“I wish, in conclusion,” says this energetic and pious divine, “to draw your attention to a circumstance of importance, which particularly offers itself to our notice, both from the subject before us, _and the place in which we now are_. They who minister at the altar, are witnesses of a truth much to be lamented, that very few of _our sex_, in comparison with the other, ever are partakers of the Lord’s Supper; and much it is to be feared, that a _determination to proceed in the deliberate commission of that deadly sin_, _which fills this house _{21}_ with woe_, is by many made a reason for neglecting the _indispensable duty_ of receiving the Holy Sacrament; and they vainly imagine, that, by _not_ partaking of it, they may sin with a greater chance of impunity. They assume, moreover, a _kind of merit_ to themselves in abstaining from it, as if _it indicated a laudable fear of eating and drinking unworthily_. Alas! how much are they mistaken! for let us consider a little. The Scriptures, that is, the law by which we are all to be judged at the last day, expressly forbid fornication as a sin, which, if persevered in, without repentance, will certainly exclude us from the kingdom of Heaven; and they also command the receiving of the Holy Sacrament, _as a means of obtaining grace and salvation_:—_whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood_, saith our Saviour, _hath eternal life_. Now imagine, for illustration, that you had a child, in a state improper to appear before his parents from want, let us say, of cleanliness in his person; and imagine also, that he is admonished to make himself ready that he may attend his duty; suppose he replies, _that he is not in a fit state_, _that he will not prepare himself_, _and therefore_ he cannot perform the duty enjoined: would you in this case look upon _him_ as excusable? or would you not rather regard him as deserving _double_ blame, who knowing what is right, insolently refuses to perform it, _and dares to plead one offence_, _as a reason for committing another_? It is the same with respect to yourselves. Your souls, in the sight of God, are covered with impurity; and he exhorts you to _cleanse_ yourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, that you may take this holy Sacrament to your comfort; and _can you be so weak as to suppose_, _that your wickedness in the former point will be diminished because you refuse to listen to your Redeemer in the latter_? If there are any here, to whom what I have now said, is in any degree applicable; let me entreat them to break off instantly that fellowship, with which Christ can have no agreement. _Let them remember_, _that to reject the blood of the covenant_, _because they are unworthy_, _through the habitual commission of any known sin_, _is to render that unworthiness still