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wrath and curse due to the sins of all his people cried "It is finished." After which, with a loud voice, he cried, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:" and having said thus, he gave up the Ghost. At which time the earth did quake, the rocks were rent, and the graves were opened; all acknowledging him to be the Death of death, and the Conqueror of the grave.

Having set forth the subject so far as to give you reason to see, and say, that Christ was a man of sorrows, I proceed no further, but leave the subject with you for your devout meditation: praying the Lord Jesus, to send his holy Spirit to bring to your remembrance, the sorrows he felt, and the sufferings that he sustained; that ye may most joyfully praise him at his holy Table, for his love, which is far beyond all the thoughts of men or angels; for his death, which is the foundation of all your hope; and for the innumerable benefits which he hath obtained for us by his most precious blood-shedding. Amen.

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BELOVED in the Lord, being met at this time, preparatory to the celebration of the Supper of the Lord, I will, as the Lord shall be pleased most graciously to assist, speak unto you concerning the nature of this most divine institution.

It is a complaint which is sometimes made by truly gracious persons, that they do not find that spiritual benefit, feeling, and experience; that inward strengthening and refreshing of their souls; nor enjoy that real heavenly and blessed fellowship with God their Father, in Jesus Christ their Saviour, through the sacred influences and breathings of the sacred Spirit within them and upon them, at the Lord's table, as they have hoped and expected, desired and longed for: which, as it oftimes fills them with grief

and distress, so it has been found by them to be an hindrance in their coming before the Lord in the use of this ordinance with that holy cheerfulness, boldness and delight, which is both their duty and privilege.

I judge this to be the case: we have felt and feel a propensity, and are too apt to look to it more than to Christ in the use of it, and thus to over-rate this. ordinance, and exalt it beyond all other means of grace, which is very far from being right; and for which we have not the least example nor warrant from the word of God.

Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, though positive institutions, and of a peculiar nature, both of which are to remain and be continued until the Lord come: yet they are but means of grace; they cannot confer nor communicate it, nor is any blessing to be expected from them, but from Christ, who is exhibited and set forth in them; who hath promised to be with his churches, people, and ministers, in their observance of them: his royal command which he gave to his

apostles, and (in them and by them,) to all his ministers, being this; "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." And his promise is, "Lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Amen.

Both these ordinances, as appointed by Christ, have this peculiarity in them,— they are designed to represent Christ to our spiritual senses, as having been incarnate; and by his life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, completely finished the work of salvation. The peculiar design of the holy Supper being a memorial of our Lord's sorrows, agonies, sufferings, blood-shedding, sacrifice, and death.

I freely confess, it is most truly to be desired, and what I would for my own part seek and importune the Lord for, to be filled bv him with the profoundest solemnity of spirit, with the utmost exalted devotion of soul, when engaged in the commemoration of the sufferings and death of our most dear and precious Lord Jesus. Yet I apprehend this is best attained, increased, and promoted,

by a true spiritual and scriptural view of our Lord's own end and design in the institution.

It is an important truth which the saints, and children of "the living God" should attend unto, that all ordinances which bear the stamp of divine authority, and are parts of instituted worship, are appointed by the Lord for their instruction, edification, comfort, and increase of faith, hope, and love. In the use of means the Holy Ghost is pleased to bless believing souls by shining upon them, enlightening their minds, increasing their knowledge, directing their hearts into the love of God; giving them real enjoyments of it, filling their souls. with it, and carrying on within them communion with the Father and the Son, by which means they grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It therefore follows as a ́truth, that we must have proper views of our Lord's end and design in his sacred appointments, that we may wait upon him in our observance of them to his real honour, and to our own profit and ad

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