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We are to show it to ourselves; and endeavour to affect our own hearts with the sad and solemn spectacle of our suffering Redeemer. It is strange that we should ever forget him who is so amiable himself, and has given such amazing proofs of his affection for us; that we should forget him who has borne our. griefs, and carried our sorrows, and who is never unmindful of us; for he bears our names upon his breast-plate, and has them ever engraven upon the palms of his hands: that we should forget him, who is making continual intercession for us; impatient, if I may so speak, to have us in heaven, to behold and partake of his glory. How is it possible to forget him? We have good memories enough in other cases. Our troubles and our afflictions we remember too well. But when we should think of the dying love of the Lord Jesus, our memories are weak and treacherous, and we must have a sacrament instituted on purpose, and often repeated, to keep alive the remembrance of our best friend and benefactor. The fault, alas! is too much in the heart; and arises from the influence of our worldly and sinful affections. Some sin, which, if not actually and openly indulged, is, perhaps, secretly favoured, makes the thoughts of a Holy Saviour less pleasant; or some created enjoyment twines about our souls, and engages that regard which is due to Jesus only. But surely, if we considered what Jesus is, and were suitably affected with what he has done for our souls, we should forget father, mother, husband, wife, and children, precious and endeared as these names have been to us, and our joys would all center in a crucified Saviour.

But we should show the death of Christ to the world, as well as to ourselves. By the solemnity to which we are now attending, we publicly avow our attachment to Jesus. We go out to him, without the camp, bearing his reproach. We glory in his cross; and declare before all the world, that we are his disciples. We protest that we honour him as our Master, that we love him as our Friend, that we trust him as our Saviour; and that we would rather be guests at his table, or the meanest servants in his house, than sit upon thrones, and dwell among princes.

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But the benefit and comfort of our present attendance, depend on the blessing of him whose death we are invited to remember. Though he was once dead, he is now alive, and lives for evermore; and though he sits at the right hand of God, yet by his Spirit he is graciously present, wherever two or three are gathered together in his name." Lift up your heads, ye gates; and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in."--We read, that when Christ was on earth, one ran after him, crying, "Lord, pity a poor blind beggar; and another, begging him to have mercy upon a miserable leper. We see Zaccheus climbing up into a sycamore tree, to get a sight of him; and others, uncovering the roof of the house, to lay their sick friend before him. So great was their faith and their eagerness. O! that something like this may now be our disposition. Then will there be a holy emulation among us, who shall get the first sight of Christ, who shall lie lowest at his feet, and who shall obtain the most comfort and benefit. Let us go then to him, with our several complaints: one with a hard or unruly heart, to have it

softened and subdued: another, with a wounded and broken spirit, that it may be healed: one begging for wisdom, to direct in a case of extraordinary difficulty; another, for strength to resist the fiery darts of the wicked one; and another, seeking for support under overwhelming afflictions. If Christ should say, "Believest thou that I am able to do this? Do you think that I can make satisfaction for all your offences, and procure your acceptance with God? That I can subdue all your enemies, supply all your wants, heal all your diseases, conduct you through the wilderness, and bring you to heaven?" What say you, Christians, should you be at a loss for an answer? Does not your own experience tell you what Christ is able to do? Has he not already done such great things in you, and for you, as may encourage you to say, "Yes, Lord, I do believe that thou art able to do all this; yea, and exceeding abundantly above all that I can ask." Then who can tell but he may kindly dismiss us, with saying, "O man, O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt."

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But we are not only to remember Christ, but also to receive him. If the design of this ordinance were only to make us think on his death, then the sight of the broken bread, and the wine poured out, is all that would have been necessary. But more is required. We are to eat of this bread, and to drink of this cup; which signifies our receiving Christ, and his benefits, as exhibited to us in the gospel.

Christ offers himself to us as our Wisdom, and as such we receive him. We were totally blind before he was pleased to give us sight; and now having thankfully accepted the blessing which he has bestowed,

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we give ourselves up to the conduct of his word and his Spirit. Christ offers himself to us for Righ"As such, blessed Jesus, we receive thee; and, conscious of our own guilt and unworthiness, we depend entirely on thee for acceptance with God." Christ offers himself to us for Sanctification., "Come in, thou blessed of the Lord;, never did a soul more need to be cleansed. Lord, not my feet

only, but my hands and my head; and, polluted as I am, I know that, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." Christ offers himself to us as our Redemption; and as such, we receive him, and joyfully exclaim," Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."

If Christ offer all this, and we now receive it, O! Christians, what a blessed season will it be! "For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat, this is my body, &c. After the same manner, also, he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood, &c. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come."

After the Ordinance.

Now, Christians, let us read the passage before us again, and we shall find that one part of it has not. yet been considered. "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come."-" Till he come." I, will only

repeat to you what Christ himself has declared; "And if I go, and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself, that where I am, there ye may be also:" and you will not wonder that I mention these words with such rapture. "Till he come," we must show forth his death by these outward signs, and refresh our memories, and our hearts with the bread and wine which he has appointed."Till he come, "we must be content with hearing from him by his messengers, receiving now and then some proofs of his regard by his Spirit, and sometimes beholding his face, through a glass, darkly. "Till he come," we must expect to share in his sufferings, and to taste of that cup of which he drank so deeply. We are not to think it strange, concerning the fiery trial, as though some strange thing had happened to us; nor to wonder if we endure great afflictions, and if one trouble follow another in quick and doleful succession. In short, "till he come," we must continue working and waiting, sometimes lifted up, and sometimes cast down; and comfort ourselves, and one another, with looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing, of the great God and our Saviour. And when he comes, O! my fellow Christians, when he comes, all our troubles will be ended. He will give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. When he comes, he will change these vile bodies, and fashion them like his own glorious body; so that they shall be no more subject to death, decay or disorder. We shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed us, and

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