might be conveyed to his redeemed people to the end of the world, he gave authority to his Apostles and their successors to consecrate bread and wine as the memorials of his body and blood, thro' the devout participation of which, his humble and penitent followers should receive all the inestimable blessings of his salvation.

Contemplate, O my soul, with holy awe, this sacred mystery; contemplate, with lively gratitude, the inestimable blessings which thy Saviour conveys to thee, thro' this hallowed ordinance. Christians, uniting with their authorised ministers in the celebration of this holy sacrament, present before God, a sacrifice commemorative of that all-sufficient sacrifice which the Saviour made. Receiving with lively faith the consecrated elements, they are made partakers of all those blessings which where purchased by the offering which Christ made of his sacred body and blood. They are cleansed from sin, they are restored to communion and peace with God, they are strengthened by the presence and consolations of his holy Spirit, they are preserved by the vivifying body and blood of Christ unto everlasting life.

Oh! sublime and precious mystery! Jesus, exalted in glory, condescends to become, by representative symbols, the spiritual food, support and strength of his people. Surrounding this holy table Christians hear the voice of their

blessed Redeemer pronouncing their pardon; they receive, as it were, from his own hands, the pledges of their Salvation, the sacred emblems of his life-giving body and blood. "As often as they eat this bread and drink this cup, they do shew forth the Lord's death till he come."

Bless God, O my soul, for his infinite love in giving his only Son, for thy redemption.Bless thy Saviour, for graciously condescending to institute a sacred rite, in which, under the most lively and affecting emblems, thou mayest commemorate his death and be made partaker of the benefits of his passsion. Art thou desirous, O my soul, to obtain that peace and happiness which thou hast in vain sought from a disappointing world-Go to the holy Supper of thy Lord, where he waits to dispense to thee a peace which passeth all understanding, a peace which the world can neither give nor take away, a peace which his infinite mercy inspires, which his almighty grace cherishes, and which shall flourish forever under the smiles of his love. Art thou weary and heavy laden, O my soul, under the burden of thy sins, under the oppressing cares and sorrows of the world-Go to the altar, where the arms of thy Redeemer are extended to embrace thee, to shield thee in his bosom from every guilty pang, from every corroding sorrow. Do unholy passions invade thy peace, does temptation overcome thy frail resolutions,

does sin defile thee, O my soul, and render thee obnoxious to that God who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity-Go to the altar, where thy gracious Redeemer sits enthroned, glorious in his power, mighty to save. By his almighty fiat, he will quell the tumult of thy guilty passions; his heavenly grace descending upon thee, will purify and renew thy affections, will guide thee through all difficulties, will arm thee, with victorious strength, over all temptations. In the imperfect and transitory gratifications. of the present life, thou dost in vain seek, O my soul, for that full and substantial enjoyment for which thy aspiring powers ardently pant-Go then to the altar, and receiving, with lively faith, the pledges of thy saviour's grace and mercy, enjoy a foretaste of that never-ending and ineffable bliss, which, in the kingdom of heaven, thou shalt drink, at the everlasting fountain of perfection and love.

Yes, O my God, thy service alone constitutes the perfection of my nature, thy service alone leads to perfect and eternal bliss. Too long the sport of guilty and disappointing pleasures, I now resolve to chuse thee, O my God, as my supreme good, my unfailing and satisfying portion. Blessed Jesus! thou, who art the only way of access unto the Father, conduct me to the light of his reconciled coun

tenance.

E

THE PRAYER.

O MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS GOD, the foun tain of being and all perfection; I bless thee that thou hast created me capable of knowing, of loving, and of serving thee. Forever blessed be thy name, that when I had wandered from thee, the source of light and felicity, thou didst not give me up to that blindness and misery, which I had courted, and which would have been my merited portion. Forever blessed be thy name, that when, by my sins, I had provoked thy just displeasure, thou didst, in mercy, forbear to execute upon me the severity of thy awful wrath. Blessed, forever blessed O God, be thy holy name, that thou didst even give, thy only begottenand well beloved Son, to suffering and death, to purchase my redemption. Glory be forever ascribed to thee, for the inestimable gift. O may this display of infinite love awaken, in my heart, the emotions of lively gratitude, and penetrate me with compunction for having so long neglected thee, my gracious Redeemer and God. Dispose me now to return to thee, to chuse thy service as my highest duty, my supreme delight and enjoyment. Blessed Jesus, who, by thy precious blood hast atoned for my sins, and in the powerful grace of thy holy Spirit hast provided the means of my redemption, with humble reverence and gratitude, I adore thee for thy infinite love, in conveying to me, by sensible pledges, the assurances of thy grace and mercy, in nourishing and strengthening me, under lively and affecting emblems, with thy spiritual body and blood. O may my earnest desires be awakened to partake, in the holy sacrament of thy supper, of thy life-giving body, of thy purifying blood-to seal by them my pardon, my peace, my restoration to holiness and eternal felicity. Do, thou, O God, awaken, by thy grace, these holy desires, and strengthen my resolutions of serving thee. Dispel the doubts, allay the apprehensions, remove every indolent or sensual pretext, which would deter me from receiv ing the memorials of my Saviour's love, the pledges of my

eternal salvation. With lively desire, with humble penitence, and stedfast faith, approaching thy holy table, may I be accepted and blessed as thy devoted servant and subject, through Jesus Christ my Lord and Redeemer.

AMEN.

[Then add your usual morning devotions.]

Monday Evening.

MEDITATION.

THE CHRISTIAN DIRECTED IN THE SERIOUS EXAMINATION OF HIS SPIRITUAL CHARACTER AND STATE,

AS PREPARATORY TO HIS RECEIVING

THE HOLY COMMUNION.

WISE is the choice thou hast made, O my soul, to serve thy God; wise thy resolution. to commemorate, in the holy eucharist, the infinite love of thy Saviour, who, by his death, purchased thy redemption, and offers thee, in that holy ordinance, all the inestimable blessings of his passion.

But recollect, O my soul, that if thou dost advance, unprepared and impenitent, to the supper of thy Lord, he will not accept thee