and are never at ease in their minds until the brightness of their Maker is shut out from them; we, on the contrary, shall find our truest pleasure in approaching close to him by heavenly thoughts, and the communion of the heart's secret prayer. They are inclined to avoid him, because the spirit of the world which is in them lusteth to evil, and is opposite to the divine nature; we shall seek and cleave to him, because, his own spirit being shed abroad in our hearts, we shall partake of his nature though in a most imperfect degree; and, though at the humblest distance, have fellowship with him who dwells in love and holiness. disposition like this, must of necessity, in proportion as it prevails over our carnal nature, render those services most grateful which we know to be most acceptable to our Almighty Parent; those pursuits and indulgences most odious which are furthest from the divine character, and which tend most powerfully to separate from us the light of his countenance. In all the actions which concern, and the feelings which have regard to man, we shall be governed by the

A

same spirit; whether we have to do with friends or enemies, love will exalt affection, or moderate resentment; gentleness, forbearance, and compassion, like oil poured upon stormy waters, will create around us and within us, a peace that passeth all worldly understanding; a foretaste of that heavenly softness and quiet which reigns for ever undisturbed, "where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." By this spirit, in a word, "faith worketh." The thoughts, words, and works, of a Christian are merely fruits which spring and ripen from this plant which the Lord has planted. "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works," that in renewed and sanctified hearts we should fulfil the law; and “ love," as St. Paul declares, "is the fulfilling of the law;"d for "love worketh no evil." It will not suffer the man whom it possesses to dishonour God, or to injure a fellow creature.

I will finish these remarks by placing the substance of them in few words before you. Charity, or Christian love, is the spirit

d Romans, xiii. 10.

which God gives to all whom he makes his own sons by adoption; without it, we cannot work the works of faith; without it, we are none of his who "so loved the world" that he gave himself for it," to the end that all who believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Would we have evidence that we are born of God; that we shall not perish with those who know him not; let it be our urgent prayer that the following divine sentences may be written in our hearts; "He that loveth not his brother abideth in death;" "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."f

SERMON XVIII.

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.

MATTHEW, Xxvi. 26, 27, 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.

In these verses from St. Matthew, we have an account of the manner in which our blessed Lord first ordained and gave to his disciples that holy sacrament, the communion of his body and blood; a sacrament of which every Christian ought to partake; of which indeed, he who is truly a Christian,

will partake, unless prevented by actual necessity. As our people, however, continue to show so strong a disinclination to join in an act of public worship so blessed, so peculiar to the faith which saveth us, some simply from want of knowledge, others from a less pardonable cause; more than one discourse may be profitably devoted to the consideration; first, of the nature of the Sacrament of the Lord's supper; secondly, of the various excuses offered by those who refuse to do so; thirdly, of that which is really an unworthy, and therefore a dangerous partaking thereof.

The present discourse will treat of the nature of the Lord's Supper, and of our duty respecting it. To give you a full understanding of the nature and intention of this holy sacrament, I must begin by directing your attention to the earliest part of the Jewish history, as it is written in the twelfth chapter of Exodus. When the Lord, by the hand of his servant Moses, was about to lead Israel his people from their bondage in the land of Egypt, he commanded every family to kill a lamb without blemish,