then made, either by yourselves or by your sureties, and perform it. Remember, how ye then" renounced the devil, the world, and the flesh;" and let them not have dominion over you. Remember "the articles of faith," which you then professed to "believe," and "hold fast the profession of your faith without wavering.". Remember the "holy commandments," which you then promised to " keep," and do your diligence to walk constantly in all of them. Remember also the great privileges, which almighty God then conferred upon you. You were then "made the members of Christ," and so interested in all the merits of his death and passion. You were taken out of the world, and translated into the Church of Christ; to be instructed, governed, assisted, protected, sanctified, justified, and saved by him. You were then "made the children of God:" and "if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and jointheirs with Jesus Christ;" and therefore heirs of the kingdom of heaven, which you cannot lose; unless you provoke your heavenly Father to disinherit you, by the neglect of your duty, and the breach of your

promise; and by refusing to repent when you may. If then you have broken your baptismal promise, which it is to be feared we all have, repent immediately; and earnestly endeavour for the future to keep it in all respects. Ye were then "born of the Spirit," and so have Him always ready to assist you. The seed of grace was then sown in your hearts, sufficient to enable you to bring forth "the fruits of the Spirit." By his gracious assistance therefore live now, as becomes the children of God and the heirs of heaven. Avoid what you know will offend your heavenly Father, and do all you can to please him. Live above the world; and where your inheritance is, there let your conversation be. Strive to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called; that " ye may shine as lights in the world ;" and so be "meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light," where ye shall "shine forth as the sun, in the kingdom of your Father."

SERMON XXVI.

NECESSITY AND BENEFITS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.

1 COR. x. 16.

The cup of blessing, which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread, which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

WHEN I consider the number of persons, of which this parish consists, it is matter of surprise and grief to me to observe, that there appears to be a large proportion of those, who show little serious attention to a business of such infinite importance to them as their religion. When again I look round upon the present congregation, and see amongst you many persons, who appear to be generally well and soberly dis

posed, and who are for the most part attentive to the ordinary service of the Church; it is to me still more surprising, and certainly not less painful to observe, that there are so few who are in the habit of attending to that great point of Christian worship; the holy communion of the body and blood of Christ.

There are indeed few occasions in the exercise of their office, on which the ministers of the Gospel have in general more cause to feel concern, than when they are compelled to witness in their parishioners the prevailing neglect of the Lord's Supper. Regularly as the seasons of administering the holy sacrament return, in obedi-ence to the prescribed order of the Church we give you notice and invite you to partake of it. Frequently we make the sacrament the subject of our discourses: we explain it; we exhort our congregations to come to the Lord's table; we lay before them such arguments as should induce them to come; and we show the weakness of the reasons, which most probably prevent them from coming. Yet have we

too often, occasion to lament, that season after season passes by, without the notice being duly regarded; that our exhortations, our arguments and our remon.strances are followed by no effect; and that very few even of those, who are generally of sober and serious habits, and regular in their attendance upon the ordinary service of the Church, ever think of approaching the Lord's table.

Now in the name of Christ, into whose name you have been all baptized, to whom you have all vowed allegiance, and whose faithful soldiers and servants you all profess yourselves to be; wherefore, I pray you, is this neglect of his authority? Are you Christians? Do you think yourselves bound to obey the laws of Christ? Has not Christ commanded you to partake of his body? to drink of his blood? "The cup of blessing, which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread, which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" Wherefore, then, when in obedience to his command, we bless the bread and wine and set it before