always to make choice of the least?

To the other objection I answer, that where any man openly appears to be wicked and scandalous in his life and conversation, by the discipline of our Church we are required to exclude such a person from the Holy Communion, until he gives good evidence of his repentance and reformation; but where nothing outwardly appears against a man who lives in the profession of the true Religion, what have we to do to enquire into the secrets of his heart, for which he is accountable only to God? And if our Saviour Christ did not exclude even Judas himself from the Holy Communion, because at that time he had done nothing openly; although Christ well knew that he had made a private agreement with the chief

priest to betray him, why should we take upon us to be more strict in this matter? or who has given us any authority so to be?

And thus have I examined, and, I hope, sufficiently answered, all the pretences which men do ordinarily make for neglecting the Holy Communion. I have but this one thing to add, and I have done; namely, that as it is a great sin to receive the Holy Communion unworthily, that is to say, without true repentance; so certainly it is no less a sin, to slight and neglect that ordinance which Christ himself has expressly appointed and commanded, in remembrance of that death and passion which he underwent for us. Let us, therefore, take the matter into our serious consideration, and, whilst we are so very cautious to avoid the danger on

the one hand, let us not be so foolish as to run ourselves into as great a hazard on the other; for as he who presumed to come to the marriage feast, without a weddinggarment, was severely punished for his presumption, Matt. xxii. 13. so they who neglected to come at all, and slighted the invitation which was given them, were accounted as unworthy persons, and received their doom accordingly, ver. 7, 8.

A

BRIEF ACCOUNT

OF THE

END AND DESIGN

OF

THE HOLY COMMUNION:

The obligation to receive it, the way to prepare for it, and the behaviour of ourselves both at and after it.

IN a former discourse, intitled, An Answer to all the Excuses and Pretences which Men ordinarily make for their not coming to the Holy Communion; I have endeavoured to remove all those obstacles, whether real or pretended, which to many men seem either wholly to stop their way to God's holy table, or at least to render it very difficult and troublesome to

be passed. If what I have therein said has had any influence upon the minds of well-meaning men, so as to incline them something more than formerly, to prepare themselves for the partaking of this sacred ordinance; I hope, that what I am now about to offer, may both make them thoroughly sensible of the obligation which lies upon them thereto, and also sufficiently instruct them in every thing which is necessary in the performance thereof, to render them worthy receivers, and acceptable to Almighty God.

Five things there are, which are very necessary to be understood by every one who would be thoroughly instructed and directed, in order to the receiving of the Holy Communion; namely, first, for what end and purpose this ordi