Lord's death till he come." And as the Lord will not come again before the end of the world, the commandment must remain in force as long as the world shall last.

You see then, that the ministers of Christ are commanded by him to bless and to give bread and wine in remembrance of him. And to whom are they to give them? Why, certainly to the people committed to their spiritual charge; who are therefore as much bound to attend and partake in the Lord's Supper, as the minister is bound to attend and distribute it for we cannot give, as we are commanded, unless you are ready to receive.

Is it not then the commandment of your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that you partake in the holy communion of his body and blood? Is not the partaking in it a duty, which you owe to Christ who died for you, and to whom you promised obedience at your Baptism? And is it not a duty, which you owe to yourselves,

if you would receive any benefit from his death?

And this, I say, Christian brethren, even supposing this to be no more than an ordinary commandment of our Saviour. But there are circumstances, which distinguish this from all other commandments, and make it in an especial manner your duty.

It is the last and, as it were, the dying commandment and request of your Saviour. He, who was on the right hand of God the Father, in whom shone the fulness of his Father's glory, and who was the express image of his person; he humbled himself for you; he took your nature and form upon him; he became obedient unto death, even the cruel and ignominious death of the cross; and when he was now upon the point of fulfilling his surprising love towards you by laying down his life for your sakes, he gives you this commandment, that you eat and drink the bread and wine offered you by his ministers! Is not the last request of a

dying friend entitled to some regard? And of Him too, who was such a friend?

It is the way, by which you are to show that you "remember" Christ, and have a just sense of his goodness towards you. "This do (said he) in remembrance of me." You may indeed say that you remember Christ, that you have a just sense of his goodness, although you do not partake in the communion of his body and blood. But if he has appointed a particular way, by which he would have you remember him,' I know not how you can show that you do remember him, except by following that one way; and I know not how you can stand acquitted of forgetfulness and ingratitude to him, unless you perform this his commandment.

The partaking in the Lord's Supper is again the only proper act of Christian worship. The professors of othe rreligions, Jews, Turks, and Heathens, worship God by praying to, by thanking, and by praising him. In addition to these acts of worship, Christians perform that of eating and

drinking bread and wine, as Christ has commanded. So that however devoutly you may worship God in general when you come to Church, you do not in so strict a sense worship as Christians, unless you partake in the bread and wine, which represent the body and blood of Christ; and thus perform that act, which Christ has made a mark of distinction to his followers.

The partaking in the holy communion is also a duty, which you owe to yourselves, on account of the benefits which you may receive from it; not only that benefit, which may be expected by all, who generally fulfil God's commandments; but those particular benefits, which follow upon a hearty and conscientious performance of this.

It is the best method, that you can take, towards bettering your lives and conversations; towards making you forsake your sins, and improve in godliness and charity. And this it is, in its natural effect upon those who properly partake in it. For it

seems impossible but that a person, who comes to the Lord's table, and who seriously meditates, as every one who does come ought to do, upon the exceeding great love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in laying down his life for the sake of him and of all mankind; it seems impossible, I say, but that a person, who seriously thinks on these things, must feel more strongly disposed to show his gratitude to his Saviour by keeping his commandments, and by being kind and charitable to his neighbour.

Nor is it the same thing, whether you think upon these things at the Lord's table or in any other place; because of the supernatural assistance," the inward spiritual grace," which is promised by our Saviour to those who partake in the holy communion. Our Saviour has told us, that "his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed;" that is, that his flesh and blood, "which are verily and. indeed taken and received by the faithful