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and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, would not the common feelings of humanity impel us instantly to administer relief? But is not the immortal soul infinitely preferable to the mortal body? How eager then should we be to pour divine instruction into those who are perishing for lack of knowledge! They are, in the worst sense, wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. They are "without hope, and without God "in the world." They are ignorant of Him through "whom only they must be saved." Is there a man who can behold such persons without concern? Tell me not of his otherwise blameless character, and of his fair profession. He is the worse for his profession. He cannot be a Christian. "How dwelleth the love of God in that "man?" If we be Christians, as God hath loved us, so shall we love, and be all zeal to do good, as we have opportunity to our perishing brethren. As we have received mercy ourselves, we shall be constrained to show mercy to others. We shall become workers together with God himself, and do every thing we can to diffuse the light of truth, and enlarge the empire of benevolence. And not satisfied with increasing

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the enjoyments, and diminishing the miseries of the present world, we shall extend our regards to the immortal soul, and strive daily to exalt our brethren to the perception-the pursuit-the possession of eternal perfection and happiness.My intelligent and respected hearers, you have already anticipated the character which I might here give of the Venerable Society for propagating Christian Knowledge*. But they require no applause of mine. Their works are the works of God; and the report of them hath "gone through all the "earth, and to the ends of the world." Need I detail to you their history, or tell you of their success? Need I inform you, that near 16,000 are now educating at their schools; and that above 300,000 have been educated by them since the commencement of their labours, of whom many have risen to useful and even eminent stations in life, and many, by the divine blessing on the Society's efforts, are now rejoicing in heaven before God and the Lamb? But I dwell the past: I call your attention to

not upon

* This sermon was preached before the Society in Scotland for propagating Christian Knowledge.

T

the present. This Christian Society "wea"ries not in well-doing." They are still, as in former times, both erecting schools, and watering the churches. A most interesting work now engages their attention. Listening to the call of thousands, who have not the Scriptures in their native tongue, the Society is employed, at this moment, in publishing, at a vast expence, the Word of life, in the Gaelic language. Have you a principle of benevolence? Have you a spirit of patriotism-any love for the souls of men-any "bowels of mercies ?" Be persuaded to come forward, and give this Society your aid. Let not your prayers only, but your alms-your charitable contributions, come up in grateful memorial before God. Come and help the Society, to point out to your fellow creatures-your countrymen-your brethren, the way of life; to teach them "the excel"lency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus "the Lord"-of Him by whom only they "must be saved.”

THE

NATURE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.

1 COR. X. 16, 17, 18.

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ ?-the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ?-For we being many are one bread, and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh, are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

In this chapter the Apostle exhorts the Corinthians to stedfast perseverance in the profession of their faith, and consequently to a strict abstinence from every thing inconsistent with that profession. And with this view, he reprehends them for a practice,

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which was then, it seems, prevalent, namely, their entering into the unhallowed temples of the heathen, and there partaking of the feasts offered to false gods. Such conduct he clearly demonstrates to be totally incompatible with the pure and undefiled religion of Christ-nay, to be a virtual renunciation of their fellowship with the true God, and a professed act of communion with these idols. And that their partaking of idol feasts, really implied a communion of this kind, he makes evident from the nature of that communion implied in the participation of the Lord's Supper, that great feast solemnized by Christians; and also from that communion which was always understood to be implied in the participation of those sacrifices offered by the Jews." I speak to you," says Paul," as to wise men—judge "ye what I say.-The cup of blessing which "we bless, is it not the communion of the "blood of Christ ?-the bread which we "break, is it not the communion of the body "of Christ? For we being many are one

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bread, and one body; for we are all par"takers of that one bread. Behold Israel "after the flesh, are not they which eat "of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?" But if, under the law, those who ate of

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