The way to excel. Meditations, awakened by the death of the Reverend Mr. Joshua…

Angels have strangely visited and comforted some on the Rack; but never such as complained, that a strict Lords Day put 'em on a Rack. During the whole Day, Let our Thoughts be full of God, and Christ, and Heaven; During the whole Day, Let our words be ⟨p. 22⟩Few, and Fit, and Savoury, and such as may Minister Grace unto the Hearers; During the whole Day, Let our Earthly Defilements be Banished from us; Let our Hearts, be every Hour Sallying forth with Numberless Ejaculations to the Lord. Such Lords Days, will Ripen men into Angels at the Last! But on the Lords-Day, there sometimes does Recur, a most special and signal opportunity to Draw near unto God; namely, The Lords Supper; an Ordinance of the Nearest Fellowship with Heaven; an Ordinance, wherein a CHRIST Suffering for us, is, by the Symbols of Bread and Wine so tendered unto the Faithful, that in their Obeying His Appointment thereof, they do with Ineffable Advantage partake of Him. Well then, Let our Preparations for this Great Ordinance, be with as much of Solemnity, as if we were to Die our selves, at the Time, when we do Annunciate here the Death of our Lord. Let us Examine our selves, & Supplicate our God, before we come to the Table of the Lord, as if we were to Die when we come. And at this Holy Table, where Man Eats Angels Food, Let us Fix our Meditations on our Lord JESUS CHRIST, with all possible Attention, with all suitable Affection. Thus, Beholding, as in a Glass, the Glory of the Lord, we shall be Changed into the same Image, from Glory to Glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord. Now, 'tis that Glory that makes an Angel!

Angels have strangly visited and comforted some on the Rack; but never such as complain'd, that a strict Lords Day put 'em on a Rack. During the whole Day, Let our Thoughts be full of God, and Christ, and Heaven; During the whole Day, Let our words be ⟨p. 22⟩Few, and Fitt, and Savoury, and such as may Minister Grace unto the Hearers; During the whole Day, Let our Earthly Defilements be Banished from us; Let our Hearts, be every Hour Sallying forth with Numberless Ejaculations to the Lord. Such Lords Dayes, will Ripen men into Angels at the Last! But on the Lords-Day, there sometimes does Recur, a most special and signal opportunity to Draw near unto God; namely, The Lords Supper; an Ordinance of the Nearest Fellowship with Heaven; an Ordinance, wherein a CHRIST Suffering for us, is, by the Symbols of Bread and Wine so tendred unto the Faithful, that in their Obeying His Appointment thereof, they do with Ineffable Advantage partake of Him. Well then, Let our Preparations for this Great Ordinance, be with as much of Solemnity, as if we were to Dy our selves, at the Time, when we do Annunciate here the Death of our Lord. Let us Examine our selves, & Supplicate our God, before we come to the Table of the Lord, as if we were to Dy when we come. And at this Holy Table, where Man Eats Angels Food, Let us Fix our Meditations on our Lord JESUS CHRIST, with all possible Attention, with all suitable Affection. Thus, Beholding, as in a Glass, the Glory of the Lord, we shall be Changed into the same Image, from Glory to Glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord. Now, 'tis that Glory that makes an Angel!