Gospel-worship, or, The right manner of sanctifying the name of God in general and…

Now it may be, this at first seems strange to many; yet certainly observe this, Do but keep to the institution in the Sacrament, though you may think it a more mean way, yet you will find a greater beauty in this Ordinance than ever you found in all your lives; for the more we keep to Christs institution, and mingle nothing of our own, the more glory and beauty, and excellency doth appear in the Ordinances of Jesus Christ; but when any man shall mix any of his own inventions, though he may do it to a good end, and think to add to, and put a greater lustre upon the Sacrament: the truth is, that with he thinks to be a greater lustre, reverence, or honour put upon it, it doth rather take off the lustre and glory of the Sacrament; then are the institutions of Christ glorious when there is no mixture among them; thus we should sanctify the Name of God, in receiving this holy Sacrament. You have had divers things propounded to you, whereby you may come to know and easily to see that there hath been a great deal of ⟨p. 266⟩dishonour done to this Sacrament, and the beauty and glory of it hath been darkened, and the sweet that the Saints might otherwise have received in partaking, hath been exceedingly hindered. There is but one thing more that I shall propound to you, and that is, The several Meditations that we should meditate on in receiving of the Sacrament; the most concerning Meditations are suggested in the holy Communion that are in any thing whatsoever, more concerning, more efficacious, more various Meditations we have suggested here than in any thing, and it is a great sign that men and women do not discern the Lords Body, if so be their Meditations be barren at that time. I will therefore suggest some Nine or Ten Meditations that that Ordinance of God may hold out very plainly and familiarly to every Communicant, for the busying of their thoughts all the time that action is a doing.

Now it may be, this at first seems strang to many; yet certainly observe this, Do but keep to the institution in the Sacrament, though you may think it a more mean way, yet you will find a greater beauty in this Ordinance than ever you found in all your lives; for the more we keep to Christs institution, and mingle nothing of our own, the more glory and beauty, and excellency doth appear in the Ordinances of Jesus Christ; but when any man shall mix any of his own inventions, though he may do it to a good end, and think to add to, and put a greater lustre upon the Sacrament: the truth is, that wich he thinks to be a greater lustre, reverence, or honor put upon it, it doth rather take off the lustre and glory of the Sacrament; then are the institutions of Christ glorious when there is no mixture among them; thus we should sanctifie the Name of God, in receiving this holy Sacrament. You have had divers things propounded to you, whereby you may come to know and easily to see that there hath been a great deal of