reproach upon the holy ordinance of which we have partaken, and tempting men to say, "What is the use of it? for these persons are as selfish, as untrue, as worldly-minded, as dishonest, as uncharitable as any of their neighbours." Let us hear the warning of St. Paul to all such, they are "guilty of the body and blood of the Lord;" this is what they have been partaking of, this is what they have been dealing unworthily with, eating and drinking condemnation to themselves, (for the word damnation here is not what we usually mean by that word, but condemnation); and he goes on to state, that because of their unworthy use of so divine a thing, they had been chastened with weakness, and sickness, and even death; but mark the gracious words that follow, "if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." So that even in regard to those who had so grievously sinned in unworthily partaking of the Lord's Supper, that He was constrained severely to chasten them, yet His purpose in regard to them was, to save them and bring them to repentance, not to destroy them.

There are others again who partake of the Lord's Supper seriously, as a religious duty, which it would be wrong to neglect, but wh

scarcely expect from it any further benefit than to have their pious feelings stirred up, yet surely this comes far short of what we ought to expect, and know that we receive. In your own Catechism you are told, that "all worthy receivers of the Lord's Supper are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of His body and blood, with all His benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace."1 This is something very different from the mere stirring up of our feelings-to partake of the Lord Jesus, with all those benefits which by His broken body and His shed blood He has procured for us. Do we believe that we receive this? Surely if we did so none of us could stay away. And if we fully did so, we would find the life and strength ministered to us more abundant in our attendance on this ordinance. We are straitened and hindered by our unbelief. How many go to the Holy Communion rather to renew an engagement, than to receive a blessing. Both are indeed included; if we receive a divine life, it cannot be to live to ourselves, but to Him who died for us; but still the thought in our hearts should be the greatness of that blessing of which we come to partake.

Yes, some will say, if we partake worthily. But let us remember that to partake worthily

1 Shorter Catechism, Ans. to 296.

never means that we have any worthiness which we can bring to God, rather that we come conscious of our own emptiness and unworthiness, desiring to receive of His great mercy those divine benefits which have been purchased for us by the death of His blessed Son. May the Holy Spirit reveal to us more and more of their preciousness, and the preciousnes of the means for conveying them to us. May those who have long neglected the Lord's Supper, or who have never partaken of it, be persuaded that they have been shutting themselves out from a very great blessing, from the table and food of God's children. As for those who have partaken of that food, and yet from year to year continue to live to the flesh and the world, may they judge themselves that they be not judged of the Lord in that day, when to some who shall say to Him, "We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou has taught in our streets," He shall say, "I tell you I know you not whence ye are; depart from me all ye workers of iniquity."

And may the Lord graciously teach all of us more of the great reality which is in this holy ordinance. "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ?"

8

THIRD SERIES.

IX.

Gethsemane.

MATT. xxvi. 36-46.-" Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, what, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation : the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And