In one word, both these things — the travail of the soul of Christ, and the satisfaction he took in the fruit of his travail — are represented unto us in this ordinanca
There is the travail of the soul of Christ to us, in the manner of the participation of this ordinance, — in the breaking of the bread, and in the pouring out of the wine, representing unto us the breaking of the body of Christ, the shedding of his blood, and the separation of the one from the other; which was the cause of his death. Now, though these were outward things in Christ (because the travail of his soul cannot be represented by any outward things, wherein the
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great work of our redemption lay), we are in this ordinance to be led through these outward things to the travail of the soul of Christ : we are not to rest in the mere outward act or acts of the breaking of the body of Christ, and pouring out of his blood, the separation of the one from the other, and of his death thereby; but through all them we are to inquire what is under them. There was Christ's making his soul an offering for sin; there was Christ's being made a curse under them, — Christ's travail of soul, in an agony to bring forth the redemption and salvation of the church.
Brethren, let us be able by faith, not only to look through these outward signs to that which makes the representation itself unto us, — the body and blood of Christ ; but even with them and through them to the travail of the soul of Christ, — the work that he was doing be- tween God and himself for the redemption of the church.
And here is also a representation made unto us of that satisfaction the soul of Christ received in the fruit of his travail, having appointed it in a particular mauner to be done in remembrance of him. No man will appoint a remembrance of that which he doth not delight in. When Job had no more delight in his life, he desired that the time of his birth might never be remembered. When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, whereby he exalted his glory, he appointed a passover, and said, "It is a day greatly to be remem- bered." Because the people had a great deliverance, and God received great glory and great satisfaction ; therefore it was greatly to be re- membered. We are to celebrate this ordinance in remembrance of Christ; and therefore there is a representation of that satisfaction which Jesus Christ did receive in the travail of his soul : so that he never repented him of one groan, of one sigh, of one tear, of one prayer, of one wrestling with the wrath of God. It is matter of re- joicing, and to be remembered ; and do you rejoice in the remembrance of it.
Again ; it is apparent from hence, because this ordinance is in an especial manner an ordinance of thanksgiving : — the bread that is blessed, or which we give thanks for; the cup which is blessed; — Christ gave thanks. Now, if hereby we give thanks, it is to call to remembrance, not merely the travail of Christ's soul, but the success of that travail ; [that] hereby all differences were made up between God and us ; hereby grace and glory were purchased for us, and he became the captain of salvation unto us.
To shut up all ; here is, by Christ's institution, bread and wine pro- vided for us ; but it is bread broken, and wine poured out. There are two things in it: — there is the weak part, that is Christ's; there is the nourishing part, that is given unto us. The Lord Christ hath chosen by this ordinance to represent himself by these things that
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are the staff of our lives; they comprise the whole nourishment and sustenance of our bodies. He hath so chosen to represent them by breaking and pouring out, that they shall signify his sufferings. Here are both. As the bread is broken, and as the wine is poured out, there is the representation of the travail of the soul of Christ to us ; as bread is received, and the cup, which is the means of the nourishment of man's life, here is the fruit of Christ's death exhibited unto us, and his sufferings. The Lord help us to look into the satisfaction that Christ received from this, that we may be partakers of the one and the other !
DISCOURSE XII.1
We are met here to remember, to celebrate, and set forth the death of Christ, — to profess and plead our interest therein. And there are two tilings that we should principally consider in reference to ourselves, and our duty, and the death of Christ. The first is. the benefits of it, and our participation of them; and the second is, our conformity unto it. Both are mentioned together by the apostle in
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."