table, in full confidence that we fhall receive all the benefits purchased for us by the facrifice and death of Jesus Christ.

It is extremely natural to fuppofe that, even if our bleffed Lord had not himself ordained this holy facrament and endowed it with fuch efficacy, the gratitude of mankind would have established something of a fimilar nature, in remembrance of fo unparalleled an inftance of love fhewn to them, and that they might have an opportunity, at stated periods, of renewing their acknowledgments for it. It cannot, then, but be matter of the greatest astonishment, that any perfons, profeffing themfelves to be Chrftians, fhould flight or neglect fuch eafy means of obtaining the highest spiritual bleffings, when our bleffed Saviour, knowing the frailties of our nature and how apt we are to forget the most necessary duties, exprefsly instituted and ordained these holy mysteries, as pledges of his love, and for a continual remembrance of his death, to our great and endless comfort..

Suppose that a beloved friend, or benefactor, had, upon his death-bed, made fome request to us, should we think ourfelves at liberty to neglect it? do we not, on the contrary, exert our utmost endeavors to carry his wishes into execution; notwithstanding any difficulties which we may find in the way? and fhall we be less anxious to obey the last and dying command of our best friend and heavenly benefactor; a command given for our own fakes only, and to draw us nearer to God and himself?

I am apt to believe that too many amongst us are inattentive to this holy inftitution, from the ease with which we may be admitted to it; and that, from the perverseness of human nature, had it been a work of difficulty, more pains would have been taken to enjoy it. We have an example of this nature, in the fifth chapter of the fecond book of Kings; where Naaman, the Syrian, having applied to the prophet Elifha to cure him of his leprofy, and being directed to wash in the

river Jordan and be clean, was wroth, and turned to go away, because the remedy proposed to him appeared fo fimple and unattended with the pomp and ceremonies he expected. The arguments employed by his fervants upon this occafion, are well worthy of attention, as particularly applicable to the present fubject. "My father, if the prophet had bid thee do fome

66

66

great thing, wouldeft thou not have done "it? how much rather then, when he "faith to thee, Wash and be clean.”

If we have been at any time equally abfurd with Naaman in rejecting the means of cure of a much worse leprofy than his, (as fays Solomon, in the 18th chapter of The Proverbs, "The fpirit ❝ of a man will fuftain his infirmity; but "a wounded spirit who can bear?") because too easily attainable, let us profit by the example of his repentance, and immediately accept of our Lord's kind and affectionate invitation, with true faith in his gracious promises.

To the fincere and zealous Christian few parts of his religion afford more folid comfort and happiness, than the liberty given him of appearing as a guest at his Lord's table, and pleading with him, as it were, personally, his gracious promises. When we confider that, if with a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive that holy facrament, we fpiritually eat the flesh of Chrift and drink his blood; we dwell in Chrift and Christ in us; we are one with Chrift and Christ with us; we shall be at a lofs for words to exprefs our thanks and adoration for such infinite goodness. Nor are those advantages confined to the time of receiving it: for, if we are fincere in our endeavors to dif charge this duty as we ought, the blessed influence of it will remain in our minds, and greatly affift us in every good work.

Let us now confider the various excuses made for the neglect of this holy inftitution, and the weakness and danger of them. These are so forcibly fet forth in

the

the exhortation contained in our church fervice, that, I am perfuaded, I cannot do better than to tranfcribe, and earnestly 'to call the attention of my readers to it.

"I beseech you, for the Lord Jefus "Chrift's fake, that ye will not refuse to

66

come thereto; being fo lovingly called " and bidden by God himself. Ye know "how grievous and unkind a thing it is, "when a man hath prepared a rich feast, "decked his table with all kind of provi

66

fion, so that there lacketh nothing but "the guests to fit down, and yet they who

66

66

are called (without any cause) most unthankfully refufe to come: which of you, in fuch a case, would not be mov"ed? Who would not think a great in"jury and wrong done unto him? Wherefore, most dearly-beloved in Chrift, take

ye good heed, left ye withdrawing your"felves from this holy fupper, provoke "God's indignation against you. It is "an easy matter for a man to fay, I will 66 not communicate, because I am other"wife hindered with worldly business:

"but