the eternal world, and will put into your hand that cup of complete salvation. And to a creature, conscious of eternal duration, what so great difference is there between a few years and a few moments? Methinks, in the view of this, our thoughts, as well as words, are swallowed up, and nothing remains but to lift up our adoring hands and eyes to heaven, and to say, "Oh, how wonderful is thy lovingkindness:"-Let it be our care to secure to ourselves the evidence of our interest in it, and to live like those that fear him, and hope in him.

The first prayer was taken up in going over these thoughts. And, when breaking the bread, I repeated my address to the spectators from these words, is it nothing to you?—Is not your salvation concerned? Is it not your duty to remember Christ? And are not you undone without an interest in him? But I persuade myself it is something to some of you. And to those of us who have turned aside to see this great sight, let me entreat you to think how nearly you are concerned in it. There were all our hopes suspended—there was our eternal fate concerned in the atonement and death which we here commemorate. Should not our hearts then be filled with reverence, inspired with love, gratitude, and joy, and established in the firmest exercise of faith.

When I came to pour out the wine, I particularly discoursed of it as the seal of the covenant, by which we give ourselves to God; and prayed over what I had said in the pulpit of giving up ourselves, our lives, our possessions, to him. And, Lord, if thou seest fit that these frail bodies should not only be used, but worn out for thee, thy will be done. We hope, when the frail machine of flesh and blood is dissolved, that the immortal inhabitant, the spirit, will spring with joy into the presence of God. And we may say, “ Into thy hands we commend it, for thou hast redeemed it." I particularly received it with this profession, and added

something of our dependance on Divine Grace to add efficacy to these purposes. The blood of God's covenant is awful; but much more when it is the blood of his Son too. It is pleasant to think that God knows all the secret language of our hearts, and with pleasure hears what no

other creature is witness to.

MEMORANDUMS OF WHAT PASSED AT THE EIGHTEENTH SACRAMENT.

I BEGAN with some reflections on these words, “ I am the bread of life, that came down from heaven." I observed what a resemblance there is between Christ and the manna which the Israelites eat in the wilderness. That bread came down from heaven; so does Christ; it was nourishing, and they lived on that when they had nothing else; it was sufficient to support life; it was delicious bread; how sweet is Christ to the soul; it was their only bread, without it they had perished. But in this it differed; that bread was lost with God's displeasure; but if we feed on Christ by faith, God is ever well pleased with us. They died who eat of that bread; but those that feed on Christ shall live for ever. But it may be objected ;Did not many of those so eat who now are dead? Our fathers, where are they, who loved and served him better than we the prophets, who spent their lives in studying Christ themselves, and recommending him to others, where are they? Do they live for ever? Yea, even so! and it would be an injury, and almost add grief to their blessed spirits, to speak of them as an exception to the truth of this important assertion. They are rather an everlasting demonstration of it, for by feeding on this bread do they not live for ever? that if we feed upon it we may meet death with comfort. O death, thou mayst strike me, but thou canst not hurt me. Greater is He that is with me than thou and all mine enemies. "O, death, where is thy

sting? O, grave, where is thy victory?" Let us adore the goodness of God in giving us this bread-in giving it us in a double portion on the sabbath, and in calling us now to receive it. Lord, evermore give us this bread. In breaking the bread, I alluded, as I had formerly done, to those words of Mephibosheth to David, What am I, that thou shouldest look on such a dead dog? a dog-a dead dog; an impure creature. How low an image, if he said so to King David; how much more may we to the king of glory. The vilest animal is not so contemptible compared with David as we with the blessed God. We who are naturally dead in trespasses and sins, who did not deserve to be set with the dogs of his flock to gather up the crumbs that are under his table. We are brought to feast at it, and feed with his children! When I came to pour out the cup, my meditations principally dwelt on these words, who has redeemed us;-It is remarkable, it is said, who has redeemed us to God by his blood-not merely redeemed us from hell—redeemed us for heaven-but bought us for the service of God, that is the heaven of heaven to a Christian. And it is with his blood. He assumed a body with blood, that he might shed it for our sakes. And, it follows, has made us priests and kings to God. It is not ministers alone that are priests, but every Christian. And if there be a pleasure now in presenting spiritual sacrifices, how much more above. We are kings, and that to reign for ever and ever. As for the princes of this world, they are mortal creatures, as their subjects are; although it is said of them they are gods, and all of them the children of the Most High, yet they shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes; but the children of God shall never die nor

fall.

Sunday, Oct. 3, 1731.

OF WHAT PASSED AT THE NINETEENTH SACRAMENT.

I INTRODUCED it with some short meditations on being absent from the body and present with the Lord; many of which hints were taken from Mr. Baxter's funeral sermon; and then were added some thoughts between the several actions, which I do not now distinctly remember. I am sensible I was much to blame in neglecting immediately to make memorandums of them, and of many other things which then happened. Mr. Allen sat down with us, and I bless God it was a comfortable day.

MEMOIRS OF THE TWENTIETH SACRAMENT.

I BEGAN with some reflections upon Moses going up to Mount Pisgah; and observed, our prospect is vastly more entertaining than his. The country we survey is more excellent, and our own interest in it more important. Moses saw Canaan, an agreeable sight, the stream of Jordan, the plain of Jericho; rich pastures, painted meadows, fruitful fields, beautiful cities; but what are these to the view of the heavenly Canaan? Had he seen this, all the beauty and grandeur of Jerusalem, as in David's time, all the sacred and solemn magnificence of the temple, as recorded by Solomon, what had it been to the heavenly Jerúsalem, to the temple of God above, which, through his unmerited grace, is our prospect. He saw a city then possessed by an enemy, where was once the home of some of his pious forefathers. But we see a city possessed by our best friend, the kingdom of our God. He saw a city where the Israel of God were to have but a transient settlement, which they might lose, as they now have done; but we see that everlasting abode where they shall never die, whence they shall never be expelled. Once more; he saw a country on which he was never to enter. God said to him, thou shalt not go over to possess it; but he says not the like to us. How should we delight in the assu

rance! How should we cherish the reviving thought! And how cheerfully should we go up to the top of Pisgah to view it! How cheerfully should we die to enter upon it. There is Jordan between, and the passage may be cold and difficult; but there is the God of Israel before us; he leads us, and his right arm upholds us. After the prayer I considered this as the Christian passover, and as such applied to it. Lord, I come to be more completely rescued from nature's dark bondage; I come to be delivered from the stroke of the avenging angel through this blood sprinkled on my soul. I come, that every idol in my heart may fall down, and that I may be led onward in my way to the heavenly Canaan. Lord, we would eat our passover with unleavened bread, with bitter herbs, with loins girded and our staves in our hands, ready to remove when thou givest us the dismission. Speaking of seeing Jesus, I quoted Trail, and spoke of Christians once commemorating this ordinance with us, and now with Christ above. And how do they wonder their hearts were no more inflamed with love? Is this the Saviour I loved so coldly—I served so weakly?—Now the King of Glory says, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Come in, thou beloved of my heart! Let the door be open-let the wall be broken down rather than he excluded; rather let me die to admit Christ than live without him in my heart. Addressing myself to those young people that were spectators, I observed, If you ask the meaning of this service, we tell you that we commemorate a dying Lord: that we were once in bondage, and that He delivered us. He saved us from wrath; He is leading us to Canaan; we come hither for refreshment by the way; is it not a noble, a reasonable, an important service? ought not you to pray that you may have a right to it, and then a share in it!

Dec. 5, 1731.