shall be done unto you. Eat, O friends, drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved."

Christians, we have now been eating with a Ruler; let us consider diligently what is before us. For, surely, some return will be expected from us for such a distinguishing favour. Not by way of requital, that we can never make, but as a testimony of the grateful sense we have of the obligation. Let us manifest the high esteem we have of the dainties we have been now feasting on, by our indifference to, and utter dislike of the husks and chaff which worldly minds are so fond of. And while all their cry is, "Who will show us any good? Who will put us in a way to increase our corn and wine?" let our cry be, "Lord, evermore give us this bread. Let us have free access to this table, and a fresh taste of this heavenly manna which we have been now feasting on, and the profits and pleasures of this world take who will." Let us admire and proclaim the love and bounty of the Lord Jesus Christ, who admits his poor disciples to such a feast, and to such fellowship here below; and let us look and long for the full blessings contained in those precious words of our Lord, "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations; and I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

MEDITATION VII.

[December 3, 1786.]

LUKE XXII. 15.

WITH DESIRE I HAVE DESIRED TO EAT THIS PASSOVER WITH YOU BEFORE I SUFFER.

GRACIOUS Saviour! how thy words cut me to the heart. Thy readiness reproaches my stupidity and ingratitude. It is I that should have said this. When the table was spread, and the guests assembled, if thou wast pleased to come in and take thy seat among us, it was I that should have run to meet thee, and said, "This is my God, I have I waited for him. For many weeks have I been longing for this day; the hours have seemed to move on unusually slow, that I was afraid the time would never come. I never desired anything so much, as to eat this passover with thee. The world would have hindered me; Satan would have hindered me; but I would not be hindered by any of them. My fellow-communicants little think what difficulties I have broken through, to keep their appointment; but, when it was to meet thee,

my dearest Friend, my Master, my Lord, and my God, what were difficulties? The pleasure I promised myself, in an hour's enjoyment of thy presence, carried me above every discouragement. Lord, all my desire is before thee."

This is what we should say. But can we say it? And dare we appeal to Him, who knoweth all things, for the truth of it? O! christians, I am afraid there are few among us can hear Christ talk of his desiring this sacramental meeting so much, without blushing that we desired it no more. What can be the reason of it? I will not presume to say positively what it is that has now blunted the edge of your desires; but I will tell you what has been the occasion of it in others, that you may guard against it in future. One reason, then, why some desire communion with Christ no more is, because they desire other things so much. And suppose I were to mention sin as one. Even true christians, those who have been renewed in the spirit of their minds, and by the power of Divine grace are made free from sin, and become the servants of righteousness, yet may find their corruptions stronger, and temptations more engaging at one time than another. Now, if there be a secret sparing of any sin, in any degree, it will prevent them from meeting Christ with any freedom and comfort. They will be afraid of what he will say to them, and, therefore, will be shy of

coming too near. am sure we can never truly enjoy communion with Christ, but when we are resolutely set against all "Take

We can never truly desire, I

sin; when we can pray from our hearts, away all iniquity, and receive us graciously. Take all, Lord; spare not a right hand, nor a right eye : out with it; off with it: there is no sin so dear but I will cheerfully sacrifice it, to an interview with my infinitely dearer Saviour."

Some, again, have been greatly hindered by the world; and we have good authority for saying, that if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. When their affections run out so strongly after worldly profit or pleasure, they cannot spare the time for retirement, meditation, self-examination, and prayer. Such preparatory work is tedious, and the ordinance itself tasteless. Others, again, are kept back by minding their carnal ease too much. They do not like the trouble of it. To inquire into the state of their souls, to drive out all lurking impurities, to get grace into lively exercise, they had rather stay away, than be at so much pains to get ready. Shame upon us, christians, that we are so slothful in business! Had Christ consulted his ease, what had become of our salvation? Would it be so if we were rightly sensible of our spiritual wants? or knew the worth of spiritual blessings? Did we really desire a pardon, or sanctification, or strength, or grace, to bear

and profit by afflictions, or help us against spiritual enemies; or Divine consolation under sinking sorrows-I say, I did we in earnest desire those blessings, we should be forward to come to an ordinance when we have so near a concern with that blood which was the price of all those blessings, and with that covenant whereby they are secured. I do not say that God confines his special manifestations to this ordinance, and that he will never communicate any favour but here at his table. By no means: your experience, I know, would contradict me. You have often met him, and been blessed by him in other duties, and in other places. But this I say; that here he has been most frequently seen, and most intimately conversed with. It is at this banquet of wine that the King of saints receives petitions from his subjects; and if he sees them humble and modest, and afraid to come forward to him, he kindly condescends to go up to them, and asks of one, "What is thy request?" and of another, "What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?" If an earthly prince were to publish such a proclamation, that on such a day his subjects should have free access to him, and liberty to present their petitions, and that he would, to the utmost of his power, relieve them all, what a flocking would there be to the palace! By the little concern we discover at the approach of such a season, it should seem as if we had