Me," "Do this in remembrance of Me"? If you mean to be cross, and sharp, and pettish with the children, then you are wrong and commit sin, whether you come to this Sacrament or stay away; but you should determine by God's grace to be patient with them, and come to the Sacrament that you may obtain His strength to bring them up well for Him, without giving way to bad temper or using bad words.

These, I think, are the principal difficulties which persons feel about coming to this Sacrament. One answer

may be made to them all. "I must go to It, because my Saviour has commanded me, and has told me it is necessary, therefore I must get over the difficulties in some way.'

I think I have now explained in some degree the nature of this Sacrament, what It is; I have shown some

the sole of the foot to the crown of the head," who come to the Physician to be healed. The fitness which we need is, to feel that we are unfit and cannot do without Jesus Christ to make us fit.

Fifthly. Many persons, mothers especially, make their children an excuse for not coming to this Sacrament. They say their children are fretful, and troublesome, and provoking, and that this often makes the parent uneasy, and cross, and out of temper Does not God give you your children? Does not he know that they are fretful and sometimes disobedient, as all children are? Does not He send them as your especial trial, that you may learn to bear their tempers and tiresome ways without doing wrong, and trust Him? Does He not say to you, though you have these children, "Come unto

* Isa. i. 6.

make him fit? As you live, so you will die. This Sacrament taken on your death-bed will not make up for a life of neglect. Live while you live; do not be content with "a name to live" while you are dead. Perhaps you feel that if you come to this Sacrament you must give up some habits and practices, which you cannot make up your mind to lay aside; or you must give some time to preparation, and you do not like to spare any. Oh! but, my dear friends, think what an awful thing you are refusing, think how dreadful it is to refuse the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus! Can you really say, when He gave It freely for you on the Cross, and gives It freely to you now, "I pray Thee have me excused" from taking it? Can you make up your mind to allow Him to make such an offer to you, and yet reject the offer? Do you think that you will venture to

plead your present excuses before His judgment-seat, when He asks you why you did not come to His Feast? "Every mouth shall be stopped," like the mouth of the man who "had not on a wedding garment," who " was speechless."

But on the other hand, do not think that because you are commanded to come, therefore you may come, so to speak, anyhow. St. Paul says that ungodly communicants "are guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord," and "eat and drink their own damnation." If these persons do not heartily prepare for It beforehand, and, as the Psalm says, "wash their hands in innocency,' "* if they come in sin, and meaning to continue in it, they only bring upon themselves worse destruction. They are not safe if they stay away; they are quite certain to go to

* Psalm xxvi. 6.

hell if they keep on in their wickedness, whether they come to this Sacrament or stay away; but if they come, their punishment is all the more certain and more severe. The only thing to be done is to come, and to prepare carefully that we may receive It wor thily and properly.

Let no humble Christian be discouraged because it is so great a thing. It is true that he comes to meet his Maker; but let him remember that this same Maker is likewise his Saviour. Who gave His Life for him.

"It is my Maker, dare I stay?

My Saviour, dare I turn away?"

This Saviour calls and entreats you to come. He would not do this if He meant to be angry with you or punish you for coming. If you feel that you have sinned deeply, come to receive pardon through His Blood. If you feel that you sin continually, come to