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SERMON XXVI.

NECESSITY AND BENEFITS OF THE LORD's Supper.

1 COR. X. 16.

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The cup of blessing, which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread, which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

WHEN I consider the number of persons, of which this parish consists, it is matter of surprise and grief to me to observe, that there appears to be a large proportion of those, who show little serious attention to a business of such infinite importance to them as their religion. When again I look round upon the present congregation, and see amongst you many persons, who ap pear to be generally well and soberly dis

posed, and who are for the most part attentive to the ordinary service of the Church; it is to me still more surprising, and certainly not less painful to observe, that there are so few who are in the habit of attending to that great point of Christian worship; the holy communion of the body and blood of Christ.

There are indeed few occasions in the exercise of their office, on which the ministers of the Gospel have in general more cause to feel concern, than when they are compelled to witness in their parishioners the prevailing neglect of the Lord's Supper. Regularly as the seasons of administering the holy sacrament return, in obedience to the prescribed order of the Church we give you notice and invite you to partake of it. Frequently we make the sacrament the subject of our discourses: we explain it; we exhort our congregations to come to the Lord's. table; we lay before them such arguments as should induce them to come; and we show the weakness of the reasons, which most probably prevent them from coming. Yet have we

too often occasion to lament, that season after season passes by, without the notice being duly regarded; that our exhorta tions, our arguments and our remonstrances are followed by no effect; and that very few even of those, who are generally of sober and serious habits, and regular in their attendance upon the ordinary service of the Church, ever think of approaching the Lord's table.

Now in the name of Christ, into whose name you have been all baptized, to whom you have all vowed allegiance, and whose faithful soldiers and servants you all profess yourselves to be; wherefore, I pray you, is this neglect of his authority? Are you Christians? Do you think yourselves bound to obey the laws of Christ? Has not Christ commanded you to partake of his body? to drink of his blood? "The cup of blessing, which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread, which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" Wherefore then, when in obedience to his command, we bless the bread and wine and set it before

you; do you, in violation of his command, refuse to receive it? Wherefore, when by the mouth of his ministers, he bids you to his table, do you refuse to partake of his Supper, though you are invited to partake of it as the means of saving your own souls, and in remembrance of him?

Amidst the concern, which I feel, on observing so many amongst you neglectful of the holy communion, it would give me some relief, could I learn what are the reasons, that keep you away. Perhaps you have never given the subject that attention, which a subject connected with the present and future health of your eternal souls, most undoubtedly demands of you. Perhaps you may think yourselves too ignorant to come to the Lord's table. Perhaps you may think yourselves on account of your infirmities not fit to come thither. Perhaps some of you may think yourselves too young; and may be willing to put off a business, which you consider, and rightly consider, as of a very serious nature, till you shall be somewhat more advanced in your journey through life.

If there is any one amongst you, who feels a scruple about coming to the Lord's Supper, from one of these causes, or upon some other account; it would be well if he were to act agreeably to the exhortation of the Church, and state his scruples to his minister in private, and give him an opportunity of endeavouring to remove them. The Church of England expressly represents it to be the duty of all her parishioners to communicate in this holy sacrament and specifically calls upon all, who have any doubts or scruples about communicating, to address themselves for satisfaction to their parish minister. In the mean time as the cases, which I have just mentioned, will probably apply to many persons; I shall therefore make it my present business to examine them, and pray God for Christ's sake that what I shall say, may not be without some influ ence on your minds.

Are there then, in the first place, any among you, who have not seriously thought upon your obligation to receive the Lord's Supper, and who neglect to partake of it

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