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On the Lord's Prayer.

79

With respect to the apparently improved habits of the poorer classes, and the decrease of idlers in the streets of Walden during the last year, the committee confidently appeal to the testimony of many of the inhabitants; and they learn from the same source that the town has been, throughout the summer, supplied with vegetables from the allotments, in greater variety, and at a reduction of one half in price, as compared with former years.

The committee have been made acquainted with many other circumstances, all tending to establish the same result, That the greatest advantages have arisen from the system which it has been their pleasure and pride to mature, under the auspices of the parishioners.

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As, however, the committee have (principally within the last month) received upwards of ninety applications for allotments, independently of many requests for the enlargement of the existing occupations, any further remark upon the subject would be superfluous.

The committee are now employed in making arrangements for the accommodation of the various fresh applicants; and having already received offers of land from the corporation, as trustees for some of the charitable institutions of the town, as well as from other quarters, the most sanguine hopes are entertained that in a short time, the quantity of ground appropriated to the same benevolent object within the parish will not fall short of thirty acres.

ON THE LORD'S SUPPER.

(Continued from p. 494, Vol. X.)
PART III.

Shewing that it is the duty of all to attend to the command, "This do in remembrance of me."

BECAUSE Christ died for our salvation, and now ever liveth to make intercession for us, therefore we are to

remember him.

We are to remember him in the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine: we are to receive the Lord's Supper in thankful remembrance of his death, and of his great and unspeakable love towards us. And we are to do this in remembrance of him, first, because he hath commanded it, and therefore our duty is to obey. It can never be safe to neglect what we are told to do by our heavenly Master. As servants, we must hear his voice and do-not our own will-but HIS. It is not left to ourselves to determine whether we will receive the sacrament or not. We are indeed to consider and reflect; but if we determine against receiving, there is awful danger in the determination. It is better to be guided by another of greater wisdom than ourselves, than, following our own guidance, to run into danger. When any one whom we love, and to whom we look up for counsel, bids us do any thing,-not to do it, is to set our wisdom and our will above his, and to judge that we know what is good for us better than he does. Those who refuse to do that which they are commanded to do in remembrance of their Saviour, cannot be doing right, and cannot feel aright;-for if they loved him, they would keep his commandments.

There are two principal reasons why people refuse to attend at the holy sacrament: the first, and it is to be feared, by far the most general reason is, that they have not made up their minds to forsake sin, and to serve God: the second is, because though they would wish to do this, they yet fancy themselves unworthy,not good enough to partake of it. With respect to the first reason, it may be observed, that those who stay away from the sacrament, because they cannot give up their wicked pleasures and unholy practices, show plainly that they are not Christians in their hearts.

When a person is really desirous to serve and please his Lord, he will honestly ask how he is to do this: and he will be at no loss to discover that the way to please God is to "keep his commandments." Has

On the Lord's Supper.

81

our Lord then commanded us to receive the sacrament in remembrance of him? Little does that person deserve the name of Christ's disciple, who disobeys him.

Those that are afraid, through not understanding what is required of them-those who would come to the Lord's table if they thought they were worthy-need instruction as to the worthiness which it is necessary for them to have. Of this, however, all may be assured, that if the command is given, no persons are to excuse themselves from obeying it. Those who receive the Lord's Supper are most worthy when they think least of themselves, and when they are meek and lowly in heart. When sincere Christians partake of the sacrament, it is not because they think themselves better than other people, but because they wish to obey their Saviour's commands, and, in doing so, to seek for his blessing. They communicate,-not because they think themselves good, but because they wish to be made so. To have received the sacrament is certainly a check against sin: when temptation comes, the thought will arise," Shall I, who so lately received the Lord's Supper in remembrance of his death and suffering, whereby he reconciled a guilty world to God,-shall I take pleasure in those sins which made my Saviour bear such severity of suffering? God forbid. I will worship the Lord alone, and him only will I serve. serve. Those that partake of the Holy Communion, do not suppose that they are free from sin, and altogether good; and people should not wait and think themselves unworthy to communicate, until every evil thought, and word, and deed, is got the better of; for if people wait for this, forgetting meanwhile their Lord's command, they are never likely to be worthy at all. Sins, indeed, committed after receiving the Lord's Supper are very full of danger; yet equally so are the sins of those who do not receive it; and this sin they add to the rest-the neglecting their Lord's command, to shew forth in the sacrament his death till his coming again. If we hate sin and

love our Saviour-if we wish to please him, and fear to offend him, let us come to his holy table, and there fulfil his commandment. We pray that our heavenly Father's will may be done; we pray for the Holy Spirit that our hearts may be inclined to keep his laws. Let us never then disregard his dying injunction-nor refuse to do in remembrance of him, that which he has commanded out of love to us. J. M.

HYMN.

OPPRESS'D beneath a weight of care
Which thou alone canst free,
Lord! "in the confidence of prayer,"
My spirit turns to thee!

Upon thy gracious Word, my soul
In humble hope relies ;

"A broken and a contrite heart"
My GOD "will not despise."

"Tis thine to minister relief,

When earthly comforts cease;
To uplift the head by sorrow bent,

And give the mourner peace.

Though bow'd beneath thy chast'ning hand,
All-wise and gracious Gon,

Teach me to bear with soul subdued,

And meekly "kiss the rod."

Let not this weak, rebellious heart
Dispute thy sov❜reign will;

Lord! if thy wisdom shall afflict,
Oh let me love thee still.

Guard me from this world's fatal snares,

That smile but to betray;

And from my own delusive heart

More treacherous still than they.

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(Continued from p. 506, Vol. X.)

Q. How does Christ extend the 7th commandment? A. Look at verse 28th, where Christ requires the hearts and thoughts of his followers to be pure.

Q. What is meant by the offence of our members? A. It means the occasion of sin they may be to us. Q. Are we required to cut off our right hand, or to pluck out our right eye?

A. No. But to part with whatever would lead us into sin, though it may be as dear to us as a right hand or a right eye.

Q. What frame of mind is taught us, by the injunction to cut off a right hand, or pluck out a right eye? A. A disposition to forego every pleasure and advantage, rather than offend God.

Q. What is here meant by " Hell?”

A. The place of everlasting torment.

Q. What does St. Mark add to this passage, as descriptive of the torments of Hell?

A. Mark ix. 48.

Q. How does our Saviour limit the privilege of divorcement?

A. Verse 32.

Q. What does he say concerning the marriage of divorced persons?

A. Verse 32.

Q. What is meant by "forswearing?"

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