is acquainted, comprising a Discourse explanatory of the Christian Sacraments,-a Sacramental Catechism,-Devotional Exercises preparatory to Communion,-a Series of Sacramental Addresses, illustrative of the mode in which the Communion Service is celebrated in the Presbyterian Churches,

-and, lastly, a Discourse on the very important subject of the Imitation of Christ, and designed to be used occasionally between seasons of Sacramental Communion, by those who wish to recall and to strengthen the vows which, in that "most holy service," they had voluntarily taken, and by which they bound themselves to live, amidst all the seducing interests of time, as "Disciples of Christ."

Indeed, amidst the multitude of Treatises on Sacramental Communion which have been given to the public, it cannot but be felt to be a matter of wonder, that scarcely one can be selected which is, in the least degree, suitable, either for the completeness and interest of its materials, or for the

'style of its execution,-to the peculiarly august and delightful character of by far the most solemn service that can be performed by man;—most of the works on this subject which have hitherto appeared, being either controversial treatises, little adapted to afford either information or pleasure to those who are devoutly disposed, or mere Catechisms, intended chiefly for those who are but "babes in Christ;"-and all of them destitute of those attractions of method and of style, which the singularly-interesting nature of the sentiments awakened by the Sacramental service might have seemed sufficient of themselves to have suggested as peculiarly suited to a work illustrative of its

character.

It will not be questioned, that a work executed on higher principles, and in a better manner, ought to exist;—and though the Author of the present Treatise is far from saying that he has reached the standard he has thus set up, he may, however, without incurring the charge of presumption, aver,

that it has been his endeavour to come as near to that standard as the powers of execution which he possesses permit him to attain. He may also add, that he felt a particular wish that some respectablyexecuted memorial should exist of the peculiar manner in which the Sacramental service is performed in the church to which he himself belongs; and he has, accordingly, endeavoured to afford such a memorial, in the "Sacramental Addresses," which form the Fourth Part of the present work, -in which the reader will perceive, that the Author has limited himself to what is more appropriately the Sacramental service,—including the Address preparatory to Communion, and the general Exhortation to all who have communicated, with which the service is always concluded. It would give him great satisfaction to think, that in this part of the work he had succeeded in his aim,-both because he is anxious, that a becoming exhibition should be made of the manner in which this most solemn duty is

performed in a church, for all whose interests he feels the most sincere good-will,—and because, during the composition of this portion of the work, his mind has been carried back by many delightful remembrances, connected with those portions of life in which the sentiment of piety is apt to be most powerfully awakened, and with those many solemn meetings in which, both with his own people, and with other Christian congregations, he has so often and so delightfully felt how beautifully the grand truths of revelation are adapted to the highest sentiments and noblest hopes of the human heart,—and how deeply interested, indeed, the human heart always finds itself in those truths, when they are presented to it in a manner at all suitable to their intrinsic excellence.

Independent of the foregoing considerations, the Author can scarcely think that any lengthened apology is necessary for an attempt to set in a clearer light the most important and interesting of all religious services, or for offering to Chris

tians some farther helps for enabling them to keep this festival with a more suitable participation of their understandings and hearts. Indeed, a history of the abuses of the Sacramental rite, during former ages, would exhibit one of the most fertile subjects of melancholy reflection, and of instructive thought, both to the student of those wonderful changes which divine truth has experienced in the world, and to the philosophical observer of the weaknesses and aberrations that are incident to all the exertions of human intellect, -and would be the best of all illustrations of this most important truth, that there is no rite so simple in itself, so full of interesting and impressive meaning, or so worthy of being kept, in its original purity, with the most sacred care, as not to be liable, when it has become the privilege of the great body of mankind, to the most fearful and lamentable abuses,-and that, consequently, it is our duty, at all times, to exercise the most vigilant care, that no such abuses as those of which