[3.] Practical. The ejBfects must more sensibly appear. Two ways is that done —
(1.) When we are made partakers of his benefits, when we are justified and sanctified : Heb. x. 22, ' Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.' The annuncia- tion inferreth this. Then it is practical when it assureth our confidence ; Eom. viii. 32, ' He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ? ' And we are encouraged to wait for the accomplishing of these ends, and instating us in these privileges.
(2.) When we express more likeness to Christ, in dying to sin and
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to the "world, or suffering for righteousness. Dying to sin and the world : Gal. ii. 20, ' I am crucified with Christ ; ' Gal. v. 24, ' They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." Or suffering for righteousness : Phil. iii. 10, ' That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.' For as Christ came to destroy the desires of the carnal life, so to wean us from the interests of the animal life. Sacraments bind us to this : Mat. xx. 22, ' Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with ? '
II. Confirmation, or reasons why the Lord's supper is a comme- moration of Christ's death.
1. To supply the room of his bodily presence : 1 Peter i. 8, ' Whom having not seen, ye love, in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory ; ' and in the text, ' Ye show forth the Lord's death till he come.' Christ is not bodily present in the church till the last judgment ; and we are to con- tinue this holy festival till the time that we shall have no need of these memorials, because then he cometh in person.
2. It is a lively objective means to affect our hearts. Both in regard of what is represented ; Christ is, as it were, evidently set forth ' Crucified before our eyes,' Gal. iii. 1 ; and also in regard of what is required to be done on our parts, that we should return to our duty, and devote ourselves to God's service : Kom. xii. 1, ' I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.'
Use. To press you to the duty of the text, * To show forth Christ's death.'
1. It is the strongest support to faith. When we apprehend the greatness and heinousness of sin, the righteousness of God, and purity of his holiness, what shall compensate that infinite wrong which is done to his majesty ? If it seem easy to us, we do not know what sin is, and what God is. Not what sin is, which is a depreciation of God, and a contempt of his majesty. There is no petty creature above an- other but he is jealous of his honour, and will vindicate himself from contempt. Nor what God is. God is of pure holiness ; his nature en- gageth him to loathe sin, his justice to punish it. It is a difficult case questionless, how to get sin expiated, but this wonderful condescension will make this difficulty cease ; the person is great, and the way wonder- ful. Consider what a person hath undertaken this, and what he hath done ; he hath died for us, which at once showeth God's willingness to pardon. And an answerable ransom; that such an one should undertake for us, so beloved of God, so equal to God : Phil. ii. 6, 7, * Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men,' This will settle and calm the heart,' that such an one should come about such a work.
2. It is the greatest incentive to love that ' Christ loved us, and gave himself for us, a sacrifice to God of a sweet-smelling savour,' Eph. v. 2. Those innumerable angels that left their station, and were once in.
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dignity above us, have not such glad tidings to impart to one another, or to show forth in their societies ; not such a word to comfort them- selves withal. They cannot annunciate the death of Christ, and say, Lo ! there is our confidence and hope, the propitiation for our sins.
3. It is a powerful persuasive to obedience. Shall we deny ourselves to him that gave himself to and for us ? or seek to frustrate him of his end ? This was his great end : 1 Peter ii. 21, ' For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.' He hath purchased grace to mortify sin, and to quicken us to the fruits of holiness ; shall we be alive to sin, and dead to righteousness ?