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the dying injunction of a crucified Redeemer. Their sickness too, it is probable, has given favourable opportunities to their spiritual pastor, or to their friends, for explaining the nature of this ordinance, and for enforcing the obligation to partake of it. The instruction thus given is very frequently attended with the desired effect. The sick man feels and expresses a strong desire to communicate, and gives good reason to hope that his faith and repentance are such, as to allow of his being admitted to this edifying and consolatory ordinance. But it too often happens, that when health has been restored, he forgets both the instructions that were given to him, and his own serious impressions and good resolutions, and falls back into the same habitual neglect of the Lord's Supper, in which he lived before the sickness came upon him. Take heed, my friends, that this be not the case with you. In

return for all the benefits which God hath done unto us,-especially in "delivering our souls from death, and our feet from falling,"-let us regularly and devoutly "receive the cup of salvation" in the Lord's Supper, whenever we have opportunity, particularly at the higher festivals of the Church.

In every instance, in short, let us endeavour to shew our thankfulness to God for restoring us to health, by constantly remembering, and endeavouring to act up to, all the good resolutions which we formed when lying on the bed of sickness. He has mercifully continued us in the land of the living: let us walk therein "before the Lord" with a constant sense of his presence, and a constant view to his will, to his honour and glory. So shall we have real cause to say, "It was good for us that we were afflicted;" and so shall our chastening," however "griev

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ous" it might seem at the time, be made instrumental in working for us "the peaceable fruits of righteousness," and "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

Thanksgiving on recovery from sickness.

Most gracious and merciful God, to whom alone belong the issues of life and death, make us at all times truly thankful for the many deliverances which thou hast vouchsafed to us, particularly for restoring us from the sicknesses with which we have been visited. Thou hast chastened and corrected us, but hast not given us over unto death. Grant that the sense of thy mercy may be always present to our minds; that it may induce us thoroughly to amend our lives, and to pass the remainder of our days in thy service and to thy glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SERMON V.

OLD AGE.

PROV. XVI. 31.

The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

AFTER his well-known exhortation to remember the Creator in the days of youth, the royal Preacher proceeds, "while the evil days come not," nor the " years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them"." By the evil days, and the years wherein there is no pleasure, it appears that he means the time of old age, of the various infirmities of which portion a Eccles. xii. 1.

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