ments. But as the Jews were obliged under the severest penalty to be circumcised, and keep the passover; so our guilt and danger will be proportionably great, in not observing, when it is in our power, these two more easy institutions, which are not only of a higher authority, but also the distinguishing badgesm of a more excellent profession."

By the word SACRAMENT the church tells us, is meant an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof. Now for the clearer understanding of this account which the church gives of a sacrament, it is necessary that the several parts of which it consists, should be distinguished. According to this definition which the church

g But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.Matt. xii. 7...

And the uncircumcised man child, whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.-Gen. xvii. 14.

¿But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from his people.-Numb. ix. 13.

For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.-1 John v. 3.

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven. -Heb. xii. 25.

m For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye dɔ shew the Lord's death till he come.-1 Cor. xi. 26.

n For the law was given by by Jesus Christ.-John i. 17.

Moses, but grace and truth came,

gives of a sacrament, it appears that in order to constitute a sacrament, there must be, first, something discernible and apparent, to our senses; which, secondly, must represent some spiritual grace and favour youchsafed us by God; thirdly, the outward sign must be of Christ's own institution; and, fourthly, appointed by him as a means of conveying to us the inward grace, and as a seal and pledge to assure it to us. As these properties are only to be found in Baptism and the Supper of our Lord, no other religious rite can be truly called, or ought to be esteemed, a sacrament,

Now the parts of which a sacrament consists are two, viz. The outward visible sign, and the inward spiritual grace. Outward. sensible things can, by the institution of God, be a means of conveying, and pledges to assure to us, divine grace and favour. These sacramental signs were ordained by GOD in gracious condescension to our infirmities, thereby to inform our understanding, to refresh our memories, and to excite our affections. Their efficacy is not owing to any power in themselves, but to the blessing of Christ upon his own institutions and appointments. are not therefore to doubt, but that, in the right use of the outward means, he will, by the power of his spirit, though in a manner un

We

o So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.-1 Cor. iii. 7.

known to us convey, and confirm, in Baptism, and convey, and confirm, in the Lord's Supper, to the worthy receivers thereof, the divine grace signified thereby, according to his own most true promise.

The Lord's Supper is so called, because the Jewish custom of eating bread and drink ing wine, at the conclusion of the paschat Sup per, was by our Lord converted into the sacrament of his most precious body and blood."

The church teaches us, that the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper is bread and wine, which the Lord has commanded to be received. Though it is our duty to rest satisfied in our Lord's will and pleasure, with out seeking after a reason for his appointments; we cannot but observe, that as our spiritual purification is appositely represented by water, in the other sacrament, so is our spiritual sustenance by bread and wine, in this. Bread, and wine being both parts of

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit.—John iii. 8.

q And now, why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.Acts xxii. 16.

r As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.-John vi. 57. tis For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.—Matt. xxvi. 28.

For he is faithful that promised.-Heb. x. 23.

u And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you.-Luke xxii. 19, 20.

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one complete nourishment, and separately ineffectual, this sacrament is commanded to be administered in both kinds.or

The church likewise tells us, that the ins ward part, or thing signified, is the body and blood of Christ. Hence we are to understand, that GOD did not only give his Son Jesus Christ to die for us, but also to be our spiri tual food and sustenance in this holy sacrament; and that, if we receive it with a true penitent heart and lively faith, we do spiritually eat the flesh of Christ and drink his blood.

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The church assures us, that the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was ordained for the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we receive thereby. This memorial of Christ's death is to be a standing service in his church, So long as it continues militant here on earth. For Christ did institute, and in his holy gospel command us to continue a perpetual memory of his precious death and sacrifice, until his coming again. The death of Christ is called

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ.-1 Cor. x. 16.

x And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat, this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it. Matt. xxvi. 26, 27. y For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. -John vi. 55.

2. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, yẻ do shew the Lord's death till he come.-1 Cor. xi. 26.

a sacrifice, because our heavenly father, of his tender mercy, gave his only Son Jesus Christ, to suffer death upon the cross for our redemp tion; who made there (by his one oblation of himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. By this sacrifice we receive the remission of our sins, and are made partakers of the kingdom of heaven.6 And as the Son of GOD did vouchsafe to yield up his soul by death upon the cross for our salvation; so it is the duty of all Christians to receive the communion, in remembrance of the sacrifice of his death, as he himself hath commanded; and to do it so frequently, that they may always have a fresh and lively remembrance thereof, in their minds.c

The Eucharist therefore is not only a Sacrament, in which, under the symbols of bread and wine, according to the institution of Christ, the faithful, truly and spiritually receive the body and blood of Christ; but also a true and proper sacrifice, commemorative of the original sacrifice and death of Christ for our deli

a And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.-1 John ii. 2.

b For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.-Rom. v. 10.

c After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying this cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.-1 Cor. xi. 25, 26.