preparation before we come to it, and with suitable behaviour when we are at the table of the Lord.

Q. 2. Wat is that preparation which is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord's supper?

A. There is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord's supper, 1. Habitual preparation, that the persons who receive it be in a state of grace. 2. Actual preparation, that their graces be drawn forth into exercise.

Q. 3. What is requisite for the obtaining of this habitual and actual preparation in order to our worthy receiving?

A. It is requisite for the obtaining of this habitual and actual preparation in order to our worthy receiving, that we examine ourselves. 1 Cor. xi. 28, But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

Q. 4. Wherein are we to examine ourselves, in order to our preparation for this sacrament?

A. We are to examine ourselves, in order to our preparation for this sacrament, 1. In our knowledge to discern the Lord's body, which is represented by the bread. 1. Cor. xi. 29, Not discerning the Lord's body. 2. In our faith to apply Christ and feed upon him, and so to draw virtue and spiritual nourishment from him. 2 Cor. xiii. 5, Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith. 3. In our repentance, self-judging, and godly sorrow for our sins, which have brought sufferings upon our Lord. 1 Cor. xi. 31, For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 4. In our love to Christ, who in his death expressed such love to us; and in our love to one another, who are redeemed by the same blood. 5. In our new and sincere obedience to the gospel, which we must engage in, and be fully resolved, in the strength of the Lord, to perform, before we can worthily receive this sacrament. 1 Cor. v. 8, Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Q. 5. What is requisite, by way of preparation for this sacrament, besides self-examination?

A. By way of preparation for this sacrament, besides

self-examination, there is requisite, prayer to God for his presence, blessing, and assistance of his Spirit; and meditation, in order to the exciting of our affections, and the drawing forth of our graces into exercise.

Q. 6. Who are they that come to the Lord's table unworthily?

A. 1. Such come to the table of the Lord unworthily, as have no habitual preparation, being in a graceless and Christless state; who, having no faith, can neither discern the Lord's body, nor spiritually feed upon him; who, being without repentance, love, and new obedience, can neither bring glory to the Lord, nor enjoy communion with him, by receiving this sacrament. 2. Such also come to the table of the Lord unworthily, who, although they are gracious, and have habitual preparation, yet take no care, by self-examination, prayer, and meditation, to attain actual preparation, whereby they displease God, and lose also the benefit of the ordinance.

Q. 7. If such as are gracious do take pains in selfexamination and other duties, to get their hearts prepared, and yet they are still out of frame, would they not be unworthy receivers, should they come to the Lord's table?

A. When such as are gracious do by self-examination and other duties endeavour to get their hearts prepared, though they be out of frame, they ought to come to the Lord's table, because God may bring them into frame, in and by the ordinance: however they must wait there, and attend upon God out of obedience, when they cannot do it with sensible, melting, warm, and delightful affections, and their sincerity through Christ will be accepted. Q. 8. When we doubt and fear whether we be truly gracious, may we come to the Lord's table?

A. We may and ought to come to the Lord's table, although under doubts and fears, if we have a sense of our need of, and hungering desires after Jesus Christ, together with resolutions to give up ourselves in covenant to the Lord: This sacrament being a mean of getting evidences of God's love; and, when we cannot come with assurance, we may come for assurance.

Q. 9. What must be our behaviour at the table of the Lord, that we may be worthy receivers ?

A. That we may be worthy receivers, our behaviour at the table of the Lord must be humble and reverent, as to the outward gesture of our bodies, and inward frame of our hearts: we must seriously mind the outward elements and actions, looking chiefly to the things signified, rep resented, and exhibited in the ordinance: we must medi tate upon Christ's death, so disgraceful and painful for us; grieving for our sins, the cause of it; hungering and thirsting after him, and the benefits purchased by his death; applying the promises of the covenant and new testament, which is of full force through the death of the testator; drawing nourishment, and all needful spiritual supplies from him, in whom all fulness doth dwell; rejoicing in his love; giving thanks for his grace; renewing our covenant; and mingling all espe cially with faith and most endeared love to the Lord, and with love in him one to another.

Q. 10. What is required of worthy receivers after they come from the table of the Lord?.

A. It is required of worthy receivers after they come from the table of the Lord, that they examine themselves as to their carriage and success. If they have not met with God, and have been out of frame, that they inquire into the cause, mourn for their defects, be earnest for a pardon, and by after pains, labour to get the benefit of the ordinance, and withal, endeavour to amend for the future. If they have met with God, and been enlarged and sweetly refreshed, they must be very thankful for assistances and enlargements, labour to retain the sweet relish they have had still upon their spirits; they must endeavour to draw more and more virtue from Christ, for the crucifying the world and the flesh; they must be very watchful against satan, sin, and carnal security: they must be careful to perform their vows, and keep the covenant, which they have renewed.

Q. 11. What is the sin of unworthy receiving the Lord's supper?

A. The sin of unworthy receiving the Lord's supper, is, that such are guilty of the body and blood of the

Lord; that is, they are guilty of an affront and indignity which they offer to the Lord's body and blood. 1 Cor. xi. 27, Whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Q. 12. What is the danger of our unworthy receiving the Lord's supper?

A. The danger of our unworthy receiving the Lord's supper, is, the eating and drinking judgment to ourselves; that is, provoking the Lord by our unworthy receiving, to inflict temporal, spiritual, and eternal judgments upon us. 1 Cor. xi. 29, 30, For he, that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. Q. 98. What is prayer?

A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires to God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.

Q. 1. How many parts are there in prayer?

A. There are three parts in prayer, petition, confession, and thanksgiving: but most properly prayer doth consist in petition.

Q. 2. What kind of petition is prayer unto God?

A. The petition of the lips, without the desire of the heart, may be accounted prayer by men, but it is not acceptable prayer unto God, which is an offering up of the desires unto him, and pouring forth of the heart before him. Psalm lxii. 8, Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your hearts before him.

Q. 3. Unto whom are we to direct our prayers?

A. We are to direct our prayers to God only. Psal. v. 2, 3, Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my king, and my God; for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Q.4. Why are we to direct our prayers only unto God?

A. We are to direct our prayers only unto God, 1.

Because prayer is a part of religious worship, and God is the only object of religious worship. Matth. iv. 10, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 2. Because God only is every where present to see his people, and to hear their prayers. Psal. xxxiv. 15, The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 3. Because God only

can answer our prayers, by fulfilling our desires, and giv ing the things which we pray for, and stand in need of. Psal. cxlv. 18, 19, The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their cry, and save them.

Q. 5. For what things may we pray unto God?

A. 1. We may not pray for the fulfilling of any sinful desires. James iv. 3, Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 2. We may and ought to pray unto God only for such things as are agreeable unto his will. I John v. 14, 15, And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he hear us, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Q. 6. What are the things agreeable unto God's will which we may pray for?

A. The things which we may pray for, are not all things which are agreeable unto his secret will; for thus all things which come to pass even the worst of sins which are committed, are agreeable unto God's secret counsel and eternal determination: but all things which are agreeable unto God's revealed will in his word, we may pray for; such as the pardon of our sins, the sup plies of his grace, spiritual life and strength here, eternal life and glory hereafter, deliverance from spiritual and eternal evils; also whatever temporal good things we stand in need of, and all those things which either expressly or inclusively he hath promised in his covenant

unto us.

Q. 7. In whose name ought we to pray unto God? A. We ought to pray unto God only in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. John xiv. 13, 14, Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father