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In the last article of the Church Catechism we find, "what is required of those who come to the Lord's Supper, is to examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former sins, stedfastly purposing to lead a new life, have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of his death, and be in charity with all men."

We are all sinners, and we all need repentance, and we must pray earnestly through Christ for pardon, and for God's assistance, that we may be enabled to lead a new life; but we must believe that we can only be accepted through the mediation of Christ, who died on the cross to save us sinners. For this wonderful instance of mercy we ought to be truly thankful. And can we refuse to be kind and forgiving to our fellow men, when God has shown so much mercy to us?

We are exhorted" to examine our lives and conversation by the rule of God's commandments; to bewail our sinfulness with full purpose of amendment of life;" "to be reconciled to those with whom we are at variance, and to endeavour to make amends to those whom we have injured." We are also warned of the danger to our souls of either partaking unworthily, continuing in any known sin, or of refusing to come to the Lord's Supper.

Those "that do truly and earnestly repent of their sins, are in love and charity with their neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways," are invited" to draw near with Faith, and take the Holy Sacrament to their comfort," after making "humble confession to Almighty God." We also declare that "we do not presume to come to the holy table trusting in our own righteousness, but in the manifold and great mercies of God;" we are not worthy even of the smallest favour from a justly offended God, but we implore through his mercy "that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our sins washed through his most precious blood." The service concludes with praise and thanksgiving, devout prayer, and a solemn blessing.

The Close of Sarum

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ON THE SABBATH.

OUR life" itself is but a "vapour, which appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away." Of this life the opportunities of hearing the Gospel compose only a little part. By the weakness of childhood, the thoughtlessness of youth, and the hindrances of riper years, the number of Sabbaths which we employ in seeking salvation is greatly reduced. Fewer remain by far than we are usually aware of: few in themselves, few especially for so great and important a work. How many Sabbaths still remain to us, we can in no degree conjecture. That the number must be small, and that it may be still smaller we know; but whether the present Sabbath be not the last, we can never know. Were we assured, that it was the last, with what anxiety, care, and diligence should we devote it to the attainment of endless life! As it may be the last, it ought to be regarded with the same anxiety. Whether it be, or be not, the last, it is unquestionably the best opportunity that we shall enjoy. It is in our possession; all others are merely expected. God is now reconcileable. Before another Sabbath arrives he may cast us off. His own command is, "To-day, if ye will hear my voice, harden not your hearts." Behold, says St. Paul," is the accepted time! behold, now is the day of salvation!" Whenever, therefore, we are assembled to hear the word of God upon the Sabbath, we should solemnly feel that we possess the best opportunity of obtaining everlasting life which we shall ever enjoy.-Dwight. Sent by F. F.

REFLECTIONS ON THE FOURTH PSALM.

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WE may learn from this psalm to "Commune with our own hearts," which, in the language of Scripture, is to retreat from the world, and give ourselves time for private mediation and reflection. And the design of this selfexamination is, to restrain us from sin, to cherish and improve the seeds of holiness, to give us leisure for examining into the state of our souls; to stamp upon our hearts a love for God, and a reverence for his laws; to make us, in short, "stand in awe and sin not." In God

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alone is rest, in Him security, in Him tranquillity. We ought therefore to pray to our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, that, amidst all the troubles and cares of this life, we may lie down and sleep in peace, looking up to Him for safety, succour, and protection.-Bishop Por

teus.

Sent by M. F.

REFLECTIONS ON THE NINETY-FIRST PSALM.

How much man stands in need of the protection of Heaven, appears from a survey of the dangers to which he is continually exposed. Various are the terrors of the night, manifold the perils of the day; from diseases, whose infection makes its progress unobserved; from assaults, casualties, and accidents, which can neither be foreseen nor guarded against. The soul has likewise her enemies ready to attack and surprise her at all hours. Avarice and ambition are abroad, watching for her in the day; while evildesire, like a pestilence, "walketh in darkness." In adversity, she is disturbed by terrors; in prosperity, still more endangered by pleasures. But Jesus Christ has overcome the world, to prevent us from being overcome by it.-Bishop Horne.

A PRAYER ON THE FIFTEENTH PSALM.

