drunken with wine, and, consequently (their thoughts being clouded, their senses disordered, and their passions inflamed,) they were not in a proper state to "discern the Lord's body," or, to reflect upon what they were doing, and the reasons for doing it, when they ate the holy bread and wine; or, to perform so sacred a rite with a due sense of their own unworthiness, and of their obligations to their Lord and Master (then present in his spirit, and typically in his body,) with the humility meet for the followers of him who humbled himself to the death of the cross for their sakes; and with such a grateful remembrance of him, as such goodness should inspire; whereby, they profaned this holy rite; dishonoured the memory of Christ; insulted his Presence, and ate and drank their own damnation; or were" guilty of the body and blood of the Lord;" of which hereafter.

It is almost needless to say that no modern Christian can take the Sacrament unworthily in the same manner the Corin

thians did; because it is administered by itself, at a time of day before it is customary to eat or drink any thing, save breakfast; which is, in general, rather a temperate refreshment than a meal; it is also administered after the morning service of the church has prepared the minds of the communicants; and, if they have been sincere in their worship during the service, put them into a suitable or becoming state of mind, i. e. a state of mind worthy of the pious act they are going to perform.

It appears that all which was said by our gracious and good God, Saviour, and Redeemer, at the institution of this blessed rite, in a mandatory way, (or as a command,) in regard to the then and future participation of it (according to the evangelists and St. Paul,) was "This do in remembrance of me." St. Paul adds (in regard of the cup) "This do, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." (1 Cor. c. xi. v. 25.) and, (in regard of the bread and cup,)" For,

as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew forth the Lord's death till he come."-1 Cor. c. xi. v. 26.

It is clear, therefore, that the bread and wine were to be eaten and drunk in remembrance of Christ, and to shew forth his death till he come; or, as a memorial of the sacrifice he made himself for mankind; and as a confession that we believe he will again come to judge the world; and this appears to be all that can be gathered, positively, upon the subject from the scripture text: and all else said concerning it is the comment of men upon such text; therefore liable to examination, and to be approved of no farther than the general tenor, or spirit, of scripture will allow. I do not mean that the sacrament is no where alluded to but in the texts I have quoted or referred to; since it is alluded to in several places; but in no case involving a different principle than is attributed to it in such texts as I have noticed.

To take the sacrament worthily (upon

reference to these texts) is, to take it remembrance of Christ; and to take it unworthily is to take it in such a state of mind, and with such a mode of behaviour, as to indicate that we do not remember him in such a manner as proves that we really believe we are in his presence-When in the presence of an earthly king we are sensitively alive to every punctilio of decorum and reverence; how much greater solicitude, then, should we experience for deporting ourselves with veneration when in the presence of our heavenly King?—Or, with such thoughts and acts as evince that we do not sincerely reflect on the sacrifice he made for us, and the invaluable and incalculable blessings we derive from it; and consequently do not feel that gratitude which we ought to express, not only by outward reverence, but also by inward devotion: for (to pursue my former comparison,) if we were in the presence of an earthly king, or benefactor, who had saved us from destruction, the gratitude of our

hearts would exhibit itself in our manner, (when the mind is at all ingenuous,) too palpably to be misunderstood: and what destruction can any earthly being preserve us from that can be mentioned in any degree of comparison with that from which our Saviour has redeemed us?

To remember Christ in a proper, suitable, or worthy manner, is reverentially to govern the mind and deportment; and prove to ourselves, as far as we are capable of so doing, that we do actually think of Christ as of our God and Saviour: that we believe he died for us; that we are grateful for the unspeakable benefits we derive from his death; that we love him as we ought to love such a benefactor, and that we are in charity with all mankind. The question then is, How are we to prove this to ourselves? and a very necessary question it is because, our hearts being deceitful, we must not rely too much upon the ebullition of our feelings; since such expressions depend greatly upon consti

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