should the inadequate tribute be rendered. Base then, and highly criminal the apathy which would lead us to disobey thy dying injunction, to cherish the virtue of charity and love, the ornament of our nature, the source of the purest joys.

Advance then to the altar, O my soul, cherishing the emotions of lively benevolence for all mankind. Embrace in thy benevolent regard the whole human race. Resolve to promote by ardent and persevering exertion the welfare of thy fellowmen. The disciple of a Redeemer who went about doing good, let no opportunity be omitted of imitating thy blessed Lord in acts of mercy. Following the steps of thy compassionate Master, visit the abodes of poverty and wretchedness; and while thy beneficence pours gladness into the hearts of the children of sorrow, direct their trust and hope to that gracious Providence, "without whose knowledge not even a sparrow falleth to the ground"-direct their desires to those abodes of undecaying peace, "where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest." The blessing of those who were ready to perish shall descend upon thee. Animated by that spirit of Divine love which assimilates thee to thy blessed Redeemer, He will acknowledge thee, at his holy supper, as an acceptable guest. And when from the fountain of grace and mercy opened on the altar, the streams of peace and joy are dispensed to thee, let thy earnest supplications be directed to heaven, that the bread of life may diffuse its efficacy throughout the earth; that all the guilty

sons of men may have access to that blood, which washes away the stains of sin.

Advance to the altar, animated with peculiar affection for those who, as Christians, are connected with thee by the endearing ties of the Redeemer's merits and grace.

For those who are of the "household of faith," who, admitted into the Christian covenant, place their hopes of salvation on the merits and grace of that Redeemer who is thy only trust and refuge, the most lively emotions of affection should be cherished. The sincere followers of Christ are connected together by the sacred ties of a Saviour's love, of his almighty grace renewing and animating their souls. These ties are destined to be as exalted and eternal as those celestial exercises which will engage the spirits of the blest, before the throne of God, in the unceasing strains of adoration and praise. Look upon those then, O my soul, who, united with thee to the Redeemer by a living faith, commemorate, at the altar, the rich displays of his grace and mercy, as thy destined companions in that celebration of redeeming love, which, through eternal ages, will constitute the glory and the bliss of the Church Triumphant. Oh! let the exalted consideration that the bands of Christian fellowship shall never be dissolved, excite thy warmest affection for those with whom thou art destined to drink ineffable bliss at those streams which flow for ever in the city of the living God. Let the precious emblems of the Saviour's love, which, with his humble followers,

thou dost receive at his holy supper, bind thee to them by the cords of affection, which no ungenerous selfishness or envy, no unkind suspicions or resentments shall ever tarnish or dissolve. Over the lively memorials of that infinite grace to which they are indebted for those immortal hopes which alone cheer the wearisome pilgrimage of life, let the members of Christ's mystical body vow to each other sacred fellowship and affection—let them resolve "to put away all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, with all malice-and to be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven them."

And as the perfection and consummation of Christian charity, the devout communicant should advance to the altar, heartily disposed to forgive and to love his enemies.

us.

It was the pressing injunction of our dying Master; it is made the condition of our receiving forgiveness at the hands of our Almighty Judge; it is constituted by our Lord the sacred plea by which we are to supplicate forgiveness from heaven, that we forgive others their trespasses against The forgiveness of our enemies consists in exercising towards them those benevolent affections which, by the constitution of human nature, and the command of God, we are bound to exercise towards all mankind; in the ready expression of our good will to them; in refraining from every act of unkindness or resentment towards them; and in a cordial desire and disposition to effect a

reconciliation with them. As it is one of the most difficult virtues, so it is one of the most noble and exalted-in the highest degree perfective of human nature, and fruitful of the highest joys. It rescues us from those painful anxieties which agitate the breast that is the seat of gloomy revenge. It sheds that delightful tranquillity which is alone the portion of the bosom that is at peace with the world. It animates the soul with the elevated reflection, that in overcoming the passion of revenge, she has gained the most sublime victory. It assimilates man to that gracious and merciful Being, who doeth good to the unthankful and the evil. It advances him into resemblance to that Divine Saviour, who, in the ardours of infinite love, supplicated pardon for the enemies who hunted Him to the cross. The devout communicant, whose heart is penetrated with the display of mercy which the cross affords, will bury at the foot of the altar all his enmities, jealousies, and resentments. The blood of his Saviour shed through his heart will extinguish every wrathful passion. Love to God and man, ardent, holy, and constant as the fire of the eternal altar at which it is kindled, will alone animate his soul.

AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING

FOR THE

HUMILIATION AND SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST.

Praises evermore be unto Thee, O eternal Son of God, who didst take our nature upon Thee, and for us didst become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

That when, by rebellion against our Sovereign God and merciful Father, we had fallen from our state of primeval rectitude and glory, had forfeited all title to the light of God's countenance, and incurred his indignation and wrath-that when justice urged our excision, and Divine holiness demanded the vindication of a violated law-that when among the host of heaven "there was none to help;" among the innumerable orders of created beings "there was none to uphold," none whose "arm could bring salvation" for us-that in this our hopeless state of condemnation and misery, when the mercy of the Almighty Father prompted, Thou didst willingly undertake the office of our Redeemer ;

Praises evermore be unto Thee, O eternal Son of God.

That Thou, who "wast with the Father before the world was," "the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person"-Thou, whom cherubim and seraphim adored, and to whom the host of heaven bowed submissive-didst condescend to veil thy glory in our miserable nature;