in the 6th chapter of this gofpel, at the 51ft and following verfes: "I am the bread "of life, the living bread which came down " from heaven; if any man eat of this "bread, he fhall live for ever: and the "bread that I will give is my flesh, which "I will give for the life of the world: "Verily, verily, I fay unto you, except ye

eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink "his blood, ye have no life in you. Who"fo eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life: for my flesh is

meat indeed, and my blood is drink in"deed." Nay, is not this precious food to be difpenfed to us this day, in the holy facrament*, under the fignificant emblems of bread and wine, when the good Shepherd shall say, and say it with power, to those who believe in him, and know his voice, "Take and eat; this is my body broken "for you and this cup is the New Tefta

ment in my blood; drink ye all of it." I suppose I need not inform you, that these expreffions are figurative. You have long been taught, that the Lord's Supper is a facrament,

* Preached on a Communion Sabbath.

facrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Chrift's appointment, his death is fhowed forth, and the worthy receivers are not after a corporeal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace. This is not the worldling's portion, the whole amount of which is vanity and vexation: no, this is fubftantial food, even all the bleffings of the new and well ordered covenant, the justification of our perfons, the renovation of our natures, adoption into the family of God, affurance of his love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost; in a word, all the unfearchable riches of his grace. Thus doth Chrift feed his fheep; he invests them with a right to all the bleffings of his purchase, and diftributes these bleffings as their neceffities require, till, as Paul hath expreffed it, (Eph. iii. 19.), "They are filled with all the ful"nefs of God."-But farther, in the

4th place, It belongs to a good fhepherd to defend his flock, as well as to feed them. And this office he likewife performs in the moft

most effectual manner. He watches over them by night and by day; for "he that

keeps Ifrael, neither flumbers nor fleeps." -"Fear not," fays he, "for I am with "thee, be not difmayed, for I am thy God: "I will ftrengthen thee, yea I will help "thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right "hand of my righteoufnefs." Their enemies indeed are many and strong, but he is mighty on whom their help is laid. He makes his grace fufficient for them, and will keep them by his power through faith

to falvation. Hear his own words, in the 27th and following verfes of this chapter, My fheep hear my voice, and I know "thein, and they follow me. And I give

unto them eternal life, and they fhall ne"ver perish, neither shall any pluck them

out of my hand. My Father who gave "them me, is greater than all and none is "able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. "I and my Father are one." He forefees the trials which are coming upon them; and prays for them effectually, that their faith may not fail. not fail. He gives power to the faint, and to them that have no might he

increases

increases strength. And when at any time they stumble and fall, he comes feasonably to their relief, lifts up their hands which hang down, and strengthens their feeble knees; and having enlarged their hearts, enables them to run in the way of his commandments. Thus does he conduct them through the flippery paths of life, and continues to be their guardian even until death. Neither does he leave them at the hour of death.-For,

5thly, When they walk through the valley of the shadow of death, his rod and his ftaff comfort and sustain them, He fortifies and cheers their departing fpirits; and when the evening fhadows gather thick around them, the Holy Ghoft, the Comforter, is fent to fay to them, that death as well as life is theirs. Nay, "the good Shepherd himself, who gave his life for the sheep," will fay to them in this awful hour, " Fear દ not, I am he that liveth and was dead; " and behold, I am alive for evermore, and "have the keys of hell and death :——I am "the refurrection and the life: he that be"lieveth on me, though he were dead, yet

"fhall

"fhall he live." What a multitude of faints, who now inherit the promises, have in their laft moments experienced the effect of these gracious and joyful affurances! In how many instances hath a lively and unexpected view of the promises of God, and of the great redemption, fuftained and even elevated a dying faint, who from the infirmities of the body, or other caufes, was, through fear of death, fubject to bondage all his life! The fenfible prefence of the good Shepherd, in these awful moments, will fupport the most fearful, and the feebleft of the flock. It will enable him that hath no might, to triumph over death, and him that hath the power of death; and, even in the presence of the king of terrors, it will teach him this fong of victory, My flesh "and my heart faileth; but God is the ftrength of my heart, and my portion for "ever."" Thanks be unto God, which "hath given me the victory, through Jefus "Chrift my Lord." "For I am per

"fuaded, that neither death nor life, nor

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angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor

things prefent, nor things to come, nor

height,