Transactions. 53 



assembled around His table ; and I have no doubt that if the 

 thin veil by which we are sepai'ated from the invisible world 

 were drawn aside, we might discover, among these dark 

 clouds where the thunder is rolling, the throne of Him from 

 before whose face the earth and the heavens shall flee away 

 — we might behold on the mountains around us the bright 

 armies of heaven, drawn up in their shining ranks, under 

 the banners of the King of Righteousness — we might behold 

 those who have joined with us at this table, whose graves are 

 now rising green beneath our feet, but whose spirits are in 

 glory. I say we might behold them looking upon us with 

 heavenly joy and satisfaction, while we join ourselves unto 

 the Lord in a perpetual covenant never to be forgotten." 

 Every worshipper there might well remember that Com- 

 munion season till the latest hour of life. 



In Fencing the tables, what was called the Dehai^ing 

 was always lengthened and minute, while the Invitation 

 was comparatively short and general. The Debarring was 

 so called from the several classes of sinners addressed being 

 solemnly debarred from approaching the ordinance. So 

 minute and comprehensive was the enumeration of these 

 classes that one would have thought the tables were prepared 

 in vain, as none could be entitled to come forward with im- 

 punity. As a specimen of these debarrings, one clergyman 

 is reported to have said — " I debar from these tables all 

 those who use any kind of minced oaths, such as heth, teth, 

 feth, fegs, losh, gosh, or lovenenty." No doubt the great 

 object of such particularity was to preserve the purity of the 

 ordinance and prevent the commission of aggravated sin, 

 though there was a seeming inconsistency in what followed, 

 the earnest persuasiveness in inviting and urging communi- 

 cants to come forward and partake of the memorials of 

 redeeming love. 



While the church was filled in every part, pews, passages, 

 and stairs, the tent was the gi-eat attraction, and the service 

 in the churchyard began as soon as a considerable audience 

 had collected, and was continued by relays of preachers till 



