This is what is represented in the Supper—and “Hard is the wretch that never felt one soft affection move;” for, “Did ere such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?” And I must doubt the state of those who despise this Ordinance as carnal, seeing it is the last request of him who is God-Man Mediator, our friend, and eternal _all_. I now proceed, 2ndly, _To point out the Characters that are incited_, for whom this was instituted, and _who have a right to partake of this Ordinance_. Negatively—No Unbeliever, no ignorant Persons, who know neither God nor themselves; no immoral Character; no Pharisee, Worldling, or Hypocrite—these, if they could be found out, ought to be denied; but the _Tares and the Wheat_ must grow together till the _Harvest_—the wise and foolish Virgins will keep on till the midnight Cry is made; the sacred Scriptures are the grand touch-stone—all must be weighed in these Balances of the Sanctuary; Doctrines, Experience, Ordinances, and Characters, must be according to this Word. As all Promises, so all Ordinances are for the People of God; and these People go by various names in Scripture—perhaps the best is that of Children. The most lovely character of God is that of a Father, and the nearest idea of relationship is that of Children: this term relates to the whole Election of Grace, among Jews and Gentiles. God called the Israelites his Children, and the same name is given to his chosen among the Gentiles—_More are the Children of the Desolate than the Children of the married Wife_, saith the Lord. As Children, and by virtue of our adoption into his family, as the fruit of eternal love, all the Ordinances of the Gospel are ours—_all are yours_, _and ye are Christ’s_. As Children, he has provided a Table, and he, as our Father, loves to see us at it—we have a right to it; to this priviledge all the Children of God were appointed—_having predestinated us to the adoption of Children_; this was an eternal act. But I shall now consider, Why they are so called, which will give us to see whether we have any evidence in our souls that we are the Children of God, and have the _Spirit of Adoption_, to say, _Father_, _Father_. _Doubtless thou art our Father_. If Children, then, in the _First_ place, _We must be born again_: this originates in his will—_of his own will begat he us_. This New Birth is the sovereign Act of God—_Born not of the will of the flesh_, _but of God_. This Work is solely through the Agency of God the Holy Spirit—_Except a man be born of Water and the Spirit_, _he cannot see_ (that is to say, _enjoy_) _the kingdom of Heaven_. The means he usually makes use of is the Word—_being born_, _not of corruptible Seed_, _but the Word of God_. Sometimes through the Ministry of Men—_My little Children_, _for whom I travel in Birth—Timothy_, _my own son in the Faith_. This New Birth is produced by the inhabitation of the Spirit, he