sincerity. But there is a special test of our reception of Christ, and of our adhesion to him, which he himself has appointed. It is the communion of his body and blood, in which we avow our faith in him, and openly to the world show forth his death. "In every religion, the eating of the flesh "of sacrifices was a sign of the communion of "that religion." "Are not they which eat of the "sacrifices partakers of the altar?" said St. Paul. And if we would show that we are Christians, if we would have communion with Christ, and be united to him by a living faith, we are bound to participate of his sacrifice, to "drink of the cup "of the Lord, to be partakers of the Lord's table; "that so it may appear that we have fellowship "with him."

That we might be induced to do so, our Saviour has gathered around this sacrament every touching motive, every persuasive appeal. It was instituted in the moment of his deepest sorrow. It was enjoined as his dying request. And when he said, "Do this in remembrance of me," and then went out to lay down his life for us, he fortified and consecrated his command by such claim upon our affection, our reverence, our obedience, and our gratitude, as cannot be neglected without the greatest insensibility, and the deepest guilt. My brethren, Jesus Christ in these emblems offers himself to our reception. In every age has this memorial been spread out to the

view of men. But what numbers have listened to the invitation, and refusing to obey it, have gone down to the grave with this guilt upon their souls, of having neglected, contemned, and spurned their Saviour. All the benefits of Christ's passion have here been offered to their faith; but they have despised and rejected them. Temporal death has closed upon their unbelief; and that unbelief has given them over to despair and the second death. This is true of all those who have rejected the emblems, because they disregarded the reality. Thousands have gone down to the grave under this condemnation; and thousands are daily preparing for themselves a similar doom.

But when we reflect how great is that salvation which here is offered; when we reflect how sufficient and how free it is for all the sins of all the world; when we consider how necessary and how desirable its benefits are to every individual; we are ready to believe that if any go away, it is through inadvertence, through inattention, through want of warning.

But have not those who continually go away been often invited to the feast! Have they not, in words of tenderness unparalleled, been called in God's behalf? Have they not been besought for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, that they would not refuse to come thereto, being so lovingly called and bidden by God himself! Yes, every

motive has been urged. They have been warned to take heed lest by withdrawing from this holy supper, they provoke God's indignation against them. They have been reminded of the danger of their wilfulness and their ingratitude. They have been admonished to consider how little their feigned excuses would avail before God. They have been bidden in the name of God, they have been called in Christ's behalf, they have been exhorted as they love their own salvation, that they would be partakers of this holy communion. It is all in vain. The declaration of God is true concerning them-"The heart of "this people is waxed gross, and their ears are "dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed, "lest they should see with their eyes, and hear "with their ears, and understand with their heart, "and should be converted, and I should heal "them."

But, my brethren, I address myself to you who are here present-Will ye also go away? Members of Christ by baptism, trusting in him for pardon and salvation, redeemed by his blood, and visited by his grace, will ye continually and repeatedly disown him?

Ye with whom life is new, whose heart the world has not yet hardened, whose sensibilities are alive to the calls of duty, and who shrink from the baseness of ingratitude, will ye deny the request of your merciful Redeemer? Will ye

be ashamed to confess his name, who for you was exposed to scorn and derision, was spit upon and buffeted? Will ye forget the hope which he has lighted in your souls, the hope of heaven and immortal glory? Will ye refuse the pledges of these exalted benefits, which by his blood shedding he has purchased for you? Will ye venture life's dangerous paths without the assurance of his protection and favour? Will ye hazard death's untimely summons while you are pursuing only those vain things which cannot profit, and are forgetting, dishonouring, offending, your God? Will ye, for this life's highest pleasures, forsake him who only has the words of eternal life? Will ye go away?

upon

Ye whom God has led to vigorous manhoodwhom he has succoured in adversity, preserved in danger, prospered in all your desires; ye whose prayer he has heard in sickness, and whose vows-whose forgotten vows-of devotion and obedience he has recorded on high; ye who have given to the world the prime of your days, and are still pursuing that world to the neglect of God; is there no motive to awaken you to your sacred obligation? Will nothing recal you to the dictates of a better mind? Can the world which engrosses you give you the promise of immortality? Or is there any thing, in all that you are endeavouring to attain, which can make it unnecessary to secure eternal life? And now, while VOL. II.

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the pledges of that eternal life are spread before you, while all its benefits are pressed upon you, I ask you, "Will ye also go away?"

Thou who art treading upon the verge of the grave, whose head is whitened by the frosts of many years; thou who hast often been called upon to serve thy God, and hast promised, perhaps hast often promised, that at some convenient sea'son thou wouldst listen to the call; thou whose life is passing like a shadow, and whose days are rapidly drawing to their close; thou who hast seen fall around thee the young, the healthy, the full of promise, and with frequent steps hast followed to their untimely grave those who have been cut off suddenly in their career, without time for repentance and for prayer, while thou hast been spared, and art neglecting both; thou who hast tried the world, until thou hast found it worthless, and followed pleasure, until it has ceased to please; thou who, in a lengthened life, hast never once approached his table, before whose judgment-bar thou art shortly to appear; thou who art yet unassured of the pardon of thy sins; and to this moment hast never made thy peace with him in whose favour is life, and whose loving kindness is better than life; thou who art standing in this perilous state, and whose heart responds fearfully to the admonition which tells thee the time is short; I ask thee, aged man, "Wilt thou also go away?"