3. A third qualification we mention is sincere and genuine repentance. Faith and repentance are inseparably connected; and, as an old writer beautifully observes," the tear, which repentance sheds, drops from the eye of faith." "They shall look on himwhom they have pierced, and mourn as for an only son, and be in bitterness as for a first-born."* Nothing more effectually softens the heart-nothing more completely fills it with ingenuous sorrow for sin-than believing views of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the method of salvation through him. And this is a very proper exercise when we come to seal our interest in his righteousness, and to tell the church, and the world, that he is our Saviour! Yes, brethren; a knowledge of our sins, in their evil nature—in their aggravating circumstances, and their awful demerit-together with that sincere contrition, with which such knowledge is calculated to fill the soul-is a very necessary qualification in our approaches to the Redeemer's table. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."+ That very sense of unworthiness, which many plead as an excuse for their neglect of this sacred institution, we consider a necessary preparation. "We are never more fit (says Willisont) for this holy table, than when we are most humbled, and most ashamed of ourselves, because of our unfitness for this solemn approach; and we are never less fit than when we think ourselves most fit and prepared Ps. li. 17. Intro. to Sac. Med. p. 5.. Zech. xii. 10. for the duty." The proud, self-righteous Pharisee, has no right at the communion table; but the humble Publican, whose heart is broken for sin, and from sin, may come, and welcome. The promise to Zion is "I will abundantly bless her provision I will satisfy her poor with bread."* And many of the sons and daughters of Zion can join in the song of Mary: "He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away."+ 4. The fourth qualification we mention is love. The natural heart is full of enmity ; and before we ean come to the feast of love acceptably, the enmity of the carnal mind must have been destroyed, and the love of God and man shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost. The death of the Lord Jesus was the most asto nishing exhibition of love, that either earth or heaven ever witnessed; and the constraining influence of a Saviour's love must be felt in the commemora, tion of a Saviour's death.. "Love is the fulfilling of the law." The first table requires us to love God supremely. This is perfectly reasonable. God is the most excellent of all beings! and his uncreated perfections justly entitle him to the supreme love-the most profound reverence the most exalted adoration-the most. unshaken confidence-and the best services of all intelligent creatures. But the Apostle John|| remarks, we love him, because he first loved us !?? 66 *Ps. cxxxii. 15. + Luke i. 53. +Rom. viii. 7. || 1 Epist. iv. 19. A lively conviction of his relative goodness, as well as of his absolute perfection, must win the heart. This God, who is the Creator and Preserver of all, is by covenant the believer's God forever and ever : His Father, his Redeemer, and his Sanctifier. The object of his supreme affection, in whose government he rejoices-in whose salvation he glories-to whose honour he is devoted: "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart faileth : but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever."* "He is the chiefest among ten thou sand; yea, he is altogether lovely."+ With the love of God, the love of man is connected; and the second table of the moral law requires us" to love our neighbour as ourselves." The love of benevolence is to be exercised to all, even the most worthless and unfriendly. We are to be prompt to forgive them-to assist them-and to pray for them. The command of the Saviour is Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you; and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you!" But the saints are the excellent ones of the earth, in whom is the believer's delight. These he loves with a love of complacency: He discovers in them the image of his Saviour: He meets them at the communion table, as members of the same family; and in the love he bears them, he finds evidence *Ps, lxxiii. 25, 26. † Cant. v. 10, 16. Mat, v. 44 Mat. xxii. 39. that he is born of God,* and has a right to the table of the Lord. 5. The fifth and last qualification we shall mention, is a sincere and ardent desire to meet the Saviour at his table; and to be refreshed by his grace, for all the purposes of new and holy obedience. The true communicant is far from being satisfied with his present attainments in the divine life: his desire is to grow in grace and in knowledge; and, by holy resemblances, to put on the Lord Jesus Christ from day to day. Conscious of his weakness, and of his numerous deficiencies in duty, he is ardently desirous to meet his Saviour at the board, that he may there renew his strength, and receive out of the fulness treasured up in Christ, and grace for grace! With fixed determination to walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessto esteem all God's precepts concerning all things to be right-and to hate every false way-he approaches the table of the Lord. "I will wash mine hands in innocency, so will I compass thine altar, O Lord!"+"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."‡ These are the qualifications which Scripture insists on, as necessary to constitute us worthy partakers of this heavenly nieat and drink; and are thus stated in the Westminster Shorter Catechism: "It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's supper, that they examine themselves + Ps. xxvi. 6. + Mat. v. 6. Quest. 97. *Jo. iv. 7. of their knowledge to discern the Lord's body-of their faith to feed upon him-of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves." All who are possessed of these qualifications, are to consider it their sacred duty, and their exalted privilege, to confess Christ before men, and to hold communion with him and his people, over the nemorials of his body and blood. For this purpose they are to present the evidence of their qualifications, to the officers of such church, as shall to them appear most conformable in doctrine and government to the word of God. In this country every one is left at full liberty to make choice of his own church; and no serious and candid man would wish to belong to a church, the doctrines and discipline of which he cannot approve. In such a church he never could feel at home, nor worship God with a contented mind. The reception of members, in full communion, is a duty of the highest moment, and intimately, connected with the peace and prosperity of the church. Every church has a right to fix her own terms of communion; and the standards which she has adopted must necessarily form a part of those terms of communion. No church can have a rational prosRect of peace and prosperity, in which an attempt is made to herd together men of conflicting sentiments on the great truths of revelation! In such a church, instead of the communion of the saints, discord must prevail. "How can two walk together, except |