'HE 'following Difcourfe, compofed for the Ufe of a Country-Parish, being occafionally delivered in York Cathedral, was thought by Some of the Reverend Members of that Church,. (whofe Judgment was not to be doubted, and their Request not to be denied) proper to be put into the Hands of the common People; and is therefore now published chiefly for the Ufe and Benefit of fuch.

The principal Defign of it, is to draw the Knowledge of the Sacrament, and whatever relates to the Duty of receiving it, into as little a Compass as it is poffible, both for the better In→ Struction

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ftruction and for the greater Encouragement of ordinary Communicants, who have neither Heads and Attention for the Subject, unless it be made fhort and clear, nor Hearts and Courage for the Duty, unless it be reprefented both safe and eafy to every fincere, though unlearned Chriftian. It is with this View, that the Neceffary Knowledge of the Lord's Supper, is throughout the Sermon confined to the Two Points which appear plainly to be the great Ends and Defign of our Lord in its Inftitution; and that every Inftruction relating to Examination, Preparation, &c. is grounded folely upon the Confideration of thofe Two Points; and fhewn to follow from them by fo eafy Confequence, that a well-meaning Man, who keeps the Points themselves in View, muft naturally make the right Conclufions, and form the proper Directions for himself more or less perfectly perhaps according to the Capacity God hath given him, but fafely and usefully, in every Meafure of Capacity, provided he have a good Intention, and a found Heart.

The Additions which are fince made, and thrown in by Way of Notes, in order to make it fomething more compleat in the Publication,

must

muft fpeak their own Propriety in the feveral Pages in which they occurn. They are not defigned as any Thing necessary for the Information of the ordinary Reader, but rather as an Illuflration or Enlargement of the Subject, for the Satisfaction of fuch as may think it confined within too narrow Limits, in the Dif courfe itself. They confift of Obfervations lefs obvious, yet fuch, as it is hoped, will be judged fuitable to the Defign, and prove inftructive to thofe who fhall perufe them.