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ly adminiftred, it is requifite that publick warning be given the fabbath day before the administration thereof: And that either then, or on fome day of that week, fomething concerning that ordinance, and the due preparation thereunto, and participation thereof, be taught; that, by the diligent ufe of all means fanctified of God to that end, both in publick and private, all may come better prepared to that heavenly feast.

When the day is come for adminiftration, the minister, having ended his fermon and prayer, fhall make a short exhortation.

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Expreffing the ineftimable benefit we have by this facrament; together with the ends and ufe thereof: fetting forth the great neceffity of having our comforts and ftrength re'newed thereby, in this our pilgrimage and warfare: how neceffary it is that we come unto it with knowledge, faith, repentance, love, and with hungring and thirsting fouls after Chrift and his benefits: how great the danger, to eat and 'drink unworthily.

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Next, he is, in the name of Chrift, on the one part, to warn all fuch as are ignorant, fcandalous, profane, or that ' live in any fin or offence against their knowledge or confcience, that they prefume not to come to that holy table; fhewing them, that he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himfelf: And, on the other párt, he is in especial manner to invite and encourage all 'that labour under the sense of the burden of their fins, and fear of wrath, and defire to reach out unto a greater progress ' in grace than yet they can attain unto, to come to the Lord's table; affuring them, in the fame name, of ease, refreshing and ftrength to their weak and wearied fouls.'

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After this exhortation, warning and invitation, the table being before decently covered, and fo conveniently placed, that the communicants may orderly fit about it, or at it. The minifter is to begin the action with fanctifying and bleffing the elements of bread and wine set before him (the bread in comely

comely and convenient veffels, so prepared, that being broken by him, and given, it may be distributed amongst the communicants; the wine alfo in large cups) having first in a few words fhewed, that thofe elements, otherwise common, are now fet apart and fanctified to this holy ufe, by the word of inftitution and prayer.

Let the words of inftitution be read out of the evangelifts, or out of the first epistle of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians, chap. xi. verse 23. I have received of the Lord, &c. to the 27th verse, which the minifter may, when he seeth requifite, explain and apply.

Let the prayer, thanksgiving, or bleffing of the bread and wine, be to this effect;

With humble and hearty acknowledgment of the greatnefs of our misery, from which neither man nor angel was ' able to deliver us, and of our great unworthiness of the leaft ' of all God's mercies; to give thanks to God for all his be'nefits, and especially for that great benefit of our redempti'on, the love of God the father, the sufferings and merits of 'the Lord Jefus Christ the Son of God, by which we are delivered; and for all means of grace, the word and facraments; and for this facrament in particular, by which Chrift, and all his benefits, are applied and fealed up unto us, which, notwithstanding the denial of them unto others, are in great 'mercy continued unto us, after so much and long abuse of ' them all.

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To profefs, that there is no other name under heaven, by which we can be faved, but the name of Jefus Chrift, by 'whom alone we receive liberty and life, have access to the 'throne of grace, are admitted to eat and drink at his own table, and are fealed up by his spirit to an affurance of hap'piness and everlasting life.

Earnestly, to pray to God, the Father of all mercies, and 'God of all confolation, to vouchfafe his gracious prefence, ' and the effectual working of his Spirit in us; and fo to fanc

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tify these elements, both of bread and wine, and to bless his own ordinance, that we may receive, by faith, the body and blood of Jefus Chrift, crucified for us, and fo to feed upon him, that he may be one with us, and we one with him; ' that he may live in us, and we in him, and to him who hath loved us, and given himself for us.'

All which he is to endeavour to perform with fuitable affections, answerable to fuch an holy action, and to ftir up the like in the people.

The elements being now fanctified by the word and prayer, the minister, being at the table, is to take the bread in his hand, and fay, in thefe expreffions (or other the like, used by Chrift or his apostle upon this occafion;)

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According to the holy inftitution, command, and example ' of our blessed Saviour Jefus Chrift, I take this bread, and having given thanks, I break it, and give it unto you (there the minister, who is also himself to communicate, is to break the bread, and give it to the communicants:) Take ye, eat This is the body of Chrift which is broken for you; Do this in remembrance of him.'

