Faith is often safer in her ignorance than in busy questions; and to inquire into the manner of what GOD hath plainly and simply told, may be an effect of infidelity but never an act of faith. If concerning the things of GOD, we once ask, Why, or How, we argue our doubt and want of confidence: and therefore it was an excellent counsel of St. Cyril: 'Believe firmly in the mysteries, and consent to the words of Christ: but never so much as speak or think, How is this done?' In your faith be as par

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ticular and minute, as Christ was in His expressions of it, but no more. He hath told us, This is His Body; This is His Blood: believe it and so receive it; but He hath not told us, How it is so; it is behind a cloud, and tied up with a knot of secresy; therefore let us lay our finger on our mouth, and worship humbly. But he that looks into the eye of the sun shall be blind; and he that searches into the secrets of Majesty, shall be confounded with the glory. -Bishop Jeremy Taylor.

What these elements (the consecrated Bread and Wine) are in themselves, it skilleth* not; it is enough that to me which take them they are the Body and Blood of CHRIST; His promise in witness hereof sufficeth; His word He knoweth which way to accomplish. Why should any thought possess the mind of a faithful communicant but this?-O my GOD, Thou art true! O my soul, thou art happy! It was the LORD that spake it: He took the Bread and brake it; And what the Word did make it, So I believe, and take it.

'LORD, increase our faith.'

Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them, ready to depart on the morrow.-Acts xx. 7.

From whence we may observe that they received this Sacrament at least every first day of the week, which is the LORD's day; and that the main end of their meeting on that day was not to hear sermons,

It matters not for us to know.

but to break bread; only the Apostle, having to depart on the morrow, took that occasion of preaching to them; and the same custom obtained, not only in the Apostles' times, but for many ages after; so that the primitive Christians looked upon this Sacrament as the chief part of their public devotions; insomuch that they never held any religious assemblies without the celebration of it; and if any one went away without receiving it, he was censured by the Church for it; which plainly shows that the Apostolical and primitive Church understood our LORD's words in the institution of this Sacrament so as that they looked upon themselves as obliged to do this in remembrance of Him, as oft as they met together to worship and serve GOD.

And verily he that considers the end of the institution will find reason enough why they did, and we ought to receive this Sacrament as oft as possibly we can, for it was ordained in remembrance of CHRIST; and we cannot possibly remember Him too often, who laid down His life for us. For by frequent receiving of His most blessed Body and Blood, that faith whereby we do it, being frequently exercised, is thereby more and more confirmed, and by consequence all other graces and virtues whatsoever, being derived by faith from Him, are thereby made more strong and vigorous in us. . . It is by frequent acts that habits are produced; it is by often eating and drinking of this spiritual food that we learn to do it so as to digest and convert it into proper nourishment for our souls, that they may grow thereby. -Bishop Beveridge.

Thanksgivings and Prayers to be said on returning home, or at night, or both.

Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto GoD and His FATHER, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.-Rev. i. 5, 6.

Worthy is the LAMB that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the LAMB for ever and ever.-Rev. v. 12, 13.

Accept, O LORD, I beseech Thee, my unfeigned thanks and praises to Thy Divine Majesty, for Thine infinite love and goodness to me this day.

LORD, what is man that Thou shouldst so regard him as to give Thy only begotten Son to be the propitiation for our sins! And what am I, that Thou shouldst permit me to have a part in that most precious atonement? That I, who am not worthy of the daily bread which sustains the body, should be made partaker of this Bread of Life, which nourisheth the soul; and that the GOD of perfect holiness should vouchsafe to unite Himself to so sinful a creature?

O my GOD, suffer me no more, I beseech Thee, to abuse Thy mercy, nor to presume upon Thy grace; but let Thy love constrain me from this time to a sincere obedience in all things; that as my blessed SAVIOUR died for me, so I may no longer live to myself, but to Him who hath so dearly bought me.

O gracious LORD, let me never forget the love which I have received, and the promises of new life,

which I have made this day. I have vowed obedience to Thy holy laws, to be humble, chaste, temperate, just, charitable, patient, devout, entirely resigned to Thy holy will and pleasure. O let me not start back again from these holy promises for ever! O grant, blessed JESUS, that amidst the trials and temptations of my life, Thy body may be my food, Thy strength my guard, Thy SPIRIT my life, and the sense of Thy favour my greatest joy and comfort; that so I may be kept from falling back, and go on from grace to grace, and strength to strength, and never dishonour nor grieve Thee, my most merciful LORD and SAVIOUR. Amen. Amen.

K