had such an Advocate there, to present and perfume our imperfect services, and to support our poor petitions with his more powerful pleadings. Yes, indeed, we rejoice at thy going to the Father: and we rejoice at the many invaluable benefits and blessings we receive in consequence of it. We rejoice in the assurance of thy coming again a second time, without sin, unto salvation. And, in the mean time, we rejoice in the proofs that thou art still mindful of us; and for appointing those ordinances, in which we are to eat and drink in remembrance of thee: may we now be enabled to give some incontestable proofs of our love to thee, and feel more sensible manifestations of thy love to us. And oh! that from this day, all further jealousies and suspicions, on either side, may cease; that our fellowship and friendship may be continually increasing by every interview, till it be confirmed in that world of rapture, where our love and joy shall be perfect and eternal.

If

ye love me, keep my commandments.

We have now professed and promised further love and obedience. Let us not be mere professors; let it be evident to all the world that we love not Let us

Let us love his

in word only, but in deed and in truth.
love his ways, and walk in them.
ordinances, and attend upon them.
his sabbaths, and sanctify them.

Let us love Let us love his

people, and associate with them.

Let us love his

cross, and be content and willing to bear it. Let us go away, and show who love Christ best by the holiness and zeal of our lives and conversation, that the world may take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus; that we have tasted of his love; that we have felt its purifying, comforting, quickening, strengthening influence; and that we are constrained thereby to live henceforth, not unto ourselves, but to Him that loved us and gave himself for us.

MEDITATION XIX.

[August 1, 1802.]

PSALM L. 5.

GATHER MY SAINTS TOGETHER UNTO ME; THOSE THAT HAVE MADE A COVENANT WITH ME BY SACRIFICE.

LORD, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. I have again and again published thy gracious invitation to all the poor, the blind, the halt, and the maimed, belonging to this congregation. I described to them what a feast thou hadst provided; and told them how thy table was furnished with every spiritual blessing they could want or wish for. I told them that nothing could please thee better than to see thy house full; but notwithstanding all I could say, the greater part of them made light of it, and went their way; one to his farm, and another to his merchandise; they minded earthly things only, and had no relish for spiritual entertainments; and this little flock, those very few, are all that I could prevail upon to come in and partake of thy bounty. Blessed Jesus, it is a wonder that thou didst not instantly swear in thy

wrath that none of these unthinking, unthankful persons, should ever taste of thy supper; yea, that thou didst not instantly and totally withdraw from our world, and refuse to hold friendly communion with any of our sinful race. So we should have done, if a fellow creature had thus slighted and abused our kindness. But as high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are his thoughts and ways above our thoughts and ways. I hope our present experience will be a proof that He can be good even to the evil and unthankful; and that where sin hath abounded, grace doth much more abound.

In this ordinance, we are to consider both our privilege and our duty. Some look so much to the privilege, as almost to forget the duty; and some are so anxious about the duty, as almost to forget the privilege: but surely we should have a due regard to both. The privilege is that we, who were once dead in trespasses and sins, obnoxious to God's justice, and offensive to his holiness, through inconceivable grace, have been brought into a state of spiritual life and favour with God, and that though we have innumerable sins cleaving to us, and are daily giving fresh provocations to our Maker and Benefactor, we should be invited and admitted to this divine feast. How astonishingly kind that we, who were once perishing with hunger, and should have perished for ever, if sovereign and all-victorious grace had not inclined and enabled us to return,

men,

I call,

should come back to our Father's house, where we find bread enough and to spare! This is the Bread of life which came down from heaven, concerning which Christ said, "If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread which I give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." Lord, evermore give us this bread. What a rich feast is this! a feast of fat things, of wine upon the lees, well refined. This is to eat angel's food-better than that, it is food of which angels were never honoured to taste. For to which of the angels said he at any time, "Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved?" No; "Unto you, and my voice is to the sons of men." For He took not on him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham. And in all things was made like unto us, whom he condescended to call his brethren. And forasmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself likewise took part of the same. And I hope that you now find that his flesh is meat indeed, and that his blood is drink indeed. On Christ's part all things are ready. Pardon is purchased and ready; sanctifying grace is purchased and ready; strength and comfort are purchased and ready; heaven is purchased and ready; nothing is wanting but our humble and thankful acceptance. O! that all was as ready on our part too! that we were as ready to receive what Christ is so ready