who are ignorant of, because they have never taken pains to consider, the true meaning and design of this sacred rite, but are content to view it loosely as something which good men observe and respect, which all men ought to attend to, and from which much good, in some way or other, may be expected to arise. They know, in a general way, that they are sinners, and that the Sacrament was instituted for their soul's health-but they consider not in what manner it contributes to this good end-in what state of mind it will be effectual-and in what it will contribute nothing to their spiritual welfare; they receive it, therefore, rather with a superstitious than a religious feeling: their zeal for it, (if it exist) is one of ignorance, not of knowledge, and they vainly expect it of itself to produce effects of which they have no distinct notion, by means which they have never taken the pains to understand.

There is yet another-I trust the largest class of communicants, who look forward to the day on which this solemn

rite shall be administered, not with timidity and awe indeed, but with becoming seriousness and consideration. Who look to it as a time when they shall once more be called upon to renew in God's presence the vows which they made to him in their baptism, and which they have since so often broken; as a time when they shall receive a portion of earthly food at the table of the bountiful Father of the universe, and at the same time a supply of heavenly sustenance for the soul, which shall restore its failing powers, and strengthen it for future contests with its mortal enemy. The first consideration to which I have referred, that it is the renewal of their baptismal vow, naturally leads them to weigh well the degree and manner in which it has hitherto been broken by them. It is not enough to say, in the general, that they are grievous sinners. We are all ready enough to say this. It is merely acknowledging ourselves to be but men of like passions with others; it may sometimes be even said, as an excuse, rather than a penitent contrition for sin;

be

as much as to say, that it is very well, amidst the general corruption of humanity, that we are no worse; or it may said as a boast, that it is wonderful, amidst so many temptations, that we are so goodas we find ourselves to be. But no general acknowledgment of sin can be of any avail, or can fairly be classed under the head of penitence at all. All knowledge of sin, to be real, must be a knowledge of particulars-of particular occasions on which we have transgressed-of particular sins into which we are liable to fall-of particular opinions which we hold contrary to God's word, of particular tempers and moods of mind which we know to be contrary to its spirit. It is by a knowledge and a strict examination of these errors in our own character, that we learn to feel and know ourselves individually to be sinners; and it is thus that we find not only that we inherit the corrupt nature of Adam along with all his posterity, but that it shows itself in us according to our peculiar character, leading us to some vices more than others, according to the bent

of our disposition, and making us, in truth, to differ from others as much in our evil tendencies as in our ordinary habits or personal appearance. It is manifestly upon this accurate knowledge of our own vices, that all true penitence can alone be built; for as all general acknowledgment of sin, without a reference to individual sins, is clearly useless, so are all general resolutions of amendment without a special reference to those particular sins of which we know ourselves by experience to be guilty. Those, therefore, who have come duly prepared for the Sacrament, have made this examination of themselves their first care. Without this they have done nothing; they are but attempting to build without a foundation; they are professing to repent without knowing any thing of which to repent of. Convinced of this, therefore, they have inquired strictly into their past lives and conversation. They have considered all their actions, not in general only, but one by one, and they have weighed them, "not lightly and after the manner of dissemblers

with God'," but justly and fairly, by the scale of God's holy word; and whereinsoever they have found themselves to have offended, there, in that particular point, they have bewailed their own sinfulness, and have come to the holy table with full purpose of amendment of life. Such has been one part of their preparation. Conscious, however, from past experience, how weak even the strongest resolutions too often prove, and how liable we are to fall again even into a sin of which we have been warned, and of which we have too much reason to beware, they have not confined these preparations merely to a knowledge of their besetting sins, but they have earnestly applied to God in prayer for grace to help in time of need. They have thus inquired into and learnt their own failings-they have bewailed their number and their sinfulnessthey have prayed for forgiveness for Jesus Christ's sake-and they have petitioned for the aid of the Holy Spirit, to enable

1 Exhortation, from the Communion Service.