First, COnsider, That the Sacrament is a holy Ordinance appointed and institu­ted by a holy Lord, viz. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, at the time of the Passover; The same night in which he was betrayed, Matth. 26.26, 27. 1 Cor. 11.23.

Secondly, Consider, That this holy Ordinance was appointed for a holy People, to keep up a holy Remembrance of Christ's Death till he come.

Thirdly, Consider, That in the happy Reign of King Edward the Sixth, that be­ing the time of a blessed Reformation from Romish Idolatry, the Sacrament of the Altar being abolished, this holy Ordinance was established throughout this Realm, and all other the King's Dominions and Countries; see the Statute, 1 Edward 6th, Chapter the first, Paragraph first and 7th

Fourthly, Consider, That the Word of God, 1 Cor. 11.28. and also the forecited Statute doth require, that every man shall examine himself before he shall partake of the same, which doth suppose that they ought to be such as are able to give a true godly Judgmnet of themselves concerning their own fitness: Now, whether all Persons of the Age of Sixteen years are able thus to do, had need be well con­sidered by their Ministers, by their Parents, and by their Masters.

Fifthly, Consider, in Examining of your selves, what may be the best Que­stions in the fear of God to put unto your own Souls; and as a Christian help thereunto briefly thus: Have I yet got a holy Heart? Have I yet got a holy Life and Conversation? Are my Sins pardoned? Is my Soul purged by the Blood of the Son of God? Have I yet got Repentance unto life? Have I yet got Faith to the saving of my Soul? Is my Soul in perfect hatred of all Sin? Do I find spiritual power against all Sin? Do I love God sincerely and transcendently? Do I yet love the Word of God, and all them that love God and his Word? Who are the Com­panions of my delight? Are they those that are godly, or those that are profane and wicked? Have I yet seen my danger of Hell, by reason of sin against God in wicked Thoughts, in wicked Words, viz. Cursing, Swearing, Lying, taking the ho­ly and glorious Name of God in vain? Have I yet seen the danger of my poor Soul, by reason of wicked Purposes, and wicked Practices? And have I been yet born again? forasmuch as Christ hath said, Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God, Joh. 3.3, 5, 8. Heb. 12.14. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.

Sixthly, Consider who they are, and what kind of People they be, that thou art to communicate with, whether the godly or ungodly; especially seeing wicked­ness is grown very bold in all our Streets, viz. Swearing, Cursing, Drunkenness, Un­cleanness, Men calling upon God to damn them; such unholy Persons are hot fit for this holy Ordinance; and if thou art a godly Person thy self, then fear and tremble to communicate with such Persons; for the godly and the ungodly are not sit Companions in this holy Ordinance, 1 Cor. 5 6, 7. God's Church ought to purge [Page] out the old Leaven, that they may be a new Lump, ver. 13. and put away the wicked Persons from among them. O! it is a dreadful thing to have that Word follow a man after Receiving this Ordinance, 1 Cor. 11.29. Whosoever eat [...]th and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself. It is better for a mans Soul to have this Word follow him before-hand, and Ring in his Ears, than to have it Beat, Beat upon his poor Conscience afterward.

Seventhly, Consider, in thy going to this holy ordinance, whether it be from a holy sear of God, and from a Principle of love to God, or from a slavish fear of Man, and sear of suffering some outward Trouble, viz. a Fine, or Imprisonment, which if it were not for those latter things, it may be thou wouldest not do it as an act of thy own free choice, and then thou wilt be found one that dealest falsly with God, and with Man also, because neither God nor Man hath thy heast in the business: And so because of the fear of Man thou mayest lose God's favour, and Man's favour also, being deemed no better than an hypocrite.

Eightly, Consider, that a little outward Reformation, viz. two or three daies before the Communion is not a sufficient Preparation, barely to forbear, or be more slack in profaneness, to make some abatement of thy Cursing, Swearing, and Drinking; this is not enough.

Ninthly, Consider, that if thou shouldest be well Reformed before, yet if thou shouldest afterward fall into thy old course of wickedness, thou wilt be but as those woful Souls mentioned in 2 Pet 2.22. The Dog is turned to his vomit, and the Sow that is washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Tenthly, Consider all you that have the Care and Cure of Souls, that you be not too easie in admitting, and be more careful in not compelling of Persons to this Ordinance, lest you be partakers of other mens sins, and so break the Word of God, and the good Law of the Land; therefore consider that word, 1 Tim. 5.22. Be not partakers of other mens sins; keep thy self pute, and let that good Statute be well considered, 1 Edward 6. Chap. 1. Paragraph 7 in which there is a charge given to Ministers, that besides a godly Exhortation sometime before the Sacra­ment to prepare the People, they must at the very time of Receiving the Sacra­ment, lay before the People the Benefit and Comfort promised to them that wor­thily Receive the holy Sacrament, and the danger and indignation of Almighty, God threatned to them which shall presume to Receive the same unworthily, to the end that every Man may Try and Examine his own Conscience before he shall Receive the same.

Eleventhly, Consider, that if any shall forbear to come to the Sacrament for sear of sinning against God, and so wrong their own Souls in it, then take heed that your Ministers and Church-wardens do not take up the Trade of Informers, and put People of tender Consciences to outward Trouble for Conscience sake forasmuch as poor Souls must be brought to God's holy waies by using God's holy Word, and not by outward force.

Twelfthly, Consider, that it is a very great unhappiness that the chief times of the Sacrament are times of such great profaneness, viz. Easter, Whitsuntide, and Christmass, they being the daies called Holy-daies, by reason of People being from their lawful Callings instead of lawful Recreations, then is more profaneness, more wickedness, more serving of the Devil in a few daies, than in many other weeks.

Conclusion. Now forasmuch as the poor persecuted Dissenters, who are Prote­stants, do highly love and Reverence the holy Sacrament, and do make Consci­ence to Receive it frequently in holy and humble manner, and in godly Assem­blies, let such as put them to Trouble for not Receiving of it at such Places, and with such Communicants as are against their Conscience, consider whether they can answer such proceedings before Christ Jesus the Judge of quick and dead.