In this adaptation then of the ceremony to one of the most pressing wants of human nature, we once more see the divine wisdom of the Founder of our faith most significantly pointed out.

SOME IMPORTANT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF

THE CEREMONY.

In the first place, it is obviously one of the simplest and most easy to be performed of all the services that have ever been observed by men ;and by this circumstance it is at once remarkably distinguished from the more solemn ceremonies of ancient times, and of heathen nations,—and is fitted for many most valuable purposes, to which a more splendid ceremonial could not have been appropriated. It is but "a breaking of bread, and drinking of wine," as a repetition of Christ's last supper with his disciples, and in devout commemoration of his death.

In the next place, it is distinguished from the more pompous services of all other times, by the extent of duration at which it aims;-all other

ceremonies being destined to terminate with the particular nations into whose service they entered,— while this ceremony is intended to last as long as the world, or to give place to no other service that can be conceived by men.

Still further, this great Christian festival is distinguished from the most remarkable ceremonies of all other nations, by the universality of the adoption for which it is intended. It is not only to last while time shall endure, but, with the Gospel itself, it is destined to be diffused among all nations, and thus to become eventually, what by its very nature it is fitted to be, the grand festival of the whole human race.

For it is still farther to be remarked, that this service is pre-eminently distinguished from all others, by the transcendently-important and universally-felt nature of the blessings which it commemorates, and the wants it professes to supply. It is a thanksgiving for pardon of sin,— for divine pity manifested to a sinful race of beings, for good news published from heaven to earth, for the blessed hope of everlasting life. These are the greatest of all conceivable blessings,

-and those for which the hearts of all the children of men have ever felt the most deep-seated and abiding wish.

In the last place, it ought not to be overlooked in the enumeration of the excellencies of this service, that it is rather one of pure and humble feeling,-of good intention,-and of charitable thoughts and recollections,-than of profound knowledge, or of any of the more valued qualifications towards which the ambition of men is often erroneously directed;-it seeks rather to promote the best state of the feelings of men, or to set their hearts right, than to augment their intellectual wealth, and the most acceptable worshipper is not the man who is best acquainted with all the mysteries of the service, or who has formed to himself the justest and most affecting estimate of its nature, but the man, in every rank, and of every degree of culture, who approaches it with the most sincere sense of his own frailties,-the truest gratitude for divine mercy,-the most determined pursuit of all holiness,-and the most fervent charity and good-will to all who bear the same human nature.

The foregoing characteristics deserve to be

deeply meditated, and made familiar to our

thoughts, for they show us the service in a peculiarly interesting light.

OBLIGATION OF PERFORMING THE SERVICE,AND GREAT SIN OF NEGLECTING IT.

Our obligation to perform this service may be made evident by the following considerations;namely, that it is the express commandment of our Lord,—that it is his dying commandment,that it is in a peculiar sense that service which distinguishes us as Christians from those who have either rejected the Christian profession, or who have no sense of its dignity and value,—and that it is a token of gratitude and affection to one to whom we are indebted for the best of all blessings, -by whom our nature has been more honoured, and our condition as men more benefited, than by any other benefactor that has ever appeared upon earth,—who has also the power to reward with infinite honour those who obey him, and to punish with fearful indignation those who think lightly of his service,—and, finally, who has de

clared himself well pleased with those who thus gratefully remember, in obedience to his commandment, his divine condescension, and dying love for the human race.

It is, indeed, a solemn thing to think how many persons there are who would shudder at the idea of denying their Saviour,-who yet pay no regard to this his last injunction ;—and, surely, if we believe that we are to be judged by him at last, and to be acquitted or condemned according as we have been his faithful followers, or have lightly esteemed both him and his commandments, we cannot but anticipate from him at last those awful words,-if we have neglected to do this most obvious duty, and to give him the appointed testimony of our gratitude,-" Depart from me, I never knew you, ye workers of iniquity."

A person, in short, who has a sincere veneration and becoming love for his Redeemer, will consider this service as not only an indispensable duty, but a privilege and blessing for which he has reason to be profoundly thankful;—and we may accordingly judge, by the cheerfulness with which we pay this service, whether we are in our