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ſoul too well, and exerciſe repentance, and renew the reſolutions of a good life too frequently. And there ⟨is⟩ perhaps no fitter opportunity for the doing of all this, than when we approach the Lord's table, there to commemorate his death, and to renew our Covenant with him to live as becomes the Goſpel.
All the Reflection I ſhal now make upon this Diſcourſe, ſhall be from the conſideration of what hath been ſaid, earneſtly to excite all that profeſs and call themſelves Chriſtians to a due preparation of themſelves for this holy Sacrament, and a frequent participation of it, according to the intention of our Lord and Saviour in the inſtitution of it, and the undoubted practice of Chriſtians to the primitive and beſt times, when men had more devotion, and fewer ſcruples about their duty.
If we do in good earneſt believe, that this Sacrament was inſtituted by our Lord in remembrance of his dying love, we cannot but have a very high value and eſteem for it upon that account. Me thinks ſo often as we read the Inſtitution of it, theſe words of our dear Lord, Do this in remembrance of me, and conſider what he who ſaid them did for us, this dying charge of our beſt friend ſhould ſtick with us, and make a ſtrong impreſſion upon our minds: Eſpecially if we add to theſe, thoſe other words of his, not long before his death, Greater love than this have no man, that a man lay down his life for his friends; ye are my friends, if ye do whatſoever I command you. It is a wonderful love which he hath expreſſed to us, and worthy to be had in perpetual remembrance. And all that he expects from us, by way of thankful acknowledgment, is to celebrate the remembrance of it by the frequent participation of this bleſſed Sacrament. And ſhal this charge, laid upon us by him, who laid down his life for us, lay no obligation upon us to the ſolemn remembrance of that unparallel'd kindneſs, which is the fountain of ſo many bleſſings and benefits to us? It is a great ſign we have no great ſenſe of the benefit, when we are ſo unmindfull of our Benefactour, as to forget him days without number.
The
