served by all; but he never meant to annex a condition to its celebration, which it would be impossible, or extremely difficult, for many to comply with, without essentially neglecting the business of that station, in which providence has placed them. At the same time, it is doubtless the indispensible duty of every one to dedicate some portion of his time to the service of God and religion, which cannot be alike ascertained in all cases; but must differ according to the different stations of men, and in proportion to the different degrees of leisure which such stations afford. Indeed, we must believe, that our Lord expects of necessity no other Preparation for this Reasonable Rite, than what any one may make, if he be sincerely disposed, in a very short time be fore he goes to receive it; and that every one may soon give himself a satisfactory assurance, whether he be qualified to receive it worthily, by attending seriously to the present state and disposition of his affections. For what length of time can it take up to assure ourselves whether we be sincerely disposed to commemorate the death and passion of our Lord, and all the benefits which he thereby obtained for us, in this his Institution, with a heart duly affected towards him, and religiously intent upon the great duty we are then engaged in? Certainly a man may know this without much difficulty; he may

ask himself this question, and his heart will instantly return him an answer which he may safely rely upon; and if this be the answer of approbation; if all be rightly disposed within, let him not be afraid; let him advance to the Lord's Table without the apprehension of abusing his Institution, and incurring his displeasure.

What do I say then? that the man, whose course of life is wilfully and deliberately wicked, and who continues in a state of open, presumptuous and determined violation of the laws of Christ, and defi ance of God's providence, may, without offence, partake of this Supper? No: far be such a thought or such a conclusion! Such a man is doubtless very

unfit to approach the Table of his Lord, and can by no means worthily receive this Sacrament: his commemoration which he professes to make of his Savior, must be an act of the greatest hypocrisy. But it must be allowed that there is a vast difference between the habitual wickedness of such a character, and the casual, though numerous, transgressions of one, who sins by surprize, and through the involuntary and unguarded infirmity of human nature; he has far more favorable circumstances to plead in extenuation of his guilt, and in recommendation of his addresses to the indulgence of his Savior. For although his offences be great and many; though

his conduct be marked with frequent and considerable irregularities; though he has strayed remotely from his duty, and has " held the truth in unrighteousness; yet his heart is with the Lord; he is sensible how much he owes to his unmerited goodness; and can with sincerity and truth pay him the acknowledgements of an humble and willing, though imperfect disciple, profess his abhorrence of his sins, his endeavors to forsake them, and beg the salutary aid of Christ, through the means of this Institution, to strengthen him in goodness, and make him a better man, and more obedient christian. There is nothing in such a character that can be reasonably supposed to debar him from making every profession that is implied in the celebration of this Rite, or that can be supposed inconsistent with the purpose of its celebration; nor will the blessed Jesus disdain the offerings of a heart, though deeply laden with iniquities, which is not alienated from him, and given up to the wilful pursuit of evil; which is conscious of its unworthiness; which owns its guilt, and applies itself to him with an unfeigned sincerity for pardon and for acceptance. Remember then that there is no other sense of the words "worthily" and "unworthily," than coming with and without faith in Christ, and sincere repentance of sin; and that whoever come's worthily, that is "repenting truly of his former

sins stedfastly purposing to lead a new life, having a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of his death, and being in charity with all men:" whoever comes thus prepared, comes worthily, and escapes all those dangers and mischiefs, whatsoever they may be, and however grievous and hazardous they are to the souls and bodies of men, which are expressed by "being

guilty of the body and blood of Christ our Savior— "eating and drinking our own condemnation-not "considering the Lord's body-kindling God's "wrath against us-and provoking him to plague "us with divers diseases, and sundry kinds of "death."

If, therefore, there were a thousand more such expressions as these, let them never terrify us, or give us the least uneasiness. Let us only REPENT, BELIEVE, amend our lives, and be in perfect charity with all men, and we shall then be meet partakers of those holy mysteries; we shall then receive the benefits of Christ's body and blood, "and dwell in 66 Christ, and Christ in us; and be one with Christ, "and Christ with us."

The examination, then, mentioned by the Apostle is, strictly speaking, a christian's examination of his own heart and disposition by the Institution of this Holy Rite, in order to assure himself that he comes

to it, and will conduct himself during its celebration, as at a particular Rite appointed by Christ himself; viz: that he comes to it, in order to eat this bread, and drink this wine in a serious and religious Remembrance of him and of his death, and with a disposition and behavior suitable to its beneficial purpose. He partakes of it as a sincere disciple of Christ, under the sense of his own strict obligations to perform it, and in remembrance of his Lord and Master, and cannot, therefore, possibly be said to “eat and drink unworthily ;” or, as far as this particular religious action is concerned, to behave himself unsuitably to it, or to his own character, as a christian. He only ought to be affrighted at the words of St. Paul, because he only, in the Apostle's meaning, can be said to "eat and drink unworthily," who, without considering the duty which he professes to perform; without a serious regard to the remembrance of his Lord and Master, and the benefits which result from this holy Ordinance, presumes to come to the table of his Lord.

Our common defects and unavoidable frailties and infirmities must never deter us. There is an unworthiness which the best christians are guilty of, and confess in that prayer of the Church: "We do "not presume to come to this thy table, O merciful "Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in