greater than have yet been experienced may he dreaded, from the REJECTION OF THE MESSIAH, there is every reason to think, on the fuppofition that Christianity is true. In this book I have endeavoured to maintain a sense of the real dignity and importance of the moft folemn act of worship, and the most facred rite of our religion. I have been particularly careful to confirm my opinions on the authority of Scripture, and the fanction of the pious and learned defenders of the faith, from the earliest ages to the times in which we live. I have certainly given long and great attention to the fubject; and am not without hope that I fhall afford fome information to thofe who, from want of leifure, or opportunity, or inclination, have hitherto little confidered or underftood the nature and efficacy of the Eucharift. If I fhould be fo fuccefsful, I fhall be rewarded with the fatisfaction of knowing that I fhall have contributed to the permanent happi 23 happiness of my fellow creatures and the real welfare of my country. That many perfons who pretend to a fuperior fhare of the rational faculty, and of, what they call, LIBERALITY, will be difpleafed with, or difpofed to defpife my doctrine, I foresee and lament; but I have not fo learned Chrift, as to be deterred from preaching and teaching what I conceive to be his Gofpel, by obloquy, mifreprefentation, or any other evil. I wifh those who oppofe falutary truth a better mind; and reft with chearfulness under the fatisfaction arifing from a heart conscious, in the present instance, of univerfal benevolence. CONTENTS. H. The Sacrament in general, and the Word Sacrament in particular, confidered. 8 III. Paffages fpecified from late Writers, IV. The Opinion that the Eucharift is a bare. V. The Sixth Chapter of St. John contains Paffages (from verse 25 to verse 36, and from verfe 46 to verse 64) which refer to the Sacrament of the Lord's Sup- VI. The Lord's Supper confidered as a Feaft VII. Though the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper be ftrictly a Feaft on, or after, a Sacrifice; yet in popular Language, and catachreftically, a common Figure VIII. That the prefent Benefits of the Eucharift are Grace and Pardon, is a Conclufion that must follow from admitting that the Sixth Chapter of St. John relates to it: additionaal Reafons for thinking that the Expreffions of this Chapter, IX. The primary and most important Benefit annexed to the worthy Reception of the Eucharift, is a Vouchfafement of Grace in more Abundance than ordinary, from which, of courfe flow other Benefits, neceffary to the Chriftian Life. X. Chrift's more intimate dwelling with us, or our Participation of his Divine Nature confidered, as an Effect of, and Benefit annexed to, worthily receiving the XI. Union with Chrift farther confidered. 79 Reference to the Eucharift; and the Claufe," Forgive us our Trefpaffes, "as we forgive them that trefpafs "against us," a fimilar Reference; both together include the two great XV. Farther Confiderations on referring the Petition for Bread, in the Lord's Prayer, to the Bread of Life, spoken of in St. John's Sixth Chapter,-that XVII. Of the true Knowledge of Christ at- tained in worthily receiving the |