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sufferings are the objects of your faith, and ought to a waken yourgratitude. Neither vent your wrath against the enemies and the crucifiers of your Saviour. Look inwards, O man! search thine own bosom; there dwell the murderers of thy Lord. Thy sins, thy crimes, thine unhallowed desires, and unmortified passions, were the actors in that dreadful scene. The Jews and Romans were but instruments in their hands: but the feeble executioners of that wrath which they provoked and drew down. On these, therefore, exhaust thy vengeance. Bring forth those enemies of thy Saviour, and slay them before his eyes.

How will it affect the mind with contrition and godly sorrow, when, on this solemn occasion, you call up your past sins to your remembrance! How will it grieve you to think, as one by one they pass before you in review, that each of them added a pang to your Saviour's agony, and formed the bitter ingredients of that cup which he drank! Will not this consideration break your covenant with death, and disannul your agreement with hell? Can you ever again cherish those sins in your heart, which not only crucified the Lord of Glory upon Mount Calvary, but which even now crucify him afresh, and put him to open shame?

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But, Christians, I hope better things of you. this occasion, let me beseech you, by the sufferings of your crucified Redeemer, to break off your iniquities by repentance. Resolve sincerely, by the grace of God, to live no longer in sin. Finally, implore the assistance of the Divine Spirit, to renew your wills, and purify your souls. Then may ye rejoice in this the day of your solemnity, and be welcome guests at the table of the Lord. Then shall ye be joyfully invited to the marriage-supper of the Lamb. Then shall Je sus manifest himself to you in the breaking of bread. He shall say unto your souls, "Be of good cheer, thy "sins are forgiven thee;" and inspire into you the well-grounded hope of sitting down with him at his table above, where in his presence ye shall rejoice for

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Which may God grant, and to his name

be the praise! Let us pray.

PRAYER.

SON of the Most High! Thou art worthy to take the book of life, and to open the seals thereof; for by thine agony in the garden, and by thy sufferings and death upon the cross, thou hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood. Thou didst tread the wine press alone; thou stainedst thy garments in blood; thou pouredst out thy soul unto death. But thine agony is now oyer. Thou hast seen the travail of thy soul, and tasted the joy that was set before thee! Come now from thy holy hill, glorious in thine apparel, travelling in the greatness of thy strength, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save!

"Thou art now ascended on high, and exalted to the right hand of the Father! All greatness is below thee! The principalities of heaven worship thee: the powers of darkness tremble at thy nod: the heavens and the earth are subject to thy dominion; thou hast the keys of hell and of death: thou hast all power over the visible and invisible worlds!

"In obedience to thy commands, we now come to shew forth thy death. Bless us we beseech thee, and manifest thyself to us in the breaking of bread! Lord remember us when thou art now come to thy kingdom; and accept of the solemn dedication which we are here this day to make of ourselves unto thee!

"Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy "name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on 66 earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our

daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forઠંડ give our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever." Amen.

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PSALM XVIII.

4 LOODS of ill men affrighted me,
Death's pangs about me went ;

5 Hell's sorrows me environed;

Death's snares did me prevent.

6 In my distress I call'd on God,
Cry'd to my God did I ;

He from his temple heard my voice,
To his ears came my cry.

7 Th' earth, as affrighted then did shake,
Trembling upon it seiz'd;

The hills' foundations moved were,
Because he was displeas'd.

FENCING OF THE TABLES.

[What is termed the Fencing of the Tables, is a Discourse designed to point out the characters of such as are worthy, and such as are unworthy, to sit at them.

Among the Author's manuscripts, no form for this purpose could be found. The following is supplied by one of his friends, that no part of the Sacramental Service might be wanting.]

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HRISTIANS, we proceed now to the particular and solemn service of this day. An ordinance, the most sacred and holy in the Christian religion, is now, by the blessing of God, to be celebrated among us. The Table of the last Supper of the Lord is before you; and there will soon be placed upon it the consecrated representations of the Body and Blood of JESUS CHRIST, the Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity, and the Saviour of the world. Let now, therefore, the believer in Christ, and the keeper of his commandments, prepare himself to approach and sit down, partake of the spiritual feast, and present his vows to the Most High.

"My brethren! So sacred an occasion as this is, demand, upon our part, a suitable frame of spirit, and naturally tends to inspire us with religious awe. Many serious and solemn thonghts now arise in the mind. An holy fear takes possession of the soul; and we distrust ourselves, when about to approach unto the presence of the living God. "Who is the "man that shall ascend into the holy hill? and where "is he who has clean hands and a pure heart?" These questions arise in the breasts even of the faithful, and of the devout. They know that God is

of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; and therefore they desire to sanctify their hearts before Him, and to prepare themselves to enter within the FENCE that is now to be drawn round his holy place.

"Before, therefore, we advance, let us inquire,What is it that God hath required of us? How read the Commandments and the Law;"

In the Book of Exodus xx. 3, &c. we find these words;

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

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"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven im"age, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven "above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is "in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them for "I the Lord thy God am a jealons God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the "third and fourth generation of them that hate me : "and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that "love me, and keep my commandments.

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"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy "God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guilt"less that taketh his name in vain.

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"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work. But "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy "God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger "that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord "made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in "them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the "Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

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"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land, which, the Lord thy God giveth thee.

"Thou shalt not kill.

"Thou shalt not commit adultery.

"Thou shalt not steal.

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thot "shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man66 servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his "ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."

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Such is the law; and we read, that when it was delivered, there was thunder on Sinai, and the people in fear," removed and stood afar off." Let him who is guilty of wilfully and habitually breaking the law, forbear to approach unto this table: Stand back thou profane! But let him who obeys, and who loves the law, come forward: Sit down thou blessed of the Lord!

Let us next proceed from the Old to the New Testament, from the laws of Moses to the laws of.. Christ. These are not reduced into a summary; but their substance is, faith, charity, humility, and holiness. We have the character of the blessed in Jesus described particularly by himself in the sermon on the mount,' Matth. v. 3, &c.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the "kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be " comforted.

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the "earth.

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after "righteousness: for they shall be filled.

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain "mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see "God.

"Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be "called the children of God.

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for right"eousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceed"ing glad; for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

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