dominion of sin. No one must hope for the pardon of his sins, but he who sincerely desires to be delivered from their dominion.

And therefore having begun the work of repentance in the confession of our transgressions, and the humiliation of our souls, we must continue and perfect it, by solemnly professing, in the presence of God, our earnest desires to be delivered from the power of sin, and our resolutions, through the assistance of his grace, to forsake ungodliness and worldly lusts, (Titus ii. 11, 12,) and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, while He shall please to continue us in this world.

When, upon examination, we can humbly trust that we truly and earnestly repent of our sins, and are in love and charity with our neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking in his holy ways, we must then draw near without fear 3, and take the holy sacrament to our comfort; in firm faith that Almighty God, for the sake of our blessed Redeemer, and the merits of his death, will mercifully pardon us, and graciously receive us as worthy communicants.

We should behave with all possible reverence and devotion, when we present ourselves amongst our brethren who come to feed on the banquet of that most heavenly food. With hearts impressed with penitence, with faith, with reverence, and love, we should, at the altar, give most humble

3 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Tim. i. 7.

and hearty thanks to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for all the blessings vouchsafed unto us, but especially for the redemption of the world, by the death and passion of our Saviour Christ, both God and man.

THE

WEEK'S PREPARATION.

Monday Morning.

MEDITATION.

The obligation of receiving the Holy Communion stated; and the various pretences for neglecting it considered and refuted.

THE holy eucharist is the highest act of Christian worship. It is the memorial of the passion and death of our blessed Redeemer, made before the Almighty Father, to render Him propitious to us, by pleading with Him the meritorious sufferings of his beloved Son. It is a sensible pledge of God's love to us. He hath given his Son to die for us. He hath also given the precious body and blood of Christ to be our spiritual food and sustenance. The bread of this world, frequently taken, is necessary to keep the body in health and vigour. This bread of God, frequently received, is necessary to preserve the soul in spiritual health; and to keep

the divine life of faith and holiness from becoming extinct.

An ordinance of so sublime a nature, fruitful of such inestimable blessings, and enjoined on us by that blessed Redeemer who laid down his life for us, one would suppose would be highly valued, and gratefully received, by all who profess themselves Christians. It is, however, a lamentable truth, that the greater proportion of them live in the habitual neglect of this distinguishing badge of their holy profession, the ordinance which unites them to their Redeemer, and which is the invaluable seal and pledge of his mercy and grace.

Thou art urged, O my soul, to receive the holy communion by the obligations of duty, of gratitude, and of interest.

Duty urges thee; Christ, the Lord and Saviour, has commanded thee to receive the communion, in remembrance of his death and passion. "Do this," says He, "in remembrance of me." (Luke xxii. 19.) Are we not bound to revere and cherish, with the most sacred fervour, the command of a dying friend? And shall we be insensible to the pressing injunction of our Lord and Master, who, at the moment when He was about to lay down his life for us, even for us who were his enemies, commanded us to commemorate his infinite love?

The powerful claims of gratitude urge obedience to his command. Transcendent were the love and compassion which He displayed for us. "The Son of God, the brightness of the Father's

glory, humbled himself even to the death upon the cross for us miserable sinners, who lay in darkness and the shadow of death." He instituted and ordained holy mysteries, as pledges of his infinite love, and for a continual remembrance of his death and passion. And shall we not gratefully commemorate his love towards us, in the way that He hath appointed? Shall we refuse to render Him even the tribute of thanks for the inconceivable sufferings which He endured for us, and for the inestimable blessings which He purchased for us? By neglecting the instituted memorial of his love and mercy, O my soul, thou dost say to thy blessed Redeemer, I cherish no sensibility for thy sufferings; I care not, though the displays of thine infinite love be forgotten; I set no value on the infinite condescensions of thy mercy. Pause and reflect, O my soul, if thou dost neglect this sacred ordinance, how great is the guilt of ingratitude which thou wilt incur.

But if duty does not impel, if gratitude cannot excite thee, listen, at least, to the calls of interest. Consider how many inestimable benefits are annexed to this ordinance. The pardon of sin; the assistance and consolations of God's Holy Spirit; and an earnest and pledge of a glorious resurrection to eternal life, are the benefits assured to us by a worthy participation of the body and blood of Christ. When, therefore, we absent ourselves from the holy sacrament, we wilfully deprive ourselves of the greatest blessings. Shall not, then, the powerful considerations of interest urge