All these things are clearly comprised, in reference unto this ordi- nance of the Lord's supper, in those words of the apostle : —
" For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was hetrayed, took bread : and, when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat ; this is my body, which is broken for you : this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testa- ment in my blood : this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." — 1 Cor. xi. 23-26.
You have both the institution and the nature, the use and ends of this ordinance in these words; and I shall speak so briefly to them, and under such short heads, as those who are young and less experi- enced may do well to retain : —
First. There is the institution of it : "I received," said he, " of the Lord;" and he received it on this account, that the Lord ap- pointed it: and if you would come in faith unto this ordinance, you are to consider two things in this institution : —
584 SACRAMENTAL DISCOURSES.
1. The authority of Christ. It was the Lord, — the Lord, the head and king of the church. Our Lord, our lawgiver, our ruler, he has ap- pointed this service ; and if you would have your performance of it an act of obedience, acceptable to God, you must get your conscience influenced with the authority of Christ, that we can give this reason in the presence of God why we come together to perform this service, " It is because Jesus Christ, our Lord, has appointed it; he hath re- quired it of us." And what is done in obedience to his command, that is a part of our reasonable service ; and therein we are accepted with God.
2. In the institution of it there is also his love; which is manifested in the time of its appointment: "The Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed." One would think that our Lord Jesus Christ, who knew all the troubles, the distresses, the anguish, the sufferings, the derelictions of God, which were coming upon him, and into which he was just now entering, would have had something else to think of besides this provision for his church. But his heart was filled with love to his peojDle; and that love which carried him to all that darkness and difficulty that he was to go through, — that love at the same time did move him to institute this ordinance, for the benefit and advantage of his church. And this I shall only say, that that heart which is made spiritually sensible of the love of Jesus Christ in the institution of this ordinance, and in what this ordinance doth re- present, is truly prepared for communion with Christ in this ordinance. 0 let us all labour for this in particular, if possible, that through the power of the Spirit of God, we may have some impressions of the love of Christ on our hearts ! Brethren, if we have not brought it with us, if we do not yet find it in us, I pray let us be careful to endeavour that we do not go away without it. Thus you have what is to be observed in the institution itself, — the authority and the love of Christ.
Secondly. I shall speak to the use and ends of this ordinance ; and they are three : — 1. Recognition; 2. Exhibition; 3. Profession.
1. Recognition ; that is, the solemn calling over and remembrance of what is intended in this ordinance.
There is an habitual remembrance of Christ; what all believers ought continually to carry about them. And here lies the difference between those that are spiritual and those that are carnal : — They all agree that Christians ought to have a continual remembrance of Christ ; but what way shall we obtain it ? Why, set up images and pictures of him in every corner of the house and chapel; that is to bring Christ to remembrance. That way carnal men take for this pur- pose. But the way believers have to bring Christ to remembrance, is by the Spirit of Christ working through the word. We have no
SACRAMENTAL DISCOURSES. 585
image of Christ but the word; and the Spirit represents Christ to us thereby, wherein he is evidently crucified before our eyes. But this re- cognition I speak of is a solemn remembrance in the way of an ordi- nance, wherein, unto the internal actings of our minds, there is added the external representation of the signs that God has appointed, " This do in remembrance of me." It is twice mentioned, in verses 24, 25.
Concerning this remembrance, we may consider two things: — (1.) What is the object of this remembrance or recognition ; and, (2.) What is the act of it; — what we are to remember, and what is that act of remembrance that is acceptable to God in this ordinance.