body, and by the shedding of his blood for us as I have already said in my former discourse.

I come now to the second thing proposed to be enquired into, namely, what obligation lies upon every Christian to come and receive the Holy Communion.

And here, in the first place, what obligation can be stronger than the plain and positive command of our Saviour Christ himself? which he has laid upon us in as express terms as can be, that we should do this, that is to say, eat of this bread, and drink of this cup, in remembrance of him; as we may find it in the words just now quoted, 1 Cor. xi. 23, &c. and that these words were ever understood to contain in them a strict command, perpetually binding all Christians to the obser

vance of it, most evidently appears as well from the context of that chapter (from the twentieth verse to the end) as from the constant great care and concern which the apostolic and primitive Church always shewed, in the maintaining, and decent celebration of this ordinance.

But besides the bare authority of our Saviour Christ, which is alone sufficient to lay an indispensable obligation upon us, there are some collateral circumstances and considerations which do add an extraordinary weight and force to this command; as, namely, that it was given at that very time, when he, who was our best friend, and greatest benefactor, was just ready to die, and lay down his life for our sakes; and not only so, but this command was given us to be

observed in remembrance of him, and of that death which he underwent for us.

If a dying friend should, before his departure out of the world, make any request to me, which were not impossible or unreasonable in itself: I should think myself much wanting in that friendship which I had professed to him, if I should omit or neglect to perform it. But if this friend had been one, not of the common sort, but a very great and extraordinary benefactor to me; and if, beyond this, he were just going to lay down his life for my sake; and, lastly, if this request were that I would do something which might be the means to keep me always in remembrance of him, and of what he had done for me; certainly I might well be accounted as one of the

most barbarous and ungrateful wretches that ever lived, if I were not very careful most punctually to observe, and fulfil, whatever should thus be enjoined, and laid upon me. Now beside the authority which our Saviour Christ has to lay an obligation upon us ; we all of us, sure, must acknowledge, that he is our friend, our greatest friend, and chiefest benefactor; and that it was for our sakes alone, that he underwent all his sufferings, and yielded up his life upon the cross. And since he has made this request, and left it as a command unto all who should believe on him, that they should eat of this bread, and drink of this cup, in remembrance of him, and of what he had suffered for us; I would fain know, how any man who calls himself a Christian, can

possibly be excused from the greatest ingratitude, as well as disobedience, if he neglects to do what he thus appears to be so strongly and doubly obliged to? And with what confidence can he hope to be saved, by the merits and passion of Christ, whilst he refuses, or neg lects to commemorate his death and sufferings in that manner, which Christ himself has appointed?

And thus, I think, we have a sufficient answer to the second thing proposed, namely what obligation lies upon every Christian, to receive the Holy Communion? We are plainly obliged to do it, first, in point of duty; because we are thereunto expressly commanded by Christ Jesus our Saviour: and, secondly, in point of gratitude: because this injunction