the right to plead its value in our prayers, and ask the application of its benefits to our souls: it has opened the portals of heaven to let the petition pass, and disposed the Eternal One to be attent; how then, can we say he has not died for all? Nevertheless, I cannot consider this to be the meaning of the words made use of in the administration of the Sacrament; but rather that Christ meant, and the church acknowledges and every believer should understand a great deal more than this, when the words are addressed to a congregation of faithful men.' When Jesus said, "My body which is broken for you-my blood which is shed for many," I think he used the words in a sense in which they can only apply to those who are, what the first disciples were-what we in baptism profess to be, and by presenting ourselves at the table do pretend to be-members of Christ, children of God, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven: in scripture language, chosen in him before the foundation of the world-called to be saintsborn again of the Holy Ghost-who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Addressed to the faithful recipient of the bread and wine, these gracious words do surely mean to say, not merely that Christ has died to afford us an opportunity of being saved, but that by his death he actually has saved us-that his body broken has expiated our sins, that his blood shed has secured eternal happiness for us, and that he not

only proposes, but engages to preserve our bodies and souls to everlasting life. In the words of our own communion service, "when with a penitent heart and lively faith" we receive that holy sacrament, we do actually, not prospectively, "dwell in Christ and Christ in us: we are one with Christ and Christ with us:" manifestly a state of present, not of future or problematical salvation. The difficulty, therefore, returns upon us: how can these words be addressed to a mixed number, of whom the minister does not know this to be the case, nor has any strong ground for believing it: and who in fact do not believe it of themselves, nor so much as care to have it so in any serious manner. I can only repeat my opinion that we have the authority of Christ and the apostles for taking men upon their profession, and so pronouncing on them a benediction which is only valid if the profession be a true one. As it is said to the apostles in another case—" First say, peace be to this house-and if the Son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again."

Blessed

"This do in remembrance of me." Jesus, could they forget thee? They had heard thy words, such as never man spake—they had seen thy works, such as no other man had done-thou hadst chosen them, and kept them and loved them, even as the Father loved thee. Could they forget thee, blessed Lord? Our

hearts sink within us while we read the words. He has suffered for us, he has saved us, he lives for us in heaven: He has given us all he has-He has given us himself—our present life and our eternal joy; and must we be reminded-must we have signs and emblems to waken our memory and warm our hearts? -He knew it: and He provided themHe even requires of us this memorial of his death, lest the world forget that he has visited to save, and will return to reign. But we do not care about it-we do not understand itwe are afraid to take it, and we will let it alone. Lamb of God, whatever reason we have to be afraid, we shall not find it in the memory of thee! There had been nothing seen of thee but love-nothing heard or known of thee but goodness-not one repulsive look to them that sought thee-not one refusal to them that asked thy help-not a word of discouragement even to thy enemies, if they would turn to thee again: they who rejected thee were repaid with tears; and they who crucified thee only with thy prayers. And there has been no change. "As oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show forth the Lord's death till he come."

The lion of the tribe of

Judah is not in the feast-the judge, the avenger is not there; but " in the midst of the throne a Lamb as it had been slain"—-touched with the

feeling of our infirmities—waiting to be gracious-"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

63

CHAPTER IV.

ON THE BENEFITS EXHIBITED AND RECEIVED IN THE LORD'S SUPPER.

"GREAT is the mystery of godliness! God manifest in the flesh!" With entire submission of the intellect to the dictum of Scripture, with the simplicity of a little child, that comes not to argue with its teachers, but to learn; with the lowliness of one who is of yesterday and knows nothing, willing to become a fool that he may be wise, we approach, and invite others to approach this great incompassable mystery. If there be any of a higher mind, they need not follow us, for we cannot help them. Reason puts itself to silence at the outset, and thenceforward has no more to say; for it tells me that the less cannot comprehend the greater; that the finite cannot compass the infinite; that there is not, and never can be a work of God perfectly and entirely understood by human intellect. If it be said that God can reveal it to us: He does reveal to us what we could not discover of his doings, to the extent that our understandings can embrace. Or, He can give us understanding: He does give us understanding in a measure, and he increases the measure