promise of assistance from above; and finally, commends them to his Father in strains of the most pure and sublime devotion. {8} It was in this most interesting moment, that he instituted this holy feast to be the harbinger of peace to the returning sinner, and the consolation of the faithful to the end of time: and, as an additional incitement to the performance of it, he was pleased to command, _that all this should be done in remembrance of him_. Supposing we derived no benefit to ourselves from this Sacrament, as the means of grace, what heart that is not dead to every virtuous feeling, could refuse to comply with this command, as a mere act of gratitude to such a Saviour! to Him, who was moved with such compassion for the sons of men, as to leave the glories of Heaven, and to take _our nature_ upon him, to make satisfaction _in that nature_ for our sins? It was at that awful moment, when, _as Man_, his soul was exceedingly sorrowful, on account of the heavy burden of _our_ sins, then lying upon him, that our dying Saviour graciously bequeathed this holy ordinance, to distinguish all his faithful followers, requiring _them_ and _all_, who expect any benefit from his death, to commemorate it after the manner which he has ordained. When it is recollected, that all this happened the very night before our gracious and affectionate Redeemer _was bruised for our iniquities_, _and expired upon the cross for our transgressions_, can _any_ Christian profess that he loves his Saviour, and that he is grateful for his bitter sufferings, and yet _wantonly_ and _continually_ turn his back upon this sacred feast, instituted at a time and under circumstances so peculiarly affecting? But as I am addressing one, who professes to be a Christian, I expect to be told, that you know that Christ has given this command, that you are assured of the benefits to be derived from obedience, and aware of the punishment denounced against disobedience. If you know all these things, do, my dear friend, consider, that to know what is right, and _wilfully_ and _repeatedly_ to err against that knowledge, is the very highest pitch of criminality: and let me conjure you also to remember, _who_ it is that has said, _that the servant who knew his Lord’s will_, _and did it not_, _shall be beaten with many stripes_. I am willing, however, to believe that _you_ have hitherto been restrained from attending the holy altar, from an apprehension that your life has not been answerable to what you conceive it ought to be, in order to a worthy reception of the body and blood of Christ: and you stifle the suggestions of your conscience with flattering hopes, that you may live to be more worthy, and that you may yet have, after your course of life shall have become more conformable to the dictates of the Gospel, many opportunities of communicating.