nothing to ask; that we are rich and increased in goods, and have need of nothing. If that be your case, I will tell you of one thing you want; and that is, to be made sensible of your wants. Or, perhaps, our little desire after this ordinance may be owing to our low desires of heaven. When persons are upon a long journey, and wish much to be at home, they are every now and then saying, "O! if I were but got to such a place, or to such a place, then I should be near home, and the rest of the way would seem as nothing."

Christians! sabbaths and sacraments are, if I may so speak, as so many stages in our road to heaven; where Zion's travellers may not take up their abode, and say, "Soul, take thine ease;" but where they may refresh themselves, and get strength and spirits to go on again. The psalmist will tell you what I mean: "Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God," Psalm lxxxiv. 4-7.

But, after all, perhaps the grand drawback is unbelief. There are some true christians who have real, and I may say warm desires after God, and Christ, and holiness, and heaven, and they are not

H

sinfully desirous of other things; and yet there is a strange unwillingness, or rather a shyness and diffidence, with respect to this meeting with Christ. They have the highest veneration for the institution itself, and would grudge no pains to prepare for it; but still they are for keeping off. Ask them the reason of it. "Reason enough," they cry; 66 my heart is so dead, my thoughts so wandering, my love so cold, and there are such and such things in which I have sadly failed as to the matter and manner; and what if I should be found unworthy? what if I should eat and drink judgment to myself?" The very thought of it throws them into the utmost consternation. What, then! shall Christ make those gracious invitations, shall he give such precious promises and seal them with his blood, and after all you not think him trustworthy, or his word fit to be depended on? Shall I put your unbelieving fears into words? Perhaps you may then "It is true; Christ says,

be ashamed of them.

'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' And it is also true, I hope it is, I think it is true, that I look upon sin as my greatest grief and burden, and that I sincerely wish to be delivered from the power, as well as the guilt of sin; but yet I am afraid to come. Christ has said, 'If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.' If I know my own heart, my soul thirsteth for God, for

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the living God; but still I am afraid to come." Is not this, in effect, to say that you are afraid to trust Christ's promises? Whereas, you ought to argue in quite the contrary way : "I am a poor helpless creature; whither shall I go but to the Rock of ages? I am a poor guilty creature; whither shall I go but to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world? I am a poor tempted creature; whither should I go but to our merciful and faithful High Priest, who, having been in all points tempted like as we are, can be touched with the feeling of my infirmities?" What can Christ say more, to convince you of his faithfulness? Was it any worthiness in you, that induced him to set his love upon you at the first? And do you think that his love is not as free now as it was then? Do you suppose that he has no compassion left? no regard to his word? for so your unbelieving fears would represent him. O! christians, how justly might he upbraid us all, for our shameful, sinful indifference, and say, "Is this your return for all my kindness? Have I been always so ready to bear your griefs, and carry your sorrows, and are you now so backward to have fellowship with me in my sufferings? Go, ungrateful creatures; see if you can find one that desires your company so much, or that will reward your attendance so well as I."

Stung with the reproach, and yet melted with the kindness of this just though severe expostulation,

let us instantly throw ourselves at his feet, and humbly entreat him for mercy to pardon what is past, and grace to help in future time of need.

Christians! you have heard with what desire Christ desired to eat this passover with his disciples; and yet he no sooner rose from table, than he must go into the garden where his dreadful agonies began. You must not, therefore, think it strange if you should be tried so too. Many have been greatly discouraged by such unexpected assaults, and cried, "All these things are against me. I must have been deceived in all that I lately did, and, as I thought, enjoyed. It must be all a delusion. I do not know when my heart was more affected and enlarged, than at the last passover. I was never more free and full in the surrender of myself to the Lord; never prayed more earnestly for increasing holiness; and I found myself, as I thought, so strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, that I almost concluded I should never have any disturbance from sin or Satan any more. But, alas! I had gone but a very, very little way, before new temptations overtook me, and assaulted me with rather greater violence than ever. I am afraid I was wrong in going. I am afraid I took children's bread, which did not belong to me. I am afraid I went without the wedding garment !" Christians (for so I call and think you nevertheless,) you have no right to draw such conclu

sions.

Was not Christ himself thus assaulted? And could the tempter set upon you in a better time than now, when you have been acting faith afresh on the Lord Jesus Christ? when you have been putting yourselves under the care and conduct of the great Captain of your salvation? Can you ever hope to encounter temptation with more advantage? Besides, if you have now had a happy interview with Christ; if he has caused all his goodness to pass before you; if you have been enabled, with full assurance of faith, to say, "My Beloved is mine, and I am his;" you may need something to keep you humble. Through the abundance of revelations, you may be ready, like the apostle, to be exalted above measure. God may, therefore, in mercy let Satan loose, to find you other employment than pleasing yourselves, and priding yourselves in your own doings and receivings. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind. Remember you are still in the wilderness, where danger lurks behind every bush, and where great enjoyments are often the preface to great trials. It has been so before now, and it may be so again. And if it should, never regard it; follow Christ, and fear nothing.

Now let my soul arise, and tread the tempter down;
My Captain leads me forth, to conquest and a crown.
A feeble saint shall win the day,

Though death and hell obstruct the way.