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THE

WORTHY COMMUNICANT;

OR,

A DISCOURSE

OF THE

NATURE, EFFECTS, AND BLESSINGS,

CONSEQUENT TO

THE WORTHY RECEIVING OF THE

LORD'S SUPPER,

AND OF ALL THE DUTIES REQUIRED IN ORDER TO A WORTHY PREPARATION:

TOGETHER WITH

THE CASES OF CONSCIENCE OCCURRING IN THE DUTY OF HIM THAT MINISTERS, AND OF HIM THAT COMMUNICATES;

AS ALSO

DEVOTIONS FITTED TO EVERY PART OF THE MINISTRATION.

TO THE

MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCESS,

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS,

MARY,

PRINCESS OF GREAT BRITAIN, DOWAGER OF ORANGE, &c.

MADAM,

ALTHOUGH none of the subjects of these nations can, in propriety of speaking, be a stranger to the royal family, from whom every single person receives the daily emanations of many blessings; yet besides this, there is much in your Royal Highness, by which your princely person is related to all amongst us, that are or would be excellent. For where virtue is in her exaltation,-to that excellent person, all that are or would be thought virtuous, do address themselves either to be directed or encouraged, for example or for patronage, for the similitude of affection or likeness of design; and, therefore, Madam, although it is too great a confidence in me, something a stranger, to make this address to so high-born and great a princess; yet when I consider that you are the sister of my king,

and the servant of my God, I know there was nothing to be expected but serenity and sweetness, gentleness and goodness, royal favours and princely graces; and, therefore, in such fruitful showers, I have no cause to fear, that my fleece shall be dry, when all that is round about it, shall be made irriguous with your princely influence. I shall, therefore, humbly hope, that your Royal Highness will first give me pardon, and then accept this humble oblation from him who is equally your servant, for your great relations, and for your great excellencies: for I remember with what pleasure I have heard it told, that your Royal Highness's Court hath been, in all these late days of sorrow, a sanctuary to the afflicted, a chapel for the religious, a refectory to them that were in need, and the great defensative of all men, and all things, that are excellent; and therefore, it is but duty, that, by all the acknowledgments of religion, that honour should be paid to your Royal Highness, which so eminent virtues perpetually have deserved. But because you have long dwelt in the more secret recesses of religion, and that, for a long time, your devotion hath been eminent, your obedience to the strictest rules of religion hath been humble and diligent, even up to a great example, and that the service of God hath been your great care, and greatest employment;

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