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ing worthily of his ordinance, and receiving benefit from it, depend. But the benefits of the holy Sacrament, and the qualifications for it, shall, God willing, be the subject of two other discourses. In the mean time, "consider what hath "been said; and the Lord give you understand"ing in all things." 5

LECTURE XXXVII.

Of the Lord's Supper.

PART II.

THE doctrine of our Catechism, concerning the Lord's Supper, hath been already so far explained, as to show you, that it “ was ordained," not for the repetition, but "the continual remembrance "of the sacrifice of Christ ;" that "the outward "signs in it are bread and wine, both which the "Lord hath commanded to be received by all "Christians;" and both which are accordingly received, and not changed and transubstantiated into the real and natural "body and blood of "Christ;" which, however the faithful," and they only do, under this representation of it, verily and indeed receive into a most beneficial union with themselves; that is, do "verily and indeed," by a spiritual connexion with their incarnate Redeemer and head through faith, partake, in this ordinance, of that heavenly favour and grace, which by offering up his body and blood he hath procured for his true disciples and members.

But of "what benefits," in particular, "the

(5) 2 Tim. ii. 7.

"faithful" partake in this Sacrament, through the grace and favour of God, our Catehism teaches in the fourth answer, to which I now proceed; and which tells us it is, "The strengthening and "refreshing of our souls by the body and blood "of Christ, as our bodies are by the bread and "wine." Now both the truth and the manner of this refreshment of our souls will appear by considering the nature of the Sacrament, and the declarations of Scripture concerning it.

Indeed the due preparation for it, the self-examination required in order to it, and the religious exercises which that examination will of course point out to us, must previously be of great service; as you will see, when I come to that head. And the actual participation will add further advantages of unspeakable value.

Considered as an act of obedience to our Saviour's command, "Do this in remembrance of me," it must be beneficial to us; for all obedience will. Considered as obedience to a command, proceeding principally, if not solely, from his mere will and pleasure, it contributes to form us into a very needful, a submissive, and implicitly dutiful, temper of mind. But further, it is the most eminent and distingushed act of Christian worship; consisting of the devoutest thankfulness to God for the greatest blessing which he ever bestowed on man; attended, as it naturally must be, with earnest prayers that the gift may avail us, to our spiritual and eternal good. And it is much more likely to affect us very strongly and usefully, because it expresses his bounty and our sense of it, not as our daily devotions do, in words alone, but in the less common, and therefore more solemn way of visible

(1) Αλλα πασαιθαι ανωχθι θηος επι νησιν Αχαιους

Σιτον και οινοιο το γαρ μενος εστι και αλκη.
HOM. IL. T. v. 160, 161.

signs and representations; "setting forth evi"dently before our eyes, (to use St. Paul's language) Christ crucified amongst us." This, of necessity, unless we are strangely wanting to ourselves, must raise the warmest affections of love that our hearts are capable of, to him who hath given his Son, to him who hath given himself for us. And as love is the noblest principle of religious behaviour, what tends so powerfully to animate our love, must in proportion tend to perfect us in every branch of duty, according to the just reasoning of the same Apostle: "For the love of "Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, "that if one died for all, then were all dead; "and he died for all, that they who live, should "not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him, which died for them, and rose again."

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When our Saviour said to his disciples," If ye "love me, keep my commandments;" he knew the motive was no less engaging than it is reasonable. And therefore he adds very soon after, "If a man love me, he will keep my words." 5

But this institution carries in it a yet further tie upon us; being, as our blessed Lord himself declared, "the New Testament in his blood;"6 the memorial and acknowledgment of the covenant between God and man, which was founded on bis death, and requires a sincere faith and obedience on our part, as the condition of grace and mercy on his. "Every one, that nameth the 66 name of Christ," is bound to depart from ini"quity." But this obligation is redoubled cn them who come to his table as friends, and "make "a covenant with him by partaking of his sacri"fice." If these live wickedly, it is declaring, with the boldest contempt, that they consider

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(2) Gal. iii. 1.
(4) John xiv. 15.
(7) 2 Tim. ii. 19.

(3) 2 Cor. v. 14, 15.

(5) Verse 23.

(6) Luke xxii. 20. (8) Psalm 1. 5.

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"Christ as the minister of sin ;" and " "the blood of the covenant," wherewith they profess to be "sanctified, an unholy thing." Partaking therefore of this holy ordinance is renewing, in the most awful manner, our engagements to the service which we owe, as well as our claims to the favours which God has promised. It is our Sacrament, our oath to be faithful soldiers under "the great captain of our salvation;" * which surely we cannot take thus, without being efficaciously influenced to the religious observance of it in every part of Christian life.

But there is one part especially, and one of the utmost importance, to which this institution peculiarly binds us, that of universal good-will and charity. For commemorating, in so solemn an action, the love of Christ to us all, cannot but move us to that mutual imitation of his love, which, just before his appointing this holy Sacrament, he so earnestly and affectionately enjoined his followers, as the distinguishing badge of their profession. "This is my commandment, that ye "love one another, as I loved you.. Greater love "hath no man than this, that a man lay down his "life for his friend. Ye are my friends, if ye do "whatsoever I command you. Hereby shall all "men know, that ye are my disciples, if ye have "love one to another." Then, besides, commemorating his love jointly, as the sevants of one master, and members of one body, partaking of the same covenant of grace, and the same hope of everlasting happiness, must, if we have any feeling of what we do, incline us powerfully to that reciprocal union of hearts, which indeed the very act of communicating suggests and recommends to us. "For we, being many, are one bread and one

(9) Gal. ii. 17.
(2) 2 Tim. ii. 3, 4.

(4) John xv. 12, 13, 14.

(1) Heb. x. 29.

(3) Heb. ii. 10. (5) John xiii. 35.

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body; for we are all partakers of that one "bread." 6

Another grace, which the commemoration of our Saviour's death peculiarly excites, is humility of soul. We acknowledge by it, that we are sinners; and have no claim to pardon or acceptance, but through his sacrifice and mediation, whose merits we thus plead, and set forth before God. And this consideration must surely dispose us very strongly to a thankful observance of his commands, to watchfulness over our own hearts, to mildness towards others. "For we ourselves also have been "foolish, disobedient, deceived; and not by works "of righteousness, which we have done, but ac"cording to his mercy, God hath saved us, which "he shed on us abundantly, through Christ Jesus 66 our Saviour." 7

And as this Sacrament will naturally strenghen us in all these good dispositions, we cannot doubt, but God will add his blessing to the use of such proper means, especially being appointed means. For since he hath threathened punishments to unworthy receivers, he will certainly bestow rewards on worthy ones. Our Saviour hath told us, that "his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink "indeed;" sustenance and refreshment to the souls of men. When he blessed the bread and wine, he undoubtedly prayed, and not in vain, that they might be effectual for the good purposes, which he intended should be obtained by this holy rite. And St. Paul hath told us, if it need, more expressly, that "the cup which we bless, is the "communion," that is, the communion to us, "of the blood of Christ; and the bread, which we break, of the body of Christ ;"" that is, of a saving union with him, and therfore of the bene

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(7) Tit. iii. 3, 5, 6.

(6) 1 Cor. x. 17.

(8) John vi. 55.

(9) 1 Cor. x. 16.

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