Church (R. W.), Village Sermons, iii. 101.
Clementson (C), These Holy Mysteries, 107.
Cunningham (W.), Sermons, 335.
Davies (D.), Talks with Men, Women and Cliildren, ii. 52.
„ (T.), Philippians, 350. Jerdan (C), For the Lord's Table, 306, 379.
Keble (J.), Sermons for the Christian Year : Advent to Christmas, 469. Lawlor (H. J.), Thoughts on Belief and Life, 71. Lewis (F. W.), The Work of Christ, 181. Maclaren (A.), Christ's Musts, 87.
Matheson (Q.), The Spiritual Development of St. Paul, 269. Maurice (F. D.), Lincoln's Inn Sermons, iv. 97. Moule (H. C. G.), The Pledges of His Love, 14
„ „ Thoughts for the Sundays of the Year, 170.
Pope (W. B.), Discourses on the Lordship of the Incarnate Redeemer, 311. Punshon (W. M.), Lectures and Sermons, 345. Randolph (B. W.), The Threshold of the Sanctuary, 129. Smith (D.), Christian Counsel, 37. Spurgeon (C. H.), Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, 1. (1904) No. 2872 ;
li. (1905) No. 2942 ; lv. (1909) No. 3151. Walpole (G. H. S.), in Sermons for the People, New Ser., iii. 222. Watson (F.), Tlie Christian Life : Here and Hereafter, 90. Watt (L. M.), The Communion Table, 23. Webster (F. S.), In Remembrance of Me, 69. Whiton (J. M.), Reconsiderations and Reinforcements, 113. Christian World Pulpit, ii. 42 (Minton) ; xlii. 333 (Body). Church of England Pulpit, xxxv. 25 (Hobson), 76 (Reid). Churchman'* Pulpit : General Advent Season : i. 179 (Keble), 183 (Woodford). „ Holy Week : vi. 497 (Furse), 500 (West), 503
(Owen). Clergyman's Magazine, i. 283 (Richardson) ; New Ser., viii. 367 (Youard).
Proclaiming the Lord's Death.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come. — i Cor. xi. 26.
1. The Apostle Paul sustained to the Corinthian Church the relation of a father to his child. By him the Gospel had been first preached in the rich and sensual city ; by his instrumentality the first converts had been won to Christ ; and with all a father's yearning did he watch over their welfare, counsel them in their ever-recurring perplexities, and guide the heedless footsteps which were too prone to go astray. To his fatherly care for their interests we owe the circumstantial account which he has given us in this chapter of the institution of the Lord's Supper, in the celebration of which, among the Corinthians, certain abuses had crept in. His account of it, here recorded, is a valuable and welcome revelation. He was not present in the Upper Eoom. He was not among the awe -stricken company who were thrilled with horror by the announcement that amongst them was a foul betrayer, and who, scarce recovered from the shock of such sad tidings, were invited to join in the tender and prophetic feast ; and yet he had not been left to the hazard of a traditional knowledge, nor had he received his impression of the scene from the glowing descriptions of another. He distinctly repudiates the thought that he had either received it or been taught it of man, and expressly states that " he had received it directly of the Lord." So distinguishing was the honour put upon the Apostle of the Gentiles, and so important the institution itself, that there was given to him a new revelation — that its Divine paternity might be placed beyond all cavil, and that it might be authenticated by yet weightier evidence, and more firmly homed in the hearts of believers, in the perpetuity of its obligation to the end of time.
I COR. — 21
322 PROCLAIMING THE LORD'S DEATH
2. The words of the text are, " As often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come." The eating and drinking are a proclamation. It is surprising that, notwithstanding these words, this aspect of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper receives so little emphasis. We give the Sacrament names. We call it " the Eucharist," drawing attention to the element of thanksgiving ; or " the Communion," in order to recognize in it that fellowship which it offers with Christ Himself and with one another ; or simply " the Lord's Supper." But here, after repeating the words of the institution, St. Paul does not speak of the giving of thanks or the fellowship as the great purpose of the institution, but says that that purpose is fulfilled when we proclaim the Lord's death till He come.
^ " As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew." I cannot tell why our translators preferred this verb to " proclaim " or " announce," which would have seemed the more obvious one. But should we have expected either word ? Are we not speaking of a Communion, of a participation in something ? Can an ordinance which possesses that character be described as showing, announcing, declaring? It is safer to let the Apostle explain himself than to insist that he shall follow a course which we have prescribed for him. I believe he will tell us hereafter more about communion and participation than we should ever find out for ourselves ; but I doubt whether we shall profit by his teaching, if we stumble at this phrase and wish to get rid of it. Do you think that any ordinance of Christ can have reference merely to the advantage or enjoyment of those who submit to it ? Did He come from heaven to enjoy or to suffer ; to be ministered unto or to minister ? If the eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine imports any communion with Him, any sympathy with Him, can this point of communion and sympathy be wanting? Did He not come to show forth or declare a truth to men into which only some would enter ? If we are not willing in all our acts and services to make this a primary object; if we are thinking of some selfish end as above this ; can we be like Him ? Let us grasp this thought steadfastly. If this feast does not show forth or declare something to the world ; if we seek in it only for Borne benefit to ourselves ; it cannot be a communion in the body or in the mind of Jesus Christ.1