OR, A

TREATISE

CONCERNING THE

SANCTIFICATION

OF A

COMMUNION-SABBATH.

CONTAINING

Many proper DIRECTIONS, in order to our Preparing for, Receiving of, and right Behaving after the Sacrament of the LORD'S SUPPER,

With a PREFACE,

Perfuading Minifters to the frequent Difpenfing of this Ordinance, Evangelical Preaching, Looking for the Spirit's Effufion, &c.

To which are added (by Way of Appendix) Meditati ons and Ejaculations proper for Communicants before, in Time of, and after partaking of the holy Sacrament, found among the Author's Papers. By the Reverend Mr. JOHN WILLISON late Minister of the Gospel at Dundee.

The FIFTH EDITION Corrected.

The Lord our God made a Breach upon us, for that we fought him not after the due Order, 1 Chron. xv. 13.

EDINBURG H:

Frinted by SAM. WILLISON and MATT. JARVIE For ALEXANDER DONALDSON.

MDCCLX I.

Entered in Stationers Hall

BY

SAMUEL WILLISON, Son to the AUTHOR; fo that if any Perfons prefume to print the fame, they will be profecute in terms of Law.

289-00

THE

PREFACE.

HIS directory being first published in the year 1716, the preface was added to the fecond edition of it in the year 1726, in which now I have made fome additions and alterations. The book itself allo is confiderably enlarged from what it was at first, namely, in proving and preffing the neceffity of communicating, in obedience to our dying Lord's command; and it is to be regreted, that there fhould be ftill fo much need for urging it. Ah, that fo many Chriftians, who profels refpect to Christ as their Saviour, fhould live in the neglect of his dying charge! Perhaps, my friends, upon viewing the hazard of eating unworthily, fome of you may think you are on the fafeft fide to keep away from this ordinance altogether; not confideriag, that the danger of unworthy refufing is fully as great as that of unworthy receiving: For you fee, these who made light of Ch it's invitation to the marriage-supper escaped no better than he that came without the wedding-garment, Mut. xxii. 7. 13. Likewife I have adduced many arguments to prefs frequency in communicating, and have an wered objections against it which, if you duly confider, you must on that frequent partaking is most advantágious and neceffary for the exigencies of your fouls, and highly acceptable unto God. if there be a book of remembrane written before the Lord, for them that fear the Lord, thought upon his name, and spoke often one to another, Mal. iii. 16 we have no ground to question but there is a book of remembrance written for them,

that

that love their Redeemer, and often remember his death and fufferings in the facrament, which he hath inftituted for that end. And as I would have you com. ing frequently to this folemn ordinance, fo I would always have you coming with fuitable preparation; and for your help in this matter, I have compofed the following directory. Special care fhould be taken, that our frequency do not breed formality, but that we be as devout as we are frequent; and, tho' we communicate never fo frequently, that we trust not to former preparations, but that we examine and prepare ourfelves of new for every communion.

But feeing it is in vain to exhort chriftians to frequent receiving, unless minifters do allo frequently adminiflrate this ordinance, and call their people to partake thereof; it may be proper to fpeak fomething of the neceffity of frequent difpenfing of the Lord's fupper. All the arguments and reasons which I bring in the enfuing treatile, to prove the neceffity of people's frequent partaking, do as much prove the neceffity of minifters frequent difpenfing; fecing, if minifters do not difpenje, the people cannot partake: but, besides thefe, I fhall, with all humility and becoming respect, add fome things here, which I hope may be of weight with myfelf, and other minitters of the gofpel, to perfuade to frequent difpenfing.

I. The infpired apoftles of Chrift, and other paftors of the church that were contemporary with them, did (in obedience to the intimation which their Lord and master gave them at the first inftitution) frequently difpenfe the Lord's fupper to the chriftians in their days; yea, it was their ordinary custom to do it every Lord's day, Acts ii 46. Acts xx. 7. The infpired penman of that book doth mention the breaking of bread as a conftant concomitant to the apostles doctrine and prayers, Acts ii 42.

II. In imitation of the apostles, the pastors of the ancient church did keep up the practice of celebrating the Lord's fupper every Lord's day, thro' the second,