than the least of all God's mercies, what may we? Indeed the confession put into our mouths. that "we are not worthy of so much as the crumbs that fall from Christ's table," should now be deep upon our hearts in some such thoughts as these, "What am I, Lord God, that I should approach thy table? What am I, who am unworthy to be put among the dogs of the flock, that I should be fed with children's bread? What am I, that I should see the King at his table, who have so dishonoured him as I have done? What am I, that I should come to claim such inexpressible privileges? I, who deserve nothing but death, nothing but hell?" As Mephibosheth said to David, What am I, that the king should look upon such a dead dog as I am? God, to use the language of the Psalmist, loves to take us from the dunghill, before he sets us among the princes. He that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

2. We should draw near with reverence and godly fear, remembering with whom we are transacting, even with the God of glory, before whom ten thousand times ten thousand burning seraphs minister, and whom angels adore; remembering what an awful work we are calling to mind, even that scene which the earth trembled, and the sun grew dark to behold; remembering how great an affair is now in hand, no less than the sealing to us the eternal redemption of our souls; these views will shew us, that the frame of our minds cannot be enough serious and reverential. If God is always to be feared in the assembly of his saints, and to be had in reverence of all that are round about him, when ought our exercise of this temper to be so deep and solemn, as in this. most holy and sacred assembly? If the angels themselves approaching his throne, are repre

sented as veiling their faces with their wings, how ought awe to spread its silent dread upon our souls and our countenance to receive the sacred impression when we are approaching his table? Dare we rush into the presence of an earthly monarch without veneration and respect? and shall we not be much more careful how we draw near to him, whose throne is in the heavens, and whose kingdom ruleth over all? That great Jehovah, that eternal God, who humbleth himself when he beholds the things in heaven; and how much more when he stoops to treat and commune with poor dying sinful worms of the earth?

3. We should approach without distraction. The sense of God should banish every other thought. We should leave the world behind us, and for the time seek to disengage ourselves from every care or concern about it; lifting up our hearts to him to restrain our wanderings, and fixed on the point before us, as much as may be, without diverting from it, to the right hand or the left. And in order hereto, it will be profitable to keep our eyes from looking round us, to have so settled our worldly affairs before as to prevent their intrusion, and to keep our thoughts recollected, that we may feel ourselves standing as it were, naked and open before him with whom we have to do, seeing him that is invisible; the tempers of our minds calm and serene, and all our thoughts fixed, sedate and attentive.

4. We should come with cheerful confidence in God, as our reconciled Father in Christ. As we are not going to hear our condemnation, but to receive our renewed acquittance and assurance of favour, we should approach in the character.

of children, should possess the confidence of children, with gladness and singleness of heart, coming to the table where our Father gives the testimony of his regard to us. To come with slavish trembling and confusion to a feast of love, is utterly unseemly; and shews either that we are unacquainted with the nature of the ordinance, or have not that faith which embraces the promises, and realizes the sign. We must remember we are approaching a table which love, eternal love, hath spread for sinners. That we have such a powerful advocate for us entered into the heavens; that we may come boldly to the throne of grace, and not fear a disappointment. And that therefore in the strength of all this, we may without presumption, if we are really children of God, draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith. This disposition is as honourable to God, as comfortable to ourselves, and most needful now to be exercised, when every soul should rejoice, and be exceeding glad, and triumph in the God of his salvation. When people come to the communion, as criminals to the bar, it plainly shews, they are still under the law, and are in bondage unto fear; that they have been resting on their own preparation, and their own worthiness, as though they must be in such a measure good, and they were afraid they had not arrived at the measure they proposed to themselves ; thus making faith void, and the promise of none effect. But believing souls, (unless for a season, if need be, they be in heaviness through manifold temptations) will be cheerful ones; they become humble, yet confident : serious, yet cheerful.

5. We should draw rear with hunger and thirst after righteousness. Just as at our meals

appetite makes the feast, so it is here; He filleth the hungry with good things, and sendeth the rich empty away. Such carnest cravings then as your body hath after food, such your souk should have after Christ, and his righteousness, that you may be found in him. be found in him. Consider what

you would feel if you travelled through a barren and dry land, would you not say, Hungry and thirsty your soul fainted? Would not you cry, Water, water, to cool the burning tongue ? would not you drink deep into the stream, when from the rock the river issued forth at your cry, and refreshed your parched throat? This world is that barren land, your soul that parched traveller, Christ the living rock, the ordinances the pools of water, to which if any man thirst, let him come and drink, yea, come and take of the water of life freely. See then that See then that your hunger and thirst be felt; see that you relish and find such expressions as these, agreeable to your frame and temper: As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so longeth my soul after thee, O God. My soul is athirst for God, even for the living God; when shall I come to appear in the presence of God! Then you will find your heart drawnup to greater nearness to God; your affections will be more uuited to him; and, as the refreshments of food to a hungry man, this feast will be a feast of fat things, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well repned.

6. We should come with enlivened expectations of receiving according to the necessities of our souls. Having before examined our state in order to discover what graces we most stood in need of, what corruptions called for mortification, what trying circumstances have most endangered us, here we must look upon ourselves. as sure to receive grace and strength proportion

ed to our wants. God, who calls upon us, is the Lord of all grace, and he gives, like a King, liberally to every one that asketh, and this too usually exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think; all that Christ has purchased, and that is no less than all the blessings of time and eternity, we may put in our request for; and, instead of being thought unreasonable in our desires, the more enlarged they are, the more pleasing will they be to God, We cannot expect to receive so much as he is willing to give; full measure heaped up and running over, will he pour into the bosom of those who come to him with enlivened faith, and big with expectation of receiving, not for our deserts indeed, but for his righteousness sake.

7. We should approach with fervent charity. This is commanded us above all things, and most needful when we are celebrating together this visible communion of saints; where we join in one body, to eat the same bread, aud drink the same cup. Before you come here, you will have taken care to purge out the old leaven of malice and wickedness, that as the elect of God, you might put on bowels of mercies, kindness, longsuffering, and, with a peculiar affection, love the brethren here this love will have a lively exerçise on the objects before you; you will find your heart ascending up in prayer over them, thankful for them, delighting in them, regarding them as dear unto you as your own soul, at least desiring to be so affected, and chiding your heart for the deadness which at any time you experience. Then, whilst the minister of the Lord is praying over them, that "the body and blood of Christ would keep their bodies and souls unto everlasting life," you will be wrestling in prayer together for them, that they may not go away