garded this sacred rite. They, when they gathered round the Lord's table, and with feelings of mutual fellowship, and good-will partook of that heavenly banquet, looked upon themselves as pledged by that act to do no wrong to any man; to smother into forgetfulness every injury that they had received; to bear no malice nor hatred in their hearts, but to emulate one another in deeds of piety and kindness" to provoke unto love and good works." And this they did, because they had respect to the closeness of their relationship in Christ; because they felt the force of their Saviour's words: "One is your Master, and ye are all brethren."

Here, then, are three great objects for which, as I have shown you, the Holy Communion was ordained. First, for the remembering the Lord's most precious death. Secondly, for conveying His Spirit to our souls: and thirdly, for promoting unity, peace, and concord amongst the several members of His body.

We now come to consider the obligation by which we are bound to receive this Holy Sacrament. And this I might ground on the single fact, that it is expressly commanded us in the Gospel; "This do," are our Lord's own words, " in remembrance of me." To every well-regulated mind, this alone should be sufficient. When Christ the Lord gives so distinct,

so emphatic an order, we cannot be His true disciples if we hesitate to obey: if we love Him we must keep His commandments.

But, then, besides that we have this as a commandment from Him, are there not additional reasons why we should be diligent and constant in our use of this holy institution? reasons which are suggested by the considerations into which we have already gone respecting its origin, and design? A moment's thought will convince you that there are. Can it-I would have you ask yourselves-can it be a question with any of us, whether we would cherish the recollection of the death and sufferings of our blessed Lord as a stimulus to our faith and love, or let the memory of them grow cold and die away in our hearts, till at length we cease to be affected with any lively sense of the Redemption, which those sufferings have wrought out for us? Can it be a question whether we would have His grace dwelling in our souls, as an everspringing well of life and holiness, or be left to ourselves, to the corruption of our evil nature, an easy prey to that rebellious and wicked spirit, who is always on the watch for our destruction? Or lastly, can it be a question, whether peace, and harmony, united affections, unselfish aims, general charity and consideration for one another, are not of all things most to be desired and sought after: and discord, disunion,

selfishness, and indifference, most to be avoided and eschewed?

If there be but one opinion on all these points, if we are agreed upon the excellence, and advantageyes, and the necessity of a certain line of conduct; why are we not also agreed upon pursuing it? Why is it, that when Christ calls us by His ministers to come to His holy table, in order to prove our faith in His atonement, and to remember His exceeding love in dying for us; when He promises to meet us there, and make us glad with the light of His countenance, and impart to us His Holy Spirit, and all other benefits which He hath obtained for us,-why is it, I ask, that so many turn a deaf ear to the invitation, and scruple not to disregard the blessing thus graciously offered them?

Surely, my brethren, ye are not aware how unkind and grievous a thing it is, thus continually to reject so holy an ordinance. To use the language of the Exhortation in our Prayer Book, "Are ye not ashamed when God calleth you, to say that ye will not come?" Does it never strike you, when you leave the church on sacrament days, after the sermon, while the service is yet incomplete, while the greatest act of Christian worship is still unperformed, that you are, as it were, deserting your post, that you are leaving Christ and His cross, to get back more quickly to the world,-the world which

is at enmity with Him? With some of you, I verily believe this to be the case; I would believe that in some of your breasts there is a struggle, perhaps only momentary; but yet a struggle between staying and departing; a struggle in which the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Would that in such circumstances, the sentence in the text might occur to decide the balance! Would that as many of you as are of two minds on so important a matter, might have your wills directed into the right choice through the recollection of these your Saviour's words," Will ye also go away?"

But perhaps you will allege that you are not ready that you have no disinclination to accept the Lord's mercies: but that you do not feel yourselves in a fit condition to communicate: and this brings me to a few remarks upon the last part proposed for our consideration, namely, the fit and necessary preparation for the worthy receiving of the Holy Supper.

This preparation consists, not so much in any outward acts of studied devotion; not so much in going through a certain course of religious exercises-though these things are not to be neglected, and are great helps towards promoting in us thoughts and feelings suitable to so solemn an occasion-but rather in that habitual government of the heart; that training of every wish, and regulating every

action, by the law of the Gospel, which is required of us as Christians. It is this, which will render a man at all times fit to partake of the Lord's Supper-yes-and at all times desirous of so doing. And no wonder; the more we accustom ourselves to such a practice, the more we exercise ourselves in the discipline of the Gospel; trying our conduct, and our very motives by its wholesome counsels; the more keenly shall we be made to feel our own sinfulness, and the need we have of Divine grace to keep us from falling into utter condemnation; convinced of sin, we shall also see the necessity of a Saviour from its defilement. "Cleanse thou me from my secret faults, and renew a right spirit within me," will be our silent, as well as our uttered prayer; and if such be our conviction, and such our desires, where shall we better seek the Lord, and His strength, than in His own appointed way; in, and through His holy ordinance, in which He promises His presence and heavenly benediction?

Beware then, my brethren, how you refuse to come to the Lord's Supper on the plea of unworthiness. It is willingness, rather than worthiness, which is requisite; for worthy we can never be no, not the best of us-even to gather up the crumbs that fall from our Master's table. If you be truly sensible of the burden of your sins; if you do earnestly repent of them, and by God's help resolve to

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