all his cunning and power to foil us, until the decisive battle is fought, and the warfare accomplished. How often are we forewarned that in the world we must have tribulation; that all who will live godly in Christ. Jesus must suffer persecutions; that it is. not merely through tribulation, but through. much tribulation we must enter the kingdom? Are we not admonished to put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand in the evil day, and to do all to stand? Now, would we be commanded to put on this armour of righteousness, unless we should require it for resisting the enemy, or would. we be admonished to do all to stand, unless the struggle between us and the enemy. would be painful and obstinate? I have been the more minute in these observations, as a mean of impressing upon your souls and my own, that this world is not our heaven; that uninterrupted peace and consolation are not to be looked for on this side our Fa-ther's kingdom. We have enlisted under the Son of God as the Captain of salvation a-gainst a formidable foe, and we must expect occasionally to be called into action; we are furnished with an armour, and every part of it must be used, and used with skill and diligence against the world, the flesh and the devil. The very consideration that the apostle is so minute in his challenge, " who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"

plainly intimates that some of these trials must be encountered by all the followers of the Lamb; and perhaps by some of his followers all of them are undergone. But as the Lord lives every obstacle which lies in their way they shall surmount; every enemy, which may encounter, or annoy them, they shall finally overcome: Yes, believers, amidst all the discouragements of your warfare, remember, that "if ye suffer with Jesus, ye shall also reign with him; that your light afflictions, which are but for a moment, are working for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

2. Since we have by profession engaged in this warfare, an important duty is incumbent upon us this day, that is, to put honor upon our Prince by obeying his dying command. In attending the ordinance of the Lord's supper we not only discharge a duty which we owe to our Captain, but we receive more strength for going on to fight. the good fight of faith: We, on the one hand, give new pledges of our fidelity to our Prince, of our disinterested zeal in his cause, and in return, we receive new pledges of his love to us, and new vigor for meeting the common foes of our salvation: And no doubt on these occasions when we more visibly "come out of the world;" when we make a testimony so public of our attachment to our Master, of our resolution to follow him at all hazards, the adversary will be unusually malignant in opposing;

he will be exerting all his virulence either to discourage from approaching, or preventing our peace and joy when seated at the table, yet our Master is eminently present to sympathize and support; the keener the conflict between his followers and their foes, the more anxious he is for the issue; the more solicitous that they may "quit themselves like men, and be strong;" that their conduct may be worthy of himself, and the cause in which they are employed. While therefore he expostulates, "eat, O friends, and drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved;" partake freely of this feast of my bounty; he silences every objection, which can arise from a consciousness of our unworthiness, by that assurance, “my grace is sufficient for you, and my strength is made perfect in weakness: Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am thy God; I will help, yea I will strengthen, yea I will uphold with the right hand of my righteousness: The mountains may depart, and the hills may be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith Jehovah, that hath mercy upon thee." Permit me to ask, intended communicants, have you deliberately embarked in that warfare which has been imperfectly explained? are you fully suited with Jesus Jehovah, the "Prince of the armies of the redeemed?" with his armour, with his righteousness, with his promises, with his covenant, with

his sceptre? and are you resolved, cordially resolved to follow him wherever he goes, and at all possible hazards? Are you suited with the company which are marshalled under this Captain of the Lord's hosts? are you desirous to associate with them as your fellow servants and fellow soldiers, to make them the companions of your choice, and to animate and assist them in their spiritual conflict? then for you this table is spread, to you this immortal provision is offered, and let nothing deter you from participating. It is equally your duty, and your privilege. No act of obedience which you can perform is more honoring or acceptable to your Lord, and no occasion is ordinarily more replete "with joy and peace" to the militant christian. While we have the example of his primitive followers, that they "remained stedfastly in the apostle's doctrine, and in breaking of bread," shewing forth the Lord's death in the institution of the supper, we have their testimony to the privileges there to be expected, "he brought us to his banqueting house, and his banner over us was love."

3. I have now a question to propose to this large assembly: Do you approve of that warfare which has been described? does it appear in your estimation emphatically a good fight, and are you disposed to engage in it? The banner of the cross is this moment waving in this sanctuary, are you ready to volunteer under its covert?

There can be no neutral character in this congregation; you must be either the slaves of the "prince of darkness," bound fast in his iron chains, led captive by him at his pleasure, and dragged down at last with him to the prison of hell, or "the soldiers of Jesus the Lord of glory, and the Captain of salvation." He that is not for the Son of God; who does not surrender himself exclusively to him, to be redeemed by him, and sanctified and saved; to love him supremely, and serve him to the exclusion of all other Lords; he, who is not thus for the Son of God, is really for belzebub, the foe of his government, and irreconcilable rebel to his crown. I also forewarn you that there is no alternative, you must either renounce your allegiance to those lords who now have dominion over you; you must wage war "with the devil, the world, and the flesh," andcome over to Jesus Christ, bow to his sceptre, put on his righteousness, throw yourselves. upon his mercy, or at last be regarded as his foe, and crushed eternally beneath his omnipotent arm. The Lord Jesus the Prince of peace, in his tender compassion, bears long with sinners; he has no pleasure in their death, but would rather that they return, and repent, and live; he sends forth his ministers, as ambassadors, praying them to be reconciled to God, but these overtures of peace will not be always made; the mediatorial scheme will soon be finished, and he, that is unreconciled then, must be unre