partake of our common meals; it has the advantage of being the most simple and the most natural.

I would recommend you who have experienced that the Lord is gracious, who have determined to serve him with full purpose of heart, and to walk before him in all the commandments of his word; I would recommend you to institute a searching examination, a probing of your heart, before partaking of the Lord's supper, lest it be partaken of unworthily: the sense of that expression in the Corinthians relates to the manner of receiving, and not to the person of the receiver; for a person who is worthy may partake of the ordinance in an unworthy manner, without chastised and reverential feelings; without a true spirit of worship; his faith in the Saviour may flag, and his love to him be cold and bordering upon indifference, especially if the mind is absorbed in any creature comforts, or is wandering after earthly enjoyments, or is in pursuit of worldly gain; he may also eat and drink unworthily if he does not propose to himself a right end in partaking.

It is the duty of every recipient to go over the terms of the covenant at home, in private, and to pray to the Covenant Head to renew this everlasting bond, before he comes up to the Lord's house to receive the sign and token of the agreement; and for this purpose it is desirable that those who have devoted themselves to be the Lord's servants should withdraw from the family and the world for two or three hours on the Saturday evening, and enter into the closet, to make suitable preparation for this great work; purifying themselves by shaking off the cares and anxieties of business, and easing the mind of its various burdens, that carnal interests may not intrude themselves when

engaged in this solemn duty, and prove the occasion of unworthy partaking.

Another object in commemorating the death of the Lord Jesus should be, to draw in new spiritual supplies for the exigencies of the intervening period. This ordinance is the spring head of blessing, the fountain from whence flow living streams; and as no one is acquainted with the troubles that may be appointed unto him, it behoves every one who is decidedly on the Lord's side to draw out a supply of grace from this cistern of living waters. Mr. Matthew Henry's "Communicant's Companion" is a good work to study.

A Christian may eat and drink unworthily if he comes under the guilt of any known sin unrepented of; therefore the apostle exhorts, "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup." It should be remembered that an abuse offered to a sign reaches to that of which it is the sign; and, therefore, that this ordinance of Christ's be not profaned, and it be reflected upon Christ himself, suffer this caution, “ Keep thy heart with all diligence" when engaged in this sacred duty. And of equal importance is it that the heart be kept when returning from the ordinance, lest the tempter should throw some stumbling-block in the way, or snatch from you the benefit that may have been received. Mr. M. Henry remarks that a thief does not stop a man when he is going to the bankers, but when he is coming away.

Of those who exclude themselves from the benefits of this ordinance I would inquire, have you no inclination to receive this seal and token of the everlasting covenant? What think you of Christ who ordained it? Do you not think he was capable of judging of the means and appointments best calculated to cherish the

Christian graces ? Do you keep the sabbath holy because it was appointed so to be kept by him? or because it is most creditable to yourself, and therefore follow the example of those who think so? Perhaps you expect to get to heaven without keeping this commandment, as the ordinance is said not to be a saving one? But are you sure that it is possible to get to heaven after having lived all your life in direct disobedience to the Saviour's commands? Settle that question before you read any further: Are you sure? Are you afraid, then, of making heaven too secure? You will not think that possible when called to die. Are you afraid of having a mansion in heaven too exalted, or of becoming too sanctified for earth, and too soon prepared for glory? Or are you fearful of obeying the Saviour too implicitly? or, rather, are you not afraid of being thought too precise and methodistical by people of the world, with whom, perhaps, you associate? You may be aware that the decided followers of the Lord Jesus are required to separate themselves entirely from the society of worldly characters, so far as voluntary intercourse is concerned; and you are not willing to conform to those conditions. You would rather neglect the Saviour and pour contempt upon his ordinance.

Will you not partake of this ordinance for the sake of honouring the memory of Jesus, who laid aside the glory that he possessed with his Father from all eternity to die for you? Where is the proof of your love to the Saviour, since you refuse to attend to his commands?" If a man love me, he will keep my words.” If you form an attachment to an earthly friend, do you not desire something of him that may serve as a pleasing memorial in his absence? And has not the Saviour said, "Do this in remembrance of me"? And

do you still account it to be a needless ordinance? Oh, be admonished to think over these interrogatories, and trample no longer under foot the blood of the Son of God. Trifle no longer with his commands, whatever may have been your motives for so doing in times past; but especially remember that he has said, “Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels."

Take care lest, when the cloud of his wrath and indignation is seen in your horizon, the bow of mercy should be wanting; and the token of peace, when it is most needed to quiet your fears, should be missing. "O serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they who put their trust in him."

A GENERAL AND PARTICULAR
PROVIDENCE.

WHEREVER religion effectually takes hold of the heart, it carries with it abundant proof of its divine origin. The religion of Jesus was intended to promote the harmony and happiness of its votaries; and this is one proof of the divinity of its founder. No other system has exclusively this object in its promulgation, but is mixed up with the trickery and knavery of men. No one susceptible of the finer feelings of our nature, and having had his heart touched with the force of truth, but must have been exquisitely wrought upon in perusing the pathetic, the beautiful, the sublime language of our Saviour, as recorded in many chapters in the gospels. The religion of Jesus elevates our conceptions of the grandeur, the majesty, and the attributes of God, and at the same time exalts his condescending love and goodness in making provision for the happiness of his creatures. The religion of Jesus directs us as men to the study of our true character; it makes us acquainted with what we are, it tells us what we may be, and it assures us what we shall be. It stimulates us, on the one hand, by the kindest promises; it deters us, on the other hand, by threatenings the most fearful. The religion of Jesus furnishes us with a