1 F. D. Maurice. I COR. — 22
338 PROCLAIMING THE LORD'S DEATH
The definition of a Sacrament seems to lack completeness, unless it be regarded not only as a sign but as a seal — a solemn federal act which involves mutual pledges, of fidelity on the one hand and of blessing on the other. The expression of the inner dispositions by appropriate symbol is by no means of uncommon occurrence in the sacred writings. When the Psalmist speaks of his own deliverances, and, in astonishment at their extent and magnitude, asks, " What shall I render ? " he replies, as the most public and graceful utterance of his gratitude, " I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord," and the next verse may be regarded as the translation of the symbol into language, "I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people." And our participation of the Holy Communion must be thus regarded as the fresh act of our espousals, as the solemn renewal of our covenant; as our surrender, entire and unhesitating, to the service of the Lord. It is thus that we confess Christ and witness of Him to the world. If we eat and drink without discerning this great pur- pose, we eat and drink unworthily ; if we repudiate such purpose, either in thought or in act, we crucify in our measure " the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."
(3) And last of all, what do we need as we are living now between this first and second Advent — looking for the coming of the Lord ? Is it not the grace of perseverance, the power to hold on our way, and day by day to act more and more firmly ? And does not He who came to save us, and is coming to raise us up to be partakers in His glory — does not He Himself come to us in this Sacrament to give to us this grace of perseverance? Is it not true of us what is said of Elijah in the mystical language of old? God said to him, Arise and eat; and he arose and did eat and drink, and went in the strength ' of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. And so it is still. God says to us : " Wearied in life's journeying, burdened with life's burdens and anxieties and woes, eat, 0 friends; drink; yea, drink abundantly, 0 beloved"; and we draw nigh and eat of Him whose flesh is meat indeed, and drink of Him whose blood is drink indeed; and through His love we find strength in weakness and refreshment in weariness. And through the sacrament of perseverance, receiving into ourselves
i CORINTHIANS xi. 26 339
the blessing of the first Advent, we wait in confident hope for the second coming of the Lord.
K I will give a brief parable to those who live in continual ebullitions of love, in order that they may endure this disposition nobly and becomingly, and may attain to a higher virtue.
There is a little insect which is called an ant; it is strong and wise, and very tenacious of life, and it lives with its fellows in warm and dry soils. The ant works during summer and collects food and grain for the winter, and it splits the grain so that it may not become rotten or spoiled, and may be eaten when there is nothing more to be found. And it does not make strange paths, but all follow the same path, and after waiting till the proper time they become able to fly.
So should these men do ; they will be strong by waiting for the coming of Christ, wise against the appearance and the in- spiration of the enemy. They will not choose death, but they will prefer God's glory alone and the winning of fresh virtues. They will dwell in the community of their heart and of their powers, and will follow the invitation and the constraint of Divine unity. They will live in rich and warm soils, or, in other words, in the passionate heat of love, and in great impatience. And they will work during the summer of this life, and will gather in for eternity the fruits of virtue. These they will divide in two — one part means that they will always desire the supreme joy of eternity; the other, that by their reason they will always restrain themselves as much as possible, and wait the time that God has appointed for them, and so the fruit of virtue shall be preserved into eternity. They will not follow strange paths or curious methods, but through all storms they will follow the path of love, towards the place whither love shall guide them. And when the set time has come, and they have persevered in all the virtues, they ' shall be fit to behold God, and their wings shall bear them towards His mystery.1
Not so in haste, my heart!
Have faith in God and wait; Although He linger long,
He never comes too late.
He never comes too late,
He knoweth what is best; Vex not thyself in vain:
Until He cometh, rest.
* M. Maeterlinck, Ruysbroeck and the Mystics, 132.