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In like manner the minifter is to take the cup and fay, in these expreffions (or other the like, used by Christ or the apostle upon the fame occafion:)

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According to the inftitution, command, and example of

our Lord Jefus Chrift, I take this cup, and give it unto you (Here he giveth it to the communicants) This cup is the new teftament in the blood of Christ, which is fhed for the remiffion of the fins of many: Drink ye all of it.'

After all have communicated, the minifter may, in a few words, put them in mind,

"Of the grace of God, in Jefus Chrift, held forth in this 'facrament, and exhort them to walk worthy of it.'

The minifter is to give folemn thanks to God, 'For his rich mercy, and invaluable goodness, vouchfafed to them in that facrament; and to intreat for pardon for the 'defects

⚫ defects of the whole service, and for the gracious affistance of his good Spirit, whereby they may be enabled to walk in the strength of that grace, as becometh those who have ⚫ received fo great pledges of falvation.'

The collection for the poor, is fo to be ordered, that no part of the publick worship be thereby hindered.

Of the Sanctification of the Lord's Day.

HE Lord's day ought to be so remembred before-hand, as that all worldly business of our ordinary callings may be fo ordered, and fo timely and seasonably laid afide, as they may not be impediments to the due fanctifying of the day when it comes.

The whole day is to be celebrated as holy to the Lord, both in publick and private, as being the Chriftian fabbath. To which end, it is requifite, that there be a holy ceffation, or refting all that day, from all unneceffary labours; and an abstaining, not only from all fports and paftimes, but also from all worldly words and thoughts.

That the diet on that day be fo ordered, as that neither servants be unneceffarily detained from the publick worship of God, nor any other person hindered from the fanctifying that day.

That there be private preparations of every perfon and family, by prayer for themselves, and for God's affiftance of the minister, and for a bleffing upon his ministry; and by fuch other holy exercises, as may further dispose them to a more comfortable communion with God in his publick ordinances.

That all the people meet fo timely for publick worship, that the whole congregation may be present at the beginning, and with one heart folemnly join together in all parts of the publick worship, and not depart till after the bleffing.

That what time is vacant, between, or after the folemn meetings of the congregation in publick, be spent in read

ing, meditation, repetition of fermons; especially by calling their families to an account of what they have heard, and catechizing of them, holy conferences, prayer for a bleifing upon the publick ordinances, finging of pfalms, visiting the fick, relieving the poor, and fuch like duties of piety, chari ty, and mercy, accounting the fabbath a delight.

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The Solemnization of Marriage.

LTHOUGH marriage be no facrament, nor peculiar to the church of God, but common to mankind, and of publick interest in every common-wealth; yet, because fuch as marry are to marry in the Lord, and have fpecial need of instruction, direction and exhortation, from the word of God, at their entering into fuch a new condition; and of the blefLing of God upon them therein; we judge it expedient, that marriage be folemnized by a lawful minister of the word, that he may accordingly counsel them, and pray for a bleffing upon them.

Marriage is to be betwixt one man and one woman only; and they, fuch as are not within the degrees of confanguinity or affinity prohibited by the word of God; and the parties are to be of years of discretion, fit to make their own choice, or, upon good grounds, to give their mutual confent.

Before the folemnizing of marriage between any persons, their purpose of marriage shall be published by the minister three feveral fabbath-days, in the congregation, at the place or places of their most ufual and conftant abode, respectively. And of this publication, the minister who is to join them in marriage fhall have fufficient teftimony, before he proceed to folemnize the marriage.

Before that publication of fuch their purpose (if the parties be under age) the confent of the parents, or others under whose power they are (in cafe the parents be dead) is to be made known to the church-officers of that congregation, to be recorded.

The

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