not for hunger, while there is bread enough in thy father's house, and to spare; die not for thirst, while there is a well of water by thee.

III. This chapter must conclude with an exhortation to those who have given up their name to the Lord in this ordinance, and have sometimes sealed their covenant with God in it, but they come very seldom to it, and allow themselves in the neglect and omission of it. Frequent opportunities they have for it, stated meals provided for them, the table spread and furnished. Others come, and they are invited; but time after time they let it slip, and turn their backs upon it, framing to themselves some sorry excuse or other to shift it off.

I desire such to consider seriously,

1. How powerful the engagements are which we lie under, to be frequent and constant in our attendance on the Lord in this ordinance. It is plainly intimated in the institution, that the solemnity is oft to be repeated; for it is said, "Do this, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." Baptism is to be administered but once, because it is the door of admission, and we are but once to enter in by that door: but the Lord's Supper is the table in Christ's family, at which we are to eat bread continually. The law of Moses prescribed how oft the passover must be celebrated, under very severe penalties; but the gospel being a dispensation of a greater love and liberty, only appoints us to observe its passover oft, and then leaves it to our own ingenuity and pious affections to fix the time, and determine how oft. If a deliverance out of Egypt merited an annual commemoration, surely our redemption by Christ merits a more frequent one, especially since we need not go up to Jerusalem to do it. If this tree of life, which bears more than twelve manner of fruits, yieldeth her fruit to us every month, I know not why we should neglect it any month. Where there is the truth of grace, this ordinance ought to be improved, which, by virtue of divine appointment, has a moral influence upon our growth in grace. The great Master

of the family would have none of his family missing at meal-time.

While we are often sinning, we have need to be often receiving the seal of our pardon; because, though the sacrifice be perfect, and "able to perfect for ever them which are sanctified," so that that needs never to be repeated; yet the application of it being imperfect, has need to be often made afresh. The worshippers, though once purged, having, still consciences of sin in this defective state, must oft have recourse to the fountain opened for the purging of their consciences, from the pollutions contracted daily by dead works, to serve the living God. Even he that is washed thus, needs to wash his feet, or he cannot be easy.

While we are often in temptation, we have need to be often renewing our covenants with God, and fetching strength from heaven for our spiritual conflicts. Frequent fresh recruits and fresh supplies, are necessary for those that are so closely besieged, and are so vigorously attacked, by a potent adversary. He improves all advantages against us, therefore it is our wisdom not to neglect any advantage against him, and particularly this ordinance.

While we are often labouring under great coldness and deadness of affection towards divine things, we need oft to use those means which are proper to kindle that holy fire, and keep it burning. We find, by sad experience, that our coal from the altar is soon quenched, our thoughts grow flat and low, and unconcerned about the other world, by being so much conversant with this; we have therefore need to be often celebrating the memorial of Christ's death and sufferings, than which nothing can be more affecting to a Christian, nor more proper to raise and refine the thoughts; it is a subject that more than once has made the disciples' hearts to burn within them.

Much of our communion with God is kept up by the renewing of our covenant with him, and the frequent interchanging of solemn assurances. It is not superfluous, but highly serviceable, both to our

holiness and our comfort, oft to present ourselves to God as living sacrifices, alive from the dead. It is a token of Christ's favour to us, and must not be slighted, that he not only admits, but invites us oft to repeat this solemnity, and is ready again to seal to us, if we be but ready to seal to him. Jonathan, therefore "caused David to swear again, because he loved him." And an honest mind will not startle at

assurances.

2. Consider how poor the excuses are with which men commonly justify themselves in this neglect. They let slip many an opportunity of attending upon the Lord in this ordinance, and why do they?

