Church. The observation of it is recommended-and illustrated by his example. The sacrament itself is the peculiar and affecting memorial of his sufferings and death. It is the seal of the covenant of our peace. It is a medium through which the gifts and consolations of the Gospel are abundantly distributed. It is the solemn shadow of that marriage supper of eternity, where all the true servants of the Redeemer, men of all nations and colours and languages, shall be assembled; and shall all proclaim the glory of Him who has loved them, and "washed them in his own blood." It is the foretaste of that fruit of the vine, which we shall "drink new" in the kingdom of our God. It is the symbol of the "blood of the New Testament, which was shed," not merely for one, or for a few, but for "

many,

and indeed for "all"

all"-" He gave

himself a ransom for all." How precious is this visible memorial of the love of the Redeemer to his tempted and afflicted people! Even the bow in the heavens, when all this material frame shall be dissolved in the last fire, must perish; but this solemn institution shall endure, and the feast begun upon earth shall continue through all the ages of eternity.Blessed Redeemer, it is thy promise, to those who open the door of the heart unto thee, that Thou wilt enter

in, and " sup with them," and that they "shall sup with Thee." 0 Lord, dispose and enable us thus to welcome thee to our souls. Art thou seated at thine own table? Even the crumbs that fall from it are too good for us; but we venture, in lowliness

L

of soul, to approach thee, that we also may be permitted to sit at thy feet, and to be fed from thy hand, even now, and for ever.

DARK was the long-predicted night

When last the "little flock" assembled, And watched, with awe, the approaching light, And for the fatal morrow trembled ; That morrow which their Lord should see Extended on the "accursed tree."

'Twas then that, with uplifted eye,

He took the sacred bread, and brake it; 'Twas then the cup he raised on high,

And bade the astonished mourners "take it;" —Take it; and " when this cup you see, "Poor contrite soul, remember Me!"

And didst thou say, "Remember Thee?"
Sooner yon sun shall cease its shining,
Sooner this soul shall cease to be,

Its immortality resigning,

Than this fond heart forget to raise
Its anthem of perpetual praise.

Can we thy houseless nights forget,
The cold dews on thy temples lying,
The taunts, the spear, the bloody sweat,
The last, long, agony of dying;
Thy present gifts, so large and free;
The transports of eternity?

And is thy sacred table decked,

Thine own blest hand the feast preparing; And shall our souls the joys reject

The angelic bands delight in sharing? We come-we come-O hear our prayer, Blest Saviour-meet our spirits there!

CHAP. XV. VER. 31.

Likewise also the chief priests, mocking, said among themselves, with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

In one sense, nothing could be more untrue than this declaration. Our Lord says of himself," All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth; and of this power he was possessed in the very moment in which he was thus taunted by the chief priests: "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently send me twelve legions of angels?" And these claims to power he brings to an easy and decisive test: " Destroy," he says, "this temple" (of my body), " and, in three days, I will build it up." His ene