passionate Jesus shewed particular attention. Tracts very short and very plain should be placed in their hands; and though many of them cannot read, yet they usually find somebody who can and will read to them, especially since the establishment of Sunday Schools. It is something to turn their minds to the subject. The poor are always pleased with the attention and solicitude of their superiors in their favour; and are often converted by this circumstance alone from the error of their ways, from drunkenness and idleness to industry and frugality. I know nothing more that can be done, except, indeed, the zeal of well-disposed persons should lead them to make friendly and domiciliary visits to the poor, in order to enlighten their minds in things which so much belong unto their peace. Such would be a god-like office; and they who undertake it must not be offended by the scoffs and ridicule of worldly-minded and infidel by-standers. I believe there are many among the Sectaries, who, animated with sincere piety, perform such offices as these, and are successful. No

liberal

liberal and truly Christian mind will despise men whatever opprobrious name their sect may bear, who do so much good, and, in consequence of it, suffer so much evil, as the contempt and reproach of their acquaintance. To go about doing good, and to be reviled and persecuted for it, we should remember, was the lot of him who was our GREAT EXEMPLAR.

But it must not be supposed that the neglect of the Sacrament is confined to the poor. The man of business, the man of pleasure, and the man of ambition, seem to take little notice of it; whether from thoughtlessness, from contempt, or from the multitude of their occupations, is not easy to determine. All that can be farther said to such persons is, that the churches are open, and they are invited to enter and receive instruction; that treaties are written and offered to their perusal; and that if they will not enter the one, nor read the other, on themselves only must fall the evil consequence. In the day of pain, sickness, or some other adversity, they may learn to feel their want of spiritual consolation, In the day of

health

health and wealth they are too apt to be under the influence of PRIDE, intellectual as well as worldly pride, which renders the heart obdurate, and the ear deaf to religi ous admonition. But an hour will come when Conscience will sound an ALARM.

The persons above spoken of, whether rich or poor, are spoken of, as what they profess to be,―CHRISTIANS. Sceptics, infidels, and conceited superficial readers of French philosophy, the MODERN RATIONÁLÍSTs, are a numerous tribe, who, onprinciple, neglect the Eucharist. Argument has little effect on them, for they are enthusiasts in their way, enthusiasts in the school of sophistry. The school of adversity may, perhaps, afford them at some period of their lives a better lesson. The grace of God may find entrance into their hearts when softened by affliction. The Sacrament may then be sought with an avidity encreased by the remembrance of their present neglect.

However that may be, it is certain that Christians cannot live consistently with their profession, without participation of the Lord's Supper; and no less certain,

that

that the greater number do not participate. This PHENOMENON IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD, will fully justify my humble attempt, and calls for the active exertions of all who wish to be faithful ministers of the Gospel.

It may surely repress the mistaken zeal of the professional depreciators of the Sacrament when they see how few assemble at the Communion Table; few, in comparison with those who never approach it. If the benefits are little, or none, who will incur the danger? The danger, s it is for midably described, of receiving unworthily* ? Even prudent and sober-minded men may, in their fears, be tempted to believe

that

* On the subject of worthily receiving, I shall give some of the sentiments of an old and sensible Divine; modernizing his language, and illustrating his meaning with additional observations.

"Is any man," he asks, "so plentifully blessed with Grace that he can be said to partake the Holy Sacrament worthily ?”

To which he answers: "One may perform an action worthily in a threefold respect: First, WORTHILY, DIGNITATE ÆQUALITATIS; as, the labourer is worthy of

T

his

that it is better to abstain, where the benefit is represented by great theologians as doubtful, or rather none at all, while a possibility of incurring the greatest penal

ties

his hire: This is the Worthiness of Equality; because the performance and the payment preserve an equilibrium in the scales of justice. This Worthiness claims the reward due to it, and he who denies or detains the reward does the worthy party a wrong and injury. Now, no man can receive the Sacrament with this kind of worthiness. The Church itself, in her Liturgy, disavow's all pretensions to this kind of Worthiness at the Communion. We are there first instructed to say, We are not worthy so much as to gather the Crumbs under thy Table; and to add afterwards, Though we be unworthy through our manifold sins to offer unto thee any Sacrifice. Secondly: We may perform an action worthily, DIGNITATE CONVENIENTIÆ, APTITUDINIS DECENTIÆ, in the worthiness of congruity, aptitude, or decency, which consists, though not in a perfect and exact proportion of the performance to the recompence, yet in yome fitness, congruity, and resemblance to that which is required as in Scripture, Bring forth therefore fruits meet for or worthy of repentance; that is, such as bear no repugnancy and contradiction to the repentance you profess, but are in some degree agreeable and suitable to it. So in the phrases, walk WORTHY of the Lord, WORTHY of your calling, worthy of the Gospel*, it is

:

Col. i. 10. Ephes. iv. 1. Phil. i. 27.

or

mean