RESIGNATION.

Psalm cxxxi. 2. My soul is even as a weaned child.

This is the design of my Heavenly Father in all the afflictions, losses, and disappointments of this vain world; that I may see its emptiness and insufficiency, and be gradually separated from it, and dead to it. But O what a wayward, prodigal son, the Heavenly Father has in me! I seem only to live near to him and walk closely in his ways, while he chastises and humbles me.

Well then, as to all repining thoughts, I must be dumb before him, and look up to Jesus, my great Head, in whom alone I can be accepted. He is altogether lovely. He has all-sufficient grace. I would abide in him, that by him I may bear fruit. May all crosses, and sorrows, and difficulties, draw me to Christ; and then all will be gainful and profitable.

And O how soon the present scene is over! How little in that awful and interminable futurity, and that invisible but real world on the verge of which I stand how little there, can the honour and reputation, the case and profit, or the distinguished stations of this world, avail me. The rich and the glorious man enters that world without his riches or glory: When he dieth he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him. All the objects of human ambition, apart from Christ and his kingdom, attained in their highest degree, will only aggravate the tremendous shame, and everlasting contempt that shall then overwhelm the guilty soul. Nor need we

that gracious Saviour, where all is compassion, and love, and tenderness: where is a full atonement for enemies and rebels, a rich provision of mercy for the sinful, a complete salvation for the lost. O Jesus, pity, save, and bless my soul. Strengthen me for In nothing can I

every duty that lies before me. claim blessing, but in thy free promises and thy full redemption. May I then delight in thee, and walk closely with thee every day. Draw me, and I will run after thee.

PRAYER AFTER RECEIVING THE LORD'S SUPPER.

Thanks be unto thee, Holy Father, Lord God Almighty, thanks be unto thee for the privilege which thou hast given me of uniting with thy people, to commemorate the sacrifice of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, and for all the edification and comfort thus given to me.

O that this ordinance of thine own appointment may so deeply and so permanently affect my heart, as constantly to influence my future life. Let the love of Christ now at length constrain me no longer to live to myself, but to him who died for me.

Pardon all in this service that was not right before thee. All I do is defiled with sin; but I offer every service unto thee in the name of Jesus alone. I bless thee through him, for whatever thy Spirit enabled me to do in any measure agreeably to thy holy will. But my whole trust and hope is in the sacrifice of Christ Jesus, which I have been now commemorating, to atone not only for former transgressions, but for all the defects of my preparation, and for all my failings even at this solemn feast. Lord, spare

me, and accept me on account of that great propitiation for the sins of the whole world.

O that I may ever remember that the vows of the Lord are upon me, and that I am thine, irrevocably thine; and may I walk from day to day as becomes a child of God, and an heir of his glory. Keep alive in my mind a constant sense of my weakness, and my entire dependance on thy grace. May I now go forth to my duties more humbled and more devoted, more watchful against my spiritual enemies, and more determined to give all for him who gave up his life for me.

Give unto me, I pray thee, this comfortable evidence of having had communion with Christ; that my faith in him for all needful supplies in my way to heaven is manifestly strengthened; that I have the same mind that was in him; have become like him; am copying his example, and treading in his steps. May I watch over my motives as well as my conduct; and do thou deliver me from improper motives in doing outwardly good works. May I also find in my growing experience more proofs of my being a member of the mystical body of Christ, in that my love to those that belong to him increases, and I can make larger allowances for their infirmities, and more readily do them self-denying services. Nor let my love stop short of the divine pattern of Him who loved and prayed for his worst enemies.

O Lord, I would now, in the fulness of my heart, earnestly pray for the hallowing of thy name, the coming of thy kingdom, and the doing of thy will on earth as it is in heaven. And O grant that, till the Lord come, his table may be crowded with believing and joyful guests. O when shall all the ends of the

Y

earth look to Jesus and be saved! Hasten it in thy good pleasure, O Lord; that Christ Jesus may be known, loved, and obeyed, in every land, and the Lord's name be praised from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same. Thus glorify thy great name, fulfil thy gracious promises, and let thy kingdom be fully established, through Jesus Christ, our only Redeemer. Amen.

CHAPTER X.

PSALMS AND HYMNS SUITED TO THE LORD'S SUPPER.

OUR Lord and his disciples closed the first celebration of this institution by singing a hymn. We read, When they had sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives. It is probable that they sung some, if not all, of the Psalms, from the 113th to the 118th, which the Jews were accustomed to sing after the Passover.

As in attending to this holy and delightful exercise, we are only copying the primitive example; and as some select and suitable Psalms and Hymns may assist our devotion, they are here added for that purpose. They are chiefly on subjects directly connected with the different chapters of this Treatise.