(2.) IT must be a joyful remembrance, John vlli. 5G., " Abraham rejoiced to see my day." When a Christian sees a sacra- ment-day approach, he should rej<iice. This ordinance of the supper is an earnest of heaven ; 'tis the glass in which we see Iiim whom our souls love; It is the chariot by which we are carried up to Christ. " When Jacob saw the waggons and the chariots which were to carry him to his son Josojjh, his spirit revived," Gen. xlv. 27. Cod hath appointed the sacrament, on purpose to cheer and rtjvlve a sad heart. When wc look on our sins, we have cause to mourn ; but when we see Christ's blood shed for our sins, this may make us rejoice. In the sa- crament our wants are supplied, — oi'r strength is renewed, — here we meet vit/i Christ, and doth not this call for joy." A woman that hath been long debarr(*^t jrom the society of her husband, how g^fi Is she of his presence ! At the sacrau^nt the be- lieving spouse meets with Ch)»!^t : he sailh to her, "All I have Is thl><-'; my love is thine, to j)ity thee; my nvrcy is thine, to save thee." IIow can \\»J think in the sa- crament on Christ's blcxl shed, and not re- joice? Sanguis Chn'^ti clavis paradisi, — Christ's blood Is ijo key which opens hea- ven, else we had-'icen all shut out.
3. End of tK' sacrament is, to work in us an endcvicd love to Christ. When Christ blec'ls «ver us, well may we say, Behold how he loved us ! Who can see Christ die, nvd not be " sick of love?" That is an heart of stone whom Christ's love will not luelt.
4. End of the sacrament, the mortifying of corruption. To see Christ crucified for MS, Is a means to crucify sin in us. Christ's
death (like the water of je?»'ousy) makes the ' thigh of sin to rot," Numb. v. 27. IIow can a wife endure to see the sjjcar which killed her husb;»-id? IIow can wc endure those sins wl^ch made Christ veil his glory, and lose "is blood? When the peojde of Rome *iiw Caisar's bloody robe, they were incei^^c*! against them that slew him : sin hath^'cnt the white robe of Christ's flesh, and ([c*^ it <>f ii crimson colour: the thoughts '^' this will make us seek to be avenged on our sins.
5. rnd, the augmentation and increase ofaL' the graces, hope, zeal, j)atience. 'i'lie >v-(vd preached begets grace, the Lord's sup- I i,cr nourisheth it; the body by feeding in- creaseth strength, so d(»th the soul by feed- ing on Christ sacramental ly. Cum dij] crrit virtus men calicem salularem ocdpiam, Beiix. " When my spiritual strength begins to fail,
1 know a remedy, (saith Bernard), I will go to the table of the Lord ; there will I drink and recover my decayed strenirlh." There is difference between dead stones and living plants. The wicked, who are stones, receive no spiritual increase ; but the godly, who are plants of righteousness, being watered with Christ's blood, grow more fruitful in grace.
QuKST. 4. Why are. u-c to receive lids holy su})}>cr ?
Aii'i. Because it Is a duly Incumbent,
*
" Take, eat." And observe, it is a counnand of love. If Christ had connnandcd us some gr<;at matter, would not we have done it?
2 Kings V. 13., " If the prophet had bid- thee do some great thing, wouldest thou; not have done it?" If Christ had enjoined us to have given him thousands of rams, or to have parted with the fruit of our bodies,,
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OF THE LORDS SUPPER.
would we not have done it? Much more pearls before swine," Mat. vu. 6. The sa-
when lie only saith, " Take," and " Eat :" cramental bread is children's bread, and it
Let my broken body feed you, let my blood is not to be cast to the profane. As, at the
poured out, save you. " Take," and " Eat." giving of the law, God set bounds about
This is a command of love, and shall we not the mount that none might touch it, Exod.
readily obey ?
J. 2. We are to celebrate the Lord's sup- per, because it is a provoking of Christ to stay away. Prov. ix. ?., Wisdom hath " furnished her table." So Christ hath fur- nished h'ls table, set bread and wine (repre- senting hn body and blood) before his guests, and vhen they wilfully turn their backs upon tht ordinance, Christ looks up- on it as a sligh\ing of his love, and that makes the fury rV,e up in his face, Luke xiv. 24., " For I shv unto you, tliat none of those men which w^re bidden shall taste of my supper." I will shut them out of my kingdom, I will proVir|e them a black banquet, where weeping sKU be the first course, and gnashing of teeth the second.
Quest. 5. Whether the Lora<, supper be oft to be administered ?