influence, or irreverently approach to receive it, as if it were a mere ceremonial in religion? It is a strange, and must be also a most dangerous error to suppose that any one link may be taken at will from the chain of God's covenanted mercy in Christ, and yet that the chain thus severed will be equally efficient for our salvation it is worse than vain to think that one portion of those "who profess and call themselves Christians" may profane, by a careless observance of it, the holy sacrament of Baptism; that the other may habitually neglect the equally holy sacrament of the Lord Supper, and yet that all can be treading the narrow path which leadeth unto life. What God himself hath joined together let no man dare to put asunder; what he has himself equally consecrated, and made equally necessary to salvation as means of obtaining and preserving his benediction and grace; let not man presume either in the one sacrament to observe with profane indifference, or in the other to neglect with habitual impiety. The carelessness among the poorer classes in their observance of the Sacrament of Baptism, may justly be considered to have intimate connection with that system of principles entertained by so many among the educated, which leads them to withdraw from this Sacrament its spiritual and regenerating influence the impiety of both classes is identical; the sin of both the same. We must profess ourselves utterly unable to see any difference on the score of irreligious impropriety between those who approach Baptism in heedless irreverence, and those who, though they may assemble around the font, conscious that they are about to join in a solemn religious ceremony, can yet maintain that Baptism is merely an outward sign, and strip it of its spiritual and life-giving power. The day may yet arrive, we fervently hope, when the question of baptismal regeneration will no longer rend the unity of the Church-when it will be universally acknowledged of this Sacrament, that the "Spirit of God moves upon the face of its waters," and that in it alone is to be found the spiritual element of our new and spiritual life. To Him, who is "the author of peace and lover of concord," let us earnestly pray, my brethren, that the seamless mantle of our blessed Saviour may one day be the emblem, not only of what the Church ought to be, but of what it is; that the wound we now deplore may be healed, and the confession of "one Lord, one faith, one baptism,"t be universal: let us "pray, more especially for the good estate of the Catholick Church; that it may be so guided and governed by God's good Spirit, that all who profess and call Ephesians iv. 5. * Gen. i. 2. way themselves Christians may be led into the of truth, and hold the faith in unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life."* * Collect for all conditions of men. 164 SERMON VIII. THE HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. ISAIAH lv. 1, 2. "HO, EVERY ONE THAT THIRSTETH, COME YE TO THE WATERS, AND HE THAT HATH NO MONEY: COME YE, BUY AND EAT: YEA, COME, BUY WINE AND MILK WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT PRICE. "WHEREFORE DO YE SPEND MONEY FOR THAT WHICH THAT IS NOT BREAD, AND YOUR LABOUR FOR THESE words may be deservedly ranked among the most beautiful and awakening of the writings of the prophet Isaiah, and viewed in connection with the invitation you have all now received to present yourselves at the holy communion of the body and blood of Christ, you will at |