the joy of my Lord, as I am here capable of receiving it, and as it is mixed with so much alloy in this im perfect state, be so comfortable, what will it be when I shall enter into that joy, and bathe myself eternally in the spring-head of these rivers of pleasure?

> Pant, then, my soul, pant after those fountains of living water, out of which all these sweet streams arise that boundless, bottomless ocean of delights, into which they all run. Rest not content with any of the contentments here below; no, not with those in holy ordinances, (which are of all others the best we meet with in this wilderness), but long for the enjoy ments above in the vision of God. It is good to be here, but it is better to be there-far better to depart and to be with Christ. While thou art groaning under the burdens of this present state, groan after the glorious liberties of the children of God, in the future state. Thirst for God-for the living God: O, when shall I come and appear before God? That the day may break, and the shadows flee away, Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe, or to a young upon the mountains of spices.

hart

CHAPTER XIII.

An exhortation to order the conversation aright after the ordinance.

WE will now suppose the new-moon to be

gone....the sabbath to be past, and the solemnities of the sacrament-day to be over; and is our work now done? No; now the most needful and difficult part of our work begins; which is, to maintain such a constant watch over ourselves, as that we may, in the whole course of our conversation, exemplify the blessed fruits and effects of our communion with God in this ordinance. When we come down from this mount, we must, as Moses did, bring the tables of the testi

mony with us in our hands, that we may, in all things, have respect to God's commandments, and frame our lives according to them. Then we truly get good by this ordinance, when we are made better by it, and use it daily as a bridle of restraint, to keep us in from all manner of sin, and a spur of constraint, to put us on to all manner of duty.

I shall endeavor, 1st, To give some general rules for the right ordering of the conversation after we have been at the Lord's Supper; and then, 2dly, L shall instance, in some particulars, wherein we must study to conform ourselves to the intentions of that ordinance, and abide under the influence of it.

For the first, The Lord's Supper was instituted, not only for the solemnizing of the memorial of Christ's death at certain times, but for the preserving of the remembrance of it in our minds at all times, as a powerful argument against every thing that is ill, and a prevailing inducement to every thing that is good: in this sense we must bear about with us continually the dying of the Lord Jesus, so as that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal bodies....11 Cor. iv. 10. It was instituted not only for the sealing of the covenant, that it may be ratified, but for the imprinting of it upon our minds, that we may be ever mindful of the covenant, and live under the commanding power of it.

We must see to it, that there be an agreement between our performances at the Lord's table, and at other times; that we be uniform in our religion, and not guilty of a self-contradiction. What will it profit us if we pull down with one hand what we build up with another, and undo in our lives what we have done in our devotions? That we may not do So, let us be ruled by these rules:

First, Our conversation must be such as that we may adorn the profession which in the Lord's Supper we have made. We have, in that ordinance, solemnly owned ourselves the disciples and followers of the

Lord Jesus: we have done ourselves the honor to subscribe ourselves his humble servants, and he hath done us the honor to admit us into his family; and now we are concerned to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, that our relation to Christ being so much an honor to us, we may never be a dishonor to it. We are said to be taken into covenant with God for this very end, that we may be unto him for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory, (Jer. xiii. 11.)-that we may be witnesses for him, and for the honor of his name among men.

We must therefore be very cautious that we never say or do any thing to the reproach of the gospel, and Christ's holy religion, or which may give any occa sion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. If those that profess to be devout towards God, be unjust and dishonest towards men, this casts reproach upon devotion, as if that would consist with and countenance immorality. If those who call themselves Christians walk as other Gentiles walk, and do Satan's drudgery in Christ's livery, christianity suffers by it, and religion is wounded in the house of her friends ; injuries are done it which cannot be repaired; and those will have a great deal to answer for another day, for whose sakes the name of God and his doctrines are thus evil spoken of. By our coming to the Lord's Supper, we distinguish ourselves from those, whose profession of christianity, by their being bap tized in infancy, seems to be more their chance than their choice; and by a voluntary act of our own, we sirname ourselves by the name of Israel. Now, if, after we have thus distinguished ourselves, and so raised the expectation of our neighbors from us, we do that which is unbecoming the character we bear; if we be vain and carnal, and intemperate-if we be false and unfair, cruel and unmerciful, what will the Egyptians say? They will say, Commend us to the children of this world, if these be the children of God; for what do they more than others? Men's preju

dices against religion are hereby confirmed....advan tage is given to Satan's devices, and the generation of the righteous is condemned for the sake of those who are spots in their feasts of charity. Let us therefore always be jealous for the reputation of our profession, and afraid of doing that which may in the least be a blemish to it; and the greater profession we make, the more tender let us be of it, because we have the more eyes upon us that watch for our halting. When we do good, we must remember the apostle's caution, Let not your good be evil spoken of....Rom, xiv. 16.

We must also be very studious to do that which will redound to the credit of our profession: it is not enough that we be not a scandal to religion, but we must strive to be an ornament to it, by excelling in virtue, and being forward to every good work. Our light must shine as the face of Moses did, when he came down from the mount; that is, our good works must be such, as that they who see them may give religion their good word, and thereby glorify our Father which is in heaven,...Mat. v. 16. Our conversation must be as becomes the gospel of Jesus Christ, that they who will not be won by the word, may be won by it to say, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. If there be any virtue➡if there be any praise, more amiable and lovely than another, let us think on these things'....Phil. iv. 8. Are we chil

dren?...let us walk as obedient children, well taught, and well managed. Are we soldiers ?...let us approve ourselves good soldiers, well trained, and well disciplined; so shall we do honor to him that hath called us. If God's Israel carefully keep and do his statutes, it will be said of them, to their honor among the nations, Surely they are a wise and understanding people"...Deut. iv. 6. And this will redound to the honor of Christ; for thus wisdom is justified of her children.

2dly, Our conversation must be such as that we may fulfil the engagements which, at the Lord's Sup

per we have laid ourselves under. Having at God's altar sworn that we will keep his righteous judgments, we must conscientiously perform it in all the instances of a holy, righteous, and sober conversation. The vows we have made, express or implicit, must be carefully made good, by a constant watchfulness against all sin, and a constant diligence in all duty; because, better it is not to vow, than to vow and not to pay'....Eccl. v. 4, 5.

When we are at any time tempted to sin, or in dan ger of being surprised into any ill thing, let this be our reply to the tempter, and with this let us quench his fiery darts-Thy vows are upon me, O God. Did I not say, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue? I did say so, and therefore I will keep my mouth as with a bridle'....Psal. xxxix. 1. Did not I make a covenant with mine eyes? I did; that, therefore, shall be to me a covering of the eyes, that they may never be either the inlets or outlets of sin. Did I not say, 'I will not transgress?". Fer. ii. 20. I did say so; and therefore, by the grace of God, I will abstain from all appearance of evil, and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.” An honest man is as good as his word.

When we begin to grow slothful and careless in our duty....backward to it, and slight in it, let this stir up the gift that is in us, and quicken us to every good word and work. O, my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, thou art my Lord;' thou hast said it with the blood of Christ in thy hand: He is thy Lord, then, and worship thou him'...Psal. xvi. 2-xlv. 11. When a lion in the way, a lion in the streets,' deters us from any duty, and we cannot 'plough by reason of cold, nor sow or reap for fear of winds and clouds,' let this help us over the difficulty with a steady resolution; it is what I have promised, and I must perform it: I will not....I dare not, be false to my God and my covenants with him: I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and, without incurring the guilt of perjury, I cannot go back.'