should obtain satisfactory evidence that he is possessed of the qualifications which are necessary to a profitable reception of it.

"What," then, "is required of those who come to the Lord's Supper?" The admirable answer given to this question, in the Church catechism, is as follows: "To examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former sins, steadfastly purposing to lead a new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy, through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of his death; and be in charity with all men."

The performance of so solemn and important an act of devotion, ought not to be entered upon without serious and prayerful self-examination: for, "as the benefit is great, if, with a true penitent heart and lively faith, we receive that holy sacrament; so is the danger great, if we receive the same unworthily. Judge, therefore, yourselves, brethren, that ye be not judged of the Lord."* In the answer above quoted from the Catechism, the church gives the instruction and aid which are needful to enable her children to comply with the precept of the Apostle: "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup."

No man who realizes the unspeakable value of his immortal soul; his responsibility, as a subject of the divine government; the strictness of the account he

* Communion Service.

will be required to render at the bar of judgment; the joys of heaven and the pains of hell, to the one or other of which he must be for ever consigned, according to the character he has formed and the deeds done in the body: I say, no one, whose mind is duly impressed with these momentous truths, can be indifferent about his spiritual state, or fail to make it, at times, a subject of anxious investigation. Knowing that eternal consequences are suspended upon the issue, he must occasionally pause amidst the avocations and enjoyments of the present life, to ask— What will be my fate in the life to come? a hope of heaven, and on what is it founded? a child of God—a sincere follower of Christ—a living member of his Church? Do I possess the characteristics of the righteous? Is my hope that "which maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost?" or, is it built upon a foundation unstable as the sand?

Have I

Am I

Every serious probationer for eternity will, occasionally, propose such queries to his conscience, with the most profound solicitude. A knowledge that his everlasting all is suspended upon the faithful reply, will make him fear a partial investigation, or a selfflattering decision. And a conviction that "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked," so that the prophet asks, "who can know it?" will prompt him to accompany his examination with the fervent prayer, "Search me, O God! and try the ground

of my heart: prove me, and examine my thoughts: see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

This deep and rigid self-examination into our spiritual state and the ground of our hopes, so useful at all times, is especially called for when we are about to approach the table of our Redeemer, and appear before God, in the character of his professed worshippers and children. Every one who goes forward to that ordinance, professes to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, and should, therefore, seriously examine himself, to ascertain whether his profession is sincere; whether he has the prominent marks and characteristics of a disciple; lest the Master of the feast, when he comes in to look at the guests, should say unto him: "Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having on the wedding garment?”

SECTION II.

Repentance and amendment of life.

EVERY disciple of Jesus is a true penitent. The first head of self-examination, therefore, should be, "whether we truly repent of all our sins past?" And, in order to ascertain this, we must inquire, whether we are possessed of that humble state of mind which becomes a sinner who desires to be saved by grace? Whether we have been thoroughly convinced of our lost condition, as depraved creatures, and of our awful guilt, as transgressors of the divine law? A deep and abiding conviction of native corruption and personal guilt, is essential to evangelical repentance: it is the first symptom of restoration to spiritual life. Without this, there can be no realizing sense of our need of a Saviour; no earnest longings for the blessings of redemption. "They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." If, therefore, we are strangers to such a conviction, we may rest assured that we "have no part or lot in the matter; that our hearts are not right in the sight of God; but we are still in the gall of bitterness, and the bond of iniquity." It is impossible, in the nature of things, that we can have repented of our sins, when we have not been made sensible that we are sinners. It is as unreason

able as it would be to suppose, that a man had placed himself under the care of a physician, taken many loathsome prescriptions, and submitted to a long and painful course of medical treatment, without a conviction that his body was diseased.

Something more than the partial and superficial view of their own sinfulness, with which many rest satisfied, is implied in the conviction of which we speak. It is by no means sufficient to be persuaded, that we have, occasionally, and in some particular instances of gross transgression, violated the law of God. If we have correct views of the spirituality and broad extent of that law, as taking cognizance of the inward thoughts and affections of the mind, no less than the outward actions of the life, we shall be persuaded, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that we have, in no single instance, perfectly obeyed it, and that our very best works can lay no claim to the approbation of Him "who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity." It is not sufficient for us to be convinced, or even humbly confess, that "we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and have done those things which we ought not to have done;" but we must go to the root of the evil, the entire depravity of the heart, and freely acknowledge that "there is no health in us." This ingenuous confession, will be extorted from hearts humbled in the dust, when we are savingly "convinced" by the Spirit and the law of God. Our confession will not be