Perhaps they are so full of worldly business, that they have neither time nor heart for that close application to the work of a sacrament which they know is requisite: the shop must be attended, accounts must be kept, debts owing them must be got in, and debts they owe must be paid; it may be, some affair of more than ordinary difficulty and importance is upon their hands, of which they are in care about the issue, and till that be over, they think it not amiss to withdraw from the Lord's Supper. And is this thy excuse? Weigh it in the balances of the sanctuary then, and consider, is any business more necessary than the doing of thy duty to God, and the working out of thine own salvation? Thou art careful and troubled about many things; but is not this the one thing needful, to which every thing else should be obliged to give way? Dost thou not think thy worldly business would prosper and succeed the better for thy care about the main matter? If it were left whilst thou comest hither to worship, mightest thou not return to it with greater hope to speed in it? And dost thou not spare time from thy business for things of much less moment than this? Thou wilt find time, as busy as thou art, to eat and drink, and sleep, and converse with thy friends; and is not the nourishment of thy soul, its repose in God, and communion with him, much more necessary? I dare say, thou wilt own it is.

If indeed thou canst not allow so much time for solemn secret worship in preparation for this ordinance, and reflection upon it, as others do, and as thou thyself sometime hast done, and wouldst do, yet let not that keep thee from the ordinance; thy heart may be in heaven, when thy hands are about the world; and a serious Christian may, through God's assistance, do a great deal of work in a little time. If the hours that should be thus employed, be trifled away in that which is idle and impertinent, it is our sin; but if they be forced out of our hands by necessary and unavoidable avocations, it is but our affliction, and ought not to hinder us from the ordinance. The less time we have for preparation, the more close and intent we should be in the ordinance itself, and so make up the loss. A welcome guest never comes unseasonably to one that always keeps a good house.

But if, indeed, thy heart is so set upon the world, so filled with the cares of it, and so eager in the pursuits of it, that thou hast no mind to the comforts of this ordinance, no spirit nor life for the business of it, surely thou hast left thy first love, and thou hast most need of all to come to this ordinance for the recovery of the ground thou hast lost. Dost thou think that the inordinacy of thine affections to the world, will be a passable excuse for the coldness of thine affections to the Lord Jesus? Make haste, and get this matter mended, and conclude, that thy worldly business then becomes a snare to thee, and thy concern about it is excessive and inordinate, and an ill symptom, when it prevails to keep thee back from this ordinance.

Perhaps some unhappy quarrels, with some relations or with neighbours, some vexatious law-suit they are engaged in, or some hot words that have passed, are pleaded as an excuse for withdrawing from the communion. They are not in charity with others, or others are not in charity with them; and they have been told, and it is undoubtedly true, that it is better to stay away than come in malice; but

then the malice is so far from being an excuse for the staying away, that really the staying away is an aggravation of the malice. The law in this case is very express: If thy brother has ought against thee, that is, if thy conscience tell thee that thou art the party offending, do not therefore leave the altar, but leave thy gift before the altar, as a pawn for thy return, and go first and be reconciled to thy brother, by confessing thy fault, begging his pardon, and making satisfaction for the wrong done, and then be sure to come and offer thy gift. But, on the other hand, if thou have ought against any, if thou be the party offended, then forgive. Lay aside all uncharitable thoughts, angry resentments, and desire of revenge, and be in readiness to confirm and evidence your love to those that have injured you; and then, if they will not be reconciled to you, yet your being reconciled to them, is sufficient to remove that bar in your way to this ordinance. In short, strife and contention, as far as it is our fault, must be truly repented of, and the sincerity of our repentance evidenced by amendment of life, and then it needs not hinder us; as far as it is our cross, it must be patiently borne, and we must not be disturbed in our minds by it, and then it need not hinder us. And that law-suit which cannot be carried on without malice and hatred of our brother, had better be let fall, whatever we lose. Law is costly indeed, when it is followed at the expense of love and charity.

3. If the true reason of your absenting yourselves so often from the Lord's Supper be, that you are not willing to take that pains with your own hearts, and to lay that restraint upon yourselves both before and after, which you know you must if you come; if, indeed, you are not willing to have your thoughts so closely fixed, your consciences so strictly examined, and your engagements against sin so strongly confirmed, as they will be by this ordinance; if this be your case, you have reason to fear that "the things which remain are ready to die, and your works are not found filled up before God." It is a sad sign