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as experiencing the horrours of death and the grave, and therefore as ready to compassionate and succour his followers. It teaches us that as he died and rose again, so all those who sleep in Jesus shall awake from the sleep of death, and rise and live for ever. Being commanded to be observed 'till he shall come again, it is particularly calculated to impress on our minds the expectation of that awful and glorious day when he shall come in the glory of his father, and attended by his holy angels. For as he was once offered to bear the sins of many, so to those who look for him (and we cannot do so in a better manner than by frequent commemoration of his death) he will appear the second time without sin unto salvation. In a word, at this feast there is fulness of joy and rivers of pleasure. None ever came to it duly prepared who was sent empty away. None who ever partook thereof with suitable affections of soul, arose from this table dissatisfied, or with an ungratified desire. All worthy receivers sit under the shadow of this tree of life with great delight, and find the fruit thereof sweet to their taste. Greater joy is diffused through their soul, by the light of God's countenance, than the wicked know

when their corn and wine do most abound. Nor is their joy transitory and deceitful like that of the world. To endless ages shall they have cause to bless the time when they retired from the vanities of earth and learned to meditate at the table of the Lord.

III. I should now proceed to the third head of discourse, which is to point out the preparation necessary to make us acceptable guests at the table of the Lord. But feeling that I am already exhausted in strength, and that the time allotted for this day's duty is well nigh spent, I shall defer this interesting subject for the present: we shall at another season, my brethren, discourse on this topick at large. I shall therefore conclude with a reflection or two relating to the subject. Nor can I state them in a more comprehensive or correct manner, than by repeating the answer given in that complete and admirable system of divinity, our larger catechism, to this question; "How "are they that receive the sacrament of the "Lord's supper to prepare themselves before

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they come unto it?" They that receive "the sacrament of the Lord's supper, are, be"fore they come, to prepare themselves there"unto, by examining themselves of their being

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"in Christ, of their sins and wants, of the truth "and measure of their knowledge, faith, repentance; love to God and the brethren; charity to all men; forgiving those that have "done them wrong; of their desires after Christ, and of their new obedience; and by renewing the exercises of these graces by "serious meditation and fervent prayer." Let a man examine himself, says St. Paul, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Purge out the old leaven that ye may be as a new lump: let no contentions or divisions be among you, for we being many are one bread and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread. Let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread "If thou bring thy

cup.

of sincerity and truth.

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gift to the altar," said our Lord," and there "rememberest that thy brother hath ought "against thee, leave there thy gift before the "altar, and go thy way: first be reconciled to

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thy brother, and then come and offer thy "I will wash mine hands in inno"cence," said the Psalmist, so will I com

gift."

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thine altar, O Lord."

"Let us draw

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near," says St. Paul, with a true heart, in "full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our "bodies washed with pure water." And the good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.

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SERMON VII.

On Charity; the obligations, sanctions and mo tives to the discharge of its numerous duties.

1. CORIN. CHAP. 14, VERSE 1.

"Follow after charity."

HOW misery and pain were introduced into a world framed by infinite goodness, and governed with perfect wisdom, is a question which has presented itself to the mind of every reflecting man. Whether the sorrows and sufferings which abound in the universe, originally formed a part of the divine plan, and are a necessary ingredient in a probationary state; or whether they are a derangement of the original system, and the consequence of a deviation from the laws which the Creator appointed to the moral beings on whom they are inflicted; or whether they are not partly the effect of both these causes, appears beyond the limits of human sagacity to determine.

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