lieve to come of God striving in our hearts. And whilst we stedfastly resist the solicitations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; let us purpose no less stedfastly, in regard to the godly motions of the Spirit, to follow and be led by them, in every thing.

SERMON VII.

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.

1 COR. 11. 23, 24.

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me."

AMONGST the many texts relating to the Supper of the Lord, I have chosen the one before us for these reasons, partly, because the whole passage gives us more full information than any other, on the subject; and partly, because having been written long after the institution of this sacrament by our Lord, it serves better than any other to shew us in what manner the Lord's Supper was celebrated from the

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beginning, and in what manner our Lord would have it to be celebrated unto the end. Nor must we fail here to observe the striking remark made in the text, namely, that our Lord ordained this solemn rite "the same night in which he was betrayed." Whilst the hand of the traitor was with Him in the dish, He was providing for the spiritual food and sustenance of those, who by their sins had made it needful that thus it should be, that Christ should thus suffer, the just for the unjust, to make peace between sinners and their God. Oh, if our hearts burn within us for pain and shame, to think that Christ died for our sins, let them also glow with love and thankfulness, at the thought, that in the midst of the traitor's treason, He who was so soon to die for us on the cross, appointed this lively memorial of his death, to remind us perpetually, that He died in order for us to be forgiven and live; and to convey to us effectually, when celebrated with faith and love, the benefits, whereof we are made partakers by his death.

And this leads us to the first question and answer, in the remaining part of the Church Catechism, "Why was the sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained? For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we receive thereby." What? should we then without this ordinance have been apt to forget these benefits? should we seldom have called to mind the sacrifice of the death of Christ? Alas! what do we, after all the help which is here provided? How little do we think of Him to whom we owe so much! How seldom in proportion to our deep interest in the blessings secured to us by the death of Christ, how seldom do we meditate, with solemn thankfulness, and devout affection, on his love in dying for us! Well is it that we have this stated call and opportunity to do so. Well is it that we have been charged so urgently by our Lord," This do in remembrance of me." And well has St. Paul instructed us in the passage from which the text is taken," as often as ye eat this bread, and

drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." (Ver. 26.) If there be here any who are in the habit of neglecting this ordinance, see, I would say to them, see how much you lose by not celebrating this suitable memorial; and wonder not that you are tempted to forget Christ, when you take not the very means which He has appointed for keeping his great love in remembrance. Desire to receive the Lord's Supper as soon as possible. Desire earnestly to receive it ever after as often as you can. And rejoice when the time comes round for partaking of that bread and wine, which put you most forcibly in mind of Christ crucified, and which tell you in the most affecting manner that He was crucified for you.

The Supper of the Lord, as well as Baptism, has two parts, an outward visible sign, and an inward spiritual grace. The outward sign or part in the Lord's Supper, consists of "bread and wine, which the Lord hath commanded to be received." It was at a social meal that our Lord instituted this Sacrament. It was when He