where "hope never comes, that comes to all" on earth; the rich and poor in one discordant multitude, distracted by tormenting passions, "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."y

The rich and poor will also dwell together in the kingdom of their God, as many as were his redeemed and faithful people, while they lived on earth. But there will be no distinction between rich and poor in the kingdom of heaven, for all will be enriched with the unsearchable riches of Christ; all will receive a crown of righteousness; all will be adorned with the robes of glory, and all will be made partakers of "an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away."

Let us all then, my brethren, whether rich or poor, endeavour above all things to obtain an interest in that unchangeable state of happiness; that we may be "followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises," that we may "make our calling and election sure," and may prove this by "walking in all the ordinances and commandments of the Lord blameless;" that while

b

y Mark ix. 44. * 1 Pet. i. 4. a Heb. vi. 12.

each endeavours to discharge sincerely and faithfully the duties of his station in life, we "may provoke one another unto love and to good works:" that the rich and poor may meet together in this world in perfect harmony, and may walk together in the house of God as friends and brethren, and may lie down in the grave as the members of Christ, and heirs of the same heavenly inheritance, having been created by the same Almighty power, and supported by the same kind Providence, and redeemed by the same precious blood, and purified by the same Holy Spirit ;-that finally we may join together in worshipping the same God for ever and ever.

d Heb. x. 24.

SERMON XII.

THE INSTITUTION AND DESIGN OF THE

LORD'S SUPPER. ·

MATT. XXVI. 26-28.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

OUR Lord Jesus Christ, in the same night in which he was betrayed, instituted the Eucharist, or holy feast of thanksgiving, to be observed for ever in his Church, in remem

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brance of his death and grievous sufferings. "For as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup." at his supper, "we do show forth the Lord's death till he come."a

We shall be better able to understand the nature of this SACRAMENT, this divine and edifying ordinance, if we consider the time and manner of its institution.

This took place in the same evening in which the Jews were accustomed to celebrate the Passover, their great annual feast, as we may gather from the foregoing part of this Chapter; and also from the passage which has now been read to you; for, as they were eating, Jesus took bread, that is, while the disciples were eating the Passover which they had prepared. The Passover among the Jews was a sacred ordinance, of the nature of a Sacrament, being appointed by God himself, in remembrance of the wonderful deliverance vouchsafed to the Israelites, when the destroying Angel smote the first-born among the Egyptians. Each family was required to kill a lamb on a certain evening in the year, in commemoration of that wonderful event. The blood of this lamb was sprinkled on the posts of their doors, at its first a 1 Cor. xi. 26. b Exod. xii.

b

institution, in order that when the destroying Angel should see that blood, he might pass over them, and not enter into their houses to smite the first-born. They were moreover directed to eat the flesh of the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, and to keep the feast of unleavened bread seven days. This was expressly called the Lord's Passover, and they were enjoined to observe it yearly as an ordinance for ever.

It

The Passover was a means of setting before the Israelites the peculiar blessings which they had received from the hands of the Lord. And this it did in a very impressive manner. spoke to them more forcibly than words could speak, and reminded them of the great and unmerited blessings which God had formerly bestowed upon them. It was a figurative and lively representation of good things. And while it reminded the Jews of the benefits and favours which they had already received, it served as a type or emblem of still greater blessings which were afterwards to be derived from the shedding of the blood of that Lamb of God which alone taketh away the sin of the world.

Accordingly, the Jewish Passover was changed by our Lord into the SACRAMENT of his