Book IV. of Jesus Christ. 299

diftrad me, the Burthen of my Sins pielfcs me down, the Multitude of my Temptations are a perpetual Torment and Vexation, the Variety and Lxorbitance of my corrupt AfFedions entangle, and confound, and over-power my Reafon. And in the midit of thefc Calamities and Dangers, I have no Succour, no De- fence, no Supporter or Deliverer, but only thee, my God ; and therefore into thy Hands, my merciful Ma- ker and Saviour, I commit my felf, and all my Affair^ ; and beg that thou would'it keep what is thusdepofited with thee, fafe unto Life Eternal. O take me there- fore into thy Cuftody ; and, as thou haft ordained thy Body and Blood to be the Food of Immortality,, fo grant, that it may have its proper Efficacy upon my Soul in particular, to the Glory of thy Name , and the Honour of fo blelTed an Inftirution. And, that no Neglect or Unfruitfulnefs of mine may obilrud its kindly and powerful Operations, Grant , I befeech thee, my God and Saviour, that I may never be guil- ty of fuchDifreped, as wilfully to turn my Back up- on thy Table ^ but may earneitly long for , heartily rejoice in, and diligently comply with, every Oppor- tunity of receiving this mighty Blejiing j and may Co frequent, and fo improve under thy merciful Difpen- fation, that I may conitantly return, with greater Care and Zeal, more fettled Refclations, more irre- concilable Hatred againft Sin, and more fervent Love for God and Goodnefs, than before. So fliall I ap- proach nearer to thee indeed, and each Sacrament prove a frefh Advance toward Heaven. So fliall my Soul be filled with the Treafures of thy Mercy, tiie Delights of thy Secret Ones, and the ravifhing Fore- taftes of that Blifs, which fhall be always growing, till it be confummated at laft in that Eternal Fealt a- bove, the Marriage- fapper of the Lamb in thy King- dom, ^men,
U 4 CHAP.
3 oo gpf tj^e "imitation Book i v-
C H A p. V.
The Dignity qf the Sacrament , and Honour of the Triefthood,
Chrifl7\JY thou feeft the Table richly furnifhed, and A art defirous to feaft upon thefe dainty Meats, let that Defire be duly tempered with Reve- rence and holy Fear, for know, that if thou hadft the Purity of an Angel , or the mortified Piety of John the E^ptifl:, yet even thus thou cculd'ft not de- ferve {o Divine a Bleffing ; but ought'fl to acknov^^- ledge it a mighty Favour and Condefcenfion , tha£ thou art admitted to receive, and tafte, or even to touch this Bleffed Sacrament. That Man (hould conr fecrate thofe Elements, and by pronouncing afet Forni of Words introduce a new Efficacy, and give them a myflical Power, which Nature neither did, nor could provide them with before ; thst the Perfons prefent ihould eat the Bread of Angels, and be filled with hea- venly Food by virtue of fuch Confecration j Thefe are not theEffe(5l of any extraordinary Merit in them who iandifie, or who receive, thofe Creatures of Bread and Wine, but the pure and fole effect of Mer- cy and Grace. The Greamefs of the Myftery does indeed magnifie the Priefily Office ; and Men ought to pay a more than common Refped to thofe Perfons, whom God hath honoured with a Privilege, not im- parted to the very Angels themfelves. For they, who are regularly ordained in the Church, are the only Perfons , by whofe Miniftiy God gives the Body of his Son to us. They are the Perlbns a(5ting by his Commifiicn, they ufe the Form appointed by Chrift himfeif, and have a conftant mighty EiFec^l attending upon their due Adminidraticn. But ilill curlhougiih and V/pnder muit not texm^r^ate in Them , as if by
BooklV. Ofjfisus Christ. 301
their own Power and Holinefs they could bring fuch things to pafs. For they are onlv Inftruments j and therefore we muft carry our Medications further, up as high as God himfelf^ for he is the firft and princi- pal Caufe, he thelnvilible Worker of this Miracleof Mercy. It is his Word^ which made^ and governs all Things^ that only can command material and common Elements^ to produce fpiritual and extraordinary Ef- kds, and ftrengthen and rcfrefh the Souls of the Faithful by the Body and Blood of Chriil ; at the fame time, and with as certain operation, as their Bo- dies are ftrengthned and refrefhed by the Bread and Wine.
When therefore thou approached the Chriftian Al- tar, reft not in the Teftimony of thy Senfes, nor dwell upon the outward and 'vifible S/g?is ; but let thy Faith carry thee on to the inward and fpiritiLil Grace, and exercife it felf in contemplating the Almighty Power of God. And Thou, to whom the invoking this Power and its efficacious Prefence is committed , fee that thou do it with awful Reverence and godly Fear. Confider whofe Servant thou art, and what a glorious Charader thou hafl: received by Impofition of the Bifhop's Hands. For thou art Ordained aPriell for noble and religious Purposes. The Excellence of thy Office confifts in giving thy Mufter's Family their Portion of Meat in due manner and feafon. Be faith- ful therefore in the Execution of this weighty Truft; Proceed in it with a fervent and exemplary Devotion, and let it be thy firft care to offer up thy felf an un- reprovable Sacrifice to God. Do not imagine any part of thy Privilege to confift in an exemption from the Duties incumbent upon Common Chriflians. Alas ! thy Burden is not lefs but greater, thy Temptations more and fiercer, thy Danger more imminent, tor be- ing thus dilHnguifhed. For it will be expe(fled, that the Sand^ity of thy Manners^ the Severity of thy
Vir-
30X g)f tfjt gimttaef on Book IV.
Virtue, the Conqueft of thy Paffions, the Perfeaion of thy Holinefsj the Fervency and Zeal of thy De- votion fliould diftinguifli thee, as vifibly, as eminent- ly, as thy Garb and thy Profeflion do. That thou Ihouldft be cloath'd and adorn'd with that Righteouf- nefs, that Innocence, that Gravity, of which thy Robe is a fignificant Emblem ,• and, as thou art be- come a Leader, thou fliould'it likewife be a Pattern to the Flock. For the Converfation of fuch Perfons fhould be no longer conformable to the Cuftoms and corrupt Examples of the World, but conformed to the Angels in Heaven, or to the Saints that excel in Vir- tue upon Earth.
When thou entreft into the Holy Place, and there putt'fl: on the Garments of thy Fundion, confider what thou art going about, and how high a Place thou haft obtained ,* no lefs than to be the Reprefentative of the Great High-Prieft in Heaven, and to Minifter in his ftead unto his People. Firft therefore, with all Humility, bewail thy own Unworthinefs, and confefs thy own Sins. Then with a moft extenfive Charity, and tender Compaffion, bewail, and intercede for the Sins of others. Look upon thy felf as a Media- tor between God and Tranfgreflbrs ; to offer up Their Prayers, Confeffions, and Thankfgivings to him • and to hand down his Pardon and Bleffings to Them. And be not flothful or unthinking, carelefs or cold in this Affair ,• for it is moft important, and requires thy moft diligent Attention , thy moft ear- neftlmportunity.thy moft IndefatigablePerfeverance ; never to be abated, till thou have gained thy Point, and prevailed for Mercy and Grace, by thofe refolute Wreftlings with God. But, when thou celebrateft the Holy Supper, remember, thou art about a Work, which all Heaven and Earth are concern'd in. A Work, which, when performed as it ought, brings Honour to God, Joy to the bleffed Angels, Edification to the
Church