V.

and alarm you; you cannot flatter yourselves SER M. that you shall be worthy partakers of the Lord's supper; and you therefore think it safer wholly to abstain from it! You are then resolved still to continue in your sins; you are determined not to examine yourselves and repent; not to have hope in Christ, nor to be in charity with your brethren;-for unless this be the case, if you have but a desire to turn to God, and a wish to be in charity with your neighbour, with a firm purpose to endeavour both, you may with the greatest safety draw near unto the Lord's table. The threats of St. Paul are principally directed against those to whom he writes, the Corinthians, on account of some irregularities, of which they had been guilty in celebrating this sacrament: as we celebrate it in a different manner, the same irregularities are not now practicable; therefore the apostle's threats scarce seem applicable to the Christians of these days; and even to the Co

rinthians,

SERM. rinthians, the punishment denounced is not

V.

so great as we may suppose it. There is one word, which has been too strongly translated in our Testament; in the original, the sense of the word evidently is not " damnation," but condemnation." "For he who eateth "and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drink"eth condemnation to himself;"-and the word does not mean eternal, but temporal, condemnation; does not mean punishment in the next, but correction in order to amendment in this world: the very next verse explains it," For this cause many among you are "weak, and sickly, and some sleep." Now this certainly can only relate to punishment in this life.

Not that I would be understood, that you should approach the altar with no preparation whatever, with no purposes at all of repentance and amendment; indeed, I think that is scarcely possible, but I would not have you think every little defect a sufficient reason

to

V.

to keep you away; I would persuade you to SERM. do what you can; and it may be, nay it will be, if you persevere, that you will acquire new grace and strength; you will grow in holiness and virtue; what you now look upon with terror, will become your delight; and finally, having finished your earthly course, you shall, from partaking of the table of your Lord here on earth, be advanced to the enjoyment of his blessed society, in the mansions of his Father.

SERMON

SERMON VI.

ON BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION.

ACTS xix.

PART OF THE 5TH AND 6TH VERSES.

They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus; and when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them.

I

VI.

PROPOSE, in this discourse, to treat of SERM. two of the ceremonies of our church-baptism and confirmation:- they are closely connected together, the one being only a completion of the other. Something, perhaps, I may advance, which may be deserving of the attention of you all; but I

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