might believe, and fall on your knees and cry, "In spite
of all, I am forgiven. In spite of all, God cares for me. In spite of
all, I have a Father and a Saviour who will never leave me, nor forsake
me, wretch as I have been, till they make a man of me again, in this
world, and for ever!" Oh! come, my dear, dear friends. I would give my
right hand this moment, if I could but see each and every one of you
shewing the truth of your repentance by coming to Holy Communion. Let
this be a day of repentance, and shew it thus, and say, "We do not come
to this, Thy table, O Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in Thy
manifold and great mercy. We are not worthy to gather up the crumbs
under Thy table, but Thou art the same Lord whose property is always to
have mercy."

Let this be a day of thanksgiving, too, and shew your thankfulness by
coming to Holy Communion, and lifting up your voices, once for all, at
that table, and saying:--

"We bless Thee, we praise Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee
for Thy great glory." These are the words for you this day. Oh! do not
turn away. All your distress, all your sorrows have come from your not
having faith in God. Break at once the accursed charm with which the
devil has enchanted you. Have faith enough to come to God's holy table,
and see if God does not reward you by giving you faith enough to conquer
yourselves, and lead new lives like redeemed men in the sunshine of His
smile, henceforth and forever!

My friends, what more can I say, except once and again, Come ye who
labour and are heavy laden, and Christ will give you rest!

Ay, and He will. I speak only what I know--what I have felt. But before
He will give you rest, be you rich or poor, young or old, you must learn
to say those simple words (they are the best and only preparation for
it), "God be merciful to me a sinner." Say them then from your heart,
and so come to the Lord's Supper.

A PRAYER.

"O God and Saviour, Thou hast blest me, and I have cursed myself. Thou
didst die to deliver me from the curse of sin, and I have brought it back
on myself by my own folly. Thou livest for ever to make me _good_, and
I, ungrateful and foolish, have made myself _bad_. In spite of my
ingratitude, in spite of my folly, take me back into Thy service. I
trust utterly in Thy unchangeable goodness and mercy. I trust that Thy
blood will still wash away the past, that Thy spirit will still give me a