to the factious fury of the populace, we follow them into their last scenes, and look up to their unbending fortitude, in their hours of trial, with feelings of reverence mixed with sorrow. Suppose, then, the author of the Christian faith to be nothing more than a man; to be a great moral instructor," who went about doing good;" yet, even in this view, he bears the highest character for every virtue which has ever yet shone forth in human nature, without the smallest taint or admixture of vice and pollution. The death, therefore, of this distinguished person, especially since, in the circumstances attending it, he displayed so remarkably all his eminent qualities, the qualities of fortitude and patience, of resignation to the will of God, and brotherly forgiveness to man, is really the most interesting object which we can contemplate in the whole history of mankind, even although it had no consequences, and were an event terminating in itself. It is, of all others, the best adapted to impress upon our minds worthy principles of conduct, and to make us in love with the beauty of virtue.

But when we go on to contemplate the death of Christ in the religious view, as the great sacrifice made for sin, without which we could never have had any certain assurance of forgiveness; when, enlarging our views, we discover that this wonderful person was not a man merely, but was also one "who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, yet made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the

death of the cross;" when we take this view of the subject, surely the contemplation of that important event, of which the sacrament of bread and wine is the symbol, is calculated to enforce upon our minds impressions of deep regret for our sins, and hearty resolutions of amendment. These sentiments of repentance and purposes of reformation, flowing from the sacred source of gratitude, must surely have the happiest effects upon our lives, if we are at all honest and sincere. Whenever we partake in the holy communion, they will naturally rise in our minds; the occasion will suggest them to us; and it rests with ourselves to encourage and strengthen them, so as that they may not be formed in vain.

The next thing which the words of the text suggest to us, is the second coming of Christ, to which the faithful look forward, when all his promises will be completed, and those whom he approves will be made happy with him for ever. This is likewise a natural subject of meditation when we approach the table of our Lord. Were he still in the dark repositories of the departed, and had we no hope that he would ever be restored to us, we might remember him with lamentation and weeping, but scarcely with bread and wine. The very form of this sacrament, therefore, justifies St. Paul's explanation of it, that in it we show the Lord's death, in the belief that he will come again; and, in this consideration, many very serious impressions are involved. For when he comes again, he will come in the glory of his Father, to judge the world. He will no longer wander over an obscure part of the earth, a poor and neglected man, scorned by the wicked, and

scarcely acknowledged by the good; suffering all the misfortunes incident to human life, and, finally, enduring the punishment of a criminal; but he will appear "sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven," and every kindred, and tongue, and nation shall be gathered before him. If, therefore, we determine to be good and faithful servants, we are well assured that our Master has the power, as well as the will to reward us; and we have every reason to rejoice in the hope that is set before us. But if we be evil servants, and say in our hearts, Our Lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to smite our fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken," then we know that "he will come in a day when we look not for him, and in an hour that we are not aware of, and shall cut us asunder, and appoint us our portion with the hypo

crites."

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Such seem, my brethren, to be the kind of reflections which the sacrament of the Lord's supper will naturally suggest to us; and surely they are very salutary, and well deserving our frequent consideration. It, therefore, greatly becomes us to take every proper opportunity of "eating this bread and drinking this cup," for the sake of strengthening all our good resolutions, and of confirming our faith. "The night (says the apostle) is far spent, and the day is at hand." Let us steadily keep this principle in view, and it will enable us to bear up under every difficulty, and to resist all temptation. We ought to be thankful that, by the institution of this sacrament, our Saviour has given us a solemn opportunity of frequently calling to mind the great leading maxim of the Christian life, that we are

strangers in a foreign land; travellers through a scene of dangers; combatants in a serious warfare; and that we must fix our eyes on our true country, and bear up through faith and hope. Let us then be careful not to neglect those opportunities, nor to avoid that gracious invitation which he has given us. We cannot well deserve the name of Christians, if we will not attend at the table of our Master.

SERMON XXIV*.

ON RELIGIOUS RITES.

ISAIAH, vi. 7.

“And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged:"

THESE, my brethren, are the concluding words of a very sublime passage, in which the prophet Isaiah describes a remarkable vision which had been presented to him, and the feelings which it had given rise to in his mind. "In the year (says he) that king Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood

the seraphims; each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am

* Preached after the Communion.