We should cling firmly to the great principle laid down at its institution, that it is eminently a commemorative ordi- nance, and that reception of it without faith and a thankful remembrance of Christ's death can do us no good. The words of the Church-Catechism are wise and true : " It was ordained for the continual remembrance of the sacri- fice of the death of Christ." — The declaration of the Articles is clear and distinct : ** The means whereby the body of Christ is received and taken in the supper is faith." — The exhortation of the Prayer-Book points out the only way in which we can feed on Christ : " Feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving." — ^Last, but not least, the caution of the Homily is most instructive : " Let us take heed lest of the memory it be made a sacrifice."
We should notice, for another thing, in these verses, that the observance of the Lord's Supper is a duty hitkding on all true Christians, The words of our Lord on this point are direct and emphatic : — " Do this in remem- brance of me." To suppose, as some do, that these words are only an injunction to the apostles and all ministers to administer the Lord's Supper to others, is a thoroughly unsatisfactory interpretation. The obvious £»ense of the words is a general precept to all disciples.
The command before us is overlooked to a fearful extent. 3Iyriads of members of Christian Chiu*ches never go to the Lord's table. They would be ashamed perhaps to be known as open breakers of the ten commandments. Yet they are not ashamed of breaking a plain command of Obrist! They appear to think there is no great sin in not being communicants. They seem utterly imconscious
Bb
398 EXPOSntlRY TH0U6HTB.
that if they had lired in the days of the apostles they would not have heen redconed Christians at all.
The subject no doubt is one on which we must beware of mistakes. It is not, of course, to be desired that ever}' baptized person should receive the Lord's Supper as a mere matter of form. It is an ordinance which was intended for the living and not for the dead in sins. But when we see vast numbers of church-guers never going to the Lord's table, and no- wise ashamed of their neglect of the sacrament, it is clear that there is something very wrong in the state of the churches. It is a sign either of wide-spread ignorance, or of callous indifference to a divine precept. When such multitudes of baptized per- sons habitually break a command of Christ, we cannot doubt that Christ is displeased.
What are we doing ourselves ? This, after all, is the point that concerns us. Do we stay away from the Lord's Supper under a vague notion that there is no great necessity for receiving it? If we hold such an opinion, the sooner we give it up the better. A plain precept of Grod's own Son, is not to be trifled with in this way. — Do we stay away from the Lord's Supper be- cause we are not fit to be communicants ? If we do, let us thoroughly understand that we are not fit to die. Unfit for the Lord's table, we are imfit for heaven, un- prepared for the judgment day, and not ready to meet God ! Surely this is a most serious state of things. But the words before us are clear and explicit. Christ gives us a plain command. If we wilfully disobey it, we are in danger of ruining our souls. If we are not fit to obey it, we ought to repent without delay.