Gracious God, give us grace to practise those virtues which thou hast enjoined us; make us to love justice in all our actions, and uprightness in all our words; make us tender in the wrongs and injuries done to our neighbour as if they were done to ourselves; infuse into our hearts an abomination of sin, a love and reverence for holiness and of holy men, in how little esteem soever they are, in this world; and let us do all this out of our true love of Thee and of thy Son Jesus Christ. Amen.Lord Clarendon.

Sent by M. F.

NAMES AND TITLES OF CHRIST.

(Continued from page 90.)

SALVATION, Luke ii. 30.-The Redeemer, or author of salvation, of a deliverance from the burden of the law, and

the impositions of false teachers, from ignorance and error, from sin and Satan, from death and the grave.

FOUNTAIN, Zech. xiii. i.-Blessed be God, he has a fountain for the most guilty and polluted: and his Gospel invites us all to wash in it and be clean. The proud and unbelieving cannot, however, discern its nature, use, or excellency: but when the heart is humbled, and set against sin, the fountain is disclosed to view, and the believer daily washes in it, till his robes are made white, and he is prepared to join the glorious company before the throne of God.

THE MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT, Malachi iii. 1. The prophet calls him the Angel, or messenger of the covenant, even the new covenant of mercy and grace, the most gracious messenger of peace and consolation.

DAVID, Jer. xxx. 9.-Christ is here called "David:" and he was so named, because he was the person in whom all the promises made to David were to be fulfilled.

RULER IN ISRAEL, Micah v. 2.-The prophet foretold, that, although Bethlehem had been reduced to be small among the flourishing cities, yet the birth of Christ would so dignify it, that it would by no means be the least honourable of them: for he would come forth thence to be Ruler in Israel, and to sit upon the throne of David for evermore.

MELCHIZEDEC, Heb. v. 6.-Melchizedec, in his priesthood, stands singly and alone; nor is any thing recorded respecting his family, his parentage, birth, admission to the priesthood, or his removal from it by death. On which account, he is said, by St. Paul, to be without father, without mother, and without descent; to have neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but to abide a priest continually. In like manner the priesthood of our Lord is unchangeable and without end. He is a Priest for ever, and will throughout all ages continue to exercise his ministry for the benefit of that Church which he has purchased with his own blood.

THE ANGEL OF GOD'S PRESENCE, IS. Ixiii. 9.-The Son became the angel or messenger of God's love, in and by whom his special presence attended the Israelites, for their preservation, not only from Egypt to Canaan, but

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also through their successive generations. The angel of his covenant, who still appears before his face to intercede for his Church, saved them.

BRIDEGROOM, Matt. ix. 15.-According to the Jewish custom, those who were invited to a marriage were in waiting to meet the bridegroom when he arrived at home;and on his arrival, they lighted up lamps in token of joy and congratulation. The kingdom of Heaven is likened to persons engaged in this manner, because Christians are invited to a banquet, a feast of heavenly things!-to a place in the kingdom of God, at whose right hand is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore; that kingdom is often in Scripture compared to a feast; and Christ the head of the feast, who provides and bestows it, is, for that reason, styled the Bridegroom-and, as the party of virgins in the parable had this business assigned to them, to wait for the bridegroom and be ready when he came, so it is the business of Christians to wait and watch for the coming of their Lord, to be prepared for the hour when he shall summon them out of this world and bid them appear before him.

BREAD, John vi. 35.-In his person, atonement, and mediation, he is the suitable and sufficient sustenance of our souls. The sinner, who in true faith receiving the sure testimony of God, applies to him and relies on him for pardon, grace, comfort, and all things pertaining to eternal life, finds his wants supplied, and his desires satisfied. Whoever eats of this bread, by believing in him, and embracing his doctrine, shall thereby be preserved and nourished unto everlasting life, shall be prepared for immortality, by receiving, and digesting the Heavenly doctrines of Christ.

THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL, Luke ii. 25.-The pious Simeon looked forward, while he lived on earth, to the life of heaven, and desired nothing more than that before he died he might behold him whom the Jews and all the world did look for, the promised Messiah, the consolation of afflicted Israel, the source of all their hopes and comforts. O. T. K.