nought." Every act of obedience to his will, brings a present reward. We may confidently expect the blessing of God, when, with pure and holy motives, we approach the table" to show forth the death of Christ till he shall come."

This ordinance is admirably adapted to excite and increase in us holy principles, and devout affections. How pleasant and gratifying to behold the disciples of Christ approach with reverential joy, to join in these sublime and holy services, which carry in them their own reward. With confessions of sin and unworthiness, they bow down before the Lord to humble their souls, and to contemplate the cross of Christ, and the love of him who died upon it. With the emblems of the Redeemer's agonies and death before them, well may hope, and joy, and love, spring up in their souls, till it flows into a delightful current. While they are thus engaged, the Saviour is present, and says to every soul, “My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed; he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.”

Let no child of God, no one that is humbled before him on account of sin, whose sole reliance is on the blood and righteousness of Jesus, and whose life is holy and circumspect, keep back from the Lord's table. The people of God should" provoke one another to love and to good works." "Union is strength." Hand joining in hand adds force and strength, assistance and stability to any design; and it is particularly the case, when christians meet in the house of God, and join in solemn and social ordinances. They join their sympathies, blend their

loves, unite their prayers, and labour to guard each other against the common enemy. Happy the persons who are thus united in the fellowship of the gospel ! They honour the Redeemer, adorn their profession, and reflect the glory of the gospel.

To turn this holy institution to a good account, in furthering the prosperity of our souls, there should be a holy and uniform consistency of temper and character. A soul alive to God will not be satisfied with what is generally termed, " a week's preparation," but will strive to live and walk every day "in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost." He will be "sober, and watch unto prayer;" he will reflect and meditate on the glorious mysteries of redeeming mercy, and pray that his soul may be so divinely enlarged, that he may run in the way of God's commands, with boldness and confidence, with diligence and persevering delight.*

THE CHRISTIAN'S MEDITATION BEFORE GOING TO THE TABLE OF THE LORD.

Pause, my soul! Who am I, and what is my object? Alas! I am a worm, all sinful and polluted, born in sin and shapen in iniquity. In an instant I might for my transgressions be doomed to everlasting misery and despair. But Jesus died for the chief of sinners. I can but be one of them, and one of them I certainly am, one of the very worst. Yet the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin. I have ventured to hope and believe, as divine grace has enabled me, that I have an interest in the dying love

* No one who rightly understands the nature of the Lord's supper, views it as a saving ordinance, or a passport to heaven.

"of him who "came to seek and to save that which was lost." Therefore in his name, and relying on his sacrifice and glorious righteousness, I venture to approach the table to celebrate his death. Will be reject me, or spurn me away? No, blessed be his name, not if I love him, and simply trust in him. Blessed Jesus! thou art all I want; more than all I find in thee. Thou art more to me than

"Mountains of myrrh, and hills of spices,
And ten thousand paradises."

With thy absence, what are ordinances but dry breasts? Without thee, what would heaven itself be! Fain would I love thee with an intense unutterable love, as thou hast loved me. Thou hast, I humbly hope," done great things for me, whereof I am glad." My Redeemer has satisfied divine justice, and "wrought out, and brought in, everlasting righteousness" for my justification. Now he appears in the presence of God for me, by presenting his own incense and one offering, before the Father's throne; "Kind Intercessor! there he sits,

And loves, and pleads, and prays."

O that he may cause my soul to prosper on earth, and fit it for a mansion of pure and ineffable glory in heaven. None can think, or conceive, what he has laid up in glory for them that love him," and fear him, and wait for his second coming. Let my love flame, let my soul burn with an intense desire to see his face, and to cast my crown at his feet.

Roll on, ye days and weeks, and let sabbaths and ordinances succeed each other; hasten, thou everlasting morning, burst through the skies, that I may plunge into the broad ocean of eternal bliss and

joy; and know what it is to love my Redeemer to the full, and to adore him for ever! Here, alas! I hardly know whether I love him at all; my love is often so faint, so cold, and so feeble. O that it may be greatly increased, and burn with a more steady, and a brighter flame, till it shall break out in eternity, and increase in strength and brightness for ever and ever. Amen.

MEDITATION AFTER THE LORD'S SUpper.

I have been to the feast of my Lord, the feast of bread and wine. It is truly " a feast of fat things, full of marrow, of wine on the lees, well refined." May I go in the strength of the Lord, and feel, for a long season, the benefit of this refreshing, soulcheering ordinance. My enemies are many, and my strength is perfect weakness.

When I am at any time suddenly assailed, may I have power to resist the Devil, that he may flee from me; and may my soul ever escape, as a bird from the snare of the fowler."

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My heart is refreshed and cheered to-day, by meeting the people of God in his house, and at his table. Methought I felt some sacred touch of divine influence, and some melting of soul, while banqueting with my Lord. My soul was ready to exclaim, "My beloved is mine, and I am his." Let me look from all the heights of terrestrial good to the mount of God, where every soul glows with sacred love, and dwells amongst happy spirits, and with the infinitely adorable Saviour. Let children chase the flies and feathers that whirl around them, but let not my soul be so engaged. All the excel

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lences of the creation must never be compared with one ray of glory, one beam of divine love. O that the love of Christ to me, may excite and constrain me to love him, that I may " love him because he first loved me." Thus may I begin the work of heaven upon earth. Love is the sum and perfection of the law, and of all happiness. Of all the graces, love only returns to heaven, without any change but that of becoming perfect, and casting out fear. To dwell in love, and to dwell in God, cannot be separated; and the more I love my God, the nearer do I dwell to him here.below; and my communion will be complete when I come to dwell in the divine presence, where there is fulness of joy, and at God's right hand, where there are pleasures for evermore. O my God, increase my faith, and preserve me blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

SECTION VI.

TRIALS AND AFFLICTIONS.

Some souls never prosper but in a furnace. Hence the apostle says, "If needs be ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations," or trials. God does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men; and when he does afflict, he corrects as a father, and causes "all things to work together for good to them that fear him, and who are called according to his purpose." Afflictions must be the lot of the