"If we then be risen with Christ, let us seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God."-Coloss. iii. 1.

12. WHITSUNDAY.-Whitsunday derives its name from a word which means 8; being the 8th Sunday after Easter.

It is the day on which the Holy Ghost descended on the Apostles. It happens 10 days after Holy Thursday, and 50 days after Easter; being the day of Pentecost, which signifies 50.Acts, ii. 1, 2. Let us seek the excellent gift of grace, by which we are made holy. man be born of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."-John, iii. 5.

"Unless a

13. TRINITY SUNDAY.-Trinity Sunday is the Sunday which particularly celebrates the great doctrine, that we worship three Persons, but one God. "May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen."-2 Corinth. xiii. 14.

THE

COMMUNICANT'S GUIDE TO THE

ALTAR,

WITH DIRECTIONS AND DEVOTIONS.

ALSO, AN

INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE;

EXPLAINING

THE NATURE AND END OF THIS HOLY SACRAMENT;

AND

THE OBLIGATIONS CHRISTIANS ARE UNDER

TO RECEIVE THE LORD'S SUPPER.

BOSTON:

Printed by Thomas B. Wait & Sons.

1814.

245202

GUIDE TO THE ALTAR.

INTRODUCTION.

THE nature and end of the Lord's Supper are collected from many particulars:

I. The words of the institution, This is my Body: This is my Blood-Do this in remembrance of me, says Christ; and the whole discourse of St. Paul, concerning this sacrament, teach us to consider it, as a divine feast, instituted and appointed by the Lord Jesus, in commemoration of himself; in which Christ himself is the food provided for us; and will strengthen and increase in us all goodness, provided we feed on him, or that spiritual nourishment by faith with thanksgiving, Then we shall find a new life and spirit come into us, and we shall wax strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

II. We are also to consider this sacrament, as a feast upon a sacrifice, wherein we are more particularly to commemorate the death of our Saviour, who gave himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God, for a sweet smelling savour. In this holy action we set forth that sacrifice for us, and our thankful remembrance of his love, and our high esteem of those benefits, which he hath purchased for us with his bloody death. Thus we shew forth the Lord's death till he

shall come, and preserve the memory of his great goodness; and celebrate the memory of those divine benefits he hath obtained for us.

III. Here also we make a solemn profession of the Christian faith, and declare ourselves to be the disciples and followers of Christ, to whom we join ourselves in fellowship, as members to their head. We declare, by this action, the entire assent of our minds to the truth of all that he preached, when he was in the flesh. For St. Paul says, that the cup of blessing, which we bless, is the communion of the blood of Christ; and the bread which we break, is the communion of the body of Christ. Therefore, St. Basil writes, "That the reason of eating the body and drinking the blood of Christ, is for a commemoration of his obedience unto death, that they who live, should not henceforth live to themselves, but to him, that died, and rose again."

So that we must remember, when we are preparing for this holy feast, that we are going to consecrate ourselves anew to the obedience of Christ unto death, to renew our protestations of friendship with him, and to confirm the covenant, that is between us: utterly to disclaim all enmi. ties, and opposition to his will; and to renew our promise, never to forsake or deny him; and to vow, in a most solemn manner, that we must from henceforth live unto him, and not unto ourselves, and serve him in sincerity and truth all the days of our life.

IV. This sacrament is to be considered like. wise as a feast upon a sacrifice for him; wherein we profess our belief, that God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son to be