qualification for communicants. A man may know but little, and be no better than a child in spiritual strength, but he is not on that account to be excluded from the Lord's table. — Does he reallyfeelhis sins ? Does hereally love Christ ? Does he really desire to serve Him ? If this be so, we ought to encourage and receive him. Doubtless we must do all we can to exclude unworthy communicants. No graceless person ought to come to the Lord's Supper.'. But we must take heed that we do not reject those whom Christ has not rejected. There is no wisdom in being more strict than our Lord and His apostles.
Let us leave the passage with serious self-inquiry as to our own conduct with respect to the Lord's Supper. Do we turn away from it, when it is administered ? If so^ how can we justify our conduct ? — It will not do to say it is not a necessary ordinance. To say so is to j)our contempt on Christ Himself, and declare that we do not obey Him. — It will not do to say that we feel unworthy to come to the Lord's table. To say so is to declare that we are unfit to die, and unprepared to meet God. These are solemn considerations. All non-communicants sbould ponder them well.
Are we in the habit of coming to the Lord's table ? If so, in what frame of mind do we come ? Do we draw near intelHgently, humbly, and with faith ? Do we understand what we are about ? Do we really feel our sinfulness and need of Christ ? Do we really desire to live a Christian life, as well as profess the Christian faith ? Happy is that soul who can give a satisfactory answer to these questions. Let him go forward, and persevere.
unto a place called Getliseinaue, and saith unto tlie disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37 And he took (vith liini Peter and the two sons of Zcbedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death : tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 And lie went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be poss'ible, let this cup pass from me : nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he comcth unto the disciples,