sakes became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich; of him, who left his glory, and became a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and at length underwent the fierce agonies of crucifixion, that he might deliver you from the punishment due to your sins, and confer on you a share in the glory and bliss of the heavenly and undefiled inheritance above. But has sin palsied all your affections? Has the icy hand of spiritual death frozen your moral powers, and transformed you into moving images of the dead? Does the voice of mercy sound over a valley of graves, and address itself to their silent inhabitants? Yet all is not utterly hopeless; the dry bones may yet live. Awake, then, ye that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

V. But we will proceed to consider, in the fifth place, the benefits to be derived from a participation of the Lord's supper.

And here may be enumerated—

1. Forgiveness of sins.

This is the great blessing of the gospel dispensation, to purchase which for us the Saviour died; and "by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses." Pardon through Christ is conferred on the sinner, when, weary and heavy laden under the burden of his iniquities, he flies to the cross. There he drops the painful load, and finds rest to his soul. But the believer is not freed from remaining corrup tions, as long as he continues confined to a body of sin and death. Sin, though he is delivered from

its dominion, still exists, still struggles, and from time to time appears to revive, though by the death of Jesus it received a mortal wound. Hence the christian daily needs renewed pardon, and would again and again have that pardon confirmed. And whither should he turn continually but to the same sacrifice, the same blood of sprinkling which cleanseth from all sin? Here, then, I invite you to come and have your pardon sealed, renewed, and confirmed. You shall hear the voice of joy and gladness:-" Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee."

2. Another benefit to be derived from the Lord's supper is, adoption into the family of God.

The covenant of grace, entered into by the eternal Trinity, not only frees believers from the doom of criminals, but advances them to the dignity of children of God. In the sacraments, we lay hold of this covenant, and have all its blessings secured to our own souls. This ordinance is the seal and the token of God's love towards us, wherein he engages to be our Father. The living God declares, I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters."

3. But again, from communion at the table of our Lord, the believer derives peace and satisfaction of soul.

Peace is one of the precious legacies which Christ left to his friends and disciples. Hear, as recorded by St. John, his affecting words, shortly before his last sufferings: "Peace I leave with you, my peace

I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid." And again he said "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace." The gift so affectionately bequeathed was purchased by the atoning blood of the giver, and it is secured, or made over, to all who receive his atonement. Reconciled to God by the death of his Son, how unspeakable are the peace and joy with which he fills their hearts by his Spirit—the promised Comforter, who abides in them for ever.

4. Another blessing believers derive from the communion of the body and blood of Christ, consists in fresh supplies of grace, to enable them to live to his glory.

In this ordinance, Christ is made of God, to all believers, not only righteousness, but sanctification; they obtain not only pardon for the past, but strength for the future. We must indeed receive Christ as our Saviour, to redeem us from the guilt of sin, the desert of sin, and the punishment of sin; to preserve us from the dominion of sin; and at length, to free us from its very existence. Having, then, "received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." And let it not be forgotten, that we have as much need of the influences of the Holy Spirit, to furnish us with grace to fulfil our various duties, and to support us under our trials, as of the merits and

death of Christ, to atone for our sins, and justify us before God. The same divine grace is necessary to carry on the work of religion in our souls, as to begin it. The language of our Saviour on this subject is "Without me, ye can do nothing." As we are unable to impart spiritual life to our own souls, so are we incompetent to sustain that life when imparted. In the Lord alone, "we have righteousness and strength." But, it may be asked, how are we to obtain these blessings? How is our strength to be renewed? We answer, in the use of the appointed means of grace. They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength. At the sacramental table we may especially expect abundant supplies of grace, to fit us for the services and sufferings to which we may be called. Here we are taught to feel our guilt, our danger, and our helplessness; and to make fresh discoveries of forgiving, redeeming, and sanctifying love. Before the cross of the suffering Redeemer, godly sorrow for sin is powerfully awakened; we look on him whom we have pierced and mourn. Our eye poureth out tears to God, while we contemplate love and sorrow so amazing and divine. We learn to admire the riches of divine grace; and our hearts are enlarged more and more to comprehend the length, and breadth, and depth, and height of the love which passeth knowledge. We are led to the exercise of gratitude for the glorious interference of Christ, on behalf of sinners so wretched and undone. Christian affection -love to the whole church of Christ, is kindled into a flame,

and benevolence towards all our fellow-beings expanded. Here, surrounding the feast of divine love, christians, in a peculiar manner and in an enlarged degree, have the same mind which was in Christ. Holy affections become more vigorous and active; gracious resolutions acquire firmness and stability; and our purposes to walk before God in newness of life, with zealous alacrity, are excited and strength

ened.

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Our graces, hopes, and comforts, being, by these means, increased and established, we obtain clearer evidence of the work and progress of grace in our hearts. We may also expect to receive strength to go forward, to confirm our religious habits, and quicken us to increased watchfulness and prayer in our course to heaven. We look for may sist the corruption of our nature; to oppose tations of the wicked one; and to escape the "pollution that is in the world through lust." Trusting in the merits, and relying on the love of God our Saviour, we may confidently hope for support under the sorrows of mortality, to be made over all our spiritual enemies, conquerors, and more than conquerors, through him who hath loved us; and at length, to have an entrance ministered unto us abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and

Saviour Jesus Christ.

5. But once more this ordinance is to the believer an earnest of eternal bliss and joy.

Heaven is the crown, and the centre of all the promises; the land of holiness, glory, and love, of which, through the merits of Christ, we are made