1772.

Remarks on the Duty of Fasting-on the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper-the Manner in which it is administered in Scotland-Diary continued.

IT was about this period, that Lady M→ commenced a practice, which has been already briefly adverted to, that of setting apart every Friday, for the duties of fasting, self-examination, and prayer. To these solemn exercises, on this day, she regularly and conscientiously attended throughout the remainder of her life; and at these seasons she was generally favoured with more than ordinary consolation. How is it, to be accounted for, that the duty of fasting, is, at present, so little regarded by the generality of religious professors? The fast-days of our forefathers, are nominally retained; but there is abundant reason to suspect, that the name of the thing is nearly all that remains of it. Is it because Christians have adopted a more regular and abstemious mode of living now, than did

those of former times? Or, because some have attached a superstitious importance to this matter, do professors think it may be totally neglected by them with impunity? "Fasting, says Jeremy Taylor," is a proper, apt, natural, usual expression, and an exercise of repentance; it has some natural and many collateral advantages." "It is," observes another distinguished Divine, "a help to prayer; particularly when we set apart large portions of time for private prayer. Then especially it is, that God is often pleased to lift up the souls of his servants above all the things of earth, and sometimes to wrap them up, as it were, to the third heavens." It will be seen, that Lady M-in her attendance to this duty, realized in her experience all the advantages here described.

"The light in which her Ladyship viewed the communion of the body, and blood of her Lord, deserves also to be particularly noticed. She looked upon this as an act of obedience to a solemn binding command of her Redeemer, given at a time and under circumstances so awful and endearing to Christians, as should cause it ever to live in their remembrance; she viewed it as forming a bond of union among God's faithful followers, as being one of the nearest approaches to Deity, and most intimate participations of himself; as furnishing one of the choicest means of grace, in which God seals his children; she moreover considered it as a practical avowal of the Christian's attachment to

his Lord, and a public renewal of his covenant engagement. For her to have learned, that there were in the world Christian persons, professing the power of godliness, and declaring their love to Christ; zealous in their attendance on prudential means of grace, yet living in the glaring neglect of this divinely instituted ordinance, would have appeared to her such an anomaly in religion, as to involve in itself a palpable contradiction. These views were in no wise peculiar to herself. This is the light in which the Lord's Supper is viewed by every serious person in Scotland, while its binding obligation on every Christian is acknowledged even by the profane. It is there considered as the test or sign of church membership; and how far any kind of connexion with the Christian church can constitute a member of the universal church of Christ at all, without commemorating his dying love, as opportunity may offer, is a question fairly open for discussion. The stress, likewise, which the ministers, north of the Tweed, lay on a proper observance of the Christian passover; explaining its nature, displaying its use, describing the qualifications necessary to a worthy and profitable participation of it, and urging its indispensable obligation; all of which are warranted by Scripture, and justified by the importance of the ordinance, have a tendency to awaken general attention, excite desire, draw a full attendance on those occasions; and as great expectations are raised,

so spiritual profiting most frequently ensues." Lady M delightfully embraced every oppor tunity of this kind, not only at one but at different churches, and also at the chapel where her attendance was constant; and generally, if not invariably, she experienced them times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

In some of the extracts which refer to those seasons, her Ladyship will be found expressing her thankfulness, for having been enabled to remain until the close of the ordinance. To a person unacquainted with the nature of a Scotish sacrament, such allusions will need explanation. In the populous parishes, and especially in the cities and towns, the number of communicants is so great, that the service is generally continued for several hours. Not unfrequently from eleven in the morning, until four in the afternoon; so that few persons can conveniently remain the whole of the time. The manner also in which the elements of bread and wine are distributed, and the lengthened addresses from different ministers, tend to protract the service. And, though, to an uninterested observer there may often be, at least, the appearance of confusion; yet, from the number of ministers present, and the consequent variety of ministerial talents which are called into exercise, tediousness is greatly avoided. Especially to those, who, as Lady M- was accustomed to do, "discern the Lord's body," solemnity and devotion reign through the whole, and to the end

of the ordinance (a gracious influence is main tained.* After these remarks her Ladyship shall again detail her own history.

February 6. Since my last date, January 29, the Father of mercies hath visited me with affliction. But, O, how gentle has been his rod! How much mercy has he mixed in the cup! I have not in any previous affliction enjoyed so much of God. I was allowed sweet communion with him, while from the beginning, I was persuaded there was no death in the cup. When on a sick bed, what friend is like unto God? Who can support, who can comfort like him? Diseases are his servants, they come at his com• mand, and as he speaks to the proud waves, so he does to them; "hitherto shalt thou come, but no further." Lord, I desire to devote my spared life to thee; O, let all I have and am be thine: brace every nerve, invigorate my animal spirits, scatter the life of Jesus through every part, and sanctify the whole. The Lord hath this day fully completed what many months ago he

* It must be acknowledged that at Scotish country sacraments indecorous scenes have occasionally occurred. "But those persons, however, who gather their information of these times from the profane description drawn by the licentious author of The Holy Fair,' will be prepared to form an opinion of puritanical intellect and piety from the buffoonery of Butlar in his Hudibrastic rant."