(4.) "We are to call over Ms patience under his sufferings, in his obedience, Isa. liii. 7, " He was oppressed, and he was afflicted; yet he opened not his mouth : he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth;" — the highest expressions of an absolute, complete, and per- fect patience. Though he was afflicted, and though he had all manner of provocations, " though he was reviled, he reviled not again." The apostle tells us, Heb. xii. 2, " He endured the cross " (that is, he patiently endured it, as the word signifies), " and despised the shame, that he might sit down at the right hand of God."
You see, then, the end of this ordinance of the Lord's supper, is to stir us up to call over the obedience of Christ, both as to his love in it, as to his readiness for it, submission to the will of God in it, and patience under it.
3. Faith is to call over the work itself; and that was the death of Christ. I shall not now be able to manifest imder what considera- tion in this ordinance faith calls over the death of Christ; but these are the heads I shall speak unto : — It calls it over as a sacrifice, in that it was bloody; it calls it over as shameful, in that it, was under
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the curse ; it calls it over as bitter and dreadful, in that it was penal. It was a bloody, shameful, and penal death : as bloody, a sacrifice ; as cursed, shameful; and as it was penal, it was bitter. In the work of faith's calling over these things, there is a peculiar work of love also. Saith our Saviour, " This do in remembrance of me." These are the words we would use unto a friend, when we give him a token or pledge, " Remember me." What is the meaning of it? " Remem- ber my love to you, my kindness for you ; remember my person." There is a remembrance of love towards Christ to be acted in this ordinance, as well as a remembrance of faith: and as the next object of faith is the benefits of Christ, and thereby to his person ; so the next object of love is the person of Christ, and thereby to his bene- fits;— I mean, as represented in this ordinance. " Remember me," saith he; that is, "with a heart full of love towards me." And there are three things wherein this remembrance of Christ by love, in the celebration of this ordinance, cloth consist: — delight in him, thankful- ness unto him, and the keeping of his word. He that remembers Christ with love, hath these three affections in his heart : —
(1.) He delights in him. The thoughts of Christ are sweet unto him, as of an absent friend ; but only in spiritual things we have this great advantage, we can make an absent Christ present to us. This we cannot in natural things. We can converse with friends only by imagination; but by faith we make Christ present with us, and delight in him.
(2.) There is thanksgiving towards him. That love which is fixed upon the person of Christ will break forth in great thankfulness; vvhich is one peculiar act of this ordinance: " The cup which we bless," or give thanks for.
(3.) It will greatly incline the heart to keep his word. " If ye are my disciples, ' if ye love me, keep my commandments/ " Every act of love fixed upon the person of Christ, gives a new spring of obedi- ence to all the ordinances of Christ : and the truth is, there is no keeping up our hearts unto obedience to ordinances, but by renewed acts of obedience upon the person of Christ ; — this will make the soul cry, " When shall I be in an actual observation of Christ's ordinance, who hath thus loved me, and washed me with his own blood, — that hath done such great things for me?"
This is the end of the death of Christ which concerns our faith and love, — the end of commemoration, or calling to remembrance.
II. There is an end of profession also ; which is, to " show the Lord's death till he come." But this must be spoken to at some other time. If we come to the practice of these things, we shall find them great things to call over, — namely, the whole frame of the heart of Christ in his death, and his death itself, and our own concern
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therein,, and the great example he hath set unto us. Some of them, I hope, may abide upon our hearts and spirits for our use.
DISCOUESE IV.1
" As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." — 1 Cor. xi. 26.
One end, you see, of this great ordinance, is to show the Lord's death, — to declare it, to represent it, to show it forth, hold it forth ; the word is thus variously rendered. And in the especial ends of this ordinance it is that we have special communion with our Lord Jesus Christ.