the Infinite Love of God, and Condefcenfion of Jefus Chrift, hereby declared to Us? Whether we are careful always to keep up in our Minds, a lively Memory of his Death, and Paffion? And do, by the Sincerity of our Love to God, and the Zeal we have for our Duty, endeavour, in fome measure, to teftify how hearty a Senfe we have of those unspeakable Mercies which he has been pleased thereby to favour Us withal.

Q. What is the last Thing concerning which we are to Examine our Selves.

A.Whether we are in Charity with all Men: Whether we do not only freely Forgive whatfoever Injuries any may Chance to have done Us, but are fo intirely Friends with them, as to be Ready to do them all the Kindness we can; and that as truly, and heartily, as if they had never Offended us, or Otherwife done us the leaft Injury.

Q: Is this all that is Required of Us, before we come to the Lord's Supper?

A. Other Exercises there are, which may profitably be made Ufe of by Ús, in order to our better Performance of thofe Duties we have before mentioned. Such are, Some extraordinary Acts of Prayer and Devotion: A Retirement from the Bufinefs, and Conversation, of the World; but especially from the Follies, and Vanities of it. And thefe accompanied with fome Acts of Frayer, and Mortification, whilft we are making the Examination of our Selves before propofed. But these must be govern'd by the Rules of Prudente; as'every Man's Bufinefs; Opportunities; Needs; State of Health, and the like Circumftances, either Require, or will allow of

Q. Is fuch a Preparatory Examination of our Selves, fo neceffary before we Come to the Holy Table, that we may, in no Cafe, prefume to Come without it?

A. No, it is not: Those who live in a Strict, and Regular Course of Life, and have nothing extraordinary happen'd to Them, as they always know what their State towards God is, fo are they always Ready to Receive this Holy Sacrament; and need not be afraid to partake of it, because they had not the Opportunity of making a particular, previous Preparation of themselves for it. Yet, if even these should design to go, at a certain Time (before known) to the Communion, they not only piously may, but in duty Ought, to do fomewhat of this kind, in order to their going with the better Difpofitions to it.

Q. What if by this means, a Good Chriftian fhould not be able fully to fatisfy himself, concerning his Worthiness to Go to the Holy Table?

A. In that Cafe he ought to Confider what it is that puts him in doubt of it; and having fo done, let him take the Advice of fome Perfon whom he can Rely upon, but especially of his Minifter about it: That fo being free'd from his Scruples, he may Go with a Quiet Mind, and a full Perfwafion of Confcience, to this Spiritual Feaft; and certainly Receive the Benefits of it."

Q. What if it fhall appear that He is not in a State of Going worthily to this Sacrament?

A. He muft, for the prefent, Refrain from Mat. 23,24it; and make all the hafte He can to Remove xxii.11,¿es the Impediment, and Reconcile himself to God; that fo He may be in a Condition both to Come

worthily

Rubr. at the

End of the
Confirma-

tion Office.

worthily to it; and to be made Partaker of thofe Graces, which are thereby Communicated to every Faithful Receiver of it.

SECT. LII.

Q1S there Any Thing yet farther Required of Those who Come to the Lord's Sup

per ?

A. Yes, there is, namely, that they be first CONFIRM'D by the Bishop: It being ordain'd by the Church, "That none fhall be admitted to "the Holy Communion until fuch time as He be "Confirm'd, or Ready, and Defirous, to be Con"firmed.

Q. What do you mean by Confirmation?

A.I mean the Solemn laying on of the Hands of the Bishop, upon fuch as have been Baptized, and are come to Years of Difcretion.

Q. How is this performed among Us?

A. It is directed to be done after a very Wife, and Solemn Manner. For, First, The Bishop having given Notice to the Minister of his Intention to Confirm, and Appointed a Time for the doing of it; the Minister is to call together fuch of his Parish, as are Come to Years of Difcretion, and have not yet been Confirmed; and to Examine them in their ChurchCatechifm, and to prepare as many as he can for the Bishop to Confirm. Secondly, Having done this, he is either to bring, or fend in Writing, with his Hand Subfcribed thereunto, the Names of, all fuch Perfons, within his Parifh, as he fhall think fit to be prefented to the Bishop to be Confirm'd. Thefe being Approved

of

t

of by the Bishop, are brought openly into the Church, and Required by the Bishop, "in the "Prefence of God and the Congregation "there Affembled, to Renew the Solemm Vow, "and Promife, which was made in their Names, at their Baptifm; and, in their Own Perfons, to Ratify and Confirm the fame; acknowledgCL ing themselves bound to believe, and do, all "thofe Things which their Godfathers and "Godmothers then undertook for them. Which having done, the Bishop heartily prays to God for his Grace to enable them to fulfil this their Vow; and laying his Hand severally on Every One's Head, "Befeeches God to defend this His cc Servant with his beavenly Grace, that He may ແ Continue His for Ever; and daily Increase in "his Holy Spirit more and more, until He comes "to bis Everlasting Kingdom. To all which are finally added the Joint Prayers both of the BiShop, and the Church, to the fame Effect; and fo the Ceremony is ended.

Q. What are the Reasons that chiefly moved the Church of England to Retain fuch a Ceremony as this?

A. There may several be affigned, but efpecially thefe Four: * Apoftolical Practice; * The Reasonableness of the Thing its felf; *The Benefit of it to the Perfon who is Confirmed; and The Satisfaction that arifes from hence to the Church of Christ.

Q. Did the Apostles Practise fuch an Impofition of Hands?

A. The Apostles did lay their Hands on thofe who had been Baptized; and by their Impofition of Hands, fuch Perfons did Receive the Holy Ghoft. Acts viii.17. xix.6.

Iam.v.16.
Eph.vi. 18.
1 Tim.ii.1,2.

Lev.ix.22,

23.

Q: Does the Bishop give the Holy Ghoft now, as the Apostles did, by their Impofition of Hands?

A. That we do not fay; nor did the Apostles themselves do it. They Laid on their Hands, and God Gave his Holy Spirit to thofe on whom they Laid them. And we piously prefume, that by the fervent Prayers of the Bishop, and the Church, those on whom He now Lays his Hands, fhall alfo Receive the Holy Ghoft, if they do but worthily prepare Themselves for it.

Q. Is there any Promife of God on which to build fuch a Hope?

A. A General One there is, and fuch as may in this Cafe, above any, be depended upon by Us. For, First, We are directed to Pray not only for Our Selves, but for One Another alfo. To encourage us hereunto, Chrift has promifed Us to Grant whatsoever is piously ask'd, by the joint Suffrages of his Church, of Him. Mat. xviii. 19. And particularly, has declared, That God will Give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. Luk.xi.9. Add to this, That it has always been accounted a part of the Minifterial Num.vi.23, Office, not only to Inftruck, but to Pray for, and Blefs their People. When therefore the Chief Paftor of the Church, and his Congregation, folemnly join together, to beg of God the Grace of his Holy Spirit, in behalf of fuch Perfons as thefe; (who have just now been dedicating themselves a-new, to his Service; and Ratifying Hebxiii.18. the Covenant made between God, and them, at their Baptifm ;) how can we chufe but believe, that God will certainly Grant their Request; and Give His Holy Spirit to thofe for whom He is thus earnestly, and folemnly, Ask'd of Him?

24,27. Deut.x. 8. a Chron. XXX.27.

1 Sam.ii. 20. Eph.vi.19. Col.iv.3.

1 Thef v.25.

2 The iii..

Q. From

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