® If a man had contracted any ceremonial defilement, or were on a journey, he might omit eating the passover at the appointed time ; only he must eat it a month afterwards. But if he forbore to eat of it without any such impediment, God said concerning him, " That soul shall be cut oif, that man shall bear his sin." Numb. ix. 7—11.
f Luke xiv. 24.
B Let such conduct be expressed in words ; " Thou didst indeed give thy body to be broken, &c. for me ; and only requirest me to eat bread, &c. in remembrance of thee ; but I account even that too much to do for thee : " Who could dare to utter such language ? Or who would endure it if spoken by his servant or his child ? Yet sucli is the language of our actions.
of tlie word''. And do they not manifest a contempt of these mercies, who will not use the means of procuring them ? How may the Saviour take up that lamentation over them' — !]
4. A renunciation of our baptismal covenant —
[In baptism we covenanted to renounce the world, &c. and to serve God : this covenant we ought to renew and con- firm at the Lord's table. But our refusing to confirm it is a tacit renunciation of it. And can we hope that God will fulfil his part while we violate ours ? Will he be our God when we refuse to be his people ?] We shall conclude with answering some excuses —
[* I am not prepared.' How then can you be prepared to die'' ? ' / am afraid of eating and drinking my own damna- tion.' Are you not afraid of damnation for neglecting your duty'? ' / am afraid of sinning afterwards, and thereby in- creasing my guilt' If sins after receiving the Lord's supper were unpardonable, none should receive it till the last moment of their lives'". ' The time of administering it interferes with other engagements' To those who cannot deny themselves in any thing, we say with Paul" — ; but where the difficulties are insurmountable, God will accept the will for the deed". They however, who are at liberty, should attend " as often " as they can ; only they must be careful to communicate with reverence, humility, faith, and gratitude.]
h Luke xxiv. 30, 31. * Matt, xxiii, 37.
^ Is not this acknowledgment the strongest reason for immediate repentance ?
' In neglecting duty you ensure condemnation ; in practising it as ■well as you can (to say the least) you may avert it.
■" If you really desire strength, where would you so soon obtain it? But if you determine to live in sin, your condemnation will be equally sure whether you come or not.
" Rom. iii. 8. "whose damnation is just." ° Matt. xii. 7.