ter, although as it is now contrived it seems to be much dwindling into a matter of form." It is in truth the decay of the spirit of outward observances, which prevents their usefulness in these times, as well as in the days of Mr. Walker. It is the custom to charge unsuitableness to the age, upon offices whose value we never put to the test, instead of clearly explaining their intention and looking to their operation on society. We suffer our weapons to rust, and then proclaim that their edge is not sufficient for our present warfare.

The communicants at Truro, appear to have been constant objects of their minister's deepest solicitude. In his exposition of the design of the Lord's supper, he cleared away those clouds of mystery, in which men's imaginations had involved it, and made its nature and use plainly intelligible to all orders of people. There is scarcely any part of parochial duty more trying, than the constant necessity to combat false notions, rebuke carelessness, and remove fears as to this delightful sacrament; the most excellent sign to exhibit, the simplest mean to convey, and the most appropriate seal to confirm covenant blessings. All instruction given to Mr. Walker's hearers, was in accordance with the simplicity of the truth as it is in Jesus. In order that they might know the obligations, resting on such as had received the emblems of a Saviour's dying love, he taught them :

1. That every person communicating, doth make public profession of Christianity.

2. That he doth hereby give hearty assurance of the spirit of love abiding in him, and make pro

mise of all the offices of it to his fellow members.

"I am first," said he, "to shew you that communicating is making profession of Jesus Christ. The word sacrament signifies an oath, which the Roman soldiers were used to take when they enlisted themselves under their generals, by which they owned themselves to be soldiers in the cause of their leaders, and engaged to stick to them at all adventures of hazard or fatigue. Because of the likeness of the thing, in our public avowal of Christ for our leader and head, in the two intruments appointed by him. for that purpose, these instruments have had the name of sacraments given to them. Consequently,

in the use of these instruments, there is an actual profession of Christ, and engagement to cleave to him as his servant and soldier. A man taking the sacrament, the oath of a Christian soldier, doth in the most direct manner engage himself to be loyal to his Lord, and publishes to the world that he belongs to the service of the Lord Jesus. Now that sacraments are indeed such badges of profession-badges which he who takes not, doth not indeed profess himself a Christian, nor ought he to be so accounted of by others, and by which he who takes them lays himself under the most solemn, awful, and public obligations to act as a Christian-is evident from what St. Paul saith-are not they which eat of the Jewish sacrifices partakers of the altar ?' Do not they thereby profess themselves Jews, and own the obligations of the ceremonial worship? Who can doubt it? In like manner (for in proof of this the matter concerning Christian and Jewish profession is here intro

duced) should you see people eating in a heathen country of idol feasts, would you have any question that they were idolaters, that they professed the belief and service of their false god? Should you indeed see one of them who drew back and forbore to eat, you would suspect and hope that he was not of them, but his joining and eating, would quickly convince you that he professed idolatry. There is therefore, you see, a profession of Christianity in partaking of this our feast; and this it was needful to remark, not so much to prove the thing itself, as to intimate to the absent that they are not even professed Christians, do not profess themselves such, and also that the solemnity of the engagement there taken on and professed, might more evidently and importantly appear to all those who approach unto it. A man communicating, doth profess Christ to be his Saviour and Lord, doth profess himself to be his servant and soldier, undertakes his service, and engages in his cause, and doth publicly declare this in the face of men, whether friends or enemies to his master, and before angels, whether of light or darkness. He doth declare and desire that, henceforward, he may be regarded as Christ's servant, as one ready to all the toils and all the works of a Christian. He doth, as it were, say aloud-hear ye this all the things in heaven and earth-I am a Christian, as one of your body, as one ready to join you in every work of godliness, and labour of love."

Having thus declared that coming to the sacrament is a profession of Christianity, Mr. Walker desired further to illustrate the nature of the Christian vow,

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seeing so many," as alas every minister does, "who had bound themselves by this very oath of loyalty and service, the communion, did either not understand it or not observe it." He therefore proceeded, in a strain of forcible and heart-searching language peculiar to himself "hear what ye profess my brethren, when ye eat this bread and drink this cup. Ye profess yourselves the enemies of all your master's enemies-professed enemies of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Attend to the things ye profess while I lay them before you; and may every soul of you approaching this feast, find his heart joining with and consenting to this profession, answering within him even thus, by the grace of God I have, and do, and will renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh.'

Ye profess yourselves enemies to the devil; that ye will not side with the devil, denying your Master's kingdom, notwithstanding all the present advantages, honours, and indulgences he may artfully contrive to offer you; that when he shall say to you (as he will surely say it often, and in the most cunning, pleasing language, labouring that you see not the proposal comes from him, but concealing himself under the fairest, seemingly most prudent, and most innocent appearances, wherewith he will lay his snares in your way) when he shall say to [each of] you, all these things will I give thee, this preferment, that enjoyment, that gratification, that worldly honour, that increase of wealth and happiness all thy days, that fair character and worldly reputation, if thou wilt fall down and worship me,' you will stoutly refuse the offer. You will stoutly and continually do it, even

though poverty, injury, shame or death should be the immediate issue of your refusal, saying in the words of your Lord, 'get thee behind me Satan, for it is written, thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.'

You also profess that you do and will renounce his works, even all of them-every work of Satan. Pride, which seeketh its own glory and its own will, nor will endure the correction of God, nor the opposition of man. Envy, which repines at the greater happiness, excellence, or worth of other. Malice, which delights itself in the fall of adversaries, and in the sins of men. Stubbornness, which cannot bear God's government, and secretly kicks against his laws, his providence, and his vicegerents. Resentment, which cares not to forgive, and revenge, which cries for satisfaction. Rage, which utters blasphemies and revilings, and persecution, that cries continually 'away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live.' These and all other devilish works you profess to renounce; that however violently they may be stirred up within you, and however trying or provoking the outward occasion which kindles them in your breast, yet you will not submit to them, nor follow their powerful solicitations, but utterly and always act contrary to them, however mortifying it may be to you, however mean and dastardly it may cause you to appear in the eye of the world, or whatever shame it may bring upon you. You cannot indeed avoid the various temptations which may serve to raise these works within you; you cannot keep off the suggestions which the adversary will not fail